City of Sunnyvale, District 6

Eileen Le

https://www.eileenforsunnyvale.com

As a parent, our kids are my top priority. I’ll work to improve city services and recreation programs for District 6. I’ll get safer bicycle and pedestrian routes built, so that they can walk and bike to school safely. And I’ll fight for parks, grocery stores, and affordable housing, so that they can grow up in a healthy community.

1. Over 80% of voters polled say they want elected officials to prioritize children and families. What are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

   The Bay Area is in its second decade of an ongoing housing crisis. That's why the number one priority for children in Sunnyvale must be ensuring stable, affordable housing. Every child deserves a secure place where they can learn, grow, and thrive. We must also ensure that there is enough housing across the Bay Area to allow them to build their own futures here as adults, so they can have a hometown to return to.
   
   In addition, we need to focus on creating safer streets, so kids can walk and bike to school safely and lead active lives. Equally important is our commitment to a sustainable future - decarbonizing, conserving water - to ensure our children inherit a planet they can live on.

2. High quality childcare improves school readiness and parents' workforce participation. What will you do to improve access to high quality childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

   The City of Sunnyvale and the Sunnyvale School District have partnered in recent years to expand after school childcare at each of the district's schools; there was a pilot program last year at one school for after school care for TK/kindergarten that was successfully expanded to five more schools this year. Both the City and the District also have free or highly subsidized preschool programs for kids 3-5, and the universal TK now covers children 4+.
   
   However, there is more to do - and I want to push for expanded childcare options at the Columbia Neighborhood Center in North Sunnyvale, so that older kids from D5 and D6, too, have a safe and stimulating place to go after school.

3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

   I have been working on this from my current position as a trustee with the Sunnyvale School District, and it's hard. There's only so much a school board trustee can do to ensure access to healthy food when stymied by federal nutrition guidelines, a strict budget of about $1.50 per meal, and a food desert. However, in conjunction with other agencies and with strong advocacy at the City level, we can move the needle. As a city Councilmember, I will fight for nutritious food options in my district - housing cannot come at the expense of creating food deserts. We also need to build partnerships and programs with the school districts to provide academic support at the Lakewood branch library.

4. What steps will you take to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in our community?

   I LOVE Magical Bridges and the accessibility and inclusion options it provides for children with special needs - including one of my own. As the City renovates its parks, each new park and each new renovation should minimally have accessible swings and merry-go-rounds. And as someone who frequents these parks often, we also need to consider shade structures; accessible playgrounds require surfacing and metal slides that tend to get very hot on warm days, so we need to provide shade. I also support the City's proposed Special Needs Awareness Program, by which disabled residents can opt-in for inclusion in a special needs database for public safety calls for police and firefighters.

5. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve children's well-being and access to mental and behavioral health services?

   Mental health resources are provided at schools through the school district (in partnership with the El Camino Healthcare District) and by the County, so the City has a relatively minor role in mental health care services. However, Lakewood Tech EQ Elementary is transitioning towards becoming a community school with a no wrong door policy, where students and families will be able to access wrap around services or be directed to where they can receive services through partnerships with social workers from the County Board of Education. We need more sites like this: where people no matter their age can go in and ask for help, and know that they will be pointed in the right direction.