Whistleblower hotline: (213) 785-6098
mayorsam@mayorsam.org

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Keys to the City weekend edition

I do this Keys to the City feature about every other day at Martini Republic, where we often err on the cultural side of things; but this morning, as the Mayors are away this weekend, and with so much political stuff ascendant, it makes more sense right here.

In an editorial that comes a little late and on the wrong day of the week for achieving impact, the Times (again following rather than leading noises in the blogosphere) calls Rocky Delgadillo's suit against Grand Theft Auto "political gamesmanship." Here's a sample:

Delgadillo, who is running for state attorney general, is just piling on. Beyond that, the lawsuit is absurd at its core. Does anyone believe that buyers or retailers of a video game that encourages players to murder, steal and pimp were misled because they weren't told it contained hidden scenes of virtual sex?

I'm sure you can easily find the local bloggers who have littered legions of pixels in precisely the same vein of late; but welcome to the party LAT.

Elsewhere, Rick Orlov reports in the DN that City Council on Friday approved a compromise deal over development at Chase Knowles, an old and declining apartment complext in Sherman Oaks. The case, which the perpetually publicity-seeking (and perpetually litigious) LA Conservancy has turned into a cause celebre, has parallels to Lincoln Place. Myself, I marvel at the LAConservancy's championing of places like this, which wouldn't even rate a second peek from most of the world's architectural historians, and I'm amused at the general idea that renters have a God-given right to live the way they want to live into perpetuity---but that's just me, a liberal who still believes in private property rights anyway.

I trust you caught the news this week that David Zahniser is moving from the Daily Breeze (obviously a daily) to the weekly LA Weekly. That's usually the opposite direction that beat writers move---they more typically go from weekly to daily. Barroom whispers are that he knows how good he is---hey, he is very good, and well-liked to boot---and that he hopes to raise his profile in the City by taking the spot the Weekly. Whatever is true, it's a good sign from the new owners of the Weekly that they intend to stay serious about City Hall.

Finally, new hire Matt Welch is, er, pissed that the Times submitted him to the indignity of a drug test. He confesses that "a single hit of pot is enough to reduce me to a whimpering fetal crouch for several incommunicative hours at a time."

No need to remind us here that we don't have such constraints in the blogosphere...

Labels:

5 Comments:

Blogger Sahra Bogado said:

Great, the spam-bots have beat the word verification.

February 04, 2006 1:31 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Or perhaps the headboat took one hit of pot and is babbling nonsense. Pot has the same effect on headboat as it does Matt Welch.

February 05, 2006 12:23 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

From the Matt Welch article: "Like airport security, open-air smoking bans and drunk-driving checkpoints, drug testing is an insulting annoyance that was met with much initial grumbling (particularly from journalists), then quickly became part of the accepted background noise of modern life. We instinctively compensate for these setbacks by exploring new freedoms elsewhere, before the buzz-killers find out."

Don't the journalists know about Test-Free? It cost $30 bucks at any headshop and it's a pack that you mix with water and it turns into a gelatin substance that you quickly drink and then you've got about 3 hours to test clean.I'm sure all good pot heads know this. I don't care if my journalists smoke weed. Some I know need it.

February 05, 2006 12:30 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

A great read by downtownews.com
Mr. Mayor's Schedule

An Imaginary Take on What Our Leader May Be Doing This Week
by Jon Regardie
From: Mayor's Office of Communications
To: Media trolls, TV/film casting executives, Democratic National Committee members searching for higher-office candidates

Purpose: This is the public schedule for the Mayor for Tuesday, Feb. 7. Last-minute additions or changes may be made depending on whether Ameriquest offers $438 tickets to ride a private jet across the country.

4:30 a.m.: Mayor will wake up and proclaim, "It's another beautiful day in Los Angeles, the safest and best sleeping big city in the world."

4:35 a.m.: Mayor will brush teeth and credit water for "being the best-tasting, most drinkable water of any city in the United States, and the type of water other cities should envy, although if DWP employees treating this water are paid more than members of other public employees unions that is the previous mayor's fault, as I had nothing to do with that contract, even though I oppose it now."

5:02 a.m.: Mayor will have morning workout, with 1,000 push-ups and five miles running through Hancock Park. Media note: Photo op during boxing class, as Mayor will pound on punching bag decorated with Gov. Schwarzenegger's face. Jim Hahn punching bag no longer in use.


