Who Does Outreach Better? Paul Krekorian or Dick Cavett?

Krekorian's Biden/Kinnock Moment

It was a seminal moment of the 1988 Presidential campaign when now Vice President and then Democratic Senator Joe Biden plagiarized a speech originally given by Neil Kinnock, a member of the British Labour Party. Biden was later discovered to have "borrowed" from speeches by Robert Kennedy and others. Needless to say, Biden was forced to abandon his campaign for the Democratic nomination that year.

Since politicians are always spinning, it's not unexpected that we find them re-inventing portions of their personal narrative. Both President Obama and Governor Romney were accused of such during the now shuttered 2012 campaign. 

How interesting it is though, when we find an elected official creating out of whole cloth, letters and comments from "constituents," when often these very communications are used quite frequently to document or gauge where stakeholders' views are on a certain pressing issue.

Which brings us to Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian.

PURE IMAGINATION:
City Council Member Paul Krekorian

The latest kerfuffle to hit the Second District rep involves his monthly column "Ask Paul" which runs in  various editions of Patch, an online newspaper of sorts that targets hyper-local news and issues.

Krekorian was recently using his latest column to gin up support for a controversial plan addressing billboards in Los Angeles - and to deflect criticism from billboard critics of Krekorian's plan away from the Council Member himself. 

Cupcakes, anyone?
Jeremy Oberstein,
Krekorian Spin-meister

According to a story by Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News, Krekorian's column (actually written by longtime communications director and former journalist, Jeremy Oberstein) referred to a Studio City resident who questioned the plan but praised Krekorian's "integrity."  Turns out, not only the question but the "resident" was a fabrication created by Oberstein.

Krekorian's office had claimed that the voter in question is a "composite" of the many types of comments they receive. 

Following the discovery, the editors of Patch removed the original story with an explanation and allowed the Krekorian team to publish raw comments they claim their office has received on the billboards plan.

In the meantime, Krekorian has found himself coming under fire from many sources, including long-time anti-billboard activist Dennis Hathaway who was dubious of Krekorian's plan to begin with and was of the mind that Krekorian was shilling for the billboard industry, not really responding to his constituents' concerns on how to address the problem.

The Council Member's misstep even caught the attention of famed blogger and gadfly, John Walsh, who offered to stage a "Fake Letters to Paul" contest, offering, in his usual flamboyant fashion, the winner "First Booby Prize is Breakfast with Paul Krekorian. Second Booby Prize is Breakfast and Lunch with Paul Krekorian and Third Booby Prize is Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Paul Krekorian."

Los Angeles continues to remain fun!

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

City Hall Outsider Kevin James woos audience at Glassell Park Mayoral Candidate Forum

Receives Endorsement of District Attorney Steve Cooley

Former Federal Prosecutor and Talk Show Host Kevin James.

The upstart mayoral campaign that could, is going places .........

Judging from the phone calls from prominent community activists who were in the audience last night at the Glassell Park Senior Center (located mere feet from CD 13 City Councilman Eric Garcetti Field Office), James was far above the best candidate at last night's proceedings.

James gained the audience favor from the start, by merely showing up on time for the 6 P.M. start of the forum. City Councilwoman Jan  Perry, City Councilman Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy "The Valley Greuel", in that order, were late in joining the proceedings.

James successful evening in Glassell Park , forged a great Thursday morning as the James Campaign received the endorsement of Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley as Randy Economy of the Los Cerritos Community News reports .......

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley will announce his support and endorsement of former Federal Prosecutor Kevin James for Mayor of Los Angeles at a media event on Friday, Los Cerritos Community Newspaper has learned.In a statement obtained by LCCN, Cooley said he believes that “James will make an outstanding Mayor and that Kevin James is the Mayoral candidate best qualified to tackle the many problems confronting the City of Los Angeles.”Cooley and James will answer questions briefly afterward at the event that will begin at 10 am on the South Lawn Steps of Los Angeles City Hall.Cooley’s endorsement of James is considered to be one of the most important in this early stage of the 2013 Mayoral campaign for Los Angeles. 

Does Cooley's endorsement open the door for needed monetary support, merits watching in the weeks ahead.

A Reminder to CD 14 constituents that your City Councilman voted AGAIN to raise DWP rates.

Councilman Huizar once again turns his back on his constituents by voting to raise DWP rates. For those of you who voted to re-elect the Princeton Graduate, the above graphic should pain your soul.

