Did These LA Officials Violate Federal Court and City Hall Rules?

@TheGussReport on Twitter - A few levels down the City Hall policy food chain, below City Council, the Mayor, Controller and City Attorney, still further down from the lobbyists, unions, departments and media, is the bottom rung of official Los Angeles political power.

Or whatever is left of it at that level.

It's where you will find LA's ninety-nine Neighborhood Councils, or NCs, overseen by the largely ineffective and appropriately acronymic DONE, or Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment, a bureaucracy that is largely in-place to keep the hoi polloi engaged but under control.

At least in theory.

For a few NCs, it seems that some re-education, as they fondly call it in Xinjiang, will be on the horizon.  Just don't hold your breath waiting for accountability.

To read my entire column on what went down at DONE, click on over to DanielGuss.Substack.com, and sign up for my free newsletter and share it with friends.

Keepin' 'em accountable.

Hot Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

The Mayor Sam Blog returns with content pertaining to the pending Resignation of Empower LA/DONE General Manager Grayce Liu, the dire communal ramifications of State Senator (also Developer Lackey) Scott Weiner's SB-50, a stealth (naught) attempt by LAUSD Superintendent Austin Buetner to alter the language of Measure EE and a former State Senate Presidentes's desired emulation of a "Failure Mayor's CD-14 Political Pit Stop to Mayor" aspirations.  

Empower LA Out-going GM Grayce Liu (above) will no longer be responsible for the questionable behavior of former City of San Fernando Mayor Mario Hernandez (pictured with then City Council Paramour Maribel de la Torre).

** Bloggers Notes: Great post Cinco de Mayor Monday to all as we return to reacquaint fingers to the bloggin keyboard, with bountiful content to share. We begin with last Friday's announcement from Empower LA/DONE General Manager Grayce Liu of her pending resignation to take another position in Mayor Eric Garcetti's Administration.

Disregarding the numerous acts of petty political interference by Mayor Garcetti and City Council, Lu will be lauded for her commitment to the Neighborhood Council System, but the timing of resignation may have to do with the department hiring of dubious Politicos, such as disgraced former City of San Fernando Mayor Mario "Tonto" Hernandez, the former paramour of City Council Colleague Maribel "Sancha" de la Torre. More later in the week.   

Endangerment Alert!! State Senator (and Luxury Development Lackey) Scott Weiner's SB-50, would endanger Single Family Dwellings in Calizuela.

If anyone personifies the Evil of Big Government in Calizuela ........., its No Cal (via San Crappycisco) State Senator Scott Weiner. Progressive Housing Advocates on the Left and Limited Government Conservatives, should agree that Senator Weiner's SB-50 would adversely alter the formerly Golden State's historical communal landscape, benefiting Weiner's Luxury Developer Sponsors. 

 Sweet whispers between LAUSD Superintendent Austin "Mini Riordan II" Buetner and School Board Member Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia,.may impact "EE Rating".

We ponder if LAUSD Superintendent Austin Buetner was a recipient of a phone call from Mayor Eric Gar-SOFT-ee's Enforcer Rick Jacobs after the El Segundo Times (formerly on Spring Street), disclosed that "Mini Riordan II" Buetner's emulation of the Gar-SOFT-ee Administration's "Slight of Hand in Changing the Language of a Ballot Measure (reminiscence of Measure HHH)". Meanwhile, his policy paramour on the School Board Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia, has been making the rounds (denoted by directional rumblings) promoting yet another unaccountable tax on Property Owners. 

Will the Voters of CD-14 applaud a former State Senate Presidente's repeat of a Failure Mayor's 2003 City Council/Mayoral aspirations? 

Ex Calizuela State Senate Presidente Kevin de Leon the First, is the pending (as fast as fingers move) recipient of a new bloggin designation. The birth-given Kevin Alexander Leon (K.A. Leon for short), later the politico-aspiring Kevin (de or of) Leon, will be hereby known as .......... "K. Antonio (de or of) Leon". The Career Politico BFF of Fabian (and Esteban) Nunez, is apparently telling CD-14 Constituents, that his 2020 City Council Campaign is a warm-up act for a 2022 Mayoral Campaign ........, which would be a over-billing bonanza for a certain "Private Citizen/Political Consultant (John Shallman)", if retained by the K. Antonio (de or of) Leon City Council/Mayoral Campaign----Scott Johnson.

