Born and raised as Joyce Rutledge in San Leandro, I have always been proud of my hometown. Now that I have a family and am raising my children here, I have a true dedication to our future.

My parents have been in San Leandro since the 1940's and still live in the Marina Faire neighborhood where I grew up. As long-time residents and part of the larger Senior population, my parents and their peers deserve a dedicated Senior Center with activities to keep them engaged and active for many more years in San Leandro.

My husband and I live in the Marina Vista neighborhood where we are raising our two children. We appreciate all that San Leandro has to offer, like Washington Manor Baseball for our kids, and I'm committed to improving activities for our youth and families.

My education includes graduation from San Leandro High School at the top of my class, a BS in engineering from Harvey Mudd College, with Honors, and a Masters degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech.

In my years of community service, I have found that pride in San Leandro comes when we work together to get the job done.

After almost 6 years on the City Council, my district -- which includes parts of Washington Manor, and all of Marina Vista, Mission Bay, and Heron Bay neighborhoods-- District 4, has become better only by working together

The Washington Manor HOA has returned from almost inactive to a flourishing organization. In fact we have 4 very active homeowners associations and 5 active school communities that are engaged to support:

• The newest branch library
• The only community center in San Leandro
• The nicest area family aquatic center
• The highest commercial occupancy
• The best paved streets, and
• The lowest crime rate
  

This is not accidental. This is because the residents work together with their Councilmember to make sure their voices are heard at City Hall making District 4 a great place to live.

But I don't only work on behalf of my District, working together means a commitment to improve the entire City.

16 years ago I was elected to the San Leandro School Board. In my 4 years on the Board, the San Leandro School District grew to become a source of community pride for parents, students, and the residents of San Leandro:

The School District worked with the community to make this happen. Together we

• Passed the first bond since Pacific High was built, that re-opened Madison School, re-built Jefferson School, and added the Science Wing at San Leandro High School
• Re-painted San Leandro High School with funds raised by parents and the community
• Created 6 California Distinguished Schools
• When I left the Board as President in 1998, San Leandro High School was a California Distinguished School.

The community did this by working together - the only way to get things done.

For the last 6 years as a Councilmember, getting the job done means bringing in resources to improve the community. Here are some examples from my efforts:.

• Finding $300,000 per year from the County Fire Contract to help our General Fund
• Finding the transit funds to keep the Senior Flex Shuttle running 9-5 every weekday
• Doubling the grant funding for our Links Shuttle
• Finding $120,000 for San Leandro Schools where they don't have to pay for garbage service
• Creating the Downtown Investment Map which resulted in Congressmember Stark requesting $3M for our Police Station and $1.5M for our South Area Plan
  

  Working together to get it done, we'll make San Leandro a place we're proud to call Home.

   

Joyce Starosciak for Mayor of San Leandro