League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA March 5, 2013 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 3

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Most Important Issue, Budget Shortfall, Sales Tax, Climate Change, Constituency vs. City Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 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? Answer from Joyce J. Pearson: Stifled economic opportunity for businesses and individuals is the #1 issue facing the City of Los Angeles today. In order for Los Angeles to be competitive with neighboring cities we have to streamline the business permitting process and promote tax fairness to level the playing field. We also need to build more mutually beneficial public-private partnerships that foster growth. Answer from Elizabeth Badger: I believe the single most important issue facing our city is the budget crisis. We must get our budget under control, and not at the expense of cutting core services. As councilwoman, I will make it my mission to stop the tax loopholes, reduce wasteful spending, and go after money owed to our city. Answer from Scott Silverstein: The single most important issue facing the city is the enormous legacy cost. We cannot sustain the current Ponzi scheme that we employ to fund the retirement packages. Today's pensions are almost $10 billion dollars underfunded. This means that the pension pools contain only 60-65% of the resources needed over the next decades. This underfunding, along with pie-in-the-sky accounting, leaves the pension system vulnerable to failure and bankruptcy. Unfortunately, we are stuck with the poor decisions of the past. Going forward, we must philosophically change from that of a bloated employment agency to an efficient public administration. Instead of the exorbitant retirement packages, we should tier the salaries so they are in line with the private sector, maintain the job security offered to civil servants, but structurally and radically reduce any retirement package that is funded by the citizens of Los Angeles. Answer from Steven E. Presberg: Pension reform is the number one issue. Now consuming nearly 20% of our entire budget, our City pension costs must be reduced or it will ultimately consume us all. I would enter into talks with the City's unions to try to reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached, I would introduce a Charter Amendment in the City Council, and lead a drive for a public referendum if necessary. Answer from Bob Blumenfield: As the economy continues to rebound we should place a priority on restoring the cuts in public services of the last few years. Answer from Cary T. Iaccino: The budget. Delivering core services and avoiding insolvency. We must tackle our deficit with multi-year planning, performance-based budgeting and a clear focus on delivering what taxpayers expect and deserve, without continuing to go back to the people for more. Business, homeowners, and all residents continue to be pressed to shoulder the burden of regressive tax increases, and continually rising fees, fines, and permits. Let's liberate our business base so entrepreneurs can create jobs and increase economic activity. It's time to stop raising taxes any further and time to eliminate the cumbersome Gross Receipts Tax and instead create a climate for our business community to grow. Only then will we see an increase in the revenues the city generates. 2. The City Administrative Officer has estimated a $200M budget shortfall for 2013-2014 increasing to $300M in 2015-2016. What steps do you propose to deal with this problem, and how much do you estimate each step would reduce the shortfall? Answer from Elizabeth Badger: This is a complicated problem that cannot be genuinely answered in a few lines or short steps. It took us decades to get into the budget crisis we are in today. We can't realistically plan to fix it overnight. We need an overhaul of our budget oversight, including accurate and transparent reporting of where the money is going, where the waste is occurring, and the rate at which our city is growing. While we must face the reality of cuts, we can't continue to cut core services when our population is growing. In addition to improving transparency, we need to bring revenue back into the city by making Los Angeles a place to come and do business. We need to make it easier for small business to operate so they can grown and hire new employees, who can in turn go back into the community and spend money and support our local economy. Answer from Bob Blumenfield: 1. Aggressively pursue unpaid fines, fees and taxes owed to the city. 2. Effectively manage new revenues that will come as the economy continues to rebound. Answer from Scott Silverstein: The projected budget shortfall of $300M over the next three budget cycles must be dealt with from both the income and expense sides. First of all, we need to increase income. This can be accomplished by lowering the tax burdens on businesses to improve the business conditions in the city. The surrounding communities, along with the surrounding states, are poaching our tax dollar producers to their communities. Next, we need to cut spending. Privatization of the convention center, the zoo, animal services, ambulance services, local inmate transportation, and library services should be further studied. These items alone account for over $70 million dollars annually. Even if the initial savings were insignificant due to startup costs, the savings related to legacy costs would be exponentially valuable over time. Answer from Steven E. Presberg: I would immediately ask the Coalition of City Unions to accept an arrangement whereby every City employee pays 10% of the cost of health care, saving between $20 and $40 million. I would begin to close certain City departments and functions that are better left to the County. This includes jails/detention facilities, and Animal Services. Pension reform, if adopted quickly, could save an additional $100 million. Further shortfalls would have to be met with furloughs of City employees or layoffs. Answer from Cary T. Iaccino: We need a truly independent voice at the table for reasonable and fair negotiations between our Public Sector Unions and our City on necessary cost control to insure retirement security for our entire