Draiman - My quest to restore Leadership, Experience and Integrity to City Hall

Draiman - My quest to restore Leadership, Experience and Integrity to City Hall

YJ Draiman

Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles (2013)

I’m not a politician. You won’t get politically correct doublespeak from me, just the plain facts. The plain facts are often disturbing and as a NC Board Member I’ve never been shy from revealing the sometimes ugly truth about the way the City functions.

Career politicians like the current have no interest in serving the public; rather, they use public office to serve their own interests and those of the small but wealthy cadre of greedy “special interests” who fund their campaigns in return for favors when decisions over controversial matters such as billboards and development have to be made by elected officials.

All too often, the City Council’s actions support the special interests at the expense of the interests of the ordinary people like you and me.

When common sense dictates that our already over-congested streets should not be further burdened by more high-density luxury condominium developments, current elected official’s side with the developers and contractors who funnel campaign contributions to further their interests. We need a Los Angeles with Financial Sustainability that is my goal.

My pledge is for a “City of Los Angeles for the people” not for the politicians and special interests.

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

Draiman - My quest to restore Leadership, Experience and Integrity to City Hall

Draiman - My quest to restore Leadership, Experience and Integrity to City Hall

YJ Draiman

Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles (2013)

I’m not a politician. You won’t get politically correct doublespeak from me, just the plain facts. The plain facts are often disturbing and as a NC Board Member I’ve never been shy from revealing the sometimes ugly truth about the way the City functions.

Career politicians like the current have no interest in serving the public; rather, they use public office to serve their own interests and those of the small but wealthy cadre of greedy “special interests” who fund their campaigns in return for favors when decisions over controversial matters such as billboards and development have to be made by elected officials.

All too often, the City Council’s actions support the special interests at the expense of the interests of the ordinary people like you and me.

When common sense dictates that our already over-congested streets should not be further burdened by more high-density luxury condominium developments, current elected official’s side with the developers and contractors who funnel campaign contributions to further their interests. We need a Los Angeles with Financial Sustainability that is my goal.

My pledge is for a “City of Los Angeles for the people” not for the politicians and special interests.

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

YJ Draiman my bid to be elected as mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

YJ Draiman my bid to be elected as mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

Truer facts were never posted. Peace, justice and liberty through musical expression.

Today turns into tomorrow and then the future is in your face. Make it happen, now is the time.

YJ Draiman wrote an article for the Los Angeles time’s summer 2011 issue.

My name is YJ Draiman and I want to be your Mayor. And here’s why.
Los Angeles is a City at a crossroads. It is where we raise our families, have our businesses and our homes. But every week shops close and we hear more complaints about parking, crime and taxes. Development ideas that have the potential to improve tax revenue, foot traffic and downtown charm with little risk to taxpayers require much attention before anything can move forward. There is discussion about making Los Angeles a greener healthier place to live, yet nothing changes. Our low-income population continues to struggle. In short, we are a place in need of attention, a place that needs its Mayor to be more than just a legislative figurehead.
A Mayor must be a leader, a person full of ideas for our future and an ability to make these ideas a reality. Los Angeles needs a Mayor who works and delegates. Our City Department’s job is to keep our municipality running smoothly and efficiently. They do not set the direction of our community. That is the job of the Mayor and the City council.
That direction must be accompanied by vision that will help the Los Angeles we love become the Los Angeles we imagine.
As an elected Board member, I have begun to tackle the problems we have by—working with my peers, merchants, residents and law enforcement to combat nighttime noise, litter and crime, resulting in reduction of crime in Los Angeles;
—working to fill empty storefronts and solve parking problems by improving signage, communication and parking stock;
—working with state, local and federal officials to create jobs and funding;
—working to improve recreation by spearheading the building of basketball courts, a new rowing dock and creating a boxing program for youth;
—working to get clinics in our schools and our neighborhoods to serve seniors and those
who struggle with medical care;
—working to replace our unsuccessful affordable housing law with a program that will help the poor and elderly.
My fellow Board members support me in my bid for Mayor because we share a vision. But someone must lead the charge. Our work must be advanced. We must have a beautiful green waterfront with plenty of healthy activity; we must find a way to reduce taxes and fees, encourage smart growth and lose our dependence on access revenue. We must see business flourish.
This election is a choice between moving forward and standing still. If you believe that
Los Angeles can do better, then I am the right choice for your Mayor

People, who know how to employ themselves, always find leisure moments, while those who do nothing are forever in a hurry.

