MayorSam Tidbits

The Downey Police Officers Association endorsed Downey City Councilman Mario A. Guerra for State

Senate. This is the first time that the Downey Police Officers Association has endorsed any candidate for state office in their 55 year history. Downey Police Officers Association President Michael Pope, stated "This is something we take very serious – not only is Mario one of us, having served as our Chaplain for over a decade, but he has always supported our officers regardless of the political cost to him personally.” Guerra is running to represent the 32nd State Senatorial District. It is a new re-districted seat that has no incumbent.

In a letter to his staff today, Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the Department of Public Health and County Health Officer, announced his retirement. Fielding has been in the position for the last 16 years.

The issue of the homeless and that of aggressive behavior by such has been growing in the community of Sunland-Tujunga, LA's last rural outpost. In recent days, Facebook pages have overflowed with reports of incidents of customers at fast food outlets being accosted by homeless, various indigents trying to get inside cars with motorists and the report that a self-storage location was being lived in by homeless (we understand that situation has now been corrected). Many residents have expressed anger at the City's homeless policy and that local officials are pursuing policies that are drawing new homeless to the area from Downtown Los Angeles and other areas. Stay tuned.

This weekend sees the latest release of the latest book by our friend and former MayorSam blogger, Joseph

Mailander, LA at Intermission: A City Mingling Towards Identity. Mailander says the the book is about "the disintegration of identity in Los Angeles, and the re-emergence of a kind of more neutral, breezing, and shiftless civic identity." Hits Kindle this weekend.