Condos Are Not A Dirty Word
While the City Council begins to hold hearings about that God-awful thing called condo conversions, the Daily News is almost sounding like Pravda in accuring the Council of unfairly targeting the homeless and kow-towing to real estate developers. Folks are up in arms because property owners are doing what makes the best business sense for their property (as is their right). Real estate development and construction provides jobs and stimulates the economy. Sure, new housing in LA costs a lot and some folks can no longer afford to buy or rent. Its not a great thing if its happening to you, but its the free market - its the way our country works.Lets hope the City Council is wise and keeps its hands out of the housing market. Its done enough damage already.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 5/05/2006 12:10:00 AM
29 Comments:
The free market is a concept beyond the ability of many members of that august council comprehension. Look for them to further the idea that renters have a "right" to housing.
Uh, since when should there be an implied "right" to live in Los Angeles for less than free market prices. No, everyone can't live here, nor can I afford to live on Broad Beach with the billionaires, but that's life in a free market economy. Sorry, we don't all get to drive Ferrari's either, but the reason it's so expensive is simple -supply and demand.
Let's see... so we drive all the low-income legal citizens OUT of L.A., into the boonies in the interest of absentee slumlords making more bucks by turning their roach nests into gold-plated ones.
And the price of gas skyrockets so the "legal" poor can't even afford to drive into L.A. anymore FROM the boonies.
Then, next you'll be bitching about being overrrrrun by "illegals" who aren't afraid to live three families to a "condo" in order to get a piece of the American dream. (Wait, you probably are already).
WHO ELSE do you think is going to babysit your spoiled private- school brats and fry your burgers, when every American citizen who makes less than $60K a year has to move to Rialto just to find four walls and a roof not priced like they were on oceanfront Maui?
That's how YOU interpret the "free market" -- well then hell, why even HAVE zoning laws and other protective quality of life measures?
You want your cake AND you want the poor to "eat it" too, don'tcha!
John & Ken vs. Tony & friends *
The on-air feud that erupted during Monday's march coverage between KFI shout hosts John & Ken and Fox-11's Tony Valdez is heating up behind the scenes (at least—I don't know what the radio guys are saying on the air.) Yesterday in the Times, Paul Brownfield reported in Calendar:
What began as dialogue quickly arrived at the rage beneath the surface, with Valdez, patched in from MacArthur Park, endeavoring to give the radio guys a history lesson about manifest destiny and who exactly had been in this country first. In another context, substitute Israelis and Palestinians.
'There's a statute of limitations on old history,'John shouted.
'It's very convenient for you to do that, I say with respect,' Valdez shot back, 'but nevertheless you took this country, you killed people in order to take this country for yourself.'
Can we have a march like this every day? I might actually watch the local news again.
Audio at KFI. Today John & Ken say on their website that Valdez will apologize on his weekend public affairs show. But Latino activist Xavier Hermosillo has emailed friendlies calling for support for Valdez:
Dear Friends,
We are on the verge of losing a great Los Angeles news icon, Tony Valdez at Fox 11 News.
Radical right wing talk show hosts John and Ken on KFI are heading an effort to have Tony fired because he took them on earlier this week.
Channel 11 chose to simulcast their afternoon coverage of Monday's immigrant march with the KFI show, and when John and Ken began one of their usual ant-Latino racist diatribes, and attacked Tony Valdez and Channel 11 for their alleged pro-immigrant coverage, Tony responded with a little bit of history about how Mexicanos, specifically, have been treated poorly.
Mayor Sam fewer posts today ever. Can the LA Times or should I say the National Enquirer really be this lame doing a puff piece on Antonio front page as the Energizer? In all the detailed story of his day not one single item about an accomplishment he has made since being elected. Antonio refers to only dealing with his family through cell phones. Too bad he doesn't put his family as a priority but instead picks the cameras over his kids. Didn't his own father ignore him growing up?
that's cuz no one cares about MS. It's not 4th floor.
