Mid-Day Briefs for Lunch Time Contemplation

"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa off to Europe in December"

We break away from our 24/7 coverage of CD 2/CD 14 to bring you these briefs on the other political happenings within our local collectivist fiefdoms.

** The "Latino Tony Blair" who is known to us locally as "Mayor Antonio Tony Ramon Villar Villaraigosa Villarparker", is getting ready to add a "Danish stamp" to his passport as Daily News Scribe Rick Orlov reports in today's "Tipoff Column".

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is preparing for a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, in mid-December in his role as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Copenhagen Climate Summit.

The session, from Dec. 14 to 17, is designed to bring leaders from cities around the world to discuss what can be done at the local level to combat climate change.

Villaraigosa is leading the delegation of U.S. mayors and will discuss the energy and water conservation numbers achieved in Los Angeles with the goal of reaching 20 percent renewable energy by next year.

Here are thoughts to ponder on Mayor Villaraigosa's latest episode of city subsidize globe-trotting.

First, will Lu get to come along for some Christmas shopping in Copenhagen?

Second, will Ari Swiller be part of the mayor's entourage in the hope of securing some windmill action in Denmark?

Third, will Mayor Villaraigosa pimp the services of one Michael Trujillo, to the cities of the world, who seek to emulate our bogus Measure B proposal.

Fourth, can DWP consultant H. David Nahai give workshops to the mayors of the world on innovated home based water conservation techniques? Title of workshop would be, "LET IT FLOW DAMN IT!!", how to use 475,000 gallons of water to turn your lawn into a neighborhood wetlands.

Fifth, maybe consultants Cindy Montanez and Fabian Nunez, can teach the mayors of Europe how to find weasel room around the onerous restrictions of the Kyoto Accords.

Sixth, can we offer current DWP General Manager S. David Freeman as the "Ratepayer Advocate" to the world?

Seven, will Keith Brackpool hang with the Mayor in the watering holes of Copenhagen? He can even offer his services as an expect on desert habitat destruction, errrrr, water mining expert.

And lastly, no trip to discuss energy and water conservation in Los Angeles would be complete without the "BOSS", that is "Boss Brian D'Arcy" of IBEW to you peons. "Boss D'Arcy" could, will and if you get in his way, step on you measly ratepayers, in gathering the mayors of the world and telling them how he dictates energy and water conservation in Los Angeles.

OTHER NEWS:

** Campaign contributions do pay off, right Andy Camacho? Link here to read how you can be a party to 25 year plus lawsuit and be given a second chance to develop restaurant space at the historic El Pueblo property downtown.

** "Hurricane Carmen" spins and spins while Downtown News Editor Jon Regardie attempts to pens his thoughts on the latest happenings of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

** The tally is in on the cost to the city ($3.2 million), of the non-permitted AEG/Michael Jackson Memorial and revenue to local businesses ($4 million).

** The "call for the toke", in regards to the potential cost in litigation to the City of Los Angeles, may get expensive, according to medical marijuana advocates.

** Maneuverings in regards to "Mayor Race 2013" as noted by Daily News City Hall Beat Writer Rick Orlov.

It's beginning to look like Campaign 2013 has begun.

With term limits forcing Villaraigosa from office then, there has been a noticeable increase in the political activity at City Hall.

Council President Eric Garcetti apparently got the jump on City Controller Wendy Greuel with his proposal to revive the Business Tax Advisory Committee. Greuel aides complain she had been working to call for its re-establishment when Garcetti trumped her.

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Jan Perry has been taking a much more public role in recent weeks - from boosting downtown development by pushing through a billboard exemption for L.A. Live to getting up at 5 a.m. for television and radio interviews over the appointment of Charlie Beck as police chief.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, who ran for mayor in 2003, also has been active on a variety of fronts, from creating banking districts to combating runaway film production.

Fundraising for the next mayoral election can't begin until 2011, but that doesn't mean the campaigning, official or unofficial, can't start now.

It is expected to be a crowded race in three years. And it might be a good race for someone outside of City Hall, with a lot of support still out there for former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and developer Rick Caruso.

Also, Councilman Jose Huizar's staff and young volunteers were handing out glossy programs at yesterday's Gold Line Extension festivities on First Street in Boyle Heights, which touted the on-goings changes taking place in the southern reaches of CD-14.

** ....... and in closing, where was Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at yesterday's Gold Line festivities in Boyle Heights??

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