Morning Hot Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

As the Elites of the Los Angeles Political Machine seek "Local Control" over "The Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street (aka LA Times)", the "Northeast LA Monthly of Record (aka Boulevard Sentinel)" undergoes an Ownership Change.

The last issue of the Tom Topping-edited (and owned) Boulevard Sentinel.

Now former Boulevard Sentinel Editor and Publisher Tom Topping and CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, are smiles in celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Northeast LA Monthly of Record.

** As the likes of Los Angeles Civic Watchdog Jack Humphreville, former Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member (and friend) Tony Butka, the (West) LA Observed Blog's Kevin "Westside White Guy" Roderick and the who's who of the Los Angeles Political Machine, seek to bring the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street (aka LA Times)" under local control/ownership, a "Northeast LA Monthly of Record" has change owners ........., and retained its endemic character.

Longtime Eagle Rock resident and the Founding Editor/ Publisher of the Boulevard Sentinel Monthly Newspaper Tom Topping has sold his Journalistic Creation to local business owner Tim Tritch (of the family-owned Tritch True Value Hardware Store), as he relocates to Eastern Washington. 

Topping in a Farewell Column within the September Issue of the Sentinel, cited the recent Passing of his Mother and the high cost of maintaining home ownership in the Los Angeles area, as some of the reasons for pulling up his longtime Eagle Rock stakes. 

Regular readers of the Sentinel will note that Topping was not afraid to take on the local political bosses since its incarnation back around 1999 when it gave coverage to the then upstart CD 14 City Council Campaign of Nick Pacheco, which defeated South Pasadena's Victor Griego by a couple of hundreds of votes.

In recent years, Topping's missives and commentary on Northeast LA issues, garnered him a "-1 score for loyalty" via the staff of just re-elected CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, which might have hit bottom considering his recent writings on the Princeton Graduate's Colorado Blvd. Bike Lanes and his last edition story on the cancelled 2015 Eagle Rock Music Festival (more on this developing controversy later). 

CERT Container with Supplies.

** You would think that last week's 8.3 Chile Earthquake and a possible, looming El Nino Winter would have the likes of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and public safety officials, ensuring that all disaster First Responders (paid and volunteer) have the necessary resources in place to handle any contingency. But under the reign of former Assemblyman (and AB-109 Prison Realignment Debacle Co-Author), turned current City Attorney Mike Feuer, the purchase and maintaining of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Containers by the likes of the Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council, has been branded a LIABILITY by his staff. The LBNC response to the absurdity of the City Attorney Feuer's directive was to craft the following letter below to the Mayor, seeking follow through on a promise to place the City Attorney Office in touch with the LBNC, regarding this issue.  

Page 1 of LBNC Letter to Mayor Garcetti

Page 2 of LBNC Letter to Mayor Garcetti.

This situation has taken on a greater sense of urgency considering that a letter to City Attorney Mike Feuer was "Returned to Sender (unlike 2013 campaign contributions from his former Bet Tzedek associates, but we digress), as noted below. 

Strange, that address matches the mail listing on City Attorney Feuer's Webpage.

Hopefully, the Second Term-seeking Mayor will not exhibit his 'Inner-Gar-Soft-ee" on this urgent issue of disaster preparedness, after all, every life matters in defending against a natural disaster.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14