Endorsed by: Hon. Sheila Kuehl, California State Senate, Hon. Jackie Goldberg, California State Assembly, Hon. Paul Koretz, California State Assembly, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Committee to Protect the Living Wage, Democratic Party of Los Angeles County, 41st Assembly District Democratic Committee, Independent Committee for the Arts, Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, National Women’s Political Caucus L.A. Westside, Santa Monica Democratic Club, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, SEIU Local 434B, SEIU Local 660, Sierra Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, UFCW Local 1442, Westside Committee on Political Education (COPE) AFL-CIO 1. What is the single biggest issue facing Santa Monica? What do you intend to do about it, if elected? Be specific.
The gentrification of Santa Monica affects families disproportionately, which has the added consequence of diminishing our city’s cultural diversity. Fewer affordable apartments, especially those with enough bedrooms to accommodate larger families, means that we have fewer children, fewer people of color, and fewer people able to stay in Santa Monica when they start families. When a family is able to purchase a home, it is nearly impossible to find anything affordable in Santa Monica. I will analyze each issue for its effect on our community’s diversity and accessibility to families. 2. Where is the city spending money that, in your opinion, should be used for something else?
Among the inefficiencies in the city budget that need to be addressed are an over-reliance on consultants and contractors instead of on our own staff. There are also inefficiencies in landscaping and park maintenance work; for example, the grass that is planted on the soccer fields goes dormant during autumn, when it is most heavily used, so the fields need to be replaced more often than they should be. A lot of time and money is spent on bureaucracy. I will find ways to emphasize customer service and efficiency. 3. The city has hired an urban design consultant for $54,000 to tell us how the downtown area could be designed better. Do you think the downtown commercial zone needs to be redesigned and how much would you allocate toward such an endeavor?
I was horrified at the consultant’s report on the downtown area. I worked on the Promenade back in the early 1980’s and have seen its development into a thriving downtown. This is a great example of a waste of money. We spent thousands on the consultants who designed the downtown area, and now we pay others to second guess that design. 4. The city is facing a $9.5 million budget shortfall this year and future budgets look just as bleak. What are the top three items in the city’s budget that you would cut to ease the taxpayer’s pain?
Just like any good organization would do, I will go through the budget and find places to save money. As treasurer of the Pier Restoration Commission, I have fought for improvements in the budget that are now being implemented. When I worked as a budget analyst for county employees, we found enough money in copier maintenance contracts to cover raises for thousands of employees. 5. The Santa Monica Police Department has some of the highest paid officers in the region. Do think the salaries of Santa Monica’s finest are justified? Why or why not?
I support paying our officers well, but I am concerned about the amount of overtime that is booked. Law enforcement is highly stressful, and I think 40 hours a week is enough in police work except during the occasional time of high need. Overtime pay for high salaried employees costs a great deal of money. 6. The Pico neighborhood hasn’t had any formal representation on the city council in the history of Santa Monica. Do think the blighted neighborhood’s drug dealing and gang activity is reflective of that? How would you represent this neighborhood?
Crime reflects economic disparities, and the Pico neighborhood has the lowest socio-economic status in the city. I strongly support neighborhood organizations like the Pico Youth and Family Center, and I will work to find Pico neighborhood residents who can serve on our city’s important commissions, building leadership for the city council. How many Pico neighborhood residents have ever served on the planning commission? That’s the place to start.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 29, 2002. Read the original PDF.