Black Friday as "Bitter Daddy Ridley-Thomas" attacks Councilman Parks support of challenger of son Sebastian in 54th Assembly District Special Election

LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas goes "Bitter Daddy" on CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks, for supporting former Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta, against his 26 years old son Sebastian in the 54th AD Special Election.

Arrrrr!! LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas can't laugh, smile or think positive about his former Board of Supervisor Campaign Challenger CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks, as his recent "Bitter Daddy Rants" illustrates.

Happy Black (and wet) Friday to all as many of you deal with a FUBAR weather forecast in your respective quests to get the best Christmas deals, but for one, LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the start of the Christmas Season is not bring a smile to his usual sour persona.

If Ridley-Thomas was to get only one gift this Christmas Season, then that should come on Tuesday next week as his politically-wet-behind-the-ear, 26 year old son Sebastian is the Los Angeles Labor Left Machine choice to fill the vacant 54th Assembly District Seat.

But an old political foe support of challenger, former Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta has brought a "Bitter Daddy Episode" and flashbacks to a contentious Board of Supervisors Campaign between now Supervisor Ridley-Thomas and his former challenger CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks.

Councilman Park's endorsement of Mayor Armenta prompted this vicious, Bitter Daddy rant from the elder Ridley-Thomas, in a Culver City based Front Page Online News/ Blog Outlet story on the contentious campaign proceedings.  

“It is tasteless and classless of Bernard to show his animosity for Sebastian’s father this way,” the County Supervisor said, launching into a wall of blistering charges. “Bernard is showing he has no boundaries.”

In "Bitter Daddy Ridley-Thomas" convoluted thought process, its beyond the political boundary to support the challenger of your inexperience son's Special Interest-financed campaign (unions, native-American gaming, Big Oil). Thus, you must conjure up the silly notion that Parks support of Mayor Armenta, is political payback for his previous defeat in the Board of Supervisor Campaign, But what was beyond the boundaries of ethical and fiscal campaign laws, was the aborted scheme by Bitter Daddy Ridley Thomas SEIU buddy Tyrone Freeman, to gouge poor Home Care Workers for higher union dues to finance the Bitter Daddy Ridley Thomas campaign.
 

But once you get beyond the "Bitter Daddy Ridley-Thomas" rants directed at Councilman Parks, its clear that the real motive for his current caustic ire, is that Mayor Armenta is garnering grass-roots support as Jack Humphreville notes in his most recent missive at "MSNBC City Watch".
 

This David versus Goliath election involves the grass roots campaign of an honest, experienced but underfunded candidate fighting against the machine and its self-serving contributors who want to perpetuate a culture that is not in the best interests of its citizens and Ratepayers. 
It is time for the voters of State Assembly District 54 to say NO to Union Bo$$ d’Arcy, NO to special interests, and NO to the inexperienced Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.

....... and residents of Baldwin Hills should take note of this regarding the young Sebastian's silence on the issue of Fracking in the former Oil Fields.

Ridley-Thomas campaign contributors include litigious billboard companies; oil companies opposed to limitations on “fracking” in the City, County, and State; Native Americans who own Las Vegas style casinos; density loving real estate developers and their lawyers; lobbyists; public unions representing City, County, and State workers; and numerous slush funds controlled by other elected officials such as City Council Member Curren Price and Darrell Steinberg, the leader of the State Senate.

....... maybe an Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas District may have this active look.



Selling out to the Special Interests is a Political Ridley-Thomas Family Tract.

** Councilman Parks has some samplings of the past political baggage of "Bitter Daddy Ridley-Thomas is his most recent Email Newsletter which should prompt 54th AD voters to not consider endorsing another Ridley-Thomas for public office.

Uncovering the Marlton Square Riddle...
It’s amazing what happens when you go back in history and reflect on how a certain turn of events dictate how things ultimately turn out. Just last weekend, a group at the Baldwin Hills Homeowners Association asked me the most frequently asked question in the Eighth District since I was elected. "Why hasn’t Marlton Square(Santa Barbara Plaza) been rebuilt?"

This in depth LA Weekly article from 1998 explains why: www.laweekly.com/1998-05-28/news/councilman-fouls-magic

The self interest of then Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas over the public's interest could not be more clearly documented. These same facts are validated by council votes and time lines in L.A.City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) files. History shows us that the apparent ill-advised power play of leveraging the Marlton Square Project to garner support for an National Football League team coming to the Los Angeles Coliseum cost the community and its residents both deals. Currently, there is no NFL team at the Coliseum, and there is not one in our city. The 1998 version of the Marlton Square proposed project also never materialized.

