Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013
Y.J. "Jay" Draiman. - Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

YJ Draiman who ran last year for councilmen at District 12 in Los Angeles,

Draiman has formally filed paper to run for Mayor of Los Angeles – March 5, 2013.

Y.J. "Jay" Draiman. - Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

Draiman is an Energy Efficiency Advocate and the lead elected official with the goal of Energy Conservation for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council - NENC, from Northridge, California. Draiman is also the liaison between the NENC and LADWP. Draiman is known for his advancement of implementing Energy efficiency, Renewable energy and Water conservation in the Los Angeles Area. Draiman is promoting the theme of Made in America, bringing back Los Angeles's industrial base, increase employment and reduce government with fiscal responsibility. Draiman ran for Los Angeles City Council in 2010. A recent ambitious goal by Draiman is to create in Los Angeles an innovative renewable energy zone approach which will create 200,000+ new jobs with billions in investments over the next 5-10 years.

Draiman is a former Real Estate developer with over 20 year’s experience. Draiman has extensive experience in the deregulation of Utilities and implementing energy and water conservation.

In January 1996 Draiman was asked to run for U.S. Senate, but He declined.

Draiman is currently working on his PHD in energy conservation.

                  Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles - 2013
The most vibrant city with a great future with our residents help.Thank you for visiting the YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles Web Site. http://www.draiman.net/

Within a short time, the voters in LA will have an opportunity to make history! For more than 30 years we have been ruled by incumbency and incompetence, waste and inefficiency, fiscal irresponsibility, which has brought us to the verge of financial disaster. It is time to change the elected officials in LA City Hall.
Or, do you want more of the same and lose core services, pay more taxes, face unemployment and have the roof over your head taken away from you. 

World class renewable energy innovation enterprise zone revealed for Los Angeles – Proposed by YJ Draiman – rev.4

World class renewable energy innovation enterprise zone revealed for Los Angeles – Proposed by YJ Draiman – rev.4

YJ Draiman welcomes an innovative renewable energy zone approach which will create 200,000+ new jobs over the next 5-10 years.

An ambitious project that will transform the way universities, business and industry collaborate, and establish Los Angeles as a world leader in the research, development and design of next generation renewable energy technology, was announced today, January 31, 2011.  Spearheaded by the Draiman economic development agency, Draiman Enterprise, and National Technology Renewable Energy Zone, will be established in the city of Los Angeles with the Universities of Southern California Technology Innovation Development at its heart.

A large parcel of land will be allocated to set up the renewable energy enterprise zone site, which will be within the boundaries of Los Angeles.  There will be an academic center which will be transformed into a center of excellence for academic research, commercialization and industry collaboration.

The renewable energy zone initiative, which would span further than the confines of the City of Los Angeles and include Southern California, is expected to create 200,000 + new jobs over the next 5-10 years and give a boost to the Los Angeles economy through further industry academia collaboration and inward investment.

Draiman enterprise Chief Executive YJ Draiman said:  “This new vision of the Renewable energy Technology Innovation Centerwill be the cornerstone of Los Angeles Technology and Renewable Energy Zone.  YJ Draiman’s vision for The Renewable energy Zone is to provide a breeding ground for ambitious companies to harness cutting-edge research, access the best people and develop the products which will shape the renewable energy industry of tomorrow.

“Southern California has already claimed a place on the renewables map attracting energy heavyweights and pioneers in the solar and wind sector and we believe that by establishing this zone we will help reinforce Los Angeles position as a location of choice for the rapidly expanding renewables industry.”
YJ Draiman said: “The Universities in the Los Angeles area’s Technology and Innovation Center is a transformational project for Los Angeles, building on California’s great tradition of innovating new technologies and developments in fields; including energy and engineering while creating and supporting hundreds of jobs.  Through this collaboration, the aim is to quadruple the scale of research program investment in Los Angeles in areas key to economic growth by up to $10 billion + in five - ten years.  “And now, as an integral part of Los Angeles Enterprise’s new Technology and Renewable Energy Zone, which aims to establish Los Angeles as a premier location for inward investment into world-leading technology and renewables research and development, we have the potential to deliver huge economic and social benefits, not only in Los Angeles but nationally and beyond.”

