David Berger on NBC News RAW

NBC News RAW let me talk about my campaign for Los Angeles City Attorney

TWTWTW - That Was The Week That Was!

It's been a busy week with Neighborhood Councils throughout the City of Los Angeles hosting Forums and Meet the Candidates events.

I have been blown away by the warm and friendly reception at every event, without exception or reservation. Here are some of my observations and comments. First and foremost, however, I must extend a sincere "Thank You" to all the residents who gave up two or three hours of their time to find out about their choices in the March election. Second, to the officers of the Neighborhood Councils who hosted the events, I truly appreciate your efforts in hosting these important opportunities for voters to be better informed, and for making all of the candidates feel welcome.

Monday, February 2, 2009
North Hills West Neighborhood Council City Attorney Forum
All candidates gave the audience some spirited answers to tricky questions. When I say "all candidates" I have to exclude Jack Weiss, as he could not be bothered to attend. He's either too important for 'ordinary voters,' or he's scared of being confronted by me over his dismal record as Councilmember for CD5, and his unethical conduct in failing to repay tax-payers for the matching funds he received by using illegal money-laundered campaign contributions. The Forum was expertly conducted by David Hyman, the North Hills West Neighborhood Council Outreach Chair, who graciously allowed all candidates to be heard, and all questions to be answered.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Harbor Gateway Neighborhood Council Candidates Forum
Again, Jack Weiss was a no-show. The cowardice and spinelessness of the man who claims to be some sort of super crime-fighter is palpable, and so I used a photo of the tight-lipped disgraced soon-to-be former councilmember to the delight of the audience. Gang crime, graffiti and overcrowded rental housing seemed to top the list of concerns in this neighborhood, all of which are matters I would be delighted to tackle as City Attorney.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Chatsworth Neighborhood Council - City Attorney Forum
Guess what? Jack Weiss was a no-show again! Jack's speechless photo again entertained the audience as I questioned the self-professed super crime-fighter's arrogance, distain and utter contempt for homeowners. On a personal note, I truly appreciated the delicious food and coffee provided by Vicky as I didn't have time to eat as I battled the rush hour traffic to get to Chatsworth on time. I also appreciated some pointed questioning from Dan, who should seriously consider a career in politics - I'd vote for him in a heartbeat! I also appreciated the way that Judy Daniels conducted the meeting and moved things along with her inimitable style and sharp wit.

Even though the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council officers were kind enough to let the candidates speak before they conducted their important regular business, all candidates stayed to learn a little about the issues that concern this friendly equestrian community.

Thursday, February 5, 2009
South Robertson & Palms Neighborhood Council
This was a forum for Councilmember candidates seeking to win the seat Jack Weiss is leaving in disgrace. The meeting room at Hamilton High School was packed with standing room only. Of course it now goes without saying that Jack Weiss was not in attendance. While the audience struggled to decide which councilmember candidate they dare to trust to be their voice against over-development and billboard blight, every member of the audience that I spoke to were decided on one thing - they do not want Jack Weiss to be City Attorney. Music to my ears, as almost all the people I spoke to were interested and intrigued by my candidacy.

Yard Signs Roll Out!

Coming soon to a neigborhood near you:



The striking Nigel Skeet inspired Yard Sign is an eye catcher.






Go to my website, click "Contact" and send me an email and I'll figure out how to get a yard sign to you.

CD5 Coalition Homeowners Associations rates me "Excellent"

On Saturday morning, January 10, 2009, the Coalition of Homeowners Associations for Council District 5 held a Candidates Forum for all five City Attorney candidates. I was rated "Excellent."

The forum consisted of an intense two-hour series of questions designed to probe candidates' qualifications, ethics and stance on issues. The goal was to find the optimal candidate who will fairly represent the concerns of homeowners.

Pictured above and below, from left to right are; Michael Amerian, David Berger, Carmen Trutanich, and Noel Weiss.
My thanks go to Marcia Selz for hosting the forum and to my fellow candidates for showing up and making for what was a lively and informative forum.

