Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday
Two stories in local papers cover the condo craze in Los Angeles. The Daily News covers whining Studio City residents who think the city and property owners should subsidize their living expenses. The Times has a far more interesting article that reports that with gentrification of formerly low-income areas in Los Angeles, school enrollment is down in many previously crowded schools. That has to be a good thing in many ways.Some years back, I lived in West Hollywood, or at least most of our apartment building was within what was then unincorporated Los Angeles County. However, the border with the City of Los Angeles ran right through our laundry room, so one needed to traverse between two cities to clean one's socks due to the craziness of the LA-West Hollywood border. Crazy enough, that some folks cook their dinner in one city and then retire to their living room in another.
The LA Times reports that our favorite motorcyle cop turned City Councilman, Dennis Zine, is not only packing heat at Council meetings, but is busy training other members how to safely use a firearm (in this case, Jose Huizar). This is a good thing, because maybe some of our anti-gun Council members will get a real world view of them and not pass such stupid anti-gun laws.
Tuesday morning Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Eric Garcetti will teach a government class to interested adults and children in City Hall.
The Board of Supervisors will hold budget deliberations on Monday, June 26 at 9:30 a.m. The deliberations are expected to take one day, but could be continued if the Board chooses.
City of LA Meetings for Tuesday
8:30AM - COUNCIL: Housing, Community, and Economic Development Committee
9:00AM - CERS: Benefits Administration Committee/Special Meeting Board of Administration
9:00AM - COUNCIL: Education & Neighborhoods Committee Meeting, CANCELED
9:30AM - LAPD: Board of Police Commissioners Agenda
10:00AM - COUNCIL: Los Angeles City Council
10:00AM - CERS: Board of Administration
2:00PM - COUNCIL: Planning & Land Use Management Committee Meeting
2:00PM - COUNCIL: Information Technology and General Services Committee Meeting
2:00PM - CAO: Proposition K LA for Kids Special Meeting
3:00PM - LAFD: FIRE COMMISSION HRDC
4:30PM - PLN: Central Area Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - City Hall, 10th Floor
6:30PM - ENSNC: WNC General Mtg 061306
County of LA Meetings for Tuesday
9:30AM - Board of Supervisors Meeting
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 6/13/2006 12:10:00 AM
39 Comments:
Where can I locate new homeless statistics as result of new development in and around Downtown Los Angeles?
"Tuesday morning Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Eric Garcetti will teach a government class to interested adults and children in City Hall."
WHERE, WHAT TIME?
When does Garcetti sail away to the Navy reserve? This will surely burnish the ol' resume.
Benefits of Assimilation
Print Save
Published: April 7, 1994
To The Home Section:
Suzanne Slesin wrote recently of Elaine Reichek's experience growing up in Brooklyn in an assimilated environment ("Perils of a Nice Jewish Girl in a Colonial Bedroom," Feb. 17).
Apparently the sin of the parents was, as first-generation immigrant Jews, to accept American culture wholeheartedly. The implication is that assimilated Americans are somehow inferior souls drifting without an anchor.
Individuals have every right to esteem their background and the rich cultural diversity of our country. I just ask, for the sake of those who may cherish the uniqueness of the American experience and, yes, assimilation, that the critics drop their smug tone and re-examine the value of our collective history.
My grandsons, with their Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Unitarian, Native American, English, Scottish, Irish, German, Dutch, French and Portuguese backgrounds, seem to thrive in their assimilated pot. Maybe Ms. Reichek will discover that her parents, who had firsthand experience with old European ways, tried to give her something of value. ROGER LOWEN Reston, Va.
The cut-and-pasters are back, and they're pissed about anyone who's NOT mono-linguistic.
I think it's all that paranoia of having people speak other languages to each other in the elevator.
Get a clue, people - "Como esta usted" isn't secret code for "that white guy over there sure looks funny."
They AIN'T talking about you... they're probably cheering for Mexico in the World Cup.
Get a life.
Yeah, gentrification drives down enrollment in some areas, but it alsoo means you have renters and poor families living three to a shack in the areas that still have some affordable housing, and overcrowding the schools there (which is where LAUSD is trying to build).
What part of this equation is good?
The poorer areas get denser, city services are taxed further, and businesses in more affluent areas find it harder and harder to find non- and low-skilled labor locally.
The rich get richer, to poor get denser.
Then, some hot summer night, it ALL blows up.
Speaking of gun laws, a federal court struck down San Francisco's ban on handguns, based on preemption by state law.
Marcos Aguilar #1
Hector Carreon has it right! Gringos can't deal with Truth!
