Quick, call the cops -- law-abiding people are protesting City Hall's lawlessness again
Here's hoping the mayor and his entourage of city officials take a break from the endless rounds of lavish parties in Denver to hear a sermon from Barack Obama on his guiding principles of unity, hope, respect for everyone and participatory democracy.
OK, I'm joking. There's no chance they'd listen to crap like that when they're adopting the tactics of dictators around the world.
First, it was calling the cops to harass the Jamiel Shaw family for daring to hold regular Sunday gatherings in South L.A. at Leimert Park to drum up support for a crackdown on illegal immigrants gangbangers.
Today, it's the bourgeoisie in the horse country of Sunland-Tujunga who are getting the city's Wyatt Earp treatment.
The issue it how the Dispute Resolution Program -- it should properly be called the Dispute Escalation Program -- is treating the citizenry and their objections to Home Depot's plans to convert a K-Mart store in the community.
Opponents turned out in mass several months ago for a "day of dialogue" event and made it clear what they want but City Hall is hell-bent on forcing Home Depot down their throats so the DPR set up an invitation-only, closed-door event tonight and hand-picked who can participate in planning a future conference intended to justify approving the store's opening.
For objecting to the secretive process, the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance activists were accused in writing by the so-called DPR mediator Barbara Goldfarb of "disseminating false and misleading information," and warned that they their "irresponsible behavior in issuing its unauthorized public invitation has forced the Dispute Resolution Program to request police presence at the meeting."
The City's "bullying tactics" don't seem to have intimidated the Sunland-Tujunga gang. They're staging a mass protest starting at 4:30 p.m. today at their Town Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd.
Discontent with City Hall turns viral -- South Central Farmers revive their protest movement
One of the truly sinister attacks on community life was City Hall's selling out the South Central Farm that was an important sign of the area's vitality, a symbol of what could be accomplished.
But money talks and the mayor took $1.2 million from popular clothing maker Forever 21 which is building a warehouse on the site where the farm was.
Tonight at 7 p.m. at the community center at 1702 E. 41st St, farm supporters will meet to demand restoration of the farm, an investigation of the Forever 21's contributions and to plan a boycott of the firm's products.
Showdown on the City Council's deceitful effort to cling to their positions
City Hall may be void of elected officials this week but their futures will be on the line Tuesday when the state appeals court hears a challenge to Measure R -- the phony ethics reform measure that did nothing to stop lobbyists from corrupting the political process and gave City Council members a third term.
The case will be heard at 10:30 a.m. at the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 8, 300 S. Spring St.
Community activist David Hernandez somehow managed against all odds to keep the case alive for two years and to gather broad support from community groups and government reform organizations.
Key issues are how the council created the measure to give themselves three instead of two terms in office and violated the state constitution by making it a two-issue initiative by linkiing ethics to term limits.
A victory would blow open City Hall politically and create a real chance to elect candidates who actually would be public servants instead of the pseudo-royalty we have who treat the people as their servants.
Seven of the 15 council seats -- all the odd-numbered districts except Bill Rosendahl's -- would be open if the court strikes down Measure R and that would create the opportunity for a citywide movement to change the face (and faces) of City Hall.
Here's hoping the mayor and his entourage of city officials take a break from the endless rounds of lavish parties in Denver to hear a sermon from Barack Obama on his guiding principles of unity, hope, respect for everyone and participatory democracy.
OK, I'm joking. There's no chance they'd listen to crap like that when they're adopting the tactics of dictators around the world.
First, it was calling the cops to harass the Jamiel Shaw family for daring to hold regular Sunday gatherings in South L.A. at Leimert Park to drum up support for a crackdown on illegal immigrants gangbangers.
Today, it's the bourgeoisie in the horse country of Sunland-Tujunga who are getting the city's Wyatt Earp treatment.
The issue it how the Dispute Resolution Program -- it should properly be called the Dispute Escalation Program -- is treating the citizenry and their objections to Home Depot's plans to convert a K-Mart store in the community.
Opponents turned out in mass several months ago for a "day of dialogue" event and made it clear what they want but City Hall is hell-bent on forcing Home Depot down their throats so the DPR set up an invitation-only, closed-door event tonight and hand-picked who can participate in planning a future conference intended to justify approving the store's opening.
For objecting to the secretive process, the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance activists were accused in writing by the so-called DPR mediator Barbara Goldfarb of "disseminating false and misleading information," and warned that they their "irresponsible behavior in issuing its unauthorized public invitation has forced the Dispute Resolution Program to request police presence at the meeting."
The City's "bullying tactics" don't seem to have intimidated the Sunland-Tujunga gang. They're staging a mass protest starting at 4:30 p.m. today at their Town Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd.
