Say It Ain't SO, Tomas O'Grady!

What happens when the supporter of one City Council candidate sues an opponent of the candidate and serves papers on said opponent at a candidates' forum event? In today's day and age, the candidate puts his hands over his ears screaming "La la la la la la la!!!" and his supporters go apoplectic.

Have any proofreaders on staff?

That's what happened when a piece at MyLANews.com reported that Hollywood Hills resident Eugene Matthews filed suit against CD4 candidate Sheila Irani, for allegedly chopping down trees on his neighboring property. Irani has denied the charges.

Where it becomes a sticky wicket is that Matthews is reportedly a major supporter of Irani's opponent, Tomas O'Grady.

And that wicket becomes stickier a O'Grady, in distancing himself from Matthews, did not condemn Matthews apparent theatrics as being in bad form (particularly in that they would potentially benefit O'Grady) but approached a victim like stance telling participants on a community Facebook page that he wished to be "left out of it."

O'Grady further steps in it it with a blog post "Please Leave Tomas O'Grady Out These Disputes" (with apparently the same headline proofing troubles MyLANews.com has) singing "Don't cry for me, Silver Lake / Los Feliz" cementing in this blogger's mind that the good Mr. O'Grady is not ready (after a previous run for Council four years ago) for prime time and will not be able to do battle as a Council Member in the matter that his District would need, now more than ever.

Beeber to Seek CD4 Seat

Los Angeles parking/traffic activist, Jay Beeber, who was the force behind ending the city's red light cameras and is now part of the team spearheading the Los Angeles Parking Freedom Initiative, has announced his candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council, to the District 4 seat to be vacated by the term limited Tom LaBonge in 2015.

Beeber joins a crowded field including former Assemblyman Wally Knox.

In a statement released to press, Beeber said “Year after year, the same problems continue to plague our city while our elected officials maintain the status quo”, said Beeber. “I believe it doesn't have to be this way and we can do better. We must demand that City Council Members concentrate on the issues that most affect us in our daily lives and listen more closely to the people they represent. Los Angeles' best days are ahead, but only if we begin now to fix what's wrong.”

Welcome Los Angeles Tourists to the Hollywood Sign!

Seems as if local NIMBY neighhbors to the world famous Hollywood Sign, which is older than anyone who lives up there, want to keep tourists to our great city from seeing this iconic landmark.

That's like New Yorkers blocking access to the Empire State Building or South Dakotans throwing up roadblocks to view Mount Rushmore.

In the interest of tourism, our local economy, good hospitality and pissing off these dumb CD4 NIMBYs, we offer up to tourists to Southern California these opportunities to see the totally awesome Hollywood Sign.

And with the good search engine optmization that the great Mayor Sam blog offers, we'll be certain this will wind up in so many Google searches tourists do, insturcing them how to reach the Hollywood Sign.

One way to see the Hollywood Sign

The folks at CurbedLA have put together three sure fire sets of directions on how tourists can visit the Hollywood Sign. 

Neighbors to the Hollywood Sign have apparently protested to Apple and other internet firms about maps and apps that show how to get to the Hollywood Sign.

You can read more about visiting the Hollywood Sign at sites such as Trip Advisor and Yelp.

You can also read the official Hollywood Sign website, though they have to do a dance between promoting the sign and not pissing off local politicians.

Council Member Tom LaBonge welcomes you to Hollywood,
home of the Hollywood Sign!

Did you know that an LAPD officer is posted at the Hollywood Sign 24 hours a day? With rising crime in Los Angeles, one would wonder if that is a good use of resources.

And certainly while we encourage that tourists to Southern California do visit and enjoy the Hollywood Sign, we certainly do advise you to adhere to the law, read posted signs and do not illegally tresspass.

But do enjoy our iconic Hollywood Sign!

Hat tip to the fun folks at CurbedLA!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

He's back! No, I don't mean me, but none other than the love of Betty Pleasant's life, Supervisor Mark "Don't Call Me Curly" Ridley-Thomas is showing his disdain for County taxpayers and treating their money as his. The Times is reporting that the former Mark Thomas allegedly charged various improvements on his home to the County, beyond a security system to which Supervisor is entitled to. The Times article states "John Thompson, who oversaw the work at Ridley-Thomas' property, said that in addition to an alarm system, workers installed a wall-mounted air conditioner and heating unit as well as a refrigerator and flat-screen TV." In addition to the County funded work, Ridley-Thomas allegedly converted his garage into an office without proper City of LA permits. You may remember that several years ago, Ridley-Thomas had spent nearly a million dollars on "renovation" of his county office.

