Candidates at SOHA
The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association held their monthly meeting on Wednesday night and heard a speech from Bob Hertzberg. Before the speech, SOHA invited all the CD 2 candidates to meet and greet local voters.
Most of the candidates took them up on their offer. Because the candidates were freed from the normal structured forum/debate, it was an interesting opportunity to get to see them up close and personal and get in a few words with some of them. I had the opportunity to speak with many of them.
Joe Essavi talked about his name recognition in the area, and felt that it would help him get votes because he was a candidate who was fresh in voters minds from his recent run at the Community College Board of Trustees.
Frank Sheftel seemed very happy and pleased with how his campaign was going. He said more and more people are joining him every day. He mentioned he has a big event coming up on Sunday.
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg was disappointed that this was not a regular forum, because he was looking forward to confronting Chris Essel and Tamar Galatzan over some issues. But Zuma Dogg seemed to be in good spirits. The last I saw of him, he was seated at one of the tables in the crowd, eating some food and chatting with CD 2 residents.
I tried to get in a word with Christine Essel, but she took off from the event fairly quickly. Maybe she was worried about the drive time over to Sunset/Doheny Estates.
Mary Benson discussed with me how she was using the internet to marshal her supporters. "All these blogs on the internet...it is really helping us candidates get out the word about our campaign", she said.
I decided to go over and introduce myself to Tamar Galatzan. I gave her my card and talked about the Mayor Sam blog. She acknowledged that she knew all about it. I told her that I have been a bit rough on her on the blog. "Yes, you have ..! " she replied, laughing a little bit.
We discussed a few details about things and Tamar scribbled a few quick notes on my card. A few things struck me about Tamar.... 1) She is very smart....and 2) She is competent. Very detail oriented.
Unfortunately, she is also a big-spending liberal...so I don't want her to win CD 2.
But I have to admit that I have begrudgingly started to respect this woman who I had originally labeled part of the "Axis of Evil". She seems to have the right temperament for politics. I suppose that of the "Big 3" that the forum moderators keep referring to...I would be least offended by her winning CD 2.
But, having said that...I still want her to lose. Anyone but the Big 3. Please.
I didn't get the chance to talk to Augusto Bisani, but I have one piece of advice for him.
Dude...button up the shirt. This is not 1978. You are not in a disco..you are running for political office.
On my way out of the event, I ran into Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich, the new City Attorney. If anyone is having a good year, it is Nuch. I patted him on the shoulder and said "Keep up the good work". Nuch was smiling, happy and confident at SOHA. It was his type of crowd, that's for sure. Nuch hasn't started going Michael Corleone on any of the corrupt politicians in City Hall yet...but I have a feeling that it might just be a matter of time. Things seem to be going his way.
One of the most interesting meetings of the night happened before I even arrived at the SOHA event. I was walking up the street towards the event and ran into Paul Krekorian, who was leaving the event early with one of his aides. I jokingly chastised him for leaving so early. He explained that he was leaving early because he had to get to another event. We chatted for under a minute, shook hands and he departed. In order to dispel a theory I had, I took a good whiff of the air around where we stood.
No burning smell. No odor of sulphur.
Nope. Paul Krekorian is just a normal politician.
He's not being guided by supernatural forces.
This is very good news for the other 9 candidates.
It means that Paul can be beaten.
Posted by Phil Jennerjahn @ 8/20/2009 01:12:00 AM
44 Comments:
I can't believe how negative you are toward the big three. Face it! One of them will win. While I respect your right to blog about what ever it is you choose I have to say your longing to matter is atrocious. I have great respect for most of your writings however your recent posts have dripped with hate.
To think that in one posting you stated that you originally thought Tamar Galatzan was stupid and that Paul Krekorian was the devil..give me a break...Like I said your venom is a serious sign of a longing to matter as you probably go about life everyday as an insignificant sad excuse of overweight filth.
Mayor Sam...get help...soon...before your pursuit of power overtakes your former good nature.
-A concerned friend...
What? You told Tamar that you "were a bit rough on her?"
Were you being dishonest with us, by being unfairly rough on her?
Or were you just being a pussy so that she would talk with you now?
Where is your fucking backbone? Either you stand by your work, or you don't. Obviously you don't. And I have to ask this since I couldn't be the only one thinking about it. But you have a business card? Pray tell, what does it say? Is it a Mayor Sam business card? Do you carry around Play-Doh clay too?
Or does your fantasy business card have the info for your play-time republican group?
