Hayward First Agenda
Priority Issues
I’m running for Mayor because I believe Hayward’s best days shouldn’t be in the rearview mirror.
01
Data Centers Over Housing: Hayward Deserves Better
Massive data centers are coming for the land, water, and power every Hayward family depends on. While billion-dollar tech companies consume enormous amounts of both, seniors on fixed incomes, struggling families, and underserved neighborhoods could be left fighting over higher bills and fewer resources. And for what? Instead of using this land for housing that our community desperately needs, we’re being pushed toward giant windowless warehouses that create relatively few permanent jobs while wealthy corporations demand tax breaks. Hayward should prioritize housing for our families, not land giveaways to Big Tech.
02
No Property Tax For Seniors
Our seniors are the backbone of our community, having built this city with their hard work. I want to ensure they can enjoy their homes without worrying about rising taxes. Imagine no property tax! You’ve worked so hard for your home, and it’s important to us that taxes don’t take it away. As your mayor, starting at age 55, your property taxes will gradually be reduced, becoming completely zero by age 65. It’s our way of saying thank you for everything you’ve done and making sure your home stays your sanctuary.
03
Making Hayward's Streets Safer
Every neighborhood in Hayward deserves to feel safe, with a police force that has the officers and resources to respond and investigate effectively. Safety shouldn’t depend on your zip code — whether you live downtown or in the hills, you deserve to know that help will arrive quickly when you need it. Right now, our officers are stretched thin, and that means longer response times, fewer resources for follow-up investigations, and neighborhoods left feeling like they’re on their own. Public safety is the foundation everything else is built on: strong schools, thriving businesses, and stable neighborhoods all depend on residents feeling secure in their own homes. Hayward families deserve a police force that’s fully staffed, fully equipped, and fully committed to keeping every part of this city safe.
04
Capping Utility Costs for Hayward
Rising utility bills are squeezing Hayward families every month, and relief shouldn’t be optional. Between water, electricity, and gas, the cost of simply keeping the lights on has climbed faster than paychecks for far too many households. For families already stretching every dollar, a spike in a monthly bill can mean skipping something else that matters — groceries, medication, or saving for the future. Hayward residents work hard and pay their share; they shouldn’t also have to absorb costs that are rising faster than their income. Affordable utilities aren’t a luxury — they’re a basic expectation of a city that looks out for its people. Relief shouldn’t be something families have to hope for. It should be something they can count on.
05
Fixing Neglected Infrastructure
Potholed roads and run-down parks are a sign of a city not investing in itself — and residents notice. Every cracked sidewalk, every pothole that damages a car, every park that’s fallen into disrepair sends the same message: that Hayward has stopped prioritizing the everyday spaces its residents rely on. These aren’t just cosmetic issues — they affect safety, property values, and how proud people feel about the community they call home. Families should be able to walk to a park without worrying about broken equipment, and drivers shouldn’t have to dodge potholes on their way to work every morning. Investing in our streets and parks is investing in Hayward itself — in the quality of life every resident deserves, and in a city that takes visible, consistent pride in its own neighborhoods.
06
A Local Economy That Works for Locals
Too many city contracts and purchasing dollars flow to outside companies with no real stake in Hayward, while local businesses that pay Hayward taxes and employ Hayward workers get passed over. That has to change. As Mayor, Tom will champion local-preference purchasing and contracting policies so that when the city spends money, it spends it here first — supporting Hayward businesses, creating Hayward jobs, and keeping tax dollars circulating in our own neighborhoods instead of leaving town. He’ll also launch a zero-interest loan program for local entrepreneurs, giving them the capital to start and grow without predatory debt eating into their first years of profit. Every contract the city awards and every dollar it spends should be an investment in Hayward’s own backyard not a giveaway to companies that have no future here.
Goals
Hayward deserves leadership that settles for nothing less than the best in public safety, in local jobs, in the streets we drive on and the parks our kids play in.
Housing for families, not warehouses for Big Tech.
Massive data centers are coming for the land, water, and power every Hayward family depends on. While billion-dollar tech companies consume enormous amounts of both, seniors on fixed incomes, struggling families, and underserved neighborhoods could be left fighting over higher bills and fewer resources. And for what? Instead of using this land for housing that our community desperately needs, we’re being pushed toward giant windowless warehouses that create relatively few permanent jobs while wealthy corporations demand tax breaks.
