Something you should know

Word is employees in the city's computer enclave, the Information Technology Agency, are circulating a petition that spells out a vote of "no confidence" by nearly 500 or 3/5ths of the departments staff in their executive leadership.

That leadership, or lack thereof, includes General Manager and Chief Technology Officer Randi Levin, the much ballyhooed media techie, hand picked by Mayor Villaraigosa from the ranks at NBC-Universal less than one year ago. Seems confidence in Levins decision making is fading quickly. Even the honorable Mayor himself nixed her travel plans to a European technology conference. Another one of her decisions, to delay a multi-million dollar re-vamp of the City's financial systems, has the vendor, already awarded the contract, fuming and threatening legal action.

Included in that no vote, is Ken Simmons, Assistant General Manager and Executive Officer at ITA, whose track record of improprieties at the City's Housing Department and numerous financial boondoggles as the Assistant City Manager in Redondo Beach, precedes him and is well documented throughout the Internet. One wonders what dirt Mr. Simmons has on City powers that be, that would force them to allow him to continue prowling the Agency's hallways?

Numerous rumors of favoritism, preferential decision making on projects and outright vindictiveness have ITA's employee morale at an all time low. This negativity is not just from the rank and file, but also from middle management types. The same middle managers that were strong armed into footing the bill for a recent ITA employee meeting/holiday lunch, held at the convention center. Seems Ms. Levin's requests for party funding were summarily rejected by the CAO's office. Staffers coordinating the event, had to scramble for funding. Eventually the party portion was scrapped. One wonders if managers got refunds?

What a novel idea, to fleece your leaderships pockets so close to the holiday season. While this vote of no confidence may not be as successful as the one imparted on the recent LADOT chief, staffers hope to send a message that they themselves have strong resolutions for 2008.