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Laura conducts a tour of
"hidden Montrose" with Jay Platt
of the Planning Department (above).

POSITIONS ON ISSUES

Proactive management of the city budget. Laura Friedman's experience in running a business and serving the city of Glendale will be of tremendous value in getting Glendale's budget in order. If elected to City Council, Laura will lead an effort to make Glendale more efficient. By combining overlapping city functions and eliminating unnecessary expenditures, Glendale can save millions of dollars every year without compromising the health and safety of its citizenry. Additionally, by identifying new revenue streams, through such efforts as Laura Friedman's proposal to revitalize the San Fernando Corridor, Glendale can stabilize its budget and move into the future on a strong financial footing.

The importance of arts and culture.  Glendale must proactively seek to attract businesses and investment into Glendale and place more emphasis on those related to the arts, culture, and the entertainment industry.

-The Arts as Economic and Cultural Engine; click here to read position/editorial as published in the Glendale News Press.

Smart growth is essential.  In her role as a Design Review Board Member, Laura has demanded excellence from those requesting the privilege of building in our city.  The City of Glendale should encourage high quality development in the areas most in need of economic revitalization and discourage overbuilding in excessively dense areas.

-Hillside and View Ordinance; click here to read position.

Affordable Housing & Rent Control. We must continue to provide high quality affordable housing units to the elderly, young families, and other economically challenged residents.  Recent affordable housing developments are being clustered in the southern part of Glendale, further burdening an already dense area.  New high quality affordable units should be developed throughout the city, with increased access to public transportation. The Habitat for Humanity projects should serve as a model for future affordable housing developments.

-Affordable Housing/Rent Control: click here to read full position

Sustainability as a priority. We must take steps to minimize our environmental footprint. The city should enact strict green building standards, such as the LEED program, and offer incentives to entice developers to meet or exceed those standards.

-Sustainability: click here to read full position

Glendale should designate responsibility within city staff for Environmental Sustainability, with oversight of all other departments. Currently, various city departments are attempting to “go green” independently.  Having a centralized department is the only way to insure efficiency and cooperation.  An internship program at the environmental sustainability division will minimize human resource costs while capitalizing on the fresh ideas originating from college-age students seeking to pursue a career in the environmental field.

Conservation and preservation as part of the development equation.  We must continue to enhance protection of our historic neighborhoods and open spaces.  The City of Glendale should conduct a city-wide historic survey in order to protect historic resources while providing more clarity and predictability for developers during the entitlement process.

The best for our children.  Glendale must ensure that all of our children receive the best education possible, including quality day-care and after school programs. Laura will improve communication and cooperation between the city and the school board.

A safe and inviting urban environment.  We must strive to bring parks and recreational services to our most underserved areas. Our streets should be made safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. It is crucial that we improve the services of the Glendale Beeline and develop a city-wide bicycle network.  We should lobby the state to allow Glendale to establish stricter penalties for reckless driving and to utilize stationary automated cameras to issue speeding tickets. Glendale should enact meaningful traffic calming methods wherever feasible.

Investing in civic energy.   The City of Glendale has the ability to provide tremendous assistance to non-profit community groups by the establishment of a new “Non-Profit & Volunteer” Board.  This Board would help coordinate the efforts of these diverse groups, advise them on fundraising and grant writing, and provide a regular, televised forum at which community groups could solicit volunteers and support.

- Ways to Create Civic Energy; click here to read position published as an editorial in the Glendale News Press.

Respect for each other. City Council should help foster communication and understanding between the various ethnic groups that make up our city.  There should be no place in government for those who exploit or incite ethnic tensions for political gain or any other reason.  Whenever possible, the city should seek to hire key employees who have a proven track record in dealing with diversity issues.  Council Members must lead by example.  Those who live or conduct business in the City of Glendale deserve a city council whose members are accessible to, and respectful of, the people they serve.

"Where people of goodwill get together and transcend their differences for the common good, peaceful and just solutions can be found even for those problems which seem most intractable."

- Nelson Mandela