Okay, at this point we're just gonna make a quick announcement.

We do have a technical difficulty with the clerk's equipment.

We do believe that we are transmitting online, and we're gonna get confirmation here that people online can hear us.

Um and we're working on a workaround because the primary constraint is a voting constraint, because we don't have voting that will take place probably for the next three hours.

We can continue with our meeting as long as we're transmitting, but we're trying to iron out those technical difficulties, and so stay tuned.

Oh, no, I was just calling and tell you that I'm in the meeting and I can't hear anything.

Excuse me, Janelle.

Excuse me.

Okay, so we're working to double check some connectivity.

And so for the folks online, we ask you to be patient for a few more minutes.

Okay, it is five.

It is Monday, March 23rd, 2026.

Please stand if you're able to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America in terms of remote for which stands one nation under God Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

The City of San Leandro conducts order before doing that announcement.

Would you please take roll, Madam Clerk?

Vice Mayor Viveros Walton.

Present.

Council Member Aguilar.

Present.

Council Member Simon.

Present.

Council Member Bowen.

Present.

Councilmember Bolt.

Present.

And Mayor Gonzalez.

Present.

Thank you.

The City of San Leandro conducts orderly meetings to fulfill its mandate, discriminatory statements or conduct that would potentially violate the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 under the California for Employment and Housing Act.

California Penal Code Sections 403 or 415 are per se disruptive to a meeting and will not be tolerated.

Please see the City Council handbook and city council meeting rule subdecorum for more information.

Madam Clerk, your announcement.

If you would like to make a public comment during the meeting, you can do so in person or via Zoom.

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Once public comment is opened, hands may be raised to speak.

At this point, I'm a move to agenda item number three.

And Madam Clerk, I do believe you will be introducing this item.

Yes, Mayor, thank you.

One moment while I pull up the presentation.

Thank you, Mayor.

Again, this is Sarah Bunting, uh City Clerk for the City of San Leandro.

The item before you tonight is the City Council's opportunity to interview and potentially appoint a member of the community to fill the existing district two vacancy on the city council.

We'll start with a very brief overview of the charter requirements that mandate how the city fills vacancies on the council.

And then we'll briefly talk about tonight's interview process.

Um the process of voting for nominations and appointment and potential steps if the council does not make an appointment this evening.

So by means of background, the city charter is the enabling legislation that guides the city's process for filling the vacancy and fundamentally requires that a vacancy on the council be filled by appointment by the city council within 60 days of the appointment or the vacancy existing on the council.

If the council does not make an appointment, then the council uh does not make an appointment by the deadline, the 60 days, then the city council must call for a special election for the uh vacancy to be filled by a vote of the people.

The timeline for this evening's process began with the vacancy when uh former council member Azevedo vacated his position on December 10th, which initiated that 60-day timeline.

Uh council action on February 17th, the directed staff to proceed with an application process and applications uh were circulated available online in the city clerk's office, and 12 applications were received, seven of which met the eligibility requirements in the city charter, which include uh residency in district two for this vacancy and being a registered district two voter.

Again, the deadline to appoint would be April 11th.

And if no appointment is made tonight, the council can continue deliberations at another meeting.

The next regular council meeting would be April 6th, or the council could also vote uh to call for a special election and fill the vacancy that way.

If the council does need to proceed to calling for a special election, staff does recommend that the special election be consolidated with the November election uh this year.

The reason for that is the date is one that can be operated by the register of voters, and that election is already fully budgeted for in the existing fiscal year budget.

If a different election date were selected, the the costs could be considerably more, ranging from the low almost 200,000 to over 1.2 million dollars based on the per registered voter costs from the Alameda County Register of Voters.

I mentioned uh that 12 applications were received, and seven of those were eligible.

The eligible applicants in the order of uh receipt are from Leo Sheridan, James Aguilar, Louis Mendoza, Emily Chandler, Robert Bulitao, Edward Hernandez, and Tiari Pena.

For interviews this evening, the interview order will be randomly selected by the city clerk, and the candidates will be asked to leave the council chambers at that time to be sequestered in the sister city gallery right across the hall.

The candidates will be brought in in the order that's randomly selected for them, and the mayor will ask each candidate for a 90-second introductory remarks.

Then each member of the city council and the mayor will have four minutes for questions and answers of each candidate.

And we will run the timer just to help everybody stay on track.

And we do ask that the questions that the council asks of the interview candidates refrain from touching on any of the uh protected characteric characteristics, some of which we have listed up here on the slide, but in general, things about someone's uh gender, um religious affiliation, age, things of that nature shouldn't be factored into your questions.

For the nomination portion, uh we ask um the mayor will ask for nominations from the council.

Any applicant who receives a nomination is then eligible for consideration.

But if no app if an applicant did not receive a nomination that at that point they would be removed from consideration for applicants who received uh a nomination, we will create the city clerk will create a random voting order, and the vote will be called in that order.

If a person receives four votes, they would be selected for appointment.

And then council at that time could make a motion and a second to adopt the resolution to appoint.

And if we've gone through that process and we have not yet received a nomination with four votes, we can repeat that process.

Council can continue deliberating.

Um we can do another vote.

And again, if there is no majority nominee at tonight's council meeting, the city council may continue deliberations at the next regular city council meeting on April 6th, or could proceed to adopting the resolution calling for the special election to fill the vacancy.

So again, the recommendation from staff tonight is to conduct the interviews and if possible um potentially make an appointment at tonight's city council meeting or continue the deliberations or adopt the resolution calling for the special election.

And with that, uh staff is available if there are any questions.

So do we have any questions from council members on the process at this time?

Councilmember Bolt.

Yes, when we well, we're talking about the nominations part.

Does it need a second, or is it just it does not?

Okay.

And um in that scenario, you can nominate more than a singular council member can nominate more than one person.

Yes.

Thank you.

Council uh Vice Mayor, please.

Thank you.

Um just to clarify for the folks that are listening in, um, we could continue this process up to the April 6th.

However, there is a drop dead deadline.

What is that date again?

The council's deadline to appoint is 60 days from the date the vacancy was created or April 11th.

So that's April 11th.

Okay.

So April 11th is a drop-dead date, but we could continue this until April 6th meeting.

Thank you.

Um If I can just clarify that answer.

We could have a special meeting on the 10th.

Seventh day flanked.

Yeah.

Are we in agreement on that?

We could.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And then um just to um not a question, but uh I would like uh to submit a um consideration for my colleagues as to um when you are asking your questions to be upfront about the number of questions so that the person who's answering them can allot their time.

That was something that during my appointment process was um I had to take time to ask the question.

So I think if we can just say I have three questions, four minutes on the clock, so that the person who's answering the question can time themselves.

Um, I think would be appreciated.

Um and that is those are all my questions and comments.

Okay, seeing no other questions, um I have a question about access to electronics, access to cell phones.

My recollection was it in the prior process, no one in the sister cities room had access to any electronics.

The idea being that they wouldn't they couldn't be texted by someone that's listening to the meeting about the questions that are being heard.

Thank you, Mayor.

For tonight's interview process, we have the applicants sequestered in the sister city gallery right across the way with uh member of the city clerk's office, and I believe the assistant city manager is there as well.

Uh we've asked them in writing, and I've verbally reiterated tonight as well to uh refrain from watching the meeting, listening to the meeting, or communicating with anyone regarding the meeting.

So I so to me, I just want to be clear, I it is my preference that nobody have access to any electronics during the meeting because I know as a matter of fact that in meetings like this, I'm not suggesting that it happened at your particular situation, Vice Mayor, that people do send text messages to people that are sequestered.

And so I am I am concerned that uh even though the draw is random, people that are later in the interview process have the advantage of knowing what the questions are.

And so I I've got a question for my colleagues.

Do people have concerns about the same risk?

Councilmember Bolt.

I don't, and my thing is if we can't get through this process without trusting, we're screwed.

So I mean uh to pull their phone now.

I mean, I would personally, if I was in their shoes sitting in that room, I'd want to be doing emails or something, you know.

So it's on their merit, and we get what we get, right?

If we don't understand that now.

Councilmember Bowen.

Yeah, I I am supportive of that.

I when we were talking about this process, I was under the impression that we were going to be consistent with the process that we had the last time, which we absolutely did spend time deliberating on, but it had to do with trying to remove as much um bias as possible and to try to make it as even as possible.

And so the idea of sequestering um the candidates um and then removing um access to um their cell phones as well as asking council members to ask the same questions that they choose to ask to every single candidate so that is fair that every candidate is able to um provide that same information, and so that's what I would want to ensure um fidelity and and also just fairness in this process.

Councilmember Simon as far as the cell phones go, I I would say we expect all our candidates to have integrity.

We asked them not to use their phones for communication on this process, and I expect I would expect them to follow that.

I mean, I I think that I agree with Councilmember Bolton.

They understand that.

So I'm good with that.

The second is I agree with Councilmember Bowen on the questions.

We should ask the same questions to all the candidates to be fair to each one.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you.

It's my recollection, and I don't know 100% sure that no one took their phones out when we were in sequestered in the back.

I'm okay with just trusting y'all.

I don't have, I have specific questions on people's application.

So I have some questions that are for all the candidates, but I have specific questions to each candidate based on their application.

So my process would not fit with what y'all are recommending.

And I don't think we have to, I mean, it's a it's a um consideration that it's a consideration, but we don't have to do that, correct.

Councilman Ricky Daj.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

I um yeah, I just I just have some kind, I mean, you know, some of these folks that are applying for the position have families.

So you know, if if they have their phone with them and they're contacted, I think that's just something that needs to be allowed.

Um, but like my council colleague vote had mentioned with regards to merit.

I think you know, folks know whether or not to check their phone, but if there's an emergency where they need to absolutely look at their phone to contact um family, that's something that I you know I support.

Okay, at this point in time, I do want to do a quick record clarification.

Your slide was correct regarding February 10th.

Um, but you spoke and said December 10th for council member Azebito's departure.

So just so we have a perfectly clear record.

We will clean that up.

And then we will come to public comment on this item.

Mayor, we have not received any comment cards from here in the room.

And there are presently two hands raised online.

Okay, let's open up public comment online.

Our online first online speaker is Douglas Spaulding.

Thank you.

Uh good evening, council members.

Sorry you're in the meeting room there and not out enjoying the beautiful weather.

Um, but I think this is a fine hour for San Leandro.

I uh I believe a Phoenix is about to rise from um the loss of uh former council member Asvedo.

I I just think it's first of all, tremendous that we have so many people that applied for this position.

Uh and and I would include the the the five folks who ended up being not eligible.

Uh I think there are many good choices here.

Uh I, for example, I appreciate uh Mr.

Mendoza.

I I I've enjoyed hearing his comments as we talked about uh the whole uh platform of housing protections.

I think it's an interesting idea to look at the makeup, the the gender balance in the council now and think, well, what would it mean if we were to add another woman?

How might that shift the dynamics?

Um, but I I also think that we have an opportunity to shift uh the dynamics in a different way, which is to go younger.

And uh and not to go older.

Um so I I am calling in to support the candidacy of James Aguilar, uh, whom I've known for quite some time because we both uh originate from the San Lorenzo Unified School District.

Uh while he was never a student of mine, he was over at uh San Lorenzo while I was uh heading up uh East Bay Arts.

Uh I I've I've known grown to know him quite a bit through union organizing because we were both on the organizing committee that successfully won raises for teachers and allowed me to retire.

But um, you know, James has like a tremendous amount of energy.

He is a very um affable person, very easy to work with, very um uh concerned about issues of equity, very inclusive.

Uh and so I think I think you know it it's kind of like the you know, uh giant's opening day lay uh uh lineup.

Who do you choose?

Who do you choose?

I think this is the best person.

Thank you.

Your time has elapsed.

The next speaker is Sam Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

Hello, can you hear me okay?

Yes.

Hey everybody, good evening.

It's Emily Grego, president and CEO of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

I wanted to just make a couple of remarks tonight as you guys start this process and just emphasize the importance of this appointment uh for the economic future of our community here in San Leandro.

As you know, district two includes uh key commercial corridors and employers.

It's essential that the appointee is prepared to support business retention, attract new investment, and help foster a predictable and supportive business environment.

This person needs to understand the critical role of the local businesses driving economic vitality.

They have to be committed to economic development, and they have to understand what is needed for the big picture and how they have to just stay the course so that we can create a better economy here in San Leandro by bringing in businesses and retaining those that are here.

We also think that there needs to be a willingness to partner effectively with the business community.

A strong relationship between the city and its employers is essential to advancing thoughtful economic development that benefits all community members.

So good luck tonight.

We hope you make a good decision and strong decision, and that it is reflective of what it is needed to keep San Leandro viable, which is its local economy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Alvaro Ramos.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay.

So what I wanted to say is that uh a healthy society is one that grants a chance to those who have not served.

District 2 deserves new leadership.

I advise the mayor and council members to vote for Robert Bulitau.

Robert Bulitau is the candidate who courageously initiated a process for local representation in our government.

Robert Bulitau gave the people of San Leandro the opportunity to vote for a city of neighborhoods.

Robert Bulitau chose to improve democracy in our constitutional republic.

District 2 needs a political representative who is committed to the people of the district.

It is the people of this city who have to live with the consequences of all your decisions.

In 2020, District 2 experienced a once-in-a-century series of crises from pollution from wildfires, political crisis, economic crisis, and disease outbreak from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking back, there was no recovery from any of our problems.

Doing nothing about our present crisis is not an option for our city.

The people don't want to go back.

This city deserves someone new so that we can move forward together and comment.

Thank you.

The next online speaker is Jim Pola.

Hi, City Council members.

Um task tonight that um helped me uh get appointed to the city council.

Uh I would encourage you to point James Aguilar.

Um he's been on the school board for years.

He's proficient in finance.

Uh he's brilliant, a young man who has overcome many obstacles in his life.

He's passionate about public safety.

Um wears all three hats.

Um, and I'm talking about uh labor, climate, uh, environmentalism, and social justice.

Um I absolutely trust him the most to continue a strong rent stabilization ordinance.

He might tweak it a little, but I think that's really critical.

Uh he has some family members that have been on house.

And um, and I think you need a person that builds bridges, and that's what James has done all his life.

Um he's a uniter, not a divider, a team builder.

Um I don't think you can do any better.

I've read a lot of applications over the years of um people that are applying for jobs.

And I've never read one that was as good as James in covering all the bases.

It hurts me to see the city council so divided in a city that I love.

James is the one that can help heal and move our city forward in a progressive direction.

Wow, I'd encourage you to reread his application if you don't think that he's the best one.

It just is shocking how good it was.

And uh please vote for James Aguilar.

Uh he definitely has my support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor, that concludes the online comments.

And we did end up receiving one card from the room.

Okay, so we will close public comment online.

And while we bring our speaker up, I will remind council members when you are yeah, come on up.

So when you're speaking into your mic, can you make sure that your mic is actually pointed at your mouth?

I think sometimes you're speaking off to the side, which makes it hard for the people online to hear you.

So please be very mindful of speaking straight into your mic.

We can proceed in person now.

Thank you, Mayor.

The first speaker is Mike McGuire.

Uh can you hear me now?

Good, good online people.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh so I don't want to uh you know take any uh um make any suggestions for who to appoint.

Uh, but I did want to thank all the people who applied.

Uh I was reading their applications online and they look uh all serious and qualified.

Um I think it is very brave of them to want to get involved with the council after the last year that the council has had.

It's been a rough year uh for the council.

I hope they realize how much work for how modest pay council members actually put in.

Uh and uh I did want to just note one irony there, uh, which is uh Mr.

Baltao's uh uh contribution to democracy that I don't think was named was uh pushing for district elections.

So I did want to look I did want to point out the irony of someone being appointed to a position after working so hard for pushing for district elections.

Of course, he'd have to face one if appointed very soon.

Uh but again, thank you for everyone who applied.

Thank you for your interest and uh willingness to get involved.

Thank you.

Mayor, that concludes the comment cards we received.

Okay, so at this point in time, we will proceed with our interview process.

As part of the interview process, we have our city clerk using a random number generator.

I think you had used uh the state, the state of California's secretary of state uh generator, is that correct?

Uh mayor, we are using random.org.

Well, that's good enough for me.

One moment.

So I have the names pre-typed in alphabetical order by last name, and I am pasting them into our random generator.

And when I click randomize, that will be our order.

All right.

So the order of interviews will be James Aguilar, Emily Chandler, third, Edward Hernandez, fourth, Tiara Pinya, fifth, Robert Bulletau, sixth, Leo Sheridan, and seventh, Louis Mendoza.

At this time, uh candidates are now asked to join my staff in the sister cities gallery to wait for your turn to be interviewed.

All right, James, if you're ready.

Mr.

Aguilar, welcome.

Thank you.

So we'll uh during this process, what we'll do is we'll give each council member four minutes, but you are welcome to start with a general background of yourself, why you want the position, et cetera, for about a minute and a half.

Sure.

Thank you.

Mayor Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Vivero Swalton, Council members, I appreciate you for your time this evening and your consideration.

I respectfully ask for your appointment to the city council district two seat.

I have lived in San Leandro for over 13 years.

And this is the city where I became the person who I am today.

I'm grateful to have been involved in the leadership of our city in many capacities, notably on the school board, uh, in local nonprofits such as San Leandro 2050 as an educator and more.

