Although COVID-19 has caused a tremendous impact on our economy and has impacted our housing crisis further, I am committed to keeping the progress Hayward has made a priority. I will continue to find new and innovative solutions to house our homeless and supply solutions to those facing economic displacements. Long before COVID-19, the State of California and regions like the Bay Area including Hayward have been in a housing crisis. The housing crisis is due to a housing shortage, high cost of living, and not enough affordable housing to meet demand. Hayward has been at the forefront of finding solutions and working with its residents to address this crisis since 2016. As a result, Hayward has been the leader on homelessness and housing reform in the region.
 

     In the last four years, Hayward has become a regional leader in finding solutions by proactively tackling the housing supply by adding 3,700 housing units in the pipeline, awarding $28.6 million in local funds to subsidize 260 affordable units, and negotiating the development of 1,700 units on former Caltrans land with a minimum of 15-20% affordable units. In addition, Hayward is addressing the City’s homelessness crisis by becoming the first city within its surrounding cities to adopt and successfully launch a Housing Navigation Center.  The Housing Navigation Center was established on a City-owned parcel at the corner of Depot Road and Whitesell Street is set to serve approximately 100 homeless annually. 

During COVID-19, my colleagues and I have stepped up to be aligned with the State and County on establishing a moratorium on evictions and mortgages as a result of the Shelter-in-place orders and the current on-going pandemic that has caused devastating job and income losses.

I am a big proponent of safe and thriving communities. In order to ensure safe communities in the era of a pandemic, I will bring leadership with bold solutions and innovative recovery plans. In 2018, Hayward became the first in the nation to open it’s Firehouse Clinic which was an integral part of the recent COVID-19 testing efforts. It’s important to note our Hayward Firefighters’ efforts established the first local testing site of its kind in the State. Safe Communities also includes all other safety protections from fires, unlit and unsafe streets, to crime prevention, to keeping Hayward clean and green. As we face recovery, Hayward must continue to invest in the community.
 

     To address current community and police relations, we as a society must address institutional racism with accountability and transparency standards. In 2019, we approved the Hayward Police Department (HPD) Community Advisory Panel and we have activated it to begin holding monthly virtual meetings. This Panel will be a platform for constructive dialogue and instrumental in identifying community-based solutions. This Panel is made up of Hayward Residents and will be key in building trust between our residents and HPD. This Panel will collaborate and present their findings and solutions to the City. I look forward to the Panel’s findings and recommendations.