Read more »

Morning Briefs on the Catty Latina Political Machine for Monday

Meet a "connected couple" of the Latina Enablers of the Los Angeles Machismo Political Machine

Maria Elena Durazo

 As we near the Thanksgiving start of the 2013 Holiday Season, Los Angeles Magazine grants "a musing gift of tease" regarding its upcoming profile of the reigning Latina Power Broker within the Los Angeles Political Machine, LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo. In an interview granted to noted, upcoming LA Political Writer Hillel Aron, the "political comadre" of former Failure Mayor Antonia Villar, is warm, engaging and bullish about her life experience, but according to Aron, became terse in discussing another, well-known Latina Politico, pictured below ..........

....... or was it "Union of Husband and Wife Buster" Gloria Romero?

According to the Los Angeles Magazine missive authored by Aron, former State Senator Gloria Romero had a nine year affair with Durazo's late husband Miguel Contreras, who many believe was responsible for the rise of the Latino y Latina Labor Left in Los Angeles, as the preceeding head of the County Labor Federation. Contreras untimely death in South LA was extensively chronicle by now LA Times City Hall Beat Writer David Zahniser, in this classic missive of political investigated journalism, during his time at the LA Weekly. Zahniser notes that at the time of Contreras's death, Romero sought out from multiple sources the true cause of her alleged, ex. lover's death. The one woman who still wanted to know more was state Senator Gloria Romero. "She allegedly went to the head of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City — Pat McOsker — seeking answers in the days after Contreras’ death. McOsker would not provide any, according to sources familiar with the conversation. “Later on, I heard that Gloria Romero was trying to figure out what happened,” added Natalie Rayes, Hahn’s former deputy chief of staff. “I heard from people that she contacted some of the fire department folks to figure out what happened.” McOsker denied that he had been contacted by Romero, saying that he had no idea where the death occurred and never looked into the circumstances. “I just knew that my friend Miguel died suddenly, and that it was heartbreaking,” he said." 

   

....... Thus, now we know Romero's true motivations for seeking how Contreras passed on and the cost to her future political aspirations will continue to mount as long as Durazo reigns over the LA Labor Machine. 

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Whats looming beyond our Bloggin Deadline?

Here are some bloggin teases on political topics looming after our cyber deadline.

Hmmm, what could be of bloggin interest in the local political community?

Great TGIF to all as we truncate our Morning Briefs due to self-impose deadline and story gathering excursion to the west of the "405 Concrete Curtain" (** yes, that means we are going deep into the "WWG Turf" for bloggin content") Here are some teases on future content.

** Why is LA Wave Newspaper "Soulvine Columnist" Betty Pleasant in a musing lather over the Sebastian Ridley-Thomas for the 54 Assembly District Special Election Campaign? We will have more background come Saturday A.M.

** Who is the latest potential, future CD 14 City Council Candidate to domicile themselves to challenge the current "Dear Charro, Princeton Graduate" City Clowncil Central Committee Member?

** Has anyone ever heard of the Hollywood Earthquake Fault and its looming potential for inflicting seismic political damage on City Hall and the Building and Safety Department?

** Did someone with the last name of "Patel" recently donate money to a certain, alleged Senator Ron Calderon connected City Clowncil Central Committee Member Office Holder Account?

** Has the "University of Scandalous Conduct" lied to various East and Northeast LA Neighborhood Councils regarding their "parking issues" at its Health Science Campus?

** What are alleged Autry National Center "El Plan" Shill Gabriel Buelna's link to a dubious former CD 14 Staffer named Gustavo Valdivia?

......... more later on the other side of our bloggin road trip and Deadline.

Your thoughts ...............

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

 

Who Did It? Our Top Ten JFK Assassination Theories

As we mark the 50th anniversary of the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas Friday, we're taking a look at some of the many theories that have been posited as to who killed the President, and why.

Since 1964, in a report released five days before this writer was born, the Warren Commission, headed by then Chief Justice and former California Governor, Earl Warren, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy and wounding Texas Governor John Connally and that Jack Ruby also acted alone when he killed Oswald two days later.

From that September day on, countless numbers of explanations have been advanced leading to hundreds of books and a cottage industry of conspiracy crafting.

Here we lay some of the better known as well as more interesting theories issued to date. Read on, after the break.
Read more »

Morning Briefs on the Dysfunctional, Collectivist Los Angeles Political Machine for Hump Day

The California "Collectivist Dependentcrat's" two-thirds, super majority hold on the State Assembly, is tethering this early A.M. as Republican Susan Shelley is only 173 votes behind the Sherman/ Gatto Machine Candidate Matt Dababneh in the 45th Assembly District Special Election, with more ballots to be counted.  

