Glassell Park NC's Bradley has a Special "Meet and Greet" Announcement .....

Glendale Kia and Northeast Activists are host a Candidate Meet and Greet this Friday night at the LA River Center in Cypress Park. Information via Bradley below.

 Former President Bradley of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council.

As a bloggin public service, we post this announcement by Bradley of the Glassell lPark Neighborhood Council.

Please join Northeast and East Los Angeles Business Leaders, Residents, and Stakeholders on Friday May 17, 2013 from 6pm – 9pm for a Candidate’s “Meet & Greet” Forum at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens located at 570 West Avenue 26 in the Community of Cypress Park. (see flyer)  Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich, Candidate for LA City Attorney, Ron Galperin, Candidate for City Controller, Jose Gardea, Candidate for Council District 1 and John Choi, Candidate for Council District 13 will be present to engage, enlighten and educate participants on their agendas and why they should be your elected official for the next 4 years.  Eric Garcetti, 2013 Candidate for Mayor and Kevin James, previous Republican Candidate for Mayor may stop-by to say “hello” and join in on the “Meet & Greet” Forum. 

This Event is sponsored by local businesses, community leaders and KIA Dealership in the Northeast/East LA Community and is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FREE Food & Refreshments will be served with FREE Parking provided on a first-come, first space basis. Please remember that the City of Los Angeles general, municipal, and special elections are on Tuesday May 21, 2013.  Your decision on selecting the right candidate for Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller, or Councilmember will affect the way you live, work and own property in the City of Los Angeles

If you haven’t made your decision on who to vote for yet, WE hope to see you there on Friday May 17, 2013 from 6pm – 9pm for a Candidate’s “Meet & Greet” Forum at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens located at 570 West Avenue 26 in the Community of Cypress Park.

Bradley,

Advocate/Facilitator/Organizer

www.glassellparknc.org http://www.glassellparknc.org

** We should ask whether if CD 13 Candidate Mitch O'Farrell and CD 1 Candidate Gil Cedillo, were invited to attend this event? UPDATE: The Mitch O'Farrell Campaign was not invited to this event. The Gil Cedillo Campaign is checking their records.  

Were Wendy, Dennis, Mitch and Gil invited to this event?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

As the candidates for mayor prep for today's "much-discussed debate on Education", Wendy Greuel supporter LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia links to the controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, may become a unwanted distraction.

 ....... but I also supported Charter Renewal for my campaign contributor Marcos Aguilar's controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, which continues to stonewall LAUSD's Office of Inspector General Audit requests.. 

But despite Garcia's "bullhorn devotion" (aided by timely contributions) to Marcos Aguilar's (and wife Minnie Ferguson) educational collective, the LA School Report Blog is reporting that LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy and Garcia may be on a collision course, again, regarding possible Charter Revocation of the El Sereno Indoctrination Collective. 

Superintendent John Deasy responded directly to the school: “If you can’t comply with this, then I can’t recommend that school’s renewal,” said Deasy. “It looks like we’re heading in that direction.” Deasy said he didn’t know of any other examples of a school flouting district regulations like Semillas has done.“It always troubles me when a school is not consistent with our expectations and transparencies,” said Deasy, referring to Semillas. Deasy also said that he’s asked LAUSD attorneys about “other steps,” including the possibility of revoking Semillas’ charter.“I have to see if this falls into that category,” said Deasy.Deasy and his team at LAUSD didn’t recommend the renewal of Semillas’ elementary school last year, but they were overruled when the School Board voted, 4 to 3, to give the school another five years.

But while "Gorda Boo Boo" may be oblivious to longtime "Waste, Fraud and Abuse" at Academia, look for newly-reelected School Board Member Steve Zimmer to be the swing vote in the other direction this time around Then watch for Marcos and Minnie's supporters to make some uncomfortable disclosures regarding the likes of Garcia, Councilman Jose Huizar and Mayor Antonio Villar.

** Via LA Weekly's Patrick Range McDonald, both Mayoral candidates have seen the light and found common ground on the contentious Parent Trigger Issue, after a trip to the 24th Street School

** The reigning Editor of the Downtown News and "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie channels a "Pravda Editor of Note" in his latest Regardie Report on the CD 1 Campaign between Gil Cedillo and Jose Gardea. We excerpt "Media Commissar Regardski" below as he channels a Soviet perspective to a recent Gil Cedillo comment.

