Pam O’Connor AGE: 58 OCCUPATION: Historic preservation planner MARITAL STATUS/CHILDREN: Single, right now. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? HOW LONG? Wilshire/Montana; almost 20 years. YOUR RIDE? When I drive: An Accord. When I use transit: Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus and Metro services. OWN OR RENT? Renter YOUR PASSION? Like I’m going to tell the SMDP... Right now, Detroit Tigers (in 1984, when I lived in southeast Michigan, I attended all the World Series games in Detroit and saw the Tigers win the World Series). WHAT ARE YOU READING? Guidebooks about Peru; a trip is planned for after the election.
The water around the santa monica pier is some of the most polluted in the state and poses a significant health risk to swimmers. How do we clean up the beach?
Passage of Measure V, the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax, will generate funds to upgrade existing/build new infrastructure needed to keep polluted runoff and stormwater from flowing into Santa Monica Bay. The city of Los Angeles has already approved a stormwater bond and the other cities in the region will need to develop funding measures to do their fair share.
WHAT’S A HIDDEN GEM IN THE CITY?
Not so hidden, but one of my favorite places to get lost in is Hennesy + Ingalls, Art & Architecture bookstore on Wilshire, near the Promenade.
Homelessness is far and away our city’s most pressing issue, according to daily press readers. What new ideas do you bring to the table? Do service providers help the down-and-out or merely attract more homeless and enable them?
It sometimes seems to be a “chicken and egg” situation. Frankly, groups who come to Santa Monica to feed homeless do a disservice to the people they say they want to help. They attract more homeless to Santa Monica than local organizations who provide services (i.e., shelter, mental and physical health services, job training) can handle. New initiatives, such as working with chronic homeless, are showing some success. The county of Los Angeles — the major source of public health funding — has begun to work on regional solutions that require every city to do their share.
BEATLES OR STONES?
I listen to KUSC (FM radio)... and they haven’t played either group recently.
HOW DO YOU SPEND A DAY OFF IN SANTA MONICA?
There’s no typical day, but when I want to relax, I go to my sister’s (and brother-inlaw’s) apartment (same building), where there’s usually sports on TV, a neighbor or friend visiting, and my sister cooking up some tasty treats.
Residents and elected officials often clash over the issue of gang violence? Some advocate more enforcement, others call for more intervention and prevention strategies. Where would you focus resources?
The city is currently searching for a new police chief. At a recent gang violence meeting at St. Anne’s church, the acting police chief noted that sometimes there are obstacles that prevent a young person from linking up with intervention and prevention programs... and the obstacle is often something quite solvable, such as lack of transportation. Identifying obstacles and linking people into the network of support services, education, recreation and jobs is critical.
IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANY THREE PEOPLE IN HISTORY, WHO WOULD THEY BE? (SPOUSE AND CHILDREN EXCLUDED) Daniel Burnham (architect and planner); Marie Curie (scientist); Coco Chanel (designer).
Local businesses provide the majority of the city’s general fund revenues, yet santa monica has a reputation for being a difficult place to do business.
How would you entice more businesses, different businesses, to open up shop?
There have been complaints, yet businesses are thriving in Santa Monica. The Land Use element and its implementing document — the zoning code — are over 20 years old... and had become a patchwork of layers and processes. So, when a business applied to make tenant improvements, the process had become unwieldy. I initiated update of the Land Use element (currently underway) so that the community could determine what the form, scale and uses should be in Santa Monica for the future, and these will be implemented by a new zoning code and clear planning processes.
What’s the biggest threat facing the quality of life in santa monica?
Traffic and congestion. These are also regional issues... many Santa Monica residents work elsewhere and many people come to the Westside and Santa Monica for work and recreation. So, getting optimal performance out of our streets (signal synchronization, turning lanes), improving transit options (Rapid Buses, neighborhood shuttles), and completing Light Rail to Santa Monica are all important cogs in building a stronger transportation network. I’m First Vice-Chair (and incoming Chair) of the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where I’ve worked hard to ensure that our Westside cities get funding for streets and transit — and have worked tirelessly to bring light rail to the Westside and Santa Monica. The Expo Light Rail line began construction last month on the first segment. In my role at MTA, I would work to ensure that line gets all the way to Santa Monica.
COMFORT FOODS?
My sister’s home-made pizza.
Does the city need more parking spaces, or will that just attract more drivers? What incentives should the city offer to get people out of their cars?
Although more parking spaces can and will be provided, people still walk around (or wheel around) on sidewalks after the car is parked. The city must continue to improve pedestrian amenities and support other means of travel: add local bus shuttle routes to complement the Big Blue Bus’s subregional service, support bicyclists and bike-sharing (I’ve used the program in Lyon), car-sharing stations (Flexcar).
FREE FORM. WHAT’S PUTTING A BURR UNDER YOUR SADDLE?
In general, discrimination and intolerance.
WHY ARE YOU SO SPECIAL?
I’m like a lot of other people in Santa Monica and the world. I work hard, take care of my family and perform public service. I’ve grown in my profession as an historic preservation planner working on rehabilitation of buildings at UCLA, USC and Los Angeles City Hall. I’ve worked hard as a Santa Monica Councilmember, and in addition, represented the Westside Cities on the Southern California Association of Governments and on the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board (elected to that position by the Mayors of the Westside and South Bay cities)... And my mom lived with me from the time she was 83 until her death at 93, two years ago. Everyone has a story, that’s mine.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 1, 2006. Read the original PDF.