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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK -
[BREAKING: These messages were intercepted but have not yet been verified.]
In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix political drama, a rag tag bunch of hackers with questionable motives but impeccable timing has uncovered a secret trove of Google chats from the Los Angeles City Council. These messages—thought to have been auto-deleted—magically surfaced from “the cloud.” And while City Hall officials might have hoped their mundane, absurd, and scandalous exchanges would never see the light of day, the hackers had other plans.
As it turns out, the password protecting these messages was “City123.” Classic.
The texts reveal the raw underbelly of City Hall politics: petty rivalries, wild conspiracy theories, and desperate attempts to spin mediocrity into brilliance. Here’s a glimpse into the madness.
The Housing Hustle: Nithya Raman, CD4
Raman (to Harris-Dawson):
"Thanks for the Housing & Homelessness chair. I’ve got big plans to change the narrative!"
Harris-Dawson:
"Big plans are great, Nithya. Just remember—not too big. Nothing actually happens here."
Raman:
"Fair enough. By the way, did I hear Katy called you the ‘Visionary of Crenshaw’? That’s... a lot."
Raman (to Eunisses):
"Katy just sent me her ‘synergy budget framework.’ Kill me now. She said it’s inspired by ‘The Visionary of Crenshaw.’"
Eunisses:
"No, no. She actually said, ‘The Messiah of Mid-City.’ It’s worse."
Budget Banter: Katy Yaroslavsky, CD5
Katy (to Harris-Dawson):
"Marqueece, thrilled about the Budget chair role! Promise I’ll keep it tight."
Harris-Dawson:
"I know you will, Katy. Just don’t let Bob in without checking with me."
Katy (to Blumenfield):
"Hey Bob, sorry about losing Budget. If you have any tips, just let me know!"
Blumenfield:
"Tips? Sure. Here’s one: Ignore the President."
Transportation Drama: Heather Hutt, CD10
Hutt (to Harris-Dawson):
"Thanks for keeping me on Transportation, Marqueece. Should I start sending you progress reports or just emoji updates? 🚌🚦"
Harris-Dawson:
"Emoji updates are fine, as long as there’s no 🚨or winky emoji involved."
Hutt (to Soto-Martinez):
"So, Hugo, how’s co-chairing Unarmed Crisis going? Heard it’s, uh, eventful."
Soto-Martinez:
"It’s like a soap opera but with fewer attractive people and tons of passive-aggressive emails."
The Public Works Power Play: Eunisses Hernandez, CD1
Eunisses (to Harris-Dawson):
"Public Works? Bold choice. I’m honored. Let’s fix some potholes!"
Harris-Dawson:
"Go get ’em, tiger."
Eunisses (to Padilla):
"Imelda, do you think Marqueece gave me Public Works because I’m good or because no one else wanted it?"
Padilla:
"Both. Mostly the second, tiger."
The Bitter Budget Battle: Bob Blumenfield, CD3
Blumenfield (to Harris-Dawson):
"Budget chair? Gone? Really? You gave it to Katy?!"
Harris-Dawson:
"Bob, it’s not personal. We’re just mixing things up."
Blumenfield:
"Next time, mix her out of recipe."
Crisis in Personnel: Tim McOsker, CD15
McOsker (to Harris-Dawson):
"Thanks for keeping me on Personnel. I love efficiency."
Harris-Dawson:
"You’re welcome, Tim. Someone has to do the firing."
McOsker (to Price):
"Curren, do you know how Marqueece assigned committees? Dartboard? Tarot cards?"
Price:
"Neither. I suspect Katy just whispers in his ear. That’s all it takes."
The Sellout: Hugo Soto-Martinez, CD13
Hugo (to Harris-Dawson):
"Civil Rights chair? Love it. Does it come with a Coca-Cola sponsorship, or do I have to bring my own sugary beverage provider?"
Harris-Dawson:
"Hugo, please ease into the partnerships. Maybe start with their sparkling water."
Hugo (to Raman):
"Nithya, I’m a ‘Coca-Cola Socialist.’ You think anyone will notice?"
Raman:
"LOL. Hugo, don’t forget no one knows anything here. Just call it ‘innovative capitalism.’ Imma an Airbnb babe!"
The Naughty List: Monica Rodriguez, CD7
Rodriguez (to Harris-Dawson):
"Cutting me out of Budget, Safety, and Homelessness? Is this your way of telling me I’m too good for you?"
Harris-Dawson:
"Monica, it’s not personal. It’s… strategic."
Rodriguez:
"Strategic? Sure. If by ‘strategic,’ you mean punishing me for calling out your backroom deals."
Rodriguez (to Blumenfield):
"Bob, what’s it like being a has-been? Asking for a friend."
The Hackers’ Commentary
And while the councilmembers’ texts are a goldmine of pettiness, the hackers themselves couldn’t resist adding their own flavor to the mix:
"Honestly, these messages weren’t even encrypted. Their password was literally ‘City123.’"
"We expected corruption, but this? They’re literally fighting over who gets the better emoji updates."
"Shoutout to the intern who named their committee notes file ‘pls_dont_leak.pdf.’ You tried."
LA Times coverage of the City Attorney's investigation into disappearing Google Chats.
That should be a robust probe... !
Playoffs:
Coach Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers is taller than Larry David but not as funny!
Harris-Dawson's Yuletide
Beneath the glow of City Hall's light,
A leader emerged on a frosty night.
Harris-Dawson, with a list in hand,
Reshaped the council with a measured stand.