From left to right, Collectivist Dependentcrat Matt Dababneh and Republican Susan Shelley.

Great morning to all as the Sun rises on a rumbling political landscape in the Western San Fernando Valley.

Upstart Republican Assembly Candidate Susan Shelley may be on the verge of ending the Collectivist Dependentcrats, One Party Rule in California if she can somehow overcome a oh-so-slim 173 vote deficit in her surprising showing in yesterday's 45th Assembly District Special Election.

With outstanding Absentee and Provisional Ballots yet to be counted, the Shelley Campaign's showing in a supposed strong Democratic District, against a highly-financed Sherman-Gatto Machine Candidate, is sure to send political shock waves to Sacramento and nation-wide as Collectivist Dependentcrats face an angry electorate, reeling from the utter fiasco that is (hopefully was) Obamacare come 2014.

California's Collectivist Dependentcrats are fond of touting the once Golden State, now "Greece on the Pacific's" political, trend-setting proclivities, but instead, it may be a upstart Republican Female Candidate in Susan Shelley, despite being out-spent 10 to 1, who has set the political benchmark for a "red resurgence" in 2014. 

** The "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" (aka LA Times) is full of stories in today's edition of Collectivist Dependentcrats spending schemes gone amok.

** First, the DWP Commission took a stand against IBEW Boss Brian D'Arcy's supposed "Job Training/ Employee Safety Non-Profits" by cutting off funding yesterday. Rightfully indignant at the lack of disclosure regarding the line-item accounting of $40 Million dollars plus of past fund, the appointed oversight body requested that City Controller Ron Galperin conduct the objective auditing that ratepayers deserve.

** Second, the City Clowncil Central Committee is set to move forward and support the Port of Los Angeles Container Terminal overhaul that has double in cost from its original estimate. CD 15 Clowncil Central Committee Member "Average Joe" Buscaino should looking inward into his formerly "Republican Fiscal Soul" and demand a full accounting how the port authorites bypass the Clowncil Central Committee in not reporting the true costs.

** Third and lastly, once again LAUSD is rewarded with column inches of newsprint coverage for its dysfunctional iPad Program as yet another hidden cost is outed by the "Collectivist Gray Hag's" Education scribes. 

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Brief on the Nanny Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

Meet the "Nanny Spud" of the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee Paul "Mr. Potato Head" Koretz, who's ban on "Single Use Plastic Bags (allegedly)", is countered via a past common sense rebuttal by South LA Columnist Betty Pleasant. 

 The "Nanny Spud" of the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee Paul "Mr Potato Head" Koretz via the Pershing Square Blog.

"The Reigning Soulvine of Common Sense" (on plastic bags) Betty Pleasant.

Great Tuesday morning to all as the sun rises on another day in the Sanctuary, Nanny Collective of Cuidad de Los Angeles.

Its this blogger's daily habit in the early A.M. to trek to the local store to purchase a copy of the daily "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" (aka LA Times) and other assorted items of need, which make its way back home in a supposed "Single Use Plastic Bag". But come January 1, 2014, that will change.

Thanks to the "Nanny Spud" of the LA City Clowncil Central Committee Paul "Mr. Potato Head" Koretz, yet another government-mandated behavior correction will be force upon Angelinos as a ban on alleged, "Single Use Plastic Bags" takes affect.

The Westside "Nanny Spud", siding with his Eco-fascists supporters and fellow Clowncil Central Committee Members, in decreeing yet another act of behavior modification upon the citizens of Los Angeles, thinks he and his cohorts are protecting the planet by denying you free plastic bags.
But after New Years, from Sylmar to San Pedro, between Pacific Palisades to the corner liquor store on Warwick and Alhambra Road near the Alhambra boundary, the daily shopping habits of all, will change big time (or cost you a "sin fee" if you can't break your plastic habit).

But what "Nanny Spuds" like "Potato Head Koretz" do not appreciate, or take into consideration with their behavior modification decrees, are the common sense adaptations that average Angelinos are already undertaking to increase the life-span usefulness of supposed "Single Use Plastic Bags", as broached in a past column by South LA "Soulvine Columnist Betty Pleasant.

"The Los Angeles City Council did Wednesday what the Board of Supervisors did earlier — voted to ban single-use plastic bags from the marketplace. I knew they would, because the city always copies the county. But I’m ready. I’ve been hoarding plastic bags ever since the county enacted its measure. I need those bags. I have three beautiful cats and I dispose of their dirty cat litter in those bag. In anticipation of Wednesday’s move by the city, I have amassed a barrel full of plastic bags which I keep in my garage. My cats and I will not be denied plastic waste disposal bags. (I’m just glad I don’t have dogs.)"

