When you came to my website, did you start here? Our Santa Monica community is based on neighborhoods, and that’s where I started, too.

Before I was elected to City Council, I was chair of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, now known as Wilmont, and encouraged formation of the North of Montana Association of neighbors (NOMA). I worked with other neighborhood groups on housing, zoning, traffic, parking, recycling and parks.

As your Councilmember, I’m very clear that my job is to represent residents. I continue to work to bring all of your neighborhood voices into City Hall decisions.

I believe that issues should be discussed first at the neighborhood level, and residents should be involved every step of the way.

One example:  I championed a change in our zoning rules so that even smaller developments along commercial streets adjacent to residential neighborhoods must have public hearings and environmental reviews, protecting nearby neighbors from unwelcome impacts. 

Do you know which neighborhood group represents your interests, and have you joined?

We also celebrate neighborhood and community in Santa Monica through our non-profits

like the Pico Youth and Family Center (PYFC). We can all be  proud of the strong resident participation that characterizes Santa Monica.

(Don’t forget that any TV set graphic on my website links to a video!)

Recognizing that encouraging our robust civic engagement is an ongoing process, I’m giving my full support to new efforts to reach out in particular to our young residents.

I’m honored by, and grateful for, your support in electing me six times!