"Protecting Our Future"

By Tom Long

Statement of Qualifications and Positions

GOALS

To preserve our City's quality of life.
It is important that we preserve the open spaces and limit the nature and density of development in the City to prevent erosion in our quality of life.

To ensure that our City's government remains responsive to the public and fiscally sound.
We should preserve volunteer involvement in government, rather than surrender our government to professional politicians. I favor City decision-making that is open to public scrutiny and comment.

As a City Council member, I will also strive to advance the following major objectives:

First and foremost is the preservation of the low density of population and development and the open space we have in the city. The line between Palos Verdes and the rest of Los Angeles County is visible from outer space. I believe that our mandate, under the city's general plan, is to hold that line.

Maintain public land public. As a Planning Commissioner, I was the first to voice opposition to the proposed giveaway of public land to the developers of Long Point. View more...

Protect and expand existing view ordinances to protect the value of our residents' homes. Reasonable preservation of views should be the norm, not the exception.

Preserve the quality of our residential neighborhoods. Commercial intrusions, including such things as commercial antenna farms, do not belong in residential neighborhoods. View more...

Work with neighboring cities to preserve our quality of life. Working together helps us achieve our common goals. View more...

Provide our seniors with a center and appropriate services. Careful planning to serve our senior residents is essential.

Protect homeowners' investments by repairing dilapidated sewers and storm drains. Due to years of lack of foresight, we must now explore all revenue sources to fund the multi-million dollar cost our City faces. View more...

Conserve and protect City revenues. If the City proves unable to meet its financial obligations, its very existence will be threatened. View more...

Support public and consistent decision-making processes. We should consider televising the meetings of all City bodies, including subcommittees. Broadcasting will encourage public input. View more...

BACKGROUND My wife Laura Lee and I are decade long residents of RPV. For most of that time I have volunteered on the City's commissions. I was Chairman of the View Restoration Commission and am now Chairman of both the General Plan Update Steering Committee and the Planning Commission. I have over 20 years experience as a business law attorney and am a graduate of Stanford Law School. View more... My experience in serving on City Commissions, as well as my professional experience and education, will help me achieve these goals and benefit our future. Please vote for me on Tuesday, November 4, 2003.