The Sister Soulvine Columnist has a point, its true that the "Nanny Spud" was jumping on the "Ban Bag Bandwagon" by crafting this copy cat behavior modification decree, but one must ask where is "Pototo Head Koretz" in lauding those Angelinos who find common sense ways of decreasing their supposed carbon footprint by simple acts of recycling plastic bags for other household needs? (** BTW, our household increases the supposed, single use life span of plastic bags by a multiple of at least three).

To the contrary, the "Nanny Spud" instead of lauding common sense solutions, now wants the city to produce reusable bags (via veterans and former gang members at five dollars a bag) and hand them out city-wide for free (** just wondering if the "Nanny Spud" will propose funding for regular cleaning of these bag after multiple trips to the Supermarket Meat Department, but I digress). 

You have to love the irony of the "Nanny Spud's" proposal of hiring ex. gangbangers to produce bags that will be given to the likes of those who will have to forgo their "plastic wrap" for their 40 oz. of choice come January 1, 2014.

But while one never to underestimate the average Angelino's ability to adapt to onerous decrees, what can't be replicated is the wasteful time and expenditures of actions via "Nanny Spuds" like "Potato Head Koretz", that our truly a bigger waste of environmental, communal and fiscal resources.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14





Homeless Person Attacks Father and Child at Sunland McDonald's; Locals Question Homeless Policy

Originally posted at our sister blog, The Foothills. Observed.

Sign of the Times

While many of us certainly feel compassion for those who are down on their luck and faced with the cycle of homeless, the fact that a large percentage of the homeless population are mentally ill, drug addled and violent offenders creates a huge public safety issue for the residents, families and children of our community. With an establishment, local police force and local government that is seemingly unwilling and/or incapable of dealing with the problem - and in fact may actually intentionally be excaberating it - it is time for the community to take action on it's own.

Information, contact details and an upcoming neighborhood watch meeting is listed at the end of this article. 
Read the following story posted by one of our readers at our Foothills Observed Facebook page:

Tonight I reached my threshold. Done and done.

I’m sharing this post not to start a debate or heated discussion. I share it because tonight, I got first hand experience seeing why things have gotten so out of hand with the homeless population and the effects it’s had on our community and everyone's safety.
I was at McDonald’s tonight on Foothill in Sunland having my child’s parent teacher conference.

A homeless woman obviously high on some sort of narcotic, chased a man and his toddler in the parking lot, kicking him and his car. He ran inside telling the staff to call 911. She followed him in screaming obscenities and yelling about heroine. The situation got extremely heated, the manager called 911, and my daughter’s teacher and I decided it was time to get out of there. I exited the front door only to have the woman follow me and attempt to get into my passenger side door. Thankfully, I was able to hit lock before she could open it. She then went to the rear of my SUV and started pounding on my car calling me names and screaming about heroine. I started my car and she walked across the parking lot to her shopping cart and got a metal baseball bat, banging it on the ground, and came toward my vehicle again. I threw it in reverse and sped off before she got to back to my car. 

I drove back to McDonalds moments later and didn’t see her so I went in to wait with the gentleman who was assaulted, so that I could offer a witness report. The person on the line asked the manager if anyone was hurt. When he said no, but they needed an officer to respond, he was told to ignore the woman and she would go away. We waited… no response. The staff at McDonalds told me that they have to call 911 often because there are homeless people who come in often threatening them with rocks, boulders, and other makeshift weapons, for food and money. 9 out of 10 times, there is no police response to their calls. Some of them are scared to even go to work. The kids eating their dinner in the dining room looked terrified. I left the parking lot once again telling myself, I’ve had it with this place. Wishing I didn’t feel that way.

I came home and called the Foothill Division to express my disappointment at the lack of response. I spoke to an Officer Carlin who blew me off, and told me that if I wasn’t hurt and if it was resolved there was nothing he could do. He then told me that they were too busy for my phone call, and that if I wanted to say something I could drive down to the station. He became more helpful when I asked him for his name, badge number , and supervisor. 

His supervisor Officer Kennedy came on the line and heard me out, apologized and told me that he would send a car out as soon as possible and that he was aware that McDonalds had frequent episodes of this nature. That they do all they can but there is only ONE patrol car assigned to patrol Tujunga regularly. I found that disappointing too. But even the supervisor didn’t ask for my name or contact info in case he wanted to follow up with me or have me offer a formal statement of any kind. 

