Council President Eric Garcetti Wants You To Be Positive When Showing Up For Public Comment: "People are against this, against that." (Sorry, Eric!)

HERE'S A STRATEGIC REVIEW OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ERIC GARCETTI'S COMMENTS DURING A RECENT COMMUNITY APPERANCE: (Eric is the Rhodes scholar known for tragically bad PR.)

from LAist.com

Q: What people can do to start getting involved and Garcetti gave four tips:

1. Be Positive:...People are against this, against that. But when something is good, public comment is a field of crickets. A good example was this past Wednesday at (public comment) where every comment was positive.

Is that the point #1 point Eric?: Come on down to city hall with positive comments. You may be against that skyscraper being built that is kicking you out of your life-long business or residence in violation of enough reasons to trigger a DA investigation. And we may have even admitted that we have been kicking people out of these life long businesses and residences in violation of City Charter law; and we may do thing in violation of Federal law, that destroys lives, while me and my cronies profit:

But when you spend all your time coming down to city hall to address us, try and use the time, not to speak out "against" the shady agenda items that are destroying lives;

But try and use your time -- not to address an problem you would like us to fix, but try and use your trip to speak UP about some of the GOOD things we have already done in the city. You know, the things that we say on OUR time, all the time, as we grandstand and thank each other throughout the meeting for all of our hard work and good thing that we do.

You know, try and make every public comment, more like a "presentation and proclamation" and less of an opportunity to express grievences that we can take action to improve for you and the community as your elected representatives. John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what YOU can do for your country." Well, I'd like to say as you COUNCIL President, "Ask not what WE can do for you, tell us some of the good things we have already done." And that's how you can start to become more involved.

[ZD CAMPAIGN STRATEGY: Eric, see here's the problem. The problem isn't really as bad as you are trying to make it appear to seem. We all know you don't like ZD notifying the people of your shadiness on your own City cameras and TV station, but let's not confuse that with a few moments of loud speech. (I mean how much loud-talk has there been in '07? Take a look on the city website. search "zuma dogg" for all comments and see and hear for yourself.)

So the people you are speaking to are not saying, "Yeah, that is a problem." And if there are people who feel you are talking about people like ZD, well many of those respondants would probably say the corrupt politicians deserve it anyway, and are glad someone is doing what you are trying to lead them to believe is happening at a disproportionate level.

And yes, some folks...mostly the choir you are preaching to (like COS' shady Jaycees that isn't an open Jaycees, but a mere schill to gather a database and contacts for a CM run)...WILL feel that ZD's occasional voice raising...and it hasn't been twice in six months (and even then it's just "loud", not YELLING!!!), is far worse than what the politicians are doing behind their back.

So you have to play the percentages.

Eric and people protecting the corruption...I can tell you, and your market research can confirm it...people do not have the same perception and emotions to the issue you raise. So all you are doing is sending a mixed-neurological association. Because as soon as you say that...most of the people are either saying, "Ha Ha..yeah, I love those guys when they do that...totally hilarious!" Or, "Yeah...those shady politicians deserve it!"

And the ones who are OUTRAGED at those negative public comment speakers...well they were probably on your side (voting for you in their mind) anyway...

So what you should say is...

The first thing I would do, is call your councilmembers office and tell them your issue or comment and see if they can have someone get back to you with an answer or let you know if there is anything you can do next.

Or, you can come down, straight to public comment and address us in person. And although it takes a lot of time and cooperation from many different people and departments, all too many times, before we see the results of these efforts, there have been many occasion in recent months where people have voiced an opinion over community issues, and we were able to accomodate those requests and have even created new laws and have become much more mindful of many civic issues within the City.

No city of this size and complex demographic will ever be able to please everyone all at once, but if there is something you feel strongly about, let us know, and it helps to get others in your community involved with you as well.

Or, just send Zuma Dogg and email, or call him on his cell phone and he might get pissed off and tell the whole f*cking city, for you.

zumadogg@gmail.com
ZumaTimes.com