Brian
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Post by Brian on Feb 25, 2009 1:00:20 GMT -8
Thought I'd better start a thread since the election is next Tuesday, in case I want to spew. Or anyone else wants to post. Several of us live up here, notably Nancy, Debra and Karen. Our councilmember, Wendy Greuel, is running for city controller. And there are a few positive city measures. Courage Campaign sent out its endorsements yesterday: www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/LAVoterGuideTheir first voter guide in November had more progressive groups' endorsements to compare, naturally. Again the layout is clean even if the copy is sparse on details. But I did my own research and came to most of the same conclusions on how to vote on the issues.
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Post by martine on Feb 25, 2009 16:17:42 GMT -8
Ok I have a stupid question. Nobody laugh at me!!!!
Is this for the entire city of Los Angeles or just your corner of it? I *have* read the title of this thread, so I *am* aware of the fact that you've written "L.A." but I just want to know.
How can you tell I've been at work all day where I was asked to read something like a 2nd Grade child over and over again until I "got" it.
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anni
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Post by anni on Feb 25, 2009 17:46:32 GMT -8
L.A. is sooooooooooooooooooooooo spread out that even people born here don't really know! I'm not really the best person on the subject, but I'm here, now. There is L.A. County and the City of Los Angeles and a couple of unincorporated cities...and different cities vote on different ballot measures, amendments and candidates in and of the voter's "hood". So what don't you get???
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Feb 26, 2009 0:09:48 GMT -8
I probably confused things by saying "up here." Tujunga was incorporated until the Depression, when we joined the City of Los Angeles. Hardly anyone says he lives in Los Angeles -- we use the names the post office and realtors give our neighborhoods, like Hollywood, Koreatown and Valley Village. Two miles east of us, Sharon lives in the part of La Crescenta that's in Glendale, which like L.A. has its own city government. So does Roberta, downhill and south in Montrose. Jeanne lives in unincorporated La Crescenta, ill served by her Los Angeles County supervisor -- only one of five for the whole county -- who also run countywide agencies like the courts and the sheriff's department. More than you asked, Martine, I know. Come here this year and enjoy the beauty, if not our government. Next Tuesday, probably only a ridiculous 20 percent of registered voters will show up or mail ballots. Mayor Villaraigosa is running for reelection effectively unopposed. There could be runoffs in May for city controller or city attorney but the turnout for that would be worse if there weren't a statewide special election on the same day. I'll bet that one could draw 25 percent.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Mar 1, 2009 1:50:52 GMT -8
The mailbox sags and the phone bleets because of this city election. We always vote -- and Anni was naive enough to include her phone number when she registered Democrat after being Green because of Obama last year. Lots of money is being spent, especially on TV ads.
Do they know what they're getting into? Saturday's Los Angeles Times says the city is facing a $1 billion deficit in the next two years because of pension plan investments and declining revenues. (I spent the past month filling out city business license forms, and everyone showed drops in receipts from 2007.) They're talking about leasing the zoo and parking meters.
Will Villaraigosa even be able to run for governor in 2010 if Los Angeles is falling apart? Should Wendy have spent the last two years of her career as a council member fixing this mess instead of trying to become the keeper of the city purse?
I hope these people sending us all these flyers are ready for a new age.
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anni
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Post by anni on Mar 1, 2009 13:37:03 GMT -8
May each and every one of us have the strength and be prepared to speak truth to power, expecting no less in return.
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Post by annie90807 on Mar 2, 2009 10:44:01 GMT -8
May each and every one of us have the strength and be prepared to speak truth to power, expecting no less in return. Amen!
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Mar 4, 2009 1:15:40 GMT -8
Our polling place was the municipal center next to the library, a long skateboard ride down from the usual Bolton Hall. Seven precincts voted there -- in just four booths. I got the full attention of all four poll workers, three of whom were kids, at 8 a.m. When Anni arrived around 2, they said only 41 voters had shown up. There must be at least than many registered on our block. Aren't there?
Official turnout was 10.73 percent.
That shocked me more than the size of Wendy's landslide win for controller. It's already time to think about who will replace her on the city council.
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