| |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
|---|
| 1 |
|
Adeena
Bleich |
Ron
Galperin |
Paul
Koretz |
Robyn
Ritter Simon |
Robert
Schwartz |
David
T. Vahedi |
|---|
| 2 |
Website: Voters are encouraged
to go to each website and learn more about the candidates. |
www.adeenaforcitycouncil.com |
www.rongalperinforcitycouncil.com |
www.paulkoretz.com |
www.robynrittersimon.com |
www.robertfor
citycouncil.com |
www.votevahedi.com |
|---|
| 3 |
How long
have you lived in CD 5? |
9 years |
19
years |
1 year: moved
back to the district to run for council seat, past 18 years lived in
West Hollywood. Grew up in CD 5. |
47
years |
22
years |
32
years |
|---|
| 4 |
Each candidate
was individually interviewed in-depth for two-hours. Afterwards, each
member of the Coalition's panel independently rated the candidate on
various attributes using a scale from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent).
The scores were tallied and an overall rating was calculated.
For each attribute, if a candidate received an average score of a 1,
2 or 3 the rating was "poor", a 4 or 5 was fair", a 6
or 7 was "good", an 8, 9 or 10 was "excellent". |
|---|
|
5 |
Background: |
|---|
| 6 |
Relevant
community experience (homeowner association board, Neighborhood Council,
other neighborhood experience), work experience, etc., that help candidate
understand issues of council district 5 communities. |
Fair |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Fair |
Poor |
Excellent |
|---|
| 7 |
Background
specifics: |
Worked as a field
deputy for Councilman Jack Weiss, worked in mayoral campaign for Bob
Hertzberg, worked for the American-Israel Political Action Committee
(AIPAC). No relevant management experience.
No homeowner association or Neighborhood Council experience. |
Attorney, Participated
in Westside Transportation Partners; CA 42nd Assembly District transportation
advisory committee; West LA Community Police Advisory Board, budget
advisor to Mayor for West L.A. planning area; tax assessments advisor
to City and County; Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council Outreach
Chair; Crests Neighborhood Association President; Miracle Mile Residential
Association-former VP; Coalition of HOAs-CD 5 Crest HOA representative,
Managed large-scale programs and offices. |
6 years State Assemblyman
(oversight of local offices), 12 years West Hollywood City Councilmember,
Aide to various councilmembers, Chief of Staff for Board of Equalization
Member Brad Sherman, Member of L.A. Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council,
Southern California Director of CA League of Conservation Voters, Administrative
Director of Ecology Center of Southern California, Member, L.A. County
Library Commission. No homeowner association experience in LA. |
Worked for LA Chamber of
Commerce (business-related organization), Century City Chamber of Commerce
(business-related organization), appointed by Mayor James Hahn to Westside
Planning Commission. No homeowner association or Neighborhood Council
experience. Some management experience when headed Century City
Chamber. |
Entertainment lawyer, CEO
of Slamdance Media Group, LLC, television producer, various positions
in entertainment companies, volunteered at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
coached his children's little league and other sports teams, No homeowner
association or Neighborhood Council experience. |
Attorney, auditor for the
State Board of Equalization. In his years at the Board, he completed
over 250 financial audits totaling over $10,000,000,000 in audited transactions
locating waste in government, private practice lawyer focusing on civil
litigation, pro-bono attorney for Friends of Animals and other rescue
organizations, mentored at-risk teens in the district, volunteer and
supporter of Protect the Vote, Sierra Club and Save the Ballona Wetlands.
