same pagemisma pagina coalition questionaire - wendy greuel

7/30/2019 Same PageMisma Pagina Coalition Questionaire - Wendy Greuel

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San Fernando Valley/Northeast Los Angeles NOW PACCalifornia ID# 990464

P.O. Box 7141 Van Nuys CA 91409-7141 (818) 539-5910 [email protected]

CALLAC, P.O. Box 433 Torrance CA 90508-0433 (213) 787.5476

California LULAC Institute (CLI),[email protected]

Todos Unidos, [email protected]

Joint Candidate Interview Committee of the Same Page/Misma Pagina Coalition

2012 Candidate Questionnaire

For candidate convenience, the Same Page/Misma Pagina Coalition will jointlyconsider candidates questionnaires and jointly interview candidates. SFV/NELA NOW

and CALLAC will make their own independent endorsements; CLI and Todos Unidos donot endorse as 501(c)(3) non-profits, but participate for purposes of political educationfor the public. The process begins with your submission of responses to the followingquestionnaire:

Name of Candidate:Wendy Greuel

Office Sought:

Mayor of Los Angeles

Party affiliation:

Democrat

Occupation:

Los Angeles City Controller

Are you a NOW Member? I have been a member in the past but do not believe mymembership it current.LULAC Member? NoIf not, would you like to join? Yes (Contact SFV LULAC directly)If yes, enclose check for $40.00 made out to NOW and specify chapter affiliation:

SFV/NELA___X__
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Issues

1. Define feminism and state whether you are a feminist.Feminism is a social and political movement dedicated to achieving full and equal

rights for women. As a strong advocate for equality for all, including the rights ofwomen, I am proud to identify as a feminist.

2. Are you "pro-choice? Explain your views on the following issues: (a)legally imposed waiting periods for the termination of pregnancies (b) legally

required spousal and/or parental notifications as a requisite for a minor to

get an abortion (c) bans on specific termination procedures, such as so-called

partial birth abortion (d) residency requirements for women to lawfully

seek abortions (e) restrictions on government funding (f) codification of Roe

vs. Wade?

Yes, I am unequivocally pro-choice and will continue to work hard to ensure allwomen have equal and affordable access to safe reproductive health care,including abortion care.

A) A woman should not have to endure an artificial waiting period beforeproceeding with a legal medical procedure such as abortion.

B) Again, as part of a womans right to choose, she may be in a situation in which

it is dangerous for her to notify her spouse of her pregnancy and should have theright to make the decision on her own.

C) I agree with Senators Boxer and Feinstein that late term abortions can benecessary and should be legal to protect the health of the mother.

D) There should not be residency requirements for women seeking abortions. Formany reasons, women may need to travel to another state to access safe and legalabortion care, and that option should be available regardless of where they live.

E) I do not believe there should be restrictions on government funding forreproductive or abortion care.

F) We must do all we can to protect Roe v. Wade so women are always protectedunder the law and empowered to make the best decision for their own lives andbodies.

3. How many beds are available in the jurisdiction you are running in forbattered women and children? What will/can you do to increase available

facilities?


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There are approximately 10 emergency shelters and 17 transitional shelters forbattered women and their children in Los Angeles County. While the number ofbeds is not publicized due to safety reasons, we do know that there are not enoughavailable for those who need shelter from their batterers.

I plan to do the following to increase available facilities:1. Work together with the shelter agencies, CDD, and Council offices to seekavailable funding for shelters within the City of Los Angeles;

2. Partner with the shelter agencies to apply for federal and state grants tocreate opportunities for expansion.

The City of Los Angeles currently provides funding through the CommunityDevelopment Department to domestic violence shelter operators within the citylimits. As of April 2012, there were a total of 626 available beds funded at 18sites in 12 Council Districts (they serve all City residents). There are othershelters which are not funded by CDD, but clearly insufficient to meet the needs

of a city the size of Los Angeles.

Domestic violence shelter programs are an over-burdened and under-fundedsafety net for some of the City's most vulnerable citizens. Even at the currentlevel of funding, shelters are already turning away a growing number of womenand children requesting shelter. Being forced to turn away a woman can be lifethreatening to her.

City funding for emergency and transitional domestic violence is entirely fundedby federal CDBG funds through the Consolidated Plan. Federal budget challengesand reduced CDBG funding to LA led to an 11% decrease in funding this pastyear for domestic violence shelter operations contractors. These cuts have putimmense pressure on an already stressed system.

