Whistleblower hotline: (213) 785-6098
mayorsam@mayorsam.org

Friday, November 23, 2007

We Have Very Smart People Leading Our City

Uh-Oh

A Los Angeles City Council member apologized Wednesday to a handful of San Fernando Valley residents, saying a phone message left by a Planning Department employee -- suggesting the fix was in for a controversial Valley Village condominium project -- was not "business as usual" at City Hall.


D'Oh

Councilman Ed Reyes offered his "deepest apologies" one day after he heard a recording of a city planner who, thinking that he had called the 78-unit project's developer, promised it would be approved "no matter what."


Good way to stir up NIMBYs right before they slobber turkey and stuffing all over themselves.

City planner Jack Chiang mistakenly made the call last month to Van Nuys resident Marcelle Duncan, who filed a challenge to the Planning Commission's approval of the condominium project. Duncan said developer Gary Schaffel had failed to address traffic and relocation payments to evicted tenants.

Labels: , , , , ,

41 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

No department in L.A. is more corrupt and fucked up than planning.

November 23, 2007 1:08 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

City Planner Jack Chiang may have called the wrong person by mistake, but you know he meant what he said.

November 23, 2007 1:34 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

And do not let anybody let you believe Gail Goldberg is the savior and not part of the problem.

November 23, 2007 2:07 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

it was dumb to make the call, but he was only saying what he'd heard all the participants saying, about how the situation stood based on their assessment of the situation. They'd done their traffic studies and comps in the neighborhood.

If it's anyone's "fault" it's that the planning dept. rubber stamps most developments. If there already was a big project going up next door to that, and their excuse was being fair to the second developer by giving equal terms, they were not taking into account the cumululative impact on a neighborhood, the extra traffic and noise and hassle from construction.

They should approve a limited number of projects on any street, let alone next door. But that's happened on my street too, turning what used to be quiet, nice area into construction hell where their trucks and arrogant crew have taken everything over.

November 23, 2007 2:27 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Here'e another project that should be look into:

Las Villas inc.
here's a website.
www.NoLasVillas.com

November 23, 2007 3:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

How would you feel about L.A.City officals supporting Las Villas Inc. in giving a full-liquor liencse to sell liquor right next to 3 School?

November 23, 2007 3:36 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Ed Reyes speaking? He can't get more than a half sentence out at a given time, let - alone - a - complete ------> thought.

How could anyone understand his apology?

November 23, 2007 3:56 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Mr.Ed Reyes built your project without Liquor.

November 23, 2007 4:07 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

And Home Depot sues the City because a councilperson opposed a project?

This is how EVERY project moves through this city. The developers and their lobbyists work the councilperson and its all over before the VOTERS can do anything (or even know to do anything).

November 23, 2007 4:42 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

Oh no...that liquor license they want to grant to a bar right across from an LAUSD school...is that the Las Villas thing in Reyes' district.

Reyes' I got so many calls about this over the summer from different people...Hey Ed, you big dummy...don't you get it...they don't want a bar with video games directly across from the school.

You really must be as dumb as you sound every time you open up your mouth. If I were you, I would try and speak on camera as little as possible.

But besides that...don't be a douchebag Reyes...only a corrupt asshole would permit this project.

YOU WILL BE POLITICAL TOAST...TRUST ME...I'VE ALREADY HEAR WAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS.

I told my friends in the area...i didn't wanna blog about this specific issue, cause i'm trying to take a vacation -- and only wanna blog about citywide issues...

but Ed...zip up your zipper and open your ears. think about it in your babysitter's office at city hall.

November 23, 2007 10:21 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

You wanna see something really scary, in this week's City Beat, Alan M's current editorial gig:

About D A Steve Cooley's ties to guys who make Alatorre look small-fry, like a Philobosian who "thwarted" the D A's office from investigating crooked pols in Cudahy, and a Simonian guy with ties to indicted crooked pols in Bell Gardens. (Don't know if these guys are Armenian, or if there's any connection there.)

