Meet Kashef Qaadri, Candidate For Dublin City Council

DUBLIN, CA — Learn more about Kashef Qaadri, a planning commissioner running for Dublin City Council.

1. Why are you running for Dublin City Council?

My reason for running is actually personal – and it is what brought me to Dublin in the first place. My mother-in-law, who lived across the street from us, suddenly became disabled developed a disability, losing sight in one eye due to a medical complication. Overnight, she was unable to work or live independently. My mother-in-law and her father, a disabled veteran who lived with her, needed full-time support and a place to live. Dublin, through its creative affordable housing programs, gave us the opportunity to provide that support and find a place for us all to live together. Family is what brought me here, and family is why I am running.

I realize everyone’s situation and circumstances are different; I want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live and thrive in Dublin. We need to ensure everyone including our teachers, veterans, first responders, and seniors can all enjoy the benefits of living in Dublin, and I’m committed to exploring innovative housing solutions and leveraging proven partners to accomplish this.

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your constituents?

My key priorities are:
● Increasing affordable housing and improving Dublin’s infrastructure. As a planning commissioner, I have been pushing for more inclusive housing on every new project and will continue to do so.
● Ramping up sustainability efforts and protecting the environment by focusing on smart in-fill redevelopment, creating business hubs through mixed-use developments, and pushing for up-to-date and accurate environmental impact reports. As a planning updated assessments, so we can understand and mitigate environmental harm.
● Partnering with small businesses to support them, especially in the context of Covid-19 relief. On the economic development committee – as well as with friends and family who small businesses are faced with, and it is’s my goal to implement effective support programs.

3. How do you intend to address it?

While we have been quick to add new market-rate housing, affordable housing has been slow to catch up. To be a vibrant and sustainable city, we need to focus on being a truly inclusive community, expanding affordable housing across economic/income categories. I look forward to partnering with housing advocates and experts to explore concrete action steps, including increased accountability and additional incentives, the City Council can take to ensure that the City meaningfully addresses this critical gap in affordable housing.

4. What should be done to solve the affordable housing crisis?

The housing shortage is a major concern in the Bay Area in general and Dublin in particular. The city is seriously deficient in meeting its allocations in the affordable categories, based on our previous RHNA cycle number. To be a vibrant and sustainable city, Dublin should seek to be a truly inclusive community, expanding affordable housing across economic/income categories. I would look forward to partnering with affordable housing advocates and experts to explore concrete action steps the City Council can take to ensure that we meaningfully address this critical gap in housing. At the same time, I firmly believe that this growth needs to be sustainable. This means that we should not expand at the expense of our limited greenery and open spaces. And it means that we need to have the infrastructure - including public transit, schools, water, sewage, trash, clean energy, etc. - to sustainably serve all residents.

My goal would be to promote a Dublin that is building towards a vision of a model 21st century city, one that is livable, vibrant and deeply rooted in environmental sustainability. In many ways, this is not the model that Dublin has been working towards to-date, if elected, I will strive towards the vision of a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable city.

5. What do you think the city can do to conserve water?

As a scientist, I’ve studied the impact of global warming. It is imperative we work with the state, Zone 7, and DSRSD in exploring watershed management strategies for protecting water resources, considering the impacts of global warming on water resources. Based on my healthcare background, I am keenly aware of the connection of health and clean water. The city should partner with Zone 7 and DSRSD to address the infrastructure, technology, and business challenges of the water district. Finally, as a councilmember, I would spend my time and energy to understand the threats to the water supply and seek opportunities to partner to advance water supply protection, affordability and sustainability.

6. What can the city do to help its downtown and small businesses?

We need to focus on both supporting current businesses and attracting new business through economic development, both of which I have experience with. Additionally, we need to find ways to deal with the incredibly high unemployment rate by bringing more jobs to Dublin. We need to create programs to grow, sustain, and support all businesses by connecting them with the community and providing the right incentives to thrive.

To build a vibrant environmentally and economically sustainable city, we need to have a balance of both homes and businesses, as in the case of Downtown Dublin. This will help to both promote a healthy and sustainable walkable/bike-able city and also help to keep tax dollars within Dublin to support the needs of the city.

