Republican Hottie for Vice President?

Alaska's Governor Hottie - better known as Republican Sarah Palin - is being talked up as a potential candidate for the GOP nomination for Vice President. The 43 year old maverick conservative governor - who came out of nowhere to beat a blowhard incumbent in the Republican primary - has quickly built a reputation as a conservative corruption fighter who kicks ass. Imagine her as running mate to Fred Thompson or Rudy Giuliani. They would clean Hillary and Obama's clocks.

Palin - declared by blogger Wonkette as "America's hottest governor" - was the youngest person and first women ever elected governor of the 49th state. She's also the first governor to serve who was born following statehood.

A number of bloggers are seeking to draft Palin for the Republican Vice-Presidential nomination. Columnist Fred Barnes credits Palin's success to the Governor's "adherence to principle - especially to transparency and accountability in government."

GOP Presidential candidates should take a serious look at Palin.

Soviet Style Housing Program Comes to LA

Did you know that the City of Los Angeles has a 33 year old ordinance on the books that allows the City to have first right of refusal to buy your condo when you sell it?

Since the City can't afford to buy all these condos, they can charge you $150 for the "privilege" of having the city waive this right.

The City recently started aggressively collecting this fee but not one penny has been spent towards the stated goal of providing more "affordable housing."

Now the Mayor and other left-leaning politicians actually want the City to start buying these condos and give/sell them to poor people. Ironically, one of the most liberal politicians on the City Council - Ed Reyes - sees the folly in the proposal and opposes it.

Someone needs to tell the Mayor and City Clowncilmen like Bill "Open Shirt" Rosendahl that this type of housing program has been tried before and it failed - in Russia.

Chickens Should Not Blog

We've certainly had our run-ins with the Westside White Guy but we see that one of his lackeys apparently has issues with our blog (what a surprise) and more directly our friend Zuma Dogg.

Click read more for mas pollo poop



Now part of this is based on an email exchange and I wouldn't normally post what I get in email but this "blogger" didn't ask for confidentiality and is seemingly wanting to "pick a fight." As well WWG has never had an issue with not posting private details about our bloggers, so be it. By reading her sub-section of Anglo(LA)Observed I find that she seems to have a problem with just about everyone.

Blogger in question is one "Jenny Burman" of the "Chicken Corner" blog. Post in question is this one by Zuma. Now I am not going to take a position right now on the issue at hand (whether or not a school needs to be built in Eric Garcetti's council district - indeed Joe Mailander has an interesting take on it) but its interesting to see how quickly Jenny went loony toons on us.

Jenny wrote to me calling my piece "irresponsible." She apparently represents a demographic in the area that doesn't want a school (you know they're as bad as Home Depot). Immediately she accuses me of working for the LAUSD. When I kindly point out to Ms. Burman her issue is with Zuma Dogg and not me (and telling her Garcetti is not a saint) she writes back and tells me that she knows that Garcetti is not a saint, but she is "pretty sure that Zuma Dogg is a clown." Wow. How mature.

Now anyone who knows the real old, dead Republican Mayor that what you read on the blog and what you get in real life is not the same thing. As much as I hate to break the fourth wall here I think that even some of our most ardent opponents - who have been skewered publicly on the blog - have found in personal conversation I generally tend to be pretty gracious. Ask David Markland who Mayor Sam called an idiot but Michael Higby has high regard for.

Its sad to see that a blogger at the so called "blog of record" has to get personal in private. But so be it.

L.A. official steered work to relatives Nearly $800,000 in contracts, often with inflated prices, went to family and firms with political ties

Way to go Mayor Sam bloggers. I've had to hear y'all say, "Estrada Court" more than Archie had to hear Edith say, "cling peaches". Keep sending the smoke signals! It's a "people's champ" victory every time we read one of these stories in the paper!

From LA Times:

* These firms — all with ties to current or former Los Angeles City Council members from the Eastside — won their contracts in bidding processes fraught with irregularities. In one case, a losing bid was submitted by a nonexistent company. Other such bids came from actual companies which, when contacted by The Times, said they were surprised to learn that bids had been submitted in their names.

* The bid-rigging comes at a time when the housing authority is grappling with the consequences of a series of mismanagement and corruption scandals...

* The Estrada Courts group, a nonprofit run out of an Eastside housing project, received four contracts collectively worth about $95,000. It already had government contracts to provide security guards and day-care programs at some projects.

FULL STORY ON LATIMES.COM

And speaking of Garcetti (see Mayor Sam thread above): ZD STRATEGIC REVIEW OF GARCETTI'S COMMENTS REGARDING NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE USING PUBLIC COMMENT TO TALK ABOUT GOOD THINGS. (Sorry Eric, they're too busy telling you how you are destroying their lives with your "yes" votes.) ZD Strategic Review For Eric Garcetti to help him be a more effective communicator in his leadership position as gentrifying coffer targeter.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Tuesday is the big showdown in City Hall between Home Depot and its active opponents in Sunland-Tujunga - also known as "The Astroturf is Greener on the Other Side." The question is does Council Member Wendy Greuel have 2/3 of the Council to overturn the Area Planning Commission's decision to allow Home Depot to move forward? With both sides busing in supporters from all over the City, it promises to be an emotional discussion and difficult decision for each Council member. Lets just hope its over soon. But its unlikely whoever loses will not give up.

Dogged by his personal troubles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is putting his spokes-holes on the road and letting them do his dirty work. The idea is they can represent the Mayor and gather intel while he lays low.

Click read more to get more poop.

Corina Villaraigosa in the meantime shows how she is one class act in her first major public appearance since the Mayor's shenanigans were exposed. In video here from KNBC, speaking at an event for Girls Today, Women Tomorrow the former first lady of Los Angeles demonstrated elegance, eloquence and class and spoke of the importance of "honoring commitments." A particularly awkward moment came at the end of the speech when she was "honored" by 14th District Councilman Jose Huizar. And our readers understand why this would be "awkward."

Back in June when I appeared on the Kevin James show I told Kevin I expected the biggest trouble Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (and SFO Mayor Gavin Newsom too) would have is the possibly entry of former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown into the race. Looks like its possibly going to happen. Hat tip to Flap.

We're pleased that LA CityNerd (whoever he is) lists us as one of his ten go to sites when researching posts on his blog. However I wonder why he says only my posts are of value?
Franklin Avenue has found an autographed headshot of a younger, more conservative looking mayoral girlfriend Mirthala Salinas on the wall of La Cabanita restaurant in Montrose.

And finally a comparison of moral values in the blog-LA-sphere. One blogger felt compelled to discuss her new boyfriend's manhood on his site; another was put off by a billboard encouraging marital infidelity.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY: Zuma Dogg's Favorite New Public Comment Speaker!

BIG ZY! HE'S THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP!

Zev, can I hire you to be my speech writer, or can I just say what you said, word-for-word? Contact my people.

This was just too perfect not to re-post for an "encore" presentation.

ZEV 4 MAYOR!


New STRATEGY blog. The mayor's crew should read it. They must be holding their research ranker upside down?!?!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The LA Times reports that Victor Tacarena, a high level manager for the City's Housing Authority has been fired for allegedly directing nearly a million dollars in city contracts to family members. The Times store also details nearly $300,000 in other projects were awarded to firms that did not have any demonstrated experience in the work they were paid for, but were politically connected to Eastside based members of the City Council. In a related note, Walter Moore catches that the Housing Authority was paying $2500 for toilets that normally retail at around $100 each.

An oversight committee has voted to increase Los Angeles Unified School Board members salaries to $46,000 per year - the same amount offered to starting teachers within the district. The one caveat however is that board members who opt to accept other employment will be limited to the current salary of $26,000 a year. Newly elected board members Tamar Galtatzan (who earns $128,000 a year as a city attorney) and Yolie Flores-Aguilar will keep their current positions and not receive the raise.

And finally, Random Buttercup has her take on the aerial media assault on Santa Monica that happened when Lindsay Lohan decided to have some more drinks.

Happy Sunday Evening

As you can see, we've rolled out our brand new template on a soft rollout, grand opening tomorrow morning (a few more little tweaks). Of course this masterpiece would not be possible without the amazing talents of AntonioWatch who designed the entire new look for the blog. What do you think?

AN EVENT, SO IMPORTANT, IT BECOMES ZD's FIRST MAYOR SAM 2 POST EVER! (Regarding Fantastic LAUSD-Sponsored LIVE Theater Event by Students!)

Zuma Dogg is critical of LAUSD, but here is something so extremely positive, I wanted to be sure to highlight it, and be sure to bring it to the community's attention so they can have an opportuntiy to not only support this home-run of an educational experience, but allow each and everyone of you to experience this BROADWAY QUALITY High School event!

