DISTRICT 6 CANDIDATES SEE QUALITY OF LIFE AS DOMINANT ISSUE.Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer Constructed a half-century ago in the geographic center of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Panorama City once defined the modern American suburb. But demographics shifted, street gangs moved in, and what was once new began to age. The six candidates vying for the new Valley city's 6th District, which includes Panorama City and part of Arleta, say that throughout it all, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. city leaders have done little to halt its decline. ``With more-efficient government and local control, our way of life will be better,'' said candidate Harold ``Hal'' Alvord. ``More money will be spent to make our neighborhoods better. People will have a better attitude about life and also contribute to make things better.'' Panorama City, which is not its own city at all, was founded in 1947 when developers purchased the land from the Panorama Dairy and Sheep Ranch. It was the first large-scale, planned community Noun 1. planned community - a residential district that is planned for a certain class of residents residential area, residential district, community - a district where people live; occupied primarily by private residences in the Valley, and suburban bliss was sealed in 1955 with the opening of the Panorama Mall - one of the nation's oldest indoor malls still standing. Today, Latino residents comprise more than 60 percent of Panorama City's population and whites about 12 percent. The area is home to the Blythe Street gang, one of the most violent in the 1990s. And anchor stores like Orbach's, Robinson's and Montgomery Ward have come and gone from the Panorama Mall, to be replaced by discount retailer Wal-Mart and La Curacao, a retailer catering to the Latino community. Amid these and other changes, the city has failed to respond to the needs of the community, say the candidates. Improving the quality of life would be their main priority. In addition to Alvord, the candidates include Noel S.V. Omega, a computer systems consultant; James H. Stewart, a parliamentarian par·lia·men·tar·i·an n. 1. One who is expert in parliamentary procedures, rules, or debate. 2. A member of a parliament. 3. ; Robert Edwards
Robert Edwards and Rob Edwards may refer to: In sport:
Omega said that to improve the quality of life, he would focus on improving city services The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. such as fire, police, treatment of the environment, transportation, sanitation, and youth and senior centers. He also wants a more-accessible city. ``My vision for an independent Valley city is that of a child that has come of age, where its growth is no longer under the restraints of its parents,'' Omega said. ``We are grateful for the partnership we have with L.A., (but) an independent Valley city can grow to its full unique potential based on the culture and aspirations of its constituents. This is the essence of local control.'' Omega would like to see community round-table meetings at convenient times and places. Stewart, a professional parliamentarian with a long history of involvement with local committees and chambers of commerce, said he would focus on ensuring a smooth transition to an independent city, bringing high-paying jobs to the area and working with public and private entities to improve the city's appearance. He favors using code enforcement Code Enforcement is the act of enforcing a set of s, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and insuring observance of a system of norms or customs. An authority usually enforces a civil code, a set of rules, or a body of laws and compel those subject to their authority to to have substandard housing repaired and eliminating all weekend yard sales. ``My experience in management, consulting and organizational development will be well applied in the new Valley city,'' he said. ``Government process is about process, and process management is something I know well.'' All six candidates favor keeping the current Los Angeles rent-control ordinance. Streamlining the city's administration, repairing infrastructure to encourage business growth, transportation, health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract and redevelopment are among Edwards' top priorities. ``The present administrative structure and its related costs in L.A. can certainly be streamlined,'' Edwards said. ``The checks and balances required to perform in the best interest of the citizenry cit·i·zen·ry n. pl. cit·i·zen·ries Citizens considered as a group. citizenry Noun citizens collectively Noun 1. have multiplied upon themselves to a point where progress and efficiency are often impossible.'' Silon said rent control, affordable housing, increasing the number of senior centers, better schools and after-school programs, and creating a better business environment would be his top goals. ``A smaller government would be better for the community, and we would have better representation,'' Silon said. ``Our money would stay in the Valley; we would be financially stronger to support the community and implement more programs to benefit the community.'' Trujillo said he helps people in his career, and that's also why he is running for the council. ``Imagine a new city, a fresh opportunity to break the bonds of politics as usual,'' Trujillo said. ``This council will have the unique opportunity to build an efficient and ethical political foundation or status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. for all future leaders Future Leaders is a UK schools-led charitable organisation that aims to widen the pool of talented leaders especially for urban challenging secondary schools. It was founded in March 2006 by Nat