Former San Jose council hopeful Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal has declared his candidacy once again from District 8, which comprises Evergreen and East San Jose. The election date is set for March 5, 2024.
The 57-year-old engineer and former city airport commissioner will work towards addressing public safety -through neighbourhood watches and increasing the police force; homelessness through interim housing construction and increasing affordable housing stock by streamlining the city’s permitting process.
In 2022, San Jose’s housing shortage was considered the worst in the U.S., according to a study. As per Bainiwal, affordable housing is the city is prevented by issues like long permitting processing times due to backlogs, high fees, rising property taxes, and low supply, resulting in sky high prices.
Solution to combat the issues includes tax break for a 5-year period post-development of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADUs), and encouraging residents to build ADUs. ADUs are an affordable type of home, in the premises of a house or property.
His plans, once elected, also include investing in local parks, with a special focus on Lake Cunningham, according to his campaign website. Additionally, he will work on promoting local businesses as well as controlling crime in the communities.
In January 2023, Bainiwal faced accusations of domestic violence and abuse, just days before the District 8 council elections. According to a report, Bainiwal’s ex-wife, in a 1999 declaration during divorce and child custody proceedings had accused him of physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
She also said Bainiwal’s family friends had prescribed her medication to help her keep calm. “I felt and was in essence a slave to my ex-husband and his family,” she wrote. “I was literally in a circle that I could not escape.”
Bainiwal denied the allegations in an interview. “I would never put my hands on anybody at all, or abuse anybody, mentally or physically. That’s just not me. It was because of her mental status that she put all that stuff there,” Bainiwal said.
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