The TSA's Record of Failure - Illustrated

Created by: OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com

A Open Letter from City Councilman Bernard Parks

Dear Friends,

This Friday, March 16 at 10 AM, the Los Angeles City Council will vote on a very important issue that will affect you for the next decade: a proposal submitted by the Redistircting Commission that will gut the Eighth and Ninth Districts of all middle class and afluent neighborhoods, all thriving business districts and economic engines, and leave nothing but poverty.

It's not right, and I am going to stand with my colleage - Councilwoman Jan Perry - and fight this with every tool and resource at my disposal.

But, I NEED YOUR HELP.

I need you to attend the Council meeting on Friday and stand up for your neighborhood and South LA! We need to show the other 13 councilmembers that South LA is united and determined to fight this injustice.

Friday, March 16

10:00 AMLos Angeles City Hall200 N. Spring St. (entrance on Main St.)Council Chamber (Room 340)Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you can't make the meeting, please write, call or email Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Council President Herb Wesson and let them know what you think!

Council President Herb Wesson Jr.
200 N. Spring Street, Room 430
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)-473-7010
wesson.hj@lacity.org

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
200 N. Spring St., Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-978-0600
mayor@lacity.org

Respectfully,

BERNARD C. PARKS

Councilmember

Redistricting - the process of dividing Los Angeles into 15 districts of equal population - is a very complex issue, and it's asy to get confused by all the tecnhical terminology and details. Here are the most important facts you need to know. Please take a moment to read these bullet points, and if you plan on attending the Council meeting on Friday, feel free to print them out and bring them with you. 

• While this process may serve some politicians and their quest for future elections, the process is not serving you.
  
• The Redistricting Commission was part of a package of reforms approved by voters in 1999 with overwhelming support. The purpose was to make the once-a-decade process of drawing district boundaries less political, more transparent, and give the residents more of a say in how the city would be organized for the purpose of representing their interests and needs on the 15-member City Council. 

• The Commission and the integrity of  the process was corrupted from the very start when they selected Andrew Westall -  Council President Herb Wesson's senior advisor-  to serve as the Executive Director. 

• The Commission lost transparency when they opted to split into three subcommittees to draw the district boundaries in secret

• The Commission lost credibility when they held numerous public hearings in every part of Los Angeles, promising to listen to community input, and then emerged from secret meetings to propose radical changes that the overwhelming majority of residents were opposed to.

• The Commission failed to follow city charter requirements that districts be based on equal population, that neighborhoods and communities not be split and that districts be compact.

• The media, community groups, neighborhood councils, open-government activists and commissioners themselves have described the Commission process as: “Corrupt, ”   “Dysfunctional,”   “Deeply Flawed,”   “a Puppet Show,”    “Devoid of Any Redeeming Qualities,”     “A Mess of Gerrymandered Land Grabs.”
  
• The proposal would turn Districts 8(Councilmember Parks) and 9(Councilmember Perry) into impoverished communities with few opportunities for development
  
• South LA has already been dealt a huge blow by the elimination of the Community Redevelopment Agency and cuts to the federal Community Development Block Grant program. This proposal would doom South LA to a decade of no growth, no development, no jobs, and no hope.

• The driving motivation behind the maps is to segregate voters into districts based upon race

•  The s plan to lop off huge chunks of the African-American vote in CD8 and give them to Council District 10(CD10), would weaken the influence of the only majority African-American district in the city. There are laws, such as the Voting Rights Act, that undeniably protect non-white majority districts like CD8. However, the commission has decided to only acknowledge the laws protecting the majority-Latino districts of 1, 7 and 14.
  
• Proponents will tell you is that they are “trying to save three black seats". That is a lie. Even though Council Districts 9 and 10 have been represented by African American councilmembers since the 1960's, only about 30% of the residents in those districts are voting-age African American citizens. Former councilmembers from those districts - such as 10th District Councilman (and then mayor) Tom Bradley - were elected by a coalition of races. The 8th District is the only majority African American district.
  
• The commission’s push for another Latino seat on the city council is to the detriment of the city’s African-American Community. Creating such a seat calls for a study that proves racially polarized voting exists, an assertion that is contradicted by the voters of this diverse city electing an African-American mayor, a Latino mayor, a Latino sheriff, and a Latino assessor.
  
• The City Attorney’s own representative on the Commission stated in her minority report that Council District 8 was “badly underserved in this process, for no apparent reason” and that the Commission's actions increase the risk of litigation.
  