L.A. BOARD MEMBER LAMOTTE CO-SPONSORS MUSICAL PRODUCTION THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS
Play “What’s Going On” Also Exposes Students to Live Theatre

Los Angeles – Los Angeles Board of Education member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte announces the Youth Arts Initiative Program’s 2007 summer production of “What’s Going On,” a musical aimed at exposing more high school students to live theatre and supporting the State of California’s educational content standards.

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN HAVE A BROADWAY-STYLE EXPERIENCE, IN L.A., for $5 bucks!

CRA/AEG/MacFarlane Bring You "LA LIVE" $900 Million Condos and More -- Instead of What We Really Need To Revitalitze Downtown

***** EXCLUSIVE *****
AL RIES SPEAKS TO ZUMA DOGG REGARDING THE FUTURE OF MARKETING. APPLY IT TO YOUR CAMPAIGN OR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

CRA/AEG/MacFarlane Bring You "LA LIVE" $900 Million Condos and More -- Instead of What We Really Need To Revitalitze Downtown
By Zuma Dogg

ANOTHER CRA LUXURY PROJECT BEING BUILT DOWNTOWN AS A BOOKEND TO GRAND AVE PROJECT.
[And watch this blog and for much more on this pompous, ego-driven, billion dollar white elephant waiting to happen.]



Just what we need...more five star hotels, botique shops, restaurants and entertainment along "Tumbleweed Connection". I know, I know...build it and they will come. FIRST, YOU BRAG IN LA WEEKLY THAT YOU PLAN ON BUILDING SO MUCH HIGH DENSITY HOUSING THAT TRAFFIC WILL COME TO A GRIDLOCK HAULT. THEN, YOU PLAN ON PEOPLE FLOCKING TO THE AREA TO GO TO PF CHANG'S? Riiiiiiiiight! I think the City should be sticking to basics; prove to the constituents that they can tie their shoelaces (accomplish something). How come the only people that do not see the problem with this are the ones making the money off the development?

Not to say that I am against more of these billion dollar downtown boondoggle projects by the CRA (Community Robbing A-holes)...but I hope an earthquake destroys this enitre project two-seconds after the ribbon cutting ceremony!

(Except, then the CRA would just be happy -- because then -- they could build it all over again, and make the money all over again! I thought the CRA was created to eliminate "blight". The areas where these projects are being constructed in do not always qualify as "blight" (if they). And City Council is not allowed to sit as state representatives as they are currently doing (working with the CRA on State land issues) on Grand Ave project according to attorney Chris Sutton. But as the DA's office can tell you, State and Charter law has never stopped 'em before.)

AND NOW, IF YOU LIKE TRAGIC FAIRYTALES, HERE'S ONE:

The Big Picture Game Plan for Downtown Los Angeles Development: How the city is going to try and buy its’ way to the head of the convention business line/Corner the convention market by any means necessary!

by Zuma Dogg
NEW ZD EXECUTIVE STRATEGY BLOG

I guess if you raise enough money, or promise to raise enough money (and can convince the politicians you have a shot at doing so) you can just about build anything in this city, at any cost. (And I mean socially and economically, not the final price tag to developers and un-willing residents who end up paying for it, one way, or the other. (See tax hikes, fees, and skyrocketing property owner costs to help pay for what is ahead in the CRA/LA “Billion Dollar Plus” development club. (I’m not even gonna consider anything going on in this town with less than a billion dollar starting price. And all these projected costs are starting prices, because not only are the pueblos expenses skyrocketing, so are construction costs. And with all the planning, financing and construction delays; by the time you actually get the steamrollers rolling, and the developers start piling the cement 50 stories high anywhere they can get away with it, zoning and EIR restrictions, or not (and you think traffic is bad now), the cost has already jumped by at least a couple hundred million dollars; and the developer usually ends up running to the city for some kind of financial bail-out, claiming the project cannot carry on, otherwise.

CLICK "READ MORE" FOR MORE OF THIS COMEDY SCRIPT...
ZD's LA LIVE Blog

SIDEBAR ABOUT THE CRA: The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) of the City of Los Angeles is a public agency established to attract private investment into economically depressed communities, eliminate slums, abandoned or unsafe properties, and blight throughout Los Angeles. The CRA/LA was established by resolution of the Los Angeles City Council in 1948 pursuant to Community Redevelopment Law of the State of California (§§33000 et. Seq. of the Health and Safety Code).

The law specifically mandates that redevelopment agencies act to retain and expand the affordable housing stock. The law requires 20% of the revenues accruing to a redevelopment agency be set aside for affortable housing. CRA/LA has increased its contribution to 25% in projects adopted after January 1, 1994.


This means either tax breaks/subsidies, or flat out money out of the CRA or other fund, that would have gone to something else.

And when you review the business deals these developers cut with the city, you gotta watch for these “sunset clauses”. A typical “small print, sunset clause, bamboozle could include a promise for a certain amount of “affordable housing”. Then put in a sunset clause stating if CRA doesn’t come up with enough “increment money”, then they can cut back on the amount of affordable housing, accordingly.

And of course all the revenue streams the CRA plans on using to raise this money, are new and completely speculative based on things like “expected parking revenues after completion of phase one.” Well, what if those cars don’t start flying into those parking lots as quickly as they expect. And what if phase one gets delayed. Then the CRA can come back and claim, “Well, Gee…we didn’t raise the affordable housing money we promised the developer.” And then all the city gets are the million dollar plus units (and I mean plus) -- but not any of the affordable housing. YOU DON’T THINK THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME? JUST ASK JAN PERRY, MAYBE SHE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU, SHE’S SO SMART AND LOOKING OUT FOR HER DISTRICT’S BEST INTEREST!

Plus, when it comes to giving developers CRA money to build affordable housing, remember, that money was already earmarked for affordable housing anyway. So, all we are doing is letting the billion dollar developers and their international financial backers profit on the building of the affordable housing, as well as the high-end, five star, luxury stuff!

Sorry, every other local developers in town, and to all their families…No business in town for you! MegaCorp, International (A conglomerate of billionaire developers, their corporate backers and international financial institutions can handle that element, too. (The rich get richer, and everyone else goes out of business and has to leave the state, or take up accommodations somewhere on the sidewalk.) Hey, if Home Depots can put all the local supply companies out of business, why not apply this concept to the entire development process, as well. (Man, I’m starting to think if you want any construction or supply business in this town, you gotta have your kids on council, or pay for the politicians election and buy ‘em into office, so they can pave the way (for you to pave), or something.

So now that we know a little about HOW what is about to get done, is about to get done – let’s review the “master plan” for downtown Los Angeles, Cahootsifornia:

My friend Al Ries (International/Fortune 500 consultant and co-author of “Marketing Warfare” and author of “Focus”) says a product (in this cast the city) must have a narrow, specialized focus that allows the consumer to associate you with a specific benefit. (Be known for something.) Starbucks pulled this off by focusing on “coffee”. Domino’s with “delivery”. (They actually created the whole Domino’s concept from the bottom up. In other words, “OK, we’re gonna be the guys who deliver it in 30 minutes, or less. And built the facilities and zoned the delivery areas accordingly.)

Applying this concept to municipalities, Vegas has gambling; Detroit/cars; Texas/oil; Ft. Lauderdale/Spring Break, whatever…

So what is LA known for? (Besides being the open-armed embracer for all who wanna be a part of this fun)…Entertainment.

But, I guess the mere production isn’t good enough anymore. (Cause the city waived all the tax revenues to prevent runaway productions. And, Hollywood can show a loss on “Star Wars”, “Spiderman” or “Pirates” through creative accounting, if they want to. Poor fellas. They can just barely scrape by.)

So instead of gambling, or auto manufacturing, we are focusing on buying our way to the top of the convention city business, focusing on providing “world-class”, “state of the art”, “nice as f*ck” theater and broadcast facilities, so the whole world can fly here for their music award shows, and House of Blues cable broadcasts, and movie screenings and premiers with all the techno-structure to accommodate a TRUE international press corp and broadcasters to beam the even all over the world.

Of course, we are already getting that business anyway. So looks like the Hollywood area, currently attracting these gigs/business are about to become the CD in an iPod world. (Maybe we can house the homeless in all those empty unused venues that are about to become the LA Forum of the Hollywood ET/Access Hollywood world.)

And how do you blow away the rest of the world, and wipe everything else off the map? (At least in the California race for convention business that we consistently lose big to San Fran, San Diego and Orange County. Cause you ain’t never gonna beat Vegas till you get gambling inside that Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Hilton and Mandarin Hotels coming to Downtown LA. Skid Row isn’t as good a tourist attraction as Danny Gans, free alcohol and blackjack tables, apparently.)

