Juana Rudati

Why I'm running

I have proudly called Orinda home for more than 15 years. As a parent and substitute teacher in Orinda’s public schools, I care deeply about the decisions that shape our community. 

I am running for City Council because I believe those decisions should be transparent, accessible, and grounded in evidence. I want to bring my experience solving complex problems and testing assumptions to the work of City government.

In the news and online

1. The Orinda News - August 26, 2026

2. The Orinda News - September 25, 2026

3. Korea Daily SF - The JoongAng Sept 30, 2026 - English Translation 

4. VOTE411

5. Ballotpedia

6. City of Orinda

7. CCTV roundtable with all Orinda Candidates

Some of the studies and reports that I referred to during the CCTV Orinda roundtable:

• • NIST recommends to create Temporary Refuge Areas in advance of a fire to increase survival odds when evacuation is no longer possible. These were based in the Camp Fire Study of Refuge Areas. 

  • During a wildfire that becomes a large urban conflagration structure density was the strongest predictor of structure loss. Urban canopy density showed contradicting results leading the authors to recommend caution in this 2026 study of the Eaton and Palisades fires.  

  • Another study of the same fires states: "In many urban parcels where buildings were completely destroyed, adjacent mature trees retained substantial canopy structure. This high survival rate .... suggests that mature urban trees are substantially more resistant to structure-fire radiation and convective heating than the buildings themselves." 

  • Live fuel moisture content (LFMC) - Eucalyptus "can draw water from deep in the soil profile to avoid drought and therefore their LFMC only fluctuates around a value of 100% across seasons" 

  • Time and time again oaks have shown survival rates above 95% even after severe wildfire in multiple field studies. Some examples: Soboba Fire (1977 and 1979, their sale as fire wood was cancelled), 2002 study of Old Topanga Fire,  to name a few. The data is piling on that could point to trees working as a good insulator preventing or slowing the structure to structure fire propagation. Since many of the trees currently being removed are 200 years old the 'first do no harm' approach seems appropriate. In addition, USGS recommends maintaining native vegetation on slopes because removing it can increase susceptibility to landslides.  Standard insurance doesn't cover loss to landslide.

  • Undergrounding powerlines is an evacuation issue because overhead infrastructure can become an obstruction during the fire itself.” NIST documented downed utility lines and poles partially or completely blocking roads during the Camp Fire.

  • Remove No Left Turn sign at Moraga/Ivy (North) - is the first recommendation of the Circulation Study Conducted by the AMG (Advanced Mobility Group) on page 27 of City Council package for meeting on 02/24/2025. On Table 4 which "summarizes the priority, locations, and recommended actions to reduce cut-through trips and improve safety throughout the entire study segment." City council has not yet approved the removal despite it also being a recommendation by the TSAC in several meetings since February 2025. 

Connect with me

Email Juana  juanafororinda@gmail.com