Portia's Priorities & Issues

By Portia P. Cohen, Esq.

(1) Bring the City Council to the Residents · She believes that it is the public's right to participate in the deliberative process. · She will establish Neighborhood Councils to meet regularly in homes with those City Council members who are willing to talk about the issues facing Manhattan Beach directly with its residents. The Neighborhood Councils will be encouraged to have their Liaisons speak and participate at council meetings. · She will seek to create a form of youth Leadership Manhattan Beach to get kids actively involved in city government.

(2) Budget Fiscal Responsibility · Maintain sound fiscal health by allocating available resources intelligently and responsibly. · Ensure that all competing interests are treated with respect, dignity and fairness.

(3) Emphasize Family Values within the Community · Youth: Collaborate with parents, teachers and schools to support our kids in academics, athletics, and recreation. Work with Manhattan Beach Unified School District to determine the best use of its surplus properties to regain financial health. · Seniors: Support our senior citizens by doing a feasibility study on providing them a dedicated, enhanced center with a specialist in gerontology/geriatrics to determine the need for and interest in more social and care programs. Work with senior citizen groups to avoid the social isolation of our seniors by keeping them active members in our community.

PORTIA'S VIEWS ON ISSUES:

Utility Under Grounding: Ensure that any manner of voting for utility under grounding is fair to all the residents · Respect the people's vote in each voting district · Provide a mechanism for addressing extreme hardship on residents · Explore new services such as fiber optics and wireless · Examine the possibility of re-negotiation with utilities · Consider proposals, which may include solutions such as, shared payment by utilities, City, and current & future residents · Identify the beneficiaries and make sure that each contributes a fair share · Consider proposals that may include the expansion of payment options beyond those presently contemplated

Residential Mansionization · There should exist a balance between private property rights and community interests in views, light, air and open space. · Residences should be appropriately scaled within the immediate neighborhood. · The Municipal Code should be amended to provide encouragement for remodels and additions over demolition. · The Municipal Code should be amended to provide flexibility in exchange for space, light and air savings.

Commercial Development · Promote small, boutique, diverse shops down town and El Porto. · Attract tax-generating business on city corridors & arteries without causing major traffic impact on the residents.

Manhattan Beach Village Mall · Expansion only to the extent it occurs without any major traffic impact to residents with the owner to fund any traffic mitigation plan. · Expansion only if it can be accomplished by preserving the character of Manhattan Village as it exists today, i.e. without serving as a magnet for persons that come only to "hang out" rather than those that are legitimate customers. · Subterranean parking · Landscaping/trees · Require owners to build and fund a MBPD substation with appropriate staffing at Manhattan Village.

Community Open Space & Facilities Strategic Plan · Active support of the community's chosen priorities · Active support of a bond measure to finance community's priorities