Candidate Statements
David Bonaccorsi
I am privileged to have been elected to the FFE Leadership team. I am a lifelong Fremont resident, a former Fremont Councilmember and Planning Commission with 12 years of combined experience, promoting affordable housing and alleviating the challenges faced by persons experiencing homelessness. I’m also a past board member and board Vice-President Abode Services (which is also dedicated to ending homelessness). I helped organize grass roots support for the Fremont Housing Navigation Center (HNC) - as the Friends of the HNC - over stiff and increasing increasingly vocal opposition, including representing our organization on KPFA radio over one of the opponent leaders.
In the last two years on the FFE Leadership Team, I have worked with my talented colleagues increasing FFE’s community engagement, including: moderating candidate debates, promoting Fremont’s Safe Parking initiative, organizing housing workshops with Abode and CatalyzeSV, and participating in bi-monthly FFE Leadership meetings. More recently, in also serving on FFE’s Policy Committee, I helped draft and edit FFE’s written public comment to the City of Fremont on Fremont’s updated 2023-2031 housing element, pressing for more affordable housing.
I respectfully ask for your vote so I may continue in my service on the FFE Leadership team advocating for affordable and inclusionary housing as a matter of right.
BOB BRUNTON
Lisa Danz
I grew up in the Bay Area, and I've lived in Fremont since 2018. I joined Fremont for Everyone (FFE) when we were advocating for the Housing Navigation Center in 2019, and I have served on the FFE leadership team since early 2021.
My contributions on the leadership team have included monitoring City Council and Planning Commission agendas for items related to housing and homelessness, facilitating or taking notes at many FFE leadership team meetings, sending updates and announcements to FFE members, helping facilitate the Housing Element analysis and ensuring that we sent our comments to city staff before the deadline, submitting support letters for state-level bills that FFE has voted to endorse, representing Fremont for Everyone at CAYIMBY's monthly legislative update meetings, and creating a website (fremont-transcripts.com) that makes City Council and Planning Commission meeting transcripts available to the community. Overall, I take responsibility to make sure that the ball doesn't get dropped and we keep moving our priorities forward.
I also volunteer regularly with the Fremont Safe Parking program. Fremont for Everyone advocated for this program to exist, and I'm proud to do my part to contribute to its operation. Outside of direct FFE work, my other community contributions include volunteering with Tri-City Volunteers' food pantry and advocating for climate solutions with Citizens' Climate Lobby.
I think that the work that Fremont for Everyone is doing is important, and I want to make sure that it continues. I've demonstrated my willingness to step up and do the work to make it happen, and I'm willing to continue that work if elected for another term.
Jenna Daugherty
Annie Koruga
Hi, my name is Annie! I’ve lived here in Fremont for more than a decade, and I’ve been with Fremont For Everyone since the beginning. Back in 2019, I was the tabling lead for our campaign to win the Housing Navigation Center. I turned people out, made plans, saw the need for this organizing work, and saw the power of us turning out to win. Since then, I’ve had many other organizing experiences: organizing electorally and around issues, for many different things from anti-homophobia to safe parking.
My organizing experience is very, varied which means that I’ve practiced a diversity of tactics and have a unique skill set. I know how to mobilize people, how to strategize, how to build coalitions, how to coordinate, and how to build consensus.
My three priorities are:
ONE: re-engaging people who have previously been involved, to build our base and our power. We learned that when we fight, we win, but we need a lot of people to fight. We need to re-engage our contacts on our contact list and in our Facebook Group.
TWO: we need to get new people involved, through building out our social media presence and exciting people by running campaigns. Usually new people engage when there’s a reason to, like when a campaign is going on.
THREE: I want to apply the lessons we’ve learned from previous campaigns to wage and win future ones. We’ve learned how to win, now we need to do it again. I want to, in time, run campaigns for things like more navigation centers, more safe parking, more affordable housing, and increased funding for unhoused support services. I also want to fight for things that prevent people from becoming unhoused in the first place like higher wages and reasonable rents whenever possible. Finally, I want to directly engage with community members through mutual aid, community education, and organizing tenants. Re-engage, engage, and campaign with me!
DebBIE Leon
Hello. I'm Debbie Leon. I have lived in Fremont most of my life. I have watched this city grow and do well, but I've also seen a rise in unhoused people. I have a passion for our homeless neighbors and helping those that want more out of life. I also have a deep desire to get housed people educated. I have a large assortment of skills that I have learned from my family, from schools, and friends. My passion for ves me a willingness to learn more.
In 2002, my boyfriend, Tim, and I - through a really bad decision - became homeless. It took 3 years to rebuild our footing. Twenty years ago there was no navigation center, the readily available but limited resources to use did not have value or purpose for many to use and the resources that were available were limited. For example: you could get help to get into a shelter if you were married or have kids, or if you were single. Couples were refused a place in a shelter.
Being homeless for 3 years was a valuable lesson. We learned the homeless opulation has many different levels of being homeless. I'm passionate about speaking on behalf of those wanting a place to call home. I'd like to get involved in this leadership team to educate and stop those folks that spread fears and half truths such as the stereotypical homeless person being a drug addict. More people are living in their vehicles and in todays environment living in RVs. I believe there are a lot more people that are actually homeless.
During the height of frenzied reactions at the City Council meeting, I was alarmed at how many 'housed' people have this absolute hatred for the homeless and are so willing to keep the homeless in a homeless state instead of agreeing that the navigaion center a great thing and we can proerly get people on their feet again. This hatred was also included threats of violence to the homeless.
