WEBVTT

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So

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it is.

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Yeah.

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Yes, I know.

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So basically

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oh, no.

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Yeah.

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yeah.

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no, no.

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that one. So

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Candidate Forum: everybody just want to let you guys know that our host is was having trouble getting in, but I think he should be in very shortly, and

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Candidate Forum: once he is, we'll

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Candidate Forum: give you all guys all instructions and start the meeting or start the Forum.

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Candidate Forum: By the way, while we're waiting for Nick to come in. Oh, there's Nick. Hello!

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Candidate Forum: Okay. While we're waiting for him to come in. If you have any questions of a technical nature, we do have the Q. A. Enabled, and that's what that's for. The Q. A. Is not for questions for the candidates, but more questions for me.

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Candidate Forum: Okay, Nick, You're there

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Candidate Forum: instructions and then turn it over to you.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, great.

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Candidate Forum: Welcome everybody to the Venice, and see candidate forum with night number 2.

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Candidate Forum: Tonight we'll do the second half of the at-large as well as community interest. Community officers.

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Candidate Forum: we'll most likely be doing 2 groups of approximately 6 or so. I'll do account and decide how many bring in at a time. followed by the Vice Presidents. the treasurer.

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Nick Antonicello: And

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Candidate Forum: actually, or do we want to take Nico first.

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Candidate Forum: actually making an audible call? Let's what we're going to do? Is we're going to take Nico first since he's running on a post.

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Nick Antonicello: Yeah.

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Candidate Forum: So we'll do that first, and then we'll do the others in order.

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Nick Antonicello: Right?

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Candidate Forum: So Vice President. Vice President, treasurer, and then that will be it. Okay. So in the meantime, go ahead. I'd like to introduce our moderator.

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Candidate Forum: Nick, and except you got to say with the New Jersey accent, which I haven't mastered yet.

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Nick Antonicello: I think about 25 years. Okay.

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Nick Antonicello: All right. So we're. We're ready to roll.

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Candidate Forum: We are ready to roll.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. So our our first candidate is Nico Ruderman, who is currently a community officer and he's running

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Nick Antonicello: for the position of Communications officer. He's running on a post.

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Candidate Forum: and I don't see him right now. Hang on. I'm trying to bring him in. But people gotta not move around.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay.

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and unfortunately, people are moving around. Okay.

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Candidate Forum: Now he's on his way in

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Nick Antonicello: great

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Candidate Forum: Okay.

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Nick Antonicello: Good to see it.

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Nico Ruderman: You, too.

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Nick Antonicello: All right. So the way this is gonna work, Nico is, we're gonna have you make an opening statement of 1 min. I'll ask you 2 or 3 questions.

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Nick Antonicello: We'll do a little lighting round thing that kinda

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Nick Antonicello: not make it so serious, and then you can have a closing statement. and and then you'll be You'll be done, and you'll be ready to

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Nick Antonicello: we'll watch the Ncaa.

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Nick Antonicello: All right. So at this point just give us an opening statement, and then we'll ask you some questions.

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Nico Ruderman: Sure. My name is Nico Ruderman. I've been on the Venice Neighborhood Council for the last 2 years. Lived in Venice for quite a while.

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Nico Ruderman: about 16 years, and I'm. I'm really excited to get this position.

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Nico Ruderman: I have a 8 year old, son, and I'm married, and I I really love Venice

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Nico Ruderman: as far as Communications Officer. I know we'll have some questions that we get into. But

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Nico Ruderman: I'm i'm excited to take over this role from Vicki, You know. I I think she's done an amazing job. and I I really look look forward to it.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay.

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Nick Antonicello: I guess the first question would be the obvious one.

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Nick Antonicello: What kind of strategy are you thinking about in terms of mass communication

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Nick Antonicello: with the Venice Neighborhood Council. Once you assume office moving forward.

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Nico Ruderman: Sure.

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Nico Ruderman: I think that's one thing that Venice Neighborhood Council.

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Nico Ruderman: Well, what I would like to see is is for us to really grow our outreach throughout Venice. You know, I I think we have something like a a 2 and a half percent engagement right now. and I like to see that grow. I'd like to see people

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Nico Ruderman: getting involved and really seeing what's going on in our community.

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Nico Ruderman: So i'd like to grow our email list. I'd like to really work on

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Nico Ruderman: sending out updates as to what's going on in the community. And

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Nico Ruderman: in in addition, i'd like to. You know. I I think, that the last 2 years has been interesting

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Nico Ruderman: because people have been able to be involved virtually, and I think that's been. I think that's been great. It's. It's definitely sad that we lost the in-person meetings, and i'm excited to go back to them but

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Nico Ruderman: I really would like to see a a really well thought out and functional hybrid model for us to go back.

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Nico Ruderman: So I really I want to work on that. And you know, if we need try and lobby to get a hybrid model that works for us.

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Nick Antonicello: One of the roles of the Communications officers to work pretty much hand in hand with the outreach chair in terms of promoting events. Town halls, things like that.

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Nick Antonicello: How how do you see yourself working with that particular individual to ensure that the communications and outlets are together, and everyone's on the same page and all that.

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Nico Ruderman: Sure, well just hope to really develop that relationship. I mean, if it's.

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Nico Ruderman: you know, Sima, who happens to win I I you know I know her pretty well. I I think we have a great working relationship, and

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Nico Ruderman: I apologize. I don't remember who's running against, sir. but you know I I look forward to meeting them and and getting to know them if they happen to win. I I think that

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Nico Ruderman: we really need to.

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Nico Ruderman: I think

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Nico Ruderman: about how we can get out regular notices and and really keep that community informed of what's going on with the Neighborhood Council, what's going on with the neighborhood in general, and what's going on at City Hall, because that, as we all know.

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Nico Ruderman: has great effects on us, and

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Nico Ruderman: we don't always have as much control over it as we'd like.

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Nico Ruderman: so really getting people involved, so we can try and maintain

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Nico Ruderman: 10 s.

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Nico Ruderman: because you know, the the the more involved people are in the neighborhood counsel, the the bigger voice we have.

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Nick Antonicello: Some might say that because of the pandemic, and have a homeless issue in tactics, that is, that that is

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Nick Antonicello: Venice's brand has been somewhat tarnished in this whole situation.

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Nick Antonicello: What what kind of brand to where this do you think we need to do? And have you thought about that as something that you you may want to take on.

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Nico Ruderman: Yeah, sure. I mean, I I have thought about it, you know. Obviously.

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Nico Ruderman: you know, there's been a lot of tragedy and and pretty rough times for Venice last couple of years.

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Nico Ruderman: coming out of the pandemic and hopefully with our our new Council member actually listening to us, we will

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Nico Ruderman: be able to get into a better news cycle. I mean, we. We've had bad news about us internationally.

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Nico Ruderman: pretty much exclusively bad news for the last couple of years. So as a major tourist destination and Major major international

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Nico Ruderman: sites. I I I think it's important that we really work on building up our brand, showing. Hey? Venice is safe, you know, still

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Nico Ruderman: got its edge to it, but it's it's a safe place to come. You can bring your family. You can walk on the board walk, and not, you know, not not worry as as much.

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Nico Ruderman: So I I think it's important to you know. Possibly

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Nico Ruderman: get the Venice Neighborhood Council to work to encourage the city to

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Nico Ruderman: put a little Pr. Into into Venice

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Nico Ruderman: as it as as time goes on.

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Nick Antonicello: You you kind of touched on the point. We had a new Council person. She seems to have been embraced by Venice.

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Nick Antonicello: She's doing a lot of outreach and activity.

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Nick Antonicello: Do you see yourself in your role as communications officer in concert with the outreach chair and her office working hand in hand and and on things that you know that are all about Venice

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Nick Antonicello: moving forward.

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Nico Ruderman: I would definitely hope so. I mean, obviously our Council member, You know she lives in Venice. It's been invest a long time, just like a lot of us. And

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Nico Ruderman: you, you know she's on a Really, She's a tough job, being being being a City Council member, I mean she's got a lot of people to answer to, but

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Nico Ruderman: I really.

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Nico Ruderman: I think and and hope that's we. We'll have a a better seat at the table than we've had then we tied with the with bonnet.

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Nico Ruderman: You know things already seem to be improving, and I know everybody's not happy with everything all the time, but it's it's It's a world of difference now, versus you know. Last November, December. We think about what was going on then.

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Nico Ruderman: You know it's pretty rapid change. So

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Nico Ruderman: you know i'd like to keep working with them. I'd like to communicate as a council and and hopefully be a

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Nico Ruderman: resource for that to

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Nico Ruderman: let's them know kind of what we're working on, what what we see as a community that we need to thrive.

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Nico Ruderman: you know, build, build back businesses. etc.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. When when I interviewed you.

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Nick Antonicello: you you're probably one of the most engaged Venetians that I know.

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Nick Antonicello: You were involved with the recall you ran for the Legislature.

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Nick Antonicello: You were on the Vnc. You had a lot of walls in the air.

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Nick Antonicello: having come out of all this, and now you know you're running on a pose. You're kind of getting a brave enough to have a campaign. But

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Nick Antonicello: what? What? What's your take on on government and politics in general, having been through all this over the last 24 months.

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Nico Ruderman: I'm definitely

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Nico Ruderman: learned a lot, and and and to become a lot more interested in

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Nico Ruderman: the local government, and and what is

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Nico Ruderman: what's going on that affects our community, You know. People get so into national politics, and Don't really pay attention to what's going on. You know a lot of people don't even know what it what the Assembly does in California. A lot of people, you know. A lot of people in Venice. Don't know the divest neighborhood Council exists.

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Nico Ruderman: so I I think it's.

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Nico Ruderman: you know, been been great to dive into

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Nico Ruderman: really focusing a lot more locally to change.

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Nico Ruderman: Change the lives of all, all of my neighbors and and friends here in

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Nick Antonicello: okay time for the lightning round

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Nick Antonicello: fairly straightforward. So what's your favorite local bar.

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Nico Ruderman: I'm sorry. Say that again, Nick, I said, what's your favorite local boy? Local bar?

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Nico Ruderman: I have a lot, but probably right now I I love going on the Rose Cafe, because it was kind of a. During the recall, our our second office, Katrina and I

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Nico Ruderman: went there a long lightning round you. Quick answer Short answers, No explanations. Lightning round

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Nick Antonicello: next question. Instagram. Tik Tok or Facebook. Good morning.

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Nico Ruderman: Instagram. I guess.

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Nico Ruderman: Ralph's

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. Early riser or not All

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Nico Ruderman: night out.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. Lakers are clippers

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Nico Ruderman: clickers.

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Nick Antonicello: There you go.

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Nick Antonicello: That's pretty much it good luck on Sunday, Obviously, we, you know, Cast one vote for yourself, and you'll be in

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Nick Antonicello: the new administration.

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Nick Antonicello: Thanks for taking the time now to to talk again, and

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Nick Antonicello: good luck and everything that you do.

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Nico Ruderman: Yeah, Thank you, Nick.

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Candidate Forum: Okay. And Unfortunately, I can't

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Candidate Forum: put you back as an attendee, so you'll need to leave the meeting and then re-log. I'll rejoin. I'll rejoin.

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Nico Ruderman: Sounds good. Alright, Thank you.

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Candidate Forum: Okay. So at this point we're going to call up our first group of both

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Candidate Forum: at large and community interest community officers.

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Candidate Forum: Let me get an idea of how many are totally here. So I want all of the

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Candidate Forum: but all of those people to raise your hand at this point where scheduled to speak tonight.

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Candidate Forum: Okay, raise your hand virtually. and so I can see exactly how many we have.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, is there anyone else who is a community interest officer or

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Candidate Forum: at large that is scheduled for tonight.

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Candidate Forum: We hang on. We lost a hand there somewhere.

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Candidate Forum: 2 3 4 5 6 7.

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Candidate Forum: It looks like we've got just 7, so I think we'll bring up everybody.

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Nick Antonicello: And

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Candidate Forum: okay. So again put your hands back up if you're if you are that person and i'm going to bring you into the meeting or into as a panelist.

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Candidate Forum: and we'll apologize in advance for all the beings on Nick's computer. But there's no choice on that.

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Nick Antonicello: Yeah, when I get an email I get this ring sound. So i'm sorry about that

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Candidate Forum: and one more.

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Candidate Forum: And if for some reason, we have an extraneous candidate who comes in afterwards, we'll put him in with one of the other groups. Okay, with that. Just so, you all know.

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Candidate Forum: Basically, when you get down to 10 s I'll be just yelling out 10 s, and if you can just wrap up your comment, your thought that'd be much appreciated. We don't know. I keep going past that. And then also, as far as muting goes.

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Candidate Forum: if you need to leave yourself unmuted. That's okay. But if I hear background noise from somebody, i'll automatically mute you, so you may need to re unmute yourself at some point with that. How much time do we have?

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Candidate Forum: I'll i'll. I'll go over the ground rules right now.

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Nick Antonicello: We have a nice mix here of veterans and rookies.

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Nick Antonicello: which is always nice. I'm just going to introduce everyone in a solid that is currently on the board. Better. With that you pronounce your last name.

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Nick Antonicello: It's Grushka Ruska. Okay, that's the Kruska Robert Tibdo who's currently on the board Eric Donaldson.

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Nick Antonicello: Some of you may know him from Facebook Noreen, Ahmed. She's running for community interest Officer Steve Bradbury, in from the Marina. He's running for a tuny officer, and Lisa Redmond, who is a regular

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Nick Antonicello: on all the meetings, and one of the more informed Venetians.

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Nick Antonicello: All right with that, said Everyone's going to get a minute to introduce themselves. You can say whatever you like. I'm going to ask 3 or 4 questions. and i'll i'll rotate the order, and then you all have closing statements.

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Nick Antonicello: and that will pretty much wrap it up. So for the first opening statement i'll have Steve Bradbury

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Steve Bradbury: Great. Thank you, Nick, and good to see everybody here, so i'm gonna take a little different tact. We've talked a lot about home last night tonight, and the first night we'll talk about homeless and crime. I'm happy to talk about that. I want to talk about voter representation. You know. Any democracy starts with being represented.

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Steve Bradbury: What many people don't realize is in the current. Vnc. Over 50 of the 21 members come from North Venice and Oakwood.

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Steve Bradbury: So if you live anywhere else like I live in the Marine, and we're in a peninsula. There's no community officers, and only one of 21 people live south of Washington.

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Steve Bradbury: so we represent about 20% of the population of Venice. That's the Marina Peninsula, the Silver Strand. the Oxford triangle and the Lincoln business district. Yet we have one representative and that just doesn't make any sense. So

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Steve Bradbury: the challenge is the way this is set up, and it's a structural issue. So I really believe that needs to be changed. Most. All of the neighborhood councils of the 99 around the city

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Steve Bradbury: have either geographic or interest group representation. I found a few that Don't

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Steve Bradbury: so believe that needs to change. Also the idea of getting to vote for only one of us in this 13 positions to me doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

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Steve Bradbury: So i'm going to say that the top issue that we're dealing with at a very base level is for everybody in sorry about that. I was muted. You actually went over. Oh, sorry. Okay. Just everybody to be represented. Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Thanks, Lisa.

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Lisa Redmond: Hi, everyone. Good evening. Thank you, Nick. I'm: so glad I throughout your name. Last Tuesday I knew you'd do an excellent fair job you did last night as well.

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Lisa Redmond: I have lived in Venice for decades. I love the Vibe of Venice. I used to sneak up here as a

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Lisa Redmond: Orange County High School student all the time, just because it just was such a cool place to be.

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Lisa Redmond: I have a day job at Rand, where I am in the Survey Research Group. I'm part of the Venice Catholic worker where I spend a majority of my time providing much needed services to our unhoused stakeholders, and in other parts of West La services that mostly our government is missing and doesn't provide.

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Many of those do make people document ready and ready for housing.

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Lisa Redmond: and help them into housing as well, because there's just not enough people out there doing it. I'm running because I want to make an impact for the community more than has been shown in the past, and i'm happy to be here tonight. Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Thanks. We'll go to Noreen. She's running for special interest officer. She's not in competition

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Nick Antonicello: with the people you see on the screen. So noreen take it away.

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Noreen Ahmed: Yeah, thank you. So yeah, I'm running. I

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Noreen Ahmed: I've lived in in the past 2 years and recently just moved. But it's it's a place that I I love very much, and i'm joining this neighborhood counselor or running for this Neighborhood Council. I'm sorry about that.

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Noreen Ahmed: because I I want i'm hoping that there's it's really just for the means towards an end. And the end is a hope that there's gonna be more

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Noreen Ahmed: understanding that happens on issues like homelessness, specifically homelessness. I work as a case manager, for recently on house families in Santel and I've done what I outreach in this department, and there's a lot of

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Noreen Ahmed: things that I want just culturally change within Venice about the way that people are treated with harassment and a lot of things that we talked about with the branding earlier in the last conversation. I think you know the way for that to happen is is with the actions of people understanding each other and getting on the same page, so that solutions become stronger for a lot of this issues that we all care about, but have different viewpoints on. I I really want to see

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Noreen Ahmed: towards that, and I've been a Peace Corps Volunteer. I've been in North Westwood Neighborhood Council, and I want to see neighborhood councils be part of creating more harmony on on really difficult issues.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Eric.

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Eric Donaldson: Thank you, Nick and the Venus Neighborhood Council for putting on the Forum, and I I I think it's an important part of this process.

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Eric Donaldson: My name is Eric Donaldson. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I moved to Venice in the mid 1990 S. When I was in my twenties, and then, many, many years later, ended up raising my kids here because Venice is where I truly found home.

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Eric Donaldson: I'm. Running for community officer, because I care enough about Venice that I want to use my voice to protect it.

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Eric Donaldson: If elected, I will work with stakeholders and neighborhood council members to help establish a strong partnership with Councilwoman Tracy Park, so that Venice has a voice down town.

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Eric Donaldson: I spend a lot of time thinking about safety for families, realistic traffic solutions, and how we can better support our local businesses.