• South LA should not be treated like a junkyard, with other districts taking the spare parts they want and dumping those they don't.
  
• We demand fair maps with fair boundaries, so that every part of Los Angeles has an equal opportunity to grow and thrive in the 21st century!

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

 United Firefighters of Los Angeles (UFLAC) President Pat McOsker and fellow firefighters.

Mayor Antonio Villar.

There is nothing better for Los Angeles bloggin discourse than a "little political dust up" between Mayor Antonio Villar and former Mayor James Hahn associates, "The McOsker Brothers".

Witness Mayor Villar and LAFD Chief Brian Cumming's "defend the response times" press conference yesterday and the mayor's reaction to the proximity of UFLAC President Pat McOsker at the back of the presser, among the scribes.

As the "Brother McOsker" know, there is nothing like a vindictive Villar to contend with in local politics, especially when your most recent UFLAC memo crafted by its President Pat McOsker, reflects badly upon a mayor craving the national political spotlight (and cabinet appointment in a second President Obama Administration)....... and the reaction from Mayor Villar via the Daily News.

Villaraigosa called McOsker's criticisms outrageous, adding, "It is a reflection of the lack of leadership up in that union. It's the same guy who put out posters saying they were going to die (because of the cuts)." 

Mr Mayor, you may want want to review this emotional testimony of Luis Gonzalez before pointing fingers at UFLAC leadership in the future.

** The City Clowncil Central Committee is back in session today as we near the start of the 48 hour countdown to a Friday meeting that may see a final vote on Redistricting 2012.

** 46th Assembly District Candidate Adrin Nazarian has picked up the endorsement of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA). We are still waiting word on the fate of candidate Laurette Healey.

** City Councilman Bernard Parks had this retort to a Betty Pleasant musing from last week.

Betty Pleasant explains the whole black thing

In another column pushing Mark Ridley-Thomas over Bernard Parks in the Supervisor race, the Wave's Soulvine columnist tells some recent South L.A. history from when Mayor Jim Hahn dropped Parks as LAPD chief: "Even though I had serious problems with Parks as police chief, I was incensed by what all those white people were doing to him and I used the bully pulpit of my paper to help whip up rage against those people, to circle the wagons against those people who were bringing down a Black man. Our support for Parks had nothing to do with his being chief, and everything to do with his being Black. Yes, the instinct to close ranks racially does come to the fore, and to quote my grandpapa again, 'sometime it be like that.'" Pleasant was then city editor of the Sentinel. The Wave  

. 

Betty being a bit hypocritical?

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday

LAFD Chief Brian Cummings. Trust Me!! All is good with LAFD's response times. 

Former LAFD Chief Millage Peaks with Mayor Antonio Villar.

The Voice Newspaper Editor Carlos Morales has been covering the cutbacks at LAFD since the Hillside Village Property Owners Association's protest at El Sereno's Station 16 some three years ago. Today, these are his comments to the Los Angeles Times article outing the LAFD flawed numbers.

In today's LA TIMES there is an article on the DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES OF LAFD responding to emergency calls - the report says in 2008 when the brown outs were being considered that LAFD responded with FIVE MINUTES 80% of the time (acceptable national average is 5-6 Minutes) The report says LAFD ONLY HIT THAT MARK 64% of the time, AND HAS DECREASED SINCE THAT PERIOD.
THE VOICE REPORTED ON THIS IN 2009 & 2010 http://thevoicepub.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/2011_05_May_Color_VOICE.138180239.pdf
WE ASK COUNCILMAN HUIZAR AGAIN - HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU MONITOR THE SITUATION?http://www.thevoicepub.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/2011_05_May_Color_VOICE.138180239.pdfwww.thevoicepub.com

Interesting to note the lack of comment from CD 14's Councilman Jose Huizar.
Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Mayor Sam Exclusive: Laurette Healey "not qualified" for 46th Assembly District Race

Is there enough ink in this pen for forty signatures?

Mayor Sam has learned that Republican turned Democratic perennial candidate Laurette Healey, was not qualified for ballot inclusion in the hotly contested San Fernando Valley 46th Assembly District.

According to multiple sources, Healey's problems started with signatures which were not valid. From one source, 

She screwed up her signatures and tired to turn in (in lieu of sigs) yesterday 10 days past the deadline. So at 11 yesterday (Friday) she figured out she screwed and took out nominating petitions and had 4 hours to get forty good sigs and make it to the register. No one knows if she made it or not, she is not listed as filed. .

