Comments
ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK -
Dearest Fauble:
In order to minimize staff time and energy and comply with the CPRA, please aggregate and redact as needed and then provide all hotel, transportation and food and beverage invoices paid by city council offices or their proxies to cover the costs of the trips to both Chicago and Paris by city hall employees and electeds. Digital copies ok.
A quick scan by Renee Stadel the City Attorney presiding over Ethics will alert 🚨 the public to officeholder expenditures payouts as well. We hope! This is very important because triple reimbursement is a great way to steal. Imagine if a council member submitted $50k in legitimate Paris expenses to three separate payors; i) LA28, ii) LA City, and his iii) officeholder acct! How would we ever know?
Nobody is checking. ("Get him out of here!")
Remember Friends of Krekorian was a reimbursement scam. The lawyer loaned his campaign $100,000 and had a decade of people paying it off ... to the originator of the loan: "... make the check out to Paul M. Krekorian..." Thanks. The catch ... The balance only goes down if it is reported. Is there a sound when a tree falls and nobody is around? Why not report $100k in donations to pay back the loan even if you receive $300k in loan repayments? The recipient is an individual Paul M. Krekorian. Sigh.
This is why I propose a pilot program with full-time electronic monitoring of all our elected official business trips. Like when Blumenfield Price and Cedillo went on Arnie's (Berghoff) big adventure to the red light districts in Cologne and Amsterdam lol.
One very annoying problem relates to LA28 who are not subject (correct me if I'm wrong) to the CPRA. I put a lawyer on that and gave him the railroad law from the 19th century and tried to pry out the airfare etc. LA24 evaded. The lawyer wanted $ I said no.
Dear Dawyn Harrison, LA County Counsel:
This is PRA for all Lindsey P. Horvath selfies while at D.N.C. in Chicago.
Checking in with ONE-item Bob:
Bob Blumenfield's Budget committee today has planned to discuss how the County is collecting the ULA taxes due under the Documentary Transfer Tax and Measure ULA. For transactions closing after June 30, 2024, the new thresholds and tax rates for the Unitary Transfer Tax (ULA) will be as follows:
Transactions above $5,150,000 but under $10,300,000: Tax Rate: 4% Transactions of $10,300,000 and up: Tax Rate: 5.5% These updated thresholds and rates will impact the calculation of ULA for real estate transactions based on their value.
Blumenfield (CD3) wants to know how many people adhere to these tax obligations and how much revenue can we expect.
Eunisses Hernandez's enthusiasm for UMCR (Unarmed Model of Crisis Response) is notable, but the varying funding allocations for contractors in the pilot program raise questions about vetting and oversight.
Behavioral Health Services receives $1.5 million for mental health crisis intervention, Crisis Response Network gets $2 million for comprehensive crisis support, and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is allocated $3 million to oversee and integrate these services.
Given the substantial amounts involved and the loose specifics surrounding each contract, it’s crucial to ask: how rigorous is the vetting process for these funds? With so much money on the line, transparency and strict accountability must be prioritized to ensure effective and ethical use of resources.
Erin Go Bragh:
Claims that the city attorney was involved in retaliatory actions should be addressed openly rather than handled through private counsel.
With the powerhouse legal firm McNicholas & McNicholas representing Michelle McGinnis in a claim against the City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto, it's clear that the city attorney’s office is already familiar with him. The city's decision to bring in outside counsel to defend Feldstein-Soto is questionable and seems improper. How much? ("Get him out of here!")
They don’t say!
In May 2023, McGinnis was appointed Chief of the Criminal Branch by newly elected City Attorney Feldstein Soto. The claim alleges that Feldstein Soto directed McGinnis on who should or shouldn't be prosecuted for personal and political reasons. When McGinnis objected on ethical grounds, she claims a retaliatory campaign began, led by Feldstein Soto and Chief Deputy Denise Mills. McGinnis reports being publicly criticized, accused of incompetence, subjected to heightened scrutiny and scapegoated. On April 22, 2024, she was abruptly placed on administrative leave, escorted out without notice, and barred from City Attorney facilities. It’s believed that Soto and Mills searched her records, allegedly stating, “We don’t have anything on her yet.”
