L.A. Councilman Paul Koretz is still the new kid on the block, having taken over the Jack Weiss 5th district seat a few months ago, but he exudes a lot of freshman enthusiasm - and optimism - in his early days at City Hall. Speaking today to Emma Schafer's Current Affairs Forum, Koretz seemed pleased with the latest package of concessions worked out between the city and the unions (he painted himself as a kind of conciliator in making it happen). I'm not aware of his role, though he might not want to take that much credit: the city is still in the hole, big time. For all the challenges of being an L.A. Councilmember, he said it's a pleasure compared with the dysfunctional state assembly, where he had been a legislator. He intends to play a watchdog role in ways the city can save money. On his to-do list: Thumb through all those audits by former Controller Laura Chick that have been collecting dust.