Live from Eagle Rock High School!! Its the FIRST, 51st Assembly District Special Election Candidate Forum

We are officially on ........, 51st Assembly District Special Election Campaign Watch, as the 13 Qualified Candidates seeking to replace, NOW Congressman Jimmy Gomez, have been invited to a Thursday Evening (7-9 PM.), August 24, 2017 Candidate Forum at Eagle Rock High School. 

** Blogger's Notes: Tomorrow's first mass gathering of Qualified Candidates seeking to replace the, NOW 434th-ranking Congressman Jimmy Gomez, is a GREAT opportunity to make cyber notes on the 2017 51st AD Special Election Scorecard. Briefly, the early election handicapping has second-time 51st AD Home Grown Candidate Luis Lopez in the Top-Two-Tier, with the rest of the field fighting among themselves to place second on October 3 ......., and move on to a December 5 Runoff. We will provide an in-depth Handicapping of the Candidates after tomorrow's gathering-----Scott Johnson.

Will El Sereno become Eagle Rock’s dumping ground for unwanted 7 Elevens?

Will Councilman Jose Huizar dump Eagle Rock's unwanted 7 Elevens on El Sereno?

Will past contributions to CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, engender supporter from the Princeton Graduate for more beer and wine outlets in his district?

In the last two weeks, two CD 14 Neighborhood Councils have taken contrasting approaches to 7 Eleven expansion plans to create more beer and wine sales outlets in the Eastside Council District.

From the south of Boyle Heights, to the north end of Eagle Rock and not excluding Downtown Los Angeles. Corporate 7 Eleven has embarked on a major campaign to increase beer and wine outlets in sensitive communities, that are already at the saturation point, in regards to beer, wine and liquor outlets.

The tactics of the consultants hired by Corporate 7 Eleven, in pushing (or ramming down) these new store on sensitive communities has been scandalous to say the least, and deplorable at best.

Consultants such as former City of Bell Interim City Administrator Pedro Carrillo’s Urban Associates, has used supporters and employees of City of Los Angeles Gang Reduction, Youth Development (GRYD) Sub-contractor Legacy LA, to shill for new beer and wine selling 7 Elevens in Lincoln Heights, in return for material donations.

But as 7 Eleven’s efforts have move into the Eagle Rock and LA-32 Neighborhood Council areas of jurisdiction. The respective responses of the two NC are a study in political contrasts and whether other personal interests, were part of the process.

In Eagle Rock, 7 Eleven wanted to place a store at the site of the old Casa Princesa Coffee House ( ** the former Zuma Dogg, Mayor Sam Karaoke location) on York Blvd. In a hour plus meeting, the ERNC voted against the proposed 7 Eleven, as noted in the Eagle Rock Patch.

The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council voted, 14-1, to write a letter to the associate zoning administrator of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning opposing a proposal to build a 7-Eleven store on York Boulevard that sells beer and wine and operates outside the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.The vote by the ERNC board on Tuesday night had two abstentions, and it followed a prolonged, one-hour 10-minute discussion that dominated the meeting at Eagle Rock City Hall.

Meanwhile to the south, 7 Eleven found a more welcoming reception, with opposition comments muted by an enabling LA-32 Presiding Board Member, as seven board members voted to approve the 7-Eleven location near the CSULA Campus.

7 Eleven would be a couple of blocks from Valley Liquor near CSULA. 

Unlike the Eagle Rock meeting, LA-32 President Connie Castro pushed through a “yes vote” without ample discussion, (especially contrary comments), using draft minutes from the Land Use Committee that had not been vetted and formally approved by the LA-32 LUC before the General Board Meeting.

When a board member attempted to question Consultant Pedro Carrillo, she quickly cut that person off and attempted to redirect (or censor) their line of questioning. Further when the same board member attempted to call up members of the LUC, the three members in question, Val Marquez, Jorge Garcia and former LUC Chairman Tom Williams were not allowed to answer questions.

