Isabella Chu for Redwood City Council District 3
ABOUT ISABELLA
Hi there! I’m Isabella Chu. I’ve called the Peninsula home for the last 25 years, and I am running for Redwood City Council. Since moving to Friendly Acres, I have served our community as Chair of the Neighborhood Association and Redwood City Planning Commissioner. In these roles, I have fought to expand housing, parks and safe streets in our neighborhoods and support small businesses. As a public health professional, I rely on data and evidence to make decisions to improve people’s lives. I’m a lover of Redwood City and wide, tree lined sidewalks. On the weekends, you can find me at Delucchi’s, Sigona’s or walking on the Stanford campus.
Why I’m Running
I love everything about our neighborhood: its diversity, young families, multi-generational households, retirees, and hardworking people from all walks of life. I am running for City Council because I want to serve our community and improve the quality of life for our district in all areas including public safety, infrastructure, a bounty and variety of housing, neighborhood amenities and opportunities for all residents.
Often the things that make our lives healthier and better aren’t obvious or involve a lot of unglamourous work. Sanitation, safe streets and clean water don’t get ribbon cuttings but they are essential to healthy communities. I am willing to roll up my sleeves and invest the time, energy and expertise to improve our city for all families.
I’m running to serve my community. I plan to knock on every door in our district. I want to meet our neighbors and understand what is important to them no matter what their story. I look forward to meeting you!
“Isabella is a tested leader who can unite Redwood City around the community’s most pressing issues. She will get back to basics to ensure that the city serves everyone effectively.”
Congressman Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15)
“Isabella Chu is a proven and collaborative leader who will champion public safety, fiscal responsibility and affordable housing for Redwood City Council District 3.”
Assemblymember Diane Papan
I have received the endorsement of the Sierra Club!
Our district (3) is especially impacted with sea level rise and chronic flooding. The Sierra Club has been working on these issues and is an important partner in reducing the impacts of flooding on Redwood City residents.
Local Leaders
Jim Hartnett
Former Mayor, Redwood City and CEO and General Manager of the San Mateo County Transit District
Giselle Hale
Former Mayor, Redwood City
Councilmember Alicia Aguirre
Redwood City Councilmember
“Isabella knows her district and listens. She knows how to get things done. She will be a great representative of her district and work well with the council.” – Jim Hartnett
“Bella shows up for her community and is able to find common ground in order to deliver results for the people in her district. She’ll make our city better.” – Giselle Hale
Redwood City Planning Commission
Filip Crnogorac
Chair, Planning Commission
Rick Hunter
Former Chair, Planning Commission
Dylan Finch
Planning Commissioner
Kimberly Koch
Planning Commissioner
Anthony Lazarus
Former Planning Commissioner
“Bella truly cares about the safety of the people in our community. I’m convinced she will implement pragmatic solutions that provide safe, walkable, green streets for all of us to enjoy, both in District 3 and citywide!” – Filip Crnogorac
“Isabella Chu is by far the best candidate for D3 City Council. With a distinct understanding of the neighborhoods in D3 from years as the Neighborhood Association Chair, to a wealth of experience from her current tenure as a Planning Commissioner, she has the know-how to serve her District equally and completely.” – Kimberly Koch
“Isabella brings diligence and data to her decision-making, while putting the well-being of people first. She’s an incredible advocate for safe streets and a healthy community — for everyone.” – Anthony Lazarus
Policies
Public Safety
As I’ve been talking to residents, public safety was top of mind, especially the safety of our streets when walking or where children are nearby. I believe that public safety is essential to a high trust society and virtually everything that we care about regardless of political leanings. Where there tends to be disagreement is how best to achieve this.
The vast majority of residents are hard working, law abiding and careful to respect their neighbors. Sometimes though, we need help to deal with disruptions or illegal activity. I believe police play a vital role in addressing public safety.
I will work closely with community organizations and law enforcement to address immediate problems and find the best ways to prevent and discourage illegal or harmful behavior. The best way to prevent crime is to offer people opportunity and hope.
Affordable Housing
We own our home now, but I was a renter into my mid 40s. I have have enormous sympathy for those trying to find suitable housing at a price they can afford. The best way to ensure high-quality, affordable housing for those who rent is to have abundant options in a wide variety of housing types whether that is an apartment, townhouse, granny flat, duplexes or single family home. I believe the solution to housing affordability is housing abundance and variety.
For homeowners, I will work toward transparent, simple, low cost processes at City Hall and greater flexibility for homeowners who need to adapt their property to meet the needs of their family. The ability to add a story, an ADU or convert a garage allows more seniors to age in place, more students and young adults to have their own space and for multi-generational households to stay together without being crowded.
Safe Streets
Redwood City has some of the most dangerous roads in the Bay Area. Although solutions to road safety are low cost, low tech, available, proven and effective they have not been widely implemented.
Many have expressed the desire to reduce the speed and volume of traffic passing through our communities. We’ve all been to the neighborhoods west of El Camino or other nearby cities where streets are slow, quiet and safe. There is no reason we cannot have this in District 3. I will work with City Hall to implement proven solutions until our streets are safe enough parents feel great about letting their child walk or bike to school.
Neighborhood Amenities
Andrew Spinas Park and the Hoover Field are constantly full of playdates, soccer tournaments, birthday parties, and community activities. If elected, I will work with the city to improve the parks we have, add new parks and bring other neighborhood amenities like street trees, plantings and traffic calming.
Our neighborhood is also home to so many pets. I’m also excited to explore the possibility of a dog park in District 3 so dog owners and families can build community and meet new friends.
Our interests as a community are best served when we optimize shared open space (parks, tree lined streets, patios, soccer fields) throughout our neighborhoods with popular, well maintained amenities and optimize other space for housing and businesses.
Parking and Traffic
This has been the number one concern of residents. Along with several volunteers in the Friendly Acres Neighborhood Association, I piloted the city’s parking permit program in the blocks nearest the Stanford campus. This resolved a very crowded parking situation virtually overnight. I would expand this program and reduce the barriers to implementation.
To reduce traffic we need to calm and reduce cut through traffic on our neighborhood streets and make alternatives to driving convenient. Many of our neighborhood children would like to be able to walk or bike to school or a friend’s house, but it isn’t safe. I will work closely with SamTrans, Stanford, and the City to improve options and infrastructure for students to bus, walk or bike to school.
Am I in District 3?
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