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Pleasanton Councilmember Valerie Arkin announced last week that she will be seeking a second term on the council during the upcoming general election in November.
According to her May 10 press release, her campaign’s top priorities will be public safety, meeting state-mandated housing requirements in an appropriate manner, tackling water contamination issues and fiscal responsibility with the city’s budget.
“I encourage community input and will continue to be responsive, respectful, and listen to various viewpoints,” Arkin said in her press release. “I will continue my goals of leading with transparency, accountability, and oversight at the forefront of all decisions.”
Currently working as a representative for Alameda County Board Supervisor Nate Miley, Arkin was first elected to the council in November 2020 after having served on the Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees for 12 years. After the city moved to district-based elections in 2022, Arkin has been serving as the District 2 councilmember, representing the northeast area of Pleasanton.
Arkin told the Weekly that during her time on the council she has learned how to work with groups of people such as city staff; listen respectfully and consider all sides of any matter; and effectively represent Pleasanton both regionally and in Sacramento. She said if she is elected again, she will continue to advocate for issues specific to Pleasanton and put her years of experience to work.
“I have 16 years of elected service in Pleasanton. I know how to find solutions that benefit our city,” Arkin told the Weekly. “I work well as a team and remain committed to working together as I have a passion for this work. I work very hard at maintaining an open mind — which can be changed. I continue to be respectful and responsive to all. I am not beholden to special interests and I have no bias in representing Pleasanton.”
During her time on the council, Arkin said she had been a proponent of the city’s new Alternative Response Unit, which responds to mental health calls rather than police officers, and has approved the Pleasanton Police Department to purchase a crime scene investigation vehicle and a command vehicle to assist in natural disasters because public safety is important to her.
She said she has also lobbied for increased planning for natural disasters such as resident notifications and a comprehensive evacuation plan.
As for the city’s requirements by the state to approve more housing units, Arkin said new housing should fit the surrounding areas whenever legally possible and noted that she has advocated for less high density housing, especially in areas like downtown Pleasanton.
“State housing mandates have increased pressure on cities to zone and approve significantly more housing, creating a problem for historic cities such as ours that are essentially built out,” Arkin said. “I look forward to a second term to continue the thoughtful and creative planning required to meet these housing mandates, while protecting Pleasanton’s neighborhoods.”
Arkin said if elected to a second term, her other priorities will be related to quality of life such as addressing the city’s PFAS — otherwise known as forever chemicals — issue; mitigating the noise levels from the Livermore Airport; and the redevelopment of the Stoneridge Shopping Mall.
Her last main priority she pointed to was developing a balanced city budget that provides essential community services while also focusing on key city improvements.
“For many years, Pleasanton has relied on tax increments from the Hacienda Business Park and Stoneridge Mall to bring in additional revenue,” Arkin said. “The collapse of the retail and commercial office sectors in the wake of Covid and remote working has changed that. As a result, we have to reinvent new revenue streams for the city, as well as maximize the existing budget to the fullest extent.”
More information about Arkin’s campaign can be found at www.VoteValerieArkin.com.
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