Cudahy is so bad that even Gloria Molina tried to clean things up, but has no authority -- worries that if East L A gets Cityhood, Cudahy being on its borders would take it down, seeing as it breeds corruption, violence, intimidation and threats in City Hall. Things that Cooley's buddy Philibosisian prevented the D A from going after, because Philibosian's firm made too much money with these connections.

Unbelievable statistic: one officer says that Cudahy's school kids have parentbodies that are 30% involved in gangs, half in drugs and guns and violence!

Yet the D A was forced to leave the town and Bell Gardens alone by his friend Philibosian -- who hosted a $1500/ a head birthday fundraiser for him this summer!

If the papers were doing their job, they'd get underneath this dirt fast. Talk about shady, shady, and scary as shit.

Then there's the terrorist support group (for Hezbollah) the FBI just busted in Cudahy and Bell, Operation Bell Bottoms -- that the local media hasn't reported on. Too scared of who is involved?

November 23, 2007 10:28 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

Hey,

Can some folks in the Las Villas LAUSD/Bar area take some photos that will show the proximity of the liquor and video games (bar) from the playground (school). I think this is the kind of thing CBS 2 or NBC 4 news should do a story on. They can get comments from that straw-dummy-head Ed Reyes.

So some pictures...can someone take some and email em to me. zumatimes.com

November 23, 2007 10:38 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

Regarding Las Villas...here's how it was explained to me by a concerned community member:

Mr. Galvez is the public relations director from USC and hopes to have a lot of future housing development deals with the city (workforce housing).

Zuma Times has heard that Galvez's wife, is the one of the owners of Las Villas that is planning a banquet hall, bar, video arcade (as it's been described to The Times).

The liquor license is a "must-have" (favor from Reyes) which will allow them to open the liquor establishment directly across the street from the school.

So my first question was, "I know Ed is dumb...but why is he so in favor of letting Las Villas sell alcohol spitting distance from a school?"

Zuma Times was told, "Once Reyes approves the liquor license (for the bar that is way too close to a school), expect Galvez (I hope I have his name spelled correctly) to allow Reyes to chose which construction contractors are used to build all that USC workforce housing." (Hey ED...PICK ME!)

It's a move out of Antonio's playbook, so please don't accuse Ed of thinking.

Is this going to be allowed to be open during the day (school hours)?

The bad case scenario that people are concerned about is that you will have drunk people around the school with kids if it is allowed to be open during the day.

it's a bad mix...booze, video games, kids and drunk adults...the proximity is just waaaaay to close.

November 23, 2007 11:40 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

L.A. mayor, reporter end their affair, sources say

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayor24nov24,0,7160693.story?coll=la-home-center

November 23, 2007 11:54 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

LAT DZ: Mirthala affair finished a while ago

November 24, 2007 12:18 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Some clown kept posting a while ago about the two women who have built Las Villas, alleging that they used their considerable (as in laaarge sized) charms, to charm men and city officials into getting money. Alicia and Teresa, I think... are you saying one of these women is the wife of a USC administrator? Or is that whole story innuendo and rumor-mongering, which even Joe M admits this blog specializes in and attracts?

Seeing what goes on in the Latino- run towns all around, like Cudahy and Bell Gardens, and that even a Latina like Molina is concerned that those in E LA will follow suit and turn this into Mexico for real, nothing surprises me.

But this case must be just one of many, with bigger and more dangerous fish to fry. Like that DA Cooley story and his cronies in those towns you can't walk the streets of after dark, worse than the wild west at its worst.

November 24, 2007 12:24 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

^ worse than the wild west at its worst.

I had Thanksgiving at a relative's place a few miles southeast of San Diego near the border, and the goddam place sounds like the fourth of July when night falls. We could hear the sounds of automatic gunfire a couple miles away. I thought we got suddenly kidnapped by some UFOs and dropped into Iraq. My relatives say they hear gunfire like that all the time. They haven't heard any grenades go off but its just a matter of time I guess.

November 24, 2007 2:06 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Zuma Dogg do you have any information about who killed JFK?

November 24, 2007 2:24 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Who shot J. R.?

