Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 10

We want better city services in every part of the district. We want pocket parks to give relief to this the most densely populated district in the city. We want quality shopping and services in our own community, not just discount shopping and fast food. We want beautiful boulevards to match our strong and vibrant neighborhoods. We want more democratic government through neighborhood councils. We want an inclusive politics that embraces the diversity of our growing communities. We want a police department that protects the civil rights of all persons. We wanted quality education and after-school programs for our children and expanded services for our seniors. I stood up for these and other issues not just as political talking points but also as values I hold.

I will continue to pursue the issue of police reform, which must remain on the agenda as we strive to increase the number of police officers while maintaining the quality of the recruited classes. The ultimate civilian control of the department lies with the council, which can overrule the police commission when it does not reflect the will of the people.

The implementation of the housing trust fund can provide desperately needed quality and affordable housing for our overcrowded district

Economic development of the district will bring jobs and investment but must preserve the balance between the needs of neighborhoods and the demands of demographic and economic forces

Even though many say the City Council has nothing to do with education that is not true. The most critical educational need after more teachers is for more classrooms. This means that we need a councilperson whose commitment to education is clear and who will work with the LAUSD to find sites for schools while protecting our neighborhoods. I was part of the efforts that founded the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy right here in the Tenth District and continue to serve on its board of directors.

The 10th district is also in critical need of effective approaches to increasing public safety. Shootings, robberies, graffiti and other "quality of life" crimes are a constant problem here. Community-based policing must be established in the district to better address these issues.

Since my last campaign I have worked in charter school development, as a journalist and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) and I am currently working with the Pacific Council on International Policy, also at USC.

So why am I running now? Because we still live here and we still need and want these things. I look forward to meeting you personally during the campaign and hope to earn your vote and your support.