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This information is provided by the candidate
Dear Neighbor,
As your Mayor, I work hard everyday to ensure that you have the best quality of life. Every decision I make aims to forward pragmatic and progressive policies that preserve and protect the wonderful city that we call home.
I am proud that during my tenure in office West Hollywood has gained an international reputation as the "small city with a big heart." My record reflects that I am a true champion for those in need, women, and the LGBT community, while also bringing a common sense approach to economic development, parking, and maintaining the city's overall infrastructure.
I share your priorities for public safety, the environment, affordable housing, and preserving Section 8 rental units. Furthermore, I strongly support improved services for seniors and our Russian-speaking community members.
Over the next four years, I intend to maintain the transparency, access, and openness that have been a hallmark of my leadership on Council. I would be honored to have your support for my re-election.
Please consider some of the accomplishments that I've achieved on behalf of you and the City while serving as Mayor and Councilmember:
PUBLIC SAFETY
Like you, I believe that the safety of our homes, businesses, and neighborhoods is the top priority. I am proud to have the endorsement of the men and women of law enforcement, including the Los Angeles Professional Peace Officers Association (PPOA).
I have worked at the local and state level to make our community safe and have served on the California Council on Criminal Justice as well as the Countywide Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee. Additionally, I:
- Led the effort to increase our Sheriff and Public safety budget by $1 million
- Actively supported our Neighborhood Watch programs
- Increased the number of the City's code compliance officers
- Voted to implement the Sheriff's Department's hate incident reporting system and fought for tougher hate crime enforcement and prosecution
- Helped establish the Sunset Strip Enforcement Team and Bicycle Security Patrols
If re-elected, I will support enhanced patrols for the City's eastside and for more traffic enforcement in our residential neighborhoods. I will fight to ensure that West Hollywood remains a safe community to live, work, and play in.
PARKING, TRANSPORTATION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Traffic, noise, and finding a parking space have long been frustrations for West Hollywood residents. I am proud of the progress I've helped to implement in upgrading our city's infrastructure, improving the flow of traffic. My work on Council included:
- Creating 1700 new public parking spaces
- Revitalizing Santa Monica Boulevard
- Resurfacing Fountain Avenue
- Adopting a bicycle master plan and added bike lanes to Santa Monica Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd.
- Building the new West Hollywood Public Library
- Adding 5 new parks (Kings Road, Havenhurst, Formosa, Veterans Park and Laurel Park).
Over the next four years, I will continue to build more public parking structures and increase the number of parking spaces. I will propose new and innovative ideas to keep commuter traffic off residential streets through the use of speed humps, stop signs, creative striping, and more traffic enforcement patrols.
DEVELOPMENT
On City Council, I have been the leading voice in the effort to protect and preserve neighborhood quality of life and to prevent over-development:
- I co-authored the development moratorium in 2008 to prevent the wholesale loss of rent-controlled, affordable apartments from over development
- I wrote the measure to complete a citywide historic buildings survey to protect our heritage.
- Residents know that I always have the best interests of our neighborhoods at heart
RENT CONTROL & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
As former Chair of the Rent Stabilization Commission, I know that protecting renters and providing housing opportunities to help keep residents in our community must always be among our top public policy priorities. Facing a crisis in affordable housing, I successfully:
- Worked with Senator Dianne Feinstein to increase the value of Section 8 vouchers. This has kept many residents with fixed incomes, including seniors and people with disabilities, in their apartments.
- Supported new affordable housing opportunities for seniors and for people living with HIV/AIDS, including new projects on Detroit Street, Palm Avenue, Fountain Avenue, Havenhurst Drive, Santa Monica/Spaulding, La Brea, Hancock Avenue, and Genesee Avenue. In total, my efforts created nearly 350 affordable units.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Smart, sustainable, and sensitive growth is my approach to economic development. A vibrant, successful business community not only provides our city with world-class hotels, restaurants, and retail shops, but the revenue it brings in allows for the maintenance of the City's much-needed city services and social programs. By approaching economic development with a thoughtful, deliberate and inclusive plan, we can encourage growth in the business sector while lessening the negative impacts on our residential communities. Some of my successes include:
- West Hollywood Gateway Project at Santa Monica and LaBrea
- Sunset Strip Business Improvement District
- The Pacific Design Center Red Building
PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT
As a long-time advocate for the preservation of our environment, I serve as a member of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, which works to protect the ocean through the reduction of storm water pollution. I have sponsored programs and policies to enhance our environment that include:
- Enhanced residential and commercial recycling
- Adopting a new "green building" ordinance
- Expanded electronics and household hazardous waste collection
- Sponsoring environmentally friendly purchasing policy
- Expanded City use of alternative fuel vehicles and a Co-sponsoring of the creation of the Heritage Tree Preservation Task Force
- Creating new parkland and open space, including Kings Road and Holloway Park and the new pocket park planned for Havenhurst Drive
- Spearheading and implementing the "Environmentalist of the Year" program
OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY
As an openly gay public official, I am proud of the work I have done to create an atmosphere in West Hollywood that welcomes people from many diverse communities. I have:
- Authored an ordinance requiring city contractor's to provide domestic partnership benefits to their employees
- Lobbied in Sacramento for expansion of Domestic Partnership and Marriage Equality
- Sponsored and supported the establishment of the Russian Advisory Board and Transgender Advisory Boards
- Authored resolutions opposing discrimination against same-sex bi-national couples
- Voted for closed captioning of City Council meetings
- Sponsored recreation programs for people with disabilities including wheel chair tennis and a raised garden bed in the Community Gardens.
SENIOR CITIZENS
I feel a deep responsibility to ensuring a healthy, positive environment for all of our seniors, and I commit myself to making access to Affordable Housing and Health Care two of my top priorities. I will continue to ensure that our older residents receive the utmost respect and assistance. Over the last four years I have:
- Expanded the CityLine shuttle service to include Saturday service, adding new stops at locations frequented by seniors, such as Plummer Park and grocery stores
- Supported the construction of the new Community Services Center at Plummer Park
- Helped create the Senior Discount Shopping Card Program
ANIMAL WELFARE
During my tenure on the Council, I have been a leader in municipal government on behalf of animal welfare. I have authored and supported pioneering legislation supporting the humane treatment of our animal companions, including:
- A ban on the sale of animals bred in puppy mills and other animal breeding factories, legislation that has since been adopted in dozens of cities across California and the nation
- Following a number of tragic accidents at pet grooming businesses, I drafted a local ordinance to better protect pets left in their care; state legislation based upon this ordinance was passed in the last Legislative session.
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