Memo to CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian, bombastic rhetoric has its price .... in legal costs

Two self-serving, bombastic politicos.

This describes the "real Paul Krekorian" via Ron Kaye.

In the rubber-stamp LA City Council, there are posers and phonies, blusterers and know-nothings and then there is Paul Krekorian — the ambitious, articulate chief apologist given to creative use of his lawyer’s mind to defend the indefensible.

Let Paul articulate the spin to explain this waste of taxpayers money .........

Last week, a jury awarded Contreras $5.7 million with the judge likely to award fees to his attorneys that will bring the bill to about $2 million more than the settlement offer that Krekorian chose to reject.Instead of admitting he made a mistake and wasted $2 million the city desperately as it slashed services to the public and tries to squeeze concession from city workers, Krekorian was unrepentant.“If the city has to pay some more to show that we stood up and supported our police officers when they did nothing wrong then so be it,” Krekorian . “It’s money well spent.”

Reminds me of that $4 Million + "messy exercise in democracy" by a group of occupiers. I Don't remember Paul commenting on that waste of money.

This picture is dedicated to former City Controller Laura Chick.

Laura, holding grudges is not the way to live life.

These facts via Ron Kaye still stings the former City Controller ....

EDITOR’S NOTE: The lawsuit between the Controller and City Attorney over authority to audit the operations of other elected officials was ultimately found to be moot by the state appellate court because by the time the trial court ruled against the Controller Wendy Greuel, City Attorney Trutanich had cooperated voluntarily in the audit of his office’s handling of Worker Compensation cases. “On his first day in office, Mr. Trutanich had reversed the position of the former City Attorney and invited the Controller to conduct the audit. He remained true to his word, not only cooperating with the auditors but providing City Attorney’s office staff to support the audit team,” the appellate court said. (Greuel-Trutanich)

Wondering if Laura still thinks that the Hahn Administration was more corrupt than eights years of Mayor Villar?

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

The City Council "King of Retorts" CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks.

** Blogger's note: It was only time before the Office of CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks responded to the Gene Maddaus's "subjective agenda missive" in the "Former Weekly of Record", now the "Daily, Fact Devoid, Hatchet Job of Record", regarding to his supposed "power-clinging ways" on the the Coliseum Commission. Well ......., that time is here and this retort is classic!---Scott Johnson.

THIS IS A RETORT CLASSIC.

From the LA Weekly ............

Parks writes, "It's been said that facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Someone should tell that to Gene Maddaus, who may have set a world record in the 1,500-meter trash with his article. Maddaus' 1,500 words were nothing more than a biased effort to push the agenda of some Coliseum commissioners who favor their interim general manager and USC's acquisition of the Coliseum.

"I know this because after I went public with my disapproval of interim Coliseum general managerJohn Sandbrook due to his lack of competence and the USC Master Lease due to its lack of credibility months ago, Coliseum staff informed my staff that Sandbrook intended to make things difficult for a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual scholarship fundraiser in the Exposition Park Rose Garden. The collateral damage in this political tit-for-tat would be my wife, who happens to be the vice president of the nonprofit.

"At issue was an alcohol license that the previous Coliseum general manager offered to the organization for the event. Sandbrook determined that the use of the license was improper and informed my office. My office informed the nonprofit group, and without any hesitation or hassle, the group decided to obtain a different alcohol license. They have used the same license for the last two years with no incident.

"My staff informed Maddaus of Sandbrook's plot and also gave him an email showing that I advised the former commission president as well as Sandbrook to have the Alcohol [sic] Beverage Control investigate this matter. However, this information never made it into the article.

"Despite this trivial circumstance, Maddaus tried to link the scholarship fundraiser to my position on USC's lease, claiming that I opposed USC control of the Coliseum because I would no longer 'decide which community groups get access' (to the venue). First off, the fundraiser is held in the Rose Garden — not the Coliseum. And secondly, the Coliseum Commission has no say over events in the Rose Garden.

"Throughout the article, when Maddaus wasn't picking and choosing the facts as he pleased, he was making baseless statements and attributing them to ... no one or nothing in particular! In one instance, he wrote: ' ... the L.A. Times obtained a confidential draft of the lease — likely from Parks' office ... .' And, he never substantiated that very strong accusation with sources or evidence; not even a hazy outline of a gunman on the grassy knoll. This wouldn't fly in my office's weekly newsletter, and it certainly shouldn't be accepted by a publication that boasts about 'decoding Los Angeles for its readers.' "

"The only thing this story 'decoded' was what some commission members and staff have been adolescently gossiping about for months. I don't know whether it was Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy or Dopey who spoon-fed him all of the half truths, but at least Maddaus was courageous enough to attach his name to his countless misguided thoughts instead of cowering in secrecy.

