What Say You? Bergamot Station. Art, Artists and the Expo Line.

Rendering credit: Frederick Fisher Partners
"Keep Bergamot Bergamot.  Focus on the Arts."  Joe Coriaty of Frederick Fisher Partners

What Say You?   Bergamot Station.  Art, Artists and the Expo Line.

SUSAN CLOKE

Columnist

Pausing to catch her breath, the speaker at the podium explained she had raced up the steps to Council Chambers.  She was part of the overflow audience in the lobby below waiting her turn to speak at the Council hearing on the future of the Santa Monica arts venue, Bergamot Station.

The public hearing was a testament to the democratic process and, just in case anyone didn’t already know it, a display of the wealth of artists and artistic knowledge that is an essential part of the Santa Monica ethos, a distinguishing character of Santa Monica culture.

More than 100 people spoke to the Council about the importance of Bergamot Station.  Speakers expressed their concern that Bergamot remain an open, inviting, accessible and vibrant arts center.  They used words such as authentic and asked that site development continue and expand the focus on the arts. 

The Council was warned against formulaic entities that could be built anywhere, but if built at Bergamot would diminish the meaning of Bergamot Station in a way that could not be reclaimed.  They spoke of Bergamot being a nationally known center for the arts.  They spoke about the arts and about environmental sustainability, about education and community.

The issue was not whether or not to develop.  The issue was how much development.  What would be the character of that development?  How would it be financed?  Who would be the developer? 

Many thoughtful and thought provoking ideas were presented and discussed.   William Turner, a gallerist, and member of the Bergamot Station Gallery Cultural Association, talked about the stakeholders and proposed the formation of a ‘working group’ to pair with the City and the developer.

The tantalizing information of interest in Bergamot Station from the stellar musical group Jacaranda and from Cal Arts and UCLA to be cultural non-profit partners shows both the importance of Bergamot Station in the arts world and the continually increasing opportunities for the arts in Santa Monica.

At the conclusion of over 4 hours of public testimony it was the Council’s turn.  Council Member Kevin McKeown opened the discussion on Bergamot saying, “We must build, but do it without losing the authenticity of Bergamot and the existing galleries and Museum.” 

Council Member Gleam Davis said, "Everyone agrees that Bergamot is special and that we have to keep it special.  The question is how to bring Expo into the mix and maintain what has organically developed over the last 20 years.”

Council Member Tony Vazquez then moved that “the Worthe team be selected as the partner for the project and that a working group be formed to work with the development team and the City.”

Vazquez specifically excluded the staff recommended language that the “vision be affirmed” as he wanted the vision to be part of the work of the development team, the working group the City and the community.

McKeown seconded the motion and Davis asked for a friendly amendment for setting time frames for the stages of the process.

Council Member Winterer suggested that the development team be asked to form a working group for Council approval.  Winterer suggested that would help expedite the process as the Worthe team had a good knowledge of the stakeholders.

Council Member Holbrook suggested that it would be a mistake to select the Worthe team as it was clear that extra, nearby land was going to be needed to meet the goals of the project and that the TOD team, also under consideration, already owned nearby land.

There was general discussion among the Council Members about the importance of the labor peace agreements  (a term of art for a specific type of agreement between unions and employers) which the Worthe team and the union had already completed; the importance of phasing the project to first renovate the gallery buildings; how to protect the galleries and the museum; and questions about how to continue the subsidy to the Big Blue Bus and other financial considerations.

It was after midnight when the motion to select the Worthe team as the development partner was passed.  Council Members Vazquez, McKeown, O’Day, Davis and Winterer voted yes.  Council Member Holbrook voted no.  Council Member O’Connor was not present.

Gallerist William Turner said, “We’re thrilled that the Council heard us loud and clear.   They got the need to protect and preserve the valuable and fragile resource that is Bergamot.

“We’ve received tremendous support from the Neighborhood Groups and the Santa Monica community.  Artists, students, residents, community members and visitors all benefit from the work of Bergamot Station.  People depend on the free and open access to the arts that defines Bergamot Station.  It’s important that we tread carefully and don’t lose what we have as we reach for more.

