Leland Cheung Home address: Contact information: Send contributions to: |
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The 2013 Cambridge Candidate Pages are now at http://vote.cambridgecivic.com Why I'm Running: Biography: As Chair of the Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee, Leland has supported local businesses and entrepreneurs to ensure Cambridge remains a hub of innovation and a place where businesses thrive. As Chair of the University Relations Committee, Leland has striven to connect colleges and universities with the community as a whole. Furthering Leland's commitment to public service, he serves on the Policy Committee on Personnel and Labor Relations for the Massachusetts Municipal Association and served as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. Leland is the oldest of two children. He is the son of an engineer and homemaker. His father immigrated from China and his mother immigrated from Canada to pursue opportunity in America. Leland graduated from Stanford with a BA in Economics, a BS in Physics and a Masters degree in Aerospace engineering. Before he was elected to City Council in 2009, Leland served as a Chief Information Officer of Space Adventures, Senior Associate to a Cambridge-based venture capital firm and was a summer fellow at the Department of Energy ARPA-E. Leland is currently pursuing a dual degree MBA / MPA at MIT Sloan and the Harvard Kennedy School part-time. Leland and his wife Yin are newlyweds. Yin is an Associate at WilmerHale in Boston. They are both proud to call Cambridge home. Throughout Leland's time as City Councillor, he has demonstrated that he places the needs of Cambridge and its residents first. As a student and young professional, Leland brings a fresh perspective, accessibility and leadership to City Hall. These are qualities Leland believes are vital in making Cambridge a better place. To learn more about Leland, visit his website. Top priorities & Issues:
To learn more about Leland’s record on job creation, visit his website. Improving and Investing in K-12 Education – I won't have the opportunity to work on directing the schools to re-focus on the basics unless I happen to be elected mayor. In the meantime, I have been a strong advocate for parents working with the School Committee. For example, this past year I successfully worked with a group of parents seeking approval for a full-immersion Mandarin program. I also worked to bring parents from Fletcher-Maynard (my neighborhood school) to be included in the Innovation Agenda discussion. As Chair of the University Relations Committee, I focus on day-to-day basics that cumulate in a complete education and get more people involved in the process.
To learn more about Leland’s efforts to invest in education, visit his website. Protecting Affordable Housing – In order to keep as well as attract new residents to Cambridge, housing prices must remain affordable for everyone at all stages and walks of life. In my last term, I reached out to community groups to work on providing low-cost housing where it is needed most. Reducing the foreclosure rate and stabilizing the housing market has been a top priority. I remain committed to providing affordable options so that everyone in Cambridge has a place to call home.
To learn more about Leland’s commitment to keep housing affordable, visit his website. Keeping City Hall Honest – I believe keeping City Hall transparent is necessary to foster trust in government. Building on this mission, I introduced a 'Good Government' rules change requiring the City Council to publicly post any new City Manager's contract 96 hours before it is voted on. In order to make the city website accessible to residents with disabilities, I developed a live-streaming video of Council meetings on the city website that worked with all, not just some, computers. I am also introducing a non-emergency phone line (311) that connects residents to the services they need more efficiently. I apply the same rule of transparency to myself and encourage residents to call my cell phone if they have questions or concerns about items that are before the Council.
Conserving Energy and Protecting our Environment – Promoting an eco-friendly way of life is the key to living healthy and sustainable lives. We only have one environment and I took steps this past term to preserve our surroundings by investing in parks, hybrid taxis, and open space to maintain our community feel. I also led the policy initiative to develop a curbside composting program to reduce waste, cut down on greenhouse gases and delay the need for new landfills. Everyone can help reverse the damage done to the environment and take small steps to practice green initiatives.
To learn more about Leland’s mission to protect our environment, visit his website. Investing in Parking and Transportation – Cambridge is the fifth most densely populated city in America and the second most densely populated city in Massachusetts. The large number of cars, buses, bikes and trucks are equally matched by the number of pedestrians who walk the sidewalks. This past term, I voted to invest in infrastructure, ensuring that drivers, walkers and bikers can get to their destinations safely. I am also spearheading the bike-share program on this side of the Charles which will begin this fall and give residents the ability to rent bikes from one of 14 solar-powered stations around the city.
To learn more about Leland’s efforts to improve infrastructure, visit his website. Encouraging Civic Participation - Too often we are willing to let someone else be concerned about the direction the city is headed. When it comes to civic participation, each and every one of us plays a crucial role. Building on my record for fostering civic participation, I make every effort to hold events to meet with residents and engage them in conversations about our government. I believe change requires work by many people and that thousands of voices calling for change can make a huge impact in the world around us.
To learn more about Leland’s efforts to foster civic engagement, visit his website. To learn more about me and the issues I care about, please take a moment to visit my website at http://www.ElectLeland.org. I am always looking for eager volunteers to join my campaign. Take the first step and sign up today. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join me on November 8th to make Cambridge #1! CCTV candidate video (2011) |
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Page last updated Wednesday, September 4, 2013 10:01 AM | Cambridge Candidates |