YJ Draiman said:  “The Technology and Innovation for renewable energy zone will help transform Los Angeles and Southern California.  By capitalizing on our leading, industry-relevant research, the renewable energy zone will attract billions of dollars of inward investment to the city of Los Angeles, drive global businesses, create jobs, and support the development of our highly-qualified graduates and postgraduates.  “As a leading technological hub of Universities, they are committed to sharing knowledge to address challenges that affect every area of society, including energy, health, manufacturing and economics.  The renewable energy zone will forge new levels of collaboration between researchers, the public and private sectors to accelerate the pace of research and development and deliver benefit to companies, the economy and Southern California.”  The collaborative approach with the Universities, Los Angeles Enterprise and existing pioneering renewable energy leaders means that companies locating in the zone will have access to government support and some of the world’s best industry and academia in the fields of technology, engineering and energy.  The project represents a supportive government and business environment where companies locating in and around the zone may be eligible for additional support for job creation, innovation and staff development, delivered through various California Enterprise schemes.

When theneed arises we will establish facilities within the existing Zone that offer temporary accommodation for prospective tenants until construction of the research center is complete or, if required, a purpose-built industry engagement building is created within the Zone.
Renewable energy Zone is designed to draw on Southern California’s existing competitive advantage by providing the right business environment for the renewables industry to continue to grow and further develop.  Recent announcements from industry leaders have reinforced Southern California’s position as a world leading city in solar, wind research and development.  A leader in energy innovation with unrivalled human and natural resources in renewable energy, Southern California is building on its rich history of oil and gas exploration and developing an infrastructure to cement its position as a world class location for international companies looking to invest in renewable energy and Energy efficiency.

YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 

Americas financial sustainability begins with Made in America

Americans must wake up and take action to protect our liberty and way of life.

America must rejuvenate itself and become the huge industrial power it once was.

It starts by re-inventing the wheel and building manufacturing facilities in the United States that employ Americans who produce quality goods at a competitive price with space age technology and modernization.

Organized workforce and benefits has to be revamped to meet today's economic conditions.

Government and its bureaucracy must be reduced and streamlined. Rules and regulations must be revamped to be conducive to business growth and development.

YJ Draiman for Mayor of LA

YJ Draiman who ran last year for councilmen for District 12 in Los Angeles, Is a Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

YJ Draiman who ran last year for councilmen for District 12 in Los Angeles, Is a Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

YJ Draiman who ran last year for councilmen at District 12 in Los Angeles ,

Draiman has formally filed paper on March 5, 2011 to run for Mayor of Los Angeles – March 5, 2013.

Y.J. "Jay" Draiman. - Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

Draiman is an Energy Efficiency Advocate and the lead elected official with the goal of Energy Conservation for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council - NENC, from Northridge , California . Draiman is also the liaison between the NENC and LADWP. Draiman is known for his advancement of implementing Energy efficiency, Renewable energy and Water conservation in the Los Angeles Area. Draiman is promoting the theme of Made in America , bringing back Los Angeles 's industrial base, increase employment and reduce government with fiscal responsibility. Draiman ran for Los Angeles City Council in 2010. A recent ambitious goal by Draiman is to create in Los Angeles an innovative renewable energy zone approach which will create 200,000+ new jobs with billions in investments over the next 5-10 years.

Draiman is a former Real Estate developer with over 20 year’s experience. Draiman has extensive experience in the deregulation of Utilities and implementing energy and water conservation.

Draiman is currently working on his PHD in energy conservation.

