Jan Marx, a longtime public servant in San Luis Obispo, is running for re-election to the city council. With 16 years of council experience and six years as mayor from 2010-2016, Marx is focused on continuing her efforts to preserve the city’s open spaces and support renters.
“Before I was ever on city council, I spearheaded the whole campaign to get Bishop’s Peak to be open to the public [in the 1990s],” Marx told Mustang News. “That [campaign] was the kickoff, and since then I’ve been working to complete the [Greenway].”
Having taught at Cal Poly as a lecturer and lived in student neighborhoods for years, Marx said she has a deep understanding of student concerns. She advocates for better relations between students and permanent residents, working to create neighborhoods where everyone feels respected.
“I’ve worked hard to try to improve relationships between the students and their neighbors,” Marx said. “People have to really talk with each other and figure out how to be good neighbors, both the permanent residents and the students.”
Marx said she is also focused on the importance of tenant protections, particularly for students and renters facing San Luis Obispo’s high housing costs. She aims to explore more tools the city can use to improve housing quality and affordability, with a focus on renter rights.
On the topic of climate action, Marx aims to advance the city’s climate resilience efforts, with priorities including water security and emergency preparedness for earthquakes and floods.
Marx’s main objectives:
- Strengthen tenant protections to combat high rent and poor housing.
- Improve relationships between students and neighbors.
- Enhance safety and disaster readiness.
- Provide solutions to homelessness with better use of city resources.