EDITOR”S NOTE: This column was written for Nina Royal’s North Valley Reporter monthly newspaper.which published it’s October edition today.
Two weeks ago at the end of activist-organized Congress of
Neighborhood Empowerment, the mayor offered his cheerleading analysis that the
decade-old movement had come of age.
“They have been instrumental for us in helping us put
together a budget,” Antonio Villaraigosa said. “They have been very
innovative and have pushed us to do more.”
Bong Hwan Kim, general manager of the minimalized
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, added a self-congratulatory comment of
his own: “Slowly,
project by project, they are making a difference. You couldn’t say that five
years ago, when they were just getting started.”
No,
you couldn’t, but given the scope of the city’s worsening problems and the
depths of the discontent in the community, it isn’t saying much.
At
best, the effectiveness of NCs on local-local issues is extremely uneven with higher
demographic neighborhoods able to mobilize better than others just as they were
through homeowner and resident groups before Charter reform created the weak
system of advisory NCs.
Even
among those groups, like the Council District 5 Coalition, the feeling of
powerlessness runs so deep that the issue has been defined as demands for local
control over local issues.
Devolving
power to the local level is critical but it is not going to happen until there
is a fundamental change in the power structure and that will only come about
ordinary residents in every neighborhood have an honest chance to elect members
of the City Council, the mayor and other elected officials.
Honest
elections in L.A. are non-existent. They are bought by the unions, developers, and
other special interests.
The
result is pats on the head by the mayor and other city officials while they continue
to operate in a business-as-usual mode providing welfare to the rich, allowing
the infrastructure to rot and robbing the neighborhoods to support
over-development downtown and in Hollywood.
L.A.
is the first western city to rank with the Rust Belt cities like Detroit and
Cleveland with poverty rates approaching 25 percent and under-employment/jobless
rates of the same magnitude.
Having
tried through the Saving L.A. Project and L.A. Clean Sweep to bring the city
together to seize power, I know just how hard it is.
But
I never lose hope.
The
Occupy Los Angeles camp-in and protest at City Hall provides a new opportunity for
community activists to pull together and give the “occupation”
meaning.
Occupy L.A., a clone of the escalating Occupy Wall Street
protest in New York against corporate greed and the breakdown of the political
system, is at the local level a movement in search of goals and objectives.
No one knows the details of what is broken in L.A. better
than the thousands of members of NCs and other community groups that have
worked so long for real change.
Occupy L.A., like the related protests all over America, has
drawn young people to action, tapping into the raw nerve of national discontent
with the state of the economy and the quality of our leadership.
By getting involved, the activist community can make this a
movement that can change the politics of the city by helping us all to move
beyond our myopic views to the point where we can see how there’s room for the
competing values, interests and needs to be met if we pull together with mutual
respect.
Occupy L.A. could be the vehicle for a New L.A…
Let’s not project our hopes onto these unknowns. Of course they are upset — all the economic trends for the last 30 years give the hard working honest Joe many, many reasons to be very, very upset. But, that does not mean they have a clue what’s wrong or how to fix it.
They let the Corruptor-in-Chief Garcetti come outside and co-opt them — it took about two seconds and they were nullified as a force having kissed up to the source of financial corruption in LA.
Look at the emerging story about the $3.3 Million that disappeared into a Friend of Eric’s pocket on the Spaghetti Factory on Sunset at Gorden. Just as people have said, “They create a LLP or LLC, give it millions of dollars, and then the LLP or LLC goes BK.”
Those are our tax payers dollars which go into an billionaire’s pockets — Thanks to Garcetti. Maybe the Occupy LA folks would like to dine with The Corruptor-in-Chief this evening and see if he will spread some of that LA Loot in their direction.
Just because someone one protests does not mean he’s bright or that he is ethical.
Rick, excellent couldn’t said it better myself. The sight of these protesters getting chummy with Villar, garcetti and co tells us that they are clueless and naive at best or the tools of some special interests at worse trying to create havoc and anarchy for whatever purpose they pursue.
Rick, excellent couldn’t said it better myself. The sight of these protesters getting chummy with Villar, garcetti and co tells us that they are clueless and naive at best or the tools of some special interests at worse trying to create havoc and anarchy for whatever purpose they pursue.