City family, while avoiding bankruptcy. As the husband of a United Teachers of Los Angeles union member, I know how difficult it is when budget cuts force furloughs and other cost saving measures upon individual families. As a business owner, I feel the burdens all levels of government hoist upon our revenue generators, the entrepreneurs. We must balance the interests of both of these parties with the needs of our citizens. In addition to pension reform, I propose several options to reduce the budget shortfall. To name a few: require the City to create a 5 year financial plan, fully implement performance-based budgeting, consolidate overlapping departments, increase efficiencies with 21st century technologies, form more Public/Private Partnerships for non-core functions, and do a much better job at collecting revenue already owed to the City. Answer from Joyce J. Pearson: In the Mayor's current fiscal year budget proposal, he advocated an 8 point plan regarding civilian pension reform, most of which has begun with mixed success. Per request of the Mayor, The CAO was directed to study how the city can ensure the cost neutrality of recruiting city employees via the Government Service Buyback Program, and sharing the cost of future retirement benefits with employees. It is time to finish studying and start implementing fair and rational deficit reducing solutions that protect the taxpayers from unforseen and consequently unfunded liabilities. This would address more than half of the budget shortfall to the tune of $125 million. Rising health benefit costs, and unanticipated police & fire expenditures account for the next largest part of the deficit. We cannot continue to have constantly rising overtime staffing costs in either department, and simultaneously have young fire and police academy grads still waiting for years on end for an opening. To combat higher health benefit costs, we Angelenos can all play a role by doing a little preventive medicine by choosing to become healthier in our daily lives, and teaching our children to do so as well. 3. Do you support the ballot measure to increase the sales tax in the city? Answer from Steven E. Presberg: No. I consider this proposal an insidious attempt to evade responsibility for making tough decisions by our elected officials. This is a new "race to the top" - to see which locality can have the highest sales tax rate in California. We should not place this burden on struggling businesses and middle and lower income residents. What will happen when a deficit still remains - a call for a further increase in sales taxes? Answer from Joyce J. Pearson: NO, at least not with this current council in charge. Answer from Cary T. Iaccino: I do not support Measure A to increase the sales tax. This regressive tax is another in a long line of fees and taxes that are sold to us as the only way to keep us safe, and it hits hardest at the lower income earners. There are ways to generate new revenues through business growth and retention. If we allow business to grow 5% in LA, we should easily realize all the revenue this measure will produce. Not to mention, the revenue raised through this proposal would not even cover next year's escalation in the City's contributions to salaries, pensions and benefits. The best part of freeing up our businesses; their growth will compound in the years ahead which offset the yearly cost increases. Answer from Scott Silverstein: I do not support any increases in the sales tax, or any tax, unless there is an equal reduction in the gross receipts tax. We put our businesses at a competitive disadvantage with the surrounding cities. Our businesses are bombarded with taxes, fees, and regulations. Business is the generator of opportunity and economic growth, and should be treated as such. Higher taxes reduce spending at and by those businesses. Answer from Elizabeth Badger: In these uncertain times, I don't think we should be pulling options off the table. However, increasing the sales tax must be carefully planned to actually assist in solving the problem. If we are to raise sales tax, we should only do it if we have a real plan for where that money is going to go. I would support an increase, for example, if it is understood that the money would go back into our police, fire, or repairing our infrastructure. Answer from Bob Blumenfield: Were I on the City Council at the time, I would have sought a different alternative. However, the city needs the funds to avoid further cuts in services. I believe this measure will allow all of the city's residents and visitors to share the load so I will be voting yes. As a City Councilmember, I will seek ways to sunset this tax and make it unneeded as quickly as possible. 4. What role do you feel the City of Los Angeles has to play in addressing climate change? Please explain in terms of what you as a city councilmember would have the power to do. Answer from Joyce J. Pearson: Every community, large and small has a role to play in addressing climate change, and whether or not it is man-made is a false debate that ultimately gets us nowhere. Last year, we experienced a record drought in this country where 2,000+ counties were a federal disaster zone driving the cost of corn, chicken, meat, eggs, and dairy up; our north-eastern seaboard is from now on supposed to get used to tropical style hurricanes; there have been recent record floods in Pakistan, India, and Australia; and the Maldives are on their way to being submerged into the Indian Ocean. The Earth IS changing. If there are things we can do to be more thrifty and mindful of what resources we consume, and how we consume them, we need to do that like we used to a great generation ago. A city as world renowned as Los Angeles, that has already made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint should absolutely be at the forefront of pioneering green-technology use throughout the city spurring private enterprise and job creation. I would focus on expanding the use of solar panels on the vacant rooftops throughout the city, helping lower energy costs for ratepayers and generating surplus energy back into the grid, or promoting urban gardens to expand local farmer markets into areas who may not currently have access to fresh food in their immediate neighborhood. Answer from Bob