"The speculative nature of the Maddaus piece and the attempts by an embittered cabal of commissioners to hobble events in my community for payback are still dwarfed by two much weightier issues: the Coliseum corruption scandal and USC's new master lease. 

"I challenge the L.A. Weekly to adhere to its mission statement by 'confronting the city's political leaders' (those not afraid to be quoted, of course) on all of the issues surrounding one of our most beloved venues instead of writing stories now and recognizing the facts later." OUCH!!

** Speaking of "OUCH Moments", Mayor Antonio Villar is again on the receiving end of a verbal slap back over his "Republican Brown Face, Window Dressing Comments". This time its Utah Haitian American Mayor Mia Love, who calls upon the former Tony Villar to "start being responsible".  

** Once again,  Mt Washington Lawyer/Activist Dan Wright shines the legal light on 200,000 words of phony documentation that were incorporated into the City of Los Angeles Planning Department approval of an Eric Garcetti inspired skyscraper in Hollywood. Thanks to the work of Wright and his Silverstein Law Firm employer, that project is on hold. 

** Via Councilman Huizar's "Bloggin Maven on Choice", we learn that the "Westside White Guy" aka Kevin Roderick, has gone uber prissy on CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian for daring to garner media attention over the ambulance bills sent to the families of two deceased Good Samaritans.

 "How about instead of a press conference for the cameras, (Councilman Paul) Krekorian quietly announces that he'll ask the full council to quash the fees — and if the council won't or can't, he could offer to pay the bills out of his office slush fund,"

Your thoughts .................
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Early Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

Page 1 of Koreatown Activists Lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles over Redistricting 2012.

Great early morning to all as we quickly get started on a news pack August 1, 2012.

** As we first reported here at Mayor Sam, Koreatown Activists filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the final backroom-drawn boundaries agreed upon by the City o Los Angeles Redistricting Committee. With the first of what could become multiple lawsuits on Redistricting 2012 on file as of yesterday, you can bet that City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson will not be discussing his alleged role in the Redistricting backrooms anytime soon (unless under oath).

** Former SEIU 6434 General Manager Tyrone Freeman is looking at alot of non-union time making license plates as a Federal Grand Jury returned multiple indictments against LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas favorite ex. union strongman. According to the indictments, Freeman and wife live the high life on the backs of low-paid union members dues. Many observers are wondering if Freeman will sing regarding what was an alleged plan to raise union dues and for workers to support the campaign of now Board of Supervisor Member Ridley Thomas?

** CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar was successful in getting a vote on the March ballot to create a special downtown tax district to finance his Broadway Choo Choo. But as Hillel Aron reports in the "Weekly of Record", will downtown residents want to pay more taxes when many are "under water" with their respective mortgages?  

** The political office hopping of currently CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian, will remain on hold as the first full term CD 2 City Councilman announces that he is not running for City Attorney. BTW, great show of discipline by Krekorian's staffers not to comment on this issue when asked in a City Hall elevator.

** July 31 was deadline day for municipal candidates to file their latest fundraising reports with the Ethics Commission. In the 2013 Mayoral Contest, City Controller Wendy "The Valley Greuel" and CD 13 City Councilman Eric Garcetti, were mere hundreds of dollars apart at the $2.2 Million dollar mark. Look tomorrow before our report on the 2013 money race.

** City Controller Candidate Dennis "The Valley Zine" is puffing out his chest again in indignation of city employees who are watching the London Olympics on city computers during work time. Is that me or do I here the political sirens of the ambulance-chasing auditor Wendy "The Valley Greuel"?

** Saving the best laugh for last, Ron Kaye has his thoughts on Yahoo's "Villar for President" story, but the City Terrace native is not without ambition. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14                                            

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Machine for Monday

Infant Assemblyman Mike Gatto bemoans attacks on union slush funds. 

We bring you this great video of "Infant Assemblyman Tyranny" in action from the floor of the Assembly in Sacramento. This is what happens when an Infant Assemblyman nourished with Special Interest money gets control of the Speaker Gavel, say good bye to Freedom of Speech and objective use of parliamentary rules.