I also bring lived experience as someone from a union family, as a queer Latino young person with a breadth of experience in and a drive for public service.

I'm grateful to have known all of you for many years and have strong working relationships with each of you.

I consider myself a big picture systems thinker, seeking out solutions at every corner to the issues that we have before us, and someone that can bridge ideas and people together.

Because that is the leadership that is needed, especially now.

If I am able to serve beside you, I hope to work to bring the council to consensus leadership and effective governance, address the budget deficit facing our city, including over 300 million dollars in unfunded capital improvement projects, work to build programs and policy that will tackle the needs of San Leandro's children, youth, families, and work beside our community partners as collaborators.

Hold ourselves to account in our commitment to San Leandro's renters and work authentically to build trust between our community and the people we represent.

So I thank you for your consideration this evening.

At this point in time, we'll move to individual council members.

Just go ahead and buzz in, and then I will call you in turn.

Councilmember Bolt.

Yes, I have uh I I'm gonna have one question all night, and it's gonna be the same question.

So um what is the primary issue that that drives you to want to serve for district two?

And then in your opinion, what is a viable solution to that problem, and how would you work to accomplish that solution?

Sure.

I mean, the one single issue that'll hit the desk of this council in April will be the budget.

We'll be discussing what do we do with this budget deficit.

And so um I I'm really proud to have worked in nonprofits where I've been a part of audit committees, where I've been a part of budget.

Uh and specifically right now I'm on the declining enrollment task force in San Larazzo Unified School District.

And so we're dealing with these issues of cuts of what do we do with a budget in a world of budget crisis, right?

Um, and so I have three solutions, actually.

It's the three things that can really mend and bring our budget solution together, uh, which is first, we need to talk about revenue generation, right?

In the midst of cuts, we need to discuss well, what's our plan?

And I believe that means we keep our young residents in mind because they're gonna be our future.

Those are the people who are going to be here for years and potentially create generations of families, like we already have, but we need to keep them here.

So centering our conversation around young people and young families in San Leandro, uh working more directly with our city partners, specifically leveraging their grant capabilities, because they have endless resources that we need to either retap into or tap into completely.

Um I'm speaking, of course, from the perspective of someone who's worked for San Leandro 2050, where we worked with CARB and Accluma and all kinds of different air quality organizations that can provide the resources that we as a city need and deserve.

Um, and then of course, on the economic development end, we also need to uh take a look at other top issues, right?

Um, specifically revenue generation through recruitment of businesses, right?

And just as Ms.

Griego in her public comment said, we need to center our businesses in this conversation.

And so I find that to be important to me.

Um and so what does that look like?

That looks like authentically collaborating instead of checking a box and saying, hey, we included our businesses.

We need to have them at the table too.

Uh and so those are just a few things to capture your question.

Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez, and thank you, James.

Um, my question is uh we we obviously get to nominate who we would like to see in this position.

Why should why should my colleagues and I support you?

Sure.

Um I think we are at a really important time in San Leandro's history.

Um and we'd be naive to think that we haven't you know seen trauma, right?

From all of San Leandro politics, that we haven't seen things just go south.

And San Leandro residents, they see that.

And so as it was kind of mentioned in public comment, we need a consensus builder.

We need someone who has had the years of relationships like I do with not only y'all, but our school board, right?

Our community partners.

And I feel like I'm the person to do that.

But in addition, I think it's also been said, and it was said well, um, young voice, because as I mentioned, answering council member Bolt's question, um, the young perspective is important.

Understanding that we also balance the perspective of San Leandro's older population, which makes up a huge amount of San Leandrins.

Um, but I'm looking at the future too, right?

And so balancing those is something that I'm very capable and willing of doing.

And so um I see that as being a defining difference between myself and the other candidates.

Thank you.

That's my question.

Councilmember Bowen.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, James, for um stepping up and um uh applying for this appointment.

Um, I have two questions.

One, and I think you kind of spoke a little bit to it earlier, but what specifically motivates you to step into the role right now, given the challenges and what would success look like for you if you were only in this role for a short period.

Sure, it's a really good and poignant question, especially given the length of what would be the term all the way up to December.

Um, but let me start with the first part of that question.

I'm really motivated by children and families, as evidenced by working in education uh as a high school teacher and activities director, evidenced by working with nonprofit organizations in the education space.

Um, but being on the school board really informed me the importance of needing to keep children and families here.

Um, and so if you know it it's one very big issue that I'm passionate about, it's getting on the council and doing what I can to keep those families here, because that's San Leandro, keeping that multi-generational feeling in San Leandro, but also keeping them here because we need them.

Uh so working toward programming uh uh with the library, working toward programming with uh parks and recreation, um, really important to me to attacking that one issue of children and families.

And so that's kind of my primary motivation, other than obviously budget um and all of the list of things.

Thank you.

And then my second question, district two residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with the community that did initially feel represented?

And how would that shape the way you advocate for district two specifically on the council?

Sure.

I'll take it to when I was 18 years old and I was that that one person who was like, yeah, I'll run for school board.

Um I, of course, when I when I first walked for the role, I I had doors shut in my face.

I had people tell me, oh, you're you're too young for that.

You need to go step step down and learn something.

Um that's been a narrative all my adult life so far.

Um and so I'm not new to being pushed out of conversation because of who I am.

Uh, in addition to being LGBTQ, that's something I've experienced in different kinds of settings, walking in the classroom, believe it or not.

And so um I've learned I've learned a little.

Um and what it takes is a listener, is someone who's gonna authentically listen um and grow to understand issues through dialogue.

Um and that's just how I work.

That's always how I've worked with children.

That's how I've worked with my colleagues is I want to understand you.

I want to be able to grow and build that rapport, that relationship.

And so that's what I'll do in district two uh is make a good faith effort to get out there in the community.

Um, much like Councilmember Acevedo and a lot of you all do, um, is go be there with people and learn from people.

I'm a learner.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome to Vice Mayor.

Thank you, James, um, for submitting your name for our consideration.

I'll have three questions.

Two of them will be asked of everyone, and the third the third will be specific to your application.

What is your perception of your sphere and control and influence as a member of the council?

Um, and how would you talk about that?

Excellent question.

Um, I would say, I would confidently say that I I've known all of you for quite a while.

Um, and I I appreciate the times that we've sat down, we've had conversations and we have we've had dialogue, whether or not it has been, hey, we've met a couple of times here and there over the years.

Um, nonetheless, I have communicated with you all and I have been with you all in uh various meetings at some point within the last seven years, seven odd years, um, or shorter, right?

And so I I feel that I have a good rapport and relationship with a lot of you, and that we can really utilize that as a way to bridge the council.

Thank you.

Um, what is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was just voted on recently?

Yeah.

My position is we don't need to touch it.

We need to keep it as is, and we need to make sure that we uphold our commitment um and renew when time is here.

Thank you, James.

Thank you.

Third question.

So feel free to elaborate as much as you want.

This is based on your application.

Sure.

You mentioned um in your application that Bayfair should be accessible to new businesses.

Can you expand a little bit on what your vision, how you would champion and leverage the existing assets um in the Bayfair area?

Sure.

Um yeah, I I would like a little bit more elaboration.

So your thoughts around that, uh, meaning the Bayfair complex or zoned areas around Bayfair?

Because I have answers for both.

Your time.

Okay, yes, ma'am.

Um, so uh one thing that I did when I was looking at this role was I took a look at ArcGIS and our zoned areas around Bayfair, and there's so much underutilized property um that I would love to have conversations with you all about, such as uh a zone right behind the theater, a couple of zones uh kind of in the north area of the Bayfair uh property, um, underutilized areas that I would love to work with you all to bring in new housing, new businesses, which kind of gets to your question is what are we doing with vacant lots?

What are we doing with that property?

Um, and how can we bring those businesses?

Um and I'm learning too, right?

This is definitely a learning process for me.

And I would love to be able to learn from you all who I consider mentors and experts in in a lot of different aspects and respects.

And so um, how I would do that is I would look at those specific areas is where can we build, where can we attract?

Um, what can we do with that is really where my mind goes.

Thank you.

Councilmember Simon, please.

Thank you, James.

I have one question.

This is specific to district two.

Uh District Two, you have a lot of unique challenges.

Bayfair, as vice mayor has mentioned, is a challenge and lots of opportunities there.

Is prime for growth with them all as well as the BART area with housing for BART.

There's a band in rail line that runs through your district, uh, specifically behind Bay Fairs, lots of issues there.

Um, they're unhoused.

Yeah, there are illegal dumping going on there.

And adjacent to your district is the John George psychiatric facility right next door.

And many people that are released from John George still have mental health issues that come into your district.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve our community and help those in need?

Totally.

Um, well, that kind of speaks to a lot of lived experience.

I've had both family who have been unhoused, but also who have actually gone through John George.

And so I get it.

I've seen it.

Um, and what I've seen is the best support are the people on the outside because John George works under a very complicated but also broken system.

And so I would love to see our community partners come in and provide the resources that we can't always give.

Uh and so I would love to get to get in the uh uh nonprofit community, get in with our business community uh and see what kind of resources they have and really leverage what they have to do better, right?

Because we can do better, and frankly, we need to do better.

So I would like to work with those people to make some magic happen, give us our communities some resources, specifically the communities you say uh um that you know are exiting a system that are exiting these systems up on that hill.

So I that's what I would do.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Okay, so I've got four questions.

Excellent.

So simpler answers.

First, tell me about an ethical challenge that you faced and how it got resolved.

Ooh, an ethical challenge.

Um an ethical challenge I faced was leaving the school board.

Um, and here's why.

I realized that I was in the middle of my service on the board, and a lot of people would say, Why don't you just continue?

Why don't you just do it?

Um I realized it just it was not that easy.

And so I had to balance this idea of leaving service for also starting something new and in a sense not staying there for the sake of staying there, right?

Because I think that a lot of politicians in this era of politics stay just to stay as a career.

Um, and so I felt I did what I wanted to do, what I liked to do, and I built the relationships uh and I chose to step down.

And that was a hard ethical decision to have made.

Thank you.

Um you've gone certainly through unconscious bias training.

What have you learned about yourself in terms of your own biases?

That's a powerful question.

Um, I think it would be naive to think uh uh anybody that nobody has if you're an individual and you say, Oh, I don't have a bias, it's not true.

Every human being has bias, whether it be gender, whether it be uh sexual orientation bias, whether it be any kind of bias, race bias.

Um and I do, as everyone else does, right?

And I think that we need to be clear in acknowledging that, and that's really important when it comes to policymaking is at least as an individual confronting that and understanding that.

And so, yes, I've done bias training as an AP psychology teacher.

I even taught bias, and so it's something I'm really familiar with.

Talk to me a little bit about the infrastructure challenges that we have.

Sure.

And I'll lay it the problem out this way, and you can reframe it if you want to.

You talked about your union background.

Uh people advocate for laborers, people advocate for workers.

Yeah.

No one really advocates for the buildings, for the roofs of the buildings, for the streets, and no one's clamoring for the sidewalks.

I fight for the sidewalks.

Um, talk to me about how we're going to be able to navigate this if we're only, you know, concerned about workers.

Totally.

I mean, my first response to that is when you go to San Leandro residents and you ask what are your number one issues.

A lot of people think that it's some bigger grand issue, but it's actually the pothole on the street.

It's it's the look of the street.

And so those issues, Mayor, like really matter to residents.

And so I appreciate that question.

Um, but what to do and how to attract you know individuals, you know, to work on these projects.

I mean, we need to treat our building trades partners as our partners and as our equals, especially in major projects.

And so I I would be first to uh connect with them and to make sure that they are a part of it.

Um, but I also think that means we need to uphold commitments in our project labor agreements, right?

That's really important to me as a union organizer, but also generally for you know cost of living for making sure that our employees who or who we are ha asking on these projects get what they deserve.

And then my last question focuses on collaboration with the schools.

Sure.

How can we better collaborate with the schools?

Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, I uh personally have really great relationships with most of the principals in San Leandro Unified, uh, with the board itself, with the superintendent, and so I can leverage that.

Um, but I think it starts with the conversation with district staff.

Uh, is where is the balance between the relationship between the city of San Leandro and San Lorenzo, San Leandro?

It's my district San Leandro unified school district.

Uh, what does that look like?

We've never defined it.

And so I would like us to sit down and work on that definition of hey, how do we collaborate?

And so I think it starts with district staff, and then of course, inviting in the board of education as partners over time.

Thank you.

Um, let's give you a minute to wrap it up if you want to have a closing statement.

Sure.

Um, thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

Um, I want to reiterate my application my appreciation for you all for your time this evening.

I've laid out to you a little bit of some vision uh for San Leandro and how we can work together to make it happen.

I have the qualifications and experience that uniquely position me for effective leader, uh position me for effective leadership on the council and in our city.

My story is reflective of our city's younger residents who deserve representation and a voice in the issues, the decisions of which will affect their lives for decades.

Uh, I have the aptitude and spirit that of what it takes.

I do my homework.

I can help us push our city forward.

And I thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members, for your time and your consideration this evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So at this point in time, you are welcome to stay in the room if you'd like.

You can leave.

It will not affect in any way how you are perceived.

Sure.

Okay.

Thank you all.

Madam Clerk, if you could call our next person.

Yes, Mayor, one moment.

Um, we will bring in Emily Chandler momentarily.

All right, we've been joined by our next interviewee, Emily Chandler.

So, Ms.

Chandler, what we'll do is we'll begin with about uh 90 seconds, a minute and a half introduction.

Each council member will ask you up to four minutes worth of QA.

And hopefully they will announce.

Hey, I'm gonna ask you one question or three questions so that you can mentally prepare.

And then we'll let you close with about a one-minute summary of what you'd like to tell us.

Great.

So you may begin.

Hello, my name is Emily Chandler.

Thank you for this time to apply for city council in District Two.

And I and to address you directly.

I want to bring my unique perspective as a political outsider to the challenges that we face in District 2 in San Leandro.

I've experienced many of these challenges in my daily life as a wife, mother, and um just a constituent that loves our city.

We I would love to address um traffic calming measures, bike safety, air quality, homelessness, low income housing, small businesses and facilities and academics at SLUSD schools.

I have more written on those things.

I didn't know we would be so brief to be 90 seconds, so I will give that full to you in writing if you want to see the details that I have.

I think San Leandro's strength is in our racial and ethnic diversity, and I believe my experience as a therapist and as a woman can bring some needed balance, understanding, and compassion that will not only benefit our city, but also benefit the council as well.

My field mental health, my volunteerism at Jefferson Elementary, Bancroft, San Leandro 2050 Gardens, and my perspective on life have shaped my attitude of service.

Most days I'm at Alta Bates Hospital serving acute patients during a full day of programming.

And in the evenings, I jo enjoy walking our dogs and supporting our children with their activities.

By bringing together government, business, schools, the community of faith, and ordinary residents like me, we can discover new ways to solve complex problems.

Thank you.

So at this point in time, we'll go to council members for your questions.

Councilmember Bolt.

Yes.

Thank you, Emily.

I have I have one question for you.

What is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve in District 2?

And what is a viable solution for that problem and how would you work to accomplish it?

Great.

Thank you for asking.

I would say safety, it's a broad umbrella.

I understand.

Um when I think about it in terms of my daily life and the lives of the people that live in District Two.

I think of starting simple, um, safe transit for seniors and for young people, um, including public transit and bike safety.

I think in terms of larger scopes of safety, I think of the fatality that happened near my home recently in February because of sideshows and illegal driving.

So safety is an issue I think that could be approached in many ways, but I think it's something that makes us really want to live here and stay here and engage with the city.

Thank you.

Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mary Gonzales.

Thank you, Emily, um, for stepping up and applying for this position.

Um so this is just a standard question.

Um, answer it how you will.

Why should my colleagues and I support you for this DTC?

Um, as I said in my opening statement, I feel like I could be like a young new voice.

And I think um, you know, just being a person who lives in the city and is really curious about what's going on.

Um, I don't have years of politics.

Um, as so if that's what you're looking for, you that's not me.

Um, but I do think that's an advantage.

And um I I have a few people that wrote in on my behalf, and if you're able to read those, especially um Erna from Bethel Community has said that our city is in need of people who are able to work together, and she believes that I can do that, and so do I.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Those are my questions.

We'll be going to Councilmember Bowen.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Emily, for being here.

I have two questions.

Um, and and you have the time up there for to answer it how you will.

The first question is what specifically motivates you to step into the role right now, given the challenges, and what would success look like if you were only in this role for a short period.

Yeah.

Um I feel motivated because of the unfortunate events that have happened in District 2.

I don't feel represented as a constituent, and that I do feel some anger about.

Um, I think people in district two who are paying attention should be angry because that um, you know, it's an unfortunate and embarrassing situation for the city of San Leandro, and that motivates me to feel like there must be something that can be done.

And that motivates me to feel like there must be something that can be done.

It's not just out of that unfortunate situation that I motivated, um, been interested in service and working with communities in many different ways.

And I feel like a deeply political person and always have.

So this is just an outgrowth of that that is many decades long.

Um, but that's like the unique experience that kind of makes it feel like who else is going to step up.

And I think that I really want to do it because I want to be represented in a way, um, not just like another person on like the board, which I understand a role is to play as someone who cares for the city of Leandro, San Leandro collectively, but also specifically to represent District Two.

