Around the Halls: June 23 - 25

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — It’s Monday, June 23rd. Here’s a brief look at happenings in and around City Hall that Downtowners should be interested in over the next 72 hours.

MONDAY: LAT reports that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will officiate at his first gay marriage ceremony Monday afternoon in the mayor’s press conference room at City Hall. The grooms will be film producer Bruce Cohen (American Beauty) and art consultant Gabriel Catone.

TUESDAY: Education and Neighborhoods Committee will hear a report from the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment recommending all neighborhood council members be given regularly scheduled training on sexual harassment.

Also at the Education and Neighborhoods meeting, the City Attorney sends a report, resolution and ordinance allowing neighborhood councils to award grants or monetary awards to nonprofits and schools under the Neighborhood Purposes Grant program.

City Council will hear, and is expected to approve, the proposal to purchase and distribute X-26 Tasers to LAPD field police officers.

Motions to carry through the requirement that city departments––including the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks, City Clerk, Department of Aging, Library, Constituents Centers, and DWP––provide information to residents on the new digital television transition (DTV) mandate, including the availability of federal vouchers.

WEDNESDAY: Mayor will recommend to City Council to reappoint Nikolas Patsaouras to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, Michael F. Fleming to the Board of Commissioners of the Los Angeles Convention Center, and Richard Montoya to the Cultural Affairs Commission; all until June 20, 2013.

In closed session, the Council will consider a settlement in the lawsuit regarding eminent domain at 249 S. Los Angeles street and 256 S. Main street. Those properties were taken for construction of the LAPD Motorpool, and the only thing still on the table is exactly how much the former property owners will get.

More Closed Session for cases entitled Billboard Companies versus the City. The companies include In Plain Sight Media, Metro Lights, Clear Channel Outdoor, Viacom Outdoor and National Advertising.

Transportation Committee will hear DOT’s reports on a public transit service to Dodger Stadium. You already know DOT will say yes.