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Eric Donaldson: I am one of the few candidates running who has currently has school age, children. So, having kids having raised my kids in Venice, I feel I bring them in value.

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Eric Donaldson: I bring some value to the Council by speaking on behalf of parents and families, and to totally make my kids pringe tonight. I give you this a vote for me is a vote for you and your family. I humbly ask for your both.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Robert.

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robertthibodeau: Hi. My name is Robert Tibeto. I've been on the Neighborhood Council for a couple of years now.

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robertthibodeau: and I run the committee called the Parking Transportation Committee, where we take on sort of street street issues, need a parking or

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robertthibodeau: transportation. and

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robertthibodeau: I guess i'm a moderate. So one thing I've seen is we have a lot of candidates sort of live on the fringes when it comes to issues. V. They.

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robertthibodeau: you know, homelessness or or development, or public safety, or any of these things.

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robertthibodeau: I'm kind of a middle guy. So if you

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robertthibodeau: feel uncomfortable with the fringes you might want to consider voting for me. I I try and find myself as a consensus builder rather than a

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robertthibodeau: ideal log on that or the other.

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robertthibodeau: and

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robertthibodeau: I look forward to serving another term if you vote for me. Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Thanks, Robert. Notice

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Meredith Gruszka: Hi! My name is Meredith Grushka. I'm. Actually a rookie and new to Venice, although I have worked here for just about 8 years, i'm a realtor with party properties. So I work with Tammy party and a lot of our architects, such as Robert. We're actually good friends.

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Meredith Gruszka: and

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Meredith Gruszka: and I just. I've always loved Venice. I moved here from New York City, and Venice was the first place I landed, and I absolutely fell in love with it. And now I finally live here. I also have a school age child, who will be for soon. So I'm. Definitely invested in the safety and beautification of Venice.

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Meredith Gruszka: and I'm. Passionate about the homeless. resolving that issue, and continuing to, you know, move forward in a direction that is positive for everybody. So

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Meredith Gruszka: thank you for having me tonight.

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Nick Antonicello: Thanks for attending

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Nick Antonicello: last, but not least solid, that

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Soledad Ursua: hi everyone. My name is Saladet or Silla. I've lived in Venice for about 7 years. I've served on the Vnc. For 3 years I joined an open spot in 2020, and I previously chaired the Public Health and Safety Committee, and I think I've worked with many of you.

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Soledad Ursua: One thing that I always talk about is I grew up on the side of Los Angeles. So for me, ensuring beach access is one of the most important things that I believe that we can do for working families, and especially minority children. So for that reason I am very against road diets, and taking away parking. I think that we need to ensure safe public spaces for La's hardest working families.

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Soledad Ursua: Additionally, I decided to run again, because i'm very optimistic about the future we've had. We've seen tremendous results so far with Mayor Bass and with Councilmember Park, and I think it's time for us to be optimistic, and think about what's next for Venice

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Soledad Ursua: as we look to. You know Host World Cup in the Olympics. I think that we can think about the upgrades that we want to see in Venice or infrastructure our facilities. So I think this is a time to be optimistic and work together to to see Venice, you know the next phase.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, thank you. So the first question is this: the Venice Neighborhood Council recommends.

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Nick Antonicello: but it does not set policy. What advice and recommendations would you make to city officials to move Venezuela

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Nick Antonicello: and I'll start with

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Nick Antonicello: Lori.

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Noreen Ahmed: Yeah. I think that processes involves making sure that there's an inclusive method of getting

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Noreen Ahmed: feedback from the community, so

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Noreen Ahmed: that advice is going to be contingent on creating events that are town halls and getting feedback from community members, making sure that it's inclusively reaching everybody. And and the advice that comes from those, and that input is what is part of what needs to go to.

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Noreen Ahmed: So you go.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you, Eric.

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Eric Donaldson: Yeah. I I think that that yeah, I agree. I I think, that we need to hear the voices of our stakeholders, you know, even like what Steve said about Oxford Triangle, and and you know south that south part of Venice, but also east of Lincoln. We also need to hear Ogwood

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Eric Donaldson: silver Triangle.

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Eric Donaldson: You know North Venice. We need to hear all from all of our stakeholders, so that we can make informed, you know decisions. But I also think that it's super important for the Board to actually or the Council to actually work together

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Eric Donaldson: and come up with some of these solutions that we can, you know, give these ideas

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Eric Donaldson: as an advisory panel to our Council woman and hopefully have a bigger voice downtown.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you, Lisa.

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Lisa Redmond: Yeah, I think i'm gonna agree with things that have been said already. Definitely. We need to do a town halls. We need to hear from the stakeholders what they want, and I think town halls are great opportunity. Our outreach for the last 2 years Hasn't had done that. You know we're required by by us to do 4 town halls a year.

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Lisa Redmond: and they just haven't been happening at all

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Lisa Redmond: to gather feedback from stakeholders to provide that information to the city. Yes, we Don't make policy, but we can really affect it. And as long, and also

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Lisa Redmond: the huge Venice coastal plan is being updated, the local and the implement implementation part of it.

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Lisa Redmond: We have a huge impact to provide that information and to provide feedback into effect change in that way, and I think that is the responsibility of the Venice Neighborhood Council at its most local access.

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Lisa Redmond: Thank you. That's it.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve Bradbury.

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Steve Bradbury: I think Lisa said something very smart, and I'm gonna jump on that, and it specifically has to do with what something is the Vnc. Called the Neighborhood Committee. So the Neighborhood Committee existence the only place where in theory every neighborhood within Venice is represented. I've lived in the Marina for 16 years.

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Steve Bradbury: I have no idea who the person is. I know the name of the person who represents the Marina Peninsula. But I've never heard from this person. This person is supposedly representing my interests.

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Steve Bradbury: The V. And C. Does a really good job of when you go to them. So I've gone to parking in transportation. I found Robert, and his is is committee. We're very, very supportive of an issue that I was dealing with on the on the Peninsula. But the Vnc Doesn't. Ask.

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Steve Bradbury: and if you have a neighborhood committee, why isn't that committee actually reaching out to their neighborhoods and saying, what do you think, what telling them? This is what we're doing? So there's a accountability and communication issue. We have to get our own house in order before we can actually expect others

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Steve Bradbury: like Dwp and Dot, and sanitation to get their house in the water. Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Meredith.

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Meredith Gruszka: I can restate the question if you it's getting lost. It's like playing telephone. I'm just getting I I think I remember. So I I what he said last, about the accountability factor that's definitely huge and actually communicating with the

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Meredith Gruszka: community and what they want and what they need, but also the follow through. You know there has to be a follow through happening to actually ensure that

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Meredith Gruszka: action is being taken. And I think that's a I mean, that's an issue that I see throughout La as a whole. But I think that that could be better here as well to make sure that these issues are being addressed.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you, Robert.

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robertthibodeau: So i'm going to go back to something, Lisa said, which I think was super important, is that I think the biggest issue facing

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robertthibodeau: Venice right now is that we are

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robertthibodeau: reforming our specific plan and

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robertthibodeau: and tried to certify a land use plan and an implementation plan, and that's with the Coastal Commission and the planning office downtown.

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robertthibodeau: So, although I don't expect drastic changes. there will be zone zoning alterations to it which will affect

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robertthibodeau: what you can do with your property. and I think. as part of that we need to look at a variety of housing types, so that we can still build nice houses for people who are coming here and want to build a nice house, but at the same time we have the optionality

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robertthibodeau: to successfully build, say, smaller units for people

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robertthibodeau: who are coming here. Maybe as as a younger, you know, people, they can get get on the West Side.

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robertthibodeau: and all of these things can be addressed with the new community plan specific.

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robertthibodeau: Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: So with that.

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Soledad Ursua: so we can't affect policy, but we can advocate on behalf of our community. and I think the most important thing that you can do is to reach out to your elected officials and ask them to come and meet with you and walk around the community with you, because once people come and walk around with you, and you know, walk a mile in your shoes. There's so much that they learn, and that's something that I did when we were, you know, dealing with severe homelessness and crime.

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and to get people out here, they realize just what people on the streets are going through, and they really is what the homeowners are going through. So I think people really need to see it with their own eyes.

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Soledad Ursua: and as we move forward, you know, one of the things I really want to focus on is our infrastructure, our roads, you know. I. I just hit a huge, a pothole, and I thought I was going to lose my tire, so I think it'd be great to get some public works people out here to see sort of the disinvestment that has faced Venice, and just figure out how we can work together to give the community what they want, especially some upgrades to some of our parks.

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Candidate Forum: So I think that's something. Just getting people out here. To walk with the community with us is the most important thing you can do.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. The next question is more of a futuristic vision of Venice as we come out of the pandemic

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Nick Antonicello: things, seemingly getting back to normal. What's what's your opinion of ocean Front Walk. the Venice Pier, the bike path, the infrastructure of Venice?

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Nick Antonicello: Do you think about that? And what what kind of infrastructure improvements would you like to sit? And I'll start with Lisa Red.

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Lisa Redmond: I think, what we need to look at, for as far as infrastructure. We realize that Visitors Aren't coming to visit the Oxford triangle. They are coming to visit those areas.

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Lisa Redmond: but those areas we to

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Lisa Redmond: provide

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Lisa Redmond: services to visitors to those areas. We need workers and workers

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Lisa Redmond: come from all over. They can't afford to live here in Venice, and I think we need to look more infrastructure at providing more workforce housing. I think we need to look at housing costs. I think we need to work harder on not taking away r so units that get turned over into Airbnb rentals 250.

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Lisa Redmond: We need to not have our teachers driving from the valley and our, you know, biking in from Inglewood. I think that's critical as far as infrastructure is to provide the workers and the services, and have a place for them to live nearby.

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Nick Antonicello: No. Read.

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Noreen Ahmed: Yeah, I was. The workforce development piece is something that's really important to me as well. I think that getting a lot of people trained as a fleet of individuals who are who are getting hired locally towards jobs that are needed is is really important towards the future of a

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Noreen Ahmed: of a successful like board walk all these different areas of it. And I think also with safety with this piece of understanding that there there's a level of safety. That's different for some individuals versus others. And there's people who are getting assaulted right now. They are going through a lot of unsafe situations that

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Noreen Ahmed: we need to figure out ways to create more opportunities, for there to be people who are hired locally towards outreach and towards

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Noreen Ahmed: creating a safer community. So that training is, is a really critical piece towards a a better future.

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Candidate Forum: 10 s.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Not a risk.

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Meredith Gruszka: You know. This is a tough question for me, because I have talked to some people in the community through my open houses, and and just working and and selling housing in Venice, obviously.

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Meredith Gruszka: and I heard one person say, Gosh! If they, If there was someone who would come in and transform the board walk, it could be like the next South Beach, and she was. She's lived here for decades, she wasn't saying it like, you know, some from a developer's perspective like to make money. I think she was really just talking about beautifying the boardwalk. And

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Meredith Gruszka: and I think that's an interesting idea. I think there's ways to do that without losing

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Meredith Gruszka: It's history. And the fact that it is funky. People go there for a reason, because it is interesting. It's not South Beach, but I think that there are some things

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Meredith Gruszka: that could be done to make it safer, no doubt. I mean, there's got to be.

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Meredith Gruszka: and seconds limits on people being able to. You know there's people buying 5 million dollar houses. And then there's people living on the sand for free. So there's got to be something like a happy medium there from my perspective.

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Nick Antonicello: so that

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Soledad Ursua: one of the issues that I worked on well on the Public Safety Committee was the issue of the storm drains. I don't know if you guys are aware of this, but our storm drains empty right out onto the beach. So every all the debris and trash that you see on the streets empty is right out. And when we were looking at this

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Soledad Ursua: we found needles on the beach. So, as a little girl, my family and I, we would come and spend our weekends on the beach. So it's horrifying to me to think that there's kids playing on the beach, and they have no idea that they could be stepping on needles. So I think that's something that needs to be addressed in terms of our infrastructure, and you may remember all the high levels of bacteria and the beach closures due to the run off.

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Soledad Ursua: So to me. That's something that is an environmental issue that seriously needs to be addressed.

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And you know. I just think that we have a huge opportunity as as we move forward, post covid, post pandemic

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Soledad Ursua: and think about I mean Venice Beach is world famous. Everyone in the world wants to, and I think there's so much that we could do to make it a clean and safe and friendly environment for everyone.

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Eric Donaldson: Yeah. So you know.

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Eric Donaldson: I think what's unique about

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Eric Donaldson: ocean front walk is that it's a it's a destination that's enjoyed by tourists and locals alive. Right, so we get to enjoy it as locals.

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Eric Donaldson: I think that's pretty unique.

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Eric Donaldson: But you know, when I was a kid we'd come down there. It was a quirky.

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Eric Donaldson: creative, entertaining fun, safe place, I mean, yeah, it's always had an edge. But you know, when we come down when I came down here with my parents as a kid. It was cool, you know, and it was fun, and you know, I think we can get back to that. I think that

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Eric Donaldson: we need to get back to that, because that's not what we've had. The world is seen. This like lawlessness.

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Eric Donaldson: and you know now that we're starting to return to getting the board. Walk back to. I think we just need to build on that.

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Eric Donaldson: and there's no reason why people shouldn't be able to go down there at night, right so there's a lot of things that I think that we can do to make it the place that we should all support.

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Candidate Forum: Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve.

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Steve Bradbury: I put this into the category, the care and feeding of Venice. I'm a cyclist, and I ride up the bike path, and there's a dramatic difference in the riding experience in Venice until you get to Santa Monica, so that clearly can be things improved there.

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Steve Bradbury: But I think we have to be careful what we wish for. Santa Monica has really focused on tourism for the last several years, and I have to be honest with you. My wife and I will not go to Santa Monica anymore has become so overrun with tourists, especially over near the pier

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Steve Bradbury: that it just makes it on 10 and untenable experience to get there and walk around without being overrun by tourists. So there's got to be a balance about that at the end of the day. Safety and security. What drives most of the other issues that we have. If you feel safe and secure, then you will participate in activities.

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Steve Bradbury: I. One of the things i'm proposing is to put an lapd on Washington.

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Steve Bradbury: It'd be good for merchants.

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Steve Bradbury: good for tourists and good for residents, and actually just having a presence on Washington will make a lot of difference.

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Nick Antonicello: Robert.

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robertthibodeau: First of all, i'm down. I'm a surfer. I'm down

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robertthibodeau: more towards the pure area pretty much every day. I see Nick down there frequently.

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robertthibodeau: So preservation of the beach and clean water, and all of that, or must

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robertthibodeau: that, said the boardwalk itself. Thank you to the sheriff for cleaning up the mess that we had before. That was a monumental effort, and we still need more work, but it's gotten a lot better.

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robertthibodeau: One thing we've been working on on currently is looking at. You know this isn't a done deal. But looking at the possibility of a windward is a pedestrian way.

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robertthibodeau: and we'll continue to look at that and take public input on that.

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robertthibodeau: I also think that the historic call on Aids should be preserved and extended, if possible, encourage business owners to repeat those.

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robertthibodeau: and

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robertthibodeau: I do not, unlike my other people here. Do not think that workforce housing along oceanfront walk is really a practical. I don't. I don't really see the point in that. But just

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robertthibodeau: sure thing.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. The next question is

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Nick Antonicello: more of a

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Nick Antonicello: of the process of the D. And C. There, there's 37 candidates running for community officer there's 3 more running for community interest officer. and that raised one person L.

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Nick Antonicello: In your races you only can vote for one person, but there's 13 serving. So in effect. stakeholders only vote for one or not even the full. Not even the majority of the full board.

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Nick Antonicello: if you were to win.

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Nick Antonicello: would you support a revisions to the buy? Was that would allow stakeholders to vote up to 13 members, or just a larger number than one. And what do you think about that? So i'll I'll start with Lisa

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Lisa Redmond: just in case some other people misunderstood my misrepresentation. I never said I wanted workforce housing on the boardwalk. I said. We need workers for those

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Lisa Redmond: areas like the boardwalk and the pier

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Lisa Redmond: in Venice.

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Lisa Redmond: I am not so much a fan of voting for more. I'd rather go to voting for zones. I would rather have the bylaws change, so that we do have representation of somebody from East Venice, and maybe more than one from East Venice

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Lisa Redmond: East, and it gets forgotten a lot one from Oxford Tri, all the

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Lisa Redmond: the peninsula, you know all the different neighborhoods, and in that way there was a situation last August, where there was a

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Lisa Redmond: vote for the bridge home, and it couldn't be done because everyone had to recuse themselves, because all the Board members looked in and around 1,000 feet of the bridge home.

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Lisa Redmond: and if we had zones that wouldn't happen.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay.

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Nick Antonicello: for those of you who want into government junkies, zones, or a verse instead of that large we have by district. We have maybe a mix up.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve.

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Steve Bradbury: What? Why don't you go next? Well, I've I've touched on this. I I the the bylaws need to be updated. I'm not prepared to tell you exactly what the solution is. I think that a a regional approach, every approach makes a lot of sense

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Steve Bradbury: interest groups make a lot of sense as well. If you had, say 9 interest groups, then you could have the other 4 community officers be at large.

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Steve Bradbury: We could use rank, choice voting.

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Steve Bradbury: which is something that's done more and more in different places. So there's different what? There's different approaches that we can take, but absolutely the fact that there are more than 12 of the 21 people living North, Venice or Oakwood makes no sense

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Steve Bradbury: it doesn't. Make any sense. So if you're thinking about whoever you, what is on this tonight, if your

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Steve Bradbury: going to vote for whoever for the community officer, it represents your neighborhood great vote for them. If not, consider voting for me, because I want to change that, and I will step in and take a leadership role in that I have no problem whatsoever. I think it's something that needs to be done.

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Steve Bradbury: Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Noreen.

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Noreen Ahmed: Yeah. I would agree that I don't have it the exact what it exactly should look like. But I think it's really important that there's a change towards people being able to vote for more

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Noreen Ahmed: up to

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Noreen Ahmed: a number that's greater because of the fact that if for a community

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Noreen Ahmed: neighborhood Council that inclusivity is.

