What Say You: Hurrah for the Pico Library

What Say You:  Hurrah for the Pico Library

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist

Mayor Pam O'Connor  VAP Vice-Chair Nick Stees
Pico Neighborhood Association Co-Chair Oscar de la Torre

Elected officials, poets, librarians, community activists, educators, architects, writers, community residents, park and library users gathered together on Saturday, June 28 for a day-long celebration of the opening of the first new public library to be built in Santa Monica in 50 years, the Pico Branch Library.
(http://smpl.org/PicoBranch.aspx)

Oscar de la Torre, Co-Chair of the Pico Neighborhood Association, welcomed everyone in both Spanish and English and told of being in a meeting, called in 2008 by then City Manager Lamont Ewell, where Council Member Ken Genser said “why don’t we put a library in the park itself?”

“Today we celebrate the opening of our library,” de la Torre said.  “We celebrate access and opportunity for our young people.  We know the value of education and the value of life long learning.  

“Before today we were the only neighborhood in Santa Monica without a branch library.”  He gave tribute to the many community leaders, past and present, who had called for a neighborhood library, citing the 1983 Neighborhood Plan as including a Pico Library. 

“The Pico Neighborhood” said de la Torre, “has the highest concentration in the City of youth and family poverty and the worst statistics of violence in a City Park.

“Giving young people hope is the number one thing we can do to eliminate violence.  This library is the gift of hope.”

Architects Julie Eizenberg and Nathan Bishop of KoningEizenberg and Landscape Architect Andy Sperlock of Spurlock Poirier worked to make sure the library was part of the park, that the building as well as the program would express the neighborhood’s values and hopes.

Sperlock said, “The Pico Branch Library is the first library we’ve done where making the library an indoor/outdoor space works.  Normally, because of the security and check out required at the library, the design response to the request for outdoor space is to build an enclosed courtyard.”

With large windows on three sides, an indoor/outdoor work counter, computers everywhere, study and meeting rooms, an exhibition space, and, of course, books in English and Spanish, the library packs a big wallop into its 8000 plus square feet.  It’s also a state of the art high tech library and a state of the art sustainable building with a Platinum LEED rating.  (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Andy Sperlock   Nathan Bishop   Julie Eizenberg

Julie Eizenberg sat inside the library and spoke about the feeling of being part of the park, even from inside the building.  “Libraries have evolved from a place of escape to a place of interaction.  With this building we made as many connections as possible,” Eizenberg said.

Susan Annett, Santa Monica’s Principal Librarian for Public Services, said, “The neighborhood response to the library has been a tremendous positive.  I almost can’t describe it in words.  The neighborhood really worked on this library and their participation created vitality.  It was so interesting to see the dynamic unfold.”

Maybe it’s the influence of the upcoming 4^th of July holiday, but I feel quite patriotic about this library.   This library is the hope that Oscar de la Torre meant when he said, “Hope eliminates violence.”  The library represents the hope for education and knowledge, for each person who passes through the library to be able to use that learning to have a more successful and more meaningful life. 

The hope is also for the future of democracy; a future that needs its citizens to be educated and knowledgeable if our democracy is to thrive.

What Say You?

Santa Monica Votes June 3, 2014 Primary Election

SANTA MONICA VOTES

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist, Santa Monica Mirror

June 6, 2014

Santa Monicans take elections seriously.  Usually it’s the top of the ticket that brings people out to vote.  But the top of the ticket was a no contest race with Governor Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and State Attorney General Kamala Harris handily keeping their place on the November ballot.  In Santa Monica the races were a lot more exciting.

Sheila Kuehl and Bobby Shriver are in a runoff to replace Zev Yaroslavsky as the next 3^rd District Supervisor in the upcoming November general election.   Santa Monica/Malibu School Board Member Ben Allen will face public advocate Sandra Fluke in a run-off for 26^th District State Senator.  

I spoke with all four candidates about campaigning, about their issue and policy goals, and about their leadership skills and about public service.  What follows is a snapshot of each candidate.

