Dipak Awasthi’s journey in Milpitas began in 1996. It was then when he and his family of four moved from India to Milpitas, starting their lives in a small rented house shared with eight other family members.
“It was very difficult at times,” said Awasthi in an interview with The Beat.
The family moved around quite a bit, but eventually settled down in the Pines neighborhood of Milpitas, as they started to build more stability. At first, they were scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck. But over time, they gained more of a foundation…
“Eventually, we started our own successful retail market, and ran it for 10 years,” said Awasthi. “We recently sold it to pursue other opportunities.”
This humble beginning instilled in Awasthi a profound appreciation for community and hard work.
Awasthi’s family has indeed thrived in Milpitas. Both of his children graduated from Milpitas public schools before pursuing higher education at San José State University. They have since established successful careers in IT and business.
Today, Awasthi has four grandchildren, and is looking ahead to the future. If he nabs one of two open seats on the City Council during this election, he plans to ensure that Milpitas remains a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families.
Awasthi’s dedication to Milpitas extends beyond his family. His active participation in local governance has included roles on both Milpitas’ Sister Cities Commission and Economic Development and Trade Commission. And currently, he is in his third year on the Planning Commission. Awasthi feels that these experiences have equipped him with valuable insights into how the City functions.
At present, the City of Milpitas is projecting budget deficits of $2.9 million by 2027-2028 and $20.6 million by 2033-2034. Awasthi believes that residents and business owners in Milpitas shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of ineffective City leadership.
“There is a phrase called ‘kicking the can down the road,’” said Aswasthi. “And now there is no road left. It’s called borrowing from the future. But the reality is that we are going into a deficit.”
Awasthi also feels that the current lawsuit involving the former city manager is draining tax dollars and should be settled immediately. “The lawsuit on the City may be investigated by the Grand Jury or the FBI due to the seriousness of the allegations being paid by tax dollars,” shared Awasthi.
If elected, Awasthi would aim to leverage his expertise to guide the City toward innovative strategies that boost revenue and reduce debt without stifling growth. He proposes several initiatives to address the budget crisis, beginning with a bold move for elected officials to voluntarily forgo taxpayer-funded salaries, health insurance, and other avoidable perks. This measure could help demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Awasthi also told The Beat that he would work to actively recruit new businesses and promote existing ones, including startups and hotels, to invigorate the local economy. By seeking to cut wasteful spending and implement cost control measures, he desires a city where residents can continue enjoying a high quality of life and essential services.
Awasthi is also in disagreement with the current City leadership’s plan to extend Measure J, a 1/4% sales tax originally implemented in 2021 to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This tax, set to conclude in 2029, generates approximately $7 million annually for the City and is being put toward police and fire services.
Awasthi firmly believes that the tax increase should expire as scheduled in 2029. He opposes further extensions, asserting that Milpitas cannot afford to impose additional financial strain on its residents through failed policies.
In his campaign, Awasthi is also focused on homelessness solutions, infrastructure and cleanliness, and public safety and crime prevention. He is hopeful that other residents will resonate with his plans and ideas to help improve Milpitas.
“I just really feel like I wanted to give back to this city, because this city has done so much for me and my family,” said Awasthi.
Awasthi will be facing off against Bill Chuan, Evelyn Chua, Anu Nakka, Juliette Gomez, and William Lam on Election Day.
Go to Dipak Awasthi’s website to learn more about his campaign.
