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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK - The County Board of Supervisors is all about scrolls, no matter how wild the agenda gets. Supervisor Janice Hahn is off to D.C. to pitch Palos Verdes after a little landslide situation. Maybe.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is giving props to Leonardo Lopez and the El Mariachi fam for their local impact during "Latino Heritage Month." [The restaurant!] Donna Deutchman’s getting a shoutout for her 18+ years at Homes4Families, and Supervisor Solis is hyping up Miguel Santiago, Cris Abrego, and Dr. Francisco Rodriguez. Plus, Supervisor Mitchell’s shining a light on Wellnest and the South Bay Community Coalition Against Hate.
And then there’s Barger—recusing one minute, rallying the 2025 Metro Youth Council the next. Quite the pivot!
Dude, joining the 2025 Metro Youth Council is, like, super easy. You just gotta be 14-17 and live in LA County, but it’s not like you’re diving deep into real problems, man. It’s more about staying chill and, like, following the rules. They give you fancy titles like Chair or Secretary, but it’s more about looking good on paper than actually shredding through the big issues.
They’ll have you pop in for Zoom meetings and hit up Metro events, but the stuff they teach is all safe topics like sustainability and marketing. They’re not pushing you to question the system or fix anything gnarly—it’s more like they’re putting wax on a broken board, bro. You can ride the wave, but you’re not gonna get anywhere. The whole setup feels like it’s designed to make sure you don’t mess with the status quo, keeping everything super mellow and compliant.
So if you’re down for some laid-back, surface-level civic engagement that won’t harsh your vibe, this is the gig for you!
March 30, 2016 -- Leela Kapur, Jim Clarke
"Ms. Kapur, we're having problems with Studio City's election. "
"Jim, just hear me for one second. Come on."
James Patrick Clark #64780 facing more discipline.
Scholars will notice that Jim Clark who KCAL referred to as Patrick the other day when they briefly mentioned his misteps, just walked away exactly as David Michaelson, one of his proteges - now general counsel for Mayor Karen Bass - blew past the Smart Speaker in the seminal... Chart Movie.
Will they ever learn?
No.
A few months after Jim walked away, he became fully ensconced in the 2017 LADWP billing scandal. It came out this week, that he faces two charges of alleged misconduct for secretly directing, and then lying under oath about a scheme for collusion to help the city settle billing lawsuits favorably.
And he accepted concert tickets from the attorneys in collusion and then failed to report the gift.
Concert Tickets to which show one wonders. I loved the Tony winning AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE by Henrik Ibsen. A small-town doctor considers himself a proud, upstanding member of his close-knit community. When he discovers a catastrophe that risks the lives of everyone in town, he raises the alarm. But he is shaken to his core when those in power, including his own brother, not only try to silence him—they try to destroy him.
The allegations against a high-ranking official about how he mishandled crucial issues related to billing practices has caused significant repercussions for the city's utility operations and financial integrity. Also, irreparable damage to the public trust. And the Olympics?
The disciplinary charges against Clark cast a shadow over his high-profile role in negotiating for the city during the LA24 and LA28 Olympics bid process. We just took for granted that his ethical standards were ... strong.
The connection between Clark's alleged misconduct in the DWP scandal and his negotiating role is deeply troubling, exposing severe flaws in his judgment and integrity. Go USA!
More Costly Missteps by City Council:
The City Council's ill-advised litigation over the oil drilling ban has backfired big time. The recent court ruling overturning the ban is a prime example of their irresponsible governance. It’s clear they were more interested in scoring headlines than actually achieving practical results.
The council knew the odds were slim but pressed on anyway, driven by the thrill of a high-profile fight rather than a solid legal plan. Now, taxpayers are stuck with the bill for their failed strategy and rising litigation costs.
To make matters worse, Councilmember McOsker has hinted at an appeal, which means even more financial strain on taxpayers and further delays. The council’s short-sighted tactics have not only failed to deliver on their environmental promises but have also dumped unnecessary costs on city residents.
And all of this in the context of a sneaky item on last week's agenda noting that we are deep in debt from all the legal liability payouts.
9/11 Closed Session Meeting Total: $14,740,000
Item 20: $1,500,000 Item 21: $125,000 Item 22: $200,000 Item 23: $225,000 Item 24: $225,000 Item 25: $225,000 Item 26: $105,000 Item 27: $640,000 Item 28: $7,250,000 Item 29: Amount not disclosed Item 30: $1,500,000 Item 31: $2,000,000
9/10 Closed Session Meeting Total: $2,415,000 (excluding Item 29): Item 37: $750,000 Item 38: $110,000 Item 39: $125,000 Item 40: $125,000 Item 41: $125,000 Item 42: $150,000 Item 43: $175,000 Item 44: $200,000 Item 45: $380,000 Item 46: $850,000 Item 47: $150,000 Item 48: $275,000
Passage Out Of India
If still-Ambassador-to-our-knowledge, Eric Garcetti returns stateside after the election, it seems he won’t be wandering the job market for long. Those greener pastures are already taking shape. Recently filed financial disclosures reveal that Garcetti wasted no time lining up gigs after vacating the mayor's office in December 2022.