So let’s take a look at one of the two billion dollar bookend projects the city has online to give LA that steroid injection it needs to become the international tourist and convention magnet it must become; or else we really will become that third world city the critics are warning us about. (And in this global war, the city is gonna have to focus all resources and funding toward this “Hail Mary” attempt if there is any hope of pulling it off.)

So let’s see what one, of these two mixed-use, luxury condo, five star hotel, specialty/boutique shop, fancy restaurant upscale billion dollar wife babysitter projects has in store, with the only the community’s best interest in mind:

[A MASSIVE, PRODIGIOUS, BULWARK OF AN ARTICLE, QUITE FITTING TO ADDRESS THE ALLEDGED SCALE OF THESE PROJECTS. AND SINCE LA TIMES IS HELL BENT ON BEING KNOWN AS THE “INTERNATIONAL NEWS SPECIALISTS”, here’s a little Sunday Times style reading, for yo azz! Except this is on the realest, dough.]

ZUMA DOGG LEGISLATIVE REVIEW: CRA/LA’s LA LIVE PROJECT
($2 Billion Starting Price)

THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPILATION OF INFORMATION ON THIS DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES REVITAILIZATION FANTASY PROJECT (ONE OF MANY PROMISED “CORNERSTONES”) THAT WILL MAKE THE DOWNTOWN SKYLINE LOOK GOOD FOR PEOPLE FLYING IN FROM OVERSEAS, BUT WON’T DO MUCH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LOS ANGELES EXCEPT SUCK THE SOUL AND MONEY OUT OF THE CITY

Vegas, looks good: But at what expense. The place is like a Hollywood set. Everything looks good from the front, as you are walking down the strip. But the machine that built that shiny new skyline (and keeps it ticking) seems to have robbed the soul out of the community (average paying casino jobs with impossible hours) and turned Veags into the meth capital of the universe.

You got the crack heads walking the streets of the communities behind the casinos, as the wealthy international jet set crowd buys up all the luxury skyscrapers that gentrified the community.

LA doesn’t have gambling, but they still need a shiny new skyline for all the international billionaires to devour, or else we’ll sink even further as we continue to sit fifth on the totem pole behind lesser cities; San Fran, San Diego, Orange County and Vegas when it comes to the convention booking business.

If you look at the online brochures for these mulit-billion dollar CRA development projects, they all look just fantastic. Looks like a lot of fun time for tourists on a Saturday night. Only problem, these projects will rob the soul out of the community by sucking every available city cent, out of every nook and cranny of the city funds – and will wipe away all the locally owned and operated businesses in the area. (Like a giant Home Depot of restaurants, shops and entertainment.) No more local flare. No more of that "diverse culture" that city's like LA brag about. Just pre-fabricated, planned mixed-use mega-center tourist attractions. (And we all know how tired tourist-based living gets.)

The little everyday amenities that are available, will fold, and you will be forced to not only commute for work, but for grocery shopping and everything else. (Except high end boutique specialty items, or a five star tea part at the Ritz Carlton.)

If the billionaire developers and their mega-international banking partners realize their dreams and fantasies, Downtown Los Angeles is about to try and “buy” its’ way into the international convention business, attempting to wipe everything else off the map. It hasn’t worked before. But this time, I think they will continue to throw enough money at the problem to at least get the stuff built. [At what expense to investors and the community remains to be seen. But it will look great, and be a fantastic addition to all the investor's corporate portfolio.]

Stuff like the Ritz-Carlton Condos, fancy restaurants, special event theaters, upscale shops. Everything a CEOs wife could want to keep her busy while her billionaire hubby gives a keynote at the convention. All the employees/attendees…well I guess they can sleep down the street with everyone else on Skid Row who can’t afford the five star convention accommodations.

Bottom line: The fix is in, and a few people, with the most money have spoken. They can say the number one priority is to fix the schools, reduce crime, manage traffic congestion, build more affordable housing, clean up skid row and create more high paying jobs…but that’s all bullsh*t.

The number one priority of the City of Los Angeles, as revealed by Villaraigosa and CM Jan Perry is to turn downtown LA into an upscale convention region, flanked by two competing luxury hotel, condo, restaurant, shopping, entertainment and theater projects; Grand Ave and LA Live, to create the Vegas like atmosphere to help pull in some business for that big white elephant convention center sitting near the Staples Center (that was supposed to solve the problem).

And remeber, Janice Hahn also wants to build another convention center near LAX. So I sure hope businesses start having A LOT MORE conventions, instead of less, as travel and convention costs continue to rise, and electronic communication make them easier to cut back on.) Because now all these billions and billions being invested into a Downtown convention area will have to compete with a more convenient and more economically feasible Janice Hahn LAX Convention Center.

And LA is banking on all these downtown tourists and conventions to have huge convention budgets. Because everything is five star, therefore you will be booking your employees at the Ritz, JW Marriott or Mandarin Hotel. (Or one of the other cheap ass hotels like Bonaventure or Westin.) Not building any affordable hotels, like they aren’t building any affordable housing, so they have just priced themselves out of the convention business.

Here’s more on LA LIVE, the answer to all your problems, with a starting price of over $2 billion. [ZD legislative review in brackets.]

LA LIVE: In September, 2005, the Mayor attended the ground breaking ceremony for Phase 1, scheduled for completion in 2007. [Oh good, I see we’re right on track! Look at the delays, and they haven’t even started.]

L.A. LIVE will also be the region's most in-demand and busiest hospitality location [Oh! I guess the facts and statistics are in!?!?], featuring 260,480 square feet of conference center and ballroom facilities [good we should put the homeless there, since it will sit empty most of the time]; eight world-class restaurants [GOOD, cause we’re turning into a third-world country], including the ESPN Zone [Oh, I almost thought it said EDUCation Zone], Flemings Prime Steakhouse [no transfats please, that would be bad for the City] and Wine Bar, Katsuya, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Yard House, Rosa Mexicana and dining concepts developed by Wolfgang Puck [actual diversity, if you can afford Wolfgang], Celestino Drago and others [things no one said they wanted or needed];

a 100,000-square-foot special events deck [for your shady special event fee waivers]; the famous Lucky Strike Lanes bowling center [I think bowling alleys downtown named after cigarettes are gonna get the mayor re-elected]; the celebrity-owned Conga Room [I was against it until I heard it was “celebrity owned”…I’m sure they’ll feed homeless children that won’t have affordable housing now]; and the one-of-a-kind Grammy Museum saluting the history of music and the genre's best known awards show. [And we all know there is nothing more needed in this city right now than a museum paying tribute to awards shows. Meanwhile, how about finishing the Children’s Museum, first?]

All of the aforementioned facilities will be centered around NOKIA Plaza LA Live, a 40,000-square-foot outdoor event space. [Maybe Zev can put all the skid row homeless there, instead of those mountain campgrounds the NIMBYS are fighting. HEY…I bet Kaiser could get away with illegal dumping there, cause it’s private space!]

Office of the Mayor
City of Los Angeles
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2006

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA SUPPORTS PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE CONSTRUCTION OF CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, LINCHPIN OF LA Live! Downtown Project [How do you insure these ensurences? Hopefully these promises are more credible than campaign promises.]

(Los Angeles) – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined Tim J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG as he announced AEG and KB Home will partner to finance the development of the Convention Center Headquarters Hotel, the linchpin LA Live! downtown project. The Mayor strongly supports the partnership which will accelerate building the Convention Center Headquarters Hotel.

“This partnership will ensure [at least promises, if not delivers] that LA Live and the hotel not only come to fruition [or at least fantasy] but will make Los Angeles the entertainment capital of the West Coast,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. [Is that all it takes? One hotel!]

“Furthermore, [don’t say ‘furthermore’ you haven’t really said anything yet] the Convention Center Headquarters Hotel is absolutely necessary if Los Angeles wants to have a convention center that is able to compete with other convention centers in the region.” [If the nation’s second biggest City isn’t even competitive with the region…save your time and money, now. This isn’t the answer. (No casinos!) Everyone visits and moves to LA because they like LA: So you want to completely change into being just like everywhere else. ZONE AWAY, A-HOLES!]

The AEG and KB Home partnership will ensure [at least hope] that the four-star hotel will become a reality for downtown Los Angeles. [But that reality may not include enough demand or occupancy.]

LA Live! A multi-use development, is critical to the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles [developers’ bank accounts] and fulfills the Mayor’s vision to make downtown one of the most recognized and attractive areas not only in the City but in the country as well. [Designed in his own image! And by the way, this doesn’t fulfill it. That happens when it is completed and operational.]

When [If] completed, it will serve to attract more than 10 million visitors [How? I don’t see] which in turn will infuse $9 billion into the economy and create more than 25,000 jobs. [That’ll be the day that Jim Morrison walks into the CRA office to apply for some of the mandatory affordable housing that those sunset clauses have a way of setting on.]

