A Public Service Announcement for Jose Huizar from Zuma Dogg

.@MayorSam: tell @JoseHuizar to take down his campaign signs, paid w clarts fund money. They are magnet for graffiti. pic.twitter.com/uDBqlVykoq
— Zuma Dogg (@ZumaDogg) March 7, 2015

WayBack Wednesday: Huizar's BlackBerry Love

A comment thrown out by candidate Gloria Molina at Wednesday evening's CD14 debate at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock has made us get sentimental for the days of 2008 when a joint Zuma Dogg-Mayor Sam breaking news story showed Council Member Jose Huizar in the midst of some heavy duty texting during a Council meeting.

"Why are you not answering my calls?

This was on the Council Member's then BlackBerry. For some of you young kids out there, a BlackBerry was not really a smart phone, but not quite a dumb phone either that all of us had before Android hit the scene. The rub was that Huizar was sending "lovey-dovey" messages to some particular female. Of course, years later the Council Member's affairs played out in the press and our suspicions were correct.

"Lovey-dovey messages?"

Getting back to this evening, during a heated exchange in the debate, Molina made the broad statement "We don't need a sexual harasser in City Hall." Wow. Kind of harsh. But maybe Gloria is on to something.

Anyway, enjoy the retro moments!

(Photos and video by Zuma Dogg)

Jose Huizar Can Dance!

To see the video click here

LAUSD recommends Denial of Charter Renewal for Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 is Charter renewal time for the controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School in El Sereno and the recommendation from the professional staff of LAUSD (like in 2007) is  ....

9. Board of Education Report No. 217 – 11/12   PUBLIC HEARING

Charter Schools Division

(Denial of the Renewal of the Charter for Xinaxcalmecac Academia Semillas del Pueblo and 

Amendment to Expand to Grades 9-12)  

Recommends the denial of the renewal of the charter petition and amendment to expand to grades 

9-12 for a K-8 grade, 311 student school located at 4970 and 4990 Huntington Drive in the City of 

Los Angeles and the adoption of the Findings of Fact.

But like in 2007, will the Latino Political Community seek to overturn the recommendation of the professional overseers of charter schools within LAUSD? Some thoughts ....... 

Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Principal Marcos Aguilar and his followers have sought to maintain a close relationship with CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. Aguilar and his followers were big supporters of the councilman's recent re-election, suppling voters and money for the campaign.

 Within the last few years, that relationship helped Aguilar gain access to the old El Sereno Library (yellow building) next to the decades old Hecho En Mexico Restaurant on Huntington Drive. Yet within the last several months, a feud over parking access has turned into a "war of defamation" between the two establishments. But one should note that the popular eatery (and its liquor license) were an established community dining destination long before Academia Semillas del Pueblo moved in on both sides of its location. Recently, Aguilar has asked his student parents to boycott the eatery over supposed "adult entertainment" (charges denied by the owners), to the consternation of many in the El Sereno Community.    

 In 2012 unlike 2007,  Marcos Aguilar and his followers will not have the likes of KABC 790 AM Talk Show Host Doug McIntyre, reporter Sandy Wells and White America to blame for its demise as a fail Charter School. If anything, Aguilar's Charter School has become just another political special interest that has put its leftist agenda before truly educating its student charges. Recently, Aguilar has been working with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/ Mountain Recreation Conservation Authority Ranger/ Strongman Joe Edmiston on "curriculum" for its "market-rate purchase" of "surplus city property" on Elephant Hill. Speculation has been rampant for years that Aguilar wants "open space acreage" somewhere in the El Sereno area to build his ideal campus /collective..     

For the students of Academia, the practice of learning the ancient ways still takes precedence over test scores.. As the LA Times reports, Academia is still ranked in the lowest ten percent based upon its most recent API scores. Meanwhile, some parents within the Academia Collective are opening questioning the finances behind Marcos and his wife Minnie Ferguson educational commune. In recent years, Academia open a supposed community coffee shop only to see it shuttered. Back in 2007, questions pertaining to the non-profit that oversaw the day to day operations of Academia, were raised by former LAUSD School Board member Mike Lansing and former Mayor Sam Blogger Zuma Dogg. Thus on Tuesday, while test scores and questionable business issues remain problematic some fives years later at Academia, the spotlight will on the Board of Education and its integrity to end this educational failure.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

"The High-Five Loving LA City Prosecutor".

