When my husband and I bought our house in Menlo Park, I was so excited that I would be able to walk and bike with my daughter to kindergarten, given that our home was located within a mile from Lower Laurel Elementary School. Then we tried to do it one day. Not only were the road conditions unsafe for my daughter, I didn’t feel comfortable as an adult riding on the street. Cars, buses, trucks, cyclists, and pedestrians all competed for space on a narrow road. I put our bikes away, found two other families to carpool with, and bought a minivan. A few years went by, and as many busy parents do, I focused inwardly on my family and my own life. But every time I drove on that dangerous street, I would mutter to myself, “Somebody has to do something about this.”

In 2016, I realized that the “somebody” I was looking for was me. I started small, talking to my neighbors and focusing on the streets near my house, but quickly realized that safe walking and biking options were lacking all around town. In 2017, I launched Parents for Safe Routes, a community-wide advocacy group committed to getting kids to school safely. In the short three years since I founded the group, I have successfully lobbied the Menlo Park City Council to develop a Safe Routes to School program and have been instrumental in getting local jurisdictions and agencies (San Mateo County, Menlo Park City School District, etc.) to prioritize safe streets for all. I’ve given many talks about Safe Routes to School advocacy and have been honored with multiple awards for my work in advancing safety in our community.

Over the years, I began to think about other big issues confronting Menlo Park. I have since become a vocal proponent for addressing our regional housing shortages, developing a stronger climate action plan, and approaching all that we do through an equity lens. I am a proud former member of Menlo Together, a local organization of community leaders and residents who envision a city that is integrated and diverse, multi-generational, and environmentally sustainable. I see the changes coming to Menlo Park as opportunities to move forward together towards a better future.

I am hard-working, grounded in my values, and ready to commit to the responsibility the office demands. I care deeply about our community and believe that local policy matters. I humbly ask for your vote. Thank you.

As a yearslong advocate for safety, sustainability, and equity in Menlo Park, I have both the experience and values to lead during these challenging times.

In 2017, I founded Parents for Safe Routes, which successfully championed safety programs and improvements for all ages and abilities. I am on the City Council-appointed Transportation Master Plan Committee and other community committees and task forces. Through attending City Council meetings late into the night, I learned that the complex issues of affordable housing, climate resilience, and sustainable transportation are inextricable and indispensable to a strong community.

COVID-19 has hurt our city budget and local businesses. It has also exposed systemic racial and economic inequities. If elected, I will work to implement an inclusive and equitable recovery by taking action to alleviate the housing shortfall and prioritizing those whose lives and livelihoods have been most affected.

I love District 3. It is the heart of Menlo Park with both renters and homeowners in a variety of housing options, retail, transit, parks, and our civic center. As your representative, I vow to be accessible, seek broad community input, apply my values, and work hard to make Menlo Park a welcoming, diverse, and sustainable community for all.