Malia Vella
Candidate for Mayor, Alameda · Businesswoman/Educator
Malia Vella is an attorney, educator, and public school parent of two. She was first elected to the Alameda City Council in 2016 and served twice as Vice Mayor (2016-2018 and 2020-2022). She has worked as a Deputy Superintendent at the California Department of Education focusing on education policy and literacy, and previously as a legislative staffer, policy director, labor attorney, and professor teaching governance and public policy. She holds a B.A. in Architecture and Political Science from Wellesley College and a J.D. with a Public Interest and Social Justice certificate from Santa Clara University School of Law. She has served on Alameda's Historical Advisory Board and Family Services Board and currently serves on the Spectrum Community Services Board.
Positions in brief
Vella's platform emphasizes preventing displacement through rent stabilization and new construction, maintaining emergency response times as part of disaster preparedness, protecting shoreline areas from sea-level rise, and redeveloping Alameda Point to attract biotech and clean-technology businesses.
On her campaign site, Vella says she supports 'preventing further displacement by maintaining rent stabilization ordinances, investing in social housing, and building more homes,' while streamlining permitting and reducing fees so all neighborhoods contribute to housing supply. On public safety, she frames maintaining police and fire emergency response times as part of climate resilience and disaster preparedness. On infrastructure, she prioritizes maintaining shorelines and improving multi-modal transportation. On climate, she calls for protecting natural shoreline areas to mitigate sea-level rise and improve disaster readiness. On the economy, she wants to reimagine Alameda Point development to attract businesses such as biotech and clean technology while streamlining permitting. On government, she says the city should 'prioritize transparency and accountability of city decision-making' and make processes more accessible to residents.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Supports maintaining rent stabilization ordinances, investing in social housing, and building more homes across all neighborhoods, with streamlined permitting and reduced fees.
“preventing further displacement by maintaining rent stabilization ordinances, investing in social housing, and building more homes”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports maintaining police and fire emergency response times as part of broader climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Prioritizes maintaining shorelines and improving multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
“maintaining our shorelines and improving our multi-modal infrastructure”
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Wants to protect natural shoreline areas to mitigate sea-level rise and improve disaster resilience.
“We need to take steps to protect natural areas along the shoreline to mitigate sea level rise, improve Alameda's preparedness and resilience to natural disasters.”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Wants to reimagine Alameda Point development to attract businesses like biotech and clean technology, streamlining permitting and strengthening local business collaboration.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Wants to prioritize transparency and accountability in city decision-making and make government processes more accessible to residents.
“prioritize transparency and accountability of city decision-making”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.