It seems like a lifetime ago — and in dog years it was! – when the San Fernando Valley, tried to secede from Los Angeles. I was reminded why the near divorce almost happened this morning.
Take it from me — I live in the Valley — it’s easy for these people to feel like a second-class citizens. And because I’m a dog, I’m even lower on the kibble chain.
The Daily News’ Rick Orlov, who’s been covering City Hall since Sam Yorty was mayor and his newspaper was green, reported this morning that because of the budget crisis, Hollywood Eric Garcetti was canceling the once-a-month council meetings in Van Nuys.
The news was delivered to Orlov by Hollywood Eric’s flack Julie Wong, who once flacked for San Pedro Jimmy Hahn, the unlucky mayor who got stuck fighting secession before he had time to find the third-floor men’s room.
“There are a lot of costs involved in holding a council meeting outside of City Hall,” Wong said. “It just seemed like it was a good idea to try to save that money, given the financial situation the city faces.”
A lot of costs?
Give this dog a break! Like what? Each council office has a small fleet of free cars. Do they all have to pay for parking? The PA system? Catered food? What about all the other ways they spend money on boondoggles that my pal Walter Moore found?
I don’t see why you couldn’t do a Council meeting in the Valley once a month for the price of your average PTA meeting. Janice could bring cookies.
Of course, lots of Valley folks have been barking lately about the performance of Hollywood Eric and the other 14 council members and this just might be seen as rubbing the activists’ noses in the pile of crap they left on the living room carpet.
And while that’s a punishment Saint Deb would never allow around our house, I don’t doubt for a second that the Council would do it to those loudmouths who make their lives so miserable.
Too bad Hollywood Eric didn’t call The Dog Whisperer first. Cesar Millan, my favorite TV star, would tell him it just doesn’t work.
Cesar might also tell him it’s a really dumb move for somebody who’s thinking about running for mayor. And so would San Pedro Jim. Remember him? This dog’s memories of him grow fonder by the day.
Woof!
Aaaaw, c’comon! Eventually those junkyard dogs on Spring Street have gotta give us a break and stop treating us like curs that are dumber than they think we look.
Bruno and I know they’re dogpoopin’ us with that one.
Bruno is 100% right. They have the city buildings, the cars, the staff to continue doing it…what they don’t have is the backbone to face up to the ever-increasing number of angry peasants.
BTW, Bruno, did you bury their backbones in the yard?
I’ll bring my own cookies. I wouldn’t trust the ingredients in Janice’s, and Jan P. wouldn’t bring any, because she thinks we’re all too fat.
Your friend,
G.
God forbid, they so something useful like restructuring every city department which has layers and layers of highly paid employees that do next to nothing. At least three layers of upper echelon can be eliminated with no effect on the service and tremendous savings in salaries and pensions. Good place to start would be the LAPD and LAFD.
So… so far this year they failed to have a quorum at the only Budget and Finance hearing in the Valley, and now they are canceling all Valley council meetings.
I’m all for secession talks. All for it.
So there’s plenty of money for the “Latina Dance Project,” but not enough to hold meetings in the Valley?
Excuse me, but how does holding a meeting in the Valley increase any expenses? Do they get per diems for travelling to a foreign country? Is the gas that Zine and Smith would save more than the rest would use? Can they car pool? How about the gas of people who would have to drive to City Hall instead of Van Nuys?
The City Council has gone “Rodney Dangerfield” on the Valley: no respect.
Here’s your latest list of boondoggles that are apparently more important than respect for Valley residents:
http://web.mac.com/waltermoore/WalterMooreSays.com/Blog/Entries/2010/1/27_You_Make_Me_Feel_Like_Dancing.html
How many people show up at the meetings in the Valley? Orlov, in the article, said very few do.
How many show up for elections? Lets deal with the real issues; the general public apathy for anything political till it hurts their pocket book. All it takes are color flyers of grinning politicians, and they get the vote. Are things going to change in LA. Doubt it. The same crap;Alarcon, Cardenas, Perry Reyes, Garcetti etc. will win again & again.
Hey, Anon 2:18 pm…
I agree a no vote is a yes vote for the
encumbent!
Thanks, Ron and Bruno.
Hey, Anon 2:18 pm…
I agree a no vote is a yes vote for the
encumbent!
Thanks, Ron and Bruno.
Must have gotten the idea from the LAUSD Board, who was floating the idea of less meetings and time for speakers…about the same time people were showing up with concerns about putting Bondpayer financed new schools up for bidding by whichever Charter facades can divide and conquer, and have a smaller group of “Community Memebers” to convince that “change” is always better…
El Quixotian, learn how to write a sentence.
Bruno, take it from me – they can run but they can’t hide. Especially from a hound like me.
I am ready for a good run, care to join me Bruno?
We could start at City Hall and give chase to that motley crew of 15 my slave says pays no respect to anyone who lives in the wonderful San Fernando Valley.
It appears the people who voted for these LA politicians are the same people who complain the most. The solution is simple! STOP voting for these politicians in city, county, or state elections.
It appears the people who voted for these LA politicians are the same people who complain the most. The solution is simple! STOP voting for these politicians in city, county, or state elections, start with Janice Hahn who is running for state office. Don’t be fooled by wolves dressed in sheep clothing.
Re: 2:04
Out of a city of 4 or 5+million not that many people show up at the regular downtown meetings either, except on those rare occasions when their shorts get up in a bunch over something…like when the city workers in fear of the ax turned out en masse and costumes last week.
Maybe more would attend the Valley sessions if anyone knew about them.
The Valley and the Westside should both secede from the City of Los Angeles. We’ve been supporting Downtown and its CRA for too long!
Westside, you appointed Rosendahl and Koretz. You don’t deserve anything. Suffer.
I want the San Fernando Valley to secede from Los Angeles and the only that’s going to happen is if valley residents protest for our rights. If anyone is interested in protesting, please go on to the following to sign up:
FaceBook: San Fernando Valley Secession or
Twitter: Valley Secession/Secession 1000
I really want something to happen, Los Angeles is ignoring us more and more everyday now. Let’s face facts, we don’t need Los Angeles and they don’t need us. The valley was a beautiful place until it turned into tijuana. We have to protest for our cause and we would be a much better city than Los Angeles will ever be.