Joe Yee For City Council

Sustainable & Smart Growth

Mike — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:40:45 +0000

In the coming years the population of Sacramento is expected to grow by over half a million people. This means more demand for housing, public services, roads, jobs, and utilities. This is not an issue we can avoid; we must tackle it head on. Sacramento must grow smart and Sacramento must grow sustainably. Luckily, we have a plan to do so. It lays out how Sacramento can; reduce green house gas emissions and adopt clean energy; promote transit, bicycling and walking; preserve greenfields and focus on infill; and build the neighborhoods and infrastructure necessary to create a dynamic, healthy economy. The plan is called the Sacramento 2030 General Plan, it was created by the General Plan Advisory Committee, which I chaired.

As chair, I worked for four years on community outreach to develop the visions and guiding principles as well as the technical aspects. The general plan has received awards from housing, transit, and environmentalgroups for its innovative approach to planning. As a councilmember I will continue my work of smart planning and sustainable growth.

As an architect and small business owner, my company has focused on designing buildings that are sustainable, promote alternatives to car use, and preserve the character of neighborhoods. I am proud that Sacramento was recently recognized by the U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index as a clean tech hub, because, among other great reasons, Sacramento’s “stock of energy efficient buildings.”

Sacramento Press: District 4 still anybody’s race after Land Park forum

Mike — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:53:56 +0000

However, when asked about current or former government officials who had endorsed their campaigns, the stark differences of each candidate’s public persona came into the spotlight. Yee, as always, was noticeably more quiet and concise with his answer. With his feet firmly planted behind the podium, he offered up his endorsement from current District 4 Councilman Rob Fong and former Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin. He has a long list of political endorsements, with Councilman Steve Cohn being one of the latest to join the list.

Hansen, who spoke directly to the crowd and paced steadily in front of the first rows of spectators, seemed to dodge the question and listed no names, despite the fact that he could have cited the endorsement of a political heavyweight like Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. His answer showed a sense of political theater and rhetorical flair that was at odds with Yee’s more just-the-facts-ma’am delivery. “The only endorsement I care about is from you, the people,” he said.

Continue reading at the Sacramento Press.

Birthday Bash Fundraiser

Mike — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:43:30 +0000

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Protect & Grow Jobs

Mike — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 01:31:24 +0000

I am an architect and small business owner. I have managed a Sacramento firm for over 20 years and employ over 35 people. We have renovated local land marks like the Memorial Auditorium, Crocker Riverside Elementary School and Belle Cooledge Library.

I know what a business needs to grow, thrive, and survive tough times. I have led my architecture firm through two decades of ups and downs. I know what it’s like to make tough fiscal decisions. As an architect the recession means less building, less work and tightening our belt. To me downsizing isn’t just a word, it means having to tell someone that we have to let them go.

I am also a city planner who chaired the City of Sacramento’s Planning Commission. I even led the drafting of the City’s 2030 General Plan. I worked on projects that have improved our community like the R Street Corridor, the MARRS Building at 20th and K streets, and the River Walk by the Tower Bridge.

As a planning commission chair, I have seen firsthand the struggles that small business people face trying to do the right thing – open a business and create jobs. I have helped businesses start-up. When New Helvetia Brewing Company was having difficulty getting its approvals, I helped find a compromise with its neighbors. By addressing the parking concerns of its neighbors, New Helvetia is now under construction and set to offer unique craft beers to Sacramento and energize Broadway.

As a council member I will prioritize protecting local jobs and helping businesses grow. Specifically I will:

Focus City resources on helping businesses grow. I wants use City funds to help recruit new companies and assist existing businesses expand.

Reform the permitting process and City fees. Businesses should not have to go through three different offices to obtain a permit.

Designate City staff to help businesses navigate through the City’s development and regulatory processes.

We do not need new gimmicks or bureaucracy to protect and grow jobs. We need leadership and experience.

-Joe Yee

Region Builders Endorses Joe Yee for City Council District 4

Mike — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:33:35 +0000

Sacramento, CA – Region Builders, a building industry coalition founded by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange that includes thirteen esteemed local trade and professional associations and industry businesses, has endorsed Sacramento City Council Candidate Joe Yee for District 4.

View PDF

Live Chat with Joe on Sept. 12th

Mike — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 23:09:52 +0000

The chat is now available below.

Our next Sac Press Live chat will feature a discussion with architect and District 4 City Council candidate Joe Yee about the upcoming election and some of the issues the district faces.

We’ll be asking Yee where he stands on neighborhood issues such as waste collection, utility rates and traffic and parking problems, and we’ll dive into questions about public policy, development and what he thinks is the best way forward for Sacramento.

Yee, principal architect with the Anova Nexus Architects firm, and his wife, Daphne, have lived in Land Park since 1976. He has worked for more than 30 years as an architect – he designed the West Sacramento Library and numerous educational facilities in the Sacramento region – and also served for a year on the City Council as an interim city councilman in 2000.

Yee will be facing challenger Steve Hansen for the District 4 council seat in November, and Hansen will be joining Sac Press for a live chat on Sept. 26.

The chat will be streamed live on SacramentoPress.com Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 12 noon.

Have a question for Yee? Post your comments at SacramentoPress.com.

Joe’s Support Grows

Mike — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:45:44 +0000

I am proud to be endorsed by Sacramento County Supervisor Jimmie Yee, Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Sacramento City Council Member Kevin McCarty, Sacramento City Council Member Sandy Sheedy, Sacramento City Council Member Darrell Fong, Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Darrell Woo, and Sacramento City Unified School Board Member Patrick Kennedy.

An Architect and Planner for 35 Years

Mike — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:45:34 +0000

Joe has been an architect and small business owner in Sacramento for over 35 years. He and his firm have designed the renovation of schools, libraries and other Sacramento landmarks like the Memorial Auditorium. As chair of the Planning Commission and the Sacramento 2030 General Plan Committee, Joe understands how to build sustainable, neighborhood-oriented cities. Under his leadership Sacramento adopted a general plan with a vision that “every neighborhood will be a desirable place to live because of its walkable streets, extensive tree canopy, range of housing choices, mixed use neighborhood centers, great schools, parks and recreation facilities, and easy access to Downtown and jobs.

Sacramento: Joe’s Home For All 61 Years

Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:37:11 +0000

Joe has called Sacramento home for all 61 years of his life. He attended Washington and Newton Booth Elementary Schools, Sutter Junior High School and graduated from McClatchy High School. Joe and his wife Daphne of 36 years have lived in the same Land Park home since 1976. They have two grown children who attended neighborhood schools and still live in District 4

Joe Fills City Council Vacancy in 2000

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:40:29 +0000

After the death of Mayor Joe Serna in 2000, then-Councilmember Jimmie Yee was appointed to serve as Mayor and creating a vacancy on the City Council. Joe was appointed by the City Council to fill that vacancy and served as the Councilmember representing District 4.