Comments
ERIC PREVEN'S NOTEBOOK - On Tuesday Nithya Raman introduced the new LAHSA commissioner, Stephanie Graves. Then, Monica Rodriguez, followed by Staffer B John Lee, launched into a pointed critique of LAHSA, while Graves assured the council she wasn’t yet on the inside but looked forward to diving in—a true commission-aholic™, already serving on a wide range of civic boards. There was zero discussion about the pricing of Olympic tickets.
The meeting wrapped in about an hour—a notable rollback in length for the new data-driven council, leaving them with plenty of extra time to provide records onexactly what they’re doing.
CPRA Request Between Eric Preven & Denise Jackson (CD8)
Eric Preven:
I request all hotel, transportation, and food/beverage invoices paid by CD 8 or proxies (including officeholder accounts) for trips to Chicago and Paris by City Hall employees and officials. Digital copies preferred.
This request was originally submitted August 26, 2024. Despite Jonathan Groat acknowledging receipt, no records have been provided. Please comply promptly. Additionally, I request CM Harris-Dawson’s calendar for January 15-31, 2025. Engaging in spoliation is not appropriate.
Denise Jackson (Jan. 22, 2025, 12:38 PM):
We have no record of a prior request and don’t employ a Mr. Groat. Please forward your initial request. We acknowledge this request as of Jan. 21, 2025, but it’s too complicated to respond within 10 days. We’ll need an additional 14 days and will provide records by Feb. 14, 2025.
Eric Preven:
Jonathan Groat is a lower-level city attorney who works closely with Marqueece Harris-Dawson to minimize public scrutiny.
Unfortunately, I cannot fulfill your request... as I am committed to treating everyone, including Mejia, the same. "All right… what’s next?"
This is a PRA request for all Mayor Out-of-Town letters to CM Harris-Dawson (or cc’d to his office) from June 1, 2024, to January 21, 2025. The 10-day clock starts today!
Denise, do you work for the Ethics Commission or the Council President? Is Renee Stadel still your leader?
Odd County Board: OCB
Smart Speaker: Thank you, it’s Eric Preven from Studio City… and of course, my heart goes out to the families and folks who lost their homes. And I appreciate the board trying to strategize about how in the face of a new administration and a more conservative group… how to behave strategically. Here’s a good idea.
And I think all of us should follow this. This is a time for fastidious, careful… ass-kissing. Now, I realize that is not our usual stance with these assholes, but. But we have to do what we have to do… to git r done. Okay, you saw all the idiots and trillionaires clustered around Trump. All had previously said horrible things about him. Look, it's time to do a little public relations… I think we need to send a carefully picked group to Washington for a meeting. We take him out to dinner. Hahn… you know, we get the wine going. Everybody needs to do their part to get this done, okay?
And this is not a joke; we have a real problem on our hands, and we need federal support. There are lots of strings attached, but we are going to get this done. 
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING 1/21/25
Barbara Ferrer of Public Health exits before public comments begin.
Moderator: Eric Preven, your line is open, you may begin.
Eric Preven: Thanks, I’m glad to see you focusing on short-term solutions, and adjusting the regulations. I know all of the supervisors love to make it a little easier for people to go inside, and I appreciate it.
There is one idea… 12,833 Ventura Boulevard, you have a fully functional hotel in the city of LA, who have eliminated virtual testimony at their meetings, crazily. The city paid out almost half a million dollars to fix the place up nicely… it was a Project Room Key project… and they took the money to restore it. Now, it’s adjacent to an Erewhon, a Fred Sands…
Horvath, or Barger, whoever has it now. It’s Raman in CD4 from the City now, the dirty work was done by Paul Krekorian et al… including Nazarian. But now it is in her district. This is a great idea. We could have that thing up and running in no time. So, it is with a great heart and a big cheer that I say… Go for it!
Supervisor Horvath, could you possibly jot that down? Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel in Studio City, right near Coldwater and Harvard-Westlake, the giant fundraising facility… so wink wink this is a great move for everybody.
Moderator: Our first participant is Eric Preven.
Smart Speaker: Thank you, supervisors. This is a tough one because I do love libraries, I know we all do, just last week we were celebrating the great tutoring program. Nobody said anything about the violent attacks.
But listen, we want everyone to be safe. I have a few ideas: One, we arm the librarians. Two, we take a page from Metro and get some of those ambassadors to come in after work because they are not armed and they do a better-than-average job of not allowing people to poop in the stacks.
