On a bright Saturday morning in a hillside park high above Culver City, Meghan Sahli-Wells officially announced her campaign for the City Council election, scheduled for April 13,
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Ms. Sahli-Wells addressed a throng of Culver City officials and other well-wishers at the sundial sculpture near Bill Botts Field in Culver City Park.
With the city’s skyline as her backdrop, she meant to take full advantage of the scenic location.
“All we have to do is look over here at our city,” said Ms. Sahli-Wells.
“We can see what we’ve got today, and we can imagine what we want our future to be.
“Do we want more cars, more density, more traffic? Is the future really about more?
“Or can the future be about better, using our resources better, communicating better and better health?
“If we’re going to talk about more, let’s talk about more open space, more bicycles and more solar panels.
“Let’s take a look up here,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said, pointing to the oil wells that crowd the hills above Culver City Park. “Today we have oil derricks. But I think our future is clean, renewable energy. There is no waiting on that.”
The candidate lost no time explaining how community involvement is a cornerstone of her experience and her plans for City Council.
“Our neighborhoods are the nexus of our communities, and we need to protect them,” she declared. “Our local businesses help us to thrive, and we need to work with them. Our schools, they are our future. We need to support them.
A View of Her Hometown
“Culver City is an oasis inside a metropolis, and we can foster community here if we decide to.
“We can be a model of sustainable practices if we want to. But we need to have the vision and the courage to make the right choices. I’ve been working hard in the community, and I will work even harder on the Council to make Culver City the place where this vision comes to life.”
Ms.Sahli-Wells was joined by some of the many city officials endorsing her campaign. Culver City Vice Mayor Christopher Armenta spoke first, touching on some of Ms. Sahli-Wells’ efforts to fight for responsible development and sustainable practices in Culver City.
“Meghan was somebody I worked with, with regards to the Irving [Place] project,” said Mr. Armenta. “I saw her leadership skills there, which culminated in the Downtown Neighborhood Assn. I started seeing her at the Council meetings.
Getting to Know Her
“She is a quick study, somebody who clearly demonstrates the leadership qualities that I look for in a candidate. For me, it was very easy to endorse Meghan. She has a great family. She’s on the Advisory Committee on Redevelopment. She’s working on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the city. She is somebody who will bring balance in the two areas I believe Culver City needs help: development and environmental issues. I look for those qualities in a candidate, and Meghan has those qualities. I’m excited and looking forward to working with her on the City Council.”
City Council Member Gary Silbiger emphasized Ms. Sahli-Wells’ commitment and integrity.
“We know when Meghan says something – to improve the environment, to do better on development projects, to get input from the residents and others, to care about youth issues, diversity issues, and all the other things that are so dear to us – we know that that’s her life,” said Silbiger.
“We are doing so many good things in Culver City now, but it’s just begun. There is so much more to do,” said Mr. Silbiger. “With Meghan, we’ll be able to move forward. I’m afraid that if Meghan is not elected, we’ll be moving backwards very quickly. All the things we have been working on so hard will be lost.”
Numerous current and past city officials and community leaders endorse Ms. Sahli-Wells’ campaign, including Cultural Affairs Commissioner Ronnie Jayne, School Board member Karlo Silbiger, Assembly District Delegate Tom Camarella, Committee on Homelessness Vice-Chair Cary Anderson, Martin Luther King Day Committee Chair Bill Wynn, former School Board member Barbara Honig, Los Angeles Community College Board President Mona Field, and Disability Advisory Committee member Neil Rubenstein.
Ms. Sahli-Wells is co-founder of Culver City's Downtown Neighborhood Assn. and the Neighborhood Action Network, two groups that work to give Culver City residents a stronger voice in local government. She was appointed by the City Council to serve on Culver City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative Advisory Committee, and was elected its first Vice-Chair. She was named to the City’s Advisory Committee on Redevelopment (ACOR). She is also on the steering committee of Transition Culver City, a group committed to community-building and sustainable practices, and is on the Green Team of the Fiesta La Ballona Committee.
Titled “Homage to La Ballona,” Culver City Park’s sundial sculpture was created by artist Lucy Blake-Elahi, who collaborated with students from Echo Horizon School to make the public artwork reflect the changes in our natural landscape through time, and the diversity of cultures represented in Culver City.
For more information on Ms. Sahli-Wells’ campaign for the City Council, see the campaign’s website at www.vote4meghan.com, or send an email to info@vote4meghan.com.
Fundraising Schedule
A Culinary Jam Session is the title of Ms. Sahli-Wells’ campaign fundraiser on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
The candidate has invited everyone to join her at the first fundraising event, to be held at Akasha Restaurant, 9543 Culver Blvd., Downtown.
What’s being called the Jam Session is a one-of-a-kind culinary event featuring Chef Akasha’s housemade jams and chutneys, with an enticing selection of champagne, wine, and delicious sweet and savory dishes.
Tickets are $55 per person. Checks should be made payable to “Meghan Sahli-Wells for Council 2010,” and sent to 4201 Lafayette Pl., Culver City, 90232-2819. Name, address, phone number, email address, occupation and employer should be included. For more information about the event, visit www.vote4meghan.com or call 310.836.7557.
Space is limited, and tickets to the Jam Session are moving.
Mr. Klein may be contacted at james@vote4meghan.com
