When was the last time the seven candidates for the City Council were asked:
- Whom would you nominate to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court?
- Would you approve of Planned Parenthood opening a clinic in Culver City?
- Where do you go to get your news?
- How do you feel about body cams for the Police Dept.?
These kinds of creative questions – from informed, curious students – contributed to the liveliest, funnest candidates forum of the season last evening at West Los Angeles College.
Answers were measured in seconds not minutes.
The students demonstrated that forums – in anticipation of the April 12 election when voters will choose three of the seven – don’t have to be funereal exercises draped in long-faced gravity.
Five years ago, Michelle Mayans of Culver City, an imaginative young woman who believed students were – and should be – interested in hometown and national politics. She organized the student group Ask2Know, which visits the White House at least four times a year.
Let’s go to the answers.
On a Supreme Court nominee:
Thomas Small chose President Obama.
Daniel Lee would name Michelle Alexander, human rights advocate and Ohio State University professor, known for her book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.”
Marcus Tiggs, a bankruptcy attorney by day, would choose a bankruptcy judge with whom he has worked for years.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma) was Scott Wyant’s choice.
Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells picked state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, a candidate for the seat of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Ca), who has announced her retirement.
As for Goran Eriksson, he concluded that President Obama is doing a fine job on his own of searching out a nominee to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
“You guys are a riot,” grinned Jay Garocochea, who said the system in place is working smoothly without a nudge from Culver City politicians.
What if Planned Parenthood sought to open a clinic in Culver City? Would you approve?
Mr. Tiggs: “I would be proud to have Planned Parenthood come in. This would add another layer to our healthcare.”
Mr. Wyant: “I have supported Planned Parenthood for almost 50 years.”
Mr. Eriksson: “Absolutely.”
Mr. Garocochea: “I don’t know.”
Mr. Lee: “Definitely in favor.”
Ms. Sahli-Wells: “I would be proud and happy to have such a clinic.”
Mr. Small: “I would be totally in favor. This would make us even more of a model city.”
What would you change about Culver City?
Mr. Eriksson: “Traffic and parking.”
Mr. Garocochea: “I will piggyback on Mr. Eriksson’s answer.”
Mr. Lee: “More walkable, more bikeable and more sustainable.”
Ms. Sahli-Wells: “Culver City has 10 percent of the largest urban oil field in America. I would like to see it become the largest park on the western side of the United States.”
Mr. Small: “To find a way for schools and the rest of the community to work closer together.”
Mr. Tiggs: “Find the money to improve (conditions of) parks.”
Mr. Wyant: “A way to build more and smaller houses so people can live together in Culver City without having to go elsewhere.”
Where do you get your news?
Ms. Sahli-Wells: “NPR, the Los Angeles Times and the New Yorker magazine.”
Mr. Small: “Marketplace and The New York Times.”
Mr. Tiggs: “Various outlets and the internet.”
Mr. Wyant: “The New York Tines, the Los Angeles Times, the New Yorker, NPR and Google News.”
Mr. Eriksson: “I have the NPR app on my phone. I listen to the radio. I read Swedish newspapers, the Guardian (of London) and the German newspaper Die Welt.”
Mr. Lee: “Social media, the BBC, the Guardian, Slate and Salon.com.”