In Mayor Villaraigosas proposed 2012 budget, it noted that the reason the City is

receiving a reduction to its CDBO allocation is "primarily due to a decrease in theCity's concentration of people living in poverty since the 2000 Census and anincrease in eligible CDBO entitlement communities". In the 2011 Los AngelesHomeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Homeless Count, overall numbersshowed a 3% reduction in the homeless population compared to the 2009Homeless Count. At the same time, however, the 2011 homeless subpopulationdata shows an increase in the number of homeless survivors of domestic violencefrom 3,762 to 4,610 people, an increase of over 22%. It is clear from LAHSA'shomeless count that for low-income victims of domestic violence, homelessnessis on the rise.

Funding constraints are a significant barrier to increasing shelter bed capacity. Toincrease capacity:


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1) We need to work with federal government to advocate for restored funding forCBDO/CDBG funds and also seek any additional federal funds available for bothshelter and supportive services for victims of intimate partner violence.2) Advocate for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act(VAWA), (Senate version - S1925) which includes increased resources for

immigrant and LGBTQ victims.3) Play a role to support local providers in their efforts to access private andgovernment funds for additional shelter beds.

We also need to provide funding for non-shelter based services, includingcounseling, case management, legal assistance and other resources to ensure theimmediate safety of clients and to provide them with services that will lead toself-sufficiency and independence from the abuser.

4. Do you support the Equal Rights Amendment and how will you work for itspassage?

I am a firm supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. I have stood firmly forwomens rights and equality throughout my life and my career while I was onthe City Council, I introduced numerous pieces of legislation that supported therights of women. As Mayor, I will continue to work for its passage and fight toensure that our City and Country are free from discrimination.

5. What have you done to elect (and appoint) more women and more feministsto public office?

Since I first started my career in public service, I have faced the many challengesof gender inequality in the political process. It is because of my first-handexperience, and my belief that our government should have full gender equality inits representation, that I have been dedicated to electing and appointing morewomen and feminists to public office throughout my career.

As we all know, there is currently only one woman serving on the Los AngelesCity Council. As Supervisor Gloria Molina recently highlighted in a Daily Newsarticle, one of the reasons for the lack of women is because women serving inpublic office do not recruit and support women to serve once they leave thatoffice. I was proud to recruit and support a woman to run for my City Councilseat when I was termed out, and have always helped to mentor, recruit andsupport women throughout my career.

I am a member and have been involved in the efforts of the National WomensPolitical Caucus, whose primary mission is to elect pro-choice women to publicoffice. I have also worked with HOPE PAC to encourage and support Latinas


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running for public office, and with the womens collaborative to get more women

appointed to commissions.

Additionally, many of my senior staff members, at the City level and on mycampaign, are women. It is critical that we support women at all levels of the

political process, and that is something I will continue to do as the first everwoman to serve as Mayor of Los Angeles.

6. Do you support the Model Ordinance for Citizen Oversight of PoliceMisconduct If not, explain your views on the issues it raises.

As Mayor, I will fully support the principles laid out in the Model Ordinance forCitizen Oversight of Police Misconduct, while protecting the rights of thededicated rank-and-file officers who serve our city. I am proud to have theendorsement of John Mack, civil rights leader and Vice President of the Board ofPolice Commissioners. I am deeply committed to working with law enforcement

and community leaders to ensure that our neighborhoods remain safe and thatevery Angelenos rights are protected.

7. Do you support SFV/NELA NOW sponsored AB 1617? Will you sponsoradoption of it as a policy of the governmental body you are seeking to be a

part of? If you do, may we list you as an endorser? If not, explain your views

on the issues it raises.

Harassment and discrimination has no place in the workplace, and we must doeverything we can create a safe and positive work environment for all people inLos Angeles. Part of that means having competent investigators who canaccurately determine whether a complaint is reasonable. AB1617 takes fair stepsto ensure that investigators are trained and understand the issues when examiningworkplace harassment, and I support it. Workers should never feel that they arebeing treated unfairly or that they have no recourse, and I support strengtheningexisting state laws to make sure that all Angelenos and Californians are treatedfairly.

8. Do you support a legislatively enacted Fast Track mandate for thedetermination of family/child support issues? If not, explain your views.

