F*ck You, Sarah Palin

"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess -- I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities." -- Sarah Palin

"America... I've given you all and now I'm nothing..." -- Allen Ginsberg

Thank you Sarah Palin. Thank you for pointing out that in over a decade of serving my community as a community organizer... it all means nothing to you.

Back in December, Mayor Sam once opined that strong, opinionated women like myself and Kim Thompson should run for City Council. We would "kick ass" as he wrote.

In a Sarah Palin world, my efforts to do such a thing wouldn't amount to a hill of beans. Why should I, or anyone who isn't already in the political establishment try to make a difference, try to change the status quo when all our community activist work is meaningless?

Oh, Sarah likes to say that she's just a simple hockey mom with a dream, who joined the PTA (guess what, any stuffed monkey can join the PTA -- it only requires sending in your membership dues and adding your name to the roster) ... did she actually hold an executive position on the PTA? Was she ever a PTA President? Did she chair any PTA events or fundraisers, or did she just send in her membership dues?

Ten years of organizing community events, ten years of devoting my life to helping children, parents and teachers and neighbors and friends ... and in Sarah's world... it don't mean shit.

Walter Moore, dude... I invited you to my school to come and speak in opposition to Prop. S to inform and alert my community. I was at your Rally in the Valley looking to support you and the Shaws. I'm done doing that. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count.

Ron Kaye ... I sent out email blasts, baked cupcakes, went to the SLAP protest at City Hall and brought two little girls with me who wanted to help bring change too, all this in order to try and help my hopelessly lost city find reform and redemption. I'm done with that now, too. It doesn't matter. My efforts don't count. Not in Sarah Palin's eyes.

Thank you for marginalizing and belittling the last ten years of my life, and the lives of every community organizer who has lovingly given hours and hours of their time (with no pay) in the hopes of making their communities a little bit better than how they found them.

Well... looks like I've got plenty of time on my hands now. Anyone wanna do lunch?

Interim DONE GM Slammed in Management Study on Eve of Confirmation

Explosive inside information from the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment comes to the Sister City on the heels of the confirmation of interim General Manager BongHwan Kim to take the post vacated by the sad passing of previous GM Carol Baker Tharp.

Insiders tell the Sister City that in the last month Kim hired management consultant John Wisor to assess the work of the supervisors in the office. Wisor recommended a confidential survey of the rank-and-file, and asked them to rate their supervisor. According to the survey, 42% of respondents (17 people) did not rate their direct supervisor, but instead rated and commented on Kim in order to "send him a message about how dissatisfied they have been with his leadership, or lack of it."

Wisor issued the following statement to the Sister City. He did not respond to our request for an interview:

"I was hired to conduct an employee opinion survey and report results to the management and staff of DONE. I am no longer associated with them. They have all my reports and comments and I know that the management team is reviewing the data and determining action steps in response to the various reports."

The DONE staff members who responded to the survey were highly critical of Kim and other DONE senior managers found serious concerns with respect to accountability, distribution of work and management's - including Kim's - lack of the needed skill sets to manage the department. DONE employees also complained that management rarely takes and implement suggestions; that the only such recommendation implemented in the last year was that of a "morale club."

Our insider had told us that the results of the survey have been suppressed while the confirmation process continues. Kim is scheduled for confirmation by the City Council on Tuesday.

Wisor was reportedly paid $1000 by DONE for his work. You can read a summary of his report at MS2 by clicking here.

"It was difficult to tell the man who hired me that he was the problem."
Management Consultant John Wisor, regarding DONE Interim GM BongHwan Kim

The biggest bombshell of the Wisor study was not contained in the report but allegedly in an email from Wisor to an unamed DONE staffer, an email the Sister City has obtained a copy of. In a very candid assessment of Kim's ability to lead the department Wisor tells the DONE staffer that it was "difficult to tell the man who hired me that he was the problem." Wisor further stated that the DONE staffers he spoke with wanted to send a "direct message to him (Kim) that he was a failure in being a leader at DONE." Our insider said the survey results confirms the concerns of staff.

