Responses to the Beachhead Questionnaire
Assembly Candidates - AD53
Lisa Ann Green - Green
Nick Karno - Democrat
James Lau - Democrat
Edgar Sanez - Democrat
Diane Wallace - Democrat
Mitch Ward - Democrat
Nathan Mintz - Republican
Congressional Candidates - CD36
Marcy Winograd - Democrat
Herb Peters - Libertarian
Andrew Sharp - Republican
Lisa Ann Green:
Questions for Assembly Candidates:
(The Beachhead reserves the right to edit answers longer than 30 words.)
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
We must change our behavior and recognize that the same old “business as usual” approach isn't going to position us for the future. I represent a path to bring us back in balance with our natural resources while reconnecting to each other and all life. Currently the top two political parties are in a power struggle (tug-o-war) funded by the same special interests, aka, large corporations and financial institutions. I will redirect the political will towards a holistic approach inclusive of all life, and get back to a love of life. The green I advocate for is earthly green bound by love the true color of the heart center. Without a doubt love is the strongest power in the universe.
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission’s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
No, I will not support AB2228 or any attempt to make the Coastal Commission less effective under the people's request to protect, preserve and retain coast access for all. The bill is targeting the homeless population (see the last paragraph of AB2228). This move is cruel and unacceptable. I'll continue to be a voice for the segments of our community that are under served, misrepresented and often neglected. There is a much bigger social issue at hand which is being neglected by these attempts to remove people from our community.
3. Do you support or oppose the “Tax Cannabis 2010” initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
Tax Cannabis 2010 is a step in the right direction because marijuana is arguably the safest medically therapeutic reactive substance (not one death in 5,000 years) on record. Marijuana prohibition must end. A large portion of our population is imprisoned for possession, distribution and cultivation of our top cash crop. We must redirect the funding of prison's into a revenue stream that empowers our State, puts more people to work, and positions us to grow industrial hemp a biomass solution for fossil fuels? It should noted that AB 2254 is more comprehensive solution because it specifically states cultivation of industrial hemp.
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
Shift to organic farming/ecologically sustainable agriculture that conserves water, soil and energy with a minimum of pollution.
Fully deregulating the growth and production of industrial hemp, with assistance to farmers for converting to hemp cultivation. Hemp is the cheapest biomass source (yes, fuel), removes more carbon from the air more than any other crop, preserves forests (produces 4x as much wood pulp) as a paper crop, hemp fabric is softer and more durable than cotton while using only a third of the water compared to cotton, improves soil, and is edible with many safe, favorable health benefits.
Bio regional Water Planning and Management living within the means of the regions natural resources and conservation (reduce, recyle, reuse, repair) must be considered regarding water policy.
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
Let's get immediate needs addressed first. Remove all laws criminalizing the homeless. Get resources, increase access to public bathrooms, providing storage facilities for personal belongings, and allocating local, state and federal funds to the grassroots organizations, such as Reach for the Top in Venice, to implement effective community based programs and solutions that provide housing, jobs and critical services now.
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
Raise more revenue, starting with eliminating corporate welfare. Shift to a progressive tax structure meaning those with more economic wealth must pay their fair share. Create a State Bank that partners with local banks and credit unions improving lending abilities. Reform Prop 13 Tax focusing on a split roll approach for commercial properties. Fully legalize cannabis (marijuana) and industrial hemp which creates jobs, and small businesses opportunities, while improving the environment and redirecting law enforcement towards critical issues.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
My office will be located in Venice. I will always be part of and available within my community and throughout the district. For instance at the recent Santa Monica Airport protest, I stood in the crowd holding a sign until time to speak at the podium. At that point I moved away from the crowd to the front standing with the other candidates. I still wasn't obvious to all the candidates, until I moved forward to the podium and heard, ahhhhh!! I am one of the people, never above, always equal to all life, including our loving, caring and fantastic Green planet Earth! Vote Lisa Green!
Nick Karno
Questions for Assembly Candidates:
(The Beachhead reserves the right to edit answers longer than 30 words.)
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
As a long-time resident of Venice, boardmember of the Venice Neighborhood Council and co-chair of the Environmental Committee, former member of the Abbot Kinney Festival Association, and someone whose family has had a well-known local business (Groundwork Coffee), I have always been committed to improving our community. I’ve spent my life in public service working in L.A.’s diverse communities - as a Neighborhood Prosecutor at the City Attorney’s office, as a former bilingual teacher at Mark Twain Middle School and Marina Del Rey Middle School, and as an Environmental advocate and member of Al Gore’s ‘Climate Project’. Running for State Assembly is an opportunity to take the experiences I’ve garnered to our State capital, because now more than ever we need legislators with actual experience in the areas they are legislating. Having worked in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Los Angeles, I know what it takes to turn neighborhoods around, I know what we need to do to improve our schools, and I know how we can both repair our Environment while creating jobs. Take a look at my website – www.VoteKarno.com - for more details on the issues facing California.