“City Hall is like the old Soviet Union,” Cedillo remarked. “It’s about protecting itself and there’s not going to be change from the inside.”The line is as fantastic as it is farfetched. Is Cedillo, who first won a State Assembly seat in 1998, comparing Reyes to old bloc leaders like Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev? Does he think Reyes is settled in the First District equivalent of Red Square building up a nuclear arsenal to hand over to Gardea.Even more interesting is what the comparison means for Cedillo himself. If he’s the change agent, then he’s probably a CD1 Mikhail Gorbachev, who introduced the openness concept of “glasnost,” which made him adored by the West and hated in the fading USSR (though there is little evidence he could become “Gorby II”). Maybe he’s salty Boris Yeltsin. Or perhaps Cedillo fancies himself a Los Angeles Vladimir Putin. The mind boggles.After the debate I asked Gardea about the remark. “You’ve just been compared to Soviet Russia,” I said. “Do you agree?”He responded with a bemused smile.“Nyet.” 

"Nyet", may be the Russian translation for Gardea's chances of becoming CD 1 City Councilman "Mini Ed" Gardea on May 21.

** We join CD 9 City Councilwoman and former Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry in prayers and meditation that she endorse City Attorney Carmen Trutanich for a second term. In the spirit of joint reflection we provide the following inducement to help bring about this needed political union (or cutting of the endorsement bread).

Never leave the Office of City Attorney to a Politico Hack.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Visuals from the Gil Cedillo CD 1 Runoff Kickoff

A standing-room only crowd turns out for CD 1 City Council Candidate Gil Cedillo's New Campaign Office Grand Opening/ Runoff Kickoff in Highland Park.

 CD 1 Candidate Gil Cedillo, MCs his own Campaign Office Grand Opening and Kickoff before an estimated 150 plus supporters.

** Blogger's note: The dueling CD 1 Campaigns of Gil Cedillo and Jose Gardea, held simultaneous campaign kickoffs, mere blocks from each other along Figueroa Blvd. in Highland Park, on Saturday. While recent non-IE campaign contributions totals, give an edge to Gardea (thanks to Big Developers and Mt. Washington stalwarts), clearly, Cedillo has the masses on his side (reflective in his 49% plus vote tally) and the support of third place finisher Jesse Rojas (who's vote total kept Cedillo from winning outright on March 7). With certain IE monetary and ground pounding support from his labor friends, the chances of the former union and state political leader, becoming the replacement for termed-out City Councilman Ed Reyes, are better than even, but six weeks of campaigning (which should get contentious), will play out among the neighborhoods ........... and on the various communication medians within CD 1 (more photos from the Cedillo event below)---Scott Johnson. 

A couple of green lights along Figueroa, separated the dueling campaign events (the Gardea event is near where the people are standing next to second green light in the distance). ** One person commenting on the small location of the Gardea Campaign Headquarters, broached that Gardea/Reyes, should of asked 7-Eleven to provide free space, in lieu of allowing more beer and and wine selling locations within CD 1.

The likes of CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard AlarCON (fresh off of his City Council "Walkout"), State Senator Ron Calderon and former CD 14 City Councilman Richard Alatorre were in attendance and gave praise to Cedillo.

Third place finisher (and now campaign kingmaker) Jesse Rojas speaks in support of candidate Gil Cedillo.

Read more »

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

LA Weekly's Gene Maddaus gets the inside details on the Wendy "The Villar Greuel" Campaign Staff Reorganization. 

"Don't try to squeeze out the Shallman".

There is no better way to start off a morning of local bloggin dialog than with some inside political chisme, especially when it has to do with our favorite "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" John Shallman.

LA Weekly's Gene Maddaus converses with unnamed ex and current members of the Villar Greuel Campaign to provided us with this missive, outlining the internal power struggle between the "Private Citizen/ Campaign Consult" and the "Rose (Kapolczynski) Gal", with the last name that this blogger's "spoll check" recoils from.

As we know now, Shallman came out on top in this internal power theatrics, but its still interesting to note the contrasting campaign styles of the two principles involved, as Maddaus report.

Greuel's two top aides clashed over differences of style and strategy. Greuel was unable to take the lead in fixing the conflict.
John Shallman, Greuel's top consultant, wanted to do things his way -- punch early, often and hard. Rose Kapolczynski, Greuel's campaign manager, tried to rein him in. Greuel had avoided taking sides until she finished four points behind Councilman Eric Garcetti, which prompted a shake-up.
Greuel ended up with Shallman. However, it was Kapolczynski who made the call -- Greuel did not fire her. Insiders say Kapolczynski did not wish to engage in a turf fight, but also did not want to stick around as her responsibilities were handed to Shallman. She stepped down as campaign manager on March 23, taking a title as senior adviser to avoid negative press attention.