Candidate for 3^rd District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl

“Kuehl talked about campaigning saying, “We started the campaign in March 2013 to work on fundraising and on building and reinvigorating a base of supporters as we knew we would need to raise $1.2 million for the campaign.  We built the website, organized social media and I started to write regular essays “County 101” on County government and issues.

“I like campaigning.  It puts me in touch with so many great and interesting people.

We met with voters by going to meetings of local organizations, we sent out direct mail.  Our mail started to go out the same day the voter pamphlet went out.  We had phone banks.  All our contact was direct.  No TV ads.

“Leadership on the Board of Supervisors is both District focused and County focused.  There are two aspects to the work of a Supervisor. Everything in every District is on the agenda at the Tuesday Board of Supervisor’s meeting.  You have to know about everything and be prepared to act on everything – from golf courses to jails – and every decision is important.

“As a Supervisor I would focus on Foster Child Care, Health Care for all, and improving transportation in the region.

“Foster children are not getting the care they need and deserve.  There are recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission for large structural changes.  Instead of many agencies each responsible for a part of care for foster children, combine into one agency, a ‘Department of Children’, if you will.  With more social workers and more support staff.  Also there’s a bill pending in Sacramento to equalize pay for kin and non-kin foster parents.  Currently non-kin foster parents receive higher levels of support for each child they foster.  This bill would provide the same support for every child.

“The County is responsible for a huge health system – LA Care – for MediCal patients and for kids formerly enrolled in the State’s Healthy Families program.  We need to increase financial support for health care and develop insurance for those who can’t qualify under ObamaCare.

“Transportation – getting from one part of the County to another is a challenge.  We need to make it possible to travel on public transportation with as few transfers as possible.  We need to build the Valley to LAX line and we need a ‘first mile-last mile’ strategy – a way to plot a door-to-door trip.

On raising campaign money and on ethics Kuehl said, “Bobby contributed his own money to the campaign.  I can’t match him for personal wealth.  So we have to wait and see what the rules will be in the general and that depends on Bobby.  What I can say is that I’m thrilled and really looking forward to the next five months.”

  

Candidate for 3^rd District Supervisor Bobby Shriver

Shriver talked about campaigning in the County saying, “Campaigning is great.  I met people doing amazing things all over the District.  We did lots of events.  It’s a great way to meet people and to learn about the work they’re doing.  I visited women living with their children in supportive housing, I went to Farmer’s markets to meet people, to chamber meetings, everywhere people were getting together.

“I continue to work on my goal of creating housing for homeless people.  The new housing at the Veteran’s Administration, housing for homeless Vets, is a project

I worked hard to create.

“Water is important to the whole State and of particular importance to the County with major issues of water quality and water conservation at the beaches and in the Valley.

“Transportation is on everyone’s mind.  We need to finish the Purple Line and build the Valley to LAX line.  We need to make it possible to get from door to door without

a car.

“The County has the responsibility for the protection of foster children and that responsibility has been failed way too many times.  I would create one agency with one person in charge and accountable, and to build on the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission.

           

“My leadership skills are best shown through my own experiences. As part of my work to eradicate HIV/AIDS I got George Bush to give 15 Billion to treat people in Africa who were suffering with HIV/AIDS.  It took two years of doing nothing but that work to get it done.  And for a Shriver to get a Republican Administration to give money for a program to fight AIDS in Africa I had to be focused like a laser beam.

When asked about campaign ethics and campaign finance Shriver said, “We are allowed to raise 1.4 million and to accept donations of up to $1500/person.  If a candidate wants to spend over the limit then individual donations must be limited to $300/person.”

Campaign Manager Sarah Dusseault said, “In the primary Bobby chose to put in some of his own money and went over the limit.  Individual donations to the campaign were capped at $300.00.  Still we raised $900,000 from over 3000 individual donors.  That speaks very well for the campaign.”

Shriver said, “It will take us some time to figure out what is right for us in the general election, but whatever we do it will be transparent.  You show your ethics by how you run your own campaign.

“I swear too much and I’ve been called on it.  Blame me for what I do wrong, not what I do right.” 