Sunday Notes on the Neighborhood Council Scorecard

As the Region XI Group of Westside LA Neighborhood Councils go to the polls today, we inaugurate our new weekly, bloggin musing regarding the actions, follies, successes and undertakings of the City of LA Neighborhood Councils, with special attention on its noted Cast of Characters (such as West LA's Jay "Ole Yeller" Handal). 

To paraphrase noted Attorney L.H. Parker, "I'm Jay Handal and I will YELL for you!"

Note to LA-32 NC Rose Hills Community Members, the man above you seen driving a black car, with phone ear piece, that was searching for illegal campaign activity as a paid Independent (naught!) Election Administrator (IEA), has returned to his West LA NC confines.

** Blogger's Note: Bloggin time permitting, we hope that our inaugural "Sunday Notes on the Neighborhood Council Scorecard" will become a weekly blog feature. From the grieving employees of "Disempowerment LA", to the cast of characters (bloggers included) who comprise NC's across the city, the story of the continuing evolution of the City of LA's NC System, is one that merits continuing coverage (with comedic flavoring of course)---Scott Johnson.

** If there is one person among the core group of NC Activists, who is the "bark" (think loud, yapping Chihuahua) of the movement, then that person would be West LA NC Member Jay "Ole Yeller" Handal. Handal, who recently oversaw the Region VIII Group of NC Elections as its IEA (enabling CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar to tighten his grip over certain NCs), is seek re-election to the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. In "Ole Yeller's" own words, we bring his "West LA First!!" Candidate Statement (with our comments in bold).

This campaign is about putting West L.A. 1st.(Ole Yeller is territorial) We face challenges of affordable housing and traffic (a Westside Liberal sound bark?). We are challenged to make decisions on how to allocate our City’s diminished resources while the needs of our residents continues to increase (No duh). I am committed to protecting and improving the community that we live in.West L.A. 1st.means putting the people in our community first. (Another no duh) Putting West L.A. 1st.means transcending personal bias and relegating personal interest in favor of the greater good ( I left my self-serving biases and personal interest with Yolie Garcia and Huizar's staffers in LA-32). Putting West L.A. 1st.requires that we set aside personal differences to attend to the service of the residents (that's unless I can influence NC elections for personal gain). I will continue communicating (loudly) with and responding (more loudly) to our residents and businesses . Listening to and understanding their needs (Ole Yeller showcased his keen, subjective, political listening skills as LA-32 NC IEA). I will constructively propose good solutions to the challenges we face. I will continue to engage in the planning process, to ensure that we avoid problems before they affect our quality of life (which for NCs such as LA-32 are now worst thanks to Ole Yeller).

** The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners will hold its semi-monthly meeting tomorrow at 1 PM on the Tenth Floor within City Hall. In noting the agenda, we want to commend the BONC for its dedication to public participation as the following agenda items note .........

4. General Public Comments - Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction. This agenda item will last a total of 15 minutes and no individual speaker will be allowed more than three minutes. (15 minutes). Then for an encore .........
11. General Public Comments - Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction. This agenda item will last a total of 15 minutes and no individual speaker will be allowed more than three minutes. (15 minutes). Either the BONC is empowering Public Comment or the same "Disempowerment LA NEA" that oversees the LA-32 NC crafted the agenda? 

** Meet the new favorite "Disempowerment LA Grieving Employees" NC President Marleen Fonseca of LA-32



 New LA-32 NC President and EAA Labor Rep Marleen Fonseca.

If any one NC President is going be on the receiving end of empowering service from the grieving employees of Disempowerment LA, then its a sure bet that former LAPD Management Analysis II, now Engineers & Architects Association Union Rep Marleen Fonseca, would be that person.

While Fonseca does not directly oversee "Disempowerment LA Employees", her knowledge of internal "Disempowerment LA" work issues creates an interesting situation for General Manager Grayce Liu (who Fonseca has allegedly stated is a weak negotiator).

Since being voted President (despite a majority of the new board voting for now Vice-President Kaprisha Vallecillo over her), Fonseca has aligned herself with the likes of El Sereno Bicentennial "Shredding Parade Coordinator" Genny Guerrero and El Sereno Historical Society Members Yolie and Jorge Garcia (aka the "Procedural Bullys"), who's racial and vile attacks on noted LA-32 NC Community Members have been repudiated.

