Morning Briefs and Outtakes for "Hump Day"

"Can you see me now ??"

Not really if you are going on vacation again.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as of noon yesterday, is off again to the far reaches of the world for some R & R, courtesy of some Special Interest. Villaraigosa has vacated the Third Floor to spend some "Nordic time" in Iceland, can you say fun and games with Keith Brackpool ??

No word whether Lu Parker was allowed to join the Mayor in his annual binge, errr, get together with the "Water Miner of Cadiz Valley", maybe spinmaster Matt can enlighten us with the details.

And if you are so inclined to ask the Mayor about his vacation upon his return, we have this for you.

From: "Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa"
Date: July 28, 2009 3:17:35 PM PDT
To: "dominovm@pacbell.net"
Subject: Have any questions?

Hello Angelenos, (especially campaign contributors)

I wanted to share with you the first installment of my new video feature, ("Tummy Love with Lu") "Ask the Mayor." Each week I will be delivering a webcam message directly responding to constituents' (Special Interest paid for requests) messages. You can watch my first video response here.

I'm beginning my second term with a renewed commitment to transparency (staged of course) and responsiveness (from spokes holes like Matt Szabo and my ninety + staffers), and this feature is a key part of that commitment.(like the commitment to your wife ??)

This is our chance to have an online dialogue. There is no monopoly, (if only I could monopolize campaign contributions), on good ideas, (the ones I steal like Connie Rice's "Summer Night Lights") and it's going to take the vision of all Angelenos (better us than you) to tackle the tough challenges (more since you became Mayor) facing Los Angeles (a Sanctuary City).

Each week, I want you to send me your questions, your concerns (many), your ideas (more ideas to take credit for), and (ahhh) yes, your criticisms (dump truck is ready).

So make your voice heard, (especially when you pay) use the form at www.mayor.lacity.org/MeettheMayor/AsktheMayor/index.htm , and stay tuned for my regular video messages.

Thank you, Antonio Villaraigosa

AKA. Tony "born to raise hell" Villar

Other News:

** Surprise, surprise, Mayor Villaraigosa did this ??

Stepping into a controversy over the city's business tax, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Tuesday for a procedural change that would prevent companies from being reclassified into higher tax brackets.

Rick Newcombe of Creator's Syndicate, who detailed in a Wall Street Journal article how his firm was reclassified, said the shift would cost him several thousand dollars more in taxes and would force him to consider relocating to another city.

"Mayor Villaraigosa is a man of his word who respects the rule of law," Newcombe said after receiving a copy of the letter. "He is committed to keeping and attracting jobs to Los Angeles."

Memo to Rick, STAY AWAY FROM THE "KOOL AID OF SPIN!!"

** City of Los Angeles is going to take a $200 million dollar hit from the State of California and how do the City Council respond ?? Link to read the quotes from the likes of "Councilman Potato Head", "Bitter Bernie" and the "Zorro Marxist".

** Ex Mayor Richard Riordan is endorsing Chris Essel for the CD-2 Council Seat. Did he also offer to pay for her carpetbag ??

** Take a deep breath for this one. The Los Angeles City Council is weighing a plan to issue a $30-million loan that would allow the owner of the Hollywood & Highland shopping mall to retrofit a theater so it can house a decade of performances by Cirque du Soleil.

CIM Group, which owns Hollywood & Highland but leases the Kodak Theatre within the mall, hopes to bring the acrobatic performances to the venue starting in 2011. In exchange for the loan, CIM and its partners would pledge to create at least 858 jobs, according to the proposal.

The audacity at City Hall!! BTW, who have they contributed to ?? Just a thought.......

** Beggars can't be choosers, but they sure can bitch when they don't get their way.

While crafting their budget earlier this year, Los Angeles city officials requested federal stimulus money to hire up to 450 new officers. But instead the city was awarded what City Council President Eric Garcetti called "a drop in the bucket" from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program -- a $16.3-million allotment that will allow L.A. to hire and retain just 50 officers for three years. He and other city officials questioned Tuesday whether the grant formula discriminated against big cities.

Eric, try stimulating a better business climate in the city before crying to the "Telepromptive President".

** Did you know that Mayor Villaraigosa can write Op-Ed pieces for your local fishwrap ?? This one appears in the "Old Gray Hag On Spring Street" regarding education. Don't expect to learn anything new.

** And our friend at Lincoln High 90031 has a great story on Mayor Villaraigosa's education vision in Watts. "Blacks need not apply and English need not to be spoken".

** Lastly, William H. Anton, former LAUSD Superintendent, past away at 85. He was the first Latino to hold the top spot.

Your thoughts..............................