Adiós at 3 a.m.
JM, At the Mermaid, 3.31.08
Joseph Mailander a guy in la • elsewhere • email
I'm leaving the blog with this post. Don't make a big fuss. I've told everyone here exactly why I'm leaving, so there's no mistaking any reasons. To anyone who liked the content I put up, thanks very much.
I made up my mind yesterday but didn't want you to think I was just April Foolin'.
I feel especially pleased that so many other scribes around town have plugged into the density crisis in particular. I've been talking about it for a long time; I've been arguing about it for a long time. That's made the time I've spent here worthwhile.
LA scribes may be petty thieves when it comes to stealing ideas without acknowledgment of their source---and even some editors are too anxious to do this---but at least they generally steal the right ideas sooner or later, and for that, we have to be grateful.
I'll be blogging nowhere else in particular; nothing new is planned.
I've never been a decision-maker here, but I've been a supporter as best I could be from the very beginning. I always have felt that the City needs a tabloid, a place where fact and rumor could co-mingle, to sort out possibilities as well as news. Whatever my self-appointed role was, it feels like my work is done here.
So nobody mistakes my opinion if they pass this final post around: these still remains the worst Mayor and City Council in my lifetime. I hope you all work to change this in 2009. As for me, as a liberal, I'm very sorry I voted for Antonio. He's just been destroying the quality of life all over Los Angeles, with his insouciance towards the density problem and the gang problem. In 2005, I thought he might work better than Hahn to solve the City's renter to homeowner imbalance, which is the City's most pressing underlying problem---but he has only worked to exacerbate it, permitting thousands of units that were pitched as homes but that don't have a hope in hell of being anything but leased for the next decade.
The affordable housing schemes he and Garcetti and Gail Goldberg and Council have been shoving down the City's throats are complete lies, mere slush funds for developers at the expense of the people who live here, and they all know that. These are the people who sold out your town to people who don't even live here yet, and who have turned affordable housing into a public lottery rather than a market-driven government predisposition.
Latham & Watkins? O'Melveney & Myers? Public enemies numbers 1 & 2. The photos of most City lobbyists should be up at your post office. $600 an hour crooks, paid to work against your local interests.
As to what's gone on here at the blog of late, its direction, its future, and why I'm stepping out, let me just put it this way: you ain't gonna tear down Latham & Watkins with Laurel & Hardy.
So I'm out of here. Indeed, it does feel like the right time. The work is done. If you want to keep in touch, have any questions, or just want to vent, email me if you like: joseph.mailander@gmail.com.
Best to you, and I really loved it when you were nice.
Joseph Mailander
Labels: a guy in la
Posted by Joseph F. Mailander @ 4/02/2008 03:26:00 AM
52 Comments:
good luck mi amigo. you will be missed.
"As to what's gone on here at the blog of late, its direction, its future, and why I'm stepping out, let me just put it this way: you ain't gonna tear down Latham & Watkins with Laurel & Hardy. So I'm out of here."
JM, Sorry you will be losing a creative outlet...but I'm glad to see you feel this way, cause I felt like a big "meanie" for feeling the same way. I quit, I mean got fired for the same reason.
(Who wants to spend all that time on serious issues to be buried two seconds later by a bunch of juvenile non-issues. (people have lost sight as to why they fight the good fight.)
But Mayor Sam knows better. He's got his finger on the pulse and he just wants his blog to evolve into something else more socially oriented.
Very sad news, JM....you were one of the few cerebral voices here.
I share ALL of your fears....density, corruption, greedy developers, etc....everything that has destroyed this city; and, in particular, as you said.....the WORST mayor and city council in the history of this city!!!
I'm sorry you are giving up the public fight...but maybe you will re-consider a blog of your own...we have to continue the battle!!!
Good luck!
God speed Joseph.
You've made the right decision. This blog has turned to complete crap. Laurel & Hardy, fart jokes, racist assholes, etc. And Higby thinks he's David Broder. You're a smart guy. Find another outlet.
Here's to Hello Kitty, Laurel and Hardey, Girl Scout Cookies and Red Spot. Good times ahead for Mayor Sam.