OH THE (POLITICAL) DRAMA! Naught, more like waste of judicial resources.

The eyes of the local media and political bloggersphere were fixated on the Superior Courtroom of Judge Joseph Kalin as the attorneys for District Attorney Candidates Carmen Trutanich and Alan Jackson played out their "ballot designation scrabble contest".

The Jackson Campaign had undertaken this legal procedure to prevent "Team Nuch" from using the ballot designation of "Los Angeles Chief Prosecutor" and  after yesterday court proceeding, the judge bestowed this ballot designation upon the City Attorney for his quest to succeed District Attorney Steve Cooley, "LA CITY PROSECUTOR". Drama over.

** In a straight shooting missive on the fiscal future of the City of Los Angeles, CEO Miguel Santana warned the Office of Failing Two-Face Mayor Villar and the City Clowncil Central Committee, that the era of dancing the "one time budget fix cha cha" is over, unless the city's leaders aspires to become the "Stockton on the Coast".

** Imagine the thought this blogger had when he drove back into Blackberry range and found that "Charro Huizzy Corleone" is back from his fling with the fishes.

** Pause with me for a moment as my latest episode of 2013 Mayoral Campaign News shakes abates after LA Weekly's Jill Stewart most recent missive regarding a Loyola Marymount University Poll on the 2013 campaign. For LA County Supervisor Zev "Hamlet" Yaroslavsky, this poll could break his "inner standoff" on his deliberations whether to run or not. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

What stories could all these Ex. CD 14 Staffers tell about their demanding Princeton Graduate boss?

......... and the list continues below.

46. Diego Contreras – Special Assistant

47. Deanna Kitamura – Legislative Deputy
48. Daitlin Cornuelle
49. Juanita Martinez, Field Deputy, Northeast
50. Hilda Carrillo
51. Wendy Carrillo - New Media Deputy
52. Adrien Lopez, - Field Deputy
53. Jim Omahen - Field Deputy, Northeast
54. Eva Camacho – Admin. Assistant
55. Edel Vizcarra – Planning Deputy
56. Jesse  Leon- Boyle Heights Field  Office  Director
..... and 57. Daniel Andalon-El Sereno Field Office

"The Society for Councilman Jose Huizar Ex-Staffers"

Shout out to the City Clowncil Central Committee unofficial historian CD 4 City Clowncilman Tom LaBonge, is the following list of aspiring public servants who just happen to seek employment with CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, then flee for a better work work environment, an all time record for ex-staffers from one council office? ...... and the list just grew again as news leaked out of El Sereno that well-liked Daniel Andalon is moving to CD 1 City Clowncilman Ed Reyes staff. Why transfer from a just re-elected councilman staff that has long term job protection (as long as the work doesn't  conflict with your values) to a council staff that may change big time in 2013? Maybe balancing the demands of working for the ethically challenged Princeton Graduate, with conflicting personal values, created an "imbalance of being"?

** Position sword, fall forward.

For disgrace former Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch, taking accountability for his actions was the easy thing to do, repay some cash ($385,000), stay out of jail.And about those nine other counts?

** OH MY GOD!! Its another City Controller Wendy "The Valley Greuel" audit/ campaign press release. In this latest Valley Greuel paper thin audit, she has an OH MY GOD fiscal moment seeking answers to the whereabouts of $7 Million dollars in petrol.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

CD 11 City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and Zuma Dogg in more congenial times.

We start off this Tuesday morning with this bloggin public service announcement from 2013 Mayoral Candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltzburg.

Tune into TV 35, Tuesday at 10am, Wed at 10am, Fri at 10am...EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 10am, for the "Bill Rosendope Comedy Roast," during public comment. Have you HEARD Zuma Dogg's impersonation of Rosie? Wait till you hear what the community has to say about him. COPS not happy with him, either. His spineless, lack of leadership and constant fall-through is a REAL issue for them, from what I'm told.
MEANWHILE, thanks for confirming what I've been saying: DOWD/DOGG UNDER COUNCIL'S SKIN!

In an ideal Councilman Rosendahl world, crapping, urinating, camping and destroying public property, is a by-product of expressing your First Amendment rights, while highlighting the ills of a dysfunctional government at City Hall is grounds for expulsion.

Hecho En Mexico Restaurant. Boxed in on both sides by Academia Semillas del Pueblo properties. 