November 24, 2007 2:51 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

JFK = mafia hit. gemstone files.

November 24, 2007 2:53 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What's really sad is the Latino politicans don't give a shit about their own people. Antonio is a good example of him making promises to help his own and has done nothing to help Latinos in this city in the poorest neighborhoods. Both Huizar and Reyes are known for pretending after the fact when establishments get a liquor license. They don't alert the community to go to the meetings when it is discussed. There are more liquor stores in low income neighborhoods all over the city like South LA and the Eastside yet you don't see any damn politican speaking out against them. WHY? $$$$$$$

November 24, 2007 7:26 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

If the Blogging Burros want to write about a corrupt city official, they should write about Sheriff Carona. Here is a city offical who will actuallly be convicted of corruption.

All the rumor mongering on this blog reminds me of the old ladies on my block, who just sit on the front porch all day long, gossiping about everybody in the neighborhood.

If you burros need another gossip for this blog ofrumor and innuendo, I know a few old ladies with lots of free time on their hands. They will probably work for free, and will write endlessly about Mirthala and supposed city corruption. Savvy??

November 24, 2007 8:19 AM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

Look at what an un-knowing, hilarious loser 8:19am is...

He says, "All the rumor mongering on this blog reminds me of the old ladies on my block, who just sit on the front porch all day long, gossiping about everybody in the neighborhood."

Meanwhile what is that noodle-arm doing??? LMFAO! Bro, you have never been sadder or more hilarious. You're so caught up in your degenerate mindset...you are trapped and can't break the cycle.

Anyway, glad the folks at mayor sam have taken over your soul! You can't stop yourself...

Haven't you heard that song from Ozzy, "You're going off the rail of the crazy train."

Meanwhile, why not blow a gasket, let the rage engulf you, because it's been, "my nuts...your tonsils", since day one of ZD...

And no matter how hard you try...you can't seem to get a shred of traction on your anti-zd spin...

and you have elevated my reputation in this city with all your weak-ass crybaby stuff that really, only exposes you to people who end up siding with Big ZD on the issues.

I know what really bugs a lot of folks at City Hall (3rd and 4th floor) is that people always ask them, "If they know Zuma Dogg" when they are out in public. And what city hall kiss-ass-phony wants to be upstaged by a broke-ass, homeless nobody?

But trust me...no one has EVER aksed Zuma Dogg what City Hall elected officials and staffers are really like.

Anyway, 8:19am...keep trying...maybe someday everyone will hate us (the bloggers at mayor sam) and start loving you...and everything will be neat, and perfect, and A-O.K. in your own mind!

(GET HELP!)

November 24, 2007 8:43 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Hey, ZumaDogg 4 School will be effected.
1. Little Flower Miss. Pre-School
2. Lincoln High School
3. Gates Elementary School
4. Gates Head Start School

www.NoLasVillas.com
or go to live search:
write: 3400 N.Broadway
in see for yourself how close to our school this project is..

November 24, 2007 9:28 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Let's not forget Jose (I'll section 245 for a price) Huizar.
Look at ZA 2007-824-CU. We were told that Huizar's Office "informed" the East LA Planning Commission, that he would section 245 if the Victory Outreach appeal was denied. Interesting note, Paul Habib spoke for Huizar's office at the ZA hearing and gave them a letter from Huizar allowing only monochromatic text only for their sign. At the ELA hearing, CD 14 presented a different letter for full color picture and text. So did the community or his constituents receive a fair hearing? Instead, they got a double sided full color and text LCD "Las Vegas" 17' sign on a rock formation and water feature on Eagle Rock Blvd. I guess money talks, so much for voting.


*** November's Hermon Local Issues meeting of the Arroyo
Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) brought out 60
stakeholders. Jessica Wethington McLean, Planning
and Economic Development Director for Councilmember
Jose Huizar explained that the Planning group handles
everything of where we are and where we are going.

She also said the councilmember is very community oriented
in planning in three ways: 1) He wants to help the mom
and pop shops (knowing that the city will help the
corporations) ; 2) Historic preservation is a really big
issue to him because he sees a strong link between
preservation and his issue number . . . 3) Revitalization.

