Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

Another "shady attempt" at political self-enrichment by Michael "MEAT" Trujillo.

The 2011 Redistricting Commission's "Reign of Andrew Westall" will be remember for its "redrawing favors for votes" and "outreach contracts for connected insiders".

Maybe with the ascension of his boss CD 10 City Councilman Herb Wesson to the "Head Ringmaster of City Clowncil" tomorrow, the need to turn the 2011 edition of redrawing council district boundaries into an exercise of political pimping will wane. The latest example of pimping the services of the Redistricting Commission, was exposed by Los Angeles Times Reporter David Zahniser who noted the three connected lobbyist groups which included one with financial ties to Commission Member Michael "MEAT" Trujillo.

Zahniser was kind enough to enlist a comment from Sunland-Tujunga Salwart Joe Barrett regarding one of the finalists Dakota Communications, who endeared themselves to the citizens of the S.T. by busing in paid supporters of Home Depot.

Joe Barrett, co-director of the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance, a group that fought the Home Depot proposal, said he would be unhappy to see Dakota representing the redistricting process. "Dakota has a horrible reputation with our community," he said.

Likewise Cerrell Associates endear themselves to local activists regarding their work on behalf of Apartment Owners.

Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, an advocacy group that represents tenants, voiced dismay that one of Cerrell's clients is the L.A. chapter of the California Apartment Assn., which has opposed new limits on rent hikes by landlords.
"A firm that represents landlords and has been fighting against rent control…is going to have difficulty winning the trust of renters, who make up more than 60% of L.A. residents," he said.

Then there was the Trujillo connected group, but this blogger will pass on giving MEAT any more needless attention.

OTHER NEWS:

** Mayor Antonio Villar is trying give the likes of Occupy LA's "Red-Rabble Organizer" and Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council Member Mario Brito office space and fertile soil, which stimulated a thought on how the LA-32 Neighborhood Council could get their old office back by fast-tracking a "Occupy Sereno" protest.

** The Los Angeles County Labor Federation has endorsed Assemblyman Warren Furutani for the vacant CD 15 City Council seat. This means that January 17, 2011 will be Mayor Villar and Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo's "political Waterloo" as CD 15 voters vote down "the chosen one" of the Downtown Elites.

** Former CD 1 City Councilmember and Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg has endorsed East Los Angeles Planning Commission Member Luis Lopez for the 51st Assembly District. Assemblyman Gil Cedillo's longtime staffer and candidate Arturo Chavez raised his profile by taking part in a union protest in Downtown LA last week.

** Maywood, whoops Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villar vows to end thirty day impounds for vehicles of un licensed drivers, which did not go over well with the PPL.

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14