** Under the political radar to most is a growing controversy within the community of El Sereno. It appears that controversial educator Marcos Aguilar is bullying the owner of the well-liked restaurant "Hecho En Mexico" (the restaurant hosted President Barack H. Obama's sister during the 2008 Campaign and has sponsored numerous community events) over parking access near their respective properties. In recent years, Aguilar's Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School has purchase property directly on both sides of the long establish eatery. Complicating the situation is that Hecho En Mexico has a liquor license to sell beer, wine and liquor which makes you wonder what happen to the zoning process when Aguilar's non-profit purchase the properties (including the old El Sereno Library)?

Marcos to Huizar: "The Aztec Gods (with the help of my supporters campaign contributions) see a day when the city gives us "surplus property" on Elephant Hill for our Charter School".

After repeated complaints between Hecho and Academia over parking, Academia is now preparing to challenge the ABC renewal of Hecho's liquor license. Many in the El Sereno Community are questioning the actions of Marcos Aguilar considering that Hecho has been a good neighbor to the community and that the restaurant was established long before Academia set up its educational commune on another location further south on Huntington Drive.

But what is the real goal for Marcos Aguilar in his battle with Hecho En Mexico? Could it be that Marcos has his eyes set on "surplus city property" north of his current location? Its no secret in the El Sereno Community that Aguilar wants access to "open space". Early last decade, Aguilar tried securing open space at Debs Park for his initial charter school site but was rebuffed by community members. Currently, Aguilar's school has been working behind the scenes with SMMC/MRCA on education ideas for its just purchase five acre site on Elephant Hill. Could Aguilar crave asking the City of Los Angeles to allow his educational commune to relocate to the remaining "surplus property" on Elephant Hill, away from Huntington Drive? Thus, granting Aguilar his much sought after open space (at city cost) for furthering his connection to the Azteca Educational Gods?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14       

The Politics of "Taking Credit" in Council District 14

 Taking credit for endeavors initiated by constituents and other politicos is a daily task for CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. In Boyle Heights, residents are recipients of repeated messages on the billions of dollars of capital improvements made in their neighborhood in recent years ..... via Councilman Jose Huizar. Tomorrow in Eastern El Sereno, Councilman Jose Huizar will once again tout, "in large part" his support for a new pocket park.  

The idea for the pocket park was the solitary idea of Concern Neighbor of El Sereno Founder Val Marquez. Marquez had grown weary of seeing, day after day, the unkempt condition of the Cal Trans lot that now will become the newest park land addition in park-starved El Sereno. Yet, after many years of addressing emails, hosting meetings, lobbying elected officials and galvanizing community support, what show of appreciation does Marquez get from Councilman Jose Huizar? None. Reading the email blast below, you can get the perception that Councilman Huizar, with a little help from constituents, city agencies and other organizations, was the brain child behind this latest green space addition.

Come Celebrate New El Sereno
Recreation Area Saturday

Open House and BBQ for new green space being built

Councilmember José Huizar invites you to an Open House and BBQ for a new recreation area that is being built for the El Sereno community, located on the corner of Alhambra Avenue and Concord Avenue. (only the Councilman can formally invite you to an event in CD 14)

The new green space, which will eventually include a children's garden and playground, is coming to our neighborhood thanks in large part to Councilmember Huizar ( kinda presumptive to claim a large part of the credit), who helped secure funding for the space.

Special thanks also goes out to Department of Recreation and Parks and the local community (how about mentioning Val Marquez by name?) for their assistance in creating a new, green space for El Sereno families.

Come visit, enjoy some good food and get the latest updates on this new recreational area the community "helped" (just help Councilman?) design.

What: Open House & BBQ New El Sereno Recreation Area 

Where: Corner of Alhambra Ave. and Concord Ave. 

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012

REFRESHMENTS & BBQ 

will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, please contact the El Sereno CD 14 office at (323) 226-1646. 

Special Thanks To:

BBQ: LA-32 Neighborhood Council

Fliers: Concerned Neighbors of El Sereno & El Sereno Graphics

Refreshments: Bank of the West

City of Los Angeles

Department of Rec & Parks

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Dissertation on Corruption within the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council

 Boyle Heights Connected CBO Shill (formerly mouth piece for the Fifteen Group) and Councilman Jose Huizar crony Margo Amador

 Councilman Huizar's "Girls" of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council.

Former Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council Vice-President and Presidential Candidate Sal Martinez (center) with Councilman Huizar among others.

