Torrance Think Tank 2008: Rod Guyton

Rod Guyton is the first to answer the questions posed to him by Torrance Think Tank 2008. The answers to the following questions have been posted verbatim. Analysis on Mr.Guyton's answers are provided below. For now here is the debut of Torrance Think Tank 2008 with Mr. Rod Guyton.

1Q: Throughout your campaign you have suggested that you want to strengthen youth sports programs and other recreational activities for the younger generations of Torrance residents. What ideas do you propose to allow the youth to have more opportunities to enjoy all current and future programs Torrance will have to offer?

1A:When I was a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, we continually had complaints in the fall from youth soccer and football teams and the lack of open space available for practices. In the spring, we get complaints about the lack of baseball fields available for practices. One of the great things about growing up in Torrance was the opportunities that I had to play sports and keep busy. This is part of Torrance maintaining a pro family atmosphere. While on the Parks and Recreation Commission, I continually inquired about Torrance developing the two large sumps in West Torrance for our youth sports activities. This is property that the City of Torrance already owns. If money is a problem, then I would suggest partnering with a private developer to build a private sports complex by leasing the land to them. We could contribute funds from the money parents pay to have their children play baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc. The private developer would run his/her own camps, training facilities, leagues (adult and youth) for profit. I have seen this in other cities and it seems to work. More importantly, it allows us to meet our children’s youth sports needs.

* I think developing the sump near Bishop Montgomery off of Torrance Blvd would be a great idea. We would not need to have traffic coming into the neighborhood and would be able to have all traffic coming in and out from Torrance Blvd. This would allow us to have at least three separate fields large enough for soccer/football and also serve as baseball fields too.

2Q: When it comes to traffic congestion many have suggested that Torrance assume from the State of California responsibility for Hawthorne Blvd. and Pacific Coast Highway . As a member of the city council do you believe this is a good idea and what else do you propose to improve traffic flow throughout the city? Also how will we as a city be able to pay for traffic fixtures that you suggest if Torrance assumes more traffic responsibilities from the state government?

2A: Assuming ownership of Hawthorne Blvd and/or PCH will not automatically resolve our traffic issues. The number of cars and traffic will not simply disappear over night just because we own these streets. Torrance already controls the signals and has done studies to determine how to best synchronize our signals to help traffic move quickly. I was a former Planning Commissioner and dealt with these issues. The way this would work is that the State of California would give Torrance a lump sum of money to assume responsibility of these streets. This is a one time lump sum of money and after that money is gone, we would need to find the money in our budget to maintain these roads. I do like the idea of Torrance being in control of all of its roads. However, with the City of Torrance facing a possible 18 million dollar deficit and the school district facing a 9 million dollar deficit, I am not sure if now is the right time to assume this. Whatever extra money we have needs to go to help our schools before we spend it on our streets. Lastly, the only way to fix the traffic issues in Torrance is to get more folks out of their cars and into public transit. I would love to see the State of California and our Federal Government allow money spent by public transit riders to be tax deductible. This would be a good incentive.

* Taking ownership of Hawthorne and PCH is a great way for us to get control of the signals and to better synchronize our streets. My only concern is what additional financial burden it would put on our city budget once we assume responsibility in lieu of the projected revenue reduction from lost sales tax, property tax (devaluation) revenue, etc. We need to make sure our budget can sustain this additional expenditure without compromise city services and public safety.

3Q: Torrance prides it self as a great place to run a business and achieve the American dream. What would you do to strengthen existing business ties within in the city of Torrance ? Are there any businesses in particular you would encourage to come to Torrance or would you try to decrease the flow of new business coming into the city in order to strike more of a balance between the residential and commerce aspect of Torrance? If you plan to expand business within the city how will you account for the increase in traffic and congestion as a result of the new businesses?

3A:In order to maintain public safety, we need to have the financial resources to pay for this. We need to remember that much of the traffic in Torrance is from people coming to our city to spend money! Money that will be taxed (retail sales tax). This is a big part of our financial stability. We need to stop converting industrial property into residential thus losing our tax base to maintain the great police, fire and public services that our city offers. Many of the problems with some Torrance businesses have nothing to do with Torrance , but are rather problems with being California . Some businesses like manufacturing simply cannot stay in Torrance or California much longer. As much as I don’t want to see them move, I understand that we will eventually lose some of these businesses. This is why we need to find and attract businesses that are in industries that can afford to be in a high cost environment like Torrance and California . Tourism, aerospace, medical, Import/Export, computer, etc are some viable options. I would also like to point out that I lived in Japan for two years and speak quite a lot of Japanese and can read and write Hiragana and Katakana (forms of Japanese writing). I have very strong ties to many in the Japanese community here in Torrance . While on the City Council, I actually represented the City of Torrance at a couple of Japanese events where I spoke in Japanese and English both. I believe that having a councilman who can speak Japanese and understands the Japanese culture as I do might be able to strengthen Torrance ’s relationship with our Torrance based Japanese companies.