If I were in charge, I’d ensure that all employment lawsuits are funded not just from the department budget but also from the paychecks of current line staff and sworn personnel—everyone, including Duarte and Graciano, would contribute. Council offices would also see deductions for each significant payout.
This approach, though extreme, would force a serious reconsideration of how we handle such claims. McNicholas should be shut down, and the exorbitant rate charged by Kendall Brill and Kelly on another matter at—$855 an hour—makes it clear that reform is overdue.
Cases: No need to comment ("Get him out of here!")
Legal cases
12 Trip and Fall Incidents
6 Vehicle-Related Incidents
3 Employment-Related Cases
1 Incident Involving LAPD Members
1 Incident Involving Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
Employment-Related Cases
24-0886 Detective Cecilia Cleveland's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleged whistleblower retaliation, harassment, discrimination and failure to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Despite Cleveland's allegations against Capt. Lillian Carranza, the captain is not a named defendant in the detective's suit [LAPD]
24-0258. Sgt. Joel Sydanmaa alleges the punishments — which followed posts he made about Muslims, the appointment of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court amid sexual assault allegations, and the shooting death of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle in South L.A. — were doled out solely because his opinions “run counter” to the LAPD’s “preferred political stance.” [LAPD]
22-0819. When the protesters refused to vacate as the officers demanded, Officer Bryan Dameworth allegedly began telling them to “leave the (expletive) area” while shooting rubber bullets into the crowd, one of which struck Randall Stewart in the head, causing him severe and permanent injuries. The city cited multiple defenses, including civil immunity and a violation of the statute of limitations in filing the case, and asked that it be dismissed. [LAPD]
Cesspoolers:
The City Council on Tuesday will hear comments related to the city’s plan to raise sewer rates. Because the increases are considered a property user fee under Proposition 218, all the city’s parcel owners have been notified. (Though, I personally don't remember getting any notice.)
If there is a majority of objectors, then the fee hike will fail, according to city officials. Tuesday is the deadline to lodge protests.
As of Thursday, the city had received 6,380 valid protest letters. According to the City Clerk’s office, 393,157 valid protests are needed for the rate hike to fail.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Media Inquiry:
Sabado August 24, 2024
The Los Angeles Times
Dear Rebecca,
Who is the woman seated to the left of Mr. Dogg in the photo below?
LAT: Please identify Snoop's sidekick!
Is there any way to fix this egregious error? It’s frustrating that in newsletter photographs where the black man and the white woman are identified, the woman of color seated next to Snoop Dogg remains nameless. This omission is particularly glaring coming from the LA Times, which prides itself on diversity and inclusion. It's not just about being seen—it's about being recognized.
Imagine the dismay of seeing your photo in the newsletter and having to explain to your loved ones why your name wasn't mentioned. A correction is the bare minimum; a full profile would be better to make this right. Disclosure: I do not know or to my knowledge have not met the sidekick.
Finally, on a positive note, fantastic portrait of Traci Park by Francine Orr. And thanks to the Times leadership for agreeing to identify the photographers in today's newsletter.
L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park chairs the committee helping prepare for the 2028 L.A. Games.
Looking forward to a sidekick correction or Column One! Btw, the Sewer tax upcharge at the city council this week will raise $115M a year citywide, did you know that Nithya Raman (propped up and put up to it by by Paul Krekorian and US Congressman Brad Sherman) is about to plunge $29.5M into an unwanted and unnecessary high school regulation basketball court at Beeman park? [It's around the corner from the world's largest athletic complex featuring several other basketball courts so wtf] Call it a hijacking of leftover Prop K money. But spending it against the public's better interest and sneaking around... bulking up the budget and project to the stratosphere, ignoring the public.
ttyl, Any idea where Director Mark Pestrella of County Public Works but also the jefe of the LA County Flood District, is on the lease to Harvard-Westlake '28 the elite private school, leading the charge into the Olympics and Studio City? Residents like me are...
Pissed, 91604.
