My focus on the City Council will be informed by my professional career working on climate change, and will continue the City’s efforts to make Emeryville more livable for all its residents while preparing it for a future impacted by the Bay Area’s housing crisis and climate change. All of Emeryville’s funding, programs, and projects should center these realities.

If elected, I would have three major priorities: housing and sustainable buildings, transportation, and good governance and business.

Building more abundant, affordable, and low-carbon housing:

The Bay Area is experiencing a severe housing crisis which is caused by insufficient housing options and is leading to unaffordability. Addressing this crisis requires building more housing of all types for all people. By increasing the variety and abundance of housing options, including and especially for lower-income residents, existing and new residents will be able to find places to live that match their needs as they build families, age in place, and navigate life’s challenges. At the same time, addressing and adapting to a warming climate requires improving the existing housing stock. Emeryville will not solve these regional and global crises on its own, but we can take action to improve livability for residents today. My experience on the city’s advisory Housing Committee gives me insight into residents’ current housing challenges and Emeryville’s existing housing programs and policies.

My priorities for the city if elected will include:

• Allow more and a greater variety and density of housing options to create both naturally occurring and deed-restricted affordable housing through upzoning, reducing setback requirements, and seeking funding for current affordable housing developments.

• Ensure a high quality of life by requiring family friendly design, public green space, and sustainable transportation for new developments.

• Encourage sustainability by helping residents install climate-friendly building improvements like bike storage, electric vehicle chargers, and local plants, and incentivize new developments to use low-carbon building methods such as zero-emission construction equipment and mass timber building methods.

Safe and joyful sustainable transportation:

Making Emeryville more livable and affordable while addressing climate change requires offering residents safer ways to travel throughout the city besides by personal automobile. Emeryville has become regionally and nationally known for its bike infrastructure, outstanding Active Transportation Plan, and recent Sustainable Streetscapes program, bolstered by excellent planning and public works staff. Better pedestrian, bike, and public transportation infrastructure increases public safety, decreases pollution, and creates more joyful and livable spaces.

On City Council I will use my experience from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to:

• Implement existing plans in our Active Transportation Plan, including protected bikeways and bus lanes on 40th Street, the extended Doyle Street safe streets, and spot improvements throughout the city, in addition to regionally led projects like the San Pablo Avenue bus and bike lanes.

• Improve pedestrian safety and accessibility throughout the city by partnering with property owners to fix hazardous sidewalks and expand pedestrian space where possible. Conduct a sidewalk inventory to understand infrastructure needs, similar to what we do for roadways.

• Partner with AC Transit and the Emery Go Round to preserve and improve public transit service throughout the city, including through targeted infrastructure improvements that can speed up buses and make service more reliable.

Good governance and maintaining small businesses and public safety:

Emeryville is in a transition phase with opportunities such as turnover on the City Council and a new City Manager, and challenges of a budget deficit and a variety of struggling small businesses. Navigating these opportunities and challenges requires collaboration and community engagement and input. My experience serving on both the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Housing Committee has prepared me for operating within Emeryville and Council processes, making decisions with other residents, and coming to a consensus and will make for an easier transition to City Council and onboarding the new City Manager. Addressing the budget deficit without cutting crucial programs like public safety and street paving will require analytically-grounded and collaborative decision-making, which I do professionally and have already contributed to Emeryville.

Emeryville’s businesses are part of its thriving character and make up the majority of its tax base. In my discussions with small businesses, it is clear that many, and especially our restaurants, are still struggling with the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This economic uncertainty has negative impacts on employees, the local community, public safety, and city finances. I will work with small businesses and city staff to identify solutions and promote the wide range of businesses in the city to increase Emeryville’s vibrancy and financial health.