Sunday Notes on the Neighborhood Council Scorecard

 The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners bring their empowering brand of oversight to the El Sereno Senior Center as Stakeholders and Commissioners engaged in dialog regarding the status of the LA-32 NC and discuss possible remedies for dealing with disruptive behavior among NC Members and the likes of "Procedural Bullys".  

It was not a good night for Empower LA General Manager Grayce Liu (seated second from right at front tables) as numerous LA-32 Stakeholders spoke out against the disempowering, punitive actions taken against the community-representing elective body.

The Stakeholders of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council were treated to a timely evening of interaction from the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) last Tuesday as the body conducted its monthly meeting away from City Hall at the El Sereno Senior Center. BONC Commission President Karen Mack, presided over a productive, constructive evening of dialog, that allocated ample time for LA-32 Stakeholders and other constituents from elsewhere, to broach their comments, thoughts and concerns on agenda and non-agenda items. For Empower LA GM Grayce Liu, the evening was filled with comments pertaining to the punitive, subjective Exhaustive Efforts taken against the LA-32 NC and the apparent department's embargo on filling board vacancies. Ms. Liu, did seem to have two supporters in new LA-32 NC Treasurer Michelle Corzantes. along with former LA-32 NC Elections Chairperson ( and founding member of the race-baiting and youth exploiting El Sereno Historical Society) Yolie Garcia, who both spoke against filling the vacancies (while also falsely attacking ex LA 32 NC Board Members), but who's motives must be questioned, considering their role in the inappropriate use of uniformed Wilson High School LAPD Magnet Cadets for campaigning.    



 Sparse turn out for the new (mostly Councilman Huizar recruited) incarnation of the LA-32 NC.

For "Disempowerment LA Neighborhood Empowerment Advocate/ LA-32 Overlord" Lisette Covarrubias (seen on left in insert to photo), her first meeting overseeing the new incarnation of the LA-32 NC led by her Union Labor Representative Marleen Fonseca, featured the following;

** Fonseca's inability to properly preside over the proceedings in a constructive, object manner.

** Attacks and interruptions of public speakers by the likes of Fonseca and Treasurer Michelle Corzantes.

** Disclosure that the Agenda for the Executive Committee Meeting were posted at locations (El Sereno Middle School, Ceasar Chavez and Sierra Vista Elementary among others) that were contrary to those stated on the official document. Thus, presenting a possible Brown Act Violation.

** A disjointed presiding process that merits a grievance and highlights the need for comprehensive training for new board members (maybe Lisette will drop her alleged grievance against Council for Councils in the spirit of providing objective mentoring).

** Authorization to purchase operating equipment without a complete inventory.

** A moment of leadership from new Vice-President Kaprisha Vallecillo, who disclosed that the requested item to deal with board vacancies was not placed on the agenda by Covarrubias.

For those in the audience, it was clear that Ms. Covarrubia's objective professionalism was lacking and further review should be undertaken to ascertain whether bias, has and is, being exercise with the Fonseca-led body........., and lastly, from Wednesday, she is among the wrong friends for career advancement.    

 Former LA-32 NC Vice-President (quitting the board for the third time in January) Tammy Membreno and Mayor Eric Garcetti East Area Director are all smiles.

As the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners present their first draft on proposed training and behavior standards for NC's, longtime NC Activist Bob Gelfand offers some discerning musings on the 17 paragraphs of supposed behavior modification standards as we excerpt below .......

They could have made it fairly simple, something like "our meetings run according to standard parliamentary procedure, and you shouldn't interrupt or scream at the top of your lungs. At least not more than once per meeting." 

But no. The proposed code of civility goes on for 17 enumerated paragraphs. Seventeen.  Let's take a look at two of them. 
Number 6: "I will not use language that is abusive, threatening, obscene, or slanderous, including using profanities, insults, or other disparaging remarks or gestures." (** reminds me of a certain former LA-32 Vice-President and her "mini-me", who's emails were cited by Empower LA as part of the reason for placing the NC on Exhaustive Efforts, but I digress) \
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Mayor Garcetti's "Connected Ladies" seeking new Political Patronage and Community Power

As Eric Garcetti nears the First Anniversary of his ascension to the Office of Mayor, we spotlight some of his "Connected Ladies" and their pursuit of Political Patronage and Community Power, in lieu of their respective campaign support. 

