NEWS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former Santa Monica Mayor and City Councilmember Michael Feinstein was the first candidate to arrive at City Hall today for the opening of the candidate filing period, and the first to file nomination papers for any office in the city's 2014 municipal elections.

"I am full of energy and enthusiasm to roll up my sleeves and work on behalf of this City" said Feinstein, who arrived at City Hall at 8am and attended the City's workshop for interested candidates at 8:30, after which he was the first candidate to file paperwork to take out nomination papers.

"I'm very excited for the community dialogue of this campaign. Over the next few weeks, I will be at local farmers markets and other community gatherings, talking to residents and gathering the needed 100 nomination signatures from residents in order to qualify for the November 2014 ballot." 

Feinstein's next campaign event is an open to the public and press "Meet and Greet", this Wednesday July 16, 7-9 pm, at ZJ Boarding House, 2619 Main St. Feinstein will be introduced there by former Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, who has endorsed Feinstein's bid for City Council.

"In choosing locations for my campaign events, I seek to symbolize my policy goals and honor values this community holds dearly," said Feinstein.

"I chose ZJ Boarding House surf shop on Main St.  because I support local community-serving small businesses, and because Main St. is a great example of a low-scaled, local historic commercial district that is in scale with and embraced by the surrounding neighborhood." Adds Feinstein, "I choose ZJ Boarding House itself because we must protect the feeling of being a beach side community and because I deeply respect the local surfer community and culture."

Feinstein kicked off his campaign on June 17th in Santa Monica's Tongva Park, in order to recall his integral role as a Councilmember in the city's historic purchase of the RAND land in 1999; as well as to symbolize his campaign goal of significantly increasing the amount of parks and open space in the city; and to emphasize the importance of more public spaces overall and a healthy environment in our dense community.

Later that night Feinstein held his 'after party' at Chez Jay's restaurant on Ocean Ave., to reflect his appreciation of community character by recognizing Chez Jay's official city landmark status and its role as a iconic and historic cultural institution.

Feinstein is also campaigning upon supporting affordable housing and tenants rights, and the arts and social services, while addressing traffic, preventing over-development and achieving a responsive local government.

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