  

Candidate for State Senate 26th District Ben Allen

Speaking about the campaign Allen said, “I introduced my self to folks outside Santa Monica and we reached tens of thousands of people.  We knocked on doors, we had phone banks and we went to events.  I’m thrilled by results and humbled – especially by support form my hometown.  It is an honor to represent them and all the people of the District.

‘We spent over $400,000 raised from online donations and I loaned the campaign $50,000.  We had a real mix of donations small and large.  Hundreds of donors gave from $10 to the maximum allowed of $4100 and, of course, all donations are reported so everyone can see who supports each campaign.

“I think I offer deep roots.  I was born and raised in the District.  I was a member of the Board of Regents at the University of CA.  I’ve been elected to two terms in the Santa Malibu Unified School District so I’ve served in both local and State government positions.

“I was able to get a measure passed by the Regents requiring professional schools to increase loan forgiveness for people who used their degrees to work in non profit and public interest sectors. This increased awareness within the system of loan forgiveness, which I thought was essential if it was going to be necessary to raise fees.

“In Santa Monica we worked on school financing, passing propositions which gave schools stable and steady income even as state funding dropped.

“Going to Sacramento is an exiting possibility in that you could really make a difference.  My goals are to protect the Santa Monica Mountains, create more open space, and enhance environmental protection, especially in the Santa Monica Bay.

“I want to guarantee a free higher education degree to students in the top 10% of their class who agree to spend 5 years teaching after graduation.  We need the best and the brightest in the teaching profession.  We need to fund and support early childhood education. 

“It’s extraordinary how far behind CA is on transportation issues. We need to have advocates at all levels working together to create a working transportation system that includes and supports walkability and bikeability.  Transportation is becoming a black eye for Los Angeles and our ability to attract residents and business at risk.  And, of course, water is a statewide issue because of the drought, the need for water conservation and the protection of water quality.”

In response to the question of campaign reform Allen said, “I think it’s a great question and a great idea for candidates to make an agreement to have a positive campaign. It’s in the best interest of the voters and the best interest of the candidates.  Sandra and I both care about campaign reform and want to work to get ‘pay to play’ out of the culture of Sacramento.”

Candidate for State Senator 26th District Sandra Fluke

“I’m not someone who thought for a long time about running for office,” said Fluke. “I’ve been devoted to public interest work.  I’ve done legislative advocacy and represented indigent clients.  And I’ve seen what I can accomplish as a lawyer and advocate and thought of how much more I could accomplish as a legislator and that is why I chose to run for office. The decision is not more complicated than giving voice to people without voice.

“I’m also concerned about the number of women in office and helping to make sure government looks more like the people.

“I’m looking to be most effective and where I can pass legislation for maximum impact.  That commits me to working in CA because we in CA can make a national impact.

“My commitment comes from shared values with my parents and the place where I grew up - a rural, conservative community in Central PA and they are still trying to figure out what went wrong with me!

“My husband and I starting making our home in California about 7 years ago.  He is a writer and producer and works in the Industry.  He worked on Lopez Tonight and on JibJab –internet based comedy videos.”

https://www.youtube.com/user/JibJab

“Being a State Senator will allow me to be even more effective as I work for environmental protections, a fracking moratorium, and particularly important in a coastal district is the crisis over water.  I work for local solutions for environmental problems.

“We also need to increase our investment in early childhood education, not only important for closing the achievement gap but it is also one of the most effective investment in education that we can make.  CA is one of the lowest states in the Country on per pupil investment and that’s unacceptable.  And we have to make sure college is affordable and jobs are available to graduates.”

Abigail Gardner, Communications Consultant to the Fluke campaign said, “Our

campaign wanted to use every medium.  We made over 100,000 voter contacts

We knocked on doors and made phone calls, used social media, twitter, facebook, and Sandra sent regular, weekly emails to supporters and volunteers.

“It was a point of pride for Sandra that there were no independent expenditure campaigns for or against her.  And that the campaign was entirely supported by over 1800 donors and average donation was under $250.,” said Gardner.

