Berkeley (Special to ZennieReport.com) – The story of James Chang, Chief of Staff for Berkeley City Councilmember Ben Bartlett, has not been effectively told. This is part of an effort to share who James Chang really is and the degree to which he truly cares about Berkeley and the City of Berkeley Government. To that end, here’s an interview James gave to Berkeley Haas Newsroom’s Kim Girard regarding his run for Berkley City Councilmember earlier this year. And now, James Chang has a new website called James Chang for Berkeley, you can see it with a click on this blue word field.
Kim Girard: You came to Haas planning to return to the private sector. Why did you change your mind and run for office instead?
James Chang: I wanted to leave politics. But coming here renewed my passion for public service. I was a delegate in the Graduate Assembly, representing all three Haas MBA programs, and president of the EWMBAA (student) association. That is what made me realize that I want to really double down on public service.
Kim Girard: As you approach graduation, what are some highlights from your time spent in the MBA program?
James Chang: Taking core classes with my cohort and the deep friendships that you build. Also, placing second at the HUD Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. Being able to work with different people from the Real Estate development program, Berkeley Law, and the architecture program at Berkeley… If there’s anything I could recommend that Haasies do, it is case competitions with people from outside of your program. Meeting people from different majors and different walks of life is a beautiful thing.
Kim Girard: What made you decide to run for a seat on the City Council?
James Chang: I’m running because I have a deep passion for public service and because I have a deep love for Berkeley. Berkeley is a place where I found the love of my life, Richard. But it goes a little deeper than that. I get to be authentically “me” here, whether that’s showing up at work at City Hall, or showing up authentically at Haas—being a leader on campus representing Haas, I have the opportunity to be who I am: fearless, not just in my identity, but also in my values and being able to speak up, even if it’s sometimes unpopular.
Kim Girard: What are the core issues driving your campaign?
James Chang: Fighting for affordable housing. I am concerned about housing affordability and availability and safety, which I know is a big concern for many of our students. Students deserve a nice place to live and an economically vibrant Telegraph Avenue business district. These are all things that I’m running on. The person who represents you—the job is to really serve you and bring back resources to the community, to make the community better, and I think I’ve shown I’ve been able to do that.
Kim Girard: Do you support the UC Berkeley campus decision to build housing at People’s Park?
James Chang: Yes. I think this is one of the reasons why Haasies should care about this election. The building project at People’s Park, to be clear, includes two-thirds green space. There’ll be housing for 1,100 students, and there will be over 100 housing units for the unhoused. We can either have that as an option, or an open-air drug market as the alternative. I know students overwhelmingly want housing. I think a lot of students are too afraid to speak up because, anytime we do anything to solve a problem that requires some form of public safety measure, it’s often vilified as a right-wing tactic or supporting right-wing policies. And I just really reject those notions. We can either have that as an option, or an open-air drug market as the alternative. I know students overwhelmingly want housing.
Kim Girard: How do you think your classes and community at Haas have helped you to be a better leader?
James Chang: I think that all of my classes are founded on our Haas Defining Leadership Principles. Whether that’s going beyond ourselves, questioning the status quo, confidence without attitude, or students always, every single one of my classes has really grounded me. I have become a better leader, am open to different perspectives, ask the tough questions, and also just always want to learn and soak up different knowledge. I always say Haas is one of the most supportive communities that I’ve ever belonged in.
Kim Girard: What do you love about your current job?
James Chang: What I do best is I know how to deliver for constituents who are in need, as long as they’re patient with me and give me time. Most of the time, I am able to give them what they want within reason, whether that’s cleaning up a street, making sure that our unhoused people are compassionately served, or getting a traffic circle at the edge of our district, or making sure that their events get fully funded. Also, getting $9 million for the African American Holistic Research Center, and making MLK Way much safer. It’s still messy, but safe. That took seven years, and I am so proud of it.
Kim Girard: How would you make this area of Berkeley safer?
James Chang: I think we need better lighting on and off campus. The campus “Warn Me” system needs to be a lot better. The city could do more to make sure that simple things like cracked shop windows are fixed, simple things like cleaner streets—this goes a long way. We are also working with merchants to install private cameras that work with the city. I am open to public cameras but I am always concerned with civil liberties, so I’m not ready to say yes or no to that. We should be working with business first. One of my biggest goals is economic growth on Telegraph. We know the No. 1 crime deterrent is more eyes on the streets, so that’s what I’m really hoping for.
About James Chang of Berkeley
James Chang is Chief of Staff for City of Berkeley City Councilmember Ben Barlett, District Three. He leads the daily operations and long-term vision of Councilmember Barlett’s office, working with various departments, agencies, and community groups to advance the city’s goals and values.
James Chang has over 10 years of experience in public service, with a strong background in policy development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on housing and public safety issues.
James Chang has spearheaded several successful projects and initiatives that have improved the quality of life and well-being of Berkeley residents.
Mr. Chang directed a team to build a 3-year housing funding strategy that reduced homelessness. Then he established a cross-functional leadership team among business and activist groups to prioritize public safety goals. And he secured $27M of infrastructure funding through collaborative legislation. Through these projects, he demonstrated his skills in social networking, event planning, and community development, as well as his ability to work under pressure, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively. He is pursuing his MBA degree at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he is expanding his knowledge and skills in consulting, management, and innovation.