Rick, excellent couldn’t said it better myself. The sight of these protesters getting chummy with Villar, garcetti and co tells us that they are clueless and naive at best or the tools of some special interests at worse trying to create havoc and anarchy for whatever purpose they pursue.
Ironically, Rosendahl and especially Garcetti are part of the 1% club. Its like the commercial were the guy says “I’m going to stick it to the man, oh wait a minute, I am the man”
Giving taxpayer funds and special entitlement gifts to the very rich such as paying $52 million for Billionaire Eli Broad’s Museum parking lot when schools are being short-changed is exactly what some of the protester’s are talking about.
Koretz and Rosendahl were congratulating themselves for voting for this give-away of public funds to a Billionaire.
The Occupy movements haven’t been too specific, so in that regard, perhaps you could co-opt it.
But I did hear one person comment on the radio about the bailouts of 2008. By doing that, they are ignoring the current administration. It was both Republicans and Democrats who were part of the corporate bailouts.
Just because someone comes by your protest, offers you praise doesn’t
Sad that one Occupy San Diego protester fell off Civic Center and died. Downtown LA looks like a 3rd world refugee camp. Many are saying its out of control. Too bad no one gave the homeless down the street some of the love and care. Everyone is afraid to tell them to move citing ordinances not to sleep in the lawn which is considered a city park. Hope the lawsuits don’t start.
NCs will never come close to being empowered unless they become truly independent of the City Council and Mayor. That includes election of BONC members by NC Board members – no appointees, and a Financial Control Board comprised of members with appropriate experience and credentials to guide and monitor NC spending.
DONE should be eliminated. It is a worthless organization run by an incompetent GM.
So – we don’t get everything we want when we stomp our feet on the floor, so what?
Ron has made a huge difference in Los Amgeles
and we must never stop working at it. You and I
helped by talking, writing, going to meetings.
Can you imagine what we would have for a city
right now if Ron hadn’t decided to keep up the fight he started when he was the editor of the Daily News? I don’t want to think about it, do you? So let’s keep the pressure on.
And Ron, please keep it up. You are the best.
A born leader./
Councilmember Huizar needs to rescind the 1964 law that prevents the communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and El Sereno from stopping any 710 Frwy Extension (i.e., 710 Tunnel, Valley Alhambra Connector Road..etc.)…Huizar needs to formulate a resolution protecting these aforementioned neighborhoods from Caltrans’ preoccupation of extending the 710 Frwy. Unfortunately, many plutocrats are preOCCUPIED with aggrandizement.
“The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.”
—Plato
http://eaglerock.patch.com/articles/south-pasadena-mayor-urges-nela-to-lobby-against-710-freeway-extension
You don’t have to lie to kick it.
NC’s will never be able to succeed because they bring into the meetings their personal garbage, instead to come with a higher purpose that is for the benefit of the community and not to gain recognition of some form or feel that they are more intelligent or superior than the other members. Bickering with each other is a waste of time. They have great power if they use it wisely and not waste it in nonsense. They to need see the Mayor and Councilmen as equals and not superior to them and be strong and demand what is right. If they are going to give their time make it worthwhile. NC’s success is a reflection of their members.
To the Occupy Wall Street protesters here in Los Angeles; with 14 million Americans across the USA unemployed, your anger is righteous. You might want to keep the heat on here locally, all the way up to the up-coming LA city council elections.
May I suggest a few demands to your LA City leaders; demand, this Mayor and City Council repeal the City’s business tax, which is driving businesses out of town, and driving unemployment past 14%. Demand, that the City abolish the Community Redevelopment Agency, which collects approximately $680M of our tax money, and re-distributes it as welfare to some of the wealthy corporations, which are affiliated with re-electing the incumbents back into office, which allows the incumbents to continue their over-spending spree. This spending spree is causing our taxes, water, electric, trash, sewer, phone, and parking meter cost to sky-rocket.