**Blogger's Note: As we near the First Anniversary of now Mayor Eric Garcetti's campaign victory over the former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar and DWP/IBEW Strongman Brian "D'Arcy Rizzo's" Mayoral Candidate of Choice, Wendy "The Political Call Greuel", the time is appropriate to gauge whether the new mayor has made positive inroads into changing the culture of political patronage and entitlement originating from the Third Floor at City Hall. In recent weeks, various community sources and documentation have come to light chronicling the alleged, dubious actions of four prominent Garcetti campaign supporters noted below, who's recent dealings are causing longtime political observers to ponder if now Mayor Garcetti is undertaking a cynical "Back to the Basis" approach in dispensing Patronage and allowing his connected supporters to exert their supposed, new found political power, that is not held accountable to protocols of openness and transparency. If Mayor Garcetti is to move beyond the possibility of being the next incarnation of former one term Mayor James Hahn, the multi-cultured Rhodes Scholar needs to keep a tight, ethical rein on his supporters/appointees, who's community actions are a cause to entertain thoughts that the new Mayor Gacetti Administration, is merely another political machine in the making, instead of a broad based, "Back to the Basics Municipal Coalition", acting in unison in bring about needed reforms and civic reinvention at City Hall---Scott Johnson in CD 14.            

Does "Connected Non-Profit, El Central del Pueblo Executive Director (and Police Committee Commissioner) Sandra Figueroa-Villa, have her eyes fixed on expanding her "Connected Non-Profit's" opportunities into CD 1 (with the help of Board of Director and CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo Staffer Conrado Terrazas)?

If anyone is the poster child for Political Patronage in the new Mayor Garcetti Administration, than they need to look no further than longtime Connected Non-Profit, El Centro del Pueblo Executive Director Sandra Figueroa-Villa. Figueroa-Villa's support of Garcetti, was rewarded with a prestigious appointment to the Police Commission, which raised ethical eyebrows, considering that some of her staff have ties to the simmering corruption issues in Southeast LA County. In recent weeks, speculation has been rampant that Figueroa-Villa is seeking to grow her Connected Non Profit reach from Echo Park, into CD 1. This is causing local political observers to ponder whether new CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo Staffer (and El Centro del Pueblo Board of Directors Member) Conrado Terrazaz is using his official capacity in an unethical manner.   

Did "Connected Non-Profit, Barrio Action Executive Director Tammy Membreno have the alleged help of Mayor Garcetti's staff (** more on that below involving Patricia Alarcon) in seeking to place the LA-32 Neighborhood Council on punitive "Exhaustive Measures" (by making false accusations to shield her personal agenda)?

No one in the LA-32 Neighborhood Council Community of El Sereno was a bigger, understated supporter of Mayor Garcetti's mayoral aspirations than longtime former Councilman Art Snyder and Richard Alatorre Staffer, turned Connected Non-Profit, Barrio Action Youth and Family Center Executive Director Tammy Membreno. Upon Mayor Garcetti's election, Membreno wasted no time in showcasing her new access to City Hall by arraigning to have LA's latest Latino Mayor make an appearance in last year's El Sereno Bicentennial Parade (allegedly, despite reservations from the CD 14 City Council Jose Huizar and losing Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel supporters on the Parade Committee). But in recent weeks, Membreno's personal actions in regards to her latest resignation from the LA-32 NC, have prompted community (and blog) scrutiny, whether she initiated contact with Mayor Garcetti's staff in seeking to have punitive sanctions placed upon the NC. The most recent speculation involving Membreno is whether she is seeking to create a Charter School at Barrio Action, with the help of a LA-32 NC Board Member. If the speculation is reality, then this may explain why she and the board member, was against the Charter School proposed in a mixed-use development proposal for a parcel of land near the intersection of Eastern and Lombardy in El Sereno.   

Is Connected Non-Profit, Legacy LA Executive Director Maria Lou Calanche already acting in a dubious, unethical manner by pushing the interest of her organization within the Ramona Gardens Housing Development, as Mayor Garcetti's appointee to the Housing Authority of City of Los Angeles (HACLA) Board of Commissioners?

If anyone among the local Connected Non-Profit Community personifies a political hack in Executive Director's clothing, then that would be Connected Non-Profit, Legacy LA's E.D. Lou Calanche. Seemly desperate to garner public contracts for the Mayor Antonio Villar/Councilman Huizar created community front organization, Calanche mobilize her dwindling ranks of supporters to campaign against the Mayor Villar/Councilman Huizar candidate of choice Wendy Greuel. Her reward for turning her back on Legacy LA's creators was an appointment to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) Board of Commissioners and apparently, she and her supporters are wasting no time in flexing their supposed power in attempting to move programs from the Ramona Gardens Housing Development, to its Lead and Asbestos-laden Hazard Park Armory location, as the email below notes.