** Blogger's Notes: -With the 2011 election of Community Activist Jose Aguilar to the Presidency of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, many activists in the community hoped that their N.C. would once again endeavor on the behalf of the people of the community, not the connected community based organizations that serve the political needs of its Princeton Graduate Councilperson. But scoring a "-3" on Councilman Huizar's Loyalty List did not bid well for President Aguilar and his allies on the BHNC. from day one, Councilman Huizar's cronies such as Margo Amador, the Del Pozo Sisters and their friends in the connected CBO Community, put roads blocks and political obstructions (with the blessing of Councilman Huizar), in the way of governance. Now, former BHNC Member Manny Aldana pens the definitive missive on the corruption within the NC and chronicles the questionable actions that saw President Aguilar and others removed from office. This blogger should note that Aldana was the target of an 100 page complaint by Amador to disqualify him from taking office in 2010, but was dismissed by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE). Thus, one can see the extent that Huizar's cronies will go to attack their political enemies--Scott Johnson. .  

BOYLE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL SCANDAL:

CORRUPTION IN CITY GOVERNMENT

 

By Manny Aldana

 

March 5, 2012

 

LOS ANGELES - The Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council (NC) has been in exhaustive efforts

for almost a year now. Exhaustive efforts gives the indication of the danger of being

decertified. So what leaves us to believe that the current Boyle Heights NC has complied

with all the requirements needed to be removed from exhaustive efforts. Should over a year

of dysfunction, non-compliancy, and lack of ethics be rewarded instead of being held

accountable? Is it appropriate that other NC's have a different standard? It would be an

injustice for the community of Boyle Heights not to know the reality about the scandalous

process that has guided the current Boyle Heights NC. For silence to continue would be a

disservice to Boyle Heights and the City of Los Angeles.(Read the remaining after the jump).

Read more »

Morning Briefs on Redistricting Vote Day at City Hall

Friday, March 16, 2012 will be a historic day for the City of Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee under the leadership (or strong arming) of CD 10 City Councilman Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson. The body convenes today to meet its June 30 deadline to approve the findings (or backroom dealings) of the 2011/2012 Redistricting Committee Expect a full chamber and verbal fireworks galore.

If ask to pick the moment that best sums up the true intentions behind the closed door proceedings of Redistricting 2012, this five minute video clip of the allegations made by young Koreatown Activist Jimmy Chai would get top honors.   

By far, the biggest targets of Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson and ally Mayor Antonio Villar scheme to redraw the political spoils, have been City Councilman Bernard Parks and City Councilwoman Jan Perry. The duo along with the activists behind the "Koreatown Spring" do not figure to let today's anticipated choreographed proceedings deter them from undertaking legal actions against the city.

The waiting will be the hardest part for former City Councilman Herb Wesson "Senior Staffer" turned Redistricting Committee Executive Director Andrew Westall as he awaits his chance to become "CD 4 City Councilman Andrew Westall" in 2015. This opportunity come thanks to a late night action of the Redistricting Committee to add Westall's Toluca Lake Neighborhood to CD 4. Political reward? We think yes. 

The biggest winner besides City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson in the Redistricting 2012  proceedings have been Mayor Villar's  "political mijo" CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. Huizar expects to gain the shakedown rich enclave of Downtown. With the likes of former Building and Safety Inspector Samuel In now paired with Huizar's close confidant Gustavo Valdivia, this can not bid well for ethics in a Huizar controlled Downtown LA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

...... and lastly, every backroom political endeavor needs an enabler (and driver) for the controlling machine.

"MEAT"

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

This blogger like City Clowncil Dictator Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson  and the rest of the Clowncil Central Committee, are bugging out early. For the Clowncil Central Committee, its the National League of Cities Conference in Washington D.C. and for this blogger its ......

This is a great living history presentation centered on the old Vallecito Butterfield Stage Station at San Diego's Vallecito County Park within the larger Anza-Borrego State Park. But back to the local political scene ....

** We have a surprise in store for CD 14's Councilman Jose Huizar. Here's a hint, he may need the services of the City Attorney in the near future as more attention is being paid to his stonewalling on the status of the CLARTS Community Amenities Fund. Our recent request under the California Public Records Act has gone unanswered. Thus, an outside organization is paying close attention to this latest episode of "CLARTS Fund Transparency Held Hostage", now in Day 22. Thus, we tie this yellow ribbon in the hope that Tranparency and Open Government return soon to CD 14.

