| Kevin McKeown for City Council 1998 |
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Q: Why are you running for this office?
Q: What's the most important issue facing our city?
Q: What will you do about the most important issue?
Q: Why are you the person to best handle this issue?
Q: What is your community background and how does
Q: What will be your top three priorities if elected?
Q: How will you use your office to bring Santa Monicans
Q: Why are you running for this office?
Kevin McKeown: Santa Monica residents and local businesses together face greater
challenges to the nature and future of our community than at any
time in the past twenty years.
Our ability to work together for Santa Monica must be encouraged
by leadership willing to heal outdated divisiveness, foster new
and productive dialogue and coordinate community resources for
the benefit of ALL Santa Monicans.
As a grassroots neighborhood activist I've encouraged a broad-based
view of citywide issues. I've worked not only with residents
but with business, labor, churches, social service agencies,
our School District, other community organizations and City staff
to develop creative consensus solutions for shared concerns.
As Councilmember, I'll continue to bridge sub-communities. I
believe we can learn to disagree on specific issues while respecting
each others shared aspirations. Through candid but respectful
discussion I'll encourage civic involvement from ALL Santa Monicans.
...back to the questions
Q: What's the most important issue facing our city?
Kevin McKeown: Santa Monica's soul is at stake. Changing state law, developer
lawsuits and our newly adopted housing production plan weaken
protection for our existing affordable housing. Vacancy decontrol
and accompanying higher rents will make it harder to maintain
our community diversity. Luxury housing development in our multi-family
neighborhoods will cost us evictions as current residents are
forced out of buildings condemned to be prematurely torn down.
Meanwhile, north of Montana, neighbors have organized to slow
the demolition of historic homes being replaced with "monster
mansions."
Our challenge is cooperation. Santa Monica residents and local
businesses must set aside past differences to work together preserving
neighborhood character, diversity and quality of life. We can
mindfully manage "market forces" rather than succumb to them.
We musn't let speculative development interests simply buy the
Santa Monica we have built with our hearts.
...back to the questions
Q: What will you do about the most important issue?
Kevin McKeown: As your Councilmember, I will immediately revisit our housing
production program to make sure we're responsibly safeguarding
our community and generating needed funds for new affordable housing.
I will support the preservation efforts of residents in single-family
neighborhoods by helping them modify our zoning protections, fairly
and effectively. Most of all, working with all parts of the community,
I will bring us together around common concerns.
The seemingly pedestrian issue that most symbolizes my intent
is crosswalks. Just as we must make it safe to cross thoroughfares,
linking neighborhoods and neighbors, we must connect residents,
businesses and interest groups. Working together, we can preserve
our community's character while encouraging an entrepreneurial
economy and vibrant local business.
...back to the questions
Q: Why are you the person to best handle this issue?
Kevin McKeown: I love Santa Monica. Living here over 22 years, I've already
worked hard creating bridges between local sub-communities. I've
chaired the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, helped form
the new North of Montana Association of neighbors, and championed
the resurgence of resident grassroots participation citywide.
As a community activist I've encouraged broad-based collaborations
rather than divisive disagreements. I've worked not only with
neighborhood groups but with business, labor, churches, social
service agencies, our School District, Santa Monica College and
City staff to develop consensus solutions for shared challenges.
I believe we can differ on specific issues while learning to
respect each other's shared aspirations.
I bring professional experience in technology to the Council.
My interactive website at www.mckeown.net lets me know what YOU
think. I look forward to working for you as your Councilmember,
and ask for your support.
...back to the questions
Q: What is your community background and how does your experience
prepare you to be Councilmember?
Kevin McKeown: My recent community activity (the last two years) includes
Chair, Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition
Steering committee, Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights
City of Santa Monica Telecommunications Working Group
Charter/continuing member SMMUSD Instructional Technology
DAC
Computer and networking consultant:
Columnist, Santa Monica housing, community and communications
issues
Organizer, neighborhood groups' committee on Parks and
Open Space
Task Force to Restore Barnum Hall
Wilshire/Lincoln Parking Committee
Chamber Homeless Task Force services brochure rewrite
ad hoc committee
Initiator, Sojourn Domestic Violence online referral service
(CompuServe)
Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism
Lifelong Learning Community Project
A community is defined by the connections among its members.
I've worked hard at nurturing connections and communication.
I am particularly dedicated to our children and our future, with
strong coordinated backgrounds in education and technology.
...back to the questions
Q: What will be your top three priorities if elected?
Kevin McKeown: Our first priority must be stabilizing Santa Monica's overly
volatile housing market, with concern and respect for residents,
property owners and business. We must not succumb to market forces,
but rather cooperate to manage market forces for current Santa
Monicans and our community's future. My personal commitment to
affordable housing is absolute. All Santa Monicans must be allowed
housing security, especially our seniors and residents with limited
incomes.
A related issue is the cumulative impact of development, and how
it affects the nature of the community in which we have chosen
to live. Our planning process must create the city we want rather
than working around detriments that are too often "unmitigatable."
Finally, we must in all our actions be mindful of improving community
discourse. A public process that intimidates people and stifles
vigorous involvement must be replaced by one where residents feel
welcome and safe to participate.
...back to the questions
Q: How will you use your office to bring Santa Monicans together
to solve the problems we all face?
Kevin McKeown: I believe a critical element of leadership is the ability to
listen and learn. Only then can community intent be ascertained
and appropriate policy distilled. By temperament, ability and
experience I will bring to our Council an openness and willingness
that will encourage sincere civic involvement.
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