National TV? Maybe tonight (8/21/2011)

Last spring, The Great Food Truck Race from the Food Network was in Salt Lake City. Our family loaded up the van and drove around downtown Salt Lake to find one of the food trucks and we found one.

It was red and parked a few blocks north of Liberty Park. Cafe Con Leche.

The food was tasty and satisfying and our children enjoyed eating off a food truck for the first time. We figured this was a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity and we seized it.

We were interviewed on camera, but so were a lot of people all day. I don't know if we made it past the cutting room (or if we were still on it's floor), but the Salt Lake show will air tonight at 7:00pm.

I'd like to invite you to watch the show and possibly, meet my family. When we told my six year old son about the show tonight he exclaimed "TV! I always wanted to be on TV!"

You might like to hear that the crew loved Salt Lake; especially the people they met.

I look forward to meeting you at the Meet the Candidates Night, this coming Wednesday.


Jeff White

The Day After

Well, last night’s election results were not the message I expected to send to City Council. All of you that supported this campaign, thank you.

I have a question that I don't know the answer to. Perhaps it's the researcher in me, but I can't help wonder why my campaign received only 6.7% of the votes. I've come up with five reasonable explanations.

This campaign was founded on what WVC residents stated as their biggest concerns. 80 to 90% of everyone I spoke with, informed me that too many ordinances and property taxes that increased while values decreased, were the two highest priorities.

1. Perhaps the 2,000 or so people I spoke with were not a true representation of the City's concerns.
2. Perhaps most of those I spoke with were just not interested enough to vote.
3. Perhaps those with the above concerns were not all registered voters.
4. Perhaps I just didn’t get the message of my campaign out well enough to the voters.
5.Perhaps name recognition means more than concerns.

Well, only you can answer these questions so I know how to proceed. Should I run again or not? Time will tell.

Thanks for your support; it meant a lot.

Well it looks like; the Time is Not Yet Right for Jeff White

Jeff White Signs Anyone?

I'm placing the last of my yard signs tomorrow morning. I have a few left and will personally bring them to your home or business. First come, first served. When there gone, well you know.

After the election I'll even come take them down so you won't have to. Now I'm expecting that election to be the 3rd of November.

With your support and the support of your family, friends and neighbors, I'll be elected and can begin implementing plans to:

1. Reduce Ordinances
2. Lower Property Taxes
3. Tighten the City's Belt

The Time is Right for Jeff White

You Said it First

I was campaigning door to door and explained why I was running to a couple; I explained that 90% of the people I visit with claim there are too many ordinances. They liked that I was listening to you and they liked my ideas to lower taxes.

They decided I needed a campaign slogan and we began brainstorming. The best one is now on my signs.

What's exciting to me is how many people like that I'm actually listening. You state you like that I'm committed to reduce ordinances and have real ideas on how to lower taxes.

The cool part, I had designed my signs and submitted them to a sign shop earlier that day. They gave me a slogan timely enough for me to redesign my signs and have them printed with your slogan.

You said it first…

The Time is Right for Jeff White

Manufactured Home Park Co-Ops

Did you know that until recently a manufactured home park owner could sell the park and give the residents only 30 days notice to vacate? Given that it's $10,000 to $15,000 to move a manufactured home and some are immovable, that's the same as stealing homes.

Recently the laws were changed and the residents have to be given a nine-month notice. This is good, but it's still not much time to obtain funds and find a place to move your home.

In New Hampshire, the residents are allowed first opportunity to purchase a park if the owner decides to sell. They form a co-op and the residents become the owners instead of a developer.

A park up North did this and paid off the co-op's loan in ten years. The lot rental is now $50.00 each month for maintenance and improvements. This would be something to fight for.

Manufactured Home Parks are a haven for fixed and low-income families and individuals. Whether someone earns six figures or $20,000, we all deserve the American Dream of home ownership. Through the Salt Lake Council of Governments, I would champion this cause to the State for appropriate legislation.

The Time is Right for Jeff White

The Time is Right

The Time is Right for Jeff White.

The City has a goal of beautification and you feel this is a good goal. As human nature goes, we have taken a good thing and gone too far. We have too many ordinances. This is one of the things I'm hearing.