Board Member for many years of Westwood South of Santa Monica Homeowners
Association and a co-founder and member of the Westside Neighborhood
Council, HOA rep to Coalition of HOAs-CD5. Managed large-scale
programs and office. |
|---|
| 8 |
Assessment
by the Coalition's panel as to how each candidate answered the following
question: "During the past five years, what have you
done to preserve and protect the QUALITY OF LIFE for homeowners and
residents in your current neighborhood?" |
Fair:
Participated in tree planting, cleaning some areas and painting the
Robertson Recreation Center. |
Good:
Organizer-West LA & Valley clean-up, emergency preparedness &
LA Fire Department projects; United Way LA 2007 funding reviewer. |
Good:
Founded/headed Neighborhood Watch Residents Association in West Hollywood,
for past 2 months has served on Mid-City West Neighborhood Council Policy
Committee, |
Good: Founded Beverlywood
Moms, participated in support programs for Canfield Avenue Elementary
School. |
Poor:
Instrumental in obtaining street lights for his street. |
Excellent: Worked to
remove large sign blight from Pico-Overland, drafted no graffiti on
dumpsters rule, negotiated with Norm's Restaurant to stop steam cleaning
of parking lot during late night sleeping hours, helped to provide:
a) hi-tech laser cameras for motor officers, b) bikes for LAPD patrols
for Rancho Park, c) local LAFD with new computers, d) LAFD with brush
firefighting nozzles for hoses, e) Emerson School with new computer
server, f) hi-tech paging system for Rancho Park to mitigate neighborhood
noise, g) increased scope of development project notification to neighbors
by Neighborhood Council. |
|---|
|
9 |
Goals
for office: |
|---|
| 10 |
Why
the candidate is running for this office (quotes are taken from each
candidate's website or from candidate's statements during interview
with Coalition's panel): |
“Adeena decided to run
for Los Angeles City Council because she believes that government does
not have to be a slow, counterproductive bureaucracy. She believes that
given the right leadership and hard work, City government can be proactive
instead of reactive, and it can be effective rather than frustrating
and inefficient.” |
"It's time for a change.
It's time for our local government to work for us all. It's time
for leadership with vision and integrity. This is why I am running
for Los Angeles' 5th Council District." |
"I am running for the
City Council in the 5th District where I grew up and live. As the child
of a holocaust survivor, I was raised with a deep sense of responsibility
to help heal the world and to leave it better than I found it."
"I've watched the various council members over the years and especially
in recent years thought I could do a much better job for the residents." |
"Everyday people are
asking me why I want to run for city council. Many believe serving
as a councilmember is a thankless job plagued with problems that can
never really be resolved... but this is not how I view the opportunity.
I want to be a strong advocate for our community." |
"I believe I can do
a better job than what is currently being done." |
"I want to be your
Councilmember because I believe you should have a leader who puts residents
first. I also believe you deserve a leader whose main goal is to improve
your quality of life through the prompt delivery of quality city services
such as pothole repair, sidewalk repair, and tree trimming." |
|---|
| 11 |
Candidate's
goals for Council District 5: |
"Consistency for planning
and land use, increase number of planning deputies in council office,
do more to get people out of their cars through mass transit and ride
share, support the forming of groups to share information across CD5." |
"Strengthen our communities
and meet the challenges of today and tomorrow." |
"Be an accessible councilman,
need to slow development dramatically in CD5, need to stick more closely
to underlying zoning in terms of what we approve, have to work harder
to develop the infrastructure to handle the density that we already
have, create planning process that ensures more involvement and input
for residents, create a 25-year visionary plan for LA, have as a priority
a Westside transit plan, work with environmental leaders for greenprint
for LA." |
"Better governance
of City departments, better communication with City Planning and constituents." |
"Build a foundation
for a seamless public transit system, a healthier and more sustainable
environment and a safer city with larger and better equipped Police
and Fire Departments. Build the foundation for an education system
that works again for our children and their families. Build a foundation
for a government that works for you and our neighborhoods." |
"Provide real representation
and be the community's voice, empower residents, support our police
and firefighters for safer communities, preserve communities and improve
quality of life, actively support public schools and libraries, work
to lower DWP costs for residents, institute real parking solutions that
don't impact communities, give full attention to real traffic solutions,
oppose wasteful spending and return LA to fiscal responsibility, cut
the red-tape and speed up community improvements, commit to infrastructure
investment . "I want to obtain a fair share of City resources
for CD5 so that our tax dollars and City fees come back to our district." |
|---|
| 12 |
Assessment
by the Coalition's panel as to the level of understanding by each candidate
regarding issues spanning all of CD5: |
Good
understanding of issues: Planning and land use, traffic, lack of a bridge
between planning and traffic, customer service of council office. |
Excellent
understanding of the issues: Planning, traffic, transportation and accountability
of the council office and City Hall and others who are suppose to serve
the district. |
Good understanding
of the issues: Planning, traffic and environmental protection. |
Good: Have a plan
on traffic and transportation, development, citywide increase for LAPD,
stronger partnership with LAUSD |
Good: Engaged &
involved communities, safe, better planned communities, faster moving,
healthy and educated communities. |
Excellent
understanding of public safety, need to provide sufficient police for
our district, issues of traffic, over-development |
|---|
| 13 |
Assessment
by the Coalition's panel as to the ability of each candidate to
articulate impediments to achieving their goals and how these would
be overcome, their understanding of the issues spanning all of CD5,
understanding of specific issues for the east side of the district,
Westside of the district, Valley portion, hillside areas. |
Fair: "There
is a disconnect between Planning and Zoning. If a project doesn't
fit the infrastructure, the project shouldn't go in." |
Excellent:
"Entrenched interests are a problem. Need to work with other
council members and make City Hall accessible and accountable to HOAs
and constituents." |
Good:
"The lack of public funding for transportation projects, politicians
and development are problems we need to overcome. I will meet
with every neighborhood group and will slow down development." |
Fair:
Budget crisis, frictions between councilmembers, lack of responsiveness
from City departments, first priority is to constituents who are residents,
business owners and schools. |
Poor:
"Hopefully nothing, but apathy and politics are impediments.
