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Enjoy The Summer From DLANC
Billionaire Warren Buffet’s son AGREES with Skid Row’s General Jeff in NY Times article about Non-profits >>>
| Jeff GeneralJeff Page | 3:25pm Jul 29 |
#VisitSkidRow #DTLA #WarrenBuffet #PeterBuffet #NonProfitHustle #PovertyPimps
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v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Listen to a related song written by Peter Buffett.
Early on in our philanthropic journey, my wife and I became aware of something I started to call Philanthropic Colonialism. I noticed that a donor had the urge to “save the day” in some fashion. People (including me) who had very little knowledge of a particular place would think that they could solve a local problem. Whether it involved farming methods, education practices, job training or business development, over and over I would hear people discuss transplanting what worked in one setting directly into another with little regard for culture, geography or societal norms. Often the results of our decisions had unintended consequences; distributing condoms to stop the spread of AIDS in a brothel area ended up creating a higher price for unprotected sex. But now I think something even more damaging is going on. Because of who my father is, I’ve been able to occupy some seats I never expected to sit in. Inside any important philanthropy meeting, you witness heads of state meeting with investment managers and corporate leaders. All are searching for answers with their right hand to problems that others in the room have created with their left. There are plenty of statistics that tell us that inequality is continually rising. At the same time, according to the Urban Institute, the nonprofit sector has been steadily growing. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of nonprofits increased 25 percent. Their growth rate now exceeds that of both the business and government sectors. It’s a massive business, with approximately $316 billion given away in 2012 in the United States alone and more than 9.4 million employed. Philanthropy has become the “it” vehicle to level the playing field and has generated a growing number of gatherings, workshops and affinity groups. As more lives and communities are destroyed by the system that creates vast amounts of wealth for the few, the more heroic it sounds to “give back.” It’s what I would call “conscience laundering” — feeling better about accumulating more than any one person could possibly need to live on by sprinkling a little around as an act of charity. But this just keeps the existing structure of inequality in place. The rich sleep better at night, while others get just enough to keep the pot from boiling over. Nearly every time someone feels better by doing good, on the other side of the world (or street), someone else is further locked into a system that will not allow the true flourishing of his or her nature or the opportunity to live a joyful and fulfilled life. And with more business-minded folks getting into the act, business principles are trumpeted as an important element to add to the philanthropic sector. I now hear people ask, “what’s the R.O.I.?” when it comes to alleviating human suffering, as if return on investment were the only measure of success. Microlending and financial literacy (now I’m going to upset people who are wonderful folks and a few dear friends) — what is this really about? People will certainly learn how to integrate into our system of debt and repayment with interest. People will rise above making $2 a day to enter our world of goods and services so they can buy more. But doesn’t all this just feed the beast? I’m really not calling for an end to capitalism; I’m calling for humanism. Often I hear people say, “if only they had what we have” (clean water, access to health products and free markets, better education, safer living conditions). Yes, these are all important. But no “charitable” (I hate that word) intervention can solve any of these issues. It can only kick the can down the road. My wife and I know we don’t have the answers, but we do know how to listen. As we learn, we will continue to support conditions for systemic change. It’s time for a new operating system. Not a 2.0 or a 3.0, but something built from the ground up. New code. What we have is a crisis of imagination. Albert Einstein said that you cannot solve a problem with the same mind-set that created it. Foundation dollars should be the best “risk capital” out there. There are people working hard at showing examples of other ways to live in a functioning society that truly creates greater prosperity for all (and I don’t mean more people getting to have more stuff). Money should be spent trying out concepts that shatter current structures and systems that have turned much of the world into one vast market. Is progress really Wi-Fi on every street corner? No. It’s when no 13-year-old girl on the planet gets sold for sex. But as long as most folks are patting themselves on the back for charitable acts, we’ve got a perpetual poverty machine. It’s an old story; we really need a new one. Peter Buffett is a composer and a chairman of the NoVo Foundation.
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IN MEMORY OF OUR ANCESTORS!!!!!!
ON THIS DAY, 26 AUGUST IN 1874 SIXTEEN BLACK PEOPLE WERE LYNCHED IN TENNESSEE. Remembering those who died for our freedom and country as we know it today. RIP
Audio of Skid Row community Speaking Out against SRHT’s Liquor License
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CENTRAL AREA PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013, After 4:30 P.M.
CITY HALL, 10 FLOOR ROOM 1060
200 NORTH SPRING STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
CLICK ON THE BLUE LINKS BELOW TO LISTEN TO AUDIO FROM THE MEETING
TO REQUEST A COPY OF A PORTION OR THE ENTIRE MEETING ON COMPACT DISC,
PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING PUBLICATIONS AT (213) 978-1255
POLICY FOR DESIGNATED PUBLIC HEARING ITEM(S): 3 and 4.
Pursuant to the Commission’s general operating procedures, the Commission at times must necessarily limit
the speaking times of those presenting testimony on either side of an issue that is designated as a public
hearing item. All requests to address the Commission on public hearing items must be submitted prior to the
Commission’s consideration on the item. TIME SEGMENTS noted * herein are approximate. Some items
may be delayed due to length of discussion of previous items.
Sign language, interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services may be
provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request no later than three
working days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by calling the Commission Executive Assistant at (213) 978-
1300 or by e-mail at APCCentral@lacity.org.
To ensure that the Commission has ample opportunity to review written materials, members of the
public who wish to submit written materials on agenda items should submit them to the Commission
office, 200 North Spring Street, Room 272, Los Angeles, CA 900152, at least 10 days prior to the
meeting at which the item is to be heard in order to meet the mailing deadline.
The Commission may RECONSIDER and alter its action taken on items listed herein at any time during this
meeting or during the next regular meeting, in accordance with the Commission Policies and Procedures and
provided that the Commission retains jurisdiction over the case.
