Friday, June 05, 2009

Friday- more Special Events and Fee Waivers awarded by Council

City Council is managing to squeeze in a few more fee waivers and there are some "special events' that look like reimbursement will occur- if the City does not lose track of that part of it's business duty. Still, a budget crunch would make it more essential that event organizers look to private funding and more fundraising by participants or volunteers instead of relying on the City to come through. The idea of partying when the City is turning its pockets inside out for money, and then trying to pick our pockets and lift our pocket books makes this sort of action one that needs an overhaul. It is an especially important item, as it should be, even if only symbolically if you consider all the millions of dollars at a time that the City Council manipulates, directs, and redirects, in the course of their daily business.

Demonstration of ideas by "Symbolism" is important. If it's not, then all these marches and demonstrations by assorted groups has to be chalked up to a need to get together, more so than the message that they are trying to send.

Amazingly, there is an event that's paying for its own way, " 09-1293-CD 8 - l. MOTION (PARKS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Peace on the Streets Event on May 31, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event)."

Noted it the motion for this matter,

The New Ground Harvest Church is sponsoring the "Peace on the Streets Event" on
May 31,2009, from 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. This event will include a rally for
peace and provide informationon health and wellness issue. Approximately 300-400 people are expected to participate in this event.


I really see that this is what should be happening more. Paying for their own events is just to reasonably expected. What is puzzling is having an employee union, SEIU, get a fee waiver by the City for its own rally.

Also see that the BET 9th Annual Awards below gets $25,000.00 waived. Some of this might be considered " an enticement that generates more spending by the event attendees and organizers, but that's really a speculative trade-off, since the EVENT itself has some credibility bestowed upon it by being held in a major city, namely, Los Angeles.

Some of the events are fundraising events and what the City contributes in a fee waiver actually operates as it's own contribution in the sum of the Fee Waiver. That raises questions in matters of religious organizations being supported by public money. The separation of church and state division becomes a division that I think is crossed in these items. I am sure there is an explanation available from the council members, but whether it is technically correct is another matter.

HERE'S TODAY AGENDA ITEM ON SPECIAL EVENTS AND WAIVERS:

"ITEM NO. (16)

09-1277
et al. MOTIONS relative to “Special Events” to be held in the various Council Districts.

Recommendations for Council action:

DECLARE the following community events as “Special Events”; APPROVE any temporary street closures as requested; and, INSTRUCT the involved City departments to perform such services as detailed the Council motions attached to the various listed Council files, including the waiver of fees, costs and requirements and other related issues, as specified:

09-1277
CD 9
a. MOTION ( PERRY - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Heroes for Hope Fundraising Lunch on June 10, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,000).

09-1278
CD 9
b. MOTION (PERRY - HAHN) relative to declaring the World Wrestling Entertainment Event on August 21-23, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

08-1669-S1
CD 9
c. MOTION (PERRY - HAHN) relative to declaring the ESPY’s and X-Games on July 11, through August 3, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

09-1279
CD 9
d. MOTION (PERRY - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Grand Opening of the James M. Woods Apartments on June 25, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $500).

09-1282
CD 9
e. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus on July 6-10, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

09-1283
CD 1
f. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the La Feria de los Ninos on June 13, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,000).

08-2096-S1
CD 1
g. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the Kermes Street Festival on June 20, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $2,700).

09-1285
CD 9
h. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Kings Fest Event on August 28-30, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

09-1287
CD 9
i. MOTION (PERRY - PARKS) relative to declaring the Flesh Car Crash on July 2, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

09-1291
CD 13
j. MOTION (GARCETTI - ZINE) relative to declaring the UBISOFT Event on June 3, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).
09-1292
CD 13
k. MOTION (GARCETTI - ZINE) relative to declaring the UP Premiere Event on May 29, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

09-1293
CD 8
l. MOTION (PARKS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Peace on the Streets Event on May 31, 2009 a Special Event (the event sponsor shall reimburse the City for all fees and costs associated with this event).

07-1663-S4
CD 8
m. MOTION (PARKS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Ninth Annual BET Awards on June 18-30, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $25,000). "


LATE NOTE: There will be some new guidelines that he city will follow beginning July 1, as CM Parks announced today, and many of the expenditures approved as here, will not be borne by the City to the same degree, AND, "for-profit" entities, such as the BET, "Black Entertainment Network," will be responsible for reimbursing the costs and expenses they create to the City.

Two things that come to mind: It's about time, and, I'll believe it when it happens. Talk, manipulation and avoidance are among the politician's stock in trade.