Election 2018 > Ward One > Leslie Castellano

Leslie Castellano

Links

Notable Endorsements

Eureka City Councilmember Natalie Arroyo; Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez; Central Labor Council; National Union of Healthcare Workers; Building and Construction Trades Council; United Food and Commercial Workers Local #5; Operating Engineers Local #3; Carpenters Local #751

Ballot Statement

As city council member, I will strengthen Eureka’s economic foundation, develop programs that enrich neighborhood and community life, address housing and social inequality, create opportunities for youth, and plan for sustainable development. I will accomplish these goals by working in cooperation with council members, city staff, and the local community.

Highlights of my economic and social policies include:

  • developing a publicly owned bank and community loan fund, creating small business incubators, and diversifying the job market with new job trainings
  • addressing neighborhood safety by introducing regular foot and bicycle patrols by police in neighborhoods
  • improving neighborhood parks and thoroughfares and establish more community centers
  • proactively enforcing building codes to address neighborhood blight and loss of housing
  • developing innovative housing solutions
  • mandating regular trainings in equity and inclusion for city staff and Eureka police
  • creating opportunities for youth to participate in city government through the creation of a youth caucus
  • initiating a sustainable purchasing policy for the city and develop plans that address longterm growth and sustainable development.

I believe that a city thrives when the people who live in the city thrive. I will strive to make Eureka a community that works for everyone.

I am the founder and executive director of Synapsis, a performance and community program that has been bringing new performance work to Eureka for the past 14 years. In addition, I have served on the board of the Ink People, an established Eureka arts and culture organization, for 12 years.

In my role as director of Synapsis, I write grants, create budgets, and oversee a variety of projects, from creating performance works that address social and ecological justice to street festivals to educational forums to a Eureka mapping project. I am an artist and producer, creating opportunities for people to participate, learn, and excel. I have produced and performed in hundreds of events locally and beyond. I am also the founder and an active member of Societies for Poetic Action, a group of artists who work together to respond to social issues.

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from New College, the honors college of the University of Florida.