CommentsRANTZ & RAVEZ-The message from the Mayor’s Valley Representative, Mr. Khorsand, that appeared in a recent edition of the Valley News Group publication, delivered Mayor Garcetti’s message to Valley residents.
The focus of the editorial centered around COVID-19 relief efforts for the Valley. Other than the COVID-19 concerns and locations for the COVID-19 shots and the impact on the business community, nothing more was presented to the readers looking for solutions to the number one issue in the Valley and most of Los Angeles: Homelessness and the related community concerns like blocked sidewalks with tents and piles of trash scattered throughout neighborhoods.
I suggest in future Guest Editorials that representatives from elected officials discuss the out-of-control homeless population that has spread across all regions of LA from the Valley to San Pedro and all points in between. It would be nice to know what solutions are being proposed by City Hall officials who keep asking for more funds even though that has made little if any impact on increasing homelessness. The people of Los Angeles deserve better living conditions and are fed up with the deterioration of our communities by the constant increasing, and at times, hostile homeless population.
What’s up next now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted?
Welcome back to congested roadways and crowded public areas. It’s nice once again to venture away from home and not have to wear a mask or worry about standing too close to people in public places. While most of us return to a life of normalcy, we will always remember the impact COVID-19 had on our lives. May God have mercy on those that fell victim to the pandemic and may those who died rest in peace.
The LA City Attorney remains under FBI investigation while campaigning to become the next Mayor of Los Angeles.
Recent evidence of serious political corruption is evident at LA City Hall. Former Councilmember Mitch Englander is currently in an Arizona Federal prison serving time for political corruption. Former Councilmember Jose Huizar is awaiting trial on Federal corruption charges. The Office of City Attorney Mike Feuer continues under federal investigation for alleged corruption involving DWP matters. Other City officials are facing federal corruption charges while the FBI investigations continue at City Hall.
While compelling evidence has resulted in criminal charges being brought against some Los Angeles City elected officials and appointed employees, life goes on as usual in Los Angeles and at City Hall. While City Hall personnel have been working remotely due to COVID-19, that situation will change as Los Angeles along with the rest of California returns to normalcy with the lifting of working and living restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
So. . .What’s Mike Feuer Doing?
It was no surprise that City Attorney and Mayoral candidate Mike Feuer dropped all criminal charges against the 179 protestors and others engaged in the demonstrations at Echo Park Lake during the recent relocation of homeless people who had turned the park into a squatter’s place to live. Echo Park became unsafe for residents in the neighborhood and others who ventured into the area to relax and enjoy the public space. Four deaths and blatant drug use there led local councilman Mitch O’Farrell to take action to clear and renovate the entire park to the tune of $600,000 tax dollars.
When protestors attempted to prevent city crews from securing the park to renovate the facility, the LAPD was called to secure the location. When protestors failed to disperse, arrests were made by large numbers of uniform LAPD officers. Officers were pulled from other parts of the city so there would be sufficient personnel deployed to carry out the detail. Feuer stated the following: “Free speech and peaceful protest are fundamental to our democracy.” If the protest were peaceful, it would not have been necessary to deploy officers to make arrests and cost the taxpayers of Los Angeles thousands of dollars.
The fact that Mike Feuer failed to file any criminal charges against any of the 179 protestors is reflective of his lack of leadership in doing his job as the prosecutor for the people of Los Angeles. If Mike Feuer can’t do his job as City Attorney, how can he manage the entire City of LA as Mayor? If you can’t protect the tax-paying people of Los Angeles, you should not serve or run for any elective office here.
Speaking of elected officials not doing their jobs, I must mention LA County District Attorney George Gascón.
The Recall of District Attorney George Gascón is moving forward with petitions being circulated throughout the county. More and more cities are coming forward joining the call to Recall Gascón from office. Cities from Lancaster to Manhattan Beach have joined the movement. Recall petitions are available online at Recall George Gascón.com.
Recall Mania in California and Los Angeles County and City continues as the Recall movement spreads from State to County to Local Officials.
While facing a Recall election by California voters, Governor Newson received good news from the California Citizens Compensation Commission. If he survives the Recall, Governor Newsom will receive a salary increase of $8,800 a year. His annual salary will jump to $218,500 a year plus benefits. The Governor will then be able to spend more time enjoying evenings at the French Laundry, a restaurant where dinner cost hundreds of dollars.
The recalls of two LA City Councilmembers are moving forward: Mike Bonin from the Westside of Los Angeles and the newest Councilmember from the East San Fernando Valley, Nithya Raman. It is obvious that many voters are not happy with some of the current elected representatives serving in public office.
(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.) AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes. Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
