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Good morning, y'all!
It's just past 10am. The @LACityCouncil is off to a late start (as is the norm under the Council Presidency of Nury Martinez). @christopherroth is here to live-tweet!
Oh, and they've botched the video feed link.
So here's the agenda: https://clkrep.lacity.org/granicus/2021/01122021_cal.htm
It's just past 10am. The @LACityCouncil is off to a late start (as is the norm under the Council Presidency of Nury Martinez). @christopherroth is here to live-tweet!
Oh, and they've botched the video feed link.
So here's the agenda: https://clkrep.lacity.org/granicus/2021/01122021_cal.htm
Nury decided to only be like 5 min late today, so we're off to a faster than normal start!
AND WE HAVE BRADY BUNCH MODE ENABLED!
AND WE HAVE BRADY BUNCH MODE ENABLED!
Sounds like we have 14 members present now. A few were late and missed the roll.
BM Blumenfield calls 3 special for comment.
CM Bonin technical amendment of fixing a 2020 date to 2021 on ... item 12?
CM Krekorian calls item 2 special.
BM Blumenfield calls 3 special for comment.
CM Bonin technical amendment of fixing a 2020 date to 2021 on ... item 12?
CM Krekorian calls item 2 special.
They've got two special items (Special 1 and Special 2) and they're voting on the findings before they open things up for public comment.
The findings were approved unanimously.
As were all of the other items that they didn't need to have public comment on today.
Time for public comment to get rolling!
As were all of the other items that they didn't need to have public comment on today.
Time for public comment to get rolling!
Want to give comment?
1. Call (669) 254-5252.
2. Use Meeting ID 160-535-8466 and then press #.
3. Press # again when prompted for participant ID.
4. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.
5. Press *6 when you hear the last 4 digits of your phone number.
1. Call (669) 254-5252.
2. Use Meeting ID 160-535-8466 and then press #.
3. Press # again when prompted for participant ID.
4. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.
5. Press *6 when you hear the last 4 digits of your phone number.
First comment is from Ricci Sergienko! Ricci just wants to give a general public comment. Welcomes the Council back from their vacation and points out that LA is the global epicenter of the pandemic.
Ricci demands that the council #StopTheSweeps and adopt the demands of the #ServicesNotSweeps coalition.
Ricci also urges the council to reject Joey Buckets' fearmongering before running out of time.
Ricci also urges the council to reject Joey Buckets' fearmongering before running out of time.
Next caller is @cupidastwid. Astrid has palpable anger in their voice as they demand that the council stop sweeps against the unhoused population in the city.
I missed the name of the next caller. Everyone who has called in so far is demanding that the council take action to prioritize the health of Angelenos instead of the criminalization and enforcement of anti-homeless rules.
Current caller is also demanding that the council go back to the relaxed parking enforcement that was introduced in the early days of the pandemic.
Caller is concluding their comment with a direct response to Nury Martinez's unhinged screed at the end of the final council meeting of 2020. Caller made a bunch of really great points about all of it, sorry I'm struggling to keep up already!
Next caller is @ericpreven -- starts out by thanking the council for the new grid mode! It's very heartening to be able to see all of the council on screen in a grid during the public comment. We can actually see what they're up to!
I missed most of the rest of the comment because we've got someone spouting some anti-homeless bullshit on the FB feed and that needed to be dealt with.
And now we're seeing an interruption of the public comment period to discuss two Rule 23 motions (emergency motions that can't wait to be addressed by the council). It sounds like both of them are related to the Congressional move to impeach Donald Trump.
The motions are from CM Harris-Dawson and CM Blumenfield. The two motions have been combined and they're voting on the findings now.
15 ayes on the findings. The language of the motion are now being circulated as Special Item 3. Now any speakers who have already called in are allowed to call back in to comment for another minute on Special 3, and Special 3 only.
Next caller is Tommy from IBEW local 11, he completely supports item 14.
Next caller is another member of IBEW Local 11, also strongly supports item 14.
Here's a different perspective. LA doesn't need new fossil fuel power. https://twitter.com/esnowww/status/1349034498294337536
Next caller is a deputy city attorney calling in to demand that the city adopt the 240 hr paid parental leave policy.
I had no idea that the city was so fucking bad at providing the barest minimum of family benefits. Damn.
I had no idea that the city was so fucking bad at providing the barest minimum of family benefits. Damn.
Next caller is demanding that the council #CancelRent and #CommandeerTheHotels to house our unhoused neighbors. Caller is uplifting the work of mutual aid orgs across the city.
Caller also points out that the city shouldn't be surprised by the white supremacist riot in DC given the frequency of white supremacist rallies across LA County.
