Vote 4 Tom Ramsey - Letters of Support

It is an honor to support Tom Ramsey for our City Council. Tom has lived in Piedmont for 30 years with his wife, Ruth. He’s a practicing architect and project manager with two daughters who attended Piedmont schools. Tom has volunteered on our Planning Commission for seven years, including as Chair for two years. He is even-tempered and a good problem solver.

Tom and I have known each other for years (back to the Beach School Review days). I have become increasingly convinced of his thoughtfulness and commitment to our community during the many years we have volunteered together, leading low-income housing repair projects with Piedmont Community Service Crew students. He will bring an open, fact-based, and logical approach, with an appreciation for our community, to the City Council as we go through our housing challenges and implementation of civic improvements.

Steve Schiller - Piedmont Soccer Club President (former), PRFO Founder, Piedmont Climate Task Force Member, PCSC Boy Scouts Volunteer, and PUSD substitute teacher

I’ve known Tom Ramsey since 2009 when he first volunteered on Piedmont Community Service Crew's (PCSC) annual project with Rebuilding Together Oakland (RTO) to renovate a home of a low income elderly Oakland homeowner. These projects are a huge undertaking where our crew teens are empowered by giving them the sense of ownership and responsibility through project definition and planning, then recruiting and leading our volunteers. This is only enabled by a group of local adults who guide the teens on the technical aspects of the project. Tom Ramsey is one of these who stands out: each year for the past dozen years, Tom reconnects to help on these projects, working with a small group of teens to get a portion of the renovation done. Tom is fun and patient with the youth he's working with: they learn a new practical construction skill along with working out the little details in the project that they are tasked to do. His professional expertise as an architect, along with an ability to creatively solve problems has been a valuable asset for our youth-focused organization.

Personally, I look forward to re-engaging with Tom on this project. He's a pleasure to work with, and invaluable as a partner on these projects that not only benefit our youth, but our crew, the success of RTO and a needy homeowner. A couple years ago, PCSC recognized Tom for his steadfast contribution to our crew's success with the Distinguished Scouter Award.

Ken Li, founder and ongoing Crew Advisor for Piedmont Community Service Crew, a unit operating within Piedmont Scout Council

"Tom Ramsey has been an essential part of Piedmont Community Service Crew's youth led renovation project through Rebuilding Together Oakland. He provided expertise and engaged our members in an impactful way leading to our project's success!"

Bridget Bentley, former PCSC President and recipient of the William Peterson Award for leadership, currently freshman at UC Berkeley

What kind of person do I want to be on the City Council?

I want someone who has experience working in a variety of different work environments. A person who has worked as a novice through managerial and leadership positions. A person who demonstrates competence and expertise in their field and also in allied fields of their profession. A person who has not only an interest in their own work but also an interest in the work of those with whom they work.

I want someone who understands that he represents each and every one of his city neighbors. Even within our small city, we have divergent neighborhood needs and wants. All of these require the same effort and diligence.

I want someone who is an excellent and transparent communicator. A person who says what he means and does what he says. A person who is a good listener, who pays attention to the requests of his neighbors, and understands the importance of solving problems as they see them.

I want a person who understands the complexity of city governance, the many different areas and variables that must work together as a whole to satisfy the needs of all. The vision to look forward with understanding and scrutiny to provide for the future. To have a thorough understanding of sound fiscal policy and how it affects us now and in the future.

I want a person who, when you are on your extension ladder working on your home, comes over and holds the bottom of the ladder to support you more safely.

I want that person - who is my neighbor, Tom Ramsey

Leonard Chaplin

Note from Tom:

I've always considered Leonard as "the Mayor" of my block of Fairview Ave in part because he and his wife Georganne have lived here for over 50 years. Having neighbors like Leonard and Georganne is one more reason that Piedmont is a great place to live.

I am writing in support of Tom Ramsey as a candidate for Piedmont's City Council. I have had the privilege of working with Tom for several years as a volunteer with the Rebuilding Together Oakland program. Tom's experience as an architect was invaluable in the successful completion of numerous RTO projects. As a seven-year member of the Piedmont Planning Commission, Tom has devoted his inexhaustible talents to this city. He is dedicated and passionate about our city and its future. His ability to listen, analyze and discuss the issues would make him an excellent addition to our City Council as the city navigates our housing challenges, civic improvements, and day to day issues. I urge my fellow Piedmonters to support his election to the City Council.

