Cut and Paste Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday

"Councilman Richard Alarcon laughing at community opposition to trucking school"

It is safe to say that CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard Alarcon, runs his council fiefdom under the notion that what is good for the "Zorro Marxist" political agenda, takes precedent over the will of the community.

Take for example the controversy over the "Zorro Marxist's" plan for a truck driving school at the closed Lopez Canyon Landfill. The landfill which was closed in 1996 and re-zoned as "open space" is now being targeted by the CD 2/7 councilperson, as a training ground for unionize teamsters big-rig drivers.

Alarcon has the support of Mayor Antonio Parkervillar, the Teamsters Union and about a dozen community groups according to the Los Angeles Times. But remember that earlier note about the new land use designation for Lopez Canyon? Since the area now is declared "open space", the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and multiple community groups, are in opposition to Alarcon's quest to implement his driving school proposal.

Residents and community activists who for years put up with truck loads of garbage, the sounds of tractors and the air quality issues associated with these activities, smell something "politically nefarious" regarding the truck school proposal.

"This sets a dangerous precedent for thousands of open spaces," said Joe
Barrett of the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance, a community group that got involved out
of concern about the open-space issue.

Alarcon, for his part calls these concerns "selfish", citing the needs to create jobs, but one wonders if there is some other industrial acreage available within the "Zorro Marxist's" collective to place this "workers driving academy"?

OTHER NEWS:

** Our once united City Council at 200 Spring Street, are now divided into "budget hawks" and "budget doves", this from the keyboard of David Zahniser at the "Old Gray Hag on Spring Street".

The "hawks" include the likes of Greig Smith, Bernard Parks, Jan Perry and Dennis Zine, no surprises there.

The "doves" include the likes of Richard Alarcon, Herb Wesson, Paul Koretz, Janice Hahn..... and Jose Huizar??

Huizar deserves the title of "budgetary opportunist", because he will take the side that best can help his re-election chances in 2011.

BTW, the "hawks" hold the better budgetary hand.

** Go Suns Go!! Mayor Parkervillar took the opportunity of the "LA Sanctuary City Lakers" vs. the "Kidnapping Phoenix Suns" series to make the non-binding wager, that if Phoenix wins, we would take Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio as payment. Memo to Lakers, roll over now for a safer and legal Los Angeles. BTW, if the Lakers win this series and they will, then we should make Phoenix the new home of CD 1 Councilman Ed Reyes.

** Interesting tidbit on the future of Recreation and Parks. A community activist happen to chance upon a meeting of "connected non-profits/community groups" and the Mayor's office where the subject matter was future public/private partnerships to provide recreation programming at various recreation facilities city wide.

Rec. and Parks General Manager Jon K. Mukri also announced during a meeting with park advocates that Asst. General Manager Vicki Israel would become the "Asst. General Manager for Partnerships".

What future impact do these "backroom dealings" have for the employees of the department? Lets just say that somewhere close to 800 part-time employees of the department will lose their jobs by October 1, 2010. For those who frequent recreation facilities, it is these employees who inplement programs on a daily basis.

It should also be noted that the "connected non-profit" Legacy LA, is undertaking a new, innovated gang prevention program. Its called forming and coaching a baseball team at Hazard Park in Boyle Heights. Confirms for me that Recreation and Parks employees have been providing gang prevention and intervention programing all along.

........ and just how can your "connected non-profit/community group" become a future partner in Mayor Parkervillar's plans for Recreation and Parks? This might help.

06/27/08 Maria Lourdes Calanche (Instructor, LA Community College District) Los Angeles, CA 90031 Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor 1305101 - Antonio R. Villaraigosa for Mayor 2009 A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual) [Period: 01/01/08-06/30/08] $1,000.00

Lets call this the franchise fee.

** Los Angeles County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo, was re-elected to another four year term as the chief of the non-affiliated AFL-CIO federation of county unions. She then join her long time "fellow traveler" Mayor Parkervillar on the LAX tarmac to fly off to Washington DC. This to meet with President Barack H. Obama and Mexican Presidente Felipe Calderon.

** Lastly, godspeed and wishing for a quick recovery to LAFD Firefighter/ Paramedic Charles Anthony MacDougall, who was stabbed while rendering aid in Downtown Los Angeles.

Your thoughts and open comments.

