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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK - Smart Speaker: Yeah, it’s Eric Preven, and I’d be happy to address Special Meeting Item 37. And "F" you for not choosing me earlier.
Jonathan Groat, Deputy City Attorney: Go ahead, you have one minute.
Smart Speaker: This is a big firefighter deal. This is the black box in the room, folks. These are the labor negotiations that pop up in a special meeting on election day and put us on the hook for a lot of money. Now, of course, the firefighters deserve a decent deal, but this is spectacular.
I mean, this is a very well-structured family medical leave. To be eligible, you just have to have worked there for 12 months or about 1,250 hours of service, and then... you can get pregnant if you can find a good-looking fella – and you’re surrounded by 'em. Tip of the iceberg: they’ll give you up to eight months off, including bonding time. Bonding time! Fancy! I mean, this is a great deal. If everybody had this deal, we would all be a lot better off.
Now, the fact that we have a terrible budget crisis, and we didn’t really have a chance to weigh in on any of this… and Blumenfield is tiptoeing through the judgment obligation bonds patch… so I suggest we open up the committee meetings to full public scrutiny so we can help review these deals and ensure everyone agrees. Noted that Frank Lima got a little exemption so he can get full pay – 80 hours every two weeks – while serving on the International Fire Division. If you haven’t seen my article today, it’s called the "Boondoggle Disclosure Act," and I strongly recommend that the city...
Illumination:
Joel Ross: My name is Joel Ross, and I’m making a general public comment on three quick issues.
Jonathan Groat, Deputy City Attorney: Go ahead, you have one minute.
Joel Ross: As a resident of the Westlake district for over ten years, there appears to be an increasing shortage of available parking in the area, resulting in many people circling dimly lit blocks, often for hours. Public and private options are limited, even for those willing to pay extra. The neighborhood congestion creates a notable hazard, which is exacerbated by my next issue: the lack of maintained streetlights. Just cruise down Union Avenue after dark, and you’ll see virtually every intersection pitch black, despite the presence of fixtures. There have been several nighttime fatalities in roughly a month alone, which is especially concerning given the proximity of several schools.
I suspect the city needs a more effective solution to address wire thefts, or perhaps the lights simply aren't being serviced frequently enough. Lastly, there are hardly any trash cans, with only one every couple of blocks or so. This means only those who are really committed to not littering will avoid throwing trash on the ground. Local soccer fields and basketball courts routinely draw large crowds with nowhere to discard garbage, leaving the sidewalks rarely free of litter. This impacts the mobility of the elderly and disabled and attracts rodents and other pests …
Gilbert Cedlllo (former CD1) sly like that before the fall.
County Facelift:
Moderator: Please unmute and speak directly into your phone.
Smart Speaker: Yeah, it’s Eric Preven, anyway so much for Ambassador Hahn.
I was— the tax credits are a discount for the studios, facing a marketplace with other discounts like New York, Canada, and Bulgaria. The studios are traditionally greedy; of course, they’re our treasured partners. So, where they stand in terms of a civic-minded resolution to cultivate and take care of a workforce, keeping jobs here in LA because they can and should … is a great question. But instead, they’re in this marketplace of one-night stands with whichever jurisdiction is willing to drop trou.
One thing I do not like is the way all of you politicians, like Paul Krekorian and Karen Bass and all of you Supervisors, praise the governor for handing out taxpayer money to the greedy, rich studios. Now, are they greedy and rich? That’s a question. I don’t know. YES, they are. And do they crush unions? Hang on, let me ask. YES, they do! They’ve broken the spirit of Hollywood. So as much as I love our treasured partners at the Olympics and NBC Universal… sup Snoop, the man got to do better!
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair: Your time has expired.
Post election Chair attire.
Substance Abuse:
Moderator: Our next participant is Eric Preven. Your line is open.
Smart Speaker: Thank you. Thank you for this one. Obviously, substance abuse is a serious public health problem, and behavioral health is critically important, especially for this population of foster youth. It’s not optional, and it can be very hard. Training social workers in what to do is critically important.
One thing I’m a little worried about is this Robert Kennedy Jr. part of the Trump operation… I think all public health employees need to pretty much prepare for the worst, and go under the desk – this is a FIASCO. Is Barbara Ferrer going to make a two-hour presentation today, by any chance? The public was wondering if public health… if they’re not too busy…are they on the agenda? No? Under the desk. I see. Well, DCFS and substance abuse is good enough. I’d just like to thank the board for this very important acknowledgment that we are totally screwed.
Moderator: Thank you, next speaker, please.
Moderator: Our next participant is Eric Preven. Your line is open.