Thanks to Don Quixote and his stupid ass, shar-pei and anoymousa comments this blog has gone to shit.
And as usual the attention whore and sick multiple-personality psycho writes a long winded comment about Joe leaving.
Mayor Sam get rid of all comments by the fart guy and Don Quackers, well they are both full of gas.
Sorry to see you go. After Zuma left I didnt have much to make me think except you. Godspeed and good health
Yes, Mayor Sam's managerial decisions are pathethic. With the pretense of providing quality, he slips into the ridiculous and the search for the largest audience. That means the lowest common denominator. Mayorsay.blogspot.com is headed in that direction (similar to the latimes and the dailynews).
First, it's Zuma Dogg, who is nothing more than a charlatan at anything he presents. Then there's Valley Doll, who is untalented and serves only to attract male eyeballs, looking for hints of sex. Joe B. is a one-trick pony. Hoff provides some low brow comic relief, but nothing substantial. And finally, Red Spot and EdHead who can't carry the show since they're not headliner material. Mayor Sam, you have talent finding good material, but apparently you're burnt out, and need suppliments or replacements.
Mailander is good, too. He brough some level of credibility to the blog with his professional manner, artistic eye, and ability to "frame" an issue. But, he's not headliner material for your core audience, that is activists, politicos and government workers, and community minded/concerned citizens. Instead, you must be looking for someone with solid, and consistant L.A. political connections and material.
I hope you find that. This blog is certainly flapping, like a fish out of water. My guess is that you've decided to ride on Valley Doll, another in a line of bad decisions, to convert MayorSam Blog to a more T and A flavor.
Bad timing, Joe, just when Red Spot finally makes a relevant and even relatively well-spolled post, about how Reyes embodies the worst of the worst, when it comes to aggressively and pro-actively intent on destroying this city, and quality of life, with forcing high density, low-income projects into the heart of the hillsides and CDs 5 and 11, expressly next to the parks in nicest areas.
Blaming these people for everything from poverty to obesity in the hoods (with Jan Perry in tow), for not accepting the projects, by having the sheer nerve to consider their own property values and quality of life. (These two even manage to blame the westside's refusal to take Rockey's crooked schemes to let Clear Channel/CBS's huge, ugly billboards, for poverty and lack of parks -- See L A Times local section of last week, "Divide and Conquor," and CityWatch.)
This is very serious, since that fool Reyes isn't just some other Clown, but head of the PLUM/ Planning Committee, and he seems to have Mike Woo and some other naive PC fools on his side. How long does Reyes have left to serve? If the city doesn't mobilize, they'll wish they'd seceded before Reyes brought TJ to the WHOLE city, not content to turn his own district into it. And WORSE.
Even TJ has some secure, quiet enclaves left. The Mexicans would never allow his crazy schemes. We need your help, Joe! Wherever you blog, don't forget about this one.
Joe,
Please stay.
-Petra
Actually, Mayor Sam has made some very smart decisions, like getting rid of Zuma Dogg. As for Mailander, yes, you are smart, and yes, your heart is in the right place, but what is the HOOK?
If smart Angelenos actually cared and were involved, would the city be in the shape it was in? No offense Joe, but everything on Villaraigosa was out there before you voted for him for Mayor. He did nothing in CD 14, his womanizing, duplicity, and ridiculous ambition were well-dcoumented.
So what exactly do you think WILL solve LA's problems? Artistic photographs and cerebral posts? I'm not clear what you meant on Laurel and Hardy.
Incidentally, O'Melveny does not lobby. It has become a pure litigation and transactions firm. It is not that political anymore. Latham does still lobby. But fact checking is a must. There are many worse lobbyists in this city than two, multi-national law firms that quite frankly, do not need Los Angeles business and don't try to manipulate things here.
As for the blog. The blog was at its best when it encouraged one thing and one thing only: Articles on local politics. One or two a day. With a genuine insider's twist. Other insiders would comment on same. That is why people came here. That is why they still come here (for that hope).
Mayor Sam would be a lot better if he posted a simple thread like, "the city is abuzz with who is going to run for X office in 2010. Discuss." Through all the spin, some genuine inside information inevitably emerges.
