DLANC Elections Draw Near; Participation Up, But Some Hurdles Remain

As an original member of the DLANC formation group it is safe to say no road is easy and no honest labor should be easily undone.

Let’ not forget that when DLANC was formed many entities wanted to see it undone and witness the failure of Downtown. At the time there were few community members calling Downtown their home.

I ran as a professional artist and was elected to one of the three Arts seats as was Brady Westwater and Kjell Hagen.

As artists we fought for a seat at the table. We persevered and in certification DLANC was the ONLY Neighborhood Council to have seats for the arts and cultural entities.

The voting rules may be odd and antiquated, but were required by the City for the original certification.

Let’s move on and let the new board make the necessary changes to clarify and expedite the process.

But please do not diminish the work and sweat equity of those who have gone before.

And, those new election rules weren’t the idea of DLANC, but of DONE and the Clerk’s Office. After the election it will be important that we get an opportunity to debrief with both offices to go over what worked and what needs improvement.

Although I was not on the formation committee, it is important to remember that the composition of the board was arranged to accomplish 2 sometimes competing goals.

First, was to be inclusive of all the different voices and interests in downtown. This was being arranged at a time 6 years ago, when a residential community was significantly smaller and not organized (or connected via blogs, ArtWalk, neighborhood walks, or friendships).Can folks remember life before Pete’s Cafe?

Many thought that either business would dominate all, or social service groups or outsiders and special interests would control the council.

So the board was arranged into geographical districts, both for residential and business, and also included a place for all the other organizations. Social services has 3, arts, cultural, education & professional artist have 3, public & private workforce have 2, homeless have one, and we even have a slot for none (or all) of the above. So inclusion on board representation is not the issue.

However, to protect that transparency, the founding members and the certifying bodies wanted those groups themselves to select the board members, not large organizations that could run slates of candidates. What is the purpose of demarcation, if it is easily washed away with a group controlling all the slots.

That may now be a false distraction, but at the origin, this was all an unknown. But you only have the look at neighborhoods such as Playa Vista, Sun Valley, or large organizations in Hollywood and one can see how an organized group can control the board.

I do agree that a revisit of this issue is needed. Enhanced participation is always a good thing. But when we looked at the issues, it is always a multi-layered onion that is not so easy to remake.

I know we have done a remarkable job for a volunteer organization, and are rebuilding communities and folks ability to get involved.

The best way to make your voices heard is to show up and participate. Next Thursday is your chance.

Oh, and we have 62 candidates running.

Thanks Eric for the post, for your past board work, and your continued involvement downtown.

DLANC Election Thursday June 12th (ArtWalk Day) at the Historic Los Angeles Theatre from 2 pm to 8 pm. 615 S. Broadway at 6th.

Tours of the theatre available after you vote.

I made a big deal of this only because I was one of the original founders of the neighborhood council downtown and the stipulation from the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners to allow Central City East /skid row within the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council , and Alameda East areas was that Skid Row be included in the process. Alameda East would not be in our boundaries of the larger downtown if it was not for people such as myself that fought ardently at certification, along with Michael Gagan and others. I whispered into his ear once skid row was being torn from the Larger neighborhood Council after the arts district was removed ,while the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners was making that recommendation I whispered into Michael Gagan’s ear that we respectfully withdraw our application for certification. Alameda East was dependent on skid row being in the neighborhood council boundaries.

I helped with this whole thing from the very beginning. It was my recommendation we include a real homeless person on the homeless seat .

I want to thank Russell Brown for taking up the slack for getting the information out to skid row and the rest of the neighborhood. Anytime people decide to disenfranchise skid row, whether deliberately or through inefficiency it makes it that much easier for skid row to take it’s cause of separation from the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.

our neighborhood council is diverse only because this community needed to begin to get in those rooms together.

Downtown Los Angeles has a history of allowing attorneys to dictate it’s future. Literally, when the development community wants to do something the advocacy community has “pro-bono” attorneys , who get paid through settlements in the courts. Attorneys on both sides of the issues got rich while downtown suffered.

NOw we are the point that the people of skid row have been putting those who claimed they speak for us in check, only because we are in those rooms with everyone else, and when one of those advocacy groups falsely claims to speak for us on a position we can let it be known.

For those who want to complain ; if we were to have nothing but at large elections the Social Service providers would win the majority of the board.

The business community , over 220,000 people leave Downtown Los Angeles in the evenings, leaving the homeless and those in the low income housing to dictate the elections if we revert to an at large election.

I am still offended that BONC would try and disenfranchise the people of skid row when they tried to make the recommendation that skid row be a separate neighborhood council. Only because at that time the people dependent on those services did not have the means to make sure that the service providers did not lord it over us. They have the resources and that is how they lorded it over us for over 20 years. Mention accountability and they howl and gnash their teeth.

I said it many times the social service providers do not provide the bulk of their services at the convenience of those that need them , but at the convenience of their 9-5 employees. The residents who live in the SRO’s would have been totally left out of the process because we live here, and the leaders , who would more than likely be employees of the social service providers would make the agendas and the schedule. Plus, can you imagine these service providers fighting over the money budgeted from the city? These providers are like ravenous wolves when fighting over new sources of funding for themselves.

I do beleive it is the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council that brought us Downtowners together as a “community”. I have lived Downtown since 1979 and it was never like this before.

Six years ago Downtown was a collection of buildings with folks knowing each other only through similiar interests, and/or business related associations. That has all changed and I would venture a guess that we each have friends with a variety on interests as well as varied issues.

Don, your post brings back memories of that long day of certification where the ever brillant BONC ripped the Arts District from the DLANC Boundaries and then continued with an attempt at the Skid Row exclusion.