And I haven't felt that's been done recently.

Thank you.

And that actually dovetails into my second question about district two residents.

They have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with the with community that didn't initially feel represented?

And how would that shape how you advocate for district two on the council?

Yeah.

Um, so there is a project that's undergoing um underway in the housing project that's on Bancroft Avenue.

Um, so currently there's a garden and a proposal for there to be housing units for five um single units um that haven't been established yet.

And so it's a lot of boring paperwork, but that's something that I feel like um just serving the the people who are houseless in my district who need a place.

Um you could say five units that haven't yet been made is nothing.

Um, but that is definitely something that I feel like is a start.

Um and I would love to do more things like that, including seeing that um come to pass as well.

Thank you.

Hi, good afternoon.

Thank you for submitting your name for our consideration.

Appreciate your time.

I have four questions.

Two of them I've asked, I will ask of everyone, and the other two are specific to your application.

Um, what is your perception of your sphere and control and influence as a member of this body?

Um, I've seen the the um the proceedings.

So I think to be fair and to be strong, um, as much as I can say there.

So to listen to others who are on the council while we're working together.

Um I know that one vote is one vote.

Um, I appreciate that.

Um sometimes things do not go every council person's way.

Thank you.

Um, what is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was just passed?

Um I've been a recipient of uh low low rent, and um that's when I was in the city of Oakland for 11 years.

I I lived in a um rent stabilized unit that I am still very close with people who live there and benefit very much from it.

It feels very personal to me that it's a Bay Area-wide problem, and that it is one thing, not the only thing that can be um used as a way to make housing available for all and affordable for all.

But I think that it's something that we need to take really seriously in the city of San Leandro.

Thank you.

Um, how would you approach the upcoming budget decisions that this body would make?

If you were to be appointed, what would be your approach to the upcoming budget decisions?

I understand that San Leandro is at a deficit and that there's really difficult decisions to make.

Thank you.

And this is your last question.

Um wait, let me go to my list.

Here you are.

Um, you are one of the few applicants that explicitly mention sustainability in your application.

Um you addressed it in the three to five year horizon and the 10 to 20 year horizon.

Can you expand a little bit about you?

But Yannick, based on where we are fiscally, what would your approach be in terms of championing sustainability in your role as council member if you were to be appointed?

Um I've been in the field of marriage and family therapy for 15 to 20 years, depending on how you count.

And um about five years ago, I embarked on a doctorate specifically around climate-related issues that people are not getting addressed in the mental health field to so to support people who are serving very distressed families who are losing housing because of fires and that sort of thing.

So it feels very much like something that one could help on the individual level from a one-to-one therapy session, but it's not going to improve the lives of people if we're not thinking about it more broadly.

So I feel very passionate about it.

And I actually think that there are some very difficult long-term decisions, but there are other things, just like having information easily accessible for all residents to know where to find that so that they can protect themselves from low air quality and other things like that.

We do some of that in the state of California, but I think that we could do more in the city of San Leandro.

Thank you for your time.

Councilmember Simon, please.

Good evening.

Thank you for applying and um thank you for your presentation.

I have specific questions that relate to unique challenges for district two.

Uh Bay Fair is prime growth for a mall or for some um business growth, as well as the BART and the housing for area for housing.

There's an abandoned rail line that runs through your district, specifically behind Bayfair.

Uh, there's unhoused that live there, illegal dumping.

Uh, the John George psychiatric facility is right next door and unincorporated, and many are let go or still in need of mental health and come into District 2 into the Bay Fair area.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve the community and to help those in need?

I've noticed this uh because I live very close to 150th and 14th.

So this is something that you see every day when you live there.

Um, and I don't think that it can be solved just within district two.

I think it's something that district two, whoever will be appointed, um, will need to speak intimately with the city council and the mayor to work towards those things.

Um it's quite a big thing to untangle.

But at a very human level, I do think that um transportation and just um better communication and um access to basic resources is a place to start.

Um so something that I've been curious about as a constituent and would love to move forward with as city council member is um being able to work on where people are going from mental health institutions and if they need support in that, just um even if we are tracking that and not necessarily providing a service.

Thank you.

Okay, so I've got the remaining questions.

I've got four questions for you, so keep that in mind.

First question, tell me about an ethical challenge that you've faced and how you resolved that, how you addressed it.

Ooh, there's lots of good ones when you work in mental health.

They happen every day.

Um the one that comes first to mind is my entry, my new entry into the field of marriage and family therapy.

Oh, yeah, to start the time at four minutes.

Um working with a supervisor who's licensed that I worked under.

Um, so legally I could not practice unless I was um using her license to do so and having uh an ethical violation with a client that I had to stick to my guidelines in my field, but also um discuss with her, which she disagreed with me.

So um I ended up losing that position, and it was a it was a low-pay position, but I would say that the moral of the story is a big one for my life and my career is that some things are not able to continue that are um unethical.

So I did find another role and it was great.

Um, but it was a very difficult thing in that moment to stand up to.

Thank you.

So, second question.

We've got a lot of deferred maintenance, and the situation we also have workers that need to be paid.

Our situation could be characterized as a trade-off between workers and buildings, workers and roofs, workers and roads.

Um, how do you navigate that?

Because we've got unions advocating for workers, but no one's really advocating for the roads or for the sidewalks or for the roof of the building.

Yeah.

Um, can you say the first part of the question again?

Yeah, how do we how do we navigate this situation where we've got advocates for one but not advocates for the other?

Yeah.

Um, I am a union member at my current role as a therapist, and it is tricky.

Um, you know, there are a lot of parties that need to talk together.

Um, my thought in sp in terms of this in particular is that I might need to know about um more details from both parties.

Um I know in the end that the basic things that the the residents of San Leandro see as simple as sidewalks, it can seem really small, but that's such a quality of life issue.

So um I would very much want to work as much as I could to get those basic quality of life issues addressed.

Um I know it's complicated.

A lot of us have done some type of unconscious bias training.

I'm assuming you've done that as well.

Uh tell me a little bit about what you've learned about yourself through that training.

Oh, this is a dissolation of too many years of therapy.

Um yeah, I think the first thing you learn when you sit down with a patient is that um not to assume anything and um be curious and take good um you know history with them.

So I think that's why to a previous question I said listening is the beginning.

Um I think that is um how I would approach being on the board.

Um, and I think um, you know, it's an ongoing process is the other thing I would say to that.

And then last, tell me a little bit about collaboration with the schools.

How can the city do a better job of collaborating with the schools?

Yeah, I've seen some really wonderful things happening at Bancraft Middle School this year, and last.

Um, I have a student at San Leandro High, a student at Bancroft.

Um something that is really small at San Leandro High that I think would be lovely to grow more is just more people being exposed to the trades.

We have really outstanding classes, um, and we have a small cohort of people that are um getting access to um various businesses, which is so lovely.

I'd just like to do more of that.

I think it would be really wonderful.

San Leander has these amazing places around and field work and we have Gardely and Toriani and um other places too.

So I feel like just encouraging students to do that more would be wonderful.

And so now having gone through all of the questions, why don't you take a minute to summarize for us whatever you'd like to highlight?

Yeah.

I um moved to San Leandro in 2021, and I think it's quite a lovely place to be with weather and a diverse community.

And um, I do think it would be quite an honor to be on city council.

Um I know that I've just attended many online meetings and seen like how our city works, but I know there's plenty more to learn, and I'd love to work with you all moving forward in the future.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

At this point in time, you are welcome to stay in the room.

You can leave if you want to.

You can leave for a while and come back.

That you will not be perceived in any way any differently for what you do next.

Okay, thank you.

So if you can call our next slide.

Yes, member, we just one moment, and our next interviewee will be Ed Edward Hernandez.

And staff is bringing him in momentarily.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, this is um asker.

I'm gonna keep using things.

All right.

Uh mayor and council, our next interviewee is Ed Hernandez.

Thank you, Mayor and Council members for the opportunity to work and talk with these years.

I appreciate it.

So I'm gonna just make sure that we understand that that you will get 90 seconds.

It's not clear that everyone understood that.

So just be aware your opening remarks will be limited to about 90 seconds, a minute and a half.

And then at the very end, you're gonna get a minute to wrap up.

I don't think that was on our slide.

So just keep that in mind.

And then the council members have been very good about announcing the number of questions.

Okay.

It's all yours.

Oh, thank you.

Well, thank you, Mayor and Council members, uh, city manager, city attorney, and clerk.

I really appreciate the opportunity to be here in front of you.

Many of you know the work, my work in San Yandro, and I appreciate the opportunity to continue serving our community at a time when steady community centered leadership is required and is essential.

Over the past two decades, I've served on the planning commission, the city council, and now the Eden Health District, where we deliver more than two million dollars in grants to support our most vulnerable residents.

In the last election, more than 14,000 people voters place their trust in my leadership, and I carry that trust with humility.

During my 2016, 2020 term on the city council, I served through some of the most difficult moments in our recent history, including early months of COVID 19, periods of social unrest, and the tragic shooting of a young man in our community.

Those experiences taught me the importance of calm judgment, confidentiality, and collaborative problem solving under pressure.

More recently on the Eden Health District Board, I helped secure one million dollars for St.

Rose Hospital, our safety net hospital.

I also asked act as an educator, a Shabot and Kanyaticologist.

I've served as a substitute teacher in the San Lorenzo Unified School District, which keeps me grounded in the day-to-day responsibilities and realities our residents face.

What I offer is a steady hand, collaborate uh steady hand, governance experience, public health leadership, and the commitment to ethical, transparent decision making.

If appointed, my focus will be on rebuilding trust, starting partnerships, and ensuring that every resident feels heard, represented, and safe.

Thank you for your consideration.

Okay, we will now go to council questions.

We will begin with council member Bolt.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ed.

Uh I have one question for you for the forum is uh what is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve in your opinion?

What is a viable solution to that problem?

And how would you work to accomplish this solution?

Uh thank you, Councilmember.

I think one of the most important things is still about helping people get safe and affordable housing in our community.

You see a lot of affordability concerns around taking care of themselves mentally and through their own health, being able to put food on their tables and finding every which way to make ends meet.

I've had to do that experience myself after my 2024 election.

It's like, all right, I spent most of the year just trying to run this campaign, bring our community back in focus, focusing on public safety.

And I focused on like, all right, I need to do work.

I put off like half of your not working.

Me and Steven worked together throughout the whole time, really campaigning to move our city forward.

And so I took on role as an Amazon flex driver, which was interesting, very eye-opening.

So seeing like this is what I'm doing now.

I went through the whole Bayer area, spent tons of miles out there, really learn and really saw that people are doing to do.

And I enjoyed it because it was like interesting to get 50 packages and try and deliver in three hours.

Like, all right, it's a game.

It's not my it's not my full ever reality, but it's my reality right now.

And so brings a few dollars.

It was good.

Uh started substitute teaching.

I enjoyed that work as well, because I've been teaching in the past.

And now teaching Shabot, it's like it's an opportunity to really work out with our youth.

And really focusing on the mental health of our youth through the Eden Health District, we're having the mental health youth summit.

So I'm excited about that on April 11th.

Really having a safe space for the youth to come together, address concerns, and have resources for them.

And that's more critical than ever.

And really focusing on youth, especially some foster youth who might be aging out of housing, providing the safe place for them to grow and contribute to our society.

So my focus is not only on the youth, but also seniors.

So there's a lot of stuff we can see and we need to do.

We just didn't be able to come together and keep everybody safe.

Hopefully, that's responsive to your question.

It does.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mary Gonzalez.

And uh thank you, Ed, for applying for uh this D2 uh position.

So my question is why should my colleagues and I support you for the DTC?

Of course, and uh straightforward question.

I have the experience, and some people say they want to regress, but I think we need to step back and to be able to move forward.

I had the experience, commitment to be able to get the job done, have done it before.

I've served with you.

I think there's a you know the challenges are out there for real with our budget deficit, seeing over 11 million dollars and beyond that.

But I've been able to find creative solutions in the past, and I think the city needs creative solutions for us to come together to find those creative solutions so we can continue providing those vulnerable resources our residents depend on.

Um, you know, through that 2020 tax measure, we were able to bring another six to eight million dollars according to the current annual budget.

It's about five million dollars of additional revenue.

We helped build forward through the pandemic because we were gonna have a lot of cuts and revenue reductions.

That helped us stay whole.

We need to be able to do that again.

Um, my career solutions really focusing with Alameda County Fire, see how they can become an independent special taxing authority so that way they can bring their own revenue, and that money would bring us no 25% to reinvest in our community, our infrastructure, our programs, be able to really have the economic vibrancy that we need to move our community forward.

Thank you.

Those are that's my question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Coming to Council Merlon.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Ed, for being here.

I have two questions for you.

The first is what specifically motivates you to step up into this role right now, given the challenges, and what would you what would success look like for you if you were only in the role for a short period?

It's like the analogy that you want to some people want to run away from the burning building, but I'm running towards it.

I've seen it throughout the last year or two, like there's been chaos and concerns and some issues that we need to be able to bridge back together.

And I really want to lead by example.

I've done the work.

I want to be able to show my daughters and the rest of our community that we can work well together.

There might be different reasons why sometimes we have conflict, but conflict's not bad.

It just means we have to have more communication and find ways to work well together, collaborate, and really focus on what's best in our community, focus on our interests and not our positions.

So that's really what I focus on.

I really want to make sure that I can lead by example, leave it better than I found it, and be proud of the legacy I'm leaving to San Leandro for the last 20 years, being able to be a public servant in some capacity and planning commission, city council, and the Eden Health District, and just be in the service.

And I'm here to just serve.

I'm happy to be appointed, either the short term or long term.

I'm flexible.

I've ran races, I've ran campaigns, and I've gotten a lot of support.

I can do it again, but I'm happy to collaborate, see how this year goes and move forward together.

Thank you.

And district two residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and that all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with the community that didn't initially feel represented and how that would shape how you advocate for district two on the council?

Yeah, and the first thing that makes me think about, and thank you for the question is having served on San Leandro Community Food Pantry, serving on that board after my 2020 term and being able to just really understand the population that's needing food that has food insecurity.

Um, a lot of diverse uh people there, older, senior, in some cases, Asian that are looking to have the resources, they receive that on the weekly basis, about $100 worth of food groceries and continue, continued working my um being able to be of service there.

When Garadelli calls, they have a pallet of chocolate to donate.

I bring my truck and back it in there.

And they love it because they know you gotta bring something smile, especially for Valentine's.

They gave me a pallet load and like all right, bring it in and drop it off, and people get some cool sweets and treats because it's great.

I mean, there's the basic needs, but that just helps people feel better, brings the smile.

And I think that's most important, and just having them be able to be out there in the community and be able to serve and figure out what the resources are needed.

That's just one example of having able to be involved and elements are also serving in the rotary that helps me be able to give back and right now supported the project to bring in the uh fitness equipment there at the marina.

I think there's a $300,000 project.

And for the Rotary's 100th year, we contribute a hundred thousand dollars for that project.

So, really inviting fitness more into our community, that little loop that I've been able to do with whenever council members.

So, hopefully, that answers the questions.

I'm passionate.

I'm here to serve, not go anywhere.

Whatever y'all decide, I'm happy to contribute, adding value and be in the service.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor, please.

Thank you for submitting your name for our consideration.

I have four questions.

Two of them I've asked of all the uh participants, and then two are specific to your application.

What is your perception of your sphere of control and influence as a member of this body?

It's whatever you can do together.

I mean, I think together you can do a lot more individually.

You need a couple of votes, at least two or three votes to move something forward, but it's a lot about conversation.

With the transfer tax measure, it's something that I thought about in 2016 and working with my council members like Councilmember Aguilar, Councilmember Deborah Cox, the mayors, everybody coming together and working together to understand there was a budget deficit and really advocating with city manager, city manager.

I think we need to do this.

This is one way we can maybe bring up additional revenue and doing the polling, say it's a 50-50 pass.

We're not sure if it's gonna pass.

But the pandemic flipped it, it was needed.

So a lot of it's about communication and making it somewhat of a no-brainer, really working well with each of you to move something forward, making sure it's something that we can all do together.

Because ultimately, at the end of the day, it might be your idea, but the difference between the idea that works and a good idea is the work.

So I've always been committed to the work and I'm proud of the work I've done.

And I think that's quite important to keep doing the work together.

Thank you.

What is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was recently voted on by this council?

I am supportive and helping to continue that legacy and they make sure we really focus on the short term, how we strengthen the rental protections, focus midterm to really ensure that we have more resources to build, better housing in our community that's affordable and long term, making sure we can fund more development to the community to have mixed income housing.

So it's not just the affordable corner, but it's a mixed income opportunity to bring housing income of all types in our community, and then work with housing providers where they need to to make sure they can afford to continue to being able to do that.

So finding the right balance in the long term, but making sure we have the renters who are right now suffering the most, helping them stay in their homes, helping young families and other individuals stay where they need to go so they can finish their education and be able to move forward without having to stress and have those concerns first and foremost.

Thank you.

Um are you on my list?

Here you are.

Um you currently serve another elected and appointed boards, as you stated in your application.

If appointed, what would be your what would your participation look like on this council for you?

Being that my assumption is that you would continue serving on those boards.

