Opening Statement

I’m incredibly excited about the chance to have a running dialogue about what we can do to get LA moving again and hear your thoughts and concerns. I hope this site will become a “must-read” forum for new ideas about what we can do to make LA a truly great city.

The men and women inspired by the Progressive movement who wrote our city’s first home rule Charter in 1925 chose to vest substantial power in commissions as a way to keep control of government in the hands of the people. We’ve strayed from that fundamental principle, and we’re paying the price today.

I hope that this blog will help start a trend towards involving more people in government and making government more responsive to people. I hope that we can use this new connection to bridge the gap between the people and their servants, and help make our city a better place.

I’ll be posting here regularly, and I hope you'll join me. I’m looking forward to our conversation.

Comments

[Tom Riley]

How can I help?

[John H. Welborne]

I know your campaign will contribute to the dialogue about policy-making (and implementation) in Los Angeles. Thank you.

[Adam Rakunas]

Just one quibble: hitting that massive disclaimer page before getting to the actual blog is a royal pain in the tuchus. Having people hit the "Blog" link in the nav bar and making 'em wade through the legalese...dude, that's just poor design. I know you want to protect yourself and set up your terms of service and set the tone for the site, but making people get through that every time we come here? Not cool. Couldn't you just have a link to the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog page?

Other than that, woohoo! Here's hoping you stomp Hahn and Parks!

[David Novak]

Bob,
A great day for Los Angeles! Exciting that you're in the campaign!

[Matthew]

I think a good idea might be to outline on your web page the differences between yourself and the other candidates in the race. Why vote for Hertzberg over Hann, Moore, Alarcon, Parks, or maybe even villaraigosa? It is my understanding that all but one these candidates are Democrats with essentially the same stance on the issues. I believe the only non-democrat as of now running for mayor is Walter Moore, an attorney in Playa Del Rey. As the election draws close, a debate (especially with Moore) would be a great idea! Thank you.

[Lee Wallach]

THANKS BOB!! And a very large and sincere thank you to the family. Again they have been willing to share you with the rest of us.

Don't forget to spotlight your amazing environmental credentials, thoughts and ideas. Some of us know your dedication to protecting our environment for our children and our children's children. Just make sure everyone knows it.
Lee

[Bill Teitelbaum]

Bob—

Great news! The city of Los Angeles needs a mayor who is powerful, fair-minded and a true visionary —you're the right man.

Best Regards,
Bill Teitelbaum s

[Greg Fitchitt]

Bob,

Exciting to hear you are entering the race. Your vision and energy will raise the level of debate over the future of our great city and will make for a great campaign.

A couple of years ago you put forward a very well-considered proposal for a borough system in Los Angeles, "Recapturing the Vibrancy of Los Angeles". This plan would truly put power in the hands of neighborhoods far beyond today's advisory-only neighborhood councils, creating 9 boroughs each with 5 sub-districts and giving the boroughs legislative and budgetary authority.

It's an exciting and visionary plan. Will it be a part of your campaign?

[Jerry England]

Mr. Hertzberg you have pushed a borough concept of government for LA in the past. Where would that leave our fledgling Neigborhood Councils?

You already have some heavy hitter developers supporting you. What do they want for helping you get elected?

My hometown of Chatsworth is a unique place because it is one of the last rural horse-keeping areas in LA. We don't want to lose our horse ranches to high density housing.

Our stakeholders tell us they want our Neighborhood Council to place special emphasis on the following concerns:

a. Housing density, land preservation and rural atmosphere
b. Beautification Devonshire Corridor, preserving environment, parks
c. Protection of horse-keeping
d. Traffic congestion
e. School crowding
f. Preservation of historic sites
g. Improvement of business climate, volume, economy
h. Excessive noise
i. Renter's rights
j. Services for the elderly
k. Improvement of infrastructure

(The above was taken from a voter exit poll during our Neighborhood Council election)

Will you help us or the special interest campaign contributors you'll need to get elected?

[DAN WEITZMAN]

Bob-
Randi and I are VERY proud of you!!! As someone who grew up in Los Angeles we think you are going to be a GREAT MAYOR!!!

YOU will make LA GREAT!!

DAN

[joseph mailander]

Bob, here's an idea: make Greg Nelson put the Artist Corridor east of downtown all in one Neighborhood Council district, rather than split among three. With them being gerrymandered the way they are, they have less of a collective voice, and can't work together very easily as a community. This has hurt them twice recently: one, Cultural Affairs is getting hacked and nobody has effectively spoken up about that; two, too many renters in lofts are not subject to rent stabilization because they are only offered commercial leases. Get going, dude!

[Ron Bitzer]

As a constituent in North Hollywood, I am looking forward to the opportunity to vote for you again.
As a parent and volunteer for the City (Valley Plaza Park Advisory Board), I have worked for 5 years to constrain the adverse impact of "adult" entertainment in North Hollywood, and really the Valley, which has received recent press about the spread of HIV in the film industry. We need, I believe, to get the public to move beyond the "gigglers" and the "gaspers" to use Jack Kyser's sound bite on these issues, and I would like to know if your campaign would be interested in the documentation local concerned citizens are gathering about the impact of an industry that is either (a) unregulated or (b) fights/circumvents existing regs. Thank you. Ron Bitzer ronaldbitzer49@msn.com

[boifromtroy]

Way to go, Bob!

