My Positions on Major Issues of Interest to Greens

By Kevin McKeown

I oppose the death penalty. In August 2002, I voted for a resolution calling for a death penalty moratorium brought to the Santa Monica City Council by our Social Services Commission, to which I was at that time City Council liaison.

2. "Three Strikes" Law and Returning the Right to Vote to Ex-Prisoners

"Three Strikes" regressively removes sentencing discretion from judges, effectively giving it to prosecutors. At the least, "three strikes" should be amended to apply only to felonies, preferably only to violent felonies.

3. Single Payer Health Care Plans

I introduced and helped pass a Santa Monica City Council resolution supporting Sheila Kuehl's SB 921.

4. Reproductive Choice

Support.

5. Privatization of Social Security & Medicare

Oppose.

6. Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is a long way from accomplishing its purpose and must be continued.

7. School Vouchers

Against them. We must maintain the viability and diversity of public schools. This conviction is based on my own experience at parochial schools, public junior high and high schools, and Yale. I quite deliberately work in the public school system (Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District).

8. International Trade Agreements (e.g. WTO, NAFTA, FTAA, MAI, etc.)

I helped introduce and pass a Santa Monica City Council resolution against the FTAA and NAFTA. Subsequently I participated in an elected official panel on the issues for my State Senator, Sheila Kuehl.

9. Environmental Protection (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, etc.)

In 2002, I introduced the Santa Monica City Council resolution for the Heritage Tree Campaign. I was a featured speaker at Ballona town halls and successfully introduced a resolution at the Santa Monica City Council calling on the State to transfer Ballona Area "C" into the State Parks System. I am one of the authors and supporters of the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan.

10. Electoral and Campaign Finance Reform (including Public Campaign Financing)

Recently, I was successful in encouraging Senator Barbara Boxer to make a public statement in favor of IRV. I'm working on making upcoming electoral reform measure SCA 14 even more Green-friendly, and on getting the so-called "Clean Money Campaign" replaced with a proposal that treats all legitimate political parties equally.