Weekend Musings on the Dysfunctional Political Doings at 200 Spring Street

"Political thespians at City Hall", Image by Fred Noland at the LA Weekly"

" The Great Hall of Political Dysfunction on Spring Street"

Los Angeles various "scribin observers" of all thing radiating from 200 Spring Street these recent weeks, were busy penning, and in a couple of cases, "pawing their musings" on the dysfunctional state of affairs at City Hall.

Here is an aggregated assortment of just some of the creative missives, penned in the recent days. Enjoy or weep, which ever comes first.

** Lets call these the dueling "Cirque du Missives".

Ken Draper at City Watch has "Cirque du City Hall", meanwhile Los Angeles Times Scribe Steve Lopez pens "Cirque du L.A.". If someone acts quickly, they can copyright the "Cirque du ......." and make some quick bucks.

** Downtown News Editor and "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie, melts movie anologies with observations into "a goo of reason and wit", as he lays out who shoulders the blame for the budgetary follies and guest who he spotlights? None other than "Anvil".

I don’t want to single out Villaraigosa in this. No wait, I do. He’s the guy who wanted to be mayor then governor then president then whatever comes after that (guy who gets to date all the TV ladies around the world?). If Toyota President Akio Toyoda ultimately gets the blame for all those sticky gas pedals, then L.A.’s sticky deficit ends up the responsibility of the man elected to lead the city, the man who appoints the DWP Commission and pulls their strings.

** Over at Ron Kaye's Blog, "Bruno the Watchdag" raises his mug from some kibble and bits "Nazi-like contraption" and paws away these canine musings. Even Bruno in his advance canine age, can discern and chew on the "Cirque de ........" bone. Wonder if "kibble and bits" are "legal doggy tender" for incoporating the copyrighted "Cirque du ........" brand?

Meanwhile for me, its back to the "Cirque du Lakers".

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

Scott Johnson in "Cirque du District 14"

Alger, Draper and Measure B: "Pieces for our Time"

When it comes to shady Measure B on the March primary ballot we have both the Daily News and Ron Kaye calling out City leaders for keeping the details under wraps and while activists Jim Alger and Ken Draper are throwing up all kinds of roadblocks to keep Neighborhood Councils from having a full and fair discussion of the controversial plan.  As the Daily News says "It seems like civic leaders are hoping voters won't ask too many questions," hence perhaps the effort to harrass Neighborhood Councils into not discussing the measure.


Alger has taken it upon himself to send out email missives to Neighborhood Council members all over town warning them to take heed of notification requirements that many feel don't even apply to Measure B and some that would even prevent some Councils from discussing the measure (based on their schedule) or be forced to consider special meetings, something most board members would not relish.

In the meantime Draper has a hissyfit over some Neighborhood Council leaders' advocacy and the sacred need to protect a "Memoradum of Understanding" negotiated some time ago between the DWP and various NCs in Los Angeles. Joseph Mailander writing at Street Hassle was correct to say that Draper's protocol concerns "sandbagged"  the No on B efforts.


The truth is that if the "Memorandum of Understanding" is going to be used in an effort to silence debate and intimidate a portion of NC board members who are reluctant to take on the City, then it's not worth the paper it's written on and NCs should consider something else.  


By the way didn't Neville Chamberlain once sign a "Memorandum of Understanding?"

What About Being For Something?

In his latest piece at CityWatch publisher Ken Draper catalogs a number of grass roots "victories" across the City; that a sleeping giant has been woken from a slumber to take charge of it's destiny here in Los Angeles.

Yet almost all of the victories Draper celebrates are about being against something; not really anything about creating a larger vision for LA's future; more so about hanging on to a past that doesn't exist anymore.

For sure, some of the things Draper discusses such as recent victories by residents of Sunland-Tujunga over Home Depot and some early victories over DWP shadiness are good things.

Yet is LA just about maintaining the status quo or will it be about reinventing itself into a first class city?

Our efforts should be about renovating our neighborhoods, providing economic opportunity and empowering shut out residents like immigrants (from other countries as well as other US states) and young adults who will ultimately be in the charge of the place a lot longer than Mayor V or any of the various community leaders around town.

Though there's a lot more noise on the neighborhood circuit these days and more folks are talking to each other than before, there is still a serious disconnect. Both the politicians and the people are tuned out, many of us live in communities where we have absentee Council members and few people vote; those who do re-elect the same shady politicians and continue to pass bond measures and new taxes without much thought to what they're doing.

We have a lot more to do to engage LA's silent majority and perhaps, doing something other than being against Wal-Mart and homes with great rooms might be one way to pique their interest.