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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK - Paul Krekorian seemed flushed with enthusiasm as one does before an afternoon session of run-of-the-mill chicanery. "This should be our final day of hearings..." he said, quickly correcting, "of this hearing." Anyone involved in the budget must constantly reinforce the central lie that the many-pocketed vest of the LA City budget, is actually just one pocket, and therefore... sixty seconds, go! Times up!
For public comment, Krekorian hands things over to Strefan Fauble, the deputy city attorney, who remarked, "We'll read out the calling information. Oh, wait... we're in person." (nervous laughter) Since it was Friday the thirteenth, Krekorian took a moment to remind everyone, that today would only be ONE hour of public comment, but that he and the committee had taken comments on "the seven or 8 days... (it was seven)...we've taken as much comment, as long as we had speakers, we took as many speakers as we had."
"If you don't need the whole minute." Krekorian begged, "If you want to agree with the previous speaker... great." Did I mention, "We've taken extensive public comment already...?"
That phrasing is associated with historically low turnout. The Committee will take public comment this year from members of the public in-person only; there will be no public comment by teleconference.
A measure of gratitude is in order for Council member Bob Blumenfieild of CD3. A very small measure because he has been repeatedly advised to do the right thing and take public comments virtually and at every budget hearing meeting. By denying virtual testimony, unless it serves the angling desire of the committee or council chair, the body further erodes public trust.
"Remember it is one budget, one item, one opportunity."
Smart Speaker: It's obvious what's missing.
The opportunity to call in.
LA County: Priority Mountain
Executive officer: Thank you, next speaker, please.
Moderator: Our next participant is Eric Preven.
Smart Speaker: Thank you, what an impressive budget, I have to say: $43 and a half billion! Not too shabby at all. How much would it cost to restore general public comment to every regular meeting? FFs. How much would that cost? Because the challenges posed by the state shortfall are right in front of us I'm glad you say that you are focusing on the core priorities, and let the record reflect that I will be producing a high-profile spoof on your Priority Mountain explainer on the Budget. Brilliant.
We now know one of the priorities of Pete Buttigieg the U.S. Secretary of Transportation: Sadly. It appears to be working with the American Golf robber baron billionaire, Wesley Edens, on a high-speed rail project from Rancho Cucamonga to the casinos and sports gambling venues! More about Mr. Edens in a minute... Go Bucks.
But mental health services, addressing homelessness, and improving housing, are all excellent county priorities. Kudos. As for the two billion in cuts. The public who are generally a well-regarded, cost-effective, off-the-shelf anti-corruption solution need access to participate in and scrutinize the Board's work. Especially the work done with our very civically engaged treasured partners like Jamison Group (Hi, Jamie) the big property owner who adores MRT, and NBCUniversal the primary beneficiary of the Olympics in 2028 (Hi, Casey!) who after a little magic redistricting dust, shimmied on over to Kathryn Barger's district Five. (Hello, Supervisor) I live in Five which is super weird because I always identified as a county resident from District Three.
Barger remembers the way I used to scrap with her sensei, Mike Antonovich. What a handshake on that guy. Anyway, impossible to forget all the old friends from AT&T and American Golf, the lessee that hired Don Knabe the Fourth District Supervisor's son to lobby the county for $25,000 a quarter for more than a decade. The Bubela of the head lobbyist Harvey Englander, over at Lobbing firm Englander, Knabe and Allen, is the uncle of convicted felon and CD12 maniac, Mitchell Englander. Harvey used to golf with Rick Orlov of the Daily News and Zev Yaroslavsky. Oy vey.
Quite an innovative approach having the not-an-idiot son do the lobbying. It resulted in a major New York Times article about Private Equity and Wesley Edens and the unbelievably shady, Fortress group's Newcastle acquisition of the county's best golf assets.
It's so important to acknowledge the thieves, the lobbyists, and the surprisingly generous wives of the lobbyists. Working together, we can combat the rampant fraud. Though we haven't heard from Covington & Burling about the contracting fraud...we can certainly approach Linda Berghoff and Briana Knabe.
