Philosophy on life? If you are serious about something, commit yourself to taking action.
What keeps you up at night? Bills, money and deadlines.
Moved from: Venice.
Age: 40
Profession: Database Analyst
Alternative career. What you do if you weren’t employed in your current profession? Probably something artsy or creative.
How long have you lived in Santa Monica? 8 years.
What neighborhood do you live in? Pico neighborhood.
Why did you choose to live here? Where else? Isn’t this where everybody wants to live? Seriously, I always dreamt of living near the ocean, but couldn’t afford a home in Santa Monica when first starting out. I bought my first home in the Valley and lived there for 10 years. Later, I was able to afford a home in the Pico neighborhood. I’ve always worked full-time either in downtown Los Angeles or Century City, and Santa Monica is close enough that a daily commute is reasonable. Plus, I can pick up the Big Blue Bus less than a block from home. It runs about every 15 minutes and goes straight near my office in Century City with no transfer needed.
Rent or own? Own.
Favorite place in Santa Monica? Main Street Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.
Worst thing about living in Santa Monica? The apathy from our leaders and police about the transients and vagrants living on the streets. Santa Monicans often refers to them as “homeless,” but that’s a misnomer. A “homeless” person is someone who has fallen on hard times, a person who needs and wants a help. Santa Monica is full of very generous, good hearted people. We need to help the truly needy, homeless individuals to get back on their feet. Some programs do a great job at this. Unfortunately others are not getting people off the street. They feed them and dump them. The vagrants, transients and street drunks who have taken over our beautiful city have been “enabled” to continue a lifestyle supported by Santa Monica. It isn’t helping them get better. They often refuse help. They’ve made a lifestyle choice that has been condoned and even welcomed by those in power. The residents, especially women and children, are being confronted by dangerous and “anti-social” behavior more and more frequently.
How many cars do you own? What do you drive? One car, a Mitsubishi Lancer (purchased in Santa Monica, of course!).
If you could have dinner with three people from history, alive or dead, who would they be? Why? Benjamin Franklin: He was constantly learning, inventing, improving on so many fronts. A true renaissance man. Nikola Tesla: The real genius behind electricity, the light bulb and other inventions of the 19th Century. He was far more gifted than the commercially popular and successful Thomas Edison. Jesus Christ: It’s the obvious answer, but there is so much to ask him. What would he think of our 21st Century world? Of the power of churches and Christian-ity? How much of his message has been lost or misinterpreted?
Favorite quote? “Never, never, never give up.” — Winston Churchill
Pet peeves? Spam (unsolicited e-mail).
How do you take the edge off? (How do you relieve stress?) Working out: Lunch hours on the stair stepper at the gym and training with Fabian twice a week.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in life? Raising a son.
What’s your biggest disappointment in life? Hmmm. How can I know that yet? My life is not over.
Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you. I have a huge collection of rubber stamps and scrap booking supplies. Before my campaign for City Council, I was a teacher at Michaels (in Santa Monica), sharing my love of arts and crafts with others.
Fetishes? Does chocolate count as a fetish? I do love chocolate. And pizza. Not at the same time.
Hobbies/interests. How do you spend your recreational time? You mean other than this?
What’s the last live performance you saw? Cavalia. Amazing.
Last book you read? “How to win a local election” by Lawrence Grey
Have you ever been arrested? If yes, what for? No.
Family: Marital status. Number of children? I’m divorced, I have a son and a stepson, both grown. My son attended Santa Monica public schools and is now in college. My stepson has a business in Santa Monica.
Endorsed by: Bob Holbrook, Member, Santa Monica City Council; Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Nat Trives, Former Santa Monica Mayor, CEPS (Community for Excellent Public Schools); Shane McCloud, Member, School Board SMMUSD; Jean Sedillos, Chair, Restore Barnum Hall and a host of other Santa Monica neighbors and friends.
Public service/political experience? A few years ago I began organizing my neighborhood for what we thought would be a simple task of getting the city to relieve an intolerable parking situation in our area. During our four-year struggle, I met many other Santa Monica residents who had felt similar frustrations caused by unresponsive city leaders. I began attending council meetings, neighborhood meetings, organized a neighborhood Web site, newsletters, e-mail group and neighborhood watch. Earlier this year, I helped initiate the SAMO Parking and Transportation Task Force under the school district, bringing residents, students, city and school officials together to find solutions to transportation and parking problems surrounding the high school. I am action oriented, persistent and a strong advocate for residents.
Political affiliation: Non-SMRR.
Let me explain, the City Council is considered a “non-partisan” race. Yet for 25 years, one group-SMRR has almost entirely controlled Santa Monica. Perhaps they had good intentions at one time, but they’ve lost touch. Their focal point, rent control, is part of the city charter. It can never be overturned regardless of who is on the City Council. The only way to overturn rent control is to put it on the ballot and let voters get rid of it. It will never happen. Santa Monica’s population is mostly renters — so rent control will never be voted out. It’s protected and safe. Sadly, the SMRR incumbents have used fear tactics to scare tenants into believing they will lose rent control if they don’t vote for them. It’s irresponsible. And it’s wrong. I’m proud to be an independent non-SMRR candidate.
Educational background: N/A
Question #1:
In 300 words or less, answer this: If you were elected into office, what would be the first policy change you would make? How would you ensure a majority vote on that policy?
I would require accountability and sunset clauses on the programs that the city funds for homeless services. Homelessness is the No. 1 issue according to satisfaction surveys, polls and canvassing. The SMRR majority has done essentially the same thing for 25 years and we haven’t solved the problem. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is one definition of insanity. We must change what we are doing. I believe people who live in Santa Monica are fed up and want to see results instead of rhetoric. It’s time for change.
Question #2:
In 300 words or less, convince the public on why they should vote for you.
I represent two groups who are currently under-represented on City Council.
Women: We have only one woman on our City Council. Yet women comprise more than half of Santa Monica’s population. That’s extremely out of balance. As a woman, and a mother, I have a heightened awareness of the safety — or lack of it — in our public spaces.
PICO neighborhood: No one from the Pico neighborhood has ever been elected to City Council. Yet Pico is the largest neighborhood in Santa Monica. Time and again we hear about crime and troubles in the Pico neighborhood, yet none of our leaders actually live in the neighborhood, so they don’t really have a stake in improving it. Look, I live in the Pico neighborhood. I understand the issues because I live the issues everyday.
I am the only candidate who is both a mother and a Pico resident.
Question #3:
In 300 words or less, what will be your top three priorities the first year of holding office? n Homeless/vagrants: Our streets need to be made safer. The industry that has been created around “the homeless” in Santa Monica must be made accountable. Our tax dollars are supporting programs, and we owe it to our residents to see that those dollars are being used effectively. Why do we have a greater population of homeless people on our streets than in most nearby cities? Why do we continue to spend about $5 million each year on programs without tangible results? Why must my neighbors or I be forced to step over someone who is passed out drunk on my sidewalk? It’s not compassionate — we must end the suffering on our streets. I propose enacting sunset clauses and tying food giveaways to services such as addiction counseling and job training so people who want to get help are given the chance, only then can we help those who truly need and desire help. n Traffic : We need to allow traffic to move through our major arteries with computerized signal timing and reduced barriers while simultaneously protecting neighborhoods from cut-through traffic. n Parking is difficult and getting worse. Current city policies offer no relief. It’s time for a citywide plan that protects residents but still allows us to shop, visit friends, and help local businesses.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 23, 2004. Read the original PDF.