It's not the condos, it's the proper planning, infrastructure- including parks, transportantion, landscaping, schools, etc.- that causes the opposition to condos. And that's why we have a government that makes zoning guidelines and restrictions, so there IS an implied right to public input on development.
Weird hardly any posts.
GOOD FOR PADILLA. He got 10 city council members to back him. Cindy's pillow talk friend AV will endorse today. Maybe his backing of illegal issue will hurt in valley where people are pissed at AV for his support. All the rioting and violence in Mexcio is making Americans wake up and assume that can happen here in US.
I'm sure the immature, juvenile, uneducated Cindy supporters will post personal attacks instead of debate the issues.
Hey 6:49
Where does Alex stand on the
"undocumented immigrants"?
With all his big bucks education..
does he know the the meaning of
"illegal"?
With all that charm, can he give the residents one minute of undistracted attention when we get that rare chance to approach him?
I have found Cindy to be very personable and willing to give anyone undivided attention to their concerns or opinions.
2:00 today she'll get MAV's endorsement.
have found Cindy to be very personable and willing to give anyone undivided attention"
You got that right especially giving AV her undivided attention. Problem with Cindy is she doesn't know anything or have a vision. It takes more then being a nice person to get elected.
Like I predicted, the backlash from the May 1 march has worsened the plight of the illegal aliens.
Most of us have turned away and tried to ignore the illegal part; this is going to change soon as the mood of the people, across this nation is "close the borders" FIRST, then we'll talk. 67% is too big a number for the pol's in Washington to ignore.
These folks just wrote their own eviction notices.
Good. Lucky for her, she's been an effective legislator. She should have no problem getting elected. She has both things going for her.
Will someone tell me what's Cindy done? I need to compare records to try and make a good decision.
This is why I'm for Cindy.
It's a really combination of her stands on both the education and the environment and other issues
I'm a high school student and last year when the Governor tried to cut education Cindy was one of the legislators (Chair of Rules) who stood up to the Governor. Also, I'm entering college in the fall and Cindy's stood up when fee increases have been considered. There's actually something in the works to give community colleges a more dedicated source of funding.
Second, on the environment Cindy's really been a leader. We got a bill passed that provides community input when brownfields are cleaned up, pesticide companies can no longer give 'free pesticides' to school districts to entice them to buy often dangerous chemicals (literally pesticide companies were using them as a market as well as a way to test out if a particular pesticide worked) and she's tirelessly worked on issues of environmental justice, particular fighting against the Bradley Landfill. She's currently opposing a potential height increase for the trash piles in Bradley. It's simply not fair to me that the vast majority of the trash this city produces go to our part of the city, the Valley. There's truly a reason she got both the League of Conservation Voters and Sierra club endorsment.
Third, the consumer protection and identity issue. that's a huge reason why she's endorsed by the County Sheriffs, San Fernando Police, and the Firefighters. On identity theft, city attorneys can now prosecute the owners of document-producing machines. You get rid of the supply and you help stop identity theft, Cindy's held numerous forms on ways people can protect their identities. On consumer protect, the Car Buyer's bill of rights has passed. No longer can car dealers who should be charging you 3% interest rip you off and instead charge you exorbitant rates. They can't charge for you services you didn't ask for. And you have the option to buy the right (which is refundable) to return the car within two days if you no longer want it.
Fourth, look at the tremendous growth of Business in San Fernando. There's starbucks ,the county library is beautiful and is surrounded by a ups store (if I recall), the house of brews and numerous restauraunts. Money is flowing into San Fernando and a lot of the positive changes took place under Cindy's mayoralty.
You are absolutely right,high school kid. If you are volunteering in the office, you've been trained perfectly and good job on actually absorbing all of that.
I was formulating a response in my head when I got to yours and now I don't have to.
Alex can't take any of that away from her.
Now maybe one of Alex's volunteers or employees could tell us what Alex has accomplished while on City Council.
Lots of storage spaces..some Edison lines..a huge development coming in (already overcrowded) Herrick Elementary district with no plans for a school..but wait, those aren't actually "accomplishments".
