Hi Guys,

   I received the following statement from Aparna Madireddi, who is running for city council:

If our city grows too fast, multiple challenges await us. New ideas and solutions are very much needed to maintain the quality of life in our city, especially now when we are facing increased construction and traffic. Since I serve on the city’s Open Space Advisory Committee, and am a
liaison to the Planning Commission, I pay attention to the conversation on both sides, I, fully, understand the importance of balanced growth and know what needs to be done for a course correction.

I have a Master’s degree in Geography and specialized in different aspects of urban and rural geography and planning. I have, regularly, attended city council and planning commission meetings to ensure that my understanding of city government, policies, budget, etc. is thorough.
With me serving on the council, I can assure you that we will not be an easy city to mess with. I will ensure that we take concrete steps to retain local control, and that decisions made in City Hall benefit our entire community.

Being a business owner of a software company for the past 20 years, and serving on several boards and committees in our city, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and nonprofits,
I have been a part of many collaborative efforts, and have, very effectively, negotiated to bring changes or implemented ideas, while operating within a budget. This experience sets the
tone for my priorities:
• Fiscal discipline - reduce expenses and increase revenues without raising taxes and fees, and continue delivering the high quality of services that our residents expect. Simple ideas like diversifying retail, adding more restaurant choices, and tapping into existing resources
in our city, can generate substantial revenues within a shorter time period. Once the revenues start growing, this mad rush to build more, and incur more infrastructure costs, will, automatically, get addressed.
• Listen to residents first – Government is supposed to make life easier for the people. Residents have invested in their future by buying homes in San Ramon. I will not allow that future to be compromised in any way or adopt policies that will change the look and feel of a neighborhood down the road. This applies to all current and future areas of focus -
golf courses, Church of the Valley, HOV lanes, event centers, Mudd’s, Tassajara Valley, and many others.

By forming Citizens’ Neighborhood Planning Units, and using ideas and recommendations from residents on land use decisions and development projects, the council can make the best decisions. Residents need to feel respected and heard at all times. If residents can’t attend meetings due to time constraints, it will be my priority to go to the residents to keep everyone informed and updated on what’s coming up.
• Keep our community safe - creating a Citizens Police Advisory Task Force for input and ideas, and implementing them effectively. It should include residents of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds, from all the 6 geographical beats that our city is divided into.

My husband of 26 years, and I, raised our daughter in this beautiful city, expanded our business, and bought our first home here 21 years back. We love our community and feel proud to be a
part of it. It has been an honor for me to be endorsed by outgoing Councilmember Harry Sachs, and the East Bay Times.

I would be honored to earn your vote.