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission’s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
Assemblymember Lieu has rescinded AB 2228, and it is no longer being considered. Lieu did this because, while there is an urgent need to address the proliferation of homeless RV’s on our streets, Venice residents were opposed to tampering with the Coastal Act and undermining the protections we have against overdevelopment. I support other means to remove the RV’s. I believe we need to make it easier for police officers to enforce our existing law that makes lodging in a vehicle on residential streets illegal, rather than create an opportunity for developers to dismantle one of our most successful and proud Environmental laws. We also need to get more services to the homeless in Venice so they can transition into supportive housing and get the help they need.
3. Do you support or oppose the “Tax Cannabis 2010” initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
My mother battled pancreatic cancer in 2004, and I strongly support Californian’s safe access to medicinal marijuana under the current laws. Also, as a prosecutor, I am familiar with the way in which resources are strained severely by our current system, and I have long been a strong proponent of reforms of our drug laws, shifting the focus from criminality to one of treatment and rehabilitation. However, at this time I am not supporting either above-referenced laws. I’ve worked with many law enforcement agencies dealing with gangs and drug cartels affecting our State, and the level of violence perpetuated by these incredibly sophisticated organizations is astounding – just look to the recent atrocities being committed in the Sinaloa and Durango areas of Mexico as an example. The aforementioned laws do nothing to provide our law enforcement agencies with the resources to deal with these gangs as they enter the market. Most of these bad actors will not stop their violent ways and instead prey upon legitimate businesses and/or citizens.
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
Climate change is the most serious threat our planet has ever faced. Disturbances in the planet’s temperature affect our eco-systems, our food supplies, our oceans, and every aspect of every one of our lives. As the State experiences lesser snow packs every year, our population rises and our water supply diminishes that much more. Soon, Southern California will have to start rationing water just to survive. I will work tirelessly to make sure we seek every possible solution to the climate crisis and water shortage.
I will start by making sure that we successfully implement bills like AB 32, and continue to push for strong, thorough regulations of greenhouse emissions. Not only will this help protect our environment and our people, but it will ensure that Californians lead the country in developing green technologies, renewable energy, water conservation, and ecologically responsible disposable products – all helping to nurture a growing green economy right here at home. We must push for all new construction to be LEED certified, and pass incentives and regulations to that end. In addition, it’s crucial for government to help in the rehabilitation of older, energy-inefficient structures. This will be a boon to our construction industry while reducing waste and energy consumption.
While focusing on our infrastructure is vital, 60% of our green-house gases come from vehicles. We will never truly address our climate crisis until we find alternative fuels for our cars. It is important to note that biofuels don’t necessarily mean ethanol, and ethanol doesn’t necessarily mean corn. I’ve been driving a biodiesel car for three years now, and I believe biodiesel is a great ‘stop-gap’ measure we can immediately adopt before we transition to electric. It goes easily into our buses, trucks, and farm equipment without major changes to our infrastructure.
For the health of our oceans, we must fix our storm water drainage system as well as a reduction in our plastic waste. Currently, rain water simply runs off into our oceans, carrying pollutants with it and causing irrevocable damage to marine life. We must capture this water, reuse it, and allow it to help recharge our depleted aquifers. But recycling isn’t enough – government has an obligation to lead the way in reducing waste where it starts, and helping Californians rethink the way in which we use water in the first place. Be it incentives for people to bring tote bags to the market, or regulation that favors biodegradable corn- and potato-starch bags and cutlery over plastics, we simply cannot continue clogging our oceans with toxic trash.
The Environmental problems we face cannot be more urgent. We will have to make some major changes in the way we do business and the way we use our resources. This is only accomplished if we have real leadership in our elected officials. If elected, I will not relent in protecting our Environment, and I will work tirelessly with business leaders and Environmental groups to find solutions to protecting our fragile eco-system.
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
We could save billions by redirecting nonviolent homeless and mentally ill individuals out of our criminal justice system and into housing assistance and treatment programs. As a prosecutor, I have seen how these cases clog our courts and jails, cause extremely high recidivism rates for these individuals, and the reality that our communities do not benefit from these individuals being unduly punished. It’s time for us to us Prop. 63 funds which have gone unutilized for too long to help these individuals, and at the same time reduce the burden on our justice system by billions. We could provide housing and treatment for the mentally ill, instead of keeping them locked up in the most expensive housing system we have.
