Pico Prez Tapped to Join Community Advisors Group

Details: Category: Community News; Published on Friday, 02 October 2009 11:17

In his efforts to gain more insight into the problems facing grass roots angelinos, Carmen Trutanich, L.A.'s new city attorney, and his team have tapped Scott McNeely, President of the Pico Neighborhood Council, and Jim O'Sullivan, MMRA President and activist, to become a part of the newly formed Community Advisors Group.

This small group of 20 or so leaders from around the city and Trutanich exchanged heated but productive discussion about the problems facing our city where Trutanich reiterated his fair but hardline philosophy and its impact on city governance. Pent-up frustration was often unleashed by attendees during the discussions but at the heart of it was a clear sense that they finally had someone on the side of the people.

McNeely, along with O'Sullivan, authored the highly regarded Community White Paper on Medical Marijuana (posted on www.fixlosangeles.com) and was featured at the group's first meeting last night at a private westside location.

Along with their efforts in leading the way to fighting the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in their area and citywide, they also emerged victorious last year in the fight against the Pico Olympic Traffic

Initiative, forcing the city to observe CEQA requirements. The initiative would have created a virtual set of paired one-way streets stretching from downtown to Sepulveda with the potential impact of forcing the closure of hundreds of small businesses along the boulevard.

McNeely and O'Sullivan were also part of the founding group that launched a grass roots effort to narrowly defeat Measure B. The measure was highly criticised for its sweetheart deal with the unions that would have resulted in a no-bid contract and over-inflated energy costs for consumers. O'Sullivan and McNeely both point to these recent victorious as evidence that the status quo is no longer acceptable and we must all do our part to fight for a better Los Angeles.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Trutanich Takes Community Advice

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The newly formed City Attorney Community Advisory Group held its inaugural meeting on Thursday night organized by Marcia Selz, one of the group's founders and ardent campaigner for transparency in local government.

The group is comprised of representatives from Los Angeles' Neighborhood Councils and Home Owners Associations who not only have a wealth of information and advice for the City Attorney, but who also will provide vital feedback to the City Attorney on how the Office is responding to their needs.

Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich arrived at the meeting keen to hear from the group and received a warm welcome before fielding questions on hot button issues including; Medical Marijuana, Graffiti, Billboard Blight, Ethics and Crime.

There were hard questions for the City Attorney, and hard answers for the Group, many of whom were frustrated by the often overly obscured machinations of lobbyists, developers and planners.

Trutanich's Senior Assistant Jane Usher was on hand to assist the City Attorney some of the questions, along with West LA Neighborhood Prosecutors Dena Carreyn and Gita O'Neill and Sheryl Smith, Director of Public Affiairs.

Promising rapid and responsive solutions to issues in the community, Trutanich urged the group to contact their Neighborhood Prosecutors at the earliest stage to make sure the community gets the service it deserves from the City Attorney's Office. Click here to find out more about the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program.

The first meeting of the City Attorney Community Advisory Group wrapped up its business at around 10:30pm with a promise to meet again in 3 months at the City Attorney's Office, and with a commitment from Trutanich that any 'hot button' issues don't have to wait "Call your Neighborhood Prosecutor, call Jane Usher, call David Berger, or call me." said Trutanich.

Posted By: David Berger
Photos By: David Berger

Thanks to Sheryl Smith, Director of Public Affairs and Chief Public Information Officer John Franklin for logistical support.