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RANTZ & RAVEZ - Will the newly proposed safeguards championed by City Hall Officials help prevent future Corruption by Councilmembers and others involved in activities at L.A.’s Tower of Power...City Hall? Here are my personal observations as a former councilmember based on 12 years of experience and one never questioned or indicted by the FBI.
The Continuing Suspected, Alleged and Confirmed Corruption by a growing number of Elected Officials at Los Angeles City Hall has brought about more proposed safeguards by various city officials. This time around, City Hall will try and hopefully re-elect and elect HONEST people to office so the FBI can spend their time investigating criminals engaged in Federal crimes like Terrorism, Bank Robbery, Counterintelligence, Fugitives on the run, and a host of other Federal Crimes impacting America.
The latest City Hall solutions will include establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission, Expanding the size of the City Council, and establishing an Office of Compliance. These three Multi-Million Dollar operations will augment the Millions already budgeted for the overrated and mostly ineffective and costly City Ethics Commission. More of our TAX Dollars designed to keep the possible crooks out of elected office at City Hall. Will these new operations provide more security and services for the people of Los Angeles? More Police, Fire, Cleaner Streets without potholes…. NO. HELL NO! Just another patch on the Torn City of Political Corruption, Decay, Poverty, expanding Homeless Population and over taxation for both the business and residential communities.
The Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform has adopted a set of recommendations for amendment to the City Charter. This will create an independent Commission to draw the community boundaries in future elections. This is designed to keep the communities free from City Hall Corruption. This matter will now proceed to City Council and ultimately appear before voters on the November 2024 ballot. If passed, you can expect more MILLIONS of dollars dedicated to the facilities, management, and staff to carry out the responsibilities that will be created with our ever-increasing TAX Dollars. I will keep you updated on these measures as we approach the 2024 election.
Not that we can’t trust those who will be selected to serve on the Committee on City Governance Reform and expanding the City Council to create smaller districts, the City Council also wants to establish The Office of Compliance. This Million Dollar office will be responsible to identify potential conflicts of interest in advance of any votes that are before the council.
The reality is that there have been recent accusations, arrests and convictions of some City Hall Officials and Elected Councilmembers who have allegedly engaged in illegal activity while serving in office. The ones that we know about are former Federally indicted and convicted Councilmembers Mitchell Englander, Jose Huizar, Mark Ridley Thomas along with other non-elected city hall officials. Pending are allegations against Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr. and John Lee. With a total of 15 Elected Councilmembers on the Council, the percentage of elected officials allegedly engaged in corruption is quite high.
Whatever happened to Honesty, Integrity, and Trust in Government services. If all City Officials lived by these words, we would not need to keep trying to find Honest people to serve in elected office or serve the public in administrative capacity.
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia keeps watch over the LAPD.
Controller Mejia has made it a priority to keep track of what the LAPD has been doing in their mission “To Protect and Serve” the people of Los Angeles. The latest report reflects the number of arrests made for Homeless sleeping on the streets of Los Angeles. Most tax-paying residents are fed up with the expanding Homeless population living on the sidewalks and streets of Los Angeles. Many of the Homeless have lost all sense of common decency when it comes to personal hygiene and their invasion onto private property and sidewalk camping. The Controller’s numbers reflect that the LAPD is paying attention and responding to numerous complaints from business and residents alike.
Some city residents have contacted RantZ and RaveZ about Homeless in their neighborhoods asking for enforcement. I am happy to report that in spite of the frustration dealing with the Homeless in Los Angeles the LAPD is addressing the problem as reflected by the Controller’s report.
Los Angeles Hotels/Motels might be forced to house the Homeless depending on your VOTE!
There is a proposal headed for the March 2024 Ballot calling for Los Angeles City Hotels to provide rooms to the Homeless! FREE for the Homeless with the cost to be paid by the taxpayers.
If this measure passes at the ballot box, you can expect that Hotels in Los Angeles will soon turn into Homeless Camps. How would you Vote on this measure with your family coming to Los Angeles for a family reunion at a local hotel? More on this proposal as we approach 2024.
The Latest LAPD/Crime Stats
LAPD Sworn Personnel is at 8,991 as of 9/9/23. Quite a bit lower than the 9,500 or 10,000 sworn personnel to adequately police L.A. Note that the 8,991 includes all sworn personnel from the Chief to the recruit in the academy.
Crime numbers comparing 2021 to 2023.
Robbery + 5.7% with 6,227 reported.
Burglary + 15.8% with 10,732 reported.
GTA + 9.7% with 18,530 reported.
Burglary/Theft from Motor Veh. +5.6% 21,923 reported.
Personal Theft. +41.1% with 24,543 reported.
In Memory…
As we end this week, I must comment on the savage terrorist attacks that took place in Israel last weekend. Hundreds of innocent people tortured and killed by Hamas. As the days pass, we see more news reports of the violence taking place in Israel. I pray for those who have been murdered and hope that The United States and other countries can assist Israel in returning to Peace.
(Dennis P. Zine is the author of RantZ and RaveZ. The column is published twice a month in CityWatchLA to inform you of activities in your community. Comments are welcome at Valley News [email protected].)
