Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cerritos

I am Kiran Rami. I am a first time candidate among some veterans of city council running for re-election on March 8, 2011. I am a single mother living and raising three young children in this great city of ours since 1994. I have Master's Degrees in English as well as Master of Philosophy in English Literature. I am a professor of English at Long Beach City College and Golden West College. I am a former US immigration officer with Department Of Homeland Security. As a proud, well-informed, and community-minded resident I have involved myself in the community by being a coordinator and counselor for Boy Scouts Troop 693, a president of Gonsalves Elementary School Booster Club, and a member of the screening and selection committee for ABC Unified School District and Long Beach City College. I also volunteer at BPSOS Boat People organization to help seniors go through citizenship interviews. I am excited by the prospect of serving the residents of this progressive city I dearly love. When elected, I will bring in a fresh new perspective to the city council. I love the city for the quality of life it offers. I am happy with the general direction of our city's running. Thus far, our city has done very well. The city's achievements are many. To name a few: Highly successful number one Auto Mall in the nation, coveted public library, top notch schools, attractive performing art center, senior programs and recreation centers. Thanks to solid revenue stream foundations (Auto Mall, Well-planned Retail Centers) the city's financial strength and solvency, is perhaps, envy of many cities of its size. When elected, my approach will not be of "change for the sake of change"; it will be more of review, reassessment, realignment and refinement. While the severe economic downturn brought on by worst recession nationwide, has shaken the core of public administrations at all levels everywhere, Cerritos has come out relatively unscathed. However, I don't see the stormy clouds of economic downturn going away any time soon. Our state is near broke and the officials are eyeing the local funds. The new governor is proposing abolishing Redevelopment Agencies as one of the measures to close state's massive budget gap. This and other unpopular measures are sure to pose bigger challenges ahead. My focus, while remaining cognizant of the effect, will be to protect and safeguard city's programs and services the residents have grown to love. I will resist any compromises to this aim. It is time that we prioritize and get back to the basics of our city--reinvesting in our basic infrastructures, such as our streets, overpasses, and traffic & neighborhood safety. I will evaluate every proposal/program by subjecting it to rigorous "risk/reward" test. I have been walking the precincts and listening to residents' concerns and issues. Below I have summarized them and addressed them in specific. 1 Neighborhood safety: Lately the home break-ins are on the rise in our, otherwise, safe city. Residents are fearful. I would expand/improve neighborhood watch & community policing. 2 Overnight parking: Getting parking permits must be easy. It should be online. Prominent display of restriction notices to cut down embarrassing and costly infractions. 3 Traffic Safety around our schools and children play areas : I will conduct a thorough review of the history of traffic incidents, especially at the peak time of children being dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. I would recommend ways of safe traffic circulation at problem intersections. 4 Performing Arts Center: Explore ways to make the center more self-sustaining. I would Support sound and equitable private/public partnership. 5 Rose Parade Float: Support a float without taking money from city budget. In this regard, I support community non-profit organizations to raise money for float. I would like to follow the model of City of Downey. 6 Fiscal Transparency: If the city is doing everything right and using all the funds for the benefits of residents and there are no gray areas, then all salaries, pensions, contract awards should be open and available to public. 7 Adaptive Programs: They are an important component to ensure that ALL Cerritos residents are able to enjoy the recreational facilities of our city. In conclusion, I pledge an effective representation that will bring measurable results. I pledge to live up to the expectations of suave voters of Cerritos. Please vote for me (#1 on ballot) on March 8, 2011.