However, back to the present and the many successes of the DLANC. This is going to be an exciting election.

Many thanks to each of you for your hard work and dedication. It has made all the difference.

So if we want to vote against someone, we must declare voter eligibility in that person’s category and vote for or write-in another candidate’s name?

Instead of voting against someone, how about getting involved and helping us all understand a better way?

Russell: Your response presumes uninvolvement. A fact not in evidence.

Our democratic system allows for votes against a candidate as much as it does votes for a candidate.

Russell:

Will you disclose how many nights you spent in the last two years at your West Hollywood condo before next Thursday?

DLANC voters might like their area-wide residential candidates to spend at least 51% of the time living Downtown.

So you don’t believe it is appropriate to a discussion on DLANC election rules to inquiry as to whether or not a candidate who is running for a residential seat, and how currently holds a residential seat, openly discusses his residence in another city?

Maybe Russell Brown does eat, drink and work Downtown, but he’s chosen to run as a resident so it’s a legitimate query into DLANC election rules as to whether or not a residential seat holder actually need reside Downtown. And, what defines a residency?

The manner in which a candidate defines their stakeholder status seems absolutely appropriate content. Why should one candidate be any more or less above scrutiny than another? That sounds more like free speech restriction. Quite anti-American when it comes to discussion on a government election.

i wonder why russell didn’t choose to run for the historic downtown business seat this time, considering that his new job as the executive director of the historic downtown business improvement district would qualify him for the seat. of course, that would have put him against michael delijani, one of the board members of the historic downtown bid.

he didn’t give up his current seat when he declared himself ineligible for it, but at least shiraz tangri is running for a business seat this time around.

and anyone who thinks developers don’t dominate dlanc is just fooling themselves. there have been a few people who have done a great job of carving out some money for skid row efforts (like don garza and leslie), but the only part of dlanc that actually fulfills it’s duties these days is the planning & land use committee. and outside of a few hostess bars, has that committee ever found a development it didn’t like?

I respect the work Russell Brown has done and the amount of time, energy and effort he has dedicated to DLANC. It was good to see that turned into a professional role in Downtown for him as well.

But if indeed Russell still lives at his West Hollywood condo more than he lives Downtown, and I have witnessed him reference his WeHo home in written and verbal communication during my brief affiliation with DLANC 2006-2007, then I am not comfortable voting for him as a residential director candidate regardless of what the rules allow.

Ask and ye shall recieve.

Almost 95% of the time the condo sits empty, occupied by friends, or empty. I slept there 3 days out of the last 3 months.

My apartment is in the Hellman Building. Anyone who knows me even slightly has been invited to the apartment for public events.

They also know that I share a 75 foot wall with the El Dorado, that is under construction. The noise, dust and construction issues have been so loud that at times, one can not hear the phone. Trying sleeping when jack hammers start at 7:15 am (after going to sleep at 3 am- check the sent email times).

It was so bad a few months ago, that the ODB staff gave us free offices in the San Fernando building for over 6 months. Many folks just moved out- which I could have done.

So, the answer is, I am almost never in WeHo. However, you should visit sometimes and see that if we did copy many of its great landscaped Main Boulevard, and pedestrian small business environment, we would be well served.

And also, wouldn’t it be easier to show up at a meeting and ask the question directly, or call instead of blogging the question.

Would really love to have so much spare time away that I worried about being considered an “out of towner”.

As for stakeholder category, you are correct, I (and most other active members) qualify for multiple stakeholder seats.

Since Michael Delajani is the present Historic Downtown business seat, was previous president of the Historic Downtown BID, is on the Executive Committee of the Bringing Back Broadway committee, and his companies own 4 of the historic theaters, why would I ask him to not stay involved in DLANC when he has been such a good supporter of the community. He is engaged on almost every downtown issue, less as a money maker and much more as a lover of architecture and the neighborhood.

We can discuss what we need to do to get the neighborhood improved, but the only way to do that is working with the owners, not against them.

So, I chose to stay in the same slot that I was 2 years ago.

i’d find the desire to keep michael delijani on the board more convincing if he showed up for board meetings on a regular basis, rather than regularly sending his alternate.

i have no interest in working against the owners, but there is a difference between working with them as a representative of all of downtown’s residential stakeholders, and being their employee. but i know we’ve covered that conflict of interest during meetings before, and russell denies that it exists.

All board members are requested to attend. Most have alternates. Sometimes the alternates become the regular board member.

Can only say that Michael is a great partner downtown, and would love to have more like him. He works with us in many forums, not just the 2 hours a month at the board meeting. He has dedicated staff that he supplies us with also as assisstance. Many, like Frank are attending the meetings on their own time not as paid employees and the end of 12 hour days. Indeed, we are all volunteers. Many putting in 4 to 80 hours a month.

We can call up Frank & Michael on little notice, and ask for free venues if needed. They provide all the staffing, security often dinner and refreshments to ALL that attend. Many times feeding 50-75 folks. Not just board members, but all that we invite to participate.

Last night’s candidate forum with over 40 of the 63 candidates in attendance is an example. DWP cancelled at the last minute, and the forum was almost cancelled. Frank Schultz (manager) the Michael steeped in on 5 minutes notice.

Seems no one has much cared for 3 years as the social service agencies were missing in action. And this was discussed many times in public meetings. So the Skid Row neighbors themselves got activated and involved. Folks like OG, General Jeff, Don Garza and others.

We now have 6 candidates running for the 3 social service slots, but if Michael’s attendance is an issue, what about whole parts of the community being missing in action?

And yes, ultimately, we are all employees, either to others, the community, the church, our spiruality or just a basic sense of responsibility to ourselves and others.