The project covers six city blocks in the South Park neighborhood and will be the signature of the neighborhood. Restaurants, nightclubs, sports bars, [instead of the types of amenities people will still have to go to Silverlake or Pasedena to get] high density housing, [yeah, The Ritz Carlton Condo; that’s what they are calling “housing’] a 7,100 seat state-of-the art theater, radio and television broadcast facilities [glad we are building those. Maybe they can build some practical housing and needed community amenities]; offices and the Convention Headquarters Hotel are all components of this new entertainment district. [And “entertaining” is the big crisis the city is facing! I heard Bratton say just the other day, “We can’t entertain our way out of this.” I tend to disagree. And I happen to know from inside sources, entertaining are also big issues at LAUSD and all the social services. And the middle class being pushed out of town in the other parts of town...they demand more entertaining, too!]

The hotel [Ritz Carlton and Five Star Marriott, nothing most tourists or business conventions will be able to afford] will have 1,100 rooms as well as meeting, ballroom and amenity space of approximately 185,000 square feet. [To go along with all the convention space, already not being used, because it's too expensive to get downtown from the airport -- and too much traffic -- and, well...skid-you-know-what' in addition to the new convention center Janice Hahn wants to build near the airport. I hope people that go to conventions start having a lot of babies!]

Mayor Villaraigosa broke ground on LA Live! on September 15, 2005

The Convention Center Headquarters Hotel will feature spectacular rooms that will provide views to the Westside and downtown skyline. [Overlooking all the problems these projects not only won’t solve, but add to.]

2. AEG/LA Live Specific Plan Amendments (City Planning Commission)
LA Live

AEG is developing a downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment destination, a 4-million square foot development adjoining The STAPLES Center and The Los Angeles Convention Center. [And you are telling us, instead of trying to keep it secret? Remember what happened last time you used the words, "AEG" and "STAPLES Center" regarding development? The Valley still haven't cooled down from that. And this will remind them again!]

The multi-faceted entertainment destination will feature an exciting mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, retail commercial and residential spaces, television and radio broadcast studios and concert spaces. [Can families who parents have to work downtown, but can't find housing within eighty miles crash in the radio studios when they aren't being used? Or maybe Clear Channel can build some affordable housing in the area?]

Highlights of the district will include a 40,000-square foot outdoor plaza, a ESPN broadcast and restaurant facility, Regal Theatres and Club NOKIA at L.A. Live. [And not ONE thing of public benefit.]

NOKIA Theatre at L.A. Live

NOKIA Theatre at L.A. Live will be a premier mid-sized music/theatre venue featuring state-of-the-art acoustics and seating for 7,000. [Sounds perfect for a James Taylor perfomance at a David Geffen benefit. Or some other wine and cheese event.]

NOKIA Theatre at L.A. Live will look to host the Latin GRAMMY® Awards and ESPY Awards, as well as numerous other productions from VH1, MTV, and BET. [In that case, they are only taking business from other nearby venues? So how does that help revitalize? Sounds like it will only cannibalize? Hey, Garcetti...make them cut you in as Council President, since it will be tanking your own districts' investment.]

It is also available for corporate shareholder meetings, product launches, and seminars. [Good the shareholders can discuss how the project they are having the meeting in is weakening the local economy and their revenues will be going down, unless they are targeting the poor, or rich international tourists.]

Club NOKIA at L.A. Live

In an effort to bring the best in live music and entertainment to Los Angeles, NOKIA and AEG are joining forces to create Los Angeles' most renowned club for live music and cultural events. [Why is the city making this much of an effort to entertain? Why not this much effort to educate?]

The stand-alone club, which will accommodate up to 2,400 patrons, will feature up and coming music acts, bands, and cultural shows.

The club may also be used to host private parties and corporate events.
[Sounds like this whole project is the “home depot” of regional entertainment. It’ll put everyone else out of business, then you’ll only have one big, sanitized “Promonade/Citywalk-style” tourist infused entertainment scene. And we all know that gets tired after about one month.]

NOKIA Plaza (Welcome to Nokiatown, CA)

Situated in the heart of the nation's entertainment capital, NOKIA Plaza provides a 40,000-square foot open-air plaza that will serve as the central meeting place for Los Angeles' Sports and Entertainment District. [And there’s no more important goal the City should be focused on, toward the goal of uplifting the community, and society at large as Sports and Entertainment. I think the City should be doing MORE in this area, instead of leaving it to the private sector/No CRA involvement.]

The Plaza will serve as one of the district's key anchors, providing a broadcast venue featuring giant LED screens as well as a red carpet site for special events. [IF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES WERE A RESTAURANT, IT WOULD SERVE NOTHING BUT DESSERT!]

The NOKIA Theatre venues are part of the "NOKIA Unwired" marketing platform, which brings live music to fans in both the NOKIA Theater venues and on TV through "NOKIA Presents Hard Rock Live" on MTV. [How about something that brings education to students of LAUSD, not the crap they play on MTV! And F*CK NOKIA! I'm already sick to my stomach from seeing the word, "Nokia". Why don't you just put up a big billboard at LAX: "Welcome to Latham/AEG/Broad's Las Nokia-Disney/Universal, California!"]

Hotel and Condominiums

A 54-story, 1000-room convention "headquarters" hotel that will combine the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton brands and 216 luxury condominiums - The Residences at The Ritz Carlton [How about building something people planning conventions can afford. I thought you wanted convention business? Five star hotels are for rich individuals. Maybe the CEOs will stay there. How about everyone else? Gotta build those, too, renaissance planners!]

The project, considered the largest development in Los Angeles' history, will be host to an exciting mix of venues and facilities. [At the same time all the middle-income folks are fleeing the area, to be replaced by new low income immigrants. Plus wealthy international immigrant land investors/speculators/developers.]

"On behalf of AEG and all of our partners, we are here today to break ground for the largest and most important development in the history of Downtown Los Angeles [if you say so, although Eli Broad would beg to differ, I’m sure] , LA Live," said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. "This project is real, this project is happening and this project is important. LA Live will give Los Angeles the ability to attract the best and most important events for our city." [Keep trying to convince yourself. Call Stuart Smalley, maybe he can read you an affirmation, himself.]

"Most importantly, our company's investment of nearly $1 billion coupled with an additional $3.5 billion commitment from the other private investors in LA Live and the surrounding downtown residential district has brought this city a fully privatized, fully financed and fully entitled development. A $4.2 billion development that does not require any public subsidy" Leiweke added. [Are you willing to put that in writing?]

Gladstone's 4 Fish, Junior's Deli Boys, Il Moro, Katsuya, and New Zealand Natural will provide a variety of established dining opportunities for LA Live visitors. Agreements with P.F. Chang's and French 75 are in the final stages of negotiations. [Besides the few times a year J Lo or Santana shows up at The Conga Room for all the VIPs to attend, anything your average city resident can take their family to without taking out another mortgage?]

Upper floors will house luxury suites to accommodate visiting sports teams, headline performers, and upscale guests. The hotel will also include up to 111 fully serviced luxury condominium units on the top floors offering 24-hour valet and concierge staff, food and room services, and other amenities. The 1.1 million sq. ft. hotel will be developed by Wolff-Apollo and designed by Gensler. [Looks like they’ve solved the NBA housing crisis! And now Elton John has a new place to rave about next time he’s in town! And I’m sure the rest of the voting public couldn’t be happier about that!]

The hotel is expected to significantly boost efforts to attract key conferences, exhibitions, conventions and corporate meetings to the convention center, strengthening the entire Los Angeles region's tourism and new business opportunities. [You expected everyone to move into all those lofts and businesses everyone is already moving out of, cause you haven’t put this much effort into the actual solutions, that don’t included luxury accommodations for Shaq when he flies into town to beat the Lakers.] City general funds will not be used to finance the hotel's development. [I HOPE NOT!!! Thanks for bragging about not using City money to build a Paris Hilton Hotel. City funds will not be used to build any affordable housing. Why don’t you mention that, too!]

At the groundbreaking, Leiweke announced several new, major l.a. live business partners: [Lots of business partners, not too many community and social improvement partners.]

ESPN will create a regional headquarters and sports entertainment venue in a unique 120,000 sq. ft. broadcast studio that will be the home for a number of live and taped programs. Included in this building will be the ESPN Zone - a multi-level restaurant, sports bar, and game area. An approximately 10,000 sq. ft. radio broadcast center is also planned for live radio in an adjacent building.

