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ERIC PREVEN’S NOTEBOOK - Last week, the Mayor, Curren D. Price, and others were at the LA Convention Center telling KNX and the public about opportunities surrounding upcoming major events like the Super Bowl. Price emphasized that constituents could take advantage of resources to contract for services, with over a billion dollars to be spent. He made it clear it wasn’t just about making money but being part of history. [spit take]
However, while promoting this inclusivity, it raises questions about transparency. As we open doors for contractors, we must also ask—how are we tracking the billions flowing into programs like the universal basic income or the Mayor’s fund? As we invite the community in, do we have the oversight to ensure this money isn’t misused?
One wonders if Mr. Price and Mayor Karen Bass have seen the report conducted by friendly law firm Covington Burling on the contracting fraud at the county.
Meta's Crackdown: A Lesson on Oversight?
Meta recently fired two dozen employees for misusing their $25 meal allowance, buying non-food items like wine glasses and detergent. Should people making nearly $400,000 a year follow rules on meal credits? Absolutely, or exceptionalism runs rampant. We’re already seeing this at the Intuit Dome, the only place in California where alcohol can be served until 4 a.m. Thanks, Governor Newsom! This is a perfect example of corporate exceptions being made while regular employees face strict enforcement. It's hypocrisy at its finest.
Why not just give the employees a per diem, Zuckerberg, you pri--
Who’s Paying for LA’s Leadership in France?
Meanwhile, where are the public records showing who is footing the bill for our city's leadership as they dashed off to France repeatedly to prepare for "the greatest three or four weeks of Casey Wasserman’s life," aka the 2028 Olympics? The lack of transparency surrounding these expenses is astonishing, and it all seems like a long, drawn-out process to justify our leaders’ Olympic junkets. Don’t forget about the Paralympics either. Strefan Fauble would be a good resource on where these travel records are bogging down in the so called "process?"
A ‘Plan’ for the Olympics, but for Who?
According to Alissa Walker’s Torched
... we supposedly have a plan. Is it a plan to connect billionaire-owned stadiums for the Olympics? Anyway, who exactly benefits from this plan? It feels like it's yet another scheme to funnel public resources into spectacle-wrangling. This is where public comment matters, but—once again on Tuesday—Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD8) blocked key Smart Speakers (moi) from speaking.
Anna Hovaspian: Insider Serving Insiders
Let’s talk about Anna Hovaspian. Paul Krekorian’s (CD2) right (and left hand) and deeply involved in the redistricting space that left co-aides like Karo Torrossian... in crocodile tears. Of course, Nury Martinez was in the mix as well. Hovaspian, who never disclosed her work for Krekorian while listening to candidates like a not-so-young, Eric Preven, as a Young Democrat on the endorsement panel, is now being positioned by Krekorian et al. to serve insiders on the Charter Reform Commission. She’s been doing this for years, so she’ll undoubtedly do a very good job of keeping the power in the hands of the chosen few who promoted her.
Musica y Poemas: Politics or Poetry?
On the topic of insiders, Eunisses Hernandez (CD1) has launched a street banner campaign promoting Musica y Poemas until November 9th. How innovative, drawing the community into her orbit just in time for the upcoming election. I’d suggest she read Fray Luis de León’s classic poetic reminder of justice and moral accountability at the event.
Oda XVI – Contra un Juez Avaro
Aunque en ricos montones
levantes el cautivo inútil oro;
y aunque tus posesiones
mejores con ajeno daño y lloro;
y aunque cruel tirano
oprimas la verdad, y tu avaricia,
vestida en nombre vano,
convierta en compra y venta la justicia;
aunque engañes los ojos
del mundo a quien adoras: no por tanto
no nacerán abrojos
agudos en tu alma; ni el espanto
no velará en tu lecho;
ni huirás la cúita y agonía,
el último despecho;
ni la esperanza buena en compañía
del gozo tus umbrales
penetrará jamás; ni la Meguera,
con llamas infernales,
con serpentino azote la alta y fiera
y diestra mano armada,
saldrá de tu aposento sola una hora;
y ni tendrás clavada
la rueda, aunque más puedas, voladora
del Tiempo hambriento y crudo,
que viene, con la muerte conjurado,
a dejarte desnudo
del oro y cuanto tienes más amado;
y quedarás sumido
en males no finibles y en olvido
Fray Luis de León’s timeless poem critiques those who gain wealth through exploitation, pointing out that no amount of gold can erase guilt or prevent inevitable downfall. It’s a fitting reflection for leadership that exploits power for personal gain.
No courtesy
No courtesy copies
Fight the Power: Yaroslavsky’s Standard
Katy Yaroslavsky’s (CD5) stand against corporate mergers like Kroger-Albertsons is commendable, but let’s be real: where are council members doing their grocery shopping?
