Westwood Neighborhood Council Elections 2014: Candidate Platforms

The Westwood Neighborhood Council is an advisory board made up of Westwood business owners, homeowners, UCLA students and renters, among other stakeholders. Community members elect the council for two-year terms. Anyone over 17 years old who declares a stake in Westwood Village, including property owners and employees, can vote in the election. No prior registration is necessary. Although board and committee members work as volunteers, the city doles out a $37,000 budget that the council may spend each year at its discretion.

Scott H. Whittle – Owner Residential Group Director (uncontested)

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  • Protect Westwood from adverse development
  • Support ongoing revitalization in the Village, especially businesses targeted towards UCLA students
  • Preserve and protect historic buildings and resources

Constance Boukidis – Owner Residential Group Director (uncontested)

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  • Expand council presence and outreach in Westwood
  • Develop position papers for conditional use alcohol permits and other common land use issues
  • Help Westwood evolve as a business district

Stephen Resnick – Owner Residential Group Director (uncontested)

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  • Advocate for safe bike routes in the neighborhood but not on Westwood Boulevard
  • Energize Westwood Village by encouraging quality retail and restaurants
  • Improve Westwood Boulevard south of Wilshire

Sandy Brown – Owner Residential Group Director (uncontested)

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  • Represent homeowners in Holmby Westwood area next to UCLA
  • Bring issues to the council that could impact residents’ quality of life
  • Hear from those with a stake in Westwood and respond to their interests

David Lorango – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Increase digital education/communication among residents, students and stakeholders
  • Aid in growing and sustaining local business
  • Ensure city spending is accountable to the taxpayer and provides results

Eugene Tseng – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Ensure a strong student renter voice on the neighborhood council
  • Revitalize Westwood with more retail shops and entertainment
  • Increase events such as Volunteer Day and Bruins Night Out

Austin Velez – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Increase police patrols, lighting in North Village
  • Provide bus from Westwood to North Village & the Hill
  • Advocate for new shopping & nightlife options
  • Improve conditions for Westwood’s homeless community

Ryan Krebs – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Advocate for fellow renters as council’s representative at the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils
  • Find solutions to traffic congestion
  • Work to bring businesses to Westwood, while keeping them here

Armen Hadjimanoukian – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Promote public safety, focusing on traffic movement & lighting
  • Revitalize Westwood Village’s businesses and nightlife
  • Focus on engaging residents through community wide events

Jacob Finn – Rental Residential Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Campaign for better lighting in the North Village to combat recent increase in crime
  • Collaborate with law enforcement, homeowners, businesses and students to identify safety concerns in Westwood

Marcello Robinson – Business Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Advocate for building a public parking lot in North Village
  • Hold City Hall accountable by filing Community Impact Statements
  • Public Safety; Advocate better communication between UCPD, LAPD and LAFD

Adam Swart – Business Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Greater interaction between Westwood businesses and UCLA Students
  • Increased effort to alleviate traffic problems
  • Bringing quality and affordable dining options
  • Improving communication with UCLA

Roozbeh Farahanipour – Business Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Improve businesses south of Wilshire Boulevard
  • Engage local Iranian-Americans and involve Persian Square businesses with community
  • Make Westwood a hotspot for international cuisine
  • Keep Westwood safe

Dean Abell – Business Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Keep Westwood Safe and Clean
  • Encourage new long term business growth
  • Rebrand Westwood as a unique Village unlike any other location in Los Angeles

Mark Rogo – Business Group Director (4 available seats)

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  • Work towards a stronger & united community
  • Maintain the forward momentum towards bringing Westwood Village back to its original glory
  • Encourage stronger ties to UCLA & local community
  • Serve my community

Aurelia Friedman – Student Director (1 available seat)

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  • Connect UCLA to Westwood Neighborhood Council and Westwood in general through transportation and more
  • Work on reforming parking in Westwood
  • Help to register the Westwood community to vote

Jin Ong – Student Director (1 available seat)

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  • Community Welfare and Communication
  • Devoting well over 1,000 hours of community service time, I found altruism and communication to be most important – I want to bring just that to Westwood community

Lisa Chapman – Faculty or Staff Director (uncontested)

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  • Improve communication and relations between the WWNC and UCLA
  • Promote new WWNC projects that bring the Westwood community together
  • Advocate for our Westwood community through improved outreach efforts

Laura Winikow – Educational Community Director (uncontested)

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  • Ensure our 2 elementary schools & middle school are fairly represented in council matters
  • Make all 3 schools aware of pertinent board matters, such as Neighborhood Purpose Grant application dates

Marjan Jamshidi – Nonprofit/Arts/Culture/Recreational Community Director (uncontested)

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  • As an active member of multiple non-profit organizations, I would like to utilize my knowledge to help organizations with their fundraising events and also make Westwood more arts-friendly

Mitchell Keiter – Faith-Based Community Director (uncontested)

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  • Ensure Westwood is a welcoming place for its diverse religious traditions
  • Continue the Village’s revitalization to serve the Westwood community
  • Foster access and improvements to parks and recreation

Angus Beverly – At-Large Director (uncontested)

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  • Bring more successful businesses in Westwood
  • Battle to lessen traffic congestion and to keep Westwood a more popular destination for Angelenos

Jerry Brown – At-Large Director (uncontested)

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  • Increase the visibility and relevance of NCs in LA City government
  • Preserve and enhance Westwood’s status as an important residential, educational, cultural, business, and entertainment center

 

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