Comments
WESTSIDE - About 75 or so Democrats gathered today at Saint Bede's Episcopal Church in Los Angeles to hear the six leading candidates to succeed the retiring Ben Allen (D-24) for a seat in the California State Senate.
Allen, the popular three-term incumbent, has been termed out and is seeking the position of Insurance Commissioner for the state of California.
Allen addressed the organization today and thanked them for their past support and energy during his nearly 12 years in office.
Advertised as a forum versus a debate, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky served as moderator for this issue-oriented discussion of such issues as housing, affordability, state finances, homelessness and the environment.
Katy Yaroslavsky serves as Councilwoman for Los Angeles’ Fifth City Council District, representing neighborhoods and communities she has been a part of nearly her entire life. Elected in 2022, CM Yaroslavsky, currently serves as Chair of the City Council’s Budget and Finance committee, Vice-Chair of the Energy & Environment committee, and is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations committee. In March 2023, Mayor Karen Bass appointed Councilwoman Yaroslavsky to serve on the LA Metro Board of Directors.
The six leading candidates are:
- Former Palos Verdes councilmember and mayor Eric Alegria
- West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson
- Former Los Angeles Planning Commissioner & attorney Mike Newhouse
- Political consultant and journalist Brian Goldsmith
- Neighborhood & Civil Rights Advocate Ellen Evans
- Santa Monica College Board Member, Dr. Sion Roy
There were opening and closing statements by the candidates and no Q&A, but questions were submitted by the membership.
The candidates were committed to the policies with little interaction between them, as the forum concentrated on the issues and making sure one of them would succeed Allen in the upper chamber.
Alegria offered a sense of his personal story while mentioning he has served as a CEO and has served with an all-Republican governing body that displayed his bipartisan credentials.
Councilman John Erickson believed "bold leadership" was essential in the era of Donald Trump while noting he had the endorsement of Supervisor Jance Hahn and Lindsey Horvath while building a $31 million dollar budget surplus as a member of the West Hollywood governing body.
Mike Newhouse, a Venice resident, husband, father of two teenage sons and small business owner described his past service as "free and for fun," seeks a transformational change of the California Dream through diversity, hope and supporting small business, job creation as well as constructing affordable, market rate housing through cutting red tape while getting people off the street and into permanent housing.
Katy Yaroslavsky, Mike Newhouse
Ellen Evans described the California Dream as "slipping away," while promoting her neighborhood advocacy and long commitment to civil rights as the only woman in the race.
Brian Goldsmith never saw himself as a candidate, as his background in media and journalism suits him well for fighting back the weaponization he sees coming from the Trump White House.
WORKING WITH OTHERS.
The candidates were asked how they would work with those who they disagree with as members of the senate.
Goldsmith offered "looking into the future" would depress partisan conflict and believes his approach to governance will be open to bipartisan success.
Roy, a cardiologist and physician, believed his resume would work well to fix healthcare, which he sees as a bipartisan challenge. Roy lost his residence in the Pacific Palisades wildfires and believed his direct loss will serve as the kind of empathy to deliver on complex issues facing California.
Newhouse described himself as a "consensus builder" during his time as President of the Venice Neighborhood Council as well as a LA Planning Commissioner.
Evans described herself as a listener that has a track record of working with developers for better outcomes. She also stressed her commitment to enforcement of short-term rentals.
Roy believed his time as a local club president and healthcare background were suited for building consensus on the issues as well.
Alegria referred to his time working exclusively with other Republicans for the betterment of Palos Verdes and that focusing on policy is so critical for moving issues forward.
HOUSING.
Newhouse, who's career as a housing attorney, makes him suited to best serve. Newhouse supports density bonuses as well as adaptive use of commercial to residential space while cutting "the red tape so we can get out of our own way."
Evans also echoed the cost of housing, and that red tape needed to be reformed to assist those in need. She also supports the use of redevelopment agencies to spur more housing.
Goldsmith supports the conversion of commercial to residential, and would audit public land, and seek more modular housing that would make the process of construction faster and cheaper.
Roy pointed to the roadblocks that currently exist in the Palisades that are slowing down the recovery process. He also supports workforce and student housing with an emphasis of local control.
Alegria noted he authored housing policy at the local level and described the process as challenging while offering a balanced solution.
Erickson noted it was easier "to build parking lots then apartment housing," while calling for streamlining of the permit process that will put "shovels in the ground."
AFFORDABILITY.
Evans believed many more units could be constructed as government owned properties.
Goldsmith was open to government owned but will not "shoot from the hip" regarding that option.
Roy emphasized public/private partnerships as well as the expansion of rent stabilization.
Alegria proposed using all the tools available while Erickson emphasized repeal of the Ellis Act and noted more renters in the district than homeowners.
Newhouse concentrated on turning commercial to residential and offering real incentives for builders to construct housing moving forward.
PUBLIC SAFETY.
Newhouse pressed that public safety must be maintained, and that while difficult, is not hard. Newhouse commended LA Mayor Karen Bass for her efforts and supported more police officers in the district noting several police union endorsements.
Evans believed all residents deserve to feel safe, and that mental health is at the core of many public safety concerns such as homelessness. Erickson noted West Hollywood deploys the LA Sheriff's Office versus a traditional police department, and that crime in West Hollywood was down by triple digits during his time as a council member.
HEALTHCARE.
Roy noted that healthcare is worse, more expensive, and costs will continue to increase. Time waiting for healthcare will "become days versus hours."
Alegria believes healthcare needs to take on more versus less, and that the safety net is being threatened as we speak as some 3.4 million in California will have no access to quality healthcare.
Newhouse stressed "financial independence," and that universal healthcare should be the goal as public insurance be offered in lieu of private offerings.
Evans described healthcare as a "human right," and suggested a state bank as well as eliminating loopholes for corporations to pay their fair share.
Erickson is committed to keeping undocumented individuals insured, while supporting a billionairess's tax and cap skyrocketing salaries for healthcare CEOs. Goldsmith noted that "when you're sick, nothing else matters," and California is rich enough to ensure healthcare for every resident.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
Evans preferred Energy & Utilities and Appropriations while Newhouse will seek Natural Resources and Small Business. Newhouse pointed out that the district is so coastal, from Palos Verdes to Malibu that a voice is required. Newhouse also noted that 90% of California jobs are created by small business.
Erickson preferred Local Government and would accept any assignment offered by leadership while Alegria believed Healthcare & Education as preferred assignments.
Roy believed Health would be a natural fit and would hope to chair the same. Roy also preferred Business & Professional too. Goldsmith would seek a seat on the Budget Committee as their best place to monitor results and outcomes. He sees the Budget Committee as the place to implement serious investment versus "assumption of spending" priorities.
CLOSING STATEMENTS.
Newhouse stressed his small business background and common-sense approach to governance with getting people off the streets and rebuilding California's economic engine. Erickson said he "would not stop fighting" and will represent "all of you and not tow the party line."
Alegria noted he will offer "competent, effective and cooperative leadership" as a state senator, and Roy listed several key endorsements of over 100 Democratic officials who have joined his campaign.
Goldsmith believed new people and voices are required to tackle affordability, crime and homelessness while also mentioning he has the support of Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker.
Evans concluded by saying she would deliver on the "work that California deserves," and believes she "will step up" to the challenge of representing the voters of the 24th Senate District.
No candidate received the required amount of support for the endorsement.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident of the neighborhood of Venice who is covering the race to succeed Senator Ben Allen in the state senate. Have a take or tip? Contact him via e-ail at [email protected])