“We’re ecstatic that the Council accepted the idea of the formation of a working group.  There’s no way to get a better product than to work with stakeholders throughout the process.

“All teams were persuasive but we’re very comfortable with the Worthe team as they had, as part of the team, the architects who were here at the beginning when we first formed Bergamot.  Their proposal seemed to best get what is needed now.”

Fred Fisher of Frederick Fisher and Partners, the architects with the Worthe team said, “My partner Joe Coriaty and I were so fortunate to be in at the beginning of Bergamot Station and now, to be here again and to have the opportunity to design an arts center at the 26^th and Olympic stop on the Expo Line is to be part of the next generation of life in the urban growth of the City.  For us, as architects, it doesn’t get better than that. 

“We know we’re in for an intense process and that this is just the start of an engagement with gallerists, the museum, residents and neighbors, the community and the City.  The shape of the project will come out of the process but the process needs the participation of all the stakeholders.”

The City of Santa Monica slogan “We do the right thing right” was evident at the September 9 hearing for Bergamot Station.  It was shown in the respect and thoughtfulness of the public speakers, the quality of the teams being considered, the work of staff and the deliberations and decisions of the Council Members.

Bergamot Station was once a train station.  With the Expo line the train will be back.  It’s also another beginning.  An optimistic beginning of imagining and shaping the future of the arts at Bergamot Station.

What Say You?

Hometown Hero. Councilman Bob Holbrook

Councilman Bob Holbrook
photo credit Susan Cloke

Hometown Hero.  Councilman Bob Holbrook

SUSAN CLOKE

“I feel kind of broken hearted.  Our community is kind of fractured now,” was Councilman Bob Holbrook’s response to how he was feeling about his decision not to seek another term on the City Council.

His first elected office, in 1982, was as a School Board Member.  Jean Ann Holbrook, his wife, suggested he run for School Board. That was the beginning of his 32 years of elected office in Santa Monica.

“After two terms on the School Board I ran for Council and I’ve often joked that the reason for my successful run was, as President of the School Board, I had handed out the diplomas at the Samohi graduations and so I was known by so many families.“

“When I graduated from Samohi there were about 13 million people living in California and now there are about 40 million.  We’re fortunate to live in Santa Monica but we are part of the Los Angeles metropolis and there are more people and more people driving and that means more cars on our roads. 

“I really believe the light rail will help.  I think many of our traffic problems can only be solved with regional solutions.  It’s part of why I’m working on Bobby Shriver’s campaign for LA County Superintendent.  He’s a terrific guy and I’m doing my best to help him get elected.”

Holbrook was born at St. Catherine’s Hospital on 4^th Street in Santa Monica.  It was 1941 and the year before St. Johns Hospital was built.

During WWII Bob and his sister, Cherie, lived with their grandmother at 550 10^th Street and attended Roosevelt Elementary.

After the war, his father returned from the Navy, and they moved to Ocean Park.  Bob and Cherie went to John Muir, John Adams and Samohi.    “My sister Cherie was a great student and it was a tough act for me to follow her,” said Holbrook.

“Still I decided to go to college.  In our last semester at Samohi everyone took a class to prepare us for the work world.  We learned how to fill out applications, go to interviews, etc.  It was a very practical class. 

“It was in the Ocean Park Library, doing my homework, and I found out from the reference book I was using that I was eligible to go to college.  Because of the Great Depression my parent’s hadn’t been able to go to college so my going was a big deal in my family.”

“I went to SMC and I also worked at McCarthy Drug Store on Montana Avenue.  The owner, Tom McCarthy, was the Mayor of SM at that time and he gave me my first exposure to what it meant to be in politics.

“I liked him.  I learned so much from him.  He was a good guy and always helping everyone. 

“After SMC I went to USC to study to be a pharmacist.  After that I joined the California Air National Guard.  It is the only time in my life I’ve been away from California for so long.  I spent six months in Texas and Alabama being trained by the Air Force.