The Seven Responsibilities of Leadership

The Seven Responsibilities of Leadership
1. Set and achieve business goals.
In warfare, a military commander is given the responsibility of achieving victory against the enemy. In business, each executive at every level is given the responsibility to achieve specific, measurable business victories or goals. The inability to get the required results, and to achieve the goals in a timely fashion, is the primary reason for failure, frustration and firing at every level, in every company, large or small.
2. Innovate and market.
Apply the "CANEI Strategy" to your sales and marketing efforts. CANEI stands for "Continuous and Never-Ending Improvement." Never be satisfied. Look for new, better, faster and cheaper ways to market and sell your products, every day, every hour of the day.
3. Solve problems and make decisions.
Whatever title appears on your business card can be crossed out and replaced with the words, "Problem-Solver." This is your real job. In solving problems, think and talk exclusively in terms of solutions. Focus all your attention on the specific actions you can take to solve the problem. Forget about the past and who is to blame. Focus on the future and what actions you can take now.
4. Set priorities and work on key tasks.
One of your key responsibilities is to be working on your most vital task all the time and to assure that everyone who reports to you is also working on their key tasks. Always ask yourself, "What are my highest value activities?" If you could only do one thing all day long, what one task would that be?
5. Concentrate single-mindedly on the one activity that can make the greatest difference.
Write down everything you have to do before you begin. Set priorities using an "ABCDE" system. An "A" task is something very important. An "E" task can be eliminated altogether. You can only get your time and life under control to the degree to which you stop doing certain things. Practice "creative abandonment" with tasks that no longer contribute to accomplishing your most important goals.
6. Perform and get results.
Your ability to get results determines your pay, your promotion, your success and the respect and esteem in which you are held by the people around you. Ask yourself continually, "What results are expected of me?" Whatever your answer, work on these specific results single-mindedly. They are the major determinants of your success.
7. Be a role model for others.
This is perhaps the most important responsibility of leadership. One of the marks of superior executives is that they conduct themselves as though everyone were watching them even when no one is watching. Top people set higher standards for themselves than others would set for them. Perhaps nothing contributes more to unity of command than for subordinates to work under someone they greatly respect and admire. Your commitment to becoming a great person, and to demonstrating your values in your every act, is perhaps the most important quality of leadership.

Leadership and what it entails

Leadership and what it entails

Ethics on leadership involves authority on self and others to help the organization uphold values that are important to the set up. Society’s need for common good and peaceful interaction and interrelationships are based on honesty, service to others and moral courage. After all, ethics is the branch of philosophy concerned with the intent, means, and consequences of moral behaviors.

Moral issues such as; equality, safety, properties, respect, human relationships; to name a few, are social consciences to be considered when it comes to our day-to-day interaction with all creatures here on earth. Even though our behaviors and personality has common relation with our culture from where we have established our early environment, as a person, being human, we have distinctive characteristics that are more unique that has more and higher significance with those of other creatures in the planet. Simply because; we possess the moral sense and we have a conscience to distinguish our actions and decisions based on our judgments between right and wrong.

When we are aware of the limits of our actions to deliberate our thoughts to actualization, we then are conscious of all the consequences of them. And, this is the turning point of ones ability to choose what decision to make based on the ethics that society have imposed. We are also all influenced from three formations in our growing years; that is, by association, through books we read, and in our own self concepts. As we grow with reason, we can know what we can act and cannot, based upon our consciousness of the cultural issues of morality which determine our peer’s trust and respect on us.

Ethics as we all know is just as important as values. Some act on their ethical judgments based on self-defined morals as influenced in their growing years’ environment, and from association with our peers, authority, and self-convictions as well as the values we hold. As a leader, it is important to determine our own moral principles and decide ethical conducts in the light of the meaning that it attaches with our own lives; from our own cultures, education, and purposes in life.


Ethics embrace values and morality as an important factor and full partner in the quest for an outstanding performance, not only in leadership but in a person’s daily actuation. Ethics in work and leadership is important more than anything. The work rules, the codes of conducts in the workplace is the determining factors what the organization strive and live for. Reputation and Success are synonymous without question. Everything that is happening inside the operation of the organization reflects the ethical ideals of the ownerships the members hold within their beliefs and values. And then what is transported to the outside world of their circle that determines reciprocity of public trust and loyalty.

We are not born with values, but we become what we are as influenced from our own cultures and societies where we grow and when become aware of them as children. We adopt what is being promoted to us; and from it, thus our own values are born. The more we understand our values deep within us, the clearer we can be with what we want to do with our lives, how we want to live our lives. We have a good picture of our self identity and we become more confident with our actions and actuation in our day to day existence. When we developed good character traits from the values we hold, we then possess qualities of great leadership.