Regal Entertainment Group will develop a 90,000 sq. ft. cinema complex with 3,700 seats and featuring digital sound, stadium seating, and state-of-the-art projection systems. This flagship theater will serve as a new venue for movie premieres and special screenings. [So long Hollywood, moving the “premier and screenings” over here. Again, this won’t generate more business to the area. Just move it away from other areas. But I’m glad Leo Decaprio’s quality of life is about to improve. I can think of no better use of this prime real estate than for occasional “premiers and specials”. Can LAUSD use the space to teach kids in between those important special occasions?]

The GRAMMY® Museum will be housed in a 28,000 sq. ft. space designed for a permanent display of music genres and the science of recorded music as well as new interactive presentations recognizing past and president GRAMMY® winning artists. [How about an actual cultural arts center where kids actually learn how to play an instrument, not just look at statues of Beyonce’.]

"Sports and entertainment often converge in the diverse city of Los Angeles and establishing a major presence there is a very positive step in the long-term growth of our company," [but not the long-term growth of our kids or community] said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks. [I don’t know who has their hooks in deeper in this town, Disney or Universal? Mickey Mouse is actually the real mayor of LA] “Originating more programming and extending our brand with an ESPN Zone will create a stronger ESPN. [TOP, TOP, TIPPY TOP City priority and philanthropic benefit to the community!] Given the success of our past collaborations with AEG [and how the valley wanted to secede from LA] and the scope and promise of LA Live, we are eager to expand our L.A.-based operations." [And I’m glad the city can help facilitate your eagerness for expansion!]

"Diversity is the lifeblood of our vibrant city. The Conga Room is proud to partner with LA Live to showcase its unique brand of Latin American culture and music," said Jimmy Smits, co-owner, The Conga Room. [Yeah, a Latin American bar, real diverse. Not enough Latino culture. That’s the diversity missing in this town! And by being a specific culture, it’s not diverse, idiots! Call it what it is…Jimmy Smits is a famous actor: Let him open the bar. And to all the bar owners about to go out of business. Go into acting.]

"Hilton is pleased that we have been selected to manage this new hotel, particularly since it is located in our corporate back yard. [Glad we could make life easier for you!]

"Great cities attract great conventions and visitors. [Yeah, that’s why we’ve losing out] This Hilton hotel and LA Live will establish Downtown Los Angeles as a world class destination. [I thought the Omni/Bonaventure/Westin/Staples/Convention Center/Etc was supposed to do that? I say you do that through building a great “real” city.] Our team is absolutely committed to bringing this hotel to life and transforming Los Angeles into one of the most attractive destinations for conventions in the nation, [that’s the same kind of optimistic speech the Captain of the Titanic said about the Titanic just before it sank]" said Lew Wolff, Chairman and CEO, Wolff Urban Management, which is co-developing the Los Angeles Convention Center Headquarters Hotel.

• Numerous high-end fine dining, casual and ethnic restaurants as well as nightclubs, coffee shops, and bistros which will provide a rich mixture of high quality food and settings, providing visitors with a true "Taste of L.A.;" [Is that the taste of LA? I guess Canter’s, Pinks, Roscoes, Baja Fresh, Big Daddy’s Venice, all the city’s authentic Mexican restaurants…you’re not high-end and fine…you’re not true. You think a billionaire developers wife wants to eat at any place the rest of the world can afford?]

• 4,000 residential apartments and loft condominiums within three blocks of the sports and entertainment district are under construction or in the planning stages. [How close is it to grocery stores, repair shops, cleaners, schools, gyms, after school programs, social services, neighborhood council meetings?]
"Today Los Angeles is reaffirming its position as the entertainment capital of the world. LA Live will bring a vibrant sports and entertainment district to Downtown Los Angeles with exciting new places for families to dine and watch a movie, concert or game. [But nothing to do, and no where to feed your kids on a budget.] The entire City of Los Angeles will benefit from the thousands of jobs it will create and billions of dollars it will pump into our local economy," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. ["Entire city will benefit?" OK Mayor, now I’m gonna sue your ass for fraudulent claims.]

"The LA Live sports and entertainment district is a boom for our local economy and the world-class facility will continue downtown's unprecedented revitalization efforts," said State Senator Gil Cedillo, who represents the area where the project will be developed. [So that’s how you know this is a bad deal.]

LA LIVE restaurants, theaters, landscaped courtyard, and media headquarters are certain to continue our efforts to reinvigorate our city center and make it an even more attractive destination for tourists and local families alike. Additionally, the project brings a wealth of quality job opportunities and profound economic development to the South Park neighborhood, surrounding areas, and the city as a whole," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents the 9th Council District where the project will be located. [Quality job opportunities, like construction worker or waiter once it is open. Notice how Jan's paragraph was the most pompous, grand, politi-speak in this whole massive post? Take your nose out of the air Jan, you have nothing to be arrogant about?]

"There is no more defining influence on the future of Downtown L.A. than the LA Llive development by AEG," said Mark Liberman, president & CEO of LA INC. The Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It presents LA with the promise of a wholly new and exciting visitor destination in the center of the second largest city in the country. Our industry is eager to work closely with AEG, its partners and the City to make the vision presented today a reality. There's no hiding the fact that what we've seen today can be a convention sales organization's dream come true." [What about the constituents’ of Los Angeles’ dreams come true? I guess one man’s dream, is the rest of our nightmare.]

MACFARLANE: While San Francisco-based MacFarlane invests money for the California Public Employees' Retirement System and other big clients. [In speculative, partially planned billion dollar city projects, that assumes enough risk to trigger all the warning flags to investors. Mainly, cost over-runs and inefficiency that will plague profitability. Either that, or they will have to come running to the city for a bail-out.]

"Downtown has been the redheaded stepchild with braces compared to the Westside," Wise said. [And I think now is the perfect time for the city to attempt to have Downtown swim upstream, against public will.]

"This is really a quantum leap forward in terms of credibility about downtown's revitalization," he added. [The “quantum leap” is the announcement with is only a leap “forward” in terms of credibility…it doesn’t restore it.]

Owners of downtown's Bonaventure Hotel tried to stop AEG's hotel plans in court, arguing that AEG will have an unfair competitive advantage because it will receive financial assistance from the city. The suit was later dropped. [Not because it isn’t unfair. But because they City gave in to Bonaventure “tick for tack” demands.]

The deal approved by the City Council calls for AEG to receive a rebate of at least $246 million in the hotel bed taxes it is expected to generate during the first 25 years of operation. In addition, the project is being given a $5-million grant from the city redevelopment agency and a rebate of $4 million in building permit fees.

Those concessions from the city were essential to getting the hotel started, Leiweke said. [I thought the big deal about this was it was completely funded by private money and how it is so successful that they don’t need any help?]

San Francisco-based MacFarlane, which invests in urban real estate developments, will provide as much as $400 million in financing, said Chief Executive Victor MacFarlane. The company also may invest in the $2-billion Grand Avenue retail, residential and office project set to begin construction north of Staples on Bunker Hill later this year. [And Antonio may run for re-election.]

"We'll probably invest in the two largest bookends downtown," he said. [And two riskiest, bookends, waiting to become a price over-run nightmare as construction costs soar, and delays allow prices to continue to skyrocket. And these increases are not factored in. So, all of these figures are just minimum starting prices, like an opening bid on ebay.]

Also helping fund construction of the hotel are the expected sales of the condominiums, which are priced at $1.5 million to $6 million. [Oh no, all those shabby, affordable $1.5 units will bring down the value of the $6 million dollar units. Can’t we raise the prices on the lower priced units to help keep property values up. I mean, really!]

Buyers have already made deposits on nearly half of the units, Leiweke said. [Where are these people coming from? Must be flying them in from somewhere else?]

"He has made a huge investment in this community in infrastructure, in entertainment and in sports, and those three drive our economy," said L.A. developer Steve Soboroff, a former adviser to ex-Mayor Richard Riordan, who worked with Anschutz on the Staples Center and other projects. [Sports and entertainment drive our economy? That’s a problem then, if you ask me? No wonder our community is in trouble if that’s what drives it. You forgot to throw in junk food and porno.]

Hotel tax rebates fuel anger:

The 54-story hotel will put the city's downtown convention center in the running for business that now goes elsewhere, said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the development corporation.

But the up-to-$290 million in hotel tax rebates that the Los Angeles City Council approved for the property last year drew the ire of many Angelenos.

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:14W43-z9P_gJ:www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php%3Ft%3D156811+la+live+cra&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us&client=firefox-a

RE: LA LIVE (from website link above)

Q: What market forces are driving such development activity downtown?

CM Jan Perry: There is a perception of enthusiasm for this market. [That’s quite a bit of of land dedication (including public) and money (including public and pension) going toward a mere “perception of enthusiasm”. (Sounds like a Larry David spin-off show.)]

