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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK - "Our goal is to get through as many speakers as we can.”
Curren D. Price of the new ninth interrupted, “I am going to recuse because I can’t discern which companies are involved in the item.”
This raises an interesting question. If the Council member himself can’t tell who is on the dole in a particular item, how is Cigara Bollinger going to be able to compose a song parody that’s any good?
Paul Krekorian, Council President (CD2): You’ll need to sit down or be quiet. Please leave the room silently and immediately right now you are disrupting and delaying. Right now. Rob Quan you are ordered to sit and be silent… Leave the meeting immediately… I apologize Mr. Blumenfield for the delay of our work.
Lawsuit Gambling:
In the last few weeks, the City Council has been paying out big money for lawsuit settlements. One meeting saw a dainty $2,825,000 in aggregate legal cases settled and the week before, a more stately $7,000,000 of taxpayer funds out the door to settle various city fuckups.
On Tuesday to commemorate the fact that gambling has been prioritized across the culture, I encourage you to jot your best guess about the settlement amounts for the following Closed Sessions scheduled for Tuesday.
Then, as you tune in, see if you can spot when Council President Paul Krekorian tips his hat to Bob Blumenfield, who tugs his ear, blows his stuffy nose and shrugs, “This looked good in committee.”
The dollar figures are read into the record by a lightly aroused Sharon Gin of the City Clerk’s office, and finally, the public is sent an enormous bill.
Since there are three LAPD matters and some scary sounding ones, between 7 and 9 million… My guess: $12,075,000 en toto! Place your bets -- you can bet on any case or all of them. Have fun, and gamble responsibly.
(38) 24-0225 Angelica Alvarez v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV11792. (This matter arises from an April 14, 2020 incident wherein the plaintiff tripped and fell on an uplifted and damaged sidewalk near 900 South Berendo Street.)
(39) 24-0226 Jean Yuna Horihata, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCV04523. (This matter arises from a traffic collision that occurred on February 17, 2021 at the intersection of Oakshire Drive and Cahuenga Boulevard in Los Angeles.)
(40) 24-0087 Playa Vista Parks and Landscape Corp. v. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22SMCV02686. (This case arises from allegations of property damage from recycled water delivered to the plaintiff for irrigation use.)
(41) 24-0110 Philadelphia Indemnity Ins. Co. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCV35193. (The complaint in this action alleges the dangerous condition of public property and inverse condemnation in connection with a sewer backup incident at 2201-2207 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, California.)
(42) 24-0175 CD 13 Sunset Twins, LLC v. City of Los Angeles. (This matter arises from a claim filed by Sunset Twins, LLC against the City involving real property located at 3300 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026 and 3305 West Larissa Drive., Los Angeles, CA 90026.)
(43) 24-0258 Joel Sydanmaa v. Los Angeles Police Department, et al., United States District Court Case No. 8:20-CV-02190-FLA (JDEx). (This matter arises out of claims that the Los Angeles Police Department infringed the plaintiff’s First Amendment rights.)
(44) 24-0259 Noel Gautier, et al. v. Los Angeles Police Department, et al., United States District Court Case No. CV20-08091. (This matter arises from an incident involving members of the Los Angeles Police Department on November 26, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.)
(45) 24-0260 Dexter Hubert White v. City of Los Angeles, et al., United States District Court Case No. CV19-00243 DDP (RAOx). (This matter arises from an incident involving members of the Los Angeles Police Department that occurred on July 11, 2018.)
(46) 24-0187 AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Case No. 21STCP04176. [This case involves the action challenging the City’s adoption of its Housing Element (2021 – 2029) and the sufficiency of the Environmental Impact Report.]
Real Property (Dis)Trust Funds…
There was no discussion about the savings in the report on Sworn Officer hiring and salary savings, because obviously, there haven’t been any savings like that. We’re in very deep. NOTE and FILE
As for astronomical escalations, we are doing fine. It was encouraging on Friday to see that the Government Operations Committee report on the Real Property Trust Funds Nos. 683-697 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 was on the agenda with some escalations.
Naturally, it was in the section marked, “Mind your own damned business.”
But since the council was preoccupied with cherry-picking around my commentary, I spent the time listening to other members of the public. This, in stark contrast to the city council members themselves, who slink into the backroom and actively do not listen to the public comment.
I also clicked on the Real Property Trust Fund item.
Budget and Innovation Chair Bob Blumenfield led the pack of thieves by innovatively reporting as of June 2022 a fund balance of $1,915,966
Smart Speaker: That was almost two years ago? The innovative part: all the other council districts reported balances as of 6/30/23. Hmmmm.
I am sure Council District 3 or the City Clerk (of questionable regularity) will clarify the discrepancy or typo.
