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Dublin needs to add about 3,700 new homes in the next eight years under the state’s housing requirements.
That might sound like a lot for some municipalities, but for Dublin, which was California’s fastest growing city from 2010-19, it’s a slow down from the past. City leaders aren’t worried about being able to meet the new target.
It will be important, however, that they provide enough housing that’s affordable. And that the city maintains its cautious fiscal management so that it can properly fund maintenance of all the roadways and other infrastructure that comes with past and future development. For that, the best City Council candidates are incumbent Jean Josey and Kashef Qaadri.
Melissa Hernandez is running unopposed for another two-year mayoral term. The only city-related decision facing Dublin voters in the Nov. 8 election is choosing between three candidates for two four-year council seats.
As when she successfully ran in 2018, Josey, a technical writer and Dublin School District tutoring coordinator, stood out for her knowledge of city issues and finances.
For example, on housing, she said the city needs to fill in with affordable housing, including smaller units that provide opportunities for first-time buyers; more single-story homes for seniors; and accessory dwelling units that are detached from single-family houses so that the owners are more likely to rent them out. She was similarly precise in her knowledge of the city’s finances.
We were also impressed by Qaadri, a biologist who does global marketing for a biotech company and serves as an alternate member of the city Planning Commission, member of the Alameda County Public Health Commission and member of the Dublin school district’s Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. He ran unsuccessfully two years ago and has obviously been paying close attention since to city finances and policies.
The third candidate, Lynna Do, runs a translation services company, serves on the state Board of Occupational Therapy and was a member of the Dublin Planning Commission and the Alameda County Mental Health Board. In another candidate field, she would be a strong contender. But against two very-well-prepared opponents, her answers were not as precise, sharply focused or insightful.
Josey and Qaadri are the best candidates in this race. Dublin voters should elect them.
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