Hla Elkhatib is one of six candidates running for a seat on the Folsom City Council this November, campaigning for the second district. As part of an effort to provide balanced and unbiased insight into each candidate, Folsom Times compiled a list of key topics and questions, many of which were submitted by residents who participated in the project. In total, more than two dozen topics were addressed by the candidates, offering voters an in-depth look at their visions and positions.
Deeply connected to the community where she grew up, Elktab emphasizes her local roots, education in Folsom schools, and her experience working in the California State Senate as a policy professional. Elkhatib explained that her campaign platform focuses on maintaining Folsom’s high quality of life, prioritizing public safety, addressing homelessness, and fostering economic growth.
Elkhatib advocates for increased youth involvement in government, public-private partnerships for city amenities, and long-term solutions to homelessness through mental health and addiction services. Elkhatib supports the local Measure G sales tax initiative, which aims to raise funds for public safety, parks, and economic development, and is in favor of Proposition 36, which increases penalties for drug and theft crimes. Her vision for Folsom over the next five years involves growing the city’s revenue base, enhancing public safety, and creating more opportunities for youth, ensuring Folsom remains a great place to live and work. She believes in balancing the city’s budget, investing in infrastructure like roads and parks, and improving traffic conditions. Below is our full Q&A with candidate Elkhatib.
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q: How long have you resided in Folsom, and what do you love most about the city?
I am proud that Folsom has always been my home. Growing up in Folsom allowed me to appreciate all that it has to offer– the quality of life, great education, our parks and trails, and all that makes it distinctive by nature. Our strong community values and the people that make up our town are what make it such a great place to live, work and raise a family. Being part of our community is what I love most about Folsom.
Q: Candidates running for City Council have a variety of experiences in life and the city that they feel make them the most qualified to be on the City Council. What experiences do you bring to the table to make you the most qualified person to help lead our City?
I am a proud former FCUSD intern and graduate of Folsom High School, Folsom Lake College, and UC Davis. Upon graduating from UC Davis with a degree in political science, I immediately began my career as a policy professional in the California State Senate where I helped draft, analyze, and spearhead the passage of numerous bills that have now been signed into California law. This experience gave me the tools to make effective policy decisions and allowed me to understand the importance of working with regional and state partners to impact collaborative change. Aside from my policy experience, I believe being a homegrown candidate, growing up in Folsom, and having that lived experience is an important qualification that contributes to my candidacy.
Q: What motivates you most to serve on the Folsom City Council?
I am running to give back to the amazing community that raised me and to ensure that our quality of life can be sustained for all residents to thrive in our town. As someone who grew up in Folsom, I am passionate about youth issues and I believe that young voices are integral to government on every level. I am a proud graduate of Folsom High School and Folsom Lake College and am passionate about creating more opportunities for my generation of Folsom residents. I want our city to have more jobs so those who grow up in Folsom have affordable housing and career opportunities. I want to ensure we remain a business-friendly city so that my generation has the ability to open businesses to contribute to our community.
Q: What do you feel are the top three challenges facing Folsom that need the most attention?
- Public safety: On the City Council, I will be a champion for safe and strong neighborhoods. I look forward to being a fiscal steward of the city’s hard-earned tax dollars, ensuring the city budget is spent wisely and in the interest of keeping our community safe. In addition, I plan to address Fentanyl concerns in our schools and parks, advocating for Narcan prevention programs and community initiatives, and emphasizing consistent park maintenance to promptly remove biohazards like discarded needles, safeguarding our community.
- Addressing Homelessness: I am committed to implementing long-term solutions to combat homelessness. This includes ensuring increased funding and accessibility to mental health services, addiction treatment programs, job training and development, and educational opportunities to address the underlying issues contributing to homelessness. I believe we should be uplifting the valuable work of local organizations like HART and Jake’s Journey Home to help those in need of services and guidance. I also believe in the importance of preventing housed residents from falling into homelessness. I will work with the County and regional partners to ensure our community’s vulnerable residents have the resources and support to stay afloat.
- Strengthening our economy: I am dedicated to championing existing small businesses and attracting new ventures. I aim to unite residents through a community-driven general plan that reflects our city’s shared vision of prosperity and growth. I hope to create an environment that not only supports the sustainability of existing small businesses in D2 and Folsom at large, but also actively attracts new enterprises, ensuring a vibrant and resilient local economy that can grow our city’s tax base and help solve our revenue issues.
