(CROCKETT, Calif.) – On September 20, OpGov.News met with Inderprit Sekhon at Crockett Regional Park to discuss his campaign for the Ward 7 seat on the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Board of Directors. During the conversation, Sekhon, also known as "Indy," revealed his vision for the community.
Ward 7 encompasses a large area of Contra Costa County and includes various lands belonging to the EBRPD. One such place, located in Crockett, is the park where this interview took place.
Photo Credit: Madison Vinas / Photograph taken at Crocker Regional Park.
While hiking in the park, Sekhon told OpGov.News that his visions for the future of Ward 7 revolve mostly around service and bringing the people together. This, he said, includes such things as feeding, educating, and healing the community.
But each road of his vision leads back to one central idea: putting to use, taking care of, and nurturing the land. In turn, he believes, the land will take care of, and nurture the people.
With this in mind, Sekhon wants to develop numerous projects to enhance the parks and lands within the jurisdiction of Ward 7, including food forests, hands-on educational programs, and cultural and educational events. The purpose of these, he said, are to educate the community in ecological matters while spreading awareness about EBRPD resources available to the community, including those for owners of farmland.
Beyond providing resources like food and education, Sekhon believes the culmination of his goals would also bring people together. He envisions projects such as planting and maintaining public spaces as potential events that would benefit parks and create a reason for people to gather and interact.
“Imagine what this could be,” said Sekhon, gesturing to one of the multiple empty hills within the park. “There could be classrooms here where children from the schools come to have class out in nature.”
Photo Credit: Madison Vinas / Photograph taken at Crocker Regional Park.
In general, Sekhon wants to take care of the land by turning empty hills into thriving ecosystems, where both people and nature can flourish.
Such an environment is also linked with another goal of his, the implementation of community mental health programs. He believes mental well-being and nature are interlinked, and that being in, and taking care of nature can have a positive effect on mental health.
Sekhon also expressed his intentions to draw upon the expertise of the community. He said this was to both improve his ideas, and help bring them to life. More specifically, he said that he wanted to collaborate with local experts in ecology, hydrology, permaculture, and regeneration. Their involvement, he feels, helps ensure quality and maximize the real impact on the community.
When asked how he planned on funding all of his projects and ideas, Sekhon explained that the EBRPD currently has enough money to fund them, but instead they spend it on things like acquiring more land and expanding their facilities.
“The [EBRPD] collects two hundred something million a year from the community. Right now at this point they buy properties. If you’re buying multi-million-dollar properties [why can’t you use that] for the land we already have instead of buying new land."
Photo Credit: ebparks.org / Map of Ward 7 of the EBRPD.
While on the topic of finances, Sakhor also said he wanted to increase transparency regarding EBRPD funding as well as provide more disclosure about district expenditures.
As the interview concluded, OpGov.News asked Sekhon what makes him stand out from incumbent Ward 7 representative Collin Coffey, his only opponent in the race. Though he spoke positively about Coffey’s character, Sekhon said that he would be better able to reach and connect with the community due to his youth and high level of community involvement.
To add or correct any information in this report, please contact me at madison.v@lead4earth.org.
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