CANDIDATE STATEMENT
EMERYVILLE RESIDENCY AND COUNCILMEMBER INCUMBENCY
I’m proud to have made Emeryville my home for over 16 years and was honored to be unanimously appointed to the Emeryville City Council in February, 2023. My deep connection to the city drives my service on the City Council.
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EMERYVILLE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
As a member of the Emeryville Senior Center, renter-turned-homeowner, I understand the needs of residents across generations and housing situations. As an Emeryville Community Organic Gardner, I prioritize parks and public spaces as an important aspect of environmental and community wellbeing.
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PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Professionally, I’m a practicing attorney for 23 years and am the only candidate who is a certified legal specialist with the California State Bar Association which demonstrates my ability to navigate through complex issues and reading materials required of a Councilmember.
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VOLUNTEER WORK AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
I have served as a director of the largest Homeowner's Association in Emeryville. I’ve also founded an educational non-profit that supports professionals and funds charities, another role that sets me apart in my dedication to public service and community involvement.
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PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION
I’m also the only candidate with a diverse range of personal achievements, from being a certified yoga teacher, competitive ballroom dancer, self-published poet to running more than 15 marathons and half-marathons, even placing second in my age category in a half-marathon. I bring the same dedication to the City Council that I’ve shown in personal and professional pursuits.
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RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE
As someone of South-Asian heritage and an immigrant, I bring a unique perspective of volunteerism and public service to the Council that is reflective of my cultural heritage and valuable to understanding of the diverse perspectives in Emeryville.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON CITY COUNCIL
Since my appointment, I've championed key initiatives to enhance our city's environment, infrastructure, and public safety.
To improve our environment, I voted to allocate $1 million for tree planting, banned turf installation in new developments to support pollinators and increase biodiversity, banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, and advanced the electrification of city vehicles. I also facilitated the installation of electric vehicle chargers in city parking lots for employees and supported improvements on Hollis Street to bolster public transit and pedestrian access.
To promote wellness, I supported updates to the smoking pollution control ordinance. To enhance our community's quality of life, I advocated to allocate a portion of a $575,000 pro-housing accessibility grant to pre-ADA multi-unit dwellings, voted to explore rent stabilization, and backed public arts initiatives. For public safety, I supported the responsible use of license plate readers, ensured our police department is fully staffed and equipped, and identified grants to strengthen Fire Department services.
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COMMITMENT
I’m committed to continuing to serve our city with dedication and to advocating for smart growth, and improved quality of life through environmental sustainability, public safety, and equity.
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