League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 5, 2013 Election
	Michael Schaefer Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 13

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

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?

The job drain, over 16,000 jobs last 7 years, in the entertainment industry, must stop. Six states are seeking our industry; we must work with State Film Commission and and local lawmakers to have the most business-friendly outreach to the industry. Cal. and Los Angeles seem anti-business and we suffer. Time for a new outlook. I am a businessman, not a social engineer.

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?

A penny special tax on property tax roll earmarked for police support/growth, and same for Film and TV incentives, would lessen the pressure on the City's budget. Re-evaluation of pension funding, for future hires, as has been done by San Diego and San Jose governments, must get attention. As a former San Diego Councilman, I will lead the way for Los Angeles fiscal future. We should trim the budget and salary of City Council and Mayor by 50%; it is excessive to pay me $179,000 and $1,600,000 budget to run my office.

3. Do you support the ballot measure to increase the sales tax in the city?

Yes.

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.

Do not feel I any powers, other than as a citizen, speaking out; the decisions are made by County with Federal support. The City has enough on its plate with fiscal issues.

5. How would you prioritize your local constituency versus the City as a whole when acting as a Council Member?

Would have office hours in Hollywood office for any constituent weekly, would attend community meetings in all parts of the District, would assign my field deputy to meet weekly with a dozen small business owners/managers in various parts of the district to keep my finger on the pulse.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 3, 2013 13:09
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