What is your background and how does it inform your decision to run for mayor?
My background is in law enforcement. I am currently employed as a full-time patrol officer for Los Angeles. I served five years in the Marine Corps and California National Guard prior to becoming a peace officer. I am running for mayor because I feel it is my calling to continue to serve the public by bringing back public safety, reducing homelessness, and creating a city government that is 100% transparent with us.
Most major cities in the state have “strong mayor” forms of government wherein the mayor is also the city’s chief executive, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco. What are your thoughts on Long Beach adopting the strong mayor model?
The mayor of Long Beach may benefit from having a strong mayor model of governing. Our mayor already has a lot of sway and power in our city. I am not opposed to exploring this and weighing the pros and cons, if the residents want to change our charter.
Emergency funds from the federal government were critical in starting, sustaining, and even expanding critical social programs during the height of the pandemic, such as language access and mental health services for Black residents. How do you propose that the city maintain these services when the emergency funds expire?
I believe our government should remain impartial to all residents of Long Beach. If I were to become your mayor, I would explore selling naming rights of our infrastructure to bring new revenue into the city to keep as many services active.
If elected, you would be granted the opportunity to put forth a list of mayoral budget recommendations each fiscal year. List some of the budget priorities that you would recommend during your first budget cycle as mayor?
Public safety will always be the top priority for fiscal budgeting and then infrastructure. The City of Long Beach has a responsibility to provide these vital services and then we look to fund all other services.
Homelessness is an increasing health and safety problem in Long Beach. Tell us about an approach, policy, or program that has been successfully implemented in another city to reduce homelessness that you would like to introduce in Long Beach.
During the pandemic, Long Beach used California National Guard soldiers to operate two homeless shelters and set up temporary shelters. I would contact our governor and LA County Board of Supervisors to declare a state of emergency. I would also direct and plan other operations with partners, city entities, non-profits, and charities to assist in housing our homeless. We would utilize the California National Guard to build shelters, assist in transportation of pre-screened patients, and do this in a quickest/safest manner.
In what City Council district(s) would you like to see the permanent supportive housing units needed to house homeless people in Long Beach?
District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9.
The state is requiring Long Beach to create over 11,000 housing units priced for low-income residents by 2029. Inclusionary zoning, one of the city’s most recent efforts to produce more income-restricted housing, “can be expected to fulfill only a small portion of the unmet need for affordable housing in Long Beach,” according to a city memo. What other mechanisms do you support for creating affordable units?
Due to the passing of SB 9, Long Beach has lost municipal control of its development. We would continue to build low-income, affordable housing and actively join the lawsuit against the state of California to combat SB 9. As your mayor, I would find solutions on how to develop empty lots to create more housing and free up office spaces to convert them to apartments.
Do you believe that housing is a human right?
No
According to county data, accidental overdose deaths have spiked over the pandemic, especially in Long Beach. Harm reduction has become a key public health intervention in preventing overdose deaths and cities like New York and San Francisco have opened safe consumption sites to address the problem. Should Long Beach open a safe consumption site?
No.
How would you use the platform of the mayor’s office to increase voter turnout in Long Beach?
I have been using my platform to inform our voters of the importance of paying attention to local politics. We would continue to inform the public of upcoming elections and do a better job at posting all city meetings.
Should Long Beach increase public funding of the arts?
Yes.
Have you taken campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry and, if so, do you plan to continue?
No.
As part of a plan for all new buildings to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, the Los Angeles City Council is considering a proposal to bar all new commercial and residential construction projects from including gas line hookups in favor of all-electric appliances. Would you support a similar undertaking in Long Beach?
No.
A city-hired consultant recently recommended changes to the Citizen Police Complaint Commission that would create an inspector general position to investigate the LBPD. However, the inspector general could only investigate police shootings, in-custody deaths, and complaints against command staff with the approval of the City Manager. Past commissioners and community members have argued that the CPCC’s current subordination to the City Manager has rendered it toothless. Would you be in favor of an Inspector General position with the unfettered authority to investigate officer misconduct and use-of-force?
Yes.
The city’s Technology and Innovation Commission recently issued a full-throated recommendation to put a citywide moratorium on the use of Facial Recognition Technology until privacy and civil rights safeguards are put in place. Do you agree with this recommendation?
Yes.
What do you believe to be the root cause of crime and what evidence do you have to support your answer?
I think the root cause of crime is the lack of empathy, desperation, lack of perspective, possible insanity, selfishness, emotion, intoxication, and more. I have over 15 years of law enforcement experience and have arrested everything ranging from petty theft to murder. Some crime is committed because of mental illness and intoxication, but those people are arrested just the same. There has been advanced research into this topic and do not pretend to be an expert on why people do anything. I do believe that there should be consequences for victimizing another person regardless of a person’s excuse and reasoning. We do, however, need to evaluate as a society how we want our laws enforced.
Have you taken campaign donations from the Long Beach Police Officers Association and, if so, do you plan to continue?
I have not and do not plan on taking it.
Fare collections accounted for 12-15% of Long Beach Transit’s operating revenue pre- pandemic, totaling roughly $14.8 million. As mayor, you’ll be able to appoint members to LBT’s Board of Directors. Would you support LBT transitioning towards a fare-free transit system?
No.
The City of West Hollywood permits cannabis consumption lounges where adult patrons can smoke and consume cannabis products, opening to great fanfare. What are your thoughts on Long Beach allowing cannabis consumption lounges?
I do not see any issue with this, as long as reasonable rules/measures are put in place. These lounges should be treated like bars and understand their liability if someone is over-served, served under-age, and allowed to drive away while under the influence.
What, if any, reforms would you support to limit the influence of big money special interests in local elections?
I believe our campaign finance laws need to be reformed to even the field for all candidates. Candidates should be given the ability to advertise on government property equally and allowed to have one funded commercial, equally. Elections should not be solely based on money and should eliminate the ability of other campaigns to donate to fellow candidates.
