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There was much unspoken drama when incoming Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin spoke at the Current Affairs Forum luncheon Thursday.
The lawyers and lobbyists who packed the upstairs room at the Palm for public affairs consultant Emma Schafer's event were keenly interested in how the new councilman would perform. Most of them knew him previously as top aide to outgoing Councilman Bill Rosendahl and his predecessor, Ruth Galanter. But being an elected official is different.
Would he conform, for example, to the city council’s basic rule: Do what Herb tells you, Herb being Council President Herb Wesson, who tries to run the council in what he perceives was the style of legendary State Assembly speakers Willie Brown and Jesse Unruh. How will the experienced, Harvard-educated Bonin react to the Wesson rule of “my way or oblivion?”
And what about Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of the airport? Bonin and the incoming mayor Eric Garcetti opposed moving a key runway closer to Westchester homes and Lindsey favored it. Now, Lindsey, who gave Bonin a rousing introduction at the lunch, wants to be re-appointed by Garcetti. Bonin, who represents the airport area along with much of West Los Angeles, will have a lot to say about her appointment. But there were no answers at the lunch, except Bonin saying people “who oppose each other on issues can work together.” Much of the luncheon crowd does business with the airport and those folks hung on every inconclusive word.
To me, the most interesting question was how Bonin will deal with the Wesson regime. I didn’t think Rosendahl, the outgoing councilman, was treated well by Wesson or by the previous council president, Eric Garcetti. Rosendahl’s showy but valuable way of spotlighting issues he cared about didn’t go over well in a council where disagreements are settled in backrooms before they get to the bland public council meetings. His colleagues were polite enough, but they marginalized him, making some big decisions without him.
David Zahniser of the Los Angeles Times obliquely brought up the Wesson style when he asked if Bonin favored the president pro tem’s rushing through a $25 million tax break for shopping mall developer Westfield’s Topanga project. The deal is a perfect example of the Wesson-city council style. Bonin ducked, saying he didn’t know enough about it.
In his talk, and in answer to questions, Bonin was sharp and seemed on top of things. I liked what he sarcastically said about some of the developers he’s met, who tell him they want leadership from him when they really mean is “screw your constituents.” He wants developments around transit stops to be designed intelligently instead of being thrown-together housing blocks.
He’s soft spoken and relaxed on the podium in contrast to the frenetic Rosendahl. He’ll get along better with his colleagues. The unanswered question is what he will do when confronted with the backroom power plays over housing and development, the council’s bread and butter.