And yes, the idiotic posters should be deleted where possible. They are the graffiti "artists" of this blog. Remove their graffiti, and they will go away.
Good morning Master Mailander (removes hat and places it over heart):
Leaving us are you? Those of us on the crew who enjoyed you will miss you. You are a talented scribe, and your opinions are insightful ones. Even if not everyone agreed with you, your opinions still were, if you will, worthy of at the very least a cursory read, savvy?
(Raises glass) While we as a rule don't drink the hard stuff before 10:00am, we'll make the exception in your case. To Master Mailander, a hearty and loyal soul. (Crew gives three cheers for Joseph Mailander)
(Whispers) You know, you can always join up with Captain Roberts. He could use a bright man such as yourself.
Good riddance.
You're wise to remove primadonnas like Zuma Dog and Joe Meathead.
@8:52, Moron Councilmember Staffer:
So what exactly do you think WILL solve LA's problems? Artistic photographs and cerebral posts? I'm not clear what you meant on Laurel and Hardy.
Wham, bam, thank you ma'am developers certainly won't solve L.A.'s probs. The MORON L.A. Planners think that ad hoc development upwards, along with bus transportation corridors, will attract quality to L.A.? NO!!! It'll attract a third world population and the criminal element which prey on it and can't be contained.
What will solve L.A.'s probs? Buy out big pieces of land and then design anew. Build community housing around a plaza/park, with owners, rentals, services, and private security police (funded by community fees). Pool ownership into shared, long term owner/investor consortiums. Stop using developer money from people with no interest in staying in the community.
You may think this is unrealistic and pie-in-the-sky. Well, the Billionaire Boy's solution will turn L.A. into Mumbai.
This blog has also suffered because some of the insiders who were providing the good inside scoop had their chain pulled, like the Captain Jack crew that no longer brings any heat. And Zuma probably took some of the inside scoop with him, too.
A stupid idiot that writes like a pirate and a homeless guy who lives in a van were providing "scoop?"
What dream world are your castles in?
75% of Zuma's stuff is from newspapers or other blogs. The rest that he gets from loser freak "activists" is usually wrong.
90% of Captain Jack's stuff - when you can get past the drunken haze is wrong.
Remember when Captain Jack had the big "exclusive" that Jack Hoff was Ulysses Sanchez? Could he have not been more wrong?
I've read this blog since the beginning and have seen writers come and go. They find a few nuts once in a while but this blog is about the readers not the writers. I could care less if Zuma or Mailander or Jack Hoff or the Pope himself wrote here. Makes no difference. It goes on.
Hey Mailander!
Don't cry for me Argentina!
Suggestion: Go write with Zuma Dogg about the news before it happens.
Or write speeches for Wacko Walter you are both a couple of racists.
^^^^ Piss off, Don Culo
Anyone who complains about something and then doesn't have a solution doesn't deserve to write on a public forum. You hate density but your only solution is - move away or put up fences on the border. Even your goodbye post was self-righteous.
JM: Good luck. I'm going to assume that you know what you're doing and that you will stay involved in some way.
It's sad that Zuma used this thread about you to promote himself.
I was wondering Mayor. Why do these bloggers need to be anonymous? It was understandable back when you had Mayor Frank in the Hertzberg campaign and insider info. But what about now? Jack Hoff has to be anonymous to post Laurel and Hardy photos? Why is that? Why does Petra Fried have to be anonymous to post opinions and crap WE ALL KNOW about Parks and Rec? And Red Spot? What's that about? He has to hide behind a moniker because he's a republican? What is he Jane Fonda's kid about to be disowned?
Point is, none of these losers are saying anything we don't already know. They cut and paste, tell us where the articles they like are, or flaunt their agendas under cover. The days of Anony posters like this really are over. No one else would protect this bull. Think about how stupid it is to have a guy posting dumb pictures of Anne Frank in hiding.
I agree with Joe. This blog has gone totally downhill. Make them all come out of the closet. Their undercover stories aren't worth shit.
