VIDEO: L.A. City Council "Chit-Chat Session" Throughout Public Comment

Many of you know that Zuma Dogg was out of town for the past six months, or so...and has been out of council chambers, as well.

I returned last Tuesday evening and upon return, tuned into Kevin James on KRLA radio. He had just been to his first City Council meeting to observe Jamiel & Anitia Shaw's public comment regarding Jamiel's Law.

Kevin wasn't planning on delivering a public comment, himself...but after observing the way Los Angeles City Council was treating the public comment speakers (not paying attention, talking, leaving the room)...he put in his own speaker card to address City Council on their lack of attentiveness and flat out rudeness.

When I called into Kevin's show that evening, the first thing he aksed me was if it is always like that. (Not paying attention.) I told him I had just become accustomed to it...and just deliver my speech for the record and the people watching at home. (And if ZD is doing a good job...they pay attention, anyway. But other people...not always so much.)

The next morning, Jamiel Shaw, Sr. was on Doug McIntyre's KABC radio show, and was also complaining about the way Council treated it's constituents during public comment.

Mr. Shaw said, "It looked like Happy Hour...a social gathering. People were leaving the room for the other speakers and CM Parks only walked in for my (Mr. Shaw's) comments. "(Wasn't there for the other people there to speak.)

[Streaming audio of Mr. Shaw, Kevin James, Doug McIntyre, Zuma Dogg and CM Zine here.]

Plus, Shaw told McIntyre that he wondered if Council was trying to "trick" him into missing his comment time (which he did...and had to ask for a second chance.) His son asked why people were laughing. And Shaw was shocked at the overall fact that he didn't feel that the people had council's attention.

If you watch the council meetings on TV 35, you regularly hear people complain to Council President Eric Garcetti that Council is not listening, only to be interrupted by Garcetti -- assuring (and re-assuring) them that they are indeed listening. [See video below. Video isn't a politician. It doesn't lie.]

So that morning (Wednesday) I decided to show what City TV 35 will never show. I turned the cameras on the Councilmembers for a random spot check. Remember...I have been out of chambers for six months...and wasn't sitting there monitoring day after day for that one day where all hell breaks loose. I simply heard two people complain in one day about it...AND -- COUNCIL HAD JUST HAD A LOCAL RADIO TALK SHOW HOST (KEVIN JAMES) BLAST THEM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS THE PREVIOUS DAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. So if anything they should have been at their most attentive.

The video you are about to see isn't just during "general public comment" -- or over the course of a couple minutes. I hit the record button throughout the meeting. This footage was shot over multiple ordinances -- including the entire Venice Beach repeal and replace ordinance that brought ZD into City Hall exactly two years ago. And other agenda items, as well.

City Council Chit Chat Session (TV 35 Reverse View)
(All clips will roll automatically when you press play.)



COULD THIS BE WHAT ALL OF GARCETTI'S CHIT-CHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT (If reality is as big as my ego):

The night before the meeting, I posted that there was street buzz that "Villaraigosa wants to replace Garcetti as council prez with Herb Wesson." THEN, I blasted it during public comment (of which Garshady stayed away from); and let Prez Pro-Tem WendyGreuel run the meeting.

Maybe Eric had some tap dancing to do and was running spin/strategy based on the blog post and after I blasted it in council chambers?

But that's only if you think ZD's blog post and public comment could cause such a thing.

BUT BESIDES THAT...I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR RANDOM SPOT CHECK OF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER IN AN ARROGANT, POMPOUS AND CORRUPT LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER. And to the mayor...I hope you keep Eric as Council President, just so he can't be running around chambers disrupting the other Councilmembers during Public Comment.

ZumaTimes.com