Thushan for Alameda City Council

Hello Alameda!
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We love our island don't we? Our island has great schools, rich history, charming downtowns, delicious beer, and stellar people. That’s exactly why we are so lucky to live here.

I fell in love with Alameda on my first visit during the Fourth of July parade in 2013. Running that route, I saw a community that truly cared about each other. I've never missed a parade since and want this Island to be our family’s forever place.

I’ve walked Every Street of Alameda Island with my daughters. Along the way, I talked with hundreds of Alamedans. What I heard was pride. People love this Island, and they know exactly what they’d fix.

Longtime residents who want to stay but are worried about getting priced out. Vacant storefronts draining the life from our downtowns. Drivers speeding through neighborhoods. And climate change is hitting our infrastructure, like the lagoons in Bay Farm.

I asked hundreds of Alamedans what matters most. Here's what I heard...

Housing & cost of living
Build the housing we need, protect renters with rent stabilization, and keep Alamedans in the city they love.

Vibrant downtowns‍
Fill our storefronts, streamline permitting, and bring jobs and everyday life back to Park, Webster, and Harbor Bay Landing.

Safe streets‍
Design safer streets, staff our public safety departments, and make our roads the safest in California.

Invest in our future‍
Shore up our seawalls and lagoons, repave our roads, invest in emergency infrastructure, and build it on time and on budget.

These are solvable.
I'm running to solve them.

Read the Solutions

I’ve focused my career on innovating to make our lives better, across government and the private sector. At the White House’s U.S. Digital Service during the Biden administration, I worked on modernizing the IRS to be faster, fairer, and easier to use. I built an Emmy-winning education app used by millions of students, which Google acquired, and then led large teams making it easier to search for what you need in plain language. I started my career at The Boston Globe as a journalist adapting the storied paper for the digital age.

I’m bringing those same skills here where accountability is a lot closer to home. I’ve served across Alameda: as the President of the Library Board, on Love Elementary's School Site Council, on the Measure E campaign to fund our schools and teachers, and previously as a writer and board member of the Alameda Post. In 2024, I ran for City Council and lost. But in the process, I fell in love with Alameda even more. Since then, I've attended the majority of City Council meetings, often speaking up during public comment on issues I ran on.

‍As a progressive, I want a government that works so well, you trust it to do more.

If elected, I’ll bring a curious, pragmatic, and data-informed voice to City Council. I’ll focus on turning good ideas into visible results, keep you up to date on progress, and keep neighborly friendliness in city politics.

I'd be honored to earn your vote and help make sure everyone who loves Alameda can build a future here.
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Your neighbor,
- Thushan Amarasiriwardena

It’s pronounced “Two-Sean Amara-Siri-Wahr-Dena”
You don’t have to spell it to vote for me.
Just look for the long name!

Backed By

Democratic Party, Progressive and Worker-backed.
The City of Alameda Democrats "overwhelmingly" endorsed me.
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People Powered

I'm proud to be endorsed by Alamedans and leaders I share goals and values with. Linked candidates are also running this year. I'm endorsing them too, for that same vision for Alameda.

Titles for identification purposes only

Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft

Mayor
Alameda

Michele Pryor

Vice Mayor
Alameda

Greg Boller

City Councilor
Alameda

Malia Vella

Mayoral Candidate
Former Vice Mayor
maliavella.com

Ryan LaLonde

President
AUSD School Board
ryanlalonde4ausd.com

Heather Little

Trustee
AUSD School Board

Carrie Hahnel

Trustee
AUSD School Board
hahnelforausd.com

Phong La

Assessor
Alameda County

Tyler Savage

City Council Candidate
Former President Alameda Co. Mosquito Abatement
savageforalameda.com

Megan Amarasiriwardena
Love Elementary School Garden Teacher

Doug Biggs
Former Executive Director, Alameda Point Collaborative

Meredith Hoskin
President, City of Alameda Democrats
Edison parent

Ron Mooney
‍Former Downtown Alameda Business Association President, and former AUSD School Board President

Barbara Mooney
‍Owner, Daisy's Mercantile

Randy Rentschler
Former Director at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Keith McCoy
Board Member, Alameda Point Collaborative

Dan Wood
Leader in Alameda progressive politics

Zac Bowling
VP, City of Alameda Democrats
Open Government Commissioner

Hannah Groce
Affordable Housing Professional
Alameda County Democratic Central Committee

