PLATFORM
"As a San Matean, I know we have the fortitude and imagination to create a stronger, more just and prosperous future for ourselves and for future generations."
- Mayor Amourence Lee
Since 2019, I have served our beautiful community on the City Council. As your most experienced legislator, I am working every day to:
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Protect our public health, safety, and economic vibrancy;
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Build affordable housing, sustainable transit and infrastructure; and
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Listen and co-create a vision for growth that respects our history, diversity, and neighborhoods.
My 15+ year career in the nonprofit, private and public sectors has shaped policies and institutions to build healthy communities and families. I know what it is to struggle, and also what is possible when communities come together to take care of each other.
Raised $150k+ in private and public funds for Storm Relief Fund
North Shoreview Levee Project
KEY ISSUES
HOUSING
As an affordable housing advocate, I will continue to protect the essential fabric of our community by addressing our affordability crisis head-on.
San Mateans need better and more affordable housing options of all types for our seniors, families, workforce and for our young people.
As we plan to meet our community’s needs, we must build on San Mateo’s strengths and preserve our history. Our communities heart, health, economic viability and vibrancy depend upon it.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Our quality of life depends on strong fiscal policy that will deliver consistent and quality service to residents. We must ensure that our municipal assets--like our libraries, community rooms and fields—are well maintained and available to our community.
As a businesswoman, I have built successful organizations by expanding services and increasing revenue. I have the experience, vision, and discipline to support our local businesses, proactively manage our unfunded pension liability, and creatively maximize every dollar and revenue opportunity.
SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental sustainability needs to be a cornerstone principle of everything we do - from our street and park designs to building development and shoreline preservation, as well as our essential infrastructure delivering sewer, recycling, composting and garbage services.
I am committed to advancing San Mateo as a sustainability leader in the County. I support strategic partnerships, regional collaborations and critical infrastructure and multimodal transit investments that will build a climate-resilient future.
MY RECORD
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Approved 399 affordable housing units
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Increased affordable housing requirement for new developments from 10% to 15%
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Supported the largest 100% affordable housing project in our history. Kiku Crossing will create 225 new homes downtown: 25% public employee housing for our workforce and a work/live preference for San Mateans
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Improved pedestrian safety & reduced speed limits around schools
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Repaired 20+ miles of streets
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25th Ave Grade Separation
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101/Peninsula/Poplar Interchange
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Track traffic collision data to inform policy
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Citywide & North Central Complete Streets
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Increased funding for bike & ped safety
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Delivered two ballot measures that will bring an estimated $5.8M in annual revenue and community budgeting process
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Closed $7.8M structural deficit; utilized unassigned funds to smooth economic volatility during COVID-19
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Managing unfunded pension liability to eliminate liability by 2050
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Fund rehabilitation of the King Center & Marina Library
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Downtown Racial Equity Mural & landmark for Ching Lee Laundry
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Opened Borel Park and renovated King Field, Hayward Park Square, and John Lee Dog Park
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Approved development projects will generate 16.5 acres of open spaces
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Reduce noise pollution from trains by establishing a Quiet Zone
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Ban Flavored Tobacco & E-Cigs
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Delivered Gun Violence Prevention Policy
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Partnered to bring Women's Self-Defense & Anti-Asian Hate Education
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Protected Planned Parenthood clients from harassment with buffer zone
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Dedicated two pedestrian-only streets downtown & created 30,000 sq. ft outdoor dining space
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Multilingual Business Outreach Taskforce assisted local businesses with 418 PPP loans and $325M in federal COVID relief funds
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COVID moratorium on commercial evictions
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$400,000 in rental assistance (incl. home-based child care providers)
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61 relief grants to small businesses & $100k grants for ADA upgrades for restaurants
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Community Policing & Criminal Justice Reform - mental health, training, diversity, accountability.
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Safety Technology enhancements (drones, ALPR, wildfire mitigation)
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Emergency preparedness & upgrades to Fire Station 27 & Community Centers
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Allocated $1.3M in federal funding to those most impacted by COVID — issuing emergency rental assistance funds, small business grants, and support for childcare providers, hazard pay for Grocery Store Workers & City Employees
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Community partnerships helped our City achieve one of the highest vaccination rates
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Protected 600 City employees during the downturn, saved jobs without cutting City services
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Flexible enforcement & lifted parking requirements during COVID
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Expand Employee Parking Program for Downtown Businesses
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297 new parking stalls on downtown opportunity site
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Bicycle Master Plan Rapid Implementation & multi-modal transit
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Expand Community Gardens
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Reach Codes supporting all-electric for new construction
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Adopted Climate Action Plan
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Led fiscal policy to stop public funding in fossil fuel
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Flood Free San Mateo Coalition to fund stormwater infrastructure improvements & dredging of the Marina Lagoon
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Recycled Water at the Waste Water Treatment Plant
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North Shoreview Levee
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Liaison to Senior Commission
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World Health Organization designated San Mateo an Age-Friendly City, support the implementation of initiatives
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Expanded food security programs
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Co-authored Black Lives Matter Resolution
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Led creation of DEI Task Force & racial equity mural downtown
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Organized the first Pride Flag raising at City Hall & first Pride Parade downtown
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Increased language access & civic education to increase diverse representation on our boards and commissions
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Campaigned for school funding Yes on Measure X, V, & L
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Raised funds to address the digital divide campaign & PPE donation to SMFCSD
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Created distance learning hubs for students during COVID in partnership with the school district and Parks & Recreation Department
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Led campaign finance reforms in partnership with the League of Women Voters and Common Cause
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San Mateo was the first City in the County to launch a Campaign Finance Dashboard
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Transitioned to by-district elections and voted for equitable map to ensure representation East of 101
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Supported rental assistance for home-based child care providers affected by COVID
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Mobilized 50 elected officials and 550+ residents to create the $5.5M SMC Child Care Relief Fund, providing over 300 grants to child care providers