8:13
As compared to Alex's work on the economy:
Working with Local Employers to Create More Jobs
Working to support local employers, Alex Padilla helped Pacoima-based Gold Graphics win an economic development loan that allows the company to expand and create more than 80 new jobs in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
Alex worked with city departments to help St. Jude’s expand its medical research facility in Sylmar, bringing more than 500 new jobs to the area.
Alex worked to secure federal grant funding to help relocate Industrial Metal Supply Company from Burbank to Sun Valley. In its new location, the company was able to expand and create more jobs.
Addressing regional traffic issues, Alex Padilla negotiated the terms of the “3 Freeways Commerce Center”, a 34-acre commercial development located at the site of the Department of Water and Power’s former Sylmar Converter Station. The new center will include a 5,000 square foot LAX Airport Fly-Away transit site and a new site for the 285-employee firm Allied Beverage.
Preparing Our Workforce
Alex worked to help locate a California State Employment Development Department office in Pacoima, which provides comprehensive job training and placement services to local residents.
To help prepare our young people for the jobs of the future, Alex secured funding for a Youth Opportunities (YO!) Movement program in the Valley. YO! Valley is now one of only 36 sites in the country and provides job skills training and career preparation programs to local middle school and high school students. Students and their families can also receive college and financial aid counseling through the program. The program is funded as part of a $44 million five-year federal grant and the U.S. Department of Labor has rated the Los Angeles program as “exemplary.”
Fighting for the Valley’s Fair Share of Economic Development Funding
Councilmember Alex Padilla helped lead efforts to increase the Valley’s share of federal grants available for economic development projects in low income neighborhoods, including funding for job training, small business assistance, and youth programs.
Bringing New Financial Services to the Community
Delivering more financial services to Pacoima, Alex Padilla convinced Wells Fargo to open a bank branch and provide professional banking services making it only the second bank branch office in Pacoima. He also worked with the Valley Economic Development Center to establish the Pacoima Development Federal Credit Union to provide local residents an additional alternative for financial services.
Delivered the Paseo Sepulveda shopping center in North Hills
Alex Padilla worked with the North Hills community to bring the “Paseo Sepulveda” shopping center to the neighborhood. Paseo Sepulveda, which opened in 2005, is a popular destination with its variety of retailers including Walgreens, Coldstone Creamery, Starbucks, EB Games, Wendy’s, Subway Sandwiches, Panda Express, and an A.J. Wright clothing store. It has revitalized the area by creating jobs, attracting business, and providing much needed retail services.
Cleaning up Price Pfister to Create Economic Opportunity
With the vision of providing new economic opportunity and job creation, Alex Padilla is working to help Price Pfister, regulatory agencies and the community to clean up this large industrial site so that it can redeveloped from an abandoned contaminated factory into a clean economic asset for the community.
Bringing New Housing to Region to Improve Business Climate
To help address the housing stock and housing affordability crisis, Alex Padilla has worked with local neighborhoods to bring over 1,000 new units of housing to the Northeast Valley. Quality housing for the workforce is important for employers looking to locate or expand business operations. By creating more housing options, Alex hopes to make housing affordable for working families once again. The new housing includes single family homes, condominiums, senior housing, and apartments in Lake View Terrace, Arleta, Panorama City, Sylmar, Pacoima, North Hills, Mission Hills, and Sun Valley.
Initiating Efforts to Reduce Taxes on Small Businesses
As Council President, Alex Padilla created the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Business Tax Reform which found ways to simplify the city’s tax structure and reduce taxes on small and startup businesses. The committee’s efforts are helping to make the City of Los Angeles a more attractive city for businesses.
Brought Local Businesses Together to Create Business Improvement District
Councilmember Padilla brought local business owners together and secured funding to develop Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) along the San Fernando Road corridor in Sylmar and Pacoima. These BIDs will help revitalize the local economy through beautification and safety efforts and provide a better environment for the small and family-owned businesses along that corridor.