But its these paragraphs below that should provide fodder on the root reasons for the power struggle.

Kapolczynski is smart and experienced, but not as aggressive as Shallman. Though Shallman was the lead consultant, Kapolczynski had control of the budget and hired all the staff. She worked mostly out of campaign headquarters, while Shallman visited only a couple times a week.
But as the senior consultant, he had a tendency to grab for control. Campaign workers loyal to Kapolczynski came to resent some of Shallman's interventions. When staffers would complain to Greuel, she would say he had misinterpreted her. From their point of view, either she couldn't rein Shallman in, or she actually agreed with him and did not want to admit it. Either way, it was disconcerting.
Shallman was used to having his own way, while Kapolczynski was more comfortable with collaboration.
"Most campaigns I've worked in, from presidential on down, have had a team approach to developing strategy," Kapolczynski said. "Getting input from the pollster, media consultant and other campaign leaders on major strategic questions usually leads to better decision-making." 

For Shallman, its all about controlling the campaign money period. Thus, now watch this campaign expenses zoom skyward.

** Leave it to the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" to announced the latest "Politico Waste, Fraud and Abuser" supporter of the Villar Greuel, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, by placing it to the right and above the fold on the front page, in today's print edition. But we must give credit to the Villar Greuel Campaign for its choice of song as part of its choreographed presentation of Waters Endorsement.

On the City Hall steps behind Waters and Greuel, several dozen supporters chanted lyrics from Helen Reddy's 1970s hit, "I Am Woman": "I am woman, hear me roar, in numbers too big to ignore." 

Nice to see the "Villar Greuel Campaign" replicate our song of choice from Friday musings.

** Lastly, the Gil Cedillo for CD 1 Campaign will have its Runoff Kickoff/ New Campaign Office Grand Opening this Saturday.

50% plus one vote, is all that Gil needs to become Councilman Cedillo.

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

Scott Johnson in Cd 14 

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Members of Team Villar are farmed out to save the third term incarnation of the Mayor Villar Political Machine, Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel"

The Villar Greuel's "Left and Rights Turns" have discombobulated her campaign message. 

Will Janell Erickson be able to right the floundering, pandering campaign vessel of the Villar Greuel?

Former Mayor Villar's Chief of Staff Jeff Carr "favorite duo" of Janelle Erickson and Matt Szabo.

Hola and great Cesar Chavez Day to all as Spring Break begins for hundred of thousands of LAUSD charges, with shuttered city facilities, in honor of the great anti Illegal Alien Activist.

You have to admire the adaptability of the Third Floor Duo of Mayor Antonio Villar’s Deputy Mayors Janelle Erickson and Matt Szabo. Szabo who recently return home to unpack his carpetbag after his fail attempt to replace Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti on the City Council, is back to work for his endorsing boss, according to Daily News Rick Orlov’s latest Monday “Tipoff Column”.

As Szabo returns, his partner in “mayoral office power games” (think the ouster of Former Chief of Staff Jeff Carr) Janelle Erickson, has been farmed out to save the imploding Wendy “The Villar Greuel” Campaign. Erickson will assume the duties of Campaign Manager, which would be second nature to her, having done the same for the “Villar Greuel’s” past city council campaigns.

Numerous discerning political observers (Parke, the Calitics Blog)  are openly questioning the rationality of these latest campaign team changes and skeptical of the Election Day outcome for the “Villar Greuel Campaign“.

** The tabulation of outstanding Provisional and Absentee Ballots from the March 7 Elections, will take place tomorrow at the City Clerk’s Piper Tech Office. The final tally could determine whether CD 1 City Council Candidate Gil Cedillo wins outright and avoids a runoff with current City Council Ed Reyes Chief of Staff Jose “Mini Density” Gardea. The final results could also push CD 7 City Council Candidate Felipe “Mini Padilla” Fuentes into a May runoff with Nicole Clark.

** While “Mini Padilla” Fuentes awaits his quest to become the next CD 7 City Councilman (then in short order, “City Council President Mini Padilla II”), he is not lacking for income as new Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, has found ample public duties for the former assemblyman, to justify a $8,500 a month pay check (pardon the “bullsh.. cough“).