   Councilman Huizar, release the records on the CLARTS Fund!

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

A Message from CD 9 City Councilwoman and Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry on Redistricting

Blogger's Notes: In simple words, the gloves are coming off in the horseshoe on Spring Street---Scott Johnson. ** LA Times story breaks on Perry's claim of corruption in redistricting process.

Dear Voters: 

Several months ago I made a decision to step down as Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore while still continuing to serve as your councilperson, because I had concerns at the time about transparency of the redistricting process. Redistricting is required every ten years following the census. We are supposed to examine census population numbers and a determination is made about which council district needs to lose or gain population. It is not a process that should be intent on harming communities of interest. 

The process that was been established at the City of Los Angeles for redistricting has confirmed my worse fears. The current map does not reflect the demands of the public, divides communities of interest, represents significant political gerrymandering, and pits communities against one another. 

The redistricting commission did not operate independently, but seemed to take directions to fulfill the political agenda of city hall insiders, special interests and future candidates for public office.

What is being done to our district in Downtown Los Angeles is a good example of what is wrong with the current redistricting process. For over 40 years South Los Angeles and Downtown have been linked as one community in the 9th Council District. Council District 9 currently represents 75% of the people downtown. But as a result of backroom political deal between the current leadership of the city and Councilman Jose Huizar our community will be torn apart with downtown and portion of south Los Angeles placed into the 14th council district. The northeastern communities have never been linked to downtown as with the current plan.

I am very proud of what we have accomplished while working together in Downtown Los Angeles. I am afraid Councilman Huizar will not bring the kind of responsive representation that we are used to in our district. A good example of this is the following article (linked here) which points to the kind of representation that Downtown residents can expect. The Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Huizar maintained a list that graded residents of his district based on their support, which would then determine what level of constituent services they would receive.    

We all deserve better than that. The Downtown News thinks so too. 

Please call Councilman Herb Wesson's Office at 213 473 7010 and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office 213 978 0721 and demand that they listen to the people and not use redistricting for political purposes. We need to re-do the maps and keep Downtown in the historic Ninth District. The Rules Committee will meet this week on Wednesday, March 7 at City Hall at 4:00 pm to discuss the redistricting maps and take public testimony. Come to the hearing and let your view be known. We want to keep the Great Ninth District together.

Sincerely 

Your Councilwoman Jan Perry

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

** PS, Huizzy just got spanked with the truth.

Councilman Huizar/ Ana Cubas, El Sereno is awaiting your response to Public Records Request

Why does CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar continue to stonewall on making public expenditures related to almost $1.3 Millions Dollars of the CLARTS Fund transfer to his Salary Account?

Add $200,000 to the $1.045 Million Dollars of the CLARTS Fund transfer to CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar's Salary Account.

** Memo to CD 14 Chief of Staff Ana Cubas, a hard copy of this Public Records Request posted below, was given to your El Sereno Office Field Director Arturo Gonzalez at the February 1, 2012 Meeting of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council. We hope that Gonzalez will have the requested documents this Wednesday when the LA-32 NC meets for the month of March. We should note that since El Sereno help beat challenger Rudy Martinez last spring, it has seen Councilman Huizar cancelled annual events such as the "Sleepy Coliss Halloween Event", "Annual Turkey Giveaway" and the famous "El Sereno Winter Wonderland". Further, critical fire equipment such as RA 816 and Engine 47 have been pulled from service. In addition, community members have been kept in the dark about major traffic projects such as the Soto Street bridges and Huntington Drive widening. Now as back in 2010, constituents rights to public documents are being violated by your tardiness in responding to the request below. If no documents are made public Wednesday, then expect a community-wide response---Scott Johnson                                                              

To: Ana Cubas, Chief of Staff, Councilman Jose Huizar

Date: January 31, 2012

From: Scott Johnson, LA 32 Stakeholder

Re: California Public Records Request on the status of the CD 14 CLARTS Fund

Chief of Staff Ana Cubas,

This is a request under the rights accorded me under the California Public Records Act for updated information on all expenditures and transfer of funds from the CD 14 CLARTS Amenities Fund from October 1, 2010 to the present.

Please note that this Public Records Request includes all expenditures made from funds transfer to the CD 14 Salary Account from the CLARTS Fund, as noted in past CAO mid-year budget reports.

Feel free to respond to this request within the time standards as noted in the California Public Records Act.

