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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

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.

Labels:

25 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said:

As usual, Mayor Sam, you got the whole story wrong. There are no supporters of No Home Depot being bused to the Council today, everyone is left on their own to make the meeting.
Unlike the bused in Home Depot supporters, no one from our community will be paid, fed, given a new t-shirt to wear, or provided with talking points. Additionally, no City Planning Commissioners have been "worked" to
testify on our behalf or meet with the Mayor to solicit his support.
You just don't get it, do you?

July 31, 2007 12:31 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Mayor Sam is it not sad Joe was out beggin other neighborhood councils to show up? watch all the anti-HD people will be very old and very white

July 31, 2007 1:01 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

1:01: Those are the same types who oppose any development; who else has all that time on their hands, and fantasies of turning back the clock to Mayberry ca. 1950? I'm not PRO development and hate the traffic, too, and yes, things were easier when the only conflicts were black-white and at least everyone spoke English.
But things are what they are, and being unrealistically rigid only obstructs solutions even longer.

July 31, 2007 2:08 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Hey, anonymi-- are you trying to discredit your fellow Angeleans who are on the other side of puberty and have to use sunblock? That's okay. When you're "downtown brown" and STILL can't pass the exit exam despite lowered standards and multi-culti mediocrity, who can blame you for coveting our "leisure suit" living? So go steal an I-pod or something, you'll feel better.
--Rita of Sunland

July 31, 2007 4:14 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The anti Home Depot needs just one person to show up and say at public comment.

"Thanks to Ricky Taylor who bused, fed, gave t-shirts etc. to all these people here to show what he wants you to see because that's his job. Unlike the people who have to work for a living and couldn't be here today

July 31, 2007 6:17 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Welcome back Mayor Sam.

As soon as the piece came out about Jerry Brown this piece came put about California School Superintendent Jack O'Connell.

http://flapsblog.com/?p=5352

Both have a leg up on Mayor Villar amd Newsom. And.....
Don't forget about Steve Westly.

July 31, 2007 6:20 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

LAPD officers have outdated radios and the council declined to give funding for better ones.

"Other than the gun and the vest you wear, it's your top piece of safety equipment," said one sergeant who asked not to be identified. "If you put out a call for help and your radio doesn't work, you can imagine the consequences."

The sergeant said he found that out firsthand during a chase of a gang member with a gun. He had been trying to cut off the suspect as another officer chased him. When he called out for the location of his colleague, the line was dead, and the suspect got away.

Great city council wastes millions yearly on bullshit yet officers don't even have updated radio and they think that's ok.

July 31, 2007 6:49 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Somebody commented yesterday, "Where is the Mayor? Where is Mirthala?"

Good questions. Is there a bunker somewhere?

July 31, 2007 8:31 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Mayor Sam you are 100% correct about the Home Depot Astroturfers (Taylor) and the Do-It Center Astroturfers (Barrett).

We in CD2 will be glad when its over. And it will be over; the Mayor has sealed the deal.

July 31, 2007 8:34 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Somebody commented yesterday, "Where is the Mayor? Where is Mirthala?"

HE is CAMPING with JR. Dont know who else is there.

July 31, 2007 8:47 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Great city council wastes millions yearly on bullshit yet officers don't even have updated radio and they think that's ok.

Here's where it is in CD14

2-1-06 - For ref
2-2-06 - Ref to Housing, Community and Economic Development , Personnel, and Budget and Finance Committees
2-2-06 - File to Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee Clerk
4-11-06 - For ref - Communication from the City Administrative Officer 0220-00540-0716, dated April 7, 2006, relative to appropriation of $500,000 that was awarded under the Lead Outreach Grant (Outreach Grant).