10:38am,
Boo hoo hoo...it's a big fucking shame, isn't it. You post more comments about me, than I post.
Was it promotion? Where's the link. What did I promote. Everyone else posts comments. Am I not allowed to post a comment on the situation?
Again, sorry I made a comment like everyone else, and ruined your somber, boo-hoo-hoo crybaby moment.
The guy wasn't killed in the line of duty or diagonsed with any life threatening disease. And I didn't promote shit, you crybaby.
Boo hoo hoo...Zuma commented on topic when I was wiping a crybaby tear away from my eye.
Why don't you go fly your flag at half-mast you pussy. And now you will find out what it's like when Zuma Dogg really decides to take over this comment section with promotion now that this blog is officially over, you crybaby pussy!
HERE'S WHAT'S NEW TODAY ON ZUMA DOGG'S LA DAILY BLOG: (A Laurel and Hardy cartoon free zone)
DWP Rate Hike on Today's Council Agenda: What to expect from DWP GM Nahai (Desperate times (for Nahai) requires desperate measures, so don't be surprised if you hear Nahai blame the recent tragic death of an L.A. fire figher on aging infrastructure -- even though the Mayor of Los Angeles already declared publicly it was a "freak accident". I SURE HOPE NOT!)
AUDIO: Massive DWP Thread! Public Comment & Councilmember Discussion of DWP Rate Hikes (Including David Nahai) (In case you missed it, in preparation of today's Council meeting.)
Best Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Video EVER: Mayor Interrupts Hecklers on Street - Plus, Hear Mayor Say, "We Gotta Join Mccain!"
Tennie Pierce Outside Council Cost L.A. City $1.4 Million (Initially Approved for only $750,000)
Wyvernwood Releases Proposed Plan "Facts" As Protected Oak Trees Are Already Cut Down (Before The Communities Eyes)
DWP Rate Increases Up For Vote In LA City Council
Why Pierce case was settled
Zuma Dogg's First Political Endorsement: Jackie Speier for U.S. Congress!
CM Jose Huizar Says "No" To Mural on Boyle Heights Police Station
Mayor Harassed During Skid Row Lighting Speech
That deadly gang in City Hall
Hybrid-car drivers may lose parking perks
City students less likely to graduate than suburban kids
Paulson: 'More bumps' loom
LA Council Members Support State Resolution On Medical Pot
Is L.A. City Councimember Jose Huizar Already Raising Money To Run For Another Office
L.A. County drivers could pay an extra 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump, or additional $90 vehicle registration to help fight global warming
LA DAILY BLOG:
LIVE WITH IT DOUCHEBAG!
Someone was bound to find out sooner or later.
And Red Spot? What's that about? He has to hide behind a moniker because he's a republican? What is he Jane Fonda's kid about to be disowned?
Now the regressive childhood memories are open for all to see.
DAMN COMMIE MOMMY!!
Shame you didn't get her good looks. You must take after Commie Daddy.
zuma your a bitch, you ain't nothing but a shit mouth punk.
Interesting. Now Zuma Dogg is declaring this blog over? Whatever.I've heard it a million times.
I am sad to see Joe go; I will share my feelings with him privately. I am not upset with him nor are there any issues between us. He is still part of the family. I will still ask him for advice if he will be so kind to allow me.
However with all due respect to Joe or anyone else - bloggers come and go. They always have. We go on. Someone said this blog is not about the writers but the readers. I think there's a lot of truth to that. We will do our very best to provide as much great content as possible. I will also take another look at some issues of quality control. But its not always going to be pretty.
Anyway, the death of this blog has been proclaimed many times. We're not going anywhere. Indeed, we had our best week in terms of readership and other metrics this past week. I've been given a lot of good tips I'm trying to crank out to you all. Thanks to the many readers for their support.
In the meantime, blog away dum dums.
Aw Mayor Sam, don't take me too seriously when I'm all cranky responding to your reader's false accusations.
I wouldn't say the blog is over, but you know, more than anyone of my disatsifaction with the direction of this blog, but I've kept it under my hat publicly, for the most part...but you especially know I was very disappointed with the things you allowed to be posted on this comment section. (And you DID end up putting it on moderation, after our blow up and my departure, which sucked cause if you would have done that when I was begging you to, we would still be one happy family...