Q: What is your overall vision for the City of Folsom over the next five years?
My vision for Folsom includes growing our revenue base by taking advantage of areas like the River district and the Central Business District to attract new ventures that cater to a variety of audiences, enhancing public safety by working to support our police and fire department’s needs and uplifting local nonprofits to create long term solutions for homelessness, creating more opportunities for youth to thrive, contribute to and remain in our city, and overall, working to maintain the high quality of life that we all love in Folsom.
Q: What will you bring to the table to make government work better for Folsom Residents?
A fresh perspective from a homegrown candidate. I believe it is incredibly important to have young voices represented on the council to ensure that we are adequately representing the next generation of Folsom residents.
Q: What has been working well with the City Council in the past year that you would like to continue? What would you change?
I believe the Council does a great job of being responsive to residents and I aim to continue that trend if elected. I would like to see more emphasis on youth development and youth involvement. My commitment to youth development involves fostering strong collaboration with community colleges and local high schools to ensure enhanced outcomes for the youth. By establishing a dedicated Youth Commission, I aim to provide a platform for young leaders to actively participate in shaping the future of the community. Through these initiatives, I hope to create an educational ecosystem that not only prioritizes academic excellence but also nurtures the holistic development of our youth, equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed for a successful future.
Q: You’re running for a seat on the city council where you’ll represent your district constituents and vote on many city-wide issues. Do you see a difference in issues affecting your district specifically, and those affecting another district that you’ll have to vote on?
After knocking on thousands of doors in my district, it is clear that homelessness is especially concerning to District 2 residents. Residents have shared with me how directly impacted they have been by the uptick in homelessness and crime near their neighborhoods. Additionally, I am continuing to hear about biohazards and trash left in our parks, ultimately exposing our children and residents to harm.
Q: What can the city do to be more responsive to the public and what role will you play as a City Council member to assure that Folsom is listening to resident’s concerns and is responsive to the public?
The city has generally done a good job of being responsive but must continue to try to reach all our residents. I have heard from many of our senior residents who do not have access to technology that they could benefit from other forms of consistent communication to remain informed about important issues in our city. Additionally, Folsom is incredibly diverse and it is important to consult with all of our differing communities to understand how decisions would impact them. I believe in bringing our most important stakeholders, the residents, to the table whenever possible.
Q: In your eyes, what is the role of the city manager in Folsom and what would you want to see in the talents and experience of an incoming city manager in Folsom?
The city manager plays a major role in decision-making that directly impacts the long-term trajectory of the city. It is important to have a city manager who works collaboratively with the council, city employees, and department heads, understands the importance of a balanced budget, and has Folsom’s best interest in mind to yield great outcomes for the city.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Q: Obviously, public safety is a top priority in our community – police and fire. We still have fewer police officers in Folsom than we did in 2008, fewer officers dedicated to traffic enforcement and fewer detectives. Is this a concern and what can be done about it?
Staffing shortages in our police and fire departments are concerning and remain a top priority. Our police and fire departments have made it clear that they need more staff to be able to do their job efficiently and address growing public safety challenges in Folsom. I am hopeful that Measure G will pass and alleviate some of these issues. If Measure G does not pass, our council must continue to prioritize funding for our public safety departments.
Q: Homelessness is on the minds of a number of people. What is your assessment on this issue and what should the city be doing to address it?
Alongside working with law enforcement to support their HOT team efforts, ensure adequate staffing, and provide resources like mental health counselors to aid their work, I am committed to implementing long-term solutions to combat homelessness. This includes ensuring increased funding and accessibility to mental health services, addiction treatment programs, job training and development, and educational opportunities to address the underlying issues contributing to homelessness. I believe we should be uplifting the valuable work of local organizations like HART and Jake’s Journey Home to help those seeking services. I also believe in the importance of preventing housed residents from falling into homelessness. I will work with County and regional partners to ensure our community’s vulnerable residents have the resources and support to stay afloat. Homelessness is a state-wide issue and we must partner with county and regional partners to collaborate on a long term solution.
