Meet Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, Candidate For City Council Of Culver City

CULVER CITY, CA — Yasmine-Imani McMorrin is vying for one of three seats up for election on Culver City's City Council.

Voters in the Nov. 5 election will decide between seven candidates running for the three seats.

Learn more about McMorrin's goals for Culver City:

Education: BA, economics - Spelman University; JD, Rutgers University

Occupation: director of education equity, Children's Defense Fund

Family: one daughter

Age: 36

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

• Mayor, Culver City
• Councilmember, Culver City
• Commissioner, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

What do you think are the top three issues for Culver City voters in this election, and how do you plan to address them?

The top three issues facing Culver City voters are housing and homelessness, public safety, and the job market. I'm looking forward to tackling our homelessness crisis by putting our unhoused neighbors in temporary or permanent housing and getting them back to work creating a safer Culver City for all, supporting and growing our small businesses by creating policies that provide relief for businesses and provide good-paying jobs to Culver City residents, and fighting for public safety, care-first policies that will shift certain responsibilities away from our sworn officers, providing them necessary relief, and into more care-first responders who will help assess and address situations

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you’d succeed on the council?

As the first Black woman to be mayor of Culver City, I'm proud of my record of accomplishments.

During my first term, I have:

• PROTECTED TENANTS AND RENTERS ensuring that Culver City residents hit the hardest during the pandemic maintained a roof over their head.
• PROTECTED THE UNHOUSED AND COMBATED HOMELESSNESS introducing the new Mobile Crisis Unit to Culver City, created the Housing and Human Services Department, provided for more funding for Project Homekey and hot meals.
• INCREASED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION by increasing funding for additional affordable housing units and eliminated parking minimums for new builds.
• INCREASED FRONTLINE WORKER PAY ensuring frontline and healthcare workers received the HERO pay they deserved keeping Culver City individuals and families safe and healthy.
• FOUGHT FOR BUSINESSES by pushing to keep open post-pandemic al fresco dining and protecting downtown businesses
• PROTECTED PEDESTRIAN, BIKE AND DRIVERS ensuring that our city created dedicated protected bike lanes to prevent unnecessary accidents.
• PROTECTED RESIDENTS AND ENVIRONMENT ensuring that we closed nearby oil fields, protecting families, children, businesses and the environment from the harmful impacts.
• CREATED HISTORIC CHILDCARE OPPORTUNITIES for parents who want to engage and participate in Culver City government, providing childcare during meeting times.
• FOUGHT AGAINST WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING by ensuring that staff and council were approving contracts that provided necessities for constituents, addressed urgent needs, and helped reduce the budget shortfall

What's the best advice anyone gave you?

This is a hard one because I'm so grateful for all the support I've received on my journey. When I asked her for career advice, Marian Wright Edelman once told me "to follow the need." There are always folks doing good work — many hands make light work, and the path will open up for you.

Who is someone that inspires you and why?

I'm always inspired by and grateful for my parents — my father was an immigrant to this country from Jamaica and served in law enforcement for almost 30 years before he retired. My mother, now a widow, continues to live her life to the fullest, engaged in trying to turn Georgia "blue" this election cycle, working as a yoga instructor for mature women, and serving as a new docent at the High Museum. Through their hard work, love for one another, and for our family, I am continually inspired to find joy, share love, and serve my community daily.

Is there anything else you'd like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Vote on Nov. 5 to help me fight for a Culver City, hungry for a new way forward!

Campaign website