As of Sunday evening, this was the latest on Healey's problems.

Won't know until tomorrow, but as of right now she is not listed as having filed. The story of her screw up has been confirmed, we just don't know if she will make it.

We will update this story later in the day..
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Liberal Hypocrisy Hits An All Time High

Rush Limbaugh

Let's start with this. Clearly, it was rude, inappropriate, coarse and unrefined for Rush Limbaugh to call Sandra Fluke vulgar names as it was for KFI Radio's John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou to make insulting remarks about the recently deceased Whitney Houston, regardless of how correct the broadcasters' points may have been.

However, Limbaugh, Kobylt and Chiampou have been garnering huge ratings for decades because there is a significant enough audience for their type of programming. On the other hand, broadcasters such as Larry Elder, John Phillips, Doug McInytre and Dennis Miller may also fall on the right side of the aisle, but present a more measured approach leaning more towards wry witticisms and irony than the man cave like observations of Rush/John and Ken. Both types of formats appeal and all of these radio hosts have been extremely successful.

Read more »

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

This blogger like City Clowncil Dictator Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson  and the rest of the Clowncil Central Committee, are bugging out early. For the Clowncil Central Committee, its the National League of Cities Conference in Washington D.C. and for this blogger its ......

This is a great living history presentation centered on the old Vallecito Butterfield Stage Station at San Diego's Vallecito County Park within the larger Anza-Borrego State Park. But back to the local political scene ....

** We have a surprise in store for CD 14's Councilman Jose Huizar. Here's a hint, he may need the services of the City Attorney in the near future as more attention is being paid to his stonewalling on the status of the CLARTS Community Amenities Fund. Our recent request under the California Public Records Act has gone unanswered. Thus, an outside organization is paying close attention to this latest episode of "CLARTS Fund Transparency Held Hostage", now in Day 22. Thus, we tie this yellow ribbon in the hope that Tranparency and Open Government return soon to CD 14.

   Councilman Huizar, release the records on the CLARTS Fund!

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

"Another Soulvine Thursday" via South L.A. Columnist Betty Pleasant

Longtime South L.A. Wave Newspaper Columnist Betty Pleasant and her "little short guy" City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson. CD 10's "newest power couple".

Blogger's notes: Pardon us for being tardy with our regular Thursday feature on the musings of the lover of "little short guys" who become City Council Presidents/ dictators. In outreaching to those who "jones" for their weekly dose of the Soulvine, we reach back to bring you Betty in her best "bash Parks" persona (even after asking for free USC tickets from the CD 8 City Councilman)---Scott Johnson.

Betty and Mayor Villaraigosa find common ground:

ON THE PARKS FRONT — Councilman Bernard Parks issued two pitiful documents since we last spoke, but I will only comment on one today. He issued a press release in which he abruptly stopped blaming Council PresidentHerb Wesson for making him unhappy about the redistricting of his 8th District, and put the blame squarely on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, whom he charged with having launched “a racially motivated assault on South Los Angeles” with the new district maps. Parks wrote: “It’s ironic that the mayor, who enjoyed 55 percent of the African-American vote to get elected is now working through his appointed commissioners to disenfranchise African-American voters...blah blah blah.”

Now you know that I am not, by any means, an apologist for the mayor, but this particular Parks rant makes me wonder: When did Parks become Black? He certainly wasn’t Black when he was police chief. Remember how, back then, apart from outright police brutality, the biggest problem facing Black people in Los Angeles was racial profiling by the LAPD? When Black drivers and pedestrians — rich ones and poor ones — were stopped anywhere at anytime by Parks’ cops for no reason other than the color of their skin?

Betty has some kind thoughts about District Attorney Candidate Carmen Trutanich:

Trutanich has zero integrity; his word, pledge and promise mean nothing. He will obviously say anything to get what he wants. Do we need or even want a district attorney like that? Steve Cooley is bad enough, but Trutanich would be worse. When Cooley told the Black Journalists Association he would eschew politics and pursue justice in the county in a fair and even-handed manner, he lied. But we didn’t know he lied until after he was elected. But Trutanich is saying, “Yeah, I lied, but elect me anyhow. I’m better than anybody else.” No. In fact, everybody who’s running for D.A. is better than Trutanich because they’re not in-your-face liars. How can the county of Los Angeles’ chief arbiter of law and order and primary procurer of justice be an unabashed liar? We won’t be able to believe a word he says nor rely on any agreement he makes.