Blumenfield: I have earned a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters for my leadership on environmental issues. As a councilmember I will bring leadership to acheive greater conservation and efficiency in our energy use. Answer from Steven E. Presberg: One thing we can commit to doing is to phase out our polluting vehicles, to be replaced over time with low/no emissions vehicles. Broaden categories for recycling to include most consumer packaging, paper, metal, aluminum, as well as bottles. Rather than burning waste into the atmosphere, we should study methods to create energy via waste in mass and portable mechanisms. Answer from Scott Silverstein: The single greatest improvement made to environmental quality has been the reduction of auto and truck exhaust. Local air-quality improvements will continue due to more stringent state and federal mandates. The city can address climate change by improving the local mass transit system. We need to get cars off the roads by placing mass transit in areas of high impact such as the airports, stadiums, coast, and business districts. Any new developments or existing properties undergoing a very substantial renovation should be required to meet a LEED silver level or greater. There should be a bonus offerred to those projects that meet a high LEED standard and are developed in a Transit Oriented District. Answer from Elizabeth Badger: Our City leaders must set an example for the residents of our communities. We are in the position to promote programs and practices within our city that can reduce our carbon footprint and educate residents on how they can do their part to protect the environment. As councilwoman, I will advocate for expanding green initiatives that cut back dramatically on waste and increase our use of reusable resources. Answer from Cary T. Iaccino: Climate change truly can only be addressed on a global scale. As a city, we can do much more to encourage more recycling, alternative energy sources, decreases in energy use through simple efficiency and untapped new technologies. We can set an example and show other cities and countries how it can be done; being a trendsetter is what California is known for. What we should not do is make changes so drastic and fast that our cost of living is a burden to individuals and businesses. There must be a careful balance struck between being good stewards of the Earth and hurting our chances for economic recovery. And finally, focus on more parks and open space. Let's keep open space (Such as Pierce College farm) intact and only increase density when growth patterns show a need for expansion. I will not force it. 5. How would you prioritize your local constituency versus the City as a whole when acting as a Council Member? Answer from Elizabeth Badger: Council members are elected to serve a specific constituency, but the truth is that these boundaries are arbitrary. We all share many of the same concerns: safety, jobs, economic stability, and so forth. I do, however, believe that each district has its own unique needs and issues, and it is the responsibility of the councilperson in office to make sure those needs are given a voice. I will always fight to represent the residents of my district, but I will also maintain a balance between the needs of my district and the needs of the city as a whole. Answer from Joyce J. Pearson: For too long, the West Valley residents have been ignored in downtown, its basic needs and services have not been met, and it is increasingly isolated from the development from the rest of the city as a whole. I am running to represent District 3 and ensure that we have an equal seat at the table and that the constituents who made it a priority to entrust me as their council member, will have their priorities voiced unapologetically to the council. The West Valley is not satisfied with being isolated into a bedroom and retail community only, and needs to be included in the city's overall development plan for the 21st century in a meaningful way that encourages patronage by tourists and residents alike, and for new business to move in. Answer from Scott Silverstein: As a Council Member, your constituents expect you to provide the basic city functions such as public safety, fire protection, and the other city functions that they pay for with their taxes. In crisis situations, particularly in the citywide economic crisis we are currently experiencing, an informed citizen is more apt to want their representative to prioritize his or her time mitigating the crisis. As difficult as it may be, I will maintain a balance between improving the City as a whole and the needs of my constituents. Answer from Cary T. Iaccino: I supported valley secession in the past because we deserve our fair share of the money in taxes we send downtown. I will fight for those vital funds being returned in equitable public services to our stakeholders. The district Council Office can and should act as a hub for its communities. I will increase staffing levels in our District Office. We will operate more in the field, identifying quality of life issues in the communities we represent. My office hours will be lengthened to help fill in where 311 operator's call hours have been reduced, we will offer weekend hours as well. When a tree falls in the street and 311 is unavailable, do we want residents calling 911? My bosses are the 252,000 individuals who conferred upon me this elected position. In return we will give CD3 Stakeholders common sense solutions and make customer service a priority for our neighborhoods. Answer from Bob Blumenfield: As an Assemblymember I have had to balance the needs for constituent services in my district and the needs for the entire state. I don't see this as being a problem. I can give equal weight to all our local needs. Answer from Steven E. Presberg: The three roles of the Council member is to 1. Represent my constituents to promote and protect their interests; 2. Oversight of the budget; and 3. Facilitate efficient city services to my district and the city as a whole. I will certainly work hard to bring resources to my district. However, I believe that we are in a time of serious challenges and must act in the best interests of the entire City and our mutual future. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.