Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

President Obama will visit Southern California next week hosting a town hall meeting in Santa Ana and several other events in Los Angeles.

San Francisco Mayor and California Gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom tweets that he will appear on CBS News Sunday Morning to discuss electric vehicles.

The LAFD reports that an MTA Blue Line train had a run in with a vehicle near 1674 E. 103rd Street in Los Angeles Saturday night. No reports of injuries amongst the nearly 100 passengers on the train and only minor injuries for the driver. This comes just two days after an MTA Gold Line train went out of control in a construction tunnel.

Jack Weiss is telling Rick Orlov fibs saying that "I have been on the public's side my entire career," as he seeks the post of City Attorney in May's general election. Yet Weiss isn't getting much love from his colleagues as Council Member Dennis Zine declares "I just don't think Jack deserves to be city attorney. I don't think he's up to the job."

Walter Moore isn't the only one concerned about potential vote counting shadiness when it comes to tallying some reported 46,000 provisional, absentee and other troubled ballots from the primary election. Downtown Central City East blogger Don Garza is worried the provisional ballot he cast may not be counted.

Mayor Sam's Saturday Hotsheet

The LA Times reports that City election officials are still counting ballots from the primary election earlier this month. Though most races' outcomes are certain two items remain in question. Measure B which appears to have lost is edging to the too close to call category as well as the 6th District Board of Education race between Nury Martinez and Louis Pugliese in which less than a percentage divides the two candidates. In the meantime Walter Moore thinks that if he isn't pushed into a run-off it will be because the City Clerk fired up Oliver North's shredder. Please ask Walter if he also believes the Federal Government is holding aliens at Area 51.

Maria Shriver says she's not running for Governor to succeed her husband but another member of her family is mulling a run for statewide office. The Santa Monica Daily Press reports that Shriver's brother Bobby is considering seeking the Democratic nomination for Attorney General if Jerry Brown runs for Governor.

It's been a while since we've heard from him but he's back! Vice President Joe The Biden demonstrates why he's the gift that keeps on giving when he's caught on a live mic dropping some f-bombs at a recent event. Hear the audio.

Westside White Guy caught a typo in the LA Times. It's Anna - not Ann - Nichol Smith. LAObserved via Mayor Sam Twitter

Middle middle class suburban cranks in a section of Van Nuys desperately want to be part of Sherman Oaks. Sounds silly to me. Here In Van Nuys,

Open Thread for Election Day 2009

Feel free to blog away here dum dums with poll reports, observations, thoughts and stupidity.  I'll be traveling around town Tuesday night with live blogs at MS2 and tweets at our Twitter page.

You can get election results here.

Watch video updates at Mayor Sam's YouTube page.

Updates:
Sunland Tujunga Voter Alert - Re-arranged polling places

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Election Day

Make sure you vote today.

LA Business Journal via RonKayeLA: Antonio tells the truth (finally) about Measure B and the IBEW: "You say, 'We cut a deal with them.' Yeah, we did. We built a partnership with them...they didn't see any jobs." How surreal.

In a last minute endorsement the Daily News selects our pick David Vahedi for the 5th Council District seat that Jack Weiss will be dragged from kicking and screaming. "Vahedi stands out as a candidate well-versed in district issues and who has track record of representing community concerns," says the News.

The Fishwrap of Record does the usual lame pre-election preview. One interesting note - very low numbers when it comes to receipt of absentee ballots. About a third of those who requested have mailed them back in.

Jon Regardie at the LA Downtown News does it again. Jon imagines Mayor Villaraigosas's acceptance speech. "Los Angeles, there is so much we can accomplish in the next two - sorry, the next four years."

We mentioned yesterday an LA Times piece that reported that Skid Row residents are screwed when it comes to getting government coupons for free converter boxes when over-the-air TV goes digital. Turns out our friends at the LA Downtown News were on top of it before the Times with more detailed coverage.

Mayor Sam's Ballot Recommendations - Take This With You to the Polls

You've asked for them, so here they are. If you don't like them, I have a nice freeway for you to play on.

