He’s secured more than 650 million dollars for new school construction and classroom space in Los Angeles to help relieve over-crowding. He wrote groundbreaking legislation changing California’s juvenile crime prevention system and defended our children by reforming toxic emission standards on school buses. He changed our state constitution to make sure that lottery monies are spent on textbooks and classroom materials. It’s no wonder Tony Cardenas has served the people for nearly a decade- first as a state assemblyman and now as a Los Angeles City Councilman. The people of the San Fernando Valley have trusted Tony Cardenas to find practical/realistic solutions to difficult problems.

He’s bringing his knowledge and experience as former Chairman of the state’s powerful Budget Committee and making sure the city is working for a community that was long underserved. The San Fernando Valley now has a seasoned champion in Cardenas whose state reforms brought 78,000 new classroom seats and more than 15 universal playgrounds for disabled families.

Now, after only three years on the city council, you can still see that same momentum of change through more street services for Valley residents and more money for Valley businesses. As a matter of fact, in less than two years, he overhauled the city’s archaic business tax system, by cutting through red tape and keeping the bureaucracy on task – an effort previous city leaders attempted, but failed.

You can see his unprecedented policy work that dates back to 1996 when he began the battle to completely reform the state’s anti-gang programs. So it’s no surprise Cardenas has taken on one of the city’s most difficult tasks – tackling gang violence. He’s already identified millions of dollars overlooked by the city to help keep our kids off the streets. As Chairman of the city’s gang committee, he’s already secured the funding to transform the local juvenile justice system to better serve our at-risk youth.

The common theme here in all his successes is a love for good policy work – no matter how complex. Cardenas has the ability to dive into those policy matters most legislators would shrivel at. The amount of energy, time, and mechanics it takes to pass good, effective policy has never intimidated Cardenas. But you wouldn’t expect less from an engineering graduate who looks forward to multi-layered strategies.

As an example, his groundbreaking clean-air movement is cracking down on toxic businesses and making national headlines. Cardenas’ Environmental Justice Zone is ensuring the people of Sun Valley a brighter and healthier future. This is the first of its kind in the county. But “firsts” is what Tony does best.

Last year, he created Los Angeles’ very first Animal Cruelty Task Force to put away callous criminals who abuse our city’s animals. One of the task force’s first felony convictions put a known gang member away for abusing a family pet.

But the truth is, what really fuels his love of good policy, is his love for the people of the San Fernando Valley. As a native of Pacoima and having grown up in a family with eleven brothers and sisters, the San Fernando Valley is his home. And now, thanks to Tony Cardenas, it’s a community that has a voice.

Tony Cardenas – working for you, getting things done.