Meet The Candidates: David Barron, Council District 6

()

To prepare for the upcoming March 8, 2011 elections, LAist has contacted each candidate on the City of L.A.'s Official Candidate List to participate in a Q&A. All candidates received the same set of questions, with the exception of West Hollywood city council candidates, who received a WeHo-specific list of questions. LAist does not endorse political candidates, and responses are posted in the order they are received.

In this edition of "Meet the Candidates," we hear from Council District 6 candidate David Barron (Facebook). The San Fernando Valley district includes Lake Balboa, Van Nuys, Panorama City, Pacoima, North Hollywood and Sun Valley.

Other candidates in the March 8, 2011 CD 6 race are incumbent Tony Cardenas, James "Jamie" Cordaro and Rich Goodman. Not sure about your district? See the map to find out if your neighborhood is within district boundaries.

()

Tell us about your background and what you'll bring to the table in City Hall. What makes you different from the other candidates, and what qualifies you to represent your district?

I was born, raised and educated here in Los Angeles. I completed an apprenticeship program in construction in 1972. I Obtained a Construction Management Certificate Program from the University of Dominguez Hills. I'm a Construction Project Inspector certified by the State Architect in Sacramento. I'm a Combination Construction inspector certified by the International Code Council. I'm a Building Inspector with the Governors Office of Emergency Services, a Licensed General Contractor, completed EPA Technician training and education by Operating and Maintenance Engineers. I obtained Community Relations and Administrative Justice education from College of the Canyons, Peace Officers Standards and Training from Glendale College.
I'm currently employed by Los Angeles Housing Department as a Code Enforcement Official for 11 years.

If elected I'll bring my Housing Department code enforcement experience, which consisted of weekly training, including preparing cases for further enforcement. I'll bring my knowledge of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. This enables me to identify when City Hall chooses to be selective of their enforcement of our laws. I'll bring my knowledge and experience in construction management. I'll utilize this knowledge to peer into; why are taxpayer subsidized construction projects always running over-budget. I'll bring my strong moral and ethical values along with a ton of common sense when it comes to voting what's best for all. At Housing, I'm known for being courteous and diplomatic.

What makes me different from the other two candidates is that I'm employed by the City of Los Angeles. I have some knowledge of the operations of City Hall. I have knowledge of building and zoning code laws along with Environmental Health Codes.

What qualifies me to represent district 6 is that I'm a registered voter in the district. I've been working here in the San Fernando Valley since 1969. As a code enforcement official I've worked in various neighborhoods of district 6, and have responded to residents complaints. I've observed where blighted conditions in the community have been ignored.

What are your top priorities for your district? How do you plan on tackling them?

One is the gang activity along with the out-of-control graffiti on public and private property. The city council found that graffiti leads to depreciation of the value of property, and causing a negative impact on the entire city. It should be addressed by first; electing me to unseat the incumbent. Then instead of concentrating on being re-elected,
I would concentrate on setting up a task force with paid and volunteer code enforcement officials from the city's various code enforcement agencies to concentrate surveillance at night of vandals defacing public or private property. This task force would supplement the $1,000 reward that is already available to the general public through the LAPD. I would further push to abolish the mayor's unregulated "anti-gang" program whose staff members have a history of being arrested and convicted, including the program's director. These funds could be re-directed to hire additional police officers. Additionally, I would do everything I can to repeal the city's business tax which is driving employers out of town. With a clean and spruced-up community and no city business tax, our community would now look inviting to businesses to open shop here. Tax revenue would return to the community to further support our efforts. Additionally, I would look into being the first council district to provide Wi-Fi capability and at no cost to the taxpayer.

How would you address the city's projected $350 million budget deficit?

Many of us have been advocating for some time to abolish the Community Redevelopment Agency. The mayor and city council hand out hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to the politically connected millionaires and billionaires through this agency, which amounts to approximately $600 million per year. If I'm elected I will do everything I can to stop this practice. The redirection of tax revenues to the CRA depletes the city's general fund and prevents core services from being funded including funding for Police and Fire. The CRA for decades has not been performing as it was intended. Even Governor Brown recognizes this.

I would do everything I can to abolish the mayor's unsuccessful "anti-gang" programs whose staff members have been arrested and convicted. Even his gang program director was recently arrested for battery on a police officer. Additionally, a "gang injunction" exists in the community of Van Nuys. Cutting these programs will free up city owned facilities which are being rented out to gang programs like "Aztec Rising" whose rental agreement is $1.00 per year for 10 years. These public facilities can instead be rented out at fair market rates to the general public. Latest FBI stats show Los Angeles ranking number 48 out of 64 worse crime city's in California with a population of 100,000 or more. That means there's 47 safer cities than Los Angeles.

When the Mayor took office his office budget was approximately $8.6 million and in a couple of years he quickly tripled his office budget to $26 million, at a time when he was promoting "Shared Sacrifice", furloughing city workers and raising DWP utility rates and cutting City services to the public. If elected I will do all I can to pressure him to roll back his office budget.

