Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Hump Day

Please excuse the bloggin exhale ..............

As the first full work week of 2014 reaches the hump, all in the world of local political print commentary is normal with the return of the reigning "Scribe of Wit", Downtown News Editor Jon Regardie from his Holiday Season Hiatus.

Regardie's first missive of 2014 looks ahead to seven connected Angelinos who are poise to jolt the local establishment in the new year.

Never straying far from our CD 14 centric bloggin center of being, we bring you an excerpt on one of Regardie's seven subject matters, who's recent actions east of Downtown, has caught the attention of the noted Clippers Fan.

Ana Guerrero: Ana Guerrero has been with Eric Garcetti since 2001 and currently serves as the mayor’s chief of staff. But for how long? City Hall is abuzz with speculation that Guerrero will jump into the 14th District City Council race in an attempt to unseat incumbent José Huizar. She hasn’t copped to a campaign yet, but you can be sure that the consultants are doing the background work and assessing how wounded Huizar is following the revelations of an affair with a former deputy. Guerrero likely won’t enter the 2015 election without the blessing and backing of her boss. This could be a test of her viability and, more intriguingly, Garcetti’s patronage.

...... we ponder if the "Monkey Butler" will entertain a response?

** Despite the riveting appeals of LAUSD School Board Member Steve Zimmer, the remaining Failure Mayor Antonio Villar allies on the School Board, stood together in blocking an appointment to replace the Late District One School Board Member Marguerite Poindexter-LaMotte during last evening's looooooong, devisive meeting on Beaudry. Reigning School Board President Richard Vladovic acted as the Dr, Death in killing the appointment option.  

** The fallout of the surprise, sudden resignation (and the number of declared candidates) of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, continues to grow. While the short term fixation is on who will replace Sheriff Baca at the end of the month. the Los Cerritos News is reporting that Assistant Sheriff and City of Lakewood Vice-Mayor Todd Rogers is "100% intent" on seeking to be elected the next Los Angeles County Sheriff. Sheriff Baca during his morning press conference had stated that Assistant Sheriff Rogers should be consider as his possible interim replacement. 

** With a changeover of City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commissioners, just on the other side of the playground, the out-going cast of commissioners have a nice present on their last agenda for a certain "Uber Wannabee Griffith Park Superintendent", that would cause the late Col. Griffith consternation, via the Griffith Park Wayist Blog. We should also note that longtime Rec & Parks Commission Frontperson Barry Sanders is being replace by the wife of CD 3 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Bob Blumenfield.

** Lastly, as the controversy grows over the potentially disastrous Hollywood Millennium Project, another accidental act of geologic fact will take place in the late A.M. 

MILLENNIUM PROJECT OPPONENTS REACT TO EARTHQUAKE MAP

Opponents to Hold News Conference at City Hall

At 11 am tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 8), the California Geological Survey will hold a news conference in the Carmel Room at the Junipero Serra Building, 320 W. 4^th Street, Los Angeles. At that time CGS officials, led by State Geologist Dr. John Parrish, will release the agency’s earthquake map for the Hollywood area.
That map is likely to have a very significant impact on the controversial Millennium Hollywood Project.

Fifteen minutes or so after the CGS news conference, Robert P. Silverstein, attorney for the city-wide coalition of community groups opposed to the project, will join Hollywood community activists at a news conference on the First Street Steps of City Hall to comment on the new earthquake map and its impact on the Millennium project.

Silverstein expects to be present at the CGS news conference but he will not be speaking to the media at that time. He will reserve his comments for the subsequent news conference at City Hall.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Jan. 8^th, 15 minutes after the CGS news conference

WHERE: First Street Steps of City Hall

WHAT: Attorney Robert P. Silverstein, representing Stopthemillenniumhollywood.org, will comment on the CGS map and how it will impact the Millennium project. Community activists involved in the Millennium fight will be present as well, carrying signs.

John Schwada
john.schwada@gmail.com
310 597-9345 (office)
310 709-0056 (mobile)

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Save Funding for City Parks!

It could happen here!

The following is from Kristin Sabo, parks activist and caretaker for Amir's Garden at Griffith Park. No one in Los Angeles has more insight into how the City's Department of Recreation and Parks operates. Below, she details how the City is "double dipping," taking funds from the parks' budget in an effort to "charge" the department for "services" from the City. These chargebacks do nothing more than help the City hide it's budget deficit due to wasteful spending and take dollars - as mandated by the City Charter - from recreation for children, families and all residents of LA. 

Read more - and then take action...

"Crippling "Chargebacks" covering other departments' budgets by taking funds from Rec and Parks) are killing our S-T parks and Hansen Dam. The Mayor's budget for 2013-14 is even worse, if that is possible.

Please read this document for an explanation of the "chargebacks" and the Recreation and Parks services we've lost so far. It's disgusting.

The $56 million in Chargebacks to Rec and Parks in FY 2013-14 being perpetrated on this City's children and parks users by the Mayor, CAO and the City Council is completely unconscionable.

The budget hearing for Rec and Parks is Wednesday May 1st. Please submit your comments to the Budget and Finance Committee ASAP.

Budget & Finance Committee Hearing
Wednesday, May 1, 1pm
John Ferraro Council Chamber - Room 340
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you can't attend that day, please contact the members of the Budget & Finance Committee and let know that you demand an end to Chargebacks and adequate funding for our parks.

Email Councilmember Paul Krekorian, or call him at (213) 473-7002
Email Councilmember Mitch Englander, or call him at (213) 473-7012
Email Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, or call him at (213) 473-7011
Email Councilmember Paul Koretz, or call him at (213) 473-7005
Email Councilmember Tom LaBonge, or call him at (213) 485-3337"