6-21-06 - Council Action - Motion ADOPTED to APPROVE Housing, Community and Economic Development and Budget and Finance Committees report and Personnel Committee communication recommendations, subject to the approval of the Mayor to:
1. INSTRUCT the City Clerk to place on the Council Agenda for July 1, 2006 or as soon as possible thereafter, Council approval of resolution employment authority to continue expiring employment authority for the five Civil Service exempt positions listed below in the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), Major Projects Division, effective July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, provided that all necessary City policies and procedures related to the employment of exempt personnel are followed, in accordance with Charter Section 1001 (d)(4):
No. Class Title
1 1358 Clerk Typist
1 1537 Project Coordinator
1 1569-1 Rehabilitation Construction Specialist I
1 1569-2 Rehabilitation Construction Specialist II
1 8502-1 Rehabilitation Project Coordinator I
2. AUTHORIZE the General Manager, LAHD, or designee(s) to:
a. Prepare Controller instructions and any necessary technical adjustments that are consistent with this action, subject to the approval of the City Administrative Officer (CAO); and, AUTHORIZE the Controller to implement those instructions, as follows:
1.) Establish a new Fund entitled the "Lead Outreach Grant II" for the deposit and disbursement of the $500,000 in grant funds, as follows:
Fund Account Title Amount
Y301 Lead Outreach Services/Direct $ 480,000
Y143 Los Angeles Housing Department 7,420
Y304 Admin. Reserve for Two Years 12,580
TOTAL: $ 500,000
2.) Transfer appropriations from the new Fund established above, as follows:
From: Fund Account Title Amount
Y143 Los Angeles Housing Department $ 7,420
To: 100/43 2130 Travel $ 3,660
3310 Transportation 760
6010 Office and Admin. Expenses 1,500
7300 Equipment 1,500
TOTAL: $ 7,420
b. Expend funds upon presentation of documentation and proper demand from the General Manager, LAHD, or designee(s).
c. Execute new contracts effective March 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007, for an amount not to exceed $80,000 per contract, with the firms identified below, substantially in the form of the draft contract attached to the CAO report to the Mayor and Council dated April 7, 2006 (attached to the Council file), subject to the approval of both the City Attorney as to form and legality, and the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Contract Administration as to compliance with City contracting requirements:
" Los Angeles Community Legal Center
" Pacoima Beautiful
" Coalition for Community Health
" Coalition for Economic Survival
" Esperanza Housing
" Union De Vecinos
3. INSTRUCT the General Manager, LAHD, or designee(s) to provide a status of performance for all unexpired Lead Grant programs within 120 days of this report.
6-22-06 - File to Mayor
6-30-06 - Mayor's message concurred in Council action of June 21, 2006

7-5-06 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Parks Mover 2006 / Rosendahl - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council ADOPT the following recommendation (Item #19, CF 05-1007-S1) relative to employment authority for five Civil Service exempt positions in the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), Major Projects Division, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
RESOLVE that continuing Employment Authority for the following five Civil Service exempt positions in the LAHD, Major Projects Division, effective July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, is APPROVED, provided that all necessary City policies and procedures related to the employment of exempt personnel are followed, in accordance with Charter Section 1001(d)(4):
No. Class Title
1 1358 Clerk Typist
1 1537 Project Coordinator
1 1569-1 Rehabilitation Construction Specialist I
1 1569-2 Rehabilitation Construction Specialist II
1 8502-1 Rehabilitation Project Coordinator I
7-10-06 - File to Mayor


7-20-06 - Mayor's message concurred in Council action of July 5, 2006
7-20-06 - File to Calendar Clerk
7-26-06 - File to Housing, Community and Economic Development, Personnel and Budget and Finance Committee Clerks OK
8-2-06 - File in files
3-21-07 - For ref - Transmittal from the Mayor of the Los Angeles Housing Department report, dated February 21, 2007, relative to the execution of contract amendments with six non-profit community based organizations to continue providing outreach on lead-based paint hazards, and lead-safe work practices, as follows:
* Coalition for Community Health
* Coalition for Economic Survival
* Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
* Los Angeles Community Legal Center and Educational
* Pacoima Beautiful
* Union De Vecinos
3-23-07 - Ref to Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee
3-23-07 - File to Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee Clerk
4-20-07 - For ref - Communication from the City Administrative Officer 0220-00540-0769, dated April 19, 2007, relative to six contract amendments for the 2005 Lead Outreach Grant and Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Programs in the amount of $624,000 for a 20 month term from March 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

4-20-07 - Ref to Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee - to Committee Clerk

July 31, 2007 9:14 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Oh yeah, camping. How could I forget?

I wonder if his "security detail" goes camping with him?

July 31, 2007 11:07 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:47 AM

Well, that is going to turn into a hell of a loooong camping trip if Telemundo doesn't make that announcement SOON! (Yeah! and how much overtime is the city paying to those "security" types? Is the elusive "Anita" assigned to the detail this time?)

