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Friday, January 21, 2011

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday: JERRY!

Who would have thunk it? When liberal leaning Democratic pols in Los Angeles and all over California went all out for JERRY! little did they imagine Governor Brown would propose killing their fabled golden calf - Community Redevelopment Agencies. If you don't know what CRAs are they are basically welfare for rich developers, who contribute to local electeds, and who can create (often failed) major real estate projects in "blighted" communities the politicians point to as "progress."  Jerry rightly feels that this tax money is better used for jails, schools, roads, police, higher education, health care for the poor, etc. than going to otherwise failed developers.  This has sent a shiver up the spine of City Fathers/Mothers throughout the Golden State who are now spending money faster than a drunken sailor before JERRY! comes and gets it.  Case in point, our own lovely berg, who has found amazing efficiency to get dollars fast to building Eli Broad's mausoleum in Downtown LA.

More after the jump...



The LA CRA has even brought in a fixer, Valley businessman Greg Lippe, whose job it is to tell Jerry why the CRA dollars should not go to police and fire.  Ron Kaye seals the deal in telling the story of how Chris Essel's LA CRA bought a Hollywood property for nearly $1.5 million more than market value - using your money - and now wants to sell it to a politically connected individual for less than 15% of what they paid.  Man, where can I get a deal like that?

It's not even a liberal-conservative thing.  From myself on the Libertarian right to JoeB on the progressive left many find the whole concept of redevelopment as corporate welfare of the worst kind.  Indeed, the Governor is on the right track.  Props to JERRY!

In other news

After playing on on TV, LAist reports that Council President Eric Garcetti is indeed considering running for Mayor.

The OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET reports that CM Dennis Zine may have made a splash recusing himself from a vote on an LAX contract his lady love was seeking for her employer, but on at least three occasions Zine may have voted on other issues she was lobbying for.  There goes that campaign for Controller.

Back on the corporate welfare issue, the City is also fast tracking money for building a Downtown NFL stadium.  Of course, there needs to be a team, the likely pick being the San Diego Chargers, though our old friends The Rams may return from St. Louis if some reports are to believed.  Whatever plans the City and developer AEG have has to get moving fast before JERRY! shuts down the CRA.  Stay tuned.

And finally the Studio City Neighborhood Neighborhood Council, home of dangerous enemy of freedom Lisa Sarkin and her legendary opponent the always lovable and verbose, platicador laureate, Michael McCue, wants the MTA to rename the Universal City Metro Red Line Station the Universal City/Studio City Metro Red Line Station.  Okay.

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Oh yeah, now that's a hotsheet MFers!

January 21, 2011 12:14 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

January 21, 2011 12:21 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Wow, Higby, Rudy Martinez told people in Glassell Park last night that this CRA money needs to stay "in the community" and "its for the community" and it's to "remove blight" - so he's against what Jerry wants to do.

OH WAIT, Rudy IS a rich developer.

There you go!

January 21, 2011 12:48 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Glassell Park debate recap in a few lines (Rudy vs. Huizar)... all you ever need to know.

Rudy: I'll be TRANSPARENT. It's all about being TRANSPARENT. The main issue is TRANSPARENCY.

- My office will be TRANSPARENT, my mother is TRANSPARENT, my two kids are TRANSPARENT, even my dog is TRANSPARENT.

- If I get any more TRANSPARENT, I'll be invisible. (Too late as far as the voters of CD14 are concerned).

- Did I mention I'll be completely TRANSPARENT?

(New question.... w/in about 3 minutes of all that): 'Mr. Martinez, what ever happened with that police badge?'

Rudy: "I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT... I answered that question once" (to media, when prodded, after outed by Huizar's campaign)

"My response is on a website (somewhere). Look it up if you want (not MY site, but...)."

[You readers caught all that, right?]

"I'm going to answer that question by saying that I raised thousands of dollars for the police.

