Convo: Laura Friedman on Her Legislative Work Advocating for the Environment, Sustainable Communities, and Active Transportation
In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Laura Friedman, California State Assemblymember, 44th District. She was first elected to the California State Assembly in November 2016, and represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles, as well as the communities of La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, Montrose, North Hollywood, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sunland-Tujunga, Studio City, Toluca Lake, and Valley Village.
Laura’s legislative work is focused in three primary areas: addressing the housing affordability and homelessness crisis, combating climate change, and protecting vulnerable communities. She has authored a package of bills to create new avenues for communities to tackle the affordable housing crisis, encourage water conservation, strengthen environmental sustainability, protect communities against devastating wildfires, improve access to higher education and health care, and ensure that California’s foster youth have the support that they need as they transition to adulthood.
She and Ted discuss her background, born in New York, and raised in south Florida. Her mother was very liberal and became an activist in south Florida during the Anita Bryant years, founding the first chapter of NOW in Broward County, which is national organization for women. Laura grew up canvassing for the ERA and abortion rights her whole childhood.
She got her start in the private sector working as a film and television executive and producer after receiving her B.A. from the University of Rochester, New York. After working in the film industry for 25 years, she moved to Glendale in 2000, where she was involved with historic preservation work around LA County with the LA Conservancy and was recruited to be on City’s Design Review Board for 5 years. Building on her years of community service, she was elected to the Glendale City Council in 2009, served as Mayor from 2011 through 2012, and was re-elected in 2013. She is now running for US congress to be the Representative for the 30th Congressional District in the State of California.
Teds asks Laura about her Glendale City Council days, successfully pushing the City to execute all kinds of green initiatives. She also highlights her time in the Assembly, securing over $60 million in funding for key projects across the District, being tapped for several leadership roles in the Legislature, including the Assembly Select Committee on Urban Development to Combat Climate Change, and being recognized as a steadfast advocate for the environment, sustainable communities, and active transportation.
