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October 13. 2014 6:09PM Ward 2 Q&A: Tim D'Alessandro Tim D'Alessandro If elected, what would be your top priority while in office? "My top priority is probably jobs and livability. Trying to figure out a way to incentivize employers to come to our region, to come to Medford and create jobs. I think that goes along with downtown revitalization. I think it’s starting to take shape. I think it needs more work. Some way of determining, of doing, the retrofitting of some of the older buildings downtown so they can be occupied and be safe. If we can incentivize that with grants and bring it a little bit of help, (the city can) get those buildings occupied." Do you think recreational marijuana should be legalized? "I’m kind of at odds with it in that it’s still a class 2 drug at the federal level. I think it needs to come from the top down. I think it needs to be a nationwide-addressed issue. Right now, it’s so fragmented that it’s going to be a difficult issue either way. The taxing of it, if you tax it too high, you end up pushing it right back into the black market, which you’re trying to prevent in the first place. I’m not dead set against it, I just think it’s going to be difficult to regulate in that it’s still not being dealt with on the federal level." Should the city continue its ban on medical marijuana dispensaries? "I support that people need to have the ability to get (medical marijuana). (But) every medication needs to be somewhat regulated." How should the city deal with homeless people who cause problems in the parks? "I think it comes to a couple things. I think it comes down to public safety staffing. It’s going to take probably increased staffing levels. Typically well-lit areas are a little less traveled by that group of people. They like the darker areas where they’re not going to be seen and be bothered and they actually set up camp. My recommendation would actually be to set up some kind of solar lighting." How would you be different as a leader? "I'm going to listen to the constituents in Ward 2, what they want. I have to leave my personal beliefs aside. A lot of time there’s not going to be any feedback and I’m going to have to bring my opinion for what I think is best for that group of people. I can sit at the table and debate and not be nasty or mean and get my point across." TIM D'ALESSANDROAge: 56Education: High school diplomaWork: Operations manager at Rogue Valley Transportation DistrictPolitical experience: Works regularly with the Oregon Department of Transportation and Jackson County for transportation, planning purposes; board member for Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141013/NEWS/141019846 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->