COMMUNITY SERVICE
The community service bug bit Steve long ago. He has been active in Neighborhood Watch, has served on the citywide Palmdale Community Association, and local Homeowners groups. He and his wife, Barbara, were active in the Little League and Parks and Recs programs. As an active Boy Scout volunteer, Steve has been awarded the BSA District Award of Merit, and the Council Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to youth. He has served as an Assistant Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Camporee Staff, District Training Staff, and is now the Skipper and Commanding Officer for the Antelope Valley's first and only Sea Scout Ship 11, the SSS Spartan. In this photo, Steve is seen aboard the vessel SSS Reliant during international competition in Northern California with his crew. Scrolling over, you can see him on duty at the Health Lodge at Boy Scout Camp Whitsett, in the High Sierras, where he has volunteered as the Camp Medic for a number of years, in addtion to Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. Steve is also a Merit Badge Counselor, and a Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat Instructor.

Son of a policeman, Steve is a staunch supporter of Law Enforcement. The City and Sheriff Block honored Steve and his family when, after watching deputies endure the desert's unrelenting weather during rescues, barricade stand-offs and other emergencies, Steve's family donated their used travel trailer to the AV Sheriff's Search and Rescue, and it became Palmdale's first mobile command post. Steve also was a coordinator for some of the community's first Earthquake Preparedness Fairs at the Palmdale Civic Center and the AV Mall. Steve is a member of the Palmdale Sheriff's Boosters.

An accomplished woodwind player, Steve volunteered as a sectional coach and Parent's Booster for the Palmdale Youth Orchestra for years. Steve is an active Youth Library supporter, helping gather hundreds of book donations for our children over the years. Steve has been a Firefighters Toy Drive Coordinator for several years, too, helping the community and fellow Firefighters bring Toys to Needy Children at Christmas and other special times.

PUBLIC SAFETY
Steve comes from a family of Public Safety; son of a policeman, father of an Eagle Scout, and brother of a Firefighter/Paramedic and Sheriff's Mountain Rescue Medic. Steve has been protecting the public over 30 years in the Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. He is currently employed as a Los Angeles Fire Department senior Fire Inspector II, with certification as a Building Plans Examiner by the ICBO/ICC, enforcing new construction building standards for some highly specialized occupancies, as well as enforcing the sprinkler retrofit ordinance, increasing life safety in many older high rise buildings through-out the city of Los Angeles. Steve has been a licensed EMT and Paramedic over 30 years, staffing a variety of challenging assignments, including duty on the Air Rescue Helicopter as a Flight Medic, and as a member of the Crash Fire Rescue team for the Long Beach Grand Prix and Winston Nascar races. His legacy continues through the dozens of rookie Paramedics he trained as a Paramedic Preceptor (training officer).

Steve has received numerous commendations from local, County, State and Federal officials, and community organizations. He has repeatedly been honored as Paramedic of the Year, and was awarded the highly prestigous Los Angeles County Community Protector of the Year. In the accompanying photo, (Steve is bottom row, second from left) Steve is seen with Supervisor Antonovich, the late Sheriff Block, various law enforcement and fire Chief's, and other local heros and celebrities.

Steve was featured in international news footage rescuing trapped victims at the infamous Northridge Meadows apartments (photo left) following the deadly Northridge Earthquake. Steve was one of the first Paramedic Rescue Units on the scene, establishing the Triage center, and assisting in the highly publicized successful rescue of the man trapped under collapsed rubble, while aftershocks continuously rocked the wrecked building, threatening further collapse.

Steve also served an extended tour of duty as a Medical Team Leader with the L.A. County Disaster Medical Assistance Team. He volunteered to receive highly specialized training as a member of the elite National Medical Response Team, a unit of the US Public Health Service for response to Nuclear, Chemical and Biological incidents. This was one of the first medical response units in the nation trained to treat victims of highly hazardous industrial, nuclear or chemical accidents, or terrorist acts involving Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Steve continues the tradition, serving on the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee, where he chairs the Gang and Graffiti subcommittee. Combined with his position on the Contract Cities Legislative Committee, Steve works for stronger public safety legislation and solutions to the gang and graffiti problems in our communities. On the CCCA City/County Contract Committee, Steve helps monitor our contracts with outside agencies, such as the Sheriff and Fire Departments, for fiscal responsibility and equity.

