2020 ENDORSEMENTS, Bike The Vote L.A.

General Election Voting Period: Monday, October 5 – Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Find a ballot drop box (to be posted by October 5th): https://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/voting-options/vote-by-mail/vbm-ballot-drop-off
Find a voting center (to be posted by October 5th): https://locator.lavote.net/locations/vc

See Also:
Bike The Vote L.A.’s voter guide: https://www.bikethevote.com/voter-guide/
CalBike’s Primary endorsements for the California Legislature: https://www.calbike.org/take_action/bike-the-vote/

Nithya Raman

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for L.A. City Council District 4

Nithya Raman is an inspiring grassroots candidate to represent L.A. City Council District 4, with a long track record of advocacy and community organizing centered around equity. As Los Angeles dithers on Vision Zero, we need effective leadership that understands the complexity and intersectionality of issues we face. Nithya Raman is a truly inspirational and deeply knowledgeable leader with a plan to turn the tide on the structural issues that negatively impact the day-to-day lives of Angelenos. Bike The Vote L.A. is pleased to endorse Nithya Raman for Los Angeles City Council District 4.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for L.A. County Supervisor District 2

California Senator Holly Mitchell is an accomplished legislator who has centered her work around equity and low-income residents. She has so consistently and clearly used this framing in her policy decisions that she has been acknowledged by her colleagues as the Legislature’s “moral compass and social conscience.” In an open race for a powerful position on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors (and with it a seat on the Metro Board), Bike The Vote L.A. sees Mitchell’s experience, thoughtfulness, and equity-centered policy making as what sets her apart. Bike The Vote L.A. wholeheartedly endorses Holly Mitchell for Los Angeles County Supervisor District 2.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Culver City Council

Yasmine McMorrin has spent the last four years advocating for equity and inclusion in Culver City. McMorrin’s campaign rightfully uses an equity lens to frame decision-making on critical issues, including policing, housing, mobility, and a transition away from fossil fuels. She has outlined a well-informed, thoughtful, and nuanced platform on transportation. With her transformative, equity-focused platform. Bike The Vote L.A. enthusiastically endorses Yasmine McMorrin for Culver City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Culver City Council

Freddy Puza is a longstanding progressive advocate in Culver City who has focused on housing and homelessness, including serving on Culver City’s Committee on Homelessness and General Plan Advisory Committee. Puza has made safe streets a central element of his campaign for City Council, developing a progressive platform on transportation. Bike The Vote L.A. wholeheartedly endorses Freddy Puza for Culver City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Culver City Council

For the last four years, Darrel Menthe has helped build support within Culver City’s business community for progressive goals as President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association. As the COVID-19 pandemic transformed daily life across the country, Menthe was key in ushering support to transform sections of Main Street and Culver Boulevard in Downtown Culver City to be car-free. If elected, Methe will bring an important voice from Culver City’s commercial sector that is grounded by empathy. Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to endorse Darrel Menthe for Culver City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Santa Monica City Council

In her 11 years on the Santa Monica City Council, Gleam Davis has been a champion for transit and a dependable advocate for safe streets. Councilmember Davis supported the ambitious goals set by the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans and, most recently, the 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Davis’ continued leadership will be indispensable as Santa Monica recovers from the COVID-19 crisis and deals with the reality of climate change. She earned our endorsement four years ago, and in 2020 Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to once again endorse Gleam Davis for Santa Monica City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Santa Monica City Council

Councilmember Ana Maria Jara is a longtime renter within Santa Monica’s Pico neighborhood, and has been an important and needed voice for renters and immigrants in Santa Monica. Jara has legislated from the heart, and developed into a dependable ally to the safe streets community within Santa Monica. As Santa Monica struggles with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Councilmember Jara’s continued leadership to center the needs of renters will be incredibly important. Bike The Vote L.A. enthusiastically endorses Ana Maria Jara for Santa Monica City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Santa Monica City Council

Mayor Pro Tem Terry O’Day has served on Santa Monica City Council since 2010 and has been a longtime champion for climate action and environmental justice. O’Day is a daily bike commuter who was instrumental in putting the Big Blue Bus on track towards a zero emission fleet. As the City works to upgrade its network to protected bike lanes amidst budget challenges, it will be well served by the leadership and ingenuity of its bike riding Mayor Pro Tem. Bike The Vote L.A. is honored to again endorse Terry O’Day for Santa Monica City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for Santa Monica City Council

Councilmember Ted Winterer has been a champion for pedestrian and bicycle safety for his entire eight-year tenure on Santa Monica City Council. In his recent term as Mayor, Winterer made climate action a central component of Santa Monica city policy, including hosting a monthly community bike ride and community walks. As Santa Monica navigates the COVID-19 fiscal crisis, maintaining the City’s progress toward becoming a more pedestrian-, bike- and transit-friendly community will be a challenge. With his years of determined advocacy on active transportation and climate change, Winterer’s continued leadership will be invaluable. Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to once again endorse Ted Winterer for Santa Monica City Council.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for South Pasadena City Council District 1

City Clerk Evelyn Zneimer is a long time resident and recognized community leader who wants to restore trust in local government. As a woman of color and immigration attorney, Evelyn brings diversity and an important viewpoint that is critically lacking in South Pasadena City Council representation. At a time when local budgets are strained, Zneimer offers a clear vision for taking action through innovation, coordination, and smart pilot projects. Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to endorse Evelyn Zneimer for South Pasadena City Council District 1.

Endorsed 2020 Candidate for South Pasadena City Council District 3

Small business owner and environmental advocate, Michelle Hammond, is currently serving on the South Pasadena Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure Commission (MTIC), helping to decide transportation funding, infrastructure, and policy decisions. She has been a constant advocate to walking and biking, helping push for increased bicycle parking throughout the City with a focus on providing parking within the business districts. With so much at stake for the future of South Pasadena, Hammond’s thoughtful approach and on the ground experience to provide a safe alternatives to driving will be an asset on City Council. Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to endorse Michelle Hammond for South Pasadena City Council District 3.

Yes On L.A. County Measure J

Within much of Los Angeles, “safe streets” has a very different meaning from the way this phrase is typically used within the context of transportation advocacy. For too many Angelenos, access to public spaces are limited by a lack of safe passage within historically disenfranchised communities, the impact of racial profiling, and the very real threat of police violence.

As advocates for mobility justice, we must support the struggle for racial justice and amplify calls for defunding the police. The police murders of Dijon Kizzee, Andres Guardado, Ricardo Diaz-Zeferino, and so many others — as well as law enforcement’s brutal response to subsequent protests — make clear that if Black and Brown residents are to be safe and free to go about their lives, our racist system of policing and incarceration must be dismantled and replaced with services and systems that provide safety to all. Bike The Vote L.A. enthusiastically endorses Los Angeles County Measure J.