** A great turnout took place for the Eagle Rock dedication of the Art Snyder Community Room. County Supervisor Mike Antonivich, City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Former City Councilmans Richard Alatorre and Mike Hernandez were in attendance. But notably absence was current CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Lastly, we bring you this episode of State Parole Agent minus brain cells, who brings his new “AK 47 toy” to assigned CD 9 job site, which contains hundred of violent parolees. From the Pacovilla Corrections Blog.

los angeles sleuth says:March 25, 2013 at 02:23Information received by more than 20 individuals, parole agents and parole supervisors from several different assigned locations. PA 3 did take his new purchased toy ( assault weapon ) unclear if weapon was loaded or not to the previously referred to South Central Parole Complex. He was observed showing off his new toy to fellow co-workers by a parole administrator who then called Region 3 Headquarters and reported the incident. Many are saying that this PA 3 received an LOI less than 3 months after the initial date of the incident. Many unanswered questions. DOM written policies were violated. Unanswered questions. Did anyone notify CHP, after all the location of the incident was in a State Office ? This PA 3 placed the lives and welfare of his co-workers , clerical staff and others in harms way. He should have been re-assigned until a formal and complete investigation was completed. Formal letters to be sent out next week to many to and include state elected officials, State AG’s office , news media, LA. DA office, and others informing them of this latest incident and cover up by the Queen of parole MF and others. I have been told of yet another attempted cover up by parole administrators in Region 4 where a Parole Supervisor lost his cool and some type of altercation took place with a parole agent. I have been told that this incident took place in the Pomona-Ontario Parole Complex. Both parties involved has been transferred to other parole locations. I was also told this is why the current head of Region 4 made the decision to retire now than later. ( soon to retire.)

Lastly, we will have later posts on the growing list of "Waste, Frauds, and Abusers for the Villar Greuel".

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

LAUSD School Board Member Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia's reign as School Board President, will end on July 1, 2013.

"Gorda Boo Boo" not too happy with vote targeting her reign as LAUSD's School Board President. 

The reigning heavyweight of local reality politics will meet her demise come July 1, 2013.

On the same day Mayor Antonio Villar vacates his office, his LAUSD mouthpiece Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" will most likely lose the title of School Board President. This after former board ally Steve Zimmer voted with three other members to cap her terms as the presiding board member.

LA Times Education Scribe Howard Blume noted that ...........

 The term-limits vote Tuesday symbolized the waning influence of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as his own eight-year tenure in office ends. Although the mayor has no formal authority over the board, candidates he helped elect make up a board majority. Garcia is the mayor’s closest ally on the board, and yet a member of mayor’s bloc, Richard Vladovic, defected to favor the term-limits proposal.

It has been rumored that Vladovic would flip pending the outcome of the recent LAUSD Elections and with Zimmer winning another term, the spotlight was on him at yesterday's proceedings on Beaudry, as noted by the LA School Report Blog.

As this was the first Board meeting since the March 5 election, observers were watching to see what effect, if any, the bitter primary campaign had on Zimmer. The incumbent District 4 Board member was attacked relentlessly by the Coalition for School Reform, which supported Garcia in a separate race.Zimmer insisted that the election had no effect on him.  ”I’m not changed… You’ll still see more hand-wringing from me.”Asked to explain his change of vote, Zimmer said that, “Since the position has become so powerful, four years is a good time to moderate that power.” 

....... and we can think of one Charter School Certification that merits a second review.

** Attention LA Mayoral Voters!! Please note that Mayoral Candidate City Controller Wendy "The Villar Greuel" is channeling United States Secretary of State John F-ing Kerry (who BTW, fought in Viet Nam). This is clearly evident in the fact of her being for re-opening pension reforms negotiations (in seeking the LA County Federation of Labor support), before coming out against the proposal (in seeking the LA Chamber of Commerce support), in today's "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street.

** In the tight race to replace CD 1 City Councilman Ed "Density" Reyes, third place candidate Jesse Rojas has announced his support of Gil Cedillo, if the race proceeds to a runoff, pending the final count of votes.

** The Downtown News opines on the adverse affects that the litigious 2012 Redistricting Commission debacle had on the turnout for the CD 9 City Council Elections and on the campaign of Jan Perry for Mayor.

** LA Weekly's Patrick Range McDonald is right when it comes to Mayor Villar's "Legacy Issues" pertaining to his Million Trees Initiative. In the spirit of bloggin cooperation, we provide this photographing reinforcement of McDonald's premise for his morning post.

Link here for the story behind the pending Hazard Park Tree Kill.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14