Krekorian and Essel Provide Lively Discussion at VANC

By Paul Hatfield

The Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils hosted a “Conversation with Paul and Chris” last night.

The format was intimate given that this was a regularly scheduled business meeting and the attendees were the VANC representatives from the various NCs throughout the Valley. About thirty people were in attendance representing at least twelve to fifteen NCs. I’ll confirm that with Jill Banks Barad, who is the founder and chair of VANC.

For the record, I am on the Executive Board of VANC.

Let me start by saying that Chris was the most comfortable I have seen her in this marathon election and forum process. The setting probably had much to do with that.

Paul is comfortable anywhere and would have been equally at ease if the discussion had been held in the adjacent emergency facility of Sherman Oaks Hospital.

Jill served as moderator.

The first topic concerned the role each would play as Chair of the City Council’s Education and Neighborhood Committee.

Paul Krekorian reaffirmed his support for local decision making, particularly at the NC level.

He cited his experience as a member of the Burbank School Board where he took credit for transforming the district and rescuing it from a financial morass.

Paul also criticized the City of Los Angeles for doing a poor job of working with the LAUSD on safety issues and enforcing truancy laws.

Chris emphasized that the NCs would be her eyes and ears and referenced her Six-Point Plan which included support for more NC funding and facilitating challenges to development.

She also supports breaking up the LAUSD into more manageable districts and would approach her business contacts about establishing mentoring programs.

The next question dealt with the diminution of the City Council’s reliance on the advice of NCs. Jill winked when she made a subtle reference to a particular decision by a certain former Council Member, whose seat just happens to be the object of this campaign.

Chris pledged to attend as many land use meetings as possible with NC members and pointed to her experience in confronting developers when she was active with her neighborhood association.

Paul said he wanted to emphasize what he has done; not just want he plans to do.

Both he and his staff have always been involved in the NCs that were in his Assembly District’s boundary and would continue and expand his participation.

In a council district as gerrymandered as CD2 his “Government at Your Doorstep” approach would be ideal for addressing the needs of diverse communities encompassed by its boundaries.

On the subject of appeal rights, both candidates affirmed their support for a resolution vesting the NCs with powers equal to any entity or person in the city.

They also were in general agreement on the medical marijuana fiasco created by the City Council.

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