Skeptical as he should be, Rob Eshman, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Journal, wrote a column published online Wednesday under the headline Take back L.A. -- the theme of Monday's noon rally at City Hall -- based on the realization that "we're fast becoming a second-rate city."
Eshman observes "public safety is broken...education is broken...public health care is broken...transportation is broken...those Neighborhood Councils don't have enough power, the L.A. City Council and Board of Supervisors have too many constituents....."
He writes:
"Now there is a movement afoot to change that. The unlikely agitator is a middle-aged Jewish man in Woodland Hills, Ron Kaye.
"Kaye, the former editor of The Daily News, has put together the Saving L.A. Project (yes, SLAP). The idea is to inspire and empower citizen activists across the city to voice their anger at the way things are, and to come up with a "Contract for L.A." outlining a bold, future-oriented agenda for the city.
"The group will hold its first rally on Monday, July 14, at noon on the steps of City Hall. "People from around the city of Los Angeles will come together," reads the group's Web site, www.savingla.com, "to demand that our city leadership join the people in making Los Angeles a great city."
"I took issue with Kaye when he backed Valley secession back in 2002. It struck me as a misguided protest, whose end result would be to create another huge bureaucracy side by side with Los Angeles' existing one.
"But now I think he's onto something.
"'I came to the conclusion that the problem is us," he told me by phone. "We don't seize power. We let them use our money to run circles around us."
"'The Internet has leveled the playing field somewhat, helping citizens organize, spreading important local news in a town whose main paper has all but abdicated that role. Saving L.A. hopes to inspire "a lively public discussion," said Kaye, and stiffen the spine of leaders like Villaraigosa. "If we have enough energy and can define the agenda," he said, "maybe these people will do what they have to do."
"Monday, July 14, at noon Ron Kaye will be on the steps of City Hall -- mad as hell.
"I'll be there, too."
Eshman observes "public safety is broken...education is broken...public health care is broken...transportation is broken...those Neighborhood Councils don't have enough power, the L.A. City Council and Board of Supervisors have too many constituents....."
He writes:
"Now there is a movement afoot to change that. The unlikely agitator is a middle-aged Jewish man in Woodland Hills, Ron Kaye.
"Kaye, the former editor of The Daily News, has put together the Saving L.A. Project (yes, SLAP). The idea is to inspire and empower citizen activists across the city to voice their anger at the way things are, and to come up with a "Contract for L.A." outlining a bold, future-oriented agenda for the city.
"The group will hold its first rally on Monday, July 14, at noon on the steps of City Hall. "People from around the city of Los Angeles will come together," reads the group's Web site, www.savingla.com, "to demand that our city leadership join the people in making Los Angeles a great city."
"I took issue with Kaye when he backed Valley secession back in 2002. It struck me as a misguided protest, whose end result would be to create another huge bureaucracy side by side with Los Angeles' existing one.
"But now I think he's onto something.
"'I came to the conclusion that the problem is us," he told me by phone. "We don't seize power. We let them use our money to run circles around us."
"'The Internet has leveled the playing field somewhat, helping citizens organize, spreading important local news in a town whose main paper has all but abdicated that role. Saving L.A. hopes to inspire "a lively public discussion," said Kaye, and stiffen the spine of leaders like Villaraigosa. "If we have enough energy and can define the agenda," he said, "maybe these people will do what they have to do."
"Monday, July 14, at noon Ron Kaye will be on the steps of City Hall -- mad as hell.
"I'll be there, too."
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
You made a convert, and Jews don't believe in conversion.
I'll drink to that.
L'chaim!
Good for you, Ron! It's not easy to pursuade the Jewish Journal when it comes to liberal politics. Or, as I often say.
You read English from left to right.
You read Hebrew from right to left.
But the Jewish Journal always reads from left to left.
Hello.
:)
The images were released to celebrate the arrival on Monday of Emma Tallulah, the couple's third daughter.
Bye.