Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday
Happy New Year!Though NBC is planning to move its Beautiful Downtown Burbank facilities to Universal City, the Burbank Leader reports its not a done deal. Though the City of Burbank has approved NBC transferring its development rights to a new developer, the City of LA has yet to approve this deal which will bring significant economic opportunity to the San Fernando Valley. Due to NIMBY nonsense and the lack of foresight of Councilman Tom LeBong, NBC is going to have tough sledding here.
This is kind of odd. Its an old story and as far as I know nothing has come up lately, but a fine waters website is carrying a post about LA's Toilet to Tap water program.
The blog Cheat Seeking Missiles declares Mayor Villaraigosa as Bill Clinton's "spiritual brother." The blog posits that Antonio - who says of his conversations with Iowans - "I say I'm mayor of Los Angeles, and some of them put up a smile," probably doesn't tell the locals that "his popularity has plummeted with his zipper" since The Summer of Love.
"Wacko Jacko" Weiss continues his journey towards libertarianism as he promotes a sort of modified free enterprise approach to transit in Los Angeles - some degree of privatization of subway and transit lines. He doesn't go far enough but this type of heresy coming from a local elected is a breath of fresh air for an old, dead Republican Mayor such as, well, uh, me.
I've been trying to tell my friends in Sunland-Tujunga (as well as Wal-Mart and Costco haters) that the best andidote to big box stores is the free market. And it appears I was right. Big boxers like Wal-Mart, Home Depot and even chains like Starbucks often find its not so easy to compete against small independents and are struggling because as Reason Magazine's Michael Moynihan writes; "The inability to adapt to local tastes and the failure to anticipate technological market shifts have been the Achilles heel of many big box retailers."
Speaking of Sunland-Tujunga don't forget our big Mayor Sam wing-ding there on Sunday, January 13th. To RSVP click here.
Labels: bill clinton, burbank, costco, home depot, los angeles politics, mayor antonio villaraigosa, nbc universal, nimby, reason magazine, starbucks, summer of love, sunland-tujunga, toilet to tap, tom labonge, wal-mart
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 1/03/2008 12:02:00 AM
11 Comments:
Only a libertarian could make the argument that a global company that can buy any location it wants to at any time it wants to, can buy it's product directly from farmers in third world rather than the broker downtown, and can even start its only recording label and buy out the artists their customers most favor, creating seamless programming for their coffee experience---only a libertarian could conclude that such a company is at some kind of competitive disadvantage.
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen (removes hat and bows low with flourish):
Happy New Year to one and all! Once again, we've come across several calendars and day planners for certain sots that were carelessly tossed into the rubbish bin. (Speaks confidentially) Everyone should have a good book or two to cozy up to on a long winter's night. I've got my two books, savvy? But let's not talk about that. Let's talk about something else, shall we?
To all of our faithful followers, THIS is the day to make with your mischief for, if you will, the cat is away and the mice can play. And play well when you do.
Additionally, the two Democrats upon our crew as well as the two Republicans would like to make predicitons about today's goings-on in Iowa. The Republicans are split between Guliani and McCain so they have no prediction. The two Democrats both predict Obama will be the winner based upon (a) The fact that he is a Punahou graduate; (b) He's comfortable in the skin that he's in and (c) the eats and certainly the bar at his parties are far superior to those of the other candidates. And we pirates would know about that, savvy?
Oh, and a special word to Captains Bonnet, DeMarisco and Roberts: Drinks are on me!
Before you claim the free market as the answer to everything, you should first ask a forest.
Then a river.
Then an ocean.
Let us know what you come up with!
Re: Villar schtupping in Iowa"
Caught a news clip of the village idiot walking around like a clown with that confounded stupid smile. Does he actually think he is some kind of matinee idol??? It's so damned sick!!!!
How do we keep him from coming back to LA? I'm sure Iowans are sick of him and question what the hell he is doing there! They are, after all, ALL white and anti-illegal!
Jackie,
We've tried the government route, it hasn't worked. Point to one succesful government program outside a military endeavour.
Anyway - take a look at the difference in construction cost between the Gold Line (outsourced) and the Blue Line (government contract). Major cost and time savings.
Wacko Jacko is taking it a step further and I hate to say may be on to something.
He's also had some refreshing things on the silly anti-mansionization movement.
By the way, speaking of property owner rights, Jim Alger - and not to pick on him but I haven't heard anyone else say this - says that when you buy a home you don't just buy the home but you buy the streets, the neighborhood, the place down the street, the schools, etc. I actually believe that's bullshit as those things belong to ALL taxpayers (which is why I have always been opposed to things like preferred parking and as a good liberal you should be too Jackie - what better way to keep poor people of your neighborhood - don't let them park there!).
Well back to my point, this past holiday I spent four days at a gated community in Palm Springs. Very nice. Very controlled. Probably not my speed for regular living but for a vacation it was nice. The point being - IF you want to control the land around you - move into a gated community.
Otherwise, you've got to learn to get along and realize everyone has rights not just you or your NIMBY friends.
Thanks, Mayor Sam. This is the beginning of a good conversation.
"Point to one successful government program outside a military endeavour."
You just made my point. The free market wouldn't care about keeping you safe from outside invasion. They would sell you out in a nano-second. Again, I will offer T. Jefferson's "Merchants have no country" line. Those that enjoy quoting Jefferson so often on this blog would do well to remember this quote too.
Re: Gold Line/Blue Line
So, you're saying Donald Trump, Anschutz, Weyerhauser, et al have never had a cost overrun? Particularly when the free market price of oil is at $100/barrel? Not so sure you can make that case. As for the bureaucrats who made the poor cost decisions, we eliminate government and where do you think they'll go, the Bahamas? No, they'll go right into the private sector and lower the average IQ.
So, this leads me to a question I've been waiting to ask you. How do you reconcile your pro-private ownership/land use rights with your anti-NIMBYism?
I'm actually interested, not trying to peg you on anything -- just looking for a clearer definition.
And for anyone who cares, McMansions don't really bother me unless someone is trying to put one in a historic neighborhood. To me, an ugly eight-foot fence around a home is more of an eyesore than a McMansion -- particularly if the McMansion is energy efficient.
Now this thread is what I would call excellent posting. I love this. I really hope that you can continue this dialogue that many of us would like to hear answers to.
Excellent questions to the dead mayor that I would love for him to answer. I believe that Jack H. can handle himself in a debate and for christ's sake, I'm going to have to agree with Alger on this one. You buy into the entire community. Otherwise, why buy? Why not rent?
I hate the mansionization though and I also hate the 8 foot fences. I hate gated communities too.
But I'm not a hater.
I don't hate the mayor (whether I voted for him or NOT), I don't hate Mexicans (or any Latin American), I don't hate the pirates and I don't hate Zuma Dogg.
Therefore, I'm not your average hater.
Good afternoon 3:56pm (tips hat):
God bless you for not hating us. (Smiles) Imagine that. A non-hating sot. Wonders never cease, savvy?
Okay fine. I'll go so far as to say I appreciate the pirates. As well I'm curious as to who the DONE hating pirates are -- I can't pretend to hate them. Appreciate is as far as I can take it.
I am still waiting for a menudo recipe, hurry up[ I have guests comong for dinner
The last thing a "free market" is, is free. That's a phrase right up there with "healthy forest initiative" and "clean air act".
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