I promised myself I would write every day in here, while I’m not sure what I will be writing about I figure it will be just about anything I can think of which means I may be getting creative which might be a little painful to read at times.

I suppose I should start with an update of the last six months. Most importantly, I was laid off December 1st from my job at the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. Its no secret that non-profits all over are struggling to survive in this down economy and especially in Los Angeles with the budget crisis what it is. I feel I am fortunate enough to have a strong background and have a wealth of knowledge in both the day-to-day operations of parks and the creation of parks from the, no pun intended, grass roots on up. Okay maybe a little pun. Its this knowledge and experience that makes me an attractive option to consult in parks and particularly community based organizations. We shall see what comes of it. For the time being I will be dedicating my time and energy to other projects that I have, perhaps, not focused as much attention as I owe them. Such as…

I have agreed to stage manage a play at the USVAA Theater which I am currently a board member of. I also produce a monthly improv show there called “Nation of Improv presents the Culver City Slam“. A mouthful I know and I wish I could say the name wasn’t my idea but it was. The play is called “Bug” which was written by Tracy Letts. Its about a possible AWOL Gulf War Veteran who holes up with a cocktail waitress in some motel in Oklahoma and is a little funny in the head. The dude not the chick. I highly recommend everybody go see it and I’m sure I’ll be writing and tweeting about rehearsals and stuff along the way. It opens February 26th and will run for four weeks which means…

I’ll have to miss a few shows because I’ll be in Washington DC for a week in March to advocate for the creation of a 44 acre park in the heart of Hollywood. A project many of you know is very near and dear to my heart. This trip is a chance to get the required money to build which will be far less than the $2.25 million the Federal Government granted California to build a high speed rail system from Los Angeles to Anaheim and Los Angeles to San Francisco. This trip will be my very first to our nations capital and while I know I’ll be busy going from meeting to meeting which includes the Capitol, White House and other offices I would also like to visit historical monuments and such. Exciting for me and you can be sure I’ll have my…

I recently got very serious about my photography inspired by my friends Dana Arak, Alex Thompson and a few other online community friends. I began to bulk up my camera bag with better, more appropriate lenses for work and pleasure. For example, I will be taking promo shots for the above mentioned “Bug” which I won’t be getting paid for but could lead to work if somebody sees and likes what I take. I plan on using my “brand new” minolta 58mm f1.2 lens for this occasion. (look it up. Its legendary.) I say “brand new” because while I haven’t used it more than a couple times to test it, the lens is actually older than I am and of course Minolta no longer makes camera lenses. I’ll also try and leave you with samples of my photography at the beginning of every post.

Now, while I’ve only just touched on what I’ve been doing I didn’t have a proper lead to another project I’m working on so its just going to have to wait until tomorrow or another day to update on other stuff. But, for now, I think I have fulfilled my self imposed quota of writing for February 1st even though we are now well into February 2nd.

Downtown LA will have several street closures tomorrow (7-7-09) due to the massive crowds expected to turn out for Michael Jacksons Memorial at the Staples Center.  Please plan accordingly.

Map of Street Closures

One thing that I would like to say however is I do not like double standards.  A couple of weeks ago the City was outraged at the thought, possibility and eventual reality of having to front the cost of police and security for a Lakers Victory Parade.  Today, I hardly hear anybody complain about having to front the cost of police and security for Michael Jacksons Memorial.  Maybe the Staples Center needs to help front the cost of this event and not have Councilwoman Jan Perry hustle on the phone trying to get donations.

So I’m going to be on this radio show, Saturday June 6th at 2pm. Everybody should check it out!

http://www.improviders.com/ASRadio.html

I just received a Press Release from Jay Handal the Chair of the WLANC and West Area Budget Representative saying:

Budget and Finance Committee Agree

This just in!  We did it!  Now we need 8 votes on Friday.

$45,000, no sweeps, clerk does elections. Dollars are coming from clerks election budget. No mail-in voting. NCs will help with elections.

No I’m not talking about the weather.

Bernard Parks introduced a motion in the Budget and Finance Committee (which he chairs) to increase the Mayors recommended $5,000 cut in neighborhood council funding to a drastic $38,800 per NC!  This is just plain stupid.

I’ve always said Councilman Parks is a bitter old man who has never forgiven the City for allowing Mayor Jim Hahn to fire him.  Not only did he vow revenge by running for City Council but he has run for every open seat available to him since and lost.  This of course makes him and even more bitter man and decides he’s going to take it out on his constituents who voted him City Councilman in the first place!  Smooth move Bernie, smooth move.

Today, at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting over a hundred Neighborhood Council representatives came out to speak on why this funding should remain.  Two hours of Neighborhood Council testimony ranging from people representing the Harbor all the way to West Hills and everything in between still was not enough to persuade Councilman Grieg Smith (how is Grieg pronounced Greg? I don’t know) to side with the NC’s saying he cant lay city workers off.  I’m a city worker! I should be happy!

Not!  WTF Bernie? WTF Grieg?  You guys suck.

Neighborhood Councils do all the dirty work that City Council should be doing but don’t want to get their hands dirty by shaking our hands and thanking us.  Neighborhood Councils are what truly make this city great and for the past seven years they have been doing a formidable job with inadequate funds.

Neighborhood Councils came under attack and they responded today.  I hope this doesn’t get too ugly.  I plan on getting my hands dirty for this one.

In the end, the committee voted on $35,000 in annual funding, no sweeps of any kind and the City Clerk does the elections with reduced amount of funding from the budget.

We need no less than $45,000.  I urge you all to call your councilmember and ask them to push the $45,000 annual neighbrohood council budget but you can forget about Parks and Smith since they dont support the NC’s.

Greuel, Rosendahl and Hahn support us already so call these guys:

Reyes 213-473-7001
Zine 213-473-7003
LaBonge  213-473-7004
Weiss 213-473-7005
Cardenes  213-473-7006
Alarcon  213-473-7007
Perry  213-473-7009
Wesson  213-473-7010
Garcetti  213-473-7013
Huizar  213-473-7014

Yesterday LA City Council voted to spend $500,000 on a study to see if selling off parking meters to private owners as well as six parking garages in order to “fill in the gaps” in the budget would work.  Really?

Let me get this straight.  You are paying $500,000 to see if you can make some money off of selling property that already makes you money?  Really?

I mean, really?

While you’re at it, why don’t you start selling the naming rights to City Hall? Can you see it now? The Northrup Grumman City Hall and City Council meetings can be held in the Ronald D. Sugar Chambers.

The only opposition to this study was Councilman from the 12th District Grieg Smith.  Well done.

Here is a novel idea; don’t spend $500,000 on stupid studies and use that money to fill your “gaps”.  This might have worked in Chicago but do you really think it will pay off in LA?