> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Shawn Casey O'Brien on Santa Monica Bay pollution and cleanup funding
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/060306-story-20060603-5/
- Published: 2006-06-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:14:37.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Name: Barry Groveman Party: Democrat Campaign Web site: www.barrygroveman.com City of Residence: Calabasas Age: 52 Marital status: Married Number of kids: One fifth-grade son Profession: Environmental Attorney HAVE YOU EVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE?

Yes, Calabasas mayor and councilmember HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED? IF YES, FOR WHAT?

No WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?

BMW PET PEEVE?

Cigarette butts thrown out car windows that pollute the ocean or start fires.

PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE?

Never give up.

HOW DO YOU RELIEVE STRESS?

I jog every day in the santa monica mountains. 1\. Concerning the pollution and bacteria levels in santa monica bay, what programs do you believe have been effective and which have not? What can be done differently? How, as an assembly member, do you plan on securing more funding for clean-up efforts?

Stormwater run-off and contamination of our watersheds, beaches and ocean has become a serious problem. Too little planning has been done to address the problem and the risks and costs to remedy the situation are increasing. We must begin aggressively addressing the problems by finding sources of funding to put in place practices that will minimize the release of oil products, pesticides, trash, nutrients and other items to the environment. Currently throughout the 41st District, inland cities contribute significant pollution to our streams and waterways, ultimately impacting the coastal cities and beaches. This significant issue calls for additional work and funding. One source would be a bond similar to Measure O, which was recently passed in the City of Los Angeles or the clean water-clean beaches fee currently under consideration in Santa Monica. 2\. CALIFORNIA RANKS AS ONE OF THE WORST STATES IN PER-PUPIL SPENDING. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO INCREASE PER-PUPIL SPENDING? WOULD YOU CUT PROGRAMS FROM THE STATE BUDGET? IF SO, WHICH ONES? OR WOULD YOU INCREASE TAXES? IF SO, WHERE?

The first step is to determine what adequate funding would look like and then we can work to secure a reliable 21st century funding source. One obvious place to look for this is the commercial side of Prop 13, but we also must change current budget priorities in California to ensure funding for education is a priority. Additionally, I would: ■ Revisit the lottery for increased funds. ■ Secure funds for state and federal under-funded mandates, especially English language learner programs and special education. ■ Reduce mandates and simplify reporting/compliance procedures. ■ Support charter schools as a means of keeping public schools accountable and giving more local control back to the community. 3\. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE WESTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION. WHAT STRATEGY WOULD YOU USE TO GET MORE FUNDING? WHAT PROJECT WOULD SOLVE THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

The entire state is under-funded for transportation projects; this has led to gridlock almost everywhere people travel in Southern California. I support expanding public transportation options on the Westside as a means to reducing traffic, but the reality is that these types of projects can take decades to design and complete and cost billions of dollars. I want to see quicker results. This can happen with some inexpensive solutions: ■ Eliminate all rush hour congestion caused by construction projects by scheduling them at night or in off-peak hours. ■ Appoint a Road Superintendent -- a professional government employee dedicated to traffic issues, problem solving and emergency response on critical roads through the area like Lincoln Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, Pico and Wilshire. It worked in Calabasas, and it can work in Santa Monica. ■ Remove freeway accidents in six minutes by adopting Houston’s successful traffic mobility program, which includes clearing non-injury collisions, fender benders and flat tires within six minutes, thus reducing back-up that leads to gridlock and secondary accidents. ■ Stop rubbernecking at freeway accidents by following Massachusetts’ program to erect seven-foot-tall by ten-foot-wide portable lightweight screens to obscure accidents from passersby and keep drivers moving. 4\. IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A PROBLEM? IF SO, WHAT’S THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND COMMON SENSE WAY TO SECURE OUR BORDER? DO YOU BELIEVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAS HAD AN OVERALL NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE IMPACT ON CALIFORNIA? WHY?

Yes, illegal immigration is a problem because the federal government has failed to protect our borders and enforce the law. I think the McCain-Kennedy Bill is a good beginning and realistic approach in addressing this situation: control the borders and create a pathway for citizenship. As for the issue of the overall effect of immigration on California, the answer is complex. On one hand, it is easy for us to communally denounce illegal immigrants; after all, they are not here legally and do not pay taxes. In this light it is important to put an end

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 3, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060306.pdf?ref=smdp.com)