League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 3, 2015 Election
	Marqueece Harris-Dawson Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 8

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?

Civic participation is at an all-time low, and in the upcoming municipal elections we anticipate approximately 15% turnout. I have a 20-year track record as a community organizer in getting people engaged in city government, and winning tangible victories for communities with great needs. I intend to prioritize getting residents involved in resolving the city budget deficit, local planning issues, job creation, and making city hall accessible for the residents of South Los Angeles.

2. The City Administrative Officer has estimated a $300 million budget shortfall for 2015-2016. What steps do you propose to deal with this problem and how much do you estimate each step would reduce the shortfall?

The city's budget and deficit are incredibly complex. The City of L.A. is larger than some states, and most sitting council members are grappling with this problem. If elected I am ready to immerse myself in truly understanding the range of possibilities for increasing revenues, as well as managing expenditures while making the city attractive to business and replacing crucial city services that had been cut in the recent past. The city, like our nation's economy, is undergoing massive changes in the wake of the Great Recession. We have to consider reform of our basic tax structure and revenue streams, as well as considerable obligations such a pensions for city workers.

3. What is the single most important issue facing your Council District today, and how would you deal with it?

The 8th Council District is in South Los Angeles, which has historically had some of the highest unemployment rates in the city. However even with the current city budget deficit there are opportunities to address this. Massive construction projects such as the Crenshaw Light Rail Line, and the $1B redevelopment USC University Village offer area residents thousands of employment opportunities and will significantly improve the local economy. The City is also projected to lose upwards of 30% of it's workforce in the next five years due to attrition. I am committed to ensuring the city prioritizes hiring for jobs that impact the quality of life in local neighborhoods, and that residents of the 8th District are prepared to be competitive for these jobs.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 9, 2015 18:03
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