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On the Issues
My key positions reflect my experiences as an El Segundo resident, six-year Planning Commissioner, and parent of three school-aged kids in this community. As your City Councilwoman, I will go to work for El Segundo residents and effectuate policies that positively impact your daily lives.
Capital Improvement Projects
Addressing El Segundo's capital improvement needs in the short and long term is one of my top priorities. As a first step, the City must deploy the funds already approved. Specifically, two years ago, the City identified $5M for Phase I improvements, which include upgrades to the Teen Center, skatepark, and basketball court, replacement of the irrigation system in Recreation Park, and renovation of park sports courts and fields.
Unfortunately, to date, the only budgetary allocations for these identified improvements are $750K in design expenses and $150K in contingencies. As your City Councilwoman, I will use my voice to keep us on track and start construction! Delaying these projects, where funds have already been earmarked, with redesigns only drains the City's precious financial resources as associated costs increase over time.
While smart spending will get us part of the way there, making progress towards the $120M in capital needs the City has identified over the next 20 years requires a comprehensive long-term plan to secure our City's future.
Although daunting, the City has previously addressed long-term financial uncertainties through proper planning and leadership. For instance, several years ago, the City's ability to meet our unfunded pension liabilities was a significant concern. To tackle this, our City Treasurer chartered a financial path forward to minimize these variable costs, ultimately saving the City millions. I want City Council to adopt the same forward-thinking vision for long-term Capital Improvements. We can keep our City beautiful for the next generation by encouraging creative solutions to isolate ongoing revenue sources.
Public Safety
The health and safety of our residents is my number one priority. While we all choose to live and work in this City for several reasons, the safety for ourselves, our children, our neighbors, and our family remains at the forefront.
The residents of El Segundo have consistently ranked the provision of Police and Fire services at the top of our annual satisfaction surveys. We achieve this by prioritizing response times, hiring the best Police and Fire personnel, and funding robust training - especially in the evolving areas first responders are asked to address, like homelessness, quality of life crimes, and property theft.
As your City Councilwoman, I am committed to providing Police Chief Rodriguez and Fire Chief Avery with the budgets they deem necessary to provide the highest level of service. I would never support outsourcing these services to Los Angeles County as a money-saving exercise.
The idea of El Segundo as a haven in the context of the greater Los Angeles area was a huge consideration in my family's decision to make this our home. Providing this level of service will be a significant factor in the policies I support on the City Council
Hyperion
As everyone knows, in the Summer of 2021, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant suffered the largest disaster in its tenure. Three years later, El Segundo residents still regularly deal with the negative impacts of Hyperion's negligence.
It's time to work for meaningful change from the top down. I propose engaging an environmental lobbyist to negotiate for El Segundo's interests at the highest level of state and federal government.
Attempting to do this at the LA city staff or local official level has proven ineffective. It lacks bite as El Segundo has no jurisdiction over the Hyperion oversight agency – the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN).
As a council member, I will support a budget allocation for a professional lobbyist to engage our state legislators and target the City of Los Angeles funding sources. A government affairs specialist can lobby to withhold State funds from LA budgets and effectuate a strategy other than just enacting fines for non-compliance.
Hiring
Our City's backbone is only as good as the men and women we employ. To enhance services for all residents, we must reduce the number of staff vacancies. For example, City staff is currently operating at a 20% vacancy rate despite a budget that assumes a 5% vacancy. While this is partially attributable to the elimination of positions due to technological advances, many are open because of a shortage of hiring power. I want to elevate the importance of hiring as it directly correlates to residential services and satisfaction.
In other words, El Segundo is only as strong as the depth of our departments, e.g., Community Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Police, Public Works, and Recreation, Parks, and Library. I want to make sure the City does as much as it can to allow these Departments to maintain full operational abilities – and that starts with adequate staffing.
The most impactful decision facing your newly elected City Council will be hiring El Segundo's next City Manager. This role will significantly shape our city's future. We must initiate a thoughtful search for this position to meet our long-term objectives. As your City Councilwoman, I am committed to hiring a solution-focused City Manager who embraces El Segundo's unique, small-town character and fully understands today's challenges. This combination of traits is essential to effectuating policy that improves residents' daily lives.
Heart of Our Community
El Segundo's incredible connectivity is, I believe, our superpower and defining trait. I have personally experienced what this community can accomplish when we come together to support one another. As your City Councilwoman, I want every resident to know they have a voice and are a meaningful and valued part of this tight-knit community.
From comforting each other during times of unbelievable loss to sharing moments of pure joy, the residents of El Segundo give this town its distinct character. As your City Councilwoman, I will:
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Celebrate the rich fabric of our different racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds.
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Support all the different types of family units and prioritize the beauty of living in a multigenerational community.
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Strive for equitable access to our first-class resident services regardless of age or ability.
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Foster a community spirit where all who live and work here are welcome.