Judging from reports of yesterday's LA-32 NC By Laws Committee, Fonseca is already showcasing her lack of inclusion by wanting to change the name of the LA-32 NC to the "El Sereno Neighborhood Council" and not seeking to fill vacancies on the 21 person board, with the support of "Disempowerment LA" who subjectively want to down size the board to 15 members via unapproved new By-laws.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mailander: Irregularities Mar Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Election

Editor's Note: Neighborhood Council elections have been a controversial subject for some time, and the latest round of contests for the advisory panels have been no exception. From Silver Lake to Sherman Oaks to Chatsworth, many Councils are facing issues with notification, location changes, pseudo-slate mailers on the public dime and stakeholder eligibility questions. One of the elections held during Saturday's first round was in Sunland-Tujunga. Joseph Mailander offers this special report

By Joseph Mailander

Special to MayorSam's Sister City

Sunland-Tujunga's record turnout for Saturday's long anticipated Neighborhood Council election suddenly went sour late Saturday night as election results were leaked from the counting room to an operative in advance of being posted by any member of the Neighborhood Council, EmpowerLA, or City Clerk's office.

Nearly 700 residents and stakeholders participated in the election that was celebrated for its enthusiastic turnout but quickly became tarnished by reporting irregularities.

Late in the evening, voters lingering on various social media message boards, concerned about the outcome of the election, were shocked to observe not a Neighborhood Council or EmpowerLA representative but a local political operative first posting results to Facebook, in some cases even while the votes were being counted.

The same operative had previously pushed his own slate of endorsements for the election, and openly derided many challenger candidates.

"[I]f someone was observing from the designated area where those who signed in were to be seated, they could of [sic] texted him that information. The Poll Manager (Terrance), the Election IEA (Alisa) and myself were the only one privy to the overall vote tally until release to everyone. For the record, there was about 10-15 observers in the room," vote counter Scott Johnson said on Facebook.

Commissioner Lydia Grant, who was on hand for the counting, did not return phone calls or email

regarding the incident. EmpowerLA General Manager Grayce Liu also has not returned inquiries as of publication time.

Voters also encountered some irregularities earlier in the day as business and organizational stakeholders were told they were obliged to present documentation on organizational letterhead that they indeed worked or belong to an organization in Sunland-Tujunga.

No election materials printed in advance of the election specified this. Those who could not provide documentation on the spot were obliged to vote via provisional ballot and submit their documentation within three days time. The provisionals cast may affect the outcome of one race, for a Regional slot on the board, in which two candidates tied for the final seat.

The NC's president-elect, Mark Seigel, barely missed fetching half the total vote, receiving 332 of 676 votes cast.

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Candidate Endorsements

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Elections are coming up March 8th and it's now time for us here at MayorSam to make our official endorsements of candidates in the race. The good news is that so many folks have entered the race and in most cases you have a choice. Let's run down the ballots, shall we?

PRESIDENT - THOMAS SMOKER, JR.

Tom Smoker, Sunland-Tujunga's Honorary Mayor, is a born and bred Sunland-Tujunga native and a long time participant in local affairs. Look at this guy - he OOZES Sunland-Tujunga, going back to a time when the rural life was respected and politicians listened to the community and not the other way around. A military veteran, union member and veteran film and television production crew member, Tom brings the "everyman" point of view that Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council needs, without any baggage. He's the guy who is going to stand up to city officials and go to the mat for Sunland-Tujunga. His opponents, "newspaper" publisher David DeMulle is a joke, but more importantly an organizational disaster in the making. DeMulle, particularly in recent days, has shown himself to not at all be above not personally attacking individuals in the community as he desperately tries to win this race. The other candidate, incumbent Mark Seigel, is an avuncular figure who speaks quite articulately but is completely lacking the fire in the belly to stand up for Sunland-Tujunga in the way a President should. Mark is a technocrat who can lead an emergency response team, run an event and teach folks in the fine art of Ham Radio. But Mark has shown severe weakness as a leader and that weakness has also led to him looking the other way to local tomfoolery by the powers that be. Mark frequently makes weak excuses when challenged. He's a nice enough chap who I'd pick to be a Scoutmaster in a heartbeat, but Sunland-Tujunga is at probably the most critical juncture in it's history and we need a tough leader. Vote for Tom Smoker.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT - TOMI LYN BOWLING