AGENDAS are posted for public review in the Main Street lobby of City Hall East, 200 N. Main Street, Los
Angeles, California, and are accessible through the internet World Wide Web at
http://www.planning.lacity.org/pln/index.htm.
In the case of a Commission meeting cancellation, all items shall be continued to the next regular
meeting date or beyond, as long as the continuance is within the legal time limits of the case or cases.
If you challenge these agenda items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone
else raised at this public hearing, or in written correspondence on these matters delivered to this agency at or
prior to the public hearing.
If you seek judicial review of any decision of the City pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section
1094.5, the petition for writ of mandate pursuant to that section must be filed no later than the 90th day
following the date on which the City’s decision became final pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure
section 1094.6. There may be other time limits which also affect your ability to seek judicial review.
GLOSSARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERMS:
CEQA – California Environmental Quality Act MND – Mitigated Negative Declaration
CE – Categorical Exemption ND – Negative Declaration
EIR – Environmental Impact Report
Central Los Angeles Area 2 March 12, 2013
Planning Commission
1. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A. Items of interest:
2. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. Advanced Calendar
B. Commission Requests
C. Minutes of Meeting – January 22, 2013 and February 26, 2013
3. ZA-2012-1227-CUB-1A PART2 PART3 PART4
Council District: 14 – Huizar
CEQA: ENV-2012-1228-CE Expiration Date: 3-27-13
Plan: Central City Appeal Status: Not further
appealable
PUBLIC HEARING
LOCATION: 452 S. MAIN STREET
REQUESTED ACTION:
An appeal of the Zoning an appeal of the action of the Zoning Administrator in approving,
pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.24-W,1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, a
Conditional Use to permit: the sale and dispensing of a full line of alcoholic beverages for onsite
consumption, in conjunction with a 1,813 square-foot restaurant with a 186 square-foot
patio in the public right-of-way (the sidewalk) in the [Q]C4-2D Zone. Consideration of the
recommendation of the Lead Agency, to adopt Categorical Exemption ENV-2012-1228-CE
as the environmental clearance for this action.
Applicant: Skid Row Housing Trust
Representative: Elizabeth Peterson Group, Inc.
Appellant: Ronald Walker
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Deny the appeal.
2. Sustain the action of the Zoning Administrator in approving, pursuant to the provisions
of Section 12.24-W,1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, a Conditional Use to
permit: the sale and dispensing of a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site
consumption, in conjunction with a 1,813 square-foot restaurant with a 186 square-foot
patio in the public right-of-way (the sidewalk) in the [Q]C4-2D Zone.
3. Adopt the Findings of the Zoning Administrator.
4. Adopt the recommendation of the Lead Agency, and adopt Categorical Exemption ENV-
2012-1228-CE as the environmental clearance for this action.
Staff: Charles Rausch (213) 978-1318
Central Los Angeles Area 3 March 12, 2013
Planning Commission
4. ZA-2012-1517-CUB-SPP-1A Council District: 13 – Garcetti
CEQA: ENV-2012-1518-CE Expiration Date: 4-14-13
Plan: Hollywood Appeal Status: Not further
appealable
PUBLIC HEARING
LOCATION: 5634 W. HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD
REQUESTED ACTION:
An appeal of the Zoning Administrator’s decision to approve: 1) pursuant to the provisions of
Section 12.24-W,1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, a Conditional Use to permit the sale
and dispensing of beer and wine for on-site consumption in conjunction with a proposed 754
square-foot bar in the [Q]R5-2 Zone; and 2) pursuant to Section 11.5.7-C of the Code, a
Project Permit Compliance Review for a change of use from take-out coffee shop to 754
square-foot wine bar in an existing commercial structure; and consider the Categorical
Exemption ENV-2012-1518-CE as the environmental clearance for this action.
Applicant: Ben Adams, The Know Where, LLC
Rep.: Elizabeth Peterson Group, Inc.
Appellant: Stephen Marcussen
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Deny the appeal.
2. Sustain the Zoning Administrator’s decision to approve: 1) pursuant to the provisions
of Section 12.24-W,1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, a Conditional Use to permit
the sale and dispensing of beer and wine for on-site consumption in conjunction with a
proposed 754 square-foot bar in the [Q]R5-2 Zone; and 2) pursuant to Section 11.5.7-
C of the Code, a Project Permit Compliance Review for a change of use from take-out
coffee shop to 754 square-foot wine bar in an existing commercial structure.
3. Adopt the Findings of the Zoning Administrator.
4. Adopt the recommendation of the Lead Agency by adopting Categorical Exemption
ENV 2012-1518-CE as the environmental clearance for this action.
Staff: Maya Zaitzevsky (213) 978-1416
5. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
The Area Planning Commission shall provide an opportunity in open meetings for the public
to address it, on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction
of the Area Planning Commission. (This requirement is in addition to any other hearing
required or imposed by law.) Persons making requests are encouraged to do so in writing
and should submit 10 copies to the Area Planning Commission for its consideration.
Persons wishing to speak must submit a speaker’s request form prior to the
commencement of the public comment period.
Individual testimony within the public comment period shall be limited to five (5) minutes
per person and up to ten (10) minutes per subject.
Central Los Angeles Area 4 March 12, 2013
Planning Commission
The next regular meeting of the Central, Area Planning Commission
will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at
City Hall
200 North Spring Street, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90012
An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not
discriminate. The meeting facility and its parking are wheelchair accessible. Sign language interpreters,
assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services may be provided upon request. To
ensure availability of services, please make your request no later than three working days (72 hours) prior to the
meeting by calling the Commission Executive Assistant at (213) 978-1300 or by e-mail at APCCentral@lacity.org.