MAYOR - There are three candidates running that I would have no problem with serving as Mayor.  They are (in alphabetical order) David Hernandez, Phil Jennerhan and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg.  Hernandez brings with him a long experience in civic affairs, compassion and wisdom.  Jennerjahn may have what some feel is a subtle naivete not common for someone of his age - that being said I find him refreshing, well spoken and bringing the kind of optism we could frankly user in City Hall.  Saltsburg has the worn shoe leather of spending nearly every day of the last three years as watchdog and advocate in City Hall, becoming keenly aware of the issues and dysfunction of local government and though he is often derided for it - his philosophy based on the teachings of management expert W. Edwards Demings is intriguing - Saltsburg would empower the managers and city workers in the field to create the solutions LA needs, not the special interests and politicians.  Since I can only cast one vote, I will vote for Saltsburg, however if you can't get past the uniqueness of his candidacy and want to vote for someone else I strongly urge you to consider only Hernandez or Jennerjahn.

CITY ATTORNEY - It appears that no one likes Jack Weiss.  We could very well be facing a May run-off between candidates Carmen Trutanich and Michael Amerian, both able candidates with the experience to be LA's top law enforcement officer and both a refreshing change to current City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.  However, I will vote for Noel Weiss (the GOOD Weiss) in the primary.  Though his chances are limited and I don't agree with Noel on a number of political issues, I find his honesty, integrity, passion, legal ability and knowledge of City Hall to be refreshing.  I also like his plans to use the City Attorney's office to empower local citizens including Neighborhood Councils.  Should Noel not survive the primary, Amerian and Trutanich would be well served to quickly bring Weiss on board and even considering making him part of their administration.

CITY CONTROLLER - Wendy Greuel once had a lot of promise and is in many ways an interesting thinker and nice person.  However she has the stink of Mayor Villaraigosa all over her.  Indeed some of her decisions appear to be poor ones influenced by the Mayor.  If it was certain that someone other than the Mayor would be elected, I could be comfortable with Greuel.  However Nick Patsaouras brings with him a long and distinguished track record in both business and government and would not be afraid to stand up to Antonio Villaraigosa.  Walter Moore affiliated candidate Suzy Evans has no experience with local government and has some questionable political leanings.  Therefore I'm voting for Patsaouras.

CITY COUNCIL - 

District 3 - Dennis Zine has made some mistakes over his terms in office and we've called him on them.  Still for the most part he is one of just a few refreshing minds on the Council when it comes to fiscal responsibility and a few other issues and he deserves to be re-elected.  His opponent Jeff Bornstein is an active and knowledgable political activist in his community but he has not made the case why Zine doesn't deserve another term.

District 5 - The good news here is that no matter what happens Jack Weiss will no longer be the Council Member here.  The question is will his successor be any better? There's a wide variety of candidates here to choose from and many of them appear qualified.  However I find David T. Vahedi to be the candidate most understanding of what the community needs and is a knowledgable and thoughtful candidate.

District 13 - Eric Garcetti has a lot of qualities you would desire in a politician.  He's charming affable, polite and well educated. He's even said nice things about this blog.  At the same time Garcetti has made many poor decisions his constituents are greatly concerned with when it comes to development, billboards and other issues.  His involvement in the placing of Measure B on the ballot is also concerning.  Though I would like to like Eric Garcetti, voters in his district have an interesting alternative in Gary Slossberg.  Slossberg is intelligent, educated and in many ways similar to Garcetti.  Except that Slossberg doesn't come from a politically connected family and have what unfortunately is a shady track record.  Though Garcetti will likely win handily it might be time to shake things up with Slossberg.

I have no other recommendations for LA City Council.


LA School Board

Disrict 2 - Monica Garcia should have never been elected to the school board.  The hand picked puppet of Mayor Villaraigosa and City Council Member Jose Huizar she's there for politics only and has no real experience to run a school district as seen by her bungled and racist handling of the dismissal of Superintendent David Brewer.  Unfortuantely Garcia is the only candidate on the ballot.  Voters in her district can send a message by not marking her name on the ballot, a symbolic protest at best, but one that will make them feel a little better.

District 4 - Candidates Mike Stryer and Steve Zimmer are similar in many ways.  However Stryer brings with him independence from the Mayor and union and a business as well as educational background.   Therefore vote Stryer.