Planning also deals with alcohol permits, transportation,
and street paving. The councilmember is starting a pilot
program in the Northeast area out of Eagle Rock City Hall
called "One Stop Shop" where case managers are assigned
to help new businesses navigate the confusing process of
permits, fees, and possible variances, etc. -- to expedite
opening their new operations.

November 24, 2007 9:36 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Zuma Dogg

That's, Live Search Maps
3400 N. Broadway, Los Angeles CA.90031

click on Aerial

November 24, 2007 9:36 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Dumass 8:19am. You should kill 2 birds with one stone. Honor the season, and buy your little old lady freinds with time on thier hands computers and then tell them to come to this site and gossip a bit.

November 24, 2007 10:07 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

You should have watched the roundtable with Dave Bryant and journalists who all acknowledge that blogging is the wave of the future where people get what's going on because the media is so afaid to report stories unless they get at least 5 sources confirming they won't go with it. David Z is a good example of who cares and justs reports it.

To answer the person who wrote "1) He wants to help the mom
and pop shops" referring to Huizar.

Oh hell no he doesn't give a shit about anyone or businesses cause he would get rid of the damn illegal vendors making tax free cash from the legitamate business owners. He tells the business owners when he's at their meeting he will clean them up. He tells the homeowners he'll clean them up but hasn't done shit about it in two years. he's a TJ just like they are.

November 24, 2007 11:15 AM  

Blogger Mayor Sam said:

Why do we need to go all the way to Orange County to find a corrupt politician when you could swing a dead cat at city hall and not miss a corrupt pol?

November 24, 2007 11:27 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The D N has a story today about how the U C Chancellers are making well over 350 thousand plus huge perks, and were set to get 33% raises while student fees have doubled in five years and the state IS broke, no?

Only after public embarassment, they turned down the raises.

Then there are the overpaid Community College Administrators and staff, who tricked the public into approving $2.2 bonds to build "much needed" new facilities, which were squandered but never built.

Who knew the Supes had drivers in addition to cars, until the times broke that Burke sneaking around story? What else they doing? Are they all accepting their raises? I'll bet they are.

There is WAY more waste than the low-lying fruit at City Hall, but the lazy reporters like Orlov find it easier to sit in City Hall than get out on the dirty pavement and dig for wasted money that makes a difference., and those other clowns who are totally under the radar.

At least Alan Mittelstaedt's City Beat has the guts to look at D A Cooley, just a little bit, with those stories on Cudahy/ Bell Gardens and his buddies' connections.

November 24, 2007 1:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

MEGA PROJECTS RESHAPE LOS ANGELES

Three city-making projects now moving forward illustrate that future development in Los Angeles will be guided by the tenets of smart growth -- that is, putting jobs and shopping close to where people live. These developments concentrate housing, office space, retail shopping, hotels, and entertainment around Metro rail stations. Mayor Villaraigosa has played an active role in pushing these projects forward.

Does anyone know if any of these projects are affiliated with non profit corporations?

http://www.lacity.org/mayor/deliveringresults/results_econ.htm

November 24, 2007 5:46 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

City of LA, Office of the Mayor: Mega Projects Reshape LA

http://www.lacity.org/mayor/
deliveringresults/results
_econ.htm

November 24, 2007 5:51 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Angelinos have city council as a RUBBER STAMP.

NO CHECK AND BALANCES.

November 24, 2007 6:18 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Red Psot, it's spelled "Angeleno."

November 24, 2007 8:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Follow the money trail!

Many thought that once Councilman Art Snyder resigned from the First District, we would be better off. Well let me assure you he has never left.

We have often wondered why the community has been ignored at a greater scale now that it is suppose to have one of their own represent them.

Recent developments with the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce can be seen as evidence of Snyder's
influence.

Look for the money trail, after countless years of illegitimacy and with the current president attempting to clean up the chamber's books, the old snake in the grass has finally shown.

Ed Reyes is a puppet of big money, no different than Mike Hernandez, Gloria Molina and Richard Alatorre. His predecessors.