Rapidly Responding to Business Emergencies
Alex Padilla has consistently responded to business emergencies such as fires and floods so that employees could quickly return to work and businesses can continue to serve the community.
After a fire closed the Sav-On pharmacy in Arleta, Alex Padilla worked with city departments to expedite the re-opening of the facility so that customers could continue to receive their medical prescriptions.
After the Osborne Bridge in Lakeview Terrace was undermined in the 2005 storms, Alex mobilized city departments and worked with other local government agencies to channel funding and personnel to build a temporary bridge until the permanent one could be repaired.
When a fire struck the Fantasy Cookie Company in Sylmar, Alex worked with city departments to provide assistance so that the business and its more than 100 employees could get back to work.
Promoting Local Film Production
To help keep film production and jobs in Los Angeles, Councilmember Padilla who serves on the California Film Commission, joined Councilmember Wendy Greuel in introducing a motion supporting the Film California First, a state program that provides financial incentives to help keep film productions in California. Feature movies which filmed in the San Fernando Valley include The Italian Job and Charlie’s Angels 2.
The environment:
Cleaning Up the City’s Department of Water and Power
Councilmember Padilla introduced the Council Resolution that directed the Department of Water and Power to adopt a renewable portfolio standard. The resolution called for the LADWP to produce 20 percent of the city=s power supply from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, by the year 2017.
Bringing More Parks and Open Space to the Valley
To give families more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, Alex Padilla has worked to bring more parks and open space to the Valley, including new, smaller neighborhood parks, soccer fields, and a splash park where kids can cool off on a hot summer day. He worked with community leaders to have a crime-infested strip club shut down and the land converted into a public park.
Alex led the effort to transform Hansen Dam into an outdoor recreational center that families in the Northeast Valley are proud to call their own. Facilities that were completed, under construction, or being renovated include a boundless playground to serve disabled children, new athletic fields, horse trails, a bike trail, and new soccer fields.
Working to Close the City’s Landfills
Alex Padilla strongly opposed expansion of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills. In February 2006, he was the only City Councilmember to vote against extending the city=s contract with the landfill’s operator for an additional five years. As President of the City Council, he created a committee to focus exclusively on identifying alternatives for disposing our trash.
Alex has also been an outspoken opponent of expanding Bradley Landfill and has voted against proposed expansion. When he was just 15 years old, Alex joined his neighbors in actively protesting for the closure of the Lopez Canyon Landfill.
Creating the Sun Valley Environmental Justice Zone
Alex Padilla authored the motion that created the first-ever Environmental Justice Zone in the City of Los Angeles, and provided funding for its implementation. The Zone is located in a 1,500 acre area in Sun Valley were there was an unusually high rate of cancer and asthma in the community. Designation as an Environmental Justice Zone alerts city officials and planners of the high concentration of existing industrial, solid waste, and recycling facilities so that they can give additional consideration to the impact new construction on the area as a whole.
Revitalizing the Los Angeles River
As President of the City Council, Alex Padilla created the first-ever Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River. The goal of the committee is to identify ways to restore, enhance, and create more green space around the Los Angeles River. The Committee is presently receiving input from city residents as it develops a master plan for the river.
Cleaning Up Our Rivers, Lakes, and Beaches
As President of the City Council, Alex helped pass Proposition O, the $500 million general bond measure to clean up the polluted storm water that flows to our rivers, lakes, and beaches.
Reclaiming Brownfields
Alex Padilla is leading the effort to convert the 25-acre former Price Pfister site in Pacoima into a new retail shopping center. The Price Pfister site is an example of a brownfield, urban properties previously used for manufacturing where toxins have complicated its reuse. Alex worked with Price Pfister, the community, the State Department of Toxic Substance Control, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Air Quality Management District (AQMD), and the new owners to responsibly clean up the site to ensure that it protects neighborhood health and safety before any new development begins. Regular meetings with stakeholders are helping to ensure that the community is engaged every step of the way. The new development will transform a site that was a neighborhood blight into a neighborhood benefit, bringing new economic opportunities and jobs for local families.
