PRIORITIES

Moving East Palo Alto Forward — Together

East Palo Alto deserves leadership that listens, delivers, and puts residents first. Ruben Abrica has called East Palo Alto home for 47 years and has spent decades working alongside residents, community organizations, schools, and local leaders to improve the quality of life for everyone. He believes City government works best when elected officials, staff, and residents work together to identify challenges, find common ground, and deliver real solutions.

Ruben’s vision is rooted in opportunity, stability, and a stronger quality of life for every generation. That means protecting residents from displacement while ensuring new development delivers meaningful community benefits, investing in streets, water infrastructure, storm drainage, parks, and civic facilities, and expanding opportunities for youth, seniors, families, and local entrepreneurs.

Ruben is ready to keep moving East Palo Alto forward. He will continue advocating for safer neighborhoods through community-based policing, stronger opportunities for young people, expanded recreation and senior services, and economic development that creates space for small and micro businesses. His priorities are about building a city where residents have a voice, families can stay and thrive, and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Housing Affordability

Ruben will advocate for strong community benefits and affordable housing opportunities for tenants and homeowners, while fighting to protect residents from displacement as developers bring forward new proposals.

Public Safety

Ruben supports community-based policing as the most effective way to enhance public safety and build lasting trust between residents and law enforcement. As Mayor, he initiated regular Community Safety gatherings bringing together the police chief, the fire district, local schools, and community organizations to improve communication and emergency preparedness. He will continue strengthening these community-based policing practices and follow through on agreed goals for safer neighborhoods.

Youth & Senior Services

Ruben will advocate to rebuild the Senior Center as a two-story facility offering comprehensive services to older residents, including closer coordination with the Family YMCA and added bathroom facilities at Bell Street Park. He also plans to reactivate efforts to establish a Recreation Foundation, expanding recreational opportunities for all age groups in partnership with schools and community organizations. To ensure young people have a direct voice in City government, Ruben will appoint a Youth Commission and Youth Task Force so the City Council can hear concerns and ideas from a broad cross section of local youth.

Infrastructure & Economic Development

Ruben will continue to support the citywide program to remove abandoned and dismantled vehicles, freeing up parking and providing regular public reports so residents can weigh in on progress. He is committed to repairing and building essential civic infrastructure, including the library, water pipes, storm drains, and streets. On the economic side, Ruben will advocate for development in the Four Corners Ravenswood Business District that includes space for 25 to 30 small and micro businesses operating on a rotating basis, creating ongoing opportunities for local entrepreneurs. He also supports a Community College and Adult Education satellite center at a new civic center to help youth and adults build job skills, and will work toward a 2028 ballot measure raising the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from 12% to 14–15% to generate additional city revenue without affecting homeowners.

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