Hayward should prioritize housing for our families, not land giveaways to Big Tech.
Increase Police Presence & Expanding Investigations
Expand investigative capacity so cases get real follow-through, not just a response. Overworked detectives are stretched thin, leaving victims waiting for answers. Expanding our detective units means every case gets the attention it deserves — and Hayward residents get a city that follows through until it’s closed.
Our residents and businesses deserve safety, law, and order. I will assign officers to walk the beats. Boost the number of detectives to actively pursue gang members, property crimes, sex offenses, theft, and robbery, among other issues.
Hayward will be recognized as the safest city in the Bay Area.
Hayward Dollars for Hayward Businesses
Champion local-preference purchasing and contracting policies. When the city awards contracts and makes purchasing decisions, that money should work for Hayward first — supporting local businesses, creating local jobs, and keeping our tax dollars circulating right here at home. Too often, big contracts go to outside companies with no real connection to this community, while Hayward businesses that pay local taxes and employ local workers get passed over. By prioritizing local-preference policies, we make sure city spending directly strengthens the businesses and workers who make up this community — not companies that have no stake in Hayward’s future. Every contract is an opportunity to invest in our own backyard, and it’s time our purchasing policies reflected that.
Hayward Jobs for Hayward Residents
Push hiring incentives and workforce programs that put Hayward residents to work first. For too long, jobs created by city projects and city-funded development haven’t always translated into opportunities for the people who actually live here. That has to change. By offering hiring incentives to employers who prioritize local talent, and by investing in workforce training programs tailored to Hayward’s job market, we can make sure growth in this city actually benefits the families who call it home. Every new development, every new business, and every city-backed project should come with a simple expectation: hire Hayward first. Our residents have the work ethic and the talent — they just need a city that fights to make sure they get the opportunity.
Jobs for Chabot College Graduates
Build pipelines connecting local tech and AI talent with employers right here in Hayward. Hayward is home to a growing pool of talented graduates from local tech and AI programs — but too many are forced to leave the city to find work that matches their skills. That’s a loss for them and a loss for Hayward. By building real partnerships between local employers, tech programs, and the city, we can create direct pipelines that connect that homegrown talent with opportunities close to home. Investing in these connections keeps skilled workers in our community, strengthens our local economy, and positions Hayward as a place where the next generation of tech talent can build their careers without having to leave. Our graduates shouldn’t have to choose between staying in Hayward and building the future they’ve trained for.
Pathway to Home Ownership
The model is simple: if you can afford rent, you can afford a mortgage. For too long, Alameda County residents have been locked out of home ownership — paying someone else’s mortgage instead of building equity in their own future. Tom believes home ownership shouldn’t be out of reach for hardworking families. As Mayor, he’ll work to identify and remove the barriers — from down payment hurdles to outdated housing policy — standing between residents and the keys to their own front door. This is a pathway Tom is committed to building, not just a promise.
Improving Hayward Streets
Our streets are where daily life happens — the roads we drive, the sidewalks our kids walk to school on. Year after year of neglected funding shows up as cracked pavement and crumbling sidewalks that no longer reflect the pride Hayward deserves. Tom will make road and infrastructure funding a real priority, not an afterthought — repairing the streets that need it most and restoring the everyday quality of life Hayward residents deserve.
That same commitment extends to solving Hayward’s homelessness crisis. Tom believes real compassion means real solutions — not cash handouts that treat the symptoms while ignoring the cause. As Mayor, he’ll prioritize structure and care: connecting residents in need with the services, shelter, and support that lead to lasting stability, not short-term fixes that leave our streets and public spaces struggling year after year.
Fueling Hayward's Next Small Businesses
Launch a zero-interest loan program giving local entrepreneurs the capital they need to start and grow — without predatory debt holding them back. Starting a business is hard enough without high-interest loans eating into a founder’s first few years of profit before they’ve even gotten off the ground. Too many promising Hayward entrepreneurs never get the chance to build something because the only capital available comes with terms that favor the lender, not the small business owner. By offering zero-interest loans through the city, we can give local startups the breathing room they need to hire, grow, and reinvest in their business — instead of spending their early years just trying to keep up with debt payments. Hayward’s next generation of businesses shouldn’t be held back before they’ve even had a chance to start. This program gives them a real shot.