--- # Myths and Realities of Lobbying in Los Angeles Sunday, May 07 WESTSIDE URBAN FORUM Presents # Myths and Realities of Lobbying in Los Angeles ##### Friday, May 19, 2017 ##### [CLICK HERE TO REGISTER](http://www.westsideurbanforum.com/events?e=35581c1e5065b03099c49752650c5164&utm_source=westsideurbanforum&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lobbyists_20172&n=2 "http://www.westsideurbanforum.com/events?e=35581c1e5065b03099c49752650c5164&utm_source=westsideurbanforum&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lobbyists_20172&n=2") Los Angeles doesn't have its own version of K Street, where Washington, D.C.'s, industry of power brokers sets up shop. Nonetheless, Los Angeles's city bureaucracy, and those of other local cities, is vast and it too has its corps of consultants and lobbyists who advocate for legislation and assist clients with projects. Among all local lobbying efforts, perhaps none are as numerous, intense, or contentious as those surrounding development. From variances, to general plan amendments, to planning commission hearings, and city council hearings, many developers would be lost without experts to guide them and, indeed, to advocate for them. WUF is pleased to bring together a panel to explain what lobbying is and is not in the Los Angeles area. They will discuss lobbyists' roles and legal limitations, the projects they work on, the influence that lobbyists have, and the limits of that influence. And they will address common refrains about favoritism and the elevation of "special interests" over the common good. **Panelists** **Tanner Blackman,** Partner, Kindel Gagan Public Affairs Advocacy **Aaron Green**, President, The Afriat Consulting Group **Marc Mitchell,** Vice President, Local Government, Cerrell Associates **Jeff Seymour,** Principal, Seymour Consulting Group **Moderator** **Ed Reyes,** Retired Councilmember, Planner **The Olympic Collection** 11301 Olympic Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90064 7:15am Registration 7:30am Breakfast 7:45am Panel Discussion **Registration Fees** $40 members $55 nonmembers $10 student members $15 student nonmembers Pre-registration closes on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. After May 17, 2017 and at onsite registration the cost will be an additional $10.00. No refunds or credits will be provided after this date. \*\*WUF offers a special, discounted rate for individuals involved in land use, planning, and development issues on a grass roots and neighborhood level on an unpaid basis. If you are interested in attending this WUF breakfast with a discounted rate, please send your request to [info@westsideurbanforum.com](mailto:info@westsideurbanforum.com "mailto:info@westsideurbanforum.com") with your contact information and description of your neighborhood level activities prior to May 17, 2017. Certain restrictions apply. **[CLICK HERE TO REGISTER](http://www.westsideurbanforum.com/events?e=35581c1e5065b03099c49752650c5164&utm_source=westsideurbanforum&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lobbyists_20172&n=3 "http://www.westsideurbanforum.com/events?e=35581c1e5065b03099c49752650c5164&utm_source=westsideurbanforum&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lobbyists_20172&n=3")** ## Event Information [ ![Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/brian-goldsmith%20AD.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col") [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad") [ ![McKinney Campaign](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/McKinney%20City%20Watch%20Ad_final.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign") [ ![LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/2026%20LADWP%20PowerSavers%20300x250.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)") [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1") [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)") [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign") [ ![Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/reitano%20vertical%20rework.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col") ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Name [ ![Rhonda Haymon](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/rhonda%20haymon%20for%20judge.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign") [ ![something you should know, podcasts](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/banners/something%20you%20should%20know2.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/1f/086d-1ffb713b.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters) ### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters) ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/ca/083a-cad3392e.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2) ### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2) LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/24/086g-24ab7b18.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game) ### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game) THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/7e/086f-7e13290f.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too) ### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too) LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/75/087l-7503ce9d.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it) ### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it) ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an… --- ## [ Events ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events) ### [Garment Worker Center Celebrates 25 Years with Community Concert](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events/33635-garment-worker-center-celebrates-25-years-with-community-concert) ### [Valley Art Faire Kicks Off Holiday Shopping November 1](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events/33634-valley-art-faire-kicks-off-holiday-shopping-november-1) ### [Plaza México Celebrates Festival Día de los Muertos](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events/33530-plaza-mexico-celebrates-festival-dia-de-los-muertos) ### [Lila Downs Celebrates Día de Muertos at Walt Disney Concert Hall](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events/33498-lila-downs-celebrates-dia-de-muertos-at-walt-disney-concert-hall) ### [LA Art Show Returns with New Fair and GLAAD Partnership](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/events/33487-la-art-show-returns-with-new-fair-and-glaad-partnership)