When asked about campaign reform Fluke said, “Ben and I are in regular contact with each other but campaign reform is a bigger issue than our campaign and we need to work on this in Sacramento – increasing transparency, providing matching funds.  It’s clear that people really want to see action taken and that special interests have too much influence and control.

“Every candidate has control over donations to their campaign.  I’m proud that my focus has been on community support.”

For your information, below are the official Los Angeles County Voting results.  More interviews are planned with Kuehl, Shriver, Allen and Fluke.  If you have questions you'd like me to ask the candidates please email me at susan@smmirror.com.

SHEILA KUEHL		43,348	36.18
BOBBY SHRIVER		34,509	28.80
JOHN DURAN		19,577	16.34
P CONLEY ULICH		7,821	6.53
RUDY MELENDEZ		4,569	3.81
DOUG FAY		4,205	3.51
YUVAL D KREMER		3,897	3.25
ERIC PREVEN		1,898	1.58

Registration

1,020,338

BEN ALLEN	Pref: DEM	19,710	21.82
SANDRA FLUKE	Pref: DEM	17,797	19.70
SETH STODDER	Pref: NP	15,786	17.47
BETSY BUTLER	Pref: DEM	15,064	16.67
AMY HOWORTH	Pref: DEM	13,994	15.49
VITO IMBASCIANI	Pref: DEM	3,999	4.43
PATRIC M VERRONE	Pref: DEM	2,698	2.99
BARBI S APPELQUIST	Pref: DEM	1,291	1.43

Registration

595,374

What Say You: In Defense of Fun in Architecture

  A block model of Santa Monica shows the downtown area and the concept plan for the 4th St, 5th St. and Arizona Ave. project.  The building levels are created by a series of "hinged bars" to allow the plaza and the building roofs to be used as public outdoor space with views to the ocean and the mountains.  Concept design by OMA.  

photo credit OMA

What Say You:  In Defense of Fun in Architecture

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist

Architecture has been in the news in Santa Monica, but not in a good way. Now, in the midst of all the noise of development, comes another project.  Located on Arizona Ave between 4^th and 5^th Streets.  And this time the client is the City of Santa Monica.

After a selective process the City partnered with John Warfel of Pacific Metropolitan Capital to lead the project development and the architecture firm OMA, (Office of Metropolitan Architecture) led by Rem Koolhaas to design the project.

Koolhaas is an architect on a quest for making meaningful architecture representing the culture and ethos of time and place.  Koolhaas is as well known for his thinking and writing about architecture, cities, and how people use buildings and public spaces as he is for his design work.  U.S. projects include the Seattle Public Library and the Milstein Hall at Cornell University.   http://www.oma.eu/projects

With the defeat of the Hines proposed project a warning shot has been fired, not for the first time, across the bow of large-scale development in Santa Monica.  Criticism is mainly focused on scale and density but often accompanied with comments that the architecture was boring, dull, not fun, not Santa Monica.

On May 15 about 75 Santa Monicans came together at the Main Library for a presentation of concept designs of the Arizona Ave, 4^th St., 5^th St. project.  Currently named the Plaza at Santa Monica.  http://theplazaatsantamonica.com/

Shohei Shigematsu, the OMA partner representing the firm at the Santa Monica meeting, introduced the firm and talked about the way OMA thought about the project.  “We embraced the culture and the climate of Santa Monica and we focused on the public realm.  The concept is one of a series of open, hinged bars. This allows us to follow the California tradition of bringing the outside in and the inside out.”

The project proposal is for a public building that includes commercial and retail areas, affordable housing (working with Community Corps), a children’s museum, plazas and parks, public events, terraces, a hotel, residences and the ice rink.

Shigematsu said, “Transportation and parking are major concerns in Santa Monica.  We will design to make this a fun and easy place to walk.  The sidewalks will be wide and have good street furniture.  It is also designed for transit connections, for bike users and has a strong Transportation Demand Management program (TDM – a program which mandates measures to reduce parking and traffic to the site, especially at peak travel times.)  Parking lots will be day lit with skylights.”

