Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday
Did anyone read Greg Nelson's last post on CityWatch? I am not really sure what he was talking about; something to the effect of attracting better candidates for the City's Neighborhood Councils having something to do with whether or not the City provides public funding for sports stadiums. If you figure it out; let me know.The New York Observer is reporting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is holding a fund-raiser for Mayor Villaraigosa in the Big Apple next month. No truth to the rumor that Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is planning a benefit for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's mayoral campaign.
We mentioned Bitter Bernie's telephone campaign on behalf of postage stamps; one blogger asks a great question: why didn't Bernie call his constituents before the price of stamps went up? In the meantime, while Bernie was busy telling stakeholders their comments to the Council were not necessary, he received the endorsement of Magic Johnson.
Interesting article in the LA Weekly about the recent State Supreme Court decision permitting gays to marry in California. At the time the case was about to go through "tolerant" Democrats squirmed and wanted to stick it back in the closet. But it was Republican judges that made the difference.
And finally, we teased a new writer here on the blog Thursday. We won't torture you anymore; we're pleased to announce that Jamiel Shaw, Sr. - father of murdered teenager Jamiel Shaw, II - will be joining the blog as a contributor to share his thoughts on a number of issues. Stay tuned for Jamiel's first post very soon.
Labels: Bitter Bernie, Gay Marriage, greg nelson, jamiel shaw sr., magic johnson, mayor antonio villaraigosa, michael bloomberg, neighborhood councils
Posted by Michael Higby @ 5/23/2008 04:00:00 AM
20 Comments:
Magic Johnson endorses Parks in race for L.A. County supervisor
The former Laker great turned developer backs the councilman in the campaign.
Magic has turned into the typical idiot developer only caring about what people can do for him. Word was he really like Mayor Hahn but needed Villar as Mayor cause he's a developer and Villar promised to help him with all his deals. Sad sad sad these people have no conscience
Núñez sees racial bias in attacks on his spending
By Jim Sanders - jsanders@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, May 22, 2008
Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, saying he now can speak more openly, is blasting accusations that he spent lavishly on overseas trips and retail purchases as racially motivated.
Núñez, who is termed out of the Assembly in December, lashed out Saturday during an interview on Spanish-language television.
The Los Angeles Democrat said he has no regrets over his spending of campaign funds, despite controversy over tens of thousands of dollars spent on high-priced hotels, wine, gifts and other purchases.
"Everyone's done it like this," Núñez said of previous legislative leaders. "The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner.
"Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands."
Núñez's spending included more than $47,000 in plane fare, more than $5,000 at a wine cellar in France, and more than $2,500 for "office expenses" at Vuitton, the Los Angeles Times reported last October.
In the interview on Univision's Voz y Voto program, Núñez defended in Spanish his accommodations in fine hotels overseas.
"What's a luxury hotel? A stay at a Sheraton? … I am, you could say, like a head of state. I'm the leader of the Assembly of the state of California. Where am I supposed to sleep?"
Núñez's spending became a target last year in the campaign against Proposition 93, which would have altered term limits and allowed him to serve as Assembly leader an extra six years.
"The only thing that really results out of this is that groups that don't like Latinos use this as a weapon to inflame anti-Mexican, anti-Latino politics," he said.
Hector Barajas, communications director of the California Republican Party, called Núñez's racial comments disgraceful and disheartening.
"Questioning someone's expenses, especially when they're in public office, is something the public should do," he said.
Kevin Spillane, a GOP strategist who ran the campaign against Proposition 93, noted that the campaign also accused President Pro Tem Don Perata, who is white, of political corruption.
"Political corruption is colorblind," Spillane said.
Steve Maviglio, who served as Núñez's spokesman, said the speaker was justified in feeling that some people exploited controversy over his spending for racial purposes.
"You cannot deny there's some overtly racial overtones to this," Maviglio said.
Fabian Nunez- put this guy in a bra, he's a complete boob.
Getting picked on because of his race? He needs to get himself out of those luxury fixings he adores and get some air.
And to think that this guy may be a City Council candidate. Well, if the voters passed props R and S, anything is possible.
in L.A.
I respect Mr. Shaw and think he has conducted himself in a very dignified way.
While I welcome his joining this blog -- he will class it up a bit I think -- it's not exactly the huge news you promoted it as.
Nevertheless, welcome Mr. Shaw. I think you are a CLASS ACT in a time of your loss.