There are people who’ve said that we should embrace this epidemic and be more understanding. But the situation I witnessed tonight is just one of many, it’s happening more and more and it’s ignored.

Part of me got home and felt like just moving on, that calling wouldn’t make a difference. But after hearing the officer at the field office be so cocky and uninterested I was glad I did, even if I had to hold for 20 minutes to talk to his supervisor. Maybe that is what it will take… people calling and pursuing action all the time, every time.

At the root of much of this appears to be the secret machinations of the so-called "Sunland-Tujunga

The word in Spanish is "BASTA (enough)!"

Homeless Working Group," an organization made up of representatives of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighbohrood Council, Council District 7 staff and other organizations. This was the group who recently held a "homeless resources fair" at Sunland Park, previously home for 50 years to our Watermelon Festival, enticing local homeless as well as those bused in from other communities to receive public assistance, housing, ID cards (paid for by STNC) and free food. Following this event, locals noticed an increase in homeless in the park, dumping of trash and a proliferation of shopping carts.

As writer/blogger Joseph Maiilander noted, the Homeless Working Group does not invite public participation and it's meetings are considered confidential, inclusion is at the whim of CD7 Council Member Felipe Fuentes: 

After three months of pressing the Council office, it has finally been determined: The Sunland-Tujunga Homeless Issues Working Group meets PRIVATELY, by invite of Councilmember Felipe Fuentes ONLY, and the public is NOT invited.

When such meetings that so dramatically affect the future of the community are conducted in private, completely out of community view, with no public review whatsoever--and the Neighborhood Council does not even register any protest that they should be conducted in public--can anyone really still believe that this happens because the Council office, the developer of Day Street, or the people in the group are working in the best interests of the community of Sunland-Tujunga?

When the Neighborhood Council swallows such a private arrangement so gladly, can anyone believe your Neighborhood Council is working in the interest of your community?
You as a community are entirely cut out of that dialog--a dialog that directly affects your community's future, a dialog that is establishing your community as the homeless destination of the Northeast Valley. And yet your Neighborhood Council only seems fine with this relationship, and doesn't even care that these meetings are private!

That's the kind of playing along that government officials just love to hand out certificates for.

As our local officials have failed us, it is time for the community to speak out. It is highly suggested that you contact LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and demand he conduct a full investigation of the Sunland-Tujunga Homeless Working Group and a full review of all policies/actions dealing with the homeless in our community:

500 West Temple Street, Room 869
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-5555
(213) 974-1010 FAX

You can send the Supervisor an email at this link.

Additionally, please contact Council Member Felipe Fuentes to demand he open the Homeless Working Group and all records of it's decisions to the public:

7747 Foothill Blvd.

Tujunga, CA 91042

Tel: (818) 352-3287 | Fax: (818) 352-8563

You can reach Wesly Hernandez, Area Director at wesly.hernandez@lacity.org

You can also speak up at an upcoming Neighborhood Watch Meeting, this coming Tuesday, November 19th, at 7 pm at North Valley City Hall. 

7747 Foothill Blvd.

Tujunga, CA 91042

Reaching out to these elected officials and attending these meetings will not immediately change things. But the more people who speak up, bug the hell out of these elected officials and step up more often to resist the status quo will begin to make a change.

Mid-day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

LA Observed Business Blogger Mark Lacter dies after Stroke.

When not musing for LA Observed, Lacter was heard weekly on KPCC.

** LA Observed Blog Founder Kevin Roderick has just posted the sad news regarding the death of his primary blog partner and business writer Mark Lacter. Lacter suffered a major stroke yesterday which cause massive bleeding on the brain which he did not survive. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lacter Family.

** This blogger was upon many in the local media that turned out yesterday at Bell Gardens City Hall for the Press Conference by Assemblywoman Christina Garcia and assorted Southeast LA Elected Officials, that called upon State Senator Ron Calderon to resign. Judging from the Elective Officials who stood with Assemblywoman Garcia, a growing backlash against the Calderon Political Machine is well under way and those remaining elected supporters of the Calderon Machine, may pay a political price for their continuing support in upcoming elections.

** Meanwhile the Calderon Machine is hitting back with allegations that the FBI Sting against Senator Calderon was initiated after the Montebello (CD 14 East) Politico would not cooperate in a Sting against State Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg and Kevin De Leon. Local political observers are musing verbally that this is a push back against Senator Steinberg for striping Senator Calderon of his committee assignments.

** Not to let a good political scandal go to waste, the Assemblyman Mike Gatto Astro-turf Burbank Blog, has attempted to link the likes of former La Canada Assemblyman, now State Senate Candidate Anthony Portatino, Bonnie Lowenthal and former City of LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to contributions from the infamous Pacifica Hospital in Long Beach, which gave major money to Tom Calderon.