When I had heard about the navigation center and it's purpose, I was a total YIMBY. I just didn't know what to do. I wanted to talk to the NIMBYs about how easily anyone of them could be homeless tomorrow and give them all something to think about. Every single person, especially those not having saved money or invested money could become homeless. If and when that happens they will be on the receiving end of those same folks that were hateful and cruel. They will see who their friends truly are and could possibly be in for a rude awakening.
Fremont's soup kitchens have been around for 3 decades now. God bless those volunteers. The world can be very scary from that point because not knowing where the soup kitchens are and what hours they are open, could mean going hungry until you do find out. I was thankful that a good friend of mine knew of these places and gave me the addresses and times they are open.
Folks that are spreading hatred towards the homeless, are folks that believe it would never happen to them. Until I experienced homelessness, I was one of them - believing I was better than that. It only took one bad decision to turn my world upside down. There are so many good people who just need help and encouragement.
A vote for me will allow me to make a difference for all the homeless that want more.
Thank you.
Katherine Rubie
My Name is Katherine Rubie. I have been a Leader of Fremont For Everyone over the last year. I ran for a leadership position last year because I wanted to make a difference for the homeless in our community. By helping our unhoused neighbors in Fremont we help everyone, thus the name of our group: Fremont For Everyone!
I come to the table having experience as a home & property owner, having a salaried position, to eventually working hourly, commision-based, and as an independent contractor, to eventually becoming homeless. My experiences from all these positions in life give me an unusual perspective from many angles.
I can vouch for the fact that homelessness is frightening, stressful, affects one's mental, emotional, and physical health, and many more things. I never imagined that I would have ever experienced something like this when I came from an upper middle-class family and did everything society expects of us (married, had a child, graduated from college, worked hard, paid my taxes, attended church, even served in the military), but it can happen even to people who are healthier, smarter, and better off financially than I ever was. Through my experience, I realized homelessness can happen to anyone, at anytime, for a multitude of reasons. For me, it was age and disabilities that caught up to me and forced me into lower and lower income as I struggled to keep up with the demands of work that are not always accommodating for the disabled.
Not having a physical address creates even worse situations than losing one's home, because a physical address is required for updating one's ID or driver's license, registration, and car insurance. These things affect one's ability to get a job, or even hold onto a job. This is why it is vital we focus on housing first and foremost. Maintaining housing for low-income and at-risk persons is just as important as getting the unhoused re-housed into the living situation best suited for their individual needs.
Fremont For Everyone has advocated the Homeless Navigation Center (HNC), and the Safe Parking Program, as well as the Project Homekey plans. Though the first two goals were realized and are still operating, the third goal fell through when the State did not choose Fremont to receive the funding for it. Though we've made great strides against great opposition, we still have a LONG way to go.
This work is my passion and I feel strongly that it is my purpose in life. I have seen the many failures in how our system works, understand where and what those failures are, and have many ideas on how to fix them. I've also got many ideas on how to get the homeless housed in a variety of ways - appropriate for their individual needs. I've learned many things as a leader over the past year and feel like I am even more ready and qualified to keep pushing for a better Fremont in a Multi-Pronged approach.
Vinita Verma
Vinita Verma is a long-time resident, active member, and social activist in the Fremont community. She has raised two kids in Fremont. Her diverse advocacy work includes organizing for equity in education, advocating for the Homeless Navigation Center in Fremont and partnering with organizations to promote environmentalism through individual and government action. In 2021, she was awarded the Outstanding Advocacy Award by the Alameda County Tobacco Control coalition for her exceptional work advocating for the Tobacco Retail License and Flavored Tobacco Product Bans in Fremont, its neighboring cities, and counties, and at the California State level. In July 2021 she was honored as Hometown Hero by the City of Fremont and by County Supervisor Haubert. In her recent, former role as Fremont Council PTA President, Vinita expanded the Council’s involvement in school district policy and advocacy, serving on multiple committees and providing recommendations to promote mental health and a smoother transition into online learning and back to school for students. Vinita currently serves as the chair of the CBOC measure E oversight committee. Vinita serves as the Legislative Health Advocate at California State PTA and is on the Art Eeducation and Resolution committees. She fiercely advocated for AB367 at California state and is a proud proponent of menstrual equity at schools and communities.
She envisions a Fremont community that welcomes refugees and immigrants with open arms and hearts. She hopes to transform Fremont into a home for everyone as she has made it home for herself and her family. Recently, she strongly advocated for the FUSD school board to support the resolution to welcome Afghan refugees.
Vinita is honored to serve as your representative on the Fremont for Everyone leadership team. Her vision is to prevent homelessness from growing by supporting vulnerable individuals and families before they lose their homes and to support individuals to enter or re-enter the workforce and find permanent housing.
She also believes that advocacy is the way to make it possible to help our unhoused neighbours. Advocacy at every level is needed - City, County, State, Federal.
She also believes in the goodness of people and strongly believes that we need to reach out to those who are on the otherside of the aisle and bring all sides to the table to make it a joint community effort.
She believes that Basic trait of humanity is empathy and compassion. The day we lose them, we lose the title of being human. We need to be able to open our arms for those who need it the most. It is a privilege to live in Fremont and even a greater privilege when you do not have to think about where your next meal will come from or where you will sleep. Fremont's strength is diversity. Let's keep it diverse and welcoming.