Betty takes exception to Parks ........ again:

Councilman Bernard Parks has been on such an unprecedented hysterical, maniacal rampage this week in an effort to maintain the current boundaries of his 8th Council District that I and several other people have actually voiced concern for the physical safety of Council President Herb Wesson. For the past 10 days, Parks has responded to the Redistricting Committee’s early drafts of new council district boundaries with escalating public attacks on Wesson and outlandish assertions as to Wesson’s and the committee’s motives behind the proposed changes to the 8th District. In his frenzy, Parks has communicated more with his constituents over redistricting than he’s communicated with them about anything in the past, and he’s saying stuff — verbally and in writing — that a person of sound mental hygiene would not.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

The Koreatown Spring continues

City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson

As the "Koreatown Spring" continues against unjust redistricting and alleged shakedowns for campaign contribution from City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson staff, we bring you photos of this historic moment in City of Los Angeles political history.

............ and lastly, the insiders of the scam that is Redistricting 2012 front Michael "MEAT" Trujillo to spin their backroom proclivities in this year's redistricting process.

"MEAT"

Your thoughts ...............

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

Who ever is the proprietor of the Laurette Watch Twitter Account is well verse in the many incarnations of the perennial candidate Laurette Healey. (currently a candidate for the 46th Assembly District).

Can we offer up the prophetic magazine cover that defines the Mayor Antonio Villar reign, as the template for the worksheet that will chart how Mayor Villar's 11% dedication to his mayoral job duties, led to a city financial state that leaves his former labor allies without pay raises? 

 "The Old Gray Hag on Spring Street" stumbled into religion with a editorial that calls for the size of the City Council to double and work for half the pay. Would that mean that Councilman Jose Huizar would have to split his $1.3 Million Dollars salary account diversion of the CLARTS Fund?

Assemblyman Gill Cedillo longtime staffer Auturo Chavez has retain John Shallman as his Campaign Consultant, in his bid for the 51st Assembly District.

Your thoughts .................

Scott Johnson in CD 14. 

A Message from CD 9 City Councilwoman and Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry on Redistricting

Blogger's Notes: In simple words, the gloves are coming off in the horseshoe on Spring Street---Scott Johnson. ** LA Times story breaks on Perry's claim of corruption in redistricting process.

Dear Voters: 

Several months ago I made a decision to step down as Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore while still continuing to serve as your councilperson, because I had concerns at the time about transparency of the redistricting process. Redistricting is required every ten years following the census. We are supposed to examine census population numbers and a determination is made about which council district needs to lose or gain population. It is not a process that should be intent on harming communities of interest. 

The process that was been established at the City of Los Angeles for redistricting has confirmed my worse fears. The current map does not reflect the demands of the public, divides communities of interest, represents significant political gerrymandering, and pits communities against one another. 

The redistricting commission did not operate independently, but seemed to take directions to fulfill the political agenda of city hall insiders, special interests and future candidates for public office.

What is being done to our district in Downtown Los Angeles is a good example of what is wrong with the current redistricting process. For over 40 years South Los Angeles and Downtown have been linked as one community in the 9th Council District. Council District 9 currently represents 75% of the people downtown. But as a result of backroom political deal between the current leadership of the city and Councilman Jose Huizar our community will be torn apart with downtown and portion of south Los Angeles placed into the 14th council district. The northeastern communities have never been linked to downtown as with the current plan.

I am very proud of what we have accomplished while working together in Downtown Los Angeles. I am afraid Councilman Huizar will not bring the kind of responsive representation that we are used to in our district. A good example of this is the following article (linked here) which points to the kind of representation that Downtown residents can expect. The Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Huizar maintained a list that graded residents of his district based on their support, which would then determine what level of constituent services they would receive.    

We all deserve better than that. The Downtown News thinks so too. 

Please call Councilman Herb Wesson's Office at 213 473 7010 and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office 213 978 0721 and demand that they listen to the people and not use redistricting for political purposes. We need to re-do the maps and keep Downtown in the historic Ninth District. The Rules Committee will meet this week on Wednesday, March 7 at City Hall at 4:00 pm to discuss the redistricting maps and take public testimony. Come to the hearing and let your view be known. We want to keep the Great Ninth District together.

Sincerely 

Your Councilwoman Jan Perry

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

** PS, Huizzy just got spanked with the truth.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks and CD 9 City Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Surprise!! Redistricting 2012 is heading to litigation.

