Interview with Mahesh Nihalani- Cupertino City Council Elections

Interview with Mahesh Nihalani
By Bryan Zhang, Contributor

The third interview brings us to Mr. Mahesh Nihalani, a small business owner who has lived in Cupertino for nine years. Mahesh was voted Chamber Citizen of the Year in 2007 and Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 2009. He has also initiated and helped organize the annual Diwali Festival among other fundraisers.

BZ: How would your experiences as a small business owner help you for the City Council seat?

MN: Small business in Cupertino during these challenging economic times makes you a little hard-nosed because if you are still able to make payroll out here, you learn how to run a business. For our city, it’s important to have someone with this fiscal leadership along with someone who knows how to enhance revenues and reserves.

BZ: Large businesses such as HP and Apple play a large role in Cupertino’s economy, but at the same time you can’t ignore the small businesses. So how would you go about balancing the needs of each?

MN: I am a believer and advocate of supporting a strong local economy. I definitely support the big players in Cupertino. If these big businesses are able to flourish, then it will also help the small businesses. I would definitely look to create a partnership between the big and small businesses so the small businesses will also be able to benefit from the facilities that the city can provide.

BZ: So you would look at a relationship between big and small businesses?

MN: Yes, exactly. Perhaps have an annual exposition before holidays on the campus of Apple and have small businesses participate.

BZ: Do you think it’s a problem that Cupertino doesn’t have a standard downtown area?

MN: The way Cupertino has grown over the years; we have been unable to create a downtown area. But that area by Cupertino Square can be built to a downtown area.

BZ: With the city planning to develop another area by Wolfe, what are your thoughts on Cupertino Square?

MN: Cupertino Square has an identity of its own. With the development across the road, we can have the developers plan so that we can create a downtown area with walkability. What we have in Cupertino are “pockets” such as Oaks Mall and Cupertino Square.

BZ: Would you be in favor of drawing new stores to Cupertino Square or just redeveloping that whole area?

MN: I would definitely support the redevelopment of that area. It should have happened already but unfortunately it became kind of a mess with the financial and legal troubles.

BZ: Would you ever support a store like Wal-Mart or Costco in Cupertino?

MN: No, not really. Small businesses work best with the set-up we have in Cupertino. It would also affect things like traffic. I also don’t see where we would get the land for a large warehouse that a store like Wal-Mart or Costco would need. I’m more for small businesses especially, especially small stores like retail. However, I would support a large business like Symantec.

BZ: Do you think there’s a problem with diversity in Cupertino?

MN: I don’t think there’s a problem with diversity. We have lots of diversity in Cupertino. We celebrate lots of different holidays in Cupertino.

BZ: What I mean by that is Cupertino is predominantly White and Asian- approximately 50% white population and 40% Asian. So would you try to draw other minority groups to come live in Cupertino?

MN: Cupertino’s an open place for anyone to come live. Over the years we have seen many different ethnicities come. Over the nine years I’ve lived here, the Indian population has increased dramatically. Diversity is always good and it’s happening everywhere. The amount of culture we celebrate in Cupertino is happening all the time.

BZ: What role do you think faith should play in Cupertino families?

MN: I’m a believer of faith myself. But it’s nothing that should be forced or directed on people. It’s from people’s inner feelings. Personally I think faith is always good. But it’s totally individualistic and personal.

BZ: How do you feel about a dog park in Cupertino?

MN: I feel safety of our citizens always come first. I believe everyone should be accommodated. If we can have a fenced off area for the dogs to be in, it should be fine. It should be a fenced space meant for them so they can be off leash. But safety of citizens should definitely come first. It shouldn’t be a part of an existing park where an issue of safety could arise

BZ: How has the current budget crisis affected Cupertino?

MN: Fortunately, Cupertino has a very healthy reserve. There is some shortfall in the budget but the city has been fiscally responsible. However, generating revenues is important so we can increase our reserves. I think we need to attract more revenue-generating businesses into Cupertino as well as revitalizing older areas such as Cupertino Square so people will choose to stay in Cupertino and shop rather than go to places like Valley Fair. But we are currently in a healthy situation compared to other cities.

BZ: Great, I think that covers everything. Thank you for answering my questions.

MN: Thank you, Bryan. It was a pleasure.

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Posted by admin on Oct 19th, 2009 and filed under Events, Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response by filling following comment form or trackback to this entry from your site