Survey for Daily News

By Sheila Irani

Candidate statement

Questions, followed by answers.

• Some basics: What was your birth date and place? Where do you reside, and how long have you lived in the area you seek to represent? What is your occupation?

Occupation: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Community Leader President, Legacy Industrial LLC (real estate asset management firm);

Principal, Pathways Strategic Communications, (national, award winning, transportation planning and marketing firm contractor to regional government agencies) 1995 - Present;

Founder, Women & Words,a literary conference highlighting women authors, benefiting service agencies for high risk youth and battered women since 2004 attracting about 250 attendees annually.

Chair, CHAMPION Fund, Children's Hospital LA, Division of Adolescent Medicine (resigned for campaign duties)

Native CD4 resident, former Director of Special Projects for Councilman Tom LaBonge (2011-2013), small business owner of 20 years, community leader as HOA President for Lake Hollywood for 5 years and currently Outreach Chair for Hollywood United Neighborhood Council.

I love this City that I was born, raised and educated in. I began my life in community service as a junior at Immaculate Heart High School interning for Councilmember Peggy Stevenson and have been committed to public service since. I have a passion for solving problems using my background in business, and urban economics and my drive to serve, especially those who are not as blessed as I have been.

I think of myself as a moderate. I am a registered Democrat, but much of my concerns and solutions would make me fiscally conservative.

Political heroes starts with Senator Dianne Feinstein for her ability to negotiate across the aisle, work on gun control, trade negotiations with China; Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island + progressive Democrat, quintessential leader with an enviable educational pedigree and background in finance who got valuable pension reforms passed; 5 term Boston Mayor Thomas Menino - his love for Boston and its citizens was palpable and motivated his every action. Truly his philosophy was back to basics and give the people something for their tax dollars; Governor Jerry Brown + straight talking, hard working, self actualized leader who learned from his mistakes and focused on solving the tough problems with tough solutions and has shown fiscal constraint for a secure future for Californians.

• Tell us about your qualifications. What in your education, professional experience, community involvement or record in public office makes you the right person for this job?

For about the past 7 years I have slowly been transferring my client business at Pathways to staff and friendly competitors to focus on public service and volunteerism. I currently earn most of my income from rent from a host of commercial, agricultural ( I have an Avocado grove in SD County), and residential real estate that I either own outright, with my brother in Legacy Industrial LLC or as a limited partner. I trade stocks and invest in municipal bonds and have no debt to my name outside of a lease with US BANK for my 2014 Chevy Volt. I am an environmentalist who has created a home that hasn't had a lawn for 10 years, have solar panels for domestic water and to heat my pool, and have recently closed on a lease agreement for 44 solar electric panels. I actively keep in shape by biking and walking whenever possible, use transit whenever I travel, and have promoted alternative modes to driving alone for 20 years through my contract work in St. Louis, Washington DC, Atlanta, Denver and Southern California.

I worked with the Councilman as a Field Deputy and Director of Special Projects (2011 to 2013) to complete the infrastructure projects that were languishing in the District without a project manager to work on securing funding, plans and construction. These projects include North Atwater ped/equestrian/bike Bridge, LA River 5K for river cleanup, Old Zoo Amphitheater, various ball fields at Pan Pacific and Crystal Springs, pavillion at Robert Burns Park, LAFD Station 82's opening, Smart Moves grant for Charles Kim Elementary, new equipment for Vine Street Elementary for their community park program, and about 40 other projects.

What are the particular challenges in your district?

• Congestion on many streets from lack of congestion mitigation planning, and rampant development adding hundreds of new commuters especially in Hollywood and Sherman Oaks.
• Number of unchecked tourism congesting the hills and endangering residents' lives which requires more enforcement or an alternative location for them to photograph the Hollywood Sign
• Battle in Griffith Park between those wanting passive recreation and others wanting more active recreation.
• Raising awareness of water conservation and need for better grey water policy by DWP
• Lack of connectivity to transit lines (bus and rail) for most of the residents in CD4
• Competition for park use and lack of parking at most of the parks in CD4, and lack of Park Ranger enforcement and RAP maintenance at many parks
• Street repairs especially in older areas + Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Toluca Lake
• The amount of litter and lack of street sweeping making LA look like a third world country
• Sidewalks on La Brea, Western, Larchmont and Los Feliz that are being torn up by overgrown Ficus trees causing trip and fall liability for the City and property owners
• Increase in property theft especially in Hancock Park and surrounding areas

• Which issues and objectives would top your priorities if you're elected?

• Give us one campaign promise that you don't think your opponents would make.

• Who urged you to run? Who is endorsing you? Who is a typical supporter? This has been in the back of my mind since the age of 15, after working for Councilmember Peggy Stevenson in high school. I made my goal to run clear to Councilmember LaBonge. After one day as a volunteer to help him with transportation issues in CD4, he asked if would work for him full time. The challenges were great but the opportunity to serve allowed me to see if I had what it takes to work in the public sector. During the two years I served the Councilman, I lost my mother to colon cancer but before she died I took her to City Council chambers to be honored on a Friday session with Tom presiding and she couldn't have been prouder. She thought I would make a great Councilmember as I have chosen to serve as a leader in most every organization I have been associated with + from my HOA, Neighborhood Council, high school and elementary school, even my sorority. My grandfather was a member of Iranian's parliament and fought for women's right to vote; my father was an Iranian community leader who helped get Mohammad Mosaddegh elected in the 50s, the first democratically elected leader in the Middle East. Dinner table conversations from grade school on included topics from watching the evening news with Walter Cronkite to reading Newsweek with my dad.