Seema Kanani is running for Milpitas City Council

Seema Kanani has entered the race for Milpitas City Council. 

Although she’s a newcomer to the Milpitas political scene, Kanani is no stranger when it comes to community-building and advocacy work…

She has dedicated the last 19 years to working in frontline healthcare, serving as a licensed clinical social worker for Kaiser Permanente. In the past few years, she has also been an executive board member for the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). 

In 2023, Kanani took part in the historic three-day strike involving Kaiser workers, which was the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Kanani was strike captain and served on the bargaining team for the social worker chapter for SEIU-UHW. She was also a media spokesperson during the strike.  

“The result of that strike was that 85,000 healthcare workers received a pay raise of 21 percent over 4 years. That is amazing. A show of what being in solidarity looks like, what teamwork looks like,” said Kanani in an interview with The Beat.

She also sits on the legislation committee and is one of the delegates for the California Democratic party. And she’s a delegate for the South Bay Labor Council. 

“My advocacy is so ingrained in me,” said Kanani. “I’m running because of my desire to advocate as opposed to merely holding a title in city government. It’s about what we can, as a leadership body, do for the city and its people that’s aligned with how good we can be.”

As a social worker, Kanani is a firm believer in the interconnectedness of all things. For example, she sees how decisions at the state and federal levels have played a role in impacting the lives of people in our community. 

“My experience as a union member has helped me to understand the big picture and what will benefit all of us, not just some of us,” said Kanani. 

If elected to office, Kanani would make housing affordability one of her top priorities. 

In 1994, when Kanani was a high school student, her parents purchased a house in Milpitas. “They worked hard to purchase that home. Today, they wouldn’t have been able to afford it,” said Kanani. “Essential workers, seniors, and families with lower income are being priced out and displaced. We can’t forget the people before us who helped build this city. We should be supporting them, not displacing them.” 

To that end, she doesn’t think that the focus should be on building more, but on fixing affordability. 

Public safety would be another top priority. First and foremost, Kanani feels that having ample staffing makes an impact on providing quality public safety for residents. Given the recent departures of staff members and city leaders from Milpitas City Hall, Kanani hopes to address the underlying factors contributing to the turnover.   

“People don’t leave jobs because of the job. People leave jobs because of people. So what are we doing as a city government? I know we all want Milpitas to be the best place to live, work, and play,” said Kanani. “But if our own city employees are understaffed and unhappy, let’s start there. Let’s truly make it the best place to work whether you’re in the city or another setting housed in the city. The staffing is part of public safety, and we need to approach it with data and compassion.” 

She would also want to focus on conducting assessments of different streets and neighborhoods in Milpitas to identify opportunities to make the community safer. 

“I walk my husky at night and typically feel safe,” she shared. “But there are areas where there aren’t street lamps, and I definitely walk faster and turn on my phone light. So I wonder, why aren’t we putting street lamps in certain areas?”  

She also wants to update fields in the parks, as she has seen kids twist their ankles while playing sports, due to unkempt surfaces and weeds. 

Finally, if elected, she would work hard to ensure transparency and responsible co-governance.  

“With the amount of controversy this city has faced – financial issues, intimidation, all sorts of interpersonal controversy among members – honestly, we’re not in a time where we should be bickering or be in conflict with each other,” said Kanani. “We should be coming together to uplift each other and our community and services and the quality of life. Now is not the time, with the federal government the way it is.” 

Kanani also hopes to focus on listening to community members and finding out what they truly need. She feels that the city government should be making more of an effort to go out into different communities, hold forums, and gather feedback in order to find ways to improve Milpitas.  

So far, Bill Chuan, who has served a planning commissioner for the City of Milpitas, is also running for Milpitas City Council in the November election.

“I’m a product of this amazing city. And I see how my two kids are turning out and they are an amazing product of Milpitas – and I thank God for my blessings,” said Kanani. “If I get elected, I hope to represent the people, not just one group or age range. Truly representing and moving this city into what it has the potential as part of Silicon Valley. We’re a gateway but we do not feel like a gateway. And so we need to change that.”