Yes. Parents should not have to wait to receive family/child support, which inmany cases is often money that the parent needs to provide basic needs (food,shelter, education) for their children. We must do all we can to support theseparents and families, and create a judicial structure that allows for quickevaluations and rulings.

9. Do you support SFV/NELA NOWs proposed criminalization of aiding andabetting child support non-payment along with its provision creating a


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private cause of action against the aiders and abetters? If you dont support

it, explain your views.

Yes. SFV/NELA NOWs proposal will go a long way to cracking down on those

not paying child support and supporting victims who need child support to

adequately provide for their family.

10.Do you support bringing back intentional cruelty as a California cause ofaction for divorce, with automatic bifurcation of marital status, as a ground

for a greater allocation of income and assets to a spouse and/or children who

have been the victims of on-going domestic abuse?

Throughout my career, I have been committed to protecting victims of domesticabuse. I have advocated forcefully for the reauthorization of the Violence AgainstWomen Act, am a proud supporter of Safe Passages and, as Controller, I haveconducted audits to help the LAPD identify and end the rape kit backlog. I believe

that those who are victims of ongoing domestic abuse should have the full supportof our judicial system, and as the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, I will ensurethat women have the support and resources they need to protect themselves andtheir children from domestic violence.

11.Do you support amending the California Evidence Code to preclude theintroduction of evidence that a spouse failed to have formal police reports of

abuse made unless the spouse who wishes to introduce such evidence to

disprove allegations of abuse first demonstrates that the police department(s)

with jurisdiction had realistic procedures and actual practices in effect that

would actually protect women from further abuse following an arrest or

report of the alleged abuse?

Yes. "Murder at Home", a 2005 study by the California Women's Law Center,noted that most homicide victims who were abused by their partners neverdirectly sought help from legal or community resources for domestic violence.Sixty-eight (68%) percent of abused murder victims never obtained, or attemptedto obtain, a protective order against their abusive partner, and only 20% had anactive restraining order against their abuser at the time of the murder. Further,only 14% of victims who were abused sought domestic violence related servicesfrom hospitals, shelters, and/or community based organizations prior to theirmurders.

Given that domestic violence has far-reaching effects in the lives of the adults andchildren who have experienced it, law enforcement needs to work closely withdomestic violence (DV) providers to ensure that families escaping DV can findsafe refuge and access a comprehensive array of services. Given that the riskincreases immediately after a victim leaves, it is critically important for police


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departments and other first responders to understand the dangers and try toconnect victims with providers that can address the immediate short-term effectsof DV. In an ideal situation, abused spouses would also be connected to servicesthat will help to prevent or reduce the crippling long-term effects, such asdepression, suicide, chronic health problems, joblessness, chronic homelessness,

poverty, and ongoing legal woes.

12.As of 2003 only 6.2% of the private investigators admitted to the panelcreated by the Los Angeles Superior Court judiciary were female and less

than 20% were minorities. Since then, the number of women have declined

while only a handful are even fluent in foreign languages, including Spanish.

Do you agree that the State of California should standardize court panel

rules, permit panel members to bargain collectively over wages and working

conditions, and forbid arbitrary criteria for admission to judicially created

panels of attorneys, investigators, and experts? If not, explain your views.

I believe first and foremost in the collective bargaining process, which is requiredunder state law, and firmly believe that it is important for everyone to have a seatat the table when negotiating working conditions and fair wages. Los AngelesSuperior Court panels should reflect the diversity of Los Angeles and should havethe right to negotiate.

13.The Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees elects members at-large. This has resulted in a situation in which if a person drives from the

Westside home of the farthest northern trustee in 90068, to the next south in

Beverly Hills, to the 90035 home next south, and finally to the 90045 home of

the farthest south Westside trustee, the entire trip will take approximately

one-half hour. Two other trustees live only minutes apart in zip codes 90041

and 90042 in the Northeast Los Angeles area. This leaves South Central,

East and Southeast Los Angeles virtually unrepresented and for years, the

San Fernando Valley went unrepresented until a recent appointment. Do

you support electing college board trustees by district? Why or why not?

It is critical that all Angelenos are represented fully by each of our governingbodies, including the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees. As amember of Mayor Tom Bradleys administration and as a City Councilmember

representing the San Fernando Valley, and now as Controller, I have beencommitted to ensuring that all our communities have equal access to city servicesand representation. We need elected officials who understand the hopes andchallenges of those whom they have the privilege to serve, especially in the areaof education.

