(DUBLIN, Calif.) – OpGov.News spoke with Dublin City Council District 4 candidate Kashef Qaadri over Zoom regarding his campaign priorities and city experience. He also shared what being a leader means to him.
Quaadri has served Dublin for many years. This includes serving on the Dublin City Council for four years and as assistant mayor for a year. He was also on the planning committee, built the city's IT infrastructure, supported multiple cultural activities in Dublin, and, with his fellow council members, helped improve public safety.
Qaadri said he chose to run again because “there is a lot of additional work that needs to be completed,” and he is excited to “push some of the initiatives he started.” He also wants to firmly “put into action” many decisions he made that require more time.
The three primary points of Qaadri's campaign are in city development and public safety. He believes thoughtful city development is important. Dublin was created in 1982, over 40 years ago, and the infrastructure reflects that. He wants to develop a plan to update and modernize the city to extend the longevity of its structures.
He is also concerned about Dublin's existing infrastructure and “Green Space,” areas that are open to plants and vegetation without buildings. Qaadri wants to be mindful of the city’s environmental impact and said he believed there needs to be a balance between wellness and environment.
Photo Credit: LinkedIn / Kashef Qaadri
Qaadri also pointed to public safety in Dublin as a primary focus. He said that he believed the city needs to achieve this, "by investing in technology and making sure the police are equipped, both from a personnel and equipment perspective.”
One of Qaadri’s main criticisms of Dublin is regarding traffic and its “lack of signal timing." He says “Dublin is more congested than it needs to be given the population and the flow,” which will require better infrastructure planning.
Another issue the candidate wants to change is related to building construction. This includes "first-time buyers programs," a city grant that is a way the City of Dublin can help address the housing crisis in California. Qaadri also discussed encuraging developers to build more housing options, especially for low-income residents.
Photo Credit: Kashef4Dublin
If Qaadri were reelected, one of his first actions would be to "push Dublin's IT roadmap," which was already begun. He also said he wished to stay connected with the community, which includes "listening to the residents and delivering on what is important to them.
Of all the Measures and propositions on the ballot, he feels very strongly about two. One is Measure I, the ballot measure to fund schools, which would increase the parcel tax from $96 to $144. This, he said, is due to his passion about youth education. The other measure is the Regional Transit Measure, or RTM, which would increase taxes for the next 14 years to improve public transportation services. He believes the transit system isn't as good as it could be, and without approval of the RTM it "might get worse."
According to Qaadri, good leadership is showing up to public events and listening directly to the citizens' concerns. He noted that his opponent, Shivraj Singh, had "not attended any of the public events," such as candidate forums, which Qaadri said limits how well citizens will understand his beliefs.
Kashef hopes voters will remember that each ballot cast is important, and that they will vote for the candidates they believe will best support Dublin. More information about Kashef Qaadri is available on his website. Please remember to vote for the city council candidates by November 3.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please get in touch with me at stefan.p@lead4earth.org.
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