This CAN'T be good for tourism - crime at LAX has jumped 10% so reports the Daily Breeze. The biggest jump appears to be in property thefts and larceny, while other categories ranging from violent assaults to unregistered vehicles appears about the same. The reports lead the head of the LAX police officers union to peg the spikes to cutbacks in the number of officers.

The end of two eras comes next year when longtime LA City Council Members Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks will be termed out of office. And you can imagine that yes indeed a long line of comers to the thrones have signed up. For Parks 8th District that covers much of South LA, candidates filed so far include pot shop owner Paul Jonathan Scott, community advocate Leonard Delpit; Bobbie Jean Anderson, a former state legislative aide; and two nonprofit group executives: Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Forescee Hogan-Rowles (you may remember Hogan-Rowles, cheered on by Betty Pleasant, came close to unseating Parks in 2011). Over in LaBonge's CD4 which covers a nice part of Los Angle-leez, pulling papers are Tara Bannister, an executive with the National Apartment Assn.; Teddy Davis, a one-time aide to former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; developer and advertising agency owner Sheila Irani; Wally Knox, a former state assemblyman; Joan Pelico, chief of staff to Councilman Paul Koretz; real estate broker John Perron Jr.; Carolyn Ramsay, LaBonge's chief of staff; Oscar Winslow, president of the Los Angeles City Attorneys' Assn.; and Steve Veres, an aide to state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles).  Do not be surprised if one more candidate gets into the CD4 race - former radio talk show host, mayoral candidate and current President of the Board of Public Works, Kevin James.

And finally, Mayor Garcetti was the Grand Marshal (not John Marshall) of Monday's Kingdom Parade, celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Our bloggin' friend Joseph Mailander offered up one of his trademark wry observations in telling Facebook fans "some aide in Mayor Eric Garcetti's office wants you to know that he actually unlocked his doors and went outside of his car in an African American neighborhood to-day." Fortunately, as is the practice of the Mayor's office, the entire moment was photographed and shared with all.

BREAKING: Food Trucks and Politics - Dinner Time GOTV for Box!

If Stephen Box pushes veteran Tom LaBonge into a run-off tonight; it may be because of the Food Trucks.

Bottom line is this - old school Tom HATES the food trucks and has tried to make their lives miserable. Stephen Box has been quite supportive on the other hand and has earned massive support from the trucks and their foodie fans.  Box has even organized meet-ups of trucks and voters that have been quite successful.

Something interesting is happening right now - in a scene perhaps reminiscent of Egypt the downtrodden masses are using social media to turf out a decades in power dictator.  Twitter is abuzz with food truck operators and fans tweeting out the vote for Box.  

Developing.

The Choice is Clear in CD4: Stephen Box

Reports abound that polls taken by non-campaign sources show LaBonge coming in second.  Hence his recent desperation and bizarre behavior.

I wish we had known about this sooner, but it appears that LaBonge may have perpetrated a massive shady fraud on the so-called "Save the Hollywood Sign" effort.

The guy has to go.  There is no worse Councilman than LaBonge.  Even the shady or clueless ones.

Stephen Box will upset the apple cart, which we need.  We even need a whole new apple cart.

Say goodbye to the past, goodbye to pumpkin bread and goodbye to "What high school did you go to?"  It's now the think-outside-the- BOX era.

Magically Delicious! Tomas O'Grady on the Air Tonight!

Los Angeles City Council Candidate for the Fourth District, Tomas O'Grady joins David, Frank and myself this evening on Live LA Saturday Night on LATalkRadio.  

O'Grady, whose life adventure has taken him from the farms of western Ireland to Los Feliz, is seeking to best longtime controversial incumbent (and another Irishman) Tom LaBonge.

Also on the show, as always, from Jackass 3D, comedian Rip Taylor.

Listen tonight at 8:00 p.m.  Call with your questions live at 323-203-0815, or post them here.

BREAKING NEWS! Daily News Endorses Steven Box for CD4

In a stunning below to an incumbent Council Member the Daily News has endorsed challenger Stephen Box over long time pol Tom LaBonge.

The News says

"Though LaBonge clearly has a deep commitment and historical understanding of L.A. and CD 4, he hasn't offered any evidence during his campaign - or during his decade on the council - that he can help the city reinvent itself during this watershed moment.

By comparison, challenger Stephen Box has."

Read the rest of it here.

This Veterans Day Tom LaBonge Raises Red Tape Not Yellow Ribbon in CD-4

Tom LaBonge (CD-4) and the Los Angeles City Council have launched their latest obstructionist stunt.

This time around, they’re targeting Los Angeles’ veteran community on Veterans Day. The LA Times gives its take here.