Next caller is @sachinstweets! Sachin is urging the council to suspend sweeps of unhoused encampments in accordance with CDC guidelines. Sachin is on the Echo Park Neighborhood Council, points out that his comments are his and his alone, supports the navigation center in CD4.
Sachin urges other council members that have districts overlapping his NC to move forward with navigation centers in their districts as well, especially CD13.
Next caller is @RobQuan_ of @UnrigLA!
Rob starts out by pointing out that Nury canceled upwards of 1/3 of ALL council meetings last year and how that conflicts with the city being in a "state of emergency" as item 15 states.
Rob starts out by pointing out that Nury canceled upwards of 1/3 of ALL council meetings last year and how that conflicts with the city being in a "state of emergency" as item 15 states.
Rob continues by pointing out that the nearly month-long recess is also a pretty glaring contrast to that state of emergency.
Rob is now pointing out that St. Vincent's is still sitting vacant or being used for film shoots when it could be commandeered by the city to benefit Angelenos if the council actually thought that they're in an emergency.
Next Rob moves on to point out that the council voting on findings and special motions without the public being able to access the language of the motions is utterly ridiculous.
Now Rob is laughing to himself while congratulating Nury on the veto of her "slush-fund" motion re: redistribution of $150M in LAPD funding.
Rob is having a lot of fund with his comment today!
Rob concludes with a dig at CM Lee (AKA City Staffer B, allegedly) and how the fact that he's still a sitting councilman is fucking WILD.
Rob concludes with a dig at CM Lee (AKA City Staffer B, allegedly) and how the fact that he's still a sitting councilman is fucking WILD.
Next caller is vehemently opposed to the continued lockdown of the city (references item 15). Very bizarre comment that I'm really unclear on how to process.
Next caller is making fun of CM Buscaino for his absolutely laughable video about "nothing but buckets" vs. the reality of his nickname origin (his obsession with buckets of feces).
Caller also points out that CM Blumenfield was caught feeding a community impact statement to one of his NC's in support of his motion. It's wild shit.
Strefan Fauble rudely interrupts the caller to ask if the caller had already given comment today. Caller has not. Fauble asks caller not to be rude, which is fucking wild coming from Fauble.
Goddamn. This is brutal.
Next caller is @safrazie!
Scott is STRAIGHT UP calling out John Lee as the unindicted co-conspirator in the Englander/Huizar corruption scandal.
Scott is STRAIGHT UP calling out John Lee as the unindicted co-conspirator in the Englander/Huizar corruption scandal.
Scott is pointing out that federal investigators have made it clear that CM Lee is City Staffer B.
Scott urges the council to take action against Lee rather than increasing the power he holds with his prime committee positions.
Scott urges the council to take action against Lee rather than increasing the power he holds with his prime committee positions.
Next caller: "Council members, the word of the day is 'compassion.'"
What is going on?
What is going on?
OH HELL YEAH.
The caller pivots to demand that the council follow the guidelines of the CDC and #STOPTHESWEEPS.
The caller pivots to demand that the council follow the guidelines of the CDC and #STOPTHESWEEPS.
This caller is absolutely fantastic. The slow, measured and crystal clear delivery of the comment is a dramatic change of pace and the condemnation is SCATHING.
Caller concludes with a demand that the council "clean house" and deal with the blatant corruption present in their midst, referencing CM Lee.
Interestingly, CM Lee has decided to put on his mask for some reason while this comment was delivered.
Interestingly, CM Lee has decided to put on his mask for some reason while this comment was delivered.
Council is now voting on items 13, 15-18, & item 12 as amended by CM Bonin.
All "aye" votes, as usual.
Now CM Blumenfield is speaking on item 3.
Sorry! Forgot to mention that they closed public comment during that final speaker as he was condemning the council for their lack of action against CM Lee. https://twitter.com/WeirdAlex__/status/1349067337954074624
Bob is talking about the need to ease the red tape associated with getting businesses back up and running once the COVID pandemic eases up.
Not gonna lie, it's pretty jarring to see this while we're seeing the infections spike to unprecedented levels.
Not gonna lie, it's pretty jarring to see this while we're seeing the infections spike to unprecedented levels.
Now he's naming a bunch of restauranteurs, including some who are...not great.
Now CM O'Farrell is speaking in support of item 3 as well.
He always manages to bring up his previous accomplishments while discussing current legislation, just like CM Cedillo.
Bizarre.
He always manages to bring up his previous accomplishments while discussing current legislation, just like CM Cedillo.
Bizarre.
CM O'Farrell just referred to health department inspections as draconian...
