Comments
MEET THE CANDIDATE - In this non-partisan contest to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, incumbent Karen Bass finds herself locked in a three-way race with Councilmember Nithya Raman (CD-4) and reality star turned politician Spencer Pratt in a race with no clear frontrunner.
And while the emphasis has been on the so-called, top tiered candidates, what about the other eleven who qualified, and will appear on this long and crowded ballot?
One of the eleven includes Westchester Neighborhood Council member John Logsdon.
A 51-year-old homeowner, married with two children in high school, this community advocate serves on his NC's Public Safety committee and is originally from Seattle and arrived in LA some 30 years ago.
A graduate of Montana State with a BA in Film & Television, Logsdon is both a surfer and skier and believes volunteering is part of his DNA.
Despite the long odds, Logsdon has put together a true grass roots effort as he has secured some 500 sign locations with his volunteer staff of just three. A registered independent, Logsdon submitted nearly 800 signatures to gain ballot access mostly secured on his own as he canvasses area neighborhood council meetings where we met and then chatted on the phone.
For Logsdon is not shy as he presses the flesh at these gatherings rarely attended by the frontrunners.
"Getting stuff done," and the "failure of leadership" of the incumbent are driving this effort to improve a city he believes is in crisis.
Certainly, an outsider first and frontrunner last; Logsdon hopes his take on Los Angeles will shape the race and give voters another voice to consider.
You can view his website at www.LogsdonforLA.com
Below is our interview:
Housing Affordability & Zoning Reform:Los Angeles continues to face a severe housing shortage and rising rents. What specific zoning reforms or policy changes are you pursuing to increase housing supply without accelerating displacement in vulnerable communities?
We need to accelerate the building of new apartments and multi use buildings. So much red tape at the moment that it's crushing developers and dragging out projects. We need to have specific areas throughout the city...which already exist where these types of developments can happen faster. We also need to set aside affordable housing in each building so we don't displace anyone.
Homelessness Strategy Effectiveness:
Billions have been allocated to address homelessness. How do you evaluate which programs are actually reducing unsheltered homelessness, and what changes are you making to improve accountability and outcomes?
Accountability has taken a severe hit as LAHSA has misplaced a ton of money and taxpayers are not happy with the results.
I would take a serious look at LAHSA (currently being scaled back) to see if it is a viable alternative or if the city itself should be in complete control and not work with a partnership county agency. Homelessness is complex and requires a multi-layered approach from mental health facilities to addiction centers to even going deeper and trying to curb where a situation becomes dire for someone who is about to lose their living space. We need safety nets in society so that people don't lose it all before falling victim to losing their home.
Public Safety Beyond Policing:
How is your administration balancing traditional policing with investments in mental health response teams, violence prevention programs, and community-based safety initiatives?
Like everything these days even policing has evolved. Not every 911 call needs a police officer, we should dispatch mental health teams to situations that are not violent and require deescalation measures. Of course, each situation is different, but if we have partnerships with Mental Health response teams, then both the LAPD and the Mental Health team can be utilized in ways that are more efficient per the situation.
Transportation & Traffic Congestion:
With ongoing expansion of public transit, what is your long-term vision for reducing car dependency in Los Angeles, and how will you ensure these systems are accessible and safe for all residents?
I'm a strong advocate for public transportation, walkability and biking. I think LA is on the right path, albeit slow, to having a great Metro Light Rail / Subway system. This will take time but we have to have a head down approach and continue to progress in getting more lines and more ridership. I think we need to increase our bus fleet and also have dedicated bus only lanes, which are timed with traffic lights in rush hour to be an efficient mover across the city. The more efficient people move whether it be bus or rail will get people thinking they don't need to be in their cars. At the moment the system is not complete, but we have to move forward and one day it will be very efficient.
If we build housing and businesses by transit hubs and make them unique and neighborly, then people will gravitate to those areas and be able to use the light rail / subway more efficiently. I believe we have turned this corner, and society is seeing this as a viable way of living.
I do think we need to build out our bike lanes and make them safer for cyclists to get around LA. In a perfect world we would have buffer areas between traffic, parked cars and sidewalks. We have a few areas around town that are like this (think of the Figueroa corridor from USC to downtown) and they make a cyclist feel safe. We need to connect all bike lanes through out the city so people can get around safely. This will take time but can be done!
Climate Resilience & Water Management:
As climate risks increase—wildfires, drought, and extreme heat—what infrastructure investments or policy shifts are you prioritizing to make Los Angeles more resilient?
We need to get ahead of this as a city and a society as climate action should be a huge priority. Here are a few things I would tackle:
-More Trees: In my first three years we would plant 500,000 trees. We can do this through grants and partnerships with non profitts as I belive having more trees cleanse the air and creates shade which in the long run can bring the ground temperature down.
-More Reservoirs: We need to create more reservoirs and capture rainwater so we have an adequate water supply for our metropolis. This will help during firefighting and also be an efficient way to store water.
-Trash Collection at River Mouths: We need to have trash collection at river mouths, like the Interceptor Project in Playa Del Rey that stops trash from going into the ocean.
-Robust Recycling: A recent report showed that people just aren't recycling like they should be. We need to implement ways to incentivize people to think ecologically and recycle responsibly.
-An overall game plan on environmental education and stewardship: I think education is a key driver in teaching citizens about the importance of climate change and how we can help and lessen our impact. We need a shift in society away from the constant cycle of buying something and discarding it. This will take time and needs to happen but we need to work together.
Economic Inequality & Job Growth:
What strategies are you implementing to ensure that economic growth in Los Angeles translates into high-quality, accessible jobs for residents across different neighborhoods, not just in affluent areas?
I'm a big fan of neighborhoods, as a board member on the Neighborhood Council system of LA, I have become more and more precious about each neighborhood throughout our city, be it Venice, Winnetka, San Pedro or Sherman Oaks. As a city we need a master plan to invest in each of our neighborhoods so that we keep jobs in those areas and one area doesn't fall to the wayside. If we invest in each of these areas and make them unique, make sure they have signs that identify them, then people will become proud of their areas and want to stay and work there, rather than commute across our city, I believe if we follow this approach then we will support economic growth all throughout our city and not in just one core area.
Government Transparency & Public Trust:
In light of past concerns about corruption and transparency in city government, what concrete steps are you taking to rebuild trust and ensure decision-making is open and accountable?
This is a big one as City Hall and Government as a whole have taken a hit with public trust. In my first one hundred days I would create an oversight committee that tracks all expenditures through the various committees so that we get out of this problem of overspending and disappearing funds. We need a public document, rather a public spreadsheet, so taxpayers can see what was approved and where the expenses are going and if it's going to be completed on time. We spend a lot on wasted time and go over budget. We need to steer away from this and have accountability is key.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident of Venice who covers the numerous municipal, state and judicial races on the June 2nd Primary ballot. A contributing writer to LA City Watch, he can be reached via e-mail at [email protected])
