City: Burbank
Position Seeking: City Council

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

As a child I was fortunate to have mothers that encouraged the arts. Although we were not wealthy I was exposed to The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, the Wadsworth Theater and I was fortunate enough to see The Phantom of the Opera. Although I was too young to stay up throughout the whole play, I remember when the signers hit their high point they woke me up. To this day that experience makes me smile.

Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in developing and supporting the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure?

I believe the City can help as much as possible with the growth and development of the region’s cultural programs and infrastructures. The city can help facilitate this in many ways. They can assist when trying to obtain permits during development. They can assist in efforts to reach out and involve residents. Being the media capital of the world we can reach out to the entertainment industry for assistance in creating and developing partnerships with the cultural arts community.

Question 3: What’s your vision for the city? What role, if any, does art and culture play in advancing that vision?

I would like to balance the budget, and address our needs. With any extra money we can address our wants. With our current budget issues, funding for local arts and culture is difficult. We must be creative and when the opportunity for matching grants arises we must try to leverage them to fund projects we would otherwise not be able to fund. The only way we can succeed is by creating partnerships and working together.

Questions 4: A recent report by the Otis College of Design found that 1 in every 6 jobs in LA County supports the creative sector and economy in Los Angeles County. If elected, how will you aim to ensure the continued vitality and growth of the creative economy and the artistic community that it supports?

I would champion the city in facilitating and encouraging the development of more cultural arts opportunities. I would ensure that the city work effectively with our Chamber of Commerce to encourage and assist in cultural tourism.
I strongly support Work Force Training and the technical training for high tech studio related jobs in the digital arts and see this training opportunity as a means to encourage and maintain jobs. Working together the arts community, our residents and the studios we could create partnerships the would deepen the city’s investment in it’s creative arts.