Building in an Environmentally Sustainable Manner
When the brand new Lake View Terrace Library was being planned, Alex Padilla made it his goal to make it the most environmentally sustainable city building in Los Angeles. Alex helped identify funding for the planning and construction of the library, and insisted that the Lake View Terrace branch be built in an environmentally sustainable manner. As a result, the new library includes the use of recycled and non-toxic materials, extra-high efficiency energy systems, and anti-storm drain pollution devices. In 2006, the U.S. Green Building Council honored the library with the Platinum Level LEED Award. The library is the only library and one of only 17 buildings in the world to receive this award.
Alex worked with TreePeople to bring a storm water management system to Broadus Elementary School in Pacoima to help protect the school from flooding during major storms. The system also allows the school to retain storm water for landscaping use.
Educating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
Alex worked with civic leaders to organize support for building the new Children’s Museum of Los Angeles at Hansen Dam Recreation Center in the San Fernando Valley. When completed, the interactive exhibit space will focus on our relationship with our environment.
Sarah Graham was selected to design the building. Her extensive work in creating green buildings ensures that the 60,000 square-foot museum, will be a work of sustainable architecture and an exhibit in and of itself. The landscaping around the Museum will incorporate a “boundless playground” with access for children with disabilities and a garden-discovery space of flora and fauna native to the Valley.
To help raise environmental education at schools, Alex secured $240,000 from the Air Quality Management District to establish the Cool Schools program at five Sun Valley schools. The program provides shade trees and green space to schools to help provide shade, reduce the need for air conditioners as well as greening otherwise barren school grounds. Students and their families help plant the trees.
Protecting and Enhancing the Valley’s Equestrian Heritage
Alex Padilla sponsored a successful Council motion to provide funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks to study the Valley’s horse trails, and to create a master plan to protect and enhance them. This effort will provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to planning horse trails in the rim of the valley communities with a strong equestrian heritage.
and for Working Families:
• Councilmember Alex Padilla strongly opposed Governor Schwarzenegger’s measures on the November 2005 special election ballot, including the governor’s attempt to limit the political participation of firefighters, police officers, nurses, teachers, and other public employees. He opened a special campaign committee, which financed a mail and radio campaign to help defeat Propositions 74 and 75. He also authored the resolutions that officially put the City of Los Angeles’s opposition to these measures on record.
• Councilmember Padilla strongly supports standards for private security industry workers and is currently working on legislation that would help professionalize the workforce in the private security industry.
• Councilmember Padilla supported the creation of the city’s $100 million Housing Trust Fund, which is creating hundreds of union jobs and providing housing for working families.
• Councilmember Padilla regularly provided food for striking and locked out UFCW workers. He is the author of the Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance, which would require companies acquiring a grocery store to retain most employees and to maintain or exceed the store’s existing wages and benefits. The ordinance will be heard in Council by the end of the year.
• Councilmember Padilla co-sponsored with Councilmember Martin Ludlow a resolution urging Gallo of Sonoma wine company to provide fair wages, healthcare, and benefits for its workers.
• Councilmember Padilla supports the construction of the new Downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district known as “l.a. live,” which includes a new Convention Center Headquarters Hotel. As President of the City Council, he created an ad hoc committee to monitor the project’s progress and ensure its success. This development is expected to initially create 5,500 union jobs, and more than 13,000 union jobs during the course of construction.
• Councilmember Padilla supported the city’s efforts to partner with SEIU Local 434B to assist seniors and others who need care through a new In-Home Supportive Service Program. Through the city’s Department of Aging, this program provides respite care so that family members caring for an elderly or disabled relative can have a much-needed break.
• Councilmember Padilla worked with Time Warner and Comcast to ensure that they negotiate in good faith with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) regarding workers affected by the Adelphia sale.
• When Governor Schwarzenegger was threatening cuts, Councilmember Padilla supported the continuation of state funding for the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. The program, which is facing severe cuts, supports workers who perform crucial public services to the frail, elderly, and those with disabilities.