“They asked me to enlist and become an officer.  I had different ideas.  I wanted to come home and marry Jean Ann.  I came back to California and got a job working as a pharmacist at Thrifty Drug Store.

“Jean Ann and I married in 1967.   Our first house was on 10^th Street near where I’d lived with my Grandmother.   Our three children, Bob Jr., Cindy and Craig were born soon after.

“By1982 we had 3 kids in their early teen.  Jean Ann talked to me about the School Board.  The School and the College Boards were going to split into two Boards.  That meant there would be open seats on the Boards and Jean Ann suggested I run for the School Board.

Holbrook did run and was elected and served two terms.  He then decided not to run again as his own kids would be out of the school system.

It was 1990 and he decided to run for Council.  He was the second highest vote getter in that election.  Holbrook went on to serve continuously on the Council for six terms.  He will not run again.

When asked about Council memories, Holbrook said, “There are so many it’s hard to know which ones to tell.”

“I think of the new parks we’ve been able to build.  That’s a tremendous achievement for a city.  Our parks are beautiful and well used and I hope we keep on building more.

“There were very moving personal moments that connected me to people in the City.  I think of the recent dedication ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in honor of Santa Monicans who died in service to the Country. 

‘I think of the rose garden in front of City Hall.  At first I didn’t support changing the rose garden because it had been built by Gold Star Mothers to honor their sons who had died in war.  But I asked staff to contact the Gold Star Mothers Organization and they were pleased with the idea for the fountain idea and a dedication plaque to their sons.  We even had Gold Star Mothers who came to the Ken Genser Square dedication ceremony and that was good.

“I was told that ‘Tongva’ means bread maker.  It is a name for the earliest people here in Santa Monica.  By naming the park Tongva we honored the people and our history.

“What is a problem for me with Tongva Park is that you have to tell people where the park is, how to get there and where to park their cars, because that’s not clear.

“What I like best in Tongva Park are the ‘rivulets’, the little streams of water where my grandchildren like to play.

“I also remember the wonderful feeling when Santa Monica helped Bayou La Batre after it was devastated by hurricane Katrina. We did that on behalf of everyone in the City.  You may know Bayou La Batre because it was featured in “Forrest Gump.”  

“After the hurricane we called their Mayor who told us they’d lost just everything and that they didn’t even have the equipment to begin the clean-up.  We sent trucks, equipment, forklifts and cranes.  City employees, like Joe Lawrence volunteered time.  It was great to be able to do so much to help and great to see how everyone in the City came together to support the effort.

“And I’m particularly proud of the Public Library.  It’s a beautiful place and a great service for the people of Santa Monica.

“It’s also the case that there will always be difficult people.  It goes with the job. Once, a long time ago, a man speaking in the public comment period told us he had asked God to kill Rick Sement (a reporter with the LA Times) and that God had done what he wanted.  He then proceeded to use the remainder of his time to pray.  He stood at the podium and said, ‘Dear God please kill Bob Holbrook.’   Now, it’s a funny story but then it was scary.”

“While I don’t think we’d allow someone to use their public comment time that way now I do think we’re having a harder time overall talking to each other.  We seem to be getting more vitriolic and I believe that’s not good for the City,” said Holbrook.

Development projects often bring out the vitriol and Holbrook has faced his share of criticism because he is often in favor of development projects.  He thinks they are necessary for the economic well being of the City.  Holbrook has supported some, but not all, of the hotel and commercial projects.  He has also supported housing projects.

“In the last 10 years we’ve built a significant number of apartments and condominiums all through the City but especially in the downtown area. 

“Many of those buildings include low-income housing.  I wish some of those low-income units could go to Santa Monicans who need them but there are rules that come with the Federal funding that preclude us from giving precedence to local residents.

“The Related projects on Ocean Avenue have both super expensive condominiums and low-income housing.  The idea being that building housing will let people live close to where they work and so traffic will be reduced. 

When asked what he wished for new Council Members and for the City, Holbrook listed public safety as his first priority.  “We have the finest police, fire, and paramedics and we need to keep our people safe,” he said.