YJ Draiman for Mayor of LA

My name is YJ Draiman and I am running for mayor of Los Angeles

My name is YJ Draiman and I am running for mayor of Los Angeles
How can you have patience for people who claim they love America, but clearly can't stand Americans?  Los Angeles is a City that needs clear and coherent thinking to address the budget, the economy, city services. It needs a responsible attentive government, address unemployment and make Los Angeles business friendly with streamlined rules and regulations with reduced bureaucracy. We've got serious problems, and we need serious people, with no hidden agenda just represent the interests of the people of Los Angeles. My name is YJ Draiman and I am running for Mayor of Los Angeles.  PS. We need a city that enforces the current laws, promotes good education, respects the constitution, protects its citizens and make the city conducive to new business and employment - not milk its citizens with additional taxes and fees. Peoples concern today is: FSJHE – Food, Shelter, Jobs, Healthcare and Education

YJ Draiman my bid to be elected as mayor of Los Angeles - 2013

Truer facts were never posted. Peace, justice and liberty through musical expression.Today turns into tomorrow and then the future is in your face. Make it happen, now is the time.

YJ Draiman wrote an article for the Los Angeles time’s summer 2011 issue.

My name is YJ Draiman and I want to be your Mayor.

And here’s why.
Los Angeles is a City at a crossroads. It is where we raise our families, have our businesses and our homes. But every week shops close and we hear more complaints about parking, crime and taxes. Development ideas that have the potential to improve tax revenue, foot traffic and downtown charm with little risk to taxpayers require much attention before anything can move forward. There is discussion about making Los Angeles a greener healthier place to live, yet nothing changes. Our low-income population continues to struggle. In short, we are a place in need of attention, a place that needs its Mayor to be more than just a legislative figurehead.
A Mayor must be a leader, a person full of ideas for our future and an ability to make these ideas a reality. Los Angeles needs a Mayor who works and delegates. Our City Department’s job is to keep our municipality running smoothly and efficiently. They do not set the direction of our community. That is the job of the Mayor and the City council.
That direction must be accompanied by vision that will help the Los Angeles we love become the Los Angeles we imagine.
As an elected Board member, I have begun to tackle the problems we have by—working with my peers, merchants, residents and law enforcement to combat nighttime noise, litter and crime, resulting in reduction of crime in Los Angeles;
—working to fill empty storefronts and solve parking problems by improving signage, communication and parking stock;—working with state, local and federal officials to create jobs and funding;—working to improve recreation by spearheading the building of basketball courts, a new rowing dock and creating a boxing program for youth;—working to get clinics in our schools and our neighborhoods to serve seniors and thosewho struggle with medical care;—working to replace our unsuccessful affordable housing law with a program that will help the poor and elderly.My fellow Board members support me in my bid for Mayor because we share a vision. But someone must lead the charge. Our work must be advanced. We must have a beautiful green waterfront with plenty of healthy activity; we must find a way to reduce taxes and fees, encourage smart growth and lose our dependence on access revenue. We must see business flourish.This election is a choice between moving forward and standing still. If you believe thatLos Angeles can do better, then I am the right choice for your Mayor
People, who know how to employ themselves, always find leisure moments, while those who do nothing are forever in a hurry.

YJ Draiman for Mayor of LA

Accountability and Ethical Bankruptcy in a Financial Meltdown

Accountability and Ethical Bankruptcy in a Financial Meltdown

Economic pressures, fear of an uncertain economic future, keeping up with the Joneses, entitlement attitudes, and pure unadulterated greed are some of the excuses that have made the workplace more vulnerable to theft. As a result of the worsening American economy, The Wall Street Journal recently reported a surge in employee embezzlement and theft. Paper clips, copiers, office furniture, and billions of dollars taken are samples of the many and varied items employees feel compelled to take for personal use or resale. An accountant, recently embezzled $180,000 from a furniture company. When asked why, was quoted as having said, “To give my children what they wanted.” A municipal court worker took $131,000 over about a six-year period “to pay bills.”
The mind’s power to rationalize convinces us to believe what we want overriding our moral conscience. To tell oneself often enough and long enough that we need, deserve, have been cheated out of, victimized, are owed, each marginalizes our emotional and moral intelligence. Moral decisions should not be made in a vacuum. In other words, moral dilemmas ought to be made with critical thought and reflection. We are tempted to shut out the voice of conscience when our desires for gratification appeal. When faced with strong temptations of unethical behavior, I have heard the voices of my parents and grandparents say, “Joe, you be a good boy now, you hear.” Long deceased, their voices are still clear in the moral conscience of this 1960's teenager.

