Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday
Some of the math around Ticketgate and AEG ponying up some funds for the Michael Jackson Memorial are not penciling out for Walter Moore. Moore notes that while Mayor Villaraigosa recently announced that AEG, the promoters of the memorial service and owner of the Staples Center would pony up $1.3 million to cover the City's expenses actual expenses according to records are closer to $3.2 million. So, Moore asks, did the number of free tickets that the Mayor received to Staples Center events "cost" taxpayers just shy of $2 million?
Some activists who have been supportive of Council Member Paul Krekorian's yeoman efforts to date to represent the concerns of his district are now a bit upset with the Second District rep given reports that he may not be in Council the day a vote on an appeal of a controversial trucking school in Lopez Canyon. Krekorian has supported the appeal to date and the activists feel his presence is necessary for their success. The activists should consider this though - Krekorian has already bucked the system and while we all like that, as one man there is only so much he can do. Krekorian's one vote is not enough to make the difference (as it wasn't with the DWP, the Arizona boycott and friend of the court filing). They need to do as I suggested and that is 1) Hammer Alarcon, 2) Hammer whoever their CM is and 3) Most importantly get as many NCs to pass resolutions in support with those in Lopez Canyon and to make phone calls, write letters and show up. Use that power and don't count on just one friendly voice in the woods to do it all for you.
We continue to learn in new ways every day how the City Council's boycott of Arizona continues to screw the pooch. This time we find out the City's lucrative red light cameras are contracted out to an Arizona firm. Yes, the Council will make an exception unlike with the anti-terrorist training for the LAPD. Your Clowncil in action!
Lots of fun at Monday's Laker Day Parade in Downtown LA. Not enough porta-potties and a mobile medical marijuana vendor truck selling pot lollipops. The suckers were available in your choice of orange or blue. Welcome to LA!
City Council President Eric Garcetti is known for being one of the more technological members of the City Council and now he recalls his first tweet. Coming so far from those halcyon days Garcetti has become of the first elected officials in the US to issue an iPhone app.
Labels: Arizona Immigration Law, boycott, eric garcetti, laker day parade, lopez canyon truck school, mayor antonio villaraigosa, paul krekorian, ticketgate, walter moore
Posted by Michael Higby @ 6/22/2010 02:00:00 AM
13 Comments:
Krekorian's "absense" from the vote on the issue is suspicious.
In my humble opinion, that's what the council members do when they don't really want to vote a certain way, but they want to save face.
And Krekorian is NOT just one vote. He has plenty of influence on the others because they talk about these issues behidn the scenes.
I think Krekorian, but this smells bad.
Every community organization should be calling and complaining to the City Council about the outrageous Office of Zoning Administration decision that tries to grant a variance to the City's own department: the Bureau of Sanitation.
The facts to support a major use variance are not present so the Zoning Administrator simply made stuff up to justify it. It's a low point in the history of the City as even the Office of Zoning Administration, like the Planning Director, fall to political influence of the mafia Mayor and his crooked union buddies.
Homeowner groups and neighborhood councils should be screaming at the City Council about the idiocy of the Mayor and Alarcon pushing to put an industrial land use in the middle of what is supposed to be an open space zone for parkland. If LA does not speak up for Lopez Canyon, what happens when they want to put another industrial use in your neighborhood park?
Stop the precedent of this terrible land use decision at City Council.
8:18 is correct. If you dont' stand up for the folks fighting Lopez Canyon your community might be next.
Suddenly because Higby's defending his boy Krekoerian no matter what as perfect after turning this blog into a non-stop infomercial for him like he did for Trutanuch before, he's got to invent an explanation that no one councilmember is that important, don't blame him, bla-bla. Whereas with those he OPPOSES on behalf of his pets, they are single-handedly responsible for everything bad in the city not just in their district.
6:11 is right. Sounds a lot like Krekorian told Alarcon's opponents what they wanted to hear at the last meeting without doing anything himself to find a compromise, then leaves to avoid having to displease either Alarcon OR the public. Learning from Zine and Rosendahl?
Krekorian seems to always find a way to be absent for key votes. Your post is wrong that Krekorian "bucked" the system with votes on Arizona boycott and DWP. He was ABSENT for the boycott vote (conveniently), and his vote against the DWP rate hike was only AFTER he voted to allow Garcetti's "special" agenda item to go forward. Krekorian could have voted to kill it there - but he didn't. Higby, PK is proving to be just another misguided LA councilmember - a big disappointment
The Office of Zoning Administration is part of the Planning Department under control by Gail Goldberg, the developer doormat.
The Office of Zoning Administration used to be run with intergrity. Not now.
Didn't Krekorian beat Garcetti on the IPhone ap?
"The Office of Zoning Administration used to be run with integrity. Not now." It changed when Gail Goldberg made her favorite butt kisser the Chief Zoning Administrator. There is always a price to pay for this sin. Too late for the community to complain now.
phil jennerjahn has man boobs.
At the PLUM< hearing Krekorian called the Truck Driviing Acadamy a "win-win" situation that can be negotiated. Now he or his office needs to help broker a negotiation asap. The oppositiion to the trucking
school will need more time to convince other councilmemebers that they are making a mistake
by voting with Alarcon.
Anon.
Follow the money trail and the conflict of interest taking place through this whole process. First of all, Alarcon's own cousin, John delaRosa is a former Manager of Lopez Canyon who was forced to retire or be fired. His problem was nepotism and using city resources for personal use (ex: maintenance laborers painted his house, staff padded overtime hours, etc.)As soon as Alarcon came into office and his delaRosa, his Public Works director/cousin started working for him this truck academy became an urgent goal within CD7 and the mayor's office. Teamsters were involved so my question is "did they contribute to either CD7 or Mayor campaign funds?" Now the push through Sanitation was easy because Bureau Director Zaldivar is one of delaRosa's boys. So, Sanitation will repay the favor and promote the use of Lopez Canyon for this cause, the truck academy, regardless what the original agreement says. Remember back in the day, Lopez Canyon issue was a heated discussion requring several community meetings and delaRosa was a big player, as he managed Lopez Canyon. So what is the connection and how does 1989 (beginning of closure) bring us to 2010? Follow the money and oh! don't forget that Alarcon's daughter is a commissioner at the board of public works? Nepotism and "something else" is taking place. Someone should do a public records act and start their own investigation on who the source of money is behind the training academy. Are ARRA funds being used? Folloe the money, follow the funds.
11:20 gives excellent advice.
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