Jan Perry: It should be a catalytic project for activating the surrounding streets [you mean congest them with gridlock traffic (see Century City), improving and enhancing the appeal of the convention center worldwide. It should increase our convention business enormously. It’s a critical project that we must get built. [I didn’t “Convention Business” showed up as any of the solutions in all those Ad Hoc Reports on crime, homelessness, traffic and other citywide problems we are trying to solve through prudent city planning. All of these billion dollar projects, built under the guise of “improving and enhancing” (instead of actually solving) …

Q: Jan, your council office has been incredibly successful in advancing the renaissance of downtown, but what have you not been as able to do re development?

CM Perry (YUK!): The biggest loss has been our inability to develop long-term and permanent housing for people who are homeless. For example, tying together the high level of development activity on the Figueroa corridor, using that tax increment within the boundaries of the area to create a lot of new construction. I’m not talking about transitional hosing. I’m talking about long-term housing to give people some stability in their lives. [Yeah, and I don’t see how any of this addresses any of that?]

Q: Two last questions. What is reasonable time-line for building out L.A. Live?

CM YUK: Well, I think you can use the first Staples Center project as a benchmark for how long it takes AEG to do construction. I believe that project was done in two years or less. [Yeah, Jan, but that was just one building, although a big one. This is like the Universal City Walk, plus housing and hotels? Why are you using apples for an oranges timeline? And that was then…skyrocketing cost will continue to cause these projects to become expensive bridges, burning behind you. Hope it doesn’t catch you, and shut down the projects. After all, look at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum. Couldn’t even get that done without City Council having to approve an emergency “loan”.]

Q: In the next mayoral campaign, what should the candidates be addressing?

YUK: Economic development—bringing projects online that will create a larger market for jobs at all levels and making sure we keep pace with this emerging market for housing. We also must look at the city’s infrastructure, what needs to be done and how to pay for it. [I agree, we should do that, no these (Grand/Live).]
City requirements dictate that AEG include a 20% affordable housing component in the project. To meet that, AEG has given $8 million to the YWCA [How will the other religions feel about giving the money to another religious organization. After all, it is a “Christian” Association] to develop a new campus for their Job Corps facilities and 200 two-bedroom apartments for very low-income program participants. The seven-story, $43 million structure will rise on the block bounded by 12th, Pico, Figueroa and Flower. An additional $2 million CRA grant helped acquire the land. [City money for private project, y’all!?!? I wanna sit on there whenever I want!]

RE: GRAND In April, 2006, the Mayor unveiled Phase 1 of this $2 billion project, which began construction in 2006 and ends in 2010.

zumadogg@gmail.com
www.zumatimes.com
(310) 928-7544

Zuma Dogg Saturday OPEN THREAD and Weekend Update: PLUS "HILLARY CLINTON Presidential Campaign Strategy Advice by Zuma Dogg"

***** UPDATE/EXCLUSIVE *****
AL RIES SPEAKS TO ZUMA DOGG REGARDING THE FUTURE OF MARKETING. APPLY IT TO YOUR CAMPAIGN OR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

Zuma Dogg says, "Give the people what they want!"

***** UPDATE SATURDAY 7:10PM *****

In response to this:
Anon said..."Zuma do you have anything else that you can do besides being a dumb ass on this blog. Do you have a family or friends that you can hang out with in Venice besides wasting your time on this blog. Its time for you to GET A LIFE! Quit wasting your time."

YOU INSPIRED ME TO LAUNCH AN EXECUTIVE MOTIVATIONAL BLOG CALLED "EXECUTIVE STRATEGY BLOG" TO HELP RE-TRAIN AND RE-FOCUS YOUR MIND SO THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE SUCH ELEVATED LEVELS OF CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY, THAT CRYBABY LOSERS WILL BE MAKING COMMENTS LIKE YOURS. Thank you for the complement. Yeah, I am on a blogroll! Check Executive Strategy Blog

AND THE LATEST POST
HILLARY CLINTON Presidential Campaign Strategy Advice by Zuma Dogg Big ZD applies some of internationally recognized, world-class executive strategy concepts to the Clinton campaign, in hopes of helping her maximize her campaign efforts.

NEW YouTube VIDEO: Applying some of this strategy to public speech.

As the percieved front-runner and the "establishment" candidate, in a time of change, she is gonna have to tread water more strategically if she wants to keep her campaign above water. Especially with opponent Barack Obama out-fundraising the hell out of her. Clinton's advanatage: Experience and the politcal machine connections who back her. First thing she should continue hammering home, "I show up on the first day 'ready for office." (Or whatever that line was that highlighted the "Tamar Galatzen" level of experience Obama would have at the White House level), compared to Hillary. (Create the feeling that this is no time to have someone dealing with international policy while they spend the first two years "learning the ropes".

Make them stop aksing you about your campaign co-chairs, and start aksing you about "Bill Clinton". Then you can remind them, publicly in the media, of all the great things he achieved and accomplished as President, and the United States and entire world will have the benefit of history and persepective, right inside the White House at no added cost to voters!

NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO: CAMPAIGN STRATEGY: Are you sending "mixed-signal" in your communication to the constituents?

AND NOW...ON WITH THE COUNTDOWN!

FIRST OF ALL: Huh...huh...huh....LA TIMES: L.A. official steered work to relatives. Nearly $800,000 in contracts, often with inflated prices, went to family and firms with political ties, data show.

SECOND OF ALL: Huh...huh...huh...FROM LAWeekly.com: "With Antonio preoccupied by an affair, L.A. loses its rail funds. You can thank Mike Villines." Way to miss out on more state money (transportation) Villaraigosa because you are "preoccupied". As if a "pre-occupation" with taking over the schools, Clinton Campaign Co-Chair, flying all over the country and world wasn't "pre-occupation" enough!

THIRD OF ALL: L.A. school board gets 73% pay increase A little-known compensation panel decides that only those who agree not to hold down other jobs will be entitled to it, however. by Big DZ (NOT Zine, the OTHER Big DZ!)

KNBC TV 4 METHANE MITIGATION STORY: MASSIVE "LAURA CHICK FILE" AND "METHANE GAS MITIGATION BAMBOOZLE" LINK (Including video of the report and all the report documents. TREMENDOUS ASSET!!!

SOME NEW FOLKS CHECKING IN, SO A QUICK "ZUMA TIMES: MEDIA UPDATE:

ZD on Kevin James (870-KRLA/Los Angeles) as "in-studio" guest for full hour.

More ZD Radio Calls AND Original Hip-Hop Jams.

ZD VIDEO ARCHIVE: All videos NOT on YouTube. (Clips from Public Access Comedy Show and some City Hall stuff not on YouTube.)

NEW: CEO/Elected Official/Staffer/Media "MARKETING AND CAMPAIGN STRATEGY" Material: CLICK HERE FOR ZD on Innovation and More Effective PR/Communication

ZD featured as "Guest Editor" on LAist.com, including a lot of surprising new campaign speak.

CLICK "READ MORE"

SORRY: I should apologize for my "clip-on shoulder" offensive comments on how the major mainstream media outlets (newspapers) pick up on stories ZD has already covered weeks or months in advance.

Although a major puropose of my blogging is to reach all the activists who check into Mayor Sam, the only other people who read this blog that matter to ZD IS the media (newspapers). ZD has to remember the intial privilige of his Mayor Sam "contributor" link is to send the smoke signals from the streets (from people who have specialized in specific research/no way every reporter can do all this research) -- in hopes of having some of these issues covered by the big boys with actual circulation that still reaches 99.999% more people than any blog, on any given sunday. So ZD will try and maintian a, "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars" mentaltiy and be happy, instead of bitter (once again), next time other media outlets pick up on issues, they way ZD and the people who bring him the info can only hope for.

So if the city feels "subway to the sea" and high-speed "magic bullet trains" are part of the plan, are you willing to vote for the billions and billions it will cost, that you will have to pitch in for? Click here for full post

School construction: If LAUSD came to you and said, "Will you vote for more bond money to build more schools." How would you vote:

1. Zuma's campaign promises if running for mayor.

Well, if I were running for mayor, I would continue to speak about the exact same things I have been talking about all year. Because since you only have two minutes for comment, or a few minutes on a radio call, you want to try and talk about the most important issues, affecting the most amount of people, Citywide, that needs the most amount of transformation.

Currently, I would start with LAUSD. You can read exactly what I would start with in my campaign speech, because it is actually included here. And my campaign promise regarding LAUSD (since it seems to be in the mayor’s job description these days), is to set-up community meetings throughout the district, and try to attend many myself, and have my staff, and LAUSD Superintendent, board members, principals, teachers and parents there to take feedback from everyone on how to “fix/improve the system”, and update the community on the current state of the system, what is being done, what has happened, and what parents can do to help the school from their end.