Here the Real Property Trust Fund balances ranked from highest balance to lowest
BOB BLUMENFIELD, Third District. Balance on 6/30/22 $1,915,966
TIM McOSKER, Fifteenth District. $1,436,797
Tim McOsker of CD15 leads the pack as a former City Attorney and former (and current) lobbyist.
MARQUEECE HARRIS-DAWSON, Eighth District $1,413,555
TRACI PARK, Eleventh District $1,361,002
PAUL KREKORIAN, Second District $1,330,906
EUNISSES HERNANDEZ, First District $1,308,746
KEVIN DE LEÓN, Fourteenth District $927,532
IMELDA PADILLA, Sixth District. $759,470
JOHN S. LEE, Twelfth District. $375,095
NITHYA RAMAN, Fourth District. $363,739
KATY YAROSLAVSKY, Fifth District. $204,533
MONICA RODRIGUEZ, Seventh District uncommitted $138,713.
HEATHER HUTT, Tenth District uncommitted 153,204
CURREN D. PRICE, JR., Ninth District $131,926
HUGO SOTO-MARTÍNEZ, Thirteenth District uncommitted $123,511
Kenneth Mejia, the City Controller describes the fund.
This fund collects 50% of all net proceeds from each sale or lease of City-owned real property, plus a portion of the franchise fees from oil pipelines. The money is distributed according to the Council Districts the real property or oil pipelines are located in, so the amount available to each Council office varies.
Money from this fund is for the acquisition of real property interests, the construction or maintenance of improvements upon real property owned by the City, the funding of human service programs, or for approved economic development projects or programs, including public infrastructure projects, development, and operational subsidies.
Smart Speaker: What about the additional purpose?
Jonathan Groat, Deputy City Attorney: Sir, we didn’t call on you today. You don't exist... lol
Smart Speaker: Groat, I do exist. You are going to be caught. What about e and f?
(e) An additional purpose of the Funds shall be for the receipt, retention, and disbursement of gifts, contributions and bequests. All gifts, contributions, and bequests to the City for the purposes set forth in this chapter shall be submitted to the City Council for acceptance or rejection.
(f) The City Clerk shall inform the Controller of any special terms or conditions placed upon the use of all monies accepted for deposit in the Fund. The Controller shall establish a separate account in the Fund for each specific use for all accepted monetary gifts, contributions or bequests which contain any special term or condition.
Each report from the Clerk shall cover a fiscal year and shall be submitted within 60 days after the close of said fiscal year. So, the period ended June 30th… hmmm that would mean, by August 30th…? Today represents 283 days, but whatever... that's only 223 days late!
Our Clerk is irregular.
I was re-traumatized recently when I noted on this coming Tuesday’s agenda that the City Clerk will be certifying the results of the City of Los Angeles Primary Nominating Election held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. —the total estimated cost for the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s conduct of the Primary Nominating Election was… $10M.
Smart Speaker: What about the clerk’s markup?
Where’s the $418,000?
Another boat full of money that washed ashore near the LA River was a $418,000 balance as of 6/30/23 in something called the Bradley Landfill fund. This fund was set up in 2005 to pay for health studies after the landfill of that name in Sun Valley was closed.
Landfills are the most smelly, dirtiest way to deal with trash.... and Nithya Raman is planning to demolish ONE giant mid-century hotel that should be preserved, ONE lovely recreation center that should be upgraded not destroyed, and THOUSANDS of truckloads of studio city land to a landfill.
Waste Management Inc., which John S. Lee adores used to operate the landfill, was hoping to get a 43-foot height extension for it, but, the opposition back then from the community and council member, Tony Cardenas… put that plan to rest.
Those were the days when representatives would occasionally fight for their people, not like the current crop including Nithya Raman who doesn’t take a strong position for her people and gets wide support for collaborating with Mayor Bass.
$100 Million Club:
AECOM, contributed to Mayor Garcetti’s inauguration but so much more.
Still, it is surprising to see that Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and their commission executing 10 proposed five-year Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs), with two one-year renewal options, covering planning and design services, on an as-needed basis, at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Van Nuys Airport (VNY), and Palmdale (PMD) Landholdings for an amount not-to-exceed $100 million.
Smart Speaker: I am going to go into the long history with AECOM and Zev Yaroslavsky, Mark Ridley-Thomas —
The CAO noted the Disadvantages of the more Traditional RFP Selection Process.
In contrast to the Competitive Sealed Proposal Selection (CSPS), that is being offered here, the City’s standard procurement procedures primarily emphasize cost, without considering other essential elements, which can potentially lead to lengthier project delivery times, higher probability of project re-designs, and various change orders.
According to the LAWA, costs, and other equally important factors should play a significant role in the selection process.
Smart Speaker: Like enrichment of treasured partners? What’s this for?
