Hon Lien: Hon Lien, a relatively new addition to the Milpitas City Council, has entered the 2024 mayoral race with a vision for stronger leadership in city hall. Facing tough competition from former mayor Rich Tran and the potential reelection bid of Mayor Carmen Montano, Lien is determined to change the way the city operates.
“We need a mayor who knows how to govern—not just getting him or herself elected,” Lien emphasized. “I have that leadership, and I do know how to govern.”
Lien’s journey to the city council began in 2022, but her commitment to community service has deeper roots. She served two terms as a trustee on the Milpitas Unified School District board, following her retirement from the seafood wholesale business, Sunnyvale Seafood, in 2007. Her involvement in the Rotary Club of Milpitas further fueled her passion for community engagement.
As a potential mayor, Lien has set ambitious goals, including enhancing public safety, increasing affordable housing, and supporting the city’s unhoused residents. What prompted her run for mayor, however, is the city’s leadership turnover. In the past year, Milpitas has seen the appointment of its fourth city manager in six years and the departure of other high-ranking officials, including two Human Resources directors.
“You cannot run any business when you don’t have that kind of continuity and you continually are changing your leadership,” Lien stressed.
Lien’s commitment to community service is evident in her work with the Rotary Club, where she has been instrumental in fundraising for various projects, including STEAM classes at Rose Elementary School and the Rotary District 5170 Vietnam Project, dedicated to combating human trafficking of children in Vietnam.
Also Read: Bay Area Freeway Tolling: A Drive to Reduce Congestion
Lien’s vision for Milpitas encompasses incentivizing affordable housing construction to reduce rent costs and encourage families to stay in the city. She also emphasizes the need for partnerships with nonprofit organizations to provide support for Milpitas’ unhoused residents.
Addressing homelessness, in Lien’s view, requires a holistic approach, focusing on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes. The county’s 2022 point-in-time count identified 274 homeless residents in Milpitas, though it’s widely considered an undercount. The city has faced criticism in the past for its lack of support for the unhoused population.
Community organizer Joseph Weinstein, who managed Lien’s 2020 council campaign, attests to her exceptional leadership and dedication to community service. He applauds her impact and wishes for more individuals like her in the community.
Hon Lien’s passion for positive change in Milpitas is evident in her actions, and she aims to bring this commitment to city hall if elected as mayor