Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Culver City

Culver City has an important election on April 8th 2008. We'll have three new City Council members. With your help I'll be one of them. All of Culver City's business districts have character, our unique shops and restaurants attract people from all over the region. We face many challenges and opportunities such as economic growth versus over-development, traffic congestion, public safety and the quality of our schools.

Economic Development Great cities require careful planning. In the next few years we will be rewriting our General Plan. This is a critical document that dictates how development will occur. Culver City has rediscovered the virtues and values of our founders, that of solid urban centers that are diverse, vital and unique. I stand for those same values that created this City 91 years ago. I will work hard to create a plan that builds strong relations with businesses, adds workable design standards, attract investment into areas of town that need it, makes our streets more walk-able and encourages traffic flow and offers many choices in jobs, housing, recreation and arts.

Traffic We Americans have a love affair with our cars, but too many cars on our streets makes life less enjoyable. Our General plan has a component that is dedicated strictly to traffic. I will study our traffic congestion problem and find creative solutions such as an anti gridlock plan to alleviate rush hour traffic on our major through-fares. We have another love affair that we are much more passionate about. We love our small town. It represents the best of us collectively and individually. With proper planning we may accommodate change gracefully and protect our neighborhoods while being socially and economically inclusive. Great Cities are life affirming and Culver City is a Great City.

Safety Culver City residents take pride in the City and historically have put a lot of energy into looking after our neighborhoods and sharing responsibility for the safety and well-being of our neighbors. But we residents can't do this alone. Culver City has excellent Police and Fire Departments. I support our Police and Fire Departments and I will do everything I can to find funding to increase the resources and number of Police Officers and Firemen who protect our City.

Sustainability Culver City is becoming more environmentally conscious with natural gas buses and solar panels on some public buildings. Some of our neighbors have put solar panels on their homes, but the City has made the process difficult for them. I will work hard to easy the permit process for projects such as these. One of the most significant things we can do as a City is plant trees. Not only does this beautify our streets it reduces greenhouse gases and lovely tree lined streets allow visitors to be aware they are in CULVER CITY. Right now, we have a significant resource that runs through our City that is sitting idle. I will work hard to attract and find funding to reclaim the Ballona Creek water shed. The Ballona Creek will create a truly unique environmental feature like no other in an urban setting, for residents and visitors to use and enjoy. It will establish connectivity to surrounding areas such as the Kenneth Hahn State Park and enable bike access for visitors from the beach Cities and elsewhere.

Many are seeking out Culver City for the authenticity of experience, the richness that only comes from the people who live here, the businesses that work here, the beauty and safety of our streets and neighborhoods and for the quality of our schools. If you share these values, support me in becoming your next City Council member.