The public wants a comprehensive list!
On a robust City Council salary does one keep it real at Vons or Superior or instead shop where they cut the ribbons at Erewhon and Sprouts?
Retroactive Motion Failures
Retroactive motions like the one for the October 7th anniversary event are not appropriate and frankly embarrassing. We deserve better planning and foresight from our leaders.
Indigenous Peoples Day: Lip Service?
On top of that, we had three Indigenous Peoples Day items on the agenda, yet LAFCO’s recent vote, which Lindsey Horvath (SD3) called “shameful,” is further proof of how performative these gestures are. Leadership takes the day off instead of standing up for real action.
Smart Speaker: Why are they off?
Because your time has expired!
Smart Speaker: What? Is this the “process?”
Yes. [Dial tone]
High-Speed Rail to Gambling?
Then there's Irving Azoff, (sweet sweet guy) immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, thanks to Hugo Soto-Martinez (CD13). Azoff, a close associate of Mitchell Englander who gave him safe harbor, is making a killing at Yaamava’ (via LiveNation), where concertgoers are handed gambling chips with their tickets. It’s clever, but isn’t it a little shameful?
A suite at Yaamava.
And shouldn't we be asking if it’s environmentally sound to send people 90 minutes down the freeway for an intimate concert experience? Maybe Brad Sherman could subsidize a high-speed railway to help Azoff and the Indigenous LLC cash in more effectively?
Fawning Over Paris: Tracy Park’s Olympic Obsession
Finally, Tracy Park (CD11) is fawning over the Paris delegation, gushing about the "educational opportunities" found in fancy restaurants. The Parisian delegation is here promoting the Olympics while Angelenos are left in the dark. The working group concept is fascinating but murky. The absence of a major Olympics item on the agenda is par for the course but disappointing, especially since it comes with such a high cost to the people of LA.
Paul Koretz (formerly CD5) nestled in among the French Olympics delegation.
Pravda and the Need for Neutral Referees
As we know, Zev Yaroslavsky famously said, "We don't need a Vin Scully down here!" But maybe we do need a Will Smith. After Dodger pitcher Walker Buehler praised catcher Smith the other night for being in sync with the pitching staff, it struck me as a teaching lesson for County leadership.
County leaders want umpires and members of the public to also be members of their team. That's not the way it works.
Would everyday citizens want Horvath’s deputie calling balls and strikes? No.
We do need good pitchers and good catchers but neutral referees are essential but sorely lacking in our leadership today.
Impressionist Leadership: Nithya Raman’s 4,000-Word Masterpiece
Speaking of leadership, a reader shared Nithya Raman’s 4,000-word newsletter, which felt like a throwback to John Lee Staffer B's days. For the scholars, it was Zev Yaroslavsky who got the whole self-serving newsletter movement started when he was a Supervisor. Nithya Raman has now stepped up her own version of Pravda, meticulously crafting a newsletter with a clear narrative where she’s at the center of every success. From park accessibility initiatives to transit improvements, she paints herself as LA’s savior. But let’s not forget, much like the early Impressionists, the real story is in what’s not shown. Raman’s newsletter may gloss over the city’s deeper issues, but she’s making sure we all get the picture: she’s doing a fantastic job—if she doesn’t say so herself.
A Message from the Clerk’s Office
Oh, and before I forget, the City Clerk has kindly asked me to clarify what metadata I’m seeking in my request for public records. Well, Clerk, I’m just trying to get a clear picture of who’s really pulling the strings when it comes to speaker selection at city hall. After all, transparency is the name of the game, right?
Message to requester
Dear Mr. Preven:
Thank you for submitting your Public Records Request. In order for our office to determine if we have records responsive to your Request by the October 21, 2024 deadline, we will need to confirm what type of metadata you are requesting. Could you please specify the type of metadata that you are seeking?
Thank you,
Office of the City Clerk
Message from requester
Mr. Ross intends to provide the metadata from the call-in speakers to city hall eager to provide public commentary. Please provide as the City Clerk the list of in-person speakers for each of the meetings referenced and please provide a map or diagram or metadata as to how specifically those callers are selected and by whom. This is not unreasonable and not sure if you read any of the articles https://www.citywatchla.com/eric-preven-s-notebook
...and obviously, we don't want to disturb you while you are making a nice impression with the French legion and kicking off the Passport office... but the metadata and clarity on the selection of speakers are long overdue. Please provide your response by Noon today. Thank you.
Bonne chance,
Eric Preven
(Eric Preven is a longtime community activist and is a contributor to CityWatch.)