Finally, we may have to look at armed social workers. Now, I realize that is not something any of us are dreaming about, what's that? Armed psychiatrists? Not sure.
Is there anything we can do so people can go to the county library, check out a book, do a little tutoring, maybe even pick up a mask, or get tested by Barbara Ferrer?
I’ll tell you one thing, these libraries are doing a lot of work for the county. I’d like to thank Skye Patrick the head librarian for enduring and carefully parsing her answers to that stunning array of super annoyingg questions. My heart goes out to the librarians…
Smart Speaker: Men on the board? Wow, that is a fascinating idea…. Yeah, I remember when it was only men… well, Gloria Molina. Anyway, I don’t think men are necessary. Clearly, what we need is more supervisors… "Nine" would be good. NO. I’m joking, of course. We don’t.
Listen, I want to say about this once-in-a-lifetime fiasco and catastrophe… I have four refugees and an animal in my house, and I am not charging them, but this is historically bad, and what we have to do is somehow come together and provide solutions that are not all about hosting mega-events. Now, the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City is ready for housing… Horvath, get in here! And Mark Pestrella, if you could finally get the water hookup issue out in Malibu resolved, that would really help. I think your Waterworks folks really want to make something work, but this has got to happen soon, or it is going to become a bigger problem.
And I want to thank the supervisors for being there every single day, asking the fusillade of questions at the last minute as if you’ve never seen the item before…
All Aboard (LACMTA):
Down at Union Station, Supervisor Hahn who chairs the metro board of directors said Thursday,” This next item does not require a presentation… so, seeing none. Move to approve."
Smart Speaker: I’d like to speak about access—not just to transit, but to basic human necessities like restrooms and public comment.
Right now, Metro, which operates over 100 stations across LA County, has just three permanent public restrooms—Union Station, El Monte, and Harbor Gateway. Meanwhile, Metro is experimenting with a pilot program to add three smart restrooms at Westlake/MacArthur Park, Willowbrook/Rosa Parks, and Norwalk. So in total, we’re talking about six restrooms for the entire system—assuming the pilot isn’t quietly flushed away.
For comparison, the Intuit Dome, Ballmer's private sports arena, will have 1,400 restrooms—because the Clippers understand that people need places to go. Not just for convenience, but because it improves the experience, boosts sales, and makes the venue functional.
Now let’s talk money. Metro is about to approve: $17.39 million for advertising, to tell people how great Metro is. And $24.92 million for the Community Intervention Specialist (CIS) Program, to “engage” vulnerable transit riders—but without, apparently, any actual facilities for them to use.
What’s the game plan? Will armed librarians be directing people to the nearest nonexistent restroom? Will a “psychiatrist on every bus” offer mindfulness exercises to help riders suppress basic bodily functions?
Instead of blowing millions on PR campaigns and vague intervention programs, how about funding a practical intervention—like restrooms?
I propose naming Metro’s first new restroom in decades after Paul Krekorian, the former council president and Metro director who relentlessly championed the construction of unwanted high school-regulation basketball courts—including the $29 million net-zero travesty in Studio City—a Prop K boondoggle enabled by sneaky city agencies and longtime congressional hack, Brad Sherman.
Regardless, METRO should at least have the decency to give riders a dignified place to… you know, drop a ....comment! Direct staff to report on how many restrooms Metro could provide with the money currently going to ad agencies and intervention contracts. Thank you.
LACMTA board meets through thick and thin...
Smart Speaker: I appreciate the generosity—90 days free, followed by 20 free after—that’s a solid move. And Hahn pressing the flesh in Pasadena—well, that’s something to appreciate too. Let’s sprinkle that gratitude around.
Move to approve.
I like how we move things around, shifting gratitude where needed. Speaking of moves, maybe Arnie Berghoff can update on the strike team—or Mr. Butts are you open to Taser Drones?
Wiggins, are you open to one more round of appreciation in here?
311 million boardings—1 million people actively riding downtown daily, many of whom are forced to if they want to provide public comment. That’s commitment.
Thanks to Charles Safer, our in-house first responder—because let’s be real, without a shifty lawyer cutting the consent calendar from the list of speakable items, the people are left unprotected.
Quick ethical question: Can Metro Directors provide parking waivers like the Supervisors do? Safer? It’s a great way to push public dollars out to your besties—well, the ones who vote.
