A Few Words From Your New Culver City Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells

 Just as Patch did with newly-installed Mayor Jeff Cooper, we asked newly installed Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells to talk to us about her expectations for Culver City in the year ahead.

Culver City Patch:  What do you see as the main difficult issues facing Culver City in the coming year?

Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells: Budget. The passage of Measure Y got us out of draconian budget cuts that would have compromised our quality of life in Culver City. Thank you voters! We've averted disaster, but there's still work to be done. Now we must continue to keep a close eye on spending, maximize efficiency and maintain a healthy, diverse business base. The newly formed Public Finance Advisory Committee will help us achieve this. I'm looking forward to working with them, as they bring more transparency and great talent to the table. 

Oil field safety. Culver City has the dubious distinction of containing 10 percent of the largest urban oil field in the US (the other 90 percent is next door to us in unincorporated LA County). Oil drilling in this heavily populated area is of great concern to many, not the least because the field sits on an active 7.4 fault line. After passing a resolution asking the State of California to ban hydraulic fracturing until it has been thoroughly studied and proven safe for humans and the environment, Culver City has now begun the process of revising its oil-drilling ordinance. It's extremely important for the public to give input on this document. I would encourage everyone to visit http://www.culvercity.org/en/inglewoodoilfield/DiscussionDraft.aspx and take part in this important process. 

Patch: What are some of your "pet projects" that you would like to focus on?

Sahli-Wells: Healthy Transportation. CicLAvia is a case in point how walking, biking and other non-motorized forms of transportation can revolutionize our communities, turning congested streets into massive parties. Making our city more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly is one of my biggest goals. It creates healthier individuals, reduces air and noise pollution, and helps reduce our dependency on oil. 

As the alternate member of the Expo Board, connecting our city to mass transit, and supporting our bus system are also very important to me.

Environment. Community outreach has already begun on the long-awaited single-use plastic bag ban. Next, I'd like to push forward a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam), and institute citywide composting. As members of the Sustainability Sub-Committee, the new mayor, Jeff Cooper, staff and I are working on these issues and more.  https://www.culvercity.org/~/media/AF0B5D6AECAE4A0DBFDA3E23143C2F66.ashx

Supporting our schools. A mere issue of scheduling has stood in the way of allowing the School Board use of our Council Chambers for their two monthly meetings. Council Chambers are better for School Board meetings because they are bigger, more comfortable and allow meetings to be properly filmed, live streamed online and available on cable. I've been to numerous School Board meetings that are standing room only. Our schools are the backbone of our community and we should do everything in our power to support them. It is inconceivable to me that schedules would take precedence over schools, and I hope to remedy this soon.

Patch: What do you love about Culver City?

Sahli-Wells: First, I love my neighborhood: full of friends, tree-lined, and eminently walkable. My neighborhood is pretty close to perfect! We are extremely fortunate to live close to my sons' school, excellent restaurants, live theatre, a first class bike path, as well as Lundeen's (for which I have a particular weakness). Two blocks from City Hall, my commute couldn't be easier. 

Culver City's location makes it easily accessible to surrounding communities. The Expo Line is the cherry on top, so that we no longer have to fight traffic and high parking prices (and create pollution) to get to downtown LA. Soon the same will go for Santa Monica! 

Its microclimate is ideal: close enough to the coast to stay cool in hot weather, but not so close that we get caught under the marine layer.

The residents. I'm constantly impressed by all the smart, fascinating, accomplished Culver City residents I've met. They care about their community and make Culver City a better place every day. It makes me particularly proud to have been elected here.

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