I DO agree that this blog is about the readers and the comments. But a lot of people HAVE left this blog over Jack Hoff and all his anony-self-blogging.
But here's the thing buddy...the blog may not be "totally over", but something is up here in the content department, and it's pretty much being discussed all over the street. But you don't think you've skipped a beat.
You lost Walter, ZD, Mailander all for basically the same reason.
Damn bro...i'm not saying don't evolve, or whatnot, but you should take the feedback a little, too.
Sam,
At least you gotta admit, I expressed this concern to you a while ago on the phone and in email, and kept it off the blog. But you let anyone say anything they want about anyone at anytime...so why should I be such a nice guy? I think you are a nice guy, but I do think you are going south on judgment day for what you allow people to spew in this section. (Just my opinion. I would NEVER be comfortable allowing the comments you have allowed on this blog. And I couldn't even allow myself to be a part of it as an official contributor.)
Sam, when ZD was blogging, he had the long winded things he's now got on his blog that no one reads. Then he'd post half the comments, attacking every single person who said anything about him, deleting.
As long as you're restrained and keep his kind of insane, foul-mouthed attack on everybody off the blog, you should find a voice again. Too bad about Joe M, he's the only one who has street cred and isn't a flake. (Proof is that Don Cholo called him and Walter Moore both racists, for wanting to deport illegal criminals and opposing tacky density which runs neighborhoods.) But I don't see VD as helping, and she doesn't understand the issues of density, environmental responsibility, etc. Jack Hoff has to grow up, and Red Spot has a coherent, relevant post today, but there's no consistency. Just don't get desperate for hits and let that ZD back like he was.
I liked it better when Zuma posted less. He's like a baby who has to respond to any post about him. Waste of space and it's annoying having to read it.
Are you coming back in another life as a pirate?
Mailander,
There are yet more L.A. "battles" that need to be addressed. For example,
THIS VENICE BOARDWALK ISSUE SHOULD BE TOUTED AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL ACTIVISM!!! THE First Amendment of the Constitution, FREEDOM OF SPEECH WINS!!!
http://www.citywatchla.com/content/view/1123/
VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK BATTLE-(This from Bill Rosendahl) The latest version of a proposed revised ordinance regulating commercial vending and noise on Venice Beach is moving and there are several important public meetings scheduled where you can offer your feedback.
Following Councilmember Bill Rosendahl’s February Town Hall meeting on the draft ordinance, crafted under the supervision of a federal judge, changes have been made to the proposal incorporating many suggestions from members of the community.
...
Goodbye Joe. I'll miss you greatly.
I thought the blog was the most fun when the real staffers really did post here. I thought it was fun when there was "inside" scoop here. And it was inside for those of us who didn't want to go searching other blogs or newspapers to find it.
I miss Zuma too. I'm glad when he posts here.
When the people with monikers who posted here daily left, it did quiet down a lot. If you go back to the very beginning of MS, you'll see who/what I mean.
Good luck Joe if we can't change your mind. And what about your pictures? I loved them.
BTW, someone should be telling the full, head to tail story on that one.
A commenter mentioned as regards The Fog in the Bog's posts:
"Waste of space and it's annoying having to read it."
The Fog's posts are always headed with a bright blue "zuma dogg". Recognize it and scroll right on by. I do it and have gotten really good at it. Hell I got so good I could spot the Jack Hoff "fart posts" without the blue highlight, and scroll through those too. Work on it/ gitter done. No need for the fog in the bog to clog your nog-gin..
A certain someone should be careful about posting comments anonymously after they have already expressed the same sentiments publicly to others. It's a real quick way to reveal yourself and it unravels rather quickly and before you know it, you wish that you were never an anonymous coward because it turned out you weren't so anonymous. As time moves on you will begin to become aware of this concept. Unless you already have?
Sam, if you are goin gto allow Zuma to ruin this blog with hislong winded posts, I will leave again.
I am one of those guys whose picture should be on the wall of the post office according to your posters, but none of us would work for the $800 an hour as suggested.
