Candidate Close Up 2024: Melinda Liu
Melinda Liu is a candidate for District 1 City Council. Photo credit Melinda Liu
Melinda Liu, a candidate for District 1 City Council, has lived in the area for over 20 years with her multigenerational family. She currently serves on the Finance Commission, to which she was appointed by Councilmember Tammy Kim. In a recent Zoom interview, Liu said she would prioritize fire prevention, home insurance protection, landfill management, and broadband connectivity if elected.
The decision to run wasn’t part of Liu’s long-term plan. The idea was sparked by a conversation over breakfast with a friend.
“I hadn’t even thought about running before,” Liu explained. “I was sitting at a friend’s house, and she told me about the new council seat and said, ‘I think you’d be a good fit.’ I thought she was crazy, but after talking to a few more friends, they all agreed.”
For Liu, the prospect of serving her community goes beyond a simple desire for political office. She’s committed to maintaining Irvine’s high quality of life while addressing the practical challenges of a growing city.
“Irvine’s last council has moved the city in a positive direction,” she said. “We’ve started building with a focus on growth, not just for today but for future generations. I want to make sure we continue that forward-thinking approach.”
Fire Prevention
One of the most pressing concerns for Liu is fire safety, a subject close to her heart after experiencing the 2020 Silverado Fire firsthand.
“I didn’t even know there was a fire until my daughter knocked on my door and said we needed to evacuate,” she recalls. That moment highlighted the importance of fire preparedness for Liu. “Fire prevention is more important than just having an evacuation plan. We need to be proactive.”
Liu advocates for a combination of strategies to address fire safety, including the restoration of native, fire-resistant plants and creating defensible space around homes. She also points out that the city is exploring the idea of building a physical barrier near the Nature Reserve to prevent fires from spreading into residential areas. While still in the early stages, Liu believes these measures could significantly reduce the risk of future wildfires.
Home Insurance Protection
Beyond fire safety, Liu is focused on ensuring that Irvine residents can maintain affordable home insurance. After struggling to find insurance for her own childhood home, Liu recognizes the growing challenge many residents will face.
“My childhood home became uninsurable at one point, and when we finally found coverage, it was incredibly expensive,” she explained.
Liu suggested that Irvine could take cues from other cities by leveraging fire prevention measures to negotiate with insurance companies. She wants to ensure coverage remains accessible to all residents.
Landfill Lifespan
As the city grows, so does the traffic of Waste Management trucks rumbling through District 1 to reach Irvine’s Bower Landfill. With Brea’s landfill nearing capacity in the next few years, Bowerman may soon have to handle even more waste from neighboring areas. While the city has plans to build an off-ramp to divert trash traffic away from residential areas, Liu emphasized the need to reduce the landfill’s overall load.
“We won’t be able to get rid of these landfills anytime soon,” said Liu, “so we need to plan ahead.”
Liu pointed to innovative solutions like converting methane gas into energy as a way to turn a potential problem into an opportunity. Additionally, she advocated for increasing recycling and composting efforts to extend the lifespan of the landfill.
Connectivity
Another priority for Liu is improving internet and fiber access in District 1. Having lived in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Irvine, she’s keenly aware of the disparity in internet services between different parts of the city.
“Right across the street from me, they have more options for internet services than we do,” she noted. “The pandemic showed us how critical reliable internet access is, whether it’s for school, work, or staying connected.”
Liu has been researching ways to address this gap and said she believes that state and federal funding could be used to improve broadband access in Irvine. She’s determined to bring broadband equality to all of Irvine and wants every resident to have access to the services they need.
Though this is her first campaign for office, Liu has long been involved in local policies through canvassing and community work.
“I’ve always been active, but I never thought of myself as a candidate until now,” she admitted. Now that she’s stepped up, Liu is ready to put her collaborative, research-driven approach to work for the people of District 1.
Irvinite Questions
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Irvinite Questions 〰️
Read Liu’s answers to some questions posted by members of the Irvine subreddit.
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There's federal and state funding available, particularly aimed at bringing broadband to remote areas, but it's largely underused. The goal for the state is to ensure broadband access for everyone, especially in hard-to-reach places, and create broadband equality. The pandemic really highlighted the disparity in internet access, with people relying on it for school, work, and entertainment.
It got me thinking—can we bring some of that funding to Irvine? We’re not remote or rural, but there are areas that could benefit from improved services. I'm still trying to figure out how to make this happen, but it’s something I’m determined to pursue. It would help ensure we have more options for internet services, and competition would prevent monopolies, which is always good for consumers.
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I was the "mom bus driver" for my kids and their activities, so I know firsthand how challenging it can be. I kept thinking if we had reliable public transportation, my kids could just hop on a shuttle to get to the pool or art class. That would be so convenient for working parents who can't always leave work early or take time off.
Now that my parents are elderly and no longer drive, they’re always asking if I can take them to lunch or to doctor’s appointments. Reliable public transportation would improve mobility for seniors too, helping prevent isolation and making it easier for them to maintain their physical and mental health.