“I wish for tranquility. To set aside personal/political differences and be able to have a real discussion instead of just criticism and argument.

“I realize there will be changes and I hope the changes will be ones that make people comfortable.

“Make sure the City is financially strong.

“Water independence is an essential goal.

“Use the job of being a Councilman to help individual people and use being a public servant to do good.”

Holbrook tears up when he talks about former Council Members Ken Genser and Herb Katz.  “I can’t talk about being on the Council without talking about Ken and Herb.  Ken and I started as adversaries and we ended working together to solve problems.  We became more than colleagues, we became friends.  Herb and I were always friends.  Losing them, those were the hardest times on the Council.

Bob Holbrook didn’t always vote the way I wanted him to, but he always listened.  Words that describe Holbrook are respectful, helpful, sympathetic and thoughtful.   I look forward to using those same words to describe future Council Members.

What Say You? Of Cormorants and Council Candidates

Black Cormorant Santa Monica Beach July 2014
photo credit Susan Cloke

Santa Monica summer at the beach.  Surfers, children splashing in the waves, junior lifeguards in training, long distance ocean swimmers, runners.

Beach walks at sunrise and sunset.  Dolphin sightings, sandpipers poking in the sand for their breakfast, pelicans flying low across the water and then diving for fish, the choreographed dance of the Black Cormorant.

The glory of summer in Santa Monica makes it even harder to get one’s mind around the fact that the local election season is now open.

The early start is an indicator of the controversies swirling around town.  Key issues will be the scale and urban character of new development and the existing and continuing increase in traffic.

Look to the defeat of the Hines Project.  Add to that the ongoing opposition to the height and scale and character of the proposed development at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and to other developments in the application queue.  Development is the main argument.

The Hines defeat is particularly telling.  A major new community organization in town, Residocracy.org, flexed considerable muscle and brought about the defeat of the Hines project.  SMCLC (Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City) had previously opposed the Hines project and was ready with a lawsuit.  In a show of unanimity all the Santa Monica Neighborhood Organizations, OPA, NOMA, PNA, MidCity Neighbors, NENeighbors, Wilmont and Friends of Sunset Park joined together in asking the City Council to reject the Hines project.

The organization that brought Rent Control to Santa Monica in the late 1970’s SMRR (Santa Monicans for Renters Rights) publicly opposed the Hines project and key SMRR leaders spoke against the project at the Council hearing.

There was a split in the SMRR-endorsed Council Members.  On the SMRR website, Sonya Fox Sultan, SMRR Steering Committee, wrote of the SMRR opposition to the Hines project, concluding with “SMRR endorsed Council members Kevin McKeown, Tony Vasquez, and Ted Winterer voted NO.”  She did not write that SMRR endorsed Council Members Pam O’Connor, Gleam Davis and Terry O’Day voted YES.

Is the split in SMRR endorsed Council Members an indicator of conflict at the upcoming August 3, 2014 SMRR Convention.  Does the division of SMRR votes on the Council reflect a division within SMRR?  How will it effect SMRR endorsements?  What does it mean for the election and the next Council?

14 candidates have pulled papers to begin the process of getting the necessary 100 Santa Monica voter signatures on a candidate petition to qualify for the ballot.  The candidates are: currently serving Council Members KevinMcKeown and Pam O’Connor and former Council Member Michael Feinstein; Planning Commissioners Sue Himmelrich, Jennifer Kennedy, Richard McKinnon and former Planning Commissioner Frank Gruber; Recreation and Parks Commissioner Phil Brock; community activist Jerry Rubin; and community members Nick Boles, TerenceLater, Jon Mann, Ken Robin and Whitney Scott Bain.  Still unknown is whether or not Council Member Bob Holbrook, whose term is up, will run again.  (note: campaign websites are per the City Clerk's office and as of press time.)   Election day, November 4, is almost 4 months away but campaigning is full on.

Current Mayor Pam O’Connor, a five time SMRR-endorsed candidate is not expected to receive another SMRR endorsement nor the campaign and financial support that goes with the SMRR endorsement.

