Flock, data centers and development: Here’s what two Anderson council candidates want — and don’t want — for the city

Around 20 people gathered at the Frontier Senior Center in Anderson last Thursday for the Redding League of Women Voters’ Anderson City Council candidate forum. Two candidates were in attendance, and they discussed their top priorities if elected and answered audience questions. 

There are two seats open on the council, as both Mayor Dan Gallier and Council member Mike Gallagher’s terms will expire later this year. Three individuals are running: former Anderson Mayor and Council member Stan Neutze, Sikh Centre Director and Shasta community organizer Amarjit Singh and community member Lexus Alexander. Only Neutze and Singh were in attendance at Thursday’s forum. 

The candidates started the forum by stating their top priorities if elected. For Neutze, he explained that he wants to focus on budget issues, using his past experience as a council member to improve the city’s finances. He served on the council for eight years starting in 2016.

“I’m, you know, very good at looking at budgets and finding out ways where we can save money and just make sure we simply don’t go out and do something that we really don’t need to do,” Neutze said. 

He added that he also wants to prioritize public safety and economic development and deal with issues that trickle down from the state level, such as a housing plan that was put into place years ago that he believes doesn’t match the city’s current needs. 

For Singh, one of his biggest priorities is to either renovate Anderson Police Department’s building or move the department elsewhere because of its declining infrastructure. He also said he wants to add community spaces that give children and the general public recreational space and address public safety issues that are linked to factors such as homelessness and the need for better emergency preparedness. 

“Every aspect of public safety is not just related to law enforcement,” Singh said. “We need to make things secure to help the public, to help the community and the citizens of Anderson.” 

A community member asked during the forum if the candidates could list what they see as the pros and cons of Flock Safety cameras, which have been facing scrutiny in Anderson and Shasta. 

Neutze appeared to have a somewhat positive outlook on the technology, saying they’ve been used to help police with issues like car theft. But he emphasized that if they’re misutilized, accountability should be enforced. 

“It’s like anything else: If you use the tool improperly, you should be called into account for that,” he said. “If someone misuses it, then they should be fired from their job, or they should be fined.” 

Singh, on the other hand, said he’d prefer to listen to what the community wants first before making any decisions or stances on Flock. 

“[A] city council member is a voice between the government and the community,” he said. “It’s a bridge, right? So I would actually give my priority to listen to the community.” 

Similarly, when the candidates were asked if they would support a data center being developed in Anderson, Singh said he would follow the community’s preference. Neutze agreed, saying while the council should consider it and determine what the overall impact is, if the community thinks it’s a problem, he likely wouldn’t move forward.

Another audience member brought up how one of the amenities of Anderson is its rural agricultural lifestyle, asking how candidates intend to retain this lifestyle while making space for responsible development. 

Singh said he understands that revenue is important for the city, as it aids infrastructure, public safety and community spaces, but he said the city would need to find a balance to still maintain the rural lifestyle. He said good construction and engineering could help make that happen, and the city should be intentional about the businesses it invites in. 

Neutze brought up the Williamson Act, which “enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use,” according to the state Department of Conservation. He said the city should consider what land can be preserved through this program and find a balance between increasing development and maintaining farmland. 

When asked how they would each promote community engagement if elected, Singh said he’s very experienced in this area, noting that Shasta County Supervisor Matt Plummer recently recruited him to Front Porch Shasta, a volunteer initiative aimed to strengthen community connections and build relationships. He said he’s also been a part of numerous groups that focus on community, and he understands the reality that many people are divided on politics, religion and culture. 

“We always have differences,” he said. “But we need to teach and learn how to respect differences.” 

Neutze didn’t emphasize any specific new community engagement-related initiatives or approaches, instead stating that he’s already aware of programs such as National Night Out and Trunk or Treat. 

The candidates also were able to explain other priorities they’re interested in achieving. Neutze said he wants more single-family homes to be built and for the city’s park to be maintained. Singh said he hopes to make improvements to residents’ mental health and add more locations that can serve as cooling centers for residents of the city. 

In his closing statement, Singh responded to misinformation about his religious identity that he said spread when he first ran for the city council in 2022. He took a moment to educate the audience, explaining that he’s Sikh, not Muslim, and noting that Sikhs are from the Punjab state of India. He added that he’s a U.S. citizen and that he received his citizenship during President Donald Trump’s first presidency. 

“I’m proud of being American,” he said. 

In Neutze’s closing remarks, he further emphasized his experience as a council member, saying he’s well-versed in the issues dealing with the city, the county and the state. 

“I’d like to see us continue being one of the gems of the North State and continue to make sure that we have a very solid city council with honor, integrity and character,” he said. 

The election will take place on Nov. 3. Vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to be mailed 29 days before the election.

---

Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.