Santa Monica Mirror Q & A

By Kathryn J. Morea

Questions and Answers as they appear in the Santa Monica Mirror newspaper

SANTA MONICA MIRROR City Council Candidate Questionnaire Name Kathryn J. Morea Age 40 Years in Santa Monica: 8 Occupation Database Analyst Area of the city in which you live Pico Neighborhood

(1) What is your long-term vision of Santa Monica and what steps would you take to make it manifest? My vision for this city includes the variety and services we expect in a cosmopolitan city, yet we enjoy a small town, down home ambiance in Santa Monica. We are blessed with perfect weather and the spectacular Pacific Ocean as well as a myriad of shops & restaurants to chose from. The blight and street drunks will be replaced by streets that welcome families, kids walking, people bicycling, enjoying our life and feeling safe on our streets.

What I will do to make this happen is outlined in many of my answers below. This includes reducing the number of vagrants, finding alternative solutions to traffic and parking problems, encouraging home ownership and neighborhood pride, and supporting our schools.

(2) What are the City's priorities, in descending order? 1- Resident safety

Reduce the population of vagrants;
Enforce laws to decrease crime;

(3) What is your position on growth and development? I've heard many people in Santa Monica say they are against development. Or that Santa Monica is overcrowded, traffic is grid locked and we just have too many people already here. City Hall itself has become the biggest developer around. New affordable housing projects are springing up all over town, bringing hundreds of new families to Santa Monica. Yet a homeowner trying to add a bathroom may be stalled for years trying to get permits and approval.

I will ensure that all property owners will be considered in the planning process, not just a few special interest non-profit agencies who are exempted from rules. I will work to bring balance and fairness to the development process.

(4) What is your position on homeless people in Santa Monica? Sometimes people fall on hard times and need a little help. Santa Monica is full of very generous, good hearted people. We need to help the truly needy, homeless individuals to get back on their feet. Unfortunately some programs are not held accountable for getting people off the street. They feed them and dump them. The vagrants, transients and street drunks who have taken over our city have been "enabled" to continue a lifestyle supported by Santa Monica. It isn't helping them get better. I propose enacting sunset clauses and tying food giveaways to services and accountability. Only then can we help those who truly need and desire help.

(5) Rents and home prices have skyrocketed in Santa Monica. What, if anything, will you do to protect the existing stock of rent-controlled and affordable housing, and increase rental and home ownership opportunities for low- and middle-income residents? Rent control is part of the City Charter and will continue to protect tenants. "Affordable housing" projects (buildings that rent to low-income families), tend to bring in new families from outside Santa Monica. But we have plenty of people right here in Santa Monica which this housing could serve. Why not rent those affordable units to people already here? I propose that we rent those units to the disabled, the elderly, the Pico residents, etc + those already living in Santa Monica. Home ownership must become a priority. It's cruel to keep people dependent and trapped in poverty. I propose that renters be allowed to purchase their units from the enormous inventory of buildings already owned by CCSM (Santa Monica's low income housing provider, and single largest landlord). Many of those buildings were bought years ago and could be purchased by the current tenants for pennies on the dollar. It's win-win. The renter becomes a homeowner. This bestows all the benefits of home ownership onto the "former" tenant: equity, tax breaks, borrowing power, retirement, and pride of ownership.

(6) What is your position on historic preservation? There are a few rare and historic properties which should be preserved. This should not be arbitrary and based merely on whether a place has "charm". There must be incentives and tax advantages for the owners of those properties, to encourage true restoration.

(7) Traffic in Santa Monica is a major issue. How, specifically, would you improve traffic flow in the city? Traffic has drastically worsened in the past 5 years. Some is beyond our control, such as commuters traveling through Santa Monica to Playa Vista. But much of the frustration I hear about is because of the proliferation of so-called "traffic calming" on our major thoroughfares (Curb extensions, larger medians, smaller lanes). I understand that traffic calming can be useful in small residential neighborhoods such as those around a school - not on major streets such as Santa Monica Boulevard. When elected, I will impose a moratorium on further traffic calming of major streets.

(8) Under the City Charter, City staff has a great deal of authority. Do you approve, or do you think the Charter should be changed to give more authority to the City Council and/or the public? The City Charter is sufficient. City staff do need authority to make decisions in carrying out plans as set forth by City Council. I believe it's important to hire the right people and then get out of their way.

(9) What role should the City play in education? We are very fortunate to live in a city with the wealth and resources of Santa Monica. Like many, I came here because of the stellar reputation of the Santa Monica schools. As your city council person, I will continue to help fund the schools so our children receive the finest education possible. This needs to be tied to oversight and accountability by the schools. I will encourage a mutually beneficial relationship between the school administration and the city.

(10) Do you favor or oppose the suggestion that Malibu separate from the SMMUSD? I understand there is a desire by residents in Malibu to separate from the SMMUSD. The majority of students are located in Santa Monica, making the administration more responsive to the needs of students in Santa Monica. When attending the school board meeting last week, I listened to those in Malibu who are spearheading this effort. They are taking it to the voters first. They too want to ensure that a majority in Malibu are verifiably in favor of separation from SMMUSD before trying to force it on the district. I was encouraged by the analytical process undertaken by residents in Malibu and the supportive response by the school board. I think this is a wise route to follow.

(11) What is Santa Monica's biggest challenge and how would you address it? Santa Monica biggest challenge is clear from the satisfaction surveys of those who live here. The vagrants have taken over, and have more rights than the average person who works, pays bills and tries to get by. I will ensure that Santa Monica is given back to those who live here.

(12) Why should voters choose you over the other candidates? Vote for me because I'm devoted to improving life in Santa Monica. I'm extremely persistent. I'm a huge advocate of rights of those who live here. I'm not part of a huge political machine and I'm in nobody's pocket. I'm going to make Santa Monica a nicer place to live.