Denise Munro Robb For City
Council
responsible growth-responsive government
CITY COUNCIL QUESTIONNAIRE
Southern California Chapter, Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an independent progressive political organization that was founded in 1947 by Eleanor Roosevelt, Walter Reuther, John Kenneth Galbraith, Reinhold Neibuhr, Hubert Humphrey, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and other leaders in the progressive political community. Nationally, ADA has about 60,000 members, and the Southern California Chapter has the largest membership and contribution base.
Please
complete the questionnaire and email it to taztunes@aol.com
or fax it to 323-651-1163 by July 12th. If you have any questions, please contact our Executive
Director, Jim Clarke, at 323-651-4440 between 10am - 6pm.
1.
Describe
your experience in politics. Have you been active in political parties,
organizations, or campaigns?
Yes,
very. I am currently an elected
member of the Los Angeles Green Party County Council and the Coordinator for
the LA Greens. I have worked on countless campaigns, the most recent being Antonio Villaraigosa's bid for mayor and the earliest would be Barry Commoner's run for President. I spent years working on the single
payer health care initiative (Prop. 186), campaign finance reform (Prop. 208),
No on 187, No on 209, No on School Vouchers. As Executive Director of Southern California Americans for
Democratic Action I was at the forefront of numerous important political
issues. I participated in press
conferences, organized volunteers, ran phone banks, tried to elect all of our
endorsed candidates and much, much more.
I am also an environmental activist and currently serve as a member of
the Coalition to Save All of Ballona.
I also am involved in immigrant rights and work at the National
Immigration Law Center on impact litigation to protect the rights of low-income
immigrants.
2.
How
would you describe yourself politically?
A left-wing
progressive activist who favors people over profits.
3.
In
one sentence, why did you choose to run for this office? How do intend to
improve the quality of life in your community?
I am
passionate about making this city more responsive to the people in this
district. I intend to improve the quality of life in the community by giving neighborhood councils real decision making power instead of the phony advisory power they have now; by making the LAPD more accountable and enforcing compliance with the consent decree, by preventing developers from having a stranglehold on the city, by listening to the concerns of environmentalists and creating more parks, open space, livable cities, preservation of historic housing, getting people out of their cars and making mass transit more accessible, more frequent, lobbying other agencies and government bodies for things that the city can't directly control like universal health care, instituting a living wage similar to Santa Monica's newly passed laws, creating more bike paths, re-greening the LA River, saving all of Ballona and much more.
4.
Describe
your campaign organization and strategy to win. How much do you anticipate
spending and how will you raise that amount? Who has endorsed your campaign?
We were the
first to turn in our signatures and now our focus is on precinct walking, phone
banking, advertising in various media including cable TV, tabling, debates,
making the most out of organizational endorsements, and some surprises along
the way as well. We intend to
raise $25,000 and get matching funds from the city to bring that to
$50,000. I have been endorsed by Ralph Nader, Medea Benjamin, Nancy Pearlman, Sara Amir, Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein, City Councilman Kevin McKeown, singer Bonnie Raitt, author of "City of Quartz," Mike Davis, Prof. Robert Benson of Loyola Law School, Blase and Teresa Bonpane, and many more people (see website for complete list : www.DeniseMunroRobb.com
5.
How
long do you anticipate serving on the city council? What other political offices might you consider running for
in the future?
I intend to
serve on the council for the remainder of the term Ferraro would have served
and then to run for a full term after that. I am currently focused on city politics and my passion is at
the local level. I have not
determined whether I will seek higher office after I have served my city.
About The Issues : General Topics
We
are interested in learning more about your view on topical issues that may or
may not directly impact your duties as a local government elected official but
that help shape public policy. Please respond in 2-3 sentences.
What is your position on:
1.
The
Death Penalty
The death penalty has been proven not to be a deterrent to crime, it is racially biased against people of color and often it is applied against innocent people. This brutality must end. If a person has committed a crime they can't make amends to the victim if they are dead and it serves no one. I am 100% opposed to the death penalty and I always will be.
2.
Three Strikes Law and Returning the Right to Vote to Ex-Prisoners
Once you have served your sentence, it is inhumane to remove one's right to vote. Often
the people who are in prison are serving for no other reason than drug
charges. The three strikes law has
been a horrible mistake and has sent non-violent criminals to prison for
life. It never should have passed
and it must be changed.
3.
Single
Payer Health Care Plans
I spent many years gathering signatures, raising money,
hosting house parties and speaking to people about the benefits of the Canadian
style health care system.
Unfortunately, Prop. 186 did not pass and Mr. Clinton did not push for
it nationally. But we must keep up the pressure until a time when people know what it means, because I am certain once people understand the concept, they will favor it.