OMA added to the transit connections by showing a playful option for bringing back the historic gondolas to connect the Plaza to the Pier and beach.

Two versions of the project were presented.  One at 148’ in height and one at 84’ in height.  Both used the hinged bar concept, allowing each roof to be used as an outdoor public space.

People attending the meeting commented on the openness of the design and the use of natural light and air, some preferred the 148’ design saying it was more open; Residocracy spokesman Armen Melkonians said Santa Monica residents would not accept a project higher than the 84’ allowed by zoning;

Shigematsu, in a follow up interview, said about architecture, “Iconicism comes from use and memory and represents shared culture.  Iconic space is something that develops over time, when a place feels special.  That understanding of iconicism is why we looked at other public spaces in Santa Monica and worked to understand what it is that makes places special to the people of Santa Monica.

“So we purposefully designed a building with the intent that it respond specifically to the climate and to the people of Santa Monica.  There is a Children’s Museum on the ground level.  It gives a cultural heart to a commercial periphery.  The design is specific to Santa Monica weather.  We designed for inside/outside proximity.  The hinged bars of the concept design are in response to Santa Monica and the breezes, the air and the sun, and the idea of life lived indoors and outdoors.

“Santa Monica is a City that promotes sustainability and this building will achieve a LEED Gold status through energy efficiency, cooling and natural ventilation, the use of recycled water, a screen to reduce solar gain, use of recycled materials, bike stations, and water on the roof for fun, for beauty and for cooling.

“OMA was given certain parameters of design and a building program and we designed within those parameters.  Our first concept plan was for a 148’ building.  We were then asked to rethink the project at 84’.   It was a necessary step to make the project into 84’ but it is more difficult.  We are the ones who translate people’s desires and we do our best to deliver the best translation.  I am not just talking about height; I am also talking about architecture and the fundamentals of design.

“This design, from ground to sky, is a continuation of public domain.  We have an image of the building as theater where people will come together and we really believe in that image.”

The concept design proposed by OMA, expresses the culture and values of the City: open to the sun and air on every level, yoga on a roof terrace, the ice rink in winter, fountains in summer, open air cafes, year round programming of public events, food markets, museum events, film screenings and maybe even gondolas. Add sustainability, affordable

housing and a welcome for bicycle riders and you know it’s Santa Monica.

Now comes the public conversation about height, scale and density. And height, scale and density are dependent on program – how many housing units, what size hotel, how much commercial space, how much public space. 

www.smgov.net/4thandarizona

From that discussion will come a decision by the Council; one which needs to be based on an open and transparent public conversation.  The conversation continues at the June 10 Council meeting.

What Say You?

Hometown Hero:  Kate Vernez 

The Art of Being Purposeful. 

Kate Vernez
Deputy City Manger for Special Projects
City of Santa Monica

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist

May 9, 2014

Kate Vernez, speaking about her work with the City of Santa Monica, said, “What I resonate with are collaborations with other people to have a successful outcome and to be purposeful.” 

27 years ago she and her family left their work and life in New York City to move to California. It was 1987 and she competed for a job as a policy analyst in the City Manager’s office. She started her work with City Manager John Jalili and continued to work with City Managers Susan McCarthy, Lamont Ewell and Rod Gould.  Now, Vernez, who is the Deputy City Manager for Special Projects, is leaving her work and making plans for the next chapter of her life.  “I leave the City with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for being allowed to hold the reins for a while,” she told me with great feeling in her voice.

Vernez has worked on many big projects for the City including the creation of the Child Care Master Plan, the Palisades Park Master Plan and the Telecommunications Master Plan, as well as homeless issues and environmental issues.  She said the most important work of her time is the work to bring Expo to the Westside.  “The Westside is the 2^nd major job center in Los Angeles County and was without a rail connection to downtown Los Angeles. http://www.westsidecities.org/projects/ToolKit.pdf

In speaking about Expo, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, whose Third District includes Santa Monica, praised Kate Vernez as “a steady hand at the local government helm.  Expo is the most significant public works project to hit Santa Monica since the building of the I-10 freeway in the 1960’s.  The plans for, and construction of, the light rail line could have been a contentious political/neighborhood issue in the city.  Kate was able to anticipate problems before they became problems, which allowed us to plan accordingly.  Instead of a controversial project, Expo was better received in Santa Monica than at any other point along the route.”