Then I would promise to take this feedback and make sure everyone from the tree trimmer to the board president had one goal, and one goal only: Your job is to help bring to the Superintendent’s attention, how he can put people to work to make the changes necessary to “fix the system” from an operational standpoint, to help improve the conditions that will allow teachers to be able to do a better job and remove barriers that prevent students from maximizing their achievement.

And something very important regarding any meaningful attempt at LAUSD school reform: I would request as mayor, that the Inspector General be as active and involved in all school board meetings and committee meetings and be an integral part of the “reform team”, because the Inspector General is the person in charge of investigating, “fraud, waste and abuse”. And if you are trying to pull LAUSD out of its current mess and fix a broken and sinking system…allowing the money to accidentally (or otherwise) fall into the category of “fraud, waste and abuse” only shoots the effort in the foot because it’s tough enough to fight for the dollars we need to get the job done. So if there is potential for billions of these dollars to be wasted (through fraud, or abuse), the Inspector General would be the first person I would like a report from each day, as mayor.

So, Zuma Dogg promises as mayor, one of my top priorities (top 2), will be to make sure as representative of the people of Los Angeles, I will make sure City Hall does everything it can to make sure every dollar given to the kids and the schools, is used with the least amount of “fraud, waste and abuse” as any human system can hope to achieve. (Least amount of preventable waste.) And I would request as much communication from the Inspector General and ask the LAUSD school board to please consider him a valuable tool to help accomplish the goal you are trying to achieve. Because if you are trying to “fix” the problem, it doesn’t help if the businesses you are awarding contracts to, are allowing the public money earmarked for school construction and improvements , where inappropriate amounts of money
ends up going to corporation managers and their cronies through front-end loaded (padded) management deals.

As a society, we will not have the workers and productive members we need to move forward until we fix our city’s education system. By fixing the school system, you help increase student achievement, raise the graduation rates and provide a larger pool of qualified and productive job candidates. This is the best way, and I think only way to effectively reduce street crime and make the communities a safer, more livable place. Less money wasted on the problems associated with the crime associated to kids we lose to the streets because systematic bureaucracy and politicians have allowed the system to stay broken for too long, and now it has failed us. And there can be no optimistic view of the future until we overhaul the school system, and take it out of a 50’s industrial era operating framework and make the necessary transformation to accommodate students and parents in today’s specialized, fragmented electronic era.

A vote for Zuma Dogg, for Mayor of Los Angeles, means you will be sending a mayor into City Hall who will make sure there is a more efficient process in the way the city plans it’s growth and plans it’s projects. As mayor, I would break down barriers between all departments and have agencies and committee members and planners be a part of the entire process from start to finish.

I’ve sat through too many city meetings where reports weren’t there, information wasn’t ready, the meeting had to be canceled, or the project had to be sent back entirely: Not because each individual wasn’t trying to do their best job. But because each department was working “independently” of each other, instead of working “interdependently” at all stages of planning and implementation.

The challenge we face as a city requires the most focused, efficient effort we can strive to achieve. I can promise you, as mayor, Zuma Dogg will be able to walk in the door, the first day, and the first thing I will have to do, and will be the easiest part of my job, as mayor, is to cut back the waste and inefficiency that needlessly and foolishly squanders billions of dollars of public money, that could be going to provide services Citywide that would improve the quality of all of our lives.

And the next issue I would address is the City of Los Angeles’ Housing policy. That, along with LAUSD, have been the two issues that I have spent the most time addressing publicly in media this past year. As mayor, I promise to make sure the City enforces its own Charter regarding affordable housing, vacancy rates and tenant’s rights. Because the City needs to do a lot of redevelopment and make a lot of improvements, Citywide to stay competitive regionally, nationally and globally. And I want the people to know that I will take measures to ensure that the City treats all these displaced residents with the dignity and compassion, that also happens to be required by law. Many projects are approved in violation of zoning and environmental laws, and done without proper consideration or input from the local residents affected by these project approvals. Again, the city has to balance the job of redeveloping the city so it can continue to be the international attraction that helps us thrive – and transition into a more livable city as the population increases by millions over the next decade.

There are some pretty humongous challenges in any political system. Different sides pulling in different direction with different ideas on how to steer the city. But one thing I’m sure everyone living in the city can agree on…There is so much waste and inefficiency that can be addressed, right off the bat…that would sure make the rest of the job easier.

contact: ZumaDogg@gmail.com

KNBC TV 4 Electronic Media Kit Regarding METHANE MITIGATION BAMBOOZLE (See Laura Chick) Including Video and Massive Report Documents (You Go 4!!!)

***** UPDATE: SATURDAY 2:25PM *****

CLICK HERE FOR TRIUMPHANT AND MASSIVE KNBC DOCUMENTS, REPORTS AND VIDEO . WOW!!! KNBC TV-4, way to kick some major ba-hoot-tay on the IG tip!

ZD'S JUNE 10th "HEADS UP" REPORT WARNING ABOUT THIS.

AND THANKS TO PATRICIA MCPHERSON OF "GRASSROOTS COALITION" WHO IS THE COMMUNITY LEADER WHO CONTACTED KNBC AND BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THIS POINT AND OPENED MY EYES TO THE WHOLE ISSUE FOR THE ZD'S JUNE 10th REPORT!!!

GRC website

See link above for KNBC-TV Report Featuring Anchorman Paul Moyer and Producer Frank Snepp's Investigation Into City Controller- Laura Chick's Audit of the City's Oversight of the Methane Mitigation Measures of Playa Vista.

In the last KNBC Audit broadcast Controller Chick acknowledged that she could not vouch for the safety of the Playa Vista Phase 1 site. New information from Controller Chick cites "deep flaws" in the City's oversight of the project.

Grassroots Coalition's investigation into the 'working papers' of the audit reveal the audit's charting of huge data gaps and lack of required safety performance data. Department personnel interviews within the Audit's "working papers" cite serious and dangerous defects in the safety systems and inspection process.

An auditor interview with, " the only trained inspector on methane mitigation systems for the LAFD" cites the LAFD inspector as stating, "He invited DBS inspectors and staff to also participate in training sessions, none of whom took him up on this offer."

The Audit's "working papers" also include a Declaration from a former high level LADBS employee- with personal knowledge and responsibility for overseeing Building Code compliance and establishing design requirements pertaining to methane mitigation for Playa Vista and the City of LA (Declaration within ETINA V CITY OF LOS ANGELES) cites extreme danger hazards at the Playa Vista site.

In part the Declaration states, "The serious design defects that exist in the methane mitigation system installed at the Playa Vista site were deliberately and
intentionally allowed to be used by LADBS officials in order to favor cost cutting measures advanced by the building developers. This violated the established practices and procedures of the LADBS, in providing protection to the public in assuring safe building practices.

As a result of these violations, there is an ever present risk of fires and explosions at the Playa Vista site."

(Rebroadcasts will likely occur as they have in the past. Watch for a rebroadcast at 11pm and on Sunday afternoon and Monday early morning. KNBC also provides its website for the continuing investigative reportsas they occur.)

CLICK HERE FOR ZD POSTING OF LAist.com "Campaign-style" speeches and in-depth interview the loser, spinflys are having fun with!

contact: zumadogg@gmail.com

HEY VIAGRAOSA -- YOU CAN THANK YOUR INFERIOR-MINDED SPINNERS' EXTRA WEAK SPIN FOR ZUMA DOGG's NEXT WAVE OF POSTINGS

Many of you know that I have not "gone there" regarding the dispicable, selfish, wrecking ball behavior of Mayor Antonio Viagraosa because everyone else in covering it, and I like to give other issues more attention.

People sent me the Villaraigosa is screwing Mirthala story at least a month before it broke -- and I left it alone to focus on other issues. And there is a lot of other info I left to others.

And over the past year, the people getting paid by our "sad, emotionally challenged $300 million dollar Universal deal wrecking, cheating and lying, betray everyone who supported you and wreck your whole family Mayor -- have been spinning personal attacks and are yet to catch me on content. However, I feel the attacks have gotten especially weak.

SO I WANT MAYOR ANTIONIO VILLARAIGOSA AND HILLARY CLINTON TO KNOW, THE REASON I WILL BE MAKING THE JOKES AND PILING ON A LOT HARDER THAN JAY LENO IN THE LOCAL MEDIA...

IS BECAUSE OF YOUR PAID MERCANARIES WHO HAVE LOST IT! SO VILLAR (did she file to have the name dissolved yet) -- GET READY FOR COVERAGE OF HOW YOU F*CKED UP EVERYTHING FOR SO MANY...Starting NOW. And Hillary is gonna take a hit from ZD, too, for supporting this corrupt and immoral behavior.

