Candidate Profile: Phil Brock For Santa Monica City Council

SANTA MONICA, CA — The 2020 election is heating up in Los Angeles County, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Closer to home, Patch has asked candidates for city council races to discuss their campaigns, publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

In Santa Monica, Phil Brock is running for one of the five open seats on Santa Monica City Council.

Age (as of Election Day)

66

Town/City of Residence

Santa Monica

Office Sought

Municipal office

Where appropriate, add specifics about office sought: i.e., State Senate District 1, State Assembly District 2, Temecula City Council District 1, etc.

Santa Monica City Council

Party affiliation (not needed in non-partisan races, including county, city and school offices)

non-partisan office

Family

Kathryn is my very significant other!

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

BA UCLA M.Ed LMU

Occupation

President/CEO Entertainment Industry 25 years

Campaign website

BrockTheVote.org

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Santa Monica City Commissioner (Arts, Recreation & Parks) 18 years

The single most pressing issue facing our (state, district, community, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Public Safety in Santa Monica. I will restore our public safety, reduce crime and homelessness via comprehensive plans I have developed with experts in the field. Read more about them here: https://votebrock.org/issues/PublicSafetyisJobOne and https://votebrock.org/issues/homelessness

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I bring Experience, Competence, integrity, and Leadership with me to the dais. I have the business acumen to analyze our city's out of control budget and the gut's to apply common sense to solve our city's problems. Over $150 Million for an addition to City Hall and $2.54 Million for a remodel of a park restroom? Not to mention the highest paid city staff in California with a pension debt that will bankrupt the city. We need to rebirth Santa Monica, not rebuild it. Our city must be responsive to residents, not only to developers and their cronies. Had enough, it's time for a change!

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

They have failed to be responsive to their constituents. The single worst day in our city's history was Sunday, May 31st. Our city was looted. 153 businesses destroyed, protestors tear gassed on Ocean Avenue while looters had a field day with no police response on 4th Street. The City Council hasn't apologized nor have they held the City Manager or Police Chief responsible. Three and 1/2 months later there is no incident report and the independent investigation hasn't begun. Disgraceful!

The city has the second highest sales tax and the highest utility tax in California. They continue to tax us and use the excuse that more development is necessary to pay the bills. The reality is spend less and listen to the residents in our neighborhoods.

Our quality of life has decreased due to crime, traffic gridlock, and over development. Our communal wellness has decreased. It is time to restore the soul and safety of Santa Monica and the incumbents have made no effort.

Had enough? It's time for a change in leadership at City Hall.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

We are in crisis and need fresh ideas to solve the myriad of problems we face. Public Safety, Homelessness, Over Development are the top issues in this campaign.

But as the former Chair of the Recreation and Parks Commission I am deeply concerned about our open space and city parks. We need to make sure our parks are safe for our children and seniors. Once they are safe we need more. A community orchard, community gardens, more dog parks, athletic fields, and a true senior center that combines Emeritus College with indoor and outdoor facilities for our community's seniors. Lastly, with global warming a reality we must secure the aquifer beneath us by making sure that development not exceed our infrastructure and that our community tree canopy increases.

As everyone is, I am concerned that our Police use smart techniques to fight crime rather than being heavy handed and that any racism be nipped in the bud. We need a restoration of our park rangers, increased mental health counselors, and crisis intervention on duty 24 hours a day. Let me add however that our police must arrest and prosecute all felonies and misdemeanors. No longer will we let criminals walk the streets and commit crimes with impunity.

I am an advocate for community art and find it shameful that the beloved mosaic on 26th and Wilshire was sent to another city so willingly through staff neglect. One incumbent has declared that the Bergamot Arts Center must go and "infill" housing replace it. Over 40% of our residents are employed in the Arts. Our community should be rich with the public display of the Arts in our town.

Downtown Santa Monica needs a rebirth and city fees and obstruction to our small businesses must end. Santa Monicans value our independent restaurants and businesses and as a city, we must help them thrive and give them assistance to help see them through this pandemic.

I am also deeply concerned about the loss of diversity and the increased economic disparity in our city. We must do our best to adaptively use older buildings and provide incentive to rehab structures rather than demolish them. As a city, sustainability must be a key word and development must be in line with a beachside community. Lastly, I want to see our rich 145-year history spotlit via our history museum, the conservancy, and landmarking wherever appropriate.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been an independent businessman for over 40 years. I am a second generation Santa Monican and care deeply about the place I have always called home. In addition to 18 years as a City Commissioner and six previous years as a SMMUSD advisory committee chair I have led professional trade organizations in my chosen field and spent decades as an volunteer leader for charitable organizations in our city and region.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Restoring the soul of Santa Monica, reducing crime and homelessness, helping residents be in control of our neighborhoods, eliminate overdevelopment, and making our residents & visitors love our city once again.

Why should voters trust you?

I say that I bleed blue and gold with a touch of Santa Monica dirt thrown in for good measure.

I have written op-eds about our lives in Santa Monica for the past seven years in the Santa Monica Mirror and the Santa Monica Daily Press for the Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow (SMart).

My video chronicle (Brock on Your Block) of Santa Monica life contains over 150 episodes about all of us in the City by the Bay.

I am a past President of the Boys and Girls Club Council and Santa Monica Kiwanis. I am a Trustee of the Santa Monica Elks and Lt Governor of the coastal division of Kiwanis. I am Vice Chair of the Santa Monica Salvation Army Advisory Board and a past President of the CalParksBoard.

In addition, I am President of the Samohi Alumni Association, was co-chair of the Historic San Vicente Coalition, and a member of the Civic Working Group. Lastly, I was chosen as Santa Monica's Volunteer of the Year and Santa Monica's Citizen of the Year.

My grandparents moved here in the late 1920's, my mother was born here and still lives here. I am fighting to restore our community. I want nothing more then to listen to all of you and do my best to honor the wishes of our residents. This is our city and the incumbents have failed us in every way. Look around Santa Monica. We know there is a better way. It is time for a change and I will fight for all of us with integrity, leadership, and inclusion.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I am a fiscal conservative who believes strongly that our taxpayer dollars have been wasted on vanity projects over and over again. I want the pay scales of top level staff to reflect the median pay of other California cities, not exceed all California cities. I want a resident budget restructuring committee and an audit committee to work with our neighborhoods and city council to determine what our residents need and want from their city. I am tired of the city staff telling us what we need!

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, I am running to serve.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

I was lucky enough to have met Coach John Wooden many times during my times at UCLA and afterwards. There are several quotes that I live by that will serve me well on the dais. The last one is really my creed!

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming"

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful"

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will listen to you and reflect your will in city government. I expect that town halls will be held often and that residents will be welcomes at city hall to help determine best policies. I want Santa Monica to be a respected leader however we must live within our means. I have never been afraid to challenge the status quo and will stand up to power as a city council person. For too long, developers have held sway in city hall. It is time for residents to reclaim our city from outside developers. I will be Brock solid for our resident, each and every day.