Valley VOTE endorses a No vote on Measure B on the March 2009 ballot
In February Valley VOTE Board members voted overwhelmingly to oppose Measure B, the so called, "Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program" which was on the March 3,2009 ballot. With the help of Valley VOTE, community activists, and Neighborhood Councils across the city, the measure was narrowly defeated saving the rate payers of L.A. an estimated 2 billion dollars.

Valley VOTE supports a DWP Rate Payers Advocate
In September Valley VOTE Board members voted overwhelmingly for the formation and appointment of a Rate Payers Advocate to work on behalf of the ratepayers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Valley VOTE members believe the LADWP rate payers should have similar protections that customers of California's regulated public utilities have such as full vetting of proposals for rate changes. The management of the LADWP, the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, the City Council, and other overseers do not have the expertise to timely and effectively review proposals that may adversely affect LADWP's rate payers.

November Meeting - featured speakers- Wendy Greuel, Jarrod Degonia

Wendy Greuel
. Wendy outlined the major functional areas of the Controller's Office and discussed her plans and hopes for the office. The Controller's Office has a staff of 190 but 30 or so may be leaving because of city budget issues. There are three major divisions; Audit division, Financial Advisory staff and Accounts Payable.She expressed her new mantra: “I want to be known as the City Controller who gets things done.” She is following up on Laura Chick’s audits to monitor compliance with her recommendations and completing five or six audits begun under Ms. Chick. Gruel said that when she makes a public report on a new audit result she wants the department's general manager to stand by her side and commit to implementing the changes recommended in the audit. That personal commitment of the GM is important, she said, because it sends a strong signal to the entire staff of the GM’s department. Her strategy is to have the GMs partner with her to get things done.
Wendy Greuel clearly expressed her support for a DWP Rate Payers Advocate. The most important thing, she noted, is that the RPA (or whatever it is eventually called) must be independent of any political or economic influence. She acknowledged that there is presently considerable distrust of the city’s governance and an RPA would help resolve this at the DWP, which touches every resident and business in the city.
Jarrod Degonia
Jarrod Degonia has been the District Director for California Assembly Member Cameron Smyth for the 38th Assembly District since 2006. Prior to that, since 1999, he had been involved in the cleanup activities at Rocketdyne’s (now Boeing Company) Santa Susana Field Lab in the Simi Hills west of the L.A. City boundary in the San Fernando Valley. Jarrod has worked with the community, regulatory entities, property owners, and local governments to gather support for legislation to form the Santa Susana State Park at the former testing facility site. Valley VOTE has supported the Santa Susana State Park legislation, AB 102, sponsored by Cameron Smyth, since March 2008.
After years of bickering, the state legislature passed SB 990 (Kuehl), which ordered the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to compel the responsible party to clean up the site. However, SB 990 set a cleanup standard higher than that of the Superfund’s standard and Boeing recently filed suit in federal court to invalidate the higher standards of SB 990 in favor of the Superfund standards.

October Meeting - featured speaker - Chuck DeVore

Chuck DeVore
State Assembly member and candidate for the U.S. Senate Chuck DeVore was our featured speaker. He argued that nuclear power is a safe, efficient and cost effective energy source for California. He explained that several factors at the state and federal level discouraged the use of nuclear energy. However, Chuck DeVore argues that nuclear makes sense because it can be done safely with less environmental impacts, takes up less space, costs less over the life cycle of the process, and provides U.S. energy independence.
He also made the following observations. California population now favors the use of nuclear power, but that the legislators lag behind. This explains why five bills by DeVore in the past three years have failed to be enacted. The US has a number of nuclear plant applications( 24) and 40 total in the pipeline. Inappropriate fear drives up costs and makes nuclear more expensive, not reality. The dome at San Onofre, for instance, cannot be penetrated by a 747 flying directly into it because it is over four feet thick and reinforced with steel tension bands. The reactor core cannot be just melted down to create a bomb. The reactor core is designed to fail safe. New reactor design technologies also don't require enormous amounts of water for cooling at selected sites. Power generated can actually be used to clean up locally available contaminated ground water with proper cooling tower designs. A nuclear power plant takes much less land than a solar farm and provides much greater power capacity. It can act as an economic engine by offering low cost power to manufacturers. Also design life of the plants can exceed 60 years.

