Tracy L. Jensen

All responses remain in their original forms without any editing of content, language, grammar, and spelling.

Educational Background

Alameda Civic Experience (Boards, Commissions, Community Groups):

Brief professional history not including civic experience:


What particular qualities or experiences will you bring to the city council, and how will they benefit the city?

I value Alameda, and I live here because our community is quiet, safe, friendly and accessible to all that the Bay Area has to offer. Over the past 7 years I have all worked hard to improve Alameda schools, and to expand opportunities for children and youth. I am running now for the City Council because I believe that Alameda is facing tremendous opportunities, along with significant threats. We have an opportunity to develop a huge parcel of land in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. The threats come from diminishing revenue, increasing energy costs, climate change, and economic uncertainty.

In the past several years Alameda has adapted to economic changes by strengthening our retail tax base. I believe that we must build on recent community-driven projects to prepare for the next decade of change. I chose to run for the City Council at this time because my experience as a School Board member and as a public administrator gives me the ability to effectively respond to these threats and opportunities. My background as a manager of local, state and federal government programs, my accomplishments as an elected leader in Alameda, and my commitment to education, the environment, equitable opportunities for families, and sustainable business, ensure that I can move Alameda forward. And I will do so with attention and respect for Alameda’s unique character.

My experience as the mother of a 7 year old child will also benefit the city. I want my son to grow up in a diverse, thriving, safe and successful community. I want him to be able to ride his bike to school or to the park without fearing for his safety. I want him to be able to pick up the materials for a school project, go see a movie with friends, and buy a new bike in Alameda. And above all I want him to relish – like I do – the community spirit that is Alameda.

List the top 5 issues you see moving forward (short explanation ok) and a brief description of how you would like to deal with them?

The top 5 issues for Alameda, in my opinion, are appropriate development of Alameda Point, updating the Transportation policies in the City Master Plan, ensuring the city’s fiscal solvency in the face of reduced revenues, ensuring island retail and other services for residents of all neighborhoods, and preserving – even expanding – open space for recreation and wildlife.

The first two of these issues, development of Alameda Point and updating the city’s transportation policies, must proceed together. At this time the Planning Board and the Transportation Commission are reviewing updates to the Transportation Element of the City Master Plan. The results of the public discussions and officials’ analysis of the new policies will be presented to the city Council later this year. These guiding principles for transportation must be in place before any development is approved at Alameda Point, or elsewhere in Alameda. I volunteered to be a member of the Transportation Subcommittee reviewing policies for pedestrian and bicycle traffic because I am committed to expanding the use of those healthy transportation options.

I support development that encourages public transportation but I don’t believe that “encouraging” ridership is enough. There must be incentives to make it attractive to take public transportation and leave the car at home. Like health care, transportation must be viewed by employers as a benefit that pays dividends to both parties. Employers in Alameda and elsewhere must see a benefit to providing a tax-free subsidy to employees which will encourage them to take public transportation. But employer subsidies and expansion of public transportation options will not ensure the success of Alameda Point, Alameda Landing or any other development on the West End.

Alternative and/or expanded access to the West End must be part of the solution. With the approval of the Transportation Element of the Alameda Master Plan the city can move forward in development of transportation options. Then Alameda can apply to receive state funding for transportation projects – including projects that will provide on and off-Island access to the West End. As demonstrated in San Jose and other local cities, there is funding – Measure 1B and other state bonds, available for development that includes innovative transportation options. The voters of California supported these measures two years ago and Alameda can be on the cutting edge of transportation policy as we move forward to develop Alameda Point.

Once our transportation plan is in place I will enthusiastically support economically and environmentally appropriate development at Alameda Point. It is critical that any development take place only after a viable, community-driven transportation plan has been established. That plan must be done in cooperation and coordination with the local transportation authorities, and using supportable data. And development on the West End will improve the retail opportunities for nearby Alameda residents. Recently a group of Alameda youth under the direction of Alameda Point Collaborative staff undertook a study of the opportunities to purchase fresh produce and other food west of Webster Street. The unfortunate results of the analysis were that these commodities were note available. Economic improvement at Alameda Point will benefit everyone on the West End – and across the island.

After 6 years on the Alameda Unified School District Board of Education I have the experience to make tough fiscal decisions. The current state budget stalemate has resulted in much uncertainly at the local level. I know very well how difficult it is for local policymakers to address local needs when funding decisions are done at the state level. I know how quickly revenues that have been relied upon for essential programs can be taken away, or “unfunded”, during state budget negotiations. The state budget deficit will certainly be felt in Alameda, and after 6 years of doing whatever it takes to keep the Alameda Unified School District fiscally sound I can ensure that our city remains solvent.

Finally, I am committed to retaining and expanding the open space in Alameda. I believe that it is imperative for any Alameda Point development to recognize the environmental fragility of certain areas, and preserve those areas for the future. Alameda has a tremendous opportunity to provide more parkland, with pedestrian and bicycle trails, after the 2006 court decision affirming the city’s right to the Beltline parcel. Alameda Point, the Beltline, and the completion of the Bay Trail around Alameda are projects that will make this city more livable, while increasing the opportunities for residents to get out of their cars.


Incumbents, why do you feel you should be re-elected, what are your top accomplishments of the past four years? Challengers, why do you feel one or both of the incumbents should be replaced?

I am not running for the city Council to replace either of the incumbents. Rather, I am running to offer a choice to voters, to share my experience, communication skills and commitment in order to move Alameda forward if I am elected.

Both incumbents have strong constituencies and specific views about how our city should move forward. One of the incumbents felt that they could be more effective as Mayor and worked hard to be elected to that position 2 years ago. After 10 years of public service as an appointee to Alameda boards and commissions the other incumbent was appointed to serve out an unexpired Council term. Both incumbents have years of civic experience, like me, primarily as the appointed representatives on city boards and commissions. Both of the incumbents have been elected once to their seat by Alameda voters – and I have been elected twice to the School Board.

Neither of the incumbents has the breadth of experience that I do in all levels of government. I bring a skill set that could complement the current council if I am elected. I am the only candidate with experience budgeting at the city level – as a manager for the city of Oakland I am responsible for 15 staff and a budget of $2 million dollars. In fact, while the other candidates and I share similar civic and elected experience, I also bring nearly 20 years of experience in local, state and federal government – I have made the critical government fiscal and policy decisions.

Finally, while I am not running to replace the incumbents, I am running because I believe that the City Council is lacking an advocate for families. Neither of the incumbents – in fact, none of the current council members, have children in school on the Island. I grew up in Alameda, and I have a 7 year old son in public school and in the APRD afterschool program. Whatever I happened to be doing as a child – going to school, playing in the parks, shopping at Alameda Towne Center (South Shore back then) – I always felt safe in the streets. This is the primary reasons that I am running for City Council. I’m running because I understand what families need and I am committed to making Alameda a place where families will thrive.