DLANC would hardly be the first NC to be taken over by land owners or their proxies fully aware of the roll of NCs in City Planning decisions.

The forum for the question and the anonymity of it does not malign its accuracy or relevance to the topic of rules, candidacy and voting.

If you had been able to attend the DLANC forum last night with over 40 candidates running (out of 65 total, more being added), not one a large proprty owner, and all dedicated grass roots neighbors and volunteers, any discussion of proprty owner domination would be negated.

But you are correct, not all neighborhoods are like downtown where all are rebuilding new communites.

No mention of how many of the 25+ candidates that did not attend last night’s candidate forum are land owners (landlords) or proxies (such as BID directors)?

DLANC’s financial statements are perhaps more interesting than where a candidate calls home. (That is, if you don’t like basketball and wonder what a $2,393.60 purchase at Apple Computer might have been for a NC’s use?)

Not only have the last five months’ worth of statements not yet been received at DONE – according to open source information on DONE’s website – but two candidate names POP out among DLANC check expenditures:

Apr-10-2008 BROWN JR, J RUSSELL DLANC-REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUTREA $ 1,261.18

Oct-31-2007 BROWN JR, J RUSSELL DLANC-OFFICE RENOVATION & SUPP $ 386.14

Sep-27-2007 BROWN JR, J RUSSELL DLANC-OFFICE RENOVATION/OFFICE $ 1,661.02

Jul-31-2007 BROWN JR, J RUSSELL DLANC-OFFICE RENOVATION, OPERA $ 1,673.65

Nov-07-2006 BROWN JR, J RUSSELL W/C-VALERIE STEFFENS-REIMBURSE $ 1,924.43

Mar-04-2008 BERMAN, PATRICIA D DLANC-WEBSITE MAINTENANCE-WEBM $ 1,460.00

Mar-04-2008 BERMAN, PATRICIA D DLANC-WEBSITE MAINTENANCE-UPDA $ 180.00

Feb-26-2008 BERMAN, PATRICIA D DLANC-JULES VERNE FILM FESTIVA $ 2,500.00

Total to DLANC check payments to Berman in 2008: $4140.00

Total to DLANC check payments to Brown in 2006-2008: $6906.42

No other candidates, nor any other directors, appear to be getting such first hand experience with DLANC’s treasury.

Let’s hope those other statements aren’t late because someone ‘lost’ petty cash receipts…

The DONE database appears to note the difference between simply received and actually completed. The date at the end of each entry indicates “Date/Received” (physical receipt). Note the two entries without receipt dates below are the ones referenced in post #23:

08 Complete 1st Quarter (Jul. - Sep. 2007) 10/16/07

08 Complete 2nd Quarter (Oct. - Dec. 2007) 01/24/08

08 Not Yet Received 3rd Quarter (Jan. - Mar. 2008)

08 Not Yet Received 4th Quarter (Apr. - Mar. 2008)

07 Complete 1st Quarter (Jul. - Sep. 2006) 11/01/06

metro local - so since patti got a check for “website maintenance”, does that mean that jim is due a check for website maintenance as well, considering the huge amount of work that he put into the dlanc website? are you saying she got paid, even though she was a volunteer like everyone else who donated their time and expertise?

and was that an apple laptop on the list of expenses? who gets to use the laptop, who has it in their hot little hands, and what’s wrong with the computers in the dlanc office that someone had to buy a laptop for dlanc? is someone doing so much traveling on dlanc business that they had to buy a laptop?

and i would rather post these questions in the comments section of this blog rather than in person, because whenever i asked tough questions like this at the dlanc board meeting, my questions were either ignored or swept aside for “more pressing issues”. basically russell, there’s no confidence that a direct question will be addressed satisfactorily . here, if questions aren’t answered, people can ask why not. and if the answer or lack of one isn’t to their satisfaction - they can vote accordingly. i know i will.

I am sure it would be better to have the city pay folks directly, and would be very glad to do that.

However, considering it takes 2-3 months to get anyone paid, that is why it was paid directly by me, and reimbursed by the city. All was audited and reimbursed. How else to you pay painters, sweepers, etc? And all is known to be posted publicly.

Ask Hendi, Henry and others who did the work how they were paid. From my wallet with reimbursement months later, a portion of it never reimbursed.

If any of this was improper, the city would not reimburse. All had receipts.

And yes the laptop went to LAPD including a horse for $5000 that took a year to get paid and about 100 hours of work to figure it out.

Thank goodness I did not pay for that or I am sure I would be accused of housing that in my WeHo condo that I am living in.

This has moved from questions to just trashing reputations. So goes community service, and so goes why so many folks do not want to get involved.

The City actually has a contract with a temporary personnel agency for NC’s to use. DLANC seemed to use it plenty prior to the current administration.

As far as what is happening here, this is transparency in how a NC operates. There’s been no trashing of a reputation, just exploration of relevant information.

The larger the role DLANC expects to play in Downtown, the more attention it, and candidates for its offices, should expect.

And yes, many people do not get involved in public service because of the disclosures required, but those disclosures have sound logic behind them like knowing where the personal financial interests of public officials are.

Ben Pezzillo (Metro Local)

I have no problem answering open questions with open identity.

Seems no one has any time to come to Budget meetings or other meeting to go over any of this. But there is plenty of time to throw out accusations at blogs.

So we need to go to Apple One, pay a 40% administrative up charge, schedule floor sweeping and painting a month in advance, or better to hire local folks who put hours of non paid volunteer work end, and pay $10 an hour for painting? Especially when it was a 80 hour project of rebuilding an abandoned free storefront. We asked for volunteers many many times, and no one volunteered. So we paid hard working local, most homeless folks to help. Come to the office, folks come in daily begging to get involved and work. Better to go to a city bureaucracy?

