DISQUS

Evan Braude? No thanks! Over the course of decade I have watched Evan trail behind Bonnie and company and act as political whip in political endorsement meetings, fixer in Democratic party endorsements and a back office political bag man for the Lowenthal’s. Braude would be another Lowenthal clan member on the council. While I may agree with Evan and the Lowenthal’s on politics, the family dynasty is undemocratic and is strangling the natural growth and leadership development of the local democratic party. Let's turn the page...

Congratulations to to Rose Park!

This story is typical of the grassroots pressure, multi-year battles and determination that is required for even small victories in long Beach. This park is no more than the size of a typical greenbelt found in many communities, but so historically significant and critical in this park-starved neighborhood that it became central to the neighborhoods improvement efforts.

The support Suja Lowenthal was helpful, but this was a bottom-up grassroots effort lead by a strong champion; Kerstin and the dozens of people in the neighborhood association who over the years contributed to keeping this effort moving forward.

OK, let me clarify that while I abhore the backroom deals to gain positions of power and influence, on POLICY issues I am very closely aligned with Bonnie, Suja, Alan and Daniel. In fact, on policy, Tonia and Bonnie agree on more much than they disagree. With all things (policy) being equal, than the practical and personal become more relevant. In practice, I have found Tonia to be more progressive, independent and on a person level more inclusive to participation from others outside of any family, backroom-players or political cliques. The HOW one practices politics is important and that is what distinquished Bonnie from Tonia and other good local democrats from the Lowenthals. The local Dem party, has got to expand their tent beyond the current Lowenthal-center or risk alienating more and more of their core supporters. Open it up for greater participation and not seek-out or require the Lowenthal seal of approval and you will grow the party and it's influence among grassroots supporters and emerging leaders.

Finally! The family connections and their stacked nominations are finally documented for everyone to see. The LA County Democratic Party's local endorsement process for a local election just two years ago had a lowenthology map very much like this one. That "democratic endorsement" took place in a small room with the candidate's husband, her mother’s boyfriend and a few sycophants who knew in advance their duty to the family was to rubber-stamp an endorsement decision already made in Sacramento and San Francisco. The same is true of the local "young dem" endorsements where the candidates family and hangers-on, some many years past "young,” pack a room to bullet vote their self-interests.

The packing of the process with paid staffers, people who have benefited from their Lowenthal connections, and family members is really an expression of insecurity and lack in confidence that the "ordinary" dem's would do the right thing. There is just something very undemocratic and anti-progressive about this approach to politics. The city is too big and the issues too important to leave it to just one family political machine. Let’s turn the page.

Way to go Tonia! I have worked with Bonnie and Tonia and think either would be a good candidate, but enough of the Lowenthal dynasty already. I have seen the behind-the-door, deal-making local demo-machine up close and just don't want to eat that product no more. It's time for a change.