The posting of that sum shows how little the poster knows about what we do and how we do it.
Clean up ZD's long iwnded crap or you will lose readers; we were so happy when he left, but he is like Rasputin and Hillary, the Blogger's Fatal Attraction.
Joe:
Thanks for your wonderful contribution. I didn't always agree with you, but you backed it up with facts and no personal insults. As a liberal, you were (& are) very brave to attack the LA Times.
As we've seen in Clinton v. Obama, nothing's more nasty when liberals attack each other (even if it is fun sometimes).
Vaya con Dios, my friend!
It's the freakin' internet, and its all free.
I wish Joe well, but not going to sweat his moving on - I'm sure he'll find a new blog to post at... he's ingrained in the "blog-la-sphere" beyond what url or blogspot address he's been associated with.
Martini Republic? Barely remember the name. Joseph Mailander? Unforgettable!
As for the rest of Mayor Sam... he keeps LA politics interesting, and is one of the hardest working bloggers in LA. And like most LA bloggers, he's doing all this for free, as a service.
If you don't like a post or writer SCROLL DOWN. If you think Mayor Sam's doing a crappy job, start your own blog - its FREE.
And while its awesome that Mayor Sam allows anon comments, 99% of the anonymous commenters here are trolls. Create a freakin' name and own your words.
ZD doesn't even realize he is self promoting all the time.
No one reads his dead blog, so he comes over here to try to drum up a little interest.
When did he "promote"?
How many times did he post his plea for PayPal donations?
That coffee money, food money, bus fare money, gas money beggar needs to just go away and stay away.
Don't you understand the meaning of PNG????
I am identifying myself as the fart man only so I can post this. Mayor Sam do not delete please I beg you.
I have been reading some of the comments and have been sharing emails with friends of mine.
I think I am the reason Joe Mailander left.
My mission was to get rid of Jack Hoff.
And it backfired.
Oh and despite what they said Zuma said I am not Jack Hoff.
I am kind of new to your blog. I liked its openness in telling it as it is. Real issues that affect our lives which many of us need to learn. But since Zuma Dogg left I noticed a change not only the number of posts went down but what I posted was rejected. My post was not offensive it was informative. But someone did not want it published. I have the feeling that someone is pulling your strings.
As I read in another blog “this is like a town hall meeting” but I think is more than that it is a great tool to communicate and to unite for a better way of life. We have to use this tool wisely and stop giving importance to opinions of people that have a “pea brain”. MAYBE their intention is to keep us distracted from those issues that they want to remain obscure.
"How many times did he post his plea for PayPal donations?"
I challenge all readers to scan this blog for the last time I put a paypal link on my thread. I do notice that this blog has a donation link and has tons of advertising all over it. I DON'T! What now, crybaby?
You can't spin on weakness. You have to go all the way back to the last time that I posted a paypal link (which is perfectly standard for blogging -- and I challenge you to find that era from this blog.
So they'll say, "Is that it?" Man, is J a big crybaby.
And if you wanna read some things now, that you will be reading elsewhere later...check out LA Daily Blog.com
Oh great "Jack's F*rt watcher" just outed themselves to ZD, and if I figured it out, I'm sure at least five other people figured it out without having to think to hard.
Can't you just smoke some extra weed and forget about it.
Zuma Mutt is out of control how rants will he post on this blog?
Zuma the attention whore keeps telling us about all the hits on his bog, then why is here?
Zuma sure is loco in the head, the guy is going psycho on this blog, against his anonymous enemies.
Does anybody give a shit about his constant whining and insults, everybody who comes here to read Zuma bitch, complain and whine please tell us why you love Zuma's psycho rants.
ZD you rock the boat dude! this blog is more about you and LADAILYBLOG.COM
80 % of the comments mention you and everyone that "hates' you really promote your more and more. Keep on Trucking!
I don't consider Zuma's posts to be psycho rants? I like him. So shoot me.
I don't have to explain anything to you. Why do you hate him so much? And if you are only going to talk about a homeless, smelly mutt then you can save your typing fingers for some hate-spewing elsewhere.
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