Meet Roger Tanenbaum, Candidate For Beverly Hills City Council

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Roger Tanenbaum, 46, is vying to be elected to the Beverly Hills City Council.

In the June 2 election, voters will choose from a list of 11 candidates running for three council seats. Incumbents Lester Friedman and Sharona R. Nazarian are seeking reelection. The seat currently held by Councilman John Mirisch is open, as Mirisch has reached his term limit.

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Among those running is Tanenbaum.

Learn more about Tanenbaum's goals for Beverly Hills:

What is your educational background?

Juris Doctor Pepperdine Law; BBA Loyola Marymount University; BHHS

What is your professional background?

My professional background includes managing the literary and business affairs of Robert K. Tanenbaum, author/attorney. My duties included overseeing public relations, speaking engagements, scheduling, property management and fiscal operations. These experiences have prepared me for thoughtful, forward-thinking decision making to best serve our entire community.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

What are the top three issues facing Beverly Hills right now?

Safety is the number one responsibility of government. I am committed to ensuring that Beverly Hills continues to be one of the safest cities in the nation by strongly supporting our fire and police. While we are blessed with state-of-the-art police technology, there is no substitute for “boots on the ground.” That physical presence is irreplaceable.

State Housing Mandates and Builder’s Remedy — If elected, I will stay ahead of issues such as the state housing mandates so that our city acts proactively, rather than defensively. I am deeply dismayed that Beverly Hills fell out of compliance resulting in the punitive builder’s remedy.

The Southwest and Southeast — I am deeply disturbed by an almost sense of desperation felt by the residents living in these areas. They feel forgotten. The new Metro station will be opening in a few weeks. The residents residing here were promised a police substation four years ago. It will not be finished on time. This is deeply disappointing to them.

How should Beverly Hills approach state housing mandates while addressing concerns about density, neighborhood character, and infrastructure?

State housing laws can be funding opportunities. We need to efficiently utilize any new monies to support our city in accordance with our values — a beautiful world class city that conscientiously guards the delicate balance between residential quality of life and commercial vitality.

1. Make certain our city staff is modernized and streamlined sufficiently to meet many new demands.

2. Assuring that our fire and police have all the resources necessary to provide services for higher buildings with more density.

3. Equipping our infrastructure, particularly the electrical grid to handle the ever-increasing AI demands.

4. Regarding character of our city — I would create a Next Beverly Hills Blue Ribbon Committee to imagine a thriving commercial area around the new Metro that aligns closely with the style and quality synonymous with the Beverly Hills brand.

What opportunities and challenges do you see with the Metro D Line extension, and how should the city respond?

We definitely have economic opportunities. With transit developments come grants. I am a people person. Surely, I would build alliances with state and regional leaders to ensure positive outcomes. I believe in collaboration and the marketplace of ideas. We get much farther with partnerships.

With the influx of people who travel the subway into our city, comes more visitors who are looking to spend money. We need to develop the commercial area around La Cienega, but at the same time make sure that we maintain our safety standards.

The city should make every effort to promote business, remaining ever mindful of safety and cleanliness concerns.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

As I am doing throughout my campaign, I am walking our neighborhoods every day. It is my privilege to meet residents and small business owners directly. They are the bedrock of our community, and their involvement is essential. They are the heart and soul of Beverly Hills. Without their input, we are underserved. If elected, their voices will be central to my decision-making. It’s very possible that with their engagement, we might not have fallen out of compliance or faced the consequences of builder’s remedy. Communication and follow-through are part and parcel of my leadership style. I feel that too often this piece of the process falls short, to the detriment of us all.