MORE POLITICS AS USUAL FOR 2012?

The upcoming year promises to be a very interesting one for Los Angeles.  I am going to list some items which will bear watching in the upcoming months because they could have a profound impact on what will continue to make Los Angeles tick.  (These are in no particular order of importance). 

1)  For the City Council, a new City Council President – Herb Wesson, and Re-Districting! For the past six years, Eric Garcetti held that vital and influential post.  Not only does the President oversee Council Meetings, he makes appointments to the various City Council Committees that study and issue findings on many important items – from budgetary matters to land use matters and more. I suspect lots of meetings are occurring with those jockeying to receive a coveted Committee Chair and/or assignment.  At the Redistricting Commission, panel members are charged to redraw the 15 Council Districts.  That could mean just about anything for Sherman Oaks – 1 or 2 Council Members like we have now, or new District boundaries, or more!

2)  Early in the spring, the City Council will probably pass a new Hollywood Community Plan.  This Plan is being considered a template for the remaining 24 Community Plans scheduled for or is currently under revision. Advocates say it will streamline the development process.  The result however may be to remove (legal!!!) requirements that ensure that environmental impacts are studied, that the public has a right to exercise its legal right to question and/or oppose decisions on new construction projects, just to name a few. Local activists are considering a lawsuit to stop implementation.

3)  The City Council will probably ban single use plastic bags distributed at markets and stores sometime in March. 

4)   Football Stadium, or as the Football Turns.  Hoping for some sort of a commitment from the NFL, it appears that the NFL has indicated that next year might not bring a team to Los Angeles as AEG had hoped. Meanwhile, plans for the stadium continue at just about the same rate as the mounting questions about who is fiscally responsible for what!    

5)   The DWP’s Ratepayer Advocate will be selected. Voters passed a measure understanding that there would be no water and power rate raises until the Ratepayer Advocate took office.  Months later, due to political machinations, 57 applications for this important post are finally under review at just about the same time the City Council could approve DWP’s requests for water rate increases to cover time-sensitive federally mandated requirements. Therefore, any raises will be contrary to the voters' intention to have a Ratepayer Advocate in office before rate (water and power (too?) raises are approved by the Council.

6)      Lastly, we vote again – it will be very interesting to see what ballot measures will be created by Sacramento and Los Angeles to help restore funds to depleted budgets.Will Sherman beat Berman or will Berman beat Sherman in the hotly contested Congressional seat (covering Sherman Oaks)? Or will a Republican candidate slip through thanks to the new primary system that says the highest two vote getters face each other in the final election regardless of party affiliation?

And, this is probably a very short list…maybe you'd like to add a few of your own.  Meanwhile, Happy Holidays from Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association.  Join us at our next Community Meeting featuring City Council Member Paul Krekorian, who represents Sherman Oaks – Ventura Boulevard to the north. Wednesday, January 18 – 6:15 refreshments; 7:15 PM speaker. Notre Dame High School cafeteria.  Free parking.