It should be obvious to anyone why the city of Los Angeles is both broke and broken.
Lack of leadership.
In any other city, when a private company is holding a major event, they pull a permit.
The Permit Division who hears the case determines what city resources will be needed, and who will pay.
All of this PRIOR to the permit being issued and the event taking place.
Now, in the Michael Jackson instance, not only were things done behind closed doors, but now nobody has the guts in City Hall, other than Councilmember Dennis Zine, to stand up to the corporate donors.
Add insult to injury:
We, the taxpayers, pay $50,000 for boxed meals that should have been purchased within the L.A. borders, and should have been bid out.
The department head was heard on KFI defending his purchase.
Fire him.
This is symptomatic of how contracting in our city is done on a daily basis.
No accountability.
No Oversight.
No Money.
No Services.
NO Leadership.
Mr. Handal, Chair of the West L.A. Neighborhood Council, “writing as a frustrated individual,” may be contacted at sgrest@aol.com