Also, as a former member of the Mayor’s LA Business Team I'm the only candidate who's created jobs and helped bring businesses to the area. Government must play a strong role in economically revitalizing our state and reduce unemployment, but we must create lasting jobs – not just minimum wage, temporary jobs. Government can help by providing boosts to burgeoning sectors of the economy and small businesses.
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
We simply cannot cut our way out of our budget mess. Unemployment is already at a record high, and reducing the services that benefit our sick, our poor, and our children is not an option. Because of the 2/3 rule to pass a budget or any new revenues, the State legislature cannot raise more revenues, so we need to find creative ways of finding efficiencies and collecting money that is owed. For instance, I mentioned earlier the money we could save by redirecting nonviolent homeless and mentally ill individuals out of our criminal justice system and into assistance and treatment programs. Additionally, through an aggressive tax amnesty program for back-owed balances, the Board of Equalization estimates the state could take in over $10 billion in revenues that have gone unpaid for years. We can also dramatically increase the state’s energy efficiency, and in doing so both reduce costs and protect our environment. Simply changes to lighting, insulation, and HVAC systems could cut the government’s energy costs by 30%, while also providing jobs.
Finally, if we really want the budget to be balanced, we need a our economy to get back on track. The state will never be able to bring in enough revenue until out private sector is thriving and hiring again. To that end, government must expedite infrastructure projects—our stimulus funds can’t stay trapped in government bureaucracy. We need to make sure that every dollar for shovel-ready projects is spent as efficiently and quickly as possible. We also need to secure a long-term economic future for the state by providing tax incentives for California’s leading industries: entertainment, high technology, and cleantech businesses.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
Provided there are funds to establish a Venice/Mar Vista office, the answer is Yes. And, I can say that I will be a constant presence in my home town, holding regular town halls and meeting with constituents in the North of the district, without a doubt.
James Lau
FREE VENICE BEACHHEAD QUESTIONNAIRE JAMES LAU, CANDIDATE, 53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
(1) Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy.
• I am a long-time Venice resident, and member of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, and will continue to care about our community.
• I am the only candidate with 10 years of State Capitol experience. I believe it will take experienced leadership to guide the State to a recovery.
• Over the past 8 years, I have walked every precinct in the 53rd Assembly District, talking to local residents. It is my priority to know our community and to hear what the people of Venice think about state policies and issues.
• As an Environmental Engineer and Director of the California League of Conservation Voters, I have dedicated my life to a clean environment. I am proud that I have an environmentally sustainable campaign -- the only state campaign that has been designated Carbon-Free. All of the paper products used by the campaign are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from sustainable forests, and my campaign communicates through email whenever possible to save paper.
The campaign recycles its waste and encourages staff to use public transportation or to carpool. I am personally committed to using mass transit.
• I have made a commitment to clean campaign standards, and have accepted campaign spending limits. In the midst of an economic recession, I believe we should all tighten our belts.
• At the California Democratic Party Convention, I received almost 60% of the vote, more than all of the other candidates combined.
(2) Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission's position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
• As currently written, I would oppose AB 2228 primarily because it circumvents local control. I generally support measures that provide local communities with local authority to address local issues. I support measures which allow local communities and local school board members to use resources to meet local school needs. I view the issues in AB 2228 in the same light.
(3) Do you support or oppose the Tax Cannabis 2010 initiative on the November ballot and/ or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
• According to recent polls, it is highly likely the Tax Cannabis 2010 initiative will be approved by voters before I take office. Once adopted by the voters, I will support implementation of the initiative.
(4) What your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
• I believe we should use our tax policies and investments of bond money to jumpstart green technologies and provide incentives for the development and manufacturing of smart green technology. The state should promote the integration of career
technology in our public elementary and secondary education system, and work with community college, UC and CSU faculty to speed up the development of programs and degrees in green technology. This was a key part of the Silicon Valley boom.
We can create the engine for technological advances that will change our world and clean up our environment.
• I anticipate economic recovery to be a priority for the Legislature, and there will be efforts to reduce or eliminate environmental protections. There will be a continuing push to circumvent CEQA and other to delay AB 32 requirements. I not only oppose such efforts, but plan to work with environmental organizations to defeat similar measures.
• The State should increase California's Renewables Portfolio Standard to at least 33% of electricity delivered to retail customers come from renewable resources by 2020. I plan on pursuing legislation to install solar panels on schools to provide clean energy, to provide affordable energy to schools, and to allow schools to generate income through net metering.