6:00-6:30 a.m.: Mayor will brush teeth again and practice full-toothed grin.

7:30 a.m.: Mayor will arrive at City Hall, long before other employees. Will do mayoral things.

9:00 a.m.: Mayor will appear at press conference with local City Council member who spent countless hours working on important project for the district. Mayor will speak first at press conference. Media allowed to leave after Mayor's address. Councilmember will speak sometime later.

10:15 a.m.: Mayor will tape special guest appearance on "CSI." Playing himself, Mayor will offer tax incentives to show's crack investigators in effort to lure them from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Mayor will then repeat offer in Spanish.

11:00 a.m.: Mayor will appear on local radio program "Ask the Mayor Questions That He'll Ignore and Instead Answer However He Wants."

11:45 a.m.: Mayor will appear at press conference with state lawmaker who spent countless hours working on important project for the district. Mayor will speak first at press conference, then leave, announcing need to get to "important luncheon." State lawmaker will speak sometime later.

12:00 p.m.: Business lunch with executives from Ameriquest at clubby restaurant in Downtown. Mayor will pay $6 for four-pound lobster, the amount it would cost if lobster had been flown across country on Ameriquest private jet.

1:00-1:15 p.m.: Mayoral power nap.

1:30-2:00 p.m.: Afternoon teeth brushing and grin practicing.

2:00 p.m.: Mayor will attend special "Happy February" event at local school. In speech, Mayor will state, "February is easily one of the 12 most important months to the economy of Los Angeles, the greatest, safest and greenest big city in America. Angelenos should honor February and we should all use this month to come together." Media note: Photo op with smiling children of all races.

3:15 p.m.: Annual Mayor vs. Media-Trolls Softball Game on site of new state park. Media note: Game to be played differently this year. Rather than divide into teams, Mayor will stand at home plate with big bat and accept softball pitches from editors of local daily newspaper that endorsed not one but two people in mayoral primary. Afterwards, television news reporters will be given chance to pitch softballs. Photo op available of hundreds of Angelenos cheering as Mayor hits softball after softball out of the park. At end Mayor will stand in front of home plate and proclaim, "Los Angeles is the true home run city of the 21st century."

4:30 p.m.: Mayor will consume afternoon snack of Oreos and apple juice in front of site of new Downtown convention center hotel. Media note: Hotel executives, as well as executives of other large deals, will thank Mayor for orchestrating deal and "saving out butts."

4:40 p.m.: Twenty minutes before evening newscasts begin, Mayor will issue press release stating, "I have no desire to be governor. Mayor of Los Angeles is the only job I want. Nothing, nada, short of the united plaintive bleating of rudderless state Democratic leaders would persuade me to change my mind. I don't think."

4:45 p.m.: Mayor will appear at press conference with member of U.S. Congress who spent countless hours working on important project for the district. Mayor will speak first, then skedaddle. Member of Congress will speak sometime later. Media request: If anyone has extra microphone, please leave for Congress member. Mayor must take his with him.

5:01 p.m.: Mayor will stand by steps of City Hall as city staffers rush out door. Mayor will then continue working. Media note: Photo op of awed city staffers saying, "He is the hardest working Mayor we have ever seen."

6:00-6:30 p.m.: Evening teeth brushing and grin practicing.

7:00 p.m.: Evening photo op of Mayor being Mayor. Why not? There's never a bad time for a photo op with this Mayor!

7:15 p.m.: Mayor will host Democrats from around the world at gala charity fundraiser (cause TBD) honoring the Mayor. Ameriquest has bought every table.

9:15 p.m.: Mayor will appear at Olvera Street. After brief address, will be joined by City Controller. They will be given stick the size of a Rottweiler and allowed first swings at piƱata in shape of LAUSD Superintendent. Media note: Mayor and Controller will not be blindfolded when swinging.

11:07 p.m.: Mayor will appear on local late newscast to state, "Feb. 7 has been a great day in Los Angeles, easily one of the 365 most spectacular days this greatest city in this great nation will enjoy this year. Mayors of other cities will wish they were in Los Angeles today."

11:58 p.m.: Mayor will crawl into bed in $438 Ameriquest PJs.

February 05, 2006 8:07 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Hi. Thanks for the insights.

Steve @
LifeIncome

February 19, 2006 4:00 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

Advertisement

Advertisement