David Weiss is a former Marine and represents a coalition of prominent LA veterans group. Weiss submitted a routine community plan on the veterans’ behalf to commemorate Veterans Day by draping the Hollywood Sign in Labonge’s district with a yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbon.

Over the years, draping the sign has become a longstanding tradition that draws attention to a variety of causes.

Weiss says his proposal has received support across the board because it is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate nonpartisan support for our troops at a time of war with zero cost to the City.

The Hollywood Sign Trust and the Chamber of Commerce both enthusiastically approved Weiss’s proposal and his group’s agreement to self-fund the project, but Tom LaBonge and the rest of the Council are determined to prove that getting things done in LA isn’t about process or what’s fair and appropriate or even how many reputable organizations have lined up behind you.

In this Council it’s about who you know, and LaBonge doesn’t seem to know our veterans.

LaBonge was Weiss’s last stop in a months-long approval process, and Weiss says when he met with Councilman LaBonge, he received approval quickly.

Read more »

Jennerjahn Evasive When Asked About His Intelligence

Phil Jennerjahn continues to claim he intends to run for City Council in the 4th District (Tom LaBonge) despite the fact that several other candidates are running or considering running, each of whom already have bases of support across the City.  Some of them also bring significant resources to the table.

Phil has no base of support and no resources other than a part time income as a tour guide.  A handful of pot activists may be on board but it takes an army to come even close to winning a Council race.  Ask Ty Vahedi or Paul Krekorian.

I quizzed Phil on Facebook Monday given his likelihood of not winning and his candidacy only serving as a distraction to someone who can actually beat Tom LaBonge would he be willing to sacrifice his desires for the good of the city.

He did not answer my question and called me a Freedom Hating Liberal.

He later followed this up with more slander of CD4 candidate Stephen Box.

The more I think about it the more I'm convinced Phil has hidden cameramen following him and his whole journey here in LA politics is one strange Borat like attempt to create a mockumentary.

Or, I hate to say, Phil is just stupid.

Stephen Box Announces Candidacy for CD4 City Council Seat

Fresh from being naturalized as a U.S. Citizen, popular community and transportation activist, Stephen Box, wastes no time putting his new citizenship status to work, and is announcing his candidacy for the City Council District 4 seat. The seat is currently held by Tom Labonge. The district, which on a map looks sort of like a distorted Texas, stretches from the Noho Arts District to Silverlake, from Griffith Park to Laurel Canyon. The primary election will be held on March 8, 2011.

From his press announcement:

"I believe in Los Angeles and I love Hollywood, but these are challenging times. We must learn from the past, not hope for its return. We must pursue L.A.'s destiny as a 'City of the Future' and I'm here to move Los Angeles forward," said Box.

Box challenges voters to consider the choice between more of the same and a city that works. His platform builds on a foundation of four commitments:

A Vision that Connects: The City of Los Angeles must connect its boundless potential with a commitment to improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and operate businesses. L.A.'s vision must connect the 91 neighborhood councils, 35 community plans, 15 council districts, and 45 city departments in a commitment that transcends traditional boundaries. Most of all, it is imperative that CD4 connect its rich history with the abundant opportunity that lies ahead. It's time for Los Angeles to connect with its destiny as a great city and CD4 is the place to start.

A Plan that Endures: The City of Los Angeles must bring its vision to life with a General Plan that endures. The plan must be more than a suggestion. The people of L.A. can no longer afford to live in an environment where vision plans battle with specific plans, master plans contradict community plans, and they are forced to sit by as growth follows the whims of developers. CD4 is attractive to developers for all the wrong reasons and it is imperative that the community grow according to a "plan that endures."

A Budget that Sustains: The City of Los Angeles must develop and implement a budget that is based on a commitment to the city's vision and plan, committing resources to the support and enhancement of the elements that improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. L.A.'s budget must build on opportunity and drive prosperity, not submit the people to a repetition of a past that codifies mediocrity and perpetuates inefficiency. Now is the time to insist on a city budget based on a commitment to performance, efficiency and effectiveness. CD4 is an abundantly diverse community with a vigorous economy and it is imperative that the city's budget commit to supporting the quality of life by allocating the necessary resources.

A City that Works: The City of Los Angeles must put people first, engaging them, serving them, and evaluating performance based on the delivery of city services. There is no better time than now for L.A. to move from a complaint-driven system to a standards-driven city, one that delivers on its vision, commitment and potential. Most of all, L.A.'s greatest asset is its people. It's time for the City of L.A. to make its priority putting people to work, starting with CD4.

stephenbox.com

(We'll have an interview with Stephen in the near future that we'll post here).