Thanks for the Bus Operator Barriers—seriously thank you. 56,000 overtime hours accomplished in under 9 months instead of three years? Impressive.
I love a success story. The workforce showing up despite it all is deeply moving. This reminds me of those probation officers who’d been shamefully calling in for months—yet even they eventually showed up when catastrophe struck. Deeply moving.
Thanks to all the blessed Supervisors. And Davenport, I guess. They all said yes—all of them.
Here’s a FREE idea—consider it a gift, but don’t be upset—what if we get Paris to just say yes to hosting again in 2028, and then we come roaring back in 2032?
By then an entire generation will be swimming thanks to the $160 million… for Angeleno swimming lessons.
Can we get the receipts for those lessons?
Disaster Recovery on FEMA time – January 22, 2025 Council Meeting
If you’re looking for accountability, honesty, and a city government that prioritizes you over billionaires, well—you’re out of luck. But if you want a rundown of exactly how this fiscal disaster-in-the-making played out in Council chambers before they skulked off into closed session, read on.
Chief Administrative Officer Matt Szabo and Assistant CAO Patty Huber strolled in with their $358 million price tag for the recent fire damage, promising FEMA would eventually cover most of it. Eventually—as in, maybe by the time we’re bidding for the 2036 Olympics.
The breakdown:
- $350M in infrastructure damage, with the Pacific Palisades Library completely destroyed
- $24M in staff overtime
- LADWP damage ($75M), Sanitation ($50M), Recreation & Parks ($150M+)
- FEMA reimburses 75%, the state 18.75%, and LA taxpayers eat the last 6.25%.
Sounds manageable—until you remember that FEMA moves at bureaucratic molasses speed. Just ask Councilmember John Lee*, who pointed out we’re still waiting on reimbursements from the 2019 Saddle Ridge Fire. So where does that leave us? Draining reserves, delaying projects, and pretending the numbers add up. *Still not indicted.
Low resolution City government. #BlumenfieldKnows
Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez, Katy Yaroslavsky, Eunisses Hernandez, and Hugo Soto-Martínez weren’t buying it.
- Rodriguez: Demanded a real damage list—not the half-baked estimate Szabo brought.
- Yaroslavsky: Overtime won’t cut it—we need real hiring now.
- Hernandez: Where’s the debris cleanup budget? Spoiler: They don’t have one.
- Soto-Martínez: Where’s the state’s money? Are we getting emergency funds or not?
Meanwhile, Councilmember Traci Park, the queen of selective priorities, gave a heartfelt speech about resilience. Conveniently left out? The fact that she bailed on the Olympic Committee and now chairs the Serve the Most Powerful People In Town Committee. Priorities.
The Real Sinkhole:
Now, let’s talk about why all of this matters beyond the fire.
If FEMA money takes years to come in, how exactly is LA supposed to handle the 2028 Olympics? This council is sleepwalking into the biggest financial disaster since the 2022 City Hall corruption scandal.
- Mega-event costs are spiraling, but no one wants to talk about how much LA has already spent.
- Security and infrastructure are already underfunded, but sure, let’s add the Olympics to the mix.
- The same corporate insiders who profited off the World Cup and Super Bowl are ready to cash in again.
- The public? Kicked to the curb. Remote public comment has been cut because Marqueece Harris-Dawson doesn’t want to hear from people who are familiar with his work.
Here’s a thought: Kick 2028 to Paris, take 2032 instead, and spare us the inevitable financial meltdown. But that would require foresight, accountability, and saying no to billionaires. And we all know how that goes.
Key Takeaways from This Week’s Council Disaster
- Wildfire recovery is being fumbled—no full damage report, no cleanup budget, just a lot of guessing.
- FEMA reimbursement will take years, but the council has a Staffer B John Lee, but no Plan B.
- Councilmembers called out bad math, bad planning, and bad priorities.
- The Olympics are an impending financial sinkhole, but city leaders pretend everything is fine.
- Public input is being erased—because hearing from regular Angelenos is too inconvenient.
LA is in no shape to host the 2028 Olympics. The city should punt this mess to Paris and get its act together for 2032—assuming we still have a city left by then.
Stay vigilant, stay loud, and demand answers.
(Eric Preven is a Studio City-based TV writer-producer, award-winning journalist, and longtime community activist who won two landmark open government cases in California.)
