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.”

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.

None of these questions were answered Wednesday when the Glendale Planning Commission approved a use variance to allow 4 live/work artist units in a new 4-story, 36-unit affordable housing project at 331 and 327 Salem Street. The proposed design will be eligible for state tax credits under SB 1818, include Silver LEED Certification, and provide 57 parking spaces (instead of the 81 that would normally be required under city code).

Consultant Rodney Khan gave the presentation, focusing on the city’s goal of increasing affordable housing and council’s stated goals of creating an arts district and encouraging live/work developments. Khan stressed that the site is only one block away from the Downtown Specific Plan area, where live/work units are already encouraged. Eligibility for the density bonus was determined at a Zoning Administrator’s hearing just that morning.

The lack of a city policy on live/work units had commissioners leaning toward postponement until after the Housing Authority/City Council joint meeting on the subject March 16. But when Planning Director Hassan Haghani and Khan both mentioned the project was on a tight deadline to apply for state tax credits, and the matter would be appealed directly to city council, commissioners decided to approve the project with recommendations.

The project is eligible for the state’s “density bonus” under SB 1818, a law that rewards affordable and low-income housing developments. Coincidentally, Paul Krekorian’s defeat of a Valley Village apartment project and its SB 1818 claims was featured Wednesday in CurbedLA.

Parking was a concern for some commissioners and several speakers who represented area property owners. The fact that live/work units might require special parking accommodations for deliveries, hours of business, clients, art showings, etc., was raised but not resolved.

Eric Yesayan commented, “Regardless of how ‘green’ this project is, we are still losing public parking.” Yesayan, Chang Lee, and Hank Sheets all had strong concerns about parking, while commission chair William Kane said, “I’m satisfied in terms of testimony that it is parking neutral.” Parking ended up being a secondary issue, as commissioners decided to approve the project instead of postpone it based on the state tax credit application deadline.