The Tao of Nili Nathan
BEVERLY HILLS - With the economy in a downward spiral, Nili Nathan is banking on her financial chops to give her the edge in the March 3 City Council elections. As a former loan officer with JPMorgan Chase, Nathan says she coined and lived by the principles of her own Tao - Transparency, Accountability and Oversight - three things she says she can bring to the council.
“The economy is a huge issue, right now,” she says in between sips of Chai tea. “Having finance and business acumen is critical now because you’re giving direction to the city manager and you want council members that are going to be fiscally responsible and creative and know how to plan for when the economy turns around by using common sense approaches.”
After moving out of Beverly Hills for a while, Nathan has returned and now has a daughter in the first grade. She is on the Beverly Vista PTA and is passionate about ensuring a bright future for all in Beverly Hills.
Aside from your financial background, what other qualifications do you feel you have to serve on the council?
Well some things are innate and what I have is a strong sense of justice and the guts to speak up for other people, which I have done my whole entire life; whether it’s other employees, neighbors, relatives, I’m always the one to come forth. I also bring a creative common sense approach. I have a background in the entertainment business and more recently Internet promotion via Internet videos. I promoted over 300 experts and businesses on a global level and that’s something we can discuss for Beverly Hills as well.
What would you say are the top three issues currently facing the city and how would you address them?
The first one is maintaining our outstanding city services, which include police, fire, schools, and community that the residents expect. Our police and fire combined get 50% of our budget and I understand that’s what the residents want. That’s why we all live in Beverly Hills. Secondly, there’s concern that our city expenditures are exceeding revenue so where’s the plan to keep businesses in Beverly Hills?
Do you have a plan?
I do. We have to be more proactive to mediate between the community and the businesses. We had a couple of car dealers with high revenue leave the city. We need to have council members who have more time to mediate so the businesses don’t leave.
Are you saying those businesses left because people weren’t talking to each other?
There wasn’t enough negotiation between the two parties to create a win-win situation.
So what specifically could have been done to keep those businesses here?
Well, when the residents don’t want big business or development, I don’t feel they are getting enough support from the City, in terms of never giving up negotiating, talking, and working out a deal for both parties. Another way to increase revenue: we’re investing a lot in the Golden Triangle, which is at the top of the pyramid of our revenue. Of course it makes sense to be supporting that, however, there are other pockets of the city that are under-devoted such as South Beverly Drive, and some of Robertson Blvd. When the economy turns around we should have a plan in effect and take action to implement a revitalization of the areas.
What is your revitalization plan?
Number one we will achieve more income and number two we will retain the charm and quality of life residents want, by designing revitalization that fits within the parameters of our zoning and also has a Beverly Hills historic theme. For example we have beautiful architecture [from the time when we had] the Warner Theatre, we have famous people like Gershwin and Will Rogers. We can create a Beverly Hills historical theme as part of that revitalization. It would bring tourist in from the surrounding cities of Los Angeles, which is critical. Beverly Hills should be a local destination as well as an international destination. People go to the Grove and Santa Monica. Making a local destination will bring tourists who favor the Rodeo Side to other parts of the city. The community also wants a bit of nightlife. I don’t mean discos. But this would create nightlife. The city would stay open later modeled on places like The Grove and Culver City.
Is there a third issue for you?
The third is quality of life, which includes traffic, parking and our streetscape. We can make the city more walkable; we can reduce car usage by looking at other successful models such as Copenhagen and London, which have reduced their automobile usage and their carbon footprint.
London, though, has an excellent public transportation system, a great tube system, and that city has imposed taxes on those driving into the city center. Beverly Hills doesn’t have a mass transit system and can’t exactly charge people to drive into the city, given that it’s also a pass through, so how can Beverly Hills use London as a model?
I’m not an insider so I don’t know the pros and cons. But I have these ideas and we should definitely be talking with them and having dialogue. I can’t flesh it out because I’m not on the inside.
One of the things though that is a huge issue here is the possibility of the Subway to the Sea, which would go through Beverly Hills, but wouldn’t hit Century City until 2026. Recently Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa suggested that funding needs to be sought now so that the traffic problems can be addressed earlier. Do you support this and how would you like to see the subway progress?
I definitely support it and my role of a council member is to be the voice of the people and to vote in accordance with what the majority of the people want. If the people want it then I will vote that way because that’s my job.
What are your views on the current General Plan and what would you like to see it incorporate?
I’m against over development. I’m against buildings that the residents don’t want. We need to stand firm to what our requirements and guidelines are going to be and not deviate and do spot zoning because there’s another interest.
Speaking of over development how did you vote on Measure H?
I wasn’t a registered voter of Beverly Hills at the time. I would have voted No because I didn’t like the condos. The owner has a right to remodel the hotel and I think that’s a beautiful asset. I was concerned about the height, especially where it was located and I think what makes me different from all the other candidates is that I’m not a black and white person. I’m a true mediator and negotiator. Had I been on the council, I would have worked to have created a better agreement. Right now I feel let’s move forward and I have a plan to mitigate the next five years of construction, noise, traffic, parking and environmental concerns, especially those who live around the El Rodeo school. We need to make sure we have a point person on a daily basis to troubleshoot problems between the City, the community and the businesses and I’d like to devote my efforts to be that person.
If your campaign had a bumper sticker or a slogan what would it say?
Working together with the community using common sense approaches.
