on the issues
My journey from Belarus to Santa Monica has given me a unique perspective that I will bring to the City Council and will inform every decision I make. My professional expertise as a financial analyst and my experience in different organizations throughout the city have given me the tools to bring real solutions to the most pressing issues of the day: addressing the root causes of homelessness and paving pathways for affordable housing; implementing smart solutions to public safety that actually make us safer; and adopting a more robust post pandemic economic recovery plan that supports existing small businesses, while making it easier for new businesses to open up here. As complex as these challenges are, fixing them is not rocket science — if we approach problem-solving together holistically in a data-driven, well-researched and forward-thinking way.
As a City Councilmember, I will turn catchphrases into policy, programs, and services. I want older adults to be able to age in place and live in dignity. I want young families to be able to find real living-wage jobs — so they no longer worry about their next meal, and can afford the housing and childcare they need as their families grow. I want children to know that the city is there for them too, and I will continue to support our partnership with the school district. As a renter who lives in a rent-controlled apartment in the Pico Neighborhood, I want all renters to feel secure in their homes and be protected from unscrupulous landlords. And I want to make sure our neighborhoods are protected from gentrification and unsightly McMansions.
Here is a deeper dive into my positions on the issues and what I will do as a Santa Monica City Councilmember.
Public Safety
As someone who was forced to flee her country because my government did not protect my family, I don’t want any family to feel fear like mine did. Today, too many of us do.
Enact data-driven policies that help prevent crime and make residents, workers, and visitors safer in our city
Collaboratively work with our first responders to improve processes, policies and practices, and make sure they have the right 21st century tools and technologies to keep us safe. We must adequately fund staffing levels so that first responders can perform the jobs they are trained to do - prevent crime and help protect our city. We should support programs like SMPD’s HLP (Homeless Liaison Program) and multi-disciplinary street teams staffed by professionals, such as mental health specialists, case workers, and medical personnel, to free up police to respond to violent crimes and make our neighborhoods safer.
Encourage and provide support for neighborhood watch programs and community policing, which allow neighbors to build trust among themselves and actively work with police to make their community safer. Studies have shown that communities with neighborhood watch programs experience a 16% reduction in crime.
Restore trust in our public safety systems by bringing together neighbors, police and firefighters, and other stakeholders to work together, rebuild our community spirit, and support the efforts of the Public Safety Reform & Oversight Commission to provide vital independent oversight
Increase City funding for youth diversion programs and prevent our youth from falling into cycles of violence by providing pathways to great careers and fulfilling lives
Support Vision Zero efforts to make our streets safe for people of all ages and abilities
Homelessness
I know solving homelessness seems impossible. But also I know it is possible. During my time as President of the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica, I co-wrote a homelessness action plan that is now being used around the state — and it works. I want to bring that plan to Santa Monica and look to cities like Houston that have solved their housing/homelessness crisis. If Houston can solve their crisis, we can too.
Use all of the tools in our toolbox to address homelessness by helping people on the edge of homelessness stay safely housed and by supporting housing for people currently experiencing homelessness that provides the wraparound services they need, which may include mental healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, job training and opportunities, and other resources that they need to stay housed once they’re off the street
Address homelessness as a systemic failure due to lack of affordable housing and living wage jobs
Support a regional approach to safely house people experiencing homelessness and advocate to fund & reduce red tape for supportive housing. As a relatively small city, expecting to solve this problem ourselves is unrealistic. We must work to ensure that neighboring cities work with us and do their fair share
Expand funding for street teams and support outreach and case management workers to minimize turnover and enable consistent, experienced outreach
Housing and Renters’ Rights: All people deserve safe, stable & affordable housing
Rent control kept a roof over my families heads, and I believe living in a safe, affordable and habitable home is a right each of us has.
Protect renters in our community — after all, the majority of us are — and be vigilant in strengthening our rent control law with changing times
Support efforts to make our local right-to-counsel pilot program for tenants facing eviction into a permanent program that can help vulnerable renters know their rights and remain safely housed
Streamline the approval process to build more deed-restricted, mixed-use, co-living and SROs, and encourage transit-oriented housing
Improve the transparency and review of the true costs of housing to understand why it’s so expensive to build. This will help us reduce the costly red tape and focus on meeting our housing needs, including developing workforce housing so that those who work in Santa Monica can afford to live here and escape the daily multi-hour commutes that some workers have to endure
Lead by example and work better with the other jurisdictions to address the issue at a regional level. Santa Monica is not an island — we can’t solve the regional housing crisis on our own
Economic Development – Setting Up Local Businesses for Success
As a Financial Analyst, I know budgets. As a former member of the City’s Audit Subcommittee and member of the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax Advisory Committee, I know how to make our tax dollars go further and how we can build back better.
Continue “post-pandemic” economic recovery efforts so the city can rebuild its reserves and bring back services to “pre-pandemic” levels. With 70% of our city budget coming from local sources, we can’t provide Santa Monicans with the programs they need without setting up our local economy for success
Work with our Chamber of Commerce and individual local businesses to give them the support they need to thrive. When our businesses succeed, so does our city
Support tourism-related business as a backbone of our local economy but as we learned from the pandemic, we must not be so reliant on one industry alone. We must explore what other types of businesses fit in with our Santa Monica culture and work aggressively to attract them. Thinking outside the box, which includes looking at 21st century industries, will help us reclaim our mantle as the forward-thinking, innovative City we once were
Support more business owners from under-resourced communities through subsidies and/or fee waivers/discounts
Work to improve relationships among workers and employees by supporting workers’ rights which data shows leads to more fulfilling employment and more successful businesses
Expand job training programs for our youth and underserved residents, apprenticeship opportunities, and support living-wage jobs for Santa Monica workers
Address issues associated with higher numbers of commercial vacancies by identifying solutions that meet Santa Monica’s needs, which could include incentives for property owners, a commercial vacancy tax, or other solutions tailored to our community
Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
Support smart water usage and conservation efforts
Further reduce our City’s carbon footprint through renewable power sources and less reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and support multi-modal transit by expanding our bike lanes, supporting traffic-calming measures, and making public transit affordable & safe
Address the climate crisis through a City-sponsored public education campaign that informs residents of the importance of making sustainable choices and how to make them, as well as implement measures that make it easier for Santa Monicans to make sustainable choices
Protect and expand our urban forest to mitigate global warming and keep Santa Monica green
Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusivity
Put people first in every decision I make as a Councilmember
Support efforts to address the systemic racism that plagues cities across the country, including Santa Monica, and correct past injustices
Support the City’s Equity Plan and explore ways to make Santa Monica more equitable, accessible, and inclusive
Educational Excellence
Support excellent public schools and equitable access to educational resources through the continued partnerships with Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and Santa Monica College
Promote opportunities for students to gain real life experience and pave their own career paths through apprenticeship programs, internships, and fellowships
Provide resources for students from under-resourced communities to enable equitable access to educational opportunities
Support teachers, educational aides, and school district employees by increasing workforce housing opportunities, so that they can live in the community where they work