Pavley concerned about education, Bay pollution
By TRAVIS PURSER Special to the Daily Press
A cleaner environment, reasonably priced housing, good wages and better education were high priorities for Santa Monicans who spoke one-on-one with Assemblywoman Fran Pavley when she met with constituents at the Farmer’s Market Sunday on Main Street.
Pavley, who represents coastal Californians from Santa Monica to southern Ventura County, set up her biweekly “mobile district office” to promote a clean air bill that now sits on Gov. Gray Davis’ desk and to “put a face” on government, she said.
Assembly Bill 1493 would help reduce greenhouse gasses through use of new regulations on motor vehicle emissions. The Democrat from Woodland Hills said greenhouse gasses — widely believed to cause global warming — directly impact District 41 by increasing smog.
The gases also could jeopardize the area’s water supply by causing the snowpack melt in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to melt earlier. Tourism in the district’s beach communities could be affected if global warming leads to a rise in the sea level.
With 28 years experience as a public school teacher, Pavley said her top priority is improving education. Sixty percent of California’s general fund goes to education, she said, but that’s not enough. California ranks 32nd among states in per capita spending on schools, she said. She would like to see more emphasis on early childhood teaching.
Poor learning is a root cause of many societal problems like Santa Monica’s massive homeless population, she said. Improving education is one thing the state can do to help local communities solve a wide array of issues.
Pavley also said she is deeply concerned about the water quality in the Santa Monica Bay. The Clean Beaches initiative, which she helped promote as chair of the Budget Resources Committee, allotted $350,000 to Santa Monica last year for protecting the bay, she said. The program was expanded by $300 million statewide when voters approved Proposition 40 in March. But so far no specific projects in Santa Monica have come out of that proposition.
Pavley deflected some questions about local issues — such as whether charitable feeding of the homeless in city parks should be more tightly regulated — saying they fall under the jurisdiction of the Santa Monica city government.
Lois Cunningham, who works at an outdoor clothing store on Main Street, dropped by because she wanted to let Pavley know that small business is the heart of a city.
“This is my city,” she said. “I’m interested in what impacts a city.”
Tom McFaddon said housing is a big concern for him.
Robert Hennessey wanted to know why so many public beaches don’t also have public access. Pavley said someone, perhaps the general public, must purchase easements for access to happen.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 15, 2002. Read the original PDF.