Opioid Service:
Smart Speaker: Thank you, and thank you for this. This is why we need seasoned politicians like Hilda Solis and the other supervisors – except Horvath, who is inexperienced by comparison. Still, it’s a great idea to use the Opioid Settlement monies here. That’s exactly what that money can be used for. As to whether we want to build out a new division of public health on the brink of political Armageddon, that’s a great question. I… don’t understand providers who don’t provide. That’s tough for those of us in the public. Only 40%? Incidentally, one very good place to go for a quick overdose followed by a very, very good pastrami sandwich is MacArthur Park and the legendary Langer’s Delicatessen… down Supervisor!
Let me ask, did Gascon… was he restored to power, or are we dealing with former Ethics Commissioner Nathan Hochman? Someone called him Tiny Trump today, so we'll circle back. jk, I wonder if Hochman cares about the Brown Act?
[Audibe Gasp!]
HOLLYWOOD BOWLERs:
Moderator: Our next participant is Randy Tahara. Your line is open.
Randy Tahara: My name is Randy Tahara, and I’m a commissioner on the LA County Arts Commission, although the views I express today are my own. I wish to thank Supervisor Mitchell and her staff, as well as Supervisor Barger, for advocating for transparency and comprehensive data and working in partnership with the LA Phil, which will assist in setting goals to attract a diverse audience at the Hollywood Bowl - a true gem of the county. While efforts have been made to increase access, we can do more to ensure equity. As a subscriber to both the Bowl and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, I’m thankful to the Phil for their commitment to equity, diversity programming, audience development, and user engagement, especially for their work with YOLA. Taking steps to ensure that all residents of the county feel welcome and can enjoy this cultural asset. Thank you, Supervisor Mitchell, for ensuring that countywide assets can be accessed by all. Thank you.
Smart Speaker: Yeah, the moderator sounds very far back. I can barely hear him; did you hear him?
Norma Edith García-González Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation.
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Chair: We didn’t, but go ahead, Mr. Preven.
Smart Speaker: The moderator was barely audible, FYI. Randy Tahara used to get the coffee for Mr. Ridley-Thomas, as you recall. Okay, so yeah, cultural assets like the Hollywood Bowl are great – I’ve been twice recently. But they were for these “leased” events which cost a fortune. If the county wants to spread the love and share the culture, $1 seats are terrific, but 24,000 over the season – to be fair, not impressive. They should be open for all concerts, including leased events, and why not have some free concerts? Put up five slots and have a big-name RFP… see who wants to play a free concert for the residents of LA County, who own the goddamn Bowl. Not Live Nation or Ticketmaster.
Now, Park n Ride is great. But I would not call $28 for a family of four “low-cost public transportation.” Still, it’s impressive that a third of the people bus in. Hint: it’s because you get mired if you drive. We drove once and had area A parking… not sure how we were hooked up, but it was amazing. The bus is great, too, but as I used to tease Sheila Kuehl – I’d love to hear about your ride to and from the Bowl from Santa Monica on public transportation.
It’s also impressive that you gave up on-site parking to make the bus turnaround area more efficient. Great idea. No further questions, your honor.
Moderator: Thank you, your time has expired.
Off-Topical Seismic Activity:
Moderator: Our next participant is Eric Preven.
Smart Speaker: Yeah, it’s Eric Preven. Don’t you need to know which items? I’d like to speak on the Olympics, Paralympics, and regional coordination… This all speaks to the same thing – are the mega-event priorities the right priorities for the typical Angeleno? I mean, we had a great parade, asterisk, for the Dodgers, but billions of dollars are spinning at the turnstiles in Inglewood, Crypto, and the Hollywood Bowl, where we just had a beautiful presentation… though I’m not sure who was able to attend the LACMA fundraiser over the weekend. Angelenos want access to cultural assets. But most awkwardly, this board blocked me from speaking about the horrible greed-based plan to leave the seat of county government and move into a skyscraper. Appalling.
The County Hall of Administration is a sister building with the Stanley Mosk LA County Courthouse. Is the county going to leave for fear of seismic vulnerability but leave the halls of justice to the earthquake gods? It makes no sense. The County and City Hall are all on the Metro line for a reason. This is about greed… the same greed as the tax credit, NBC Universal. Here, the county is cashing out a developer. The County Supervisors have a responsibility to stand up for the people, protect the home of the county, make the Hollywood Bowl accessible, and do your jobs. This is one of the low points in television history.
Anyway, hopefully, the public will get a clear look at the terms of any deal to sell the county's ancestral home.
Confidentiality:
Dawyn Harrison, County Counsel: The county will enter into exclusive access confidentiality agreements with the seller and related parties to enable the county to conduct its due diligence on the property’s conditions, facilities, and suitability for county use.