And yes we are doing more this administration, because the NC has gotten off its butt and been visible. Oh yea, we actually have an office that is in the middle of the community and changing neighborhoods. An office that ALL the improvements are the responsibility of the NC. An office donated for FREE by Gilmore (beholden to greedy developers again). An office that has electricity, cleaning needs, staffing needs and telephone expenses. All paid thru the DLANC budget or out of our/ my pockets to keep them from being disconnected and then chastised for getting reimbursed.

You are correct prior to this administration (me and new officers) we had a closet on 1st Street in Little Tokyo that was 50 square feet and you could not access. I guess when we moved to a real life outreach center, we should have stayed with expecting volunteers to sweep the floor, pay the phone and lights.

Especially when it is so much easier to complain than move brooms, paint, walk the neighborhood and get involved.

What accusations have proven unfounded Russell?

You don’t have West Hollywood condo? You weren’t aware of the process for getting labor with public funds?

Maybe if you didn’t personally offend anyone with an opinion other than yours, more people would get, or stay, involved?

Sorry, but I got into this page late. I’m a little surprised at some of this discussion. Every issue brought up here has been discussed, and where appropriate, voted on, in DLANC meetings. There should be no surprise about what was spent, when it was spent, and for what.

Even Russ’s WeHo condo has been the subject of discussion. There is no real story here either.

Attend the DLANC meetings, participate in the committees, and you will learn all you need to know about these things :-)

I’ve participated in DLANC meetings and committees and disagree that either should be necessary to “learn all you need to know about these things”.

DLANC is a government entity and it is not beholden upon the public to attend or participate, other than vote, in order to ask legitimate questions of those seeking its offices. Election time is the one time every two years there should be this level of examination of candidates and their track records.

Why? For starters, only Agendas for the last seven board meetings have been posted to DLANC’s website, no Minutes – only five meetings in the last year have posted Minutes:

http://www.dlanc.com/committees/bod.php?archive=1

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008: Agenda

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008: Agenda

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008: Agenda

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008: Agenda

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008: Agenda

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008: Agenda

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007: Agenda

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007: Agenda

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007: Minutes, Agenda

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007: Minutes, Agenda

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007: Minutes, Agenda

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007: Agenda

Tuesday, June 12th, 2007: Minutes, Agenda

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007: Minutes, Agenda

It’s offensive to say, ‘get involved if you want to know’ how public dollars are being spent or who is making decisions about approvals for planning and land use decisions. That’s not what transparent government is about, that’s not what representational democracy is about.

Is it fair to ask that of volunteers? It is when they seek public office.

This is why the Town Crier does not accept money from the city or the neighborhood council. It leads to this.

We are responsible to the citizens of this city when we spend money. This is hard earned tax dollars. A lot of the money that stays local and is put in the general fund of the city is sales tax, which means everyone , even people who don’t live in Los Angeles put money into the general fund. Hard working people who can’t even afford to live in Lofts downtown put money into the general fund.

We should hold ourselves accountable with that money.

I do have to say that Russell does not stay at his West Hollywood condo more than his Hellman Home.. I have been there. We were at Home Depot in Hollywood to pick up some things for the DLANC office and we went over to his condo to check on it. Gotta say that other people inhabit it. HE was complaining the whole time that the people staying there were goats , we drove back and then he parked his prius in the parking structure at the Hellman and he went home to sleep and to work on his DLANC stuff.

On another note: I have created a content management system at www.cryingdowntownla.com. I am not finished with it yet. It may not be pretty , but this cms is capable of having files uploaded , you can create your own blogs and I can create different sections and even create subdomains for different websites to be on that website. It only cost me 16 dollars. The neighborhood council payed 12,0000 dollars for a planning site using the same framework. You can even log in and create your own blog at my site, create galleries. I can even place regions on the front page where your posts or information is updated, easily, without html skills. Gotta love it. This is just the beginning. I have people knocking down my door for me to build and I will only charge a very small fraction of what DLANC paid. The way it looks at my page is sufficient for what I am doing, only because I have over 50 regions to place things on the front page. Others will get great css based sites.

Anyway, I think we should continue to question those who spend city money and ask for receipts and itemized requests. I saw this one coming.

What people don’t realize as Neighborhood Council Board Members is that they are under the same ethics rules as any government official in this state because the NC’s fall under the City Charter , this is why I am very careful in what I do; People will begin to question what is going on.

On another note: If you are going to be in public life be prepared for this. I don’t make excuses for those who are not running for the board or participating because they are afraid of public accountability ; that is the name of the game.

I agree that we should post as much as we can to the sites. I am not in charge of our website or postings, but do work with them on some of these issues.

The approved minutes should be posted. They are voted on and approved at the monthly meetings. It would not be difficult to have the secretary posts these.

The volunteer Outreach committee will be asked to help with this.

I agree, that the minutes are critical to track what we are doing and accomplishing. The agendas are the plans, the minutes are the record of the progress on the issues, and then a follow up report on each issue would be helpful.

We have been looking to create a council file type system that is searchable. That is what was referred to in Don’s email as the planning web site. We are groaning sometimes under a paperwork and complex issues avalanche. Most of this is now going to the 10 assorted yahoo groups, which are public, but not located at one site. There are links on each committee agenda that is posted.

It is difficult for those that are involved to manage this, since we are all volunteers, and have full lives outside our DLANC existence. We anticipated that this could be handled by volunteers, but after a year of discussion, we finally moved (publicly) to seek 3 proposals and picked the best vendor for an updated communication system. We also now have a paid administrative assistant taking board notes, planning committee notes.

Thanks for the reminder again. We all agree that communication to the public is important.

