Robert Greene: The Opinion L.A. Chat

Moderator1: Hi everybody. This is Tim Cavanaugh. We’ve got Robert Greene here for the hour.

Robert Greene: Welcome, everyone.

Moderator1: Let’s start off with a question we got in the mail, from Angeleno Elan Melamid. It’s kinda long!

Moderator1: Mr. Greene, I have long enjoyed your work at the LA Weekly, and am heartened to see you have joined the Times editorial staff. Good luck!

Moderator1: LA County is the biggest city in America, with over 10 million residents. However, our fragmented, unaccountable, ineffective government is largely ignored by both residents and the press. LA has the dirtiest air and among the highest child poverty rates in America, and our public health care, education, transportation, land use, child protection and juvenile justice systems are in complete disarray.

Moderator1: Will you be able to increase and sustain focus on the work (and many failings) of our county government, now that you have joined the Times?

Moderator1: thanks, Elan Melamid

Robert Greene: Too much for me to do alone! But you’re right about the county’s problems, and it’s important to raise the issue and keep it in public focus.

TD: Robert, do you think the mayor is providing any meaningful leadership about the traffic problems in LA?

Robert Greene: He contends it’s possible to do something about it, so that is step one. Hard to say that traffic is getting better, though.

Moderator1: Main differences between the L.A. Times, LA Weekly, and the legal paper you worked for?

Robert Greene: One paper was a huge institution. The other is the L.A. Times. Just kidding, sort of. Journalism is surprisingly the same, with similar struggles to remain relevant and similar passion for journalistic values.

Moderator1: We associate a certain sprightliness with the reporting in the alt.weeklies that I think the MSM should envy. A couple weeks ago the Weekly had a pretty terrific story about a politician in Bell Gardens, involving hookers, drugs, shady hotel rooms etc. How do WE get a little of that?

Robert Greene: Be embarrassed when we are scooped, and be unafraid to follow the lead of another reporter, like Jeff Anderson’s work in the Weekly, when that happens. That said, our reporters have done some good work in the relatively unknown but very important Southest cities.

ScottOlinSchmidt: Do you think that the lack of local media at the USOC hearings sent the message that L.A. did not care about the Olympics?

Robert Greene: Good question. I don;t think the USOC makes its decisions on size of press turnout. But L.A.’s main claim is that it is a great media city, and we don’t seem to have given it our all in that regard.

Moderator1: did l.a. really have a shot against chicago for the country’s olympics bid?

TD: I don’t think LA really does care about the Olympics, especially compared to other cities.

brady westwater: Speaking of Traffic, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils Congress has just set up a committee for all the NC’s to work together on the traffic crisis. It’s time we who live here take ownership of these problems

brady westwater: We can’t just depend on politicians for all answers

Robert Greene: I’m watching with interest. As you konw, Brady, I’m worried that the neighborhood councils got off on the wrong foot and I’m not sure whether they can become integral to solving the city’s problems. I f they give a chance for new voices to be heard, OK. But I’m waiting.

TD: But how effective can NCs really be? Can anyone give an example of how the NCs have been effective in a significant way?

brady westwater: DLANC turned heroin row at 5th and Main into Gallery Row.

Robert Greene: TD, the claim is made that they killed unwarranted water rate hikes. I’m not so sure that would have happened without the councils. The problem, as I see it, is that they are trying to be simultaneously inside City Hall and outside. Trying to be too many different things.

brady westwater: We also helped stop the sidewalk sleeping ordinance and have stopped the Industrial zoning ordinance.

brady westwater: We also brought Fashion Week back to Los Angeles and just founded the first museum dedicated to Los Angeles.

Robert Greene: Brady, I think the corner was cleaned up by the efforts of you and your downtown colleagues, and I think you would have had the same success without the council, and without the city’s annual $50,000 grant.

Jeff: Is the progression of power of the entrenched and persistent interests of government employees unstoppable? Beside newspapers reporting on the increasing disparity between their compensation and the majority of those who pay for it, is their a countervailing force?

Robert Greene: Great question. I don’t think it’s a question of business versus labor, or people versus their government. It’s a hard question, but it all starts with scrutiny -- in newspapers, on blogs, in community meetings. But no, I don’t believe it’s unstoppable.

brady westwater: The actions at the DWP today show the power of government employees - as reported in the Daily News, but not the Times

Moderator1: I haven’t read that story, but I will say I’m glad we have the Daily News out there and try to read it every day.

TD: Is anyone keeping track of the number of people involved in NCs, and whether that number is growing? So many LA people feel disenfranchised. It would be nice if it could be proven that NCs have helped get more people involved.

Robert Greene: TD, councils have given a forum to many folks who previously had other places to bring their concerns, like homeowner associations. They have far to go to bring Latinos, Asians, and other ethnic groups into the mix.

