[Lapg] Meeting Sat, for future of LA

[Cory Brennan]

I can't make this but it would be good for permaculture to have a voice at things like this. We have a really, really key part of the solution that these guys need to know about!

slap
Saving L.A. Project Meeting

Noon    Saturday    Oct. 24

Hollywood Community Center

6501 Fountain Ave. 90028
 
Dear Friend:

My apologies for the late notice but so much is going on and there are so many meetings...

I hope you can come to the Saving LA Project meeting this Saturday at noon at the Hollywood Community Center, 6501 Fountain Ave. so we can coordinate community efforts on a broad range of issues.

If you look back over the year, you can see how a dramatic shift in power is taking place in LA that is changing the balance of power. It's a big mountain to climb but community groups across the city are gaining strength and those of you involved in SLAP have played an important role.

This is a good time to take a look at what has been achieved and how we develop strategies to bring balance and some common sense to city affairs.

"LA is broke and broken" has become a commonly used phrase to describe the state of the city. The $400 million budget deficit four months into the fiscal year and the threat of municipal bankruptcy remain the most critical issues.

City Hall has cut deals with most unions that do little to solve the problem. At best, they are hoping to get through this year and praying for an economic miracle that will save the city from confronting its financial problems.

Deferring tens of millions of dollars in expenses into next year and beyond, borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars and other steps to ease the pressure for the moment do nothing to solve the problem of city costing too much and delivering too little.

As community groups have gotten stronger and better organized, City Hall has gotten weaker and confused. They are paralyzed.

Look at how they backed down on planning fee hikes, water rate hikes, power rate hikes, storm water fee hikes in recent months -- all of which will be coming back in the days ahead as they become more desperate for the public's money.

Look at how, after years of bungling, they have started to deal with the proliferation of billboards and marijuana dispensaries.

There are dozens of other signs that City Hall is responding to the growing power and organization of community-based groups. Council members recognize this and starting to respond.

A lot of work needs to be done to really turn LA around. I believe we are at a turning point where real change is possible but it will take us redoubling our efforts.

I hope you can come to Saturday's meeting and share your issues and help develop strategies that will take the movement to save LA to the next level.

Best as always,

Ron Kaye