Colin Wong

Dear Piedmont Community,

In working with City Council Candidate, Tom Ramsey, those at our real estate project management firm have come to know Tom as someone who is genuine, composed, fair, and concise; all are qualities we believe make him an invaluable leader to the community.

“Tom is one of those incredible people who somehow balances his daunting schedule with time for individual, focused, and genuine conversations.” -Phil Hathaway, Assistant Project Manager

“He has the perfect mix of knowledge, professionalism, and temperament to problem solve and address any challenges.” -Tri Vu, Project Director

“Tom is careful to understand multiple stakeholder’s interests and is fair in navigating our team towards productive solutions.” -Sabrina Alonso, Assistant Project Manager

“Tom has a great ability to cut to the meat of matters. He listens to the concerns and issues, and often times what it takes me 10 minutes to say, he says back to me in 30 seconds.” - Devin Bertsch, Project Director

We truly appreciate the opportunity to work with Tom each day and hope you’ll vote for the chance to work with him too. Vote Tom Ramsey for City Council!

Sabrina Alonso, Assistant Project Manager

Tom Ramsey is the Most Qualified City Council Candidate on the Housing Element Issues

No candidate for the Piedmont City Council is better qualified than Tom Ramsey to handle the complex and daunting issues raised by the State law, which requires the City of Piedmont to adopt a Housing Element by May 31, 2023. I make this statement confidently after working extensively with Tom on the Piedmont Planning Commission while serving as a Commissioner from April 2014 to April 2019 and as Chair from April 2016 through March 2017 and from July 2018 through the end of my term in March 2019. Additionally, Tom and I worked together as the two Planning Commissioners appointed to the Design Guidelines Sub-Committee which completely revised and updated our city’s Design Guidelines in 2018.

Tom’s Work as a Planning Commissioner

As anyone who has served on the Planning Commission knows, this appointment requires that Commissioners spend a considerable amount of time reviewing the large number of documents generated by both the applicants who submit plans to modify their existing homes and by the diligent Planning Commission staff which responds to these plans, including their detailed architectural designs.

Additionally, Commissioners visit each of the applicants’ sites before the Commission’s monthly meetings to understand the impacts of the submitted applications on the neighbors and the immediate neighborhood

It was evident from his comments at the Commission’s public hearings that Tom was always extremely well prepared, sometimes surprising the applicants’ architects with his detailed knowledge of the proposed home modifications.

Further, his background as both an Architect and Piedmont resident (at that time)

of over 20 years was reflected in many of Tom’s creative suggestions for protecting Piedmont’s unique architecture, including the 7136 of Piedmont’s housing which was built before 1939. I do not think that any City Council candidate is better prepared than Tom to minimize the impact of the Housing Element’s significant housing growth goals on Piedmont’s unique architectural heritage and beauty.

Tom’s Work on the Design Guidelines Sub-Committee

In 2018, Tom and I were selected to represent the Planning Commission on the committee to revise the Planning Department’s most critical document, the Design Guidelines. We spent many hours in almost weekly meetings working with Planning Director Kevin Jackson, Planning Staff Pierce Macdonald-Powell, and Planning and Architect consultants as we completely revised and updated the Planning Department’s Design Guidelines. These updates included consideration of zoning issues, which will also be critical in the implementation of whatever Housing Element Piedmont adopts. During this revision process, Tom once again demonstrated his diligence, intelligence, knowledge, and creativity to help produce a vastly improved set of Design Guidelines which will serve Piedmont well for years to come. Tom is also very easy to work with since he presents his suggestions thoughtfully and without hidden agendas or biases. I am sure that, if Tom is elected, current City Council members will find him as easy and enjoyable to work with as I did.

Sincerely,

Eric Behrens,

Attorney at Law,

Chair, Piedmont Planning Commission, 2016-2017 and 2018-2019