Separated at birth? You decide...........

David Galaviz (top photo), and Jose Sigala (holding pen in lower photo), are respectively the out-going and in-coming Presidents of their Neighborhood Councils, those being Lincoln Heights and Greater Echo Park Elysian.

Galaviz worked for State Senator Gil "One Bill" Cedillo. Sigala worked for the late Assemblyman Marcos Firebaugh and is now employed by Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon.

Both use controversial tactics to win their respective elections. Galaviz used the "youth vote. Sigala used a "official looking mailer".

And now both elections are being challenged by angry voters.(link here for Echo Park Election Challenge), and (link here for Lincoln Heights Election Challenges).

Like-minded in their approach to politics, is there a "DNA" bond between the two???

Friday Morning Missives

Good Friday morning to all, especially to our dueling elected Department Heads on Spring Street.

A long simmering feud between City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and City Controller Laura Chick boiled over into a departmental "slap fight" with the City Controller subpoenaing the City Attorney for record pertaining to its oversight of the office's Workers Compensation Program.

The City Attorney’s decision to withhold this important information from public scrutiny is a slap in the face to the people he serves. In an effort to provide the public with the accountability they deserve, I am exercising my subpoena powers for documents and records in the City Attorney’s Office pertaining to the Workers’ Compensation Program.

Since becoming Controller seven years ago and conducting 154 audits, this is only the second time that I have been forced to utilize my subpoena powers, and I don’t do so lightly. Unfortunately, due to the City Attorney’s actions, I am left with no other choice.

Memo to Ms. Chick, that 154 number you cite in your press release should be 155. There is a department in the Garland Building that has the initials of C-D-D? They use to oversee a program called L-A- B-R-I-D-G-E-S? That program gave regular city pay checks with your "John Hancock" on it to someone associated with the M-E-X-I-C-A-N M-A-F-I-A?

So Ms. Chick, stop with the theatrics on how you are going to huff and puff and blow down "Rocktard's Door" and do what many of the community wanted done long ago, AUDIT L.A. BRIDGES!!

****Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn faces four criminal charges stemming from a city program that provided low interest home loans to city officials. Dorn a ordained minister was a former sheriff deputy, asst. city attorney and Juvenile Court Judge, was a regular on the "Talk Back Radio Show" with George Putnam in the 80's and 90's discussing his thoughts on the Juvenile Justice System.

****We forgot to mention that former councilman "M.L.K." has resurface, that being "Martin Ludlow King". The convicted former councilman is passing the time working with the football players at Dorsey High School. New LA Times Sports Columnist Kurt Streeter does the "hosanas in print" in expousing Ludlow taking accountibility...and falling on the sword for others, in the SEIU 99 Courruption Trial. Then there is something about a late public figure and a lack of autopsy.

****The Daily News is a "fishwrap" in need of leadership. After being "used" by DWP General Manager H(osed) David Nahai, then trying to save face with its "confessional retort", the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET calls upon LAPD to revise it immigration policy known to all as Special Order 40.

****The "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET....for sale" is a "Johnny come lately" to that dysfunctional group known as the "Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council" led by former late Assemblyman Marcos Firebaugh aide and currently employed by Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon, Jose Sigala. BTW, Sigala is also related to LHNC's David Galaviz.

.........later today, more on the "TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON" Day Five.

Open Thread for a melting Friday

This on the contentious Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council Election from the Downtown Garment and Citizen.

