"L.A. Clean Sweep" Launches to Change City Hall
A new organization dedicated to electing an entirely new set of City Council members and reforming city government launches officially today.
It's called "L.A. Clean Sweep," and it's the brainchild of former L.A. Daily News editor Ron Kaye, who has been pushing it on his local news, and reliably anti-existing city government, blog "Ron Kaye L.A."
Here's why Kaye thinks an organization dedicated to a complete change in city government elected personnel is needed:
This is the start of something big -- the birth of a grassroots movement to bring all of Los Angeles together to work for open, honest and responsible government that serves residents and business to create safe and healthy neighborhoods and a city that believes in itself.It is the beginning of the end of sweetheart contracts and back room deals, of disastrous political and policy decision that are all too often made in ignorance, or worse, by deceit. Hopefully, a new spirit of Los Angeles will be born, one that offers respect to everyone and brings every segment of the community to the table of power where competing interests can be balanced and everyone can feel an ownership stake in a great city.
The organization intends to field candidates in March 2011 to knock out sitting council members Paul Krekorian, Tom LaBonge, Tony Cardenas, Bernard Parks, Herb Wesson, Greig Smith, and Jose Huizar.
L.A. Clean Sweep hopes to do the following grandiose things: Clean Up City Hall, Fix the Budget, Focus on Core Services, and "Power Sharing"--possibly leading to a borough system for L.A. to bring government closer to neighborhoods and people.
The public announcement of their program will be happening Friday, July 16, at 1 p.m. at the Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood. Speakers included KRLA talk show Kevin James, former Mayor Richard Riordan, Tezozomoc, leader of South Central Farmers, Gerardo Almeida, organizer with the Southern California District Council of Laborers, education activist Shirley Ford, and runner-up in the last mayoral election Walter Moore.
Big talk that a mere change of faces can or will make significant and helpful changes in city government practices needs to prove itself in action before people are likely to take it seriously. Still, a city facing the budget and functionality problems of L.A.'s is certainly asking for this sort of angry uprising. What it can or will do for L.A. remains to be seen.
Image taken by Flickr user Jordon. Used under user Creative Commons license.
