Dear Paramount Neighbor,
I have lived in Paramount since the 1990’s and I intend to spend my life in Paramount. My residency, education and professional knowledge of housing markets has allowed to appreciate the demographic diversity that enriches our region; however, precisely due to my love for the community, I must express some sincere feelings and uncomfortable truths about the state of our beloved Paramount. In my lifetime here, very little progress has been achieved and far less translates into opportunities for its people. While our neighboring cities continually show progression, we invest our faith in career bureaucrats and politicians for little in return. Our representatives do not reflect our ongoing demographic shifts, nor values. Judging from my conversations with other residents, I know I’m not alone. For those of us experiencing the local government’s indifference, it is evident that we lack earnest representation from our elected officials.
Acceptance of campaign donations from corporations is tantamount to legal bribes; yet, that is the way of life for the career politicians and profiteers at the helm of Paramount City Council; hence, it is not surprising to awake to the shameful practices of rampant nepotism, granted contracts without bidding requirements, approved overpriced service contracts, concurrent employment and collusion with the corporate-polluters (who are literally killing us) and with The Chamber of Commerce (notorious for their efforts against environmental regulation and consumer protections). Consequently, I reject any attempt to influence me and our local policy through financial donations and/or endorsements from establishment politicians. I urge all voters to categorically discard the possibility of voting for any puppet-candidate receiving corporate funds and endorsements, and/or directly affiliated, related and colluding with current government officials, nor any leech-candidate simply seeking another government job. Voting for such would mean essentially voting for maintaining the status-quo (the same bullshit were tired of). As a City Council Member, I will propose, fight and vote for measures that will assist in the comprehensive uplifting of The City of Paramount and its residents. The Paramount community is my priority. I am beholden ONLY to the people and as such, I will place the interests of the community before any economic interest.
My primary goal is to utilize all the legal powers of a council member to secure economic prosperity and environmental justice for ALL Paramount Residents. In part, I intend to do this by ending the current illegal corporate-pollution, incentivizing new jobs from healthier industries, eliminating predatory restrictions intended to generate revenue through fines (e.g. public parking and towing), re-evaluate all city contracts, create programs and hubs that promote physical/mental health and intellectual development (e.g. 21st century library, state of the art fitness and sports facilities), assistance and rehabilitation programs for the disadvantaged brethren (e.g. single-parents, students, felons, addicts, adolescents, the elderly), imposing renter protections from abusive landlords (e.g. rent-control), protecting our immigrant community from ICE raids as well as all residents from law enforcement abuses (via zero tolerance policy), accelerating the success of businesses by keeping taxes low and improving our infrastructure, exhibit the genius of local artists in our public spaces, improving local public transportation, introduce new markets, facilitate new resident-owned businesses, propel the rate of home ownership through city sponsored programs, raise the local minimum wage, foster a culture of community economics (keeping our money continually circulating among Paramount residents) by incentivizing locally centered consumption, and most importantly- generate more revenue from the billionaire polluters (making killer profits at our expense) and/or relocating them out of Southeast Los Angeles.
It will be an honor to receive your vote and represent you in this righteous fight to improve and clean The City of Paramount, for all of us. March 3rd, please vote for me- Alfredo Bañuelos, to be your representative City Council Member. Together we rise.
In Solidarity,
Alfredo Bañuelos - a concerned resident.
Realtor/ Philosopher/ Notary/ Activist