4 Decades of Experience Leads to Engagement

 

I will use CEQA (*) to ensure full community involvement to encourage sensible development (IE: Hotels, AES property, BCHD (**), etc.)

 

Use city government to engage the community.  No surprises!!  I organized the community through the Environmental process on the proposed Strand and Beach Hotel development.  We avoided a complete gift of public land and obstruction of public views protected by law.  Many said they thought it was a done deal.  The developers withdrew the project due to our efforts.  We successfully saved Beach Drive and avoided a gift to developers to build over!  I am for sensible development within existing limits.  We do not need to be making private deals.

 

And the same goes for neighboring cities when it impacts our residents.  As a member of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy and the Sierra Club, I have been proactive in restoring and preserving the AES site for a park and removing the power plant.  We need to monitor the progress of  that development and provide input on the EIR process as it affects our neighborhoods.  Same goes for the campus development planned at the BCHD (**).

 

Quality of Life/Public Safety – As a long time activist, I secured the complete runoff diversion of the biggest polluter on our beaches and in the Bay-the Herondo Storm Drain-right here in Hermosa Beach. I know how to work with agencies and secure moneys for clean beaches, parks, and water quality. 

 

We can obtain outside funding and I will work hard to get this funding to repair public facilities, and address the homeless.  We must also ensure our Police have the support, tools & guidance to keep us safe.  I will work on increasing the visibility of the PD.   I am determined to work on Homeless Issues.   We will help PD work individually with homeless.  We need to keep open all public entrances, exits, walkways, etc.    We need resources devoted to helping them.  Coordinating with other cities to have a regional effort.

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We need to take out some large curbs in the streets, especially near the beaches to improve ADA access.

 

We need to fix our sewers (storm drains) and streets. They should not be clogged.

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I will revamp the traffic and parking enforcement so that it is reasonable, fair, and consistently applied.  this goes especially for solving Strand speeding issues.  I will improve residential parking. and improve crosswalk safety

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I will work towards an LA County dog beach at Dockweiler.  As I  actively worked with the County and advocated for that in the past. 

 

Years ago I worked to secure and protect our Beaches and our Greenbelt as I have in the past.  I will ensure it is preserved –no building, no bike path paving!

 

We need to expand Intergenerational Programs.

 

Fiscal Review - prepare for revenue changes and city solvency.  We may be facing budget challenges due to the shortfalls in revenues.  I served as a Federal Budget Director.  I know budgets.  I will do my diligence in ensuring we have the expertise in place to navigate through budget challenges.  Stop wasteful spending on surveys and outside reports.

 

Economic/Community Development – We need to do whatever it takes to help our businesses, engage them with sensible rules of engagement and incentives to help them thrive.  As business owner, I know what it takes!  Rules must be sensible, and consistently applied.  And I am committed to reduction of the overburdensome red tape and paperwork for permits.

 

Transparency – I have fought for our city to be transparent.  I will ensure that guidance and discussions are in the open.  I will ensure that proposals/public events are open and follow existing laws.  I will engage fellow councilmembers for open discussions about issues.  I will ensure the Brown Act is followed.  I will oppose any reductions in tools that residents have for public input. I will fight and represent everybody.  I will push for transparent staff reports.  Council needs complete reports, not relying on verbal reports so the public knows in advance what we are using for information and how decisions are made.

 

* - California Environmental Quality Act

** - Beach Cities Health District proposed Healthy Living Campus on Prospect Ave!