NC WATCH-It suddenly occurred to me … as I was again stuck on the 405 … that I have now been contributing articles for CityWatch a little over a year. In a short trip down memory lane I re-read the first article I had written.
We had just elected a new team for City Hall. City Council President Herb Wesson had appointed Civic Leader and former Secretary of Commerce, Mickey Cantor to put together a LA 2020 Commission. Its charge was to come up with suggestions on how to improve the City. Both City Attorney elect Mike Feuer and Controller-elect Ron Galperin had made promises to include the Neighborhood Councils as part of their outreach and Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti, had promised a nine point “Back to Basics agenda”
So what has happened at City Hall in the past year? If we compare it to the prior Administration it has been excellent. Of course when the bar is set at almost ground level it doesn’t take much to be better.
In a City this diverse there are bound to be disagreements as to how this new team is performing … even among my fellow scribes at CityWatch.
TEAM REPORT CARD
I judge them as to how they perform with the ninety-five NC’s. I would give them … as a team a solid “B”. On individual items all three merit an “A” for accessibility. Showing up is half the battle. They have listened to their constituents. It is relatively easy to get answers from their Departments. The introduction of technology has made a significant difference. So many people are using the “My 311 App” to report blight that expansions are being developed. Most departments have also become somewhat more accessible and cooperative. Even something small like making building inspectors available on the weekends for smaller residential remodeling projects, has made it easier.
Accomplishments… in the aggregate a B-
City Controller Ron Galperin, has done an amazing job in a year. One can now track all City Hall expenditures online. He is not afraid to tackle tough projects and with his audit skills we may be able to get more of our money returning to us in terms of services. He is outspoken and hasn’t yet learned how to speak politic or take no for an answer. We may yet find where the DWP $40 million went! I would give him a B+ in overall job accomplishments. We need for him to keep working towards that “A”.
When they say all politics is local, City Attorney Mike Feurer has taken that to heart. From taking part in middle of the night drug raids to appointing Neighborhood Prosecutors he is everywhere. He is really good in front of an audience. Whether his sincerity is a finely honed talent from years of being in the political arena, or if it is as real as it seems, will be determined as he progresses. I would give him a B-. He and City Attorney Darren Martinez, who handles the NC foibles, are going to have a tough time getting everyone on board with the NC proposed resolutions to “Bullying.” This has been covered extensively in CW the last two weeks.
For Mayor Eric Garcetti it’s been a relatively successful year. He is definitely accessible! He is at so many local events and activities that sometimes I think he has a clone, or two. Whatever future agenda he has for political office … right now he is definitely LA’s Mayor.
The federal grant for revitalizing the LA River was major. Of course I do hope they get to the San Fernando Valley in the plan! His relations with Sacramento are paying off. His “Pothole Blitz” has been a real success. He has proven that he has more than a great smile and charm … he can get things done. But lest you think this is a ringing endorsement ... it’s not!
I am disappointed in the two Commissions that were established in the last year. Herb Wesson appointed the 2020 group. While somewhat diverse … it did not include any representation from NC’s. Their Report “Time for Action” was greeted less than enthusiastically. The Council President assured the Commissioners that it would now go to the various Council Committee’s for “action.” It wasn’t filled with ground-breaking ideas but it did provide a path to improve areas that are weak. I wonder if we will see it fade away like so many other Council resolutions, which have gone to Committees and after two years of inaction are relegated to the circular file.
The most recent was the Commission on Improving Election turn-out called “The City of Los Angeles Municipal Elections Reform”, with members appointed by both the Mayor and Herb Wesson. Even though the written resolution forming the Commission specifically called for representation from the Neighborhood Council … none were appointed. There is a 66 page report online but again it was not enthusiastically received by the City Council or the Mayor. In these two cases the Commission members were volunteers and undoubtedly disappointed that the time and effort expended was given short shrift.
I would like to see Mayor Garcetti come up with a pragmatic and fair plan on the Union negotiations. We also need our infrastructure taken care of and obviously not by increasing the sales tax or on the backs of property owners.
His appointment of “outsider” Rick Cole as Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation was a smart move. Let’s see Deputy Mayor Cole … “Innovate” and suggest a path towards resolving our infrastructure problems. Here is an instance where the Deputy Mayor did meet with the NC Budget Advocates, who spend a great deal of time developing a suggested City Budget.
I would suggest the Mayor appoint NC leaders to each of the Commissions he establishes, especially when it comes to making the City a better place to live. These people are on the ground, even more than their City Council representative. I would give him a B for results and an A- for effort.
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So … it’s been quite a year. There have been some significant changes with Neighborhood Councils. We had successful elections and I do think that getting out the City vote could be a definite action item. We would need separate funding and only those NC’s that had a good written action plans would receive the funding. This voter apathy is detrimental to the City’s progress. We also need way to involve the 18 year olds who will be eligible to vote in November.
EmpowerLA was finally able to get the funding system changed and received City Council approval. Department Manager Grayce Liu did a happy dance in the middle of Council Chambers. It has only taken more than a year! I’m hoping that old adage; “be careful what you wish for” does not ring true in this case.
BONC wasted six months on the “Posting” policy but put together the two resolutions on sexual harassment, discrimination et al rather quickly. They “plan” to hold Town Hall meetings all over the City to get input. This is a controversial change and there will probably be loud objections coming from all sides.
Did you know that CityWatch, which was founded by Ken Draper and Mark Siegel, was initially established as an NC newsletter? That is probably why Editor Ken Draper allows so many varied opinions on how the NC’s should function. Today, with more than 92,000 subscribers throughout the country it has become THE place to see what is going on from many different perspectives. In September, CityWatch begins its 13th year.
I’ve loved going back to my roots as a journalist and having the privilege of so many of you reading my contribution to this crazy, wonderful, frustrating and dynamic place called LA. I can hardly wait to see the changes taking place in the next year.
How do you rate the City Hall Team?
(Denyse Selesnick is a contributor to CityWatch covering the policies, activities and foibles in NC Land. She is currently Co-Chair of the Program Committee for the LA Neighborhood Congress to be held at City Hall September 20, 2014 and a former officer and Board member of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council. She can be reached at [email protected])
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 49
Pub: June 17, 2014
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CityWatch Los Angeles
Politics. Perspective. Participation.
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