By the way, candidate Jack Weiss refused to attend. He was probably scared at having to face me in an open forum where I could fairly challenge him over his lack of ethics in receiving and keeping money-laundered illegal campaign contributions.

Crime Down in LA? The Inconvenient Truth...

While the media headlines Chief Bratton and Mayor Villaraigosa's claims of their successes in reducing crime in LA, the rest of us know better. We see more and more ugly gang graffiti everywhere. As soon as it's painted over, it's back again.

Ask any expert on gangs and they'll tell you that gang graffiti is like an earthquake seismograph, it's a clear sign of what' is actually going on. And the clear sign here is that the gangs are getting bigger, bolder and more at ease in showing their colors, while the Mayor and his followers glad hand each other and try to palm us off with massaged statistics.

Mayoral candidate Walter Moore, a man who isn't afraid of confronting inconvenient truths, wrote a stunning analysis of the true state of crime in LA. I urge you to read it, then contrast what Mr. Moore says with what the Mayor says, or rather doesn't say.

The true statistics published by Chief Bratton show that you and I are almost twice as likely to be murdered here in LA, than if we lived in what was once the murder capitol of the USA; New York City. Yes, the murder rate in Los Angeles is 51% higher than that of New York City. Surely that should be a headline?

The fact is that in the City of Los Angeles, with a population of 4 million, there were 381 murders last year, that's 95.3 per million Los Angelenos. In New York City, with a population of 8.2 million, there were 514 murders in the same period, that's 62.7 per million New Yorkers. Do the math yourself, please don't trust me or Walter Moore. The murder rate in Los Angeles is 51% higher that New York City. Why?

Well we all know why. While we all know that Los Angeles is seriously under policed when compared to New York, and while Mayor Villaraigosa claims he's committed to increasing the number of cops in LA, the facts are wildly opposite to the Mayor's claims. Instead of hiring more cops, he increased his personal staff from 70 to 93 this year. 23 more aides to carry his bottled water, marker pens, pads and his Listerine breath strips.

As Mayor Villaraigosa's personal staff swelled by 23 more acolytes, the Mayor and his lap-dog in waiting, Jack Weiss, applauded a reduction of 26 cops on Westside so that they could be deployed at a new police station. The new police station in Koreatown had been built at a cost of $25M, but no money had been set aside for hiring cops to staff it, so they pulled vitally needed cops from the Westside.

All it would have taken is for the Mayor to suffer the inconvenience "only" having 70 personal assistants, and hired 23 cops to staff the new Koreatown police station. But, the Mayor and Weiss are determined to move on to being Governor and Attorney General, so they need aides more than we need cops.

In the meantime, we have to live (or die) with the inconvenient truth. The Mayor and the person he (only he) wants as his City Attorney, Jack Weiss, are more concerned with their political aspirations than public safety.

On March 3, 2009, you will have a chance to tell Weiss and Villaraigosa what you think of their abysmal lack of commitment to public safety. I urge you; vote Moore for Mayor, and Berger for City Attorney and let's put a stop to pretend play politics.

The Legal File Interviews David Berger

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by The Legal File host, Charles B. Parselle, Esq., an accomplished attorney and experienced mediator.

I hope you enjoy the show.

More on Thursday's Town Hall Meeting

When I spoke to Chief Braton at the Town Hall meeting on the planned reduction in police services to the Westside, I told him I was a huge fan of his, but that after he heard what I had to say, he might not be a fan of mine!

The Chief took it well, but would not budge from his position; he will not delay opening the new police stations, and that means 26 less police officers on the Westside.

I was not alone in condemning the politicians who have allowed this potentially disastrous state of affairs to exist. Richard G. Cohen, chair of the Pacific Palisades Community Council spoke passionately and directly to the Chief, demanding a change in this plan, pointing out that valuable Westside property was being put at risk, and challenging the "7 minute response time" claimed by Chief Bratton.