By focusing on vacant lots (in-fill development) and creating mixed use spaces, we can attract a variety of housing, commercial and retail businesses. To ensure that Dublin can grow into the vibrant, economically sustainable city we envision, it is critical that the City Council, staff and residents set the tone for future development through thoughtful land-use planning and zoning.

7. What other issues are important to you?

I see three areas of opportunity for Dublin: traffic flow improvement; increasing communication and collaboration between our city and schools; and navigating a projected budget deficit. We need to push for smarter solutions to traffic flow. As part of a larger vehicle traffic control system, intelligent traffic lights paired with traditional lights with sensors can help efficiently route vehicle and pedestrian traffic. I am committed to finding ways in which we can plan and invest in transportation to reduce problems like congestion and lack of accessible and affordable transportation options.

Being a member of the Citizen Bond Oversight Committee, I have had the opportunity of building a working relationship with several leaders of the Dublin Unified School District. Leveraging these connections will open doors of open communication, which will lead to productive conversations. In order to manage the upcoming expected budget deficit, Dublin needs to attract new businesses and retain our already established ones. We also need to provide a valuable center of activity for the city that will act as a catalyst for growth within our existing urban footprint and promote more active and sustainable lifestyles.

8. If applicable, what is your political party?

This is a nonpartisan office, but I am a Democrat.

9. How long have you lived in Dublin?

I have lived in Dublin for about 6 years.

10. If you didn’t grow up there, what brought you to the city?

I was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to the Bay Area 17 years ago. With
everything Dublin has to offer, I’m proud to call it my home! Dublin, through its creative affordable housing programs, gave us the opportunity to provide that support and find a place for my wife, son, mother-in-law, and her father to all live together. Family is what brought me here, and family is why I am running.

11. What experience do you have serving the community?

Over the past 15 years, I have been serving our communities in three main areas: 1. Providing access to healthcare for underserved communities 2. STEM tutoring, coaching, and mentoring for our youth and; 3. Community leadership and volunteering, including serving on Dublin Planning Commission, Alameda County Public Health Commission, Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, and Amador Elementary School Site Council.

Furthermore, as an experienced executive, I have held multiple leadership roles in business development, commercial operations, strategic planning, and product development. My professional experiences in managing complex and substantial budgets, generating new growth for our businesses, and implementing new and innovative technologies, paired with my community involvement, make me the best choice for City Council Member.

12. Of which accomplishments are you most proud?

I’ve had the honor and privilege of working directly with our city’s youth as a STEM mentor, and when I began my campaign, I was also able to encourage civic involvement and political engagement with the young people I work with. Two recent and meaningful moments have been inspiring: one young student ran for school council president – and won. Another is currently running for an elected office.

The sense of accomplishment in empowering others – especially young people –to get involved in their communities, in making positive change, has been immense.

13. What is your education?

I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology (Microbiology) and Masters degrees in Genomics and Public Health, Health Policy Administration.

14. Tell us about your family.

My wife,10-year-old son, a 5th grader at Amador, and I love our community and what it has to offer. We have lived in the Bay Area for over 15 years, and have experienced many of the great benefits living in Dublin provides like its open spaces and parks, as well as the variety of community events, activities, and programs. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing tennis, and running. I am a scientist by training and currently serve as an executive at a local life sciences company where I lead Software Strategy. I have served in multiple leadership roles and have vast experience ranging from strategy, commercial operations, and business development. I will leverage my deep business experience to drive stronger fiscal responsibility, collaborate with neighboring cities, and employ technology/smart solutions.

15. What is the best advice you ever received?

A friend and mentor once shared, “Successful leaders never stop learning — especially from their mistakes.” I have taken this message to heart and continue to try to grow by listening to others, reading books and publications, attending conferences/seminars, and taking courses. As an example, I recently completed a course, Leadership: Creating Public Value, which was taught by a Harvard Kennedy School of Government professor.

16. Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and
your positions?

Professionally, I spend a significant amount of time conducting voice of customer (VOC) studies, to understand customer expectations, preferences and aversions. I will employ the same strategies and approaches to continuously engage with Dublin residents to understand what they love about Dublin and what they would like to see improved. I would try to ensure public participation in important decisions that will affect the future of residents and the environment.

17. Please provide links to websites and social media.

http://kashef4dublin.com
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