YEAH....THE SHERIFFS ARE FINALLY EVICTING THE SOUTH LA FARMERS. ALL OVER NEWS
People need to know the farmers themselves and their families have been exploited by the Black Panthers and radical Mecha idiots. They have been calling the shots. Now the radical Anarchists are outside protesting with their stupid scarves covering their faces. They are the cowards that ruined a peaceful immigrant march when they blocked intersections and vandalized stores of Latino owners in MacArthur park area. You can be sure these anarchists don't give a shit about anyone and are extremely violent.
Daily News.
How much of our tax dollars is being spent on this dinner? Word is the South LA Farmers will protest this dinner.
NFL gains access to L.A.'s RICHEST MAYOR TO PROMOTE DEAL OVER DINNER...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will host a gala dinner Wednesday at Getty House for several NFL owners, league Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and an elite list of local civic and business leaders...Villaraigosa was in Chicago on Monday, and aides refused to disclose the guest list. But it apparently includes no more than a dozen people - leaders in the business and entertainment communities - who could make a case for the city and demonstrate the potential for widespread support.
The dinner at the mayor's formal residence is an extension of a meeting held last month in Denver, where NFL owners agreed to spend up to $10 million to assess plans to build an $800 million stadium inside the historic Memorial Coliseum, which would be leased to the league.
"The NFL wants to make sure there is the level of business support out there since there will be no public subsidy," said City Councilman Bernard Parks, who has been working to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles since his election in 2003.
"They are talking about spending $1.8 (billion) to $2 billion when it's all done to bring a team here, and they want to make sure the financial commitment is there to make this an economically feasible venture."
"Granted, they all aren't football fans, but Los Angeles has something like 280,000 millionaires, and Orange County has about 100,000," Parks said.
Academia Semillas Del Pueblo k-8 school
Is investigation taking place? Why? Leave the school Alone!
10:38, have you tried LAHSA? www.lahsa.org
If those stats are not on their website, call them at (213) 7**-****.
LAHSA = Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Do you really believe new development created increase in homeless families?
si, si, si, si, si, si, si, si, si
"si se puede"
si
Meruelo is Villaraigosa's largest individual donor, spending $82,000 on so-called "independent expenditures" -- campaign mailers and telephone calls promoting the councilman.
"He's trying to buy influence," said Jonathan Jerald, who serves on the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council in downtown Los Angeles and favors Villaraigosa. "It's the reason anyone gives money. He's trying to buy Antonio's ear."
Real estate tycoon's role raises some eyebrows
Candidate Antonio Villaraigosa has benefited from $82,000 in "independent expenditures" from speculator Richard Meruelo. And that's not all.
By David Zahniser
Copley News Service
5/03/2005
Meruelo is Villaraigosa's largest individual donor, spending $82,000 on so-called "independent expenditures" -- campaign mailers and telephone calls promoting the councilman.
"He's trying to buy influence," said Jonathan Jerald, who serves on the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council in downtown Los Angeles and favors Villaraigosa. "It's the reason anyone gives money. He's trying to buy Antonio's ear."
State working with firm on purchase deal
By Mike Sprague Staff Writer
WHITTIER - Los Angeles' largest private landowner has received exclusive rights from the state to negotiate for the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility, officials confirmed Friday.
The state Department of General Services selected Meruelo Maddux Properties, which owns about 90 properties and 70 acres in downtown Los Angeles, to negotiate a deal for the 73-acre property in Whittier.
Twelve other bids were rejected. But state officials and Meruelo Maddux Properties representatives refused to divulge the bid on the Nelles property, saying that information must remain confidential until a final agreement is reached.
But in December, the state rejected the city's bid for the land - $83 million. State officials said the property is worth at least
$106 million.
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_3894416
Union Bank & Trust Conversion Moves Ahead
With its recently announced $28 million construction loan from Bank of America, Meruelo Maddux Properties is moving ahead with the adaptive reuse conversion of the Union Bank & Trust Building at Hill and Eighth streets into 91 loft-style condominiums. Meruelo Maddux, which owns dozens of properties and also has plans to build a $120 million condominium tower in South Park, purchased the landmark building last year for $12 million. The conversion is expected to cost $34 million. Meruelo Maddux has also formed its own general contractor, Meruelo Maddux Construction, Inc., to ensure the project's scheduled completion in August 2007.
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2006/06/05/news/news_briefs/at03.txt
The Cracked FoundationCritics take on L.A.’s top building official and his savage regime
By JEFFREY ANDERSON
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 8:00 pm
Department officials concede that Adelman is demanding, but deny that employees are being abused. They say the department is overworked and understaffed, and yet still has increased revenue from $74 million to $112 million in recent years.
