City of Milpitas

Hon Lien

http://www.honformilpitas2022.com

Children are our future. We need to provide educational pathways that allow students to apply their passion in learning for their future careers.

1. In a recent poll by Choose Children 2022 of likely general election voters, more than half of parents with children under age 18 say they are likely to move out of the Bay Area in the next few years. What do you think are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

   Housing, Affordable Housing and the cost of living in the area are the 3 most important issues that need to be addressed. We must increase the number of homes in the area, and we need a special emphasis on Affordable Housing and housing for School District employees. To address the cost of living we must work with businesses to create job opportunities at salary levels that provide sustainability. We must apply for any funds available to support and grow affordable housing.

2. As we have learned over the past three years, without quality, affordable, childcare, parents can’t go to work. What will you do to address challenges accessing childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

   Milpitas has subsidies for a number of low-income programs that cover our children. Milpitas Unified School District offer parents childcare and development with our Child Development Centers. All of our preschool programs have been transferred to our school district and private facilities have encouraged the city to subsidize students in our city rather than providing competition. We should also advocate and provide parents with the county’s First Five to help prepare children for kindergarten.

3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

   We must recognize that opportunity gaps start with children at the age of 3 or 4. This happens more with low-income families and children of color. We must recognize the challenges and issues and provide resources to address the achievement gap.

4. What steps will you take to support inclusion and outcomes for children with special needs or with disabilities and their families to be fully included in our community?

   Our School District has personnel to address these issues. My focus is to make sure all children including special needs will be in the workforce and they are taxpayers.

5. There is a mental health crisis among children, youth, and those who care for and educate them. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve access to mental and behavioral health services?

   I have served 6 years as a School Board Trustee in Milpitas and understand these issues. In our city, the School District and the City are two separate government entities, but it does not mean we cannot form partnerships. While our city recreation department has some limited programs, none of them address mental or behavioral health issues. With my knowledge and understanding of our School District I will encourage our joint committee to investigate the possibility of expanding services; it doesn’t matter who would be in charge, just that we provide the services