I am shocked and ashamed at the obviously mean-spirited and unfounded attacks on Russ Brown who frankly does not need to be attacked for his years of service for us. We are very lucky to have skilled, professional people like Russ willing to run the sometimes gauntlet of downtown politics and people. He works more hours than all of us combined.

Thanks Russ for caring about Downtown, you have our full support!

Christian Martinez, Publisher

ridiculous that for someone to raise questions they have to be subjected to this horrible amount of negativity. benjamin has every right to ask questions, as do i, as does any taxpaying citizen.

these candidates are running for public office. how dare you question any one’s right to publicly scrutinize them. btw, not to remind anyone of what their job is, but isn’t that what the press is supposed to do? what other basic freedoms do you want to deny?

I don’t recall a request for proposals going out at all over this issue of the new communications tool. Can someone send me the documentation that was sent out, and when the request for proposals for the website”the new communications tool” was publicly announced to the community at large?

I just installed an application not 20 minutes ago that took me only 10 minutes to set up. It will work when I have certain files loaded that I want people to be able to use search words for that directory.

I am not saying I wanted the job, but it sure didn’t cost me 12,000 dollars.

So who were the people bidding, when did the Request for proposals go out and who were those who sent in their requests for qualifications , and where can we find that information?

We might need to look at reimbursing Jim Winstead for his work. Considering someone , who is a volunteer, was paid for computer services, we might need to have him send in an invoice. And if I recall correctly, wasn’t it always stated that we don’t pay for salaries?

Jan-12-2007 APPLE COMPUTER INC ADV PAY-W/C VYIONE X3-4529-DLA $ 2,393.60 Dec-12-2006 TO FD 706/40 FR DOWNTOWN LA NC $ 521.30 Dec-05-2006 LAPD - Central Division TSF- COMPUTER & CAMERA EQP $ 2,363.24

You can go to the Department of neighborhood Council to see these expenditures.

can someone please tell me what this means?

http://www.done.lacity.org/onlinefunding/ncfunding.aspx

given all of the hours that russell works for downtown, i just wish he was good at it.

i’ve never seen a person at the head of a largely-volunteer organization that is so effective at driving away volunteers. anyone who has been to a board meeting has seen how vigorously he avoids responsibility for anything (with the outreach folks as a common scapegoat), belittles anyone who dares be critical (to the point of calling an argument with my asian wife a “dispute over eggrolls”), and has absolutely no interest in improving (or he might have cracked a book to figure out how to count a vote in the year or so after stanley tried to school him).

the manner in which little radio – owned by a board alternate, let’s not forget – was selected to build the planning committee’s website (oh wait, it’s something bigger now) is positively shameful. and the price is outrageous, made more so by the quotes from companies like razorfish that were used to justify it.

but maybe the planning website (or whatever it is now) will actually get put into use, unlike the work for which patti berman was paid thousands of city dollars.

christian, the problem with your shock and alarm is that these “attacks” aren’t unfounded. i’m unconvinced that they do more than scratch the surface.

Jim,

I do have to disagree with you on the issue of volunteers. The previous administration had that notorious reputation of discouraging volunteers ,because that head wanted to do everything, but then again when you look at the payments that were made from the planning committee for certain projects , why volunteer when you can get paid? And very well , I might add.

Russell has done a fine job of gaining volunteers, esp from the Central City East Community. Yes, we have to put up with him and his dismissive attitude when you publicly challenge him , but what else can you do?

We do need to take a harder look at these expenditures. If we do not , then we will run into problems.

It is your right as citizens to challenge those in power.

As Always,

An American who has seen combat first hand and values the first amendment. Something I am willing to give my life for.

See you guys on Thursday.

“but what else can you do?”

Vote for someone that does not make derogatory remarks about a volunteer’s national origin at a public meeting (e.g. The time Russell Brown responded to my objection about having a DLANC meeting on Columbus Day, an official City holiday, by saying it was effectively ‘a celebration of the spread of disease and pestilence’).

In short, I don’t see the correlation between number of hours donated to an organization and license to offend and insult the very people who have volunteered to get involved themselves.

EGGROLLS AND CORNDOGS: Yummy!

I find it interesting that while there’s a lot to discuss and information to exchange, we get the “Eggroll” complaint from Jim. How petty can it possibly get? How silly can this discussion get? Hear-say and nasty Innuendo. This is not a matter of freedom of speech, or press, it is about the same few, distorting truth and issues to deliver personal attacks based on a potential insult to a wife…? We have seen this sort of thing many times before.

All DLANC information should be public and is. The free discussion of neighborhood/DLANC topics is very important, personal attacks are not.

Don Noyes-More

Don: Do you hear yourself? You don’t think racial and ethnic derogatory remarks by a candidate for a public office in the most diverse section of Los Angeles is important to the free discussion of DLANC issues? You’re off the rails.

I have to say it. Benjamin you opened it up…

Can’t resist.

Don Noyes More isn’t off the rail , he is on the rails: Ruby on rails that is.

I don’t mean to make light of the conversation , but this website uses Ruby On Rails as it’s platform.

When you said he was off the rails I had to laugh…

i find it odd that all of the issues i brought up, don noyes-moore decided to pick up on my example of russell’s belittling of my wife. this is not hear-say – it’s something that happened at a public meeting. more than one, in fact. and it’s only an example – i used it only because i knew that celia was already involved in this discussion, and i wouldn’t be dragging someone into the conversation unwillingly.

if you dig into the history a little bit, don, you’ll find that i was defending russell from some ugly personal attacks during the last election. but after seeing him in action as president of dlanc, i’m not going to stand by and let his bad behavior as president go unchallenged.

it would be a great idea to take this to the redwood, ed, if that weren’t co-incident with the last dlanc board meeting before the election.

