My Priorities

In a given four-year term, a City Council Member deals with hundreds of issues. It is essential that Council prioritize a few major issues of highest impact to the city to focus on. 

Here are four top priorities:

Affordable Housing

As Chair of the Housing Committee, I led substantial and creative policy and zoning changes that allow Palo Alto to meet state requirements while preserving opportunities to shape how and where growth occurs. Several of the policies we adopted go beyond state requirements to provide deed-restricted, below-market-rate homes.

My priority remains housing that is truly affordable. In a second term, I will continue pursuing the funding, partnerships, and incentives needed to turn affordable housing plans into additional affordable homes.

Public Safety

Keeping residents, businesses, and visitors safe is the fundamental responsibility of city government. During my first term, I supported renewed investment in police and fire staffing, recruitment, training, equipment, and oversight. Both departments have expressed thanks for the strong support.

We have made very good progress, but hiring and retention remain serious challenges. I will continue working to ensure that our public safety departments have the people, training, accountability, and resources needed to serve every part of our community effectively.

Climate and Sustainability

Palo Alto must turn its climate commitments into practical programs that residents and businesses can use and afford. That includes modernizing the electric grid, supporting electrification, protecting our urban forest and natural areas, and preparing for climate impacts.

I will continue advocating for solutions that are ambitious, equitable, and grounded in practical solutions that  can be successfully implemented.

Strong Neighborhoods

Palo Alto is a network of distinctive neighborhoods, shaped by the places, services, and connections that make daily life work. Residents bring essential knowledge about how our existing neighborhoods function and how city decisions affect them. As new areas develop, we should carry that tradition forward and plan them as complete neighborhoods, not simply collections of buildings.

As Palo Alto changes, I will make sure residents are heard and neighborhood needs help shape the path forward, so we can preserve what works, invest wisely in what our community needs, and keep Palo Alto strong, connected, and livable.