Adelman has been accused of trampling on civil-service rules, instructing subordinates to mislead personnel investigators and insisting on building-permit approvals even when safety regulations are unmet. Though many in City Hall recognize his influence and enjoy his lavish Christmas party every year, featuring Persian delicacies from his native Iran, documents reviewed by the L.A. Weekly allege that he is a volatile man who savages employees critical of his regime.
Now City Controller Laura Chick is auditing his department. According to sources who have been interviewed, and who spoke to the Weekly, auditors are getting an earful. Some veterans of the 1,000-employee department, which is responsible for approving residential and commercial building permits and enforcing building codes, have told auditors that the department manipulates inspection statistics, and that they are discouraged from doing their job, which includes asbestos inspections. And that despite abbreviated building inspections, there is an enormous backlog of permits the department is not following up on.
Late last year, the Weekly received a letter from an anonymous source, titled “Pay to Play the Adelman Way,” which was copied to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Controller Chick. The letter described pressure on employees to pursue donations from contractors, engineering and architectural firms and law offices for the “Building and Safety Charity Fund.” It stated that employees are required to pay to attend the annual Christmas party while politicians and distinguished guests receive complimentary tickets from Adelman; that employees work fund-raising events on city time; and that failure to participate is met by retaliation. “It’s absolutely true,” says a veteran employee who reviewed the letter this week. “The department functions to generate statistics and accolades for Adelman. If there’s a problem, then he says, ‘Take it to my executive officer.’ ”
In April, the Weekly reported that downtown land banker Richard Meruelo demolished industrial buildings containing toxic substances without permits. Witnesses say they saw city vehicles observing the demolition at 1060 N. Vignes St., which is near the Gold Line Metro, wedged between Union Station and Chinatown. Months passed, but after the story appeared, Keim, the chief of code enforcement, leaped to action and convened a rare hearing to determine whether Meruelo should be prevented from developing the property for five years.
Documents obtained by the Weekly show that Meruelo has enjoyed soft treatment before. Veteran inspectors say those who protest get pushed aside. A December 2001 letter to Assistant General Manager Rhonda Sims-Lewis of the city personnel department from Phillip Kaainoa states that Meruelo ignored numerous notices to stop all grading work at 761 Terminal St., the site of the Alameda Produce Market, and continued to import soil to fill a large basement without permits or inspections. Kaainoa states that Chan, then chief of inspection, waived the permit requirements against the advice of the chief engineer of the grading division, David Hsu. Kaainoa called it an “example of the climate and policies initiated by Andrew Adelman, through his appointments of individuals who support his agenda without regard [for] the ordinances.”
A handwritten note from senior inspector John Kelly to deputy superintendent Dave Lara on January 16, 2003, indicates a final hearing before the city attorney on the grading violations at 761 Terminal St. Yet the department kept issuing orders for the removal of unauthorized fill dirt, finally granting Meruelo a certificate of compliance in May 2005. “Just because we issue orders doesn’t mean people comply right away,” Keim said. “They rarely do. The goal is compliance, which is not immediate.”
Documents tell a similar story at Meruelo’s properties located at 1312-1318 E. Seventh St., where department inspectors issued compliance orders throughout 2002 citing lack of ventilation, improper fire doors, lack of plans and permits for sprinkler systems, lack of ingress and egress to basement areas and unapproved construction by Meruelo’s tenants. The Weekly could not confirm any enforcement action.
A veteran of the department who has no legal action pending against the city said that developers have Adelman on speed dial in case inspectors try too hard to enforce the law. “Adelman has perverted the civil-service system and the building codes. Auditors have been up here for months.”
The Cracked FoundationCritics take on L.A.’s top building official and his savage regime
By JEFFREY ANDERSON
Villaraigosa + Meruelo= Corruption, No LAUSD highschool, back room deals, and pay for play.
They showed on the news the protesters at South LA Farm fighting with police. This is why they need to get rid of all these illegals. How dare they come to our city and demand rights then break the law!! They've already arrested over 25 people. Stupid Daryl Hannah is an over the hill actress who can't get a job and using this to get publicity.
OOPS, I thought you-all wanted to "Americanize" all the children of these "illegals" now parked in L.A. schools.
AND, you want to ship them all back?
What the hell good is all that "Americanizing" going to do them, "back" there?
I'm confused (or you are?)
To 12:24am - once again, one of YOU when complaining about US being racist, anti-immigrant, or in this case "Mono-linguistic", you bring up only one race, one languge: MEXICAN. You wouldn't have the same attitude if the majority of speech you heard was in Japanese or Greek or Russian. You want everyone to look like you, sound like you, and behave like you - that's the definition of racist, you idiot.
By the way, there's a reason the Bible story about the Tower of Babel was a story of PUNISHMENT.
