Priorities & Issues
STRATEGIC CITY DEVELOPMENT
Folsom offers our residents a community that enhances our lives in many ways. Our Historic District offers a central location to gather for various events and enjoy the historic nature of the area. We have a great variety of activities supported by our trails, lakes, natural and cultural resources, sports and recreational programs, a popular zoo sanctuary, and a variety of entertainment venues.
I will continue to support our City in a community-led, sustainable fashion, ensuring that we take care of our existing community first, conserve valuable resources and ensure that all future planning is directed by well defined goals. Existing roadways are congested and stronger traffic control measures must be taken. I will support the addition of the Empire Ranch interchange to ensure that traffic flow can be better managed.
The proposed further expansion beyond our current City boundaries is unwarranted. It will pull currently strained resources, such as water, public safety services and maintenance of public amenities away from existing and already planned future growth S-50, and will increase traffic.
We must plan for a solid revenue stream to maintain our community and ensure that we can balance our city’s budget and restore much needed services which have been markedly cut over the last several years.
There is a lot information available for how to grow and sustain our City better - take a look at the work that has been done by Strong Towns - https://www.strongtowns.org
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY
Folsom’s budget has been challenged by the loss of consistent revenue exacerbated by the recent pandemic and changes in purchasing patterns. Plans must be made to ensure that our City has solid long term financial planning and a greater income base. Our annual budget planning must include continuing analysis of long term forecasts with the best tools available. We must do the hard work of exploring and supporting greater revenue producing policies and plans. We must focus on attracting more revenue generating businesses.
Folsom comes first. I urge you to regularly patronize of our existing local businesses and restaurants. Doing so will help our City’s economy and keep each of our neighborhoods vibrant and welcoming!
PUBLIC SAFETY
Keeping our citizens safe must be one of our local government’s top priorities. To that end, I believe we need to invest in our fire & police departments and ensure that they have the resources needed to battle crime & handle emergencies. We must also ensure that we have the financial resources to maintain our infrastructure, roads, and make improvements in traffic control in order to support the health and safety of our residents.
National Night Out
HOMELESSNESS
The impact of homelessness on Folsom has been increasing, as it has throughout the State and it is one of the most difficult issues to resolve. I believe that solid collaborative work between the County and other cities within our region must take place though this will be a difficult task.
There are great volunteer and non-profit resources available to our unhoused population but more substantial and fully funder resources are needed. Our region must receive the full allocation of monies from Prop 1 for permanent and available mental health and housing resources.
Consistent policies and cooperative plans for shelter and mental health treatment supported by State and community resources must be enacted.
Hear a Bit more…
I want you to get involved! Our City works best when our residents contribute to decision making!
Setting the Record Straight
A misleading and inflammatory mailer targeting me was distributed to District 4 residents. This piece, funded by the North State Builders Industry Association and wealthy developers who want to expand our City limits, seeks to influence our local election with untruthful information. I want to ensure you have the facts.
First, the mailer misrepresents my stance on several issues. For the record, I stand for:
· Protecting Our Region’s Natural Resources: I am committed to preserving our natural resources, which is why I've worked with SMUD to identify alternative sites for solar projects to avoid the removal of hundreds of acres of oak forests in our foothills. Thanks to this effort, they are advancing a new large scale solar project without harming our environment.
· Responsible Development: I supported Protect the American River's efforts to prevent a risky housing development on a flood plain in Rancho Cordova. That City denied the proposed development due to the high flood risk for future homeowners. My work centers on advocating for responsible, sustainable growth—not unchecked development in unsafe areas.
· Transparency on Local Ballot Initiatives: Regarding 2022’s Measure A, a half-cent county-wide sales tax for the county and 7 other cities’ road projects. I shared with voters that only a fraction of the funds would benefit Folsom, with 30% of the funds earmarked for Elk Grove. Voters overwhelmingly rejected this measure, opting not to increase taxes for projects that largely benefited areas outside our community.
Additionally, I want to clarify that I was never involved in or endorsed legal action against the City of Sacramento. This false claim referred to a lawsuit filed by Sacramento residents and the legal arm of the Sierra Club (not me) concerning a development in Natomas. And finally, I am not involved in any activity involving the I-80 corridor in Yolo County. How that false accusation has anything to do with Highway 50 is baffling.
Unfortunately, following this mailer, I received a physical threat, which has been reported to the Folsom Police Department. While it’s unclear if the threat is directly related to the mailer, distributing such inflammatory and inaccurate content can have serious, unintended consequences.
I am here to answer any questions about my goals for Folsom and to address any misinformation circulating. Feel free to reach out at barbara.4.folsom@gmail.com.
Together, let’s work toward a better Folsom.