 

From Maggie Aguilar   

To Victoria Ortega, Citlalli Chávez, Alma Morales and 9 More...

Mar 19

Victoria, in the first place we don't play politics' I was sad when they came and told me that the classes we're going to by move to Legacy. I was to by Citlalli that if they moved the class to Legacy they would get more people to attend the class. I know Martha for quite some years and the Martha you don't know. First of all you need to understand that we live in this community and we all know what there about.. I'm glad you see them in a different way, but we don't. I hope you come today at 1:00 to put everything on the table and clear the air... there two side of the story and you should hear what we need to say.. Hope to see you soon.

Maggie Aguilar, President
Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council
** We should note that now HACLA Commission Vice-Chairman Lou Calanche's Legacy LA confidant Martha Gonzalez is the same person who was remove by HACLA from the previous RG Resident Advisory Council, along with others for "fiscal reasons" and was recorded on video supporting 7 Eleven's efforts to obtain a Beer and Wine License on the behalf of Legacy LA, in return for donations of goods.

What role did Mayor Eric Garcetti's East Area Director Patricia Alarcon play in having the LA-32 NC placed on "Exhaustive Measures" (** was she misled by former LA-32 NC Vice-President Tammy Membreno and another "Top-ranking NC Board Member)?

Unlike the three Connected Non-Profits Executive Directors supporters of Mayor Garcetti, former USC employee Patricia Alarcon cashed in on her campaigning by being hired as the East Area Director for the Mayor. Alarcon is the East Area Contact Person when constituents have questions, concerns or comments regarding city issues that may merit a response from her boss. That said, its also Alarcon's job to be the designated errant person if one of Mayor Garcetti's Connected Non Profit is in need of Patronage or an act of Political Power to promote their respective personal agendas. Recent emails obtain by Mayor Sam (posted at the bottom), disclose Alarcon's interest in discussing with Empower LA's Employee Lisette Covarrubias the situation involving the placement of the LA-32 NC in "Exhaustive Efforts". Emails from LA-32 NC Board Members (including this blogger) requesting a response regarding concerns outlined, about Empower LA's punitive, subjective actions have gone mostly unanswered. Yet Alarcon, has had contacts over the years with former LA-32 NC Vice-President Tammy Membreno, leading to speculation that her interest in the LA-32 NC situation is at the invitation of her fellow Mayor Garcetti supporter. But whether Alarcon chooses to be open and transparent regarding her discussions with Empower LA, there is no doubt that she is cooperating with "certain members of the LA-32 NC" regarding the upcoming "4th Annual El Sereno Kite Festival", while the rest of the NC is kept in the dark, as the Flyer below illustrates.

Maybe Patricia Alarcon should comment why she is cooperating with certain LA-32 NC Board Members (Edward Santillan and Connie Castro?) in hijacking an NC-created community event while remaining silence about Empower LA's punitive actions?

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Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Get ready for a return of the Politics of Weather as rain arrives mid-week.

From along the Santa Ana River above Redlands.

Good bloggin morning to everyone as we return from a quick weekend getaway from "Disempowerment LA-occupied LA-32", to the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains.

As you can tell from the photo above, there are still places in our surrounding mountains that have flowing water. But come Wednesday, Mother Nature will bring something called R-A-I-N back to Southern California for an extended stay. If the upper-level Jet Stream is redirected over Central California, or further south, with a west to east flow, then we may experience an "Atmospheric River Event", which would go far in alleviating our severe drought but not without health and safety ramifications..

In Southern California, it always seems that major rain events are predicated with major brush fires that leave hills and mountain slopes striped bare and primed for debris flows. Thus, when Mother Nature reminds everyone of her supreme authority over us, as she will, come especially Friday, then brace yourself for a return of "Politics of Weather", with your local politico donning yellow rain gear, with plastic wrap cameras, recording it all. ** BTW, climate models are hinting at strong El Nino for next winter, can't imagine any politico wanted to exploit that news for a photo op. 

 LA County Board of Supervisor (and possible CD 14 Candidate) Gloria Molina drop kicks Op-Ed supporting 710 Freeway Tunnel. 