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Noreen Ahmed: this is gonna help with the inclusive of of voting in general, I I think it's one of the things that really needs to change with Neighborhood Council for this bylaw. And then there's additionally with other antiquated pieces of the neighborhood Council system. But yeah, I believe in increasing the number of people that

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Noreen Ahmed: you can choose.

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Nick Antonicello: Alright.

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Eric Donaldson: Yeah, I I You know I agree with Lisa and Steve. I think you know, having districts would be really great, and that makes a lot of sense. But also I I I do also agree that if that's not the case, then we should be able to vote for more than one candidate.

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Eric Donaldson: and and I say that because there's so many good people running right now.

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Eric Donaldson: and I think it's a just we're doing a disservice to the stakeholders by not, you know, but to vote for more than one person. So like, For instance, I have a number of friends that would vote for any there. Probably a few of us on that are running right now, right, and each one of us will do a great job on the Venice Neighborhood Council.

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Eric Donaldson: So I do think that at the very least we should open it up to at least 3. You can vote for 3. But yeah, I think the district districts, or at least 3,

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Eric Donaldson: not all 13. I'm. I'm for I for all that.

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Nick Antonicello: Robert.

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robertthibodeau: Good morning.

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robertthibodeau: I think you should not limit people by the areas they live, because I think that actually might cut good people out. But I do agree, you should be able to vote for more than one candidate, One candidate's stuff. When there's 30, some odd in the field

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robertthibodeau: that's like for the at large. I don't know what that magic number is, Nick, If that means you can vote for 3 or 5.

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robertthibodeau: But I think you should be able to vote for more than one. That said a little bit of advice to anybody here who is running for the at large position is that if you Don't get elected. Keep your eye on it, because there is attrition.

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robertthibodeau: and so 6 months into it, 3 months into it, 9 months into it people will drop out because they can't commit to the meetings or the timeframe, or they move, or whatever.

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robertthibodeau: And the the to fill that in thoughts is actually not that difficult, but at the end

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robertthibodeau: we we need more people. So if you don't get it the first time around stay involved, join a committee.

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robertthibodeau: keep up on the meetings come in later.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Good advice. So with that.

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Soledad Ursua: Yes, I definitely think that we should be voting for more than one. It makes it very hard to get good people on, so I would like to see it where it's, maybe at least 3 or 5, and I remember this was a topic that came up the last election round, and I think overwhelmingly everybody supported that we changed us.

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Soledad Ursua: but it never got done. So I think one thing that we have to do this next round. Should we get to service, to really change this and make it just easier to get? You know your representatives onto the Vmc.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you.

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Meredith Gruszka: Yeah. I'm with Robert, and so that as well, I think that there absolutely should be no reason why you can't vote for more than one person. I would vote for Robert.

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Meredith Gruszka: So I vote for you. We want to vote for each other, but we can't. So yeah, I I think I think absolutely. And I don't know the magic number, either, but it 3 to 5. Sounds good to me, too.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. The the business Neighborhood Council is a is a collection of of committees. There are standing committees.

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Nick Antonicello: and then you have what we call AD hoc committees and AD hoc committees

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Nick Antonicello: work on specific issues, and then their time limit. But the standing committees. our are part of the bylaws. and there's several of them like ocean front, walk and outreach

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Nick Antonicello: as community offices.

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Nick Antonicello: What! What's your interest in skill set like? What committees would you like to get involved with.

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Nick Antonicello: and how

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Nick Antonicello: well, what are what are you thinking about once you get on the board, which which committees would you like to focus on and be a part? And i'll start with so that

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Soledad Ursua: Well, the AD Hoc committees are really up to the next President to sort of, you know, craft them, and dictate the future. So I would love to see a committee that's focused on, You know, economic development, the future of the Board block.

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Soledad Ursua: We are going to Host World Cup and the Olympics. So I think that is something that you know is the next Vnc Board should focus on. Additionally, you know, I I was on the Public Health and Safety Committee. I chaired it. That's something i'm still interested in, and also homelessness. So

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Soledad Ursua: you know we'll see what the feature of the V and C. Is with our next President, and where they want to take this

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Nick Antonicello: Meredith.

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Meredith Gruszka: Yeah, I mean, my passion is that from personal level is also the homeless issue, and resolving that as much as possible. But then also, of course, my livelihood is real estate, and then I personally am

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Meredith Gruszka: building a home with my husband here in Venice, on Kloon, and

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Meredith Gruszka: you know, just making it a little bit easier for people who do want to build their homes. I mean, like I always tell people, you know that are anti development, like somebody had to build your house at 1 point, so you know, making it a little easier. The process easier for people to do. This, I think, is not

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Meredith Gruszka: too much to ask, so that would definitely be something i'd be interested in pursuing, too.

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Nick Antonicello: Noreen.

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Noreen Ahmed: Yeah, that's the 2 that I would say that that are definite with the homelessness, and additionally with the Budget Committee, which I think is something that can kind of get overlooked. But there's so much with the Budget Committee that can, is a reflection of where a council is at. So that's something that is

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Noreen Ahmed: additionally important. And then probably some other things with transportation and some of these AD hoc communities as well.

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Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Eric.

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Eric Donaldson: Yeah. There isn't. Necessarily committee for this right now, but like. But for me, you know, I think we need some guard rails and added protections for school age, youth, and all schools in Dennis, so I feel like there's no reason a a child should not have a clear, safe path

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Eric Donaldson: from their house or apartment to the front gate of their school, so that said as a parent, I think that I would like to be involved in in in a committee that would that would definitely send that message to our our councilwoman

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Eric Donaldson: park. But I also think that the traffic congestion, and the and the things that we have to deal with on a on a daily basis. For instance, all these Venice has become this thoroughfare, because Lincoln, Venice, and Washington are completely, you know.

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Eric Donaldson: a jammed up right? So our side streets again

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Eric Donaldson: comes down to safety. A lot of our side streets, Ocean Avenue, Oak, Wood, Seventh Street, you know. Ken Mar. We're all being people racing down those streets to try and avoid traffic. So i'd love to be a part of like the Transportation Committee, where we get to talk about some of these things, and and and and collectively work

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Eric Donaldson: possible solutions.

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Nick Antonicello: Robert.

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robertthibodeau: can I read what the committees are? Because a lot of people might not know what the committees are? Absolutely so it's for people out there who are listening, or even people who are on the call. We've got budget and finance land you some planning neighborhood, ocean front walks, outreach and events, planning

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robertthibodeau: rules and selections which has been down because the guy left

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robertthibodeau: Arts Community resilience. homelessness.

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robertthibodeau: parking, and transportation. The Arbor Committee, Venice Arbor Committee discussion forum and preserving public places. and those are those are the committees. I've been sharing the parking transportation. I can tell you what we've been working on. We've been working on trying to get Link in

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robertthibodeau: like some beautification and some safety improvements on Lincoln, including better crosswalks and try to replace the broken trees that are in a lot of the tree wells, and getting the city to commit on some of the maintenance of that stuff

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robertthibodeau: I can. I can knock off any time.

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robertthibodeau: Yeah, and we've been working on safety improvements for advocacy as well between Venice and Washington Boulevard to get better bike lanes and a better crosswalk at Mark. And that's it.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve.

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Steve Bradbury: I said this before. I I think parking and transportation is probably the most civilized committee that I've

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Steve Bradbury: so if Robert will have me, I may come, join him if he will. I, I, I think, given the neighborhood Committee is, is. I believe, somewhat dysfunctional. At this point I might choose to join them to represent the Marina, or at least parts of the Marina; and I guess

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Steve Bradbury: if I if i'm not sure I would go to a third one. But maybe the rules and Selection committee, because I think that needs is such an opportunity to to really change things and make a difference. So i'm not sure whether I would jump on all 3 at the same time as a newbie. I might go to 2, and then kind of get feel my way around a little bit. But those are the ones that I I believe I could make the most impact.

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Nick Antonicello: Lisa.

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Lisa Redmond: Yeah.

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Lisa Redmond: I would be interested rules and selections to help change bylaws I would be. I like Adcom, because that helps plan how the board meetings go. I would be very interested in art, because I think we need to reinvigorate that. It's sad that that Committee Hasn't met for almost 4 years.

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Lisa Redmond: But I really where I see an opportunity is i'd love to start an AD hoc committee

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Lisa Redmond: that is, housing and homelessness, because those 2 are so intertwined together, and it wouldn't affect land use, but it would take care of tenant and landlord issues that doesn't affect land use, and

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Lisa Redmond: then it's. A 65% renters.

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Lisa Redmond: and we need to look out for the renters and the mom and pop landlords, and their their needs as well.

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Lisa Redmond: That effects into homelessness as well, because of an affordability and our loss of our R. So and changing, as I mentioned over into vacation rentals that isn't part of land use, and I think it

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Lisa Redmond: is something that our community needs. Thank you.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. So we're gonna go into our lightning. Yes. and after that you'll have a closing statement. So all this learn something out, and it's either the yes or no. Answer it. Just pick the choices.

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Nick Antonicello: routes, or whole foods, so that

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Soledad Ursua: all foods

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Nick Antonicello: there. It is

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Noreen Ahmed: Ralph

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Nick Antonicello: Eric.

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Nick Antonicello: Me. Ralph. My kids whole foods, Robert.

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robertthibodeau: Full foods.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve.

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Steve Bradbury: All foods.

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Nick Antonicello: Lisa Ralph. But I Miss Winwood farms. Okay, You have to pick one of the 3 as as your preference. The board walk, the bike path or the pier.

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Nick Antonicello: Steve

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Steve Bradbury: Bypass

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Nick Antonicello: Lisa

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Lisa Redmond: here because it's closest to me.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, Noreen.

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Noreen Ahmed: like Beth Eric

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Eric Donaldson: love the pair.

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Nick Antonicello: Robert.

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Nick Antonicello: You know I'm a pure guy, Nick solid that

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Soledad Ursua: boardwalk

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Nick Antonicello: not really

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Meredith Gruszka: bypass.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. tenant or homeowner. So with that

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Soledad Ursua: home, honor.

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Nick Antonicello: Meredith.

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Meredith Gruszka: home, Wonder

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Nick Antonicello: Robert

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Nick Antonicello: homeowner.

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Eric Donaldson: and it

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Nick Antonicello: Noreen

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Noreen Ahmed: and

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Nick Antonicello: Steve.

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Steve Bradbury: I'm. Owner.

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Nick Antonicello: Lisa.

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Lisa Redmond: and it

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Nick Antonicello: Okay.

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Nick Antonicello: Who do you? Who do you most admire an individual. So just give me their name. Steve Gregor.

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Steve Bradbury: Oh, God!

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Steve Bradbury: You know what he just passed away. Will this great after the next

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Nick Antonicello: number 19? Okay. Lisa Redmond.

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Lisa Redmond: Martin Luther, King

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Nick Antonicello: Robert.

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robertthibodeau: Tough for Nick. Tough one.

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Nick Antonicello: How about Jon Kennedy? It's on the wall. Eric Donaldson.

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Eric Donaldson: Martin Luther, King, Jr.

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Eric Donaldson: Not going to be

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Nick Antonicello: okay. Noreen.

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Noreen Ahmed: My clients keep up in my. So call my clients.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, no, it is

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Nick Antonicello: I'm going to say my husband a self.

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Meredith Gruszka: I do.

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Nick Antonicello: And so with that

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Soledad Ursua: Rand Paul, i'm a libertarian.

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Nick Antonicello: And last question if I had to find you in Venice. But I didn't go to your house. Where would I find you in this? And i'll start with Steve

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Steve Bradbury: Mercedes or chuckle.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. Lisa.

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Lisa Redmond: Maybe the Venison Dell encampment.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay. Robert.

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robertthibodeau: Probably surfing down south side of the pier.

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Eric.

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Eric Donaldson: And to Washington

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Nick Antonicello: anywhere. Okay, Marie.

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01:27:06.320 --> 01:27:10.550
Noreen Ahmed: because the grass near the the skate park

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Nick Antonicello: notice

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Meredith Gruszka: either riding my bike on the bike path or Scopa.

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Nick Antonicello: and solve that.

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Soledad Ursua: either walking my dog on the boardwalk, or at fiesta. Brava, because they have the best Salsa and the best windows run shows.

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Nick Antonicello: Alright.

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Nick Antonicello: Okay, Thank you for that. Now we'll have a closing statements. 1 min.

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Nick Antonicello: Lisa Red.

495
01:27:35.190 --> 01:27:37.350
Lisa Redmond: Oh, great!

496
01:27:37.480 --> 01:27:39.370
Lisa Redmond: Well, I hope

497
01:27:39.660 --> 01:27:55.270
Lisa Redmond: people will vote for me and give me the opportunity to serve. I really hope to take the advantage to lip up the voices of our youth and our next generation for Venice. Because I think that's entirely important. I want to listen to to respond to stakeholders.

498
01:27:55.310 --> 01:28:09.400
Lisa Redmond: The Venice Neighborhood Council has a bylaw that says, to respect the stakeholders as the ultimate authority and controlling force of the B. And C. I plan to live by that. I plan to respond and listen to my emails.

499
01:28:09.420 --> 01:28:10.570
Lisa Redmond: and

500
01:28:11.100 --> 01:28:17.120
Lisa Redmond: just be a presence for people and not tell them that they're wrong, but to listen to them and to serve for them.

501
01:28:17.640 --> 01:28:20.060
Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Thank you, Steve.

502
01:28:20.840 --> 01:28:27.480
Steve Bradbury: Well, thank you, Dick, and thank you. Everybody for participating tonight. I wish I could well have wish they did have more than one vote.

503
01:28:27.510 --> 01:28:34.520
Steve Bradbury: you know, in my day job I do a listening and communication workshops for teams and organizations.

504
01:28:34.700 --> 01:28:42.410
Steve Bradbury: And one of the things that we we teach is the 3 L's listening, learning, and leadership.

505
01:28:42.860 --> 01:28:54.340
Steve Bradbury: And I think if we could bring those 3 skills more uniformly to the Vmc. It would make a real difference. People can listen with intention

506
01:28:54.400 --> 01:29:04.230
Steve Bradbury: and can learn about what's going on, learn about the issues and be prepared, and leadership, which is not just the leader, but everybody on the Vnc. Is a leader.

507
01:29:04.310 --> 01:29:25.260
Steve Bradbury: I invite everybody on this on this, on this Steve for vnc.com that Steve Number 4 V and c.com. There's a stakeholder survey up there 15 questions. You can just rate the different issues, and and the the results show up right away. And again. I thank you all for your consideration.

508
01:29:27.090 --> 01:29:27.850
Nick Antonicello: Robert.

509
01:29:29.780 --> 01:29:35.490
robertthibodeau: I think we've got a tremendous opportunity right now, because we've got a Council person

510
01:29:35.580 --> 01:29:49.760
robertthibodeau: who actually seems interested in helping Venice out. And you know what a shift that is from, you know, 6 months ago. and the her offices have been very communicative.

511
01:29:49.880 --> 01:29:53.080
robertthibodeau: So let's fix the streets. Let's fix sidewalks.

512
01:29:53.170 --> 01:29:56.050
robertthibodeau: Let's make business a cleaner safer place.

513
01:29:56.260 --> 01:30:10.680
robertthibodeau: Let's try and bring down the rhetoric and let's try and try and realize that everybody's got a place here, whether you moved here yesterday or you grew up here. You know. Respect. Everybody, respect those around you, even the ones you disagree with.

514
01:30:11.090 --> 01:30:17.330
robertthibodeau: and it'd be nice to change the tone in the meetings. I've been a little hot, and

515
01:30:17.400 --> 01:30:19.390
robertthibodeau: it's hard to.

516
01:30:19.470 --> 01:30:24.790
robertthibodeau: And let's let's cool that off a little bit. Let's try and enjoy each Other's company. Thank you.

517
01:30:26.140 --> 01:30:27.010
Nick Antonicello: Hello.

518
01:30:27.330 --> 01:30:27.990
Alright.

519
01:30:32.080 --> 01:30:33.310
Nick Antonicello: Third 1,000.

520
01:30:33.740 --> 01:30:34.450
Eric Donaldson: Okay.

521
01:30:35.040 --> 01:30:39.940
Eric Donaldson: You broke up there. Yeah. So yes, I think

522
01:30:40.500 --> 01:30:53.230
Eric Donaldson: leadership on this board comes from listening to the stakeholders and being able to convey that message to a Council Council woman, Tracy Park. I think

523
01:30:53.230 --> 01:31:10.670
Eric Donaldson: if we're able to do that, and I think that bringing down the mud, slinging and all that and working together, I think we're gonna have a really strong voice downtown to help Venice like get into this, you know. Take Venice to the to the next level.

524
01:31:10.670 --> 01:31:19.190
Eric Donaldson: I think also that this is, as I said earlier, it it is a destination that should be enjoyed by a tourist

525
01:31:19.220 --> 01:31:26.280
Eric Donaldson: and locals alive, and I think that if we all work together, we can create a more.

526
01:31:26.490 --> 01:31:35.160
Eric Donaldson: If we all work together, we can create a more safe, vibrant, sustainable future for the Venetians, and in particular kids and families.

527
01:31:35.450 --> 01:31:40.790
Eric Donaldson: and I won't. Say the thing that I said earlier, because my kids will really be mad.

528
01:31:40.880 --> 01:31:42.410
Nick Antonicello: Okay, Noreen.