Respectfully,

Scott Johnson

LA 32 Stakeholder

outwardscottla32@yahoo.com

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

CD 14 Violating Public Records Act Again on CLARTS Fund

Violating Public Record Laws never came hard for the Princeton Graduate,

 CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar Chief of Staff Ana Cubas 

CD 14 El Sereno Field Office Director Arturo Gonzalez.

Stubborn, lazy and contempt for California's Public Records Laws are not the way to pursuit higher office ..... especially City Attorney.

Yet, this is the M.O. for C.D.14 City Councilman Jose Huizar who ha s again shown his disdain for constituents rights to petition his office for documentation regarding the funding status of the Central Los Angeles Refuge Transfer Station Amenities Fund (CLARTS Fund).

The last update provided to the community on the status of the CLARTS Fund was on October 18, 2010. On October 20, 2010, the City Clerk noted that the CLARTS Fund had a balance of $544,683. which contradicted  Chief of Staff Ana Cubas report to the LA-32 Neighborhood Council. 

Some 15 months later at the most recent monthly meeting of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council on February 1, 2012, CD 14 El Sereno Field Office Director Arturo Gonzalez was presented with a hard copy request to Ana Cubas, by a LA-32 stakeholder for up to date information on the status of the CLARTS Fund. Copies of the request were printed and made available to all in attendance and submitted into the record of the LA-32 NC.

Since then, no response has been made to the stakeholder (this blogger). Thus, once again LA-32 and the rest of the constituents of CD 14 are being held hostage when it comes to accountability from the Office of Councilman Jose Huizar.

...... and the next time anyone sees Arturo Gonzalez in company of LAPD observing lawful protesters, lets remember who is truly the lawbreaker for withholding public documents.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Your Monday Morning Roadside Distraction Compliments of CBS Billboards and Councilman Huizar

"Male drivers may get another wood-related byproduct after viewing this billboard".

Great late Sunday evening to all as you ready yourself for a great night of sleep to rejuvenate the body and mind for another week of gainful employment or dependency on the Obama White House. For those heading westward into Downtown LA via Valley Blvd. from University Hill eastwards, you have or will now take notice of this explicit CBS Billboard that prompted multiple complaints at the most recent LA-32 Neighborhood Council Meeting.  

CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar's El Sereno Field Office Director Arturo Gonzalez (observing from passenger seat of LAPD vehicle), who is known to use LAPD resources to keep tabs on community issues (or law-abiding constituents protest the dumping of sex offenders parolees in El Sereno), took umbrage (and unlawfully interrupted the LA 32 NC Meeting) after LA-32 NC Executive Board Member Linda McGuire's comment that the council office should be on top of issues such as explicated billboards.

But as this 2007 CBS billboard shows, Councilman Huizar has a long, friendly history and connection to "Big Billboard" in the City of Los Angeles. In his last re-election battle in 2011, CBS donated this in free billboard space to Huizar's camapaign.

03/02/11

CBS Outdoor & Affiliated Entities Los Angeles, CA 90031 (Independent Expenditure)

Jose Huizar

City Council Member - District 14

Huizar for Council 2011 (1325226)[Election: 03/08/11]

03/02/11

CBS Outdoor/ Billboard Advertising Space/Printing

$12,000.00

Then lets not forget that Councilman Huizar's love of "Big Billboard" was also replicated by Lamar Advertising which posted these graphics all around the council district.

Lamar Advertising of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(Independent Expenditure)

Jose Huizar
City Council Member - District 14
Huizar for Council 2011 (1325226)[Election: 03/08/11]

02/14/11

Lamar Advertising/ Billboards - Donated Space & Paper

$2,500.00

Thus, what are the chances that Arturo Gonzalez spends as much time searching El Sereno for explicted billboards and responding to constituent complaints, as he did in monitoring a lawful gathering of community members concern about the proliferation of sex offenders in their neighborhood? Just follow the money to his boss'es campaign account.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Downtown Duel 2012: Councilwoman Jan "The Sedan" Perry vs. Councilman Jose "The Tanker" Huizar

"Downtown Duel 2012": Will "the tanker of CD 14" be able to push "the sedan of CD 9" out of Downtown?