Keep thumping that Bible, 12:05 p.m.
I'm sure that's the answer to all of LAUSD's problems (they took GOD out of the goddamn schools!)
11:54
Historically one of the major justifications for public schools has been the development of good citizens (that means American citizens).
American public schools should be preparing students to be productive members of this country, not Mexico, China or Asslan.
1:01
So that means, if illegals are "Americanized" in L.A. schools then they get to STAY, right?
Regardless of immigration status?
Regardless of how many thousands or tens of thousands that involves?
So, instead of "anchor babies" we'll now have "anchor students" -- learn to be "American" at an LAUSD school, and you (and your whole family, of course), will get a free pass to long-term, undocumented residency.
Run that equation by the Minuteman, will you? Local law says they HAVE to be in school, KABC and its fans say they MUST be "Americanized, if they're going to be in L.A. schools. The end-result, "Americanized" illegals.
And, what could be more "cruel" and wasteful than spending $15K or so per year, per student of (MY!) taxpayer $$ training children to be "Americans" and then shipping them back (once the conservatives in congress "get a backbone" and enact the legislation the talk radio fans are howling for). Not to mention how unneighborly that would be to Mexico, to send them back "Americanized" kids -- who speak English better than Spanish (like they don't have enough problems there).
By holding to obviously contradictory principals, and historical "justifications", you've just helped GW out of his "amnesty" quagmire. We won't need a guest worker program for anyone with a school-aged child.
I'm sure once he's over the jetlag from Iraq, Bush will want to thank you personally for that (leave your name and number with the Maldef receptionist).
WRONG, Archie... send back "Americanized" kids who can't function well in their OWN societies, and they'll be the FIRST ones sneaking back over the border on or about the passage of puberty.
AH, hell. . . why educate them anyway, right Archie? Especially if we're just going to ship them back to Mexico eventually.
Why not just re-open Manzanar and Tule Lake and stockpile them there, until we get this deportation thing worked out, right? (We can all split up their property and businesses, just like grandma and grandpa did during WWII).
"Those were the days!"
LAWEEKLY.COM Has a great story giving both sides of the issues and it doesn't make the organizers of the farm look good. Heres a tid bit.
....In the center of all this, one wonders where the actual farmers stand on the future of the site. Difficult to say, as the farm has effectively transformed into a fortified encampment, with activists standing as sentries at the locked gates and at the corners that ring the garden. Meanwhile, the plots at 41st and Alameda appear to have fallen into neglect....Plants are dying or overgrown with weeds, and many plots are covered with rubbish. Hoy and La Opinion, the local Spanish-language dailies, have been running stories for months delving into the internal fighting at the South Central Farm. Some reports have suggested that many of the farmers care less about staging demonstrations and fighting to the finish than they do about simply having room to grow their herbs somewhere in peace, even if it means going elsewhere.
In fact, maps detailing the distribution of the South Central plots, which were obtained by the L.A. Weekly, show a high level of attrition in recent years, as more and more farmers were turned off by the leadership or were forced out of the farm — their plants destroyed, their plots locked shut — by Tezozomoc, Juarez and their allies.
1:44pm
Most of the Japanese/Americans who were (wrongly) sent to internment camps were US citizens. This situation is not analogous to the current, continuing wave of illegal immigration, i.e., citizens of other countries sneaking over our border and effectively squatting. IF we go after employers who exploit illegals and cut off the social benefits, the migrants will self-deport. We should also secure our southern border as vigorously as Mexico defends its border. Maybe then the corrupt Mexican elite would be forced to care for their own people.
9:06
Point taken. If the "civilized" Americans were willing to do that to their OWN citizens, just a few decades ago, then brutalizing illegal aliens should be a piece of cake.
1:44
you really believe that that will end the migration , you are kidding yourself.
These people will find even more ways to acrue wealth to stay here .
The Human condition is adaptation.
2:23
You are blind to your idiocy. The point is the US has not been "brutal" towards illegal aliens no matter how much the open borders crowd tries to spin this. Quite the opposite, the US (i.e., American taxpayers) has spent billions on social services on people who shouldn't even be here.
If you are truly concerned about brutality against illegal aliens, you should direct your anger towards the Mexican government's brutal treatment of illegals entering their "country."
I don't get a "vote" in Mexico... but I do here.
However, the "brutality" issue started here because someone suggested it would be "cruel" to try and "Americanize" illegal alian children in U.S. schools, only to send them back again.
The rest was satire and sarcasm.
Let me know when you catch up.
Nice try; your premise is still wrong.
11:15
pithy rebuttal
cut from the debate team early, huh?
Try this one...
"yo mama"
2:56 still wrong now go back to your sociology 101 class
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