Leadership requires competence; to be caring, having value-based convictions, and must be committed to certain ideals and goals that achieve the group’s vision and mission. As ethics in leaderships are required; leaders will have to have the instinct of higher ideals, possess values, and strive to be just, to serve all for the common good. Commitment to the basic values such as honesty, responsibility, charity, excellence, and persistence are necessary for building trust. And trust must be attained because it is the bedrock of the organizational survival and its growth over the long term.


People will forgive the leader who fails to manage by objectives or in its inefficiency in the use of time, and sometimes when a leader fails to achieve the smoothest human relations; but, they cannot forgive and it is difficult for anyone in society to forgive the leader who are immoral and unprincipled. This is the reason why leaderships must not only be a visionary, but also know the importance and exercise good judgments of actions and decisions based on the principles of right and wrong. And mostly, embrace the ethics of values and morality as full partners in the quest for its performance. To test their actions and decisions for the good of all that they serve and the society is by asking; is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better relationships, and will It be beneficial to all concerned. Then and only then, can higher ethical climate is obtained. And when it is, profits of the company operations will be better, as it reflects trust to the stakeholders and shareholders; cultivate loyalty to the staffs, employees, and customers.

Accountability Model or Making Commitments

 

Accountability Model or Making Commitments

I would like to address two areas that are often considered taboo. Accountability and commitment. The project progresses through the 5 levels of planning it also moves through progressively higher levels of accountability; Nice Idea, Best Effort and Commitment.

Making Commitments
The Accountability Model above is meant to illustrate how each level of planning helps the team one in on an actual commitment. Since the teams accept that requirements will change, the most detailed design estimates are held off until just before implementation. So, project stakeholders can expect The Release Plan to be more accurate than The Road Map and the Iteration Plan to be more accurate than the Release Plan.

With higher levels of accuracy come higher levels of accountability while lower levels of accuracy call for lower levels of accountability. Let's take a look at the levels of accountability:

• Nice Idea
  The Vision and the Project Road Map serve as guidelines for prioritizing during the more detailed planning that takes place closer to the Iteration. As new requirements and unforeseen changes expose themselves The Vision and The Road Map WILL change. Management should shy away from holding anyone accountable for changes that occur in the Nice Idea level. Rather, they should embrace the change as necessary or find ways to mitigate the change.
• Best EffortThe Release Plan is a best effort estimate based on yesterday's weather. Iterations are time boxed and most teams track velocity. This allows a project manager to produce an iteration schedule. The Release Plan, while more accurate than the Road Map, is less accurate at the front-end than at the back-end. For this reason, managers should consider using a confidence range chart or some other measurement of accuracy. Tracking a project's rate of change can also help mitigate risk. Managers should encourage change in the early iterations of a release but changes should stay within the scope of the current vision and roadmap. If you see either the vision or the roadmap changing you should consider wrapping up the release and starting a new release plan.
• Commitment
  Iterations are short and easily estimated. Teams with a well established velocity and a long history with the current project will be able to make the most reliable estimates. These teams should be able to fully commit to an Iteration of work.

Who's Accountable?
Accountability is a hard subject to address in this field. A person can "be" accountable, "be held" accountable or account for someone else. In general, developers are accountable to the user, the team and themselves. Holding a team accountable for the completion of a project is usually a huge morale killer and often does more harm than good. Holding someone (coach, scrum master, etc) accountable on behalf of the team will most likely fail as well.

So who is accountable? How is accountability expressed on an agile project? On agile projects, developers hold themselves accountable. They hold themselves accountable to the team, the users, their pair partner, themselves, etc. For Agile teams to be successful a culture of accountability must be nurtured but not forced.

Nurturing Accountability
Nurturing a culture of accountability is easier said than done, but it can be done. The usual tools of evaluations, reviews and threats have no place on a self organizing team. You can apply incentives, a sense of accomplishment, team ownership and a little peer pressure.

A good incentive suggested by Scrum is a burn down chart. On some teams the build server plays music or turns a light green when a build passes all tests. Involving the "Whole Team" in the planning and design is a surefire way of building team ownership. This leads to buy-in and allows developers feel a real sense of accomplishment. Also, large information radiators are a good way to keep the team focus.


