"Ass Clown Award" for the month of June

In the interest of saving Eastern Sierra Watershed, lets waste no more cyber energy in naming DWP General Manager H.(osed) David Nahai the recipient of June's "Ass Clown Award".

"Arrogant", that was Nahai's reaction to Journalist Alan Mittelstaedt request to disclose his personal water usage.

"Disdain", that being Nahai's respect for the law requiring release of public documents within 10 days of request.

"Aloof", that being Nahai's demeanor to the general public.

"Potty Mouth", that describes the vernacular of Nahai and "Dining Buddy" Tony Villar at certain restaurants.

"Dismissive", thats regarding concerns about the "Part-time employment" of Cindy Montanez.

"User", that is what Daily News Scribe Beth Barrett was in "spinning" Nahai's response to Mittelstaedt's badgering regarding his water usage.

"Enabler" that describes the "WWG, Puff Roderick" fluff piece on Nahai.

"Reality", that being these simple facts regarding Nahai's water usage........

H. David Nahai (DWP General Manager) - 434,220 gallons

Rocky Delgadillo (City attorney) - 423,368 gallons

Mayor Villaraigosa - 386,716 gallons

Jack Weiss - 254,320 gallons

Bill Rosendahl - 230,384 gallons

Tony Cardenas - 219,912 gallons

Greig Smith - 219,164 gallons

Dennis Zine - 194,480 gallons

Wendy Gruel - 190,740 gallons

Jose Huizar - 142,120 gallons

Eric Garcetti - 88,264 gallons

Janice Hahn - 83,776 gallons

Bernard Parks - 35,156 gallons

"Crack back", that is what the Daily News did to "E. Pluribus Waterwaster" in this editorial.

"Hypocrite" that is one who calls himself a "environmentialist" , kisses up to the likes of "Eco-developers", "Kaufman, Broad and Sierra Club", thens sucks up a stream in the Eastern Sierra to turn his lawn into a "Wetlands".

"Congratulations", that is for being named the "Ass Clown Awardee for June"

Daily News "Used By" and "Turns the Table On" H. David Nahai

With apologies to former Daily News Editor Ron Kaye, we must in the public interest post these excerpts on how a Pompous, Arrogant, Thin-Skinned, Aloof, Poor Excuse of a Public Servant, that being Department of Water and Power General Manager and "Co-Chief" (with IBEW's "Boss D'Arcy"), H. David Nahai, brought shame to the once proud, but now "MOLDY GREEN SHEET.

From today's Daily News Editorial "Confessions and manipulations of a water-waster".

Auditors of the spacious spread owned by H. David Nahai on Beverly
Hills-adjacent Deep Canyon Drive found that the general manager of the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power is one of those very water-wasters that
the city is, under his own leadership, cracking down on.

In fact, Nahai's lawn is so overwatered by sprinklers that it's sitting
in a foot of subsurface moisture.

Those were the revelations that Nahai made to the Daily News in a story
this week. In that story, Nahai acted contrite - and seemed ready to take action
to trim his average $232 monthly water bill.

It was embarrassing for Nahai, to be sure. And it reinforced the belief
by many that Los Angeles' leaders regularly engage in hypocrisy. Here was the
man scolding Angelenos for using too much water caught in the wasteful act
himself.

But shouldn't Nahai be forgiven for generously opening his home and his
water usage to the public - a commitment to model good conservationist behavior?
Certainly, if that were the whole story.

Now getting to the "Heart of a User".

The story behind that story, in fact, shows more political calculation than chagrin. Nahai's offer to the Daily News was nothing more than a clever pre-emptive strike against another reporter he considered a bother. For weeks Nahai had resisted requests from independent journalist, blogger and all-around muckraker Alan Mittelstaedt to turn over his water bills. It was a reasonable request. The man who was resurrecting the water police and portraying himself as a conservationist ought to be willing to be an example.

Nahai was annoyed by the request and the persistence of this journalist, and knew he would have to give up his wasting ways sooner or later. So he used a tactic common to clever public figures: He took his story elsewhere. Hah. Take that nosy Nelson!

Politicians, celebrities and other powerful people have been playing games like this ever since there was a press to play with. It's unfortunate, and the public likely has little idea of the manipulation that goes on behind the scenes every day just to get public officials to grudgingly provide important information.

What's more, this story illustrates not only that Nahai is a crafty political figure, but that he - as so many others in the city's leadership - only did the right thing when forced. Would disgraced San Diego Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham have stopped taking bribes from defense contractors had not he been exposed by the San Diego Union-Tribune and the FBI? Not likely.

H. David Nahai is a lawbreaker (for violating the Public Records Act) and frontman for the likes of Mayor Villaraigosa, Ari Swiller and Keith Brackpool who will reap $$$$ of the back of ratepayers for their pet projects and companies (Cadiz Inc., Renewable Resources).

