Issues

Overbuilding High Density

The short answer is No More High Density Development.  One of the most frequent complaints I get when meeting residents, is the massive condo complexes being planned or built around town, and the traffic problems we already have. There comes a time when a city should say "Sorry, No Vacancy".  Traffic in some areas is so bad that our quality of life is being negatively affected.  If we want to consider development projects, I believe they need to be low density and fit the neighborhood. I believe that the public's involvement is a key factor in stopping these projects from ever breaking ground. 

Low Density, Yes.

High Density, No. 

Public Safety

Public safety is not only about statistics. There is a clear difference between being safe, and feeling safe.  I will strive to do both.  I want to ensure that our residents, businesses, and visitors, not only are safe, but also feel safe.  We can do this by continuing to develop and train our force.  Ensure our officers have the latest technology at hand.  We must also continue to constantly find new ways to better serve and protect our communities.  I would also expand our volunteer programs, and encourage more of the public's involvement.

In 2013 I became a Captain for our Neighborhood Watch Program organized through the Torrance Police Department.  I want to help expand this program, as I believe it's basically the front line of securing our communities.  I also would like to expand the Partners in Policing Program aka PIP.  This program is one of the best ways to connect with the public and show them how the department works from the inside.  

I am a fan of keeping our Police and Fire Departments local.  Having top notch first responders is one of the many reasons people move to Torrance.  We are known as being a safe and clean city, and I will work hard to help keep it that way. 

Other safety concerns involve the Torrance Refinery, and the use of MHF.  

Please see my views below. 

Streets, Sidewalks, and Alleys

I want to start by saying that I truly believe Torrance is beautiful.  This is one of the main reasons I decided to buy my home here, and raise a family.  I have also made this my home to my small business of 12 years.  But, I do see issues with some parts of our city that have fallen off the map.  Areas that have been completely neglected, and weeds taller than me are way too common.  I believe a system needs to be implemented that would allow citizens the ability to report issues such as weeds, trash, graffiti, and illegal dumping, in an all in one spot. I am a fan of the city of Los Angeles 311 system.  Torrance, being almost 21 square miles, is too large to be monitored on a regular basis.  The public's involvement is a key factor in making sure every inch of Torrance is kept clean and maintained.  I am a stickler for clean medians and gutters.  

Senior Citizens & Veterans

In January of 2016, the Torrance City Council appointed me to the Social Services Commission where I serve as the Co-Chair.  It has been an exciting couple of years as we are a new commission.  I had the opportunity to be part of the process of building this body from the ground up.  Even though the commission is focused more on Veterans, Homeless, and individuals with special needs, I had the opportunity to see first hand the struggles and suffering that exist in our community.  

I have a plan to introduce better services for seniors and veterans.  I have proposed extending senior citizen discount fairs to include Veterans of all ages.  I have also proposed a volunteer task force that can help senior citizens, veterans, and individuals with special needs.  This task force should be assembled in cooperation with the various non profits that serve the area. 

I will also advocate to impose hefty fines and additional penalties for individuals that specifically target seniors through fraud, financial trickery and abuse.

Both Veterans and Seniors are very important to a community.  Their experience in life is what future generations build their own lives upon.  

I have also been heavily involved with volunteering and fundraising with one of the largest food banks here in the South Bay.  

Bottom line, I don't want to see any of our Veterans and Senior Citizens ever be left helpless and alone.  We as a city can and will do better. 

Small Business

As the founder of the Unified Small Business Alliance aka (USBA), I have the opportunity to interact with hundreds of local business owners.  I have grown the USBA to over 2,300 business members in just over 2 years.  I can tell you this, Torrance is a great place to do business, but we are not as streamlined as we should be.  Our Economic Development Team is doing a great job at attracting some of the larger businesses needed to fill the massive amounts of vacant commercial space, but we are falling behind on reaching out to the so called Ultra Small Businesses, the ones with 10 employees or less. My plan is to do a door to door campaign, and see exactly what the businesses need to not only survive but thrive.  In the Old Torrance business district, we have a shortage of parking.  I consider this area one of the most symbolic and historical communities in the South Bay.  We must protect it's charm and historical value, and at the same time help attract new businesses that will inevitably help each other out.  But, we can't attract anyone until we resolve the parking issues.  One of the suggestions I have, is to research the area and locate some of the larger parcels that have no historical value, and look into possibly constructing a parking structure that would fit the style of the era.  Other ideas may involve offsite employee and public parking with shuttle service or other means.  Bottom line is that Torrance needs to attract new businesses at a much higher rate as we do now, as the major vacancies such as Toyota and possibly a few other major companies, could be detrimental to our bottom line. 