This is an uncontested race and thus an endorsement is really not necessary. There is no option for write-in candidates nor a "none the above" choice. As well, Tomi represents a mixed bag for me. She has a long record of volunteering and is adept at land use issues, one of her areas of specialty. At times, she has been too close to the "machine" and has not always spoken out when she should about their poor decisions. However, of all the members, past and present, of the machine, Tomi has shown a fairly frequent independent streak. Although Tomi did not ask hard questions about the Day Street Homeless Apartments, and supported this controversial project, she has been tough on other issues of the homeless, frequently departing from the party line of the Chamber and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. It is obvious that Tomi is passionate about the community, and since there is no other option, it would be great to see Tomi channel her passion and her independence towards reform in Sunland-Tujunga on these key issues. Vote for Tomi Bowling.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT - WALLY WHARTON

Wally Wharton is a decades long Sunland-Tujunga homeowner and activist who defines the notion of an "involved stakeholder." She is a serious student of local government, regularly attends City Council and County Board of Superviors meetings and frequently comments on these issues on local talk radio programs and publications. Wally does indeed bring a flair to the campaign. In addition to being a published author, she's an actress who's appeared in a number of films including Cheech and Chong's "Up In Smoke." But her eclectic manner is really a reflection of the diverse funkiness of Sunland-Tujunga and we need that in our local leadership. Wally, a UCLA alum, is an intellectual who can discuss everything from Kafka to Barbie dolls. More importantly, she brings a thoughtful perspective on the issues and a commitment to the community. Wally's opponent, Brenda Fortune, is a long time Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council board member whose made the circuit of Chamber and service clubs locally. She's put in many hours and has worked on many projects for the community. But it's time for a change and new leadership. Vote for Wally Wharton.

SECRETARY - NO RECOMMENDATION

This is another uncontested race with no option for write-ins or other choices. The sole candidate, Sandra Bagus, in statements made online and otherwise, to not have the emotional nor intellectual depth to serve in this role. However, she will be elected and we just have to hope for the best. One option you may consider is not to mark a choice on the ballot for this office. It will not impact the results, but it will deflate her overall count viz-a-viz total ballots cast and make a statement. Sometimes the best vote is no vote.

TREASURER - BONNIE CORWIN

Bonnie Corwin has decades of experience in financial management and accounting, having worked with many community organizations, including the Red Cross. She brings a fresh perspective and an accounting background her opponent, current Treasurer Nina Royal, lacks. Royal has put in many years of hard work as one of Sunland-Tujunga's most storied activists but recent statements by Royal show that perhaps it's time for her to move on after many years on the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. Royal seems more suited to matters of outreach, public safety and policy. With a move by City Controller Ron Galperin to become more transparent and use technology to share financial data with city residents, neighborhood councils would be well advised to choose financial professionals as treasurer to help sort out the new process. Vote for Bonnie Corwin.

STAKEHOLDER GROUP REPS - VOTE FOR

DANA STANGEL - Stangel is a longtime local resident who has shown significant talent and passion creating and running non-profit organizations, most notably Teranga Ranch which helps to rescue reptiles and similar animals. She has great energy, is extremely intelligent and will bring much needed new blood to the board. Stangel is probably one of the most exciting candidates in this year's crop.

SERGIO E. SOTO - Soto's previous public service has been limited to his membership in his local Masonic Lodge and it appears that he wants to serve on the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council to help boost that organization. However, he exhibits newcomer energy that the board is severely in need of. I believe he will very quickly learn the ropes and be a great representative.

ROSIE N. TER-MATEVOSYAN - Another newcomer, but as an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Rosie knows what it's like to live under a repressive regime. As it was once said "Only Nixon can go to China," perhaps Rosie can share her American dream experience in her leadership and make the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council an open, serving and transparent organization once again.

KRYSTEE CLARK  - Coming on what will be her sophomore term on the board if re-elected, Clark has a lot of passion, is articulate and is one of the younger members of the bunch. While published comments she made about the effort to save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course concern me, I'm willing to give Krystee another shot.

MARLENE HITT - Marlene has decades of service in Sunland-Tujunga and is most known for her work with Bolton Hall and the Little Landers Historical Society. As much as Krystee Clark brings youth, Marlene brings context and can adeptly advise the board on matters within the conext of our long history. 