Reportedly, it's not only DONE staffers that are dissatisfied with Kim, but at least two members of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners who doubt his ability to lead. On Friday, Commissioner Tsilah Burman resigned her post. Our insider said that Burman allegedly told others "that the appointment of BongHwan Kim by the Mayor to be the permanent General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment was the last straw." Burman's resignation follows that of fellow commissioner Diane Middleton who also expressed concerns about Kim in her resignation letter.

Maybe there's still time to bring Kim Thompson or Huell Howser on board as DONE GM!

The Top Ten Mother Figures

Before we close the books on Mothers' Day 2008, I want to take up a suggestion by Valley Doll that I list the city's top 10 hottest moms or mom like figures. There's a term that is often used for attractive women of advanced childbearing years that I won't use here, but the following is LA's top ten:

10 - Kelly Lange - The former KNBC anchorwoman is no longer on the air but should be. She now keeps busy by writing novels

9 - Janice Hahn - If she's not rescuing alligators, paying gangbangers, parking in the wrong spot or banning roosters, many fellas still think she's kind of cute.

8 - Colleen Williams - A fixture on local news programs since the 80s; about 15 years ago she finally started dying that famous prematurely gray streak in her hair. She's only 53 so she'll be on the air for some time to come.

7 - Wally Wharton AKA Rita of Sunland - The actress and writer turned local activist, blogger and talkradio gadfly technically isn't a mom but an aunt. Still, boys line up for her eccentric blend of screwball comedy and oozing sensuality.

6 - Terry Davis - One time at a Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council Meeting I saw a hard nosed activist speaking out against planned development at Universal Studios. The well informed, articulate speaker was the President of the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council

5 - Abby Diamond - A tough as nails fighter who always does it with extreme grace and professionalism is a Sunland-Tujunga based activist who voraciously reads planning laws, specific plans and zoning rules. The self taught Diamond has become so much an expert on planning that other cities have hired her for her expertise. If the fight against Home Depot in Sunland-Tujunga relies on the brawn of Joe Barrett; it's brain for sure is Abby.

4 - Valley Doll - The Mayor Sam blogger and self described riot grrrl is an uber-educated philosopher and super mom. The Doll proves that a mom can still be girly and kick anyone's ass at the same time. Watch out!

3 - Kim Thompson - The "Erin Brockovich" of the Valley was one of the leading forces putting the breaks on the controversial Las Lomas development. The blonde bombshell who was a candidate for San Fernando Valley City Council during the secession movement was in her younger days an auto worker and punk rocker.

2 - Valerie Bertinelli - Okay she has nothing to do with local politics but have you seen her lately? Not bad for a 48 year old! More importantly, she's the mom of Van Halen bass player Wolfgang Van Halen who is a homegrown second generation rocker who tours with his dad, uncle and David Lee Roth.

and finally...

1 - Corina Raigosa - The former first lady of Los Angeles was scorned by the Mayor for a television temptress but showed dignity and grace throughout. She remains hot, has a long record of community activism and really should be the one to be our Mayor.

Nine for DONE General Manager Post

Following the sad passing of DONE General Manager Dr. Carol Baker Tharp, speculation has turned to who will assume her role at the Department. Assistant DONE General Manager BongHwan Kim has been appointed Interim General Manager by Mayor Villaraigosa, however several leaders throughout Los Angeles have expressed concern that Baker Tharp's successor have the mettle to continue the work she had just barley got started. Rather than yet another faceless bureaucrat or a divisive manager such as predecessor Lisa Sarno, a good, solid, bold pick must be made to fill the top post at DONE.

In creating a list of possible candidates, I've separated the group into safe but solid picks, big and bold choices and a short list of dark horse possibilities. They are as follows:

Dr. Raphael J. Sonenshein - professor of political science at Cal State Fullerton, the Princeton-Yale educated Sonenshein was the executive director of the Appointed Charter Reform Commission which eventually birthed Neighborhood Councils. Gentlemanly and wise, Sonenshein literally wrote the book on charter reform and it's attendant issues, The City at Stake: Secession, Reform, and the Battle for Los Angeles.

Joe Hicks - Vice President of Community Advocates, Inc. and KFI talk radio host, Hicks was the Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, where he served from 1997 to 2001 under Mayor Richard Riordan. In the early 1990s, Hicks was Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Thoughtful with an evolving philosophy, Hicks' roots in LA are deep and could be the right guy for the job.