“Expo was born out of controversy over traffic,” said Vernez.  “We brought a coalition together, to weather the ups and downs.  We achieved something remarkable at the end of the day.”

The City had been planning for Expo for years.   There was all the backbone of infrastructure.  The City had preserved the Exposition right of way. It had purchased the properties for the Bergamot and 4^th Street stations.

§  Council Member Pam O’Connor was appointed to the MTA Board and made the motion to build the Expo line all the way to Santa Monica.

§  The City advocated for a third Santa Monica Station at 17^th Street.  One that would serve Santa Monica College and the hospitals.

§  The Council set aside funds for  ‘betterments’ and paid for a 2^nd entrance and dual platforms at the Bergamot Station, a 2^nd entrance at 17^th St., and the 4^th Street Station redesign.

§  The Expo Construction Authority:  Santa Monica got State legislation to create a single purpose entity to oversee expenditure of money and construction details for Expo, making sure “the build” is done correctly.

“The 4^th Street Station is the terminus for Expo,” said Vernez. “The beauty is that you get off the train to a seamless ribbon connecting Expo riders across to the downtown, to the pier, the beach, City Hall, and the Promenade.

“It’s a partnership: Expo, the City, the community working together to get this built.  The community has been involved and supportive from day one.  Their willingness to invest in bringing Expo to Santa Monica was essential to the project.  You can even see this investment expressed in the response to construction in that there are fewer complaints than would be expected for a project of this size and timeline. 

“Because the city had long ago reserved the right of way and had purchased the land at Bergamot and at 4^th Street, we were standing in line.  And we drew upon our regional partners to write a mobility plan outlining Westside housing density/ridership. 

“Bringing all the power sources together to make an incredibly strong advocacy alliance. That was exciting,” said Kate, calling herself a ‘policy wonk.’

“It’s difficult to move on from this work which I have found so meaningful and satisfying.  But it is the right time to think about the big life changes. 

“When my husband and I left our wonderful work in New York City for California, part of why we wanted to move was to be able to have both interesting work and more time for our family.

“Now my eldest daughter and her family live in London.  I have one granddaughter and another coming in June and family comes first for me.

“My work in New York and my work in Santa Monica always included working in groups with dedicated people to solve problems and make a difference.  Wherever the next chapter takes me I will use my time to be part of projects that make it possible for me to continue to make a contribution.”

When asked about her vision for the future of Santa Monica, Kate Vernez said,  “Collaboration and good communications, keeping everyone informed with rich dialogue, attending to people’s needs, getting the job done - that’s what impresses me.  We are a small community with a great diversity but we know how to come together and get the job done in a human way.”

Wendy Greuel
Candidate 33rd Congressional District

What Say You?  Wendy Greuel.  

U.S. Congress.  33rd District. Candidate

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist

April 18, 2014

“Henry Waxman served the people of the 33^rd Congressional District for 40 years.  He changed the lives of individual people for the better and he changed the future of our Country with his legislative work: the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Affordable Care Act,” stated Wendy Greuel.

“When I learned the Congressman had decided not to run I took a deep breath and said to my husband, “I want to go to Congress to continue his legacy.”

There are 18 candidates on the ballot for the Congressional seat. Here is why I think Greuel is the one to vote for in this very crowded field, with other candidates often sharing values and also having name recognition.

First, what are my criteria?  I want a compassionate and caring person who believes, as Waxman did, that being a Congress Member is an opportunity to serve and protect the people of the District.  I want a candidate I can rely on.  One that will be effective once elected.  And that means they have to be savvy in the ways of government and politics.  It also means they know how to compromise and how to build consensus.  They know when it’s a good idea to compromise and when compromising would be a betrayal of principle.

So what do we know about Greuel that lets us think she is the best candidate for the job?

