Getting to work
My San Leandro Priorities
We have serious things to address. I have solutions.
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City Council needs to become functional again.
Good policy is only meaningful if it is carried out effectively. I will bring decades of government executive experience to City Hall to help build a unified, results-driven City Council. I will encourage multiple points of view to get to the best solution for San Leandro.
– Building Consensus: Move the City Council past political gridlock by encouraging open dialogue, respecting a range of viewpoints, and keeping the agenda focused on practical, shared goals for San Leandro. The Mayor is only one of seven votes, so City Council needs to unify to deliver for our residents. I can work closely with the City Manager AND respect the City’s Charter, which places policy work with the Mayor and Council, and the day-to-day leadership with the City Manager.
– Operational Rigor: We cannot be a fiscally strong city by slowly spending our reserves. I’ll be pushing hard to get the Speedway at Bayfair Phase II (housing and walkable community) and the long-stalled Marina developments moving so that we see progress in building housing and creating new businesses. I’ll prioritize making special business and/or Opportunity Zones on the west side, to draw investment partners and start directing development resources to underserved areas in San Leandro.
Together with Council and the City Manager, we’ll take a hard look at our city government, making sure we have the right people in the right spots to deliver abundant housing, strong communities, and improve affordability. Managing this structural deficit will require difficult trade-offs. I will use my experience overseeing logistics, human resources, and federal budgets to ensure that any necessary administrative cuts protect our essential public safety and community programs.
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San Leandro needs more affordable housing…now!
We’re not building enough multifamily affordable housing for our residents. I want to incentivize development of true below market housing. If it’s tax breaks for a period of time, or discounted land sales/transfers, we need to get building. And I support rent stabilization and just-cause eviction protections to protect existing residents from runaway rent and housing insecurity- we need to put money back in working families’ pockets. That little relief means doctor copays are paid on time, prescriptions are filled, and school supplies are within reach.
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Creating Vibrant, Safe, and Active Neighborhoods.
A growing city should also be a highly livable one. We will invest in the public spaces, infrastructure, and services that make San Leandro a great place to live.
– Thriving Parks & Green Spaces: Upgrade and maintain our parks, trails, and recreational facilities so they stay safe and accessible as community hubs for sports, wellness, and family gatherings. I’ve been part of the work that’s gone into the Parks Master Plan; now we need to put those programs in place to offer accessible recreation for all residents. Developing thriving public spaces allows free and low-cost recreation across all City Council districts, all cultures, and all of San Leandro.
– Walkable & Safe Streets: Invest in pedestrian safety, expand bike networks, and improve neighborhood beautification so our streets are welcoming and accessible for people of all ages. Because our structural deficit severely limits infrastructure spending, I will prioritize securing regional and state grants to fund the repair of our failing local roads without overburdening taxpayers. I advocate for transit-oriented developments which place residents within a short walk, bike ride, or bus connection to major public transit.
– Community Wellness & Youth Development: Support local arts, community events, and youth mentorship programs that help build a strong, connected, and active community. I will keep working, as I have as a Recreation and Parks Commissioner, to bridge the gap between the City and the San Leandro Unified School District so we can share facilities, lower costs, and create more low cost recreation opportunities for everyone in the city.
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Bring businesses to San Leandro.
Generating tax revenue is a major part of getting things done in a city. We need to get aggressive with bringing businesses into our city. I’ll explore all options to turn vacant storefronts into neighborhood stores. Old strip malls into community centers. Investments are happening in towns all around us. It’s time for San Leandro to shine!
I will advocate for high-tech training centers, leveraging large vacant stores to harness our proximity to local universities, community colleges, technical training institutions, and labor unions. Imagine harnessing the power of high powered computing for something beyond creating AI images. San Leandro has a deep history of manufacturing and building. Let’s not lose that institutional memory.
I’ve asked City Council to institute a temporary AI Data Center Moratorium so that we can consult with the community, our neighborhood leaders, educational institutions, and the high-tech labor world to determine what works best for San Leandro, where we could create zones for development, and how we can best deliver jobs, tax resources, and opportunities for San Leandro residents while protecting our natural resources, our power grid, and our quality of life.
There is so much promise here; let’s not jump at the first quick fix.
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We’re running out of money.
Every year San Leandro taps into its reserves. We keep taking from our piggy banks to pay the bills. Eventually, we will be out of options, out of savings, and out of luck.
We can’t balance our budget through cuts alone. We’re going to need to get serious about taxes, bonds, and regulations to make things work properly. I’ll fight to protect critical neighborhood services. Our city won’t be a COMMUNITY without access to basic amenities.
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Let’s invest in public safety 100% .
I support law enforcement, quality investigations, and fair treatment of all citizens. I want to see our police department at full strength, and I know that our officers are stretched too thin and experiencing burnout. It’s not fair to expect law enforcement to deal with every issue from violent crimes and traffic accidents, to managing mental health crises. I’ll work to build up officer assistance from alternative response units, mental health professionals, and community ambassadors to assist with citizens experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
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Our roads are hurting. Still.
I’ll be an open and honest communicator when it comes to public roads and public utilities. So many residents have asked me why their roads aren’t fixed. There is a feeling of inequity in how decisions are made for repairs. I will invite the public to open meetings before we make decisions on major investments for roads. Folks need to know where the money goes. And, once projects are approved, I will keep staff focused on getting the work done. Approving a project with today’s money, then waiting ten years to go to construction is not the right way. I’ve run big projects. I can get tough things done.