• Resource, conservation and environmental programs are at high risk for elimination and reduction. For ten years, I have advocated environmental policies for a cleaner California. These priorities are being decimated by chronic budget deficits. I anticipate park closures will again be on the table. Stabilizing funding is critical to the State's recovery and to economic growth. I support the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010.
• I will work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to have the Ballona Wetlands designated as a state park to ensure the preservation of this valuable ecosystem.
(5) With the recession/depression, more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
• My first priority is to stabilize the State Budget. In order to fund needed programs, we need to get the State back on its feet. It is estimated the State loses $6-20 billion in revenues to the underground economy. As a first step, I will advocate increasing enforcement of the underground economy, which takes business away from legitimate businesses and contractors, and collect unreported revenues for the State.
• Many programs for those impacted hardest by the recession have been cut or eliminated. I will support funding for these programs.
• I believe we can generate new jobs through the development of green technology. I will work on a bill package to develop a green technology industry in California.
(6) The State of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
• I believe the State must rein in California's underground economy through increased enforcement programs. It is estimated that the State loses between $6-20 billion in revenues every year because of the underground economy. Under-the-table transactions penalize legitimate businesses and contractors, and take money away from our schools, fire programs, law enforcement and other government programs. I will work with the Board of Equalization to increase enforcement of the underground economy.
• I believe there are creative ways we can fund government programs without always raising fees or taxes. As director of a children's organization, I wrote legislation that created a public-private partnership with cellphone companies. The legislation streamlined the process for the placement of cellphone towers on state-owned property. In exchange, companies paid a fee. The bill raises $100 million a year for the State, and provides consumers with increased service. These types of revenue generating programs benefit both California and private enterprise in lieu of increased taxes.
• Although I believe we can balance the budget without new taxes or fees, I am willing to vote for measures that will generate revenue for necessary services.
(7) If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
• Placement of a district office is ultimately the decision of the Assembly Rules Committee. Irrespective of the location of a district office, I will hold month "sidewalk office hours" in every community in the 53rd Assembly District. Once a month, I will set up weekend office hours in a public venue in Venice/Mar Vista for constituents to talk to me and my staff about state issues. In addition, I will hold town hall meetings in every community on general issues, and will hold special town hall meetings on specific issues. Hearing from residents of the 53rd Assembly District is important to me. That is why my campaign is holding weekly meet-and- greets throughout the district and why I walk neighborhoods every day. I want to talk to my neighbors face-to-face. I am often stopped in the streets, and I welcome the opportunity to hear what people have to say.
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Edgar Sanez
Questions for Assembly Candidates:
(The Beachhead reserves the right to edit answers longer than 30 words.)
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission’s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
3. Do you support or oppose the “Tax Cannabis 2010” initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
Support.
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
curbing jets and associated pollution at SMO;
Green Line to LAX and Torrance,
rapid buses from Venice/Westside to Expo Line;
Bullet Train;
north-south light rail;
careful restoration of Ballona Wetlands
more open space/parks
protecting AB 32 (greenhouse gas law)
phasing out plastic bags
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
Support programs like PATH
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
Find efficiencies and raise revenue. State government can’t cut its way of this hole and it cannot and must not balance on the backs on the most vulnerable.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
Diane Wallace
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
I have lived in the 53rd for nearly all of my adult life. I support the establishment of identifiable communities with Los Angeles. Venice is certainly one of those communities.
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission’s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
This is an issue that is made more complicated by legislation/bureaucracy. The solution is to first convene residents to clearly articulate the issues. No legislation is needed - yet.
3. Do you support or oppose the “Tax Cannabis 2010” initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
This legislation as a step towards decriminalization. However, I also would support additional legislation that would address "driving stoned."
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
Protecting the ocean, especially preventing the trash from storm drains. Conservation of water. Clean energy. A water plan that is locally sustained for southern California.
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
If appropriate/needed, the chronic homeless should be in the mental health system again. We need job training and temporary housing for the recent and temporarily homeless, which includes many mothers and children.
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
I support responsible fiscal management. There are ways to reduce expenditures without cutting services. And there are ways to increase our revenues, with taxes on alcohol, wine and tobacco.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
I plan to establish an office in the middle of the district. I plan to hold regular town hall meetings in all areas of the district, including Venice.
Mitch Ward
Free Venice Beachhead Questionnaire
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
As Mayor of Manhattan Beach I view my job as one focused on solving local problems. It is what I have been twice elected to do. I will approach the Venice/Mar Vista area in the same way. For instance, Venice Beach is at the end of the watershed and a huge urban population. Not only is storm drain pollution a problem but so are the pressures to deal with the homeless populations in an orderly but compassionate way. These are critical needs that affect Venice in a very unique manner. Therefore I will formulate solutions based upon this characteristic. Many in the Venice area share with me the feeling of a disconnection from downtown Los Angeles’ governance. This is similar to the way we in the South Bay feel about our state government. So I will work very hard to immediately establish an open and accessible form of communication between my office and every local community I am honored to represent.
