Halla Maher, VoteHalla.com
I was born in Bagdad, Iraq, a country built on oppression and dictatorship. I was 8 years old when we came here legally. My parents taught us the value of hard work and education. As an immigrant, I watched my parents struggle, and we were always one check away from losing everything. My parents went on to open a small business and worked hard, sometimes 16 hours a day. We are now seeing many families, including middle-class families, struggle due to inflation, high gas prices, high taxes, etc. While those are state issues, we face many local issues that are impacting our quality of life. I want to be able to give back to our amazing community, and I selfishly want to see my children grow up and stay here in Thousand Oaks. I want a safer community not just for my children but for all children.
I bring a different and diverse perspective that speaks to all walks of life, not just a particular type. I have always worked hard to find solutions for my personal struggles as an immigrant. I’m a problem solver, and I like to get things done. I worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for nearly ten years in a leadership role. I led my department (3,200 employees) through several presidentially-declared disasters and worked on multiple countywide plans, policies and procedures. I worked on multiple Homeland Security grants and identified several gaps that I was successful in fixing. One of the major plans I led was called a Family Assistance Center plan, and because it was such a successful plan, it was adopted by all 44 cities in Los Angeles County and won a state award. I also assisted in the development of trainings for clinics and hospitals to address the psychological consequences of large-scale emergencies.
[Concerning the most pressing issues and how to solve them.]Increase in crime
• Collaborate with law enforcement to identify the hotspots and strategically increase law enforcement presence in those areas/times.
• Rely on law enforcement for the expertise
• Work with the community to educate and train on how to develop neighborhood watch programs.
• Hold town hall meetings and educate on situational awareness, and if you see something, say something.
• Work collectively with the businesses and community at large to develop strategic plans to counter the increase in crime.
Homelessness
• I worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health working with the mentally ill population and teamed up with LAPD to do outreach on skid row. I heard firsthand their stories, their how and their why. I learned that very few had unforeseen life circumstances. The majority were either mentally ill or had drug/alcohol addiction. I saw how failed policies can increase/perpetuate this epidemic. As a city councilwoman, I would not support Housing First Policy, also known as Project Home Key. These are failed policies that have devastated San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is most critical to develop policies that address the root of the problem and equip them with the tools they need to get back on their feet and become self-reliant. I would leverage the existing resources rather than exhaust the taxpayers with more failed policies and programs.
• I support shelters and transitional housing. There are shelters in the county that are doing amazing work for the homeless.
• I would not allow injection sites to come to our cities like they have in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
• I would work very closely with law enforcement and faith-based organizations in hopes to connect the homeless with their families.
Water shortage
• We have had only one water source since our city was developed. Our city is growing, but we are not meeting certain demands, such as water. We need to use tertiary water for landscape and golf courses. We must start to use desalinization, do better with storm capture, partner with local entities who have upcoming water treatment facilities and create our own standalone water treatment.