Joe Vitti's comments regarding Valley VOTE's Mission
The VOTE in Valley VOTE's name stands for Voters Organized Toward Empowerment. It has been 7 years since the Valley cityhood campaign and there are still many, including some City Council members, who believe that Valley VOTE's agenda is still focused on secession. It should be clear by the positions and actions taken by the Valley VOTE Board and it's members since 2003 that this is simply not true. As it states in our Mission Statement we are "committed to exploring and fostering the implementation of programs that empower the people of the San Fernando Valley and the City of Los Angeles. We are focused on improving local governance, education and public participation on policy matters."

September Meeting- featured speakers Nick Patsaouras, Marshall Tuck

Nick Patsaouras
Nick Patsaouras has been volunteering his expertise in the Los Angeles Area community for over 35 years, most recently as President of the LA DWP Board of Commissioners. Nick Patsaouras supports the idea of a Rate Payer Advocate as proposed by Valley VOTE. However he also believes that the DWP should have the benefit of an Inspector General, perhaps combining the two roles into one office that he would call an “Ombudsperson.” He suggested that the RPA should be hired by, and report to, the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. The city’s Personnel Department and neighborhood councils would act in an advisory capacity in the screening of candidates.
Marshall Tuck.
Marshall Tuck currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, (PLAS), the largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles with 10 schools, 18,000 students and 1,500 employees. PLAS is the key education initiative of Mayor Villaraigosa, having commenced operations one year ago, and currently equals the 34th largest school district in California.
PLAS’ goals are to turn around some of the lowest performing schools in LAUSD and implement a scalable reform model that can be replicated district wide, and possibly statewide and nationally.

July Meeting - featured speaker- Paul Krekorian

Paul Krekorian
Assemblyman Krekorian represents Glendale, Burbank, and several Los Angeles communities within the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Krekorian explained that in order to enforce speed limits using radar guns or other electronic means, existing state law requires that speed limits be set in accordance with an engineering and traffic study (ETS). The result, according to Krekorian, is that “the law breakers get to make the law.” In February 2009, Krekorian introduced AB 766 , which would allow a local city or county to retain an existing speed limit on any street, other than a state highway, if it makes a finding after a public hearing that a higher speed limit is not appropriate and does not promote safety. The bill was assigned to the Assembly Transportation Committee. The hearing was postponed by the committee in May of 2009.

June Meeting- featured speakers- Michel Moore , Ana Campos

Michel Moore
Michel Moore was in July 2009 the Commanding Officer of Operations-Valley Bureau, and was the “top cop” in the San Fernando Valley before his recent promotion by the new police chief Charles Beck.

Chief Moore called this the “best of times and the worst of times.” On the positive side, he noted that if the San Fernando Valley were an independent city, it would be the second safest large city in the country. Violent crime is down 31percent, arrests are up, and gang crime is down. The Chief noted that the average response time in the Valley is down to seven minutes for emergencies and about 30 minutes for routine matters. The Valley now has seven police stations, with the recent opening of the Topanga Station, and more than 2,000 police personnel serve in the Valley. “That’s one-third of the 21 police stations in the city,” he noted.
Ana Campos
Ana Campos is the Executive Director of After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles. After-School All-Stars serves 70,000 youth annually through after school and summer programs in 13 cities across the country, including Los Angeles. California Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Executive Chairman. The program prepares middle school kids for high school, college, and life by providing after school programs offering academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health and fitness activities. After-School All-Stars offers a proven alternative for these children by engaging them in activities and ongoing relationships that increase confidence and encourage success in all areas of their lives – at home, in school and in the community.