** Memo to the likes of the "No on 710 Coalition" and "Concerns Neighbors of El Sereno", your LA County Board of Supervisor (and possible CD 14 City Council Candidate), Gloria Molina, along with Assemblyman Ed Chau, co-keyboard an Op-ed in the San Gabriel Tribune that details their joint support of a 710 Freeway Tunnel to close the six mile gap to connect the 710 to the I-210 Freeway in Pasadena. Local activists might want to consider the following .............

These residents were promised decades ago that this fix was a stop-gap measure. Opponents need to quit trying to stop the gap from being closed.
These same naysayers also erroneously claim that a tunnel will worsen air quality. They conveniently ignore how air quality is already horrendous in Southeast L.A. — especially for its children, where 12 out of every 100 children develop asthma.
There is a direct connection between asthma in Southeast L.A. and the pollution caused by cars and trucks forced to stand idle along an incomplete 710 Freeway. It’s all the more true since commuters must use the streets as de facto “streetways.”
The pollution that 710 tunnel opponents don’t want is already in the air, being breathed by Southeast L.A. families — who don’t have the extra time and resources to devote to NIMBYism.
These comments should put an end to the "Molina Boo Boo for CD 14" rumors.

** Memo to Mayor Eric Garcetti's Chief of Staff (and possible CD 14 Candidate) Ana Guerrero, please inform your East Area Director Patricia Alarcon that "Disempowerment LA-occupied LA-32 Stakeholders are awaiting a response to this email sent to Ms. Alarcon on February 14, cut and pasted below.

Mayor Garcetti's East Area Director Patricia Alarcon.

Good morning Ms. Alarcon,

Hope this email finds you well on this Valentine's Day.

In lieu of the recent punitive actions taken by Empower LA against the LA 32 Neighborhood Council and your email confirming the Mayor's Office receiving the documentation, I respectfully ask if Mayor Eric Garcetti will be taking a formal position on the current standing of the LA 32 NC Elective Body.

Further, if the Office of Mayor Garcetti is to take a formal position, then the office should consider the following before drafting a formal reply.

First, with Empower LA taking punitive actions against LA 32 which includes controlling the drafting of its agenda. What assurances can stakeholders have that their respective issues will be given objective due diligence by an elective body free of pre-conceived political bias? At the time of Empower LA's Memo, the LA-32 NC were working on important time sensitive issues, involving the USC Health Science Campus Master Plan and Zoning concerns involving a Charter School, among others (** including funding request for parade with past IRS issues). Will the Office of Mayor Garcetti ensure that the community comments heard by the LA 32 NC on these issues, get an objective resolution? 

Second, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti's staff grant access and accord all LA-32 NC Board Members the right to speak freely regarding the "personal dynamics" (including Empower LA's collusion with board members in targeting certain individuals) that were the foundation for Empower LA's punitive actions?

Third, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti's staff investigate internal Empower LA work place issues that have cause employees of the department to file a work place grievance over the role of the "Council for Council Mentors" to act as "NC First Responders" in intervening as Crisis Mentors for NCs, at no cost to the taxpayers?

Fourth, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti work with Empower LA and the City Attorney Office to address the issues of "Procedural Bullys" ( the husband and wife duo of the El Sereno Historical Society come to mind), who's are wasting taxpayers money by filing frivolous complaints, denigrating upstanding community members who don't agree with their "El Sereno-centric vision" and creating the hostile meeting environment noted in the Empower LA Memo? 

Fifth, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti take a stand against the repugnant, incendiary racial comments made sadly by board members and those in the community against some serving on this elected body? Would the Office of Mayor Garcetti consider using the resources of the Human Relations Department to set up a series of workshops within NCs to combat racial bigotry?

In closing Ms. Alarcon, its my sincere hope that the Office of Mayor Garcetti will help the LA 32 NC move forward in bring all resources to the table in achieving objective remedies that grows a strong, independent community-centric elective body, while holding those responsible for the "repugnant, personal conduct" that was unfortunately, the basis for the punitive actions taken by Empower LA.

With respects,

Scott Johnson 

LA 32 NC Recording Secretary

A potential CD-14 City Council Candidate should not smoke away an opportunity to listen to very real voters.

** Please note that the comments above are solely my own and not reflective of any formal LA 32 NC approved position.

** Also note that I will make this comments public in the spirit of openness and transparency. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14