Malsin Backer Encourages Friends

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     I urge all of my friends and colleagues, and all residents who care about the future of Culver City, to vote for Scott Malsin for City Council on April 11.
     Scott backs up what he says and has truly gotten a lot done in this city, with over twelve years of activism under his belt. He knows the issues and talks in specifics, not with broad strokes and easy answers.

Many Reasons to Back Malsin

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     Scott Malsin is a smart man of genuinely good character. I would love to see him elected to the City Council on April 11.
     At the recent Candidates Forum in Blair Hills, Mr. Malsin demonstrated that he has both a comprehensive understanding of local issues and the temperament to address them in an effective way. Mr. Malsin convinced me that his leadership style is just what the City Council needs. 

     Mr. Malsin describes himself as a practical consensus-builder. He also indicates that one of his goals is to bring civility back to the City Council. Given the number of three-to-two decisions we see coming from the current City Council, we clearly need a practical consensus-builder.

I Know Scott Malsin

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     I am a resident of Culver City, and I have not been so excited to endorse anyone more than Scott Malsin for the City Council. I met Scott five years ago as a member of the voluntary Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). During the years of friendship, I have found Scott to be very personable, very bright, a visionary, and extremely concerned about matters associated with Culver City. 

     He is currently on the Planning Commission, and he has been keenly aware and involved in making important decisions so that the city is a better place to live and for businesses to grow.
     He has gained the knowledge and experience in the workings of the city government and is now ready for the next step, being a member of the City Council.

The Real Truth About V

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     Over the past few weeks, Measure V opponents have asserted that the proposed new charter is part of a plan to eliminate civil service protection for city employees. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
     I, along with every other member of the Charter Review Committee, recognize that Culver City is extremely fortunate to have such high quality employees.

     The Committee did conclude that Culver City was not well served by the present system. Some department heads are covered by civil service and others are not.

     But there was not even a suggestion that we might want to reduce (much less eliminate) the civil service protections enjoyed by city employees below the department head level.
     The “smoking gun” pointed to by Measure V opponents is the deletion from the current charter of a clause requiring a two-thirds vote of the people before a city department can be withdrawn from civil service.

Why Yes Vote on V Is Wise

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     We urge you to vote Yes on Measure  V on Election Day, April 11.
     It has been more than fifty years since the adoption of the current City Charter.  The world and the city have changed considerably.  It is time for Culver City to get in step with today and be governed by a Charter that allows the city to adapt to tomorrow.

     Taking Raintree as a microcosm of the city, we can look back a few years when the Boards of Directors hired, fired and evaluated the performance of all our employees.

Santa Claws Or Is It Claus?

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     I realize that Santa Claus does not make an appearance during the winter holiday that we of the Jewish persuasion observe.  
     However, I would think that as a journalist you would be more conscious of your spelling and grammar.
 
     I believe the icon is Santa Claus, not Santa Clause.

Two Votes for Malsin

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     We support Scott Malsin for City Council.  These are the three main reasons we will be voting for him:
 
   1. Experience.  Scott has demonstrated his dedication to Culver City for years.  Through such activities as his membership on the Planning Commission, his involvement with the Fiesta la Ballona and groups like CERT, Scott has been involved in many aspects of Culver City life. Actively participating in a variety of programs with different groups, he is working to improve the lives of Culver City residents.  He has gained an excellent understanding of how the city and its government work, how residents feel about their city.  To mix metaphors, "he’s paid his dues" and will be ready to "hit the ground running" as a member of the City Council.

Reasons to Oppose Measure V

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     I’ll be voting no on Measure V.  I’ve asked the same question of three different speakers in favor of the measure at three different Measure V debates and received basically the same answer three times. 
     The question: "If I don’t agree with even one part of the Charter Amendment, how can I, in good conscience, vote in favor of it?"  The answer?  "If you approve of most of it, vote yes.  You can’t put it all on the ballot as separate line items."
     Those of us against Measure V approve of the majority of it.  The language cleanup, the administrative "stuff," does need to be changed.  But items like CAO vs. City Manager, removing civil service protection from the fire and police chiefs, appointing the City Treasurer and City Clerk instead of electing them?  Each one has a valid "yes" or "no" argument.  The hot button items should be separated out and voted on individually.

Why Malsin Is Recommended

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I moved into Culver City in 1998, and I was unsure what to expect.  I was surprised to find active and spirited residents dedicated to ensuring that Culver City remains a thriving community.  I also found a city government responsive to the needs its residents. 
 
Scott Malsin, in large part, helped to exceed my expectations.  In this age of political cynicism and apathy, Scott brings a clear and reasoned voice to politics.  He understands our problems and finds common ground with friends and foes alike.  His first question is never “what’s in it for me?” Rather, “what’s in the best interest of the community?”  That is simply refreshing.

City Councilperson, Gary Silbiger

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I am helping our incumbent City Councilperson, Gary Silbiger, to be re-elected on April 11 for several reasons:
 
·  Gary has consistently supported and voted giving increased notice to relevant parties, be they residents, homeowners or developers;
·  Gary has encouraged interested parties to come to meetings and make their voices heard;
·  Gary appreciates how difficult it is for some people to stand up and speak at meetings. He has always been respectful and listened to the comments made, be they oral or written statements;