Where I Stand
Safe and Secure Community
Simi Valley has historically been one of the safest communities in Southern California. We have an outstanding police force led by Police Chief Steve Shorts. It is imperative that we provide our police officers with the training, resources and tools necessary to protect our community.
I championed the request for body cameras. Simi Valley’s police department was one of the last agencies in Ventura County to implement body cameras. Simi Valley now has the most sophisticated body cameras in the industry, and police forces throughout the state are approaching us for guidance and information. The $1.7 million purchase was made using money from the Forfeited Assets Fund (Not the General Budget). This is an excellent usage of this restricted funds sources as these monies can only be sued for new equipment purchase.
Other police supports have included upgrading the radio communication system, reinstating motorcycle policing, and recently approving the implementation of a drone program for active incident surveillance and criminal apprehension.
Simi Valley Unified School District, with 28 school sites, and Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, with 38 beautiful parks, provide unparalleled opportunities for our residents. The City needs to continue to actively partner with their supervising boards, to keep our schools and parks as safe and secure as possible, and to provide the City support that helps our schools and parks operate at their very best.
Strong Infrastructure
As a council, we voted to put additional funding into improving and repaving our streets and roads. Roads are being paved, potholes are being filled, and sidewalks are being repaired. Additionally, high-speed fiber is being placed throughout the City assuring that all residents will have access to high speed, dependable internet.
Clean, affordable, and consistent water and power is critical. I’ve strongly advocated for hardening our electrical wiring to eliminate PSPSs (Public Safety Power Shutoffs) with Southern California Edison. Simi Valley has been disproportionately affected by these shutoffs, and it places a tremendous hardship on our residents when these events occur.
Finding and cultivating additional water sources, upgrading our sewer system, dealing with some of our water table drainage issues, and making better use of our treated or reclaimed water; these are just some of our infrastructure concerns.
Supportive Services
It is important to provide support for those residents in our community that are struggling. The City plays a vital role in supporting non-profit and faith-based community organizations that provide a safety net for residents that are experiencing housing and food insecurities.
I have supported City Council decisions to use grant money to partially fund the efforts of the Free Clinic. That has made possible their opening of a beautiful facility on Royal that provides free medical, dental, counseling, and legal services to members of our community that cannot otherwise afford these services. I have supported ways to fund the Samaritan Center needs as they serve our unhoused population.
The Senior Center is an absolute jewel in our community, and it has been my honor to serve on the Council on Aging. I strongly support the Senior Center offerings including meal programs, both congregant and delivered to those who are homebound, and the variety of programs offered through this facility. These programs should be enhanced, and seniors throughout our City must be made aware of the social, physical and intellectual offerings of our Senior Center. And I believe the City should continue to meet the transportation needs of our senior and disability populations.
The City of Simi Valley should insist that Simi Valley and East Ventura County receives its full share of health and social services from Ventura County. Simi Valley needs a Family Justice Center to assist those escaping domestic issues as well as a Crisis Stabilization Unit. Our residents should not have to travel to the other side of our county for these services.
Economic Vitality
Simi Valley can prosper if it offers a welcoming environment for businesses, accompanied by good-paying jobs. The city needs to facilitate and encourage business development, not be a hindrance. I believe in prioritizing actions that will allow businesses to flourish and benefit our residents.
I am very aware of how housing prices and the crisis of affordability is impacting everyone, particularly young people and new wage earners. Finding a way to provide quality affordable housing for younger people and young families is a difficult task. I support working with developers to encourage affordable living alternatives. Our community needs housing that addresses the needs of all ages and incomes, but that doesn’t drastically impact current residents with excessive heights, traffic congestion, etc. I particularly support quality development that allows young wage earners to have an opportunity to gain equity in their dwellings.
Possibly the most important job of a Council Member is to shepherd the financial resources of the City. It is important that the City operate within a balanced budget, while maintaining a healthy reserve for unforeseen emergencies. As a Council Member I represent the residents and taxpayers. I believe it my responsibility to do all that I can to minimize the burden of taxes and fees, while maintaining streets and critical infrastructure.
I believe in fairness. For instance, when increasing water rates was discussed by the City Council, I voted for a fixed water rate, not a tiered rate that penalizes large households or businesses that require larger water use. I believe that those who benefit from a service should also help shoulder the cost of the service. When the sewer rate increases were brought before the City Council, I was the lone dissenting vote against the proposed increase method after I calculated the proposed impact to Property owners’ tax bills. In this instance, additional funds were needed to pay for infrastructure lasting 30 years or more. I voted against the proposed sewer rate increase because I felt paying for it all with a 5-year rate increase was excessive. To help residents living on a fixed income or retired, I proposed a significantly lower rate increase coupled with a modest long-term bond issuance which would have distributed the cost over the life of the new infrastructure.
Simi Valley is faced with the burden of unfunded pension liabilities for its retired and future retiring workforce. The City looked at issuing upwards of $250 million in pension obligation bonds (POBs) in an effort to equalize the payment stream over the next 20 years. However, numerous agencies and organizations have categorized these bonds as risky and problematic. I was the long dissenting vote when the City Council voted to authorize POBs and move them to the judicial review stage.
I do not support risky investments or decisions that gamble with the taxpayers’ money. The success of POBs are dependent entirely on the timing of their issuance and their subsequent investment by CALPRs. It formalizes a debt that obligates future city councils to a sizable payment stream. (If they do not make the payments in full, as previous city councils have not done, then financial obligations only mount.) In the judicial review process taxpayer groups challenged the issuance of POBs. After further review, the council voted unanimously to rescind their issuance. I am pleased to report that since then we have committed 40% of our recent budget surpluses to paying down our pension obligation, putting us in a substantially better position.
And finally, I believe as a City Council Member, I am a steward of scarce resources. One small example: I reviewed a long-standing contract and found the City was owed an additional $100,000 annually. I will fight tirelessly for the financial security of our City so that our children’s future and their children’s future are secure!