City Councilpersons Bernard Parks and Jan Perry are loading up in outside legal counsel to challenge the mostly backroom deals of the 2011/12 City Redistricting Committee. From the Daily News.

Attorneys for Council members Bernard Parks and Jan Perry sent a letter to City Attorney Carmen Trutanich questioning the legality of the new map and whether it was drawn based on racial issues."The evidence amply demonstrates that a driving motivation behind the commission's plan was to segregate voters into districts based upon race," wrote attorney Nathan Lowenstein with Goldberg, Lowenstein and Weatherwax of Century City.In addition, Lowenstein said the citizens commission failed to follow city requirements that districts be based on equal population, that neighborhoods and communities not be split and that districts be compact. 

This is not counting what most likely will be a legal challenge from an unified Koreatown supporters.

 Political Consultant John Shallman.

** Which one person out of many can prevent City Attorney Carmen Trutanich from replacing District Attorney Steve Cooley as the top attorney in LA County? Hint, he creates endorsements where none exists and develops YouTube viewer ships for a hefty fee. 

LAUSD School Board Member Bennett Kayser.

** What is the political fate for LAUSD School Board Member Bennett Kayser and his UTLA allies, after taking on the Education Machine of Mayor Antonio Villar and sending its anointed candidate Luis Sanchez back to a connected CBO exile in Boyle Heigjhts? If your upset election victory is followed by redistricting, it means that your current district is reconfigure to elect someone else in the next election with a non-anglo surname.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Its all about the map for a future Los Angeles

The City Charter gives the City Council until June 30 to review and decide on the proposed map crafted by the 2011/2012 incarnation of the City Redistricting Committee. But new City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson is fast tracking hearings this week in the goal of wrapping up Redistricting 2012 by March 16, 2012. The haste of Council President "Mini Amin" Wesson has caught the attention of the Downtown News which stated in strong terms that Wesson should slow down the process for the good of the city. 

City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson

What are the possible ramifications of the strong arm tactics of the diminutive former Assembly Speaker turned the "Mini Amin of the Horseshoe'? Lawsuits over this backroom exercise is a given. City Councilman Bernard Parks Chief of Staff Bernard Parks Jr. tells Rick Orlov that Council President Wesson has detached African-American neighborhoods from CD 8 and moved them into the boundaries of CD 10 in the hopes of protecting his district. This charge the latest among many made by the tandem of Councilperson Parks and Jan Perry, make it more likely that the formerly consensus council of former Council President Eric Garcetti is a relic of a peaceful past.

More news on Redistricting 2012: 

** Ron Kaye reports that the LA Neighborhood Council Coalition voted this weekend to oppose the final map recommended by the Redistricting Committee. Redistricting Committee Member Hellen Kim and City Councilwoman Jan Perry took time out of their saturday to meet and go over the map with coalition members before the vote to oppose was taken.

** Zuma Dogg and this blogger shared some quality time discussing the various people and controversies connected with Redistricting 2012 on Saturday evening. If anyone in the local political know still thinks that Redistricting 2012 was an exercise is simple map drawing, then I have a building permit for the right price from Grande Associate CEO and former Building and Safety Inspector Samuel In.

**  ..... and how do some in the African-American Community view Council President "Mini Amin" Wesson's actions on Redistricting 2012? Ponder this quote and its relevancy to Redistricting 2012 as noted by PACE News Gloria Zurveen.

“While the black appointees were highly visible, they were, for the most part, powerless. And their powerless visibility in and around the bureaucratic councils added an aura of legitimacy to illegitimate acts, providing a smokescreen for dirty dealings.” — Samuel Yette Author of “The Choice” 

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Witness Koreatown's Political Awakening against unjust Redistricting and Extortion

** Blogger's note: Special thanks to 2013 Mayoral Candidate/ Blogger/ City Hall Public Comment Legend David "Zuma Dogg" Saltzberg for spending time crafting last evening this four minute expose on the Koreatown Political Awakening against unjust City Redistricting in 2012. From Sunland-Tujunga in the north, through CD 4, west to Westchester, into the remaining pickings of CD 8 and back to a formerly CD 9 Downtown, many civic activists have protested the blatant backroom dealings that have defined City Redistrict 2012. But one community stands above all others in the battle for just restricting, Koreatown. Hundreds of Korean-Americans led by a new generation of leaders such as Lloyd Lee, Jimmy Chai and Los Angeles Rising Political Star, Redistricting Committee Member Helen Kim are standing up to this facade of open boundaries alterations and pulling no punches. In this explosive four minute video clip, Lee declares that Koreatown will not give contribution money any longer, in return for no services. But most explosive is the allegation made by Chai that City Council President Herb Wesson Staffer Michael Bae solicited campaign money in return for permits and read a letter into record from a Brian Chong addressed to Wesson in regards to this. Wesson denies this charge and Chong says that the letter is a hoax but many in the Korean American Community feel that the letter is real---Scott Johnson.     