Moderator1: Brady has a little detail on that Daily News story:

brady westwater: The union is extracting multi-million dollar ‘payoffs’ to allow private contractors to do work at one-half the cost of DWP employees

Jon: Does LA Live have a chance of succeeding?

Jon: And how about the Grand Street Project?

brady westwater: It is Times Square come to LA - it will be hugely successful. But it is only one small part of Downtown.

Robert Greene: Well, we’ll see. I worry that it’s too “inorganic”--too unrelated to the lives of the people who live and work in the area.

Moderator1: Spoken like a true libertarian.

Robert Greene: Grand Avenue: I’ll believe it when I see it. Same concerns as for LA LIve.

Robert Greene: LIbertarian? Those are fighting words.

Moderator1: Tell us how much you agree that UCLA is better than USC.

Robert Greene: Uh, not at all. USC rules.

ScottOlinSchmidt: hey now... I hear Boifromtroy is reading!

brady westwater: Grand Avenue will be a lot more resident friendly. We have worked very closely with the developer in making a lot of changes. LA Live is more for visitors to Downtown

ScottOlinSchmidt: speaking of the local schools, how come the Times op-ed goes and gets Harvard professors and not local ones?

Moderator1: Robert is strictly about the editorials, Scott--the unsigned thingees on the lefthand column. We have a separate team for OpEds, though we all share your concern and really do try to get good local writers on all topics

brady westwater: As a second generation Bruin - Blue and Gold forever!

brady westwater: Peter Dreier’s embarrassing exchange last week shows why local professors should be kept hidden from the public.

Angelyne: just arrived here

Robert Greene: Hi Angelyne.

brady westwater: Superb piece on the shootings, btw.

Robert Greene: Brady, that was our moderator’s handiwork.

Angelyne: Hi everybody. Have you talked already about medical marijuana and chief Bratton’s attitude towards dispensaries?

Robert Greene: Hasn’t come up. I’m no expert on the subject, except to underscore how the state-federal split makes it possible for law enforcement to pick and choose how to enforce the laws. Not a good thing, in my opinion.

TD: What is the law about medical marijuana, anyway? I don’t think it’s well known, one way or another.

Moderator1: TD, do you mean, does the federal classification trump the state’s voter-approved law?

TD: Yes, and what is the voter-approved law, is it in effect now or has it been held up by courts, etc.

Moderator1: I should know this, but you’ve stumped me, and I’m also unfamiliar with what I would expect are some pretty big contradictions in the California law--i.e., where Prop 215 resides side-by-side with prior laws criminalizing pot.

brady westwater: We have people stoned out of their minds showing up downtown looking for them. That was my first indication that they are mainly fronts for drug users.

brady westwater: Supposedly, there are ingredients that can be extracted that can do just as much good without the other affects. But that is secondhand knowledge on my part.

Moderator1: Greatest living Angeleno?

Robert Greene: Greatest? I can’t even pick my favorite color.

Angelyne: Magic?

Robert Greene: Greatest living Angeleno athlete, to be sure.

ScottOlinSchmidt: Arnold!

Robert Greene: I’ll stick with Magic, thank you.

brady westwater: Eli Broad. The only person who really cares about all aspects of this city - AND is prepared to follow up on his beliefs

Angelyne: Brian Grazer?

Robert Greene: Not funny. Well, a little funny.

joseph mailander: hello peeps sorry I was having lunch and am late

Robert Greene: Hi Joseph.

TD: I think it would be great if the Times, as part of its voter guide/endorsements, had an ongoing section on its website that really tracked all of the propositions, from election season to current status.

Robert Greene: Hey, TD, great idea. I think we should do that.

brady westwater: But we might know what is really happening then....

Moderator1: Antonio: the real thing, or just a toothy smile and pretty suit?

Robert Greene: Brady, we’ll deal with that trauma when we get to it.

Robert Greene: Hey, moderator, there are many more gradations.

Robert Greene: Antonio has a lot of promise. But it’s time to get beyond the promise stage.

TD: Probably a little of both, but will we ever really know?

brady westwater: Fa, far better than I expected him to be.

joseph mailander: i’m of the opinion that the times first has to find a way to be relevant to races. the recent debacle with all the papers endorsing monica rodriguez and not even forcing a runoff...oops, i see a subject change...

Robert Greene: Joseph, some would be pleased that our endorsements don’t run this town. Of course, now that I’m here, I wish they did.

Jeff: How do you feel about redevelopment assembling properties into a larger parcels as opposed to fragmented development by individual owners? I always think about how a single-story house can find itself next to a 2 or 3 story apartment or condominium project. I know eminent is a hot button issue but people can be treated in a way that keeps them from being hurt economically if those at the agency have the right intentions. The question of course is will they?

