Vision Statement
Cupertino is an inclusive and balanced community with a transparent government, healthy environment, excellent schools, robust employment, recreation spaces, and high quality of life.
Platform Concepts
Public Safety
The California Constitution provides the city with the authority to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents. Cupertino is regarded as a safe, clean, and attractive city which we are proud of, and we want to maintain this and thoughtfully remedy any areas where there needs improvement. The city responded quickly to COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic, and cautiously relaxed restrictions to maintain public health, as an example of our thoughtful planning. Our Sheriffs are greatly appreciated in our City, and...
Fiscal Accountability
Politicians will sling the words “fiscal accountability” or “transparency” around, but do they really have the track record to support the claims? I have spent the past 4 years on city council diligently looking after your tax dollars in our Budget, finances, and financial documents making important reforms.
Housing and Jobs
Cupertino surprisingly continues to have one of the better jobs to housing ratios in the area, a feature which has improved by pandemic impacts to office occupancy declines and vacancies due to teleworking as the new normal. The office obsolescence shock is expected to last several years, meaning the jobs increases predicted by the State are not materializing and this directly impacts housing needs, meaning the Regional Housing Needs Assessment numbers are even less accurate than previously noted.
Transportation
I have chaired the Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee for two years and gained great insight into the challenges with regards to cost, consumer appetite for mass transit, and destination availability of transit in the area. As an engineer trained in transportation solutions, seeing the high value lucrative contracts for transit systems have, makes it imperative that we are not swayed by solutions looking for problems, but by solid and provable data.
Recreation and Park Space
In the past 6 years between my time on the Planning Commission and City Council, I have advocated for park and recreational space equity for access to these important spaces across the city. Some of my highlights are...
Cupertino Library
In 2022 the Library Expansion was completed, adding beautiful bird-safe meeting rooms which have hosted art shows, lectures, and community meetings. I serve on the Santa Clara Library District Joint Powers Authority (“JPA”) and this year our library will have the childrens’ area updated with art and furnishings funded by the JPA! Additionally, Cupertino’s expanded library hours are funded through the JPA, and not from our city’s General Fund, which I ensured was reflected in our City Budget.
The Environment
Locally, being bordered by the Lehigh Cement plant and Stevens Creek Quarry, and being in the county with the most Superfund sites of any county in the U.S., we have had a history of environmental challenges due to the nature and proximity of these facilities along with having two major freeways and several arterials, and being south of at least 5 refineries and the major Port of Oakland. As Chair of the Environmental Review Committee I brought the first training sessions to both that committee and the Planning Commission to educate these bodies on CEQA and have furthered my education to support human health.
Equity
Cupertino residents enjoy a very diverse community which thrives on our strong work ethic and open-mindedness towards others. Our students become our future leaders and innovators, deserving of our support and assurance that they will have equitable academic opportunities commensurate with their efforts. We need our life-long learners to have continued choices for their academic interests at the highest level. We must support diversity especially among our largest employers and provide affordable housing to increase opportunities for more inclusion.