529
01:31:44.890 --> 01:31:47.050
Noreen Ahmed: Yeah, I the I think that

530
01:31:47.440 --> 01:31:52.410
Noreen Ahmed: there's an opportunity right now, if there's a trajectory where things can continue to

531
01:31:52.420 --> 01:31:57.950
Noreen Ahmed: kind of spiral in conflict, and how a lot of things get done. But there's another trajectory that can happen where there's

532
01:31:58.270 --> 01:32:13.170
Noreen Ahmed: progress, and this vision towards creating something that's more inclusive, and and solutions that have integrity that are truly meeting the needs of people where we're we're saying one thing, and our actions are the same. There's that trajectory that can happen through a new

533
01:32:13.480 --> 01:32:32.640
Noreen Ahmed: Neighborhood council where people are hearing each other and trying to bring in more voices. And the the key Things that I think are really important are just in an improved Neighborhood council system, where people's voices are being brought in, and there's opportunities to hear more voices, and also for there to be a a share opportunity for people to understand other perspectives. And

534
01:32:32.780 --> 01:32:37.650
Noreen Ahmed: if that can happen, and i'm going to be really proud to be a part of this, is that something? Yeah, where?

535
01:32:38.040 --> 01:32:45.250
Noreen Ahmed: Yeah, that's that's my hope is that we're going to see a future where progress can happen through this. Because I think it, I think it's critical

536
01:32:46.650 --> 01:32:47.560
Nick Antonicello: notice.

537
01:32:49.700 --> 01:33:04.180
Meredith Gruszka: Thank you for having all of us tonight. I just want to say that I appreciate everyone's time, and i'm definitely sharing the sentiment that you know trade with Tracy Park in office. I think that this is a really unique opportunity to jump on

538
01:33:04.400 --> 01:33:06.040
Meredith Gruszka: her excitement about

539
01:33:06.110 --> 01:33:18.490
Meredith Gruszka: taking action, because I think that really is what it boils down to is kind of canceling out the noise. And what, Eric said the mud slinging and really just focusing on actually taking action and following through. So

540
01:33:18.670 --> 01:33:19.560
Meredith Gruszka: thank you

541
01:33:20.650 --> 01:33:22.910
Nick Antonicello: and solid that will wrap it up.

542
01:33:23.560 --> 01:33:32.610
Soledad Ursua: Thank you to everyone who's watching tonight, since it's our third night in a row of V and C. You know meetings, and so thank you for your participation.

543
01:33:32.610 --> 01:33:49.170
Soledad Ursua: You know I've been known for having a very vocal and strong voice for the community and for my neighbors. It's been an honor to serve you for the past 3 years, and I hope that you will vote for me to bring me back. I love this community, and I'm very excited about what the future holds for Venice Beach.

544
01:33:50.770 --> 01:33:56.630
Nick Antonicello: Well, with that I just wanna thank all the candidates. The voters have a very difficult choice.

545
01:33:57.010 --> 01:34:02.640
Nick Antonicello: I wish you all the best. I hope you stay involved with you when it lose. We need you

546
01:34:02.820 --> 01:34:05.280
Nick Antonicello: and good luck on Sunday. Thank you so much.

547
01:34:06.010 --> 01:34:13.690
Candidate Forum: Okay, in the interest of time. If you guys can just remove yourself from a meeting and you can join back in.

548
01:34:13.900 --> 01:34:22.490
Candidate Forum: and i'm going to call up the next round of at large and community interest. I see Yolanda.

549
01:34:23.300 --> 01:34:28.290
Candidate Forum: I see Bruno and I see Jim. So.

550
01:34:28.670 --> 01:34:36.420
Candidate Forum: besides Yolanda. Bruno and Jim. If there's any other candidates

551
01:34:36.640 --> 01:34:42.620
Candidate Forum: for those positions that are here, please raise your hand at this time, and then I'm going to bring in

552
01:34:42.840 --> 01:34:45.150
Candidate Forum: the people that I just mentioned. While we're doing that.

553
01:34:45.650 --> 01:34:54.420
Candidate Forum: that, Lisa, if you could do me a favor, i'm just going to darken your screen, and Eric as well. I'm just going to darken your screen, and I'm going to change your name

554
01:34:55.760 --> 01:35:00.530
Candidate Forum: to a dash. and you can just stay there and just don't unmute.

555
01:35:02.270 --> 01:35:09.530
Candidate Forum: We have a technical glitch that for some reason doesn't allow and rename.

556
01:35:10.900 --> 01:35:12.900
Candidate Forum: For some reason you come back in

557
01:35:18.820 --> 01:35:20.370
Candidate Forum: that rename.

558
01:35:20.450 --> 01:35:26.560
-: You like me to try to log out again. No, no, you're just just mute yourself, and i'll change it to a dash, and you'll be fine.

559
01:35:26.980 --> 01:35:32.060
Candidate Forum: and then nobody sees you. Okay, now, i'm going to bring back in people.

560
01:35:32.940 --> 01:35:37.280
Candidate Forum: Okay. So, Yolanda Don't. Unraise your hand. Stay right where you're at.

561
01:35:39.580 --> 01:35:44.090
Candidate Forum: Okay. And then where did Bruno go.

562
01:35:45.090 --> 01:35:48.450
Candidate Forum: Okay, I don't see Bruno anymore. I don't know where he went.

563
01:35:49.150 --> 01:35:53.020
Candidate Forum: Okay, let me bring in Jim.

564
01:36:01.950 --> 01:36:06.950
Candidate Forum: Okay, Yolanda, You have to accept the promotes a panelist.

565
01:36:22.150 --> 01:36:26.180
Candidate Forum: Okay, I see, Yolanda, I see Jim.

566
01:36:26.800 --> 01:36:30.620
Candidate Forum: And where did Bruno go? He was just there.

567
01:36:31.920 --> 01:36:38.400
Candidate Forum: Okay, again. Are there any other candidates for the At-large or community interest community Officer.

568
01:36:42.100 --> 01:36:42.810
Candidate Forum: Huh?

569
01:36:42.920 --> 01:36:46.150
Candidate Forum: Okay, If Bruno comes in i'll bring him in.

570
01:36:46.530 --> 01:36:48.500
Candidate Forum: I don't know where he went to.

571
01:36:49.340 --> 01:36:55.300
Candidate Forum: Okay, with that. I'm: Sure, you guys have been paying attention. So you, if you

572
01:36:55.900 --> 01:36:58.550
Candidate Forum: I have any questions on the rules or whatever

573
01:36:58.680 --> 01:37:01.000
Candidate Forum: I'm going to let Nick take over from here.

574
01:37:01.430 --> 01:37:03.550
Nick Antonicello: Okay, thanks.

575
01:37:03.890 --> 01:37:09.600
Nick Antonicello: Well, we have Yolanda. Can you put your video on so we can see you

576
01:37:12.250 --> 01:37:13.200
Yolanda Gonzalez: on mute.

577
01:37:13.760 --> 01:37:29.270
Nick Antonicello: Is that it?

578
01:37:29.380 --> 01:37:31.530
Nick Antonicello: Yeah. So

579
01:37:32.000 --> 01:37:37.090
Nick Antonicello: we have with us 2 long time veterans of Venice.

580
01:37:37.610 --> 01:37:45.160
Nick Antonicello: Yolanda, Gonzalez, and Jim, you as the current president of the Vnc. Good evening, Nick.

581
01:37:45.650 --> 01:37:57.080
Nick Antonicello: So the way this is going to work we're going to give you a minute to introduce yourself. I'll ask a series of questions and end it with a lightning round the Stewart. and then you'll have a closing statement.

582
01:37:57.420 --> 01:38:01.650
Nick Antonicello: So with that, said Yolanda, you have a minute to

583
01:38:02.440 --> 01:38:04.880
Nick Antonicello: tell you. Tell us about yourself, and why you run.

584
01:38:06.570 --> 01:38:13.350
Yolanda Gonzalez: Yes, I'm running back again on the Neighborhood Council, because Covid changed the way

585
01:38:13.820 --> 01:38:29.120
Yolanda Gonzalez: the city is really running our our communities, and my main concern at this point is our public safety, our public nuisance and the way the quality of life that has been.

586
01:38:29.260 --> 01:38:36.700
Yolanda Gonzalez: Really, it's been interrupted by this situation of our homeless that have come into our community.

587
01:38:37.080 --> 01:38:40.340
Yolanda Gonzalez: and basically we lack civility

588
01:38:40.980 --> 01:38:45.110
Yolanda Gonzalez: among a lot of residents because they're all

589
01:38:45.820 --> 01:38:55.660
Yolanda Gonzalez: they're all scared. They don't know what to expect right now. But at this moment. We have a great Council representative.

590
01:38:55.670 --> 01:38:57.760
Yolanda Gonzalez: She is wonderful.

591
01:38:58.650 --> 01:39:11.830
Yolanda Gonzalez: she I've never seen anybody put in so many motions into city council in less than 3 months, and I think now we have an opportunity for the soul and the spirit to come back into Venice.

592
01:39:12.770 --> 01:39:14.490
Nick Antonicello: Thank you. Him.

593
01:39:15.030 --> 01:39:16.070
-: Can you hear me?

594
01:39:16.150 --> 01:39:17.770
Nick Antonicello: Yes, great.

595
01:39:17.790 --> 01:39:33.200
-: I had microphone problems last night, so I had to check. So so i'm running because I've lived here a long time, and I believe in the activism process. I believe it's important to get involved in the community

596
01:39:33.380 --> 01:39:41.300
-: on that note. When I moved here in 80, 8 and 89 I started the Venice farmers market. It's been going ever since.

597
01:39:41.360 --> 01:39:50.060
-: In the early nineties I planted a few 1,000 trees in Venice, including all the trees on Venice Boulevard, between Pacific and Lincoln.

598
01:39:50.280 --> 01:40:09.450
-: I've been on the Neighborhood Council since it's inception, and before that I was working with Ruth Atlanta on an advisory committee to oversee land use development issues. I've been involved in in all kinds of different aspects, and and I chose to be to run for President 2 years a year and a half ago.

599
01:40:09.840 --> 01:40:14.990
-: because I thought that that would be a good way of of helping to organize the community.

600
01:40:15.100 --> 01:40:18.170
-: And i'll talk a little bit more on that later. Thank you.

601
01:40:20.260 --> 01:40:31.370
Nick Antonicello: Okay. One of the the recurring themes over the last 2 evenings has been this issue of civility. I tend to believe that

602
01:40:31.580 --> 01:40:35.170
Nick Antonicello: a lot of that has to do with the fact. We've been in Covid, and

603
01:40:35.230 --> 01:40:39.880
Nick Antonicello: instead of having meetings in person, everything's been on zoom.

604
01:40:40.320 --> 01:40:47.400
Nick Antonicello: It's kind of like When you send someone an email it. It. It's just personalized. So as we come out of Covid.

605
01:40:47.800 --> 01:40:50.480
Nick Antonicello: and as the pandemic ends

606
01:40:50.790 --> 01:40:52.790
how will in-person meetings

607
01:40:52.910 --> 01:40:56.790
Nick Antonicello: drive your governance. How, how, how do you think it will help

608
01:40:56.880 --> 01:41:03.630
Nick Antonicello: the Board come to more consensus on issues before. and i'll start with you on that.

609
01:41:03.940 --> 01:41:11.280
Yolanda Gonzalez: Well, i'm a coral graduate. I was very hot. Lucky to come across them, and with that

610
01:41:11.390 --> 01:41:12.280
Yolanda Gonzalez: the

611
01:41:12.440 --> 01:41:18.030
Yolanda Gonzalez: the fact that we have our representatives come to us

612
01:41:18.220 --> 01:41:23.020
Yolanda Gonzalez: and explain what they're working on is very important.

613
01:41:23.320 --> 01:41:28.510
Yolanda Gonzalez: But I don't accept the fact that we are not allowed to ask them questions

614
01:41:29.260 --> 01:41:32.190
Yolanda Gonzalez: because they're just going about

615
01:41:32.830 --> 01:41:34.390
Yolanda Gonzalez: creating laws

616
01:41:34.790 --> 01:41:54.010
Yolanda Gonzalez: policy, but I don't like the way that I am being run supposedly the way I should be living in anybody else. and that's very important to everybody. I hear we change. They need to change the culture of Venice. You're not going to change the culture of Venice. Venice is Venice.

617
01:41:54.620 --> 01:41:56.810
Yolanda Gonzalez: It's very unique in its own way.

618
01:41:57.320 --> 01:42:00.400
Yolanda Gonzalez: and people come here from all over the world.

619
01:42:00.660 --> 01:42:11.530
Yolanda Gonzalez: They don't want to see a business culture change. They come here for a special reason, and that's very important. And people need to understand that I'm not going to go to Venice, Italy to change the culture

620
01:42:11.630 --> 01:42:13.920
Yolanda Gonzalez: that it is going to come to us.

621
01:42:14.890 --> 01:42:16.740
Nick Antonicello: Okay, Jim.

622
01:42:17.170 --> 01:42:22.820
-: So I think a lot of the civility issues have had to do with Covid. But at the same time.

623
01:42:22.900 --> 01:42:35.760
-: I think that having online meetings has been extremely good from the standpoint of being able to get people that wouldn't normally take the time to to come out to a meeting in the evening to get engaged.

624
01:42:35.760 --> 01:42:56.950
-: So i'm hoping that that the brown act which which regulates how public meetings are held can actually be modified to allow us to have hybrid meetings. I think it's important for people to be able to see each other face to face. I think it's much more difficult for somebody to to yell at you in your face than it is to yell at you over a zoom.

625
01:42:57.050 --> 01:43:02.220
-: and and absolutely when when you know the the buzzer rings on the

626
01:43:02.230 --> 01:43:12.740
-: on, the the the in-person meetings. It's it's a considerably different thing to to understand that you know. Hey, your time's up and everybody else gets the equal amount of time.

627
01:43:12.860 --> 01:43:18.960
-: and I know that's an issue for a lot of people on on Zoom Meetings. They They don't like getting cut off. But but that's the way it is.

628
01:43:20.490 --> 01:43:24.450
Okay, this is a a more generic question.

629
01:43:24.900 --> 01:43:30.200
Nick Antonicello: What what does the term community? What does the term community mean to you.

630
01:43:30.570 --> 01:43:38.060
Nick Antonicello: And how, how, how does that definition move you as a community officer or a member of the V. And C.

631
01:43:40.360 --> 01:43:45.000
Nick Antonicello: That for me.

632
01:43:45.210 --> 01:44:02.440
-: so so community to me. I think I've I've I've demonstrated for over about 35 years now. I don't know if it's over or not. I'm done the math at the farmer's market. It's held on Friday morning from 7 am. To 11. It's not designed for tourism.

633
01:44:02.440 --> 01:44:14.190
-: It's not designed for people that live in other communities. Nobody wants to wake up and drive across town to come to a farmer's market at 70'clock in the morning. On a Friday it's designed for the community. It it it promotes

634
01:44:14.210 --> 01:44:22.750
-: kids being able to learn how to handle money and and have the interaction with the farmers at each stand it. It it's very

635
01:44:22.750 --> 01:44:43.480
-: friendly to to families, and I wish there was a way that I could do away with the no dog rule, but that's a Health Department State law that you know as a as the officer on duty I have to enforce, and people criticize me about that. But you know I I it's all part of the community, I mean. When I was planting trees I recruited over 4,000 people to help me do it.

636
01:44:43.490 --> 01:44:47.760
-: And and you know we we did a great job. And and to me that's community.

637
01:44:49.030 --> 01:44:50.450
Nick Antonicello: No Yolanda.

638
01:44:50.980 --> 01:45:08.390
Yolanda Gonzalez: Yes, community for me is collaborating with people in business collaborating with people in youth programs collaborating, and what Venice represents. Every community in the city of Los Angeles is different.

639
01:45:08.540 --> 01:45:27.640
Yolanda Gonzalez: and we need to come up with creative solutions in order to create policy to strengthen those communities. It's very important right now that we support our businesses. It sads me that people have to sleep in their businesses because they're afraid to be broken into.

640
01:45:27.790 --> 01:45:42.370
Yolanda Gonzalez: and people are asking, Well, how are we going to bring the community back again? How do we outreach? I'm going to tell you something for years. When we started we used to sit out on Abbott Kenny, and sign people up. We can't do that anymore, because things that change.

641
01:45:42.780 --> 01:45:56.010
Yolanda Gonzalez: and what we need to do is go back to block parties. Block parties brought the community out by different sections. We used to organize block parties, and that's what we need to bring back into Venice.

642
01:45:57.380 --> 01:45:59.010
Nick Antonicello: Thank you.

643
01:46:00.060 --> 01:46:12.310
Nick Antonicello: As as both of you already know, the Vnc. Is advisory, it recommends it doesn't set policy. But what can you do as a community officer to move

644
01:46:12.330 --> 01:46:16.020
Nick Antonicello: good policy forward. and i'll start with you.

645
01:46:17.800 --> 01:46:33.780
-: So good policy has to do with making good plans and good decisions, and that's one of the things that I think is very important. When I was running the parking and transportation, you know, when Robert was first starting out in, and I was already doing it for 5 years.

646
01:46:33.830 --> 01:46:50.710
-: It it it takes putting the the pieces together in ways that people can understand. And in clear, concise thoughts, You know, I was on Loope for 12 years, and during that time I developed a computer system

647
01:46:50.710 --> 01:47:06.140
-: that they helped organize all that information that put it together, and and it's it's too bad that we're not using it. Now I know that with the several of the loop pack chairs have said you. We wish we could. But there were powers at the time that said we needed to stop using it, but but

648
01:47:07.050 --> 01:47:17.110
-: I think that that, you know, if we can put together good plans, we should be able to put together good policies because the policy will come out of the making of a good plan.

649
01:47:18.210 --> 01:47:19.280
Nick Antonicello: Yolanda.

650
01:47:20.010 --> 01:47:21.590
Yolanda Gonzalez: Well, I've learned that

651
01:47:21.890 --> 01:47:38.150
Yolanda Gonzalez: through coral you need to bring out your representatives, that is, from the Assembly Representative, your Senator, your Congressional representative because we can make that recommendation to them to make policy. I remember when we first started

652
01:47:38.150 --> 01:47:57.800
Yolanda Gonzalez: the Supervisors used to come to us. They used to sit down with the community, and that's the way they listen to us of what our needs were and what we were going through. That's why we created neighborhood councils was to listen to us. But Don't, come and tell me that you're going to create a policy and tell me how to

653
01:47:57.800 --> 01:48:07.670
Yolanda Gonzalez: how that you're creating a policy for me on the other side when you're telling me how to live. No, senor, this we need to bring our representatives. That's what they get paid for.

