Meet The Candidates: Luis Montoya, Council District 10

City Council District 10 candidate Luis Montoya

()

City Council District 10 candidate Luis Montoya
In this edition of "Meet the Candidates," we hear from Council District 10 candidate Luis Montoya (Twitter). The district includes Arlington Heights, Jefferson Park, Mid-City, West Adams and parts of Koreatown, Leimert Park and Westlake.Other candidates in the March 8, 2011 CD10 race are Chris Brown, Austin Dragon, Andrew "Andy" Kim, Althea Rae Shaw and Councilmember Herb Wesson, Jr. 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 am the youngest of my opponents and the most motivated. I am focused on the issues plaguing city hall; whether it is our large budget deficit, high unemployment, and our crumbling infrastructure. I am running to bring about meaningful reform in our city government for the greater community in my district and the city. While I have no formal public administration experience, I do have a can do attitude that we are lacking in city politics. I will provide the leadership roll that city hall is lacking. As a young member in my community, I understand the problems plaguing our young adults; whether it is a concern for finding jobs, lack of training, concern for public safety, and access to opportunities. I want to bring this background and see how we can make our city a better place for all of us.

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

The number quality of life issue in my district is the lack of jobs. Despite a growth in development projects (i.e. Midtown Crossing), there is still a need for further business development in the district. To address this, the city must make it easier to start and keep a business in Los Angeles. The permit process should be streamlined and in most cases can be done all online without so much as going to downtown. To encourage business growth the city should implement tax holidays on the first three years of business to help firms set up and establish themselves. We also need to stronger enforcement of permits to encourage businesses to pay taxes and to ensure a level playing field with other businesses.

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

The most important issue citywide is our large budget deficit. To address it, we as public servants need to be sincere and candid with the public. We must look at all our revenues and expenditures and focus on providing core municipal services. One of the city’s biggest expenditures is pension benefit and we need to reform pension benefits. One of the first things I will do once elected is introduce an ordinance that will cut city councilman pay and benefits by 20%. Only be leading by example can we expect concessions from everyone else. We need to signal to our workers, unions, contractors, that we are serious about addressing our deficit. Failure to tackle this task can very well lead to city bankruptcy and in that situation everyone loses.

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

I would like to work closely with the neighborhood council networks and by connecting one on one with the constituents by hosting monthly or bi-monthly town hall meetings in various parts of the district to meet with constituents.

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

I have a great appreciation for the MTA. My sister and two brother-in-laws, and a nephew all work for the MTA. My campaign manager uses public transportation and he is a supporter of it as well. The only real way to address the traffic problem in Los Angeles is to continue supporting MTA projects.

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

Although I have never used marijuana, I support its full legalization and taxation and regulation within city limits. Our jails and courts need to focus on violent crime offenders and not small time dope peddlers. I think its taxation would bring in much needed revenue into the city.

What are your priorities for development and planning?

I am against modifying zoning laws to allow large scale multiple unit buildings to be built near single residential areas. This creates an eye sore for the community and for the single residential areas it creates unwanted foot traffic and all that goes with it. Also, building large buildings like that depress home values for the residents in single-family homes. Now if a community wants to come together for purposes of developing a certain are and wants to bring multi-family units into their single-family area, then I have no issue. The point we need to listen to needs of our constituents.

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.