Not Clearly Pro or Con: "I believe that the city should allow further discussions to take place with the community and the hotels. We need to make sure that these redevelopments are beneficial not only to the tourism and business sectors, but also the city’s residents. Generally, I am supportive of the revitalization of our hotels, and would like to see greater innovation in terms of community benefits. Given the current status of our downtown area, I believe that the Wyndham has an opportunity to activate the south side of the promenade and increase usership of our Tongva Park. I believe that the Miramar is an undeniable asset to our city, and should adjust current architectural design/possibly look at diversifying its benefits. Finally, I think that Gehry’s artistic observation deck is beautiful, but I do not believe it belongs in our downtown area. His talents would be better utilized in our future Bergamot Arts District."

Pro: "The City of Santa Monica has experienced the highest increases in rental prices within Los Angeles County. We currently have a massive jobs-to-housing imbalance, diminishing the quality of life for both residents and workers. Losing the Redevelopment Agency has hurt the city's ability to provide a housing safety net and we must take action to help our most vulnerable residents. Our community deeply cares about the less fortunate and our socio-economic diversity. This has been clearly illustrated through the 1979 rent control charter amendment, and again in 1990 with an adjustment mandating 30% of all housing built be designated for low-moderate income levels."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Generally, I find our current height limits are beneficial for a scalable community and lead to innovative design. However, I also believe that each new building planning to exceed seven stories in downtown Santa Monica should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We need to make sure that any exceptions to the rule clearly illustrate substantial community benefits that contribute to the future well-being of our city. Finally, the Land Use and Circulation Element is the constitution for growth in our city, and has spurred our Downtown Specific Plan to carefully establish land use, circulation, and building standards for the Downtown District. We should trust that a communal process will lead to the best standard for project evaluation."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The current proposed project on 4th/5th and Arizona still has a few kinks to work out before it should be built. I think we should re-evaluate the current allotment for office space that occupies the development in order to provide more housing units. It is important that the city generate revenue from this opportunity site, but it is equally as important that the space improves the quality of life for our current residents. This project is an excellent opportunity to create additional revenue streams for public goods and social services, and its scale should be contrasted with its allotment of community benefits."

Con: "At this point in time I do not think that we need to encourage more non-residents to drive to Santa Monica when you consider existing traffic concerns. Instead we should employ a multimodal model that encourages individuals to use a combination of public transit, biking and walking as our current infrastructure simply cannot support an additional influx of personal vehicles. Upon completion of the Expo Line we might want to gauge its usage and the impact that it has upon these conditions. For now, I think that increased parking space increases automobile usage due to ease of using a car instead of alternative transit."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Given the city's current jobs to housing imbalance, immediate building of pure office space would unlikely reap significant awards to our community. However, as we develop along the Expo line, integration of new office space coupled with housing components should be explored. The main problem with increased office space is increased traffic within an already congested city. If we could ensure that workers used alternative transit methods for daily work commutes, then we could create more office space in a sustainable manner. In addition, office space reserved for current Santa Monica residents would be another way to mitigate the traffic impacts of new space."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Although City Hall has taken many steps with regard to transportation management, more must be done to alleviate traffic during peak hours. Ordinance 1604 provides a relatively comprehensive approach to traffic reduction but more programs that fit the scope of this policy can definitely be implemented to assist in the process. For instance, additional incentives could be provided to employers that stagger their hours of operation and/or employee shifts in an effort to ensure ease of access for both Santa Monica residents and non-resident employees. Also, continued investments in public transportation and local infrastructure are necessary to exceed the consistently increasing demand on existing thruways. In addition to this, I would recommend targeted development that focuses on workforce housing in an effort to mitigate traffic conditions during peak hours. Regardless of the method, a creative approach that allows for future development and strengthens the partnership between local business interests and the city is necessary in order to accommodate both competing interests."

Pro: "Studies have shown that the development of a multimodal transportation system can assist in mitigating traffic conditions. Historically these types of programs have the most success when the community is involved in every step of the planning process through the establishment of advisory committees comprised of local bike enthusiasts. Arlington, Virginia is one shining example of how a long term approach which relies on community involvement can create biking facilities and infrastructure that increases the overall community's interest in utilizing these assets. The Expo Corridor Bike Path is a great first step, but we need to be sure that we are focused on projects that cater to the needs and desires of current bikers in the area in order to ensure we maximize the long-term benefits of these programs."

Con: "Although various business entities and a small segment of our population have an interest in the continued operation of the airport, it is important to consider the desires of our residents in the adoption of policy on this issue. Except in extreme circumstances, what Santa Monica residents want is what is good for Santa Monica. That being said, I support Measure LC due to the fact that the City Council is provided significant leverage in relation to pending litigation with interested parties through their direct control of operating procedures. To remove this leverage from the equation through the adoption of Measure D would result in the creation of a cumbersome process that would not allow the city to take immediate action if, and when, it is necessary."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "That would depend on the backlash from the restrictions that we impose on the airport's operations. We should definitely consider limiting the classifications of aircraft that are permitted to use the facility, in particular jet aircraft that are often the subject of individual complaints. We should also look at tightening up hours of operation, noise pollution standards, and alternative fuel sources. Conversely, the City Council should also make sure that they avoid costly legal battles that there is little to no chance of winning. Therefore, the City Council should attempt to adhere to the will of our constituents on the matter so long as legal counsel is confident in the end result."

Not Clearly Pro or Con: "It all depends on the type of business. Santa Monica has a vibrant economy that incubates the technology, retail, entertainment, hospitality, and medical sectors. We have a large amount of consumers with purchasing power, great public safety, and groundbreaking fiber infrastructure to help business thrive. However, it can also be extremely difficult to navigate the permitting process as a small business owner entering the market. A few of the challenges are the myriad of codes, tight time windows for inspection appointments, and process for approval. The overall process to start a new business here in Santa Monica generally favors larger corporations with the resources/experience to navigate complex city environments, and bogs down small local business because of inexperience/lack of budget."

Con: Candidate has not provided a detailed response to this question.

Pro: "Averaging about 4,000 crimes annually, Santa Monica's crime rate is about as low at it was during the 1950’s, and has substantially declined from the 1980's & 1990's (Avg. 10-11k). However, our city has an average theft rate that is higher than the national average, and constitutes the majority of reported crime within city limits. We need to crack down on larceny and theft to protect our economic prosperity. Our fire department is rated class 1 (1- 10 rating for preparedness), and nearly 80% of calls are medical related. All of the cities paramedics are firefighters, but not all firefighters are paramedics. I believe we should cross-train in order to create more paramedics given the city's demand. In addition, the incoming expo line could have an impact across the board on our public safety. We should be ready to measure that impact, and expand services as needed."

Pro: "With the loss of councilmembers Bobby Shriver and Richard Bloom, we have yet to see an elected [official] champion the homeless issue. With a regional population of chronically homeless around 50-60k or 10% of national population, we need to work with surrounding cities to end homelessness. Santa Monica does more than any other city, and is home to one of the most successful non- profits in the country (OPCC) in terms of recidivism, boasting a 35% higher success rate than the national average. It is important to realize that this is not just our problem, its everybody's problem and other cities need to step up."

Con: "Santa Monica is one of the greatest cities in the State of California. The municipal workforce is the lifeblood of our city. In order to maintain premier services to our residents, we must have employees that are invested in the future success of our community. With about 2,200 employees being represented by 13 labor unions, it is challenging to work efficiently, but anything worth having takes hard work. Our current city budget has the means to accommodate a wide range of employees, and investing in our employees is investing in ourselves. I strongly believe in choosing employment over contracts whenever possible."