Monrovia City Council Candidates Forum: Alexander Blackburn

Three candidates are running for two open seats on the Monrovia City Council and voters will choose between them on April 9. Each candidate responded to the same questions for Patch's online candidate forum. This is the second installment from candidate Alexander Blackburn. The first installment from write-in candidate Robert Parry can be found here. The second installment from candidate Larry Spicer can be found here.

1. Please tell us about yourself and why you should be elected to represent the people of Monrovia.

What a city wants in an elected official is someone who is stakeholder, who has the city’s best interest at heart, and who possesses the personal skills necessary to protect the city’s interests. I bring those attributes to the table. Not only am I a resident, I am also the owner of a law firm in Old Town, i.e. a stakeholder. That I care about this city, and its best interests, should be clear from the very fact that I am running. Sitting as a council member will actually cost me several thousand dollars a month in lost revenue. In other words, I will actually be paying to do a job that will likely result in constant criticism and scrutiny. Why? Because this is my home, and I feel a sense of duty to protect its interests. As an attorney, with experience addressing often incredibly complex matter, I bring the type of analytical mind to the table that I believe will benefit this city. I also have the relationships that will allow me to facilitate real progress. I am endorsed by city leaders across a broad spectrum of political beliefs and those relationships will allow me to build the bridges necessary to get things done.

2. The Gold Line is finally back on track after a series of expensive lawsuits. What does the city still need to do to take advantage of the development opportunities along the Foothill Extension?

With regard to future development, the city only has control over land use and design. Other than that, it has relatively little, if anything, to say about the development surrounding the Gold Line extension. That said, what the city needs to do is ensure that there is a well-functioning connection between the Gold Line stop and the other commercial centers within the city. An affordable shuttle, for example, between the stop and Old Town, as well as shopping along Huntington, would be helpful. Additionally, I believe the city needs to do more to give would-be-visitors a reason to come to our city. While there are currently some attractive draws, it would be nice to add some additional elements, such as a well-recognized retailer with a strong following. An Apple store, for example, would be a great addition.

3. The city has been adjusting to the reality of a shrinking budget for some time now. What are your budgetary priorities? What, specifically, would you cut to make the budget leaner if need be?

My budgetary priorities are: 1) public safety, and 2) economic development. Our focus now needs to be keeping our residents safe, while securing the city’s long-term financial strength. The reality, of course, is that the three main expenditures for the city are fire, police and public works. So, those are the areas that have to be addressed if any significant savings are to be found. However, I would prefer to avoid any reduction in manpower within those organization, which means that the savings would have to be found elsewhere. My intention is meet with the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Public Works Director, to discuss areas where the departments may be able to consolidate functions and to identify areas of non-essential spending. I will also seek out the non-management members of those organizations to have the same discussion. Of course, cost cutting is not the only solution to a constrained budget – revenue generation is also an option and is my preferred option. I would prefer to seek out more state and federal grants and to overcome budgetary shortfalls through economic development.

4. With the elimination of its redevelopment agency, Monrovia has lost a tool that city leaders have long championed as a key to the city's prosperity. How can the city move forward and encourage economic development without the use of redevelopment?

In the short-term, the city will have to do more to seek out and develop relationships with well-capitalized developers, in order to accomplish our business development objectives. We also need to make sure that we remain the business-friendly city that we are. Over the medium-term we need to monitor legislation that is being proposed at the state level to help municipalities deal with the loss of redevelopment, and be aggressive about implementing new tools as they become available, rather than allowing other municipalities to beat us to the punch an attract businesses that could have located themselves in our city. Over the long-term, I believe it is important that we maintain a strong infrastructure that can attract and support would-be local businesses. The city is already doing that, to a great extent, around Station Square, where it is investing approximately $20 million in infrastructure improvements.

5. What differentiates you from your fellow candidates? You have all posted positions on key issues on your websites. Where is there agreement? Where is there disagreement?

Fundamentally, I believe all three of us want what is best for the city. So, worst case scenario you get two new council members who want to do good things. It also appears that we all agree that economic development, public safety and fiscal responsibility need to be priorities. Really, what distinguish us from one another are the skills, education, experience and bridge-building abilities we bring to the table. Each of us brings our own unique mix to the table, and it is for residents to decide which of us is most appropriate for the current circumstances.

6. Public employee retirement benefits remain a contentious issue and the city has sought and obtained some concessions from its employee unions. What still needs to be done with the city's retirement system?

First, the sacrifices that public employees have already made need to be recognized. For example, the firefighters have started paying more of the employee portion of their retirement contribution, as have non-safety employees. The police have made significant cuts to manpower. Still, going forward, city employees need to be prepared to continue to shoulder their portion of the economic downturn. That may mean that they need to pay all of their employee portion of their retirement contribution, rather than having the city pay the city’s 18-20% as well as the employee’s 9% portion. We have all suffered economic misfortune over the past six or seven years, and city employees are not exempt from that. Still, as I have said repeatedly, my preference is to grow and innovate our way out of our budgetary constraints rather than simply slashing worthwhile expenditures. If at all possible, I would like to continue rewarding our excellent public employees, and ensuring that Monrovia can attract the best and brightest.

7. Costly stormwater regulations are proving to be a burden for local governments. How can Monrovia abide by the new mandates?

There are two primary ways the city can comply with the new regulations: 1) reduce the level of certain specified pollutants to specified levels, or 2) implement best practices and not be on the hook for particular reduction levels. I am a fan of the second method. At this time, it is unclear that the technology even exists to achieve the reductions that the state is seeking, and I believe ensuring best practices going forward will be less expensive that ensuring the demanding reductions the state is seeking.

8. Candidates often talk about the importance of maintaining public safety. How do you think the local public safety agencies are performing? What, if anything, needs to be done to make the community safer?

I think our public safety departments are doing an excellent job. In the medium and long-term, I believe the city can help improve public safety by diligently pursuing business development opportunities, and remaining fiscally sound, so that the money is available to fund our public safety departments. In the short-term, the city may be able to free up some police manpower by hiring non-police civilian safety employees to monitor Old Town and the surrounding areas, which would allow police officers greater freedom to patrol higher crime areas. The safety employees would essentially act as low cost eyes and ears for the police.