654
01:48:10.160 --> 01:48:11.860
Nick Antonicello: Next question is.

655
01:48:11.920 --> 01:48:20.920
Nick Antonicello: tell me a past public policy success that you had. and how and how would it? How will it shape your tenure

656
01:48:21.110 --> 01:48:26.770
Nick Antonicello: Should you be successful in this election. and I'll, i'll start with the Yolanda.

657
01:48:26.920 --> 01:48:45.930
Yolanda Gonzalez: Well, I was involved in passing 2 bills for the State. That was the Cosmetology Bill, and then another bill that came up into business sections up in the side of Los Angeles, and with that it taught me how to delegate that policy making with the representatives.

658
01:48:45.930 --> 01:48:50.160
Yolanda Gonzalez: and I have to tell you that was the best experience that I had, and through that

659
01:48:50.160 --> 01:49:11.600
Yolanda Gonzalez: you meet people you meet the the communities, but you make sure I've been to Sacramento many times, and that's the only way that we will get policy done. Sometimes we have to pay it out of our own pocket. But if it's important, then that's why they hate me to come to us, and they tell us Well, if you want to come, let's go. I have friends that go to Sacramento every week.

660
01:49:11.600 --> 01:49:23.940
Yolanda Gonzalez: or when bills are being presented, and that's I think, what we need to go back to, and we should put in together a good of people that can afford to do that, and i'm willing to do that for this neighborhood council.

661
01:49:25.060 --> 01:49:25.860
Nick Antonicello: Jim.

662
01:49:26.450 --> 01:49:31.260
-: Well, when I was a community officer on the Vnc.

663
01:49:31.270 --> 01:49:50.330
-: I had proposed over 80 motions that were all approved by the Board. I think it was close to 92 or 3 of them were not approved, but the vast majority of them were so from that standpoint, working with the Vnc. I've been very successful, I think, more successful than anybody else

664
01:49:50.330 --> 01:49:51.740
running today

665
01:49:53.330 --> 01:50:07.930
-: as far as as other policy at a statewide level. I help form the Advisory Committee to the California Department of Food and Ag. I'm. Currently serving there on on the the the State Board that oversees 850 farmers markets throughout the State.

666
01:50:07.930 --> 01:50:24.040
-: I'm. In charge of the database committee. They're creating policy. We're setting up a statewide tracking system that's being based off of a Us. Da Grant that I was received after coming up with a program to to develop that that keeps track of farmers and

667
01:50:24.040 --> 01:50:30.950
-: and all of their inventory, what they're growing where they're growing it. And that was that led me into to

668
01:50:31.030 --> 01:50:42.320
-: being involved on the State level. But I've run a program for the State now for 25 years that has been used for licensing the farmers throughout the State. So I I've done some a few things in that nature.

669
01:50:42.670 --> 01:50:54.640
Nick Antonicello: Okay. I have a little bit of a lightning round now. I'll ask you some questions. It'll be a yes and no answer. Pick from the choices. So the first question is surf, swim, or sale

670
01:50:55.230 --> 01:50:56.670
Yolanda Gonzalez: sailing

671
01:50:58.110 --> 01:51:07.640
Nick Antonicello: that I I actually wrote that for you long time. It's swimming for me. You know my daughter's reputation. I talk around a swim.

672
01:51:07.660 --> 01:51:12.010
Candidate Forum: Well, I've been a swimming lightning.

673
01:51:12.060 --> 01:51:14.510
Nick Antonicello: all right. Favorite local restaurant.

674
01:51:15.700 --> 01:51:27.860
Yolanda Gonzalez: Oh, my God! Let me tell you, since all I love coming back to Los Angeles after a trip, because there's nothing like the restaurants here in Venice. You want a lightning round.

675
01:51:28.960 --> 01:51:32.720
Yolanda Gonzalez: Pick one right now. All oh.

676
01:51:34.920 --> 01:51:37.190
Nick Antonicello: okay, Jim, 10 more

677
01:51:37.330 --> 01:51:39.330
-: what they call it.

678
01:51:41.900 --> 01:51:49.420
Nick Antonicello: if we, if we had to find you. But when you want at home, where would you be in that. you, Amanda?

679
01:51:49.470 --> 01:51:53.900
Yolanda Gonzalez: It all depends who i'm with. But at Pacific mariners the drinks are cheap.

680
01:51:53.910 --> 01:51:58.350
Nick Antonicello: Okay, and Jim the farmers market every Friday.

681
01:51:58.510 --> 01:52:02.550
Nick Antonicello: Okay. sunrise or sunsets

682
01:52:03.920 --> 01:52:05.630
-: both. Both.

683
01:52:05.770 --> 01:52:18.840
Nick Antonicello: Oh, all right, all right. Well, with that we'll wrap it up. I want to say the 2 of you to take it. We got a last minute.

684
01:52:18.930 --> 01:52:22.960
Nick Antonicello: Jim, you can go first. Okay.

685
01:52:23.010 --> 01:52:29.680
-: so clearly vote for me. But other than that, I want to tell you about how I feel. The election should be

686
01:52:29.710 --> 01:52:40.260
-: considered by anybody voting. The President needs to be somebody who does Kumbaya meaning handholding and getting to know the people not prosecuting them.

687
01:52:40.460 --> 01:52:51.600
-: The Vice President needs to be someone who's organized someone who helps to develop the committees. That's their primary function other than being the chair of the Neighborhood Committee.

688
01:52:51.620 --> 01:53:01.290
-: But they need to help them to schedule to help them write good motions to help the committees work between the committees, somebody that can really

689
01:53:01.440 --> 01:53:12.010
-: bring together the Neighborhood Council. The treasurer needs to be somebody that follows the rules and really pushes to produce as much transparency as possible.

690
01:53:13.200 --> 01:53:20.350
-: The outreach person, the outreach person needs to interact with the community and promote all of the committees and what they're doing.

691
01:53:20.500 --> 01:53:28.240
-: And Lupac needs to be thinking about long range. Thank you. Vote for me. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, Nick and Michael for doing this

692
01:53:29.050 --> 01:53:30.100
Nick Antonicello: no longer.

693
01:53:30.710 --> 01:53:39.260
Yolanda Gonzalez: Well, i'm hoping to have the vote of confidence of people who know me who have known me, and who know that I've done a lot for this community.

694
01:53:39.280 --> 01:53:40.330
Yolanda Gonzalez: I have a

695
01:53:41.040 --> 01:53:47.070
Yolanda Gonzalez: I have a repertoire of so many things I've done. Help people help people being housed.

696
01:53:47.180 --> 01:53:57.360
Yolanda Gonzalez: I close 15 bars in the city of Los Angeles in East Los Angeles, and I did. We did it for a reason, and that's one of the policies that I created, together with

697
01:53:57.420 --> 01:54:12.740
Yolanda Gonzalez: the my representatives in Sacramento. That's a big thing I forgot about that. But most of all that I want the vote of confidence, of people who can count on me because I don't need to go out and look for people. People come to me because we help them. Did he taught me that.

698
01:54:12.990 --> 01:54:23.030
Yolanda Gonzalez: and one thing that I that Trisha, but those in taught me when she brought me into the movement of the grassroots. Venice, is that it? We can't sit here like

699
01:54:23.550 --> 01:54:41.580
Yolanda Gonzalez: That's like a. We have to go to city council if we want action, and I want to start creating a committee that when we have issues it's not going to be taking place here. We need to show up at City council for those decisions, like everybody else does.

700
01:54:41.650 --> 01:54:53.080
Nick Antonicello: Thank you, Wanda. And she made a reference to I don't know if any of the stakeholders out there. If you got this in the mail. That is a picture of Dd. A. God rest of. So she is a great person.

701
01:54:53.140 --> 01:55:09.070
Candidate Forum: Thank you so much, Jim and youwanda and good luck on Sunday you'll need to remove yourself from the meeting and and come back in, and if for some reason you end up as a participant. Just leave yourself muted, and i'll just make you a little dash, and nobody will see you.

702
01:55:09.710 --> 01:55:13.260
Candidate Forum: But go ahead and remove yourself, and hopefully you'll come back in as an attendee.

703
01:55:14.860 --> 01:55:19.140
Candidate Forum: Okay, moving to the next group will be bringing up the Vice Presidents.

704
01:55:19.350 --> 01:55:23.550
Candidate Forum: so I know both of them are here. Jim, Rob and

705
01:55:23.950 --> 01:55:32.110
Candidate Forum: Vicki. Where'd you go, you know. Actually, Vicki and Jim, if you guys can both raise your hands so that you're up at the top, I can then pull you in. There we go, perfect.

706
01:55:32.450 --> 01:55:37.830
Candidate Forum: And Yolanda and Jim, you. We'll just here. I'm just gonna do this just to

707
01:55:39.950 --> 01:55:41.540
Candidate Forum: take care of this.

708
01:55:41.660 --> 01:55:44.080
Candidate Forum: Okay, there we go now. I can pull you in.

709
01:55:51.370 --> 01:55:56.270
Candidate Forum: Okay, we have Jim, and we should have Vicki in a second.

710
01:55:56.900 --> 01:56:00.500
Candidate Forum: There we go. Okay, Vicki. Now you can turn on your camera and unmute yourself.

711
01:56:04.390 --> 01:56:05.700
Candidate Forum: Where'd you go?

712
01:56:07.000 --> 01:56:09.220
Nick Antonicello: Where is she? Oh, there you are! She's here.

713
01:56:09.710 --> 01:56:13.220
Vicki Halliday: There's so many dashes. I can't see? Yeah, I know.

714
01:56:13.290 --> 01:56:17.120
Candidate Forum: Unfortunately, it's a technical glitch that we're kind of stuck with. So

715
01:56:17.660 --> 01:56:19.640
Candidate Forum: we just got to deal with it.

716
01:56:19.850 --> 01:56:20.930
-: Hi, there.

717
01:56:20.950 --> 01:56:21.990
Vicki Halliday: Hi, Jim!

718
01:56:22.990 --> 01:56:29.820
Nick Antonicello: Well, once again we have 2 long time Venetians heavily involved in the V and C.

719
01:56:30.030 --> 01:56:38.320
Nick Antonicello: In Jim Rob, who is a community officer. and Vicki, who's currently the the Communications officer.

720
01:56:40.270 --> 01:56:41.960
Nick Antonicello: So at this time

721
01:56:42.270 --> 01:56:45.550
Nick Antonicello: this is not a debate. It's just a question and answer, so

722
01:56:45.560 --> 01:56:55.180
Nick Antonicello: i'll give you a minute to introduce yourselves. I'll ask a couple of questions. We'll have that lightning round for better or for worse. and then they'll have a closing state.

723
01:56:55.560 --> 01:57:08.700
Vicki Halliday: so i'll. Ladies first will let Vicki go first and make her statement have been involved with the homeless Committee

724
01:57:08.870 --> 01:57:11.580
Vicki Halliday: quite heavily as well as outreach.

725
01:57:11.800 --> 01:57:22.150
Vicki Halliday: I originally got involved in all of this because of the homeless problem right around me and bridge housing. But what's been great about the B and C is

726
01:57:22.240 --> 01:57:28.700
Vicki Halliday: expanding all of that, and learning about the other neighborhoods and having friends on the Dnc. From other neighborhoods.

727
01:57:28.850 --> 01:57:31.270
and I would like to keep serving.

728
01:57:31.400 --> 01:57:32.210
Vicki Halliday: Thank you

729
01:57:33.040 --> 01:57:33.830
Nick Antonicello: here.

730
01:57:35.000 --> 01:57:38.610
-: my Jim Rob. I moved to Venice in 1,986.

731
01:57:38.870 --> 01:57:45.750
-: I'm a liquor salesman by trade, so i've been to all the bars in Dennis, and everywhere else

732
01:57:47.040 --> 01:57:55.710
-: I got into the Vnc. Because I was worried that Snapchat was going to rent the L. A. Louver, which is right behind me

733
01:57:55.860 --> 01:58:05.740
-: and take that over. So I started going to meetings at the Vnc. And got convinced into joining by a couple of community officers.

734
01:58:06.150 --> 01:58:13.960
-: and then ran for ran for community officer. I got more. The only one that got more of us than we did was Mark

735
01:58:16.180 --> 01:58:24.720
-: helped to help start the recall boning when he changed the Vista El Mar streets, and to help start the recall bone in the campaign, at least to

736
01:58:25.110 --> 01:58:27.370
-: so somewhat, and

737
01:58:27.870 --> 01:58:33.960
-: love fighting for the neighborhood. Been to Oakwood trying to get the Baptist church, the situation and

738
01:58:34.770 --> 01:58:38.790
-: Love working with everybody and all the different areas of Venice. Thank you.

739
01:58:40.520 --> 01:58:51.280
Nick Antonicello: In in 1,932. When Roosevelt ran for President. For the first time he picked the Speaker of the House. It was a guy named John, and it is Vice Presidential candidate.

740
01:58:51.850 --> 01:58:56.400
Nick Antonicello: and they asked Garner after he sort of determined. What do you think about being vice President?

741
01:58:56.750 --> 01:59:00.560
Nick Antonicello: And he said it isn't worth a one bucket of spit.

742
01:59:00.800 --> 01:59:14.580
Nick Antonicello: so It's it's kind of a funky position in that, You know you. You're You're working closely with the President, so I guess my question is. why Vice President. And who are you supporting for President? And what?

743
01:59:15.170 --> 01:59:17.940
Nick Antonicello: So i'll start with the

744
01:59:19.570 --> 01:59:30.730
-: well? I think the Vice president's a very important role. They They they're in charge of Reach outreach to all the the different areas of Venice, oak, Wood, Oxford, trying all the marina

745
01:59:30.810 --> 01:59:39.620
-: and all that. And I I don't think there's been enough outreach for those people. I don't know if there was enough diversity on our fast

746
01:59:39.890 --> 01:59:48.650
-: Neighborhood Council, and you know I i'm all about trying to hear everybody's different viewpoints, whether it's the Marina or oakwood.

747
01:59:48.930 --> 01:59:53.080
-: and, you know. trying to coordinate the neighborhoods and

748
01:59:54.080 --> 02:00:01.090
-: past whatever they they're worried about and and talk to them about what their their their concerns are.

749
02:00:01.240 --> 02:00:03.680
-: and relay that to the President and

750
02:00:03.910 --> 02:00:08.720
-: I've worked with Brian on a few things. We helped start and get the homeless.

751
02:00:08.780 --> 02:00:11.780
-: homeless off the border. He opened his own

752
02:00:11.960 --> 02:00:20.130
-: committee to do that, but. you know, working on the board walk and and and helping send motions to Tracy Park.

753
02:00:21.990 --> 02:00:22.800
Nick Antonicello: Wendy

754
02:00:24.270 --> 02:00:25.810
Vicki Halliday: repeat the question, Nick.

755
02:00:26.170 --> 02:00:33.170
Nick Antonicello: the editorial, before I was just a a bad job that didn't go over so well.

756
02:00:33.630 --> 02:00:37.050
Nick Antonicello: Why are you ready for Vice President. And what

757
02:00:37.080 --> 02:00:39.780
Vicki Halliday: and who are you supporting for present?

758
02:00:40.020 --> 02:00:48.610
Vicki Halliday: I'm running for Vice President, because I used to watch what George did, and I admired him for his abilities to

759
02:00:48.750 --> 02:00:51.770
Vicki Halliday: keep all the committees going

760
02:00:51.900 --> 02:00:54.670
Vicki Halliday: do a good job with them

761
02:00:54.820 --> 02:01:13.930
Vicki Halliday: getting the and I would really like to help the committees right motions better. I think that a lot can be accomplished at committee level, but then makes it so much easier when it comes to board level and pass motions, or vote them down, or whatever but it it just more understandable

762
02:01:15.160 --> 02:01:26.760
Vicki Halliday: as a long time producer. I'm. Pretty organized. so I can handle that. and I am running with Daffodil because we think we're a good team.

763
02:01:27.730 --> 02:01:28.580
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

764
02:01:30.760 --> 02:01:42.550
Nick Antonicello: A lot of people are concerned about the tenor of the board that there's been a lot of negativity. so I I guess the question is to the both of you is. Do you work well with others.

765
02:01:42.730 --> 02:01:52.670
Nick Antonicello: and can you build coalitions with others that you don't disagree with to create positive change on the D. And C. And i'll start with

766
02:01:54.040 --> 02:02:05.300
-: Yeah, it's been a little contentious, but I you know I get along with almost everybody, our counsel and Vicki included. We've we sit at Beers together. We communicate a lot, so

767
02:02:05.440 --> 02:02:14.660
-: I think you know. I think. changing it up a little bit, and and working with the with the different people on the board. But I've worked with the

768
02:02:14.880 --> 02:02:22.310
-: with, with Robert down the park parking and transportation. I've worked with the different committees

769
02:02:22.390 --> 02:02:24.460
-: helping out, and

770
02:02:25.600 --> 02:02:33.180
-: you know, I guess I I think it. I can get along with almost anybody, as as you know, I'm a pretty easy going, Nice guy, and

771
02:02:33.310 --> 02:02:34.880
-: get along with everybody.

772
02:02:35.920 --> 02:02:36.740
Nick Antonicello: Yeah.

773
02:02:39.330 --> 02:02:50.180
Vicki Halliday: it the you know it's been a rough couple of years with. you know, telephones and Zoom Meetings. I think in person. I think it's easy to get along with people.

774
02:02:50.270 --> 02:02:55.350
Vicki Halliday: It's it's so much better like Jim and I have sat down and had beers, and when that's possible.

775
02:02:55.600 --> 02:02:57.640
Vicki Halliday: you know everything comes together.