Shaw, Sr.'s a good catch. Hopefully he can take the heat after the honeymoon's over.
Nice that you dissed Greig Neilsen on the same thread, too.
More "real" people opining on the net; less pompous Clowncil-trained windbags wasting megabytes.
Higby, please institute a policy where you don't allow posters to copy & paste entire articles that make it difficult to see actual comments from the readers.
It's really annoying when they do that and it's unconstructive.
Nunez- it's has nothing to do with "Mexican".
It's because he is and arrogant, pompass, ASS!!
Greg Nelson=big dork
Fabian Nunez=pompous ass
Mr. Shaw=breath of fresh air
Bitter Bernie=didn't get my mail in vote.
Welcome Mr. Shaw!
::big hug::
xoxo
9:35 am, I respectfully diagree with your assessment that posting articles is unconstructive. Some really intersting things have come from the comments section, and had Petra not posted the article she did above, I would have NEVER known about that Stupid Ass Fabian Nunez, and I think the more of us screaming about the Stupid Asses in politics around here, the better.
xoxo
Valley Doll, your kiss-ass responses never seem to end.
You do not have to share your opinion on absolutely every subject posted on this blog, especially on Higby posts.
And your "xoxo" sign off doesn't exactly suggest that your comment is a respectful one. "xoxo" suggests your immaturity.
Not to mention VD's "love ya babe" sign offs.
What a soccer mom.
Has anyone mentioned that Bloomberg is trying to raise funds for Villaraigosa?
How disgusting that a mayor from across the country can stick his nose into L.A.'s problems.
Especially when Villaretardo is such a blantant scumbag.
11:03 said You do not have to share your opinion on absolutely every subject posted on this blog, especially on Higby posts.
Um, every subject posted on this blog?. Pffft... Mayor Sam WISHES!! :)
Your blanket condemnation of the harmless use of "xoxo", shows YOUR immaturity and OCD-like obssession with me. I ALWAYS hug and kiss everyone when I say goodbye. Sorry, I'm affectionate like that.
Obviously, someone's Mommy didn't hug them enough when they were little commenters.
Get over it.
xoxo
Sorry Higby, but now what he's the main writer for Citywatch, Greg Nelson has become the "Andy Rooney" commentator on all things City Hall, a doddering, out-of-touch, deposed king among gadflies.
He's using his extra time now to recycle all the inane memos he sent upstairs while working for two mayors, and which all got promptly ash-canned because they were . . . well, inane.
- "Didja ever notice that 'Public Works' can be a noun and a complete sentence?"
- "Why is it that the notices from the city's EARLY Notification System, always come out in the LATE afternoon?"
- "BONC would be much better suited to do what DONE does, and have DONE do what BONC does now. I don't know why, it just looked pretty when I diagrammed it in crayon on my placemat at Denny's this morning."
- Neighorhood councils were created to teach stakeholders how to blow bubbles without getting soap on their shirts. Look it up; it's in the revised city charter."
- "They have neighborhood councils in Butte, Montana, you know, and their board members get to park their cars on sidewalks without getting tickets. We should try that."
Ignore him. Not like in "ignore him and he'll go away" - because he has nowhere to go, but you'll be less frustrated if you do.
11:09 said: "Not to mention VD's "love ya babe" sign offs.
What a soccer mom."
Excuse me, but The Fresh Prince of Porter Ranch plays golf for the City Championship Winning Varsity Highlander Boys Golf Team.
Ergo-- I am a Golf Mom.
Thank you.
xoxo
Here's a link to the report on the Budget Committee's discussion on cutting the $50,000 that each NC gets.
http://www.lacity.org/cao/budgetmemos.htm
Nunez said, "Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands."
If Nunez is a Mexican first, then why is representing citizens of the United States?
Valley Doll,
I love you just the way you are. Don't you change a thing for these sourpuss posters!!!
xoxo,
Your secret admirer
(Still trying to spin it, huh?)
Read the report again, EINSTEIN. That's a proposal to reduce the amount of funds being set aside next year just IN CASE 11 new NCs are formed and certified in 2008-09, which they WON'T be. They aren't even a fraction of that many new ones gestating.
It has nothing to do with taking anything away from EXISTING councils, only deals with money that non-existent councils would never have spent anyway, and just would have sat there in reserve all year while other vital services were being curtailed.
DUH!!
(That's like keeping tons of money in a college fund when you know you're kids as dumb as -- well, Greg Nelson, and he'll be lucky just to get a GED).
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