I have the skills for negotiation and dealing with people.
I will assign 1 representative per area and on a quarterly basis they
will meet with area groups to listen and learn what is happening in
the district." |
Excellent: "The
impediments are special interests and apathy. I would work
with traffic planners to compose a comprehensive traffic plan, implement
"park & rides" outside of CD5 to cut traffic to Century
City, UCLA and other work sites, immediately draw a master plan for
development and traffic that would include CD 5 and surrounding areas,
increase number of public parking lots on commercial streets, have DWP
use new technology to increase energy and water savings." |
|---|
| 14 |
Comments
by Coalition's panel: |
Adeena struggled to answer
questions about Valley & hillside issues. She had a minor
understanding of specific infrastructure needs and what constitutes
an acceptable project. Said a project should not be built if it
doesn't fit infrastructure, but currently supports a project that doesn't
fit. Would make exceptions for developers. |
Ron understood the details
of how money is wasted by City government, that taxes on public filings
are not collected by the City or County, and how to correct these problems.
Very knowledgeable about district. Stated the issues well,
but didn't give specific positions. It was not clear that he would
support homeowners/residents over developers. |
Paul was not very knowledgeable
about specific issues in unique areas of the district, but said he would
use the campaign to learn about these. He could not answer the question
of what is a "good" development project for a community versus
a "bad" one. Could be a career bureaucrat. Did not have
concrete solutions to key issues. |
Robyn answered in generalities.
Did not have specific knowledge of unique areas of the district.
No concrete plans for solutions. Said some developments deserve
exceptions and should be built, even if homeowners/residents oppose.
Said prior agreements between developers and neighbors can be broken. |
Robert struggled to answer
questions about unique issues of specific areas of district. Spoke
in generalities, not of specific issues and solutions. Quarterly
meetings with area groups would be an insufficient frequency.
He was vague in how to overcome barriers to successfully dealing with
the problems and issues in CD5 and in City Hall. |
David had in-depth understanding
of the district. He understood it overall and its specific areas.
He understood the issues and gave solid answers to all the questions.
Had reasonable specific solutions. Articulated his unqualified
support for homeowners/residents over developers. Would require
developers to abide by their prior agreements with neighbors. |
|---|
| 15 |
What
candidate says are his/her unique qualities that differentiate from
other candidates. |
Worked for Councilman Jack
Weiss in CD5 council office, understands how City Hall works, will talk
to people and do roundtable discussions. |
Knowledgeable about district,
extensive experience with many organizations in district. |
Served in government for
25 years. |
Served on Westside Planning
Commission, helped to change area school. "The most valuable
skill I have learned in my career is the ability to listen." |
"I know how to deal
with people, know how to bring compromise, know how to negotiate." |
"I know the district
very well, know each area, have the passion for improving district,
have faith that things can get better, know how to manage organizations,
know how to build consensus." |
|---|
| 16 |
Interactions
with Constituents: |
|---|
| 17 |
Will
you adopt & operate according to the Coalition’s
Constituents Bill of Rights? |
All
candidates said "Yes" |
|---|
| 18 |
Will
you commit to meeting with the Coalition of HOAs-CD5 at least three
times per year? |
All
candidates said "Yes" |
|---|
| 19 |
Assessment
by the Coalition's panel as to each candidate's attitudes toward interaction
with homeowners and residents when a developer proposes a project with
entitlement, but the project is opposed by the neighbors and HOA. |
Very Good:
"Would put meeting together with those impacted and with HOA and
work out a compromise. If no compromise, no project." |
Good:"I would
tell every developer to work with the HOAs and Neighborhood Councils
to get their support. Without acceptance by the HOAs and Neighborhood
Council, I would be very unlikely to support a project." |
Fair:
"Not sure how to oppose by-right project, but support shorter entitlement
period." |
Fair: "Would
try to ensure entitlements are honored." |
Poor:
Did not understand entitlements issue. Said he would gather information