Indicted former HACLA Employee Victor Taracena days of hiding in Guatemala ended last week as FBI agents returned the mastermind of alleged bid-rigging at HACLA to face justice. Appearing in court on Friday after his expulsion from the Central American country, Taracena was order held without bail pending trial. Wonder what the likes of Gustavo Valdivia thinks about the return of the elder Taraceno brother?

46th Assembly District Candidate Brian Johnson, this was your political life, via the latest election results.

ADRIN NAZARIAN	DEM	11,434	27.44
JAY L STERN	REP	8,370	20.09
BRIAN C JOHNSON	DEM	8,335	20
ANDREW B LACHMAN	DEM	8,050	19.32

As CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian ponders his latest thoughts on "office-hopping", we can't help but wonder if IBEW's Brian D'Arcy was prophetic with this campaign mailer from back in the CD 2 Special Election?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

The Southwest Museum, the City of Los Angeles oldest historic exhibit space above the Arroyo Seco.

** In the spirit of promoting visitation to our City of Los Angeles historic institutions, we would invite all of you to partake in the partial reopening of exhibit space at the Southwest Museum, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. this Saturday, May 19, 2012. Our Friends of the Southwest Museum will be gathering at 10 A.M. to kick off the opening of the lower exhibit lobby to viewing and visitation of just a fraction of the collection stored on site. 

The irony in this surprise partial reopening of exhibit space at the Southwest Museum is that the Autry National Center, which controls the Southwest Museum and its collection, is doing nearly nothing to promote Saturday's event. According to sources, the primary reason for the re-opening is financial. In order to qualify for FEMA money to repair earthquake damage on the Southwest property, the museum needs to meet the provision that it be open to the public in some capacity. Thus, we here at Mayor Sam in promoting local tourism and commerce, implore you to take some quality time this Saturday to visit Los Angeles oldest museum (via mass transit on the MTA Gold Line) and send a message to the Autry National Center, that a refurbish and reopen Southwest Museum, can be a viable tourist attraction in Northeast LA.

** OTHER NEWS **:

Southeast  Politico turn LA County Assessor John Noguez.

** This never happens in the public sector in the County of Los Angeles. The LA District Attorney Office of Public Integrity is accusing the union for assessor office employees of impeding its investigation on the actions of LA County Assessor John Noguez.

** City Clowncil Central Committee Budget Chairperson Paul Krekorian is working hard to maintain his "90+ Union Score Card" This by searching for all revenue streams for monetary flow to prevent any layoffs of mostly female employees. 

** While areas such as Fortress USC get 30 LAPD officers redeployed to protect its exclusive enclave, families in areas of El Sereno are daily expose to random gang attacks and other acts of violence that claim lives. ..... and somewhere CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar is still monitoring the situation.. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Late Morning Briefs on the crumbling Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

 LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino

Assemblyman Warren "Raging Potato Head" Furutani.

Great morning after another stimulating LA-32 Neighborhood Council Meeting where the "politics of wind", "a MIA LAPD" and a "absentee council office" was all the rage on a Wednesday evening. But not to retrograde into a LA-32 rant, lets focus on issues outside the "Fiefdom of the Huevon". ** BTW, the "Fiefdom of the Huevon" does not believe in celebrating the holidays with its constituents. Maybe this has to do with the transferring of $1.245 Million dollars from the CLARTS Fund into the "One Percent Staffer Fund"?

** Today is the latest financial reporting deadline for the candidates in the CD 15 Special Election Runoff between LAPD Lead Officer Joe Buscaino and Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Don't be surprise to see a Furutani edge in money considering his recent endorsement from the Los Angeles County Labor Federation, but don't under estimate the Buscaino Campaign's ability to surprise.

** Ron Kaye has his thoughts on the "2nd Most Powerful Person at City Hall" newly elected City Council President Herb Wesson, incorporated into the latest missive from Neon Tommy Alumnist now LA Weekly Scribe Hillel Aron. Lets not forget that Wesson's power is derive mainly from the backroom arm-twisting from the likes of staffer Andrew Westall.

** CD 2 City Council Paul Krekorian is seeking relief from the City of Los Angeles Ethics Commission to offset the looting of $50,000+ by indicted Democratic Campaign Treasurer Kinde Durkee from his campaign account. As reported by the LA Weekly, Krekorian's campaign consultant Eric Hacopian is the largest outstanding creditor at $67,000 which has led to speculation from the likes of Dario Frommer, Assemblyman Mike Gatto and assorted Gatto Truthers, that Hacopian would have to part with his ownership shares of Mayor Sam to offset the Krekorian revenue loss. We have no comment ; ).

