Militant Update: Wesson Will We-pave Western!

The Militant, back from his hiatus of an unspecified nature, has some awesome news to report to you Angelenos!

As you may or may not have read, back in late July, the Militant griped about riding his bike over the dangerously deformed pavement along Western Avenue near Venice Boulevard, just north of the West Adams area (you know, where this picture was taken...).

The next day, the Militant visited 10th District Councilman Herb Wesson's website, called his office and ASKED FOR HIS HEAD!

Just kidding. No, the Militant politely talked to the front desk staffer and asked him who was the CD10 field deputy in charge of that area. He was given Wendy Fraticelli's name, who is the field deputy of the northeast part of the 10th district, and so the Militant sent her an email detailing his concern, and also showed the link to his post (shameless self promotion, yo...).

Well, days went by - 18 of them in fact - and the Militant had long ago wondered if Ms. Fraticelli looked at her inbox and said, "Militant Angeleno?! What the f...[hits the DEL key]" But he was proven wrong today, for the CD10 staffer finally pulled through! She wrote:

Good afternoon,

Thank you for contacting the office of Councilmember Wesson and for following up with an email to inform me of your concerns regarding Western Ave. The safety of both pedestrians and drivers is a priority for Councilmember Wesson therefore, Western Ave. is going to be resurfaced soon! At this point, I don't have a specific date but you have my word that as soon as I know exactly when this will be taking place, I will contact you immediately.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance with any City related services or if you have any questions on this or any other matter.

Thank you!!

Wendy Fraticelli
Deputy, District Office
Councilmember Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
Council District 10
1819 S. Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90006

Well howzaaat?!?! Of course the Militant's cynical side might just write that off as being humored by the city staffer, but as someone who personally knows council staff members (some of them may or may not be actual top-level Militant Operatives...), they work long hours and earn less than they're worth (Of course, being City workers, they get killer benefits, but that's another topic...). The Militant's optimistic side probably attributed the 18-day delay in response to her researching the issue, and in turn waiting to get a response herself, in addition to all the meetings she has to run off to all day.

The whole intent of this was to show you how to find the right people to talk to, and get answers. Many people call up their councilmember's office, and unload their gripes to the poor junior-level staffer/intern answering the phone, who's probably hating their job at the moment, having heard hundreds of similar gripes throughout the course of the day. Most of the work of the council office is done by the deputies. The councilmembers are there to attend City Council meetings, committee meetings, give soundbites to the press and cut ribbons with really large-sized scissors.

The Militant will follow up when he gets word of the street re-paving (and hopefully it gets done right; he's seen some weak-ass paving jobs out there...). In the meantime, Thanks, Wendy for your reply and all the work that you do for the City and CD10!

My Humps, My Humps, My Ugly Cycling Bumps

The Militant rode on bike last night from his compound to visit an operative in West Adams (and yes, he did ride past his favorite mystery spot for the fun of it), but en route, while riding along Western Avenue, just a few feet south of Venice Blvd, on the west side (wesssoiiide!) of the street, there it is, you can't miss it (pictured right).

Now, the Militant, as well as anyone who rides a bike in this City, knows there's potholes, there's cracks, there's some fux0red-up pavement. But...wtf is THIS? A mountain range? Lessee. We got the San Gabriels, The Santa Susanas, the Santa Monica mountains...and THIS! How did this happen? Plate tectonics?

Maybe they're speed bumps. If they are, they work, alright. They're great at slowing down cyclists like the Militant. Fortunately, the Militant's urban assault bicycle can take the jagged terrain. But most cyclists can't.

In all seriousness, this particular asphalt deformity is dangerous. Dangerous for cyclists, for obvious reasons. But also dangerous for motorists, who, upon driving over these, can potentially lose control and hit a cyclist, a pedestrian or another motor vehicle.

As you may or may not know, the Militant isn't into petty whining like, um, some other blogs tend to do, so, true to Militant form, he wants to get into action and find (and fight for) a solution. While riding not more than two blocks south is Councilman Herb Wesson's 10th District Field office. The Militant will contact the office and get some answers, and hopefully get that stretch of Western fixed up! Stay tuned, Angelenos!

Wesson's Learned in Mid-City

Your Friendly Neighborhood Militant has been extremely busy with both his Militant and extramilitant activities these past few days, making the blogging chore, er, responsibility a slightly lower priority as of late. But fear not, Militant readers, there's a huge backlog of stuff waiting to be committed to the Compose Window...

The Militant has partially disclosed to you readers that he has an unspecified connection to the community of Mid-City, semi-specifically in a neighborhood within a one-mile radius of the Adams Blvd and La Brea Avenue intersection (which happens to have an oft-overlooked war monument that might sound familiar to you readers). Because of the Militant and extramilitant activities he conducts there frequently, he was asked to attend a community action meeting in that area on Sunday that addressed a couple pressing needs in that low-income community.

While the rest of the local mainstream and online media seems fixated on some strike (Militant Say piss off both the writers and producers alike: Fileshare and pirate your TV programs!), there are people who are finding it increasingly impossible to live in affordable dwellings, and the youth who live in those communities lack very many choices.

And so was the focus of Sunday's meeting at St. Agatha's Catholic Church organized by LA Voice PICO, a (inter-)faith-based grassroots organization that seeks to empower communities with regard to social justice issues. Nearly five hundred community members, including representatives of labor unions, fellow community coalitions and nearby various Christian congregations as well as an Islamic mosque, many holding up signs pertaining to the affordable housing crisis, filled the church's pews to have their voices heard by 10th District Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson (pictured left). The organizers also invited Mercedes Marquez, General Manager of the Los Angeles City Housing Department and LAPD Southwest Division Captain James Craig, all of whom were in attendance (and so were KABC 7 and KMEX 34 news cameras, their presence no doubt sealed the councilman's commitment to attend).

Representatives of the predominantly Latino, historically African American community made presentations about the need for a local youth center and more parks and recreation space (a familiar topic to the Militant) as well as for the need for more affordable housing units in the area. Others were tapped to deliver personal testimonies, including a woman who had to rent a $200-a-month room for her family at someone's house as she could not afford the rent of nearby apartments on an $800-a-month income with considerable health care needs taking up a chunk of her budget as well. A local youth with collegiate aspirations lamented the number of activity choices for people in his age bracket in the community. PowerPoint slides projected various statistics, including that of the 14,000 new housing units built in Los Angeles in 2006, 13,000 of them went to people with an income of more than $135,000 a year.

The Councilman was also called to sign LA Voice PICO's Housing Pledge which calls on the Los Angeles City Councilmembers to support not only more affordable housing, but a citywide mixed-income housing policy, a Housing Trust Fund and tenants' rights education. A three-foot-wide display already bearing the signatures of Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry was waiting for Herb Wesson's name to be added.

"Give me a pen!" responded the councilman, when asked to sign the pledge (pictured above). The roar of cheers and applause followed his imprimatur.

Of course, a politician's support of the faith-based coalition's pledge is likewise an act of faith - only time will tell whether Wesson - as well as his fellow councilmembers - will follow through with their promises.