Each day next week, including President's Day, Streetsblog Los Angeles will debut a short-film/interview with each of the five major candidates for Mayor of Los Angeles. The interviews were shot in late January and early February, excepting the one with Wendy Greuel which will be shot tomorrow. The interviews will air in the order that they were shot:
Monday, February 18 - Emanuel Pleitez
Tuesday, February 19 - Kevin James
Wednesday, February 20 - Jan Perry
Thursday, February 21 - Eric Garcetti
Friday, February 22 - Wendy Greuel
The questions for the candidates were created by advocacy groups with whom Streetsblog regularly works. With the exception of the Pleitez interview, Damien Newton asked the questions while Kris Fortin and Shireen Alihaji worked the video and audio. It's Fortin and Alihaji that edited the films.
The videos were edited from the original interviews so that the candidates answers to include just the candidates' answers to questions. We will also release the uncut audio and video for anyone that wants to view the entire interview for all, or for a favorite, candidate.
Following the jump are the questions we asked each candidate following the group that proposed the question.
Bus Riders Union - Will you commit to restoring the monthly bus pass to $42 (currently $75) and not raise fares?
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition - Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. What steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level? How many miles of new bicycle facilities will you commit to implementing each year? Will your administration instruct LADOT to widely implement protected bicycle lanes (a.k.a. cycletracks) as seen in leading cities like New York and Chicago?
Los Angeles Walks - Approximately 20 percent of trips in Los Angeles are on foot but less than 1 percent of transportation funding is for walking infrastructure and programs. How will you ensure that a higher share of funding goes to support walking and can you commit to a target number?
Southern California Transit Advocates - The Wilshire bus lane project is due to be ready by late 2014. If after a period of a year or so it is judged a success (improving transit patron's travel times, luring auto riders to switch to mass transit) would you support considering such lanes for other arterial streets in Los Angeles?
Occidental College UEPI - This year Los Angeles starts completely revising its zoning rules for the first time since 1946. What are the key changes you want to see to shape a more healthy, sustainable, and equitable city?
Streetsblog – The Mayor controls four seats on the Metro Board of Directors. As Mayor, you’ll also have the opportunity to Chair the Board at least once. What is your top priority for the agency?
Bonus question: It's April 21. You are in the runoff. How does your campaign capitalize on all the people out on the street for CicLAvia on that day?