** What former SEIU 6434 Strongman Tyrone Freeman could not purchase for LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas the Coliseum Commission could, as the SEIU supported politico is implicated in using commission funds to purchase Carolina Panthers football tickets and not reporting to purchase on the pertinent reporting forms.

Your Thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14    

An Update from Sunland-Tujunga on Councilman Krekorian's response to community concerns on the Samoa Project

The current facts from Sunland-Tujunga on the Samoa Project via "The Mop and Bucket Blog".

Samoa Project Update-CD2 Planning Director Karo Torossian paid a visit to last night's Land Use Committee meeting to try and clear up some misconceptions and to address the perceived lack of communication coming from the office of Councilman Paul Krekorian. First off, there is no $13 million in funds being handed over to the developer today as we've heard for the last week. The funding date is Oct 28th, but even then this project won't get a dime because it is not fully entitled yet. The developer will have to ask for an extension that will take him through February of 2012. In addition, this project can be appealed by anyone or any group, not just adjacent residents ** as reported by another blog. There were calls for more frequent communication from CD2 regarding this project and hopes that doing so will help clarify the info that the community receives (the Oct 18th funding date had been discussed as a deadline in several emails between LA City Planning and LAHD). The LUC expressed their appreciation to Mr. Torossian for attending the meeting.

...... ** and for facts on the blog that reported false information? Link here.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Morning Briefs on a Shifting Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

The political honeymoon between Sunland-Tujunga and CD 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian is over. ** Read letter from the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council to Councilman Krekorian that was crafted after rare Sunday Special Meeting. 

 Joe Barrett's S.T centric Blog "Action Alert" on Ed Reyes CD 1 style density in CD 2. From Joe B. This is very serious. We have a un-vetted project being fast tracked through the City. An incomplete application, no addressing the Historical Resource Impacts (to Bolton Hall), substandard infrastructure, and a Councilman that's MIA. Please write your letters today!

Why would Councilman Krekorian fail to find a need for supplemental environmental review on the Samoa Project considering among others ....

•  The historic resource preservation cannot be ignored.

•  There is inadequate parking and Samoa is a sub-standard street.

•  There are no provisions to improve the infrastructure and the existing infrastructure can't handle the density now.

•  The impacts on public safety.  High crime area. 

•  Thorough Environmental Review must be required.

But then that was the argument of the Friends of the Southwest Museum, when they requested that a Supplemental EIR be conducted on the Autry National Center' plans to use public money to increase exhibit space at its Griffith Park location. And who was the council person that shot down the proposal?

OTHER NEWS AFTER THE JUMP.  

Read more »

Mailander Notches Up Sunland-Tujunga Jihad

How can he hate this place?

Oddly, for some time, blogger Joseph Mailander has been on a strange tear against activists in Sunland-Tujunga who wish to review and add more teeth to the community's Bush 41 era general plan.

It's only my opinion, but if I may SPECULATE, Joseph is angry at Sunland-Tujunga activist and MayorSam blogger, Joe Barrett.  Some kind of personal beef, who cares.

Mailander has now even gone as far to indirectly refer to activists in the foothill community as "animals," dredging up an old quote from the former grand dame of Joel Wach's fiefdom, Arlene DeSantis.

Back in the day, before it was crammed into LeBongLand, NoHo was part of CD2 as well.  We knew Arlene quite well.  She had the sensitivity of Leona Helmsley when it came to resident concerns.

Fortunately for the remainder of CD2, they have the all star team of Paul Krekorian's staff who actually give a rip. I digress.

Mailander has been making a lot of wacky claims about this issue.  Normally we would not care. But given the isolation of Sunland-Tujunga and it's importance to the region, the record simply must be set straight.

Stay tuned over the next several days as we deconstruct the former "blogging godfather's" rant and roll.

And we apologize for any mess in the process.

Krekorian Inauguration in Sherman Oaks Today

Left to right; Congressman Brad Sherman, City Controller Wendy Greuel, Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Paul's daughter, Councilman Paul Krekorian, Councilman Paul Koretz, Sunland-Tujunga's very own Nina Royal.