Jimmy Chai stating and reading letter of allegation against City Council President Herb Wesson's Staffer Michael Bae that he solicited campaign contributions in return for approved permits. (** BTW, is that Andrew Westall walking in background as Chai makes his allegations?)

** More news on City Redistricting 2012 in the A.M., including Zuma Dogg Exclusive on memo Redistricting Committee Executive Director Andrew Westall does not want you to read.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Councilman Huizar/ Ana Cubas, El Sereno is awaiting your response to Public Records Request

Why does CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar continue to stonewall on making public expenditures related to almost $1.3 Millions Dollars of the CLARTS Fund transfer to his Salary Account?

Add $200,000 to the $1.045 Million Dollars of the CLARTS Fund transfer to CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar's Salary Account.

** Memo to CD 14 Chief of Staff Ana Cubas, a hard copy of this Public Records Request posted below, was given to your El Sereno Office Field Director Arturo Gonzalez at the February 1, 2012 Meeting of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council. We hope that Gonzalez will have the requested documents this Wednesday when the LA-32 NC meets for the month of March. We should note that since El Sereno help beat challenger Rudy Martinez last spring, it has seen Councilman Huizar cancelled annual events such as the "Sleepy Coliss Halloween Event", "Annual Turkey Giveaway" and the famous "El Sereno Winter Wonderland". Further, critical fire equipment such as RA 816 and Engine 47 have been pulled from service. In addition, community members have been kept in the dark about major traffic projects such as the Soto Street bridges and Huntington Drive widening. Now as back in 2010, constituents rights to public documents are being violated by your tardiness in responding to the request below. If no documents are made public Wednesday, then expect a community-wide response---Scott Johnson                                                              

To: Ana Cubas, Chief of Staff, Councilman Jose Huizar

Date: January 31, 2012

From: Scott Johnson, LA 32 Stakeholder

Re: California Public Records Request on the status of the CD 14 CLARTS Fund

Chief of Staff Ana Cubas,

This is a request under the rights accorded me under the California Public Records Act for updated information on all expenditures and transfer of funds from the CD 14 CLARTS Amenities Fund from October 1, 2010 to the present.

Please note that this Public Records Request includes all expenditures made from funds transfer to the CD 14 Salary Account from the CLARTS Fund, as noted in past CAO mid-year budget reports.

Feel free to respond to this request within the time standards as noted in the California Public Records Act.

Respectfully,

Scott Johnson

LA 32 Stakeholder

outwardscottla32@yahoo.com

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Tales from the maps 2012

What the maps could tell if they talked.

Happy TGIF from the second ranked city for corruption in the United States, where the simple task of drawing district boundaries borders on RICO violations. The likes of Mayor Antonio Villar, City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson, City Councilman Jose Huizar, City Councilman Richard AlarCON and their willing enablers on the Redistricting Committee have taken what should of been an exercise in simple map drawing and created a litigious mess. 

Redistricting Committee members Robert Ahn, Bobbie Jean Anderson, Helen Kim and David Roberts, have filed a minority, dissenting report that take the committee to task for ignoring public input among other things, during the public vetting process.

For CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks, the one-time Mayor Villar ally experience for himself what happens when you become an impediment to the mayor's "progressive machine agenda" In Parks case, they use the once in a decade process to draw Parks out of his district and the collateral damage is to the waning Africam-American clout on the City Council. 

Meanwhile this morning, City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson announced the final City Council hearing schedule on the redistricting process while not acknowledging that other hearings will most likely take place in a court room near you. 

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Discourse

‎"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized - at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do - it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."

- President Barack Obama

More if you dare...

Patriot

Rest in peace fellow warrior.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Nuch in high-fiving mood after Los Angeles County Labor Federation Endorsement.

** The Carmen Trutanich for District Attorney Team received an endorsement that no one can question as the LA County Labor Federation bestowed its endorsement on the San Pedro native. Whether this endorsement garners Team Nuch monetary resources in the weeks to come is not known, but rest assure that the county fed actions may scare off any other potential candidates.

