October 12, 2010 -- The Lookout Staff submitted questionnaires to the 23 candidates running for seats on the City Council and Board of Education. The candidates were given the same timeframe to answer the questions and were limited to 150 words per answer.
During the next several days, the Lookout News will publish the candidates’ answers verbatim. The profiles for the four-year City Council race will be published first, followed by the two-year City Council race and lastly the Board of Education race. They will appear in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ first names.

Name: Susan Hartley
Running for: 2-year City Council seat
Status: Challenger

How long have you lived in Santa Monica? In what neighborhood do you live?
15 years, currently in Sunset Park.
9 in Sunset Park
4 North of Montana
2 on Yale just South of Montana
Offices over the years at 26th and Wilshire, 2nd and Santa Monica Blvd., and in the Yahoo Center.

Why are you running for office and why should residents vote for you?
I am running for City Council to provide a voice for the residents. They overwhelmingly oppose all the development in Santa Monica. I’m with them in trying to preserve our beach town, what’s left of it. Our town is being sold out from under us. Plans are in the works for more development, especially along the Boulevards. Residents don’t want that. Residents are frustrated because the LUCE doesn’t reflect their desires for their town. Residents are angry because they suffer the adverse effects of Santa Monica Airport daily. I can finally provide a voice for residents. Residents can once again feel that someone is on the council representing them.

Why do you enjoy living in Santa Monica?
I enjoy the diversity of the community and the passion residents feel for their town. There are so many Santa Monicas within Santa Monica. I’m amazed at all the lovely and different neighborhoods. I respect and share the residents’ desire to maintain our small beach community. I love walking around the various neighborhoods with my two German Shepherds, talking with people, viewing the gardens and homes, feeling the ocean breezes, and admiring the vistas of the mountains, beaches, ocean, sky, and magnificent trees.

How would you rate the current City Council? What particular decisions stand out for you that made you form that opinion?
The majority of the current City Council has been a disaster for Santa Monica. That majority supports the over-development of our town and has consistently voted to destroy the Santa Monica the residents know and love. The City Council approval of the height and density of development of the boulevards under the LUCE was a slap in the face to the residents who worked so hard to keep the height and density low. We have our incumbents to thank for over 70% of our General Fund going to staff salaries and benefits, as well as 2,200 employees for an 8.3 square mile town. That’s ludicrous. We also have our incumbents to thank for our high taxes and plans for more. The residents say less, less, less. The incumbents say more, more, more. Residents feel ignored and left out. Enough.

What is the most frequent complaint you hear on the campaign trail? What do you plan to do about this issue?
There is too much development and resulting traffic. Residents complain about not being listened to. People tell me they are feed up with the SMRR and developer control of our town. I’m running for office to break that control and to return Santa Monica to the residents. I plan on listening to the residents, voicing their opposition to all the development. This will take place soon when zoning is revisited. I plan on working with the minority on the council to halt the selling of Santa Monica.

Should Santa Monica residents be allowed to vote on major development agreements? Why or why not?
Yes. Santa Monica is for the residents, not staff, not developers. Residents are not listened to. Residents’ desires for less development have been ignored too long. Too many council members are in the developer’s pockets. Let the residents decide the future of their town.

Where do you stand on Measure Y, the half-cent sales tax proposal, and Measure YY, the companion measure that would recommend 50 percent of the tax revenue go to education?
I do not support Y. No to more taxes. These are hard times for everyone. We’re taxed too much already. I support YY though and would demand that money go to the schools.

City Hall needs to tighten its financial belt. We have over half a billion dollar budget with over 70% of the General Fund going to staff salaries and benefits. We have 2,200 employees for an 8.3 square mile town. That’s ridiculous.

As Mayor Bobby Shriver said, there is no guarantee under Y and YY that any of the money will go to the schools. Y and YY are poorly drafted.

Instead of more taxes, I support the City Council allocating the proposed $6 million to the schools from its over half a billion dollar budget. As a former teacher and parent, continuing to provide an excellent education to Santa Monica youth is a top priority of mine.

Solve the traffic problem in Santa Monica in under 150 words.
Stop the over-development of Santa Monica. Santa Monica is bursting at the seams. More development will result in more traffic. That’s a no-brainer. City Hall needs to stop trying to attract more car trips to Santa Monica. I’m supportive of and optimistic about the Expo Light Rail and the Subway to the Sea.

If you were emperor with absolute authority for a day and could do one thing for Santa Monica, what would it be?
Permanently close Santa Monica Airport. It’s a Love Canal in our midst. LA and Santa Monica residents should not be subjected to the daily pollution, noise, and crash risks.

There will be no revenue loss to the City. The Airport actually drains money from the City. Revenues generated by the Airport are solely used to maintain the Airport and its staff. When Airport maintenance funds are insufficient, the City kicks in additional revenue to maintain the Airport, such as $1.227 million this year for runway resurfacing and inspection.

The Airport should be converted to a Great Park like at El Toro and in Berlin. The golf course that used to be there should be returned. A solar and windmill farm should be installed to help make Santa Monica totally energy independent.