14.A. The human resources specialists of the Los Angeles Unified SchoolDistrict who conduct investigations into employee disciplinary matters by


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their own admission in testimony before a hearing officer, have no formal

training in how to detect deception and automatically give more credence to

statements made by managerial witnesses, such as principals, than to other

witnesses. Additionally, an attorney employed by the General Counsels

office was overheard by the Presidents of SFV LULAC and SFV MAPA (who

are both board members of SFV NOW) laughing and joking about the accentof an immigrant student whod testified before the LAUSD Personnel Board.

In spite of notification of this outrage, then-Superintendent Brewer and the

General Counsels office never even bothered to interview the witnesses. In

another incident, LAUSD refused to conduct an investigation into why Steve

Rooney arrested for child molestation covered up a criminal assault and

battery on a substitute teacher by failing to report it to the police while

telling the victim that he had. Will you support establishment of an

independent commission of representatives of civil rights organizations and

professional investigative organizations to examine the policies and

procedures by which the LAUSD human resources department, the General

Counsels office, and other LAUSD institutions conduct investigations andremediation into employee disciplinary matters and complaints of

harassment, retaliation, and discrimination, including examination of

whether the principles of AB 1617 should be implemented in the district?

B. Similarly to the LAUSD, the Los Angeles City personnel investigators

who are assigned to investigate discrimination, harassment, and retaliation

have admitted that they have no training in how to detect deception in

investigative interviews and have never been tested on their ability to do so.

Do you support incorporating the provisions of AB 1617 as a municipal

ordinance binding on city employment related investigations?

As the City Controller, I conducted an audit of the LAUSD and their Constructionmanagement practices. In the case of LAUSD, the safety of our kids should ournumber one priority, and I absolutely believe that the principles of AB 1617should be implemented. Investigators should absolutely be trained and capable ofconducting these investigations.

I have found examples of fraud, waste and abuse in City government, and haveworked on holding Departments and City officials accountable for their actions. Ihave also advocated for seeking restitution for City employees who have beenfound guilty of job related crimes.

15.Do you support the California Supreme Courts finding that marriage is afundamental right that it enunciated in Perez v Sharp (declaring laws against

inter-racial marriage unconstitutional) and more recently when striking

down laws against same-sex marriage? Do you support the right of people to

enter into same-sex marriages as a matter of California law? If not, why

not?


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Yes. I am proud that throughout my career I have been on the frontlines offighting for equal rights. I supported legislation and fought to invalidate

Proposition 8, spoke in favor of the recent Supreme Court Decision in support ofmarriage equality and have officiated many same-sex wedding ceremonies during

the legal window in 2008. Also, I was a leader on the Citys Equal BenefitsOrdinance to provide equal treatment for all City employees. I will continue to

fight for marriage equality until it is legally recognized for all people.

16.Legislating the goal of the Same Page/Misma Pagina/Ddok Got EunPage/Haman Safhe Coalition of adopting a Recommended Amendment to

Remedy Chilling Effect of Ruling in Hoffman Plastics vs. NLRB?

I am committed to ensuring safety and fairness at the workplace, and I supportefforts to strengthen protections for workers from discrimination, intimidation,

harassment, or other threats. Nobody should feel threatened in any way when theyare at work, and I support workers' ability to seek civil damages if they feel theirrights have been violated.

17.Amending Section 834c of the California Penal Code:A. To require mandatory Vienna Convention notifications for Mexican

nationals and the citizens of any other Western Hemisphere nation

that desires inclusion?

B. To place Vienna Convention notifications to detained individuals on a

par with Miranda warnings for purposes of suppression of evidence

remedies available under the California and United States

Constitutions?

All detained individuals from foreign countries should be treated humanely. Weshould abide by the Vienna Convention and all other applicable laws.

18.Enacting legislation to make the provisions of the International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights self-executing?

I fully support the principles of the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights, which guarantees fundamental rights and protections to people across theworld. Where necessary, I will work with legislative bodies at all level to ensurethat Los Angeles is a leader in civil rights protections. These are the values I havechampioned throughout my career and that I will continue to fight for as Mayor.

19.Enacting legislation to make the provisions ofConvention on the Eliminationof All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) self-executing?