Warm regards,
Eric Preven
Back to your regularly scheduled Sewer programming:
Under the Sewer proposal, the bimonthly charge for the typical single-family home would move from $72.27 to $92.08, according to a report issued by the sanitation agency this week. Six more sewer fee hikes would follow, taking the bimonthly charge to $155.55 in July 2028 — more than double what it is now. If the bimonthly charge goes to $155.55, the annual amount will be $933.30
The increases are expected to generate nearly $115 million over the coming fiscal year, to pay for infrastructure repairs, including upgrades to aging sewer pipes.
But a $29.5 million + on an unwanted high school regulation 🏀🗑️court in the last vestiges of open space in Studio City?
No.
Pitch from the back: “Maybe Don De Leon will protect the Alcove Activistas and the Beeman Ballers … “The only way that Nithya Raman…might possibly intervene would be if there were … don’t say it, “an encampment!”
Yes!
No!
If a small but attractive encampment sprouted up we could test Mayor Bass’s promise not to clear out just because Governor Newsom is eager to adopt a powerwashing attitude. We could all lock arms and pivot away from dislocation and a giant unwanted basketball gym toward… calling The CD4 In-N-Out truck! 🍔
Smart Speaker: Could the voter-approved Prop K funding for a modern gymnasium, that was inexplicably interpreted as a new massive “high school regulation basketball court,” be modified one more time?
“How about a county-regulated psychiatric center?"
No. ("Get him out of here!")
Booming: Check the Receipts
A promising and rapidly expanding enterprise has emerged, boasting a network of key players strategically positioned across North America. This organization has demonstrated impressive operational capabilities, seamlessly importing and exporting vast quantities of high-demand commodities. Their sophisticated supply chain has facilitated the movement of products from Mexico through the U.S. and into Canada, employing a dedicated fleet of semi-trucks and coordinated handlers. Transactions have involved over 2,900 pounds of controlled substances, valued between $16-28 million.
Sounds like something VICA and other pro-business groups could get behind, but don’t be fooled by the impressive facade. The booming enterprise I’ve just described above is not as legitimate as it seems. The devil is in the details. The practitioners, while effective, are criminals, and their operations are linked to an international organized crime syndicate. The elaborate network is steeped in illicit activities, making it clear that beneath the surface of what appears to be a thriving business lies a web of criminality.
Smart Speaker: Well, unless someone is examining how the money is being spent —
We Lie, Cheat & Steal: Donate Here!
Jasmine Banks's disillusionment with the nonprofit she worked for began when she discovered her boss, Brandon Anderson, misusing the organization's funds for personal expenses, including luxury clothes and vacations.
Anderson, a charismatic activist, who cannot be happy with the profile of sorts in Sunday’s NYT, had inspired many with his story of losing his partner to police violence and founded Raheem AI to reform policing. However, Banks found that Anderson's actions contradicted the organization's mission, leading her to report financial misconduct to the board. As the investigation unfolded, employees and donors lost faith in Anderson, and the nonprofit unraveled.
Despite the evidence of wrongdoing, Banks and her colleagues, committed to their ideals, hesitated to involve law enforcement, fearing the consequences for Anderson, a Black man.
Eventually, Banks sought back wages through the District of Columbia's attorney general, reflecting a painful conflict between their principles and the need for justice.
Mr. Anderson allegedly misappropriated nonprofit funds for personal expenses, including luxury items, vacations, and entertainment, breaching fiduciary duty.
He is also accused of authorizing transactions unrelated to the organization’s mission, including payments to low-value vendors, which raises concerns about kickbacks or personal gain.
These actions are considered highly inappropriate and unethical, especially given the responsibility of managing a not-for-profit organization, where funds are expected to be used strictly for the benefit of the community and in alignment with the organization's mission.
Many of us in Studio City remember a similar saga of Howard Dixon Slingerland, former president and CEO of the Youth Policy Institute. He was eventually sentenced to six months in federal prison in 2023 for embezzling over $600,000 from the nonprofit he led. The sentencing also called for six months of home confinement, a $10,000 fine, $750,470 in restitution, and 200 hours of community service.