Final Thoughts
so, what I am suggesting is that teams should want to commit to an estimate. Teams who have "bought-in" to a project are more likely to hold themselves accountable

5 Levels of Planning

I just read an interesting article that breaks down the Agile planning process into 5 levels:
(This is slightly modified)

1.    The Vision

2.    The Roadmap

3.    The Next Release

4.    The Next Iteration

5.    The Next Day

Essentially, each agile planning session occurs in one of these levels. With each level dependent on its predecessor. Ideally, you need a vision before you have a road map, road map before you plan the next release...you get the idea.

This really made sense to me. For years now I've used a somewhat complicated model to describe what it is we do. This model, oddly enough, can be easily distilled into this 5 level process.

In the table below I have identified each level of planning with WHAT being the expected artifact and the WHO generally describing the participants:

Level	What?	Who?
The Vision	A Vision Statement	Chickens
The Roadmap	Roadmap (duh)	Chickens
The Next Release	Release Plan/Stories/	Chickens/Pigs
The Next Iteration	Iteration Plan	Pigs
The Next Day	Engineering Tasks	Pigs

In the first level, The Vision, your goal is to provide a vision statement. Each shop will decide its own requirement but I general recommend a condensed vision statement that can be easily hung on the wall as an "Information Radiator" (Remember...big visible charts). The Vision should be agreed upon by all stakeholders (chickens) and written without concern for technology. It should also convey some sense of purpose, since it is intended to drive the development process.

Once you have a Vision your team of chickens is ready to start working on The Roadmap. The Roadmap should also be brief enough to work well as a Big Visible Chart. Ideally your developers will keep the roadmap hung up in the shop. As items on the Roadmap are completed they can be checked off. The Roadmap will list, in order of importance, the vision for future releases. I recommend a bulleted list with each release defined by no more than 2 or 3 sentences (1 is better). As with the vision the roadmap should have a sense of purpose and as each item on the roadmap is completed you'll likely want to revisit the vision (it may have changed).

With your Roadmap written you'll want to start planning your Next Release. Planning a release is no simple task. You'll want the input of all your chickens and pigs. I'd recommend, first, relooking/revamping the vision for the next release; something may have changed. During release planning the chickens should be presenting stories to the pigs. These stories fall into 3 categories; enhancements, new features, bugs. Chickens should only consider enhancements and new features that fit into the vision for this release. Any stories considered a bug may be considered, regardless of the vision. Beware what you call a bug....just because you "don't like the way something works", does not make it a bug.

During Release Planning you should play the planning game. Chickens write a story, pigs estimate, chickens rewrite.... The final result should be a set of estimated stories with user values and generally well described acceptance tests. This may take several days. Pigs should feel free to throw back any story that can't be estimated. Chickens should make sure to stay within the vision for this release (or revise it).

Once you've hammered out your Release Plan, you're ready to begin working on the Next Iteration. Your original estimates of a story should not change unless the story is changed. Tracking progress should be done via your velocity (that is outside the scope of this article). At the beginning of each Iteration you will select a set of stories to complete. This should be a sort of "do or die trying" commitment on the part of the Pigs. If you've tracked your velocity properly then making a commitment should be easy. Put story cards somewhere visible or use a large chart to track progress. No story should be started without an acceptance test and no story is complete until the test passes.

As each iteration progresses you'll constantly be planning The Next Day's work. Each day engineers/developers should pair up and select a story to work on. Pigs will sometimes hold design sessions with CRCs or write engineering tasks to remind themselves what needs to be done next. A coach should be available to cheer them on as the stories slowly disappear and the new builds start to appear. Always make big visible charts and information radiators to track progress of tests, builds and stories.

As you get into a rhythm your team should start to move through these stages naturally. For many companies distractions are a way of life. Try your hardest to insulate developers from these distractions and you'll see your vision realized much faster. If distractions are unavoidable they just realize that your velocity will suffer. As long as distractions are common your velocity should adequately adjust for them.

Candidate questions: What are the Attainable goals?

