Don Park led the Pledge and Leo Tseng provided the Invocation.

We had a visiting Rotarian from Evanston, IL, Gene Servillo, Welcome!
Also visiting was Lydia Grant from the office of our speaker today, Kevin James.
Mark Rogo introduced our Merchant Minute for the week:  Blvd 16 at the Palomar Hotel  Their Chef Josh Porter and Director of Catering, David Houde, presented information on their restaurant located at the corner of Wilshire and Selby.  They offer FREE valet with breakfast and lunch.  They shared a few dish combinations at affordable prices and can accommodate meetings and celebrations. Next time you visit, mention you are a Westwood resident for 16% off your meal.
Ed Gauld led us in song to Glory Glory Hallelujah wearing a nice hat that was a nod to our 16th President. 

Announcements:

• PP Steve Day announced that the Japan student exchange program now has a "lite" alternative which omits the sightseeing but costs only $2,000 (half paid by the club).  There are still spots available for students aged 15-18, it sounds great!

• Feb 9 Reading to Kids has an opportunity/need for 40 volunteers

•  Feb 10 Valentine's Day Lunch at Lawry's.  Many of you have already signed up, thank you.  It's sure to be a prime time =)

The general primary for Mayor is on March 5, 2013 and Kevin James
is one of the Candidates for Mayor of Los Angeles.  His background in the practice of law has been a motivating factor in his decision to seek the position of Los Angeles Mayor.  Kevin began his legal career in 1988 with the firm Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher in the firm's litigation department, learning legal strategy and negotiating skills and tactics, from some of California's most respected attorneys.
In 1990 Kevin was hired by the United States Department of Justice to work as an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles.  In this capacity Kevin went after criminals by using the asset forfeiture laws to disband their criminal activities in cases involving narcotics, money laundering, insurance fraud, mail & wire fraud as well as all aspects of consumer fraud.  Additionally, he has made time to host a local radio show!

We welcomed Kevin to tell us what his priorities and agenda will be as Mayor of Los Angeles.  He started by stating there are potentially five candidates running, and the other solid three have been in city hall for a decade.  Kevin said, he likes to say, "He is the only candidate that did not bankrupt the city." And listed the many debates going on and being aired that we can listen to for more information.

Mr. James stated our known issues of jobs crisis, financial crisis, infrastructure crisis, education crisis, public safety crisis, transportation crisis, corruption crisis and on and on in city hall. He was kind enough to share that LA is the second most corrupt region after Chicago but adding DA info not just public info, LA becomes THE most corrupt. Kevin started in entertainment law, Worked in US attorney's office, formerly in leadership for APLA, broadcaster for 10 years then turned his radio show to address Neighborhood counsel and issues.

His 8 Priorities:

•  Make LA a business friendly city (against sales tax increase initiative on March ballot)

•  Infrastructure improvements - find a city engineer who can make a manhole cover level with street was his joke but he listed many issues such as addressing water main breaks that have started and why and where were the resources for these needs allocated

•  Education - the Mayors office doesn't control but can use the power of the podium for reform

•  Ending the culture of corruption in city hall (end the gold card desk as exposed by NBC4)

•  Public Transportation - need to extend green line to LAX

•  Public Safety, discussed fire response times and police stats

•  didn't hear

•  Good govt reform as stated in his recent Op Ed - city counsel makes more than congress and proposed a part-time city counsel like the majority of other cities.

He concluded that he is pained by the outsourcing of Hollywood, runaway production to Austin, Tx etc.

Next week:
UCLA Engineers Without Borders. 
Another mayoral candidate, Eric Garcetti, on Feb. 21.