4.
Reproductive
Choice
I am 100% in favor of a woman's right to choose, and it must be fully funded by the federal government so that poor women can also have that right. Nothing must
interfere with this.
5.
Privatization
of Social Security & Medicare
We can't gamble with our future. Social Security and Medicare must exist
as a safety net for millions of elderly who will retire with very little
savings. It must be held in a
secure fund so we will know it will be there when we need it.
6.
Affirmative
Action
I fought against Prop. 209 and spoke to groups about
it. Most people have the wrong
concept of affirmative action. It
is an equalizer, it does not hold incompetent people above more competent
people. It merely is a leveler in situations where discrimination has been
obvious. Much damage has been done
to affirmative action in the last few years and we must rectify this.
7.
School
Vouchers
I worked on two different campaigns to stop school vouchers
and yet it keeps coming back.
Republicans insist that this is a way for everyone to get a good
education. It is a stupid idea
because it takes away money from public school, which is for everyone and gives
it to religious schools, or anyone who has a license. Private schools aren't regulated the way public schools are and the worst part of all is it ruins the separation between church and state.
8.
International
Trade Agreements (e.g. WTO, NAFTA, FTAA, MAI, etc.)
They all benefit American businesses but hurt both American
workers and workers abroad. It is
crippled the Mexican economy because they export food that is needed for their
own people, and we have moved a lot of jobs to Mexico just so employers can
have cheap labor without those annoying environmental regulations. Fair trade not free trade, as we say in
the marches.
9.
Environmental
Protection (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, etc.)
President Select Bush is trying to destroy all of these and
we have a lot of work to do. They
need to be expanded not eliminated.
10.
Electoral
and Campaign Finance Reform (including Public Campaign Financing)
I support a system such as Maine's where public financing is attained by many people giving small amounts to the candidate. We also need to stop
the flow of soft money and limit independent expenditure campaigns. TV coverage should be free for all
candidates, as should the printing of literature in the sample ballot so that
all candidates have a chance.
About
The Issues : City Council Topics
1.
What
are the most important issues in your city and how will you tackle them if
elected?
Giving
neighborhood councils real power, secession is a huge issue and I hope that
this will alleviate some of the worries.
Corporate welfare continues to run rampant in this city and I want to
put a stop to funding billionaire investment bankers. If affordable housing is truly being built then that is
worth subsidizing but that is often not the case. Transportation is another huge problem and there are various factions fighting - bus vs. rail, etc. I believe there is a solution once the consent decree of the
BRU has been complied with we can get consensus on rail, see my position papers
for more details on all of these issues.
2.
How
do you envision your relationship with unions, both in the public and private
sector?
I believe the City Council has to fight for the rights of unions, ensure collective bargaining in case the city secedes, support the neutral card check, project labor agreements, and a living wage for everyone - public and private. I also want to institute
a rating system for businesses that employ sweatshop labor so the public will
know (similar to the rating of restaurants).
What is
your position on the enactment of a living wage ordinance in your community?
I fully support it (see above).
What is your position with respect to
contracting out public services and privatization?
I am against it.
3.
What
would you do to promote the creation of affordable housing and in particular,
how would you help people who are homeless to receive housing? How would you
intend to reform the Community Redevelopment Agencies in your city to serve
people better?
Stop the
CRA from giving money to multi-billionaires and only fund truly affordable
housing. Convert some parking lots
into mixed-use housing. The city
needs to spend more money on homelessness and affordable housing and we need a
commission on homelessness that finds immediate solutions. If a building has been abandoned, it shouldn't sit for years like this.
Permits must be granted and it must be available for use. The city can its powers to acquire
properties that are vacant, but we must put money into this, regardless of
whether the homeless vote or not!
4.
What
is your approach to development? Please describe your vision with respect to
planning, development, and preservation of open lands. What do you intend to do
to increase the number of parks in your community, as well as creating
recreational facilities?
We can
create pocket parks in vacant lots, we should make Ballona a park
immediately. Neighborhood activists shouldn't be forced to become experts on environmental impact reports. The City Councilperson
needs to make sure all environmental regulations are complied with. The senseless development we've had threatens everyone. We don't need more malls we need more parks. We have plenty of housing, we just don't have affordable housing. We must do
everything within our power to make sure that the remaining bits of open space
in Los Angeles are preserved.
Blacktops on school playgrounds can also be converted into parks instead
of concrete. Griffith Park can be
extended through the purchase of Cahuenga Peak, and much more.
5.
How
will you address environmental contamination (for example, chromium-6 and
perchlorate in the water supply, or air pollution from industrial sources in
your area)? Do you oppose or support fluoridation of the water supply in your
community?
