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Today’s meeting started 15 minutes early, on a bright 75-degree sunny September day, to better accommodate the schedule of city councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky and her staff.
Greeting and Pledge
Janet Schwartz stepped up to be the greeter in Sam Botbol’s absence (he had plans for his wife Val’s birthday). Janet also led the pledge.
Thought of the day – PE Bob Simon
“Darkness cannot drive out Darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drown out hate, only love can do that.”
Song of the Day - PP Ed Gauld - “America” sung loud and proud.
Visting Guests included President Benjamin’s better half, Susan Taylor-Fischer and, Katy Yaroslavsky’s Assistants, Allen Zipper and Patricia Macias.
PP Gordon Fell introduced Los Angeles 5th district Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky as well as her assistants Patty (Westwood deputy) and Alan (director of community engagement)
Councilwoman Yaroslavsky formerly served as general counsel for a Nonprofit and as a Senior Policy advisor. Her husband, David is a court judge, and she is the mother of 3 children
She spoke about the key challenges faced by the City of Los Angles and budgetary constraints of the current leadership. She praised civic leaders and those engaged in anti-hate crime work.
Yaroslavsky also acknowledged the Westwood Village Rotary Club for the Palisade Fire cleanup efforts and its support of transitional housing in the area.
There is a new district office opening on the corner of Wilshire and Cochran that will feature a community work area to increase civic engagement.
Addressing the deadly firestorms of Jan 7,2025, she underscored that the City of Los Angeles is “out of money” and needs to “work smarter, not harder”
There are underutilized spaces that could be used to assist homeless residents while also addressing the frustrations of the housed community driving past the Cotner homeless encampment. She intends to follow the example set by the New York Economic Development Community.
Katy also talked about the need to be able to buy $1 iPhone cases online rather than being forced to send all business to a city selected contractor charging the taxpayer twenty times more for a basic iPhone case.
Her Motto is “Do More Better.”
There has been a 27% decrease in homelessness. UCLA medical is now bussing their homeless patients and veterans to a drop point at a halfway house in Palmdale.
Safe places to sleep for those experiencing homelessness on the west side is 1/10th of 1% of what is needed.
Safe Places for Youth is also a priority. It is in Westwood and is housing for youth ages 18-26 (mostly Foster youth).
Her goal is to create “No camping zones” but there must first be somewhere for the homeless to go.
There is a need for support to keep people housed during aggressive rent increases. There is also nowhere safe for domestic violence survivors to go with their children.
Foster care, Domestic Violence, disabled veterans and people formerly jailed continue to drive the homelessness epidemic on the west side.
On public safety Katy stated there is a call for a larger police department but, the city has no remaining funds for hiring.
Her intention is to “move from an attitude of Scarcity to Abundance.” But, how???
She also stated business corridors on the west side are suffering from high vacancies so there is a need for a Business Improvement District which she is looking into providing.
Tokyo public transits “passive” safety model is what west LA hopes to emulate with the new rail system and with the upcoming Olympics expected to dramatically increase foot traffic.
There was more to share about the entertainment committees ideas, but 10 minutes had passed so she opened the floor to questions.
QUESTIONS
Q: President Ben Fischer - Could there be a “clean team” and more trash cans?
A: The city cut street sweeping funding to 2 days/week to “save money” and has no more funds to address sanitation and dumping problems across West LA and around UCLA
Q: PPx2 Chris Gaynor - What is the process for rebuilding Pacific Palisades?
A: While the Palisades is not her district, Katy grew up there. She is unsure of any rebuilding plan or supervision for the city to date.
Q: PE Bob Simon – What is happening with permitting for the Palisades Golf Course?
A: Rancho Park (RFP) restaurants are taking over.
Q: Phillip Gabriel - Public Parking fees in Westwood
“Los Angeles is the Largest Poor City in America” - Katy Yaroslavsky Village have escalated after local business were taxed and assured it would bring more traffic, but the parking is now too expensive for all but UCLA visitors and events.
A: Variable pricing was discussed but not implemented. Covid was noted also as a factor in why there has not been more traffic.
Q: John O’Keefe - How to revitalize parking in the Village?
A: Katy graduated from UCLA in 2005. Most of Westwood is family owned which severely limits the ability to advocate for the community.
Q: PP Mark Rogo - What happened with the McMansion tax for homes over 5 million (commercial, multi-family, residential)?
A: It was stalled because the city was sued by McMansion owners. A bill is pending to exempt multi-family and commercial properties valued at over 5 million.
Q: PP Tom Barron - Where the 30 million Gov Gavin Newsom allocated for the homeless went.
A: 10 million was spent on “key challenges” for homeless. Homeless who decline to be relocated must legally be provided a safe place to sleep in the community, but there is currently nowhere for them to go to sleep safely at night.
Q: PP Steve Schearer - What are we doing wrong?
A: 1/10th of the city budget is spent on liability payments caused by lawsuits over city employee negligence and misconduct. We need to work better and safer.
Q. PP Ed Gould - Why is the minimum wage high for young people, blue collar workers and hotel employees?
A. most big hotels are unionized and pay more than minimum wage. Mid-sized chain hotels pay the least. Many hotel employees are homeless or living in their cars to save on transportation costs as they come from low-income neighborhoods
Key strategies for improvements according to Katy:
1. Reflect on how we chose public officials
2. Understand the job of people in office
3. Try to have a functional government
4. Stop trying to rationalize the way the city operates
5. The city charter for the last 25 years makes the city impossible to govern. Update the charter.
The meeting wrapped up right on time and Councilwoman Yaroslavsky and her staff stayed after to answer a few more questions. Overall it was a good exchange of information and ideas. It was agreed that the Councilwoman should present at a future date to the Club.
President Benjamin presented her with a thank you gift.
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