Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 39; Green Party

Issues and Green Answers critical to our 39th Assembly District - categorized according to the Green Party Ten Key Values

Solving the state budget problem first requires:

ecological wisdom:

To slow global warming and stabilize our biosphere, what is urgently required is nothing less than an all-out effort worthy of last century's World War II. The Democrats take on 'green collar' jobs is too little too late. As a human species, we must halt global greenhouse gas emissions and develop zero net energy technology; reducing is not enough.

The current officeholder has demonstrated an outright opposition to seriously address implementation of AB 1493 (Global Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act) - as evidenced by his fence-sitting which defeated Assemblymember Ruskin's 'Feebates' consumer credits given toward the purchase of high mileage, small cars in addition to surcharging purchasers of SUVs.

-----

Then, to stimulate consumer spending, cut prison spending, while actually increasing education spending:

decentralization:

Seeding a 'green collar' economy to provide for a workforce is imperative to maintain, grow and expand zero net energy building developments, affordable housing and innovate greenhouse gas-reducing technologies. By 'getting off the grid', funding will be manageable for maintaining and improving a smaller, more efficient infrastructure.

social justice, respect for diversity, feminism:

Reduce inflationary spiral on lower income workforce by a phased elimination of state tax on wages and salary and sales tax compensated with a graduated tax rate on gross rents, gross business receipts and resource-based taxes.

I will promote legislation to immediately end immigration raids and deportations. Political initiatives need to link every environmental demand to specific legislation that improves quality of life in our working class district - programs that employ youth in a living wage 'green collar' economic community (to answer challenges which cause gang activity), that create more parkspace (given the prevalent immigrant community's pro-environment health-conscious, wide usage of out-door public spaces and green recreational spaces), that extend opportunities for people to enjoy nature and to participate in green politics, that confront the immorality of a rich state while our children are poor.

My opponent's legislative initiatives creates more criminal infractions which would expand the already runaway 7.4 billion dollar California Prison-Industrial complex. My green answer is removing jail time for victimless crimes, removal of 'three strikes' and using the expanded education dollar for educative, correction-oriented programs over punishment to reduce the size and uncontrolled spending of the current prison system. Fully fund educational programs, especially those for early childhood. Costs per student are far less than the cost per prisoner in a dysfunctional prison complex.

-----

Eliminate the deficit by stopping the War for Oil in Iraq and reduce military spending everywhere else, pushing Congress for our fair share given the Federal tax contribution - besides closing developer loopholes, seeding a green collar economy, while replacing the present dirty money, corporatist welfare legislation with Clean Money, publicly financed elections allowing single payer healthcare - saving 30% over the current privatized structure. After all, California is the sixth largest economy on the world stage and the actual savings will be immense.

community-based economics:

In an extended period of spiraling downward real estate value and economic depression, the mark of a civilized society would not to eliminate the 16 billion dollar State Budget deficit by closing parks, workforce healthcare programs, and entitlements to the poor, disabled, elderly and children. Instead, curb unsustainable speculative urban sprawl, mansionification through tax incentives by replacing tax on building improvements with tax on land. Change tax policy to close developer loopholes to provide for the common interest and to increase public coffers.

future focus/sustainability:

Redirect "Enterprise zones" (in which the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency engages in real estate speculation while allowing growing blight in the community) toward attracting and encouraging transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly, mixed use, zero net energy, smart, compact, ecological-inspired architecture to reduce urban sprawl's carbon footprint and meet the 2030 mandated reduction of 80% - 90% of global greenhouse gases to mitigate global warming.

Restore riparian areas in contaminated properties (closed landfills, and auto salvage yards) for green space (our lungs), recreation, community gardens, horse, bicycling and hiking trails.

Maintain the mission of Hansen Dam to protect urban development from flooding and promote small water retention ponds, underground aquifers and cisterns. By doing so, we begin to answer the water shortage challenging the continued existence of 18 million Southern Californians.

Expand rail and jitney transit to compensate for the required trips now taken by private, gas-consuming vehicles - which will be phased off the roadways.

personal/global responsibility:

The incumbent has amassed an unknown number of 'hidden' campaign committees with unknown amounts of dollars. One might conclude that his legislative initiatives appear to be gestures toward nursing a corporatist money flow into his campaign committee treasuries. My green answer is to promote Clean Money and publicly financed elections to hold elected officials responsible and accountable to the people's interests, not corporate interests so that single-payer health care can save 30% off the cost of providing quality healthcare for all.

Who (and How Many People) in Los Angeles County Would Be Affected by the Governor's Proposed Budget?' (from california budget project)

The Governor has proposed substantial reductions to virtually all state-supported services to close the state's budget gap. The Legislature will consider these proposed reductions and other options during upcoming budget hearings. Who in Los Angeles County would be affected by the Governor's proposals?

• 1,544,710 students served by Los Angeles County's public schools. Cuts to five of the largest funding allocations for public schools in the county would equal $670 per student.
• 66,140 low-income children dropped from the CalWORKs Program.
• 418,840 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would lose the state cost-of-living adjustment for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment cash assistance grants.
• 163,700 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would receive fewer hours of services through the In-Home Supportive Services Program.
• 5,170 fewer children enrolled in child care and preschool due to funding cuts to child development programs.
• 61,590 low-income children in 2008-09 + and a total of 112,140 children by 2009-10 + who would lose Medi-Cal coverage due to increased paperwork requirements.
• 2,261,650 low-income Medi-Cal recipients who may have reduced access to health care services because of payment cuts to health care providers.
• 249,220 children enrolled in the Healthy Families Program, which provides low-cost health coverage for children in low-income working families. The Governor proposes to increase family premium contributions and copayments and reduce dental services.
• Visitors to five state parks in Los Angeles County, which the Governor proposes to close.