So I'm wrapping up Ava Community Energy, where I've been the community advisory chair.

So that ends, I believe, in May.

Um the Alameda County Fair Board.

I'm already finishing that up, I think in June.

I think I'm not going to get reappointed for that.

And the Eden Health District, if I take on this road, I'll automatically be off that board.

So to be able to focus on the city council work, and that would be my true focus because you also have committees of responsibility, like finance in the past, and other committees need to be able to be really focused on and be make sure you have the phone ready to take the phone calls in the middle of the night with as the customer care reference district too.

Thank you.

My last question.

Um we are approaching a very difficult decisions regarding the budget.

What would be your approach uh to just your decision making process on the on the budget?

Of course, and thank you for that question.

I think really working with the city manager, understand the city's priorities.

What are the low-hanging fruits?

What are the challenges and really focusing and enlarging the pie?

Figure out what are the cuts that we need to make in the short term, but we will be able to have a strategy to move forward and bring those things back in the next three to five years, but really focusing, like I did in 206, 2020 to really enlarge the pie, which in this annual's budget says it's 4.9 million dollars of revenue that that transfer tax measure is bringing.

So being able to find some creative solutions to not only just cut, but hopefully recover and advocate through the county, the state, and federal level, where I've done that in the past, lobbying former council member, uh Congresswoman Barbara Lee to bring railroad improvement to our community to make us safer and better, which I did and we did right before the pandemic.

But those things got done.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

Councilmember Simon, please.

Thank you, Ed for your presentation, and thank you for applying.

My question relates to unique challenges at District 2.

Uh, Bay Fair is prime for growth with businesses and shops as well as BART with housing.

There's an abandoned rail line that runs through district two.

Uh many unhoused are there, as well as illegal dumping and runs behind Bay Hair Bay Fair.

The John George Psychiatric Facility is right next door in the unincorporated area with those still in mental health needs who are being let go.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve the community as well as to help those in need?

Good thing I have about three and a half minutes.

So I should be able to cover that all.

So I think part of the focus is maybe looking at how we can expand a mental health resources navigation center, working with the county to really address the John George psychiatric releases, looking at working with Bayford to see how we can move that project forward, either how it becomes a public-private partnership or public public with BART, ensuring that we understand what the environment looks like, working with the developer that has affordable housing uh parcel there that I've already connected him with some tribal resources, specifically the loany property, people who can actually maybe help develop that property because he has a 10 million dollar gap on that redevelopment of that parcel to build affordable housing.

So I'm pretty much plugged in.

So I I don't I have ideas and solutions that I'm not stopped because I haven't been on council, but I've been working ever since then and beyond that to make sure we move our city forward.

I don't have to be in the formal role.

I am still getting the work done.

And so if we look at the Bayfair, we look at safe parking spaces, safe parking spaces that people can be in and you know have the resources that we can help them out of that condition and have better, more secure permanent housing, understanding that unhoused individuals may not want our support, but we know that they need at least 12 touch points before they start trusting us, trusting the community, trusting government, trusting individuals with guns or without guns.

That's something I've known to know, and we have to build that relationship to have the resources here with human resources, the county and the state to pull down and advocate for what we need in our community and not say may we please, but we must and really come with a firm tone that we're gonna represent our community and know what we need most, and we got to keep fighting for it, fighting for that and many other things for community.

So we are fighters and champions for our community, and I'm still doing that.

I'm gonna keep doing that.

I hope that I can get your support to get appointed back on so we can do it together.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

So I've got four questions for you.

Yes, Mayor.

First one, tell me a little bit about an ethical challenge that you faced and how it got resolved.

Well, the first time I think it was with the uh when I was in the planning commission, I think um our city attorney rich says, you can't be inviting people to tour these kinds of dispensaries when you're on the planning commission, and then they may consider you hiring as a financial consultant.

There's a conflict there.

So let's make sure we don't do that again.

Like, all right, cool.

I didn't know that.

First time, like, all right, cool.

Let's not do that.

So I've learned like you there's an element of the rules and what you do, you don't do try to influence people when you have a financial benefit.

And we know that's how that ended recently.

And here are in our communities.

You have to make sure you understand what are the rules and regulations and processes and take wise advice from staff, our city manager, our city attorney, and others in our community.

So that is something that you learned, that you don't do that.

You don't have any financial benefits, you focus.

But that was just me being ignorant.

I didn't know better.

Uh so once I had good counsel, which you guys have great counsel, I think we'd be able to make better decisions.

So that was one challenge early on that I learned.

I'm like, all right, cool.

This is what I do.

I'm a public servant.

I'm here just for the community, nothing for my personal benefit.

We have roofs and sidewalks and roads that need to be addressed.

On the other hand, we have laborers who want to be paid more.

The unions advocate for the laborers.

I don't know that anyone necessarily advocates for the roofs and the sidewalks.

How do we address that situation?

We've got people clamoring.

No, of course.

And there's that balancing the thread of the needle that you want people who are doing the work in the community to have good paying jobs locally, and we have to balance the needs of the community and then be able to negotiate.

How we bring that together.

If there isn't enough money here locally, we have to bring in additional resources from the county, the state, or the feds, and they might have their own challenges, but we have to be able to negotiate contracts, have the highest and best um work for the community.

Is it union labor?

Hopefully.

But sometimes we have to figure out how to make decisions.

Like when you are doing the rehab on your roof, are you also always using union labor?

Maybe not all the time.

But I think it's important to find out the right balancing, that we are using public monies and that we should have a public benefit overall, not only the work we're doing, but also where people we're employing.

So I think it's quite critical to make sure we have the right balancing act, that the contracts where we pay people who are doing the jobs locally are fair so they can have a good living and be able to provide their family while we're also doing the work in their community.

Because at the end of the day, they're gonna care more about the work they do in San Leandro versus somebody else who's out of the area.

So yeah, I get things really focused on finding the right balance, being able to meet those needs, those budgets, and build out the plan for the next 10 years to help them manage us more effectively, and maybe even the next hundred years.

Many of us have done unconscious bias training.

I don't know if you have or have not, but if you have, what have you learned from that training about yourself?

Yeah, everybody has biases.

It depends what levels you are, where not or not.

I mean, in my previous term, I had my ongoing therapy.

Of course, there's a lot of puts on your shoulder, and you have to be able to put it out there and learn from others in the community to really focus what are the biases you have, what were the intentions, what you said, how they came across, what are your inhabits, where are your beliefs, what are your biases.

Even in corporate America, I spent a good amount of time doing that too.

So I've been around understanding what are the biases and training.

That's one of the things that you earn and learn as you become more mature and almost going to be turning 50 this year.

I started this process when I was 40, running for city office.

Been doing this for almost 10 years now.

And it's been amazing the work, the travels, the learnings, and be able to connect with so many people in the capacity.

So the fact that you're up there, it's still an honor and privilege.

I'm happy to rejoin you.

That'd be an honor and privilege for me, it'd be of service again.

Uh it's gonna be amazing, regardless, whatever you choose.

I'm there to support the community and help us move forward in whatever capacity makes sense for the community.

And the limited time that we have left, tell me about what you suggest about how we collaborate with the schools.

The school's quite important.

I mean, having to understand what is the concerns in the classroom, what do the students need and how the teachers have different resources they need, especially teaching the special uh special needs um classes, there's students who might need some special programming.

Sometimes the parents are not aware or do not want to be labeled.

So really focus in on the resources for not only special needs students, but also the mainstream, so that way they can move forward and provide the resources, the technology education and the parental support so they can actually help the students grow and learn.

So if you could then take this last minute to summarize whatever it is that you want us to walk away with.

Yeah, I think experience matters.

And I've had it, I've done it, and right now, day one, we need to be able to move forward and bring our community back together.

There is a lack of trust, maybe concerns for transparency, what's happened in the last 18 months.

I think really focusing on what we can do better together, maintain the progress that you've done and been able to do, and making sure there's any kind of restorative justice issues or concerns that we may have here, and I can work with individually with each and every one of you.

So I have those relationships with all of you.

And I think we've been able to have conflicts or dialogues in the past, and that's okay.

And like I said, it's not a bad thing.

I'm here to help, not hurt, and that's my commitment.

And I really focus on making sure how we can move forward together.

Not everybody's got to support me.

Not everybody's gotta say, oh, yeah, it's the guy.

Um, but I've been able to do good work and I'm just here to serve nothing more, no big eagle.

Uh if I don't get it, that's fine.

I continue serving the ETA Health District, giving away more money, uh, maybe build some senior housing um and help our nonprofits who really need it the most.

And then being able to do that with the Boys and Girls Club, tags, even through Rotary doing some work there, also having a youth speech contest to really help one of the kids from a Royal High School get confidence and get his way through getting more visibility and exposure and confidence.

And I think I'm gonna go do that either through the Shibble College and then my business classes and helping duly enrolled high school students who are first generation when they're getting out to college and being able to give them chances and challenge them to make it out there and have a voice.

So thank you.

At this point in time, you are welcome to stay.

You can go, you can go and then come back.

Whatever you want to do, just know that whatever you choose to do next will not impact how you are perceived.

No worries, I'll be here.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Mayor, our next interviewee is Tiari Pena, and she is on her way in the interest.

Mayor and Council, our next interviewee is ready.

Uh, we have Tiari Pena.

Miss Pena, so let me just welcome.

Let me tell you a little bit about what will happen next.

I'll give you about 90 seconds, a minute and a half, to give us an introduction about you.

Then each council member will get a chance to ask questions for uh up to four minutes.

Um, they will hopefully they've been good about announcing how many questions that they're going to ask you so that you can plan your time in your answers, and then at the very end, we'll wrap up by giving you about a minute to summarize whatever it is that you want us to really walk away with.

All right.

Okay.

So you're free to begin at your convenience.

Okay.

Hi.

Nice to see all of you here.

My name is Tiari Pena.

I have lived in San Leandro since 1989.

I um I have raised four children.

I like to say I raise two different sets of children.

I have my older set and my younger set.

I have my 40-year-old set and my 20-year-old set.

Um I bought a home in San Leandro in 1992, which I still reside in.

I love San Leandro.

Um, I actually have most of my experience and work has been in San Micho County, um, in planning commission, and part of my time working for an elected official, um, which I would bring a lot of that experience to this board.

Um, I do want to make a quick correction on my application.

I was actually appointed to the Human Services Commission in 19 in 2021.

With COVID, I think I've lost a few years.

Um, and then I am currently serving on the senior commission.

So it wasn't 2023, so I had want to make that correction.

Um, and I appreciate this uh opportunity to be here um and share some of my experiences, some of my ideas, and I'm just looking forward to this interview with y'all.

So thank you.

Okay, so we will begin with the questions.

Council member Bolt.

Well, what happened?

Try that again, please.

There you go.

Okay, thank you, Mary.

Thank you for being here with us.

I have one question for you.

Uh what is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve?

Uh, what is what is a viable solution to this problem, and how would you work to accomplish this?

You know, as a long time resident of Stan Leandro, I have seen a lot of real positive changes.

And I also see some places where we can make some better changes.

One of the places I see is our homelessness, homeless population.

It's an aging community.

And it really concerns me.

As I drive around, certainly in the South section of San Leandro, it's it's it's really a concern.

And I think we have to think big picture.

Um I believe we do we are trying the best that we can to address it, but it needs to be a collaborative um effort between our departments, our fire police departments, our home, our um housing community, our nonprofits.

Um we have crisis on our on our streets.

We have um homeless encampments.

We have any time you drive down East 14th behind the Bay Fair area, it's it's a crisis.

And to me, I think we need to really look at how we can come together with our state agencies, federal monies.

We have to really look at that, because that can easily get completely out of control here in San Leandro.

And it bothers me that that community is aging, and I see them, and it breaks my heart.

And um, not just in District 2, but all around San Leandro, and it affects all of us.

And as we look around and we see this, it's not something you can just close your eyes to.

Councilman Braguilata, please.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Is my mic working?

Oh, there we go.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Um, thank you, Tiara, for um applying for this this uh DTC.

My question is why should my colleagues and I support you for this for this position?

What I would bring to this council, I think is my ability to work as a team member.

I think every person on this council brings a a gift, a skill, a certain knowledge and a skill set that we could all work together, um, and not work in silos.

And I think with my experience, my history, certainly with working um collaboratively with um certainly bringing my um experience working with an elected official.

Um certainly I I understand I'm an outsider looking in because I come from a county perspective, uh, working with different agencies, department heads, and and different uh types of uh bodies.

I bring that experience, I would bring that experience to this city, and I think each one of you, as I said, has a a skill set, a gift, and working together would unites us all instead of each person working in a silo.

So working together, united, we stand, and I I think Stan Leandro is a phenomenal city, and I think working together, we can get so much done.

And that's what I think I could bring to you all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's that's my question, Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilmore Bowen, please.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Chair, for being here and applying for this role.

I have two questions.

One is what specifically motivates you to step into this role right now, given the challenges, and what would success look like for you if you were only in this role for the short period.

You know, I'm gonna actually tell you something uh from my personal life, what what would bring me here today?

And it's actually um my great-grandmother.

Now, somebody called in earlier and said, you know, we need young people.

Yes, we do, we do, we do need young people here, but I'm gonna piggyback on my great grandmother.

When she was in her 60s, she ran for the mayor of Aleo.

She was elected the first female woman to hold that seat, and she held it for 16 years.

And I said, you know, by golly, I'm not gonna tell you my age, but I'm gonna try this.

I want to do this.

I've always wanted to be in a position where I can really help.

And that's why I worked for the the elected official I worked for.

Um, because you can really make difference in people's lives.

And I know that it's not an easy position to be in.

You're gonna make difficult decisions, and you're not always gonna please everyone.

But if you really are thoughtful, and if you really look at the the issues, you analyze them, and you really listen to everyone, and you work together, as I said, as a team, you come up with the best decisions, the best that you can, and you work for the city, the constituents, the communities, and I love this community, and that's why I want to do this in the short term.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And for district two residents, there's a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with the community that didn't initially feel represented and how that and how would that shape how you advocate for district two?

You know, I am a person that reaches out to everyone.

Um I go everywhere.

I talk to all of my neighbors, all of my neighbors have changed in the 30 some odd years I've lived in my neighborhood, it is definitely changed.

Um I think I only have one neighbor on my street now, the original.

Um she's over a hundred years old.

Um community has changed.

Um I think that there's a lot of need, certainly citywide, but certainly district two.

Um we're a very high immigrant community, certainly there.

Um I reach out, I walk, I talk.

Um, I'm not shy.

I uh I think I think that uh you have to be open, you have to listen, you have to hear, and you have to converse.

And you have to have people feel like they could trust you.

And I think that's what I bring is um I'm approachable.

I I really feel that you have to build and instill trust in the people you talk with, the people you eat with, the people you walk in the parks with.

Um the senior commission, I I'm out there with folks, I walk and talk, and and that's the best part of it.

You just have to instill trust because once you do that, the communication levels are open, the lines are open, and people feel that they can trust the people who lead, and that's what you need.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor, please.

Thank you for submitting your name for us to consider uh to join us on the diets.

Appreciate your time and thoughtfulness in your um application.

Um, I have four questions.

Two of them I've asked all of the folks that submitted their name, and then the rest are specific to your application.

What is your perception of your sphere of control and influence as a member of this body?

Sphere and control.

I don't think we all have a lot of control.

Control is a that's a pretty authoritative word.

I think we can only control ourselves.

I think um working together, we control only what you know, control is that's that's that's one of those words that you know uh it's one of those red words, you know, control.

Like I say, you can control yourself, you can't control others.

You can maybe change the narrative.

Um, so I'm not quite sure when you say the word control.

I think the sphere of influence is great.

You have a great sphere of influence, and that comes by teamwork and talking together.

And um, but as far as control, you can only control your yourself.

Thank you.

What is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was just voted on by this body?

Well, you know, I think that in these days with rent control, it's an important topic.

Um, we have new generations of people that are unable to rent.

And so I believe it's an important topic.

Um I know that the people who own homes and own you know properties, not so happy about it.

But when kids cannot get their own places and and people can't afford to live in their homes anymore or rent their homes, I believe that it was a good process, and I think we did it fairly.

Thank you.

Um we have some difficult decisions coming up regarding our city budget.

Can you tell me a little bit about what your approach would be if you were to uh be a part of this council?

Well, I I did um sit in on some of the meetings, and I think what I've seen so far is a fair approach to the thoughts that have gone into how to try to manage the budget to keep the 20% reserves.

I think there are um some concerns that I have with some of the cuts, but I I think right now the fact that just staffing is at such a low level that it has been in so many years.

Um I believe that the council right now is approaching it in a good way.

I think there's gonna be more cuts that'll have to come, and I think we have to do a more diligent job of looking, probably department to department at this time.

Thank you.

Your executive profile talks about uh, you know, uh managing policy initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and supporting uh community initiatives.

Can you give us an example?

Oh, my favorite one is the Caron Project over in North Fair Oaks, which was a large unincorporated area in Redwood City.

It was uh our committee alliance to revitalize our neighborhood.

Um now that area of of North Roaks is uh a very was a very is um a very neglected area, and so the citizen that area what we did is we wrote a great policy.

We brought in the sheriff's office and all of these organizations to provide programs and resources to the young people of that community, and that organization is still alive and well.