• As a member of the Employee Executive Relations Committee, Councilmember Padilla supported improvements to the fire and police pension systems.
• Councilmember Padilla strongly supported the Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride organized by labor, business, immigrant and civil rights groups to promote citizenship and improve working conditions for immigrant workers.
• Councilmember Padilla supported the proposal to modernize Los Angeles International Airport (also known as the LAX Master Plan), which would create thousands of union jobs.
• Councilmember Padilla supported the city’s $225 million project to renovate the interior of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
• Councilmember Padilla has worked with city departments to ensure their compliance with the city’s Project Labor Agreements.
• During the 2000 MTA strike, Councilmember Padilla authored the city’s resolution urging Mayor Riordan to settle the strike.
• Councilmember Padilla opposed Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed changes to the state’s pension system and co-hosted a hearing in Los Angeles to educate community leaders and the public on this important issue.
Alex is endorsed by most of the local unions (because Cindy's lips on Fabian's dick got her the state unions), the leaders of LA City and LA County (including Fire Chief and Police Chief).
and 8:13
A starbucks coming into the City of San Fernando? Wow...thats a BIG accomplishment.
I mean shit....how many Starbucks went up in LA while Alex was President of the LA City Council? Hundreds?
So what is going on with my convention center Hotel?
Thank you both candidates supporters. Mayor Sam this is great to get both sides without the personal attacks. I'm impressed Padilla has been elected President of city council 3 times. That says a heck of a lot considering all the council members had faith in the youngest member. He seems really smart and has a lot of support over the hill. After reading the lists I'm swayed towards Padilla.
Wow Mayor Sam! Now you got a SD 20 cut and paste crew too!
That's not very fair. You looked a high school volunteer's list and a list compiled by a professional consultant for a mailer.
You would be better off walking into both of their campaign offices and speaking to them yourself.
At least, get Cindy's list that her campaign consultant did to compare the two candidates.
9:23
That will happen every single election as long as Mayor Sam exists.
alex is hot.............
GO ALEX!
1:56:
its interesting you painted Alex as a "green" candidate with all the environment stuff you cut n' pasted. This stuff was nowhere on his agenda or profile until he decided he might run against Montanez (a greener candidate).
Not to mention, that HE DID NOT get endorsed by the Sierra Club in 2005. The only incumbent who didn't receive this support.
"Alex is endorsed by most of the local unions (because Cindy's lips on Fabian's dick got her the state unions), the leaders of LA City and LA County (including Fire Chief and Police Chief).
May 07, 2006 1:56 AM "
Rational minds will tell you Cindy received the state unions because she has a vote in the Assembly? Alex received the laborers/IBEW (DWP contract) because he has a vote...on the council. Bratton endorsed because...Alex votes on his contract. Police protective league endorsed Alex because he has a ..______(fill it in).
Sounds like pay to play.
Kinda hard to spin the City Firefighters, the City Mayor and City Controlle.
That hurts.
10 city council members is good for Padilla. Given the fact that I think Antonio got that many or may one or two more. Council president 3 times is quite a success especially in LA the 2nd largest city in the nation. Padilla was really acknowledged in the media when during 9/11 he was the leader of the city and kept everyone calm. I don't think would have been able to do that.
9/11... yeah, and thats why the Firefighters endorsed Cindy.
10 MALE councilmembers, of which 2 are Valley Republicans for a Democratic seat w/ nearly 20,000 more women voters than male voters.
The mayor is a much stronger one.
3:15:
Yeah...and voters will realy care that Antonio endorsed Cindy. His endorsement will rally up Cindy's base, that's all. I doubt it will be significant.
I agree with 2:32 and 2:40. The Sierra Club is one endorsement that isn't looking for a contract to be signed. Therefore, they have to judge by environmental standards. They dual endorse often so obviously they thought Cindy had a better record there.
The other endorsements are people who need something later.
Endorsements don't really mean shit. They do, but they shouldn't. They mean money.. nothing else.
But haven't I posted that before?
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