JAY LENO...How about this: THE MAYOR WAS SEEN WALKING OUT OF THE AQUARIUM SUPPLY STORE TODAY. HE WAS PICKING UP A FRESH SUPPLY OF "OCTOPUS CONDOMNS" TO HELP HIM WITH SOME NEW COMMISSIONER APPROVALS.

AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN HOLDING OFF SENDING ZD VILLARSALINAS INFO CAUSE YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN GOING SOFT ON COVERAGE:

SEND ALL INSIDE INFO TO ZUMADOGG@GMAIL.COM. I WILL POST IT HERE AND BLAST IT ON THE RADIO.

AND, ZUMA DOGG SAYS...THERE IS WAY MORE TO THE "SALINAS HOUSING ANGLE" (How she got that housing and the company behind it.)

AND ISN'T IT FUNNY...WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR UNIVERSAL/NBC TO COME OUT ON SOME RULING ON MIRTHALA SALINAS AND EVERYONE SAYS HOW WRONG IT WAS OF HER...I say big deal on her end...the news is not some goverment agency...it's entertainment. WHAT ABOUT THE MAYOR...HE'S THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE IN TROUBLE...HE'S THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, NOT HER! HE'S THE ONE BEING PAID BY THE PUBLIC....

HEY MAYOR...next time you have a private jet waiting on city time....just grab the bitch and drag her on the plane and do her in the "Mile High Club".

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT...HOWEVER ROUGH YOU THINK ZD HAS BEEN...IMAGINE WHEN I NOW FINALLY FOCUS TO TONY MANERO VIAGRAOSA.

SUMMARY/POINT": It's a lesson in karma. The hate spinners should have walked away and counted their blessings when ZD made the decision to leave the Villaraigosa ORGIEFEST (media and commissioners) alone...and when I decided to tone done my approach.

HILLARY CLINTON...HELLO, MY NAME IS ZUMA DOGG AND I HOPE BILL DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO JEOPARDIZE YOU ENTIRE CAMPAIGN OVER THE NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS PEOPLE WILL BE ATTACHING TO YOU OVER OUR (SOON TO BE FORMER) DEGENERATE MAYOR. VILLAR -- GET HELP!!!

AND REMEMBER...SEND THE INSIDE STUFF (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE PEOPLE) TO ZUMADOGG@GMAIL.COM.

p.s.: Cpt Jack...just made a call to move ahead with the other thing!

CLICK HERE FOR ZD'S "CAMPAIGN STRATEGY" AND POLITICAL SPEAK.

Is Zev Yaroslavsky Running For Mayor?

It sure sounds like he is. Antonio Watch reported the other day that former Mayor James Hahn could be staging a political comeback; perhaps another "blast from the past" is the former 5th District Councilman turned LA County Supervisor, Zev Yaroslavsky.

Speaking to a gathering of Neighborhood Council members (see video below) Zev spoke about Citywide issues and preached to the choir of those gathered.

With Mayor Villaraigosa in even more deep doo doo recently, could local pols smell blood and be testing the waters? Are more politicians considering challenging a perhaps mortally wounded Mayor when he seeks re-election? And could a deal be in the works to steer City Controller Laura Chick to Yaroslavsky's county supervisor seat should Zev be elected Mayor?

Developing.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

When it comes to the Clintons - just like Mayor Villaraigosa - we know that character doesn't count. And apparently that applies to US Senator Dianne Feinstein as well. DiFi toungelashed a reporter who asked Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton her views of Mayor Villaraigosa's recent ethical lapses. On the other hand DiFi worked herself up in a tizzy when Villaraigosa rival and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had his sex-capades (and he was already single).

There probably isn't a soul in town who knows more about LAX than Westchester based businessman and activist Robert Acherman. Acherman is the latest person to become a blogger, having started the LAX blog, already a well written collection of the latest news about the airport.

They want a Target in Sunland-Tujunga but apparently not in Glendale. Callie Miller reports the opening of a three story version of the popular retailer has fallen flat.

Apparently for both the City of LA and the Federal Government medical marijuana dispensaries are a major threat. Yea I know they're supposed to be for AIDS patients and little old ladies with glaucoma. But so what if Zuma Dogg goes there for some fun brownies. For Christ sake lets just legalize pot and get it over with.
And finally, the Los Angeles Athletics Club was the latest to fall victim to the bogus notion that Jack Kyser of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation is actually an "economist." The tony downtown location was the location where some folks paid up to $350 for a rubber luncheon and a speech from yet another local "expert."

Friday Funnies: The Closest Cindy Sheehan Will Get to a Man Between Her Legs

Home Depot BUSTED!

The Daily News published a very interesting story today on the lengths this corporation is willing to go to in order to get their store opened in Sunland-Tujunga. With a budget of over $24,000 just to pack the Council Chambers with paid supporters for the July 31st session, $17,000 of which is devoted to "recruitment", how can they still deny that they are not paying these unsuspecting orange shirted "supporters" money to fill a room on their behalf? Deny they may, but we will soon post evidence to the contrary.

As interesting as their "astro-turf" effort may be, the real story in the Memo that the Daily News acquired, is Rick Taylor's(Dakota Communications)statement that they will "work Commissioner Fortson ...to testify on Home Depot's behalf... and to engage the Mayor".

Since when is a Planning Commissioner available to testify on behalf of a corporation that she just ruled in favor of? The Planning Commission is a quasi-judicial board and should not be lobbied to speak on behalf of the corporation whose case they have just considered in a Public Hearing.

Commissioner Fortson is the same commissioner that immediately after voting to declare the proposed Home Depot "not a Project", said to the City attorney, " I am not convinced that this is not a Project".

Oh Boy! This is down and dirty pool, completely unethical and probably illegal.
The Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, and in this case, at least one of the Commissioners, appears to be working for Home Depot as well.

The Memo in question was leaked by an unknown source probably from Dakota Communications, Latham & Watkins, or Home Depot. At least someone is trying to get the truth out!

To read the Memo, go to this link:
http://no2homedepot.com/NEWSFLASH.html

To hear my interview on John & Ken today, go to this link:
http://no2homedepot.com/files/JK0727076P.mp3

LA Department of Water and Power in Crisis?

Thursday Night Funnies

Is Lloyd Levine Dropping Out?

Inside sources tell the Sister City that Assemblymember Lloyd Levine is allegedly considering dropping out of the 23rd State Senate primary race against fellow Assemblymember Fran Pavley due to low polling and fundraising numbers (see previous story).

Our source further tells us that there is talk of Levine making a run for Dennis Zine's 3rd District Council seat with the help of Mayor Villaraigosa. Get ready for LA to ban trans-fat, sodium, dairy products and the skateboard.

I guess when the going gets tough, nannies (or is it ninnies?) get leaving.

Lunch break

As many of you noted this morning, David Zahniser has written an interesting piece on the intersection of a $3 billion Universal City development and the Mayor’s main squeeze.

Others read this as more than an intersection; they see Villaraigosa holding support for the development hostage pending the outcome of an investigation that will determine Salinas’ future at Telemundo.

To me, that’s a stretch. I think Zahniser's point is, there are no rules governing a situation where a potential conflict of interest involves a girlfriend rather than a spouse.

* Update
Flap stands firm and drops a couple of titillating appetizers.

Eric Garcetti vs LAUSD and the Parents and Kids

There is a school site at Alverado and Santa Ynez, but Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti doesn't support a school for the kids and does not want to build a school there. Why would he? No profitable angle?

Some people in the area moved and LAUSD bought the land. They are going to build a school there. But Garcetti said he won’t allow it because of traffic, cultural and historic aspects!?!? What a bunch of B.S.!

He wants to cancel the school project because he does not want it there. And he does not support the parents who want the school. Garcetti wants the land available so a developer can develop it. Watch his favorite non-profit, LA Neighborhood Land Trust, decide they want to buy it for a park -- then end up developing housing units or any commercial project except a school. (WHATEVER ELSE THE LAND IS USED FOR WON'T AFFECT THE CULTURE AND HISTORY, EXCEPT A SCHOOL...LOL!]

Why is Eric being unsupportive of the children in the neighborhood? IF HE SAID HE WANTS TO USE IT FOR DEVELOPMENT…What better use than a school?

Some people ZD has spoken to over this issue (the ones who contacted me over fear of losing a needed school in the area) feels Garcetti has his own agenda and purpose for the land: Development. The land will become available and put up for development for a park or housing or anything commercial they feel like, restaurants and shopping, when the priority are the kids and the schools. It’s called a “land grab”.

Regarding the status of the school site: Please attend the LAUSD Facilities School Board Meeting, selection sight meeting, August 1, 6:00pm, at Rosemont Elementary School 421 North Rosemont Ave. LA, CA 90026 Contact: 800-704-1267