Councilman Krekorian was sworn in today for his first full term as Councilman for CD2 at VNSO Park. The event featured live music, food, and activists/NC members/supporters from around the city. Krekorian's always amazing staff worked as greeters or burger flippers or servers. It was a wonderful way to kick off the 4th of July weekend.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Shut The Front Door! A new Field Poll reveals that Californians are losing interest in politics and government and the internet is in part to blame. While TV or print media exposes a viewer or reader to multiple opinions and positions (Fox News being the exception, of course), voters are "rarely exposed to information outside of their realm of interest" on the internet.

California's independent redistricting process, currently underway, may be shifting up to 5 Congressional seats over to the Democrats. 24 is the magic number needed for the Dems to retake the House.

We're not out of the woods yet, but the tax credits designed to keep film & tv production in California are starting to work. From the Daily News-"More than $3.8 billion and 20,040 jobs were generated by the 77 productions that received tax incentives for filming in California, according to a study released Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp". LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian was co-author of  the tax credit legislation back when he was serving in the state Assembly. Krekorian is now encouraging passage of AB1069 that would extend the tax breaks for 5 more years. Shoot Movies in California is asking everyone to sign this petition that seeks to have the State Senate approve the legislation.

You can beat City Hall! Ron Kaye has the story of the Olvera Street merchants vs Spring Street.

Goodbye CRAs!  Governor Jerry Brown's newly passed budget takes $1.7 billion away from redevelopment agencies, with a large portion of that coming from the developers' trough known as CRA Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Hey, it's better than a pic of a crying baby!

We'll kick off this hotsheet with Ron Kaye's piece on the hiring of Ackley Padilla, the little brother of Alex Padilla, as CRA head Chris Essel's assistant. Ackley, who was unemployed and not a college graduate, got the high paying position by appointment. No job search for the most qualified candidate was conducted, just Chris Essel scratching Alex's back and giving his kid brother a cushy job on your dime.

Councilman Krekorian has proposed a series of reforms to update the neighborhood council system including better training for NC board members and streamlining the funding process. CM Krekorian recently held a series of town halls to gather input from NC members and stakeholders on improving the NC system.

That was fast! The very next day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that blocked implementation of a union busting law, Wisconsin labor unions have filed suit in federal court to challenge that decision.

 The Citizens of Los Angeles actually owning the Dodgers? The LA City Council is asking the US Congress to allow Angelenos to be part of any bidding process to buy the troubled team. I'm not sure why the US Congress has to be involved, but Janice Hahn's proposal is certainly intriguing.  A baseball version of the Green Bay Packers (who are owned by the citizens of Green Bay) in Los Angeles? I like it!

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday-Special Land Use Edition

Kids, always remember; mixing Big Rigs and Open Space is a guaranteed recipe for a lawsuit!

Councilman Krekorian is scoring major points with the Foothills area of CD2 in recent days. First he was able to get unanimous approval by the City Council to allocate $250,000 of AB1290 funds to refurbish the McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga. Later today, he will address the Prop O Citizens Oversight Advisory Committee with regards to the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. Proposition O, which was passed by City of Los Angeles voters in 2004, is designed to fund water projects that protect water quality, clean up pollution in the city's waterways, beaches and the ocean, and to help the city meet requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act.
If he is able to obtain funding to purchase the site, the VHGC could remain the beloved golf course and beautiful open space that it currently is, while at the same time serving as a natural aquifer recharge facility.  The VHGC is currently slated to be demolished and replaced with 229 town homes. That proposal to demolish the VHGC and build dense housing has been fought against by just about every group and resident in the surrounding communities for over 5 years.

The LA City Council has approved a 25 year lease in Little Tokyo for the construction of a 38,000 sq ft sports complex to be named the "Budokan". With 4 basketball courts, a rooftop track and martial arts facilities, the Budokan will fulfill a decades long effort by Little Tokyo to bring a first class sports facility to the area.

In case you haven't heard, Councilman Richard Alarcon's effort to transform designated Open Space at the former Lopez Canyon landfill into a truck driving school has ran up against a Superior Court judge who has zero tolerance for a City Attorney and a Zoning Administrator that put politics and job security over the requirements of CEQA.

An absolutely fascinating report entitled "Portrait of California" has just been released by the American Human Development Project. This report examines the human condition in California's metro areas utilizing something called the Human Development Index, a composite measure of health, education, and standard of living. Spoiler Alert: Riverside-San Bernardino; you suck!

At post time:
Bennett Kayser 50.97%
Luis Sanchez 49.03%

Lydia Gutierrez 48.69% 
Scott Svonkin 51.31%