Props and happy return to the LA Weekly for Alan Mittelstaedt and thanks for the fortitude to show what a fraud H. David Nahai is to the Conservation Community,....including the Sierra Club.

Comments from the "WESTSIDE WHITE PUFF PIECE GUY" The person who at this time regrets writing this example of "PUFF JOURNALISM" .

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Your favorite government servant - DWP General Manager H. David Nahai - got busted wasting water and power so now he's getting the conservation religion. Blogger and new Sister City Hero Alan Mittelstaedt blew the whistle on H. David seeking a public records request for the GM's utility bills - following which H. David came clean. Apparently Mittelstaedt got so far under H. David's skin that Nahai claimed the blogger was "harrassing" him.

On the heels of the Lakers' big loss in the NBA Finals former Laker Shaquille O'Neal is gloating, joking with reporters "Kobe couldn't do without me." The last time the Lakers won a championship ring was when Shaq was still in town. The NBA legend has even gone as far to record a rap video poking fun.

Random question of the day: In light of the current mortgage crisis, much ado is made about "predatory lending." How often though do you hear the media talk about "irresponsible borrowing?" Its time to hold individuals accountable for their actions and not exclusively blame government, business, or others when the chips are down.

You may remember an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies where a con man tried to sell naive Ozark millionaire Jed Clampett local landmarks like The Hollywood Bowl, the freeway system and Griffith Park. In real life, a reported former boyfriend of actress Anne Hathaway has been accused of fraudulently trying to sell Vatican landmarks.

And finally for whatever reason there has been much discussion on the blog about City Council President Eric Garcetti referring to his live-in female lover Amy Wakeland as "his partner." A number of our readers feel that this is a term historically reserved for pre-legal marriage homosexual unions and that as a heterosexual Garcetti should refer to Wakeland as his girlfriend and hopefully soon, his fiance. Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, domestic partnership was an option for gay couples but it was and is still not available to heterosexual couples if at least one partner is not yet a senior citizen. Therefore Eric needs to marry sweet Amy as do 45 year old Helen Hunt and her described domestic partner 47 year old Matthew Carnahan. As an ordained minister, I am happy to perform the service for free. After all, doesn't a future mayor need a First Lady and not a First Partner? (By the way before you start yammering and posting about me being politically incorrect, we're just having a little fun here. The truth is now that same-sex couples are finally getting the rights they deserve; some heterosexual couples should celebrate by taking marriage more seriously.)

Open Thread for a melting Friday

This on the contentious Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council Election from the Downtown Garment and Citizen.

Ethnic Split in Echo Park: A lot of politics this week, starting in the neighborhoods and going all the way to Washington. Start with the flyers that went around in advance of the recent Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council elections on June 12 (see related Commentary on Downtown election, home page). The “Tireless Community Workers Slate” included the following surnames: Peters, Kayser, Garsten, Bock, Hubert, Schnepp, DuBois, Betschart, Morrow, Luat Young, and Rausch. The “Dedicated to Community” slate offered: Sigala, Baca, Tallala, Mojarro, MacDonald, Argueta, Rosen, Torrero, Sanchez, and Rivera. The second group pushed the limits on electoral standards, by the way, sending an “Official Election Day Community Guide” that carried the words “City of Los Angeles” at the top. No, it wasn’t from the city, and there was nothing official about the guide. Preliminary results indicated that the “Dedicated” slate won on 10 of 11 seats, compared to just one for the “Tireless Workers.” Preliminary results also showed Jose Sigala leading the way with a win over Christine Peters for the presidency.

......and this about a possible Eric Garcetti run for rights to the "Third Floor".

San Pedro Trial Balloon?: Councilmember Eric Garcetti delivered the keynote at the recent annual luncheon of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, part of the busy schedule he kept while Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on his Israel trip. Perhaps San Pedro rep Janice Hahn gave Garcetti an inside greenlight to work her territory…Mexican Connection: Garcetti got another boost for his name ID when he welcomed newly appointed Consul General of Mexico Juan Marcos Gutierrez to town during a June 13 City Council meeting.

CRA dishing out the "dinero" in the "Mid City WEST" area.

Mayor Villaraigosa and his appointments to CRA and local Public Employees Retirement Boards are investing your dollars and retirement funds into the Midtown Crossing Shopping Center. Link to story by David Zahniser in the L.A. Times. (Ron Kaye has his take on the "Z-Man's" story)

The "Sniper" vs. "The Shah of Water and Power".

Alan Mittelstaedt has up the anty in his quest to expose the monthly utility usage of H. David Nahai. After asking Nahai to supply his utility bill and then filing a "Public Document Request". The "Sniper has given Nahai to June 27 to release the information. Note to Nahai, If Al Gore can release his electrical usage, then Nahai can figure out his course of action.