May Meeting- featured speakers - David Hernandez, Ben Austin, Luis Pugliese

David Hernandez
David Hernandez is a community activist. He noted that as of last January 1,2009 Time Warner Cable closed its production studios to public access. He is part of a nonpartisan group who have formed a nonprofit, the Corporation for Public TV. They are seeking to develop 54 hours per week of programming, the amount needed to support 4 public channels. This nonprofit intends to outfit four new production studios, in Van Nuys, West LA, East LA, and South LA. The first of these will be established in West LA this year.
Ben Austin and Luis Pugliese
Ben and Luis described how parents can influence educational system improvements by demanding change either from LAUSD or by installing charter schools in their local neighborhoods.
Ben Austin is executive director of the LA Parents Union which was instrumental in getting the Green Dot Charter School into Locke High School which showed dramatic improvements in student test scores. He was education deputy for Mayor Riordan.
Luis is a Professor at CSUN who is an expert in educational psychology who has worked for LAUSD and ran for school board in the past. Mr. Pugliese questioned LAUSD achievement and spending policies. Mr. Pugliese told us that change must occur. He feels that parents can and should demand better. The answer, he says, is the LA Parents Union headed by Ben Austin.

April Meeting- featured speaker- Tom Erb

Tom Erb
Tom is the Director of Water Resources for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and spoke about the reduced water supply outlook for 2009. It will present great challenges for the DWP and the citizens of L.A. Tom Erb explained the causes of concern and identified proposed DWP strategies to deal with these serious issues.
Mr. Erb identified several integrated strategies to conserve 50,000 (Acre Feet per year) AFY and improve water reuse by 2030. Total L.A. water use currently is about 650,000 AFY. He called for conservation incentives, better City use, and heightened public awareness of the issues. Facilities will need major improvements for advance water treatment and collection, plus more recycled water distribution capacity. This also includes major recharge of our spreading grounds to allow the earth to naturally filter water.

March Meeting- Valley VOTE Board members were featured speakers.

Valley VOTE Board member Jack Humphreville reported on the defeat of Measure B. The five council districts that compose the Valley and the Westside (Smith, Zine, Greuel, Weiss &Rosendahl) voted 61.4% NO (22% more than the citywide average) and supplied 62% of the 110,505 NO votes, despite the fact that these districts represent about 33% of the population, 45% of the registered voters, and 50% of those that actually voted.
The NO on Measure B was helped by three significant events:1] The disclosure by the Los Angeles Times of the covered up PA Consulting report that was very critical of the solar Program envisioned by Measure B. 2] The Laura Chick “stinks” comment about Measure B 3] The endorsement by both the Daily News and the Los Angeles Times.
Measure B was perhaps the best thing to ever happen to Neighborhood Councils (NCs), George Truesdell reported in an accompanying presentation. It was the impetus that drove Neighborhood Councils to join together to defeat this measure, which was railroaded through the city council. Prior to the introduction of Measure B, NCs were primarily concerned with items in their respective backyards or driven by how they felt they could spend their $50,000 stipend. It was only in a very few instances that they came together for the common good of the entire electorate.
Valley VOTE Board member Denny Schneider presented a review of the situation at LAX. Everyone acknowledges that it is necessary to fix LAX, since over 25 years have gone by without any major repairs or refurbishment and that the current passenger experience is questionable. In February 2005 a settlement was reached to facilitate LAX renovation while the most controversial items were to be redesigned with the cooperation of all parties. Several items were “green lighted” to shorten project approval times including: a new midfield terminal complex behind Tom Bradley International Terminal.
After triggering an economic disaster through pushing lenders to make imprudent loans, the government is here to help, again, says Valley VOTE Treasurer Vic Viereck. Loan modifications are being pushed for homeowners who have serious problems with their home loans. While the economy has become a nightmare for many, it has created opportunity for others. Through two consecutive, Tax Credit programs, and lower housing prices, many people have a new opportunity to buy a home.
Valley VOTE Board member Pauline Tallent recalled that in 2004 "Inclusionary Zoning" was introduced. Developers would be mandated to include, in every project, housing for the “disadvantaged.” It was defeated. But In 2008, it was revised and called the" Fair Share Program.” Developers would be mandated to include low income housing in every project. To compensate, the developers would get incentives such as reduced processing time and limited parking. It looked as if it wasn't getting enough support, so in 2009, the term “mandate” was removed.
Valley VOTE board member and Transit Coalition Director Bart Reed reported that LA Metro soon will introduce electronic TAP cards in which value stored against the future use of transport can be used simply by tapping the special card on the turnstile. As in the past, seniors and disabled individuals can ride all day for $1.25. What's new is that the new electronic cards will have a photo of the card's owner integrated into the card.