Mr. Williams was only allowed to make a two-minute pubic comment on the agenda item. This was a further insult to Mr., Williams, after having been verbally attacked by board member Ruben Chavez, who called Mr. Williams a hypocrite during a previous meeting, which went unchallenged by President Connie Castro.

We show note that the approval of the Valley Blvd. 7 Eleven came with an recommended Five Year Moratorium on Beer and Wine Sales. But the consensus of those in the nearby community, is that no more alcohol outlets are wanted, period. In addition, it has been learned that 7 eleven wants to place a store on the corner of Huntington and Poplar, next to a church and Motel (with dubious issues).

A view of Motel from proposed 7 Eleven location at Huntington and Poplar.

For LA-32 President Connie Castro, her efforts in pushing the 7 Eleven approval, will cast an unwanted spotlight on her own business Hecho En Mexico Restaurant, and alcohol-related (unfounded at best) issues with their next door neighbor, the Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School.

Community members should question whether Castro has a Conflict of Interest” in sitting on the Land Use Committee, considering the zoning and alcohol issues pertaining to the Academia/Hecho properties. Thus, and whether political entities could use those issues to affect the integrity of the decision making process of the committee.

Your thoughts ……………
Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Morning Puffs for Votes in Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Elections?

Pot for votes in Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Elections?

 The buzz on $40 of Medical Pot for your vote in ERNC Election.

ERNC "Progress and Collaboration Slate President Candidate Nelson Grande II (right).

We can call it the fall out but second thought, the smoke is clearing on some of the "behind the pot smoke drama", from Saturday's Eagle Rock Neighborhood Concil Elections. 

Eagle Rock Patch's Ajay Singh is reporting this alleged inducement for "outsiders" to vote for the Medical Marijana linked "Progress and Collaboration Slate".

Although the Progress and Collaboration slate, as this faction is called, denies any involvement, a deal was cut with outsiders that they would be given $40 worth of free marijuana products from a pot clinic in the Rampart area (Third Street and Rampart, to be precise) if they produced an “I Empowered LA” sticker given to voters who cast their ballot. (See attached scan of flyer testifying to such an agreement.)

 How come Cheech and Chong never thought of this?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Outtakes from CD-14 Special Report: Region 8 NC Elections Saturday

Today is Election Day for all CD-14 NC's outside of Downtown LA

Will NC elections serve as a barometer of the "Princeton Graduate, Dear Charro" City Councilman's influence, as we near the mid-way point of his second full term?

But there is no questioning the fact that current CD 14 staff will be out and about today, observing and ensuring, that the "right candidates" are getting the right amount of voting resources (via the promises of turkey vouchers, Christmas toys and maybe, some CLARTS love). 

Yet, today's exercise in advisory democracy, has generated some headlines, that may have future repercussions on such issues as the future of the Southwest Museum, Medical Marijuana, unregulated charter schools, and CBO-led gentrification of a historical community. Below we briefly review each of today's elections and post a link to polling locations. Remember, you too can take part in advisory democracy by merely exercising local commerce in the NC of choice.

:Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council:
The ERNC Election is ground zero for the backlash against the failed Medical Marijuana Ban authored by Councilman Huizar. By the time the polling place at the old Eagle Rock City Hall closes this afternoon, its a 50/50 chance that the ERNC could go to weed, especially if their union allies get out the vote.** This blogger endorses Robert Guevara for President of the ERNC.

Highland Park Neighborhood Council:
The Highland Park Patch has done their civic duty by fostering a mostly positive dialog among the candidates. But some activist are leery of local Soccer Strongman Raul Macias getting elected to the board.

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council:
This election boils down to the ASNC preservationists vs. the Hermon breakaway faction led by Joseph Riser (and allegedly supported by Councilman Huizar). Recently, DONE remove the ASNC from "Exhausted Measures" status, after what some are calling a "white-wash investigation" of questionable expenditures by Hermon activist Mark Legassie.

LA-32 Neighborhood Council:
This year's edition of the LA-32 elections features a crowded At-Large candidate bracket that features 13 hopefuls for 5 seats. Some of the candidates include Tammy Membreno, Anthony Manzano, Edward Santillan, Jose Aguilar and Hecho En Mexico Eatery Co-owner Connie Castro.

Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council:
Its CBO get out the vote day as the likes of Inner City Struggle, ELACC, El Centro de Ayudo, Youth Opportunity Movement, Wolfpack Football, Girls Today, Woman Tomorrow and other fledging CBOs, work with the likes of the "Huizzy Girls" (Mago Amador with the Del Pozo ladies) to continue the Banana Republic ways of the BHNC.

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

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

...... on this year's

"State of (Abandoning?) the Town of Eagle Rock Speech".

The likes of Michael Larsen, Pot Shop owners, the Eagle Rock Patch, connected CBOs, Tom Topping (if invited) and other Eagle Rock luminaries will spent quality time away from their close ones this evening on what should of been the last "State of the Town of Eagle Rock Speech" by "Downtown Councilman Jose Huizar".

As questions about the future of Colorado Blvd., Pot Shops, Massage Parlors, Yosemite Park and increase in crime await resolution in the minds of constituents, their councilman has quietly been working the Redistricting Commission to make Eagle Rock and its issues, the future responsibility of either CD 1 or CD 13.

The proposed map released by the Redistricting Commission shows that Councilman Huizar was partly successful in removing Highland Park (no more "MorYork Gallery Shakedowns" by staffers), Glassell Park (Bye, Bye Bradley!) and most of Mt. Washington (Hasta La Vista Southwest Society) from his district. But his bold plan to trade all of the Northeast for the campaign riches of CD 9's Downtown LA, came up short with Councilwoman Jan Perry holding on to LA Live and Councilman Huizar forced to endure four more years of phone calls from Garvanza and Eagle Rock.

Thus, the likes of Michael Larson and the Huizar enablers in what remains of Councilman Huizar's Northeast domain should fortify themselves to the fact that their "3 for loyalty" will not have the same value of a "Downtown 3" in a new "Downtowncentric CD 14" as the medical ganga burns on in Eagle Rock.

OTHER NEWS:

** BRAVO! This to the Korea Times Editorial Board for stating the obvious about true reason for redistricting in Los Angeles. ITS ALL ABOUT THE SPOILS STUPID! From the toothless LA Times.

In a biting editorial, the Korea Times attacked lawmakers for treating Koreatown like a "cash register" by taking campaign contributions from the neighborhood but not fighting for it.

Plus, you add in the cost of doing "cash only business" with certain city departments, and the bottom line of doing business in a future CD 10, become subject matter for investigated agencies.

** This should be a simple formula for corruption in government.

"Cash payments of public money to union strongman = TROUBLE!"

But as the LA Times goes front page, above the fold (and to the right of outer fishwrap advertisements) on the latest expose of monetary malfeasance at the Coliseum Commission, does anyone notice the absence of the siren sound of the media-seeking ambulance chaser of audits, City Controller Wendy "The Valley Greuel"?  

But as noted in the "Weekly of Record" this is one audit that is "too close for political comfort".

Others, however, have painted the union as a victim, noting that benefits and tax liabilities have been lost if these allegations are true. City Controller Wendy Greuel told us previously that "IATSE clearly followed the rules on so many levels."    

.... and what would LA Weekly Editor Jill Stewart think of that comment from the "Valley Greuel"? "Pul-eeze!"

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Councilman Huizar to make "Presentation" at tonight's Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Meeting

 Eagle Rock City Hall and CD Councilman Jose Huizar Field Office

Promotional Street Art for the CD 14 Smackdown turn Lovefest during the CD 14 Campaign.

Happy post Halloween sugar rushes from the insular, insecure fiefdom of Councilman Jose Huizar.

The Salesian/Cal/Princeton/UCLA grad turn paranoia politico, makes an appearance tonight at the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council for some undisclosed presentation to the mostly neuter board of Huizzynistas.

As a public service, we like to remind anyone planning to attend this evening's meeting of the following; First, expect large number of law enforcement officers to intimidate audience from speaking freely. Second, your first amendment rights have "loyalty consenquences" depending on comments you make. And lastly, expect Huizar to request move up on agenda to leave early.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14