District 6 - This is a no brainer.  Candidate Louis Pugliese - a longtime educator, college professor and businessman came out of nowhere two years ago in another district to push the two front runners into a run-off.  His opponent, recently deposed San Fernando Mayor Nury Martinez is a longtime protege of Councilman Richard Alarcon who will be strongly influenced by the Mayor. Martinez has experience only in politics and social issues with no background in education.  When the LAUSD is failing it's time to stop the politics and get the kids learning again.  Pugliese is far more qualified to do that than Martinez.


Ballot Measures

Charter Amendment A: Fire Department Independent Assessor - This plan would establish an independent auditor of the Fire Department.  Sounds like a good idea but LA already has a City Attorney and City Controller who perform the same functions.  There is no need to duplicate this structure. Vote no.

Charter Amendment B: Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program - We all know this one.  No. No. No. No. No.

Charter Amendment C: Disabled Children Survivor Benefit of the Fire and Police Pension Plan- This would continue to provide benefits to disabled children of firefighters and police officers who pass away even if the child later marries or is adopted by another family.  Common decency says yes. 

Charter Amendment D: Survivor Benefit Purchase Program for Retirees of the Fire and Police Pension Plan - A related proposal that provides survivor benefits to spouses or domestic partners who marry or partner with a firefighter or police officer after they retire.  Vote yes.

Charter Amendment E: Economic Incentives for Business Development - Corporate welfare for developers.  Vote Hell No!

Greuel Slimes Patsaouras; Nick Issues Challenge

City Controller Candidate Wendy Greuel is airing the ad below where she alleges that opponent Nick Patsaouras, as chairman of a local bank, ran the bank into the ground.

However, the Sister City has located documents that show that Marathon National Bank, of which Patsaouras was Chairman of the Board, was acquired by First Community Bancorp in a 2002 merger.  Additionally, records show that Marathon, in quarterly reports filed just before the merger, had significant earnings growth, hardly the picture of an institution in trouble.

Patsaouras has issued a challenge to Greuel - prove the bank failed and he'll drop out of the race. However if she can not dispute Patsaouras' claim that the bank failed Patsaouras is calling on Greuel to withdrawl.

We don't expect to Greuel to drop out even if she was wrong about Patsaouras' bank; its politics as usual in LA.

Antonio no pudo ayudar a Wendy; MAPA Passes Over the Pixie for the Greek

Oops!

MEDIA ADVISORY
Mexican American Political Association to endorse Nick Patsaouras for Los Angeles City Controller

Date: Friday, February 27, 2009
Time: 2PM
Location: Music Center courtyard, across from DWP Headquarters
111 N. Hope St.
Los Angeles

LA Chamber Votes For: More of the Same

Forget the mantra for change or in fact even doings something that will actually improve the economic climate in Los Angeles.  The LA Chamber - whose stated mission is to promote business in the region but whose real effort is to advance the status quo - has chosen to continue to kowtow to the Downtown establishment and keep the kleptocracy in place.

The "Chamber" has called for an up and down vote on every incumbent or son (or daughter?) of an incumbent on the ballot.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Not a surprise, the Chamber is endorsing the corporate welfare giveaway Measure E - which does nothing to actually bring real business to the City but will handsomely benefit the Downtown corporations which make up the Chamber.  You may remember that the City of Burbank showed Wendy Greuel to be lying about the need for this shady measure.

Amazingly, the Jurassic Chamber is opposing Measure B. I believe that was probably done to forestall a wholesale rejection of the mother ship by local Chambers who have mostly gone on record opposing B (which stands for boondoggle).

What it comes down to folks is not just to be against something because we're against it.  It's because the way the City has been run the last 4, 8, 12 years just doesn't work.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

That being said, the LA Chamber is certifiable.

***

The Chamber endorses the following candidates and has taken positions on the following measures in the City of Los Angeles March 3 election:

CITYWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR ............................ Antonio R. Villaraigosa
CITY ATTORNEY ................................ Jack Weiss
CONTROLLER ............................... Wendy Greuel

CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT NO. 1 ................................. Ed P. Reyes
DISTRICT NO. 3 ............................ Dennis P. Zine
DISTRICT NO. 5 ....................... Adeena N. Bleich
DISTRICT NO. 7 ......................... Richard Alarcón
DISTRICT NO. 9 ................................ Jan C. Perry
DISTRICT NO. 11 .......................... Bill Rosendahl
DISTRICT NO. 13 .............................. Eric Garcetti
DISTRICT NO. 15 .............................. Janice Hahn