Why has Ed Reyes consistently used his position to advocate negatively impacting projects in the Lincoln Heights Community. Its is because he cares more about special interest than the people he is suppose to represent.

Hope someone sues him for violation of the Brown Act (Open Meetings). When asked why he can't revise his decisions that tend to hurt the community he always responds by telling you that the process must be followed.

I say what we ought to follow is the process of where the money and influence are coming from.

Get rid of Ed Ryes and all these special interest groups. Give the government back to the people.

November 24, 2007 8:26 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Since when did LA city goverment ever belong to the people? It's always belonged to big bucks special interests of one sort or another. There never were any "good ol' days" to yearn for here, so get over it.

November 25, 2007 8:03 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

www.nolasvillas.com

November 25, 2007 8:24 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

deaxrecwwww.nolasvillas.com

Say "No To ALCOHOL"

It's would only be hard for an ALCOHOLIC to say no.

Our Community deserves better!

Save our children!

Alcohol is not the ANSWER!
Books are!

This would be a great place for Alcholic Child molsters, great job....

November 25, 2007 8:39 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:39 are you considering a return to the 18th amendment?

November 25, 2007 12:21 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

First of all, if anyone who posts comments on this site have an education from an accredited college or a university, then I have some questions for all of you: What do you know about this case? The infamous phone call, which is associated with an appeal to a previous approval (meaning the project was approved with numerous conditions previously, including tenant relocation assistance at a rate above and beyond what is required by law), was a response and personal opinion relative to the merit of the proposed appeal. That person, worked on this case for a very long time under great scrutiny and controversy.

Many of you have less facts then anyone, yet you criticize this person on a whim, without any facts or reputable information - that is so LA. No wonder when people complain about traffic, none of the complainants seem to want to hop on a bus to the next public hearing or carpool. Yeah, I know all of your excuses. People think that when they drive a hybrid car, that they somehow relieved traffic congestion because they don’t have to fill up their gas tank as often!

How much money did each and every tenant receive or will receive? Is it above and beyond what the law requires? Are there no units available in the area at a price they cannot afford? If not, are these people being thrown out on the streets? What are the incomes and occupations of each and every tenant of this project site?

Unfortunately, a few Council members, the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News and other media, failed in delivering accurate information. Why hasn't any account of how much money is actually being paid to each tenant being disclosed? Why hasn’t any pertinent facts been revealed relative to this case? All of you should think about receiving approximately $7,000 to $17,000 dollars each for tenant relocation. Plus an extra $1,000 each since the infamous “phone call.“ Hmm, that exceeds first and last months rent plus a security deposit and them some left over.. I guess the tenants can thank Jack Chiang for the extra money they will receive. No Council Member was responsible for that, including those with no backbone making apologies for PC sake.

If any tenant of the project site is not on a fixed income, disabled or a senior, I suggest that they give up half of what they will receive and give it to more qualified tenants (disabled, seniors and those on fixed incomes) to put their money where their mouths are and be consistent with their personal convictions and demands. The phone call is a red herring and an example of extreme hyperbole, which has no effect whatsoever on any decision rendered by the City Council.. Councilman Ed Reyes is making apologies for what? That a public employee has an opinion! With or without the phone call, the Department of City Planning would have defended its original decision based on the facts and merits of the case..........Our leaders should have more courage and backbone to defend its employees on these matters when it is apparent that they made the right decision and merely made a mistake in expressing their opinion to the wrong person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 06, 2007 7:31 PM  

Blogger RicoRider said:

Our kids find all the alcohol, drugs and violence they need on the street and you complain about a licenced place?!

If the Sisters are concerned about their students safety why don't they do something about the open drug fueled warfare that happens right outside their doors?

This complaining sounds more like anger about the state of our community and politicians than anger over a family center. These poor women are the sacrificial goat we send into the desert hoping to God we feel better when they're gone.

But you know what...? If they go, everything will be the same except one place for our kids will not be here.

February 21, 2008 11:43 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

Advertisement

Advertisement