You could drive down to North Fair Oaks and you'll see resources for the kids, places they can go after school with um uh sheriff's office, and it's just a wonderful program, and it took us a long time to prepare it.

It took about three years, and it's phenomenal.

Thank you.

Yes, Councilmember Simon.

Good evening.

Hi.

Hi, thank you for your presentation.

And I have a question that's specific to district two, and in District 2, you face unique challenges.

One is Bay Fair is prime for growth for new businesses and shops, as well as the bar area for housing.

And you touched on a bit of this.

Um, there's abandoned rail line that runs through your district with many unhoused there, illegal dumping, and which one's right behind Bayfair.

The John George psychiatric facility is right next door in unincorporated Alameda County, and people are released still with mental health needs who come down to District 2 into the Bayfair area.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve the community as well as to help those in need?

That is one of my main concerns.

Um I live right by there and I see it every day.

Um I will say that um the response team that goes out there, I see them all the time.

I see Caltrans out there, I see um our fire or our police out there.

Uh encampments come as quick as they take them out.

They come back.

John George, I when they release people, and they're not just San Leandro folks, they come from all over.

When they release them, they come down.

Um that was one of the concerns I had uh about one of the um places that you were looking, we were looking, or you're looking to possibly uh decrease in the budget the four beds to two.

Um, and that was one of my concerns.

Uh but uh addressing that um I think we need to have more folks in the field that are able to deal with the crisis of the unhoused.

Um there's a lot of drugs out there.

Um and these folks, when they're released from John George, you know, after a hold, and then the release opted street, they just come down to the Bay Fair area.

A lot of people come into the Bay Fair area, and that's where they congregate.

I see a lot of children, I see a lot of families.

Um, and it's a sad situation.

And on, you know, Saturday night, there's trailers, cars.

Uh I think we need um more social workers out there.

We just need the city, the county, and federal uh monies to come in and figure out what we can do.

It's it's not a one-person problem, it's everybody's issue, not just the city of San Leandro.

It's everybody's problem.

And and not they're people, they are people.

They're not just they're not just trash, they're people.

And and how they got there, we don't know.

But we have to look at them as people, children.

And uh how to solve that, that's not an easy question.

That's not an easy question.

That is a systemic issue.

And we have to think of out of the box ways to look at it.

So like I say, we have to get that from other opportunities, resources, get the county involved more.

They have nowhere else to go.

So there's just really not an easy, simple question answer to that question.

Thank you for your response.

Okay, at this point in time, I will ask you four questions.

The first one, tell me about an ethical challenge that you faced and how you resolved it.

I've had a lot of challenges in my life.

I don't know where to start.

I could start with I was adopted when I was three.

I was born in Hawaii, adopted when I was three, uh, put into a terrible situation until I was 11, moved to California, put in foster care, um, move to uh a family finally in uh high school, went through high school, got married young, had children, had to put myself through school, you know, college, uh, started working at the county of Sea Mateo, started off as a receptionist, worked my way up and up and up.

Um, ended up as a zoning hearing officer secretary, planning commission secretary, executive aid, board of supervisors, then legislative aid to the board of supervisors, senior legislative aid to the board of supervisors, and then back to the planning commission with my filing as uh planner, planner one, planner two, planner three, and then planning manager.

So I would say I have the ability to over to just get in there, learn, work hard.

So the challenges, I can I can overcome them, and I've done them pretty well, I would say.

Next question deals with bias.

Presumably you've taken unconscious bias training as most of us.

What are some of your biases?

What have you learned about yourself?

Biases.

You know, I honestly I would like to say that I am probably one of the most unbiased people you'll find in this world because I've been through so much.

Um I don't like broccoli.

But as far as biases, I will honestly say you'll honestly, I've been through I've been through living with so many different people, so many families.

Um I truly do not believe I'm a biased.

I just don't think I have any.

One of the challenges that we face is a lot of deferred maintenance on infrastructure roads and the like.

Um we also have employees that want to be paid more, maybe paid fairly.

And so we've got people that advocate for the employees, and no one advocates for the roof or for the sidewalk.

Help me understand how you reconcile that that the advocacy of a union and the lack of advocacy for a road or for a sidewalk, et cetera.

Well, San Leandro is an old city, and our infrastructure is failing.

Um I understand that, but you know, I think San Leandro has done a lot to decrease the number of staff that we have in the years.

Um, and I understand a fair wage, I get that, but I understand that you know you have to put money into the infrastructure.

Um and a fair wage is a fair wage.

I understand that too.

So you have to balance it, and that's where it gets difficult because you want to retain the best of the best.

You want to attract the best of the best, but you also have to fix the roof, and you have to paint the buildings, and you have to do that.

So you have to balance it.

And there's that, there's a fine, you know, teeter-totter balancing act, but uh, you know, through fairness and and uh, you know, it happens, it always happens.

It you always manage to work it out, but it's a difficult balancing act.

And in the last few seconds, I'll ask, how can we better work with our schools?

I'm sorry.

How can we better work with our schools as a city?

I I think to work better with the schools is to actually open communication with our schools.

I've been through the school districts, like I said, two different uh generations of kids.

I think the first generation of the kids was easier, the second generation, not so easy.

Um, and okay, do you want me to keep going or that's probably good in fairness to the other respondents?

Um, but let's take a minute so that you can kind of highlight whatever it is that you want to highlight as you wrap up your presentation.

Well, um, as I was saying, I'm kind of the outsider looking in because most of my experience politically and and you know, as far as my ex my work experience has been on a county level.

So um are you hearing me?

Oh, oh, it's I've been on a county level level.

So I would have a steep learning curve, but as I told you, I am not shy of working and learning and jumping in.

And I might be a little bit on the uh that part of the age thing, but you know, obviously I have energy.

So um, if you uh are interested, I am available.

Uh so that's all I gotta say.

Thank you so much for accepting my application and listening to me tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, our next interviewee.

Oh, and by the way, the same thing that I tell everybody else.

You're welcome to stay, you're welcome to go, you're welcome to go and then come back.

Whatever you want to do, just know that it will not affect how you are judged.

Thank you, Mayor.

The next interviewee is Robert Bulitau, and we are bringing him in momentarily.

Hello, hello.

Check check.

Uh, Mayor, we have Robert Bulletau.

Thank you, Mr.

Bulitau.

So just a brief summary of what we'll do.

We'll begin with an opening statement.

You've got about 90 seconds, a minute and a half to tell us whatever you want to tell us to introduce yourself.

And each council member will ask questions.

They've been very good about announcing the number of questions so that you can pace your answers, and then we will wrap up with one minute to you for uh given to you to close and highlight whatever it is that you'd like to highlight.

Okay.

Please begin.

So hello.

Uh my name is Robert Bulatao.

I am a resident of District 2 now.

I really wasn't planning on running, but people asked me to, not knowing that I was in District 2.

So I said, okay, let's go ahead and try it.

See what happens.

Um I am an activist.

Um I am a delegate with the California Democrats.

Um I've been politically active still since the end of my campaign in District Six.

Um, one of the recent accomplishments I do have is helping the the Winter Guard at San Landro High School raise or obtain $2,000 worth of donation money so that they can buy a floor for their program.

Because I was volunteering there and just recently at a competition, they are very underfunded.

Uh one of the children actually got injured because they didn't have the proper equipment.

Um I didn't really have city council on my head at the time, but as a as the um opportunity arose, I figured this is a good time to just throw my hand in the ring, see what happens.

It'll cost a lot less than last time.

So if I win, cool.

Um I really want to make some changes.

I want to get our um our uh brain fart.

Sorry.

So what we'll do is we'll go to council members for their questions, and we'll begin with council member Bolt.

Hello, Robert.

Thank you.

Uh I have one question for you tonight.

It is what is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve?

And what is a viable solution to that problem?

And how would you work to accomplish the solution?

Okay.

So we had the um with my previous council run.

My agenda points were um getting the district side elections, getting rent control, and also police accountability.

Now that we have rent control or rent stabil uh stabilization, um and we have the uh district elections on a ballots in June, I believe.

I also want to push to get the effects of big money out of our local politics.

I want to lower our campaign contribution amounts from a maximum of five thousand five hundred dollars per entity down to five hundred.

So this way, you know, you're forced to actually go out there and talk to people, get to know them, get to know what their issues are within your community.

And I know it sounds kind of silly because I just moved down to District 2, but I did do a lot um, you know, while campaigning, uh while talking to people out there.

And uh what was the other part of your question, Councilmember Bolt?

How would you call yes?

Pushing for ordinances in order to do that.

Um other ordinances that I would like to prep uh push for would be to protect protect our community even more.

Um we've seen a lot of ICE activity, and we are a sanctuary city, but I want to take that one step further.

I want to, I'm not sure if it's completely legal or not, but push for an ordinance or a resolution to not allow former ICE employees to work with or work for our city, work for our schools, uh, work for our local government.

Um there is a lot of fear out there with a lot a lot of these families and uh pretty much the the rise of fascism.

I work at a nonprofit music school, and a lot of or not really a lot, but a couple of our families had just stopped coming to school.

They stopped uh responding to phone calls because a lot of these people are scared and rightfully so.

So, how do we protect them?

Yes, we can have our uh sanctuary city status, but why stop there when we can do more when we can make them feel secure, make them feel like we are not going to allow these entities to set up shop out here.

Um but addressing a lot of that racism and a lot of that fear is what I want to do.

Um, push the resolution like uh what Big Tent wants, which is getting the city to apologize for um their their states are their part in redlining because we can't uh heal these wounds unless we address them, and we can't get the proper representation for these people unless we're out here making sure that it's their money that we are using to represent them, and we can't we can't move forward unless we can make sure that they're safe, make sure they're secure, make sure that we will have that backbone.

And yeah.

Uh you're welcome.

Okay, at this point, we'll go to council member Aguilar.

Thank you, Mayor Gonzals and thank you, Robert, for applying for this uh for this position.

Um my question is probably pretty simple.

You can take as much or as all time as you want to answer.

Why should my colleagues and I support you for the D2C?

Because I'm not as hot-headed as I used to be.

I when I first got involved with a lot of the local politics within San Leandro, I had more of an activist mindset.

You know, I was very off the cuff, not realizing how hard a lot of you guys work, a lot of the stress that you already are going under because you see a lot of the people that once supported you are now hating you, and the people that hate you hate you even more.

So I decided I don't want to be like that.

I I want to build with our community to, I mean, that's one of the reasons why I got so involved with uh um the PTOs at Garfield with LCAP, with uh canvassing, with just talking to people, uh getting involved with uh community cleanups and such.

I want I want to be boots on the ground, but also give them a megaphone to speak through.

And I want to do it in a way that is respectable, not like how I used to be, more to get to the point without starting fights, you know, with without trying to put people down, because that's not that's not functioning.

Uh we've we've seen a lot of fighting, and it helps no one, and it just makes us waste time, money, and you know, if we can do better, then we should.

And that's what I want to bring.

I want to bring that personal touch, the community touch.

Um as best as I can.

Thank you.

That's my question, Mayor.

Thank you.

At this point, we come to uh council member, uh, council member Bowen.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Robert, for being here.

Um, two questions for you.

The first is what specifically motivates you to step into this role right now, given the challenges, and what would success look like for you if you were only in this role for a short period.

Let's see.

What's specifically motivates me is I've seen so much like just pain and anger and fighting.

And I feel like we can do better.

I feel if we can bring some more calmer heads on in order to help mediate.

Hopefully that will help.

But there will always be room for improvement, and we need to be able to hear it out.

You know.

And what was the second part of your question?

What would success look like if you were only in this role for a short period?

Uh success to me would look like getting those resolutions passed that I want to push in order to protect our uh very diverse city.

You know, if we're able to acknowledge that racism happened and that we're gonna do better, that's gonna make us stronger.

If we're able to um say that we are not going to let fascists come in here, the same ones that murder innocent people and separate families.

Look what happened in San Francisco yesterday.

We had a mother ripped away from her child, and the mother was uh detained by ice at the airport.

We need to let our c our um our population know that we are here to fight for them and fight with them.

Well, scratch that part, not fight with them, but yeah, side by side.

If we're able to reduce the costs or the campaign contribution amounts to $500, that would look like a win to me.

My end goal is proper representation for our people, making sure that every district's voices are heard, every uh every citizen that is in district one, two, three, four, five, or six has someone that they can talk to and someone that will address their needs.

That's actually a perfect um segue into my next question.

District two residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you built trust with the community that didn't initially feel represented?

And how would that shape how you advocate for district two on the council?

Let's see.

I would say it would be when I was helping uh former council member Azevedo with reaching out to the homeless people within District Two.

We had gone to um down the railroad tracks and to different encampments uh handing out flyers when they I believe it was a heat wave that was coming through.

Um and the city had posted stuff on social media, but a lot of these people don't have access to that.

So we went out there with papers in hand in order to make sure that they knew that there was somewhere they could go so that they wouldn't be subjected to the elements and uh possibly end up hospitalized.

And that was my contribution to district two.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor, please.

Thank you for taking the time to submit an application for us to consider.

I really appreciate your willingness to serve.

I have four questions.

Two of them I've asked of all the candidates, and then the rest are specific to your application.

What is your perception of your sphere of control and influence as a member of the city council?

See.

Being able to push for resolutions and uh ordinances.

That's uh one part of the sphere of influence.

Um being someone that the um the population feels comfortable with going to, that's another uh another part of the influence, I guess.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um, what is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was just voted on by the city council?

Oh, I love it.

I'm a renter now.

So having it at 0.65% of CPI or lower of 3%, that's great.

Because as I had advocated before, 80% of our San Leandro unified families are low-income families, and a lot of them were getting uh just displaced because rents were going up 10%, 10%, 10%.

And I remember during my time as PTO president at Garfield, we even had 10 homeless families.

And I appreciate you guys for taking it seriously and and pushing for that and making it happen.

That's what fills my heart with joy.

And yeah, and I kind of lost track of the question.

I just went off on a tank.

Sorry, you answered it.

Um so we are um up.

The city council will be dealing with some very difficult budget decisions in the coming months.

Can you tell me a little bit about what would your approach be to making decisions around the city budget?

Transparency and accountability, especially with SLPD.

Like how much millions of dollars have we lost with uh these lawsuits?

Like that um Sorel Shifflet, I believe he just sued us for 3.8 million.

Um Mr.

Sykes, I can't remember his first name, Stipe Sykes sued us for nearly a million of getting beaten just walking home.

You know, that's that's already almost five million, and we're trying to reduce the budget by 11 million over the next several years, correct?

And so you take that into account.

You take into account um uh the the incoming uh lawsuit by Chief Bridgeon, and I'm not sure how much our former police chief prison who was uh terminated without a reason, well without a reason given, I should say.

Uh how much is that all gonna cost us?

And if we're not being uh uh more accountable with the way that we use our force, our police force, that's gonna cost us a lot more, and we're not gonna be able to afford any of these repairs that we need.

Thank you.

Uh, this is your last question.

You recently moved to the district, did you as you just shared?

How would you create and nurture a place-based relationships in District 2, being that you're new to the district?

Well, part of it is I'm involved with um helping out the color guard and the band.

I I'm a former band geek, uh I played flute and all that.

But um doing that, um, and when campaign season comes around, going knocking on doors and actually talking to people, because I love uh grassroots movements, you know.

I love going talking door to door to listen to folks, listen to their needs, listen to their concerns.

And I had gotten a little bit of that when I was originally running at large.

Thank you for your time.

Uh, you're welcome.

Councilmember Simon, please.

Hello, Robert.

Uh thank you for presenting today.

And I my question is specific to district two and your unique challenges there, one of them at least, or a few of them.

Bayfair is a prime growth opportunity for businesses and shops, as well as the BART area for housing.

There's an abandoned rail line that you talked about earlier with many unhoused there, as well as illegal dumping going on, and it runs right behind Bayfair.

The John George Psychiatric Facility is right next door in unincorporated Alameda County, and those still with mental health issues are being let go and come down into District 2 in the Bay Fair area.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve the community, to improve the community and help those in need?

And that's uh near and dear to me because that's along my route to work.

I'm pretty much driving down Bancroft through Hisbarian and seeing all that on my way to uh my music studio.

The plan would be even though you guys kind of did cuts to the um alternate response units.

Find some some way to make the most of what we have with them in order to cut back on the uh cost of labor to police in order to address those issues as best we can.

Uming that people that get with 5150 and sent to John George just get, you know, from all they're coming in from all over the city, just being bust in, you know, as they are having their mental health crisis, and then just thrown out to the street right there.

As a city, it we should have some sort of um safety net or some sort of um mechanic to get them back to where they need to be, or where they were originally picked up, or to wherever is safe for them.

Safe and you know, um out of harm's way where they're not going to um you know have a chance of relapsing.

And uh what was the second part of your question, Councilmember Simon?

Behavior and Bayfair and what growth opportunities do you see there for businesses, shops, as well as the bar area housing.

So with Bayfair, uh, I do believe we're creating more RD out there, was it?

Uh I haven't been keeping up.

But ideally, I would just continue using that space for um more family-oriented stuff.

Uh when my kids were prior to uh the pandemic, when my kids were still uh pre-K and kindergarten, we used to take them to Bayfair all the time because that was one of the fun places for them to go.

They had that little playground on the inside, and we actually got to meet more of their friends uh that way through accident.

