Consejo Municipal — Ciudad de Santa Monica

I am homegrown Santa Monica. I moved here at 5, was a latchkey kid who was nurtured through our YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, and teachers in our excellent public schools. After I completed my B.S. in Business Administration and Finance, I married the girl next door, Yunnie Kim. Today, we are raising our two young sons in the house where she grew up. I decide to run for City Council because I believe it is time for my generation to be represented, and I believe it is time for new, energized and engaged leadership that can bridge generations. While it’s been a long time since I’ve held elected office – last time was when I served as Samohi Student Body Vice President along with now State Senator Ben Allen, who was SB President — I have the experience and skill-set to be an effective voice not only for my generation but across generations, evidenced by my professional and community work. I understand how to turn forward-thinking ideas into tangibles as evidenced by my success as an entrepreneur and financial consultant – having helped some of the biggest street fashion companies gain international success. I run my family’s 40-year old restaurant on the Pier, which I rebranded The Albright – creating dozens of new living wage jobs, turning it into the first green certified business on the Pier and starting the organic recycling program there. I understand the city’s challenge from my service on the city’s Audit Commission and GoSamo Transit Board; from my work to create programs for better paying jobs and to end homelessness. I am also a bridge builder – a reputation I first acquired in high school went I helped end the Black/Brown Samohi student riots. 

I was taught since I was young, if you want something to change, you need to be part of the change. These are the values I got through stories of my great, great grandparents, an abolitionist and suffragist. I love my city, but I feel it is time for new, engergized and engaged leadership to address certain issues. My generation is being priced out of the city. Many of us don’t feel that our issues are heard or understood. Older adults and immigrants are facing uncertainty here. I will bring forward-thinking ideas to address these challenges. My campaign is an opportunity to engage younger adults and others who have not been involved in the city before, say they are not heard, but don't get involved in the first place. I am committed to greater communication with residents, and greater transparancy and accountabilty to City Hall. In our technology-oriented world, there are many ways to engage residents. I also believe that in a city of our size, a Councilmember must be accessible to consituents.  My commitment to our city is to keep it equitable, diverse and sustainable while protecting all residents. I want to change the sentiment that you are either for renters or homeowners, for residents or business people. We can be for everyone without sacrifcing the concerns of one for the other. I know this is possible by listening and building coalitions.

I’ve lived in Santa Monica most of my life, but was born just outside New York City.  When I was thirteen, my family moved to New Haven.  Graduating from a public high school at 16, I won a full scholarship to Yale, where I was music director of the campus radio station in the late 60s.

I helped to start the top-rated FM rock station in Connecticut, and broadcasting became my first, very fulfilling, career.

In 1973 I drove cross-country to California, and by 1977 was general manager of KROQ.  Later I became creative director of an L.A. ad agency, did numerous voice-overs, and owned a small commercial radio recording studio on Santa Monica's Main Street.

In the 80s, with an early Apple II computer, I became publisher of an international online newsletter and a local activist on Santa Monica’sPublic Electronic Network.  As chair of the PEN Users' Group, I was increasingly involved in homelessness issues, and fought a proposed hotel on the beach at 415 PCH (now, 25 years later, it’s our stunning public beach house!).

I served on SMMUSD's technology advisory committee, the City’s Telecomm Working Group, the steering committee of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, and as chair of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, before being elected to City Council in 1998. Volunteering my computer skills to Santa Monica public schools led to a 25-year career as Macintosh consultant to our public schools, from which I've just retired.

Now in my fifth term on the City Council, including time as your Mayor, I focus on affordable housing and environmental sustainability. I was Council liaison to the Planning, Housing, Landmarks, and Arts Commissions, and to our Task Force on the Environment.  I’m Santa Monica’s voting delegate to the Westside Cities Council of Governments, vice-chair of the California Democratic Party’s Irish-American Caucus, sit on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, and am on the Board of Directors of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California — but my greatest pleasure remains resolutely local, improving the quality of life of all residents here in Santa Monica.