A VISION FOR CAMPBELL
To see where I stand on gender equity issues, just look at my track record. As an incoming first-year student at Yale, I sought to change the university’s then-current implementation of Title IX law, forming a broad coalition of undergrads, graduate students, professors, and alumni to successfully implement reform, work which was later covered by the New York Times and Huffington Post. Along the way, my historical investigation into the origins of Title IX law grew into a sprawling, five-year book-length research project.
Additionally, I served as the National Organizing Director for Rise, the leading survivors' right legislative advocacy organization in the country, overseeing passage of a Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights in all 50 states, including California's AB 1312. During my time at Rise we successfully fought for passage of a dozen laws, becoming the most successful political advocacy group in modern US history.
Here in Campbell I’m proud that we’re an inclusive and welcoming community — but we need to do better in the area of gender equity. For example, a paltry 35.7% of those serving on Campbell Boards and Commissions are women — an unacceptable figure.
Together, we must use our local government and democratic processes as a mechanism of encoding these values at every level of City decision making in order to make Campbell a safe and equitable place for everyone.
I adamantly believe that the best version of Campbell is one that elevates the voices and celebrates the accomplishments of women and gender minorities. Not only must we ensure that people of all genders who currently serve our city receive equal opportunity for professional development and equal pay, we must empower women and gender minorities intentionally and proactively through mentorship and professional development programs. It’s time that we turned our attention towards recognizing and uplifting the work of everyone in our community.
In a small City such as Campbell, without the level of staff of larger cities, volunteer-run Boards and Commissions are an important tool for policymaking. Currently, only 35.7% of appointees to Campbell Boards and Commissions (excluding the Youth Commission) are women — nearly a 2:1 gender imbalance. It’s even worse among the most powerful boards: only one of seven Planning Commissioners is a woman, and the Building Board of Appeals is composed entirely of men.
These positions help City policy and are often where our community leaders first get exposed to City government, with many historically going on to serve on City Council.
I know from firsthand that there is no shortage of qualified and passionate individuals already serving our community through volunteer and leadership roles. In a diverse City like Campbell, there’s no excuse for this egregious inequity — we must ensure gender parity among these important leadership positions.
I will direct staff to prepare the first-ever Campbell Gender Pay Equity Report, studying wage gap issues as well as the composition of gender in City staff (including between and within departments).
This will be a crucial first step toward closing internal gender-wage gaps at the City level, as there is absolutely no reason for men to be paid more than women, femme, and nonbinary individuals for the same level of work.
I will establish a Human Rights Commission, modeled after similar bodies at the County level and in nearby cities. It would take inspiration from the mission statement of the County Commission, in this case advising the City Council “on issues that affect the human and civil rights of all County residents and advocate for and take positive action to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, cultural background, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or other factors.”
Through the Commission, I will request a data driven report about gender parity in Campbell that includes recommendations from community leaders regarding how to best support people of all genders across the city.
I’m proud to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Campbell Historical Museum where, prior to the pandemic, we planned a number of activities to celebrate the contributions of women to the community for 2020 — the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.
As Councilmember, I’ll continue to support the museum and, in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission, explore ways to recognize the contributions of women to our community. This can be done through the museum or through naming streets and City infrastructure after prominent women, as well as by partnering with important community organizations such as the Country Woman’s Club of Campbell.
I’m proud that during my time at Rise working to pass the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, we became the most successful legislative advocacy group in modern history and passed AB 1312, a landmark piece of legislation, here in California.
As Councilmember, I’ll continue to support important survivors’ rights legislation at the state level, and to use my voice to highlight the experiences of survivors, as I’ve done during the course of this campaign.
I’m also proud to have highlighted and assisted women-owned businesses in the past, such as by helping with grant applications.
I will continue to support these local businesses as Councilmember, including through showcasing local businesses on social media. I’ll also spread the word about current City programs to support small businesses.
For example, there is a Vacant Storefront Window Treatment Program in which the City partners with local artists to beautify a vacant property, stopping blight in the area and promoting the building to potential new businesses. I will proactively reach out to owners of vacant lots to help promote this program
I will ensure free feminine hygiene products — which are just as necessary as toilet paper, soap, and other essentials — are available in city buildings, such as City Hall and the Campbell Community Center, free of charge to the public.
Salt Lake City, for example, instituted a program to make these products available, and California already makes menstrual products available free of charge in many public schools — recognizing that providing these essential items is a civil rights and gender equity issue.
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