What the candidates said at the Kol Ami forum

A round-up of notable quotes from the City Council candidates who participated in the Kol Ami Candidate Forum. They were quizzed on general issues of public safety as well as how they would protect WeHo’s Jewish population and their thoughts on Israel.

“As far as protecting the Jewish community, I think the number one issue and one of the things that I learned by attending the the summit that was held here was that education is key. I learned how anti-Semitism manifests itself. It’s not just in the ways that I assumed. And so I would prefer to educate the community more.”

“I think it was a very naive decision. What I would do is restore funding for the sheriff’s. I would make sure that all new businesses have security systems. I would also make sure that we have a better system for communicating when crimes occur, not only through Block by Block but by through all the private security as well.”

“I would appreciate when you talk about council to say council majority, because actually I voted against cutting sheriff’s deputies. When Councilmember Horvath proposed cutting five deputies, I said I would not vote for a budget that cut any deputies. I believe we need more deputies. We need them on the streets, walking the streets, and on bicycle so that they are part of the community.”

“I know the UNITE HERE candidates, part of their platform is defunding the sheriff, that’s all fine and dandy. But be honest with the public about what you plan on doing. My plan is to restore funding to pre-COVID levels and beyond adding bike, patrols adding foot patrols, and doing what is necessary. I also think that we need to make sure that the Sheriff is really keeping an eye out on our synagogues and our schools, as well as our parks, particularly with all the hate crimes and anti-Semitism we’ve been seeing as of late.

“My neighbors, who have lived there since the 50s and 60s have told me for the first time, they’re scared to leave their houses at night. I don’t think that’s right. And I don’t think the answer is to put public kiosks in the front of the Pavilions and say that’s enough, deal with it. I do however, agree that it’s a false choice that we need to have one or the other, we need to provide and restore funding for the public sheriff’s and for the sheriff’s department. And we also need to provide funding for Block by Block mental health, services, social social services, clinical health services, because there are difficult different situations and difficult circumstances.”

 I did not or do not agree with cutting funding, for the sheriff’s department in West Hollywood. My father, is a former police officer. So, I understand what’s required to make sure that our police officers and people in uniform. Have the resources that they need to keep us safe. I want if I’m on city council, I’m gonna restore that funding.

“Anti-Semitism is the oldest hatred. And it’s changed forms over time. They hated us for our religion. Then they hated us and now they hate us for our state. Jews are blamed for all sorts of issues in society. And today anti-Zionism is the newest form of anti-Semitism. So I as a council member will be vigilant and I will call it out. We’ll not give a platform like the anti-Israel propaganda film that was screened in West Hollywood on the taxpayers’ dime. I will not vote to support that kind of use of taxpayer funds if I’m elected.”

“AB 2844, which was signed into law in 2016, is a measure that prevents companies that boycott or discriminate against any sovereign state including Israel from doing business with the state. And again, just to remind you BDS stands for boycott divestment and sanctions. These are companies people or, or organizations that have positions to take that stance against Israel. Yeah. As much as you know on paper these tactics seem like, you know, legitimate and nonviolent and that was something I understood at one point in time. I now understand and see the very ways that BDS furthers anti-Semitism in really dangerous ways and harmful ways to our community and tears us apart. So, I support the city of West Hollywood’s leadership on these issues.”

“People defending Hamas, people defending the PLO, and attacking Israel — those attacks are coming from the left, not the political, right? So, I think it’s important that we stay right in the center and defend our Jewish community. West Hollywood is 40% LGBT, That’s true. It’s also 40% Jewish.”