Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

The LA Weeky's Patrick Range McDonald hits it AGAIN with a cool Jack-O-Lantern full of the Mayor's hype over the Subway to the Sea. The MTA board passed what Stupidvisor Don Knabe called a "historic" vote to bring the Purple (FKA Metro Red Line Wilshire Extension) Line somewhere near Santa Monica.  McDonald enumerates the Mayor's fantasies about the line unlike all the rest of the press release journos out there noting everything from the canard that the Subway will end traffic as we know it, even though studies say less than one percent of suburban Westside motorists will get out of their four wheeled monsters and board the choo choo.

Will Jerry Brown, if elected Governor, raise taxes? Yes if what his former Chief of Staff and former Governor Gray Davis says is true.

The controversial, mothballed Los Angeles Children's Museum in Lake View Terrace may get a second lease on life.  The LA City Council is considering a contract to have the Discovery Science Center in Orange County run the facility.  I've been to the Discovery Center and it is a great venue.  

The City of Vernon has become yet another ethical municipal basketcase in LA County and the jury is out as to what should happen to it. While some leaders are hoping to de-incorporate Vernon, the City of Los Angeles is eying swallowing up the 99 resident population City with it's 2000 businesses and its extraordinary rich tax base.  Other options include keeping Vernon as unincorporated land under the control of LA County or annexing it to another neighboring city.  All of this however may require the approval of Vernon's residents most of whom are somehow financially beholden to the small city.  Stay tuned.

Interested in a Jewish perspective on Proposition 19 and the thought of legalizing pot? The Jewish Journal has full coverage for you.

Feisty Congressional candidate Mattie Fein has an uphill battle against entrenched incumbent Jane Harman in the South Bay.  That however has given Fein little pause.  The Easy Reader encapsulates why Fein thinks Harman should go.

The final list of official write in candidates for various offices LA County voters will be considering on Tuesday  was released by the County Registrar-Recorder.  Among those on the list are Diane Lenning, a write-in candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction who has received some attention from education activists as well as our friend David Hernandez who is waging a write-in campaign as an independent for the 42nd State Assembly District.

For those of you third and fourth floorers who get hungry at lunch today should go check out the Annual Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue, running today from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the upper level of the 7th and Fig Mall.  The event honors the men and women of the LAFD, LAPD, CHP, LADOT, FBI, Sheriff's Department and other public safety agencies. Have some barbecue and give these heroes their props.