DEPARTMENT OF NO COMMENT: A week after their re-elections, the City Council today goes on a spending binge with a long list of Special Events funding giveaways their highest priority despite a budget deficit that is rapidly soaring past the billion dollar mark:
09-0473 CD 4 a. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Los Feliz Village Holiday Festival on December 5, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $2,925).
09-0472 CD 4 b. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Oaks Halloween Walk on October 31, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,188).
09-0474 CD 4 c. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Halloween Block Party on October 31, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,288).
09-0475 CD 9 d. MOTION (PERRY - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Operation School Bell on Wheels on March 12, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $500).
09-0471 CD 5 e. MOTION (GARCETTI for WEISS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Temple Isaiah's Purim Carnival on March 8, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,200).
08-0401-S1 CD 5 f. MOTION (GARCETTI for WEISS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Temple Beth-Am's Purim Carnival on March 8, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,198).
ITEM NO. (37)
09-0315 CD 15 MOTION (HAHN - LABONGE) relative to amending previous Council action in connection with a Special Event declaration for the 42nd Annual Palos Verdes Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Community Run and Walk on May 2, 2009. Recommendation for Council action: AMEND the Council action of February 18, 2009 relative to the Special Event declaration for the 42nd Annual Palos Verdes Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Community Run and Walk on May 2, 2009 sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates (Council file No. 09-0315) to waive all fees, costs and requirements associated with this event, except insurance requirements. Approval of this request will mean that an estimated $4,226 in fees and salary costs will be absorbed by the City.
07-3526-S1 et al. MOTIONS relative to "Special Events" to be held in the various Council Districts. Recommendations for Council action: DECLARE the following community events as "Special Events"; APPROVE any temporary street closures as requested; and, INSTRUCT the involved City departments to perform such services as detailed the Council motions attached to the various listed Council files, including the waiver of fees, costs and requirements and other related issues, as specified:
07-3526-S1 CD 9 a. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Raw Inspiration Pershing Square Farmers' Market from March 11, 2009 - March 3, 2010 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $42,000).
07-0873-S1 CD 9 b. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Children's Day Festival on May 16, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,984).
09-0499 CD 13 c. MOTION (GARCETTI - ROSENDAHL) relative to declaring the Dyke Day Los Angeles on June 13, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,252).
08-0250-S1 CD 3 d. MOTION (ZINE - PERRY) relative to declaring the Louisville High School/2009 Avenue San Luis Clean-up on March 21, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,691).
08-0776-S1 CD 1 e. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the Sidewalk Sale in Lincoln Heights on April 3-5, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $4,500).
08-2227-S1 CD 12 f. MOTION (SMITH - WESSON) relative to declaring the Korean Health Fair on May 2, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $893).
09-0505 CD 5 g. MOTION (WEISS - HAHN) relative to declaring the International Women's Day 2009 March and Rally on March 7, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,500).
09-0506 CD 11 h. MOTION (ROSENDAHL - LABONGE) relative to declaring the Los Angeles Police Department's Second Annual St. Patrick's Day Hike and Beach Party on March 15, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,385).
07-0598-S3 CD 15 i. MOTION (HAHN - ROSENDAHL) relative to declaring the Mary Star of the Sea Church Fiesta on March 15, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,226).
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.
It’s worse than you think, Ron.
Note the directive: “INSTRUCT the involved City departments to perform such services as detailed the Council motions attached to the various listed Council files, including the waiver of fees, costs and requirements and other related issues, as specified:”
When an event is declared a “Special Event” and you see “fees and costs to be absorbed by the City” that means that City departments are absorbing the costs. For instance if the DOT is assigning personnel to put out temporary “No Parking” signs, close a street, install barricades, tow cars, monitor the rerouting of traffic, clean up, etc., those personnel must still be paid and the DOT must absorb the cost for those wages.
Considering that the Mayor and Council have imposed mandatory 15-20% budget cuts across the board this means that City departments must cut personnel, curtail basic services and still pay for Council District “give away” programs.
Look at the Pershing Square Farmer’s Market and you begin to see the big picture: a year’s worth of give-aways in Jan Perry’s district alone (and this is just one event). Cost: $42,000. You can bet that at least three Departments are taking a hit on this one: the DOT, Recreation and Parks and General Services.
Take it one step farther. Let’s say each council member “sponsors” twenty special events per year at an average of $2,500 each ($50,000). Multiply that by the number of council districts (15). Total: $750,000 of taxpayer money. And, that’s a conservative ballpark estimate.
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