"Take Back Our Valley"
Jeff Bornstein is a modern thinking Democrat who proposes change in the 3rd district. Here are his responses from a brief interview conducted during his campaign.
Q: Why are you running for City Council?
A: Two main reasons: One is to help oversee the Managed Development Plan to ensure that it does not overrun our streets and freeways with traffic. The other is to represent the district in the proud democratic ideals of its tradition.
Q: What do you see as the main issue currently needing attention in the district?
A: Too much traffic. What is causing this is overdevelopment of nearly every vacant lot being turned into huge apartment complexes. The further expansion of the Warner Center is adding 2,500 apartments which combined is more than Ahmanson Ranch had proposed, and that plan was ultimately defeated.
Q: What other issues do you feel are important?
A: Encourage the creation and preservation of open space, especially of those that are serving as a buffer zone between residential and commercial development. For example, the farmlands at Pierce College should be protected as well as private lands which are donated to the city as future parks. I believe that Police officers are an integral part of our community and being such a focal point, I believe educating new officers can only benefit the city in a multitude of ways. Requiring a 2-year associate degree would enhance a new officer’s perspective and would create a more tolerant and wiser officer. This is helpful in so many ways, enhanced police public relations, a smarter officer on the street and a wiser officer when it comes to avoiding "out of bounds" behavior which usually winds up costing the taxpayer money in settlements and litigation.
Q: Why do feel you are qualified to take this office?
A: I have lived in the 3rd district for 43 years. I went to school, including college here. I have worked with the school district, county and city through my business providing necessary educational and specialized supplies and products. I am familiar with the inner workings of the schools and the city level of government here locally.
Q: What is Dennis Zine currently doing wrong?
A: He broke a promise that he made to the League of Women Voters when answering their questionnaire during the 2001 campaign. He stated that would not approve any major developments that would impact negatively on traffic.
Q: What are your plans once you take office?
A: Obviously deal with the rapid amount of building being approved in the district. Some other things would be to modify library hours to become more student friendly by either keeping them open in the evenings or on weekends. Also I would like to try to move city libraries closer to our educational system. This is a huge goal of mine to make better use of the excellent libraries we already have.
I would like to develop some health and exercise programs to be held at city parks aimed at young people to help them develop a healthy lifestyle early on.
Another issue is eliminating or reducing City Council expenditures and finding a less expensive way of doing things – for example, currently glossy 16 page color flyers are sent out quarterly at the city’s expense of printing and mailing, and they are used for political purposes.
Q: Who has so far endorsed your candidacy for city council?
I am glad you have asked. I was endorsed by Judith Hirshberg, who was the candidate who almost won this district four years ago. I was also endorsed by such organizations as the Southern California chapter of Americans for Democratic Action and the Animal Defense League, Los Angeles. As the campaign progresses, I will likely be endorsed by some other fine organizations. However, the endorsements that mean most to me are by the voters of the third district. I am not a professional politician. However, the support of the people will mean more to me than the support of the politicians. I am not a member of the political elite. I am a member of the middle class who works hard, pays his taxes and plays by the rules, just as most people do.
"In order for our district to move forward and foster growth in our community, we must first turn our focus toward our children and our people instead of business…I believe our children are our future and this district is a district of families and communities, not big business." -Jeff Bornstein
Thank you for your support,
Jeff Bornstein
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Jeff Bornstein for City Council
7507 Winnetka Avenue
Winnetka, CA 91306
818-998-5488
Political ID number 1272403