Some of the ideas:

• Lower the business license tax for home based companies with no employees to $99 a year.
• Create incentives for hiring, such as a reduced licensing fee for the first five years, if you employ 5 or more individuals.
• We also need incentives for hiring Veterans, and disabled. 
• We need to work closely with our ultra small businesses to help them grow. 
• We must also help businesses reduce their utility costs by referring them to any programs available, and also create informational programs of our own.
• I'd also like to create a City Commission geared towards Economic Development and Small Business engagement. 

Budget

As a business owner, and homeowner, I know quite well that we can't spend what we don't have.  Running a deficit is not healthy and will eventually lead to major financial issues.  We are currently facing some budget shortfalls, and the remedy is not simple.  There has to be a plan of attack from all angles.  I want to see our city cut frivolous spending and pet projects immediately.  I also would like to see how we can grow our earnings through business growth that will in turn create more jobs and tax revenue.  With Toyota leaving, and possibly a few other major companies in Torrance, we will be left with a void that needs to be filled immediately.  We need to work on a better, more competitive, and streamlined licensing & permitting process.  We need to dissect our spending and earnings, because every single dollar needs to be spent wisely, and on projects that benefit the general public first.  As your next Council representative, I can assure you that I will put Torrance first. 

Torrance Refinery

The Torrance Refinery has been an issue here in Torrance since we built thousands of homes around it. The refinery was built in 1929, way before most tracts, but this doesn't mean we don't have an issue. Since my family has moved to Torrance, I've seen it blow up at least three times.  I do understand that it's a dangerous business to be in , and that things happen for a variety of reasons and most revert to neglect.  One of the main issues, is the use of MHF in the process.  According to my research, only a handful of refineries still use MHF, and mostly all have built their refineries to use Sulfuric Acid in it's place.  Of course, California is a different animal.  We have our own blends dictated by law, and this really limits our ability to fulfill our needs without being able to import refined goods from out of State.  There is no doubt that MHF is a dangerous substance and it needs to be replaced with alternative products.  

I truly believe we need a better and safer refinery.  Under no circumstances would I want to force them to leave.  The many jobs and revenue they contribute is very important to Torrance, but public safety is and should stay a priority.  The conversation and research has to continue, and I believe a solution is close.  The refinery has vowed to improve it's safety measures but their track record warrants some skepticism.  They have allocated about $100 million in funds to help towards improvements.  We can't afford to lose yet another major employer, so let's work on finding the solution as a team effort and make sure that the well-being of the general public is kept in mind while making these decisions.

I would also like to see less flare ups, and ways to have better air quality.  I have lived close to the refinery, and experienced the air in and around the refinery for a few years. Not Good. 

I would also like to see the refinery capture some of that energy from the flares, and convert it into power.  

The public's safety and well-being is at stake, so let's keep the efforts up on trying to find viable solutions and better methods of communication between the refinery and the general public.

I am for the elimination of MHF in our refinery.  The 2015 explosion was a close call, and more so a wake up call.  I don't want to have the threat of a disaster constantly on our minds. The threat needs to be eliminated, so to ensure a safer Torrance, and a better quality of life. 

Coyotes

The Coyote population has increased substantially in Torrance.  They have killed hundreds of household pets just in the past couple years.  Even though I respect and understand that the Coyotes were here long before we were, I do not subscribe to the idea of being forced to coexist.  State law prohibits the relocation of Coyotes from one area of the State to another.  This has forced city hall to take drastic measures which included trapping and destroying the wild animal.  I am not a fan of putting any animal down, but I do recognize the threat of just letting Coyotes roam freely.  Ultimately I'd like to advocate for some changes to State Law, that would allow these creatures to live elsewhere, farther away from heavily populated areas such as ours.  Bottom line, Coyotes should not roam freely in our populated neighborhoods.  We are not a wildlife preserve community.  We have small household pets and young children that are being put at risk. Let the Coyotes live, but live elsewhere, or for the time being, trap and destroy as prescribed by law. The public's safety and well-being is my number one priority, and should be second to nothing.