Advice for Garcetti from Raphael Sonenshein

Sonenshein, head of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, helps new Mayor Eric Garcetti prioritize his to-do list in a light take for Los Angeles Magazine's CityThink blog. Sample:

Do: Make us care about city politics
With his charisma and accessibility, Garcetti has a chance to educate apathetic Angelenos on how public office works and change the “weak mayor” perception. Thanks to social media, @ericgarcetti is L.A.’s most available mayor yet. If he’s transparent about his day-to-day, citizens might become more involved with local causes.

Don’t: Say yes to everyone
Politicians love to please, but with the city’s budget crisis, Garcetti would be wise to take his cues from Jerry Brown, who said no enough times that when he finally said yes, legislators paid attention.

Also: Don't quit the piano. "Garcetti’s offbeat talents (break dancing, piano playing) make him likable, which goes a long way."

More from Los Angeles: The latest Big Shots video interview is with Cheryl Saban, "the L.A.-based philanthropist, women’s rights advocate, glass artist, and wife of billionaire entertainment mogul Haim Saban."

Photo: Garcetti at Mar Vista block party as mayor-elect, by Marta Evry.