For those who do not have time to go through a whole website. Tomas O’Grady the short version.
Tomas O’ Grady, a farmer’s son from Ireland, lives in Los Feliz with his wife Justine and their four children.
When not managing their small residential rental portfolio, Tomas and Justine have dedicated themselves over the last few years to environmental, educational, and clean government causes.
Recently Tomas spearheaded the creation of a “shoestring magnet” (low cost) at Thomas Starr King Middle School. The Environmental Studies Magnet was described by LAUSD Superintendent Ray Cortines as “very cost effective…and a model for all middle schools.” Tomas, through his can-do and working together attitude, is credited with transforming King’s physical campus with a 2009 makeover and ultimately the atmosphere at the middle school through the founding of Friends of King.
Tomas was elected to the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council in 2008 and 2010 in landslide elections. Tomas has been described by teachers at Franklin Elementary as “the action man.” Columnist Steve Lopez said in 2010, “I still have not met anyone so dedicated to public service.”
“I am running for council so as to bring a down-to-earth, no nonsense, can-do attitude to City Hall. I am an idealist, but I am anything but naive. I know how to get things done, and I keep my word. Unusual qualities for a politician, perfect qualities for a public servant. ”
PLATFORM:
The City’s short term fiscal outlook is a challenge and it’s long term one a crisis.
Every division needs to do more with less. Change must be tangible, immediate and start at the top. The administration of the council offices and the mayor’s office costs a staggering $40M per year.
COUNCIL PERSONS SALARY, PERSONAL STAFF & FUNDS
- Tomas O’Grady has committed to cut his salary in half. (It’s higher than a US senator).
- Cut personal staff from 20 to 10. (10 x 15 offices = 150 total positions) = $15M
- Eliminate the councilperson’s GCP (slush) fund. $100,000 x 15 offices = $1.5M
- Eliminate the special REAL PROPERTY FUNDS = Estimated up to $20M
PENSION & HEALTH CARE
- Modest increase in employee contributions for active employees
- Contributions by employees towards retiree healthcare
- Change health care package (small co-pay and wellness benefits)
- All future health care increases to be shared equally by city and employees
- Introduce real competition of health care providers for city RFPS
Departments are not talking to each other. Responsibilities and rules overlap and often contradict. Our city is inefficient and unresponsive.
EFFICIENCY & WASTE
- Streamline, automate & integrate department systems. Combine departments.
- Standardize neighborhood council accounting systems.
Public education needs less rancor and more partnership. Tomàs O’Grady has a track record here in bringing people together
PUBLIC EDUCATION
- Partnerships between libraries, parks and public education (working together).
- Laser focus on middle schools (New shoestring magnets)
- Expand Joint use of schools for playgrounds and parks.
- Green campuses through trees and gardens.
- Solar power schools
ENVIRONMENT
- Restore/Expand the Residential Solar incentive program.
- New solar hot water incentive program.
- Rainwater collection for public buildings
- Eliminate single use plastic bags and gas blowers.
- Restructure garbage collection (e.g. incentivize garbage reduction, smaller cans at lower cost).
- Expand recycling to multi-unit buildings and Recreation and Parks
- Increase the city’s tree canopy.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Restore positions at street services (351) by cutting unneeded positions
PARKS
- A watertight plan to PROTECT Griffith Park once and for all
- Build Hollywood Freeway park – Identify pocket parks
PLANNING
- Update community plans – Revisit MTA/Universal plan – Reduce SB 1818
CRA
It is time to abolish or reduce the CRA and release those monies. It has dubious value at best.