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission&Mac226;s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
I would vote YES. As a matter of fact I have already acted locally with our Manhattan Beach City Council regarding these oversized vehicles. I introduced the local measure for public discussion to ban boats and large RVs in the city several months ago. We are currently in the process formulating a city wide ordinance based upon public testimony taken at our city commissions. This approach will continue to allow individuals the full use of their recreational vehicles and vessels but at the same time it ensures the public streets are properly used for vehicle that they were designed for.
3. Do you support or oppose the „Tax Cannabis 2010‰ initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
I would support these measures. I believe the tax revenues generated from a regulated Marijuana market are part of the long-term solution to the state’s budget woes. I would, however, introduce legislation mandating that a portion of Cannabis Tax revenues be dedicated to alcohol and substance abuse diversion programs.
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
Clean up the watershed that affects Ballona Creek and the Santa Monica Bay, provide tax incentives for Green and Social Entrepreneurs, and push to have portions of the Santa Monica Bay designated as a Marine Protected Areas.
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
As part of my efforts to clean up Ballona Creek and the Santa Monica Bay clean up, I believe we can create many Green Collar jobs. We should have local programs to make those jobs accessible to the working poor of our area including homeless families and individuals.
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
I support several measures that I believe will deal with our long-term budget issues including adjusting the threshold for passing a state budget from 2/3rds to 55%, closing corporate loopholes on property tax reassessments, and providing local jurisdictions to pass bond and revenue measures by a vote of 55% in the same way that local school districts can.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
The answer is an emphatic Yes and Yes! I am a fanatic about local involvement.
1. Why should voters in Venice, specifically, support your candidacy?
If elected, I will work tirelessly to getting our economy moving again. In order to do this, we need to change how government does business by cutting red tape, restoring local control and redirecting misplaced spending priorities in Sacramento.
2. Ted Lieu has introduced AB 2228 in the Assembly. It would ban overnight parking by RVs, regardless of the Coastal Commission’s position. If you were voting, would it be yes or no?
I would vote no. I believe that local communities should have the right to choose what's appropriate for them, not the state, particularly on matters that are most relevant locally.
3. Do you support or oppose the “Tax Cannabis 2010” initiative on the November ballot and/or Assembly Bill 2254? Both would ease prohibition of marijuana.
I feel that drug abuse is a community and a family problem, not a government one. So I support efforts to liberalize drug laws at the federal level. However, at the state level we are subject to the supremacy clause of the constitution, so we must be careful to not put ourselves too much in conflict with federal law. Legalization could jeopardize funding coming to the state from the federal government-- similar to what happened to Louisiana when they refused to raise their drinking age to 21 and highway funding was withheld. Therefore I appreciate the intent, but oppose these measures.
4. What are your top pro-environment priorities, if elected?
Keeping our beaches clean and reducing the amount of particulate pollution and smog constituents in the air. We can do this by encouraging community action and by creating smart tax incentives to modernize equipment and get old dirty diesel engines off the road. We need to apply the 80/20 rule here and get the most bang for our buck in terms of environmental efforts.
5. With the recession/depression more people are becoming homeless. What would you do as a member of the Assembly to provide housing, services and jobs for this population?
We need to bring back manufacturing jobs to the state by reducing regulatory barriers and changing tax incentives. Every manufacturing job we create needs at least three more jobs to support it. More jobs will give people an exit plan from homelessness, since a rising tide raises all boats. We should create an environment where people can help themselves.
6. The state of California is nearly bankrupt. Do you believe in raising more revenue or cutting services? If the former, would you increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy?
I choose a third path. We need to change how Sacramento spends our money-- why are close to 1000 people in the department of corrections making over 200k/year and then retiring at age fifty with six figure pensions when we are throwing grandmothers out of nursing homes because the state is out of money? This is called misplaced priorities. We need to get public employee pensions and salaries under control and make government work more efficiently-- that's how we should close the budget, not by cutting services or raising taxes.
7. If elected, will you establish an office in the Venice/Mar Vista area? Will you hold regular town halls to get input from your constituents?
I want to do everything possible to make Venice/Mar Vista residents feel like their voice is being heard in Sacramento. People need to know my door is always open-- I plan on making it a priority to meet with residents throughout the district on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and taking their feedback to Sacramento and taking action on the issues that are most important to them.