JOHN LAUE - A former member of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council board, Laue wishes to return and use his knowledge of environmental issues to advise the board. Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council needs someone like this, particuarlly with issues around the Wash, the golf course and other matters that are touched by environmental issues. He will make a good addition to the board.

STAKEHOLDER GROUP REPS - ABSOLUTELY DO NOT VOTE FOR

JOHN BLUE - Blue is another long time member of the board, but is not a member of the machine. In fact, he's a frequent thorn in the side to President Mark Seigel and Vice President Cindy Cleghorn, as well as others. John may feel he means well, but he's not shown the emotional maturity - despite his chronological age to serve on the panel and be a team player. There is every bit of room for a loyal opposition but John's is not reasoned and at times, displays a slight paranoia and inappropriate behavior in meetings. Do not vote for John Blue.

CINDY CLEGHORN - This could be the most important vote you ever cast. While Cleghorn has a long volunteer resume and walls of awards at home, she has not shown that she has the temperament, personality nor character to serve at the high level of power and leadership she had secured for herself. In her time, the town has not prospered and has actually gotten worse. There are many questions about her leadership and her simultaneous role serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce is concerning. Do not, under any circumstance, vote for Cindy Cleghorn.

STAKEHOLDER GROUP REPS - NO RECOMMENDATION

The following candidates have not supplied sufficient information for us to offer an opinion:  Patrick Daniel O’Brien, Jon Edward von Gunten, Julie Cuddihy Vicki Goorjian Pierce.

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES - VOTE FOR

Region 1 - Kresse Armour, Jorge A. Martinez
Region 2 - Arsen Karamians, Arno Akobyan
Region 3 - Jim Moore, David Barron
Region 4 - Charlie Bradley, Maureen A. O'Byrne

Outtakes from Saturday's Northeast LA Neighborhood Council Elections

** Blogger's Note: On the morning after yesterday's exercise in advisory democracy, we bring you photos and commentary from the various Northeast LA NC polling locations. But we would be remiss if we did not credit the hard work of Empower LA staff and NC activists such as Stephen Box, Glenn Bailey, Jay Handle among many, for yesterday's beyond expectations turnout. The combination of excellent candidate recruitment (with help from CD 14 staff), along with a multi-media voter outreach campaign, mixed with some timely neighborhood issues, equated to an excellent exercise in advisory democracy. Click on to NC name for unofficial results ---Scott Johnson.

Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council:

Four of the new fresh faces of the incoming Boyles Heights Neighborhood Council, that will augment returning board members, such as Mago Amador and the Del Pozo sisters as seen in the picture below. Current BHNC President Edward Padilla was the top vote recipient among the 300 votes cast yesterday. 

LA-32 Neighborhood Council:

It was nice to see CD 14 City Councilman staffer Zenay Loera (with back to camera) making the rounds yesterday in El Sereno as she makes small talk with LA-32 NC Candidate Edward Santillan. Zenay's boss was also spotted voting in at the El Sereno Senior Center , which is not far away from his past-publicized hillside property. Hecho En Mexico Eatery Co-owner Connie Castro was the top choice in a contested At-Large Bracket. Close to 200 people voted, almost double the election turn out of two years ago.

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council:

How do you get 400+ community members to take time out of their busy Saturday, to partake in advisory democracy? It starts with neighbors helping each other in getting to the polling place at the Ramona Hall. Then you add some yummy inducements for voting. Of course it also helps to have a little community controversy, regarding a supposed power grab by some Hermonistas, to rile up the local progressives, which by the way, went down in defeat.

Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council:

By far the biggest turnout yesterday was in Eagle Rock where Councilman Huizar supporter and Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce President Michael Nogueira ( with Huizar staffer Zenay Loera.** Did we see her earlier in El Sereno talking to another "connected candidate"?), beat off a challenge by Medical Marijuana Advocate Nelson Grande II by 26 votes (309-283). The fact that 792 people voted (compare to 100 two years ago) speaks volumes about how a community is galvanized to engage in an advisory dialog on one issue, Medical Marijuana. 

Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council:

The Highland Park Patch reports that Monica Alcaraz was elected President out of the 328 votes cast.  But we had the privilege to meet this candidate Margarito Martinez, outside of Cocos on York Blvd. Mr. Martinez did not win election to the HHPNC, but he is our winner as the embodiment of the empowering qualities of American Democracy.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14