Blog | City Council Candidate Mike Bonin Unveils Plan To Bring City Hall Closer To Our Neighborhoods

Underscoring his commitment to “Put Neighborhoods First,” City Council candidate Mike Bonin today unveiled a multi-pronged plan to bring City Hall closer to residents of Council District 11.

Mike’s “Access 11” plan will use direct personal outreach and technology to make sure residents and neighborhoods have access to city government, and have multiple ways to make their voices heard.

“For eight years, I have worked with Bill Rosendahl, who has set new standards for accessibility and transparency,” Mike said.  “I want to achieve the same thing, but in my own way.  City Hall can seem pretty far away, and I want to do everything I can to bring it to our neighborhoods.” 

Mike said his plan would have two components – personal and technological.  “Local government needs to listen better.  We need a Mayberry approach, and an iPhone sensibility.”

Mike’s Access 11 Plan calls for:

Neighborhood Office Hours - Mike will hold regular and open office hours – and not on a weekday in a government office.  He’ll do them on weekends and evenings, at times convenient for members of working families, at Farmer’s Markets, local fire or police stations, senior centers, libraries or neighborhood shops.

Neighborhood Service Fairs - Mike will partner with our local neighborhood councils to hold “Service Fairs” with city departments responsible for maintaining our streets, parks, and public safety. 

Hikes with Mike - Mike will invite neighbors to join him for informal discussions during hikes throughout some of the district’s precious natural resources, such as the Santa Monica Mountains, the Ballona Wetlands, or the coast. 

Neighborhood Coffees - Mike understands that real discussions rarely happen in government offices.  He will hold neighborhood “coffees” in backyards and living rooms to hear from residents and truly appreciate issues and concerns before they become problems and crises. 

Going Door to Door - Mike will continue to go door to door to meet with voters – even after he is elected. He and his staff will invite volunteers and neighborhood leaders to join him and help engage new people into community activism. 

Internet Testimony - Mike will encourage the use of simple, free technology, like Skype or Facetime, to allow residents to testify at city hearings from work or the comfort of home.  He will make it easier to testify so people will not need to take a day off work, fight traffic and spend half a day at City Hall to be heard. 

Virtual Town Halls - Mike will hold Town Halls throughout the district on important topics, but he will also make it easy to participate remotely.  He’ll livestream the Town Halls and use technology like Google Moderator to make sure people can participate.

“Someone told me this plan sounds like I intend to keep on campaigning,” Mike said.  “In a way, I do.  Campaigning refreshes democracy and infuses local government with new ideas and new energies from our neighborhoods.  I want to be a catalyst for engaging people in local government.” 

Mike is running to succeed Bill Rosendahl, who is retiring and has endorsed Mike to succeed him.  The district includes Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, West LA, Mar Vista, Venice, Del Rey, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, and Westchester.  The election is March 5.  For more information about Mike, visit www.mikebonin.com.