1.What would you do, if anything, to change the neighborhood council system?
The Council has just passed uniform election rules for neighborhood councils, which is a step in the direction of addressing problems that have cropped up all over the city, including in Venice. NC leaders also need more thorough training on procedures and issues so they’ll be better prepared to take more responsibility in City processes, including budget priorities and land use. I would like to empower the councils more, but DONE needs to more effectively work on solving the problems first.
2. Do you support community control of development? If so, would you make any exceptions?
I support increasing the role of communities in development decision making by requiring discretionary projects to first be screened by neighborhood councils and those councils’ recommendations becoming a formal part of what the decision makers must deal with. However, as a Councilmember I can tell you that communities already have substantial influence over development in many cases. Some projects are “by right” and some development is necessary and appropriate (especially housing, including affordable units), so I would be reluctant to make all development decisions subject to community veto.
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?
Our current mayor sent millions of Section 8 subsidy dollars back to HUD last year because he wasn’t motivated to make sure the funds were being used properly. I would never do that. But that doesn’t address the Bush Administration’s proposed cuts, which could be devastating. I will fight those cuts, and advocate at the state level for additional resources. Still, cutbacks in subsidies for low-income tenants will be very difficult to cope with. The City doesn’t have readily available funds either.
4. How would you promote low-income housing throughout the city, including Venice?
I have announced a housing plan (see my website at www.antonio2005.com) that includes support for nonprofit developers to develop more projects, inclusion of affordable units in market rate projects and a variety of other approaches. Venice has historically been more hospitable to affordable units than many parts of the city, and some good projects have been built in the community. I would like to see more of them, but the property values are such that it’s becoming prohibitive. It’s now even a battle to get affordable units included in large market rate projects, and those engender community opposition because of their size and density. There is no easy answer to this question.
5. Many Housing and Urban Development (HUD) buildings are being privatized and residents evicted. What would you do about this?
This is another question with no easy answer. If the City’s Housing Trust Fund were being fully funded every year, some of the funds could be channeled to preserving HUD units whenever possible. As it is, the Trust Fund has never had the dollars to do all the things we want it to do (new rental units, new for-sale units, rehab of old units, preservation of HUD units, and so on) so I believe it would be irresponsible to make wild promises. But I will use all the creativity I can to put more money in the Housing Trust Fund and I also will use my influence as Mayor to call upon owners of HUD buildings to behave responsibly.
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?
I would support the tenants, but I also know that the City Councilmembers representing Lincoln Place (especially former Councilwoman Galanter) have done so to no avail. The City turned down a redevelopment proposal flat, was taken to court and lost. The property owner is not a willing seller, and no one has ever been able to successfully assemble the funds for a buy-out anyway. I will work with the tenants to seek workable solutions, but I know this will remain a difficult, uphill struggle. The tenants are to be commended for their perseverance.
7. What is your position on the future of LAX and Santa Monica Airport?
I voted against the “consensus plan” version of the LAX Master Plan because I felt it failed to deal with aviation growth needs realistically or to adequately protect the surrounding communities. LAX is not going away, but a good portion of aviation growth should be spread around the region to other airports, including those owned by L.A. in Palmdale and Ontario. That’s been my solid position since my 2001 mayoral campaign. Santa Monica Airport is not going anywhere either, and I know that it creates noise problems for Venice and other surrounding communities. As Mayor I will try to influence Santa Monica to better manage its airport to reduce impacts on Venice.
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?
Yes, I support expansion of light rail to and on the Westside. I’ve announced a comprehensive, long range plan (which should be on my website by the time this is published) that includes the Exposition Line, a connection from Expo through Crenshaw to LAX, a connection from the Green Line to the Expo Line in Santa Monica up Lincoln Boulevard, and an extension of the Red Line subway all the way down Wilshire. Along with a better bus system, I believe these improvements can at least slow the increases in congestion we’re expecting.
9. If residents of Venice submit a petition for reestablishing cityhood, what would be your position?
I opposed the secession efforts in 2002 and I would oppose future cityhood efforts. I am running to be Mayor of all of Los Angeles, not to preside over its dismantling.
10. How would you solve homelessness without punitive action against the homeless?
I believe that homelessness requires a lot more attention than we have historically given it but I won’t pretend that it can be “solved” any time soon. The problem is inextricably connected with the shortage of affordable housing, so generating more of those units will help. It’s also connected with the lack of services, shelter and mental health care. The City and County need to coordinate better to connect homeless individuals with those services, as was done in Venice in the late ‘80s with Venice Next Step. In Skid Row we need to provide clean restrooms so people can behave with dignity and avoid breaking City laws against defecation and urination in public.
11. Do you support or oppose rent control? Do you support or oppose vacancy decontrol?
I support rent control. No thanks to a state law (Costa-Hawkins) approved before I was elected to the State Assembly, local jurisdictions with rent control are compelled to allow vacancy decontrol. Unless we can get the legislature to reverse that law (and we were unable to during my tenure there), we have to live with decontrol.
12. Do you support or oppose further expansion of Playa Vista?
I voted last fall to oppose Phase 2 of Playa Vista – in fact, I was the only member of the City Council to do so. I felt that we should know all the impacts of Phase 1 before approving additional development there. I also felt that the open space, park, affordable housing and community benefits of Phase 2 were not what they should have been.