In the heat of the presidential primaries, it’s important to remember that other primaries are taking place. Local and state races impact Silicon Valley much more than a president ever could. For instance, Bernie Sanders is advocating for a $15 per hour as the minimum wage, but cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, among others, already enacted such measures. Therefore, these elections are more important to follow than national elections. I stopped at the Ash Kalra headquarters over the weekend to ask people why they support him. What impressed me the most was the passion with which his volunteers spoke about him.
I spoke with Masa Nazzel, a young woman who was eagerly doing her work around the office. When I asked her what had Kalra done that was significant to her she said that it was the reinstatement of the burglary unit in San Jose. “The security of the community is of great importance to me,” she said.
I also spoke to Jessica Nuti a volunteer with SEIU – USWW. I flat out asked her if she was there because the union made her, and she emphatically said “no!”
“Ash has been a huge advocate for workers’ rights in the Bay Area, he’s a huge advocate for renters in San Jose, he’s just been a great ally, always shows up to actions for worker support, and he is just a strong ally in the community,” said Nuti.
Deputy Campaign Director Shay Franco-Clausen was unable to contain her excitement for Ash. Franco-Clausen is a mother of five children, three of her own and two foster children, whom she raises along with her wife Yolanda Franco-Clausen. Speaking to her was particularly interesting because she emphatically says that she is where she is now thanks to Kalra. Franco-Clausen said that Kalra personally said to her “not only am I going to give you a chance, I’m going to mentor you.” He publically endorsed her to the Emerge program at an event with hundreds of attendees.
Nazzel also mentioned Kalra’s mentoring, and that is why she was both inspired by him and encouraged her to support him by being active in his campaign.
“We have 99% of women at the office because of his mentoring,” said Franco-Clausen.
Another important issue that arose during the conversation with Franco-Clausen was the extension of library hours in San Jose.
“For a while I couldn’t afford to have the wifi, to be honest, and I didn’t have computers for all my kids,” said Franco-Clausen. She explained that coming from a low-income background, the extended hours were a gift for her.
“He expanded the hours. They used to be very short hours, but now the library is open 6-days a week. So what if you have report due and you can’t go to the library? Mom can take you on Saturday. It’s a huge big deal [sic] because most of us are working one or two jobs; when do you have time? Saturday is usually the only time for a mom,” stated Franco-Clausen.
Although he’s a progressive liberal, Kalra is fiscally responsible. “He’s not about to spend all the money,” said Franco-Clausen. “He’s very strategic… He is always thinking 10 years down the line.”
This is why he supports Measure B in San Jose. The original measure B was approved by voters in 2010. Although the measure passed, it proved disastrous for many. The 2016 version of Measure B corrects the shortcomings of the 2010 version.
Franco-Clausen said that this measure is important. “[Ash wants it] to be sustainable for the future and affecting the people and affecting our community, especially with our dollars.” She reiterated that he doesn’t like to spend for the sake of spending, and that he is very intentional about what he does. “He is very ‘hey let’s really sit down and look through it, let’s just not push it through just to say we’re pushing them out.’” Because of who Ash is, and how he strategizes for the future, she is a strong supporter of Measure B.
Inspiration, mentoring and Kalra’s passion for community is what motivates these volunteers. It propels them to move past the obstacles in their lives and in their minds. Like his spending and legislating strategies, he’s looking into the future generation of leaders in the County of Santa Clara. It is this kind of approach to our cities, county and state to have not just a good crop of new leaders, but also a good way to ensure that any form of legislation activity by our elected officials serve the people well. Measure B 2010 is a great example. San Jose wasted tax payers’ dollars creating this now-failed proposition. The county now has to cover the cost of a second Measure B to fix the problems caused by the first one. If our elected officials took this kind of time and care when it comes to their constituents, Silicon Valley would be an excellent place to live, and not just for high-tech workers.
