Scotty Hong is a Candidate for District 6. This interview was conducted through email in mid-October. Questions and Responses have been edited for clarity and grammar.
Christopher Wong: Why are you running for Council?
Scotty Hong: I’m running because I believe this is a generational election. The decisions we make today will determine whether the next generation can afford a future in Irvine—and whether longtime residents can afford to stay.
District 6 brings together the Irvine Business Complex, UCI, local businesses, students, renters, working families, and seniors. We need leadership that understands their everyday concerns, especially the rising cost of living.
As a Sustainability Commissioner, I see affordability, transportation, and quality of life as closely connected. With city forecasts warning of an annual budget shortfall reaching $47 million by 2029–30 without corrective action, we also need responsible financial leadership. My goal is to protect essential services while keeping opportunity within reach.
My goal is to protect essential services while keeping opportunity within reach.
Policy & Local Priorities
Christopher Wong: What policies are you looking to implement that would affect the day-to-day life of people living in District 6 and the City of Irvine?
Scotty Hong: I want to reduce the cost and difficulty of everyday life. One priority is free, non-polluting public transit connecting the IBC and UCI with shopping centers, Irvine Spectrum, and the train station.
I also support preserving existing affordable housing and adding housing that working residents and students can realistically afford. Alongside that, I want more shade trees, neighborhood green spaces, and connected trails. These improvements should make it easier to get to work, buy groceries, spend time outdoors, and participate in the community.
Christopher Wong: How do those priorities align with the needs of District 6? What about those of the City?
Scotty Hong: District 6 needs city services and infrastructure that reflect how people actually live here. Apartment residents need accessible gathering spaces. Students and workers need convenient transportation. Families and seniors need safe crossings and nearby services.
Those needs fit directly into Irvine’s broader goals. Better connections between housing, jobs, and shopping can help reduce car dependence and support local businesses. Trees and green spaces improve neighborhood comfort and livability. Responsible budgeting helps sustain those services over time.
Budget Fiscal Responsibility
Christopher Wong: There are challenges with the budget in Irvine. What should Irvine prioritize in how it spends its budget? How do we ensure District 6 is adequately represented in that budget expenditure?
Scotty Hong: We should protect the services residents depend on: public safety, street maintenance, parks, libraries, and programs serving young people and seniors.
That requires reviewing vacant positions, eliminating unnecessary positions and duplicative spending, and making better use of existing staff. New ongoing commitments should have a sustainable funding source. My starting point would be controlling costs before asking residents to pay more through new or higher fees.
For District 6, I would push for a clear budget process that identifies neighborhood needs, funds specific improvements, and publicly tracks delivery. Residents should be able to see what is being invested in their community, when projects will be completed, and whether those investments are producing results.
Residents should be able to see what is being invested in their community
Economic Development & UCI Partnership
Christopher Wong: How would you encourage economic development?
Scotty Hong: I would focus on helping local businesses succeed and making Irvine a place where people can build careers.
For businesses, that means clear permitting requirements, predictable review timelines, and a responsive City Hall. In the IBC, I support neighborhood shops, restaurants, and services within reach of residents and workers.
UCI also offers opportunities to connect research, entrepreneurship, and local employers. I want graduates to have pathways into jobs here and housing options that allow them to stay. A stronger local economy can expand the city’s revenue base and help sustain public services.
Christopher Wong: District 6 houses UC Irvine. How would you work with UCI to address housing needs?
Scotty Hong: I would bring together university leadership, students, city staff, and housing providers to coordinate housing and transportation planning.
I would advocate for additional university housing and support appropriately located off-campus housing with meaningful affordability commitments. We should consider the different needs of undergraduate students, graduate students, university employees, and students with families.
Housing planning should also include transportation, so a less expensive apartment does not come with an expensive or difficult commute. My goal is to help students complete their education without overwhelming housing insecurity and give graduates a realistic opportunity to build their lives in Irvine.
Transit, Mobility, and Future Growth
Christopher Wong: District 6 has a lot of apartment complexes and a lot of office buildings. How would you handle pedestrian traffic/mobility issues in the denser parts of the area? Transit connections between the University and other parts of Irvine?
Scotty Hong: I would start by identifying the missing links: sidewalk gaps, difficult crossings, and inadequate lighting. Working with residents, businesses, and people with disabilities, we should prioritize improvements that make everyday trips safer.
For transit, reliability matters as much as having a route on a map. I would work with UCI and transportation providers on coordinated connections, useful operating hours, accessible stops, and safe walking routes to those stops.
Christopher Wong: What kind of city do you want Irvine to become/evolve into?
Scotty Hong: I want Irvine to be the safest, smartest, healthiest, greenest, and kindest city in America—and a city people can afford to call home.
For District 6, my “Jamboree Village” vision is about creating a complete community around the IBC and the Jamboree corridor: connected neighborhoods, welcoming public spaces, local businesses, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Across Irvine, I want young people to see a future here, families to have stability, and seniors to age with dignity.