What inspired me to get into politics after a career in education, tech, and philanthropy? All three of those areas.
When Mark Zuckerberg spoke before congress, our politicians were not prepared to ask him the pertinent and relevant questions about tech’s influence over our lives and our politics.
That was when I decided that the Democratic Party needed the right people asking the right questions.
After forming the Tenant Board Association to rally fellow residents to make collective demands of our new property manager, I was eventually approached to support Courtney Welch for Emeryville City Council. After getting to know her, we became friends and I pushed our organization of 100+ members to support her. Since then, I am listed as a backup in case of emergencies as was requested by her.
Running the TBA of Courtyards 65th taught me to engage city hall, its staff and city council. I attended committee meetings and supported measures and initiatives that aligned with the interests of our body of Emeryville residents.
When the City Council seat became vacant, I decided to provide my expertise and background into City Hall work and widen my leadership talents to include the city.
I don’t have work experience with unions, just personal ones. My foster dad was a teacher. He’s retired and was a member of the teacher’s union. I can recall going to the dentist and meeting medical appointments thanks to his union membership, which he was very proud of.
Many parents of the youth I served over the years were union members and so I revere union movements as an important part of our American democracy.
First, it would be to support current initiatives from Affordable Housing to the Climate Change Plan 2.0 that are spearheaded by my potential colleagues. I don’t think there is a need to reinvent the wheel.
My focus would be to prepare Emeryville for the massive development and scale that our city is experiencing. Long term vision planning that includes getting more resources for the city. The tight budget that Emeryville is governed by as a result of redevelopment is unsustainable. My goal would be to expand the coffers so Emeryville can do more and be more.
My personal project would be an innovation corridor that will host programs that inspire entrepreneurship - bringing social impact nonprofits and startups into Emeryville. Making Emeryville a better place to work, live, and play is the goal of my campaign. Providing opportunities for union members and teachers, BIPOC and women residents and the differently abled to launch their dreams in the city they live in.
Public safety and health are also my two concerns, and working alongside my colleagues to improve living conditions for residents is also a part of my platform.
To learn more about my platform, please visit https://www.votepriforce.com
Most of these question can be answered through my Linkedin profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priforce
BMR and Affordable Housing
Climate-Friendly Transportation and Mobility Access
Small Business Entrepreneurship and creating great jobs for union members
Measures that return resources to low-opportunity communities, such as building affordable housing that is funded by above-median income housing developments.
The same can be made for big corporations that can subsidize the creation and funding of smaller businesses and non-profits. Our neighboring cities have had success with similar initiatives.
Emeryville is growing and expected to grow at an alarming rate and needs a full-time elected municipal government. No more “student” government style participation.
Long term vision planning. I am concerned that just like in the past, Emeryville is investing in a lot of development without asking much from developers that keep them accountable for the long-term plans for the city. Such as public health concerns, ADA compliance, electrification, and so on;
Crime in Emeryville is increasing but the focus may be on arrests (intervention) and not on crime prevention.
Make Emeryville a better place to live for them. Workers are forced to travel long distances to work in Emeryville when affordable housing can be provided to them through subsidized plans.
Better jobs can be provided in Emeryville through an innovation sector that welcomes new business and nonprofits.
Raise more money through grants. Work with the state and national government to include Emeryville in spending that align with our city’s goals.
To spend less time cutting costs and more time generating revenue.
Under what circumstances, if any, do you favor contracting out existing or additional future government staffing?
If it aligns with union goals, I’m for it.
I would support that.
Yes.
Yes. I would protect these funds by looking at what our permanent revenue generating sources are and if they don’t suffice, to create a measure that does protect these funds.
Which of the following actions would you take to support workers engaged in union activity such as bargaining and organizing? If so, which of the following do you support
YES NO
___x_ ____ Walk picket lines
_x___ ____ Mediate with employers
__x__ ____ Mediate with building owners
_x___ ____ Write letters of support
__x__ ____ Fight for proper enforcement of current labor law
_x___ ____ Hold a press conference
_x___ ____ Speak at rallies
_x___ ____ actively encourage employers to negotiate an agreement
__x__ ____ actively encourage employers to negotiate in good faith
No
YES NO
__x__ ____ Call for and welcome SEIU input on relevant policy matters
_x___ ____ Attend SEIU leadership and worksite meetings
__x__ ____ Work with SEIU to develop legislative proposals
__x__ ____ Ensure direct access to you and your staff
__x__ ____ Work to appoint qualified union members to appropriate Boards and Commissions
I believe we currently have plans in place to address the unhoused in Emeryville, but if there is anything that has been overlooked, I will consider new ideas.
A quorum can be created wherein union leadership can meet with members of the city council to discuss how the city budget planning process affects. It begins with a conversation, a conversation I am open to having.
I’m not the kind of person that tells someone what they want to hear, and my answers, though a bit rushed because of timing conflicts, reflect my democratic values. One doesn’t suddenly become a public change agent overnight, there has to be a history there and my background, from growing up as an orphan in a public group home to launching movements that target low-opportunity communities says something about my commitment to public service.
I do not plan to remain a city councilmember for several terms. I plan to continue my sojourn into politics, but it starts with how well I do with Emeryville and with the local SEIU. I want to eventually gain support from the national SEIU and that means creating a reputation of union support, which I intend to build - starting here in Emeryville.
As a candidate and elected official, I hereby pledge:
1. To publicly support and actively encourage workers who are organizing a union with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
2. To publicly support and actively encourage the position that workers should be able to freely choose for themselves whether they want to gain a voice on the job by unionizing without the intimidating effects of any employer interference. This includes publicly supporting and encouraging employers to remain neutral on the question of unionization.
3. To publicly support and actively encourage the position that no taxpayer money should be spent interfering with the right of workers to freely choose a union.
4. To publicly support and actively encourage a fair and fast process for determining worker support for unionization including secret ballot election or card check recognition.
5. To publicly support and actively encourage employers to negotiate an agreement with the union within 90 days after the majority of workers express their choice in favor of forming a union.
6. To publicly support and actively encourage employers to negotiate good faith collective bargaining agreements with their workers and to abide by the terms of those agreements.
Signature:______________________________________________ Date:_____9/19/2022_________
Print Name: _________Kalimah Priforce___________________________________