PUBLIC SAFETY

We all agree that public safety should be the top priority of our elected officials. Unfortunately, Santa Monica is a city in crises. Our streets are less safe than ever before. As your councilmember I will work with our first responders to ensure that they have the resources they need to keep our community safe. I will prioritize putting more police on patrol and rebuilding our depleted police force. Our residents deserve to feel safe in their community.  If Santa Monica is going to live up to the promise of being a world class city that is a destination for visitors from around the world and to ensure that our local business community succeeds, our streets must be safe.

As your councilmember I will work with The Santa Monica Police Department to ensure a world class Police Department through better recruiting, training, oversight, accountability and Community Partnerships.

To achieve our goal of safer streets we must urgently address our homeless crisis. Most experts agree that over 50% of individuals experiencing homelessness suffer from either mental illness or addiction. Unlike many of our neighboring cities Santa Monica does not have the space and ability to provide housing.  Unfortunately, our local, state, county, federal agencies and nonprofits operate independently from each other as this crisis continues. As your councilmember I will work with all these branches of government and non-profits to create partnerships that will eliminate the bureaucracy that delays and often prevents the unhoused from receiving the assistance they desperately need.  I will prioritize the funding and training of mental health professionals through our state and federal partners. Our homeless and mental health crises are national emergencies and need to be responded to as such. I will END the Needle Exchange program from Reed Park. Santa Monica cannot be complicit in enabling a drug crisis. We must work towards ending addiction.

I am running for City Council because I am passionate about rebuilding our local business community. I am committed to creating opportunities where our business community can thrive and local businesses can succeed. I will work with our planning commission to eliminate red tape and streamline the permit process. With the Olympics returning to Los Angeles in 2028, Santa Monica must prepare for spectators for the 2 weeks of events and more importantly capitalize on the opportunity to ensure they return post games.  Our goal must be that Santa Monica remains a destination for shopping and dining. 

As your councilmember I will work with City Planners, the LA28 Olympics organizing committee, real estate developers, public transportation departments, hotel owners, small business owners and residents to maximize the economic impact from the Olympic Games and beyond.

Santa Monica will be the marquee “hub” of the Olympics with significant impact of tourism. We have already seen improvements and expansion of infrastructure and transportation, it is not prudent for Santa Monica to make huge investments for a couple of weeks’ worth of events. Santa Monica must be able to sustain after the Olympics leave. I will work with our business community to develop corporate, public and private sponsorships and partnerships that will benefit and expand our small business community from the economic impact of the games for years to come.