Jenn Heflin
Committee Chair, City of Alameda Democrats

Evan Shwartz
VP, City of Alameda Democrats

Tim McQuillan
President of parent and school council of Alameda

Maurice Ramirez
Alameda Photographer

Rachel Campos de Ivanov
Alameda Arts Advocate

Vadim Sidelnikov
‍Vice Chair
Housing Authority of the City of Alameda

Sara Strickler
Vice President, Alameda Free Library

Toni Grimm
‍Alameda Renter Advocate

Mitch Ball
‍Biking and walking leader

Maria Piper
Biking and walking leader
Bay Farm parent

Anita Battle
Alameda Free Library board member

Doyle Saylor
Affordable Housing Advocate

Nick Ksiazek
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement Board

Jeff Gould
Former Alameda Municipal Power board member

Marjon Saulon
Board Member, Alameda Point Collaborative

Aileen Haxo

Andrew Pratt

Alan Pryor

Ali Darrow

Alie Voss

Brian Tobin

Brittany Bauch

Catherine Egelhoff

Charlie Hale

Cheryl Martinez

Christina Lam

Daniel Eisenstein

David Ellicott

Devon Treece

David Link

Diane Cunningham Rizzo

Drew Breunig

Elliott Mattice

Erin Fraser

Evan Hellman

Gloria Rios

Janice Santos

Jacob Clingerman

Jacob Engelskirger

Jamie Gloyne

Jason Biggs

Jason Cannava

Jason Purdy

Jennifer Taggart

Jennifer Warner

Jessica Schultheis

Joanne Lau

Joe Vachon

Josh Wyen

Justin Pirie

Juliana Eckard

Kathryn Kelly

Kelly Abbott

Kevin August

Kim Wand

Kimberly Tyda

Laura Gamble

Lawrence Whysall

Leah Liebler

Leann Sebastian

Lisa Schmeiser

Liz Westbrook

Milad Nazeri

Molly Mills

Molly Petschl

Nate Puckett

Natalie Link

Natalie Yovino Lee

Nathan Lasche

Nija Mashruwala

Roberta Robertson

Robin Oliva-Kraft

Ryan Clausnitzer

Rhush Wanigatunga

Santiago Archila

Sarah Qualters

Simon Mathieu

Steve Perez

Sue Trowbridge

Yuri Yakubov

Solutions for Alameda

These are the common-sense solutions we need to deliver on for Alameda's future.

Housing

Keep Alamedans in Alameda

Alameda is a stellar place to live. But the cost of staying here (housing, childcare, food) is squeezing too many Islanders out. In a recent city survey, 71% of Alamedans called housing and living costs a serious issue. Housing costs are up 38% since 2020, and nearly half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent. When Alamedans can't afford to stay, we lose them, and with them, the neighbors, teachers, and small business owners who make this place special.

I’ll protect Alamedans by building more housing and helping people already here. I support our rent stabilization program to keep renters at home. We must hit Alameda's state-mandated housing goals (5,353 units by 2031). I'll prioritize housing in transit-rich, mixed-use districts and Alameda Point, building across affordable, middle-income, rental, and ownership options.

When we build, I'll make sure it weaves into our town's historic charm, so Alameda grows without losing what makes it home (like Mulberry St.).

Downtowns

Vibrant Downtowns & Jobs

Our downtowns are a treasure. Small businesses build the Alameda we love. But if you walk Park, Webster, or Harbor Bay Landing, you’ll see empty storefronts, closed family favorites, and new businesses stuck waiting months or years to meet their first customer.

‍I’ll work to accelerate, streamline, and bring clarity to the permitting process to open a business and maintain it. Every month a space sits waiting for paperwork is another month of lost revenue, fewer jobs, and less life on our streets. The city must be a source of help, not an impediment, for property owners trying to fill their space.

I’ll craft a muscular commercial vacancy tax on storefronts left empty year after year, with every dollar reinvested in our downtowns. The money from empty storefronts pays to spur filling them. Alameda needs to be the best place to build a small business.

Neighborhood Safety

Safest Streets in California

Everyone deserves to feel safe walking, biking, and driving in their neighborhood. Fast and unsafe driving shatters that. Parents worry about their kids walking to school. Seniors say they’ve had too many close calls.

I’ll ensure we use safer street designs to walk, bike, and drive across our Island and improve traffic flows. I’ll push hard to achieve our goal of zero traffic deaths on our streets. ‍Roundabouts, narrower streets where they’re too wide, pedestrian daylighting, and protected bike lanes are the exact right moves we need to continue.

I'll make sure we have properly staffed public safety departments and a police department empowered to enforce our speed limits. And any tools we deploy won't trade our civil liberties for mass surveillance.

Infrastructure

Invest in our future

We’re vulnerable to the challenges of climate change because we’re surrounded by water.

I will shore up our aging seawalls and lagoons, like in Bay Farm. I'll repave and redesign miles of poor roads to ease traffic and increase safety. And I'll invest in our emergency and public safety infrastructure.

‍I’m supporting the city infrastructure bond, Measure L, and want to be there to deliver it, protecting homes and our Island life. It is cheaper to invest today than to punt these problems to our children. The state’s construction index shows costs have increased 46% since 2020. Insurance rates are in danger of rising. Why delay and risk paying more for less?

When we do these projects, I’ll make sure we do them on time, on budget, and with you as part of the design process.

Goals. Plans. Action.