** Guess which "Dear Charro, Princeton Graduate" is one of four Latino Politicos profiled in Tony Castro's latest missive regarding their respective sex scandals?

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

The Father of Assemblyman Mike Gatto found Dead in apparent Murder at Silver Lake Home

LAPD's Elite Robbery Homicide Unit is investigating the apparent murder of Assemblyman Mike Gatto's Father Joe at their Silver Lake Residence.

From left to right, Joe and son Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

The local Los Angeles Political Community is in shocked this morning following last light's apparent murder of Joe Gatto, the Father of Assemblyman Mike Gatto, at their longtime Silver Lake Residence. 

According to LA Times Reporter Ari Bloomekatz ...........

"We know that (Joe) Gatto's daughter found her father at their Silver Lake home last night around 8:15 p.m. ... He was hunched over a desk. Police said he had suffered at least one gunshot wound the chest and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene"?.

Bloomekatz also noted this Statement from Mayor (and Silver Lake Resident) Eric Garcetti ............

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Gatto family. This tragedy is devastating to them and is of concern to the entire community. I've spoken with Chief Beck and the LAPD is conducting an aggressive investigation."

Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Gatto Family.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine (on recess) for Hump Day

With the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee on Recess this week, we focus our bloggin attention on the latest, breaking news regarding the Montebello's (CD 14 East) Calderon Political Family Scandal. 

Assemblywoman Christina Garcia of Bell.

Great Hump Day to all on this short Veteran's Day work week as the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee has gone on Recess as some of the Clowncil Central Committee Members partake in the annual junket that is the National League of Cities gathering.

But while the Clowncil plays, the news regarding the FBI Bribery Sting of Montebello (CD 14 East) State Senator Ron Calderon, (and its connection to a certain "LA City Councilman"), continues to break.

This morning at 11 AM, in front of the Bell Bardens City Hall, a number of Southeast LA Elective Officials will join Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia in calling upon the embattled Senator Calderon to resign. Assemblywoman Garcia's call for Senator Calderon's resignation, drew a sharp rebuke from Senator Calderon's Spokeshole Mario Beltran, who in the past, garnered a Special Mayor Sam Ass Clown Award for his less than gracious comments, posted below, directed at the freshman Assemblywoman.

Garcia the 33 year old that for the first time in her life became a Democrat last year and lied to the democratic voteres that she's been a democrat all her life!!! The DUI convict that makes bad decissions and put other at risk. The Garcia that's a lesbian and "only needs the votes of the woman" the Garcia that devided a community (Bell) and took over a city because it's her way or the highway!

That comment should give you an idea how politics are played in Southeast LA and how mush the Calderon Political Clique hates Garcia for beating Tom Calderon for the Assembly Seat that she now holds.

Its also true that Southeast LA Politics can become outright weird as witness in this bizarre event out of the City of Bell Gardens (** and there is a political connection to a current "LA City Councilman"). According to the Los Cerritos News, a Monday meeting of the City of Bell Gardens City Council, was cancelled due to an alleged Terrorist Threat from a person (n custody), who's photo on Facebook, reminds one of Chiapas, Mexico Commie Rebel "Sub-Zero Comandante Marcos". 

As the Los Cerritos News reports, the person identified as "Ness D. Antrax", may have been motivated by the recent loss of his candidate of choice, Sergio Infanzon, for re-election.

The now out-going Bell Gardens City Councilman Infanzon, is a current staffer for CD 1 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Gil Cedillo and was noted for being a Calderon supporter. 

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Saluting all American Veterans who keep our "Flag of Freedom Flying"

On this Scared Day, we Honor all American Veterans who keep the "Flag of Freedom Flying".

To all the American Men and Women who served ......

 Emotional Video of Neil Young's "Flag of Freedom".

 From El Sereno's Veteran's Day Ceremony on Saturday.

With reverence to all that served .................
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

Morning Briefs is on hold due to pending work deadline. We will be back soon (S.J.)

Morning Briefs on Reshuffling/ Reinventing the Los Angeles Political Machine for Hump Day

Links galore on the Reshuffling/ Reinvention of the Los Angeles City Hall Political Structure.

New Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin, seeks an higher order regarding fiscal data processing. 

Great blogging Hump Day as the calendar (along with the assorted requisite "100 Day Analysis Missives") reminds us that some time back, we past the 100 Day Mark on the supposed reshuffling/ reinventing at City Hall, after the latest election cycle.

