Dr. Jeanette Parker

By Jeanette Parker, Ph.D.

Interview of Dr. Parker on the Issues

2/24/01

By Jeanette Parker

The Beverly Hills Weekly invited each of the 11 candidates for City Council to write a guest column identifying the issues facing the city over the next four years, and how they would address them if elected. We ran two to three columns per week, in alphabetical order. This week's issue features the final three candidates. By Jeanette Parker Dr. Jeanette Parker is a 31-year resident of Beverly Hills. She and her husband traveled from Alabama as young adults with nothing, more than dreams 38 years ago. Today they can look back on a lifetime of accomplishments, including raising their two children who received their schooling in Beverly Hills. Dr. Parker loves Beverly Hills, and loves what it stands for. She is concerned as a lifelong resident that her concerns are being ignored by the politicians and developers that seek to dramatically change the face of Beverly Hills. She is concerned that the resident's views are increasing ignored by the politicians and developers that seek to dramatically change the face of Beverly Hills. She is concerned that the resident's views are increasing ignored, and the commercialization of Beverly Hills is fast approaching. Dr. Parker wants to do something to re-empower the residents in having a voice about what happens in their city. That's why she is running for Beverly Hills City Council in the march 6th election. Dr. Parker is concerned about the following issues:

• Traffic Congestion and Parking Shortages: Beverly Hills receives 14 million tourists annually, and an increase of 150,000 persons above the resident population flow on any given weekday. Dr. Parker would recommend the city redesign its traffic flow to eliminate traffic on certain streets like Santa Monica Blvd. and replace them with pedestrian overpasses that allow efficient traffic flow and improved pedestrian safety. This would remedy much of the city's congestion problems.
• Control and Conservation of Beverly Hills' Water Reserves: Beverly Hills currently maintains an over reliance on external water systems (Metropolitan Water District) to provide its water. Beverly Hills residents are currently being "double taxed" when it maintains the capacity to retain its own water reserves. Dr. Parker would recommend reactivating its water wells (abandoned in 1976) and store its own water reserves to lessen the dependence on external water sources.
• Triangle Gateway Project: This project was once zoned for residential use for senior housing, but now has been converted into mixed use for commercial building of a Gelson's Market. This form of land usage will create solid waste pick-up problem for the city. Dr. Parker would recommend that a waste recycling strategy be adopted to insure that city can adequately dispose of its solid waste.
• Lot D Project: There is a big difference in developer plans and what the residents want on this site. The residents have expressed a desire to have "Williams Sonoma" type project on this site. The proposed development for this site needs to be reconsidered and changed according to the will of the residents.
• Electricity conservation: To avoid rolling power shortages, Dr. Parker would recommend forming a "sister city" collaborative with neighboring cities like Culver City and North Hollywood, for example, to purchase electrical sources for the city.
• Tenant/Landlord Relations: Dr. Parker would work with both landlords and tenants to find equitable solutions for housing in Beverly Hills. Moderate solutions that wouldn't be oppressive to either. Dr. Parker would also seek to establish affordable housing for seniors who are long time residents of Beverly Hills.
• The Cultural Center: A viable and cost efficient approach should be taken toward using taxpayer money in the completion of the Cultural Center. Dr. Parker would insist that also financing be in place (money in the bank) prior to the start of construction and that the taxpayers of Beverly Hills be indemnified against any cost overruns. In closing, Dr. Jeanette Parker feels strongly that the city of Beverly Hills needs to maintain its unique architecture in order to maintain its unique identity. If elected, Dr. Parker promises that her duty to the residents of the city will not be taken lightly. Dr. Parker promises to serve the interests of the people by making the commission process work for them. Dr. Parker will seek to establish a code of ethics for elected officials, commissioners and public employees. Lastly, Dr. Parker will make Beverly Hills government a place that promotes inclusiveness, not divisiveness. Dr. Jeanette Parker asks for your support and for your vote on March 6th. Thank you.