Slingerland, who was responsible for overseeing funds aimed at eradicating poverty, used them for personal expenses such as a family dinner in New York City and private tutoring for a relative. Additionally, he misappropriated federal grant money intended for job training programs, redirecting it to cover payroll and credit card bills. His financial misconduct extended to underreporting over $100,000 in income on his tax returns from 2015 to 2018, resulting in substantial unpaid taxes.
When elected officials like Paul Krekorian, now Ambassador Eric Garcetti, Hilda Solis, and Kevin De Leon are involved in awarding nonprofit contracts, these repeated instances of mismanagement and corruption raise serious concerns. If these officials are making the calls, the public is left questioning the integrity of the process. How is a clean one like Karen Bass (if you believe that) supposed to know? The only real solution to keeping people honest is hyper-transparency, ensuring that every decision is open to scrutiny and that accountability is enforced at every level.
Trompe l’oeil casual = homeless
When it comes to overdressing or underdressing, the debate splits into two camps. The Coco Chanel approach favors underdressing, with maxims like "Elegance is refusal," while the Iris Apfel-inspired philosophy celebrates flamboyant overdressing. However, the real key lies in personal confidence, as comfort in your own skin can make any outfit shine. The rise of luxury casual, or "trompe l'oeil casual," blurs the lines between looking effortlessly cool and ostentatiously luxe. But beware—there’s a fine line between appearing stylishly casual and, well, looking homeless. The choice ultimately depends on what makes you feel at ease and authentic.
Show Me The Money:
Transparency is often the best disinfectant, and it’s fun to know what’s really going on in the halls of power—especially when those halls are in luxury hotels. Business trips have always held a certain allure and conventions. Well, they’re practically begging for drama. It’s not just the dreary press conferences or the endless panel discussions that make them interesting; it’s the after-hours escapades that really get the blood pumping.
I’ve always felt a little disappointed when media coverage fails to capture the real action. Sure, we get the obligatory shots of America’s Democrats in stadiums, but where’s the footage of the power elite out partying? I want to see Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price heading up to a suite for Cognac with Lindsey P. Horvath and Hilda Solis, while Bob Blumenfield never makes it out of Monica Rodriguez’s room. Imagine the headlines!
Then there are the lobbyists—nasty, nasty lobbyists—plying these weak politicians with pilot programs and promises of influence. You know the type, the ones who will slip in under the radar, dangling lucrative deals that are too tempting to refuse. The deals that somehow always seem to benefit them more than the communities they’re supposedly helping.
Sadly, we’re often left with dry, sanitized reports when what we really need is some good, old-fashioned gonzo journalism. I’m talking about reporters so dedicated to the truth that they’re willing to snort cocaine off Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ass if that’s what it takes to get the story. We deserve more from our billionaire media owners like Bezos, Soon-Shiong, and Bloomberg. Where’s the Hunter S. Thompson-style reporting? If there’s any place to uncover the dirt, it’s in the heat of a hotel nightlife scene—a place where deals are struck, secrets are spilled, and sometimes, inhibitions are lost.
But instead, we get nothing but bland recaps and boring details.
Whitsett Finally Fixed? Or the Fix is in!
The utter failure of Harvard-Westlake to address the chaos their trucks have wreaked on Whitsett speaks volumes about their disregard for our community. Despite their promise of just 15 or fewer haul trucks per 8-hour day, a resident recorded 76 trucks in the first two hours on August 6, 2024. Of these, 50 passed in the first 44 minutes—72.25 more trucks than promised for the entire day.
Also, where is the neighborhood council? No email blast to rally the community, and no support from SCNC President Chip Meehan, who seems more interested in currying favor with MRCA than addressing local concerns. Recently, MRCA used heavy machinery in the river, sparking complaints from residents, some of whom received a nastygram from the MRCA. Instead of backing community concerns, President Meehan appears to be siding with the MRCA, prioritizing his pet river project over the needs of Whitsett residents. It’s clear that HW and our so-called local leaders have prioritized themselves over the community.
Join NPR Podcasts and Ambassador Eric Garcetti (former Mayor of Los Angeles) for a bit of cleansing ...
Looking The Other Way Pt 1: A powerful Democrat and a #MeToo scandal
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