Within any business, governmental, and non-profit organizations, there ought to be a voice to remind people of their moral responsibility. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (for public companies) and Federal Sentencing Guidelines (for ALL other organizations) call for an ethical culture. This places an imperative for ethics education and training for all in organizations. Obviously, organizational leadership has to first to step up to the plate to make this happen. Being reminded of the consequences of ethical misconduct affirms expectations and multiple costs. What are some ways to increase moral awareness?

1. Compliment associates on good character traits exemplified in their work.
2. Openly discuss ethical dilemmas.
3. Develop and conduct regular training on ethics.
4. Have associates to take turns teaching the ethics learning session.
5. Openly discuss ethical misconduct incidents. This alleviates the much of the gossip and rumor mill, which prolongs disruption.
6. Create an atmosphere of transparency.

7. Practice Accountability, Honesty and Integrity.

No one is one 100% ethical 100% percent of the time. However, it is prudent to be cognizant of behavioral patterns of ethical misconduct. As in a sitcom show it was stated to Law enforcement officer, in TV Show,” “John, you better nip it the bud right now.” These recommendations and other measures help to mitigate the costs of ethical misconduct for organizations, associates, and families, which can be substantial. The costs of ongoing ethics education are an investment in the ethical culture of your organization.

Comment:

It is interesting that your first three points all deal with actions that, I have observed, are NOT taking place in our society. One of the largest items not being discussed in the wake of our economic downturns are the immoral and unethical decisions that were made that led to the mess we are in. It seems if we were all more willing to engage in your point #2, openly discuss ethical dilemmas, then we as a society would be more willing to engage unethical behavior when we see it. We must not only discuss ethics, but practice it on a daily basis. There is no such thing as entitlement, everything and anything has to be earned. We have to insist on a higher level of morality.

Compiled by: Yj Draiman

Themes: Draiman Yj, Accountability and Ethical Bankruptcy in a Financial Meltdown

"Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."

I have always been a big advocate of tap water—not because I think it harmless but because the idea of purchasing water extracted from some remote watershed and then hauled halfway round the world bothers me. Drinking bottled water relieves people of their concern about ecological threats to the river they live by or to the basins of groundwater they live over. It's the same kind of thinking that leads some to the complacent conclusion that if things on earth get bad enough, well, we'll just blast off to a space station somewhere else.

More than 5,500 large dams impede America's running waters, leaving less than 2 percent of the country's 3.1 million miles of rivers and streams flowing free. In the wake of these river alterations trails a record list of endangered aquatic species. Two of every three freshwater mussel species are heading for extinction, or are already there; half of all crayfish species are imperiled; more than a third of the country's freshwater fish are in trouble -- 17 of them missing outright.

 "Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."

"Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013
Y.J. "Jay" Draiman. - Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

YJ Draiman who ran last year for councilmen at District 12 in Los Angeles,

Draiman has formally filed paper to run for Mayor of Los Angeles – March 5, 2013.

Y.J. "Jay" Draiman. - Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles

Draiman is an Energy Efficiency Advocate and the lead elected official with the goal of Energy Conservation for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council - NENC, from Northridge, California. Draiman is also the liaison between the NENC and LADWP. Draiman is known for his advancement of implementing Energy efficiency, Renewable energy and Water conservation in the Los Angeles Area. Draiman is promoting the theme of Made in America, bringing back Los Angeles's industrial base, increase employment and reduce government with fiscal responsibility. Draiman ran for Los Angeles City Council in 2010. A recent ambitious goal by Draiman is to create in Los Angeles an innovative renewable energy zone approach which will create 200,000+ new jobs with billions in investments over the next 5-10 years.

Draiman is a former Real Estate developer with over 20 year’s experience. Draiman has extensive experience in the deregulation of Utilities and implementing energy and water conservation.

In January 1996 Draiman was asked to run for U.S. Senate, but He declined.

Draiman is currently working on his PHD in energy conservation.

Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2013

I believe that if people know the rules and are sensitized by art, humor, and creativity, they are more likely to accept change.

The crucial point of a citizens' culture is learning to correct others without mistreating them or generating aggression. We need to create a society in which civility rules over cynicism and apathy.

http://www.draimanformayor.net

Draiman said...

Tough words -- responsibility, leadership and public trust. They are even tougher to put into practice and blend into your own character. But if we are successful in building our character into a reflection of what those words mean, the personal reward is worth far more than the effort required. Peace of mind, respect, admiration and the ability to withstand life's curve balls are a few of the benefits of being a person of character. I am still working on my character, and believe me, I still have a long way to go. I hope you also think it is a worthwhile, lifelong endeavor.