By early 2023, he was consulting for the Los Angeles Clean Tech Incubator—a nonprofit subsidized by the DWP and the city—for a cool $25,000. He also pocketed about $8,000 from Columbia University for some instructional and advisory work. Oy vey.
But what of the bigger payouts? Is he barred from getting hefty sums from LA28, the city's Olympic organizing committee? And what of those intriguing lobbyist connections the LA Times has tiptoed around?
Remember, the Times napping episode during the period when Strongman Herb Wesson was shoving Greig Smith in to replace Mitchell Englander, who'd made a swift detour from City Hall to join the mega-event choir in a rousing rendition of "Felon, go home!"
Now, introducing the “Failing Up Job Contest!”
Imagine a roster of Los Angeles' political elite—Eric Garcetti, Zev Yaroslavsky, Mike Antonovich, Don Knabe, Herb Wesson, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Mitchell Englander, Jose Huizar, Gil Cedillo, Paul Krekorian, David Ryu, Paul Koretz, Nury Martinez, Curren Price, Heather Hutt, John Lee, Mitch O'Farrell, Joe Buscaino—all banding together under one banner:
"The Pasture!" What could go wrong?
How to enter? Suggest a job for any of the listed politicians—be creative, but no license plate jokes, please.
The ATM:
In the world of Pay to Play politics, those who expertly navigate city hall’s regulations often emerge as winners. Affordable housing, a critical necessity, too often becomes a bargaining chip between political influencers and developers.
Consider the Disney Brothers' first animation studio. Here, Walt and Roy Disney hired their first staff, produced a successful cartoon series, and pioneered the Alice Comedies, the first films to combine live actors with animated scenes. These shorts, billed as “a Walt Disney Comic,” were shown across the U.S., including on Broadway. The studio’s success led to the formation of the Walt Disney Company, which dominates the world.
Nice to have Nithya Raman out there every single day, the way Traci Park (CD11) fought like hell for Marilyn Monroe's house.
The owners of the Disney Brothers building must be very supportive of the designation. They are 3F Investments LLC 1760 N. Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027 Carl M. & Sara M. Ferraro, Trustees Ferraro Family Trust 4455 Los Feliz Boulevard #408 Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Here in LA, having a property designated as a historic monument can lead to substantial tax breaks through programs like the Mills Act, often cutting property taxes by half. These aren’t just bureaucratic benefits—they’re lucrative incentives that property owners eagerly accept. In return, gratitude is typically expressed through generous campaign contributions or subtler expressions of appreciation, fueling a “wink-wink” system that keeps the political machine greased up nice.
But what if we turned it upside down? Instead of the usual kickbacks, imagine a scenario where those funds were redirected into an affordable housing fund instead of a politician’s war chest. This could fundamentally shift the game, leveraging the financial power of affluent property owners to address the very real housing crisis instead of perpetuating cycles of influence and gratitude.
With public trust in short supply, now is the time for bold, transformative solutions that ensure resources are used for public good, not private gain. If you can afford to restore a bloody Schindler, you should contribute to solving the housing crisis—not exempt yourself from paying property taxes.
How about a system where giving back to the community is the real way to say thank you.
"Get him out of here."
Shiny Happy Shady People:
City Hall's forecourt, long a battleground where public frustration meets official evasion, now hosts a troubling symbol of our city's misplaced priorities: Olympic fanfare. This once hallowed ground, where figures like Herb Wesson and Mike Feuer quickly ducked into a crowded elevator, is now adorned with Olympic flags and memorabilia.
Historically, this space has been the epicenter of democratic discourse, showcasing the raw intersections of power and public anger. Yet, as we see a $500,000 display of Olympic grandeur, one must question the true cost of these priorities.
Adding to this spectacle is Paul Krekorian's final act as jefe—his effort to secure a City Hall designation as a national historical monument. This move, ostensibly to preserve history, effectively blocks access to all but card carrying tourists, turning a critical space into a sanitized showcase.
Greedy Edens:
The NFL is big, but the Premier League is really big.
In the UK, there’s a lot of chatter about Aston Villa’s outrageous Champions League ticket prices. [It's a premier league football club]. Fans are in shock over the club's decision to charge between $87 and $120 per match, with a four-game package hitting £385.
Nearly $100 for a single game is simply too much for an ordinary bloke whose supported the team through thick and thin.
This is the inevitable result of billionaire-backed investments that start with a flood of good press, and then reveal their true colors: greed. It’s not just a matter of staying competitive; it’s a blatant cash grab that exploits the loyalty of fans who’ve been there since day one.