Los Angeles needs hard working, ethical and common-sense leadership that will stand up to parochial interests when necessary for the greater good of the City. You've shown the desire to work hard for neighborhoods, but also the ability to recognize when pandering to an individual constituency is a detriment to the rest of the City.

I'm on your side.

[William Schlitz]

Hey Bob,

I think your decision to run is the best thing that can happen for the City of Los Angeles. I can tell you that I am looking forward to having someone in the Mayor's Office that will at least listen to those of us living in Westchester about our concerns regarding LAX. What ever I can do to help, let me know. Good Luck!!!!

[Raoul Marinescu]

Hugsberg is back! Can't wait until we see him on the steps of City Hall.

[Dirk van de Bunt]

I heard you interviewed about your candidacy by Warren Olney on KCRW last evening. I thought you we candid and direct about the appearance of, and the actual lack of, leadership in LA. You came across as the most focussed and directed of the candidates interviewed. I am looking forward to the campaign and to your success in energizing and focussing the electorate on the issues of the day.

[J.L.R.]

When I was a 20 year old college student, Bob Hertzberg and his colleague, William Schlitz, gave me my first introduction to politics by giving me a job as an intern in the Speaker's Valley office. Not only did I learn an invaluable amount of information about politicking and policy making, I made some great friends, and I learned that Bob is a decent man with a brilliant mind, and he genuinely cares for his constituents. As such, I can't wait to get involved working for the campaign, and I, like William, can't wait to see Bob being sworn into office on the steps of City Hall.

[Madeleine Jen Kin]

What great news for us Angelenos! Are you still interested in the burrough concept for Los Angeles?

My chief concern ares:
1. LA needs to be able to secure more state funds for needed services, such as fire and police services but also funds to bolster the County health care system which services primarily indigent persons.

2. Maintain the equestrian rural way of life in the east San Fernando Valley, ie. Lake View Terrace, Sylmar, Sunland, and Kagel Canyon.

3. Focus much more attention on improving the LAUSD system. I want to see LA residents take back their schools and raise them to the level they can be.

4. Lastly, lets bring the emphasis back to the home front. We need to focus on here, building and restructuring the City of Los Angeles. Thank you for this opportunity to listen to our concerns.

[Marc Lampe]

Hi "Cousin" Bobby:
It's me, Professor Moose (Marc) Lampe, friend of Cousin Nancy.

The issues seem so overwhelming, there is issue gridlock (e.g., housing needs v. crowded highways). Why would anyone want the job? Do you have the political courage to get anything significant done (i.e., it seems to me that any major initiative that will make a real dent will also tick off enough people to make you a one term mayor)?

I live in San Diego and and am fond of LA (not quite ready for commitment). It is a great place. And, we have many of the same problems here. LA's tend to be worse. I previously lived in the Bay Area. Some of the problems there are now as bad as LA's problems were 10 years ago, others are worse (depending upon where in the Bay Area one is talking about).

So: traffic, pollution, crime, housing cost, not enough housing, poor schools, inner city blight, water, energy, unethical behavior in government, open space - environmental protection etc., etc...(need I go on). LA, San Diego, the Bay Area and other big cities face many of the same problems. We badly need individuals of the highest integrity with vision and courage to take risks to even begin extracting ourselves from the growing mess. Hope I don't sound too pessimistic, because you are the "huggy bear" man from what I hear, and that's a great starter.

Wish you were running here in San Diego where we have Tweedledee and Twedledum in the runoff with several City Council members currently under indictment and a football team threatening to leave if we don't meet their $ demands (hope you won't let them use a move to LA to blackmail us).

Anyway - good luck and best to Arnold and Maria. I will be following your campaign.

p.s. And don't forget those potholes (do politicians hold ownership in tire companies and car repair shops?)

[Tim Wright]

Great News for Los Angeles! Glad you are back!

[Jean Fleming]

Hi,
I was just looking through the comments and I have nothing to add at the moment. Just want to wish you the best and we're so proud you're going to be our next mayor. In a couple of weeks I'll be down hopefully helping out in your Sherman Oaks office.
Jeanie Fleming

[tallglassofmilk]

A candidate blogging for himself...? That might just be all it takes to get my vote!

Ok, maybe not, but given the alternatives you already have many advantages!

[anonymous]

Greg Fitchitt was in a soft porno called "Silk and Sabotage". You should check it out. He's a real pervert who poses as a Development Director at Westfield

[Denny Barr]

Bob--I understand you want to help with our traffic problems on the freeways.Here's my idea--- Every one of our freeways during morning hours and late afternoon hours are jammed on one side only. If the center divider,on tracks,could be moved 2 lanes over in each direction it would open up the busy side in the morning and vice-versa going home and would be much less expensive then paving new lanes.A 4 lane freeway would become 6,etc.

[govokinolij]

Hello

Looks good! Very useful, good stuff. Good resources here. Thanks much!

Bye