Skid Row? Helping Skid Row?

Was Russ really helping Skid Row when he made his statements on the behalf of DLANC at the December CRA meeting? We heard there was an apology, but it never made it to LACAN.

Russ has a well known history of disparaging others who don’t side with him. And now, his actions are being documented (the CRA meeting is on video).

Some residents, including all of the boardmembers and alternates who call Central City East and Skid Row have willingly traded silence in order to remain in Russ’s good graces. Hopefully soon they will see how they are continuing the cycle of abuse, but that takes a great deal of courage and blind faith.

Just another example of how Skid Row residents are taken advantage of by City organizations.

becky, the grievance you filed was on the agenda at the executive committee meeting the day after christmas, and as i recall from the meeting, russell promised to send at least a clarification to the cra that he was speaking on his own behalf, not that of dlanc.

i don’t remember if he promised to apologize for his statements or not. and i don’t know that it was really within the scope of a dlanc grievance to compel russell to apologize for his statements, only that he own them and make it crystal clear in the future when he was or was not speaking on behalf of dlanc to city agencies. (especially important given the number of hats that russell wears, and his proclivity for sticking his foot in his mouth.)

it was also on the agenda for the board of directors in january, which does say “letter of apology,” so perhaps there was more to it that i’m just forgetting. unfortunately, the january minutes aren’t available yet.

according to the bylaws, you should have received a written notice of the executive committee meeting at least four days in advance so that you could speak on your own behalf.

I really don’t think that is Becky writing she articulates much better.

Public apologies were given at 2 DLANC meetings. I personally delivered a written apology letter to Becky. Becky should be aware of that.

I’m curious about the comments Becky Dennison made. What did Russell say at the December CRA meeting? What did he (or should he have) apologized for?

Becky (or anyone else, including Russell), would you give us some more details?

Russell, do you have a copy of your apology letter? Will you make it public? If it’s public record, I’d like to post it on my blog.

I’ve found this to be an illuminating discussion. I appreciate everyone’s input. Transparency is a good thing.

Joe,

Talk with me off line and I will give you a copy of the letter. Cell 213-999-0379.

For all of the imperfections that Russell has , I have to give him credit for standing up to LA CAN. I had been being intimidated by one of their members for a while because I had a differing opinion.

The other thing is that skid row and it’s other not for profits were not involved as much until Russell Brown became the President.

For those who don’t know why Russell did not do anything about our outreach chair person, who was constantly behind on work. He said how could he remove someone who was pregnant .

You have every right to question him since he wants to run as area wide resident. Personally , I see that there are others out there who are very dismissive of those of us in skid row.

None of you helped me with the Automated public toilets issue and none of you helped me with the Central City East Dash bus issue , because for many of you skid row has never been a priority.

I brought up the fact that our housing providers were not doing enough to protect us during heat waves and was ignored by those on the public health and safety committee and have been working on this issue on my own. You know who you are. So people living in glass houses should not be throwing stones.

Benjamin Pezillo was one of those who outed FILM LA when there was shady things going on. Now he is on the case of the Neighborhood Council. Mark my words. Those of you out there who think you can’t be found out , well , be very afraid he is coming after you.

One thing people need to know is that Russell stood up for residents in low income housing. He is the reason that the New Genesis Hotel will have proper ventilation so that the tenants don’t suffocate or suffer from heat stroke in the summer time. When has LA CAN and Becky stood up for those in the Skid Row Housing Trust and SRO Hotels after they have been converted?

We owe it to Russell because he made sure that the Mayor’s office knew about the way these housing providers were just putting up any old building , 4 walls that turn into ovens and we are supposed to be grateful , which we are. That doesn’t mean we have to live in ovens either?

I hope people realize that they also aren’t perfect and neither am I? But remember when Skid Row Housing trust and LAMP were not working with us to help clean up main street , they are now?

LA CAN thrives on controversy. IF everyone is working together then they are out of a job. AS much as Russell opens his big mouth and says some of the most politically incorrect statements , he has managed to get people working together. HE is one of the only people I know willing to stand up against LA CAN

As long as the lowly residents hide behind the so called advocates , no one will stop the abuses because the abuses don’t just come from the business community or the LAPD. For over 25 years the abuses have come from the social service providers which were without accountability. It is the residents who will hold them accountable. We can’t be bought because this is where we live. We see the need for balance and fairness. It can’t be just one way or another.

We should be able to speak for ourselves. I never saw the video from the CRA hearing , but I think I should.

In all honesty, if you want to go back to the way it was before , go for it. But be prepared to have skid row up in arms because we will be ignored.

But I will not apologize for the fact that we need to hold all board members accountable for the money that was spent. I knew it was coming. So sad.

Just recently the public has been able to see the expenditures , so now we are all aware for where the money is going.

Don Garza,

I remember you raising the heat related health risks last summer but also recall asking you what you thought DLANC could do that wasn’t being done already and neither of us being able to come up with a solution to act upon. I also recall I proactively circulated information on the cold weather shelter program in 2006-07 with pick-up places and times.

As I stated many posts above, I do respect Russell’s commitment to DLANC – I just don’t believe that dedication alone obfuscates the other issues raised here. And I do believe that important issues have been raised here that voters have a right to know about when making their decisions.

What is going on with this string of posts is the beauty of politics in the 21st Century, candidates don’t get to control the forums anymore, citizens do – that’s real democracy.

People get to decide Thursday. My vote went in by mail already and I am proud to say I voted for you Don.

Good luck,

Ben

There is no doubt in my mind that Russell is committed to his work with DLANC and he definitely has potential. As evident in many of the comments posted here, however, he clearly needs to work on his rough areas.

