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ERIC PREVEN'S NOTEBOOK - Hello, Marqueece (a la Seinfeld’s “Hello, Newman”)!
Kudos on your hat trick of public comment denials the week before Christmas. When I saw Kylie Kelce coolly remark, “I don’t care what other people have to say,” I immediately thought of you. That’s the kind of energy it takes to silence dissent while looking like you don’t have a care in the world—though Kylie does it with way more charm.
Kelsey’s rise is impressive: with nothing but confidence and a couch her kids clearly abused with crayons, she launched Not Gonna Lie. It crushed in week one, amassing 25 million downloads and views. Sure, she’s part of Taylor Swift riding the NFL juggernaut, but evidently her power lies in relatability—a lesson for anyone hoping to move the needle without a world tour of sold out stadiums.
Introducing: "The Eric Preven Experience" a podcast to take public accountability to the next level.
Smart Speaker: Can we find a better name?
Sure, how about Public Comment: The Musical™?
Smart Speaker: “You’re Disrupting the Meeting.”
That's not bad—captures my vibe and the Council's resistance in one funny title.
Expect hard-hitting watchdog content, irreverent humor, and, naturally, a little chaos.
Smart Speaker: "Your time has expired."
Hey, another good title idea!
Smart Speaker: "Next Speaker!"
Perfect! The opposite of “I don’t care what other people have to say.”
LA Sunrise:
Pelican Bay Documentary:
The Strike is a feature documentary that tells the story of a generation of California men who endured decades of solitary confinement and, against all odds, launched the largest hunger strike in U.S. history.
The Strike Trailer.
It was at the end of 1989 when California Republican governor George Deukmeijian proudly announced the opening of the last word in correctional institutions, the state’s Pelican Bay Prison. Set in remote California near the Oregon border, it featured a Special Housing Unit (the SHU), with more than a thousand cells under 24-hour surveillance that prevented prisoners from any direct human contact. Some prisoners spent more than three decades in the 8 by 10-foot cells, with concrete shelves for beds, meals delivered through slots with remotely controlled doors that allowed inmates to shower or briefly exercise alone in 8 x 20-foot yards.
Assembly Representative Holly Mitchell, now our county supervisor, is seen grilling Undersecretary of California prisons Scott Kernan, as to the unchecked power of the Department of Corrections. “I think that those individuals have greater power than members of the bench who are governed by decisions that we make in this body every day in terms of the length of sentences they can issue a person to be incarcerated. And yet we have this administrative-only kind of process that decides how long someone can stay in the SHU,” says Mitchell.
After the first hunger strike, human rights lawyers started to represent the men of Pelican Bay in a class action lawsuit against the state of California. Meanwhile, progress was delayed by the constant change of directors at the Department of Corrections. This meant that suspected gang members could continue to be held for an indefinite amount of time in solitary confinement. Frustration by the inmates boiled over and on July 8, 2013, another hunger strike was called. The second strike would be different from the first because the inmates were talking about not stopping at all this time.
The Strike will be nationally broadcast on PBS’ Independent Lens on February 3, 2025.
Torture of imprisoned people won't break cycles of violence, and solitary confinement is not part of their sentencing or the law. Now there are laws that limit the amount of time people can be in solitary because it is viewed as cruel and inhumane. Incarcerated people are human, and no one deserves to be tortured.
The strength of Strike comes from the first-person accounts that humanize the participants—both the prisoners who speak candidly about the psychological damage of prolonged seclusion and the officials who describe how they attempted to improve a dysfunctional organizational culture.
Received this six months after the initial request:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: LA County Board of Supervisors <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 09:58:16 AM PST
Subject: [Records Center] PRA Request :: R000152-070324
RE: PRA Request of June 26, 2024, Reference # R000152-070324
Dear Eric Preven,
In regards to the PRA Request received on 6/26/2024 requesting records, the request has been in "Waiting for Clarification" status for 7 calendar days. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider this request withdrawn and closed in 7 calendar days if you do not provide a response.
Request Details:
Reference # R000152-070324
Description of Records Requested: Where was Supervisor Hahn during the last three Board meetings? Please provide the excused absence request from the fourth district.
To view the full details of this request please log into the Public Records Center.
I tried to go to the county's Public Record Center, but no link as provided. I suggest, since we just paid $500,000 dollars to the ACLU of Souther California over a public record screw-up, we prioritize putting any contract out to bid.
Executive Officer Edward Yen and Dawyn Harrison, County Counsel will know what to do.
In the interim, please provide the records requested.
Extent of LA Times Investigation:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
To: Ellis, Rebecca <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 11:50:06 AM PDT
Subject: Re: Janice Hahn absent x3 where?
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 11:04:36 AM PDT, Ellis, Rebecca <[email protected]> wrote:
Apparently she’s just on a trip!
On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 9:51 AM ERIC PREVEN <[email protected]> wrote:
Any idea what’s going on? Hope she is okay. Best, Eric Preven Sent from my iPhone
EXCHANGING TWENTIES ON BOXING DAY!