For more information on Nili Nathan's campaign, visit www.NiliNathan.com
The Beverly Hills Community News Project will be interviewing all 11 candidates running for the three open seats over the coming weeks. Please check back for more in-depth profile interviews
Barry Brucker Interview
Linda Briskman Interview
Willie Brien Interview
Virginia Maas Interview
Michael Hakim Interview
Fran Cohen Interview
Richard Stone Interview
John Mirisch Interview
“The economy is a huge issue, right now,” she says in between sips of Chai tea. “Having finance and business acumen is critical now because you’re giving direction to the city manager and you want council members that are going to be fiscally responsible and creative and know how to plan for when the economy turns around by using common sense approaches.”
After moving out of Beverly Hills for a while, Nathan has returned and now has a daughter in the first grade. She is on the Beverly Vista PTA and is passionate about ensuring a bright future for all in Beverly Hills.
Aside from your financial background, what other qualifications do you feel you have to serve on the council?
Well some things are innate and what I have is a strong sense of justice and the guts to speak up for other people, which I have done my whole entire life; whether it’s other employees, neighbors, relatives, I’m always the one to come forth. I also bring a creative common sense approach. I have a background in the entertainment business and more recently Internet promotion via Internet videos. I promoted over 300 experts and businesses on a global level and that’s something we can discuss for Beverly Hills as well.
What would you say are the top three issues currently facing the city and how would you address them?
The first one is maintaining our outstanding city services, which include police, fire, schools, and community that the residents expect. Our police and fire combined get 50% of our budget and I understand that’s what the residents want. That’s why we all live in Beverly Hills. Secondly, there’s concern that our city expenditures are exceeding revenue so where’s the plan to keep businesses in Beverly Hills?
Do you have a plan?
I do. We have to be more proactive to mediate between the community and the businesses. We had a couple of car dealers with high revenue leave the city. We need to have council members who have more time to mediate so the businesses don’t leave.
Are you saying those businesses left because people weren’t talking to each other?
There wasn’t enough negotiation between the two parties to create a win-win situation.
So what specifically could have been done to keep those businesses here?
Well, when the residents don’t want big business or development, I don’t feel they are getting enough support from the City, in terms of never giving up negotiating, talking, and working out a deal for both parties. Another way to increase revenue: we’re investing a lot in the Golden Triangle, which is at the top of the pyramid of our revenue. Of course it makes sense to be supporting that, however, there are other pockets of the city that are under-devoted such as South Beverly Drive, and some of Robertson Blvd. When the economy turns around we should have a plan in effect and take action to implement a revitalization of the areas.
What is your revitalization plan?
Number one we will achieve more income and number two we will retain the charm and quality of life residents want, by designing revitalization that fits within the parameters of our zoning and also has a Beverly Hills historic theme. For example we have beautiful architecture [from the time when we had] the Warner Theatre, we have famous people like Gershwin and Will Rogers. We can create a Beverly Hills historical theme as part of that revitalization. It would bring tourist in from the surrounding cities of Los Angeles, which is critical. Beverly Hills should be a local destination as well as an international destination. People go to the Grove and Santa Monica. Making a local destination will bring tourists who favor the Rodeo Side to other parts of the city. The community also wants a bit of nightlife. I don’t mean discos. But this would create nightlife. The city would stay open later modeled on places like The Grove and Culver City.
Is there a third issue for you?
The third is quality of life, which includes traffic, parking and our streetscape. We can make the city more walkable; we can reduce car usage by looking at other successful models such as Copenhagen and London, which have reduced their automobile usage and their carbon footprint.
London, though, has an excellent public transportation system, a great tube system, and that city has imposed taxes on those driving into the city center. Beverly Hills doesn’t have a mass transit system and can’t exactly charge people to drive into the city, given that it’s also a pass through, so how can Beverly Hills use London as a model?
I’m not an insider so I don’t know the pros and cons. But I have these ideas and we should definitely be talking with them and having dialogue. I can’t flesh it out because I’m not on the inside.
One of the things though that is a huge issue here is the possibility of the Subway to the Sea, which would go through Beverly Hills, but wouldn’t hit Century City until 2026. Recently Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa suggested that funding needs to be sought now so that the traffic problems can be addressed earlier. Do you support this and how would you like to see the subway progress?
I definitely support it and my role of a council member is to be the voice of the people and to vote in accordance with what the majority of the people want. If the people want it then I will vote that way because that’s my job.
What are your views on the current General Plan and what would you like to see it incorporate?
I’m against over development. I’m against buildings that the residents don’t want. We need to stand firm to what our requirements and guidelines are going to be and not deviate and do spot zoning because there’s another interest.
Speaking of over development how did you vote on Measure H?
I wasn’t a registered voter of Beverly Hills at the time. I would have voted No because I didn’t like the condos. The owner has a right to remodel the hotel and I think that’s a beautiful asset. I was concerned about the height, especially where it was located and I think what makes me different from all the other candidates is that I’m not a black and white person. I’m a true mediator and negotiator. Had I been on the council, I would have worked to have created a better agreement. Right now I feel let’s move forward and I have a plan to mitigate the next five years of construction, noise, traffic, parking and environmental concerns, especially those who live around the El Rodeo school. We need to make sure we have a point person on a daily basis to troubleshoot problems between the City, the community and the businesses and I’d like to devote my efforts to be that person.
If your campaign had a bumper sticker or a slogan what would it say?
Working together with the community using common sense approaches.
For more information on Nili Nathan's campaign, visit www.NiliNathan.com
The Beverly Hills Community News Project will be interviewing all 11 candidates running for the three open seats over the coming weeks. Please check back for more in-depth profile interviews
Barry Brucker Interview
Linda Briskman Interview
Willie Brien Interview
Virginia Maas Interview
Michael Hakim Interview
Fran Cohen Interview
Richard Stone Interview
John Mirisch Interview
Finger on the financial pulse: Nili Nathan says her finance background makes her a prime candidate.
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