CommentsRANTZ & RAVEZ-Many of the elected officials at Los Angeles City Hall and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have lost sight of their responsibility to the voters who have elected them to office.
An example is Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti who recently referred to police officers as “killers,” then pushed to reduce the LAPD budget by $150 million dollars. He expects police personnel to risk their lives and the welfare of their families to “Protect and Serve” the people of Los Angeles.
On September 22, Mayor Garcetti (photo above) sent the following letter to the “LAPD Family:”
“Dear LAPD Family. I wanted to send this note to share my gratitude for your faithful service as a member of the Los Angeles Police Department. Your oath, courage and dedication has never been more important and your commitment to fair and equal justice has never been more critical to the future of the city we love.
Standing up against racial injustice is part of our heritage as Americans, and it is our duty to protect and facilitate the First Amendment rights of our community members. But we must and absolutely will draw the line at allowing anyone to target you for violence or our workplace for destruction.
That is why I am working closely with Chief Moore to quickly invest in new protective eyewear for the men and women who wear the uniform and are facing new and unexpected dangers. And we will never stop working to bring justice to those who break our laws and put anyone officers, demonstrators, bystanders in harm’s way.
We are taking historic and unprecedented action to further embrace and expand LA’s commitment to 21st century policing by standing for peace, confronting the legacy of structural racism head-on, and taking new steps to strengthen bonds with the communities you serve with honor every day. Each one of you is an indispensable partner in this work, and I am proud to see you meeting the moment with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. Thank you for your service.
Sincerely, Eric Garcetti, Mayor.”
You will notice that the comment “we will never stop working to bring justice to those who break our laws and put anyone officers, demonstrators, bystanders in harm’s way” are empty words.
When the LAPD made numerous arrests during the most recent LA Riot involving looting and burning of buildings and police cars in Fairfax and Valley communities, those arrested for failing to disperse and resisting arrest were released. They walked away without facing any criminal charges.
In fact, the LA City Attorney Mike Feurer dropped all curfew charges against those arrested.
Individuals then turned around and filed civil claims against the city. How much will they be paid for being arrested is another story.
Then there is LA Councilmember Mike Bonin (photo above, right) from the Westside who has turned his district into a welcome community for the homeless with little regard for the taxpaying residents and business owners of that region. Following the ambush shooting of two Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies, Bonin published the following:
“The shooting of two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in Compton over the weekend was brutal and sickening. I’m praying for their full and fast recovery, and hope the shooter is found and prosecuted.
“The protests of the horrifying killing of Dijon Kizzee are righteous and urgently necessary. He should be alive today, as should George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Andres Guardardo, Brendon Glenn, Ezell Ford, Tamir Rice and countless others. Their killers should face justice.
“Deputies arresting reporters, surrounding news conferences with armed personnel, and firing chemical irritants at protesters are unacceptable acts of force and intimidation, Sheriff Villanueva and his department must be held accountable.
“Acts of violence, force and brutality are cascading and crashing into each other. One act follows another, but it not justified by what came before. Life is sacred, we need healing and we need peace and for either, we must have justice.”
Bonin has faced recall efforts and is out of touch with most of his voters, as well as from most of the hard-working people of greater LA. He has even pushed for a new tax on vacant residential structures. This is in addition to all the other taxes you pay for parcels in LA.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Whatever your political views, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a woman of great integrity, courage, and intelligence. She conquered many obstacles during her 87 years. She never gave up when turned down for a job. She continued to challenge the system and ultimately was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. While small in stature, she was a powerhouse when it came to the law and dealing with people. She was a good friend of Justice Antonin Scalia who was her ideological opposite.
Despite their opposite views on the law, they remained close friends over years. What we can learn from them and use in our relationships is the following: Our friendships are not simply an expression of our humanity. Friendship rests in the fundamental pillar we share. We just need to focus on that pillar and grow from there.
The November National Election is approaching.
I will be reviewing the various ballot propositions and giving you my recommendations. Should you vote Yes or No? Do you want to pay more taxes? Are you happy with the way LA and California are moving? This November will be your time to voice your opinion at the ballot box. Stay tuned to that edition coming up in the October 16 edition of RantZ & RaveZ.
I have established a new award for Los Angeles area Elected and Appointed Officials. The award is called the Los Angeles Elected and Appointed Officials increased Victimization Award.
The award will go to the person who has done the most to jeopardize public safety and increase victimization among those living in the Los Angeles area.
I welcome your suggestions on candidates for this award.
(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County.) Photo: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times. Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.