Why I'm Running:
I’ve been working to stand up for tenants’ and workers’ rights and the pleas of tenants for some sort of protection from outrageous rent hikes and evictions that have not been addressed by this council. They have been fiscally asleep at the wheel, moving us into a budget deficit. The city council has failed to address concerns about who and in what manner influence is sought for personal and business gain. We cannot wait four more years to address these fundamental issues.
My wife and I moved to San Leandro from San Francisco seven years ago so that we could purchase a home and start a family. We liked the feel of San Leandro and it was a commutable distance from our jobs in San Francisco. I worked as a manager with the San Francisco Symphony and she worked as a Registered Nurse and diabetes educator at UCSF.
After our daughter was born, we commuted into the city with her for daycare and preschool. When it came time to decide where to send our daughter to school we decided that we needed to support our local public school. She now attends Washington Elementary. When we committed to that decision we did it knowing that we would be planting roots here in San Leandro and working to build community. I left my job with the Symphony so I could focus on expanding education opportunities for her and all San Leandro students.
I realized quickly that until we stabilize our community by ending the rampant and rapid displacement of families, we would have trouble improving our schools. We need family involvement and commitment to their student’s education which is difficult to achieve if you’re struggling to pay the rent and not sure if you’re going to be able to stay here.
San Leandro faces tremendous challenges. We deserve a competent and professional City government. The back-to-back tax increases were pitched as a way to generate revenue that would keep San Leandro in healthy financial state. The reality is that the City is running huge budget deficits that threaten cuts to vital services. Our streets remain pothole-ridden, our city’s reputation has taken a hit, and significant ethical lapses at the highest level are costing real money. To top it off, this administration has ignored renters and low-income seniors who are simply asking for support to stay in their homes.
My Commitment to San Leandro:
I will be a full-time Mayor and work tirelessly to turn San Leandro around. I will restore transparency and accountability to City Hall. We deserve a city where public money is spent on public works, recreational facilities and social services. No more excessive payouts. Using my skills and experience as a manager, I will balance the budget without another sales tax. I will support City staff as we work together to change our city’s priorities and get us on the right track. It is time for out-of-town developers and landlords to pay their fair share.
My Platform:
We must tackle the housing crisis
Rising rents are pushing our seniors and young families out of their homes, putting elderly people on the streets and destabilizing our communities. We need rent control, just cause for evictions, and assistance for homeowners under threat of foreclosure. As our city grows, we must preserve our neighborhoods. We must empower working families and protect our neighbors from displacement and discrimination. We need more houses, not more warehouses!
Integrity in Government
San Leandro deserves a “fresh, clean start”. I will not accept donations from corporations or apartment associations. I am limiting all campaign contributions to $99. Our city can’t thrive with the same old routine. We need bold, decisive action on housing, education, environment and governance, not handwringing half-measures. As the city’s mayor, I will be solely and entirely dedicated to the people and to no one else.
Growth for Community Benefit
We have a great opportunity in San Leandro to grow our city, bring in new people and expand our tax base without displacing renters or encroaching on our single-family home neighborhoods. When development is undertaken, we must determine what the benefit of the new buildings will be. Are they providing affordable housing or needed commercial space or services? We must also look at the impacts new development will have on our city. How will this project impact traffic, parking, schools and other city services? Will the project displace residents? If we evaluate these metrics for each project we can make sure we’re preserving the nature of our neighborhoods and keeping families in their homes.
Organizing Our Community and Supporting Education:
As father of a Washington Elementary student, I’ve been a dedicated community organizer fighting for education opportunities, tenant's rights and fair wages in San Leandro, while realizing a more progressive, clean vision for our city's future. I am a former manager and treasurer at the San Francisco Symphony and Program Coordinator for the San Leandro Educational Foundation.
During the Bernie Sanders campaign I organized volunteers all over the Bay Area. I was a campaign “super volunteer” and canvassing coordinator for San Leandro. I served as an elected delegate for Senator Sanders to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
I was elected as a member of the Assembly District 18 Democratic State Central Committee and am an Alternate Member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. I co-founded and currently serve as Coordinator and Steering Committee Chair of Our Revolution San Leandro, a group fighting for rent control and tenants’ rights, Sanctuary City, Divestment from pipeline investment banks, and a living wage for all.
I’ve committed to devoting my work to the advancement of social justice and fighting income inequality. Prior to that I worked for 12 years as a Manager of the San Francisco Symphony, supervising and supporting 19 staff members.