Edgar Khalatian, the Harvard Westlake's wife, is also a prodigious donor to councilmembers... but how would they know that Linda Berghoff giving the max to Krekorian has anything to do with Arnie Beghoff bilking a client $25,000 a quarter to influence Krekorian. Shut up, Mr. Preven, it's all perfectly legal.
Executive officer: Thank you, your time has expired.
Moderator: Our first participant is Eric Preven, you may begin.
Smart Speaker: Yeah, unfortunately, I raised my hand on the prior climate item and charging stations, and hopefully, from now on you can interrupt the mutual appreciation society long enough to call up the speakers who were clearly and audibly on the line and ready.
Moving forward...the other day I was driving down from old Priority Mountain another word for Las Vegas, and my sister's electric car lost its charge. There was a fairly robust bog down seeking a timely charge of the old Audi battery.
Fortunately, going forward there is a new mode of transportation for Angelenos coming soon. If you are up for a short 53-mile drive from Studio City to Rancho Cucamonga, there you will soon be able to catch a high-speed train to Las Vegas. Bingo! 21 and Craps! Not to mention the Sports Book!
The leadership behind this most irritating of all public works proposals since the recent LA ART project to install a gondola between Union Station and Dodger Stadium is none other than billionaire Wesley Edens.
The Brightline West train has three billion in Federal funding so feliz cumpleanos. See Buttigieg's statement here.
See Wesley Edens's dirty deeds with the board.
All aboard:
The Gondola, if approved, will be privately funded through former Dodgers' owner, Frank McCourt, who at one time had Government Advocacy guru, Howard Sunkin under his employ.
Sunkin adores Harvard-Westlake and would do anything in Strategic Counseling, Media Relations, Crisis Management, and of course, Stakeholder Engagement to assist the school.
He is a Wolverine dad through and through who made his name Coalition Building and fostering Community Relations --
Smart Speaker: I thought Sunkin made a name charging a fortune to do whatever was needed to git r done? The entire community of Studio City is on pins and needles wondering if a Judge will provide injunctive relief against Harvard-Westlake's shameful plans. Will the Weddington demolition be delayed? Howard Sunkin would know.
In the meantime, they are moving as quickly as possible. SFX: Chain saws revving.
I'll get back to charging stations. Are there going to be charging units at the County Fairplex, Supervisor? Any idea?
To me, it's very clear that we need to wire up that enormous parking lot. Everyone (not everyone) adores the county fair - including former City of LA CAO Miguel Santana who picked up half a million as the top check casher over there before shimmying over to Weingart, but we do need free shuttles and connectors with the Metrolink. And we do need a map of where to find a restroom. Don't worry, Supervisor Solis it can be in several languages, but it needs to be a map. LA is a major international city, so we do need to provide toilets. I know this is upsetting for Nithya Raman and Paul Krekorian. At the metro stop in Universal City, we have been begging for ONE bleeping bathroom.
Functional toilets are making a comeback.
We know that the board has competing budgetary priorities, but toilets along the metro system, will help with priority one as well as priority two.
Sup. Lindsey P. Horvath, chair: Thank you, your time has expired. Next speaker, please.
Moderator: Madam chair there are no other remote speakers.
Smart Speaker: Before I leave... here's a friendly amendment to your recommendation to extend the current wave of Proclaimed Local Emergencies namely the Fruit Fly Infestation proclaimed May 10, 1990; Homelessness proclaimed January 10, 2023; Severe Winter Storms proclaimed January 10, 2023; Frigid Winter Storms proclaimed March 1, 2023; Tropical Storm Hilary proclaimed August 20, 2023; and Winter Storms proclaimed February 4, 2024.
The amendment is to add a new one. Let's proclaim April 17 each year as Ethics Emergency Day.
[APPLAUSE]
Sup. Lindsey P. Horvath, chair: Thank you, that concludes today's meeting. The next meeting is a policy presentation meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 9:30 A.M. The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday May 7, 2024 at 9:30 A.M. We are adjourned.
(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.)
