1. What would you do, if anything, to change the neighborhood council system?
I believe the Neighborhood Council system needs to be supported by the Council office and City.  This experiment in expanding democracy to local communities is new and needs time and resources to develop.  I would work to provide additional resources and support to neighborhood councils throughout the 11th District.

2. Do you support community control of development? If so, would you make any exceptions?
As the former President of the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, one of my primary efforts was to protect communities from overdevelopment, promote smart growth and make sure that community members were active participants in the development and planning process of their neighborhoods.  I fully support community involvement in development.

3. Section 8 housing is being cut back and tenants share of the rent is being raised from 30 to 40 percent. What would you do, if elected, to address this problem?
I oppose the unnecessary and unfair elimination of Section 8 housing, particularly by owners who have committed to providing low income housing and are now attempting to maneuver out of their commitments.  I would actively advocate to our federal, state and county leaders to maintain the level of Section 8 housing and protection against tenant abuse.

4. How would you promote low-income housing throughout the city, including Venice?
As an advocate of affordable housing, I would use my experience as a Planning Commissioner to increase the number of affordable units in new developments and promote rehabilitation of existing housing to keep rents affordable for working families.

5. Many Housing and Urban Development (HUD) buildings are being privatized and residents evicted. What would you do about this?
I would advocate that federal leaders hold owners accountable to maintaining their legal obligations and not attempt to void those contracts in order to privatize and evict low income families.

6. Venice's largest low-income housing complex, Lincoln Place, is being depopulated and may be demolished. Would you support the tenants' efforts to save it? How?
Yes.  I would support the effort of Lincoln Place residents to see that the the housing complex is granted historic designation by the City and State.

7. What is your position on the future of LAX and Santa Monica Airport?
I believe that we must stop the expansion of LAX because it threatens our future quality of life through the traffic it will add to our neighborhoods and the pollution that will negatively impact residents and our sensitive ecosystems.  I also believe that we should collectively work toward closure of Santa Monica Airport by 2015.

8. Do you support rail transit on the westside, such as, extension of the Green Line and building of the Exposition Line?
How would you support bringing cheap, safe, efficient mass rapid transit to more riders in Venice and other westside locations?
I support light rail transit to relieve our Westside streets.  I would work to secure the funding to complete the Exposition Line from Culver City to Santa Monica, extension of the Green Line, and a subway line down Wilshire Boulevard to connect downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.  It is imperative that we have a regional public transportation system that gets cars off of streets and improves our air quality.

9. If residents of Venice submit a petition for reestablishing cityhood, what would be your position?
I respect the right of all residents to exercise their constitutional rights for free speech.  However I would like to work closely with our neighborhood council and community organizations throughout Venice to make the kinds of improvements and changes that will keep Venice a strong and vibrant part of the Los Angeles City family.

10. How would you solve homelessness without punitive action against the homeless?
As I have made sure that the West Los Angeles VA would not be commercialized and more veterans made homeless, I will fight to increase funding for transitional and permanent housing as well as a greater State contribution to mental illness and substance abuse treatment, and for shelters and programs for homeless mothers and children.  As a public health nurse, I realize that solutions to human needs must not be punitive but socially caring and responsible.

11. Do you support or oppose rent control? Do you support or oppose vacancy decontrol?
I support rent control.  I oppose vacancy decontrol.  That said, we need to build more housing throughout the City and lower demand in order to stabilize rents.  As our City grows, demand will escalate and rents will go even higher.  We must dramatically increase housing opportunities for our current housing shortage as well as future demands.

12. Do you support or oppose further expansion of Playa Vista?
I support increasing the amount of open space in and around Playa Vista.  As Councilwoman I would vigorously pursue efforts to acquire more land from Playa Vista to keep as open space.