** If there was a political rising star to come out of the boondoggle that was the City of Los Angeles Redistricting Committee, that would be Attorney Helen Kim. LA Weekly Scribe Hillel Aron profiles this rising star of Los Angeles politics, who stood up to the likes of Mayor Antonio Villar and City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson backroom dealings.

** "The tumor made me do it". Now its up to former DONE Board of Directors Head Albert Abrams to convince a jury of his peers that a tumor was the genesis of his fondness for child porn.

.......... and lastly.

R.I. P. Andrew Breitbart

1968-2012

From Matt Drudge at the Drudge Report:

DEAR READER: In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not flash each other or laugh with each other, or challenge each other. I still see him in my mind's eye in Venice Beach, the sunny day I met him. He was in his mid 20's. It was all there. He had a wonderful, loving family and we all feel great sadness for them today... MDRUDGE

Your thoughts and prayers to the Breitbart Family in this time of great loss.

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Nefarious Political Behavior begins at the Grass Roots Tips in the Second Ranked Corrupt City in the United States

HACLA email on Ramona Gardens Housing Project Resident Advisory Council.

In light of the City of Los Angeles recent number two ranking as the most corrupt city in the United States, we stop to ponder where do aspiring politicos take their first "one hundred level course" in the art of nefarious political conduct. Chamber of Commerces? Little League Associations? PTA's? Museum Support Groups? Soccer Clubs? 

For the formerly Mayor Antonio Villar and CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar allied Ramona Gardens Housing Project Resident Advisory Council (RAC), the document above provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) as part of a California Public Records Act request, shows that the former RAC board was engaged (allegedly) in the falsification of bank statements in an attempt to cover up financial graft.

The graft in this instance involved the bank account used by the RG RAC for its HACLA allocated budget of funding. Each of HACLA's housing projects has an elected RAC that operates semi-independently of the administrated office on site. A formula is use to determine how much funding is given by calculating occupied units, then the money is used for community activities, at least in theory.

But in some projects, money and other community resources are controlled by a selected few and become patronage for the associates of the controlling boards.Whether it is HACLA funds, turkey drives, field trips or jobs among others, past RG RAC's have spread the patronage among a selected few. Same families and friends would get jobs and seats on buses to field trips while the 90% plus of the rest of the housing project were never given opportunities. Then come election time when more resources appeared, the same chosen few were the anointed middle people who controlled the spoils.

In recent months while the corruption spotlight has been trained on the upper management of HACLA, lower level professionals have been working hard to change the patronage culture of HACLA's housing projects. In at least Ramona Gardens, HACLA's openness and accountability in providing documents will hopefully bring on a new era of fairness in dispensing HACLA's resources within the community. 

In the weeks ahead we will continue to disclose more documents and coverage of HACLA's actions in attempting to foster openness and transparency in its daily operations.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

CD 1 City Councilman Ed Reyes wading through increase flow of 7-Eleven beer and wine sales in his district.

We bring you the morning hypocrisy of CD 1 City Councilman Ed "Density" Reyes regarding proposed Wal Mart Neighborhood Market in Chinatown. From a keen political observer.

Something does not pass the smell test. Last PM. on local TV news reporters interviewed CD Councilman Reyes. Reyes stated that he was upset over the fact that a Wal-Mart store was going to open up on Cesar Chavez and Grand Avenue in Chinatown.  Reyes stated that do to the fact that there was school near by this store would post both a traffic hazard and also a public safety issue for the immediate surrounding community.    Now I ask you . Remember that Reyes did not give a damn when he encouraged the opening of the 7-Eleven store in Lincoln Heights on Mission  which sold both alcohol and cigarettes. (** Slight correction, 7 Eleven store on Broadway and Eastlake sells alcohol and cigarettes. Mission location will file for the right to sell beer and wine soon). Where was Reyes' concern for the school age children, residents and public safety concerns for those who reside and work in  Lincoln Heights?

Some where, American Veteran and former Lincoln Heights Donut Shop Owner Ben Lee is shaking his head at the hypocrisy of a councilman who values increase corporate beer and wine sale over small businesses operated by immigrant American veterans.