Please can you publish what your "business" card looks like? You can cross out the phone number so you don't get pranked. The readers must be dying to see what your business card looks like.
big spending liberal....big spending liberal....
do you get sad because the only people who win in in LA are big spending liberals?
jesus man, we get it. you are a republican. every post from you is the exactly the same.
would you please post someplace the location and times of the candidate forums. I live outside the district but want to hear what they say. thank you.
Phil Genderjane has a business card, but no paying job?
Whose funds did he use to pay for the cards?
I can just hear him as he glad-hands the candidates. "Phil Genderjane, Mayor Sam's blog AND West Side Republicans."
Galatzan says, "Phil! You have two jobs just like I do! You're gonna vote for me right?"
Genderjane, "Only if you can get me a third job. One that pays. And while you're at it, can you get my friend Zuma Dogg a job too?"
Galatzan, "Uh, sure. Don't forget Vote Tamar for CD2!"
Villaraigosa, "Phil Genderjane. How'z it hanging? You're going to vote for homegirl Galatzan right?"
Genderjane, "I love you Antonio! Of course!"
See? Toldja Tamar was smart. Wonder if Krekorian was going to a fundraiser...Essel is just an embarrassment.
So if Phil and Michael are uncomfortable with liberals because they spend too much money, I have two questions:
1. How do you explain the skyrocketing increase in federal spending during Bush's 8 years?
2. Isn't conservatism the place where racists live, along with those idiots who walk around town with assault rifles slung over their shoulders.
You must feel terribly uncomfortable keeping company with them.
At least spending has the potential to produce some good for the world.
I live in CD2. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS? ISN'T THAT KIND OF THE POINT OF THIS BLOG?
It would have been nice if you TOLD US about this event IN ADVANCE of it happening.
Some of us would've attended. Thanks for nothing.
1:57, the posting was noted as made by Phil, but as "A concerned friend," you seem to be directing complaints and analysis to Higby.
The idea on Nuch that he hasn't gone "Michael Corleone" on corrupt politicians is confusing. Corleone, as the Godfather character, was a crime family boss, and in the stories, the corrupt politicians were "used" to regularly to advance the crime boss' interests.
He wasn't a crime fighter. Maybe you meant he is "getting tough" with politicians, but then that's still from a criminal's standpoint for personal gain.
But then again, all elected officials bear some watching to some degree or other.
Been to two events where Essel has been at, she jets out very quick without talking to any one there.
Paul is an all around good guy, even if you don't agree with him. We could do much worse than him.
Essel is always in hurry to get out any place that has actual voters.
The donor set, she is a lot more comfortable in that crowd.
@ 8:52
Ummmmm, that 8 trillion or so that Bush "spent" is only about 3.5 trillion, the rest is exposing Clintons "creative bookkeeping"
Even if Bush spent 8 tril, Obama has spent 2 tril in 6 months, if that trend continues, were looking @ 16 trillion on of an already 8 trillion dollar deficit.
But is ok! We're gonna "Spend our way out of debt", right?
Oh, BTW Lincoln was a republican, but clearly, you decide to use the NEGATIVE stereo type to classify people on the right.
Sound like what the KKK does to minority groups, no?
xD
Jane Jeffries,
I think you are unloading some misplaced anger at Michael Higby when I actually wrote this piece. For your information, I don't hate any of the candidates. That would be unprofessional. I don't take it personally, I just disagree with these candidates on political grounds.
Krekorian is a carpetbagging liberal who helped to bankrupt the State of California. He is abandoning his jobin the State Assembly for selfish reasons. He wants a bigger paycheck and a more secure job. Nothing admirable about that.
I think Krekorian is a nice guy.
1:57 a.m, your analysis is probably right about all the bloggers here and this whole blog - if anyone has a name from having done something, and is a Democrat, you can be sure they're maligned and slimed while there's a distortion of those like Nuch, Zine, Cooley who just happen to be Republicans.
BUT in this case this post is from Phil Jennerjahn, who's not overweight but a small man in one suit whose real job is so vague he won't say, and who stands next to a flag in his photo in a desperate attampt "to matter."
Higby himself untrue to form has endorsed Krekorian so on his posts that's the one guy exempt from this vitriol. Maybe Krekorian flattered his ego by talking to him and sending him a press release.
11:36, stop with the crybaby persecution stuff.
At least two of us bloggers here are pretty serious liberal-types. Not Libertarians, LIBERALS.
Pull your head out. Take a deep breath. Move on.
Thank you.
Phil isn't often dead on, but boy, he is DEAD on about Paul Krekorian.
I am amazed that Petrafried wrote something instead of her usual cut & paste job.