O’Connor is expected to run a vigorous campaign.  Early endorsements include LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and LA City Council Member Mike Bonin.  O’Connor has worked with both of them on regional transportation issues and bringing the Expo Line to Santa Monica.  Other early endorsements come from State Assembly Member Richard Bloom and Santa Monica Council Members Gleam Davis, Terry O’Day and Bob Holbrook.

The community organization SMCLC (Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City) moved quickly to endorse Kevin McKeown, Sue Himmelrich and Richard McKinnon, saying:  “Santa Monica faces a historic election…when residents will have a chance to fundamentally change the current council, from one where the majority largely rubber stamps a steady onslaught of high-density, traffic-clogging overdevelopment – to one that will act for residents, not developers.  The scale, character and livability of our City is at stake.”

NOMA Chair Danilo Bach and Landmarks Commissioner Margaret Bach are also supporting Richard McKinnon and opened their home this past week for a neighborhood ‘meet and greet.’  McKinnon spoke about good governance, development issues, social services, sustainability, the airport and transportation.  

McKinnon said, “Santa Monica is a great city.  However the community is fractured at the moment and residents have lost trust in their elected officials.  The whole world wants to come to Santa Monica, to our low-scale city of beaches and parks and sunlight and trees.  I understand that there will be development but I want it to be sympathetic to the City.”

Sue Himmelrich invited supporters to her house over the weekend for speeches and tacos from a Taco Truck.  (An ink stamp on the back of your hand from the campaign was what you showed at the taco truck).  Kevin McKeown and Tony Vazquez, current SMRR Council Members, and Denny Zane, an early SMRR leader and former Council Member, were there to support Himmelrich.  Zane told the group of about 70 people, “We need to be allies for a community that has a human scale and we do not need to be a world class destination, we need to be a city of residents.”

Himmelrich, an attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, promised “a transparent Santa Monica government.”  She called the Hines project “just wrong” and said that she had given both money and legal advice to support the referendum that defeated the project.  “People are above corporations and our City is the right scale now and we need to keep it that way.”

Michael Feinstein’s community meet and greet this week was at the destination surf shop, Zuma Jay’s on Main Street.  Former Los Angeles City Council Member Bill Rosendahl introduced Feinstein saying, “He has a passion for the issues which are important to all of us.  The bay, the ocean, shutting down the airport, and making good development decisions.” 

Feinstein spoke about his work with the Green Party, his concerns about climate change, closing the airport, capping the freeway, building new parks throughout the city, creating a public solar utility, protecting and expanding Bergamot.  Feinstein said, “I see the big picture.  I talk with everyone.  I think government should be open.  And I believe anything is possible.”  

Frank Gruber, former Planning Commissioner, entertainment attorney, writer and blogger at http://thehealthycitylcoal.com will hold his first campaign event Friday July 25.  For more information email choosefrank2014@gmail.com.   Gruber said, “I’m running to continue the tradition of more than 30 years of progressive government in Santa Monica.”

Phil Brock, Recreation and Parks Commissioner and Chair, talks about Santa Monica and why he is running.  “I stayed in the city I was born in… It’s the openness of Santa Monica that we like.  It’s that magical combination of great schools, superb green space, the ocean, the cool breezes and the notion that a city could be more humane, more livable and more unique….”

Even at this early date there are front-runners, contenders and candidates the public hasn’t yet met.  All Candidates are invited to participate at the City Council Candidates Forum held by Residocracy.org

and the City Neighborhood Groups.  Open to the public.  Monday July 28.  Santa Monica Main Library.  Martin Luther King Auditorium.  Doors open at 6pm.  Event 6:30 to 9pm.

I start my day with an early morning beach walk.  With the wonderful feeling of my feet in the sand and in the water.  I think about how we elect leaders and the money we spend.  I wonder why campaigns are volatile and issues urgent.  Then I remember that politics cares about us even if we don’t want to be bothered.  That the decisions made by our elected leaders impact the quality of each Santa Monican and that it is only by caring about politics that we take care of ourselves and of future generations of Santa Monicans.

What Say You?

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