Maybe that new wrinkle about the "Mirthala Affair" being an attempted set-up by NBC/Universal to corner the illustrious "mayor" into supporting their big development project has complicated things a bit for them...

July 31, 2007 1:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

today in chambers during the Home Depot debate, it became apparent as Council members spoke that DESPITE THEIR CONCERNS about numerous issues they were still going to vote with PROTOCOL apparently, and support Wendy Greuel in the vote.

I told the Home Depot organizers, "get your people out of here now. they are about to vote you down. if you all get up and march out of chambers now, you'll send a much stronger message. DON't sit here and take the defeat. Especially when they're telling you out loud that they're all supporting Wendy."

but oh no, they said 'sshhhh' "let me listen to Janice, what she's saying"

and I'm thinking, 'you fools, she's going with 'protocol' too "

and sure enough, they all sat in stunned shock and silence, as the unanimous vote rang out, and all the NIMBY white aged no home depot alliance people, or whatever they call themself, cheered and celebrated and congratulated themselves.

now, I don't have a side in this officially, I see other home depots everywhere, so they must be legal, but I'm also against mass importation of Chinese made goods, which adversely affect, and I mean adversely affect the nation's bottom line in the trade account, especially with China's artificial exchange rate. The real problems in America quite frankly are way bigger than Sunland Tujunga itself and their day laborors. America's fascination with imported disposable electronics, household gimmicks and mod-cons is costing us in federal interest which we pay to service our foreign debt.

That foreign debt is too scary right now, so I won't even print it in this blog, its also ballooning beyond belief now while the country is at war, (look up Halliburton to see where all that federal money is actually going).

so I'm saying I support paying more for Made in USA. Make Home Depot carry more local content.
Reduce foreign imports and you reduce shipping and diesel transport at Long Beach. Less pollution. Less empty container buildups around the 110.

All these issues are intertwined. Trucking goods from a ship at Long Beach to that Home Depot store actually affects everyone.

anyway, argue at will with me about my foreign policy, today it broke my heart that all those Home Depot people had to be crushed when the vote was already being telegraphed.

but if you're saying they were all just paid to wear the shirts and it was a gig, then I won't feel so bad.

Matt Dowd

July 31, 2007 1:55 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

1:55 PM

Wow! Hard to get through, but I think I get from all that that they have defeated Home depot? There will be no Home depot built?

HURRAY!!!!!!!

July 31, 2007 2:02 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

We were all paid to wear the shirts, it was just a gig.

July 31, 2007 2:46 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

2:08 AM
"I'm not PRO development and hate the traffic, too, and yes, things were easier when the only conflicts were black-white and at least everyone spoke English.
But things are what they are, and being unrealistically rigid only obstructs solutions even longer."

Thank God everyone is NOT like YOU! Thank God there are plenty of people still willing to fight for what is theirs and what is right - not roll over and play dead for the crooks and the scum because it is easier!!

July 31, 2007 2:47 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

believe me, Home depot is not defeated.

This vote was to decide if Home Depot was a 'project', and once they vote 'yes' on that, they can assert jurisdiction over the matter.

which they did.

there will now be at least 6 months of talk and studies, incl. an EIR and after all that Home Depot may still go ahead. today was a battle, not the war.

that's why if they were my troops, I would have marched them out to spare the pain of seeing the other side celebrate.

come back and fight another day.

we've said it all along tho, the deals were already cut before the item hits the vote.

Home Depot just wasted a ton of money, and possibly lost more friends than it gained, by providing 'paid' supporters.

that was a mayoral tactic I remember, and look what happened to him.

July 31, 2007 3:08 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

dumb Rick Taylor that's what he gets for trying to pretend to have a grass roots movement. Hey, did all those people get paid? I heard they did and if you noticed a lot of them were Latinos. Probably illegal and don't work.

that memo Rick Taylor sent out that the media got a hold of back fired.

Hey Cooley is going after Burke.
D.A. looks into Burke's residences
L.A. County prosecutors are checking allegations that the supervisor is living in Brentwood and not in her district as required by law.
By Jack Leonard and Matt Lait, Times Staff Writers
July 31, 2007


The Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Monday it is reviewing allegations that Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke is living in a gated Brentwood home rather than in her predominantly South Los Angeles district, where she must live by law.