The likes of new Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Controller Ron Galperin are espousing their respective grasps of the power of technology, in making government more assessable to the average Angeleno. Mayor Garcetti want you to know how your local government is performing. Thus you can bloggin click here to view (** hopefully, it works like "spoll check" in spelling out the real performance of your favorite department, but I digress). Not to be outdone, City Controller Ron Galperin unveiled his new website "Control Panel", which is suppose to be an electronic door opener to viewing how your public money is allocated. 

Downtown News Editor and "Reigning Scribe of Wit", allocated some work time to go X-box on Controller Galperin's "Control Panel" and the results is an excerpt from his latest "Regardie Report".

Despite the data overload, some interesting nuggets exist in ControlPanel. I dug around in the muck last week, uncovering a handful of facts that won’t make the city better, but do make it more amusing.
For example, a lot of people like to know how much someone working for the city earns. I’m as guilty of six-figure jealousy as the next private-sector employee without an amazing taxpayer-abetted pension, but I’m also curious about how little some people make.
That’s why, after looking at Galperin’s rundown of 2012 DWP pay and figuring out that GM Ron Nichols earned $349,000 last year, I scrolled to the bottom of the looooong list. There, I learned that someone with the job title of “service representative” made $6.23 in 2012 (yes, the decimal point is in the right place). The second poorest DWP earner of the year was a construction pipefitter who raked in $10.98.
This sparks all sorts of questions: Did the service rep sign up for a $25 an hour job and get canned after 14 minutes? How many pipes did the pipe fitter fit for his almost $11? Were these people paid in cash, check or bubblegum? I’d love an answer to any of these questions, but the database doesn’t have it.

Wonder where is the category regarding the expenditures on a certain CD 14 Discretionary/ Amenities Fund (CLARTS) and how $1.5 Million was spent in "salaries transfers"?

** One of the looming byproducts in the reshuffling of the City Clowncil Central Committee in the most recent election cycle, has been the reduce presence of "Political Estrogen" within the Horseshoe. KPCC Reporter Alice "The City Maven" Walton, recently moderated a discussion on the waning influence of women in City Hall with a panel that included for Clowncilwomen Wendy "The Villar Greuel", Joy Picus and the current, token female Clowncilmember Nury Martinez.

** The topic of City Hall General Manager's reshuffling is on the mind of "MSNBC City Watch LA" front person Ken Alpern, as he muses on the recent, predictable departure of Department of Transportation General Manager Jamie "Hummer" De La Vega and his replacement by now former Recreation and Parks General Manager Jon K. Mukri. (** who now has served as GM in three city departments, General Services, Rec & Parks and now DOT).

** The effort to reinvent the CD 4 City Clowncil Seat from the LaBonge Persona into Carolyn Ramsey, is in need funding as the Griffith Park Wayist notes. We wonder what the Wayist thinks of the leadership change in Rec. & Parks?

** ........ oh lastly! CD 4 voters may want to avoid remaking their Clowncil Domain into the next political incarnation of a certain former "Silver Lake Stay at Home Politico" known as the "Infant Assemblyman", in lieu of these past comments regarding Montebello's Tom Calderon.



“I’m proud to endorse Tom Calderon for Assembly,” said Assemblyman Mike Gatto. “We need more legislators like him, who are intelligent and savvy, and willing to put in the long hours necessary to pass legislation that repairs our schools, stimulates our economy, and gets our state’s residents back to work.”

...... the only thing the Calderons know how to stimulate is FBI Stings.

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



Morning Briefs on the LA City Hall Connection to the Senator Calderon Bribery Scheme

The Political Thunderstorm that is the State Senator Ron Calderon Bribery Scandal cast its shadow on an unnamed LA City Clowncil Central Committee Member as we play a bloggin, "Who was It?"

The looming Senator Calderon Bribery Scandal is about to drench an unnamed City Clowncil Central Committee Member (current or past). 

Would Montebello (CD 14 East) State Senator Ron Calderon please name the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee Member cited in the FBI Affidavit as the potential recipient of payola? 

Great Tuesday Morning to all as we invite you to join in a Bloggin Political Game of "Who was It?". 

Since the leak by Aljezzera America of the FBI Affidavit involving the alleged Bribery Scandal of Montebello's State Senator Ron Calderon, local scribes and bloggers alike, have combed through the document and found linkage in the politically explosive details, to either current of former LA City Clowncil Central Committee Members, which ones only Senator Calderon can elaborate on.

In today's edition of the "Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet" (aka Daily News), former blogger, turned print scribe Dakota Smith discloses a passage from the FBI Affidavit that links a "Los Angeles City Councilman" to the alleged group of fiscal beneficiaries of Senator Calderon "Pay to Play Scheme" as we note below .......... 

