The Cupertino Courier
News
Cupertino is strong, a great place to live, says the mayor
By Cody Kraatz
Growing revenues, diversity and community involvement make Cupertino strong, said Mayor Kris Wang in her State of the City speech Jan. 31.
"We're a small town, and people feel proud. They want to be a part of the community," said Wang, who joined the city council in 2003 and served as vice mayor in 2006. "Interaction is the key word that I keep emphasizing."
The city's finances were strong last year, with a $4.5 million budget surplus, thanks to general fund expenditures $2.5 million below budget and revenues up $2 million over budget. The biggest chunk of the city's revenues comes from sales taxes, and Apple and Hewlett-Packard continue to be the city's top source of sales tax revenue.
The city has had surpluses for the past three years, after deficits the previous three years, said Wang, who has a graduate degree in computer science and an MBA in business management.
During her speech, Wang announced two new programs aimed at mobilizing an already active community.
The first is a series of community improvement grants of up to $300 each to improve the physical condition of a neighborhood and enhance neighborhood unity and pride.
One of the city's 200 block leaders would apply for and implement the grant, developing uses tailored to their specific neighborhood of several square blocks, Wang said.
Applications are available on the city's website at www.cupertino.org. She also invited volunteers to sign up for a new beautification program intended to improve the aesthetic appearance of major corridors, public places and parks.
The mayor also described plans for parks in the Rancho Rinconada neighborhood, which has no parkland within walking distance. Council members Dolly Sandoval and Richard Lowenthal will work with Santa Clara County and San Jose officials to acquire land and shift boundaries for a linear park between Saratoga Creek and Lawrence Expressway.
The mayor also offered an update on the visually stunning and architecturally challenging Mary Avenue pedestrian bridge project.
The design, which would become a landmark spanning Interstate 280, is still subject to safety evaluations but is under construction. Wang called it "a unique symbol that shows Cupertino's commitment to healthy activities."
The number of reported crimes in Cupertino dropped from 1,615 in 2002 to 1,396 in 2006, a decrease Wang attributed to the addition of two more sheriff's deputies to patrol the city, bringing the total to 28.
The county sheriff's office has provided police services since before the city was incorporated, for millions of dollars less than a city police department would cost, said Commander John Hirokawa in a recent interview. Hirokawa, who was promoted recently after being captain of the West Valley Patrol Division, was honored for his dedication and professionalism at the State of the City event.
Wang, who immigrated here from Taiwan 27 years ago and has lived in the city with her husband Gene and two sons for 18 years, emphasized the multicultural strengths of the city.
The Asian population in Cupertino is currently around 40 percent. Cupertino has a population of 55,000 people and has averaged a 1.4 percent annual growth rate since 2001, said Wang.
"Our community is very fortunate to benefit from the efforts, energies and innovations of many generations of natives as well as immigrants who have come to call our city home," said Wang. "This city clearly fosters the American dream and many of our citizens today can attest to that."
