Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Hong Alyce Van
Current job title: City Council Member
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Stanton
Campaign website or social media: van4stanton.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As a councilmember, I must make decisions that balance the needs of current residents with the needs of future residents and our city’s growth, while increasing the housing supply at a variety of price points that will comply with state mandates such as RHNA.
During my last five years in office, Stanton has seen a huge growth in quality developments that have positively impacted our city. For example, Stanton was a champion in using Project Homekey funds from the state to convert problematic high-crime motels into 153 quality affordable housing units for the most vulnerable in our community. We also worked closely with Habitat for Humanity to enable six families to become homeowners at an affordable price. Through grants and partnerships, our city has been able to increase access to housing for residents in our community.
Additionally, to preserve the quality of life for existing neighborhoods, our city negotiates with developers to ensure they contribute their fair share in funding parks, green space, and infrastructure such as sewers, etc. Well-crafted development agreements are one of the city’s tools to limit any negative impacts to current residents.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Climate change is an existential threat to humanity’s existence and is a top priority for me as a councilmember. On the municipal level, we can take bold actions to address this issue. For example, during my time in office, our city has increased the number of electric vehicle charging stations available to the public on city property. Not only do we offer free trees to residents, the city has also been working towards a Tree Master Plan. As a councilmember, I’ve also championed the completion and adoption of an Active Transportation Plan, which helps provide alternative and more environmentally friendly modes of transportation (such as more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, bike paths, traffic calming measures, etc). City-wide energy audits, solar power, and exploring more sustainable sources of energy have all been initiatives that I’ve championed since my time in office. Additionally, whenever possible, the city has purchased low-emission vehicles for city business.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Last year the California state auditor released their analysis of the financial health of more than 400 California cities, and Stanton was one of the highest ranked cities statewide, and the highest ranked in Orange County. Over the past five years that I’ve served as councilmember, Stanton has always had a balanced budget with a healthy reserve and has been annually awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association.
Our city’s been able to balance paying off debts, while maintaining healthy reserves, and meeting residents’ needs because we diversify our revenue streams to hedge risks, and we also carefully assess the effectiveness of every dollar spent in meeting the needs of our community.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
One of the greatest challenges our city faces, like many other cities in Orange County, is homelessness. Stanton has taken a very pro-active approach in addressing this issue, which includes: homeless outreach coordinators, partnerships with various organizations and the North Orange County SPA for shelter beds and navigation centers, and increasing affordable permanent supportive housing units.
Additionally, our city collaborates with numerous nonprofits and government agencies to ensure that resources such as drug rehabilitation programs, mental health services, job training and placement services are available for anyone willing to accept help.
Unfortunately, service resistance remains a problem in the homeless population in our city, and we work closely with our law enforcement agency to ensure that well-trained staff are effectively engaging with anyone experiencing homelessness to provide support and limit any quality-of-life issues for residents and businesses.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Stanton is a very diverse city with a large immigrant and non-English speaking population. As the first Asian-American to serve on Stanton City Council and as a refugee to the United States who has been living in the city of Stanton since the age of 2, I understand the pulse of my community. It’s not easy being the only woman of color on City Council, but it helps me understand why representation matters. I’ve been intentional in appointing people with diverse perspectives into the various city commission and committee positions. I believe that underserved communities need a seat at the table to best advocate for their unique needs.
Additionally, I am an active and compassionate listener. I keep an open mind and understand that multi-faceted problems require a nuanced approach. I believe that public service means putting the needs of our residents first, and that government needs to work for the people.
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