I also hear that you have to tighten your belts and feel the City should do the same. We don't want to lose services, but we want less taxes. This can be done, it will take some tightening of the budgets and it must be done without layoffs. There has been too much of that this last year.

We need to:
1. Tighten the City's Belt
2. Reduce Ordinances
3. Lower Property Taxes

Who else in this race for Councilmember At-Large is listening to you? Of course every candidate says they will work to lower taxes. The one I hear all the time from you, but not from my fellow candidates. Reducing Ordinances. As far as I can tell, I'm the only one.

The Time is Right for Jeff White.

Mountain View Corridor

While talking with people Saturday, I met a Lady who's home may be right in the path of the proposed Mountain View Corridor. They don't know if it is or isn't, but that's another story for another time.

The story here is, what if the Corridor is through their property and their home is claimed for the "good of the project." Of course they'll be compensated a fair market value for their home, but will that help them?

Their fear is they’re self-employed and what if they can't secure a new home loan with the tightening of home loans. If this happens they'll lose a home they've renovated and have no home to move into.

While we were discussing this I thought, why couldn't the City / County / State broker a deal with a few home lenders (preferably local) that would secure a loan for anyone who's home is "purchased" for a public project.

No one would like their home taken from them, so when this is necessary (if it really ever is) the respective governing body should be responsible to help a person in this situation into their next home.

I listen and I care.

I believe in one for all and all for one. So if one family / person loses their home for all, then let's all help the one in return.

What Should the City Be Doing?

In asking you what you feel the City chould be doing, I've received the following responses:

1. Taxes are too high (over 100 responses)
2. Too many City ordinances (over 100)
3. Concerns over how tax dollars are spent (over 20)
4. Graffiti (2)
5. Gang activity (2)
6. Education (1)
7. Unconstitutional acceptance of federal funds (1)
8. Cycling Safety (1)
9. Not enough parks (1)
10. Too many fast food restaurants clustered together (1)

Based on these responses I've formed the following platform.

I will...

Tighten the City's Belt
Reduce the Amount of Ordinances
Reduce Property Taxes
Be Careful with Your Money

Keep your money, please.

I've thought a lot about this campaign and how to finance it and I've come to some conclusions.

1. At some point I may need to collect donations, but I'm still a long way away from that.

2. We're in a recession; people should be keeping their money for their families or themselves.

3. I don't want to be beholden to private interests and if I accept donations, it will be with the stipulation that no votes come attached.

4. What would I do with the money raised anyway? I would accept the donation from you, have a yard sign made and bring it back to you to put in your yard.

Instead, if you support my representing the people of West Valley then keep your money, make a sign out of cardboard and place it in your yard.

We can work together on this campaign at no expense to you.

While campaigning and in office, I'll be responsible with your money.

Restaurant Diversity

I spoke with a lady two days ago who lives in Taylorsville and works in West Valley. While she lives somewhere else, she did have some thoughts about the 40 hours a week she spends in our fine city.

She talked about zoning. When she goes out to eat lunch or dinner, she has only fast food to choose from. There aren't any sit down or fine dining restaurants in the area where she works and this limits her options.

Now here's someone who lives in Taylorsville, but spends her money five days a week in our city. When she spends her money here, a portion of the sales taxes stay in the city as revenue.

If we plan our zoning wisely and market that zoning to a variety of restaurants, we can entice them to set up business here. This will provide more sales tax revenue, from more than just West Valley citizens. More sales tax revenue will allow us to lower property taxes. Together we can work wonders.

I'll be careful with your money.

Nothing is Easy

"Nothing is easy, but who wants nothing?"
- Donald Trump

I like his play on the phrase "nothing is easy." When I speak to people living in our city, I hear what you want and I'll tell you, you don't want "nothing" and you don't want easy.

Ranked according to the number of responses I've heard, you want:

1. Lower taxes
2. Less ordinances
3. Safer streets for children and cyclists
4. A better school system

You don't want easy. You don't want nothing. You want something; something that will make our city and all of us who live here better off. Let's do this together.

With your support and my willingness to work hard, we'll work wonders and we'll get "something." We'll get what you want.