Q: There are many people concerned about camps in some of the woodland areas and parks. Is that a concern of yours and what can or should be done to address that?
Certainly, there are many homeless people who would be willing to get assistance. What can and should be done by the city to help those who want help?
Our HOT team has been working hard to address these concerns and we must continue to support their efforts. Additionally, I am committed to implementing long-term solutions to combat homelessness. This includes ensuring increased funding and accessibility to mental health services, addiction treatment programs, job training and development, and educational opportunities to address the underlying issues contributing to homelessness. I believe we should be uplifting the valuable work of local organizations like HART and Jake’s Journey Home to help those seeking services. I also believe in the importance of preventing housed residents from falling into homelessness. I will work with County and regional partners to ensure our community’s vulnerable residents have the resources and support to stay afloat. Homelessness is a state-wide issue and we must partner with county and regional partners to collaborate on a long term solution.
Q: Proposition 36 on the November ballot seeks to increase penalties for certain drug and theft crimes, particularly involving retail theft and fentanyl. Do you support this proposition? Please explain your stance and how it relates to Folsom.
Prop 47 has had detrimental unintended consequences that have impacted communities across the state. We see its impact here in Folsom with retail theft and crime on the rise. Prop 36 will not only help provide accountability but will also bring necessary treatment to those in need. For these reasons, I support Proposition 36.
BUDGET AND ECONOMY
Q: What will be your budget priorities if elected, and how will you work to balance the city’s budget in the coming years?
A balanced budget is key to a thriving city and I will prioritize investing in public safety, maintaining our parks and trails, making improvements to our roads, and mitigating traffic.
Q: Measure G, on the November ballot, proposes a 1-cent sales tax to raise an estimated $29 million annually for police, fire, parks, trails, and economic development in Folsom. Do you support this measure? Explain the reasons behind your stance.
I support the Citizen-led Sales Tax initiative. Folsom is heading toward a large structural deficit and our quality of life, access to police/fire services and the maintenance of our parks and trails will suffer tremendously if we don’t act now. This is a modest initiative for a one-cent special sales tax increase that would result in $29 million in revenue annually back to Folsom to invest in what makes our town such a great place to live. Folsom has the lowest sales tax in the county and in order to avoid the mounting fiscal challenges that we foresee, this increase is a necessity at this time.
Q: There has been discussion about privatizing or forming public-private partnerships for city amenities like the Aquatic Center and the Zoo. What are your thoughts on this idea?
Public- private partnerships can be helpful to reduce costs and I support using them where it makes sense. However, I do not support completely privatizing our amenities.
What specific ideas do you have to strengthen the business environment and facilitate economic development in Folsom?
I would like to make it easier for businesses to open and stay in Folsom by streamlining the permitting process. I also believe it is important to bring in businesses that are attractive to our younger generation of Folsom residents to encourage them to spend time in Folsom and even attract revenue from outside of Folsom. I aim to revitalize the central business district to create a modernized community hub in the area for our residents to enjoy. I also hope to take advantage of our River District to attract new ventures to the city that attract a variety of audiences, including our youth, and create opportunities for tourism.
Q: Folsom has been home to large companies like Intel and VSP, some of which have faced financial challenges and staffing reductions. Do you have any ideas for how the city could transition these large facilities if this trend continues?
One of the biggest assets that we have in Folsom is our talent pool. Beginning with businesses recognizing this long ago when Intel invested in the Community, and continuing with the additional investments from companies such as Micron and Samsung, our past successes in attracting highly specialized businesses can be leveraged to encourage future businesses to move in as well. The City’s government can invest in workforce development and take an active role in making Folsom synonymous with talent.
Q: If major companies in Folsom continue to reduce their workforce, what ideas do you have to provide opportunities for displaced employees to remain in the Folsom community rather than relocating?
Ultimately, creating more job opportunities for displaced workers to seek will allow them to stay in Folsom. I hope to help attract new ventures that can provide job opportunities for our workforce.
Q: Proposition 32, on the November ballot, would increase the minimum wage from $16 to $18 per hour by January 2026. Do you see this as beneficial or concerning, given current economic challenges? Please elaborate.