Candidate questions:  What are the Attainable goals?

What qualifies you as a candidate for city council? – Please elaborate

Why should we vote for you?

How do you propose to make a change to the current business as usual methods?

How do you propose to abolish the activities of entitlement by officials?

Do you think that money can & should buy you a seat in the government?

How can you prevent in being tainted and cajoled in working with the current administration without compromising your honesty and integrity?

What do you plan to do for CD12 and how do you plan to implement it? – specify

Do you have proposed staff members for your office that are experienced and capable in carrying out and implementing the needs of the community?

How do you propose to address the zoning ordinance to our community and how do you intend to control development?

Are you going to help vote and implement a more active role for the Neighborhood council in City Hall? and if yes, specify what actions you propose.

How do you propose to balance the city budget and implement fiscal responsibility? – Accountability - specify how.

Food, Housing and Jobs are crucial to our community – how are you going to address these issues? Describe in detail – especially, how do you propose to retain our current jobs and create an environment that attracts additional businesses to our community? – specify in detail your plan of action and how you plan to achieve those goals?

How do you propose to reduce government personnel and reduce spending, cut waste and redundancy and improve efficiency?

How do you plan to handle the pension crises and its budgetary load on our revenues?

How are you planning on addressing the exorbitant costs by the unions & private contractors?

Do you think you can help bring Green industry and businesses to CD12?

How do you plan to use CD12 assets? such as CSUN to promote our community and utilize assets to bring more businesses to CD12?

How do you plan to address our crumbling school system and improve education?

How do you propose to expand public transportation which is vital to our economy?

How do you plan to streamline rules and regulations and reduce bureaucracy?

There is voter apathy! How do you plan to build the public trust in government?

Implement Honesty, Integrity and transparency.

What do you think in paying base salary and commissions to our elected and appointed officials based on performance?

What is important to the community?

NC’s is the eyes and ears of the community – a true public service – heart and soul of the community.

Core services, Essential services, New vision

Graffiti. Security. Safety

Addressing Pensions, Unions, Immigration, Entitlement o No sanctuary city.

Candidate Questionnaire

Draiman officially running for mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

YJ Draiman officially running for mayor of LA - 2013

Press release – January 25, 2011

YJ Draiman officially running for mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

"I want to fight for a better future for all the people of Los Angeles, and that's why today I'm announcing my candidacy for mayor," Draiman said.

I decided to run for Mayor of Los Angeles. Before I could make that commitment, I needed to free up the time required to do the job right.  Therefore, I decided to devote full time to the job of Mayor.

I am motivated by the wish to serve the Los Angeles community and protect our quality of life.  I have the skill, experience, long time community involvement and personal commitment to lead the city.  I will work hard to preserve residents’ priorities and the city’s coffers, during the difficult financial times ahead.  Some of my more specific goals are encouraging economic vitality, preserving and improving the City infrastructure, protecting the quality of our neighborhoods, supporting our open space and bicycle trails programs, working with the Neighborhood Councils and the Chamber to encourage local, innovative green businesses, and proper Urban Planning for Los Angeles, among others.

I previously ran for City Council in District 12.

I decided that to do the job right I must run for Mayor.

I am an Energy/Utility Auditor/Consultant for over 20 years.

I am married to a darling wife, we have two grown children – my oldest son is David Draiman a famous Rock Star with a Band by the name Disturbed, my younger son is a Psychologist doing research.

I am looking forward to being elected and serving the people of the City of Los Angeles.

We must work together as a cohesive force to improve our city.

“Transparency and accountability is my motto”

YJ Draiman for Mayor – 2013

WEB:  http://www.draimanformayor.org/

Candidate questions: What are the Attainable goals?

Candidate questions:  What are the Attainable goals?

What qualifies you as a candidate for city council? – Please elaborate

Why should we vote for you?

How do you propose to make a change to the current business as usual methods?

How do you propose to abolish the activities of entitlement by officials?

Do you think that money can & should buy you a seat in the government?

How can you prevent in being tainted and cajoled in working with the current administration without compromising your honesty and integrity?