Smart Speaker: Supervisor Solis, remember when you handed over the county's golf courses to Wes Edens, the private equity maven? He's the guy fighting like hell to bring gamblers to Las Vegas Casinos on a federally subsidized high-speed rail operation?
There’s something arrogant about the way these billionaire owners treat supporters as if they’re merely cash cows to fund their European football dreams. Football without fans is nothing—everyone said it during the pandemic—but the sentiment seems to have been forgotten just as quickly. Now, it’s all about maximizing revenue streams, and loyal fans are left wrung dry.
The Football Supporters Association got it right: just because you can squeeze more money out of the fans doesn’t mean you should.
Smart Speaker: Does anyone really believe Wes Edens and his private equity backers will save Red Lobster? Not So Nice
September 11, Never said nothing
Thank you it's Eric Preven from Studio City and I want to thank Councilmember Raman for referencing the Disney Brothers and the neighborhood she's helping preserve in old Tom LaBonge territory, CD4.
That said, Beeman Park, also known as the Studio City Recreation Center, which was in Paul Krekorian's territory CD2 before he left it to Raman CD4, has a giant black fence around it now as they prepare to decimate the history of Studio City. And it's not that the building is so important or that I love it so dearly, but it's the right size and it serves the purpose.
Parks are not supposed to be developed, you idiots.
The original $3 million dollar Prop K upgrade would have been just fine - the place has decent bones and would be easy to fix up nicely.
The latest greatest version of the Studio City project - Net Zero - is going to cost more than $30 million dollars and has morphed into something that we certainly don't want or need... a high school regulation basketball court in the open space.
Around the corner from the Harvard Westlake series of high school regulation basketball courts. [Anger Emoji]
Mr. President, why don't you take a moment to thank the Coro Foundation once again where Karly Katona, Areen Ibranossian, Ari Engelberg and Senator Alex Padilla all learned to "steal" so effectively. Without their devious leadership, none of this would have ever been possible. Thank you.
Dude...it's alarming:
"What’s the deal with ALL these new basketball courts in Studio City?"
"We already have a perfectly good outdoor hoop, bro. It’s maddening to see the park and golf course I loved as a kid getting wiped out. Those places were iconic, a big part of growing up in Studio City."
Krekorian and Raman have taken a wrecking ball to our community’s heart. Instead of preserving what made our parks and golf courses special, they’ve decided to turn them into uninspired ... I don't know what.
Think about it—$30 million could have done so much good. We’re losing the areas where families gather and kids play. Now, picnics will be eaten standing up, water fountains have been turned off, and our restrooms are... shuttered.
The entire project is a massive slap across the face.
"This isn’t just mismanagement; it’s a betrayal. "
$30 million and climbing for something the constituents don't want.
We will never forget what Krekorian and Raman presided over and we hope they will one day be held accountable.
City Blaster:
Jonathan Groat, Deputy City Attorney: Caller, which items would you like to speak on?
Smart Speaker: Yeah, it's Eric Preven, and I'd like to speak on the entire agenda.
Jonathan Groat: You have two minutes on the items and one minute for general. Please begin with the items. Go ahead.
Smart Speaker: I'm worried we're taking $128 million from the reserve fund.
Jonathan Groat: That item isn’t on the agenda and has been continued to next Tuesday. Please stick to items one and eight.
Smart Speaker: Oh, they're probably adding the $17 million paid out recently. Anyway, item one—Budget Finance and Innovation, which really means hiding legal fights from the public. It involves 2024-25 budget documentation, but not the soaring liabilities, which should be covered by the LA Times. Nithya Raman is planning to remove 69% of turf at our local park for some greedy play by Krekorian and Garcetti. Legal fights are skyrocketing, and we can't keep pulling from the Reserve Fund just because Krekorian wants to become the Olympic czar. This is bad. Blumenfield might lose his spot as top innovator for not speaking Farsi earlier.
Groat: You've exhausted your time on this item. Please move to number eight.
Smart Speaker: Mario Lopez? Sure, decent guy. Back in my NBC days, he was on Saved by the Bell—taped in Studio 9. Not sure why he's getting a star now, but everyone deserves one. Where are we on bureaucrat bobbleheads?
Groat: Your time on the item has expired. One minute for general public comment. Go ahead.
Smart Speaker: We're already $128 million in deficit, and it's just the start. Private attorneys are coming in, but Hydee Feldstein-Soto is in bad shape. Groat, you're part of the problem, excluding public input. There's another $76 million pending Claims Board approval, kept quiet by Krekorian, Feldstein-Soto, and Bass. They won't reveal who's on the board unless you push hard. Any interest in reforming that, or are you just bulking up on council members and supervisors? All you do is honor each other and violate open meeting laws.
Groat: Your time has expired.
Paul Krekorian: Thank you, Mr. Preven.
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