Greuel is the only candidate running with demonstrated know-how in successfully maneuvering her way through the bureaucracy that is DC. 

During the Clinton Administration Greuel was tapped by Andrew Cuomo, the Secretary of HUD (Housing and Urban Development), to be the Deputy Director of the Inter-Agency Council on the Homeless and then to be the Regional Director for HUD.

Working in HUD she helped to develop a Homeless Policy that gave 75 million dollars in grants to cities that worked in innovative ways to reduce homelessness and to create a continuum of care.  Santa Monica was the fortunate recipient of some of this grant money.

With Greuel as the Regional Director, HUD gave the whopping sum of 1 billion to the Los Angeles area to help rebuild after the 1994 earthquake.  Santa Monica was a recipient of part of those funds, as 5% of the City housing stock had been damaged in the earthquake.

When GLAD, (Greater Los Angeles Facility on Deafness), was seeking funding for a renovation of their building, Greuel brought the grant decision makers from HUD to the facility and asked them to “look at what will happen if you can’t find a way to give them the grant.” Because she was able to bring them together and show the impact of their decision, GLAD received the grant.

DreamWorks Studio then recruited Greuel from HUD to work for them on philanthropic and political issues.   “DreamWorks was a company that wanted to use its power in a way that would make a difference,” said Greuel.  Representing DreamWorks, Greuel was able to create new jobs in Los Angeles, expand the philanthropic work of DreamWorks and start animation programs in local schools.

Greuel has demonstrated abilities as a legislator and a good government advocate, first, early in her career, working for Mayor Tom Bradley, and later, as both a Los Angeles Council Member and as Los Angeles City Controller. 

In her early years in government, as an Assistant to Mayor Bradley, Greuel was instrumental in securing a vacant building at the Veteran’s Administration for use by homeless Vets.  It seems an obvious idea, but it didn’t come easy.

When the insurance company threatened cancelling the insurance of the Gay and Lesbian Center at the beginning of the AIDS crisis, the Head of the Center, Tori Osborne, called for help.

Wendy was there to speak on behalf of the Center and to propose a course of action to Mayor Bradley.  Bradley then called the insurance company.  The insurance was reinstated.

As a Los Angeles Council Member, Greuel sponsored, among other actions, legislation that funded traffic and transportation improvements, protected 1200 acres of public open space and supported small business owners.

As City Controller, Greuel focused on ensuring fiscal responsibility of the City Departments including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Building and Safety.  Concerned that the Department of Water and Power wasn’t effectively supporting renewal energy, she instituted an energy audit on their renewable energy portfolio. 

Greuel grew up in the San Fernando Valley and went to college at UCLA, studying psychology and economics and political science.  She found her introduction to political work when looking for a summer job.  There was a listing for a position in the Office of the Los Angeles City Representative in Washington DC.  She applied and was accepted.

“I was the guide for Los Angles Council members when they came to DC.  Part of my job, because I was low on the totem pole, was to pick Council Members up at the airport.  I thought it was great because it gave me a chance to talk with elected officials.  It was an inspiration for me.” 

Talking about the Congresswoman she wants to be, Greuel said, “There will never be another Henry Waxman but I promise to be a fighter and a doer.  I’m going to fight to protect the environment and to address climate change.  I’m going to make sure we protect our beaches and our mountains. I will work to reintroduce the Waxman Markey Cap and Trade Bill.  I will work to set a national carbon goal for the Country.  

“I will speak out on women’s rights, education, on civil rights, on LGBT rights. I will protect seniors.  I will stand up for Medicare and Social Security.  I will work to pass immigration reform.  I will never give up on my principles.

“I will work to build consensus.  I so admire the women leaders in the Congress who came together to end the government shutdown and I look forward to working with them.

“We knew Congressman Waxman had it in his gut to do the right thing.  We knew we could rely on him to stand up for people, stand against the special interests. 

“You can rely on me.  I will see the big picture and I will be there for the people of the District.”

For all these reasons I think Wendy Greuel has earned our trust and our vote.

What Say You?