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

The City Council Monday night approved a nearly $7 billion budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 after months of trying to close hundreds of millions of dollars in deficits.  Key to the budget is the layoff of over 700 City staff unless unions agree to concessions.  What say you that the unions will agree or the Clowncil will back down?

Big doins' and the blowback coming on the controversial Arizona Immigration Law, SB 1070, and the boycotts against it.  First off pro-illegal immigration activists were incensed by remarks made by LA Lakers Coach Phil Jackson that indicated the winningest coach in NBA history either supported SB 1070 or at least didn't oppose it.  That created a firestorm of controversy calling for boycotts and protests of the Lakers yet activists could gather only about a score of folks to picket the Staples Center Monday evening.

Next up hotels in San Diego were reporting handfuls of Arizona residents were cancelling trips and room reservations in America's Finest City as a counter-boycott against the border city was brewing in the cactus state.  While it doesn't yet represent a groundswell more rooms have been cancelled than there were protesters at Staples and it has the local tourism folks worried.

A Tulare County (CA) trucker is encouraging other truckers to boycott Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego Counties over the boycotts.  A group of Arizonans has created the BUYcott Arizona website to encourage supporters to boycott cities that are boycotting Arizona and to spend money in the Grand Canyon state.  Conservative radio talk show host Tony Katz is leading a group of SB1070 supporters to travel to Arizona and spend money in support.

From the how come no one thought of this before department, existing California law was compared to the new Arizona law that has everyone up in arms.  Section 834b of the California Penal Code contains remarkably similar language to SB1070.

Back in LA-LA land the City Council - fast to act on the  boycott of Arizona - is languishing on legislation to cut City ties and business with firms that do business with the Islamic Republic of Iran.  A really terrible place where folks actually are asked for their papers all the time, racial profiling and segregation is the law, women are legally treated like property and well we don't even want to say how they treat da gheys. I wonder where Paul Koretz stands on all this because remember it's Iran, not Arizona, that has missiles pointed at Israel.

And finally moving on to our favorite goofy recall and the gift who keeps on giving, Phil Jennerjahn.  Recall leaders, including David Hernandez a really good guy we can't figure out why he has teamed up with Phil, is seeking the financial support of Arizonans pissed at LA who might want to exact a pound of flesh from Mayor Villaraigosa.  Fair enough I am sure a lot of help can be ginned up but this is a strategic error even if it generates a short term gain. LA's non-partisan politics has created the environment for left-wing yuppie liberals in Silverlake to be simpatico with Republicans from Sunland-Tujunga or Latinos from CD14 over issues like over-development, billboards, phony ballot measures, etc. and be united in their disdain for the Mayor and Clowncil.  The moment you attach the recall to anything that sounds like Minutemen or even Tea Partiers two of those three legs of that table fall out, it becomes  Republican movement and the numbers aren't there in LA for that.  That doesn't stop Phil Jennerjahn though who doesn't care what anyone else says, he's going to win!

Cut and Paste Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Friday

"KCBS video still of DWP worker drinking on the clock"

"Drinking is my job as Mayor"

Good Friday morning to you in the political cybersphere.

If you been sequester somewhere away from your T.V. and have not seen the KCBS Exclusive Report on those hard-drinkin and strip club, loving DWP employees, by reporter David Goldstein, then take the time to view this report.

If the likes of "Santiago" and his towel-wrapping, pole dancing loving co-workers, don't cause you to become angry, especially in the light that their conduct took place on the clock, then maybe you deserve every DWP rate increase that will be coming your way in the next few years.

This blogger commends and thinks that David Goldstein's exclusive, should be on the short list for a local news Emmy Award. But one wishes that this report could of come to light a couple of weeks earlier, when the DWP rate increase controversy was still pending resolution at 200 Spring Street.

As for Santiago and his DWP co-workers, a few bits of advise, in prepping to save your jobs.

** First, refer to the above picture of Mayor Antonio Parkervillar and plead that your drinking and strip club activities, added up only to 11% of your on-time duties. Thus, you were performing your job 89% of the time. Something Mayor Parkervillar can't claim.

** Second, join the Sierra Club. This because your DWP H.R. Director Susana Reyes, is the LA County Political Director for the Sierra Club. She may cut you some time off your pending discipline, if you pledge to promote Mayor Parkervillar's "Green Energy Scheme".

