Why LAUSD NEEDS To Challenge The Mayor's AB 1381 In Court

* MS POSTER SAID, "This fight is going to be good. Board of Education president Marlene Canter, who was not invited to the ceremony, told LA Observed this morning that the board intends to go ahead with plans to litigate the constitutionality of the bill. The board is also moving ahead with plans to hire a new superintendent to replace the departing Roy Romer before AB 1381 taking effect on Jan. 1."

ZD SAID, in response to the question, "What's YOUR plan?": "I DO have an alternative plan for the mayor, and it includes allowing for input from the public (parents and teachers) regarding LAUSD...I would take the (over) $20 2/3 BILLION real estate budget OUT of the hands of the School Superintendent (controlled by the Mayor, if AV gets his way) because a School Super is supposed to be busy running the schools (principals, teachers, students, LAUSD, parents, kids, community groups) -- NOT running a real estate development conglomertate, bigger than Donald Trump's.

I would MANDATE that an Inspector General be appointed to make sure the Super isn't wasting, abusing or fraudulantly spending the money, since now he/she is control of it all. I would make sure the Super IS accountable for ALL expenditures OVER and UNDER $250,000, cause right now, it's neither. (Explained below in this story.)

Then, after some of that was taken care of, I would let LAUSD run the schools, while I, as Mayor of The City of Los Angeles, would fight in Sacramento, not to overtake the school system in a combative way, that has only added layers of additional beauracracy (instead of removing layers), but for money to reduce classroom size to about 25; to pay teachers more money, so we can replace the ones who are retiring earlier than ever, while all the college graduates are taking jobs out of the state because the City hasn't done enough to provide affordable housing for these new teachers to live.

I would give LAPD/Bratton the money he needs, for things like the crime reduction czar he has asked for (to coordinate community based policing efforts), to help make the streets safer, so kids are not scared to go to school. (After all, the school itself IS safer than the streets the Mayor is already in charge of.)

I admit. The Mayor DOES have his neck out on the line with AB 1381. Before I knew a thing about it, I thought the Mayor got "tagged" with this albatross for some reason, then I found out he WANTED to do it. And it's practically impossible to win now, cause it's only made things worse (more beuracracy, not less), and it's an uphill battle, at best.

At this point he must know his political career is over anyway, so let's hijack LAUSD. Here's what we'll do: We'll take control of the Superintendent, put him in charge of the BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, won't mandate an Inspector General to watch over the person in charge of ALL spending , including over $20 2/3 BILLION in facilities money (repair/new construction), then we'll let him spend up to $250,000 for anything he/she wants, and isn't required to tell LAUSD, or anyone at all. And anything the Super spends OVER $250,000 ONLY REQUIRES 45 DAY NOTICE: HOWEVER IT IS ONLY A NOTICE. (no input or accountability from LAUSD, or anyone, like the parents).

So watch for these low ball contracting bids the Mayor's Superintendent (after all Mayor gets approval or rejection rights, right) hands out. Cause when you can keep tacking on $250,000 here and $250,000 there, the cost goes up real quick...And that's how a politician, who must know his re-election chances are over, sticks his
neck out for a plan destined to lose, under this Bill, so you take the kids milk money, and facilities money, on the way out."

Zuma Dogg
for Los Angeles City Council
www.ZumaDogg.com