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Los Angeles County, CA April 8, 2014 Election
Smart Voter Political Philosophy for Lena Gonzalez

Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Long Beach; District 1

This information is provided by the candidate

My Platform

Progress you know... The First District is an amazing place! From our Downtown neighborhoods to our Central and Westside communities, there are many great places to live, work and play here.

I have worked in the district for 5 years to ensure our streets and sidewalks are paved, our parks and neighborhoods are safe and that the community is informed with major policies in our City. I understand the issues and know the residents & businesses that make up this great district and I can see the tremendous progress we have made TOGETHER! I would be honored to continue representing you as your next City Councilmember.

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS: As your Councilwoman, I will work hard to ensure public safety is prioritized. Keeping our families safe in the First District is Number One! As a mother, I understand the importance of having enough Police and Fire on our streets to tackle the challenges. In my role as District Deputy, I have worked very closely with our Fire and Police Departments to ensure our communities get the attention they deserve. I will continue working closely with our Police & Fire to ensure:

- department models & processes keep staffing levels healthy while ensuring the utmost protection of the community

-low response times

-public safety technology advances

-vast community outreach w/major issues

A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY:

There are so many hard working small business owners in the First District. We have great places to eat in the East Village and along Pine Avenue as well as manufacturing shops in the Westside and great retail along Anaheim and Long Beach Blvd. I want to ensure these business owners know that they are supported. I will work hard to find policies that strengthen our local economy by:

-creating connected corridors with other council districts

-developing a strong Economic Development model that will attract & expand new business while assisting with expansion for existing businesses

SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES: There has been great progress in the First District with 11 new parks, gardens & open spaces. Major corridors have been repaved and creative ideas like art on utility boxes, murals and banners have been added. I will strive to continue and expand on this momentum. And with so many seniors and young children in our district, let's ensure our district's infrastructure remains walkable and safe. I will ensure:

-streets/alleys/sidewalks for residents have sufficient lighting and are paved

-alleys are given preference for paving

-parks have active up-to-date programming for families, adults and seniors

-Littering and pet waste are enforced

-local artists are employed through various beautification projects

BOLD INFRASTRUCTURE: With so many amazing projects coming soon in the district, we need to ensure that these projects remain mindful of where we envision the city for years to come! Everything from the Drake-Chavez Expansion to the Shoemaker Bridge, Pine Avenue refresh project, Middle Harbor, Armory Park, a new Civic Center and various development projects are in the pipeline for the First District and close surrounding neighborhoods. Progressive policies that include deep vision, creativity, local hiring, great wages and superb development standards are what should always be considered when discussing infrastructure in the city.

My goal is to ensure we maintain high quality standards in development by creating policies that will support skilled, local professionals who can create iconic structures and projects that will put Long Beach on the map nationally.

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The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 4, 2014 14:35
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