Representing Hayward, Newark & Fairview
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Meet Jesse
Why Jesse is running
As a father, safe public transit is personal to Jesse. From safe routes for his kids to get to school or work, to on-time buses ahead of a family outing. Over 100 thousand residents throughout the East Bay ride AC Transit every day. Investing in transit is not just about moving people from point A to point B; it’s about connecting neighborhoods and families. Jesse’s experience talking with neighbors has shown him that many more desire the flexibility and connectivity that AC Transit provides. They simply need an entry point.
Proudly serving our Community.
Jesse has been a committed community advocate for years; fighting alongside our neighbors to stop school closures, secure funding for neighborhood improvement projects, and improve public safety in Hayward. He currently serves on the Executive Board for the Hayward Education Association (Hayward’s teachers union) and represents HEA on the Alameda Labor Council. He also serves on the Hayward Unified School District’s Transportation Committee. Jesse is an appointed Community Services Commissioner for the City of Hayward and participates in the Climate Empowerment Learning Initiative (CELI) with leaders from the city, school and parks district.
District 6 is my home.
Jesse was born and raised in South Hayward in a low-income family. His grandfather was a member of Teamsters 853 for over 40 years, retiring from Gillig Bus Company in Hayward in 2019. Jesse is a first generation college graduate, attending Ohlone College & CSU East Bay and now teaches at Tennyson High School, where he went to High School himself.
Jesse’s Priorities
Improving Safety, Service & Accessibility ✅
Buses should be for everyone, which means they need to be safe, accessible, and easy to use. Jesse is committed to working alongside residents to ensure that the District’s decisions speak to the needs of all of its riders.
Safe trips, from start to finish: Reassess our contract with Alameda County Sheriff's Department to ensure that it is meeting the needs of riders and drivers, while also piloting innovative approaches to public safety such as the use of bus safety ambassadors and crisis intervention specialists at both bus stops and on board.
Frequent & reliable routes: Missing a bus can be painful! Jesse will work to improve bus frequency through the district’s new “realign” plan. Reliable schedules also allow for adequate driver breaks, which reduce operator burnout and improves customer service.
Accessibility and ease of use: Jesse will work to improve the ridership experience for our disabled, elderly, and parent riders by increasing the number of shelters & benches at stops across the district. Additionally, Jesse will work to upgrade signage to highlight local attractions, businesses, & transfer opportunities - making the rider experience better for longtime riders and newcomers alike.
Local cooperation: Partnering with local agencies and advocates is vital to meet the transit needs of Hayward, Newark, and Fairview residents and enhance our transportation infrastructure. Together, we can accelerate projects like “complete streets” and timed-signals that strengthen the entire transit ecosystem.
Pursuing Fiscal & Climate Sustainability 🌎
Public Transit is the solution to climate change: A robust bus system reduces the number of passenger vehicles on the road, which are the largest contributors of greenhouse gases in our region. However, revenues have decreased since Covid. Jesse will champion a sustainable AC Transit - one that is fiscally responsible, yet innovative in generating revenue. An AC Transit that fights for a livable climate while adapting to the challenges that we face today.
Clean air, clean buses: Jesse will fight to ensure that AC Transit meets the state's goal of fully implementing Zero Emission Vehicles. In addition to our fleet of buses, we should prioritize transitioning our aging fleet of non-revenue vehicles to electric and evaluating our needs periodically.
Modernization of our facilities and providing new training to our mechanics and operators. Our facilities are not yet prepared for fully implementing hydrogen refueling or electric charging. We need a just transition to cleaner energy to keep our buses running.
Sustainable growth without fare increases: Even doubling or tripling fares wouldn’t be enough to cover the district’s costs, and our community's needs will require additional funding. Jesse will advocate at the regional, state and federal levels to expand our funding sources and develop services responsibly.
Serving Every Generation of Riders & Drivers 🚍
The solution for many of the challenges that AC Transit faces is clear: Growing our ridership & number of operators. We do that by providing opportunities for entry into the workforce, listening to the needs of our workers and by making the choice to ride our buses easier than ever.
Free rides for our youth: AC Transit can expand its ridership by partnering with high schools & college campuses, providing students with FREE bus rides through the EasyPass system. This creates a reliable future source of funding for our bus system, and fosters a new generation of bus riders for life.
Dignified jobs for drivers: Our buses wouldn't run without AC Transit's unionized workforce. No worker should have to beg for decent pay and benefits while the cost of living continues to rise. Jesse pledges to work closely with labor partners to ensure that every employee receives fair compensation, dignified treatment, and has the protection of a strong contract.
Addressing the driver shortage: It’s clear that improving service will require more drivers. We must improve our pathways to entry into a career at AC Transit by partnering with schools for job placement and training opportunities. We need to have more drivers if we want to meet our community’s needs.
Endorsements
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Building & Construction Trades Council
Alameda County
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Sheet Metal Workers Union
Local 104
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Sarah Syed
AC Transit Director - Ward 3
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Francisco Zermeño
Councilmember, City of Hayward
AC Transit Liaison, Representative for Hayward
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George Syrop
Councilmember, City of Hayward
AC Transit Liaison, Representative for Hayward
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Aisha Knowles
Trustee, Alameda County Board of Education
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Angela Normand
Trustee, Alameda County Board of Education
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Peter Bufete
President, Hayward Board of Education
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Sara Prada
Vice President, Hayward Board of Education
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Lance Kwan
Ohlone Community College Board Trustee
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Dolly Adams
Trustee, Castro Valley Board of Education
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Victor Aguilar
Councilmember, City of San Leandro
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James Aguilar
Trustee, San Leandro Board of Education
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Teresa Cox
Vice-Mayor
City of Fremont -
Kevin Jenkins
Councilmember, City of Oakland
AC Transit Liaison, Representative for Oakland
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Dan Arriola
Councilmember
City of Tracy
Community & Labor Leaders
Hayward Planning Commissioners
Shay Franco-Clausen
Hayward Library Commissioners
Carl Gorringe
Hayward Community Services Commissioners
Austin Bruckner-Carrillo (Chair)
Collin Thormoto
Daisy Maxion
Guadalupe “Lupe” Angulo
Calvin Wong
Mariana Triviso
Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Members*
Barisha Spriggs
Jatinder “JP” Sahi
Alfred Twu
Mel Shuen-Mallory
Mercedes Faraj - HEA President *
Deisy Bates - AEOTE President *
Tom Ferreira - SEIU-UHW Rep Chair *
Labor Union Leaders
Karina Garbesi - CSUEB Director of Environmental Studies *
Educational Leaders
*Names and titles are for identification purposes only
AC Transit’s Ward 6 was created in December 2023 and encompasses the City of Hayward, Newark and unincorporated Fairview. If you live anywhere within the yellow Ward 6 boundaries, you can vote for Jesse this November!