Blogger's note: Great Saturday morning to all as the weekend gives pause to the "Downtown Duel 2012", the contest for control of Downtown LA campaign riches and permit franchises. Downtown News Editor and "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie and his excellent staff , provide extensive coverage of "Downtown Duel 2012" in this weekend's edition of the Downtown News. Both CD 9 City Councilwoman Jan Perry and CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar are given space to state their case for maintaining the status quo or unifying Downtown as part of the 2012 redistricting process respectively. In addition, prominent members of the Downtown Community, state whether they back Perry or Huizar in "Downtown Duel 2012"---Scott Johnson. ** Below excerpts from both Councilwoman Perry's and Councilman Huizar's dueling missives as printed in the Downtown News.

   CD 9 Councilwoman Jan Perry and friends.

The Ninth District is the bridge that links the communities of Downtown with southern portions of Los Angeles — an area rich with economic, cultural and racial diversity. In fact, the diversity of this district drives this part of the city forward, and it is diversity that is at risk in this redistricting. The current configuration promotes the best opportunities for growth, higher density living, and a public-transit oriented future that will improve Downtown and its adjacent communities in the southern part of the district.  

Separating the two major partners in the continued vitality of this area is wrong-headed and ill-considered. Severing Downtown from South Los Angeles will have the effect of creating the poorest council district in the city and isolating Downtown neighborhoods from their existing partnerships. A prime example is the Figueroa Corridor, which has experienced great investment due to the synergy between Downtown and South Los Angeles. We have seen the results of this partnership push investment along the corridor through the introduction of BYD, a Chinese electric car company, and a new Fiat dealership. This kind of synergy has made the Ninth District a great success story.

 CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar and friends.

CD 9’s area of Downtown has experienced wonderful things under Jan Perry’s leadership since 2001. Downtown is a better place thanks to her service, which will end due to term limits in 2013. I commend her for her efforts.  

Similarly, in CD 14’s portion of Downtown we have brought hundreds of jobs, multiple venues and numerous services to Downtown through my Bringing Back Broadway initiative. I fought and won a battle to preserve and expand the Arts District, opened the first and only city park in Skid Row for children and have worked closely with the Fashion District on their priorities. 

I can continue to serve CD 14 for seven more years, until 2019, ensuring Downtown’s 50,000 (and counting) residents, thousands of businesses, 500,000 workers and millions of annual tourists a cohesive, progressive vision for a united Downtown that will serve our entire city for generations.

Yout thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

Can anybody find LAPD in this chase?

We start this beautiful Friday morning with a Tuesday night flashback to a televised car chase that snaked it way through the streets of Silverlake and surrounding areas. At least one perceptive viewer had this comment about the law enforcement response, or lack of. 

Yesterday (Tuesday) thousands of Southern California residents watched yet another police pursuit as aired on 3 different  local Los Angeles television stations. As the suspect vehicle exited from the Southbound 2 freeway at Glendale Blvd  with California Highway Patrol close by, The suspect driver was observed driving through the streets of Silverlake  back and forth sometimes over the same streets that he previously traveled on. But where were the police officers from the Northeast Division to assist the California Highway Patrol officers ? None were observed.  Not too long ago, Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies were the law enforcement agency which assisted the California Highway Patrol with a  pursuit suspect in the El Sereno area of Los Angeles.  Can Chief Beck please tell the residents of Northeast Los Angeles , What the hell is going on ?  Is he still sending Northeast Patrol vehicles to other police divisions through out the city?

.... just how thin are LAPD resources being spread throughout Los Angeles? You may not want to know.

** We want to commend out-going Los Angeles City Council Energy & Environment Committee Chairperson Councilwoman Jan Perry for her leadership in creating two wetlands parks within her council district. Meanwhile her replacement as committee chairperson CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar has dropped the ball on restoring the Hazard Park Wetlands and repairing a storm drain that feeds into the Wetlands watershed. Environmental Activists will remember that Mayor Antonio Villar promised at the Million Trees Groundbreaking that a restore wetlands would be in place within three years........... and now Councilman Huizar calls a restore wetlands "a long term project".

** We almost forgot that Councilman Jose Huizar was too pre-occupied with Clifton's Cafeteria festivities to act as a leader and vote to increase water rates on his constituents.

** Lastly, as the likes of Ron Kaye and the LA Times Editorial Board debate whether District Attorney Candidate Carmen Trutanich is a liar, maybe the same pillars of local journalism should answer why "these truths" via Mayor Antonio Villar, never garnered the same level of discussion (** especially during the "LA Antonio Times Era" of the former daily of record). An excerpt as posted on Mayor Sam in 2006 .......

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