776
02:03:02.310 --> 02:03:09.080
Vicki Halliday: This has been a difficult board, and I would. It's one reason I would like to stay. I would like to see it move into the future

777
02:03:09.270 --> 02:03:13.080
Vicki Halliday: and be a better place and a more amiable place

778
02:03:13.260 --> 02:03:16.940
Vicki Halliday: to have our opinions and settle our differences.

779
02:03:17.340 --> 02:03:19.110
Vicki Halliday: and I think it's possible.

780
02:03:21.550 --> 02:03:33.300
Nick Antonicello: Tell me a past public service success that you were engaged in. and how does that success. How can you transform that success to your

781
02:03:33.350 --> 02:03:38.900
Nick Antonicello: future service on the board? Should you be successful on Sunday. and

782
02:03:39.790 --> 02:03:48.450
Vicki Halliday: you want to go first. Before I moved to California. I was heavily involved in national politics, so I did

783
02:03:48.620 --> 02:04:00.730
Vicki Halliday: some things on that level, and one of the things i'm trying to stop is working on some of the early and gun control in New York with John Winner, who was in owner of the Rolling Stone.

784
02:04:02.020 --> 02:04:12.940
Vicki Halliday: and that was that was a very satisfying thing to work on. There are things here that I think can be equally satisfying. I think that

785
02:04:13.320 --> 02:04:19.880
Vicki Halliday: some of the issues we face with homelessness, and some of the things that have happened since Park has come into office

786
02:04:20.000 --> 02:04:22.200
Vicki Halliday: are very satisfying, and I know that

787
02:04:22.390 --> 02:04:30.970
Vicki Halliday: a lot of us up here worked hard on that, because bridge housing, and I think it all translates. I think it's just experience that translates

788
02:04:32.110 --> 02:04:32.920
Nick Antonicello: Jim.

789
02:04:34.570 --> 02:04:44.860
-: Well, the as the chair of the ocean for a walk I I done is a lot of different. Ran a lot of motions through the the Vnc.

790
02:04:45.110 --> 02:04:51.880
-: I think the the biggest success was trying to reduce the amount of electric scooters in Venice from

791
02:04:52.070 --> 02:04:58.980
-: 10,000, and everybody in the world bringing their scooters down to a a manageable amount of scooters

792
02:04:59.110 --> 02:05:05.140
-: also work to get the ballers placed on the board walk

793
02:05:05.200 --> 02:05:09.070
-: to keep people from driving down, although they have it

794
02:05:09.180 --> 02:05:19.740
-: activated them yet. So you know I. I have great relationships with the with the the city, this the the parks and recreation.

795
02:05:19.850 --> 02:05:21.280
-: and

796
02:05:21.420 --> 02:05:27.500
-: ran through many different, many different motions through the through the ocean front walk

797
02:05:27.960 --> 02:05:42.520
-: works with the planning. You know that with the equity and alliance, when the homeless, to try to, you know, hear all sides of all sides of the issue. and you know, I think that's what being the Vice President is listening to

798
02:05:42.550 --> 02:05:46.790
-: all sides of the issue and and helping where you can with the stakeholders.

799
02:05:46.940 --> 02:05:47.830
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

800
02:05:48.070 --> 02:05:55.790
Nick Antonicello: One of the primary responsibilities of the Vice President to chair the Neighborhood Committee.

801
02:05:56.250 --> 02:06:08.850
Nick Antonicello: I'm. Interested in what what the what is the definition of neighborhood. And if you were to win the election, what would be your vision for that particular committee? And I'll I'll start with.

802
02:06:10.090 --> 02:06:17.770
Vicki Halliday: you know. I think it's interesting because it goes back to some of the earlier discussion about districts which would make the Neighborhood Committee

803
02:06:18.070 --> 02:06:20.990
Vicki Halliday: a little bit more defined. I believe

804
02:06:23.690 --> 02:06:38.530
Vicki Halliday: the areas are set up for you. I think otherwise. The the way it's been divided up, and the people who've served on it some for a long time has been good. I think the Neighborhood Committee needs to work closely

805
02:06:38.640 --> 02:06:45.730
Vicki Halliday: with a number of the committees, because I think there are things that are overlapping, and it would really be great to set up

806
02:06:46.080 --> 02:06:53.710
Vicki Halliday: more of a sense of community between committees when it comes to some of this stuff. and I think that's how I would approach it.

807
02:06:54.780 --> 02:06:55.650
Nick Antonicello: We cut

808
02:06:56.930 --> 02:06:58.290
Nick Antonicello: last question.

809
02:06:59.410 --> 02:07:10.410
Nick Antonicello: What is the one thing that you want? Stakeholders in Venice to know about? What is that

810
02:07:10.520 --> 02:07:16.300
-: she didn't she the other one before? So I think you hip, did you, did you, Vicki?

811
02:07:16.380 --> 02:07:21.790
Nick Antonicello: Yeah, you you haven't answered the question I put out just now, which is

812
02:07:21.860 --> 02:07:27.560
Nick Antonicello: how, what's your vision of the Neighborhood Committee? And how would you? How would you manage that?

813
02:07:27.750 --> 02:07:29.280
Nick Antonicello: How would you get you handle that?

814
02:07:29.390 --> 02:07:38.890
-: I think like Steve said. From the Marina they they they don't get enough outreach in a in a lot of these areas, and you know I I think the current.

815
02:07:39.300 --> 02:07:44.900
-: Well, it's not the the Vice President, but I think just the the current Dnc Board

816
02:07:44.920 --> 02:07:49.610
-: doesn't have enough represented representatives from each of those districts. So

817
02:07:49.890 --> 02:07:59.520
-: what i'd like to do is hopefully get somebody some of these community outreaches from each area. Now, somebody from the Marina, somebody from Oakwood.

818
02:07:59.590 --> 02:08:07.660
-: so that we have. You know we have their voices heard it, or I will speak as their voice in and their concerns. But

819
02:08:07.830 --> 02:08:12.550
-: you know there's a lot of stuff going on in on Lincoln Boulevard, you know, as you know.

820
02:08:12.650 --> 02:08:19.340
-: that concerns the East Dennis neighborhood and height restrictions because of the Venice community plan.

821
02:08:19.470 --> 02:08:27.900
-: You know there's a there's a lot of issues facing different different different areas of of Venice, and I think everybody needs to be aware of all those.

822
02:08:28.100 --> 02:08:31.050
-: and know what the Venice Community plan is.

823
02:08:32.740 --> 02:08:36.050
Nick Antonicello: Well, here's the last question.

824
02:08:36.180 --> 02:08:48.140
Nick Antonicello: What what is the one thing that you want? Stakeholders, or the residents of Venice to know about you as they think about it. They're going to vote for on Sunday. and i'll I'll go with it

825
02:08:49.750 --> 02:09:04.250
Vicki Halliday: regardless of my personal beliefs about things I try and be fair. and I will listen. and you know, if we don't agree, maybe you can convince me, but I will always listen, and I will always try and be fair.

826
02:09:05.670 --> 02:09:06.380
Nick Antonicello: Yeah.

827
02:09:07.820 --> 02:09:19.250
-: Well, i'm a liquor salesman by trade. I'm a awesome guy that fights for the neighborhood. I have no ulterior motives of being on the Neighborhood Council.

828
02:09:19.330 --> 02:09:21.310
-: you know I just

829
02:09:21.810 --> 02:09:28.920
-: my saying is put up or shut up. So instead of me complaining about stuff that's going on out there, you know I try to get it done.

830
02:09:28.980 --> 02:09:31.810
-: I have great relationships with. you know

831
02:09:31.840 --> 02:09:39.900
-: all the different, all the different people in the in the neighborhood. I I know Tracy Park on a a personal level

832
02:09:40.000 --> 02:09:42.310
-: Congratulations to her.

833
02:09:42.330 --> 02:09:43.750
-: you know, and

834
02:09:43.940 --> 02:09:54.880
-: I've just tried. I'm a i'm a rent. You not a developer. So I I i'm out to fight for the little guy, and hopefully that is, let it let it be her or girl.

835
02:09:55.340 --> 02:10:03.380
Nick Antonicello: I'm just gonna ask you this. This is our lightning round of sort, so i'll ask you a series of questions there, either yes or no. Pick a choice in the question.

836
02:10:03.540 --> 02:10:08.460
Nick Antonicello: So the first one is board, walk by path or peer.

837
02:10:09.990 --> 02:10:10.980
Vicki Halliday: Lord, what

838
02:10:11.220 --> 02:10:12.130
Nick Antonicello: board block?

839
02:10:12.170 --> 02:10:13.400
-: Good.

840
02:10:14.000 --> 02:10:22.590
-: Well, i'm the chair of the board walk, but I like riding my bikes all the way down to the end of the bike path. So i'm going to have to say bike path.

841
02:10:22.830 --> 02:10:23.790
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

842
02:10:23.870 --> 02:10:29.300
Nick Antonicello: this one should be an easy one for you, Jim Favorite Favorite bar, and

843
02:10:30.000 --> 02:10:35.050
-: my favorite bar is gone, man. Mine was Canal Club, because it was right behind my

844
02:10:35.140 --> 02:10:44.040
-: right behind my house, and the happy hour was cheap, and I could be everybody I

845
02:10:44.080 --> 02:10:44.910
Nick Antonicello: Vitti

846
02:10:44.930 --> 02:10:46.450
Vicki Halliday: rose.

847
02:10:46.580 --> 02:10:47.370
Nick Antonicello: rose.

848
02:10:49.620 --> 02:10:52.840
Nick Antonicello: Talk or listen. Jim.

849
02:10:55.300 --> 02:10:57.040
Nick Antonicello: Okay, listen.

850
02:10:57.440 --> 02:11:00.810
Nick Antonicello: Listen. Sunrise or sunset

851
02:11:02.800 --> 02:11:04.450
Nick Antonicello: sunrise, Jim.

852
02:11:04.790 --> 02:11:06.390
-: I love the sunsets

853
02:11:06.950 --> 02:11:10.790
Nick Antonicello: rouse, or a whole food. Vicki.

854
02:11:10.880 --> 02:11:12.500
Vicki Halliday: whole food. It's closer.

855
02:11:13.830 --> 02:11:14.640
Nick Antonicello: Jim.

856
02:11:15.540 --> 02:11:18.460
-: I I I like the Ralph. It's a little edgy.

857
02:11:19.390 --> 02:11:20.420
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

858
02:11:20.870 --> 02:11:33.170
Nick Antonicello: and that pretty much wraps it up. We have 2 excellent candidates. People been involved in the committee for a long time. Oh, well, I know we're gonna get that. I just wanted to thank you for coming, and.

859
02:11:33.310 --> 02:11:37.900
Nick Antonicello: Jim, you could wrap it up with your closing state, and then we'll have it

860
02:11:38.730 --> 02:11:47.500
-: So I I've been invented since 1,986. I've I've watched the highs and lows, and you know I like, I said I put my money where my mouth is.

861
02:11:47.720 --> 02:11:56.070
-: as we continue to evolve as a neighborhood. I think it's very important to preserve the history and culture and character of Venice.

862
02:11:57.400 --> 02:11:59.660
-: I'm trying to fight to keep you, though

863
02:11:59.780 --> 02:12:05.100
-: the uniqueness of Venice. the way it is, and I think everybody should be aware of

864
02:12:05.320 --> 02:12:11.980
-: the what's going on as the big picture like I said. Lincoln throws all those there's.

865
02:12:12.240 --> 02:12:17.750
-: There's a lot of changes coming up, but I think I could be a voice to to help us navigate through that.

866
02:12:18.560 --> 02:12:19.920
Nick Antonicello: Thank you very.

867
02:12:20.230 --> 02:12:25.410
Vicki Halliday: As I said earlier, we come through very dark period. I think we're coming out of it

868
02:12:25.670 --> 02:12:29.120
Vicki Halliday: both politically and pandemically.

869
02:12:29.140 --> 02:12:36.380
Vicki Halliday: and all those things, and Venice has such a bright future now, and I would really like to be a part

870
02:12:36.440 --> 02:12:38.860
Vicki Halliday: of all of that. I would like to

871
02:12:39.190 --> 02:12:39.950
Vicki Halliday: how

872
02:12:40.360 --> 02:12:45.880
Vicki Halliday: tenants and people come back, and people who are thinking about developing

873
02:12:46.050 --> 02:12:48.440
Vicki Halliday: the type housing we need here.

874
02:12:48.510 --> 02:12:53.050
Vicki Halliday: I want to be a part of that, and I would appreciate your but thank you.

875
02:12:54.310 --> 02:12:58.340
Nick Antonicello: Thank you so much, guys, and i'll see you at the polls on Sunday.

876
02:12:58.550 --> 02:13:01.730
Vicki Halliday: Thanks, Mike. You're awesome.

877
02:13:01.900 --> 02:13:13.550
Vicki Halliday: Thanks, Jim and Vicki, when you remove yourself. If you and come back into the meeting. If you find yourself in as a panelist, just leave your screen blank, and i'll make you a dash.

878
02:13:14.020 --> 02:13:15.410
-: Bye, guys, Thank you.

879
02:13:18.460 --> 02:13:27.090
Candidate Forum: Okay. let's go next to our last panel of the night. which will be the treasurer.

880
02:13:28.220 --> 02:13:38.050
Candidate Forum: So let me bring in the candidates for treasure, if you could please raise your hands so that you're up at the top. Thank you. and I'll bring you in one at a time.

881
02:13:55.110 --> 02:13:56.070
Candidate Forum: and

882
02:13:56.120 --> 02:13:57.410
and

883
02:13:57.550 --> 02:14:03.380
Candidate Forum: looks like I think we got should have Eric J. And Helen. Yes, we do so you can

884
02:14:03.710 --> 02:14:11.580
Candidate Forum: put your pictures up and unmute yourself, and note that there's background noise. I'll mute you. Otherwise you can leave yourself unmuted.

885
02:14:12.680 --> 02:14:16.190
Candidate Forum: And with that take it away, Nick.

886
02:14:16.320 --> 02:14:17.310
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

887
02:14:18.750 --> 02:14:30.500
Nick Antonicello: this is what we're making good time tonight. So these are our final 3 candidates that are running for the position of treasurer. From left to right we have Helen Fallon, J. Handle.

888
02:14:30.600 --> 02:14:42.960
Nick Antonicello: Who is our treasurer and Herrick partner? A. So the way this will work is I'll have these all make the 1 min opening statement. I'll ask a series of questions

889
02:14:43.050 --> 02:14:48.130
Nick Antonicello: pertinent to your position will have this lightning round of sorts. You probably

890
02:14:48.340 --> 02:14:49.880
Nick Antonicello: you've heard that.

891
02:14:49.990 --> 02:14:53.320
Nick Antonicello: and then we'll have a closing statements by the candidate.

892
02:14:53.640 --> 02:14:56.610
Nick Antonicello: and that will be one in each. So with that, said

893
02:14:58.000 --> 02:15:01.180
Nick Antonicello: I'll have Helen ladies first. Make your opening state

894
02:15:03.210 --> 02:15:24.410
Helen Fallon: mute. Hi! Everyone, and i'd like to thank the people who've hung in so long for the last group For over 35 years. I've worked in to be worked independently as a bookkeeper, and Controller. My plant clients included nonprofits and businesses. I currently serve on the Budget and Finance Committee. I'm. Very familiar with the treasurer's responsibility and duties.

895
02:15:24.410 --> 02:15:33.290
I'm detail oriented. I Won't, Miss Deadlines, and I will provide you and the Board with easily understood, timely and accurate financial statements. Every month.

896
02:15:33.380 --> 02:15:41.080
Helen Fallon: I've lived in Venice for over 45 years. Both my children attended local schools with one graduating from Westchester and the other from Venice.

897
02:15:41.080 --> 02:15:56.000
Helen Fallon: While my children were in school, I focused on my volunteer efforts on la Usd. I reviewed school budgets and financial statements. I uncovered waste and fraud, and I even got la usd to adequately equip quip every school with earthquake supplies and staff training

898
02:15:56.000 --> 02:16:06.890
Helen Fallon: for the past 5 years. I, the regularly attended Vnc. Boarding committee meetings. I'm proactive. I'm not reactive and when I saw the need I helped get the Vmc. Public Health and Safety Committee up and running

899
02:16:06.890 --> 02:16:22.800
Helen Fallon: when the Dnc. Ignore community concerns, I successfully brought stakeholder petitions and motions before the Board, so the community was heard down at City Hall. It's time for change. I'm not part of a special interest slate, and my interest is ensuring that the community is well informed, and the Board listens to you. Thank you.

900
02:16:23.870 --> 02:16:24.710
Nick Antonicello: Jay.

901
02:16:26.110 --> 02:16:34.629
jay handal: Thank you. Thank you for having this forum. So my name. My name is Jay. Handle. I'm. The current treasurer of the Venice, Nc. As well as treasurer for West La

902
02:16:34.770 --> 02:16:45.080
jay handal: and I am an owner of her, but on Lincoln and 4 other locations, doing approximately 80 million dollars a year, that I am the one who takes care of finances.

903
02:16:45.190 --> 02:16:56.350
jay handal: I was appointed to the Vmc. Board in April of 22 to fill a vacancy at a time when the fiscal year was ending in the Nc. Had $28,000 left to spend and no treasurer to do it.

904
02:16:56.690 --> 02:17:03.160
jay handal: In addition, the Nc. Was behind. On filing payment receipts with the city clear, endangering their funding ability.

905
02:17:03.340 --> 02:17:20.860
jay handal: I came in, cleaned up outstanding issues, process all documents formed a new annual budget. In addition, I created a document for all stakeholders to see how the Mc. Spends its funds, and what budget is available all in real time, and accessible on the Bnc website

906
02:17:20.889 --> 02:17:25.770
jay handal: to date all accounts, and we rain. We remain in full compliance.

907
02:17:25.780 --> 02:17:32.480
jay handal: A vote for me is a vote for honesty, transparency, stability, and civility. Thank you.