Oh, he's talking about delays in inspections. What a WILD way to start that line of his comment.
You're a fucking joke and a heinous piece of shit, Mitch. Fuck off.
You're a fucking joke and a heinous piece of shit, Mitch. Fuck off.
OK, so this is just story time from the council members now?
Why are they spending so much time congratulating each other on the work that they've done when they KNOW that this item is going to pass? Let's move on to discussing the absolutely critical issues that the council members do NOT all agree on and GET SHIT DONE.
It's so nice to be able to see what's going on with the council for a change.
Item 3, as expected, passes unanimously.
Next up we've got item 14. CM de Leon gives brief comments before it moves on to a vote.
14 ayes, item is adopted.
They're now voting on the special items: all "aye" votes.
Pretty wild they never actually let anyone who had already called in speak on the items they interrupted public comment to introduce a new special.
I'm also pretty sure that they didn't give back the time to the public that was owed after the interruptions https://twitter.com/ericpreven/status/1349069812819890176
I'm also pretty sure that they didn't give back the time to the public that was owed after the interruptions https://twitter.com/ericpreven/status/1349069812819890176
There's a whole slew of motions being read into the record for referral to committees right now.
Holy shit. So many motions!
A good one I heard was about moving forward with some city property to create navigation centers, which is dope.
A good one I heard was about moving forward with some city property to create navigation centers, which is dope.
A *very* bad motion sounded like Buscaino & Rodriguez want to start ramping up the LAPD presence at City Hall to prepare for a riot like we saw in DC last week. Considering how derelict the LAPD was in responding to the fascists at City Hall last week, this seems like a bad idea.
They're beginning the adjourning of the meeting in memory of Tom LaBonge. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-08/tom-labonge-la-city-councilman-dies
I have to get back to other organizing work, so I can't stick around and listen to the council extolling Tom LaBonge much longer than this.
One motion introduced by CM Bonin & Raman (seconded by CM Harris-Dawson & de León) aims to end the punitive CARE-Plus sweeps and replace them with a CDC-compliant outreach plan. It's actually very good from my cursory reading!
Here's the "therefore move" language of the motion:
Here's the "therefore move" language of the motion:
And for folks who want to read it via tweet instead of screenshots of PDFs:
"I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council direct LA Sanitation to develop voluntary, service-based protocols for CARE+ operations citywide. The protocols should include:
"I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council direct LA Sanitation to develop voluntary, service-based protocols for CARE+ operations citywide. The protocols should include:
- Compliance with CDC guidelines regarding public health and encampments
- Regular, scheduled and well-publicized cleanings
- Offers by LASAN of services such as trash pick-up, bulky item pick-up, etc.
- Regular, scheduled and well-publicized cleanings
- Offers by LASAN of services such as trash pick-up, bulky item pick-up, etc.
- Designation of areas where trash and waste can be placed for disposal and removal
- Use of community partners and ambassadors to conduct outreach and facilitation
- Use of community partners and ambassadors to conduct outreach and facilitation
- Provision of easy-ups or shade structures so people can temporarily relocate with their
belongings during a cleaning
- Provision, through LASAN or partner agencies, of mobile showers, bathrooms,
COVID-testing, tent exchange and distribution, food and water
belongings during a cleaning
- Provision, through LASAN or partner agencies, of mobile showers, bathrooms,
COVID-testing, tent exchange and distribution, food and water
- Hiring of unhoused residents to keep areas tidy between LASAN cleanings
- Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
- No use of law enforcement personnel
- Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
- No use of law enforcement personnel
Honestly if this became the model to replace sweeps across the city we'd be living in an unbelievably better city.
I'm cynically expecting Joey Buckets and Nury to both dump pales of shit all over it though, so keep your eyes on the motion as it moves forward.
I'm cynically expecting Joey Buckets and Nury to both dump pales of shit all over it though, so keep your eyes on the motion as it moves forward.
And that's a wrap for my coverage of the @LACityCouncil here on KNOCK for the day! Thanks for tuning in!
I'll be back here next week with more live-tweeting!
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You can follow this feed or join us over on Twitch where we can chat together!
If you like these threads and want to support the work of my comrades and writers across the city, please become a patron: http://patreon.com/KNOCK_LA
Tomorrow's meeting will probably not be getting a full live-tweet treatment from me, but WHO KNOWS!
I'm not committing to doing or not doing those live-tweets at this point. Just tune in on http://twitch.tv/GroundGameLA a bit before 8am for some good content!
I'm not committing to doing or not doing those live-tweets at this point. Just tune in on http://twitch.tv/GroundGameLA a bit before 8am for some good content!