Given California’s high cost of living, Prop 32 would be beneficial because it would help reduce income inequality and improve the standard of living for many in Folsom and across the state.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
Q: Many residents express concerns about traffic in Folsom. What are your ideas for improving traffic safety and congestion?
Mitigating traffic, ensuring road safety and consistent maintenance is a priority for myself and our residents. Investing in projects like the Empire Ranch Interchange, Southeast Connector, and Folsom’s light service project, encouraging walkability in our community, and spearheading road improvement projects like new freeways and overcrossings are vital ways to mitigate traffic, encourage the use of public transit, and improve road safety. Additionally, I am committed to supporting national best practices, such as Vision Zero to ensure Folsom can decrease traffic fatalities.
Q: City staff has reported that just a few years ago, Folsom had the highest rating for street conditions in the region – called the Pavement Condition Index. Staff also report that we are now 3rd and sinking quickly. Recently, the city also had to reject bids for a repaving contract as they came much higher than the amount budgeted. Further, the city is only able to invest a fraction of what’s needed each year in pavement, curb, gutter and sidewalk repair. Millions more dollars are needed. Do you have any ideas on what should be done to address this problem?
The fact that the city is only able to invest a fraction of what’s needed each year in repairs is concerning. The lack of infrastructure funds can be directly linked to growth patterns so we must ensure that Folsom is smart with growth and that new growth does not negatively impact existing neighborhoods to avoid this issue continuing. In addition to being a proponent of smart growth, I plan to use regional grants and ensure a balanced budget to prioritize the maintenance of our neighborhoods.
LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND PARKS
Q: The city’s General Plan has called for certain forward-thinking planning projects that are now in process – the Central Business District and the River District. Are those important to the city and why?
Our small businesses are the backbone of our town. I am committed to supporting our business community by encouraging new ventures and creating new opportunities for local businesses to thrive. Specifically, our River District and Central Business District are incredibly important because they offer valuable opportunities to attract new recreational and economic development ventures that cater to a variety of interests.
Q: The South of 50 portion of Folsom is obviously booming and we have many new residents. How do you see the City incorporating the residents of Folsom Ranch into the whole Folsom community so we don’t have two separate areas?
With key amenities and facilities located within minutes of Folsom Ranch, my hope is that we can expect residents to naturally integrate with the rest of the Folsom community. Similarly, the new incoming amenities and services in the South of 50 portion of Folsom will attract all residents to enjoy together as one community.
Q: Folsom’s slogan is Distinctive by Nature, yet the city has not been able to put money into renovations in our parks and trails. Maintenance has already been significantly reduced in our parks and on our trails. What are your thoughts on that and any proposals to address these key features in our community? City staff estimates that the accrued deferred maintenance costs in parks and recreation facilities is in excess of $20 million, and another $2 million just in trails. These are BIG numbers. What ideas to address this problem will you bring to the city council discussion on this topic?
This issue highlights another key reason why Measure G is an important initiative for our city to support. The proposal would allocate funds for much-needed maintenance of our parks and trails. The council must ensure that our parks and trails do not feel all the adverse impacts of cuts that have to be made if the initiative does not pass.
Q: With Folsom’s growing need for schools, the city has been working with Rancho Cordova, the School Board, and developers to discuss options, particularly concerning rising costs. As a councilmember, what do you believe is the best plan for addressing school needs, student welfare, and school safety in Folsom?
I believe in fostering strong collaboration with our school board and local community college board to ensure that we are supporting best outcomes for our students. We should work collaboratively to address ongoing issues like the need for more schools, the lack of school bus availability, and safety concerns like fentanyl in our schools.
I also aim to develop new pathways for success through working with our schools to offer trades/vocational programs. Additionally, providing a space for students to participate in our decision-making process through the creation of a youth commission will help the council better understand issues facing our youth and bring their voices to the table.
LOOKING AHEAD AND BEYOND ELECTION DAY
Q:In the event that you are not elected, do you expect to remain involved in city affairs? If so, in what capacity?
I will continue to serve my hometown and be an active member of my community, regardless of being elected or not.
Q: If a voter has not learned enough about you here, what is the best way for them to meet you or learn more?
Voters can reach me and learn more here: Website: hlaelkhatib.com Social Media: @hla4folsom email: hla4folsom@gmail.com