Demand that DWP appoint a citizen representative who is not politically connected, to be our ‘watch-dog,’ regarding any future utility rate-hikes. Demand that the mayor roll back his ‘Office of the Mayor’ budget, which he tripled from $8.8M to $26M, while he was promoting his “Shared Sacrifice.” Demand that the Mayor produce an accounting of the tens of millions going to the Gang Youth Reduction Development program. Demand that the City treat all residents as one class, and not operate, as giving the appearance of a ‘Sanctuary City.’ for a particular class of people.
To discourage ‘professional politicians’ who don’t serve, “Power to the People,” in California, demand that legislation pass a law that says, ‘if an elected official files to run for another elected office before their current term is up, that they immediately forfeit their current seat.’
Good luck and keep the peace.
My appreciation and ‘hats-off’ to the many leaders and residents committed in the Neighborhood Council’s.
As Villaraigosa took to the microphone on Neighborhood Congress morning….I so much wanted to rebut and beat back, just about all his remarks.
The comment on the 710 is just damn correct. But it would serve as a gateway for people to live in normal non-L.A. City areas to work in L.A. City. That’s why Huizar fights against it’s extention: TO PUNISH COMMUTERS FOR NOT LIVING IN L.A. AND PAYING L.A. CITY TAXES 24/7.
As for the protestors, I’ve seen a ton of vitriol from Savage down to Mark Levin to Kevin James, etc. If a young man wants to shit on a police car and take the time to post bond and go on probation (or jail) or get beat up by cops for this, THEN LET IT BE! But that type of action will have PERMANENT CONSEQUENCES that will later come back to hurt, like when the fool is trying to get a job at 40 and his employer gets the info online! If others want to live on the street and chant slogans, so be it! I remember a guy who climbed up a tree and lived there until his team BROKE A LOSING STREAK! IT TOOK THE DAMN CLIPPERS WEEKS TO WIN A GAME!
I however have the LONGEST PROTEST CURRENTLY ON RECORD: IN 1988 I VOWED TO NEVER ATTEND ANOTHER BASEBALL GAME IN PERSON UNTIL MLB VOTED IN PETE ROSE TO THE HALL OF FAME! YES, IT’S BEEN 23 SEASONS AND COUNTING, BUT I WAS GOING TO BREAK THE PROTEST AND ATTEND AN ANGELS’ GAME ON THE FINAL NIGHT. I couldn’t park for FREE on the streets and walk to the game and no one had parking less than $10.00 for miles around. SO I SAID SCREW IT, AND WENT HOME! Why the hell should anyone PAY for parking when you buy the seat and the overpriced food? Cops were on HORSES ticketing jaywalkers and towing cars from nearby shopping centers who dared park and walk to the game! Doesn’t that prick Arte Moreno have enough money in a DEPRESSION to have FREE PARKING WITH PAID ADMISSION? What greed, and that’s what fuels these protests like Occupy LA.
But Rose was the best of all hitters, and he needs to get his due FOR HIS ON THE FIELD GREATNESS. We allow Villaraigosa, Zine, Garcetti, and Alarcon to do their rotten deals and crap, yet Pete Rose can’t get an award for being the greatest ever in his sport?
We’ll see how long these Occupy people go on? I hope they shit on more cop cars and parking enforcement cars for all the underhanded tickets they’ve stuck me and everyone else with in the last 20 years.
Nothing shows how unfair things are than YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS which you all should now see in your mailbox. READ IT! PROP 13 MANDATED A 1% TAX, but all the corruption and fraud on voters this year makes it 1.33% for Koreatown and 1.29% in JewTown Encino this year. On 2 taxbills I reviewed, an insane $3,000 EXTRA IN CHARGES was imposed on $12,000 in annual taxes!!!
Thats money RENTERS will pay too or homeowners!
What incredible levels of insanely high taxes are being shoved down the throats of L.A. City Dwellers!!! That on top of a 12.5% small business utility tax, a 10% resident utility tax, a 8.75% sales tax, TRASH FEES OF $1.05 A DAY, gas still at $3.70+ per gallon, and of course $53 parking tickets and thousand dollar moving violations.