The man can talk the spots off Ruby’s tummy. Does he know how to listen?

My own interaction with him as DLANC president was not satisfactory. I told him at Banquette that I was disappointed that no reception was planned for Ed Fuentes and his mural over the Regent Theater. His first response was aggressive. “How many meetings have you been to,” he asked. Huh? I’m not the one who ran for a seat on the council. He also knows I have limited energy for things like night-time meetings.

He then went off on a mini-rant about how he wasn’t going to spend any more of HIS money on the project. I wasn’t requesting that he spend his own money (unless he considers the council’s money to be his). I was so put off that I told him we didn’t need his help to throw the reception. Two other people were with me and can verify what I have relayed.

Why didn’t he sit down and brainstorm with us? That whole experience made me not want to deal with him again.

Russell–facing opponents who are not waging good campaigns–will probably win but he hopefully will take all the feedback to heart and will work in a more positive, nurturing manner. Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire, and so many of the comments here are mighty hot!

Ben, I’m with you. I’m voting for Don too. He deserves to win.

tonight’s board meeting was another object lesson in how criticism gets handled in meetings run by russell – don raised the issue (again) of dlanc’s mixers always being held at alcohol-serving locales, and it quickly got dismissed as if it was only a matter of people who didn’t want to drink, not a genuine concern for people in recovery. and then as the meeting went on, board members cracked jokes about being drunk when don asked another question, marginalizing him further.

was it a tremendously big deal? no. but it is absolutely pervasive at these meetings, and it is poisonous to fostering thoughtful deliberation and an inclusive community.

Jim,

You and I can disagree and that is fine.

Don brought up the discussion about the mixers, Antoineete (social service) spoke for 5 minutes also on the subject. So did Shiraz, Mamta, Kathleen and others. Shiraz mentioned that he goes to the events, never drinks and feels very comfortable with the events.

We discussed this issue for almost 10 minutes with many folks involved.

We all agreed that a wide choice of mixers makes sense. We also all agreed that we would create alternative mixers in other neighborhoods including non bar and non alcohol events. Folks just need to step up and organize the events.

And yes, we joked that we should all go get a drink and have some fun together. You can go to a bar or cafe with friends and laugh and it has little to do with alcohol.

Actually the comment was that sometimes we all act drunk in the office even when no one has had anything to drink. I guess we are speaking different languages here.

How folks interpret events is in the eye of the beholder.

In response to Joe’s comments, he is correct and I was short. For that I apologize.

Joe stated that I should have had a reception for the opening of the mural. I (too abruptly) stated that I did not have any available time or resources to add another project on to my schedule. There was no budget and I could not fund it myself.

Dale, Ed and I had already had many conversations about doing a reception and it never happened. Ed & Dale agreed that it was not a priority. The response back to Joe (again, abruptly by me) was that if folks wanted an event, that they should come to meetings and plan one. I was told that was not their job, but was mine. “That is why I elect you.”

Should I have handled it more diplomatically? Absolutely. But we are all in meetings all the time. Seems more energy goes into writing about getting work done, than actually doing the work.

Although I agree we have many great events that can be planned, they take time, resources and volunteers. None of those appeared for an event on the mural.

It is a great mural and all should be proud that made it happen.

Look folks, do I get frustated. Sure.

But just get involved. With DLANC (or not), with other groups, with politics (heaven knows good presidential candidates need our help.) Plant some flowers, help the folks in Skid Row, go to ArtWalk and create a better neighborhood. Or just be a friend.

Sounds sappy, but if no one is enjoying life, what are we wasting all of our energy on?

Don Garza’s healthy approach towards the monthly mixers is just one more reason he should be elected to the DLANC as director at large. Thank you, Jim, for being at the meeting and supporting sober mixers. Although one man said he doesn’t drink and is comfortable at them, I don’t drink and I won’t attend functions where alcohol is served. I know others who feel the same way.

Russell mentioned that “alternative mixers” will be held. Does that mean that the alcohol events will continue monthly, but that there will be other “alternative” events? If so isn’t that like saying we non-drinkers can’t sit at the big table but we can go sit at the card table?

Why does the DLANC put alcohol on a pedestal? I remember that alcohol had the spotlight during Russell’s mixers when he was head of Out in DTLA. Back then he also wanted to create “alternative” sober mixers. Serving alcohol at mixers is “traditional” he said. It would continue.

How family friendly is an event where most people are drinking? Why aren’t all mixers sober and “alternative” mixers with alcohol?

Don, what was your take on last nights events?

I spent all night hacking a cms so it would work correctly for one of my clients. Diddn’ get to sleep until 4 am. I am too tired to coment.

My life has made a 180 degree turn. My health is still out there , but my life has come to the point I have some exciting things happening this year.

It is so strange to know that I will be so financially stable that I do not fear those who think they have money and wealth.

Things are changing quickly for me. I am so grateful for those of you who supported me when others looked down at me.

Most of them are cowards in the first degree.

I learned what man can do to each other. So I know that we are worthwhile beings , those that don’t think they are are the ones causing all of these world problems.

Anyway, Joe, God Bless you and Ruby.

I had a wonderful time today with some friends who are going to take me to the next level. It is just going to be so strange to be in a position where I don’t have to worry about others who think they are better than me or even worry about money.

On the issue of the MACs we gave two. One to newton and one to central police station.

Now the only discrepancies are the money for volunteer work and the panning website. It better be all that because if it isn’t, many people will make a big stink.

If I don’t win tomorrow I will still be on a track that will eventually make me ready in two years. But with the amount of money I will have and be able to use , I will not need the neighborhood council to implement the policies that will help us clean up this mess in skid row and Downtown.

