Name: Jonathan Levey Party: Democrat Campaign Web site: www.levey2006.com City of Residence: Santa Monica Age: 36 Marital status: Single Number of kids: 0 Profession: Attorney/Teacher HAVE YOU EVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE?
No HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED? IF YES, FOR WHAT?
No 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?
We continue to make progress, but are still a long way from solving urban runoff problems and repairing degraded habitats.
In Sacramento, I will be able to coordinate and implement the best ideas coming from the environmental community regarding the bay. I will make sure bond money is attached to projects with multiple benefits — like integrated watershed management — and I will work with other levels of government to execute a long-term wastewater plan.
I will keep in regular contact with the organizations and individuals who are concerned about the bay, exhibit political leadership in Sacramento, and educate constituents about bay protection and clean-up — I will do everything in my power to continue healing and restoring the bay. 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 Governor and Legislature should propose and enact an education-specific state budget first. School districts have to balance many issues when planning their own budgets, and having a better idea of what type of funding they will receive from the state would allow them to plan more accurately. It also would ensure that education funds are provided in a timely fashion. Only after that budget has been finalized should the Legislature turn to the budgets of any other agencies or policy priorities.
As a State Assembly member, I will introduce appropriate legislation to ensure that this approach occurs.
We also need to fully fund education. It’s a basic principle, but it’s crucial to the success of our schools. I will resist efforts by the Governor or others in Sacramento to undermine the stable and predictable source of education funding that Proposition 98 intended.
All students deserve high-quality teachers, yet our teachers are underpaid and underap-preciated. We certainly will not attract and retain the best teachers if we don’t pay them accordingly. We must increase teacher salaries and empower teachers and parents with the resources they need to engage successful students.
California should continue to relieve overcrowded classrooms and repair old schools. Schools need to be equipped to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.
Fully funding education and protecting Proposition 98’s constitutional minimum education funding requirements will be among my top priorities. 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?
I believe transportation must be a state budget priority, even though this will require some tough budget decisions that may impact other programs. This is the long-term complement to the short-term ideas I’ve outlined in my book, “Ideas in Action.”
This doesn’t just mean more money for more roads. One investment we should make is to devise strategies for existing roadways. Are we getting the most out of our roads? It sure feels like we’re not.
The state could be much more savvy about investing in physical improvements and technologies that reduce delays. For example, auxiliary lanes that give drivers more space before merging onto the highway can help eliminate serious bottlenecks at on/exit ramps. Using more advanced ramp metering would also incrementally reduce congestion at these key spots.
Even more long-term solutions, like a regional development strategy are needed. Where do we expect new development, what do we want it to look like, and how do we integrate that into our existing community? Rather than thinking about these issues on a project-by-project basis, such as the revitalization of one strip mall or city block, we should be thinking region-wide. 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?
I believe that we need to do more to enforce our borders, but am also sympathetic to hard-working families already in the country who are here because of economic opportunities. The U.S. should develop a program to enable immigrants to work legally in our country. I am open to a Guest Worker program, but want to see other options as well. 5. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING SANTA MONICANS? HOW DO YOU INTEND TO ADDRESS IT? 6. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES DURING THE FIRST YEAR AS AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER? My focus over the course of the campaign has been on education, transportation and the environment. I would like to focus on regional improvements in all three of these areas. 7. IN 100 WORDS OR LESS, WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU? I’m an attorney, business executive and educator. I bring a background in public policy, law and land use issues.
After years of working on education policy, I now teach at Cal State Channel Islands. Teaching business law allows me to bring real world experience to the classroom.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked on projects that included the conversion of hundreds of thousands of desert acres into a wildlife preserve.
I’m dedicated to serving the community. As Chair of The Justice Ball for Bet Tzedek, I helped raise over $400,000 annually to provide free legal services to people in need.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.