Discontent with City Hall turns viral -- South Central Farmers revive their protest movement
One of the truly sinister attacks on community life was City Hall's selling out the South Central Farm that was an important sign of the area's vitality, a symbol of what could be accomplished.
But money talks and the mayor took $1.2 million from popular clothing maker Forever 21 which is building a warehouse on the site where the farm was.
Tonight at 7 p.m. at the community center at 1702 E. 41st St, farm supporters will meet to demand restoration of the farm, an investigation of the Forever 21's contributions and to plan a boycott of the firm's products.
Showdown on the City Council's deceitful effort to cling to their positions
City Hall may be void of elected officials this week but their futures will be on the line Tuesday when the state appeals court hears a challenge to Measure R -- the phony ethics reform measure that did nothing to stop lobbyists from corrupting the political process and gave City Council members a third term.
The case will be heard at 10:30 a.m. at the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 8, 300 S. Spring St.
Community activist David Hernandez somehow managed against all odds to keep the case alive for two years and to gather broad support from community groups and government reform organizations.
Key issues are how the council created the measure to give themselves three instead of two terms in office and violated the state constitution by making it a two-issue initiative by linkiing ethics to term limits.
A victory would blow open City Hall politically and create a real chance to elect candidates who actually would be public servants instead of the pseudo-royalty we have who treat the people as their servants.
Seven of the 15 council seats -- all the odd-numbered districts except Bill Rosendahl's -- would be open if the court strikes down Measure R and that would create the opportunity for a citywide movement to change the face (and faces) of City Hall.
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.
I think Sunland-Tujunga ought to secede from LACITY. I think West Hills ought to secede from LACITY. Yes, I do. I will work for secession of any of us who decide we have had enough.
As to Home Depot I sure do not understand their rationale. I am never going to their store in
Sunland-Tujunga, are you? If the people who live there never go to their store, who will be their customers? And what is to stop a Lowe's from opening up just as has happened here on Roscoe and Topanga in response to the Home Depot across the way from the Costco?
The more I learn about our city, the more I am sure that either they don't know their job or that they are crooks. WE NEED TO TAKE OUR CHANCES WITH SOME NEW PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE CROOKS AND THEN VOTE THEM OUT AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW PEOPLE BEFORE THEY LEARN HOW. NO MORE CAREER POLITICIANS FOR ME. SUPPORT THE COURT CASE AGAINST PROPOSITION R THAT WILL START HEARINGS TOMORROW!!!!! REMEMBER, THAT IS HOW THE PRESENT CITY COUNCIL GOT AN EXTRA FOUR YEAR TERM WHEN THEY WERE TERMED OUT, LYING TO THE PEOPLE TO DO IT.
Theodora Howell, West Hills.
"Seven of the 15 council seats -- all the odd-numbered districts except Bill Rosendahl's -- would be open if the court strikes down Measure R and that would create the opportunity for a citywide movement to change the face (and faces) of City Hall."
A court decision to overturn the public will to limit the number of terms our public trough-feeding pols can serve would be more than welcome. But it might also take a cadre of plastic surgeons to change the faces at City Hall.
Sandy, I am forever an optimist and a positive
person.
YES WE CAN!!!!! Theodora H.
"...the bourgeoisie in the horse country of Sunland-Tujunga?"
Bourgeoisie? Actually, the "everything-is-about-race-even-if-it-isn't" folks in CD 7 like to point their fingers at us and shriek: "...those white women horse owners (in Sunland-Tujunga)!"
Looking forward to this afternoon.
Signed,
Not-white female horse-poor in S-T.
The "public's will" that is referenced is apparently NOT the same as what VOTE outcome showed for the council-initiated "Measure R."
I agree that the term-limits EXTENSION feature that was included with the ETHICS REFORM was a major deception. However, the majority of the VOTING public cast votes favoring the proposed changes (and I avoid saying "yes" votes and "no" votes as demonstrating the "desire of the voters").
Anyway, this is just to point out how "putting the matter out for the voters to decide" as council members often state as something that give a proper outcome really just gives them a second shot at distorting the picture and hoping that the campaign funds will produce enough propaganda to bathe the senses of voters in the idea of the "correct" way to go.
The majority of the "public" might not even have bothered to vote, or at least not enough of them to change the result. Often, less than 50% of the registered voters participate in local elections, of that percentage, a majority of THOSE votes cast will decide, and it could be a very small percentage of the REGISTERED voters.
The MTA bond measure is headed that way, trying to get a second chance by voters succumbing to the inevitable radio, tv, mail, telephone and who-knows-what-else methods to get the vote their way in this high-stakes bond.