The city council is back in session after a few weeks of relative calm in the area of city announcements and actions.
THE MAYOR
The mayor took advantage of the additional airport security procedures, namely, the full body scanners, to tell the public that this was making flying safer and that because L.A.'s airport is the "safest airport," more people will want to come to L.A. Here's where I insert a Tom-Leykis-styled inflection, "Really?" And I suppose he means "tourists" will come, since new businesses aren't, nor do we need more people just moving here to an already-congested environment and under-equipped infrastructure.
Maybe Tony is just desperate for a chance to mug before the cameras after being out of the city and the country so often last month. Since the July inauguration that began his second term with a win, getting votes from just 8% of the city's registered voters to return him to office, and after an ambitious inauguration speech about being the best mayor and working for the city's interests, and getting jobs and businesses established in L.A., to paraphrase it, Tony is still in prime form in delivering his verbal message.
Does what's happening at the airports make anything more safe, or is it just more tedious and intrusive for someone taking a plane in Los Angeles? I think it's going to make a lot of people hit the road in their cars as their choice of travel and there's going to be some reduced activity in flying because people will decide against taking some trips that can be put off all because of the negatives that are associated with flying.
Mr. Mayor gave a delivery of his own opinions that were more public relations-oriented than fact-based. The really curious part about his comments is the very obvious hyperactive speaking style that makes listening to HOW he speaks more interesting that WHAT he's speaking about. He acts nervous while speaking, and for all the preparation that his staff may try to accomplish, he sounds totally like he's grabbing at any off-the-cuff analogy or anecdote to use as a verbal crutch and it's usually a style-disaster.
You have to wonder if maybe he's in need of a caffeine intervention or some meditation exercises to be able to settle down. Maybe just working on the real problems of the city instead of being a frequent flyer might help make him comfortable in knowing something about the subject that he talks about. He needs to find something to settle himself down as he speaks to the media. And why he should be tense or nervous is beyond me since he makes life easier at these press conferences by NOT taking any questions that might challenge his grasp of the situation or possibly delay the exit of the Mayor and his entourage from the scene.
THE COUNCIL
On the issue of City business being handled by the City Council, I want to direct you to Ron Kaye's blog that sums up today's first council meeting for 2010 and his comments are both accurate and uncomplimentary. http://www.ronkayela.com/
"They Saved Hollywood, Built the Subway, Created 1000s of Jobs -- All in a Council Day," By Ron Kaye on January 5, 2010 It's another session of heavy duty self congratulation for doing a few things that they are supposed to be doing, and a lot that they imagine is a useful application of their time and our money.
Like I have come to see, there is no reason to expect these politicians to change. The financial antics of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas last month in first seeking approval $707,000 to remodel his office, including building a walk-in closet and kitchenette, followed by a low-key request for rescission of the deal (hastily approved by another unanimous vote of a more awakened Board of Supervisors) tells you of the reach of poor attitudes and performance of these people once they get into office.
Maybe some of the Council Members should read the blog to see where they are failing to deliver as public servants. From the way they act, the word "servants" seems oddly inappropriate to associate with their purpose in holding public office. (And just to remind you, they ARE the highest paid council members in the nation- check last February's story in the L.A. WEEKLY, "Los Angeles on $300,000 a year- Why next week's City Council "coronation" will cost you far more than money," By Patrick Range McDonald, published on February 25, 2009. http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-26/news/los-angeles-on-300-000-a-year/ )
THE POLITICIANS GENERALLY
All this activity that we see just goes to show you that it's a "Me Generation" in office and we are on a lower rung of the ladder when it comes to getting attention or service from them. It is happening at all levels of public office. Once in a while, there's a politician actually working for something that makes sense and might actually help the city or its residents, but more often than not you will see there's not much useful being done on a regular basis. Well, let's see what happens next- There's still the Medical Marijuana Dispensaries ordinance to finally finish. From the Mayor's current demeanor before the media, it's unlikely that he's partaking in the ample supply of product supplied by the hundreds of facilities established in Los Angeles so far.
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