Another critic of Bratton's plan was Jay Handal of the West LA Chamber of Commerce, and owner of the San Gennaro Cafe. Jay's had first hand experience of the risks faced by Westside residents; he was robbed at gunpoint at his Brentwood restaurant. Jay also disputed LAPD's "7 minute response time," and was one of many in the crowded meeting to condemn Jack Weiss and other elected officials for spending $50M on two new police stations while lacking the foresight to provide funding to staff them.

The hero of the evening? My vote goes to Bill Rosendahl, Councilmember for City District 11, who had the guts to face the public and let them have their say.

Needless to say, Jack Weiss, Councilmember for City District 5, who has spoken in favor of the planned reduction in police services, and whose residents are equally at risk, was not at the meeting. He was too busy fundraising with Ron Galperin, who hopes to take over from Weiss in the March election.

Anyone who thinks Jack Weiss is suitable for the Office of City Attorney needs to listen to the outright public condemnation of his imperious, unaccountable and out of touch style of candidacy.

New Look for Campaign!

CaliforniaLeader.com's Nigel Skeet told me that I better do something with my campaign cards and website to send a clear message. Here's his suggestion. I like it.

STOP PRESS !!! WEISS IS WRONG FOR LA

The Los Angeles Police Department is about to cut police services to the Westside. This is foolish in the extreme when crime is rising because of the economic recession. Jack Weiss, the man who wants to be City Attorney, is in favor of this ridiculous plan.

Please read my letter to the Editor of the LA Times.

Weiss has an appalling record on crime, and his chairmanship of the Public Safety Commission is a disgrace - he thinks red light traffic cameras are the priority, while he ignores the uncomfortable realities of fighting crime. It's a pity Weiss isn't more concerned about protecting decent honest people, instead of pandering to special interests and campaign endorsers in his bid to be be the City's next chief law enforcement executive.

Weiss is wrong on crime, and wrong for Los Angeles.

Qualified!

Hot off the press...



I turned in my signed petitions at lunchtime today, and just checked the City Clerk's website, I've qualified to have my name on the March 3, 2009 Ballot.

Thank you all those who circulated and signed my petition and have made this possible.

More to follow...

Signatures Are In

YES!!!

Thank you, all those who patiently signed my petition, and thank you to my friends and family members who helped me with the laborious task of trying to get people to believe in the democratic process.

I will be taking the 765 signatures to the City Clerk's Office later today, and hopefully, if they're not too busy, I'll be a confirmed candidate for the March 3, 2009 election.

Getting Closer...

Yes! I'm now past the magic 500 signatures needed on my Petition to place my name on the Ballot for the March election. With four days left to submit my signed Petition to the City Clerk's Office, I'm planning on submitting around 650 to be safe.

You may wonder why it is necessary to 'overshoot' by so much? The answer is that despite the best intentions of those who enthusiastically sign my Petition, some signatories lack the penmanship necessary to pass the City Clerk's standards, while others don't print their name exactly as it appears on the Register of Electors.

Although I initially found the signature gathering process somewhat burdensome, I have come to enjoy the process. Some signatories simply sign because it's part of the democratic process, while others enjoy the opportunity to engage me in conversation about my policies. It is really encouraging to hear people get so enthusiastic about my candidacy when they hear what I have to say.




The goodwill and good wishes of so many people have strengthened my belief that Los Angelenos are ready for a change in the way their City has been run, and strengthened my resolve to be the person to bring that change.

Crime Fighter of The Year

Unlike every candidate for the Office of Los Angeles City Attorney, I'm the ONLY one who has actually prosecuted violent felons in the past 20 years.

Not only have I sent dangerous criminals to prison for lengthy terms, but I have introduced, passed and implemented laws designed to make communities safer.



My accomplishments as a prosector earned me a US Congressional "Crime Buster of the Year" Award - that's something NO OTHER CANDIDATE has ever even come close to achieving, and that's because they might talk the talk, but they've never walked the walk.