79TH, 80TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS WEBER: I WANT ACTION TO ADDRESS GROWING INEQUALITY
Democratic San Diego incumbents Shirley Weber and Lorena Gonzalez face challenges in the 79th and 80th Assembly Districts, from Republicans John Moore and John Vogel, respectively. Below are their answers to a series of questions posed by The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board via email. Their opponents didn’t respond to survey requests.
Q:What more can be done to limit the financial and environmental damage of climate change and wildfires especially? A:
The issue becomes increasingly complicated to solve as the effects of climate change are no longer theoretical. We have worked over the last couple of decades to reduce our contribution to climate change in a preventative way.
But it seems that the effects of climate change are here and already having a devastating impact on California’s economy, including communities least able to absorb them.
Denial is not an option and neither is partisanship. We will need to confront it for the imminent threat that it is. I lent my support to California’s Green New Deal earlier this year that would prompt transition to a greener economy and expand its benefits to low-income communities.
Unfortunately, it was a casualty of the pandemic and uncertain budget prospects. This next session will force us to confront some bracing truths about the condition of the state, including what we are up against on this and a number of fronts.
Q:
Has the pandemic and so many people working from home made you rethink housing and transportation policies? If so, how?
A:
As awkward and frustrating as working remotely has been, it is clear that there are some jobs and some tasks that don’t require us to be present 40 hours a week. The benefits to the environment and quality of life (less traffic) have caused me to think of post-COVID working arrangements.
Building new high-rise office buildings, as we are doing at the Capitol, might take a back seat to more effective working environments requiring fewer persons in closed spaces.
The effect of such a situation would mean more persons might be willing to work farther from the work site in areas where there is more open space, making building less expensive.
Additionally, not having to drive to work daily makes automobiles less necessary and families might be able to exist with one instead of two and three automobiles. It would be unfortunate if we don’t use this experience to find a better, safer and cleaner way to addressing workplace and transportation needs.
Q:
What specific policy changes do you support after months of racial justice protests to improve law enforcement practices or racial equity?
A:
Simply put, accountability in policing is essential, something that these protesters have been demanding for the last few years. At the very least, we should ensure that officers who are fired for serious misconduct are not rehired in some other jurisdiction only to offend again. Additionally, requiring law enforcement to intervene when an officer is out of control is essential. The duty to intervene would make all officers responsible for what occurs among officers and citizens. In the same way that we require teachers to be mandated reporters, officers should have similar responsibilities to control and manage each other.
Lastly, we need to revisit the essential functions of police. As the “defund” the police cries increase, we should be assessing what responsibilities we have heaped upon police that could be more competently handled by other professionals (mental health, school truancy, etc.). Our
expectations in every community are that police will keep us safe and respect our individual dignity and civil rights, but that’s not what’s happening.
Q:
What more should the state be doing to improve student distance learning and public education overall?
A:
I understand that the pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge, but we did not rise to the occasion. I am not happy with the amount of learning loss among students experienced during the pandemic. Parents were not always equipped to manage work life along with homeschooling their children during the pandemic.
We need to ensure that all students have the resources necessary to ensure they don’t fall further behind.
We also need to have clear expectations about learning outcomes and accountability for them while still allowing f lexibility in local decision-making on how that’s accomplished.
Q:
Should taxes in California be increased? If so, which ones?
A:
I am agnostic until a particular proposal is before me. If the public good demands it, it might be necessary, but otherwise it’s not the first public policy tool I tend to reach for. The Legislature needs to have a serious discussion about California taxes and develop a comprehensive plan that addresses decades of concern and shortfalls.
Everyone has a different plan to address quick and short-term needs. Consequently, the public tires from having a tax plan on every ballot, which has proven to be ineffective.
Q:
What is the most important issue we have not raised and why?
A:
Among the issues not raised is the growing inequality in California. The rate of poverty, homelessness and the increasing cost of living have an adverse effect on all Californians. The number of homeless persons throughout the state is overwhelming and demands immediate and drastic actions. It is morally debilitating to see the massive number of persons sleeping on our streets without a solution. We tend not to raise the questions because the solution demands all Californians bear the responsibility and most are unwilling to sacrifice. Yet it should be apparent the problem will not go away without direction and action on multiple levels.