If Part Of NYC Can (And Did) Stun Their Local Dem Party Establishment And Elect AOC To Congress, Will LB's Working Class 1st Council District Elect An Unabashed "Democratic Socialist" To City Council? Hear Elliot Gonzales In His Own Words
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(June 9, 2019, 2:05 p.m.) -- If voters in part of NYC can (and did) stun their local Democrat party establishment and elect grassroots propelled Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress, will voters in LB's working class northern downtown to PCH/southern WLB 1st Council district shrug the desires of LB's incumbents and elect an unflinching "Democratic Socialist" to the LB City Council?
We'll learn that in November...because one of the three candidates who've surfaced to date to succeed exiting 1st dist. Councilwoman/state Senator-elect Lena Gonzalez openly identifies himself as a Democratic Socialist.
Elliot Gonzales, a former member (and for two years chair) of LB City Hall's "Sustainability Commission" (members chosen by Mayor Garcia, approved by the City Council) delivered his candidate announcement at Harvey Milk Park on Saturday Jun. 8, orating for the better part of an hour, then fielding Q & A.
Mr. Gonzales is the first openly avowed Democratic Socialist to seek LB City Council office. If elected in November in what is expected to be a low-voter-turnout election in the traditionally low-turnout 1st Council district, he (or whoever wins, no runoff) would have a policy-setting voice on issues citywide affecting residents and taxpayers on budget priorities, development approvals, land uses, public safety, homeless and housing.
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In a flier distributed at the event, Mr. Gonzales says he is a "Progressive running on a platform calling for a land trust to build public housing and affordable housing, creating a Green New Deal and a public bank to back that Green New Deal."
[Flier text] End Homelessness Through a Public Land Trust for Affordable Public Housing: Create a public land trust that allows for long-term affordable rentals available to all income groups to create competition. Rental units as low as $600 a month with an option to buy over time. Create a low cost purchase option inside land trusts
Parking & Street Sweeping Fee Reductions for Residents: Stop escalation of fees and create super low monthly repayment options and forgiveness programs for those in a hardship situation. Partner with business to expand local parking options.
Creation of Free Citywide Broadband and Reduction in Public Transit Fees: Create free citywide high-speed broadband to ensure Long Beach is on the cutting edge of technology anbd lower of transit fees to spur public transportation. Convert all buses to renewable electric.
Green New Deal for Long Beach With Union Jobs: Transition to 100% renewable energy by ownership of local grid through participation in new California Community Choice Aggregation Electric Program. Use advanced energy storage facilities such as the Energy Vault to manage intermitancy of green energy. Green Long Beach through zero waste policies like green composing, the caputure of 100% of runoff into L.A. River, and wetland restoration. Ban fracking in Long Beach and divest from all fossil fuels. Establish a green investment zone in Westside Long Beach.
Public Bank to Fund Infrastructure, Public Land Trusts, And Green Union Programs: Create a public band in Long Beach that can leverage the hundreds of millions in dollars in city coffers to make billion in investment in green energy, housing, broadband, and public transit
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As separately reported by LBREPORT.com, two other candidates have surfaced thus far:
Mary Zendejas, formerly a member of incoming Mayor Garcia's 2014 "Transition Team" whom he thereafter appointed to LB Transit's governing board (effective Jan. 1, 2019). Ms. Zendejas' campaign press release doesn't mention her involvement with Housing Long Beach, the advocacy group that supported putting a toughly-worded petition-initiated rent control/just cause eviction ordinance on an upcoming Long Beach ballot. The group fell short of its signature gathering goal...but a City Council mcajority could enact a rent control/just-cause eviction measure or put one on the ballot. Housing Long Beach spotlighted Ms. Zendejas on its website here.
Ray Morquecho lists his priorities here. "Long Beach's First District has everything to attract businesses, visitors, and residents. "I am committed to ensuring that we build smart. People need clean streets, green space, parking, walkability, quality transportation options, and other amenities that ensure working and living here is enjoyable," his campaign website states.
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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
(June 9, 2019, 2:05 p.m.) -- If voters in part of NYC can (and did) stun their local Democrat party establishment and elect grassroots propelled Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress, will voters in LB's working class northern downtown to PCH/southern WLB 1st Council district shrug the desires of LB's incumbents and elect an unflinching "Democratic Socialist" to the LB City Council?