** LA Observed "Westside Business White Guy" (WBWG) Mark Lacter gets it when it comes to the multiple national media "scribegasms" over the supposed political rehabilitation of Mayor Antonio Villar. What has Mayor Villar done to deserve all these media scribegasms? Ron Kaye also sees through the facade of a political rehabilitated Mayor Villar with the myth of "Antonio the Great".

** Ron Kaye also chimes in on the LAPD Chief Charlie Beck pandering crusade for a second term as chief by championing driver licenses for the undocumented. Something tells me that a certain park near Alvarado and Wilshire will be the designation of choice for those seeking the right (fake) documentation

** The sun rises in the east and another LAUSD employee is arrested for having sex with a student. Will this seventh arrest in recent days, become "Breaking News" or a normal daily feature of LAUSD's Channel 58?.

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

CD 14 Violating Public Records Act Again on CLARTS Fund

Violating Public Record Laws never came hard for the Princeton Graduate,

 CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar Chief of Staff Ana Cubas 

CD 14 El Sereno Field Office Director Arturo Gonzalez.

Stubborn, lazy and contempt for California's Public Records Laws are not the way to pursuit higher office ..... especially City Attorney.

Yet, this is the M.O. for C.D.14 City Councilman Jose Huizar who ha s again shown his disdain for constituents rights to petition his office for documentation regarding the funding status of the Central Los Angeles Refuge Transfer Station Amenities Fund (CLARTS Fund).

The last update provided to the community on the status of the CLARTS Fund was on October 18, 2010. On October 20, 2010, the City Clerk noted that the CLARTS Fund had a balance of $544,683. which contradicted  Chief of Staff Ana Cubas report to the LA-32 Neighborhood Council. 

Some 15 months later at the most recent monthly meeting of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council on February 1, 2012, CD 14 El Sereno Field Office Director Arturo Gonzalez was presented with a hard copy request to Ana Cubas, by a LA-32 stakeholder for up to date information on the status of the CLARTS Fund. Copies of the request were printed and made available to all in attendance and submitted into the record of the LA-32 NC.

Since then, no response has been made to the stakeholder (this blogger). Thus, once again LA-32 and the rest of the constituents of CD 14 are being held hostage when it comes to accountability from the Office of Councilman Jose Huizar.

...... and the next time anyone sees Arturo Gonzalez in company of LAPD observing lawful protesters, lets remember who is truly the lawbreaker for withholding public documents.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Marshall Tuck, CEO, Mayor Antonio Villar's Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS).

Memo to LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, School Board President Monica Garcia and PLAS CEO Marshall Tuck, judging from your Friday afternoon choreograph parent meeting in response to the latest sexual misconduct allegations involving a LAUSD educator, this time at Boyle Height's Roosevelt High School, district officials need to "truly embrace" openness and transparency.

But for Mayor Villar's PLAS CEO Marshall Tuck, openness and transparency does not allow for video taping of certain public meetings on PLAS campuses. During Friday's meeting at Roosevelt High School, Tuck walked up to Boyle Heights Activist Jose Aguilar who was video-taping the proceedings and requested that Aguilar stop filming. When Aguilar stood his ground and continue filming, Tuck stated that he could have Aguilar arrested if he continue to film. Aguilar again reminded Tuck that this was a public meeting open to everyone and that filming was allowed. At this point Tuck backed down and return to the front of the auditorium.

When asked after the meeting why he attempted to cease filming of the meeting, Tuck's reply was that parents were not given advance notice that filming would be allowed. But in this new media age, most would expect that some sort of video documentation of the meeting would have taken place, whether it came from the camera of a noted community activist or a cellphone of an undocumented parent of a Roosevelt student.

Thus, as LAUSD races from scandal to scandal in recent weeks, district officials should ponder making use of new media to communicate to its district parents how it is responding to situations such as Miramonte and Roosevelt. Plus, LAUSD should make use of its Channel 58 resources to convey its response to these situations. 

Remember Mr. Tuck to embrace the camera like the Mayor taking on an Photo Op.

** OTHER NEWS: 

** City Councilperson's Jan Perry and Bernard Parks are not backing off after the Redistricting Committee "beat down" of their respected council districts. Park and Perry are calling for fair, objective hearings on the redistricting process during the city council deliberations on the committee's proposed final map. As  side note, expect lawsuits to be filed in the near future. 

** We should note that our earlier request for public documents from HACLA has been fruitful fanilly. In the weeks ahead as we examine hundreds of pages of bank statements, emails and other records, The results will be publish here at Mayor Sam.

Your thoughts ................

Scott Johnson in CD 14.