By Daily Press staff
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a political candidate forum today.
From 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., nine city council candidates will tell those who attend the event who they are and why they are running for office. There are three council seats open for the Nov. 5 election.
The event is being held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, located at 530 Pico Blvd.
The format will give each candidate three minutes to introduce themselves and then they will be asked to answer two previously written questions. Candidates will have a one-minute closing statement.
Other local, county and statewide candidate’s have been invited to the forum and they will have information tables set up at the event.
These are the questions that the chamber has posed to the candidates: 1. What do you think are the city’s short and long term goals, and what do you envision to be the role of the chamber? 2. What is your vision for sustained economic growth in Santa Monica and what measures will you take to achieve it? 3. How do you feel the minimum wage ordinance will affect our teenagers and other employees entering the job market? 4. What is your position on Measure EE? (the school district’s parcel tax increase) If it passes will you increase, decrease or maintain the city’s contribution to our public schools? 5. Currently City Council practice is for the Council and Planning Commission to hear only from the planning department on proposed projects. Do you think that the economic impact of proposed projects (jobs created, tax revenue) should be included in the staff reports and should the economic development department report separately at Planning Commission and Council meetings? If not, what is the role of the economic development department? 6. City Council has referred to preferential parking zones as Band-Aid solutions. We now have over 50 Band-Aids, and you now have the opportunity to save this patient. What is your long term solution for the parking problem in Santa Monica that would benefit both residents and businesses? 7. What do you think the role of a Chamber of Commerce should be in our city? 8. The city is currently reviewing its noise ordinance. The review does not include the pier, Promenade or airport, as there are separate noise ordinances governing them. Do you think business improvement districts and commercial thoroughfares should have their own noise ordinances or do you think the same rules that apply to neighborhoods should apply to business districts? 9. What would you include in a homeless program that would best suit our residents, businesses, visitors and disadvantaged? 10. The airport lease expires in 2015. What is your position on its continuance as a general aviation airport? 11 Given the integral relationship between the economic health of a community and its government’s ability to contribute funds to the school system, what changes in the planning and development laws and regulations would you undertake to help local businesses thrive?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 1, 2002. Read the original PDF.