As Union City faces a critical juncture in its future, the choice for mayor has never been clearer: Gary Singh is the leader we need to take our city forward. As a local businessman, community leader, and seasoned council member, Singh brings fresh ideas, a forward-thinking approach, and a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility. In contrast, his opponent Emily Duncan represents a continuation of the tired, failed policies that have left Union City struggling with a $3.2 million annual budget deficit and little to show for it.
Emily Duncan, the ‘hand-picked successor’ to outgoing Mayor Carol Dutra Vernaci, has consistently shown that she is out of touch with the needs of Union City residents. Dutra Vernaci, who is being termed out after more than two decades on the city council, leaves behind a legacy of financial mismanagement that Duncan seems all too eager to continue. Under their leadership, Union City’s budget has consistently fallen short, with deficits mounting year after year. Duncan offers no new solutions, only the same ineffective strategies that have led to the city’s fiscal struggles.
One of the most concerning aspects of Duncan’s candidacy is her track record on policies that could reshape Union City’s future for the worse. For citizens concerned about the potential “Oaklandization” of Union City- a transformation that would invite increased crime, convenient access to cannabis among minors and destabilization of our neighborhoods- Duncan’s past actions as a council member are troubling. In 2018 as a then member of the city council, she eagerly supported an ordinance that allowed for up to 15 recreational marijuana-related businesses to operate within the city of just 64,000 inhabitants. This measure lacked critical basic safeguards for residential neighborhoods, offering a mere 100-foot “set-back” from sensitive locations like schools, private homes and senior housing- an insufficient distance that could easily be bypassed by the council.
The recklessness passage of the measure supported by Duncan in 2018 was evident again in 2023, when three council members, including Mayor Dutra Vernaci, were poised to approve a retail marijuana outlet just 35 feet from residential housing. It was only after local residents raised their protest and police officials objected to the plan that the ill-conceived scheme was scrapped. Duncan’s support of such measures demonstrates a clear disregard for the well-being of Union City’s neighborhoods and families.
In contrast, Gary Singh offers a much-needed new direction. As a successful local businessman, Singh understands what it takes to attract the right kinds of businesses to Union City- businesses that will not only bolster our tax base but also provide quality, high-paying jobs for local residents. Singh has a proven track record of leadership, both as a community advocate and a council member, where he has championed smart growth, fiscal responsibility, and policies that prioritize the needs of Union City’s families.
Singh’s commitment to fresh ideas and responsible governance is exactly what Union City needs to address its budget shortfalls and create a thriving local economy. He understands that the future of Union City depends on attracting businesses that contribute to our community in meaningful ways, rather than pushing through policies that benefit a select few at the expense of our residents.
Gary Singh is not a career politician like the outgoing mayor. He is a leader with real-world experience and a deep connection to Union City’s people. He represents the change Union City needs- fiscally responsible, community-oriented, and focused on sustainable growth. In contrast, Emily Duncan is just another career politician ready to rubber-stamp the same failed policies of her predecessor, Mayor Carol Dutra Vernaci.
For the future of Union City, the choice is clear: Vote for Gary Singh for Mayor.