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Trusted Leadership for Palo Alto
Palo Alto needs trusted leadership to foster smart, sustainable growth, robust public safety, and the essential services, public spaces, and facilities that sustain our vibrant community.
"Keith is a dedicated leader with an intense work ethic who will be effective immediately on the Council. He brings an exceptional breadth of experience having served for 12+ years on Palo Alto commissions and advisory bodies tackling housing, land use, transportation, parks and recreation, retail recovery, and rail crossings." - Ed Lauing, Vice Mayor, City of Palo Alto
My Experience
For over a decade, I have been deeply involved through our boards and commissions in addressing Palo Alto's critical issues including housing, retail, planning, transportation, parks, and community services. My work on various commissions and working groups has led to tangible improvements in our city.
I understand the challenges we face and I am committed to collaborating effectively to develop sensible, holistic, and workable solutions that benefit our community.
With a career in aerospace engineering, I have honed my analytical skills and built consensus among diverse teams to solve complex problems. These skills are crucial for addressing the big-picture challenges we face in Palo Alto. I am dedicated to applying this expertise to serve our community and ensure its continued prosperity.
- Planning & Transportation Commission: Vice Chair
- Measure K Chair: Led the successful 2022 campaign to restore essential public safety services and fund affordable housing.
- Parks & Recreation Commission: Served 9 years, two-terms as Chair.
- Community Working Groups: Served on the Housing Element, North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP), and railroad grade separations (XCAP).
- Aerospace Engineer: 25+ years
- Parent and longtime resident. My wife Becky Epstein and I raised our children in PAUSD schools (Ohlone, JLS, Gunn)
I'm ready to get to work and get things done in Palo Alto.
My Values
I believe that working together and cooperating toward shared goals builds a strong community. My approach is balanced, fair, and non-partisan, with meaningful community engagement to produce high-quality well-planned projects. I believe in accountability, fiscal responsibility, and delivering tangible results to maintain public trust. I aim to create a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable Palo Alto where everyone can enjoy a rewarding quality of life. I am dedicated to serving Palo Alto and will not seek higher office.
Goals for City Council
Thoughtful Housing and Renter Protections
I believe new housing should be built throughout the city: in our two downtown areas, along El Camino Real and San Antonio Road, and in the Stanford Research Park. Unlike some Council candidates, I do not support radical Builder’s Remedy Projects that would allow developers to exploit a loophole to build projects out of scale with our community. I have championed new housing for all incomes to address our jobs/housing imbalance and in 2022 I led the successful Measure K campaign to fund affordable housing.
I support renter protections, including security deposit limits and preventing wrongful termination, while ensuring new rental housing construction is not discouraged.
A Livable Community
Our city's vibrancy stems from policies integrating housing, retail, walking and biking paths, parks, and community centers with our core values. I believe we must support our community-serving local businesses by simplifying zoning and streamlining permitting. We can improve retail vibrancy through collaboration with merchants on streetscape improvements and events. My work has prioritized collaborating with a wide variety of residents, from youth and seniors to residents from diverse backgrounds and abilities, to expand recreational programs, parks, Cubberley and community centers, and citywide safe bike routes. Our livability is enhanced when we focus our energy to ensure we are meeting the needs of all residents.
Public Safety and Services
Strong public safety fosters a sense of security and well-being that forms the essential backbone of our community. Pandemic budget cuts slashed police and fire staffing so I led the 2022 Measure K campaign to restore funding for public safety and services for the unhoused. We must ensure that all of our fire stations have fire engines with full staffing and that our police department is fully staffed to ensure effective and responsive law enforcement to combat property crime.
Climate Protection and Our Natural Environment
As a nine-year member of the Parks & Recreation Commission, I am committed to protecting Palo Alto’s treasured natural environment and our leading climate protection plan through investments in reliable utilities, sustainable infrastructure, and incentives to reduce our carbon footprint. We must also continue to pursue projects that address climate adaptation, such as addressing sea-level rise and fire protection and prevention. Together, we will make progress to address the needs of future generations of Palo Altans.
Join Me in Building a Better Palo Alto
Together, we can move beyond factionalized politics to foster and expand Palo Alto's quality of life, implement thoughtful housing growth, and improve cooperation between citizens and our city government.
If you support a Palo Alto that is inclusive, innovative, sustainable, and fiscally sound, please vote for me to serve you on the Palo Alto City Council.
-Keith Reckdahl
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