I agree with one of the earlier commenters. Thanks for nothing about telling us about this event. I for sure would have attended.
I also agree with the commenter who said phil stands in front of a flag with his one suit in order to attempt to be important. Same thing for a man who "gave Tamar his business card." What a joke.
I still haven't heard why no one on this blog told us about this event. It wasn't a last minute thing. I also live in the area but am not a member of the SOHA.
"Been to two events where Essel has been at, she jets out very quick without talking to any one there."
Lol. When Essel "jets out" is there a driver waiting outside in a Lincoln to rush her back over Mulholland?
Petra 11:42 pull YOUR head out - you may call yourself a "liberal" but who you support and attack fall in line with the rest of this blog, and my comments. You're utterly deluded if you deny it. Joe B is the only one who posts here who IS a liberal and doesn't launch into knee-jerk vitriol on the "Mayor Sam targets" and sometimes calls others on it.
Behaving this way, posts about anyone but your few Republican heroes or MARGINALIZED outsiders like Zuma, Sheftel, etc. reflect the truth of Jane Jeffries' comments - posts "dripping in hate" (and jealousy) in a desperate "attemopt to matter" IS what characterizes the tone of posters on this blog.
Ironic but very revealing however that Phil's idea of flattering Nuch is to compare him to Corleone -- very unintentionally apt.
Say what you want about Krekorian, his is the only campaign that's sent me mail, come to my door, and called me. Haven't even heard from Essel or Galatzan.
I've talked to people I know in his assembly district and they tell me his office has always been very responsive.
11:59, maybe she's jetting-out to miss the traffic, speaking of which, I think it's totally unfair to make Christine Essel drive to the Valley for these candidate forums. Can't the next one take place at the Four Seasons on Doheny & 3rd? (Added benefit: Zuma's van won't make it over the hill.)
warning to CD 2 candidates...loser jennerjahn will try to smell you.
Hey Fill, smell 'ya later!
Debbie Downer!
How did you conclude that Phil has one suit, 11:53? Are you now hiding out in peoples closets?
Today the PPL newsletter is promoting a motorcycle ride for Zine, whose bringing along Nooch for another photo op to try to shore him up, yesterday it was an event for Smith.
Wonder who are the ones who work for the PPL? Which of these candidates are most or least likely to do
Weber's dirty work, which includes fighting the addition of new cops in order to maintain or increase pay and benefits of the ones they have?
EXCEPT when it comes to their pushing to create a private police force of 200 cops with cars and high-tech gadgets for Trutanich in the City Attorney's office to spy on other city officials and staff.
He has repeated this goal many times and the Slimes and Orlov give it a pass, and where's Wendy on this? Is she afraid to rock the boat since he's attacked her and Chick all over the place and distorted the Controller issue to make it sound like they're just a couple of crazy chicks?
12:18 is not me. I have not got any calls or mail from Krikorian's campaign.
I do know that people like Diann Corral who heads up the Laurelgrove Neighborhood Association and is a colleague of mine on the Neighborhood Council has endorsed Paul and says that her community has a lot of respect for the service Paul's staff has given them.
I've never needed to call Paul for any help but I have seen him come out to many meetings and events, visit our Neighborhood Council, etc. That's more than I can say for LeBong and Wendy.
Half the time LeBong's staff failed to show up - even when they asked to be on the agenda! And Wendy's staff who did come generally came dressed inappropriately and only came to promote things like Wendy giving out free burgers in the park or asking us to pass out light bulbs for the DWP.
Krekorian's staff on the other hand shows up to talk about actual legislation.
So MS, which of Wendy's staffers came inappropriately dressed, and how so?
12:08 - Zuma Dogg? No, Joe Mailander, who believes he himself is the definition of liberal (hey Joe, you better check up on whether being a hard-core supporter of Catholic doctrine fits most folks' definition of liberal.) Definitely Joe. Can't stand that someone like me supported Nuch. Hm. And how do I feel about pro-lifers claiming to be hard-core "liberals"? Hmmmmm.
This is the absolutely weirdest thing I've ever read about myself in my life.
Petra--I can even stand John Thomas supporting Nuch. I can easily stand YOU supporting him. I think Weiss would have been better for the City.
As to my liberal street cred, all I have to say is that politics often flip at the local level. Who's for tax breaks in enterprise zones? It's often liberals. Who's for NIMBY no-build policies in, say, Sunland Tujunga? It's often free-market bluehaired conservatives.