** Third, wake up each morning and bow to your "Dear Leader, IBEW Boss D'Arcy" for mercy.

** Fourth, Prospect Park is a better hiding place than Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights. How do we know? Just say we know by your past visits.

** Fifth, in the barrio, brown bags are the "prefer wrap of choice" for the 24 oz. can of suds.

** Six, please pay heed to this list of people who lost their public careers when they embarrass Mayor Parkervillar. Ed Boks, Martin Ludlow, David Nahai, Jack Weiss,......... and now you.

OTHER NEWS:

** LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, this morning reaffirm Mayor Parkervillar's, whoops, I meant his commitment to the tenets of Special Order 40. Thus, Sanctuary City will be on full display for all, in tomorrow's schedule May Day Rally.

** Mayor Parkervillar yesterday did what he does best, that is to pander to the undocumented masses in supporting a boycott of Arizona. Are the undocumented in this city the only ones who still see promise in this fail politician?

One observation on the Arizona issue that I will state here, is that somehow, many in our community are overlooking the fact that both legal and illegal citizens are being endanger by the actions of the criminal cartels, that have turn Phoenix into the "Kidnapping Capital of the United States" and have murder American citizens on their land near the border. As someone who counts Americans of Mexican descent, as some of my best friends, I find it repugnant that the likes of Mayor Parkervillar is exploiting those. who we are portray as hating.

** Unofficial tallies for yesterday's Neighborhood Council Elections will be posted at the city Clerks website this afternoon.

** The City Council Budget Committee, will continue their deliberations next week. One should note that the DWP is schedule to testify sometime on Monday and in light of KCBS David Goldstein's report on the utility, this should be a good time to be in attendance.

** The Old Gray Hag on Spring Street continues its endorsements of candidates for California State offices. For Attorney General, they give their Democratic and Republican nods to San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley respectively.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on Oversight of Gang Programs, Pot, Ron Kaye's Endorsement in CD 2 and other News

"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his homeboys"

Why would Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa be so dismissive of the findings of City Councilman Tony Cardenas's Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development?

As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the committee stated that "the city of Los Angeles should create a standalone department of gang prevention and intervention instead of relying on the mayor's office to oversee anti-gang programs as it does now, according to a report released Monday".

Citing the need for greater financial oversight and improved collaboration between the city, law enforcement, courts, schools and social service agencies, the report called for a comprehensive change in the way the city addresses the root causes of gang violence. The Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development has been reviewing city gang initiatives for roughly four years.

The response from the Mayor's office was swift and defiant.

"The graduate students who wrote the report deserve an 'A' for effort, but at a time when we're working to deliver services more efficiently, creating a new government bureaucracy is driving the wrong way on a one-way street," said Matt Szabo, deputy chief of staff to Villaraigosa.

Szabo should get an "A" for spin with this response. But here is the real reason why the Mayor wanted to have direct oversight of the allocation of gang funding.

06/27/08 Maria Lourdes Calanche (Instructor, LA Community College District) Los Angeles, CA 90031 Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor 1305101 - Antonio R. Villaraigosa for Mayor 2009 A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual) [Period: 01/01/08-06/30/08] $1,000.00

Its all about money!! Or should we say the franchise fees?

We have posted here numerous times about the dubious dealings of the latest "connected non-profit" Legacy LA and their connections to close associates of Mayor Villaraigosa. (Dalila Sotelo, Lou Calanche, Jenny Krusoe, David Galaviz, Raul Estrada just to name a few).

Recently we reported this about Legacy LA and GRYD oversight of their "sub-contract".

A source has stated that Legacy LA is endanger of losing their Gang Reduction, Youth Development or "GRYD" contract due to "double counting". Legacy LA, as part of their GRYD contract, is require to work with 25 gang members and 25 youths who are potential gang members. But it seems that Legacy LA is trying to count the 25 potential gang members again as "gang members" on their reports to GRYD. Further community members are questioning whether the two intervention specialists, "George" and "Renee" are actually in the field doing their work.

In addition, the GRYD rep for the area "Eduardo" was recently terminated from his position with the city, Eduardo also was the on-site coordinator at Ramona Gardens Recreation Center, for the Mayor Villaraigosa's "Summer Night Lights" program.