and build consensus. |
Excellent:
"Would work for compromise, but if none possible, would oppose
project. Will work to revise entitlement ordinances to make them
consistent with today's environment." |
|---|
| 20 |
Assessment
by the Coalition's panel as to each candidate's attitudes toward developers
seeking variances for development projects that neighbors and HOAs think
would be detrimental to the neighborhood. |
Very Good:
"Would put meeting together and work a compromise, but if no compromise,
would not support variance." |
Good:
"Too many variances issued today." |
Fair: Would meet with developers
and broker an arrangement with HOA. "If I thought the community
was unreasonable, I would support the developer." "Some projects
should be built even if there is opposition from neighbors." |
Fair:
"If projects had special circumstances, even if neighbors opposed
it, project should be built." (Note from Coalition's panel :Developers
always list special reasons why their variances should be approved.) |
Poor: Did not understand
variance process. |
Excellent
"I understand HOAs and impacted neighbors. I would work for
a compromise, but would support the neighbors and HOA if the project
had opposition. I would oppose all variances until the infrastructure
catches up with development." |
|---|
| 21 |
Attitudes
toward including homeowners/residents and HOAs in reviewing and revising
community plans. |
All
candidates said they would involve community groups, such as HOAs and
Neighborhood Councils. |
|---|
| 22 |
Campaign
Methods: |
|---|
| 23 |
If
you have had a previous campaign, have you taken funds that were proven
to be laundered funds/contributions? (If “yes”), Did you return
the laundered money? |
Never
had a prior campaign |
Never
had a prior campaign |
Previous
campaigns: Never took laundered funds/contributions |
Previous
campaign in 2001: Never took laundered funds/contributions |
Never
had a prior campaign |
Previous
campaign in 2005: Never took laundered funds/contributions |
|---|
| 24 |
Did
you ever refuse any campaign contributions because they were suspect?
(IF YES, ASK): Who made the contributions)? |
Never
had a prior campaign |
Yes,
Westfield Shopping Centers |
Previous
campaigns: Never received suspicious funds/contributions |
Previous
campaign in 2001: Never received suspicious funds/contributions |
Never
had a prior campaign |
Previous
campaign in 2005: Never received suspicious funds/contributions |
|---|
| 25 |
If
you had a previous campaign, were there any ethics violations?
(If “yes”), how were these resolved? |
Never had
a prior campaign |
Never had
a prior campaign |
Previous
campaigns: No ethics violations |
Previous
campaign in 2001: No ethics violations |
Never had
a prior campaign |
Previous
campaign in 2005: No ethics violations |
|---|
| 26 |
Campaign
Funding (As of June 30, 2008): (Best efforts were made to accurately
report contribution data from the Los Angeles City Ethics website: http://ethics.lacity.org) |
|---|
| 27 |
Total
dollars contributed (including loans to the campaign): |
$105,507 |
$112,517 |
$72,310 |
$111,341 |
$17,450 |
$107,741 |
|---|
| 28 |
Money
already spent for campaign expenses: |
$5,756 |
$51,295 |
$35,819 |
$9,469 |
$1,000 |
$4,565 |
|---|
| 29 |
Cash
on hand (fiscal responsibility indicator): |
$105,507 |
$70,932 |
$42,477 |
$102,777 |
$16,450 |
$105,577 |
|---|
| 30 |
Loans
from candidate for campaign (maximum allowed is $25,000): |
$0 |
$24,877 |
$0 |
$25,000 |
$1,000 |
$25,000 |
|---|
| 31 |
Total
number of contributors: |
256 |
287 |
231 |
288 |
43 |
225 |
|---|
| 32 |
Contributions
by people & companies in specific business groups: |
|
|---|
| 33 |
¨ Percent
in development companies, construction, real estate, public relations
for real estate and developers, associated trades |
23% |
17% |
9% |
19% |
7% |
12% |
|---|
| 34 |
¨ Percent in mortgage brokers, lenders, investors,
other financial services that may support developer activities |
16% |
11% |
12% |
9% |
2% |
6% |
|---|
| 35 |
¨ Percent in law firms, law firm support companies |
14% |
20% |
12% |
15% |
14% |
7% |
|---|
| 36 |
SUB-TOTAL:
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, REAL ESTATE,
LAWYERS, FINANCIAL/LENDING/INVESTMENT FIRMS: |
53% |
48% |
33% |
43% |
23% |
25% |
|---|
| 37 |
Contributions
by other specific groups: |
|
|---|
| 38 |
¨ Unions |
|
|
4% |
|
|
1% |
|---|
| 39 |
¨ Entertainment |
7% |
9% |
3% |
3% |
28% |
3% |
|---|
| 40 |
¨ Auto/taxis/parking garages |
|
|
5% |
|
|
|
|---|
| 41 |
¨ Health care/medical |
|
3% |
9% |
|
2% |
3% |
|---|
| 42 |
¨ Political consulting firms/political workers/government
workers |
|
2% |
10% |
|
|
7% |
|---|
| 43 |
¨ Restaurants/bars |
