Meet Julie Testa, Candidate For Pleasanton City Council

Learn more about incumbent Julie Testa, who is running to represent District 3.

1. Why are you running for Pleasanton City Council?

I am running for re-election to continue the work I have been doing as a voice for Pleasanton residents. My continued role on the City Council is to retain what we value in our amazing community for our next generation of families!


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

Water Quality and Availability; Inflated State Housing numbers, bringing unachievable unfunded housing mandates.


3. How do you intend to address it?

Pleasanton is currently doing a Water Supply Assessment to understand our options to this very serious concern.

I support reasonable and mitigated housing growth; existing residents should not absorb the impacts of new development. The state housing agenda is Not about achieving affordable housing, it is about developer profits. The state has mandated exponential housing growth across the State, Pleasanton is committed to reasonable growth focusing on needed low-income housing, but we can and must push back on state overreach of incorrect housing numbers. My CALE colleagues (California Alliance of Local Electeds) and I requested an audit of state housing mandates. The state audit determined the numbers are wrong saying, the state “has not sufficiently reviewed and supported housing”. There is no enforcement to require the recommendations made by the auditor. The state is setting cities up to fail, cities must join together to require fair and accurate numbers. I am leading city councilmembers across the state in those discussions and solutions.

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

I have founded a statewide organization of elected officials to find solutions to the affordable housing crisis and excessive market-rate housing mandates in Pleasanton and statewide. The false narrative wants you to believe giving the keys to our city to build unlimited market-rate housing, without infrastructure to support it, will magically create affordability…It Won’t! Dublin has built nearly 800% of their market-rate requirement with very little affordability, Pleasanton built nearly 300% of market-rate requirements achieving a much greater percentage of our affordable housing requirements. The affordability crisis is not because California has great weather, the problem is global. The cause is global economic forces, our legislators need to stop passing laws that disrupt our cities and will not cure the problem and stand up to their special interest funders to address real solutions.

Affordable housing is needed, affordable housing requires subsidy, the state knows Pleasanton, along with most cities, does not have the billions+ dollars to build the thousands of units they mandate without providing the tools and funding to achieve it. The state is setting cities up to fail, cities must join together to require fair and accurate numbers. Also, citizens must join together to pass a constitutional amendment to neutralize the destructive laws that will change what is good about our communities without achieving affordability.

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

Zone 7 is our supplier for 80 % of our water, state and regional water storage improvements are need but they are costly and long-term solutions. Pleasanton is currently doing a Water Supply Assessment to understand our options to continue to provide clean and safe water from our local wells. This is critical to maintain local control of 20 % of our water supply.


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

I am a champion of our treasured Downtown and small business’s I advocated and voted for zero % small business loans to help weather the challenges of the pandemic. I have been a been a supporter of Weekends on Main and an improved parklet program that has brought a new vitality to Downtown coming through the pandemic stronger than before. I voted for the addition to the downtown parking corridor that is adding 81 much needed new parking spaces.


7. What is your idea of responsible development?

Market rate developments must pay for their impacts on our infrastructure schools, water, traffic and services. We must have accurate achievable targets: with the tools, state, and federal funding to subsidize affordable housing. The state must honor the California Constitution provision of Home Rule that intends for local municipalities to retain decision making over land use and zoning. Sacramento’s One-Size-Fits-All laws do not work for all cities big and small.

8. What other issues are important to you?

The Stoneridge framework is a great opportunity to reimagine and create an exciting Transit Oriented, Walkable, Mixed Use (residential/commercial) village in Pleasanton.

9. If applicable, what is your political party?

City Council is a nonpartisan office.

10. How long have you lived in Pleasanton?

35 years

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

Thirty-five years ago my husband and I moved to Pleasanton to raise our family of 3 sons. Pleasanton is a great place to raise a family and build community.

12. What experience do you have serving the community?

I have 30+ years of experience and commitment advocating for the residents and businesses of Pleasanton.

In my 4 years on the city council, I have represented Pleasanton on more than two dozen regional boards and subcommittees, including: the Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee, Association of Bay Area Governments, and League of California Cities to name only a few.

I have served vulnerable populations on Pleasanton’s Human Service Commission for 11 years and served on local nonprofit boards – including on the Board of Directors of Tri-Valley REACH and on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Tri-Valley. I have participated on numerous committees and task forces for both the City of Pleasanton and Pleasanton School District. I have a diverse record of service to Pleasanton and I have worked hard to drive positive changes for our outstanding community.


13. Of which accomplishments are you most proud?

I am most proud of my family; my Husband and I celebrate our 40th anniversary this month.

In my time on the city council: as a lifelong advocate for compassionate mental health resources, I am proud of my contribution as a champion for vulnerable populations, leading to an Alternative Response Unit which is now serving our community. The program includes two licensed mental health clinicians to accompany designated calls for service. This program frees officers to perform law enforcement responsibilities while supporting our residents with positive outcomes. The program is a win-win for everyone involved---those in crisis, their families, our outstanding first responders, and all Pleasanton residents.

14. Tell us about your family.

My husband and I are small business owners. Our 3 son’s attended Pleasanton's public schools and went on to graduate from California universities. I shamelessly boast that I have one adorable granddaughter.

15. What is the best advice you ever received?

Be hard on the problem and soft on the person.

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

The state is setting us up to fail State required unfunded housing mandates, known as RHNA. When we fail, as most cities in California will, developers will be given authority over our housing approval. We have several examples in Pleasanton but the most outrageous is on Harrison St. in our downtown, the project will defy our city ordinances, building 5 stories, 46 residential units, and NO parking! Where one small house has sat for 50 years, because Sacramento does not care about our downtown or our community.

17. Please provide links to websites and social media.

JulieTesta.com
OurNeighborhoodVoices.com