It's like, hey, my kid goes to Garfield too.

Cool.

Let's uh exchange numbers.

Stan Leandro blacks a lot in the child uh child fun spaces.

Thankfully, we have Juniper's corner uh popping up, but we can do more, more family friendly things, because we have a lot of bars, but I don't feel comfortable taking my kids to there.

So um making things that that draw people in, bringing in that type of development.

I don't know if you guys have tried to go to a kid's birthday party, but you're either going all the way out to uh Dublin nowadays for those bouncy houses or all the way down to Fremont.

We can go ahead and fill that need.

We can fill that void and bring people in and let them see what we have to offer.

Because once you bring them in, that's uh that's the game plan.

Thank you.

Are you welcome?

So I've got four questions.

The first one ethical dilemma.

Tell me about an ethical dilemma that you had and how it got resolved.

An ethical dilemma.

Um that's a hard one.

Uh one time I lied to my kid and told them that can't uh that uh fruits were candy.

Um that got it resolved pretty easily uh because they ended up liking the can't the fruit.

An ethical, another ethical dilemma would be okay, uh, Lake Shabo Road.

Um not many people know this, but how I got my money for my campaign originally was my ex and I uh well, my ex's family owned a house in Lahaina that burnt down.

And we used some of that campaign money to fund my my campaign, or some of that money to find my campaign.

And people on Lake Shable Road are really scared because if a fire is coming up from 580 and they don't uh have any other exit routes other than going down Benedict or all the way up to relationship road, and in a scenario like that, you never know what's gonna happen.

You want all points open.

It's expensive, but I understand the fear.

I understand the the need for that, even though it's not environmentally the best option.

Okay.

Tell me a little bit, because we've got uh a lot of deferred maintenance on assets, deferred roofs, roads, sidewalks.

We also have employees from labor unions that want to be paid well, and they're to some degree in contrast and in conflict because money that we give here can be used to the other side.

Tell me how you reconcile that or how you address that.

I would probably defer to people like Councilmember Bolt who have that union uh knowledge that have that's that real world experience with it.

Um me, of course, I'm I'm just a guy, you know.

I'm just trying to be a voice for people.

And the way that I address my ignorance is learning from people that know more than me.

So up until then, you know, that would be my answer.

Thank you.

Biases.

We've all taken some kind of unconscious bias training.

What have you learned about yourself through that training?

Oh, that I gotta be less of a hothead, of course.

You know, and like I had said uh earlier, um, you guys are all going through it, and you know, I realize that being so negative and and pushing and being angry is not helping you guys, it's not helping our cause.

Coming to the table and talking and just being human.

You you guys aren't some infallible beast.

You guys are just people doing your best.

And so perfect.

Tell me a little bit about schools.

How can we as a city better collaborate with our schools?

Well, we also have to uh look at the inequities within our school district.

Ten of our twelve schools are Title One schools.

Majority of these are low-income BIPOC communities.

And the superintendent's getting paid half a million dollars a year, the highest super highest paid superintendent in the Bay Area.

You know, being able to say, hey, that's you're getting a five percent cola while your teachers are out here picketing like almost every year.

So at this point in time, we give you a minute to wrap it up and highlight whatever you'd like to highlight.

Okay.

So I'm just a normal guy, you know.

Um, I got diagnosed with leukemia in twenty eleven, and I've been a stay at home dad ever since uh I was supposed to be a physical therapist, but thanks to that diagnosis, it didn't really happen.

You know, uh that are just trying to survive and trying to raise their kids in a world that is just scary and mean.

Yeah, people laugh reacting when you s when they see posts of uh the pain that families are going through and the fear that they're living through.

I want to be on your side to help you guys with that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So at this point in time, I'll tell you something I tell everybody, you're welcome to stay.

You're welcome to go.

You're welcome to go and come back.

Whatever you choose to do will not affect how your candidacy is perceived.

Cool.

Thank you very much.

And at this point in time, given that we've been running for about two and a half hours, let's go ahead and take our break and come back in ten minutes, please.

So we are in recess.

Okay, just really quickly, this is Mayor Gonzalez for those online.

We are going to make wait one more minute for Councilmember Simon.

If he's not here within a minute, we will go ahead and get started.

Okay, and also thank you for the extended break because we did have a technical issue that we also had to address.

But now that we've resolved our technical issue and we have all of our counsel here, if we could present, if we could proceed with our next candidate.

Thank you, Mayor.

Our next candidate is uh Mr.

Leo Sheridan.

Okay, Mr.

Sheridan, I'll give you the same description that I give everybody else.

We'll give you about 90 seconds to start to give us some sort of intro, whatever it is that you'd like to cover.

We'll then go by each council member will have four minutes for QA.

They've been very good about announcing the number of questions so that you can then pace your answers.

And then at the end, we'll give you a minute to just wrap up and highlight whatever it is that you want to highlight for us.

Great, thank you, Mayor.

Please begin.

Uh good evening, Mayor, City Council staff.

My name is Leo Sheridan.

I am a 48-year resident of San Landro.

I'm a resident, a parent, uh homeowner, business owner.

I've seen uh this city go from you know, all of these businesses, opportunities, the marina, everything that you could want to offer in this city to um the current state, you know, due to the economy, crime, things like that.

Um I currently serve on the San Landro School Board.

I'm in my 11th year as a school board trustee.

Um, I'm also president of the San Leandro Democratic Club.

Um I believe that this experience on school board, the 11 years of governance, some of the training, you know, I've spent 11 years in this same room at the same diocese when we shared with uh the school district in the city.

And I think that my experience could help lend to the current council and some of the challenges, especially the budget.

You know, we look at the budget over at the school district.

We run about 180 to 190 million dollar annual budget versus a 220 and some change biannual budget.

You know, so budget, attacking budgets, making changes, staying fiscally solvent is nothing new to me.

Thank you.

At this point in time, we'll proceed with questions.

Beginning with council member Bolt.

Okay, Leo, thank you for being here.

I have one question for you.

What is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve?

And what is the viable solution to that problem?

How do you work to accomplish it?

Okay, the primary issue that drives me to serve is actually the passion and commitment I have for this city.

Same reason I ran for school board.

It wasn't for political aspirations.

I wasn't seeking higher office.

I sat there for three terms.

It was the city that I live in, the city that my daughter lives in, the city that I choose to own a home in, and the city that I have businesses in that I feel that my skill set can help contribute to making the changes and addressing some of the large issues that this city has before it to tackle.

Thank you.

I shall come next to Councilman Regular.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

Thank you, Leo, for applying for this position.

My question is um fairly simple.

You can take as much or as little time as you want.

Um, why should my colleagues and I support you for the DTC?

Well, I will tell you that I'm committed, I'm passionate, but I would say ultimately the experience.

Yourself serving on school board, you understand governance, and when you made that transition, you know, I've got 11 years of governance experience under my belt.

I've served as chair of facilities and technology for nine out of those 11 years.

Um served as president multiple times.

I believe that the master's and governance program that we go through on the school board that helps train you for dealing with policy, helps you deal with communication with budgets.

I think that I am just suited to assist in guiding and working with the rest of you up there in guiding this city to start tackling some of them.

I feel that my job allows for the freedom and flexibility for these meetings, for meetings during the day, and my commute for those of you who know, I work at San Leandro Color, which is a 73-year-old business and about two blocks away.

So my commute would be uh by foot.

Perfect.

Thank you.

That's that's my question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Coming to Councilmember Bowen.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Leo, for being here and for putting your name in the hat.

Um, I have two questions.

The first is what specifically motivates you to step into this role right now, given the challenges, and what would success look like for you if you were only in this role for a short period.

So the main thing that probably drove me to consider this role and put my name in the hat was the last year and a half.

I feel that district two has been up unrepresented.

There have been a lot of distractions going on with city council when we have business that needs to be addressed.

And I feel that we need, you know, while I understand the thinking of someone new, someone young, fresh thoughts, maybe even someone who does not have any political experience.

I believe that right now is the time when this council needs someone who can hit the ground running and start addressing some of the large concerns that we have, specifically the budget.

If we can't get this budget straightened out, you know, that's gonna affect programs, that's gonna affect employment, it's gonna affect the city in a great way.

And I think that um having served on the budget task force approximately five years ago, I have that experience to look at budgets and help uh make changes and advocate as well.

Thank you.

And then second question, um, district two residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with a community that didn't initially feel represented?

And how would that shape how you advocate for district two on the council?

You're right.

District two, you know, as is similar to district four or my trustee area for on school board.

So we see a wide range of socioeconomic um families.

We see a wide range of businesses.

I see disparity, I see crime.

But you need to build trust.

You need to be there to listen to people.

Um of the things that I did about 10 years ago, um, I brought youth softball, a nonprofit to San Leandro.

Prior to that, we did not have organized softball for girls.

That ended in 1991.

But I heard the concerns for it, and there were some boys' baseball everywhere.

Even when I went looking for fields for these girls, I was told, sorry, boys' baseball has practically every field in San Leandro locked up.

And we didn't stop.

We we pursued to bring equality and to bring a sport for girls here in our city, which resides in district two, is our home fields.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

We proceed to vice mayor, please.

Thank you for submitting an application for our consideration for the position.

Um appreciate your willingness to serve.

I have four questions, and two of them I've asked of everybody, and the rest are specific to your application.

Sure.

Uh, what is your perception of your sphere of control and and influence as a member of the city council?

That's an easy one for me.

Uh coming from school board where it's the same.

I'm a single voice, a single vote, but part of a team, right?

No one person has power or authority.

Um, whether it's school board or city council, is my belief.

Thank you.

Um, what is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that was just voted on by my colleagues here on the dais?

Overall, my position is in support of rent stabilization, rent control.

Um, while I may not ultimately agree with the factors um associated to what landlords can raise their rent by what amount, whether it's uh 3% plus CPI, whatever the number is, I may not agree with that number, but I'm willing to have those discussions, but ultimately my mom is a renter, so I am in support of it.

Thank you.

Um we you mentioned this a little bit in your opening talking points and other questions, but I'd like to kind of zero in on it.

How would you approach?

We are we have some very difficult decisions coming up regarding our city budget.

Can you tell me a little bit about, or can you tell us a little bit about your approach and how you would approach um one, the conversation around the budget, but also your decision making around the city's budget?

So my approach, you know, I'm gonna tell you that it's gonna be painful.

There's not a quick answer.

Um it's gonna have to be multi-pronged, multi-faceted.

You know, I attended the budget meeting a week ago, and I'm gonna tell you that I was quite honestly disappointed.

There's there was five people in attendance, right?

We need to have and hear from more people.

We need to hear those voices because we're not gonna be able to tax our way out of the issues.

We're not gonna be able to make cuts to balance the budget.

It is gonna take a number of things to balance this budget, not only for this current biennial budget, but for the years coming.

Otherwise, we're gonna run into some big issues.

So I think having more input from the community, whether it's surveys or trying to really drive attendance to these meetings.

I know in my position, the school board, we've had struggles as well and had to look at certain strategies to get more people in attendance, but I think it's gonna be important because balancing this budget could be painful to people, and without their input, um, it's gonna be hard for me to form an opinion and to get behind to share with my colleagues on our approach for balancing the budget.

Thank you.

Um you are one of two self-identified business owners in terms of the the slate of candidates.

Can you elaborate on what your approach would be to economic development specifically related to the Bay Fair area?

So I'm gonna tell you my opinion is you know, you need to, or I would want to approach the blight, right?

First thing you gotta do is approach the blight.

Second is you got to work with these landlords on even if it's just the facades, right?

Making it look pretty from the outside to want to make new businesses come and join us and uh and attract new businesses, and definitely crime.

Crime's got to be addressed.

You know, it's not just one thing, we've got a number of things.

Thank you.

We will code uh councilmore with Simon next.

Thank you for your presentation, Leo.

Thanks.

My question focuses on some of the unique challenges you have in District 2.

Bay Fair is a prime growth opportunity for businesses and shops, as well as the BARP property for housing.

There's an abandoned rail line that runs through your district with unhoused living there, illegal dumping, it runs right behind the Bay Fair.

Uh the John George Psychiatric Facility is right next door on the unincorporated area.

And people still with mental health issues are released right down into District 2, Bay Fair area.

How will you work to address these specific issues and to improve the community as well as to hope those in need?

Okay.

So you're right.

And that's a lot going on in district two.

Uh, you know, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

Um, district two has its challenges.

You start with the railroad tracks, that defunct line and the dumping and the uh unhoused there.

I think that's gonna take a multi-pronged effort working with other agencies.

Um during well, shortly after COVID, it was an issue with a lot of dumping, a lot of unhoused fires going on back there.

And when we contacted Union Pacific, Union Pacific says, um, we don't really have the time to go out there, contact the city.

City would say we don't have the permission to go back there.

Um we can't do anything.

Bart would tell you only one half of it is our issue on the uh east side of the tracks is our issue.

Thankfully, someone within the city, we spoke and we kept in communications, and he put together contacts from all these different agencies to create an MOU to where now the city can go down those railroad tracks and do the cleaning, or to reach out to the homeless or the unhoused and offer services and do relocation.

I think some of these areas, including like the BART station and housing there is going to require reaching out to multiple agencies.

John George, you know, to me, I still have an issue with you know someone in need being picked up maybe in Hayward and transported to John George.

And once John George evaluates and after 48 hours opening the front doors and saying, there you go, right?

Rather than returning someone back to the city they were at for many reasons.

They maybe just be familiar with that area or have their belongings somewhere close in that area.

But that's not what's going on.

They're opening up the front doors, and now they become a person wandering around in district two that could require services rather than going back to the city where they were at.

So I think to address all of these large concerns and issues, it's going to take multiple agencies, it's going to take creative thinking.

It could also take uh input from residents.

You know, sometimes these some of these residents come up with some of the greatest ideas, things that you or I may have not thought of.

And I don't have a problem with that.

If it's a great idea for someone, it's a great idea.

Doesn't have to be something that I'm not willing to do with just because I didn't come up with it.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Okay, so I've got four questions.

First question tell me about an ethical challenge that you encountered and how you resolved it.

Well, ethical challenges, as you know, can come up.

Sometimes you may have a member of the community, you know, who may be looking for special favor, special treatment, um, looking for an advantage.

And I need to remember, at least in my current role as a school board trustee, that's not what I'm there for.

You know, I'm there to help address concerns.

I'm there to represent the community.

Um, and the way I addressed it is just saying, look, you need to reach out to the school district and go through the proper channels.

I can't help you with that.

If there's any other concern, let me know, but you need to go through proper channels.

Second uh second question.

So we've got a lot of deferred maintenance on roads, roofs.

We've got workers that would like to get paid more.

They're represented by a union.

No one represents the roofs or the roads.

How do you reconcile this tension when it comes to allocating money?

Well, I think you're in the fortunate position, at least partially, that Union 20, uh, local 21, their salaries have been negotiated through 2029.

The issue with the roads, I feel like, you know, the costs are not getting any cheaper.

And if we don't address these roads and get ahead of the game, we're just going to continually fall behind.

So we need to, you know, again, reach out and deal with the other age state agencies for these state highways we have within the city to hopefully get our allocation of funding or get them to repair those roads.

And then we need to identify sources, whether it's through shifting funds and budgets that we can or through future bond measures or parcel taxes, and specifically call out what that money is for to maintain uh roads and roofs and other buildings.

Thank you.

Talk to me a little bit about um the unconscious bias training that you've done, and I really don't care so much about the training as much as the results.

What did you learn about yourself?

For me, I learned about myself that the biggest thing I took out of it is that I'm a public servant, and I represent all sorts of people.

And you've got to remember that every single person has a right, at least when I apply it to um school, every single person, every single child has a right to education.

Every single person has a right to be protected and have their rights protected.

And that's what we do is we stand up for those individuals who sometimes aren't strong enough to stand up for themselves.

Talk to me a little bit about how the city can work more effectively with the schools.

Well, I I think that having the strong um relationships between schools and uh the district offices is vital.

I know that over the years it has improved.

Um I know part of it was due to uh shared location of the school district leasing space and having access to city hall right, you know, right across the hallway.

But I think it's important because these school districts are important for the city, but also having a strong city is important to the schools.

I think it's symbiotic, and we need to not only maintain but build it.

There's many opportunities to where the school districts may be stronger suited to where they can assist the city, and there's also opportunities that are vice versa, where the city has either the um the means or the strength to work with us and offer programming.

Okay, so now we've reached the end of our time together, but we do give you one final minute to highlight whatever it is you'd like to highlight.

Well, I I'd like to really just highlight my 11 years of experience and um my community service.

You know, when I got involved in school board, it wasn't for political aspirations, it was because my daughter was going to the same elementary school that I went to as a child, and the school libraries were closed, and I was appalled that all the elementary school libraries were closed.

And that was the reason why I ran to help open up the school libraries, which all which all of them are open.

They've all been remodeled, they all have technology in them, they all provide nice clean spaces for the students.

Um I just, you know, I'm passionate and love our city.

That's why I chose to stay here, purchase a home here, uh, raise my daughter here, and I'm gonna, you know, even though I have opportunities, it could go elsewhere.

I'm choosing to stay in San Leandro because it's my home.

So thank you.

So I will let you know that, like I've told everybody else, you're welcome to stay.