February Meeting- Ron Kaye featured speaker

Ron Kaye
Ron is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests. He is leading the fight opposing Measure B that is to be on the March ballot. Beginning his remarks somewhat sarcastically, Kaye said, “We’ve already won! For 10 years everybody has wanted clean solar energy, and finally the DWP is giving it to us.” But there’s a hitch in the proposition. “What they (the DWP) want is your money – a blank check.... Measure B is a grand scheme with nothing behind it,” he charged. Moreover, “The trouble with Measure B is that there is no reason to give it to the IBEW [the DWP’s main labor union]. There is no reason why other union guys cannot do the work.”

January Meeting- featured speakers - Greig Smith, Bob Scott

Greig Smith
Greig Smith fielded questions on numerous city hall topics. Smith pointed out that the Council has not approved Measure B. The City Council voted merely to place it on the ballot for the public to vote on. Smith noted his strong support for solar power generation, pointing out that he is one of the very few homeowners in this city to have installed solar panels on the roof of his home to generate electricity. He emphatically said, however, “ I do not support Measure B!,” noting that he does not like the (IBEW) union support or the cost and funding aspects of the proposal. In response to a member’s question, Smith acknowledged that L.A. and all of Southern California is facing a water shortage, but water from desalination plants still costs significantly more that of existing water supplies. He said, “We’re just not at the tipping point yet,” implying that the tipping point is perhaps 20 to 30 years away. He noted that in Israel, about 98 percent of their water is recycled.
Bob Scott
Bob Scott has been extremely active in citywide and San Fernando Valley affairs for many years, and he was a member of Valley VOTE in the late 1990s. He pointed out that business activity and demographics specifically for the San Fernando Valley are needed to assist in strategic planning for the region and three goals were established to aid in this effort. 1) Designation in 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau of the San Fernando Valley Sub-County Census District (CCD), which includes the cities of Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Hidden Hills, San Fernando and portions of the City of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County. 2) Formation of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments (COG) and SCAG Planning Subregion.3) Obtain consistent funding for the San Fernando Valley Visitors Bureau.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
The above January meeting report completes the Highlights for 2009. However I would like to make some additional remarks. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions to our monthly meetings from Valley VOTE Board members Vic Viereck, Denny Schneider, Pauline Tallent , Richard Bort, Richard Leyner, Jack Humphreville, Bart Reed, George Truesdell, and Don Schultz.

Also a special thank you to Denny Schneider and Richard Bort, who spend a great deal of effort collaborating on the preparation of the Valley VOTE Monthly Meeting reports. I would also like to recognize Roger Kulpa who provides the updates on the Valley VOTE web site, Treasurer Vic Viereck who takes care of Valley VOTE's financial matters, and Richard and Barbara Leyner who hosted Valley VOTE's successful "Meet the Legislators" event this summer at their home.

Finally, on a sad note, Valley Vote Executive Board member George Truesdell and long time Valley VOTE Board member Marie Harris passed away this year. They will be missed.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joe Vitti
President -Valley VOTE