The information is subject to confidentiality agreements, including the county’s and the seller’s appraisal reports, various estimates from county consultants on seismic retrofit, life-safety improvements, tenant improvements, deferred maintenance, and anticipated lease-revenue. This access has enabled the county to look under the hood, so to speak, to understand what it would potentially acquire and to make an informed decision on the acquisition. Pursuant to the terms of various legal agreements and restrictions, this information is confidential, proprietary, and not subject to public disclosure until the property is acquired. Additionally, the county’s due diligence reports are attorney work product privileged and also not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act until, and if, the property is acquired.
May it please the court... No, of course not, sit down!:
Smart Speaker: Good morning, your honor. May I start by saying, you’re looking fantastic today.
Judge Beckloff: Mr. Preven, please proceed.
Smart Speaker: Thank you, your honor. This email from Jonathan Groat is crucial evidence showing that the current selection process for public comment is deeply flawed. While Mr. Groat was upfront about “selecting speakers at random,” this approach leaves plenty of loopholes open to potential misuse.
Your honor, in the American tradition, first-come, first-served (FCFS) is the standard model for public participation. This "random selection" method veers away from that principle and paves the way for silencing certain voices – particularly those watchdogs whom officials may find inconvenient.
Judge Beckloff: Are you suggesting that the process is biased, Mr. Preven?
Smart Speaker: Precisely, your honor! How can we trust this selection is truly random? Who’s conducting it, and how can the public be sure there’s no interference? This email is irrefutable proof that the city’s use of “random” selection undermines public trust. I urge the court to bring them in and give them a refresher on respecting the public.
Judge Beckloff: Thank you, Mr. Preven. Please take your seat.
Libbing Out:
Taylor Lorenz's piece, packed with 20 mentions of "lib," examines the ironic trend of "libbing out," where disillusioned young progressives embrace a simplified, optimistic view of mainstream Democratic politics. This trend involves temporarily setting aside critiques of the Democratic Party's corporate ties and failures, indulging in a nostalgic "back to brunch" mentality that allows a break from confronting deeper systemic issues. While offering exhausted liberals a fleeting sense of stability through support for figures like ________, "libbing out" also serves as a critique, acknowledging the limitations and unresolved issues beneath this escapism.
Coffee Break:
Smart Speaker: Good morning, Supervisors. I read that Starbucks has been making some changes – fewer customizations, a condiments bar, all in the name of improving customer satisfaction. Compelling.
Speaking of Starbucks, I’ve noticed county staff bringing single use coffee products into the boardroom.
Now, very quickly we do have a few questions: One, do we tip staff for bringing in outside coffee? Or is coffee delivery service just part of the staff job description? Could county counsel advise on whether or not staff would be required to declare any tip?
Smart Speaker: They're not tipping.
Randy Tahara: No, certainly not.
Finally—seeing the single-use coffee cups in this modern day and age is a bit disappointing. You ladies are ordinarly sooooo green, not just for yourselves but to set an example for young county bureaucrats, asterisk. The new promising crop of liars... and leaders!
We expect a lot but still thank you and want to encourage equity.
Elon Musk, with his staggering list of accomplishments—from SpaceX’s satellite dominance to controlling X, the heart of Trump’s media network—has amassed unprecedented civilian power. As Trump’s top backer, his influence now spans government, business, and global information. Yet, for all his achievements, winning isn't everything. Musk’s relentless drive has made him a visionary, but history shows that bullies often regret their tactics later in life. Beneath the power moves and galactic ambitions, there’s a sense that he might eventually crave something simpler. Trying to say something nice here. Certainly, if I were a dog, and I wish I were, I’d probably enjoy sharing a quiet tent with Elon Musk in a blizzard—maybe.
2028ism:
An upcoming discussion will focus on buses, covering key issues like service improvements, accessibility, and funding.
The upcoming 2028 Olympics offers Los Angeles a unique chance to reimagine public transportation by prioritizing buses to ensure a “Transit-First” or “Car-Free” Games. Homeland Security requirements prohibit spectator parking near venues, opening the door for efficient, scalable bus transport to replace private vehicle use. Buses, flexible and capable of handling high passenger volumes, are seen as essential for efficiently moving spectators and alleviating congestion around Olympic sites.
Participants at a recent symposium emphasized that accessibility should go beyond ADA compliance, advocating for universal design in transit systems. The event sparked discussions on accelerating bus lane projects and fostering community engagement through public outreach and enhancements like shade, seating, and art installations. This shift also involves educating the public and building alliances to support long-term transit and accessibility improvements.
Here's the report.
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