As a City Council member I would allocate additional funds
for the inspection of contaminated sites within the City of Los Angeles. I
would further establish ties with and request that the State Water Resources
Control Board investigate contaminated sites not only in the San Gabriel and
San Fernando Valleys but also within the Los Angeles basin. I would work for
the establishment of a chrome VI drinking water standard that adequately
safeguards human health and safety. I also would work for a ban on all use of
chrome VI within the city.
In regards to perchlorate I would encourage that perchlorate in the groundwater
be tested at the same time that the chrome VI is, as well as focusing around
traditional areas of perchlorate use (i.e. aerospace facilities). I also would work
for the mitigation of volatile organic compounds, chrome VI, perchlorate, MTBE,
NDMA, and 1,4-Dioxane.
I oppose fluoridation of the water supply, as it is a by-product of aluminum
production and fertilizer. There is a form of fluoride which isn't hazardous, however, that is not the type that is going into our drinking water. Even if you're a person who thinks fluoride is good (which it isn't, I have hundreds of pages of scientific research to prove this) it is also an issue of freedom.
I don't even think Vitamin C should be added to our drinking water, and I am an advocate of Vitamin C.
6.
How
would you address the state of transportation, both within your community and
as a part of the region? What types of solutions would you propose? Would you
support the creation of an elected transit board in your area?
I would
support an elected transit board.
We need to first comply with the consent decree of the Bus Riders Union
as this is both a transportation and an issue of civil rights. Then we need to construct the
Exposition line, have a rail line that goes all the way to the airport, create
more Dash buses to serve as feeder lines, more bike lanes, timed and left turn
lanes, and even consider a dedicated lane in the freeway for mass transit. Fares need to be low, stops need to be protected from wind and rain, and they need to be secure so people don't stand alone late at night, and transportation needs to be frequent. Also parking needs to be available. We also need to work with the City of
Beverly Hills to allow the mass transit to move through that area in order to
get people further west. All this
will encourage people to get out of their cars.
7.
What is your vision for the role of the police in your community? How do you understand the term "community policing" and how would you put it into practice? How would you resolve the issue of police brutality, and racial disparities in profiling and arrests?
[LA only] Would you support the creation of an elected police commission
to increase accountability? What
do you feel is an appropriate formula for allocating police resources to
various stations or divisions?
The police are supposed to protect people but often that hasn't been the case. As Michael Parenti says, they focus too
much on property and not enough on people. The police are demoralized and the attrition rate is
extremely high. We need to support the drop program which currently allows older police officers to stay in their jobs at a higher pension, we need incentives to keep police on the force because right now they only stay 3-4 years and it takes five years to train them, we don't need police in helicopters we need them on the ground and on bikes and living in Los Angeles as part of the community they serve. The Christopher Commission and consent
decree must be implemented and Chief Parks must go. An elected police commission will also help prevent the
racial inequalities and brutality that has been such a core part of the police
culture. Perhaps police stations
that have the best record in terms of community relations should be given
financial incentives? We also must
provide good incentives to attract decent police officers.
8.
How
would you address drug use in your city, and would you work to modify asset
forfeiture practices by police? How will you work to implement Proposition 36?
They have no right to take away anyone's assets because of drugs. As everyone knows, drug use is a health
issue not a crime issue. It should never be treated that way. De-criminalization of drugs will take
away the incentive for crime.
Prop. 36 needs to be expanded because there are long waiting lists for
people in need of rehab.
9.
What
sort of cultural, educational, and recreational programs would you like to
foster in your community with respect to the youth, singles, married couples,
the retired, etc.?
It would be nice to have neighborhood council sponsored community events to encourage people to register to vote, participate in their community, and also meet their neighbors. The city can have special days to honor various groups in the community, such as a city-wide "Honor Teachers Day." Park and Rec can also create lots of special events, that is if we're willing to fund it. In some areas of the city Park and Rec people are working for no pay and this has to stop.
10. Do support the creation of
elected Neighborhood Councils that will have the power to set zoning rules,
approve or reject local development, make recommendations on public services,
and possess a budget for organizing local programs for the community? How do
you intend to address the issues behind the secession movements, if applicable?
Yes. This
is the cornerstone of my campaign.
If implemented properly this will eliminate the need for secession. But if not, we must ensure collective
bargaining and no loss of services for poor areas in the areas that secede.
11. What should be done with the
Ballona Wetlands? What about
Sunshine Canyon? The LA River?
All of these must be preserved as public park areas for the enjoyment and mental health of the community. LA is sorely lacking in open space. Re: the LA River, wherever possible and safe, the concrete must come out.
12. Will you pledge to prevent
deregulation or privatization of the DWP?
YES!
Thank
you for taking the time to answer these questions.
It's entirely my pleasure.