* Torrance is 28.8% Asian and has a very large Korean Community. We have the infrastructure to support the Asia culture with markets and restaurants that allow them to maintain their culture. Many of these Asian companies ( Toyota , Honda, etc) are able to sustain the high cost of doing business in Torrance . I would like to see us strengthen our relationships with Toyota , Honda, Alpine while we work to attract new companies to come to Torrance . I believe that my ability to speak quit a lot of Japanese (lived in Tokyo 2.5 years) along with doing business in Asia annually (24 trips thus far) would greatly help Torrance to attract more companies to move to Torrance.

4Q.California is going through massive budget cuts which affect everyday services many in the state are use to, one of them being public education. With the strain faced on our public schools what do you propose we do to make our public schools properly funded and more accountable with the money they receive? Would you consider a raise in property taxes, any other taxes or taking out bond debt to add more money to our schools? Also would you consider a voucher system in order to ease financial strains on our public schools?

4A:I supported the school bond measure the last time and would do so again. I have talked extensively with several of our school board members and I understand how desperately needed this money is to our schools and our children’s education. I grew up in Torrance and attended Yukon Elementary, Magruder Middle School and North Torrance High School (1979). It really upsets me to see Torrance schools in such need of repair. While I was a member of the Leadership Torrance (Class of 2004), I lead a group of my colleagues into Yukon Elementary to repaint and landscape the school. While everyone seems to be willing to support the school bond measure, I am willing to walk precincts to support this bond measure to help our schools. Having a councilman walking door to door in support of this would be very influential.

* I support the Torrance School Bond Measure since I do not see any other way to help our schools. I do have some ideas to help our schools raise money, but would feel more comfortable bringing these issues up after the election since they have not been brought up before.

5Q: Complete the following statement “When I think of Torrance the first thing I think of is….”

5A: How much I enjoyed growing up in Torrance ! Torrance has always been able to maintain a small town feeling. We have been able to keep out the high rises, keep out the high density residential properties and had a lot of trees and foliage. However, I am very concerned that we are slowly losing this charm. I also believe that all of the youth sports activities and parks Torrance has make Torrance a great place to raise our families. We need to protect this for our children and future generations to enjoy.

* what a great place it was to grow up here and how fortunate we are to live in this city.

6Q:Is there anything not addressed in the above questions that you would like Torrance residents to know about you personally or why you should receive one of the four votes we will cast on June 3^rd 2008?

6A:Torrance is facing some serious financial challenges ahead as a result of California being 10 billion dollars in debt. After this election, we will have a city council with no more than two years experience (except Mayor Scotto). This is not much experience for a city our size with a 246 million dollar budget and with the serious challenges coming our way. This is also why I believe that my experience owning and running companies that employed as many as 68 people along with my experience as a former councilman and commissioner would be a benefit to Torrance. I truly love Torrance and all Torrance has to offer. We need to get serious about stopping Torrance from looking like an extension of downtown Torrance . I welcome any questions or clarification you may have regarding my above answers.

* I believe that my business experience having owned three companies and employing 68 people, growing up in Torrance when my family moved here in 1962 and my experience as a Planning Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Community Services Commissioner and my short stint as a Torrance City Councilman (9 months) would greatly benefit our next Torrance City Council. I know how to make decisions, how to meet a budget and how to manage people and would like to put this to work as one of your four newly elected council members. Thank you, Rod Guyton www.guytonforcitycouncil.com

* Added 5/17/08

Torrance Election 2008 analyzes Mr.Guyton's answers:

For the most part Torrance 2008 was pleased with the answers Mr. Rod Guyton gave. Rod in our view outlined the most extensive plan when it came to meeting the demands of our children’s youth sports needs. His experience on the Parks and Recreations Commission is refreshing and his idea to involve the private sector to lease the land in order to ease the financial burden off Torrance is a fabulous idea.

Guyton showed honesty when he made the hard call to say that the extra money we have must go to schools before it can go to improving traffic. Also his idea of making public transportation tax deductible is a great idea for it is quite hard to drag people away from their cars to public transit. Our only concern is that waiting to assume responsibility of our roads and delaying funds to ease traffic congestion might make things worse but we do understand that this among many other issues must strike balance.

We agree with Rod’s sentiments that converting our industrial bases into a residential one would only result in the loss of more revenue that we need to run vital city services. The idea of trying to attract tourism, aerospace, medical, import/export and computer industries into the city is wonderful for they would most likely be able to endure the high cost of California/Torrance living. We are also impressed with the strong ties he has to the Japanese business community.

It is also nice to see Rod in strong favor of the school bond measure. We just wonder how he will ensure the money is properly used to ensure that all the money goes to improving our schools missing funds and infrastructure. We assume based on the absence of an answer that he would not consider a school voucher program.

Finally, it is a plus that with the exception of Mayor Scotto he will be the only one with prior council experience running the 6^th largest city in Los Angeles county. Overall we are impressed by the answers Mr. Guyton gave.

Torrance Election 2008
"Because We Want More Than Sound Bites"