League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA May 21, 2013 Election
	Jose A. Gardea Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 1

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What do you think is the single most important issue facing the City of Los Angeles today? As Council Member, what would you do to deal with it?

I believe that our most important issue facing the city is the vulnerability of the city budget. After several years of cutbacks and reductions, the city's structural deficit continues to provide challenges as to the levels of service delivery. Although revenues are on the upswing, difficult decisions still lie ahead. We need to re-prioritize our services so that core services like public safety, clean streets, sidewalk repairs, and park maintenance are in fact fully funded, and thus make our city a place with a high quality of life.

2. 85% of the City's General Fund Budget is for personnel costs. If forced to cut costs to balance the budget, would you favor reducing the number of employees or asking existing employees to accept lower wages and/or reduced benefits?

I would first work with our city administrative officer, as well as our employee collective bargaining units, to identify any and all options to reduce expenditures. Over the last several years during the deepest parts of our budget crisis, our city employees demonstrated their loyalty and courage by accepting a greater share of responsibility to cover their benefits, as well as deferring pay raises. The city's workforce is ready and willing to make the sacrifices in order to make this a functional city.

3. Do you support the DWP taking steps to reduce carbon emissions even if that will result in increased bills for ratepayers?

I believe ratepayers will support an increase in their bills if they see a full accounting of where their money will go. Many residents are concerned with the growing signs of climate change. I am too. Let's address our future needs by creating strong accountability measures today within DWP.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 25, 2013 19:03
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