According to a source close to the organization, Legacy LA did indeed lose their contract only to see it quickly reinstated by the Mayor's office. The employee "Renee", who was an close associate of Jenny Krusoe has lefted the organization, as has Jenny Krusoe. Further, some close to the Summer Night Lights program at Ramona Gardens have stated that "Eduardo" was terminated for his lack of supervision, in regards to the staff structure at Ramona Gardens.

It is clear in our reporting on Legacy LA, that politics played a major role in the creation of this organization (former Mayor staffer and now CRA employee Carlos Alvarado and Jenny Krusoe were the original front people) and one can surmise that Legacy LA was created solely for being a repository for future gang funding and thus, payouts in jobs to their associates.

Maybe that is why Matt Szabo was so "over the top" with his retort to Councilman Cardenas's committee report, after all, protecting the franchise fees to Mayor Villaraigosa is of paramount concern.

View the links below for e-mail documents obtain under the Public Records Act which highlight the political collusion behind the creation of Legacy LA.

Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 1
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 2
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 3
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 4
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 5

Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 6

OTHER NEWS:

** Former Daily News Editor now blogger Ron Kaye, has posted his endorsement for Paul Krekorian in the CD 2 Special Election for City Council.

The city is at a crossroads.

We have seen how ordinary citizens could defeat the machine on Measure B in March, how it could pull together and elect Carmen Trutanich as City Attorney in May. So let's hand the mayor and the machine a third straight defeat in December by elected Paul Krekorian in CD2.

** Councilman Greig Smith and Dennis Zine, aka, "The Spring Street RINOS" have announced their endorsement of Chris Essel for the CD 2 City Council seat.

** Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilman Huizar and others associated with Aramark Turkey Giveaway fiasco at the Convention Center, might want to make nice to those hundreds of people who were denied their Turkeys. Chants of "WE WANT TURKEYS!!, WE WANT TURKEYS!!", mixed with images of "connected associates" of various public officials, driving off with turkeys without providing the require vouchers, is going to create a backlash.

** Speaking of turkeys, Mayor Villaraigosa and the City Council will get a financial reality check today.

The Los Angeles City Council today will get what is expected to be a sober briefing on the city's financial condition, a day after L.A.'s credit rating was downgraded. The city’s credit was downgraded by Fitch Ratings on $2.94 billion in debt, meaning that borrowing money will become more expensive for Los Angeles as it grapples with a $98-million current-year budget shortfall and faces the prospect of graver fiscal woes in the years ahead.

** This city continues to go to pot with Councilman Ed Reyes leading the way.

Dispensaries in Los Angeles could continue to accept cash for medical marijuana under a provision approved by the City Council on Tuesday, after it adopted language carefully crafted to maneuver past the city attorney's adamant position that state law bars the sale of the drug.

This from Councilman Ed "density" Reyes,

Several members harshly criticized the city attorney's office. Councilman Ed Reyes, who oversaw the effort to write an ordinance, accused the office of pressing "a political point of view that has nothing to do with objective advice."

** The LA Weekly chronicles how Los Angeles went to pot in an extensive must read by Patrick Range McDonald and Christine Pelisek, here is a passage on Eagle Rock residents interaction with their attentive councilperson.

Michael Larsen sought out Reyes, who had bottled up the regulations for years, never sending a plan to the City Council for a vote. When Larsen finally wangled a meeting with Reyes, he found himself facing a few city employees — and four marijuana activists, including Don Duncan.

“It was clearly lopsided,” Larsen says. After that, Larsen tried for three months to reach his council representative, Huizar, a former school board member who Larsen assumed would be on top of things. But Huizar — who has a personal staff of 26 people — ducked all of Larsen’s calls.

So Larsen came up with a little subterfuge of his own: He and another neighbor found out where Huizar was going to be appearing in public, and in April, “we ambushed him — at an Easter event. We walked up to him with a paper showing all the medical marijuana dispensaries in our community. We said, ‘What are you doing about it?’ He feigned shock.” More recently, Huizar’s office “asked me to please find out what is going on with them. I am happy to do it, to keep the thing moving. But it is just crazy, that it’s our responsibility to be on top of this stuff.”

Some will say that is the normal Huizar reaction to all issues.

Your thoughts and Happy Thanksgiving to all.