Thushan Amarasiriwardena
Candidate for City Council (At-Large), Alameda · Software Product Manager
Thushan Amarasiriwardena was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated to the U.S.; he lives in central Alameda with his wife and two daughters, who attend Love Elementary. He holds a computer science degree from North Carolina State University, was a staffer at the Boston Globe, and co-founded Launchpad Toys, an Emmy-winning educational app company later acquired by Google, where he went on to lead AI initiatives. He currently works in government on beneficial uses of AI. In Alameda he serves as President of the Alameda Free Library Board, has served on the Measure E school-funding campaign committee and the Love Elementary School Site Committee, and has contributed to and previously served on the board of the Alameda Post.
Positions in brief
Amarasiriwardena's platform centers on meeting the city's state-mandated housing target while supporting renters, fully staffing police and fire departments alongside community policing, engineering safer streets under Vision Zero, cutting the city's carbon footprint, and streamlining business permitting.
On his campaign site, Amarasiriwardena commits to delivering the city's Housing Plan to enable 5,353 new residences by 2031, expanding affordable and middle-income housing options, and supporting renters, noting that 44% of Alameda renters pay more than 30% of income on housing; he also wants to explore social-housing models. On public safety he supports fully staffing police and fire departments, community policing with walking beats, funding the City Attorney's office to prosecute crime, and the CARE program as an alternative to policing for certain calls. On infrastructure he backs traffic-calming measures such as roundabouts and road diets, Vision Zero to eliminate road deaths, expanded bike lanes, Safe Routes to Schools, and longer-term BART expansion to West Alameda. On climate he supports cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of 2005 levels by 2030, strengthening seawalls and stormwater systems, and expanding municipal electricity options for homes and vehicles. On the economy he wants to attract green, life-science, and clean-energy employers to Alameda Point and Harbor Bay, fast-track business permitting, and support downtown revitalization. On government he proposes shorter, more organized council meetings, expanded ways for residents to weigh in, and election reforms to lower the cost of running for office.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Wants to deliver the city's Housing Plan enabling 5,353 new residences by 2031, expand affordable/middle-income options, and support renter stability, including exploring social housing.
“44% of renters pay more than 30% of income on housing”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports fully staffing police and fire departments, community policing with walking beats, funding crime prosecution, and the CARE program as an alternative to policing.
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Supports traffic-calming engineering, Vision Zero to eliminate road deaths, expanded bike lanes, Safe Routes to Schools, and long-term BART expansion to West Alameda.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Wants to cut emissions to 50% of 2005 levels by 2030, strengthen seawalls and stormwater infrastructure, and expand municipal electricity for homes and vehicles.
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Wants to attract green, life-science, and clean-energy companies to Alameda Point and Harbor Bay, fast-track business permitting, and support downtown revitalization.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Wants shorter, topic-organized council meetings, more resident input channels, and election reforms to lower the cost of running for office.
“low cost, enabling more people to run and temper effects of money in politics”
Source →
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