Linda Griego - President/CEO of Griego Enterprises Inc. which develops television programming through Zapgo Entertainment Group. Griego has had stints as the interim president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Community Development Bank, president and chief executive officer of Rebuild LA and a deputy mayor of Los Angeles. In 1993, Griego was the first major female candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles. As well, she serves on a number of major corporate boards such as CBS and City National Bank. Griego has developed strong ties in the corporate, government and non-profit worlds which could help take DONE and the Neighborhood Councils to the next level.

Dr. Denise Fairchild - Executive director of the Community Development Technologies Center, she has more than 30 years experience in the private, nonprofit and public sector. Previously Fairchild was Director of the Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Fairchild even considered running against Herb Wesson for the City Council but withdrew from the race to join the Mayor Villaraigosa's transition team. Recognized nationally as an expert in community development, Fairchild is a natural heir to Dr. Tharp.

If the Mayor didn't want to go with one of the safe picks noted above, he could go a different direction and pick a big name (and in this case big men) to really shake things up at DONE.

Huell Howser - The KCET host and television producer knows LA and its people inside out. For over twenty-five years Tennessee native Howser has prowled LA and has met its people of every stripe and station, first for CBS-TV and later for public television. As seen on his prolific library of television programs, Howser has an unshakable love for Los Angeles and those who live here. With a degree in history from the University of Tennessee (where he served as student body president), Howell worked for US Senator Howard Baker and has held posts on many boards and commissions over the years. Uber friendly with a slightly goofy side, the super smart Howser could be a great face for citizen leadership.

Bob Hertzberg - The former State Assembly Speaker and Valley based candidate for Mayor is a serious policy wonk and probably knows the City Charter more than just about anyone. His idea for a borough system for Los Angeles could be the next step for Neighborhood Councils. A successful attorney and entrepreneur, the job would represent a serious cut in pay for the man who likes to hug, but the challenge nonetheless would be attractive to him. Charismatic and unflappable Hertzberg could also be a great spokesman for DONE.

Finally, if the Mayor felt like going in a completely different direction and bring in someone unknown to the public but still well known to local leaders, he could select one of the following:

Joseph Mailander - Our fellow "blogging burro," is a native Angeleno who has quite frankly seen and done it almost all. Writer, artist, bank executive, owner of publishing imprint St. Genevieve Press, Mailander is beyond thoughtful; one would not be incorrect to call him a genius. Frequently sought by local blogs and publications for his reasoned insight about life in LA, Joseph leans to the left but doesn't lock step when he feels the orthodoxy has to be challenged. Mailander would be a quiet revolutionary who could bring the discussion at Neighborhood Councils to a new level.

Edward Headington - Principal of Headington Media Group and longtime friend to the Sister City, Headington has a breadth of experience in the public and private sector with significant leadership and communications expertise. Educated at USC and George Washington University, Headington has worked for elected officials such as former Mayor Richard Riordan, Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski and State Senator Gilbert Cedillo. Headington was the Public Affairs Manager for the National Small Business Association in Washington, DC. He's served up political opinion for MSNBC, NPR, the Daily News and several other media outlets. For some time, Edward has had an association with Coro Southern California, the public affairs organization, where he worked with Baker Tharp during her days as their Executive Director. Currently Headington is working on a book that looks at the nexus between politics, communications and image management. Diplomatic with a sense of humor, Headington represents the best of the leadership of Generation X and could potentially engage young professionals who are often not represented at the table.

Kim Thompson - Referred to as the North Valley's version of Erin Brockovich, Kim Thompson started out as a mom and housewife that stepped up when she saw something happening that she didn't like. Fighting against the Sunshine Canyon Landfill and more recently the Las Lomas mega-development and a proposed addition to Providence Holy Cross Hospital, Thompson is a quick study who can quote the details from EIRs and MNDs like there's no tomorrow. A feisty fighter who doesn't give up - and with extensive Neighborhood Council experience of her own - Thompson could be the "everywoman" leader of DONE who could speak the language of most NC members better than anyone.

It's likely the Mayor will choose none of these, but we challenge him and his staff to study each of these individuals and consider pressing them into service.