Interview with Sunder Ramani,
43rd District Assembly Candidate 2


Sunder Ramani described his entrance into the 43rd District Assembly race as a “step up to the next level of community service.” Local community leaders encouraged Ramani to run as the Republican candidate for the empty seat. In this Sunroom Desk interview, he discussed changing California’s approach to small business, increasing the amount of education funds going to classroom instruction, encouraging community and civic participation, and ending the current 710 Tunnel proposal.
Sunder Ramani Interview 2-5-10
Ramani’s top goal is to improve prospects for small businesses in California to ultimately create jobs. He aims to reduce barriers for entrepreneurs. “If you want to start a business and set up an LLC, the state charges you $800 before you make a penny, just for the privilege of doing business here. That’s not right,” Ramani said.

Ramani also believes AB 32 should not be implemented while unemployment is so high. “Large corporations can lay off local employees from a distance, but small businesses can’t easily downsize. If their costs increase, they will have to make painful decisions to let workers go and will also be slow to rehire. Burdensome regulation is smothering small business.”

He supports state-level initiatives to combat congestion and address housing needs: “I’m a big advocate of getting rid of parking mandates. Consider the highest, best use of property; don’t dedicate it to parking.” In core areas, he believes affordable housing credits and the state density bonuses in SB 1818 are appropriate, but “Policymakers need to look at how people live in and migrate within the community.”
Sunder Ramani Interview 2 2-5-10
Returning funding control to districts and schools while curtailing mandates and administrative reporting requirements are among Ramani’s goals for public education. “Parents matter, teachers matter: they know the students much better than the state. Site-level knowledge isn’t being leveraged, and the state bureaucracy is handcuffing districts with all these mandates.”

“Parent accountability needs to be stepped up,” he continued. He described the success Burroughs High School has had with monthly parent potluck meetings, and recalled speaking to parents and students at one of those meetings about scholarship opportunities. “Sacramento can’t do that, but local non-profits have a role; they are the 5th leg of every community and serve a vital place here.”

Community involvement is key to parents’ involvement in their children’s future and civic life. Ramani said his own participation in the YMCA Indian Guides (a name he prefers because of his Indian background) was very rewarding. The local business owner has lived in the area almost all his life, serving in numerous organizations including (to name just a few) Glendale Educational Foundation, Glendale Character and Ethics Project, Burbank Community Foundation, Burbank Rotary Club, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Colony Theatre, New Horizons Center of Glendale, Burbank Chamber of Commerce, and the California Small Business Association.

Finally, Ramani says the 710 Tunnel is a micro solution to a bigger problem. “Where are the trucks coming from and where are they headed? They are headed to the 5 and 15 freeways. We don’t need more trucks on the road competing with cars. We must seek the best interests of the state as a whole instead of supporting industries with government policies.” Ramani stressed that the state shouldn’t buy more real estate, but solve the problem with rail transport and/or an elevated highway.