Steve has fought for additional law enforcement presence in city, resulting in additional 2-man "bomber cars", highly effective suppression units, and re-established our mall deputy position, as well as a second mall deputy to provide for greater officer and public safety.

We now have Automated License Plate Reader technology equipped patrol cars after Steve researched their potential, and convinced the city council to approve purchase of two patrol car units. These relentless predators read thousands of plates an hour and have contributed to the recovery oif many stolen vehicles, and the apprehension of numerous criminals.

Steve was supported by the Council in his effort to re-establish our Mall Deputies, and expand it to include adjacent retail area. Additional Traffic deputies, the purchase of an additional radar trailer and their renewed deployment, as well as laser radar guns for the motorcycle deputies, were spurred by Steve's efforts and meetings with Sheriff's representatives and staff.

Our 2 long stalled Fire Stations on the east and west sides are now open and reducing response times, after Steve revived stalled negotiations with the County. These were stalled in a beauracratic quagmire until Steve made it a priority.

Steve has been active in the medical community as well. He was responsible for the deployment of life saving Automatic Defibrillators in major city facilites and public venues. Steve serves on the Trauma Committe for the Desert Mountain Division of the League of Cities, working to establish regional trauma service for the High Desert and Eastern Sierra communities.

PLANNING OUR COMMUNITY
As Planning Commission member nearly 13 years, including Vice Chairman and Chairman, Steve fought to raise development standards, limit the negative impacts of development, and manage growth to ensure an improved quality of life for future generations. The most dramatic evidence of Steve's commitment and leadership has been the successful implementation of the community General Plan and comprehensive Zoning Ordinances that have made Palmdale the prosperous, family oriented community we enjoy today. Steve built consensus between the residents, builders, business and investors for this important planning document that provides the framework for development today.

Steve first became involved in helping shape the future development over 20 years ago. At that time, there were no substantial standards in place, and homeowners faced a rubber stamp Planning Department and an unresponsive City Council controlled by developers and business interests. Sweetheart deals with influential developers were given little public review. Mitigation measures were inadequate; developer fees were minimal; unrestrained commercial development threatened neighboring tracts; mass grading of hillsides and bulldozing of native vegetation was commonplace; apartment zoning was rampant. Developer friends of the Council fought any additional restrictions on convenience or liquor stores, bars, or adult businesses, and improvements in substandard lot sizes and design standards. Steve successfully fought to change that mind set.

PALMDALE TODAY and in the FUTURE
Look around Palmdale today. Although we continue to face challenges, we are a prosperous, thriving, family oriented community. The Palmdale Transportation Center, which was a vision originally proposed by Steve as a Planning Commissioner, is a reality. We have strong Hillside, Alcohol Establishment, Commercial Building Height, Native Vegetation, and Adult Oriented Business Ordinances that were proposed or championed by Steve, as was our Sign Ordinance, with visually blighting billboards and pole signs in the city gradually being phased out.

Transportation solutions for tomorrow are also a high priority for Steve as a member of the Orangeline Mag-Lev Development Authority and the High Desert Corridor Authority. High speed commuter and cargo connections between various living and economic centers is vital, and the mag-lev connection from Palmdale to LA and on to Irvine will serve future commuters and open addition economic options for the region. The High Desert Corridor will route traffic off surface streets and onto hogh speed freeway lanes across the valley. Steve championed improved bus shelters citywide, providing much needed relief from the elements for our seniors and other bus patrons.

Our beautiful new Palmdale Regional Medical Center is opening. Steve's personal relationship with the State hospital inspectors and local fire inspectors helped spur common dialog when a construction fire threatened to stall completion.

Steve has consistently fought for, and won, the improved standards that is building long term value and prosperity into our community, and improving and maintaining our quality of life. See The First Year for additional information on Steve's first year in office. Look at News and Current Issues for timely activity.