Andy Weissman: Committed to the Culver City Community

This is the first in a series of one-on-one sit down interviews with each of the six individuals running for four open seats on the Culver City Council in the April 10 elections.

If time served in the community were a prerequisite for a seat on the Culver City Council, then Andy Weissman would be a shoe-in. The attorney who hopes to be re-elected for a second term come April 10, has been in Culver City since 1952 and says not only has he put his time into the city chronologically, but he’s been community service oriented most of his life, “going back to my Boys League student council days in both Elementary and High School.”

Weissman attributes his passion for community involvement to what he learned from his own parents.

“They were charter members of Temple Akiba when it was created back in the 50s; my father was a planning commissioner, he ran unsuccessfully for City Council here and he was on the School Board in the 60s. He actually handed me my diploma when I graduated from Culver High.”

Weissman says he believes his 41 years of service in the community at all levels – from his four years on the council to date, his role as a planning commissioner, Chamber of Commerce chair, Downtown Business Association president and beyond (you can read his full list of positions on his website here) – is what distinguishes him from other candidates in this race.

“It’s about the commitment to staying involved,” Weissman told Patch over coffee. “It’s easier to get involved on a particular issue or cause, have it dealt with and then move on. It’s different to get involved and stay involved regardless of the issue and I think that demonstrates my passion for and commitment to the community.”

Culver City Patch: Are there any specific achievements you’ve accomplished over the past four years on the council that you feel voters should know about?

Andy Weissman: I was the council designee to work through the PXP County oil field litigation. I participated in the settlement conferences and worked directly with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas to achieve a consensus.

[The Council] entered into negotiations and ultimately by an overwhelming margin of approval we renegotiated labor agreements with all six of our labor groups last year and I believe my input and suggestions were helpful.

My primary campaign issue four years ago was to work to bring about a new attitude of respect and civility in the council chambers, not just among the council itself but the way in which the community comes in front of the council and behaves towards the council and other speakers. I think the tone has changed dramatically over the past four years and I feel I had a significant role to play in that.

Patch: So what would you say are the important qualities required to be a city council member?

Weissman: Everyone has important qualities. My strong quality is my willingness  - not just my ability - to listen to all points of view and to be accepting of information or points of view that are different to mine regardless of who the messenger is.

Patch: What would you say are the top three issues currently facing the city and how would you address them?

Weissman: Clearly the predominant issue is one of finances because it’s from that most other things derive. We’ve got a structural deficit that we’ve been working to resolve for [years]. Then the economy went off the cliff and the projects that were either entitled or in the pipeline all stopped. Westfield was going through its remodel; we had lack of development and closing of automobile dealerships, which compounded the problem. Then the State eliminated redevelopment agencies.

Quality of life issues are at least as important. And they are related to finances because we have a community that has a very efficient level of city provided services: police, fire, municipal – all of which have to be paid for to just maintain their current levels, much less think about doing more things than we’re doing right now.

We’ve cut staff by over 10 percent in two years yet we’ve managed to maintain the same levels of service. We’ve pared all of the so-called fat and any further cuts have to have some service implication. We’re going to have to have the uncomfortable discussion with the community as to how we’ll pay for these services.

Patch: What type of services?

Weissman: Our fire department is operating at 35-year-old staffing levels and the number of calls for service keeps rising. We’re a community that’s aging, the consequence of which is more call for paramedics for seniors. We’re probably going to need another paramedic van and more staff. We may have to consider doing things like assessment districts – which amounts to a tax – specifically earmarked for in this case paramedic service.

Similarly, we have infrastructure needs. There are streetlights and streets and sidewalks that need to be repaired and we don’t have the money to do anything beyond emergencies. Given that our revenues lag behind our expenses, if we’re ever going to be able to get a handle on repairs we have to think about creating an infrastructure fund to provide the revenues to do those things.

However, in order for those assessment districts or taxes or fees to move forward it has to go to the vote of the community. People will have to determine ultimately what the level of service ought to be and how to pay for it. So far we’ve been able to manage. We’re not out of reserves but we can’t continue to burn through our reserves.

The third issue is environmental and sustainability issues. We need to be not only respectful of the environment but caring about how we behave and I think the City can play a couple of different roles – certainly educational by providing best practices information with regard to sustainability at our planning and building counters so people who come in with questions for new home building or remodels have that information.

I think there is more that we can do from a building code perspective that would lead to more efficient use of water and electricity in new home construction as well as commercial building and remodeling and I think the City has done a good job of involving itself in the environmental area. But it doesn’t stop with what we’ve done. We’ve got to push forward. Because it directly relates back to quality of life issues.

Patch: How important is it to have the ear of people in Sacramento and Washington to lobby for Culver City?

Weissman: Because of the complexity of issues, because of the geography of Culver City, cooperation at the county, state and federal level is critically important. Only through working through the city of Los Angeles or county or state do we have a shot at making a difference.

Patch: Do you feel you have the necessary contacts and connections?

Weissman: I pride myself on my connections and my ability to work across all lines – being able to not only talk with but work with just about everybody. I’ve been endorsed by all of our state elected representatives: Senator Curren Price, Superintendent Mark Ridley-Thomas, Assembly Member Holly Mitchell and Congresswoman Karen Bass.

I’ve also been endorsed by diverse groups including the LA County Democratic Party and the League of Conservation Voters. I think that speaks to my ability to play well in the sandbox with others. In this era of managing expectations and limited resources, being able to work with other people is vital.

Patch: Do you think council members should take a stand on school board issues?

Weisman: I think it’s understandable that [community members] seek our support on certain issues. I walk a very fine line when it comes to City vs. the School District. I think it’s inappropriate for an elected city official to be telling an elected school board what it ought to be doing.  I wouldn’t want to do that to them any more than I would want a school board to tell the city council what to do. In a small community like Culver City it’s impossible to take off a hat and say ‘I’m here speaking as an individual.’ There are only five of us. We’re going to be known as council members.

However, from a personal standpoint I sent a letter to some people who have sought my opinion on the [current] issue of aides in the classrooms and indicated that they provide a service but the focus needs to be on what’s beneficial for the kids and it’s about how you do that. It’s not for me to tell them to wage war with the union. They’re elected to administer the school district and we’re elected to set policy for the city. I need to be respectful of the jurisdictional boundaries and their turf.

Patch: If your campaign had a bumper sticker, what would it say?

Weissman: ‘Number 1 In Your Heart, Number 4 On The Ballot.’ Actually, I’m not sure there’s a really good bumper sticker slogan. I would think along the lines of ‘Committed To The Community,’ but that doesn’t say much without being able to turn the bumper sticker over and explain what that means.

To read more about Andy Weissman's election campaign visit his website at www.weissmanforcouncil.com

Click the links below to read other council candidate profiles:

Stephen Murray

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