July 31, 2007 3:23 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Where's the Feds list of LA
politicans being investigated?

Lawmakers Being Investigated
By The Associated Press
Members of Congress recently under scrutiny by federal authorities:
Senate Republicans:
_Ted Stevens of Alaska, sixth term. Stevens is under a federal investigation for his relationship with Bill Allen, an oil field services contractor who was convicted this year of bribing state lawmakers. Agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service searched the senator's Alaska home on Monday.

House Republicans:
_Don Young of Alaska, 18th term. Young is under federal investigation as part of an ongoing corruption probe, according to a federal law enforcement official. Part of the Young investigation involves his campaign finance practices.

_John Doolittle of California, ninth term. The FBI in April searched his home in Oakton, Va., where his wife Julie ran a bookkeeping and event-planning business. Among her clients was now-jailed GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

_Jerry Lewis of California, 15th term. Prosecutors are examining his dealings with lobbyists and contractors during the time he chaired the House Appropriations Committee.

_Gary Miller of California, fifth term. FBI agents have interviewed officials in two towns that purchased property from Miller about the nature of the transactions and the tax implications. Miller denies any wrongdoing and says FBI agents have not contacted him.

_Rick Renzi of Arizona, third term. FBI agents recently raided his wife's insurance business amid reports that Renzi paid substantial back taxes to settle charges that his businesses improperly paid for his first congressional campaign.

___

House Democrats:
_William J. Jefferson of Louisiana, ninth term. Awaiting trial in January on federal charges of taking more than $500,000 in bribes by using his office to broker business deals in Africa. He pleaded innocent in June to the 16-count indictment. FBI agents raided his congressional office and his home, where they found $90,000 in a freezer.

_Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, 13th term. Mollohan stepped down from the House ethics committee after federal agents began a probe of federal funds he helped steer to nonprofit groups he founded.

July 31, 2007 3:38 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The Community Development Department (CDD) requests authority to execute services contracts for the Los Angeles Bridges (LAB) i and II program for 2007 -08. The LAB is a multi-phased, community driven gang prevention and intervention effort that engages individuals, community groups and institutions to reduce delinquent gang activity among youth. The contracted services are provided by community-based organizations and range from tutoring and counseling to case management, as well as a training component. The request involves execution and/or amendment of 32 LAB-related contracts (Attachment) for total funding of $13.4 million, comprised of General Fund and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Report from lacity.org

July 31, 2007 5:57 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The whole issue was always whether or not Home Depot would be required to do a new EIR, not whether or not the building could be stopped permanently.

July 31, 2007 6:53 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Does this sound like good security pratice and equal treatment?

No Home Depot in S-T supporters who arrived for the Section 245 City Council hearing by car pool today, were required to go though the security line and show their picture I.D. and have their personal items opened up for scrutiny. They were then issued paper badges and allowed to proceed to the Hearing room.

When the buses carrying Home Depot supporters, (who were picked up and paid for by Depot) rolled in, they were wisked through the line and the officers peeled off badges and gave it to them with out checking their I.D.or personal items. This was noticed by a NC member from Valley Village who demanded to know why they were circomventing the standard safety procedures. The officer gave him some feeble excuse. Only then did they again resume checking each person as required.

So much for safe Homeland Security practices and equal treatment!

July 31, 2007 7:49 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Home Depot got their ass kicked today!
Way to go Sunland-Tujunga!

July 31, 2007 8:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Gee, Matt, noticed that your attempts to rally the troops on behalf of Home Depot failed -- even their bused-in workers/ "supporters," mostly Hispanic working class, literally cringed away when you went near them.
Guess you don't have to go to college to know that when messy homeless bums like you and zuma try to "advocate for" people, they instinctively know that your "support" will hurt them.

Your self-aggrandizing boasts about fighting and winning at City Hall are pathetic, too. What did you win? The right to sell junk at Venice Beach? What have you done for anyone? When you tried to ally yourself to the t-shirt-wearing Home Depot people, saying it's the same kind of political slogan, they looked literally horrified and shrank back...If you want them to lose the next round, keep "helping them."

August 01, 2007 4:30 PM  

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