In the last five years, more than 50 acres of land on the LAX West Campushave become available as former occupants vacated the area. Prior to this, there were approximately 50 acres of underutilized land. Consequently, LAWA aims to redevelop the entire 100 acres of underserved areas to accommodate LAX’s growing needs for aircraft parking and airside support infrastructure to ease the heavy airline traffic expected during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Smart Speaker: So, this $100 million is taxpayer money FOR the Olympic Games, but not really.
Paul Krekorian, Council President (CD2): You’ll need to sit down or be quiet. Please leave the room silently and immediately right now you are disrupting and delaying. Right now.
Next item:
The Council is seeking $400 dollars to retroactively approve Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2024, at City Hall, including the illumination of City Hall.
April Fools:
To be a two-way superstar in public comment one has to be equally good on offense and defense, sort of like Shohei in baseball.
This is routine business so very late and very bad.
The request for a cure and correction, an apology and a reasonable explanation for the errors have so far been met with fatuous platitudes.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Elizabeth Yeramian <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: Norayr Zurabyan <[email protected]>; Carlos Gonzalez <[email protected]>;
Mon, April 1 at 4:39 PM
Subject: Public Records Act Request
Thank you for your patience as we continue to review and respond to your request for [M]etadata for the Board meetings on Tuesday, February 27, and Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
The search for records is ongoing, and we anticipate providing you with an update on or before April 15, 2024, as to whether we are able to identify any disclosable public records.
In providing you with this response, we are not waiving any rights, defenses, or claims of privilege, exception, or exemption under the CPRA or any other statutes.
Norayr Zurabyan
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected]
To: Norayr Zurabyan
Cc: Dawyn Harrison, [email protected]
Mon, April 1 at 4:49 PM
Interesting. Disappointing!
Sent from my iPhone
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Elizabeth Yeramian <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: Norayr Zurabyan <[email protected]>; Carlos Gonzalez <[email protected]>;
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 at 09:45:14 AM PDT
Subject: Public Records Act Request
Good morning, Mr. Preven,
Attached please find the response letter to your Public Records Act Request.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to review and respond to your request. The search for records is ongoing, and we anticipate providing you with an update on or before April 22, 2024, as to whether we are able to identify any disclosable public records.
Also, note that the County reserves its right to assert all applicable privileges, doctrines, and exemptions.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Yeramian
LEGAL OFFICE SUPPORT ASSISTANT I
BOARD LIAISON DIVISION
Office of the County Counsel
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
To: Karo Torossian <[email protected]>
Cc: Strefan Fauble <[email protected]>; Councilmember Harris-Dawson <[email protected]>; Bob Blumenfield <[email protected]>; Jonathan Groat <[email protected]>; David Michaelson <[email protected]>; [email protected]<[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 at 11:13:21 AM PDT
Subject: Dropping Eric Preven's Hand -- Bad idea
You are in big trouble. The timestamp (that you can't see in the screenshot) but will be provided to the court, proves that my hand was raised at 10:45 am... I suggest you cure and correct the violation of not calling all the speakers.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected][email protected]; [email protected]; Jeramy Gray <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected][email protected]
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 at 11:25:15 AM PDT
Subject: Fw: Dropping Eric Preven's Hand -- Bad idea
AT&T has the records we requested and the public pays that Co. handsomely (and they lobby through EKA) so why this has exceeded 10 days, needs to be answered.
I know you don't want to upset the City of LA who you are working closely with by making it very clear that Krekorian's blind spot on data with the collusion of ITA is a bullshit scheme to blunt criticism.
Since Jeff Levinson or the current Executive Officer is thoroughly aware and so unresponsive, perhaps Jeramy Gray knows how to find the metadata from AT&T. He's the former henchman at EO who moved over to Dean Logan's office to...
Incidentally, Seleta Reynolds the former GM at DOT at the City of LA has moved to LACMTA as an information officer... yikes... But where did Selwyn Hollins of LA county ISD go? And we never got the report on contracting fraud (including ISD) from Covington & Burling. Please provide immediately.
Warm regards,
Eric Preven
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected]
To :Frank Mateljan
Cc: Karo Torossian, David Michaelson, Dawyn Harrison, [email protected]
Fri, Apr 5 at 11:29 AM
You should call up the speakers now... you are in closed session. So there is ample time to cure and correct.
Eric Preven
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected]
Cc: Frank Mateljan, Jonathan Groat. ,David Michaelson, Dawyn Harrison, George Gascón, [email protected], Karo Torossian
Fri, Apr 5 at 4:50 PM
Please provide the metadata from This week's city council meetings. Thank you.
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch. The opinions are of Mr. Preven and not necessarily those of CityWatchLA.com.)
