Platform: Putting the Public Back into Public Service
ENVIRONMENTAL PREPARATION
Three major environmental crises facing us in Southern California are:
- climate change, including drought and water shortages
- dwindling oil supplies, and
- rising food prices
I'll help provide leadership to enact municipal solutions like:
- greening our buildings - including apartments - with solar panels and energy efficiency, to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions
- increasing our tree canopy and forming an Urban Forestry Commission
- more community gardens and permaculture, with an emphasis on organic produce
- rainwater catchment and water harvesting systems, and
- expanding Sustainable Works classes for residents and businesses
MORE URBAN GARDENS
If elected, I would amend the LUCE (Land Use and Circulation Element) plan to include more urban gardens in available open spaces. With cheap oil supplies dwindling, one way we can prepare as a community is to grow our own food locally, since so much energy is expended in the transportation of food. I also support expanding our exemplary farmers' markets.
TRAFFIC
First, I support land-use patterns that reduce the need to drive, including more neighborhood markets and affordable housing for people who work in the city
Second, I support transportation demand-management programs that provide free bus passes and on site showers for those who choose to commute by bicycle.
Third, I support creation in Santa Monica of a bicycle station like the Bikestation in Long Beach, which offers attended indoor bicycle parking, professional repair services and a bike shop.
Finally, running more shuttles on north/south routes can reduce the volume of traffic in those directions and through residential neighborhoods.
DEVELOPMENT
The paradigm of unlimited growth needs to be challenged and instead we need to retain the scale and character of our neighborhoods and business districts.
I support localizing our economy as much as possible with community-serving and "green" businesses that don't force us to travel around the region to meet our needs.
This would entail protecting rent control and continuing affordable housing programs for low- and middle-income people so that teachers, healthcare professionals and others can live in the same city where they work and so that people who were born here can stay here.
I support those elements of the LUCE plan which speak to these issues.
All construction should utilize "green" building methods and endeavor to conserve our tree canopy.
BIKE FRIENDLY
I support programs, incentives and safer infrastructure to encourage bicycle riding. The city should promote driver awareness and sponsor classes in bicycle education and safety. Pilot programs for city-sponsored bike sharing, expanding bike valets and increasing the number of bike parking racks are also positive improvements. Increased bicycle ridership will ease the transition from being oil dependent to post carbon.
YES! TO THE TREE COMMISSION
I fully support the creation of an urban forestry commission. Conserving our tree canopy is important for environmental reasons--absorbing rainwater, cooling the immediate area, and providing respite for birds--and a touch stone to nature and sense of well being for city dwellers. I would encourage planting more native California species where and when appropriate and fruit trees in urban garden locations.
SECURE HOUSING
I support continued strong protections for renters and the ongoing creation of affordable, “green” building standard housing and development of co-housing. This is a type of collaborative housing in which residents are committed to living as a community. The physical design encourages both social contact and individual space. Private units contain all the features of conventional homes or apartments, but residents also have access to extensive common facilities such as open space and courtyards. People can share meals and equipment. For those people who have limited family contacts, a sense of community can develop.
ELECTORAL REFORM
I support measures that enhance responsive democratic leadership, reflecting the will of the residents. Such measures would include public financing of campaigns, with voluntary spending limits, and choice voting, ranking candidates in order of preference.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
I support efforts to address and reduce youth violence in our city with community based activity programs. I would propose that the police department take a proactive approach to investigating possible cases of human trafficking, since smuggling of women and children accounts for more lucrative business than even the illegal drug trade. Community safety must also include community preparation for "peak oil" to ensure that essential city services are not disrupted as a result. I would consult with the City of San Francisco's Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force for guidance.
HOMELESSNESS
I believe we have a moral responsibility to help the homeless. At the
same time, all residents must be able to enjoy our public spaces.
People are homeless for many reasons and we need different approaches to reach them. In addition to those who are mentally ill, some are victims of spousal abuse, and some have lost their jobs or homes and may be living in their cars.
According to the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, the number of homeless people on any given night in Santa Monica dropped 24% from '05 to '07. So, Santa Monica is doing a great job with its "continuum of care" programs. But the problem is much bigger than we can handle by ourselves. That’s why I support a regional approach where other cities and the county assume their fair share of the solution.
Contact
Linda on Running for Office:
“I endeavor to listen to all sides with an open mind and to respect all points of view. I have been an activist for many years. I will base my decisions on what I think is in the best interest of the future of Santa Monica’s residents.”
-quoted in the Santa Monica Daily Press, 10/4/08
Endorsements
Treesavers
Santa Monica Greens
Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (C.R.A.A.P.)
Michael Feinstein, Santa Monica City Councilmember (1996-2004)
Oscar de la Torre, president of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Board of Education (for i.d. purposes only)
Maria Loya, Pico Neighborhood Assn. board member (for identification purposes only)
Kelly Hayes-Raitt, former commissioner, SM Commission on the Status of Women (for id purposes only)
Los Angeles Greens
South Central Farm Action Fund
Pond at Douglas Park
Community garden on Park Drive
Paid for by Friends of Linda Piera-Avila for City Council