When you see the HOMEOWNERS finally get PISSED on this issue ALONE, that’ll make Occupy L.A. look like a day in the park! There needs to be a new Statewide Initiative to ELIMINATE ALL OTHER PROPERTY TAXES EXCEPT THE 1% FLAT TAX ON ASSESSED VALUE!! And another one capping the state Sales tax at 6% MAXIMUM!!!! And another one mandating NO UTILITY RATE HIKES except ONCE EVERY 5 YEARS and no more than 5% MAX! If Edison and DWP wouldn’t deliver utilities, THEN FIRE ENOUGH STATE WORKERS TO COVER THE COST OF BUILDING RATEPAYER OWNED NON-PROFIT UTILITIES!
Now…you realize WHY such WORRY exists over these protests…It COULD GIVE BIRTH TO THESE KIND OF CHANGES AND THE POWERFUL PEOPLE FEAR THAT WORSE THAN CANCER!!!!
The common thread that keeps emerging from many of these people who voted for Obama is that the higher educational establishment sold them a bill of goods. It made it too easy for them to rack up huge debt, while teaching them little to nothing about what the real economy needs and values in workers. The professors keep their tenure, the university presidents keep their lavish homes and manicured lawns, and the students who pay exorbitant fees to keep the bubble inflated get left unprepared for the real world, with little but a lifetime of debt to show for it.
Many of these protesters have legitimate beefs. They’re just misdirecting their anger, thanks both to the political rhetoric coming from the White House, and to the poor quality of the education their hard work has purchased
The common thread that keeps emerging from many of these people who voted for Obama is that the higher educational establishment sold them a bill of goods. It made it too easy for them to rack up huge debt, while teaching them little to nothing about what the real economy needs and values in workers. The professors keep their tenure, the university presidents keep their lavish homes and manicured lawns, and the students who pay exorbitant fees to keep the bubble inflated get left unprepared for the real world, with little but a lifetime of debt to show for it.
Many of these protesters have legitimate beefs. They’re just misdirecting their anger, thanks both to the political rhetoric coming from the White House, and to the poor quality of the education their hard work has purchased
The common thread that keeps emerging from many of these people who voted for Obama is that the higher educational establishment sold them a bill of goods. It made it too easy for them to rack up huge debt, while teaching them little to nothing about what the real economy needs and values in workers. The professors keep their tenure, the university presidents keep their lavish homes and manicured lawns, and the students who pay exorbitant fees to keep the bubble inflated get left unprepared for the real world, with little but a lifetime of debt to show for it.
Many of these protesters have legitimate beefs. They’re just misdirecting their anger, thanks both to the political rhetoric coming from the White House, and to the poor quality of the education their hard work has purchased
fs/fra -
Great comment, but please, please, next time press submit “only ONCE”, trust me on this, it’ll work.
Thank you.
As long as City Hall controls the purse strings, we are in deep trouble. As it is, the balanced budget is hardly balanced with all the deferred overtime, faulty pension assumptions, and deferred maintenance of our infrastructure. One of these days we are going to wake up and there is no dough.
The CNC’s and other community groups in LA have the knowledge to explain to Occupy Los Angeles, the following:
- By utilizing fees instead of progressive taxes (utility rates, garbage collection, traffic and parking fines), the Mayor and Council are increasing inequality.
- By offering flat-out grants, subsidized loans, bond issues, fee waivers, and zoning and CEQA relief to large real estate projects, the Mayor and Council are increasing inequality.
- By laying off public employees, reducing their compensation, and nickle and diming retirees, the Mayor and Council and are increasing inequality.
While it is unfortunate that OLA has learned little about what really goes on at City Hall, the ball is in the court of those who know, to share their knowledge.
The CNC’s and other community groups in LA have the knowledge to explain to Occupy Los Angeles, the following:
- By utilizing fees instead of progressive taxes (utility rates, garbage collection, traffic and parking fines), the Mayor and Council are increasing inequality.
- By offering flat-out grants, subsidized loans, bond issues, fee waivers, and zoning and CEQA relief to large real estate projects, the Mayor and Council are increasing inequality.
- By laying off public employees, reducing their compensation, and nickle and diming retirees, the Mayor and Council and are increasing inequality.
While it is unfortunate that OLA has learned little about what really goes on at City Hall, the ball is in the court of those who know, to share their knowledge.
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