I am thinking about buying into the Little Toky Lofts and another place downtown in Southpark.

W shall see.

I was informed by bloggers on this list that they had seen my post. I don’t blog. Someone clearly posted under my name with information that is only partially true and with language about Central City East residents that I would never use. For the record, I did receive an apology letter from Russell, but that was not my request. I actually wanted a letter sent to the CRA Board clarifying that Russell’s testimony regarding LA CAN did not reflect an official DLANC position.

I’m happy to talk about my opinions of DLANC, or any other criticism raised about LA CAN, face-to-face. I am dismayed that someone would blog under my name with information that purposely makes it seem like it was me. For the future, it’s never me on a blog. I prefer to talk in person and you can find me at 456 S. Main Street. Becky Dennison, beckyd@cangress.org

Becky and I had a nice chat today. The last post really is Beck Dennison of La Can. She’s a bright, well-spoken person and it was good to run into her.

I knew that wasn’t you , Becky. You are very articulate in what you write and speak about. Clearly, that was not you.

Thanks for voting.

See you later

UPDATE: For those who are to watch the ballots counted:

http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/ncdocs/Tally%20Change%20of%20Venue.pdf

Due to the high number of ballots cast, the tally for the following Neighborhood Council elections will be conducted at Piper Technical Center on Friday, June 13, 2008

Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council 2:00 P.M.

City of Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk Election Division Piper Technical Center

555 Ramirez Street 3rd Floor, Space 300 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: (213) 978-0444 (888) 873-1000 Fax: (213) 978-0376

I would like to thank those who voted for me during the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Election.

The results were as I expected in the at large category. I garnered 151 votes and my opponent Alex Cha garnered 256 . This was expected. It isn’t a large margin and that was what I was expecting. Since I didn’t do much campaigning until the last two days because of the people telling me that they had voted for me or were going to vote for me.

I would also like to thank those who voted against me because running in the at large category was also a strategy to take votes away from the other candidates so that the person I would have voted for could win.

Either way , I won. A fellow Desert Storm Veteran and a lawyer and a downtown resident, Alex Cha, will take his rightful seat on the board of directors.

I want to extend my congratulations to those who won and especially my friends in Central City East who have so far won in their seats in the preliminary count.

The work I have done in forming the Neighborhood Council Downtown and the Work to encourage my neighbors in skid row to participate has paid off. It has been a long road.

But let’s be honest. The west side of Downtown would have come out in droves and voted for me. I would have gathered over 2000 votes maybe even over 5,000. But I had no idea anyone would actually vote for me. SO I didn’t call in my friends from all over downtown to vote.

I want to thank Downtown for their confidence in me and I will still try to work for the businesses downtown and the whole community.

I have accomplished much even though I haven’t been on the board of directors and will continue to do so.

Congratulations to General Jeff and Wendell Blassinggame and Antoinette Falice. You have made my dreams come true. We finally have the marginalized of skid row on the board of directors of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. It has been a hard 6 years.

On another note. I am happy. MY life is also taking a different turn .

See you in two years. I won’t be a skid row resident then.

And to those who criticize the neighborhood council , we have accomplished much that you may not be aware of.

Don Garza Thank you

Don, as I mentioned to you the other evening, you deserve to be recognized for your outstanding “first run”! Next time, get your westsiders to vote!!! :o)

Ok

Well, it was like pulling teeth, but I finally got the information from Russell and I remember also that Patti did computer work , but it was not website work. She basically put together lot’s of boards , lot’s of them for presentations. And I also remember that they were sometime short notice and knowing Patti she was up all hours of the night and early morning working on this stuff.

Whoever is sending in these budget items to the City needs to be a little bit more accurate in what they write . I think it is a travesty when people write these things and are note specific enough and then people are left wondering if there was some sort of malfeasance. When Patti did all of this work we did not have a part time person working in the DLANC office. The pay was pretty reasonable since it was a lot of work , I remember this. Lot’s of work.

And as far as getting paid for the Jules verne Film Festival , I was there as a volunteer. NO offense to the people from the Jules Verne film festival , they were difficult to work with, thus Patti stepping in to work that event was a godsend and it was reasonable pay. I was there at the event volunteering and they had her walking on egg shells. It was an A list event , so we got off pretty darn cheap.

So , whoever is writing the budget items sent to the city needs to be a bit more specific on what “computer stuff” means. Etc. Etc.

Like I said, I finally got the answer from Russell. And then I was like ,” oh yeah , duh!!” Lord, trying to get this information from Russell is tough, but I got it. Jesus,,,,

We didn’t have a lot of people working on these items at the time and trying to get people to get paid from the city takes a while. Russell had to use a lot of his own money , and then wait to be reimbursed.

I remember when Eric pissed me off during the town crier competition by using his credit card so that he could later get reimbursed from DLANC. I hate it when people have to use their own money and wonder when the City will finally reimburse people. But I think he got reimbursed. You see , we never know when the city will say they won’t pay for something and the DLANC board member gets stuck with the bill because the city can’t pay for it. In that situation it happened because we bought the town criers alcohol at restaurants( of course I was opposed to this because I suspected that the city wouldn’t pay) and the city was not clear on this. So guess who was stuck with the bill? Thank God Lesley Taplin Stepped in and paid some of it .

SO now we know the truth.

Please , whoever submits these budget items to the City , be a little more specific.

And on another note; Contrary to popular belief, Russell Brown does not have a horse in his loft downtown nor his condo in Hollywood.

Congratulations to all the DLANC winners and a BIG Thank You to all the candidates that ran in the election. This is Democracy at it’s very best; the local level. Taking the time to care enough to run is really wonderful!

Christian Martinez, Publisher