BOARD OF EDUCATION

DISTRICT NO. 2 ............................ Mónica García
DISTRICT NO. 4 ................................ Mike Stryer
DISTRICT NO. 6 ........................... Nury Martinez

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SEAT NO. 2 ................................. Angela Reddock
SEAT NO. 4 .................................... Kelly Candaele
SEAT NO. 6 .................................. Nancy Pearlman
SEAT NO. 7 .................................. Miguel Santiago

BALLOT MEASURES

OPPOSE
MEASURE B
Solar Energy and Job Creation Program
The Chamber embraces the economic and business opportunities that an aggressive solar program will bring to Los Angeles. But the process used to bring Measure B to the voters cannot be condoned. Measure B would signal a new direction in the management of the city’s utility through piecemeal ballot measures intended to favor single programs that should more appropriately be considered by the LADWP Commission, business, labor and the public in a broader context and through a transparent process. 

SUPPORT
MEASURE E
Economic Incentives for Business Development
Los Angeles is being bombarded by recruiters from cities and states trying to relocate our companies. The Chamber supports efforts to retain and attract businesses to Los Angeles. Measure E will provide the mayor and city council with the authority to design, in a public process, incentives such as tax and fee waivers for businesses and jobs we want to keep or attract to Los Angeles.

Why Is DWP Campaigning for Measure B?

From my inbox:

You are cordially invited to attend a community meeting where LADWP will present facts about the Comprehensive Solar Plan including Measure B and the Huron Consulting Group will discuss the Independent Assessment of LADWP Owned Solar Projects (Measure B).

February 25 – 7:00 pm
Banning’s Landing
100 E. Water Street, Wilmington 90744
Parking: Street or Lot Entrance on Water Street

Will the other side be allowed to present? Send your questions to neighborhood.newswire@ladwp.com.

When this election is over I'd like to see someone pursue a ballot measure that will prohibit government agencies like DWP or LAUSD from "advocating" on ballot measures that impact them as well as banning department heads like the DWP General Manager and LAPD Chief from campaigning for city issues and candidates. Time to start cleaning up the corruption.

By the way I'm told that protesters from the unions and environmental groups that oppose B have outnumbered the general public at this meetings. The Sister City encourages as much peaceful, legal protest outside these meetings as possible.

I owe you a hotsheet...

But in the meantime open thread away on the campaings.  What's Villaraigosa up to? Any more Vahedi signs being stolen? Did you listen to Zuma Dogg or Walter Moore on Bill Handel? Who is sending you the most mail? Blog away dum dums.

Who Knew?

The Jewish Journal reports on the number of candidates who are Jewish running for office saying that "Jews are rapidly becoming the People of the Ballot."

I felt that deserved a song.

People of the Ballot

(with apologies to Adam Sandler)

by Mayor Sam

Elections are the alternate to fights,

Instead of years of uprising, we have one crazy night.

So when you feel like the only one on the ballot without a Latin name, 

here's a list of people who are Jewish, that jumped in to the game:

David Berger kisses the mezuzah,

So do Jack Weiss, Paul Koretz, and the CD5's Adeena

Guess who eats together at our favorite deli Cantor's,

Bornstein from CD3, and Mrs Robin Ritter (Simon).

Eric Garcetti's half Jewish; Harry Potter's half too,

Put them together--what a magical shady Jew!

You don't need confession or to post on Mayor Sam's blog

Cause you can atone your sins with Noel Weiss and Zuma Dogg--both Jewish!

Put on your yarmulke, and have some Manischewitz,

Cause you can vote for the former WeHo Mayor Mr. Paul Koretz.

Nick the Greek -- not a Jew!

And guess who else...the Valley's Wendy Greuel (but her husband is)

We got Ron Galperin and his opponent Robert Schwartz,

Gary Shlossberg's also Jewish--and on the right course!

Some people think that Dennis Zine is,

Well, he's not, but guess who is: The Mayor of Beverly Hills.

So many Jews are in the gov biz--

Walter Moore isn't but I heard his consultant is!

Make your connections, its time for elections

I hope no one shady wins, in these lovely, lovely elections.

So get a new direction, and toke up with Craig Rubin,

Just make your selection, 

have a happy, happy, happy, happy election.

happy election!