TOPICS:  

*Liquor: Overcrowdings, density questions, new applications, marginal markets emerging  
*LAPD's Retreat from the Community 
*Mappings 
*Charter Reform 
*Secession 
*June Adages  

Liquor: 
Density 
ABC's assertion that a 20% reduction in licensees has occurred since 1995 in zip 28 & 38!!!!  
We are requesting documentation. Incredible on its face. This in a letter from Gov. Gray Davis to Joe Shea. We're seeking the reality. For sure, we have the flood of new applications for Vine Street & Highland projects, and in between. 

Marginal markets 
Dancehalls, restaurants and bars are so subject to failings in management and market viability, that the problems of decently accommodating reasonable commerce is so difficult. In the Sunset/Wilcox vicinity the newest application comes with a very poor reputation for past operations elsewhere, lacking reasonable parking accommodations and manifold other considerations. Close to SRO housings, a liquor store with historic problems, and another which contributed major sufferings to struggling businesses on Cahuenga. Close as well to the recently permitted major dancehall on Cahuenga and to the entertainments at the Athletic Club...which have recently undergone a change of management. It's tiring to all of us to so often have to be the seemingly lone voice of caution amidst naive assents by the Chamber & Council. But someone has to do it. It takes our precious time, energy and money, and the work is entirely unappreciated by the larger community. We thus publicly salute JON JAY and VIRGINIA CHARON. This type of attention 
deserves a special acronym, Hmmm. Peace, Police, Slum prevention Corp.? Let's call it: the PPSCP! There's a sea of acronyms out there, this one will fill a real void. Maybe Community Redevelopment Review Committee? CRRC?  

LAPD's retreat from the community 
Neigborhood organizations posture 

Our Senior leads have rarely been so remote. We observe a virtual standown with respect to drug sites and prostitution. Is crime really down? Or rather is enforcement simply down? 
Old knowledgeable hands have been promoted out and the new seem dormant. Is this just a passing of the baton phase? To us, clearly this distancing makes necessary appropriate changes in our ways to abate problems and maximize effective new approaches. 

Mappings: What's proposed is the creation of a map, easily visualized and kept current showing vital problems such as: 

• Graffiti & Gang turf locations in our Hollywood.
• a map illustrating our other ongoing problems...per your input and suggestions i.e. new liquor appl. sites.

Why? For easy reference by LAPD personnel in the field, etc. For our planning and strategy needs. 

Local Events: DIAL retirement, CPAB meeting 

Constance Dial is retiring as she had planned, i,e., concurrently with that of her husband's. They will vacation in Italy. Both were present at the CPAB meeting @ the Presbyterian Church complex May 25th. This was the main event of the meeting. Among the many accolades and awards presented was one from USH and one from The Cherokee Center. Mary Presby's lighthearted and charming sentiments really graced the moment. Of course, Connie's explanation was great as well, she was leaving to enjoy time with one dearest to her, as opposed to the rest of us whom she liked a great deal less.  
Commander Dial is held in the highest regard by the troops, and those of us who have both observed her wisdoms and skills in general and particular concur. Perhaps, at some future time, I'll share some recollections of her sagacity...ministrations which quietly healed conflicts, which mishandled, could have caused great grief, tribulation and expense. 

CHARTER REFORM 

Now finally, a ballot measure for yea or nay. 

Our criterion of virtue: 
DOES IT ENFRANCHISE THE RESIDENT IN THE ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS? Is there a remote likelihood that in the next election, a virtuous person, not subsidized by a major interest entity, could effectively campaign to solicit your vote. 

We think not. Rather to the contrary. We see no evidence that rational councilmanic districts - we mean by this, with some geologic coherence, of a population size less than some UN countries, etc. 
A little known but potentially devastating change advocated in the text would allow bond measures to pass with a simple majority rather than the 2/3rds now required. If passed, expect a drowning flood of new burdens on that minority of actual taxpayers. Just contemplate the impossibility of reversing this code, once enacted. Only pervasive bankruptcy and flight might abate such. 

Rational representation, limited civic governances will redeem our current charter's inherent virtues, alone this will provide the matrix for a pleasant and prosperous city. Else we will continue to genuflect to councilmanic zealots who emplement their weird dreams into mad mandates from which the sensible flee. 

SECESSION: 
We encourage every effort to escape. 
Given the failure to achieve rational, economic governance. 
Given that we are now subjects rather than citizens, subjected to every precedent shattering advance into the imprisonments of an Orwellian animal farm. 

OUR ORWELLIAN FARM  

We know of the exquisite extreme of controls over behavior and even thought expressed by this prescient novelist. We should be aware that it simply drew on the unimaginable horrors inflicted upon the Soviet Populace and many others. 

Our downhill slide is into an even more competent computer age cavern of control by despots. Despots benevolently advocating and establishing each new step down in our decline from freedom. Indeed, celebrating such before us in a display redolent of former civilizations with their ritual human sacrifices haplessly submitting to their celebration ('fate') proclaimed as civic virtue even then.  

The latest Orwellian mandate: annual home   
inspections, at gunpoint if resisted.   

The annual inspection of your rented abode is now law, tho being appealed as to it's obvious violation of elemental civil rights. For now, whether you like it or not, hired 'clergy' will be poking into your domain, critically assessing all personal impedimenta, noting arcane enthusiams, absorbing all for future admonitions in their 'census.'  Of course you will be graded as to your housekeeping skills. 'Baaad doggie...sit!!!..  
That the camel nose under the tent now cautiously targets apartments only, is to be expected. Those who received the supremely arrogant Fire Dept. billing should fully appreciate their serf standing. That it incautiously arrived before a crucical vote to finance Police & Fire bonds, and that bureaucratic hands were slapped for this naivete at 'dinnertime' should not allay the reasonable assessment of the imperial bureaucrat posture. Homeowners screamed, outraged at the tone. Not so the rest of the herd who are by now fully understanding of their plight, receiving such missives monthly at least. The error was treating homeowners like everybody else is treated, which is to say, arrogantly and obnoxiously.  

JUNE USH MEETINGS:   

No General Meeting  
Committee Meetings Only