Full Name: Susan J. Hartley
Endorsements: Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City; Santa Monica Dispatch; Santa Monica Democratic Club Executive Committee Recommendation
Current office/profession:
Tenant and Employee attorney, 30 years; Board member, Friends of Sunset Park; founder and director, Santa Monica Tenants’ Rights Clinic; former vice-chair Santa Monica Airport Commission; co-founder of Treesavers; board member of Veterans for Peace – Los Angeles; middle and high school teacher, five years; girl scout leader, 12 years; Santa Monica High School PTSA officer; Strategic Plan design team member, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District; Founder, Leftjaw, LA County Emplyment Lawyer Organization; founding board member, California Employment Lawyers Association
Education: University of Michigan, Regents Scholar; Cal State Los Angeles, BA, MBA; Univ. of California Hastings College of Law, JD
Date/place of birth: Michigan 1945
Biography: I grew up a couple blocks from the famous “Eight Mile Road” in Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, and a community populated mostly by first generation blue collar Americans. All my grandparents immigrated in the 1900s. My grandmother was an illiterate peasant. Neither of my parents graduated high school, with my father only completing the third grade before going to work in Pennsylvania coal mines. He later became a carpenter and cabinetmaker.
I moved to California in 1965. I put myself through school working as a legal secretary, obtaining a B.A.(English), M.A.(Secondary Education with emphasis in remedial reading) and J.D. I’ve proudly spent my life working for equality and inclusion for all, as an inner-city remedial reading teacher (five years) and as a lawyer fighting for tenants’ rights and for employees’ civil rights (30 years). I am a small business owner (26 years), third stage breast cancer survivor (17 years), single mother (25 year old daughter), former Girl Scout leader (12 years), animal rescuer/owner, organic gardener, home improvement do-it-yourselfer, bicycle enthusiast, renter (37 years), homeowner (10 years), and volunteer with Arlington West and the L.A. Coalition for Economic Survival Tenants’ Rights Clinic. I am the founder and director of my own, much-needed Santa Monica Tenants’ Rights Clinic.
Spouse/Children: Mother of 25-year old daughter, a graduate of SMMUSD schools, UC Berkeley, and their music programs.
Neighborhood of Residence: Sunset Park, nine years; NE Neighborhood, two years; north of Montana, four years
Community Activities: Board member, Friends of Sunset Park; founder and director, Santa Monica Tenants’ Rights Clinic; Vice-chair Santa Monica Airport Commission; Co-founder Treesavers; board member, Veterans for Peace; Teacher; Girl Scout leader, Santa Monica High School PTSA officer; strategic plan design team member, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District; founder, Leftjaw, LA County Employment Lawyer Organization
Candidate Statement: I’m seeking a Council seat to return control of Santa Monica to residents. The Santa Monica we know and love is being bulldozed to death. Developments are of unacceptable number, height, and density. We need more limits on growth. Santa Monica Airport threatens us all daily with air pollution, noise pollution, and crash risks. The FAA’s expansion of flight paths endangers wider areas and more families. The Airport must be closed in 2015 when the FAA agreement expires. Tenant protections must be preserved and expanded to protect long-time residents and socioeconomic diversity. Vote for the Eviction Protection Ordinance.
Santa Monica needs to walk like it talks environmentally. The disgrace of our polluted beaches must end. I’m a lifelong advocate for individual rights (attorney, independent community leader, teacher, activist). I’m also an organic gardener, animal owner/rescuer, walker, bike rider, and writer.