You're welcome to leave, you're welcome to leave and come back.

Whatever you do does not influence how we perceive your candidacy.

Okay, thank you.

Mayor and council, our next interviewee will be Louis Mendoza, and staff will bring Lewis in momentarily.

Okay, so welcome.

I'll kind of give you the same summary that I give everybody.

So we'll give you 90 seconds, a minute and a half to introduce yourself and provide whatever structure you want to use with that time.

We'll then come to each council member who will ask one or more questions, and they've been very good about announcing the number of questions so that you can pace your answers accordingly.

And then when we're done with all of that, we'll give you one minute to wrap up and highlight whatever you want to highlight for us.

Okay, thank you, Mayor.

You're free to begin.

Okay.

So uh good evening, Mayor, uh, members of the city council.

My name is Luis Mendoza, as you know.

I have been in Resident Leandro since 2012, and I currently serve in the planning commission where I where I uh in my second term, and I was recently elected as vice chair.

Through that role, I've been directly involved in land use decisions, development projects, and policy discussions that shape the city um the city's future.

Professionally, I bring over 20 years in experience in technology, business development, and project management, along with my work as a small business in San Leandro.

I believe I can step into the role immediately and contribute in a thoughtful, practical and collaborative way.

I will welcome the opportunity to continue serving the residents of District 2 in a broader San Leandro community.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Okay, so we will begin with council member Bolt.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Luis, for being here with us tonight.

I have uh one question for you.

It is uh what is the primary issue that drives you to want to serve?

Um I'd say that um the issue of uh homelessness uh it's it's uh it's a very important issue because I think that affects the quality of life in in San Leandro.

It's also uh um an issue that deals with you know um fairness and and and justice, and uh the the way I will I will address that issue is through um what people know what people call you know housing first, the how the housing first, you know, motive, but also uh I thought about this very carefully.

So and I know there's a lot of debate about the homelessness issue.

So what I one thing that I think is that you have like different tiers that cause the problem, right?

So sometimes you have somebody that loses a job, right?

And they're being stable for a long time, right?

Or you might have somebody that has you know mental health issues, right?

So I will address those issues by addressing each tier, providing with the right resources to address each of those tiers, and I think that will uh actually um be uh a cost-effective way of of addressing the issue and will affect the uh improve the quality of life for for the community in general.

Thank you.

Welcome to Councilmember Aguilar next.

Uh thank you, Mary Gonzalez, and thank you, Luis, for applying for this position.

Thank you.

Um my question is pretty simple.

Just you can take as much or as little time as you want.

Um, why should my council colleagues and I support you for the D2C?

I'm sorry, I why should my council colleagues and I support you for the D2C?

Um my you know, first of all, I'm already serving in the community uh as a as a uh planning commissioner, so I have a very strong sense of public service.

I also have um a lot of ideas when it comes to uh economic development, safety, um bringing you know attracting investment to to San Leandro.

Uh and and uh so based on that, and based on on the fact that I'm already serving in the city and giving my background, um, and my intention of you know serving in a collaborative way, it's uh is you know is the reason that I you know uh encourage you to go for me.

Thank you.

That's my question.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Bowen, please.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Luisa, for being here.

Um I have two questions for you.

The first question is what specifically motivates you to step into this role right now, given the challenges, and what would success look like to you if you were only on the in this role for a short period.

Um well, I've I've always I've always been interested in in the you know issues related to uh public you know public service, um serving the community.

I've actually uh work on different um different programs that I work when it comes to community activism and bringing people together.

Uh a couple of things that really uh motivate me, it has to do with with business, you know, helping locally owned small businesses.

Um I believe that uh that you know that is very important, and um being able to share those ideas with with with the with the you know the rest of the of the council members.

Um I think will and also learning what motivates you and and learning every you know everybody's you know angle on looking at different aspects.

I do believe that I can bring some something to that mix that will contribute to to uh to the success of the of the city.

Uh and I actually see the challenges that the city's been through uh recently, and I know there's a uh a budget issue that's gonna affect you know in the future.

I see that not as uh something to scare me, but actually something to motivate me to try to contribute to it in a positive way.

Thank you.

And my second question is District 2 residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not all voices are equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with the community that didn't initially feel represented?

And how would you shape and how would that shape how you advocate for district two?

Can you can you repeat your question again, Sarah?

Yeah, district two residents have a wide range of needs and perspectives, and not and they're not always equally heard.

Can you share a specific example of how you've built trust with a community that did initially feel represented?

And how would you how would that shape how you advocate on the council?

Oh, I see.

Okay, okay.

So one specific example is uh some years back, I actually started uh a program myself.

It's like a community outreach.

I call it uh my city market.

So what I did is I reach out to the community and uh with the idea of promoting locally owned uh businesses, and um uh so I will uh you know I brought people together.

And during those times, there was a debate between uh does the city support or encourage the investment from large companies like Amazon and that sort of thing.

So uh I try to bring the two perspectives together, and I know that when it comes to big businesses, there is a tax component that's very important, right?

But then when it comes to small locally owned businesses, it's also extremely important because you have uh, you know, you might know this, you're like uh every every dollar spent on uh on a local business turns into four dollars.

That's uh versus you know, sometimes when you work with you know uh you know, out of town companies, that dollar goes, you know, leads the community.

So um I was trying to educate the public about that.

I will bring people together and um thank you.

Council member or Vice Mayor Rivera Swelton.

Thank you so much for submitting uh all your materials for our uh consideration and really appreciate your willingness to serve.

I have four questions.

Uh two of them will be what I asked everybody, and then the rest will be specific to your application.

Um what is your perception of your sphere of control and influence as a member of this council?

My perception will be collaborative, uh learning, bringing my experience to contribute to the war in a in a I would say you know, humble and you know, learning way.

Um and um, but also thinking that I have something to contribute.

So that would be my approach.

Thank you.

Um, what is your position on the city's rent stabilization ordinance that me and my colleagues just voted on?

I I agree with it.

Okay.

Um you touched upon this a little bit um in your comments.

You mentioned the city budget and the challenging times that are ahead of us in terms of decision making.

Can you tell us a little bit about what your approach would be on your decision making process and how you look at the budget?

Okay.

So my understanding is that I believe that there's like 11 million projected budget shortfall for the last in the next few years.

So, and I know uh the mayor has been working on that.

He I won at one point has uh had a committee to look into this issue.

So obviously there's the issue of taxation, bringing uh businesses to invest in the in the community, and then finding you know, you know, new uh revenue sources to uh address that that issue.

But also you have to be cognizant of how you spend the money, so that will be priorities, it's very important.

Um so those basic meat and potato issues of how to deal with budget is important, but also uh I believe that vision is also very important.

So uh what I envision is of what I think about when I get inspired, right?

It's like here in San Leandro, right?

What all the resources do we have?

We have the marina, we have people, we have um, you know, the location where we are, central location, right?

So drawing a little bit of my marketing and sales perspective and also entertainment is how do how do we make this, you know, how we make San Leandro attractive to businesses and to uh local tourism, right?

So that that could be um, you know, attracting small businesses, attracting people to go to our restaurants, uh, so we can talk about entertainment or you know, natural resources, the parks, things like that.

So, how do you leverage all that in a way that you know brings up uh you know, arises the profile of San Leandro?

So that that would be my thinking.

Thank you.

You are one of two self-identified small business owners who apply to the council um according to your application.

How do you see, and you have a very diverse experience?

Um, but can you tell me about how all of your experiences can be additive to this council?

I think that um okay, so drawing uh one thing that came to mind when you asked me that is the project management.

So drawing a bit on what what you that yeah, we're done with that.

Project management.

I got it.

Thank you.

Come in to Council Member Simon next.

Good evening.

Hi, your this question is specific to district two.

You have unique challenges there, one of which is Bayfair, which is prime for growth with businesses and shops, as well as the BART area for housing.

And there's an un there's an abandoned rail line that you you know that runs through your district with unhoused that live there, as well as illegal dumping.

The John George psychiatric facility is right next door in the unincorporated area, and people with mental health issues are still uh released from there.

They come into District 2 and into the Bayfair area.

How will you work to address these specific issues to improve the community as well as to help those that are in need?

So I will I will advocate for providing, as mentioned before, providing uh more uh services for people with uh mental health issues.

Um you what you mentioned is it really uh hit home because I drive by John George almost every day because my wife works at uh uh juvenile courthouse, she's a co-reporter.

And um, so I see sometimes see people coming down that obviously there's something it's like they're being released from from there.

So uh one of the things why are they being released uh on their own?

And and uh you're right, they just go, you know, come come down to the Bay Fair area.

So how could we uh address that issue and provide better services for for people that need it?

So that that would be my my you know my approach okay.

So I've got four questions for you.

The first question, tell me about an ethical challenge that you faced and how it got resolved.

Well, I I don't know if this is a an ethical channel, but uh challenge.

But um when I first started uh my my role as uh on the planning commission, uh initially um I would get contacted by uh people that are gonna bring um uh projects to the commission.

And uh so the probably the first three meetings um that I had uh not to, you know, I made a decision that it would be better to as a policy not meet with applicants, and you're telling that um they already send the information that the council is gonna be, you know, I mean the commission is gonna be reviewing it.

And um and the reason I did that is because um I decided at that point that it wasn't a good idea to have ex parte communications with people that go into the commission.

So my policy now is which I know no one you know not everybody agrees with it, but I just across the board, don't meet with anybody, but I made sure to tell them that I will be reviewing all the documentation they send very carefully, I'm gonna be making decisions on very unfairly, and and that's you know, so that's I believe how I handle that ethical situation.

Thank you.

Second question deals with uh biases.

We all do unconscious bias training, it was very trended for a number of years.

What what have you learned about yourself as a result of that type of training?

Um let me let me preface this by saying that this is usually that's for all the people to to judge, but I like to think that uh because of my background, um I am very conscious about avoiding uh any kind of bias uh against um you know gender, um race.

Um and uh so it's it's something that I see very that's very important on uh to to be you know be aware of that.

Thank you.

One of the challenges that we face is we've got deferred maintenance, roofs, roads, sidewalks, and the like, and we've got labor groups who are very interested in getting paid a fair wage.

And so to some degree their intention.

So how do you reconcile that tension between the two, especially when it comes to the challenge that we face with our budget?

Okay.

So right off the bat, um I'm definitely pro-labour, I'm pro-union.

That's that's something that I um always been.

Uh but at the same time, uh, when it comes to decision making from uh a body like a city, right?

You have to you have to look at um every possible way of addressing the budget in a responsible, responsible manner.

However, I always believe that there is way there are ways to um address the interest of the local community, local workers and local unions, uh while at the same time um trying to you know balance the budget.

And uh there is you know very many creative ways of doing that as well.

My last question how can the schools work better with the city or the city work better with the schools.

Well, you know, co come come on.

So what we're gonna do right now is give you a minute to wrap up and highlight whatever you'd like to highlight.

Okay, thank you, Mayor.

And uh City Council members.

Uh, thank you for the opportunity again.

Um I do um believe that I can step into this role uh immediately.

My experience in the city council has given me a lot of uh uh insight into how the city works.

Uh my experience in in the business, technology.

Uh also uh I believe, you know, brings in the uh uh another you know uh set of uh resources for the city, and I will uh welcome the opportunity to continue serving the City of San Leandro and if I'm not selected, I I will always you know continue supporting the the city.

And the last thing I want to say too is to um thank the rest of the people that you know put this forward to to uh apply for the position.

This is a really being an honor, and uh I will continue uh as uh planning commissioners.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And so I'll just tell you the same thing that I've told all the other candidates.

You're uh welcome to stay.

You're welcome to go.

You're welcome to go for a while and then come back.

Whatever you choose to do will not influence how you are evaluated as a candidate.

Okay, thank you.

So having heard um seven different presentations, we did have a little break in there.

Uh I'd like to take a short break to kind of clear our brains a little bit, maybe look back through our notes for about seven to ten minutes.

I'll pick either number, I'm but I'm looking to my council, but I I do feel like we probably need a little bit of just fresh air.

So what are you thinking?

Are we fine with 10 minutes?

Okay, let's take 10 minutes.

Let's take seven.

I see some fives and I see some tens.

So we're gonna do we're gonna go with seven because we compromise on this council.

So seven minutes, if you could please set the timer, and folks, we will be back if you're online.

We are in recession.

Okay, we are reassembling here in chambers.

The time is 835, and we're back in session.

So I'd like to begin by thanking everyone who has applied.

It is obvious from your applications and from your statements.

Each of you has contributed to the community already, and I fully anticipate that you will continue contributing to the community, each in your own way.

And that's pretty pretty amazing stuff.

This part of what makes San Landro special that we've got so many people that want to contribute.

This now is the difficult process because we have to say one of seven people gets to take the role at this point in time.

And hopefully from this message, what you're hearing is that we encourage all of you to consider running in the fall, consider running in two years after that, and six years after that.

This is not a one-and-done opportunity.

So thank you very much for what you have done and how you have presented yourselves here today.

So what we're going to do now at this point in time is uh ask council members if they are interested in nominating someone that they have heard from.

We will take all the nominations.

If a nominee receives four votes, then we will move to a resolution to appoint that person.

That would be another step in the process.

Are we going to vote on all four?

If you have concerns about that, you can express them, and that would, you know, we can modify our process.

But the current process, we nominate everybody.

I just get nervous because then if there was someone else below that you also liked and you wanted to see where they were at, you won't ever see that.

So that just tells me how to proceed.

Okay.

Uh Councilmember Aguilar.

I'll come to you.

Thank you, Mary Gosl.

Are we moving forward with nominations?

Seeing no other questions, yes, please.

I would uh like to nominate James Aguilar.

Okay, so we have a nomination for James Aguilar.

Next nomination, Councilmember Bowen.

Yes, I would like to nominate Emily Chandler.

We have a Chandler nominated Vice Mayor.

Um I'd like to nominate um Luis Mendoza.

Okay.

Any other nominations?

Councilmember Bolt.

I would like to nominate Leo Sheridan.

Okay.

Any other nominations.

I will list them in a second.

So I've got Aguilar, Chandler, Mendoza, and Sheridan.

You're in queue, Vice Mayor.

Um if we don't nominate at this stage, do I'm answering my own question.

Um I'd like to nominate um Tiara Pena, please.

Okay, coming to Councilmember Simon.

Uh Ed Hernandez.

Okay, so just to be clear, the nominees thus far are Aguilar, Chandler, Hernandez, Mendoza, Peña, and Sheridan.

Okay, at this point in time, seeing no others, I will close nominations.

Um, and then I do want to then proceed with Madam Clerk.

You have the names.

You will put them into our random number generator from I suppose random.org.

Uh yes, Mayor, one moment, and I will bring up our randomizer.

So we are at random.org, and I have the six nominee names in the order that they were called.

And I've pasted those here.

We have Aguilar, Chandler, Mendoza, Sheridan, Pinya, and Hernandez.

I'm gonna click randomize, and that will be the order.

Second, Edward Hernandez, third, Emily Chandler, fourth, Tiari Pena, fifth, Leo Sheridan, and sixth, James Aguilar.

Okay, at this point in time, the way that we're going to proceed is if there's interest in discussion about our first candidate, Luis Mendoza, now would be the time to offer your thoughts.

Uh we did have a nomination.

We I have no sense of the depth of interest.

So if the nominator would like to offer some words.

Sorry, I was had a cough drop.

Also known as Candy.

Um of the reasons that I nominated uh Mr.

Mendoza was one, I really appreciated um the diversity of his background and both professional and academic.

To me, it spoke about or what it how that landed for me specifically was um uh taking risk but also sticking with it.

Um he has long tenure in his business ownership.

Um I also um in terms of my question around sphere of influence, he talked about contributing and being collaborative, which I think is something that um we need on the council.

Um he also um had a good understanding of the budget and what we were looking at.

Um 11 million over three years, talked about taxation, but also income.

Um so that's one of the reasons that um that I nominated him was um I thought he gave really good concise answers, and um and yeah, that's why.

Are there any other thoughts that people would like to offer on Mr.

Mendoza?

Councilmember Bolt.

Yes, uh, having worked with Mr.

Mendoza on the planning commission, um always felt his uh contribution was heartfelt, and he always chose to work in a way that uplifted the people.

Uh and that's something I'll never get past.

I really appreciate appreciate that in you, brother.

Okay, seeing no other comments, I will offer one comment.

I was particularly impressed with this answer about expartheid communication, that sometimes it's just easier to make sure that everything's happening in the public that needs to happen in the public eye.

I think that demonstrates very high integrity, and that's something that's uh very valuable on our council.

Councilmember Regular.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

I I think you know, with regards to uh his experience on the county on the planning commission with regards to his smart business years of uh involvement with uh technology um and his answers supporting economic development and um public safety and also uh with regards to supporting um the local rent stabilization, I think you know, his experience is something that you know we were we are that I am looking for.

Councilmember Simon.

Yes, I just want to thank Luis for coming out and applying and uh I too liked your answers uh more services to help the unhoused and how to address that issue, I think is really important.

Um so just appreciate you coming out.

Okay, seeing no other commentary on at this time, we will use our voting system.

If you would like to support his nomination for this position, you vote yes.

If you'd like to defer at this time, you can abstain or vote no.

And then what will happen is if he gets four votes, then we'll move to a motion.

