Seema Kanani for Milpitas City Council
Priorities
No partisan agendas. No wishful thinking. Just honest work on the issues that affect us all.
Safe Neighborhoods
Safe neighborhoods in Milpitas means safer streets, faster emergency response, and preventing crime before it happens.
Why This Matters
My plan uses data, prioritizing, and accountability—not just more spending—to deliver real results residents can see. Public safety is Milpitas residents' #1 concern in every city survey. Safe neighborhoods include lower traffic deaths and injuries, reduced property crimes like car break-ins and theft, faster emergency response times, safer public spaces, and prevention focused solutions.
Affordable Living
Milpitas is a city where the cost of living is 82% higher than the national average, "getting by" isn't enough. We all deserve to thrive.
Why This Matters
Milpitas is approving new housing, but too many working families, seniors, and essential workers still can't afford to live here. Teachers, nurses, and public safety workers are being pushed farther away, while longtime residents and seniors on fixed incomes worry about being priced out of the community they helped build.
We need housing that real people can actually afford — not just more units on paper. I'll fight for real affordability requirements in every new development, protect longtime residents from displacement, and advocate for faster approvals on 100% affordable and senior housing projects. I'll build meaningful relationships with Santa Clara County and community partners to secure every available dollar for workforce and affordable housing.
On every housing proposal, I'll ask one simple question: who is this truly affordable for?
Smart Infrastructure
Congested intersections, crumbling sidewalks, and dangerous crossings aren't just inconveniences---they're safety hazards that need urgent maintenance.
Why This Matters
Streets and traffic consistently rank among Milpitas residents' top frustrations. Investing our budget wisely into preventive and efficient maintenance will prevent the ongoing more costly expenses. My first priority will be to secure funding from various sources such as state traffic safety grants, federal programs like 'Safe Streets', and transportation funds already available in the county, so each resident can move through daily life safely and confidently.
As a mother, a healthcare worker, and someone helping care for aging parents, I think about safety differently than politicians do for a slogan. I think of the workers getting home late at night like my parents did; the seniors trying to cross a busy intersection; the city's fields where our children play sports on uneven and poorly lit areas. Every project needs a clear timeline and a public progress report.
Responsible Governance
Milpitas families work hard for their money, and City Hall should treat every taxpayer dollar with the same care and responsibility that families use to manage their own household budgets.
Why This Matters
Fiscal stability and community trust go hand in hand: when government is honest about money and transparent about decisions, confidence in our city grows. Responsible governance means avoiding short-term political decisions that create long-term financial burdens for future generations. Milpitas residents deserve a City Hall that lives within its means, plans, and focuses on core services that directly improve quality of life. Recent city budget discussions have highlighted the importance of long-term fiscal stability, including addressing structural deficits while continuing to fund essential services like public safety, street maintenance, parks, and infrastructure improvements.
The best way to accomplish this is together—by ensuring every resident understands not just what decisions are made—but why they're made.