Robert Greene: Jeff, that question takes too long an answer for a chat. And I’m not sure I’m up on the facts.

joseph mailander: my opinion on antonio is that he has a heart in the right place but he’s being misled by parke and robin into thinking that affordable housing and school takeover will show him some greater purpose, and that’s sad, because those are manifestations of riordanism.

brady westwater: I’d rather have a Mayor who takcles too many things - and at least brings them to the public realm - and still manges to get a lot accomplished than one who just plods along.

brady westwater: Way too complicated to go over on-line...

Angelyne: Very good idea, TD. I also love this feature in the San Fran Chronicle in which they call up an elected official about something non functioning in the city, get the promise that this will be taken care of within 2 weeks, let’s say, and do a follow-up story. Great public service and the officials feel the pressure

Robert Greene: Angelyne, that is a good feature. I noticed they also did online video interviews with candidates. We shouldn’t be afraid to learn from good ideas.

Moderator1: Most common misconception people have about local government?

brady westwater: That we have one.

Robert Greene: Thats it’s boring. It’s the most fascinating subject in the world. And yes, Brady, we have one!

joseph mailander: that there’s actual political discourse within it. hey, how can they NOT have misconceptions when only 7 percent voted in the last election!

TD: But most people don’t know/care even about the differences and the impact of LA city vs. county government.

Robert Greene: Right, TD, many people don’t know whether they live in the city or the county. And the two entities work poorly together.

brady westwater: Until a school is built on top of them...

TD: State government, too. And while we’re at it, let’s throw in federal. I think the Times could do a lot more in helping out here, esp. on the web.

joseph mailander: how many 12-0, 13-0 votes, how many sham elections can we endure before the people start forming actual conceptions about their government

Robert Greene: Hey, TD and Joseph! You’re channeling me! You’ve hit upon my passions and my pet peeves.

Moderator1: What potential catastrophes loom over the governments in L.A. and Sacramento?

joseph mailander: home values down 30%

Robert Greene: Generational/immigrant split.

brady westwater: Public pensions, public pensions, public pensions - and public employee health benefits

joseph mailander: saudis and koreans stop buying bundles of subprime loans.

TD: Term limits

Robert Greene: The generation that built the state post-war is disappearing, and the current generation lacks the same communitarian spirit that built the state we all benefit from.

joseph mailander: any sense of civitas whatsoever

Moderator1: OK, here’s my big question for Robert: Would you agree that on balance societies are happier when the private sector is larger than the public sector?

Robert Greene: Hey, moderator, I think the question is a nonsequitur. Socities are happiest when they develop, as Joseph says, a sense of civitas.

TD: There are more haves than have-nots, and I think the have-nots are more likely to give up now than before, when they might actually make a difference if they fought.

brady westwater: Can there be any question? Private has to be bigger - or there can not be a public sector in the long run

brady westwater: Give up - what?

joseph mailander: Marx: “the true purpose of work is no longer man, but money” is a recipe for unhappiness

Robert Greene: Our “conservative” post-war society built our schools, roads, bridges, libraries, water systems. Thay had no problem taxing themsleves to do it.

TD: Society is happiest when private and public work well together and respect each other’s roles, regardless of the size of either.

Moderator1: Most common misconception people have about the Editorial Board?

Robert Greene: That we wear tweed.

TD: Do people even think about the editorial board or know who you are?

brady westwater: Or have any fashion sense at all now that Andres is gone

Moderator1: I’m a better dresser than Andres.

Robert Greene: Hey, TD, you obviously knew about us!

Moderator1: Besides pay, what made you jump from the alt weekly media to the rigidity of an MSM editorial page?

Robert Greene: I found the so-called alt-weekly world to be at least as rigid as the so-called MSM.

joseph mailander: rigidity? we missed the memo...

Angelyne: I have a question: does any editorial board member have kids in public schools? Ride the bus to work? In one word, do people who cover the city use some of the most debated public services?

Moderator1: I ride the m0ther&@$%ing bus every day, Angelyne.

brady westwater: You mean, editorial writers are allowed to ... breed?

Angelyne: bravo Moderator1

Robert Greene: And many of us have kids, though I don’t

Moderator1: We have an interesting mix of parents and non-parents, actually. I’m in the former category.

Angelyne: ... in public schools? :)

Moderator1: Too young. And homeschooling looks better to me every day.

TD: Public schools in San Marino and Pacific Palisades are very different than public schools in East LA...

joseph mailander: did you guys say anything i missed about newton yet?

Moderator1: Time’s up. Thanks, everybody!

Robert Greene: Thanks, everyone, for taking the time with me. It’s been great!

Angelyne: You rule Robert

Moderator1: By the way, that wasn’t a reply to Joseph’s Newton question. Answer is: We have not said anything publicly, and I look forward to getting Jim in here so you guys can grill him yourselves.

joseph mailander: our pleasure

brady westwater: woolf!

Moderator1: Over and out!