|
1% |
5% |
|
|
1% |
|---|
| 44 |
Companies
with 5 or more contributors: |
|
|---|
| 45 |
lColdwell Banker (Real estate) |
|
12
contributors |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| 46 |
lLevin
Leichtman Capital (Investment) |
8
contributors |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
| 47 |
lMichelman & Robinson LLP (Attorneys) |
|
|
|
11
contributors |
|
|
|---|
| 48 |
lParadigm Agency (Entertainment) |
|
|
|
|
5 contributors |
|
|---|
| 49 |
lState of California (Auditors) |
|
|
|
|
|
12
contributions |
|---|
| 50 |
¨ Overlap
with contributors to current councilman Jack Weiss, who during his term
of office, supported virtually every development project in the district. |
52 contributors |
10 contributors |
7 contributors |
23 contributors |
4 contributors |
2 contributors |
|---|
| 51 |
|
|---|
| 52 |
If
money is accepted from developers and other special interest groups,
what is pledged for access between builder/construction entities versus
HOAs and other neighborhood groups? |
Will give equal access to
developers and homeowner groups. Will not review plans until homeowner
groups have first seen plans. |
Would require developers
early in their process to show plans to Neighborhood Councils, HOAs
and neighbors who are impacted by a project. |
Would want to meet with
the developer and the neighbors. |
"My access is open
to everyone. I do not pledge anything different to someone who
gives me money than the person who does not." |
Will have equal access for
all. |
Access by homeowner groups
will occur first. |
|---|
| 53 |
Other
comments by the Coalition's panel: |
Did not seem to have the
fortitude to stand up for beliefs and for constituents. Adeena
told the Coalition's panel that when working for Councilman Weiss, she
opposed some of his decisions, but said "I had to do what my boss
told me to do." Although this is realistic, the Coalition's
panel is concerned that Adeena will not be able to stand up to developers,
lobbyists, and the various political forces in and outside of City Hall
that put pressue on council members. |
Well prepared, knowledgeable
and well spoken. He had a clear understanding of the needs of
most areas in CD 5, but did not give specific positions on development
nor that he would support homeowners in final decisions. He agreed
he would bring homeowners to the table in talks with developers, but
did not make any commitments to support homeowner issues. |
When Jack Weiss announced
he was running for City Attorney, Paul endorsed Jack Weiss even though
Mr. Koretz knew that in the 2001 Council race, Mr. Weiss accepted and
kept illegal campaign contributions. On September 12, 2008, Mr.
Koretz stated that he had decided to retract this endorsement.
As of the date of this report, no retraction had been issued.
Mr. Koretz said it was procrastination on his part and that Councilman
Weiss had not returned his phone calls. These behaviors suggest
that Mr. Koretz may care more about politics than ethics and may not
have the assertiveness necessary to stand up to developers. |
Appointed by Mayor Hahn
to Westside Planning Commission for 5 years. Voting record (the
following information was provided to the Coalition by Robyn Ritter
Simon): 67% of the time Robyn voted in favor of the project
and 33% of the time her votes were in favor of the community (against
the development project). Virtually all of the Commission's votes
were unanimous. The Coalition's panel believes this shows a strong
record in favor of development. |
Was very uninformed about
the City, how it operates and more specifically, the District.
Did not know about many of the large development projects that are currently
in process. Did not know about the Density Bonus Ordinance or
SB 1818. Did not have sufficient knowledge of the various parts
of the district to answer questions. |
Very knowledgeable and articulate
about the issues of the district overall and its unique areas.
Very clear understanding of realistic solutions that would help solve
today's problems and strategically prepare city for the future.
Has a proven track record for working through his HOA and Neighborhood
Council to obtain resources for the community and for negotiating compromises
and solutions. |
|---|
| 54 |
This report
reflects the opinions and best efforts of the representatives who served
on the interview panel of the Coalition of Homeowners -Council District
5. For more information, contact your HOA president or your HOA's
Board's representative to the Coalition of Homeowner Associations-Council
District 5. |
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| 55 |
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