On his Nice List, stars shone bright,
Allies rewarded, their futures alight.
Katy Yaroslavsky, steadfast and true,
Budget chair honors were long overdue.
Her early support, unwavering and bold,
Earned her a role of influence untold.
Eunisses Hernandez, a progressive’s dream,
Rose to power on Harris-Dawson's team.
Public works her realm, crises her stage,
Her alignment with vision turned a new page.
Heather Hutt, with loyalty profound,
Held transportation, where plans abound.
A budget seat granted, her faith was the key,
Her role solidified in council decree.
John Lee, a vote, a gamble, a gain,
Public safety chair was his refrain.
Despite whispers of ethics, his chair was his prize,
For loyalty granted, his star did rise.
But oh, the Naughty List, shadowed in frost,
Critics discovered the cost of their cost.
Monica Rodriguez, with words of dissent,
Found her roles stripped, her power spent.
Her voice, once strong, now quietly stands,
A lesson in deals and political hands.
Traci Park, bold in her wage debate,
Lost budget’s grip, a twist of fate.
Yet trade and tourism remain her domain,
Her role reduced, but not fully slain.
And Bob Blumenfield, with ambitions high,
Challenged the throne, only to sigh.
The budget chair gone, his bid undone,
A rival eclipsed by the council's new sun.
Harris-Dawson ruled with a steady hand,
Reshaping committees to fit his plan.
Loyalty flourished, dissent took its bow,
The council reformed in the here and now.
So this Yuletide tale, of power and sway,
Echoes through chambers in a political way.
For those who align, rewards will unfold,
But critics must brave the winter's cold.
A legacy etched in the council's lore,
Harris-Dawson's season—forevermore.
One budget, one item. One ocean, one bird!
The ENVELOPE PLEASE:
Below, please find the “Actual” Committee list from Marqueece Harris-Dawson to Holly J. Wolcott, the Los Angeles City Clerk. (Influence notations added for convenience)
Top Tier (Most Influential)
1 Budget & FinanceChair: Yaroslavsky | Vice Chair: Blumenfield | Members: Hutt, McOsker, Hernandez
2 Public SafetyChair: Lee | Vice Chair: Price | Members: McOsker, Soto-Martinez, Park
3 Housing & HomelessnessChair: Raman | Vice Chair: Jurado | Members: Price, Blumenfield, Nazarian
4 Planning & Land Use ManagementChair: Blumenfield | Vice Chair: Hutt | Members: Nazarian, Lee, Raman
5 Rules, Elections & Intergovernmental RelationsChair: Harris-Dawson | Vice Chair: Raman | Members: Yaroslavsky, Soto-Martinez, Lee
Second Tier (Moderately Influential)
1 TransportationChair: Hutt | Vice Chair: Park | Member: Hernandez
2 Energy & EnvironmentChair: Nazarian | Vice Chair: Yaroslavsky | Members: Jurado, Raman, Padilla
3 Economic Development and JobsChair: Price | Vice Chair: Soto-Martinez | Members: Jurado, Nazarian, Park
4 Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging & DisabilityChair: Soto-Martinez | Vice Chair: Nazarian | Members: Jurado, Rodriguez, Padilla
5 Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic GamesChair: Park | Vice Chair: Price | Members: Soto-Martinez, Yaroslavsky, Padilla, Rodriguez, Blumenfield
6 Ad Hoc Committee on Unarmed Crisis Prevention, Intervention, and Community ServicesCo-Chairs: Blumenfield, Hernandez | Members: Lee, Raman, Price
Third Tier (Specialized or Limited Influence)
1 Public WorksChair: Hernandez | Vice Chair: Padilla | Members: Hutt
2 Trade, Travel & TourismChair: Park | Vice Chair: McOsker | Member: Rodriguez
3 Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community EnrichmentChair: Jurado | Vice Chair: Hernandez | Member: Nazarian
4 Government OperationsChair: Padilla | Vice Chair: Lee | Member: Jurado
5 Government Efficiency, Innovation, and AuditsChair: Rodriguez | Vice Chair: Blumenfield | Member: McOsker
6 Personnel & HiringChair: McOsker | Vice Chair: Rodriguez | Member: Hutt
7 Board of Referred PowersChair: Harris-Dawson | Vice Chair: Yaroslavsky | Member: Soto-Martinez
Conditional Use Olympics Permits:
Smart Speaker; The motion is about preparing Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics. It's from Traci Park and Adrin Nazarian (Krekorian Jr.) To host the Games, the city needs to fast-track the construction of sports venues, transportation routes, and security zones. Normally, such projects would require compliance with zoning laws—permits, height restrictions, and other safeguards to protect our neighborhoods. But this motion seeks to bypass those rules entirely for Olympic-related projects, prioritizing speed over due process. The message is clear: no time for public input or regulatory hurdles when the clock is ticking for the Games.
In 2023, Councilmember Nithya Raman, while metaphorically selling her constituents down the LA River, assured her colleagues she had secured neighborhood protections, including a supposed ban on any Olympic events at a specific site. “My office is fully committed to ensuring the school acts as a responsible and responsive owner and developer,” she said. Yet, one wonders how this promise will play out.
This is a classic tale of necessary infrastructure steamrolling community safeguards, treating long-standing zoning laws like mere suggestions. Conditional Use Permits? Height restrictions? CEQA compliance? All conveniently sidelined in favor of the 2028 Games. How efficient! How transparent! How perfectly emblematic of a city willing to gamble its regulatory integrity for a global spectacle. Shame.
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
