Vice Mayor Cameron Sasai

11/06/2024

Dear Pinole Community,

As we look ahead, I want to remind you that it’s okay to feel upset, uncertain, or discouraged. These are challenging times, and your feelings are valid.

Over the past two years, we’ve worked together to fast-track progress and build up a city that reflects the values of innovation, inclusivity, and opportunity. That work will not stop.

While there are many factors beyond our control at the federal level, we can focus on what we can influence right here in Pinole. This means checking in on those around us, actively participating in our local government by attending council meetings and using our voices, and extending kindness—including to those we may disagree with politically.

The next presidential administration will bring changes to federal policy that may impact us at the local level, but I will use my full authority as your representative to ensure that we all have the resources that we need to thrive, make sure that the good work that our council has put into motion will not stop, and defend the dignity and equal protection of every individual in our community, especially the most vulnerable.

Let’s take some time to process this moment together, reflect, and plan how we want to impact our community in these coming years. But as we do, let’s also lift each other up and keep fighting—for our community, our values, and our collective future that we know is possible.

And of course, we will continue to lead with our commitment to love and community care.

- Cameron

03/27/2024

At our last council meeting, we approved a city sponsorship for Pinole Valley High School’s AAPI Study Trip & Heritage Show.

Our educators and students usually fundraise for this annual event but end up funding the majority out-of-pocket. This sponsorship allows every student, regardless of their economic background, to participate in these enrichment activities. It also removes the barriers for them to highlight the rich cultures within our AAPI diaspora for our Pinole community to share.

Shoutout to our PVHS student leaders and educators who not only reached out early this year to talk to me about the impact of this sponsorship, but also organized, showed up, and gave so many incredible public comments at our meeting.

03/23/2024

At the start of this year, you might have noticed our new traffic signals project completed at the Appian Way and Marlesta Road intersection.

This particular section of our Appian Way corridor has always been a speedway that put our community at risk. This improvement was a major step in the right direction, and we’re going to keep investing in safety.

📸: Dave Snell, PCTV

01/20/2024

Our city has some of the best and brightest students, and it was a joy to come visit them today.

I’m thankful for our educators like Ms. Lamons-Raiford who pour so much into our students and remind them of the power their voices have in creating change. Our city is in good hands!

Some of the issues that our students brought up to me include:

- Implementation of our city’s Public Art Program
- Pedestrian safety infrastructure by freeway entrances and exits
- Crosswalk signal improvements for visually-impaired pedestrians
- Renaming a park to honor the Ohlone people and educate the public

Many of these are in progress, and I’m excited to work with our student advocates to get it done!

01/04/2024

Last September, I introduced a CPTED/Facade Improvement Program for Pinole Small Businesses. Thankful for our community’s support for this initiative and hopeful to see it come to fruition in 2024!

CPTED (Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design) is a data-proven method to reduce property crime & general criminal activity by enhancing the physical environment. This is done through improvements such as enhancing visibility, territorial reinforcement, and access control.

Combining this with aesthetic improvements to our storefronts will give us the unique opportunity to support our small businesses, revitalize our city, and offer a fiscally sustainable alternative to sole reliance on increasing policing.

I was inspired to bring this to our council for consideration after multiple conversations with our small business owners in Pinole who were struggling financially after the peak of the
COVID-19 pandemic and having to deal with broken windows, illegal dumping, and other financial burdens associated with crime.

I look forward to seeing this come back to council for review, and I will keep you all updated on the progress!

Pinole City Council heard from its staff Sept. 20 about the role urban design can play in crime prevention, in part by showing a neighborhood is cared for.

12/28/2023

I look forward to representing Pinole again regionally this upcoming year and am thankful for the support of my colleagues.

Ready to get to work for us in 2024!

12/15/2023

On behalf of the City of Pinole, I want to congratulate Pinole resident Joanna Pallock on her retirement from WCCTAC at the end of this year.

Joanna has served the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee as a Project Manager for 16 years. During her tenure, she has overseen programming, coordination, and other activities related to youth, senior, and disabled transportation in West County. In addition, Joanna served on the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CBPAC) and was involved in the planning and development of WCCTAC’s Senior/Disabled Needs Assessment Study and CCTA’s Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan.

Pinole is so proud of your excellence and leadership!

11/16/2023

10/11/2023

Back in February, we approved $110,000 in immediate pedestrian safety improvements on Tennent Avenue, one of the busiest intersections in Downtown Pinole. This project is completed and includes:

✅ High Visibility Crosswalks & Pavement Markings
✅ Striped Bulbouts with Flexible Bollards
✅ Solar Powered Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB)

This wouldn’t have been possible without the advocacy of the St. Joseph Church & School community and our residents who spoke about their experiences.

We remain focused on rebuilding our infrastructure with safety as our priority. Lots of work ahead.

10/06/2023

This morning, I joined SEIU-United Healthcare Workers on the picket line during the largest healthcare strike in U.S. history.

I urge Kaiser Permanente to bargain in good faith and put an end to the impending strike.

10/04/2023

I urge Kaiser Permanente to bargain in good faith with our frontline healthcare workers, end the short-staffing crisis, and put patient care first.

Join me on October 5th at Kaiser Richmond to stand in solidarity with striking healthcare workers.

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers