How Will David Ryu Honor His Campaign Pledges?

LA WATCHDOG-In a race that focused on local issues, outsider David Ryu (photo) outpolled City Hall insider Carolyn Ramsay by almost 10 points (54.8% to 45.2%), representing a margin of over 2,300 votes.  Yet, since less than 16% of Council District 4’s 153,000 registered voters bothered to vote, Ryu was supported by less than 9% of those eligible to vote. 

Ryu had many enthusiastic supporters, especially in Koreatown where he racked up almost 1,000 more votes than Ramsay.  But there were a number of swing and single issue voters that supported Ryu because they were fed up with the policies, unfulfilled promises, lack of transparency, and grandstanding antics of the termed out Tom LaBonge, all of which worked to the detriment of Ramsay, LaBonge’s former Chief of Staff. 

There were also those who believed it was time for a change and a new face on the City Council, especially since Ramsay was endorsed by not only by LaBonge, but by City Council President Herb Wesson and a number of other members of our fiscally irresponsible City Council. 

As a first step, Ryu needs to address the quality of life issues facing each of the many distinct neighborhoods that make up the district.  They stretch from Los Feliz to Sherman Oaks and include Hollywood and the surrounding hills, Toluca Lake, the Miracle Mile, Hancock Park and Windsor Square.  This would involve meeting with the Neighborhood Councils, homeowner associations, community leaders, and some of the rabble rousers.  It would also include developing a written outline of what needs to be done over the next year to insure public safety and to protect their neighborhoods from over development and traffic. This written list should also include the cost of any initiatives and the source of any required funds.  

For example, Ryu needs to confirm his campaign pledge to the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association that he will not grant any exceptions or variances to the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan and will oppose the Sunkist/Icon project unless it is downsized and traffic congestion is mitigated.  For the record, Sherman Oaks voted overwhelming for Ryu because of the community’s frustration with LaBonge and his pro development policies.  

The homeowners in the Hollywood Hills that voted for Ryu are expecting that he will help mitigate the tourist traffic associated with the Hollywood Sign which adversely impacts the safety and tranquility of their neighborhoods. 

He will also have to develop a working relationship with other members of the City Council, including Mitch O’Farrell who has supported developments in his district such as the Millennium Hollywood that will have an adverse impact on Ryu’s constituents.   

There are many other constituents that expect Ryu to adopt policies and plans that repair their streets and sidewalks; protect their neighborhoods from overdevelopment, mansionization, and cut through traffic; and limit the placement of digital billboards.   

We also expect Ryu to honor his pledge not to meet with developers until they have received community input on their by-right projects.  This would include 8150 Sunset and the Mosaic on the corner of Hollywood and La Brea.  

He also promised that his office will be fully transparent.  This means keeping an open, on line calendar and disclosing in real time the sources and uses of his discretionary funds.  

Unfortunately, Ryu’s ability to influence City wide issues such as the budget and its finances is limited since any initiatives require the support of City Council President Herb Wesson.  But Wesson has demonstrated an unwillingness to endorse financial reform as he has shelved the recommendations of the Mickey Kantor’s LA 2020 Commission to establish an Office of Transparency and Accountability to oversee the City’s precarious finances and to form a Commission on Retirement Security to review and analyze the City’s two pension plans that are underfunded by $12 billion. 

Ryu will, however, be able to use his budget experience gained with County Supervisor Yvonne Burke to review and analyze the City’s budget and finances.  His healthcare experience will also allow him to provide meaningful insights on the City’s ever growing medical costs and to analyze the emergency medical services provided by the Fire Department. 

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Ryu’s first 100 days will be well spent establishing working relationships with the many distinct neighborhoods.  This may involve some tough discussions and difficult negotiations, especially given the City’s limited financial and management resources.  But it is better to have these direct conversations and written lists prepared now so that there are fewer misunderstandings in the future. 

We are optimistic that David will be able to establish strong relationships within the Council District that will result in an improvement in our neighborhoods and our quality of life. We also expect that he will be able to work constructively with his fellow Council Members to help reform the City’s finances and our Department of Water and Power.  

And we also apologize to his mother, Michelle, that we elected her son.  He was supposed to be a doctor. 

 

(Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch. He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, The Ratepayer Advocate for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. Humphreville is the publisher of the Recycler Classifieds -- www.recycler.com. He can be reached at:  [email protected]) 
-cw

 

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 44

Pub: May 29, 2015