Zine tells Valley VOTE overdevelopment is unacceptable
L.A. Councilman Dennis Zine and former California Assembly member Cindy Montañez spoke recently at a Valley VOTE meeting. The following is from a meeting report from Valley VOTE about their talks:
Zine plans to run for third and final term in 2009. He said will continue to represent the interests of the Third Council District which encompasses the communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, West Hills, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills with a population of nearly 300,000 residents.
In reiterating his views on a myriad of issues, Zine kept repeating his theme that overdevelopment is unacceptable and that we must "maintain our city as a livable place, create a business friendly environment where jobs and the environment are protected."
He noted the importance of a good economic environment. "More than a generation ago, a youngster would graduate high school and land a good-paying job at the General Motors assembly plant, eventually buy a home in a nearby community, and live comfortably," Zine said. "Today's generation, though, must have a college degree to have the same comfort level, and good jobs don't seem as plentiful, especially for those with only a high school education."
On various topics . . .
City employees' salaries - Los Angeles is an expensive place in which to live, and people need to earn enough to live here.
Proposition R (term limits and ethics reforms) - Zine said that a third term is needed for a City Council member to develop relationships and trust of the various governmental leaders outside of Los Angeles to most effective for our city.
Gang tax - He opposes the proposed parcel tax. Current anti-gang activities should be assessed for effectiveness before new programs are started.
Sales tax - He opposes the half-cent sales tax proposed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Government should live within its means.
Warner Center - The Westfield Topanga Mall, located in Zine's district, is spending $1 billion to upscale and expand, including the "Village" at the corner of Topanga Canyon and Victory Blvds. Zine welcomes the project but insists upon sufficient parking, and traffic control without gridlock.
Mansionization - He supports limits on overbuilding on residential lots and strongly opposes large developments like Las Lomas.
Billboards - He opposes the proposed billboards for the Convention Center/Staples Center area because they probably would become a distraction for motorists on the Harbor Freeway and thereby become a source of traffic accidents.
Special Order 40 - He and LAPD Chief Bill Bratton are working on a plan, together with the federal bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") to be announced in October.
Medical marijuana - He supports the distribution and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, such as painful chronic diseases or cancer, as long as it is prescribed by a "legitimate doctor" and dispensed through a "legitimate pharmacy." Otherwise, he said that there are no regulations to control dispensing of medicinal marijuana from the many retail shops that have sprung up citywide.
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Formerly a member of the California Assembly and mayor of the City of San Fernando, Montañez was hired in January 2008 to help the LADWP increase the proportion of electric power generated from renewable resources, including wind, solar, hydro and geothermal.
While the Legislature has placed certain "green" requirements on utilities, there are some practical hurdles that stand in the way of implementing them. Cindy is wrestling with them. For example, Montañez noted that most power is generated outside the Los Angeles metropolitan area and must be transported a long distance to the urban core.
That requires power transmission lines, which are opposed by many of the same environmental advocacy groups who are pushing for "green" generated power.
When asked why no nuclear power plants are being developed in California, Montañez pointed to a 1976 state law that bans new nuclear plants in California.
She also is working on groundwater issues, focusing on cleaning up groundwater supplies within the city of L.A. She said that the DWP needs to get Congress and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cooperate and fund this effort, for which she has been spending time in Washington, D.C., talking to the agency and congressional representatives.
Cindy has also been working to bring Gov. Schwarzeneggers's "Million Solar Roofs" initiative to L.A. She noted that a solar system to power a home costs about $30,000 to install, and that DWP provides significant rebates.
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