Housing for All, Safe and Vibrant Neighborhoods, and Proven Leadership

MY VALUES

I value open and honest communication; equitable treatment of residents, city employees, and government officials; and a commitment to involving all of San Leandro in major decisions.

MY VISION FOR SAN LEANDRO: The Platform

San Leandro should be a place where working families can afford to live, where our neighborhoods and public spaces are thriving, and where City Hall provides clear and efficient results. As Mayor, I will focus on an operations-driven approach to address our biggest challenges. By building consensus on the City Council, we can address the housing crisis, invest in our quality of life, and make sure our local government serves everyone.

1. Housing Affordability: Pro-Housing, Pro-Tenant, Pro-Community

We need a broad approach to the housing shortage that plans for the future while also protecting current residents from being displaced.

– Pro-Housing by Building Abundant Housing: Cut unnecessary bureaucracy and use streamlined approvals to build “missing middle” housing (duplexes, triplexes) and transit-oriented development. Make getting to work and school via mass transit an easy task, not a major hassle. I support by-right zoning approvals and welcome reduction of red tape in the permitting of ADU conversions in historically single-family neighborhoods. Communities thrive by having a diverse mix of residents throughout each neighborhood.

– Pro-Tenant by expanding Tenant Protections: Expand just-cause eviction protections, enforce local rent dispute and stabilization programs, and create rapid-response anti-displacement funds to help working families stay in their homes. Folks should not be living in fear of losing their homes because a landlord wants to raise the rent. If you’re meeting the terms of your lease, you should rest easy, knowing your place is stable.

– Pro-Community through Advancing Social Housing: We’ll work with non-profits and use public land to create deeply affordable, mixed-income municipal housing that will remain off the speculative market for good. Let’s take advantage of vacant lots, and do what is right to lower prices and increase the number of truly affordable units for our residents.

To fund this, I am closely following the pending Alameda County housing initiative and strongly support the state’s Proposition 1. This measure, appearing on the November ballot, would authorize an $11.25 billion General Obligation bond to fund affordable housing programs and accessible homeownership. I will ensure San Leandro secures its fair share of these funds and administers them with strict fiscal accountability so that taxpayer dollars translate directly into housing, not red tape.

– Addressing homelessness by providing Housing First: Get people off the streets and into safe temporary housing where they can be paired with counseling resources, a safe place to sleep, and job training resources as appropriate. I’ll work to increase supportive housing, push to leverage funds from Alameda County and from non-profit partners to convert unused spaces in San Leandro into dignified housing for homeless. I’ll work closely with our neighboring cities to create shared housing opportunities, as homelessness has no set boundary.

2. Quality of Life & Livability: 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.

– Public Safety: With officers 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.

– 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.

3. Leading the City Council: Operational Excellence & Collaborative Governance

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.

Let’s Build a Better San Leandro, Together.