What do you plan to do for CD12 and how do you plan to implement it? – specify

Do you have proposed staff members for your office that are experienced and capable in carrying out and implementing the needs of the community?

How do you propose to address the zoning ordinance to our community and how do you intend to control development?

Are you going to help vote and implement a more active role for the Neighborhood council in City Hall? and if yes, specify what actions you propose.

How do you propose to balance the city budget and implement fiscal responsibility? – Accountability - specify how.

Food, Housing and Jobs are crucial to our community – how are you going to address these issues? Describe in detail – especially, how do you propose to retain our current jobs and create an environment that attracts additional businesses to our community? – specify in detail your plan of action and how you plan to achieve those goals?

How do you propose to reduce government personnel and reduce spending, cut waste and redundancy and improve efficiency?

How do you plan to handle the pension crises and its budgetary load on our revenues?

How are you planning on addressing the exorbitant costs by the unions & private contractors?

Do you think you can help bring Green industry and businesses to CD12?

How do you plan to use CD12 assets? such as CSUN to promote our community and utilize assets to bring more businesses to CD12?

How do you plan to address our crumbling school system and improve education?

How do you propose to expand public transportation which is vital to our economy?

How do you plan to streamline rules and regulations and reduce bureaucracy?

There is voter apathy! How do you plan to build the public trust in government?

Implement Honesty, Integrity and transparency.

What do you think in paying base salary and commissions to our elected and appointed officials based on performance?

What is important to the community?

NC’s is the eyes and ears of the community – a true public service – heart and soul of the community.

Core services, Essential services, New vision

Graffiti. Security. Safety

Addressing Pensions, Unions, Immigration, Entitlement o No sanctuary city.

Candidate Questionnaire

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R)

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R)
One of Americas statesmen stated “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” His presidency ushered in an era of disdain for government and a widespread cynicism that government could be effective in addressing our challenges.
Today, as we confront a crisis that has shaken confidence in our financial system and economy, we have an opportunity to restore public trust and confidence in the legitimate role of government. Indeed, to effectively tackle our economic challenges and to implement the reforms we need in our healthcare, education, energy, and environmental policies, our government will need to garner strong public support.
However, rebuilding public trust will not happen in the face of a pervasive perception that government is not transparent and accountable, cronyism is rampant, and public officials are more interested in helping themselves than in serving the public good.
Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session.
Create a Task Force on Public Integrity with a mission to develop a comprehensive proposal for ethics and lobbying reform in our city and state. Which addresses reforms in three areas: (1) strengthening enforcement of ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws; (2) strengthening civil and criminal penalties for abuses; and (3) improving awareness and education for public officials.
Reinforce honesty, integrity and transparency by government officials as the core requirement to be and stay in office, any violations of these core tenets will cause the removal of the public official and the loss of "all benefits" retroactive. I think we should consider putting public official on a base salary plus commission based on performance.
While the many of our elected officials and government employees are honest, dedicated public servants, the actions of a few create a dark cloud over all.
Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address these abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session.

Compiled by: YJ Draiman

PS

We need honest government with integrity.

“Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion”
Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and spend for.

As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end.

Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job.

Action speaks louder than words.

Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.

Freedom is not an ideal; it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than the freedom to stagnate.

Action speaks louder than words.

An Independent is someone who wants to take the politics out of politics, a person with principles.

Trust in government

The ability of governments and the global community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, ensure security, and promote adherence to basic standards of human rights depends on people's trust in their government. However, public trust in government and political institutions has been declining in both developing and developed countries in the new millennium. One of the challenges in promoting trust in government is to engage citizens, especially the marginalized groups and the poor, into the policy process to ensure that governance is truly representative, participatory, and benefits all members of society. Where governance processes are exclusionary and basic services are not accessible, intrastate conflicts and violence within the country can negatively impact national and global security and peace. Weak systems and processes of governance tend to erode trust in government. Within this context, the issue of how to build trust in government and trust between socio-economic actors has emerged as an increasingly important issue in both developed and developing economies.

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government

One of Americas statesmen stated “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” His presidency ushered in an era of disdain for government and a widespread cynicism that government could be effective in addressing our challenges.

