Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday
The examination of Ticketgate continues. The LA Times asks even if there is some civic significance to the Mayor and LuParker sitting courtside at Staples isn't there some conflict of interest when those who give the Mayor tickets have business before the City? Not just major venue operators such as Staples Center operators AEG or the owner of the Dodgers Frank McCourt but even the folks behind the Oscars who are interested in the outcome of some City parking facility contracts. In contrast to the Mayor, Councilman Bill Rosendahl pays his own way to any events he attends just to be sure to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Too bad the Mayor didn't get that memo.
We noted last week that Councilman Tom LaBonge is behind an effort to take money from Neighborhood Councils to pay for junket bus trips Councilmembers give out. Now joining the effort is one of the usual suspects, Richard Alarcon.
You would think they would have learned by now. The City Council voted Tuesday to instruct it's lawyers to draft a ballot measure to place a parcel tax on property purportedly to provide funding for libraries. While most of the debate centered around placing the measure on this November's ballot, which would cost the City $4 million in special election fees or on the City's March ballot which would be free, at least Dennis Zine was the voice of reason, voting no and making the "don't ya think" argument that this is no time to raise taxes.
South Bay Congresswoman Jane Harman likes to paint herself as the most "Republican" of Democratic elected officials. But the Washington Post notes that she may be one of the most corrupt of Members of Congress as she has vast financial holdings in companies and industries she is charged with regulating. Can you say conflict of interest?
Mulholland Terrace makes a good point. While veteran, controversial campaign consultant John Shallman says he is suing Councilmember Bernard Parks for unpaid bills from his last campaign, the lawsuit may shed sunshine on how Shallman operates. Oops.
Labels: dennis zine, Jane harman, john shallman, library tax, mayor antonio villaraigosa, mulholland terrace, neighborhood councils, Richard Alarcon, ticketgate, tom labonge
Posted by Michael Higby @ 6/30/2010 02:00:00 AM
5 Comments:
Actually it's Bill Rosendahl this morning in Council who suggests charging $7 bucks for each of the 160,000 parking spots available for citizens with business before city hall (like the public commenters) they currently give away for free, raising around $1 million he says. (ASSUMING anyone actually pays for them.) No doubt it would keep away the daily nuisance yakkers, though Rosendahl wouldn't admit that as a consequence.
Remember he's the "gold in the gutter" guy who insisted parking meter rates be hiked by upto 4X, without any thought to how it would hurt the small businesses that depend on customers using these spots. Disadvantaging them over the malls with small flat rates.
He's a socialist/ old leftie in principle, co-author with Janice hahn of the problematic living wage ordinance that singled out LAX-area hotels, is in constant litigation, and sent business from L A to Santa Monica and other hotels.
He was the most vocal supporting Trutanich this morning against Jan Perry and Parks AND Greig Smith, who wanted to go on record opposing the sneaky end-run around the city charter he tried to pull with One Bill Gil that was killed by the Senate public safety committee this week. Finally someone in Assembly woke up to what Trutanich/Cedillo were trying to pull.
Rosendahl is afraid of the same "oppose every change" conservative Republican homeowner association self-appointed leaders who have taken over a handful of HOA's and NC's, just by virtue of being the only ones with time and money, most being retired, and by circling the wagons as a clique. The ones who backed a hack from Long Beach to allegedly speak for the westside, because as the ultimate opportunist, he smelled an unholy alliance like with One Bill Gil Cedillo.
Say what you want about Koretz, at least he's more consistent in his views and doesn't roll over just to be "liked" by those who make the most noise. So of course the Trutanich tea bagger set hates him while Rosendahl plays to them, at least in lip service, even if he actually votes otherwise like when he got them together at a Town Hall Meeting to vent against LAPD policy to maximize resources by putting "cops on dots" even where it means taking some out of areas like the Westside at times, heard Bratton say he's LOVE to keep cops on the westside all the time, but the city was cutting his numbers. THEN he turns around and accuses Bratton of "threatening" to pull out troops if LAPD faces more cuts, in other words, exactly what he said all along - what a fool. No wonder he falls for Trutanich's "logic" while even Smith doesn't.
I can't believe this about Harman. Why does she own stuff she regulates? She's wealthy enough, sell all your holdings that do business with the middle east!
something smells here...
Wanna know what smells? It's the free tickets that are given to the Mayor and to a couple of Public Works commissioners by Chris Modrzejewskiy. Shouldn't commissioners report on their ethics and in their tax forms the freebies they receive. They too get freebies to events and they aren't presenting certificates to anyone. The press should get copies of their calendars from 4 years back to present. It would be a sight to see. Maybe that could lead to a part time commission.
June 30, 2010 LOST Angeles Council Meeting
The LOST Angeles City Council Awaiting A Quorum AGAIN as the Need to Set Precedent Eric Garcetti and Council members Hahn and Huizar were late. As one of the constituent's, informed the public that Garcetti was 15 minutes late, possibly more, the Need to Set Precedent Garcetti said in a sarcastic tone that it was “10 minutes.”
While the same constituent was speaking off topic Lost Angeles City Council's lawyer, Deputy City Attorney Dion O'Connell, immediately advised the constituent he was off topic. However, during an agenda item Council member Greig Smith introduced his family in Chambers as he was off topic which was NOT on agenda. LOST Angeles Deputy City Attorney, who is quick to chastise constituents and avoid doing the same for council members, failed to advise Smith that he was off topic.
In addition, it was comical to hear Greig Smith say he would walk out of Chambers as the LOST Angeles City Council was unable to determine whether "new" information justified a debate.
LOST Angeles Council member Janice Hahn, along with other council members who voted for the furloughs and layoffs, attempted to stop an “earthquake” from happening on the 11th hour.
"Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval."
Should read Your comment has been saved and will be visible AFTER CITY HALL approval. It BAD that the news media censors, but it's worst when the Blog owner does it.
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