There's more to my agenda for Alameda than those four issues. Here's the rest.

BAY FARM

Protect Bay Farm

Revive Harbor Bay Landing, ensuring Bay Farm keeps a grocery store and bring back vital businesses (coffee shops, medical, restaurants) while setting clear goals for smart redevelopment. Bay Farm residents must be able to do major day-to-day errands in their neighborhood
Fund and build sea-water/wall improvements to protect lagoons and homes from rising tides and rising insurance rates
Fix the Bay Farm wooden bike bridge to ensure students can safely get to schools on the main island
Attract and keep science companies at Harbor Bay, focusing on green technology, life sciences, and clean energy. This adds real jobs from PhDs to skilled trades
Ensure we keep and grow ferry service and ways off Bay Farm, including adding weekend service

ALAMEDA POINT

Innovation Island

Be the first choice for companies focusing on green technology, life sciences, clean energy, and marine technology. Market Alameda Point aggressively, then win them over with fast permitting and fast decisions
Fast-track property sales at Alameda Point to fund critical infrastructure and attract top employers in a fast-moving, competitive SF Bay Area market
Accelerate support for Radium Performing Arts Center and put Alameda on the map for the arts
Restore funding for the Veterans clinic (that Trump abandoned) to give service members the care facilities and memorials they deserve
Renegotiate the outdated Navy housing limit that penalizes Alameda for building the homes we need
Open the trail around the perimeter of The Alameda Point, increasing nature access
Support SF Bay Ferry's goal to expand presence: electrify ferries, add more docks at their maintenance hub, and increase service frequency

PUBLIC SAFETY

An even safer Alameda

Enforce our speed limits and parking rules
Choose public safety technology that does not introduce mass surveillance
Fund emergency infrastructure for our growing West End and Alameda Point
Encourage more walking beats and other community policing programs
Keep the CARE program. Mental-health situations need health professionals, not more policing

JOBS

Work on the Island

Attract technology companies to Alameda Point and Harbor Bay, focusing on green technology, life sciences, clean energy, and marine technology. This adds real jobs from PhDs to skilled trades
Fast-track property sales at Alameda Point to fund critical infrastructure and attract top employers in a fast-moving, competitive SF Bay Area market
Collaborate with unions on their goals for fair wages, benefits, working conditions, and workforce training (which helps us all) while aligned in the city's budgets

TRANSPORTATION

Get around town safely

Prevent car crashes before they happen with proven changes: roundabouts, road diets, slow streets
Fund our Vision Zero goals to eliminate road deaths and injuries. Fund our Active Transportation Plan giving real options beyond cars
Colabarate with AUSD to get every kid safely to school with safe walking and biking routes (and the variety of other issues that overlap between the city and the district)
Add more ferries, buses, and ways off this Island without a car
Advance the long-term goals of bringing BART and Rail to West Alameda, and bike/walk crossings over the Oakland-Alameda Estuary (Woodstock is a great start)

SUSTAINABILITY

Move to our green future

Cut greenhouse emissions in the city to 50% of 2005 levels by 2030 (we’re behind, at 29%) and champion our Climate Action and Resiliency Plan
Support and deliver Measure L, strengthening our critical infrastructure for seawalls and stormwater, particularly in acute areas like Bay Farm and the West End where issues already arise. It is cheaper to invest today than to punt it to our children
Accelerate switching homes and vehicles to our clean and cheap municipal electricity through our rebate programs. 70% of our emissions come from cars here
Plant more street trees and simplify the process for requesting one: beautifying our Island, reducing temperatures, while improving air quality and property values in one swoop

Career problem solver.

From federal government, high-tech, startups, and journalism, I've solved big problems everywhere I've worked. I'm investing in Alameda because I love it.

My Career

The White House / U.S. Digital Service (Biden) – Worked on advancing beneficial use of digital technologies, and making the IRS faster and easier to use
Google – Joined after they acquired my company. Led large multinational teams pioneering on natural language processing
Launchpad Toys – Co-founded a company building critically acclaimed education apps used by millions of kids, which went on to win an Emmy
The Boston Globe – Asking tough questions, crafting stories, and adapting the storied newspaper for the digital age
NC State University – Computer Science and editor-in-chief of my college newspaper
Resume at linkedin.com/in/thushan

Invested in Alameda

2024 City Council Candidate – Earned 13,049 votes
President, Alameda Free Library Board – Twice appointed to the board by the mayor
Measure E – Campaign committee member to fund Alameda schools and teachers
Love Elementary School Site Council – Oversee Title I funds and the school's performance on academic goals
Alameda Post – Former board member and contributing writer
Walked Every Street of Alameda Island with my daughters

Thushan Amarasiriwardena at the Alameda Theater

Thanks for making it this far. I'd love to earn your support. My goal is to build an Alameda that works for everyone. And if you're still unsure, I'd genuinely love to know where our gaps are.
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Email me: thushan@thushanforalameda.com

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