Marijuana Dispensaries, Transit Among Debate Topics for Mayor Candidates

At a Milpitas Candidates Forum Wednesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at City Hall, incumbent mayor Jose Esteves and candidate Robert Means went head to head on several issues – ranging from medical marijuana to city finances. 

“How can you be mayor if you support medical marijuana dispensaries in Milpitas?” said Esteves when asked by the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce why he would be the better candidate. “That can destroy children and families.”

When it was Means turn to answer the same question, he quipped he was the better pick, “Because of the fact that I’m a green Democrat and he’s a conservative Republican.”

“I’m willing to try new things like increasing revenues. He doesn’t seem to support democracy, as 16 years ago people voted for medical marijuana dispensaries,” said Means, an electric vehicles businessman, referring to Proposition 215, which legalized such dispensaries in California. 

Both candidates also had differing ideas of how to trim city expenses. “We know that we can cut costs with employees,” said Esteves. “Salaries should get market rate and at same time we can maintain the services of Milpitas.”

Yet for Means, the budget for city employees cannot be cut much more than it has been. “We’ve reduced our head count by 20 to 25 percent,” he said. “We need to try something new. We could introduce a sales tax or a utility tax. We can start putting a fee on pollutants.”

Both candidates were also questioned about providing a health care pension for part-time city council members. While Means said he would support the move, Esteves stressed it wasn’t necessary. “If we come here, we come here to serve, not for our personal benefits. [Public] servants means nothing for yourself,” he said.

When asked about reducing traffic, Means advocated for “personal rapid transit around the [closest] BART station,” he said. “We could grow that over time until there is a station at each of our schools.”

Yet Esteves stated he was for a more “realistic” solution. “We should increase the use of bikes and encourage students to carpool,” he said.

Both candidates did have one view in common: they are both opposed to outsourcing the Milpitas Police Department, a continual contentious hot topic as the city examines possibilities for trimming its finances.

“Public safety is first and foremost,” said Esteves.

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