Palo Alto City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Bryna Chang

Candidate for City Council

8 candidates · 3 seats10 sourced positions

Bryna Chang is running for Palo Alto City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 3 seats.

Vote-by-mail ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Chair of the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission, where she has served since 2021. She has lectured at Stanford Graduate School of Business and led strategy and operations for Stanford's MBA Program Office.

Endorsed by: Council members Pat Burt, Ed Lauing, Keith Reckdahl and Greer Stone; Rep. Dave Min; former mayors Lydia Kou, Karen Holman, Yoriko Kishimoto, Eric Filseth and Tom DuBois; school board trustees Rowena Chiu and Shana Segal. Bryna Chang campaign site
Campaign website: www.changforcitycouncil.com

Where Bryna Chang stands: positions on the record

Housing6 sourced positions

Said the council's handling of SB 79 was an abdication of responsibility because it opened a two-week window for SB 79 projects.
“I thought it was an incredible abdication of responsibility by the City Council, allowing a two-week window to allow 10 SB79 projects to be built, some of which will be next to single-family homes”
Forum answerPalo Alto Online (Chamber of Commerce forum, Sept. 15) · Sep 16, 2026
Lists fighting luxury towers next to single-family homes as a priority, and says she worked to direct growth to commercial corridors, not single-family neighborhoods.
“Fight luxury towers next to single family homes”
Own statementBryna Chang campaign site
As planning commissioner, voted no on forwarding an eight-story, 167-unit mixed-use proposal at 788-796 San Antonio Road to the Architectural Review Board (passed 3-2, April 2026).
Commission votePlanning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Apr 8, 2026
As planning commission chair, voted no on recommending that 470 Olive Avenue be rezoned from single-family to medium-density mixed use (motion failed 3-3, July 2026).
Commission votePlanning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Jul 8, 2026
As planning commission chair, voted no on forwarding an eight-story, 82-unit apartment proposal at 332 Forest Avenue to the Architectural Review Board (passed 4-2, Aug. 2026).
Commission votePlanning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Aug 12, 2026
as reported by the Palo Alto Daily Post
Said she opposes most state housing mandates because they do not come with transportation improvements.
“These laws are not well thought out”
Own statementPalo Alto Daily Post · Sep 21, 2026

Public safety2 sourced positions

as reported by Palo Alto Online from the Sept. 15 Chamber of Commerce forum; not a direct quote
Supports automated license plate reader cameras with proper safeguards.
Forum answerPalo Alto Online (Chamber of Commerce forum, Sept. 15) · Sep 16, 2026
Lists returning the police force to pre-pandemic levels and fully staffing Fire Station 4 in south Palo Alto as priorities.
“Return the police force to pre-pandemic levels”
Own statementBryna Chang campaign site

RVs and oversized vehicles1 sourced position

as reported by the Palo Alto Daily Post; not a direct quote
Said she wants the city to take on more legal risk to address people living in RVs on city streets.
Own statementPalo Alto Daily Post · Sep 21, 2026

City Hall1 sourced position

Said City Manager Ed Shikada has not done a great job and wants City Hall to stop closing every other Friday.
“I don’t think he’s done a great job”
Own statementPalo Alto Daily Post · Sep 29, 2026

What Bryna Chang said vs. how Bryna Chang voted

Housing

In their words

Said she opposes most state housing mandates because they do not come with transportation improvements.
Sep 21, 2026 ·as reported by the Palo Alto Daily Post ·Palo Alto Daily Post · Sep 21, 2026

On the record

As planning commissioner, voted no on forwarding an eight-story, 167-unit mixed-use proposal at 788-796 San Antonio Road to the Architectural Review Board (passed 3-2, April 2026).
Apr 8, 2026 ·Planning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Apr 8, 2026
As planning commission chair, voted no on recommending that 470 Olive Avenue be rezoned from single-family to medium-density mixed use (motion failed 3-3, July 2026).
Jul 8, 2026 ·Planning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Jul 8, 2026
As planning commission chair, voted no on forwarding an eight-story, 82-unit apartment proposal at 332 Forest Avenue to the Architectural Review Board (passed 4-2, Aug. 2026).
Aug 12, 2026 ·Planning and Transportation Commission summary minutes · Aug 12, 2026

Also running for City Council

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