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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 3, 2015 Election
Smart Voter

Nadine Momoyo Diaz
Answers Questions

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 14

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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What do you think is the single most important issue facing the City of Los Angeles today? As Council Member, what would you do to deal with it?

The need for strategic land use planning and development is the most important issue facing the City of Los Angeles. As Councilwoman, I will make sure that constituents within the impacted area are notified and involved in every land use project that impacts their environment and community. Community input is critical because land use pertains to environment, infrastructure, transportation, housing, economic development, small businesses, commercial manufacturing-industry and green space.

2. The City Administrative Officer has estimated a $300 million budget shortfall for 2015-2016. What steps do you propose to deal with this problem and how much do you estimate each step would reduce the shortfall?

City services have been cut vastly and basic services are not being provided equally throughout the city and the district. As council member I will work to eliminate inefficient practices and redundant operations, however, cuts will not bring up the level of service of the departments that have been reduced. I would propose two city revenues, one will be a Sugary Drinks tax for the distributors of the drinks, and the other will be an Oil Extraction tax on oil producers in the city. These two new revenues can go into the general fund to help fund parks, sidewalk and street repairs, senior's services and homelessness.

Another approach would be to deduct the vehicle allowance for council members and replace it with a Metro pass and a bike. We need to cut back where we can, even though this is a small percentage of the budget, the allowance is superfluous. The council salary is more than enough for them to purchase their own motor vehicle. If they used the Metro or rode their bikes they will be in more in touch with the community and residents, and be healthier.

City services have been cut vastly and basic services are not being provided equally throughout the city and the district. As council member I will work to eliminate inefficient practices and redundant operations, however, cuts will not bring up the level of service of the departments that have been reduced. I would propose two city revenues, one will be a Sugary Drinks tax for the distributors of the drinks, and the other will be an Oil Extraction tax on oil producers in the city. These two new revenues can go into the general fund to help fund parks, sidewalk and street repairs, senior's services and homelessness.

3. What is the single most important issue facing your Council District today, and how would you deal with it?

Homelessness is the single most important issue facing Council District 14. The issue of homelessness is not just a social issue, but a health and mental health issue that need to be addressed and dealt with properly by experts, professionals and people who have been homeless. There is no need to "hire a Czar" to solve the homeless issue, but to utilize the resources and experts that already exist by developing a proper plan to better coordinate services from different levels of government and non-governmental organizations and agencies.

The homeless issue is not only isolated on "Skid Row," but throughout the district and the city which impacts everyone and every community. In CD 14 for example, homelessness is evident in communities such as Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park, Herman, Hillside Village, Little Tokyo, Glassell Park, Garvanza, Rose Hills, South Park, Monterey Hills, University Hills and Hazard Park. On the campaign trail, CD 14 constituents have indicated, "the homeless issue is growing and the incumbent lacks the experience to take care of these issues."

The homeless population is not homogeneous, but diverse with veterans, women with children, males, females, families, seniors, drug addicts, mentally ill and the disabled. Therefore each of these target populations requires a different system of care and treatment planning that addresses their needs. One treatment plan for the homeless population is not conducive for all homeless people.

As a social worker, I understand homelessness because I have worked and continue to work with the homeless population in CD 14. In 2006 I worked with a medical team on Skid Row from 5:30am to 5pm, providing mental health services, HIV testing, crisis intervention, housing and other resources. I was also a member of the Skid Row Initiative Committee, where I provided expert advice and consult regarding all homeless target populations and effective treatment planning.

Since 2006 to the present time, I have worked as a Clinical Social Worker at California Hospital located in Downtown L.A., specifically South Park in CD 14 . This experience has given me the skills and knowledge base to continue to help the ever growing homeless population suffering from mental illness, drug addiction, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, sex trafficking and other issues that impede their lives.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 15, 2015 06:02
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