If he does not receive the four votes, then we move to the next candidate for discussion.

So we're not bouncing back and forth between candidates.

This is a linear process.

Okay.

Yeah, so this is your opportunity to support this candidate.

If you would like to support this candidate, um we'll take a vote.

And if he gets four votes, then we'll move to adopt a resolution to appoint him.

If he does not get four votes at this time, then we will move to the next candidate.

And then we'll keep proceeding through candidates until somebody gets four votes.

So it's not as if we'll go to the next person and then come back to him or two people down, then come back.

So this is kind of a this is your chance if you support him.

And then of course, if at the very end nobody gets four votes, we'll we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Okay, so at this time, uh please vote if you support his candidacy.

The votes are in for this nominee, and there are three yes votes, uh two note votes and one abstention.

Okay, so at this point in time, we're going to move to our next candidate.

Our next candidate on your randomized list was the next candidate is Edward Hernandez.

Okay, so let us begin the discussion on Mr.

Hernandez.

Councilmember Simon.

Uh yes, I've nominated Ed.

Uh Ed has been in our community for uh quite a while.

We we heard his presentation, um, volunteered on many different avenues.

Um with his daughters here raising his daughters in our community, his passion for helping the youth, and I did hear what he said about stepping back and then moving forward and us having some history, having some experience here in the city, I think can be beneficial to us.

Uh I do think there's many good candidates, and I'm glad that we have several nominations here.

And this is um we're fortunate to have so many viable candidates.

So I do want to thank everyone.

Um, I think there's lots of good opportunities here that we have to us.

Um, but I am nominating Ed because he has provided a lot of good service to our community, and I think that um his experience can be very beneficial towards us.

Thank you for your nomination.

Other council members who would like to weigh in at this time.

Okay, seeing no other comments, please vote.

All votes are in.

And with four abstentions, one yes and one, the nomination uh fails.

Okay, at this point in time, we will move to our next candidate.

The next candidate is Emily Chandler.

Okay, council member Bowen.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to share uh a little bit about why I nominated Emily Chandler.

Um, when I was really impressed by um the uh comprehensiveness of her answers to the questions on the application, including the entirety of the supplemental questions before the last time that we had worked on these questions.

I made sure to add multi-part questions just to see if people were paying attention.

Um, really appreciate that a lot of details matter.

Um, one of the things that really strikes me for the person to um join the council during this moment over the next nine months is really to be able to represent district two and understand what's happening on the ground.

So I really appreciated the answers that Emily gave around community and having children in schools and volunteering at um Bethel community and with um SL2050, really understanding what is happening in the community on the day-to-day.

I really appreciated the very specific um uh uh raising of issues to do with traffic, bike safety, transit, the issues that are happening in the community right now, um, a lot of quality of life issues, which is what we're constantly hearing about, and I think something that district um two residents are really um excited to be able to have uplifted at the council and to have that representation.

Um I really appreciated the answer around knowing necessarily all of the information to, I believe it was the mayor's question um to do with um uh uh balancing negotiations between different um stakeholders.

But uh the idea of being a learner to understand more, get that information before making a decision.

Um she spoke about short-term and long-term goals.

And then the final thing that unfortunately we've not been able to talk about much on the council because of uh other priorities is really around sustainability.

So I appreciate the question asked by Vice Mayor, but really appreciate um how her answer really spoke to root causes and changes that need to um happen at a systems-wide level and how we can move from that to be able to affect the one the one to one um uh experience of the everyday person.

Okay, and thank you for that.

I will now come to Vice Mayor.

Thank you.

I was equally um, I really enjoyed reading the uh very comprehensive application.

Really appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you put into it.

I could tell um that you you thought about long term and uh short-term goals.

Um and I uplifted, I uplifted sustainability because you were one of the few that actually named it as a medium and long-term uh priority.

So I I um uh felt like that really rounded out just in terms of looking at some of the issues that uh we work on um really felt like that really rounded that priorities out.

Um some of the things were already said by my colleague um but I was um really impressed with the knowledge of the local district two issues that you uplifted.

Um and I would think that you would be a fantastic addition to our council, and I'm supportive.

Seeing no other comments, uh the one thing that I will highlight, uh we received a number of positive recommendations, and so I'm very grateful for that.

And certainly to have Arena and Bethel reach out is that a positive is a positive indicator.

Okay.

Seeing no other commentary, please vote.

All votes are in.

Meaning the nomination failed.

Okay, let us proceed to our next nominee.

The next nominee is Thierry Pinya.

We will begin with Vice Mayor.

Uh Ms.

Bena, thank you so much for submitting your application.

Um I enjoyed reading it and kind of taking some time to reflect on it.

In terms of your time with us today, um, and some of the things that you highlighted, uh, there was a couple of highlights for me that I'd like to elevate to my colleagues.

Um was around it in the answer, and I and the answer around the sphere of control and influence, it wasn't around like control, but it was mostly what I was the answer I was looking for was I see myself work being part of a team, right?

Um vote of one, but really we have to work as a team, and you did kind of elevate that in terms of influence.

So I appreciate you wanting to be kind of part of a team, but also kind of an understanding um the role that we all play.

Um I also really responded to uh grounding yourself in community and kind of your lived experience and how that has um impacted the the work that you are doing, but also the work that you hope to do if you were to be um uh selected as one of the of the appointed members of this council.

Um let me see through my notes.

Um talked about kind of a larger issue that threads amongst our districts, and that's around homelessness.

Um really enjoyed listening to your take on that.

Um, I think it's like you mentioned it's a really complicated and nuanced issue, and it takes you know a lot of kind of different levels of actors to come together.

Um the other thing that really resonated with me was your empathy.

Um how to tackle these problems that I think you show up with empathy first.

Um and I I just really responded to that.

Thank you.

Um again, thank you for your time and for submitting your uh application materials.

Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

Uh Tiade, I just you know, I I think I'd like to harp on what my uh vice mayor had mentioned with regards to working together.

Um, you know, you you you mentioned that you started as a uh secretary that moved your way up the county to become a legislative aide um and name the various titles that you that you've held.

That's you know, that's moving upward.

Obviously, you've done a lot of great work with the county.

Um, and you know, you you mentioned regardling homelessness, there is you know, we do have a crisis in San Leandro.

We did put together um the navigation center.

Um you mentioned working with state agencies and and federal agencies.

We just came back from Washington, DC, advocating for federal funding, and we work together with our lobbyists to advocate for state funding.

Um, you know, you you have that experience working as a staffer, uh, and you mentioned being an outsider looking in.

I think you have been on the inside, which is the experience that we're looking for to fill this role.

And I I think um, you know, you you also mentioned that you've had a role model who was your grandma who was mayor of Vallejo for many years.

So uh I think all that experience combined.

Um, you know, I I I support Tiade.

Councilmember Simon, please.

Yeah, I wanted to show my appreciation for you uh coming out and putting in your application.

And as the mayor said, if this doesn't work, maybe it will, maybe you won't.

Um, but there's many more opportunities ahead.

And I was very impressed with your answers, and I and I heard the empathy and the care and your voice and your words, and I I felt it.

And um, there is a crisis on our streets.

It's there, and we see it every day.

And and I appreciate you picking up on the detail from our um council workshop.

You picked up that we've moved from four beds to two beds in our alternate response unit.

That's huge.

Um that's huge that we have made that reduction.

It's a huge impact to our to our own house.

Um so I appreciate you getting into those details and just want to thank you.

Seeing no other commentary at this time, I'll add my thoughts.

I really liked your answer around control.

Control is a bad word.

Because what we do is influence.

We really don't have a lot of control here.

Uh and the power of influence.

I think you've probably picked that up from being an outsider insider because you're an outsider, so to speak, to this council, maybe to San Leandro Politics, but you're an insider because you've been you've been inside baseball.

You know what politics is like at the county level.

You've seen it, you understand the dynamics that uh that folks face.

So you you bring this interesting uh duality.

Um I find that your word choice, I think, speaks volumes when you talk about people's gifts.

I think that's very powerful because people do bring gifts and how you put those gifts together to create a great outcome.

I think is very powerful.

Um love that you're plain spoken.

When you said that people are not trash, that just resonated very powerfully because people are not trash.

And so, you know, the being able to cut to the chase with simple words, um, not blindly, but earnestly, I think is powerful.

And for me, you got a positive vote from your grandmother's story.

You know, this is when we talk about um if you see it, you can be it.

I mean, that's exactly what you have lived, and maybe you can be that role model for somebody else.

Seeing no other commentary, let's vote.

All votes are in.

And the nominee received three yes votes and three abstentions, meaning the nomination failed.

If we can continue with our next nominee.

And the next nominee is Leo Sheridan.

We will begin with Councilmember Bolt.

Yes, thank you.

Um I do agree that we're in a good position with all these candidates.

Uh, I nominated uh Leo.

You can tell by my votes.

I I I want to abstain on ones that I think I could vote yes for, but um I want to see everybody's viability, and I couldn't with Leo, I couldn't not nominate you with uh all your experience and your time in this community and all the work you put in uh not just from a dais but also out there in the field, and I truly appreciate that work that you do, brother.

So um I had to make sure that you made it through to this side to see where the votes are at.

So thank you.

Seeing the comments I will offer my comments, I am particularly grateful for your experience on the school board and on facilities in particular, because I think one of the biggest challenges that we face in the city of San Leandro is facilities-related issues.

It's hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's gonna take that insight, that dedication, that recognition, all of that together to help get us out of the challenge that we're in right now.

So I am particularly grateful for that.

I think also the experience of governance is a big plus for me.

Um, and I think that we cannot um sufficiently highlight the importance of governance and good governance.

It's something that I've uh been working to promote since I arrived here, and I think that you'll help further promote that.

Seeing no other commentary, please vote.

All votes are in and the nominee received one yes vote and five abstentions, meaning the nomination failed.

Okay, at this point in time, we will go to our next nominee, which I believe is Mr.

Aguilar.

Yes, that's correct.

Uh James Aguilar.

So we'll begin with uh Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

I I think with nominating James, I remember being at a conference in San Diego, and uh former trustee Janet Zamudio had asked, um, I have a student and trustee who would like to be on the school board.

And I asked where you know where this where James had lived, and I said, Oh, you're in my district, you'd like to run for the seat that I'm currently in.

And um, being 17 years old, and I think running running for that seat at 18, being the youngest, um, shows a lot of leadership enthusiasm.

Um, and working together with the school board to pass successful bond measures.

Um being a you know, president um from a clerk to vice president to president to going through the master's in governance training.

Um, I think James is a consensus builder, he works with everyone that you know we all advocate for, especially um families and children.

He has a product of San Lorenzo, Unified School Districts in San Leandro has two school directs at two school districts, San Leandro and San Lorenzo.

Um, James has put in the work, he is a product of the school system.

He is, you know, in San Leandro.

Uh, and I think with regards to the uh question that the mayor had asked with regards to ethics.

I you know, James had some tough decisions to make and and decided you know that his time was up with the school board and decided to do other things.

And as somebody who is working on their their their doctorate, um, I think this person is best suited who understands finance, um, who has been involved in various committees with the school district, uh, and someone that I have worked alongside with.

I think you know, James is the person to um fit this position and who is ready to plug and play.

And uh I think there may be a slight learning curve, but I think this is someone that we can all work with and move forward um to serve out the rest of this uh this uh term.

So that's why I nominated James Aguilard.

Thank you.

Coming to Councilmember Bolt.

Yes, thank you.

Um with regards to the one question that I asked you all, I think the biggest this is a personal opinion where I'm coming from.

And James, you hit it with the budget.

I think it's the toughest thing we have to deal with.

And I do feel like you are the strongest candidate in the pool, just by the way you present yourself and and your answers to the questions and and everything you you sent in, reading all the the different um applications.

Everybody here I think would do a good job.

Um, but I personally feel that um what you have shown in this early stage of your life and and going through these things is is a is such a positive that I I would hate to turn my back on it.

Um I don't want to turn my back on anybody because I think district two is in a good place with all of you here.

But James, um, I really appreciate all the work you put in.

I know you've reached out to a lot of the council members and also staff members, from what I heard, and that is just like above and beyond.

I know Ed, you did that too as well, and I appreciate that.

Um but that shows another level of of what we need to get to.

So I appreciate that in you.

Thank you.

Seeing no other comments, I'll offer my thoughts at this time.

Um your presentation was highly polished, highly professional, highly well prepared.

I don't think I've seen a presentation that well prepared um in a long time.

Might have been back to the vice mayor when she did her presentation.

Um you've clearly worked hard, you've hustled, and that in itself is impressive.

Um I really when you talked about what people care about is the potholes.

That really struck a chord with me because I think it's the truth.

When you ask people, you know, Pete Balou had this saying, what is the 895, 89, 8, 87, whatever his statement was.

What do they care about?

The vast majority of San Leanderans care about the basics.

And are we helping meet their needs with the basics?

Um at this point in time, I'm gonna vote abstain because I'd like to reconsider one of the candidates.

But if you get the four votes, you will have my support when it comes to the resolution.

At this time, please vote.

Councilmember Simon.

Yeah, James, I just wanted to say I was very impressed with your presentation, the answers to your questions, and your application.

Just one of the points you hit on was the homeless issue and helping those that are unhoused and you have family members that are in that position.

Your answers to the John George, and we're not just working within our city limits.

We have influences and neighbors that we have to coordinate with, and that's huge.

And your approach to criticism, I thought I would just, if folks didn't hear this or see this, I think this is really important for us on council to be able to work together and grow together and build together.

And this is what you say, approach of criticism.

How do you grow if you don't take criticism?

I believe in growth through feedback.

Criticism is not only part of the job, it's welcome in my book, hands down.

You need a thick skin serving in elected appointed politics, but at the core of any role in government, always assuming best intent, hearing and taking criticism is what allows me to be better, understand where my focus needs to be and how I need to adjust, change based on my constituents' wants and needs.

So thank you.

Um really appreciated your Bayfair answer in terms of looking at um uh visual data to kind of understand what it what the physical space and the um built space look like and to think about opportunities.

Um I'm supportive, but I'm going to abstain because I do want to I do want to give another can I want to do one more round of voting.

Um, but I'm supportive.

Uh and um thank you.

Okay, seeing no other people win, let's go ahead and vote.

All votes are in and with three yeses and three abstentions, the nomination fails.

Okay, so at this point in time, I think that there are probably certain candidates that are more likely to be what I call on the cusp.

So what I'd like to do is given all the voting that you saw, given all the discussion that you saw, um it would be nice if we could at this time identify two or three people to narrow our discussion and focus that.

So let's see if we can get there, beginning with vice mayor.

Um I have two that I would like to elevate, and that would be Ms.

Chandler and Mr.

Aguilar.

Councilmember Aguilar.

I think with with the current voting round, I would like to elevate three candidates uh who've received three yeses, that is Luis Mendoza, uh Tiare Pena, and James Aguilar.

Are there any others?

Okay, so at this point in time, I will just say that I'd like to also elevate Mr.

Aguilar, Mr.

Mendoza, and Ms.

Pena.

Anybody else want to express a preference?

I'm going to ask Vice Mayor.

Would you be willing to limit one of yours in light of the votes?

Prior votes.

No, I would like to continue with Ms.

Chandler in the running.

Very well.

So let's let's have a discussion on the four.

The four that I have are Aguilar, Aguilar, Chandler, Mendoza, and Pena.

I'm sorry, can you repeat the names again, please?

Aguilar, Chandler, Mendoza, and Pena.

I'm sorry.

I should offer direction.

If you could put the four of those names into the randomizer, please.

Yes, Mayor, one moment.

So here on the screen, we're back at random dot org, and I am pasting the names of the four nominees in the order that they were called out just now.

Emily Chandler, James Aguilar, Louis Mendoza, and Thierry Pena.

And I am now pressing the randomize button, and that will be the order in which the votes will be called.

So the randomized order is first, Louis Mendoza.

Second, James Aguilar.

Third, Emily Chandler, and fourth, Tiari Pinya.

Okay, so let us proceed with discussion on Mr.

Mendoza.

Okay, let's vote.

Let's vote.

All votes are in.

And the motion, the nomination fails with four abstentions and two no votes.

Let us proceed to Mr.

Aguilar, please.

So while the city clerk is doing that, I just want to know for Mr.

Aguilar.

Is there are there any words that people would like to add to the discussion?

Okay, seeing none, please vote.

All votes are in.

And we have four yes votes and two abstentions.

Okay, our next step in this process is to have a motion to adopt the resolution appointing James Aguilar to the district to seat for then subject to election in this fall.

Who would like to make that motion?

Councilmember Aguilar.

So moved.

And do I have a second?

Councilmember Volt.

Second.

Okay.

So at this point in time, if there's no further discussion, please vote.

All votes are in, and the motion carries unanimously.

So my question to you, Mr.

Aguilar, would you prefer to be sworn in today or when others can be here to celebrate with you?

We are indifferent.

It is your choice.

I would like to be smart in with public.

Okay.

So we shall plan on swearing you in at the April 5th, 6th, 6th meeting.

So we we look ready to have you fill the seat right over there.

Okay, at this point in time, let's see.

Let's look at the agenda to see how any remaining business.

We've passed our motion.

Okay, this is perfect.

So at this point in time, it is nine twenty-five, and we are adjourned.