Wei, a former founder of Teach First. of the city to follow.'' His top priorities would be to make his office accessible to constituents, create youth and senior citizen advisory panels, make parks safe for families, and retain city firefighters, police and paramedics. Alvord said his primary issues are smaller government, better representation, keeping tax dollars in the area and bringing about a better way of life. ``The steps I would take are to listen more to the people in the area and put into action the desires of the people,'' Alvord said. ``I want to hear from people. I will represent their wishes. I will also know if I have not done a good job, I could get voted out of office.'' To improve the quality of life, he said, he would first focus on cleaning graffiti and garbage from the streets, attract businesses to the area and beautify parks. ``I decided to run for office because I feel people have a duty to make where they live a better place,'' he said. The 6th District's eastern boundary is the Golden State Freeway The Golden State Freeway is a north-south freeway running through Kern County and Los Angeles County, California. Originally built as U.S. Highway 99, it was re-signed as Interstate 5 in 1964. as far south as Branford Street. From there, the boundary line goes west on Branford; south on Woodman and Ventura Canyon avenues; east on Cantara Street; south along the Tujunga Wash Tujunga Wash is a stream in Los Angeles County, California. It is a tributary of the Los Angeles River, providing about a fifth of its flow, and drains about 225 square miles. ; west along the railroad track; north on the San Diego Freeway The San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405, and the part of Interstate 5 south of the El Toro Y[1]) is one of the principal north-south highways in Southern California, and the major beltway of I-5 running through Southern California. ; east on Chase Street; north on Burnet burnet, hardy perennial herb of the family Rosaceae (rose) found in temperate regions, usually with white or greenish flowers. The European species are sometimes cultivated for the leaves, which are used in salads, for flavoring, and formerly as a poultice to stop Avenue; east along Parthenia Street; and north along the Pacoima Wash to the Golden State Freeway. COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 HAROLD ``HAL'' ALVORD Age: 41 Residence: Panorama City. Occupation: Plumbing engineer. Experience: Involved with community projects such as tree planting and trash cleanup. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Smaller government; better representation; keeping tax dollars in the area. ROBERT J. EDWARDS Age: 48. Residence: Arleta. Occupation: Independent consultant with background in grant writing and aerospace engineering. Experience: Served with LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) Budget Review Committee, Urban Network for Improving Technology and Education in L.A., North Hollywood Community Forum and other organizations. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Education reform; improving the Valley's business climate; streamlining administrative costs administrative costs, n.pl the overhead expenses incurred in the operation of a dental benefits program, excluding costs of dental services provided. . NOEL S.V. OMEGA Age: 42. Residence: Panorama City. Occupation: Systems consultant. Experience: Two terms as president of St. Genevieve School PTA PTA or parent-teacher association: see parent education. ; former board member of the Terra Bella Patio Homeowners Association; former public-relations consultant to the Filipino-American Senior Citizens of Los Angeles. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Improved city services including police, fire, transportation, environmental and sanitation; keeping city government in touch with the people; lowering taxes and containing operating costs operating costs npl → gastos mpl operacionales . IRWIN SILON Age: 72. Occupation: Retired graphic-arts department manager. Residence: Arleta. Experience: Air Force veteran; member of the Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Valley VOTE Fund-raising and Nominating Committee A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either , Valley Cultural Center, Los Angeles Arts Council An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad. and other organizations. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Better schools and after-school programs; rent control and affordable housing; more senior-citizen centers; and bringing more businesses into the Northeastern Valley. JAMES H. STEWART Age: 51. Residence: Panorama City. Occupation: Professional parliamentarian. Experience: San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. Advisory Council, Van Nuys GM Plant Redevelopment Community Advisory Committee and other organizations. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Encourage the creation of high-paying jobs in the Valley; improving quality of life; creating a sense of pride in the area. CHRISTOPHER C. TRUJILLO Age: 59. Residence: Panorama City. Occupation: Psychological counselor. Experience: Associate degree in sociology, Los Angeles Valley Community College; U.S. Marine Corp. infantry veteran. Web site/e-mail: None. Top issues: Make his office accessible and accountable to constituents; implement youth and senior-citizen advisory councils; make public parks safer. CAPTION(S): 6 photos, box, map Photo: (1) HAROLD ``HAL'' ALVORD (2) ROBERT J. EDWARDS (3) NOEL S.V. OMEGA (4) IRWIN SILON (5) JAMES H. STEWART (6) CHRISTOPHER C. TRUJILLO Box: COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 Map: COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 |
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