According to the affidavit, Calderon “mentioned several different accounts into which he was considering having the (agent) deposit the remaining money (Californians for Diversity, Senator de Leon, Ronald Calderon for Controller, Ronald Calderon Officeholder, and a Los Angeles City Councilman).”
“The (agent) told (Calderon) to spell out where he wanted the money to go on a piece of paper and the (agent) would do it,” the document states.
Some money was eventually transferred to Californians for Diversity, the affidavit later indicates. The “councilman” is not mentioned again in the document.

........ so simply, who was it?

From reading the FBI Affidavit, most of the direct interaction between the fictitious Filmmaker Rocky Patel and Senator Calderon, takes places in Downtown LA. Further, the base of operations for the phony film company was in Downtown LA's Arts District, which now a part of Clowncil Central Committee Member Huizar's CD 14 District.

Another political sidebar to note in the link of Senator Calderon to LA City Hall, was his brother Tom's role in raising money for the re-election of former "Failure Mayor" Antonio Villar in 2009, which was surely reciprocated in some way by the former Mayor, or possibly his close ally Clowncil Ally Jose Huizar.

Just a bloggin thought ........, but not far-fetch considering that Senator Calderon and current Clowncil Central Committee Member Huizar were on the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles Committee in 2012.

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



Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Los Angeles CD 14 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Jose Huizar is linked to the Calderon Scandal. Was Huizar one of the two "public officials" being investigated before the FBI Los Angeles Office directed their investigated resources on the Montebello (CD 14 East) Political Family? 

A dubious distinction to start a new political, bloggin work week. 

** Blogger's note: We would like to thank the embattled CD 14 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Jose Huizar for yet blessing the bloggin political cybershpere with ample content to start off the week. Both the "Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet's" (aka Daily News) Dakota Smith and the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street's" (aka LA Times) David Zahniser, have stories on the "Dear Charro/ Princeton Graduate" Huizar's link to the State Senator Ron Calderon Bribery Scandal (** Southeast LA County Assemblywoman Christina Garcia has called on Senator Calderon to resign). It seems that the FBI Special Agent who was channeling the ficticious Filmmaker "Rocky Patel", reached out to the CD 14 Clowncil Central Committee Member, regarding obtaining permits for his upstart operations. But what makes this latest angle in the Calderon Bribery Scandal most interesting, is the passage near the bottom of Page 10 of the Aljezzera America leaked FBI Affidavit, that notes the FBI Los Angeles previous investigation of two "public officials". Could "Mr. Rocky Patel's" outreach to the "Dear Charro/ Princeton Graduate", had been predicated on previous information obtain in another investigation? Bloggin intuitions that make you go hmmm---Scott Johnson in CD 14.  ** Mid-day Update via the Downtown News: Councilman Huizar will be hosting a Community Meeting tonight at LAPD Headquarters regarding his endangered Downtown Streetcar Legacy Project, starting at 6:00 P.M.  



From page 10 of the Calderon FBI Affidavit: Inquiring scribes and blogging minds are pondering what two local "Public Officials" were being investigated by the FBI Los Angeles Office?

So Rudy Martinez was right in the 2011 CD 14 City Council Campaign.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14







Redistricting 2012 Lawsuit Lead Attorney Leo Terrell seeks removal of "Protective Orders", may depose Francine Godoy as Witness

The Lawsuit over the Backroom Redistricting 2012 Scandal heats up as Lawsuit Lead Attorney Leo Terrell request that the likes of City Clowncil Central Committee Strongman Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson, Mayor Eric Garcetti and CD 14 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Jose Huizar, waive the "Protective Orders" restricting potential witnesses from being deposed.

Redistricting Lawsuit Lead Attorney Leo Terrell send out the following Press Release post below, that request them to "Man Up and Waive Protective Orders".

** Blogger's notes: Redistricting Lawsuit Lead Attorney Leo Terrell is putting pressure on Mayor Garcetti and the City Clowncil Central Committee Duo of "Thelma Wesson" and "Louise Huizar" to waive the "Protective Orders" restricting additional potential witnesses from being deposed in the Backroom Redistricting 2012 Scandal. In addition to the Press Release below, Terrell send letters to Mayor Garcetti and both Clowncil Central Committee Members Wesson and Huizar. We also should note that former Clowncil Central Committee Member Huizar Staffer, Francine Godoy, received a letter from Terrell that gives notice to her of being a possible witness under oath ( those letters will be posted after the jump later today)---Scott Johnson.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14