908
02:17:33.340 --> 02:17:34.180
Nick Antonicello: Eric.

909
02:17:39.030 --> 02:17:58.330
Eric Hartnack: How about that? Hi? My name is Eric Hartnack. I'm. A 21 year. Venice Resident owned a store on Abbot Kenny for a decade started first Fridays and I'm raising 2 sixth generation. Los Angeles Currently going to school here in the Venice neighborhood.

910
02:17:58.330 --> 02:18:15.000
Eric Hartnack: I'm running for the office of treasure because I thought it would be an opportunity to provide my skill set, which is being deeply organized, having a a good understanding, and in strong ability to deal with accounting and finance issues. And most importantly.

911
02:18:15.090 --> 02:18:34.490
Eric Hartnack: I, what I look, would like to accomplish. Here is treasure is to really provide the organization, budgetary, expertise, and transparency, so that the other members of the business Neighborhood Council Can can it? We can push forward the objectives of that of the board, and do it in a way that funding

912
02:18:37.730 --> 02:18:44.379
Nick Antonicello: this this position is unlike all the others because it's it's pretty targeted. And what your responsibilities are.

913
02:18:45.459 --> 02:18:51.480
Nick Antonicello: What as treasurer. How do you feel your role should be within the Budget Committee?

914
02:18:51.709 --> 02:19:00.490
Nick Antonicello: And how Would you like to direct the Budget Committee and to, you know, move payments forward. Just a general assessment of how you would approach

915
02:19:00.670 --> 02:19:05.270
Nick Antonicello: the process of being treasurer and i'll start with.

916
02:19:05.879 --> 02:19:09.969
Eric Hartnack: you know this would be my first time on on the the board.

917
02:19:09.969 --> 02:19:35.879
Eric Hartnack: I I think that the the number one thing I would want to do is have a clear outline of what the budgetary process is. Have agreement and buy in from all the other Board Members make sure that it's clearly understood as to how we're going to approach it, so they will organize and on time, and then the focus then becomes supporting the initiatives of the board itself. So I I think clearly it needs to be an opportunity to be organized and and really a support agenda.

918
02:19:36.650 --> 02:19:37.450
Nick Antonicello: Jerry.

919
02:19:38.290 --> 02:19:39.520
jay handal: Yeah. So

920
02:19:40.129 --> 02:19:50.300
jay handal: the process is laid out for us by the city. You know the rules and regulations are dictated to us, and a lot of us don't particularly campus on some of them, but we don't have a choice

921
02:19:50.540 --> 02:19:59.110
jay handal: as treasurer. My job is to be the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, Budget and Finance Committee is supposed to review requests for money.

922
02:19:59.170 --> 02:20:16.010
jay handal: and if they fit all of the criteria the city has given us, it's not our job to look at the merits. It's our job to just make sure they fit the funding policies, and then send them one to Adc. And the board to be approved. So

923
02:20:16.010 --> 02:20:31.230
jay handal: there has been disagreement in the past, and just yesterday one of the items that we were pushed to push through was rejected by the city clerk, as I had said would happen. But you know, at a courtesy to the stakeholder we

924
02:20:31.290 --> 02:20:45.680
jay handal: so my job as treasurer is to be over the the Budget Committee itself, and to make sure we follow the rules of the city so that the people get the funding they need to do the outreach they need in our area.

925
02:20:46.520 --> 02:20:47.330
Nick Antonicello: Helen.

926
02:20:48.170 --> 02:21:04.220
Helen Fallon: Yeah, I believe there needs to be regular meetings with the Budget and Finance Committee. This is how you get people educated and involved and board members are involved, and it's the point of regular meetings is making sure stakeholders on know what's happening.

927
02:21:04.250 --> 02:21:18.520
Helen Fallon: Yes, there are definitely procedures that must be followed. The city clearly outlines them. I disagree that they haven't been followed in the past. Currently we have boards our board votes on invoices without having seen them.

928
02:21:18.600 --> 02:21:26.700
Helen Fallon: That's not according to the funding procedures, and that needs to stop, and our board needs to be educated on what they're looking at.

929
02:21:26.700 --> 02:21:51.300
Helen Fallon: so that they understand because they have a fiduciary responsibility along with the treasure. It's not uniquely the treasures. Everyone on the board is obligated to make sure that the money spent properly and my goal as a treasurer would be to make sure that the money that we're spending that we're careful. We pay attention. We don't waste money so that that money can be put back to put improvements into our neighborhoods and all our neighborhoods.

930
02:21:51.300 --> 02:21:56.340
Helen Fallon: I think it has to be conserved. It has to be used wisely, and that's why i'm running. Thank you.

931
02:21:58.340 --> 02:22:05.620
Nick Antonicello: As an outsider looking in. I get the feeling sometimes that the chairs of the committees and the

932
02:22:08.110 --> 02:22:16.250
Nick Antonicello: either it's ignorant, or they just not paying attention. They don't seem to get a good grasp of the whole budget process, and

933
02:22:16.270 --> 02:22:20.120
Nick Antonicello: and putting things through in a in a proper manner, and things kind of

934
02:22:20.180 --> 02:22:23.530
Nick Antonicello: these become arguments at the board level

935
02:22:23.730 --> 02:22:25.290
Nick Antonicello: as the treasurer.

936
02:22:25.310 --> 02:22:32.000
Nick Antonicello: Would you? Would you be in favor of having, like a workshop, or some kind of

937
02:22:32.240 --> 02:22:42.350
Nick Antonicello: meeting of the minds with these other members, because between the time that whoever wins on Sunday there's a long leeway between the time you take office.

938
02:22:42.490 --> 02:22:48.240
Nick Antonicello: so would you be open to some kind of a workshop. So when you guys do get one in

939
02:22:48.320 --> 02:22:56.290
Nick Antonicello: that, the new committee members that have a pretty good knowledge of how things work from a financial perspective. and i'll start whatever.

940
02:22:57.440 --> 02:23:21.720
Eric Hartnack: I definitely think that that we would need the opportunity, especially if there is a a number of new Board members coming in in new committee chairs to make sure that we've had an opportunity to workshop with them, so they understand the budgetary process, and how the city of Los Angeles expects us to move forward. You know I I I feel that you know from my end I would want to make sure that I met with Jay and other treasures.

941
02:23:21.720 --> 02:23:28.050
Eric Hartnack: so that I understand what the best practices have been in the past, and how we can move forward most effectively.

942
02:23:28.920 --> 02:23:29.720
Nick Antonicello: Jerry.

943
02:23:30.480 --> 02:23:45.160
jay handal: Yeah. Well, thank you. That's a great question, because when I took the office when I was appointed in April, I actually contacted every single committee member laid out a procedure for all of them, and met with those that wanted to meet

944
02:23:45.170 --> 02:23:56.070
jay handal: by zoom so that the committee chairs would know exactly what the procedure was, what I was supposed to get, how I needed to process it, what the city required.

945
02:23:56.250 --> 02:24:01.740
jay handal: and in a lot of cases, you know I can. I kind of feel like it fell on deaf ears.

946
02:24:01.770 --> 02:24:11.740
jay handal: which is why this job that should take me an hour. A week takes 2 h a day to chase people, to get some of the documents that are necessary.

947
02:24:11.800 --> 02:24:15.760
jay handal: but the reality is yes, I did that, and

948
02:24:15.890 --> 02:24:18.640
jay handal: you know as if I am elected again.

949
02:24:18.670 --> 02:24:35.840
jay handal: I would do it again, because that was the first thing I did when I became treasurer with try and put procedures together and meet with the committee shares to let them know what their responsibility was in the budget process in order for me to help them help their stakeholders.

950
02:24:36.750 --> 02:24:37.670
Nick Antonicello: Ellen.

951
02:24:38.110 --> 02:24:52.540
Helen Fallon: Yeah, just for the community. Everyone should know that all Board members are required to take funding training. It's not quite as detailed as that for the treasurer and the people who have the possession, the credit card, or sign off on some financial things.

952
02:24:52.550 --> 02:25:09.010
Helen Fallon: and I would be very happy, and I certainly think it's worthwhile making sure that people take their funding training, and then go over and find out what parts they didn't understand or what they need reinforced, because it's clear that people take training, and it's in one year and out the other.

953
02:25:09.050 --> 02:25:13.570
Helen Fallon: One of the problems is that we have board, we

954
02:25:13.570 --> 02:25:34.560
Helen Fallon: we don't get receipts turned in by people who have taken funding training, which is emphasized that they have to turn them in in 10 days that delays the whole process. If i'm elected as treasure, I don't tolerate people not doing their jobs, it just it's not fair for anyone to make more work for other people. There's only about 6 items a month

955
02:25:34.620 --> 02:25:47.590
Helen Fallon: that the are processed, and a lot of them are automatic because they're monthly payments. It's not massive amounts of of financial things coming through, but it's some people constantly delaying and making more work for people.

956
02:25:47.680 --> 02:25:55.690
Helen Fallon: So I don't have any problem, making sure that everybody is on the same page. I think it's a great idea, and I there was what I was planning on doing, anyway. Thank you.

957
02:25:56.600 --> 02:26:09.760
Nick Antonicello: You guys are the custodians of the of the Vnc funds. Ultimately you know it's on you a quick. The question I have is a a good amount of the of the funding the B and C's budget

958
02:26:09.880 --> 02:26:15.750
Nick Antonicello: is then community groups will ask for funding or donation. However, you Wanna

959
02:26:16.120 --> 02:26:17.640
Nick Antonicello: describe it

960
02:26:21.110 --> 02:26:22.820
Nick Antonicello: when it's in, you know it.

961
02:26:22.970 --> 02:26:28.480
Nick Antonicello: the operating costs and running to the you know what what percentage of of your budget

962
02:26:28.500 --> 02:26:37.000
Nick Antonicello: is for operating expenses, and then what percentage of your budget is for funding out to various groups to apply for money.

963
02:26:37.360 --> 02:26:40.580
Nick Antonicello: and i'll i'll start with with Jack.

964
02:26:41.220 --> 02:26:58.440
jay handal: sure. So the current year budget allocated a lot of money for elections, because it was felt that you know that's really where the money needed to be outreach to stakeholders to get them. Knowledge of elections get more candidates, get more voters, get more engagement.

965
02:26:58.560 --> 02:27:00.580
jay handal: So

966
02:27:00.620 --> 02:27:12.130
jay handal: this year there was approximately it. Was originally $15,000. And it ended up at about 23,000, and change for elections out of a $42,000 budget

967
02:27:12.210 --> 02:27:31.750
jay handal: from that there was approximately $4,500, combined with neighborhood purpose grants and community improvement projects. The rest of the money was outreach and office expense and office expenses, basic expenses like the storage. Your your

968
02:27:32.020 --> 02:27:48.870
jay handal: this this Facebook. There's constant contact. There's. There's all the day the monthly recurring expenses, but the bulk of it. This year was elections, and again, out of $42,000 10%. Of it roughly, was community project money.

969
02:27:49.980 --> 02:27:51.340
Nick Antonicello: Helen.

970
02:27:51.970 --> 02:28:07.100
Helen Fallon: Yeah, just to be so. Everyone knows the annual budget is 32,000 a year, and we carried over $10,000 from the prior year. It is very unlikely we're going to carry over anything into the prior to the next Year's budget.

971
02:28:07.150 --> 02:28:12.680
Helen Fallon: you know. Maybe a 1,000 or 2,000. It's pretty much been spent and exhausted by now.

972
02:28:12.780 --> 02:28:20.680
Helen Fallon: so that, given the first thing that we do is we look at our expenses that are

973
02:28:20.770 --> 02:28:35.790
Helen Fallon: confirm. If we're going to be meeting in person. There's an expense for the venue that hasn't been reflected in the last couple of years. Budgets. There's other things that we do. We have storage. We have various accounts like Google Works and

974
02:28:35.930 --> 02:28:52.470
Helen Fallon: Facebook, and things like this: these things that are recurring expenses, and then we're gonna have to see what we're actually gonna have left over there's some talk. I've heard some people say they want hybrid that's gonna require equipment. It's gonna be expensive. We need to factor that in at the end of this year planning ahead for next year.

975
02:28:53.360 --> 02:28:54.260
Nick Antonicello: Eric.

976
02:28:54.630 --> 02:29:10.240
Eric Hartnack: Yeah. Well, that's this actually brings up one of the reasons why i'm running for treasure, and I I know that there's been a discussion here about how there needs that. That we've increased the transparency. But as a business resident who's actually, we've been sitting there trying to Google and understand the budget

977
02:29:10.240 --> 02:29:16.840
Eric Hartnack: and understand what the money spent on how it's allocated, and what funds are choosing, or what projects for choosing to fund.

978
02:29:16.990 --> 02:29:34.570
Eric Hartnack: There's very little visibility. I I want that to be first and foremost available to any resident on demand, and hopefully as close to real time as possible. And that that's from my opinion, transparency is the primary goal. In in addition to supporting the administrative nature of this role.

979
02:29:35.480 --> 02:29:39.050
Nick Antonicello: Thank you. It it it's funny.

980
02:29:40.180 --> 02:29:52.970
Nick Antonicello: So i'm on some of the committees and a lot of the board deliberations is on like small budget items. and I I watch the meetings, and I say, people say, Well, we're spending $50 here, $100 there

981
02:29:53.050 --> 02:29:56.870
Nick Antonicello: the city of L. A. Spends billions of dollars a year in.

982
02:29:57.000 --> 02:30:01.580
Nick Antonicello: Sometimes I get the feeling that you know we're bend it over for the pettings

983
02:30:01.740 --> 02:30:04.140
Nick Antonicello: when the dollars are flying over our heads

984
02:30:04.350 --> 02:30:06.470
Nick Antonicello: as the treasurer.

985
02:30:07.030 --> 02:30:11.560
Nick Antonicello: My question is this is, that should, as we come out of Covid.

986
02:30:11.710 --> 02:30:26.480
Nick Antonicello: should the Neighborhood Council get more funding. In other words, they're having rolling it over. Should Should there be a a basic request to the city that these budgets should increase, based on the fact. There'll be more activity in a post. Covid world.

987
02:30:26.570 --> 02:30:28.890
Nick Antonicello: and i'll ask ever first.

988
02:30:29.370 --> 02:30:40.210
Eric Hartnack: You know, i'm actually of the opinion that you know the city of Los Angeles has become such a behemoth, I actually feel like more and more of the of the actual decision making and budget

989
02:30:40.210 --> 02:30:56.220
Eric Hartnack: budgets for the Venice area should be. This is the decision Making process should be in Venice. I know that this is contrary to the way that the Government is set up, and the way that the city councils are allowed to make decision that have their feed them. But in my opinion, you know.

990
02:30:56.220 --> 02:31:11.430
Eric Hartnack: Venice and Los Angeles in general needs to be more decentralized. I think there should be more budgets that for the for Venice specifically, and I think that we, as citizens of Venice should have an opportunity to have more saying as to what our tax dollars locally are being spent on.

991
02:31:11.480 --> 02:31:15.070
Eric Hartnack: and I know that's way beyond this discussion. But that's my opinion.

992
02:31:15.500 --> 02:31:17.230
Nick Antonicello: Thank you. J.

993
02:31:18.140 --> 02:31:27.540
jay handal: Well, you're talking to someone who has sat on the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate Committee charity for 7 years, and still sitting on it 7 years later

994
02:31:27.800 --> 02:31:40.330
jay handal: and watching how the city does what they do. We have evaluated neighborhood councils, spending what they spend, what they don't spend, and unfortunately overall neighborhood councils tend to give back

995
02:31:40.330 --> 02:31:48.330
jay handal: between 33 and 44 of the annual budget at the end of the year, which is why they started allowing Rollovers

996
02:31:48.340 --> 02:32:01.170
jay handal: do. I think we should get more money absolutely. I think there's really good things we could do. But I also think, and this is a personal opinion that our job under Charter Section 900

997
02:32:01.200 --> 02:32:17.020
jay handal: is to actually outlets to our stakeholders. Not give money away. and I don't see neighborhood councils doing that because they just won't spend the money, they'd rather give it to a church, a school, or somebody like that, so

998
02:32:17.020 --> 02:32:30.540
jay handal: I I guess I think we should get more money, we should go back to 50,000, provided that money is designated money for outreach to the stakeholders to educate them. As to who we are what we do and how they can get involved.

999
02:32:30.710 --> 02:32:33.580
jay handal: And that's the Board's responsibility.

1000
02:32:33.980 --> 02:32:34.750
Nick Antonicello: Hello.

1001
02:32:35.340 --> 02:32:45.910
Helen Fallon: yeah, Just to correct the record that Carry over came about because of Covid, because people couldn't spend all their money because they weren't, having in person meetings, etc.,

1002
02:32:46.020 --> 02:32:50.940
Helen Fallon: Once we've got it, maybe they're going to keep it, but not necessarily

1003
02:32:51.400 --> 02:33:12.820
Helen Fallon: the Mc. Funding. There's 99 of them is controlled by the city, and partly because in the past when it was more up to the discretion of local councils. There was a lot of inappropriate spending, so they took it over, and they've got funding regulations, the checks and balances in place. So people weren't going out and buying dinners for the board, etc. It's our tax dollars.

1004
02:33:12.930 --> 02:33:21.050
Helen Fallon: If it's increased and the funding is increased, I feel very strongly that it should be used to purchase city services.

1005
02:33:21.150 --> 02:33:22.840
Helen Fallon: things that will benefit

1006
02:33:22.860 --> 02:33:34.550
Helen Fallon: the majority of the community, things that will be more permanent that will be more lasting. I'm not that fond of Npgs that end up serving a classroom or

1007
02:33:34.870 --> 02:33:47.130
Helen Fallon: a school, and partly because the Venice Neighborhood Council has never taken the time to require that whoever gets their money has to come back and tell you and prove that it was spent that way.