I'll tell you what I don't like about Nuch right up front: he's a Long Beach Republican who moved into his son's apartment, and his campaign manager is an Atlas Shrugged Pasadena Republican who went Yes on Prop 8. You got an answer for that? "Hmmmm?"
"Hmmm," yourself. I sign my own true name whenever I write things, not only because I have a healthy ego, but because I write opinions and I know they are worthless to me unless I put a name on them. I'm a writer, for christsakes, not a political operative. I write about everyone in a way that reflects my own true opinions on them, and when I don't know something about them, whether it's Tamar Galatzan or Zuma Dogg or Barbara Boxer, I simply call them up and ask them whatever I'm curious about. And I sure as hell don't write anything here I don't sign my own name to, and you should know that by now, even beyond some others.
Indeed a pleasure to respond. Go look up and down at one of Michael's IP emails if you don't believe me.
I'm voting for Paul because he's nice during this campaign.
would for whomever you want, as long as it is not Mayor's candidate Chris Essel.
Valley Village resident
Zuma made some great points today regarding the "Big 3" how they are all machine candidates. Villar would welcome any of them & he's working overtime to keep Essel in the running. Tamar is certain to help Le Bonge with the Universal City boondoggle and Koretz has Krekorian's back. All they need is a run off with two of the three and the developer special interest and Villar machine win another one like they did with Koretz. Amazing how a sleazy do-nothing unpopular Mayor can still run everything.
6:51
The mayor has only one dog in this fight and its Essel.
The other two cant be controlled.
I'm resigned to one of these Big Three losers winning. Sad yes, BUT we must stay engaged and send Paul "Princess of Wasilla" Krekorian a loud message by keeping him out of the runoff. It's the morally right thing to do and it would make the bitter pill of Tamar or Essel easier to swallow. My $0.02
7:07
Benson supporter here, but I think Krekorian makes it to the run off.
His people are everywhere in ST working it hard. Been called by them, mailed by them and walked by them.
Not a sound from any of the other campaigns.
He is not getting my vote in the first round, but if Benson does not make it he could get my vote in the second round.
Zuma and Benson are both out of it.
Meanwhile David is happy to get a few free meals and a place to flop for a while.
Buy him a tank of gas and he's in heaven.
I agree with 9:06, sad to say it though.
I am disappointed that Dave hasn't been able to focus his attention and get away from the wildly false commentaries that are as inaccurate (Local 300 raid) as they are immature, such as his behavior in city council, although a little of it is merited.
It's mildly entertaining to watch him come to city hall and push buttons. But he lacks the discipline that is required to motivate non followers to get out and vote.
Yup, I understand that all it took was a bit of housing & free food to sate him. but since he wasn't able to stay away from city council even the day after he lost the election i am sure he will continue to come and entertain us. But at some point he will go from becoming a silly 43 year old to a sad 53 year old, ranting about things from years and yeares before.
With Zuma's totally off the wall comments on why Adelman got canned by the mayor, now that the LA Weekly article by Eric Leonard detailing what happened was published, he definitely has no credibility.
Joe, honestly. You expect people to believe you don't post anonymously ever?
Uh huh.
Good luck to you on selling that.
I think that poor concerned for MS, "Jane Jefferies", seems to have confused him with Phil.
Nice dripping with hate post, asswipe. Especially considering Mayor Sam is endorsing Paul.
Learn to read "Jane".
To whoever seems to think that it is Mayor Sam's repsonsibility to keep you informed of all impending CD 2 forums:
DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK
http://cd2election.blogspot.com/
Do not get confused between the difference of claiming that the mayor did not know anything about Adleman (and therefore didn't threaten to release the info) with the mayor notifying Adleman within minutes of hearing a report on the radio.
GET IT? Just because the mayor waited until just MINUTES after a report about Adleman hit the press to tell him not to report to work, does NOT mean the mayor did not know about all of this.
And it doesn't mean he didn't have anything to do with the whole thing as a set-up. I'm not saying he did, but nothing in that article says ANYTHING about what Villar did or didn't know or do BEFORE telling Adleman not to report to work and putting out a press release MINUTES after hearing a report in the media. WHEN NO ARREST WAS MADE AND STILL HASN'T BEEN MADE.
SO WATCH YOUR SPIN, INFERIOR SPIN-LOSERS BECAUSE IF YOU WANNA KEEP THIS STORY ON THE FRONT BURNER...KEEP FORCING ME TO POINT OUT TO PEOPLE YOUR THIN SPIN.
(Sure, you'd like people to believe that article says the mayor didn't know anything before he heard about it on the news, but all it says is that he didn't release anything until minutes after it hit the airwaves.
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