Los Angeles Political Hot Sheet For Thursday

"The trickle before the Flood??"

We are on bloggin storm watch!!

Lets get ready to welcome El Nino to Southern California next week. A series of El Nino influence storms is setting its sights on our area and residents near the burn areas like Sunland-Tujunga should take time to prepare.

What will be interesting to note in this upcoming weather event, is the coordination of local agencies and the political leadership response. The rains that are forecast for next week are on the level of the 2004-2005 rainy season which set an all-time record for rainfall in Los Angeles (as recorded in the official Los Angeles rain gauge at USC).

Many will remember then Mayor James Hahn, in his yellow rain gear, responding to trouble spots around the city with then mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa closely behind him in search of photo ops. In one instance Mayor Hahn had just assess the damage in the Garvanza area of CD 14 where homes were "red-tagged" only to see Villaraigosa show up and get camera time in helping one family remove belongings from their home.

Who shall take the lead in the "politics of weather" next week? Will be of interest, only after the top priority of making sure that all are well in the areas of concern.

** While residents in the burn areas eye the puffy clouds of rain in their future, the LA Weekly reports that the Los Angeles City Council puffed away another day in the search of Medical Marijuana reform. Meanwhile the editorial scribes at the "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street came out against legalizing "ganga" in California.

** In CD 14, we have an Rick Coca sighting. Coca who once reported for the Daily News but now is earning each penny in spinning/ communicating the positive attributes of Councilman Jose Huizar (when he is not typing "Coca Puffs" on the blogs). Coca responded to criticism of Councilman Huizar over his delay in announcing a $50,000 reward for information on the murder of an fifteen year old Boyle Heights teen in December, which we noted here at Mayor Sam last week.

** Warning!! This make cause you to shed some tears. LA Times Scribe David Zahniser reports on the potential increase in stress for the "Fifteen within the Horseshoe on Spring Street" as they jockey for their respective political futures.

** Los Angeles County Fire Urban Search and Rescue members are on the way or on scene in Haiti to help in the massive international effort, that is unfolding to help the millions that have been affected by Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. We wish them godspeed in their efforts.

** Our old bloggin colleague Joseph Mailander has an missive in the current LA Weekly on the "politics of opera" and its potential cost to the Los Angeles taxpayers.

** Lastly, the picture above was taken last June, at what was left of the Hazard Park Wetlands. This after the sensitive habitat was weed whacked in an supposed act of miscommunication. may our upcoming rains help replace what many have given to preserve.

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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