1008
02:33:47.130 --> 02:33:59.230
Helen Fallon: So we really don't know what happens to this money once we give it away. I'd like to see more tangible results, so that people look around and say, yeah, that was where my tax dollar went we fix this sidewalk. Thank you.

1009
02:34:00.630 --> 02:34:07.200
Nick Antonicello: I I don't know if, if if this is a a question you can answer, i'm just to throw it out there. It's kind of a PET pee. My.

1010
02:34:07.710 --> 02:34:18.920
Nick Antonicello: if this Neighborhood Council has to pay to be like in a school to hold the meeting. Why would a one government entity have to pay another government, Anthony, to hold a public meeting

1011
02:34:19.200 --> 02:34:21.050
Nick Antonicello: in in a community format?

1012
02:34:21.200 --> 02:34:23.280
Nick Antonicello: Is there anything that

1013
02:34:23.470 --> 02:34:26.680
Nick Antonicello: that this V, and she could do what the treasure could do

1014
02:34:26.770 --> 02:34:38.980
Nick Antonicello: to talk to the other. You know the right hand of the other hand is doing in terms of of dollars. It just seems to me it makes very little sense that you would have to pay a government entity to provide a public service.

1015
02:34:39.250 --> 02:34:40.690
Nick Antonicello: and i'll start with. J:

1016
02:34:41.830 --> 02:35:00.250
jay handal: Yeah. So I think that's a simple answer. When it comes to la Usd, as everyone knows, in the City Charter, the schools are separate from the city. The mayor has no jurisdiction over the schools, and then the supervisor of schools has no jurisdiction over anything in the city

1017
02:35:00.300 --> 02:35:17.060
jay handal: and the City Doesn't Fund. The schools, you know, from the general fund. There's no education money in there for that. So that's why they do it, and they cry poverty, and you know they they want us to pay even down to $5 a night for toilet paper, so that tells you how desperate they are now.

1018
02:35:17.290 --> 02:35:27.810
jay handal: on the other hand, when the parks or the libraries, or anyone like that says they want us to pay, we shouldn't pay, and we really don't have to pay.

1019
02:35:27.810 --> 02:35:40.650
jay handal: Okay, those those dollars are already incorporated, and all we have to do is go to done and have them go to these entities because those fees are waved out for neighborhood councils holding meetings.

1020
02:35:41.100 --> 02:35:41.980
Nick Antonicello: Helen.

1021
02:35:42.840 --> 02:35:57.110
Helen Fallon: Yeah, I have to agree with Jay there. The fact is that our for some reason we like to meet at Westminster, so we have to pay for it. We could be meeting it Parks, I mean. We could be meeting at Penmark Park, which has a very large space.

1022
02:35:57.110 --> 02:36:11.730
Helen Fallon: A lot of other N. C's do this Marvista meets at the marvellous rec center, and there's no fees. In fact, they get free storage there, and the city is encouraged. That's another way. We could save some money. We spend 400 plus for storage, 150,

1023
02:36:11.730 --> 02:36:28.940
Helen Fallon: and Perhaps we should be looking into seeing if we can get some free storage at at at Penmar. because the city would prefer that their equipment that is paid for by the tax dollars be stored on city facilities rather than in storage units, or, in our case, sometimes people don't bother to put it back in the storage unit.

1024
02:36:29.320 --> 02:36:33.950
Helen Fallon: So yeah, I see it as another way to save money. Thank you.

1025
02:36:34.280 --> 02:36:35.090
Nick Antonicello: Eric.

1026
02:36:35.290 --> 02:36:48.970
Eric Hartnack: I agree with J. And Helen on this one. I see no reason that we shouldn't be using either Penmar or Oakland for the purposes of meetings. I also know that you know those guys are constantly outreaching to families such as my own

1027
02:36:48.970 --> 02:36:57.840
Eric Hartnack: that live in Venice, trying to trying to market all of the different programs they have. I think that they would likely look at that as an opportunity to market to another group of people.

1028
02:36:59.690 --> 02:37:04.960
Nick Antonicello: My last question is. this: might not be German, but is there

1029
02:37:05.040 --> 02:37:19.580
Nick Antonicello: Does the Treasury do a final audit for you. In other words, if you for fiscal year, 2,022 does the treasure provide an audit of the spending and and everything that happened in in 22? Or is it just

1030
02:37:19.590 --> 02:37:30.300
Nick Antonicello: after the full term of office? Is there some kind of funnel, aud, or is that? Does that even exist? Or is that something that that makes any sense? I'll I'll start with you.

1031
02:37:30.900 --> 02:37:43.340
jay handal: Yeah, again. Easy question. You know we, the treasurer, can do an audit, and to somebody's a request. There we actually have everything online now under the Budget Committee.

1032
02:37:43.340 --> 02:37:56.750
jay handal: where you can click on to a live document 24, 7. It will show you every single expenditure what category it came from, what we started from, and what our balance is, and what we should end up with at the end of the year.

1033
02:37:56.910 --> 02:38:02.430
jay handal: But in the end the city audits. You can go to the city dashboard at the city, Clark.

1034
02:38:02.460 --> 02:38:21.600
jay handal: Okay, and you can click on the Venice Neighborhood Council, and it will show you the percentage of money spent on office on election. So on outreach, on Npgs, on cips. It'll break it all down for you, and it tells you right down to the penny what was spent, and how it was spent. Remember, you know

1035
02:38:21.600 --> 02:38:38.680
jay handal: when I first was a treasurer a few years ago in West La, we actually had to put together some. You don't put together documents anymore. Everything that spent the M. Ours are produced by the city. They generate them, they send them to us, and we're supposed to approve them after the fact, anyway. So.

1036
02:38:38.750 --> 02:38:43.540
jay handal: and everybody gets to see the the Board meeting. So it's transparent.

1037
02:38:44.940 --> 02:38:46.300
Nick Antonicello: Okay, Eric.

1038
02:38:47.310 --> 02:39:05.100
Eric Hartnack: Yeah. I mean, yeah, I do think that the the treasurer should should should be doing a a an audit at the end of the year of how the money was spent. And furthermore, I mean for all of us that received emails from the Venice Neighborhood Council to my opinion that should be something that's emailed to us on a monthly basis. That shows it. I mean.

1039
02:39:05.100 --> 02:39:22.020
Eric Hartnack: I I. I I believe, Jay entirely that that that all that is available online, it's not front and center. And if you do a Google search asking for the Venice Neighborhood Council Budget. You can't find it. I I I i'm going to go dig into that and find it afterwards, because I'm really interested.

1040
02:39:22.020 --> 02:39:37.170
Eric Hartnack: It's not readily available. As far as most of us are concerned. I think that we need to do an outreach program. We're actually proactively communicating that to the to the stakeholders of Venice and letting them know exactly what's going on, if not on an annual basis, maybe even like a quarterly basis.

1041
02:39:38.170 --> 02:39:38.970
Nick Antonicello: Hello.

1042
02:39:40.180 --> 02:39:56.980
Helen Fallon: Yeah. Generally accepting accepted accounting practices. You wouldn't be auditing yourself. What is not happening is our current treasurer does not reconcile monthly to the monthly expenditure report, which are not arriving at the

1043
02:39:57.290 --> 02:40:03.670
Helen Fallon: it. We are writing late because of delays created by people who don't return and receipts on time.

1044
02:40:04.150 --> 02:40:18.800
Helen Fallon: other things that aren't being turned on and on time. So we're frequently looking at these bank record the the bank statement basically it's a cash flow statement that the city produces. We're looking at it months after. Did I just freeze, or are you hearing me?

1045
02:40:18.800 --> 02:40:33.620
Helen Fallon: We can hear you. Yeah, I I froze on the computer. But that's okay. We get those months late. You're looking at something. In February that occurred back in November. People are just like, and I don't care, and the

1046
02:40:33.620 --> 02:40:40.880
Helen Fallon: downfall again in our procedures, and it's supposed to be happening in seconds. Our board does not see the invoices

1047
02:40:40.900 --> 02:40:59.980
Helen Fallon: before they vote, and those invoices are not available on the public dashboard that Jay just referred to. So it's incomplete. And, Eric, I invite you to do the audit I've been doing of Jay's records, and I think you're going to come to the same conclusion. And I did that. They're not very useful, and they're missing a lot of information. Thank you.

1048
02:41:02.010 --> 02:41:03.840
Nick Antonicello: Okay, so

1049
02:41:04.100 --> 02:41:13.560
Nick Antonicello: that ends the round of questioning. We'll now have this lightning rod questions of sorts that pretty self explanatory. Either

1050
02:41:13.760 --> 02:41:17.630
Nick Antonicello: pick something in the in the statement, or it's a yes or no answer.

1051
02:41:17.900 --> 02:41:20.740
Nick Antonicello: so i'll. I'll go from left to right.

1052
02:41:22.030 --> 02:41:25.630
Nick Antonicello: board, walk bypass or peer. Helen

1053
02:41:25.970 --> 02:41:26.920
Helen Fallon: Here.

1054
02:41:27.370 --> 02:41:28.210
Nick Antonicello: jay.

1055
02:41:28.360 --> 02:41:29.420
jay handal: board what

1056
02:41:29.920 --> 02:41:30.700
Nick Antonicello: Eric

1057
02:41:30.790 --> 02:41:31.860
Eric Hartnack: Bike path.

1058
02:41:32.910 --> 02:41:35.300
Nick Antonicello: homeowner or Tenant Helen

1059
02:41:35.620 --> 02:41:36.660
Helen Fallon: I water.

1060
02:41:36.680 --> 02:41:37.470
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

1061
02:41:37.750 --> 02:41:38.720
jay handal: Tennis.

1062
02:41:39.090 --> 02:41:39.870
Nick Antonicello: Eric

1063
02:41:40.000 --> 02:41:40.910
Eric Hartnack: Home Honor.

1064
02:41:42.600 --> 02:41:45.410
Nick Antonicello: Ralph's, or a Whole foods. Helen.

1065
02:41:49.280 --> 02:41:53.550
Nick Antonicello: Everyone There you go. Eric. All foods.

1066
02:41:54.800 --> 02:41:57.650
Nick Antonicello: Sunrise or sunset. Helen

1067
02:41:57.800 --> 02:41:58.720
Helen Fallon: Sunset

1068
02:41:59.250 --> 02:42:02.940
Nick Antonicello: Jay love on both. Okay, Eric

1069
02:42:03.090 --> 02:42:04.130
Eric Hartnack: Sunrise.

1070
02:42:04.450 --> 02:42:05.200
Nick Antonicello: Okay.

1071
02:42:05.240 --> 02:42:11.990
Nick Antonicello: If we had to find you in Venice, but not at your home, where where would you be found.

1072
02:42:12.160 --> 02:42:13.020
Nick Antonicello: Helen?

1073
02:42:14.160 --> 02:42:21.240
Helen Fallon: The Venice Library, or my favorite walk between the pier and the in the break water on the

1074
02:42:21.620 --> 02:42:24.410
Nick Antonicello: verbal markets on Lincoln. There you go

1075
02:42:25.620 --> 02:42:27.280
Eric Hartnack: at the beach with my family.

1076
02:42:27.840 --> 02:42:33.880
Nick Antonicello: Okay, and last one who do you most admire Helen?

1077
02:42:34.810 --> 02:42:39.340
Helen Fallon: All of the intelligent, feisty women who have influenced my life.

1078
02:42:40.590 --> 02:42:41.450
Nick Antonicello: Jay.

1079
02:42:42.210 --> 02:42:44.190
jay handal: I most admire

1080
02:42:44.200 --> 02:42:50.400
jay handal: anybody and everybody who is serving on any neighborhood council.

1081
02:42:52.220 --> 02:42:53.000
Nick Antonicello: Eric.

1082
02:42:54.300 --> 02:43:00.250
Eric Hartnack: I'm gonna go with my father. He's a Vietnam war, but I, an outstanding citizen.

1083
02:43:01.830 --> 02:43:07.100
Nick Antonicello: Well, with that we'll now have the closing statements, and i'll. We'll start whatever

1084
02:43:09.020 --> 02:43:26.280
Eric Hartnack: you know I this this will be my first participation, a or or my I hope to be a first participation in the Minnesota Council. You know I've spent 20 plus years here in Venice. I'm passionate about the city. I was heavily involved in

1085
02:43:26.280 --> 02:43:38.580
Eric Hartnack: trying to go out and get signatures for the recall of Mike Bon in, and then participated as I could, and as a volunteer for Tracy Park selection, the whole process got me interested in trying to be

1086
02:43:38.580 --> 02:43:48.650
Eric Hartnack: more involved in our own community, because i'm raising 2 children here. I think it's very important that the treasurer and the stakehold, and and most of the board members are actually

1087
02:43:48.910 --> 02:43:54.480
Eric Hartnack: people who live in this. I think that's incredibly important. I realize there's lots of other stakeholders.

1088
02:43:54.490 --> 02:44:06.990
Eric Hartnack: But I I think it's important that we have people that actually live here because we're the ones who are affected 10 s, 24 h a day of what happens in this community. So you know, I know I can do a wonderful job.

1089
02:44:07.120 --> 02:44:10.480
Eric Hartnack: both from an administrative and finance perspective

1090
02:44:10.520 --> 02:44:20.160
Eric Hartnack: on this role, and I know that I will be a a great great participant and co-worker with all the Venice board members. To make sure that this happens.

1091
02:44:21.290 --> 02:44:22.140
Nick Antonicello: Ellen

1092
02:44:23.520 --> 02:44:28.590
Helen Fallon: Eric. I hope we can work together because we are on the same page here.

1093
02:44:28.660 --> 02:44:48.390
Helen Fallon: I hope I want to see the Vmc. Board follow best practices and model best practices. I believe that that can happen as a treasure. I can do that and role model that I don't believe it's happening. We need to be much more transparent and much more effective. At how we're communicating the stakeholders, I can agree more with Eric, that

1094
02:44:48.390 --> 02:44:55.620
Helen Fallon: what is being produced, and what is available is extremely confusing and difficult to understand and to reconcile to anything.

1095
02:44:55.700 --> 02:44:57.290
Helen Fallon: and

1096
02:44:57.400 --> 02:45:17.150
Helen Fallon: if elected is treasure, i'm going to encourage the birds board to economize wherever it's possible. So our talks tax dollars can be used as effectively as possible, and provide lasting benefits and improvements to our Venice neighborhoods, and I hope you will all consider voting a very qualified local to be your next treasurer. Thank you.

1097
02:45:17.720 --> 02:45:18.570
Nick Antonicello: Yeah.

1098
02:45:19.560 --> 02:45:38.290
jay handal: yes, thank you. So I look forward to continuing to bring the stability and stability to the funding aspect of this council, supporting all the committees in their reference to outreach to all stakeholders. I look forward to working with a leadership team that actually respects both board members and stakeholders.

1099
02:45:38.370 --> 02:45:42.730
jay handal: we should be above it all, and truly represent the community.

1100
02:45:42.860 --> 02:45:59.600
jay handal: I want to thank Jim and his closing statement, because in my 12 months on Bmc. I have proven I am the Improvement candidate of transparency. And for those of you who can't read the Google Doc and Don't believe it, Jives, it's a 100% on target.

1101
02:45:59.600 --> 02:46:13.650
jay handal: and you should read it, and i'm happy to forward the link to anyone who doesn't have it Vote for J. Handle if you want again. Honesty, transparency, stability, and most important civility. Thank you all very much.

1102
02:46:14.900 --> 02:46:28.210
Nick Antonicello: With that. That closes the second night of the Marathon discussions. I want to thank the 3 candidates, Helen Allen Jay, Handle and Eric Cartner could take the time to be part of this

1103
02:46:28.440 --> 02:46:30.690
Nick Antonicello: the community. Thank you.

1104
02:46:30.790 --> 02:46:36.930
Nick Antonicello: They have a difficult choice to make on Sunday. I wish you all 3 the best of luck, and no matter what happens.

1105
02:46:36.990 --> 02:46:39.610
Nick Antonicello: I hope you all stay involved in the process

1106
02:46:39.940 --> 02:46:42.670
Nick Antonicello: with that, Mike, I think, is that it would.

1107
02:46:43.440 --> 02:46:52.610
Candidate Forum: Well, just I'll come live for a little bit. Just why, yeah it, that's fantastic. And just want to remind everybody who is watching tonight

1108
02:46:52.630 --> 02:47:10.380
Candidate Forum: to make sure not only to go out and vote themselves on Sunday at the Oakwood Recreation Center, but also call all your family, friends and fellow Venetians anyone who's a stakeholder and remind them to bring the documentation with them that proves their stakeholder status.

1109
02:47:10.640 --> 02:47:13.560
Candidate Forum: If there's any questions that anyone has.

1110
02:47:13.750 --> 02:47:19.680
Candidate Forum: you can ask them@electionsatvenisonc.org

1111
02:47:19.820 --> 02:47:26.530
Candidate Forum: and keep updated on the website for any update updates updates on the website

1112
02:47:26.730 --> 02:47:33.010
Candidate Forum: as well as social media. We're still posting on Instagram and Facebook. So

1113
02:47:33.400 --> 02:47:37.830
Candidate Forum: with that we look forward to seeing you on Sunday. I'll be there for a lot of it.

1114
02:47:38.280 --> 02:47:47.770
Candidate Forum: and thank you very much for coming to the candidate Forum tonight. And thank you. Thank you. Thank you to Nick for moderating at the last minute

1115
02:47:48.160 --> 02:47:51.770
Candidate Forum: fantastic job. I just want to say that on record.

1116
02:47:52.550 --> 02:47:57.240
Candidate Forum: and with that I guess. See you. Sunday.

1117
02:47:57.320 --> 02:48:03.090
Helen Fallon: Eric. Thanks for interviewing so many candidates and and pitching in at the last minute. It's much appreciated.

1118
02:48:03.640 --> 02:48:06.120
Nick Antonicello: Oh, good night and good luck.

1119
02:48:06.970 --> 02:48:10.700
Candidate Forum: and call me Eric. We need to talk. Take care, everybody. Good night.