Alhambra voters will head to the polls on November 3 to elect representatives to three City Council districts. District 1 has two candidates on the ballot, District 2 has one unopposed candidate, and District 5 has three candidates.
Ahead of the election, Around Alhambra asked candidates in contested races to respond to the same set of questions about their priorities, policy positions, and vision for the city. The responses give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about why they are running, what they hope to accomplish, and how they would approach key issues affecting Alhambra. Candidates who submitted responses are presented in the order they were received.
For residents who would like to hear from the candidates directly, the Alhambra City Council Meet the Candidates Forum will be held October 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Alhambra Library. The forum will be moderated by the Pasadena League of Women Voters, giving residents an opportunity to hear candidates respond to questions about issues affecting Alhambra ahead of the November 3 election.
Amy J. Wong – District 1
- Why are you running for Alhambra City Council?
I’m running for City Council because I love this city, and I want to make sure it stays a place where families like mine can build a good life. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as a daughter of immigrants. After my husband served eight years in the military, we chose Alhambra as the place to settle down and build our life together. We were drawn to Alhambra because it has everything we value: a community in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley where different generations, cultures, and small businesses come together.
I also see challenges. Housing costs are pushing working families and seniors out. Our streets aren’t as safe as they should be. We have vacant storefronts that need to be filled. I want to address these challenges and work to create a safe, vibrant, inclusive city that works for everyone.
I have dedicated my career to public health and public service. I currently work at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. In the past twelve years, I’ve worked at local nonprofits, where I helped bring millions of dollars to the San Gabriel Valley for parks and open spaces, safer streets, and clean air. I currently serve on Alhambra’s Historic Preservation Commission and previously served on our Environmental Sustainability Commission. As the founder of a small business, I know that City Hall should be a partner, not a barrier.
Alhambra deserves a councilmember who shows up, listens, and knows how to deliver real results. That’s the kind of leadership I want to bring to City Hall. - What is the one thing you’d like to accomplish in Alhambra during your next year on the council?
During my first year, I want to make tangible improvements that positively impact people’s everyday lives. I want to improve street and sidewalk safety in the neighborhoods that need it most, prioritizing overdue repairs, lighting, and crossing improvements. Residents shouldn’t have to wait years to see a dangerous intersection fixed or a broken sidewalk repaired. That means finding the highest-priority locations and securing available funding for implementation.
I also want to use my first year on the Council to open up City Hall to everyone, starting with standardizing multilingual communications. I want to ensure residents receive information that affects their family or their home. Our community is diverse, and city communications should be made available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and other languages.
Wins like these build the trust we need for a strong city. - If elected, what current issue would you spend less City Council time on and what would you hope to replace that time spent doing?
I’d like to spend less time revisiting decisions and more time engaging with residents early on in the decision-making process. Many residents only find out about a project or policy change once it’s already in motion, which makes it difficult for the City Council to incorporate community feedback. In my experience conducting community engagement, it’s best to include residents early on in the planning process. I’d like to spend time going to neighborhoods, schools, and community groups early, so residents can help shape a project before it’s greenlit. That’s a more proactive way of governing that can also build community trust. - What do you think should be Alhambra’s top priorities when it comes to spending public funds?
Public dollars should fund the basic city services that make daily life better and safer for all residents. This includes investing in community safety, well-maintained streets and sidewalks, reliable infrastructure, and essential city services.
I would like to see more investment in parks and trees, especially in neighborhoods that have historically been overlooked. Alhambra has less than one park acre per 1,000 residents, compared with roughly 3.3 acres countywide. I want to ensure our parks are well-maintained and increase the amount of greenery in our neighborhoods.
When Alhambra spends public money on development or projects, I believe the city should be held accountable. We should require prevailing wages and fair labor standards on projects that use public funds or receive city incentives, so our tax dollars support good jobs. Every dollar the City spends should improve life for the people who live here. - What is the best way to create more housing for those who want to live in the city?
We need to ensure that community input is taken into consideration as we plan for more housing. I support looking at our housing needs holistically. Where we build matters just as much as how much we build. I want to identify corridors near transit for new housing opportunities while not overburdening historic and established neighborhoods. I support creating more housing through public partnerships, not by leaving it entirely to the private market. I want Alhambra to work with nonprofit and public housing developers to build housing that’s actually affordable to working families, seniors, and young adults. I’ll also pursue state and regional funding to help make that possible, since Alhambra can’t solve this alone.
At the same time, we need to protect what makes our neighborhoods feel like home. As a Historic Preservation Commissioner, I care about preserving the character of our community, and I believe we can do that while still meeting our responsibility to build more. Allowing more thoughtful housing options like accessory dwelling units and housing near transit, supporting first-time homebuyers with down-payment assistance, and protecting renters from displacement means we can grow without displacing the people who already live here. - Specifically, how can you help businesses thrive in Alhambra: What policies would you champion to support the success of those here and make it attractive for others to open here?
Alhambra has been built in large part by generations of small business owners. Small businesses and restaurants are a cornerstone of our community. I founded a library and bookstore, transforming a vacant storefront to serve as a third space. That experience has shown me how taxing the permitting process can be. I know how a slow, confusing system can hold back an entrepreneur before they even open their doors. I’ll push to streamline permitting so it’s faster and easier to understand, and work to fill vacant storefronts instead of letting them sit empty.
I also want to build partnerships between Alhambra, local employers, and workforce training programs, so businesses can find and train the workers they need right here in Alhambra. If we connect residents to career pathways through apprenticeship programs, the people who already call this city home benefit greatly.
Alhambra should be intentional about the kind of growth it attracts. I will support development that brings good jobs and strengthens our neighborhoods. Our policies should build on that. - What do you see as the primary role of the Alhambra City Council?
The City Council’s primary role is to make government work for the people who actually live here. We need to be responsive, not reactive, by listening to residents before decisions are made. The City Council shapes what daily life looks like for current and future generations of Alhambra residents, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.
The City Council also has a responsibility to meet our everyday needs. It should create safe streets, reliable services, parks people can actually use, and a City Hall that’s easy to access and understand, in whatever language a resident speaks. Local government affects everyday lives, and the Council’s job is to treat it that way. We must show up, follow through, and be honest with residents about realistic, possible solutions. - What do you love most about Alhambra? What makes this city special?
What I love most about Alhambra is how many generations and cultures it represents, all within a few square miles. You can walk down Valley Boulevard and see decades-old family businesses next to newer ones, hear multiple languages in the same block, and feel a real sense of history alongside constant change. That mix is rare, and it’s something a lot of cities lose as they grow. Alhambra hasn’t.
I love living in Alhambra and noticing moments that make this community my home. I see grandparents walking grandkids to school, neighbors chatting outside the library, and families gathering in the park on a Sunday. Alhambra still feels like a place where people know each other, where community isn’t something you have to go looking for. That’s what I want to protect: the feeling that this is still a place where everyone belongs. - BONUS: What is your favorite restaurant in Alhambra to take visitors to and why?
One of my favorites is Borneo Kalimantan Eatery, in my district. They specialize in Indonesian, Malaysian, and Singaporean food. I love it because my mom is from Malaysia, and Borneo was one of the first restaurants we ate at that reminds her of her home country. I especially like their rojak dish, a fruit salad mix, and Singapore Laksa, a curry noodle soup dish. I’m grateful our city has so many amazing food options to choose from.