Today, as we confront a crisis that has shaken confidence in our financial system

and economy, we have an opportunity to restore public trust and confidence in

the legitimate role of government.  Indeed, to effectively tackle our economic

challenges and to implement the reforms we need in our healthcare, education,

energy, and environmental policies, our government will need to garner strong

public support.

However, rebuilding public trust will not happen in the face of a pervasive
perception that government is not transparent and accountable, cronyism is
rampant, and public officials are more interested in helping themselves than in
serving the public good.
Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address abuses and begin to
rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session.
Create a Task Force on Public Integrity with a mission to develop a comprehensive proposal for ethics and lobbying reform in our city and state. Which addresses reforms in three areas: (1) strengthening enforcement of ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws; (2) strengthening civil and criminal
penalties for abuses; and (3) improving awareness and education for public
officials.
Reinforce honesty, integrity and transparency by government officials as the core requirement to be and stay in office, any violations of these core tenets will cause the removal of the public official and the loss of "all benefits" retroactive.
While the many of our elected officials and government employees are honest, dedicated public servants, the actions of a few create a dark cloud over all.

Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address these abuses and begin to
rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal  government in the new legislative session.
Compiled by: YJ Draiman

Happiness

Happiness

We’ve all heard that money doesn’t buy happiness, and that’s certainly true. But there is one way to get it: Give money away.
The evidence is clear that gifts to charitable organizations and other worthy causes bring sub¬stantial life satisfaction to the givers.
People who give money to charity are 44 percent more likely than non-givers to say they’re very happy. Volunteers are 41 percent more likely to be very happy than non-volunteers. It does not matter whether the gifts of money go to churches or symphony orchestras; reli¬gious giving and secular giving leave people equally happy, and far happier than people who don’t give.
The Founders listed liberty right up there with the pursuit
of happiness as an objective that merited a struggle for our na¬tional independence. In fact, freedom and happiness are inti¬mately related: People who con¬sider themselves free are a lot happier than those who don’t. In 2000 the General Social Survey revealed that people who per¬sonally feel “completely free” or “very free” were twice as likely as those who don’t to say they’re very happy about their lives.
Not all types of freedom are the same in terms of happiness, however. Researchers have shown that economic freedom brings happiness, as doe’s polit¬ical and religious freedom. On the other hand, moral freedom — a lack of constraints on behav¬ior—does not. People who feel they have unlimited moral choices in their lives when it comes to matters of sex or drugs, for example, tend to be un-happier than those who do not feel they have so many choices in life.
Americans appear to under¬stand this quite well. When poll-
sters asked voters in the 2004 Presidential election what the most important issue facing America was, the issue voters chose above all others was “moral values.” This beat out the economy, terrorism, the Iraq war, education, and health care as people’s primary concern. Pundits and politicians would certainly like us to think other¬wise, and critics scoffed at the conclusion, interpreting it as evi¬dence that ordinary Americans were out of touch. But moral val¬ues are critical to Americans. This suggests that, as a people, we do best by protecting our political and economic freedoms and guarding against a culture that sanctions licentiousness.
Job Satisfaction leads to happiness
People who say they are very happy in their lives, 96 percent are also satisfied with their jobs. Furthermore, job satisfaction would seem to be causing overall happiness, not the other way around.
Lessons for America
The data tell us that what mat¬ters most for happiness is not having a lot of things but hav¬ing healthy values. Without these values, our jobs and our economy will bring us soulless
toil and joyless riches. Our edu¬cation will teach us nothing. There will be no reason to fight—or to make peace, for that matter—to protect our way of life. Our health-care system will keep us healthier, but what’s the point of good health without a happy life to enjoy?

The facts can help remind us of what we should be paying attention to, as individuals and as families, if we want to be happy. There’s also an important message here for public policy and politics. We must hold our lead¬ers accountable for the facts on happiness and refuse to take it lightly when politicians abridge the values of faith, work, family, charity, and freedom. Candidates running for office should be grilled about happiness in debates and by the press, and their answers should determine our votes. Our happiness is sim¬ply too important to us—and to America—to do anything less. “How happy are you”

Compiled by: YJ Draiman