"The police love me, I give them free advice at my bar, they know I support them, they're in the back of the room today" (5-6 officers are...). "Nod your heads in agreement, guys" (NO HEAD MOVEMENT).

YEAH, Rudy Rich is TRANSPARENT, all right, and we can now see what he's FULL OF - as a result. (And he really need to eat more fiber!)

Future forums will be held in bars around the district, where it'll be a drinking game... throw one back every time Rudy says TRANSPARENT - CHASE it when he sidesteps answering a direct question that might embarass him . . . and bring a designated driver.

January 21, 2011 1:15 AM  

Anonymous trojan2002 said:

Michael have you become delusional?

This is LA.

We don't expect ethical behavior from our elected officials.

Zine will still run for Controller, and will have a wide base of support from developers, unions, police, and other elected officials that he's ball washed before.

My opinion of Zine is different than my opinion of the other Clowncil members.

Zine is buffoon.

The others are just regular clowns.

And Garcetti for Mayor?

Haven't we suffered enough? In a city of millions you'd think we could find someone reputable, passionate, intelligent, and not afraid of unions and special interests.
Instead we have a collection of ass clowns every where. Where we vote for the lesser of evils.

January 21, 2011 6:59 AM  

Blogger Red Spot in CD 14 said:

Hey Mike,

Ran in to MEAT last night at the Glassell Park Candidate Forum and he states that he does not comment here.

Your thoughts......

Spot

January 21, 2011 8:08 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:08 p.m.

Red Spot,

Huizar has support of hundreds of the communities' leaders, both on his endorsement list and on the laughable "LISTS" that Rudy could neither prospect nor turn into a "acandal."

You can't possibly see that it's them posting here, not Rudy's campaign hacks?

Since you seem to want to compar Huizar to Nixon, then you need to realize you suffer from an acute, blinding case of Pauline Kael-ism.

Might want to look that up. She failed to see the landslide coming, because she, like you never really "hit the slopes."

And if it isn't paid hacks eating your lunch here (and it isn't), then you really are only a teeny tiny meaningless "spot" in CD14's political landscape.

January 21, 2011 9:03 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Huizar bombed big time in the debate last night.

January 21, 2011 10:28 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:08, I don't want to question your sanity but Pauline Kael was the pre-eminent movie critic of her day. She was the best. Is that what you are saying about Red Spot?

Sadly, in later life she had a terrible debilitating illness. Red Spot should be flattered to be compared with Paulene Kael. I can't say the same for Huizar and his comparison with Nixon.

January 21, 2011 10:34 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Huizar does not have the support of CD 14, Boyle Heights community are praying to get Huizar out. People in Boyle heights are resorting to buying private electric water pumps to empty big pot holes in front of their drive ways because they do not have the attention of Huizar and they are not on list either way. Boyle Heights is in desparet need of repairs We have homeless families as a result of foreclosure, and they have no place to go. But yet he is taken an extra 1.05 million dollars for his staff salaries, that can be utilize in dangerous pots holes with standing water for mosquitos and health issue, quality of life issues in current time must be allocated funds. Yes, politics are politics and there will always be some corruption, but do we have to have an extreem of corruption in LA that is causing so much neglect inour communities. We need change. Rudy Martinez is our chance, we cannot have 4 or eight more years of Huizar.

January 21, 2011 11:14 AM  

Blogger Michael Higby said:

Mike says a lot of things. I just pray for him.

January 21, 2011 11:18 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

My God, people focus on a badge, more so than what Huizar is using our money. People wake up and smell the roses, take your head out of the sand. During the War there was such a list, like Huizar's, that cause people to be imprisoned, loose their jobs, and many went to jail or interment camps just from a list, no fact just say so like Huizar's list.
It does not matter how old the lists are, is the fact there was, or is a list to use as to how you will be serve by Huizar or not all. I believe the Drug Cartel also use a list.

January 21, 2011 11:44 AM  

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