Sai Akiri is a Hero.

There is an old story about Salazar, a former Dictator in Portugal, my dad told me when I was a kid. One day he was riding around in his car with an advisor when he noticed a young girl eating grass at a park. He commented on it, and his advisor responded, “the people are hungry, Antonio.”

Salazar then had his driver call the young girl to the car and had him pass a note to her. The note read:

“I give this girl permission to eat the grass from all the parks in Portugal. -António de Oliveira Salazar”

Thankfully we are not facing that kind of economic problem nor am I comparing anyone to Salazar but I am hoping you could think about this story and overlay the sentiment, the attitude to people, to everyday people who pay the bills or struggle to pay the bills with what has been occurring in our District for the last three years. Keep all of that in the background as you read the rest of this endorsement.

I wrote about Sai’s baseline qualifications last year.

Sai is trained in the sciences and project management, and she has been privy to education systems worldwide. She has lived and worked in different countries and managed massive budgets.

Not much has changed in that arena.

Not much has changed concerning Sai’s priorities or her philosophy on how the BOE should treat parents and the public either. Sai has maintained composure and poise in presenting her positions in what can be generously described as less-than-ideal conditions. The articles and videos at the end of this endorsement will bear witness to these facts.

At the last BOE Meeting, Sai was the only BOE Member who attempted to inform a resident that she would be able to return to the podium after being cut off and being told she would have to come back next month to finish a question. That’s a tiny example you could multiply hundreds of times over in Sai’s one-year term.

Sai responds to differing opinions with facts and respect instead of “I have more friends than you do and you are destroying our town because you disagree with me”.

Prior to becoming elected, Sai stood up for parents whose concerns were misrepresented by the Board and she told the truth in a way that cut clearly through tag teams and heckles – she stood her ground.

Now onto what Sai has NOT done or experienced this year:

Sai has not voted to spend school dollars on BOE Attorneys to pursue false, and trumped-up ethics violations on other members and has not had a single ethics violation against her validated by the SEC. Furthermore, she insisted the BOE follow its policy in interviewing attorneys at the start of 2022 based on growing concerns surrounding the advice current counsel has provided the District.

Sai did not vote to silence other BOE members who disagreed with her through new policies, nor did she write an inaccurate article falsely claiming to represent the BOE in responding to another member of the Board. Sai opposed a new social media policy that I and many residents feel hinders a BOE Member’s ability to interact with the public using mediums convenient for residents.

Sai did not rubber stamp important initiatives like DEI without evidence, despite knowing how it would be spun and mischaracterized. Sai saw the entry of DEI into the Strategic plan as an opportunity to finally add goals and clarity to a document that needs a roadmap to what it seeks to achieve. Sai felt DEI represented an ideal opportunity to set a precedent on new initiatives to ensure their success and an opening to hold the District accountable to metrics on essential areas like academic achievement.

She did not approve a 60 million dollar budget hidden from the public with only 48 hours for review. She advocated for a more open process and demanded transparency and greater opportunities for public input while demonstrating a solid command and understanding of the budget.

Sai did not attempt to marginalize or attack parents; she did not try to turn the community against those who disagreed with her or take down letters from parents. Sai’s interaction with parents and residents has been nothing but respectful – it is clear, through her actions, that she views parents and residents of the District as equals and sees herself as a public servant, not some elite expert by virtue of her role.

Sai Akiri has my respect, complete support, and deepest gratitude. Regardless of the outcome of this election, I am 100% confident Sai will be among those considered as a hero in the small world of Berkeley Heights politics.

For the last three years, an immigrant and a woman with only a few years of citizenship under her belt has put a mirror to how our District conducted business and tried to hold it accountable in the face of incredible political gameplay. She made these sacrifices (and believe me, they were pretty deep for what the position entails) for us. She represents the very best of what American government can be – what it should be.

Sai doesn’t claim to be the voice of anyone – she encourages people to be their own voices. She believes that the public can debate differences and help the BOE make decisions that balance evidence and community sensibility. Sai listens and asks questions – she understands that families are equal partners and qualified experts when it comes to systems that impact their children.

The record of evidence isn’t on Facebook, private messages or at block parties – it’s not what the self-proclaimed experts or self imagined influencers tell you – it is on video and in print for you to look at with your own eyes and listen to with your own ears.

Sai Akiri is in a terrible ballot position – 7-2 – so please pay attention and vote with your head and heart.