Ah, Boxing Day—the day after Christmas, where tradition meets absurdity in a delightful dance of goodwill, leftovers, and modern twists. What once was an earnest day of giving has evolved into a curious mix of generosity, chaos, and humor, perfectly capturing the spirit of the season.
Originally, Boxing Day was a moment of gratitude. Aristocrats, after feasting and reveling on Christmas, would hand their servants "Christmas boxes" filled with leftover goodies and small gifts. Essentially: “Thanks for working yesterday; enjoy this reheated turkey leg.” It was a kind gesture, albeit one steeped in the power dynamics of the day. But the sentiment was there—a nod to those who made the holiday magic happen.
Fast-forward to today and Boxing Day has taken on a gladiatorial edge. The "Christmas box" now often means wrestling a stranger for a discounted flat-screen TV. The post-Christmas sales have turned goodwill into good luck—because you’ll need it to snag that half-priced air fryer without taking an elbow to the ribs.
But it’s not all chaos and commerce. For some, Boxing Day remains a day of giving. Take our elected officials, for instance, whose officeholder accounts are particularly ravenous this time of year. There’s nothing quite like the festive spirit of lobbyist wives hurriedly signing checks while their husbands sip eggnog. This year, on Boxing Day alone— BREAKING: I went to the LA City Ethics site and had the feeling that some of the data was off. Like it had been cleaned up. I will check in with the staff “Hello, David! A la Seinfeld’s Newman, when they get back to me with whether Bob Stern’s moving testimony in favor of a meeting start time change from noon to 1pm for the ongoing regular meetings - which have been whittled down to six a year. Not impressive. Perhaps it’s the ultimate “Christmas box”: a big, cash-filled envelope, no wrestling required.
Meanwhile, in households across the country, the "Leftover Olympics" are in full swing. Turkey curry, ham sandwiches, cranberry chutney—the creative (and sometimes horrifying) ways we reinvent yesterday’s feast could qualify for a Netflix special. And let’s not forget the crafty among us who force staff (or our children) to have fun and assemble handmade trinkets, later distributed as if lovingly made by the givers themselves. Nothing says “I appreciate you” like a poorly glued ornament made by a talented brat. Jk srsly.
So how do we navigate this peculiar holiday with grace and humor? For peers, the simplest and most respectful exchange of the classic twenty-dollar bill works well. Easy, universal, and appreciated. Exchanging twenties is a no hassle fist bump. For the help, naturally, they’ll take the leftovers—but let’s not kid ourselves. Cash money talks and it says, “Thanks for everything—enjoy this with no strings attached.”
Boxing Day is what you make of it: a day to give, a day to laugh, or a day to fight for that last discounted toaster. But whatever you do, remember its origins, however quaint. Even reheated turkey legs can warm the heart.
Big Tippers:
Boxing Day is the perfect time to transform that reheated turkey leg into something extraordinary. Here’s a simple and comforting recipe for Turkey Leg Soup, you can zetz it up with a can of Ro-tel Diced Tomatoes & green chilies. Crumble some tortilla chips and dd cheese and Jalapeno and it makes a nice Tortilla Soup:
Ingredients:
- 1 leftover turkey leg
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups chicken or turkey stock
- 1 cup cooked rice or noodles (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic, thyme, and bay leaf, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the turkey leg and stock to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Remove the turkey leg and shred the meat, discarding the bone and skin. Return the meat to the pot.
- If using rice or noodles, stir them in and heat through.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot and enjoy the warmth of Boxing Day!
Whether you’re battling sales or crafting heartfelt tchotchkes, a bowl of this soup is the perfect way to end the day.
Schindler Documentary in Palm Springs Film Festival:
SCHINDLER SPACE ARCHITECT is a documentary about a pioneer of modern architecture R.M. Schindler. Austrian-born and educated, Schindler laid the foundation for what now is considered the California lifestyle of indoor-outdoor living. This documentary explores Schindler’s richly complex work and investigates in depth Schindler’s philosophy of Space Architecture as contrasted with the International Style. It engagingly re-examines Schindler’s complicated relationship with his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright, and his former friend turned rival, Richard Neutra. The film affirms the singular genius of one man and the eternal challenge every artist faces to stay true to their vision in an effort to leave a lasting impact.
Disclosure: I am a contributing Producer
TUESDAY JAN 7, 1:30 PM
ANNENBERG THEATRE 101 N. Museum Dr. Palm Springs, CA (located in Palm Springs Art Museum)
WEDNESDAY JAN 8, 1:30 PM FESTIVALS THEATRE 1 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
THURSDAY JAN 9, 5:00 PM FESTIVALS THEATRE 2 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
TRT: 93 MIN Cast and Crew will be present for Q&A.
SELECT SHOWINGS AND ORDER TICKETS ONLINE (you must have an account in order to purchase tickets online - create an account via the "sign-in" link at the top right of the page)
ORDER BY PHONE Call 760.778.8979 Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM
IN PERSON Available at the Box Office Locations - accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and Discovery. Do not accept cash.
LINEUP The festival is scheduled to be held from January 2-13, 2025.
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
