Candidate for
Council Member; City of Torrance

My vision for the City of Torrance is to maintain a safe, well-run, and family-oriented community that preserves the special qualities that make Torrance such a wonderful place to live and work.

I want to share my thoughts on some of the issues currently facing our city.

PUBLIC SAFETY - Maintaining a safe and secure community is my highest priority. I will continue to support proper funding for Torrance's public safety services to provide crime prevention, law enforcement, fire, paramedic, and other vital emergency services; and assure that the City is prepared to respond to local and regional major emergencies.

FUTURE GROWTH/OVER DEVELOPMENT - An important issue for Torrance's future is how it should grow. Our city is nearly built-out and is predicted to grow slowly in the future. That doesn't mean it won't grow or change at all, nor do we want it to stagnate. The challenge we face regarding future development is to accommodate growth in a manner that is right-and smart-for Torrance. We need to preserve and enhance what is best about our community's character and quality of life while keeping our economy healthy and vital. To do that, my goal is to:

Protect stable neighborhoods and preserve single- family neighborhoods from over-building;

Meet the needs of the changing demographics in the city by providing affordable housing options for seniors near community services and transit;

Revitalize existing office and retail space, and encourage infill construction of new attractive, high quality commercial development along our commercial corridors;

Protect open spaces, parks, and the environment;

Make sure that new development doesn't burden our streets, water and sewer systems, and storm drains, and that it pays for itself; and

Ensure that Torrance remains a "balanced city."

TRAFFIC/CONGESTION - I will work to create solutions and to secure state, federal or other funds that address the traffic flow and congestion on local streets; encourage the synchronization of traffic signals throughout the city; and enhance our public transportation options.

INFRASTRUCTURE - I will support the commitment of city capital funds to repair residential sidewalks, improve the condition of our local streets, and make necessary infrastructure improvements to our sewers, water mains and storm drains.

OPENSPACE/QUALITY OF LIFE/ENVIRONMENT - I will advocate for and support the acquisition and preservation of open space and work to develop new neighborhood parks. I will encourage the City to take the lead in "green" initiatives; support the expansion of the green waste recycling program; will continue to encourage "green" buildings in all new construction; encourage and support alternative energy incentive programs and any strategy that will lead to the elimination of greenhouse emissions.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - I will support an active economic development program that encourages businesses to locate in Torrance, offers economic incentives, business and professional development assistance and a streamlined permit and inspection process.

EDUCATION - I will work to build stronger partnerships with our eductional leaders; and work to develop joint programs that will result in true operating efficiencies to benefit our students in Torrance public schools.