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I am deeply committed to ending discrimination against women in all spheres:economic, political and social. I am constantly moved by Madeleine Albrights

words that, There is a special place in hell for women who don't help otherwomen. Throughout my career, I have worked to achieve full equality forwomen, and as an Los Angeles City Councilmember, I supported the motion to

get CEDAW recognized. As Mayor, I will continue my work to break down theremaining barriersat all levels that create or enable discrimination againstwomen.

20.Enacting legislation to make the provisions of the International Conventionon the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination self-executing?

Throughout my career, beginning in the administration of Mayor Tom Bradley, Ihave worked to combat racial discrimination and violence based on hate and fear.Racism and hate crimes not only injure the immediate victim but terrorize the

entire community. They have no place in Los Angeles, and I will work closelywith partners in law enforcement and the community to ensure that everyAngelenos civil rights are protected.

21.Enacting legislation to make the provisions of the Convention Against Tortureand Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment self-executing?

Yes. I support the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or

Degrading Treatment. We must make every effort to take effective measures toprevent torture to protect our civil rights, and ensure that torture is a criminaloffense.

22.Do you support federal passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act(ENDA) to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or

gender identity?

Yes, I strongly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I have workedon this and related issues throughout my career, and I was a leader on the CitysEqual Benefits Ordinance to provide equal treatment for all City employees.

23.Passing a resolution supporting an end to United States (E.E.U.U.)unilateralism in legislating immigration law and calling upon President

Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to invoke Article 21 of

the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Treaty) for resolution of all issues between

the United States of America and the United States of Mexico, including but

not limited to:

A. Immigration policy

B. Remedies for violations of and non-implementation of the Treaty and


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the Protocols of Quaretaro (Protocols) by the United States of

America

C. Remedies and recompense for the ethnic cleansing (the

Repatriation program of the Hoover Administration) of 2,000,000

residents of the United States of America in the 1930s, 1.2 million of

whom were American citizens

As Mayor of Los Angeles, I will work to advocate for comprehensiveimmigration reform on the Federal level. I would support a pathway to citizenshipand I have supported President Obamas Executive Order- Deferred Action forChildhood Arrivals Program - which would stop deporting youngerundocumented immigrants and grant work permits for some Dream Act eligiblestudents.

24.A resolution urging a retroactive pardon for the purported crimes of JoaquinMurrieta and an official apology to his descendants for the failure of theState of California to prosecute gabachos who lynched his brother and gang

raped his wife.

The alleged violent crimes against Murrieta and his family are egregious andshould be acknowledged.

25.Legislatively mandating that the affirmative defense of unclean hands is aforesclosure action and/or an unlawful detainer action related to foreclosure

is an absolute defense and may be used to abate a legal action if the

foreclosing party violated public policy in making, selling, trading, and/or

servicing the loan or assumed the liability for such a violation when taking

possession and/or control of the loan?

Housing issues have been a priority throughout my career, especially when I hadthe honor to serve with Andrew Cuomo and Henry Cisneros at the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ensuring that every Angelenohas a safe and affordable home is critical to our citys future. During the recentforeclosure crisis, thousands of our citys homeowners were faced with or becamevictims of foreclosure. I will work closely to ensure that the new protectionscreated by the California Homeowner Bill of Rights are enforced fully in LosAngeles, and that victims of wrongful foreclosure receive justice.

26.Strengthening the traditional American abolition of imprisonment for debtby prohibiting municipal governments from criminalizing non-payment of

taxes as a stand alone violation.


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As Mayor of Los Angeles, I will work to help, not punish, those who arestruggling with debt. This is key to our citys economic recovery. As Controller, Ihave exposed the millions of dollars owed to our city. This is the debt we need tobe focused on, rather than wasting precious resources to penalize strugglingfamilies.

27.Do you support abolition of the death penalty?While I believe the death penalty is appropriate in certain cases, I believe that thepolicy should be reexamined in light of recent research showing prisoners ondeath row exonerated due to DNA evidence.

28.Do you support limiting the application of the Three Strikes law to seriousand violent felonies only?

We need a criminal justice system that is fair and equitable. I believe in thechanges implemented by Prop. 36, limiting 25-years-to-life sentences only todefendants with a third strike that is serious or violent.

E-Mail your response as a Word, Open Office Writer or PDF attached file to:

SFV/NELA [email protected]@[email protected] [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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