Why say YES to Yudy?

I’m running for City Council because I want to protect what we love about our city, fix the things that make everyday life harder, and build a shared future where our children have the opportunity to come home, raise families of their own, and enjoy everything that makes Palo Alto special.

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As a mom, small-business owner with a master’s degree in economics, I believe local government should operate with common sense. 

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A great city should create opportunity, connection, and joy – not unnecessary frustration.

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That means preserving our safe neighborhoods, great parks and libraries, strong schools, open space, and community ties while recognizing that our future is under pressure.

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Too many young people who grew up here cannot imagine being able to return. Teachers, young families, local workers, and seniors are being priced out. We should create more housing choices where they make sense, near transit, shopping, major employers, and existing areas of density, while protecting the qualities that make Palo Alto special. We should also make it easier for families to build backyard homes for their children, aging parents, caregivers, students, or renters.

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And housing is only part of making Palo Alto work better.

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Everyday frustrations add up. Event traffic can turn a trip across town into an ordeal. High utility bills and rising city fees make an already expensive community more expensive. Small public improvements can take years and cost far more than they should. Businesses can pay rent for months on storefronts they cannot open because they are waiting for permits or inspections.

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Government should solve problems, not create new ones.

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My Green Lights Plan brings that philosophy to City Hall. Businesses and homeowners should know within 48 hours whether an application is complete, decision guarantee for common permits in 30 days, and decision guarantee for larger projects within 90 days. Inspections should happen promptly or be free. And when another public agency has already competitively purchased and successfully used something like a park restroom or playground, Palo Alto should be able to take advantage of that work rather than unnecessarily starting from scratch.

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The goal is simple: fewer vacant storefronts, stronger local businesses, lower costs, faster community improvements, and less frustration.

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I have spent years doing the practical work of making our community better. As a Parks Commissioner and member of the Cubberley Community Center Planning Committee, I have worked to strengthen the shared spaces that define our quality of life and move forward a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally deliver a long promised community gathering place. My service on boards of the Police Foundation, PTA President, Rotary, local nonprofits, Palo Alto Sister Cities, and as a small-business owner has taught me how to listen, bring people together, and get things done.

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That approach matters because Palo Alto’s greatest strength has always been its people. We will not agree on everything. But I believe we can find common ground without giving up our principles and make progress without turning every difficult issue into a fight.

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My own life has taught me something about opportunity. I came to this country as an immigrant and learned English as a second language. I took risks, built a business, raised a family, and found a community in Palo Alto that I am proud to call home. I am a product of the American dream where the freedom to work hard, overcome obstacles can build a better future.

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I want that promise to remain possible for the next generation.

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I came to Palo Alto the way so many people have: I chose this community, put down roots, raised my family here, built a life here, and made Palo Alto my permanent home. I have spent years serving this community because its future is personal to me. This is not a stepping stone. This is home.

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That is why I am running: to protect what we love, fix what makes life harder, and build a shared future where families can stay, young people can return, businesses can thrive, and City Hall helps create opportunity and joy instead of standing in its way.

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I would be honored to earn your vote and build that future together.