Unemployment is at an all time high. That's because City Hall has made this town a horrible place for employers to do business. If elected I will do all I can to repeal the city's business tax, which is driving employers out of town. So if we treat employers fairly and equally they will stop leaving and start returning. Employers would now have the ability to expand and hire which would increase our tax base.

I would push to discontinue the controversial red light camera which is instead enriching an out of state company. Economics say you don't raise taxes and fees during a recession.

How do you plan on working with your constituents in addressing their concerns?

As an elected council member I chose to be a representative and an employee of the general public. I remember everyday as a council representative that they pay my salary. I would schedule periodic visits to all the district neighborhood councils, so I can hear first hand of their concerns. Board members would have direct contact with me. I would encourage communication between all the council district 6 neighborhood councils so they can have strength in numbers. I would like to plan an annual summer picnic for all neighborhood councils and their families. I would like to make time to have coffee or lunch with residents occasionally so they can feel a real connection to City Hall.

Public transportation is an important issue for LAist readers. What role should public transportation have in LA?

Safety first. Riders should feel safe riding public transportation at any hour of the day or night. This means increasing security personnel with law enforcement powers. This will add jobs and reduce unemployment. This sense of safety would increase ridership. Even I would be more inclined to take a ride downtown for an evening concert instead of fighting highway traffic and looking for parking. The two big providers, MTA and LADOT are in competition with each other, this prevents good effective transportation centers. LADOT is focused on "money routes" and Downtown. I would contribute as a council member by not letting my ambition get in the way of good transportation routes. Part of my allegiance is to the public who ride our transportation systems. They need to be a part of the team that draw the routes, so they are not drawn haphazardly by bureaucrats who don't even ride the bus.

Increase bus lines and bus vehicles. Provide restrooms, drinking fountains, TV monitors, and Wi-Fi at certain stations. Perhaps use smaller bus vehicles like Dash shuttles late at night when rider-ship is low. Provide traffic officers at high congested intersections as needed. Allow taxi cabs, shuttle vans, and flyaway buses to use the special only bus ways as needed for a fee. Build more retail-residential multi-use projects near public transportation.

Two things we can guarantee; our population and traffic will increase significantly. As a visionary, I would simultaneously promote that public transportation plan for an elevated monorail system. Investigate into building it as a privately-financed transit system. Investigate into funding it by tax-free bonds without expense to taxpayers. Install a Wi-Fi system for the convenience of its riders.

The monorail structural columns footprint is quite small, with little impact on the surrounding environment. Construction is considerably faster than light-rail because the horizontal rail beams are prefabricated, delivered, and installed as fast as you can build the vertical columns. Quick construction time results in less disruption to commerce. A monorail electric system or even a system fueled by atomic power like [that of] submarines would remove millions of vehicle miles from our roadways. It would reduce carbon monoxide (CO) volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). It will reduce noise pollution. The monorail's sleek modern design will blend in with the environment.

The City Council has had to revisit the medical marijuana ordinance repeatedly. How would you like to see the medical marijuana issue addressed?

First, I would like to see new council members elected who will choose to obey the rule of law such as myself. Federal law prohibits growing or the possession of marijuana. It is illegal to sell under state law. Instead of wasting city council time on debating and giving wasted opinions on whether or not to tax marijuana, the council should allow the City Attorney to handle such legal advice and decisions. Besides, these cooperatives are charities which don't get taxed. If we stay with the same status quo of incumbents, then these same council members may want to tax other illegal drugs, or other illegal criminal activity which will invite law suits. Do we need armed guards at these dispensaries which would lessen the chance of taxing our law enforcement responding to robberies and investigating more serious crimes committed on these premises. City Council has no business taxing the sale of marijuana. Refer this matter to the City Attorney.

What are your priorities for development and planning?

It would be a pleasure to streamline the Los Angeles Municipal Code which includes development and planning. The new 2010 census data for Los Angeles should be utilized to update the General Plan. Homeowners, real estate investors, banks, and business need a more realistic timeline to so they can plan and budget their projects in a timely manner. I want the Department of Building and Safety to be a very service oriented instead of an intimidating, frustrating experience for the general public. The goal is to speed up the approval of projects for both, commercial and residential developments, including home improvements. The reform of the zoning code will continue to allow the Planning Department which has a responsibility of preparing, maintaining and implementing a General Plan for the future development of the City including the state-mandated areas as the Transportation, Open Space and Land Use among others, to perform its duties but with public participation which would include the neighborhood councils, business, public and environmental hearings, and debate, to prevent any "back room deals" relating to the use of land unique to each of the city's many communities. This reform process will present improved positive changes to the public regarding the General Plan and community plans.

Development should only take place within the guide lines of the Los Angeles Municipal Code which includes Zoning and Planning without making special exceptions to the politically connected developers.

Endorsements (provided by candidate):

• Former mayoral candidate Walter Moore
• Former candidate Congressman Mark Reed
• L.A. Clean Sweep
• Pinoy Pinay SA America

LAist does not endorse political candidates. All candidates from the City of L.A.'s Official Candidate List were contacted to participate and were given the same set of questions, with the exception of West Hollywood candidates, who were sent a WeHo-specific list of questions.