Ethnic Split in Echo Park: A lot of politics this week, starting in the neighborhoods and going all the way to Washington. Start with the flyers that went around in advance of the recent Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council elections on June 12 (see related Commentary on Downtown election, home page). The “Tireless Community Workers Slate” included the following surnames: Peters, Kayser, Garsten, Bock, Hubert, Schnepp, DuBois, Betschart, Morrow, Luat Young, and Rausch. The “Dedicated to Community” slate offered: Sigala, Baca, Tallala, Mojarro, MacDonald, Argueta, Rosen, Torrero, Sanchez, and Rivera. The second group pushed the limits on electoral standards, by the way, sending an “Official Election Day Community Guide” that carried the words “City of Los Angeles” at the top. No, it wasn’t from the city, and there was nothing official about the guide. Preliminary results indicated that the “Dedicated” slate won on 10 of 11 seats, compared to just one for the “Tireless Workers.” Preliminary results also showed Jose Sigala leading the way with a win over Christine Peters for the presidency.

......and this about a possible Eric Garcetti run for rights to the "Third Floor".

San Pedro Trial Balloon?: Councilmember Eric Garcetti delivered the keynote at the recent annual luncheon of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, part of the busy schedule he kept while Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on his Israel trip. Perhaps San Pedro rep Janice Hahn gave Garcetti an inside greenlight to work her territory…Mexican Connection: Garcetti got another boost for his name ID when he welcomed newly appointed Consul General of Mexico Juan Marcos Gutierrez to town during a June 13 City Council meeting.

CRA dishing out the "dinero" in the "Mid City WEST" area.

Mayor Villaraigosa and his appointments to CRA and local Public Employees Retirement Boards are investing your dollars and retirement funds into the Midtown Crossing Shopping Center. Link to story by David Zahniser in the L.A. Times. (Ron Kaye has his take on the "Z-Man's" story)

The "Sniper" vs. "The Shah of Water and Power".

Alan Mittelstaedt has up the anty in his quest to expose the monthly utility usage of H. David Nahai. After asking Nahai to supply his utility bill and then filing a "Public Document Request". The "Sniper has given Nahai to June 27 to release the information. Note to Nahai, If Al Gore can release his electrical usage, then Nahai can figure out his course of action.

Round Two of Neighborhood Council Elections schedule for June 21

Round Two of the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Elections will take place this Saturday, June 21 in locations around the city.

Elections as administer by the City Clerk's Office will be held in the following Neighborhood Council areas,(click links to see list of candidates)

Greater Griffith Park (Donna Barstow has her recommendations on the blog "Griffith Park, Interrupted")

Hollywood Studio District

MacArthur Park

Mar Vista

Mid City WEST Community Council

Mid-Town North Hollywood

Wilshire Center/ Koreatown

In news from last week's elections, mail-in ballots were not counted in the unofficial votes total last week.

Further a canvass of the votes in Lincoln Heights and Greater Echo Park (WWG blogger Jenny Burman has thoughts on this election) will take place this morning at 9:00 AM at the City Clerk's Office located in the Piper Tech Complex.

.....and this about a certain candidate for the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council.

YES - the big race is in the Greater Griffith Park NC. Nyla Arslanian, a woman who makes her money off of City arts projects, is trying to steal the Griffith Park-specific seat. She's running against our parks chairman and a parks committee member and is a LaBong ass-kisser of the highest order. I would love to investigate this person more carefully. She's already been identified as having conflicts of interest between her income and her previously representing Arts & Culture on the GGPNC board. Ms. Arslanian is the worst thing that could happen to Griffith Park. In the five or so years I've observed her, she's LaBong's YES GAL. Her lips are permanently afixed to his ample butt. Bad bad bad.

...and some background info.

Nyla Arslanian is Editor of Discover Hollywood Magazine and President of the Hollywood Arts Council. The Council was formed in 1978 to address the role the arts would play in Hollywood’s revitalization. The Councilcontinues to be involved to keep the arts at the forefront of community life. Highlights of the Hollywood Arts Council’s accomplishments throughthe years include the Children’s Festival of the Arts, outdoor art shows,promoting the wealth of arts activities available through DiscoverHollywood Magazine, the new upcoming Rock n Roll Pilgrimage Concert in August and its annual Charlie Awards Luncheon held in the beginning of theyear. Project S.O.A.R. (Students Overcoming All Risks), the Council’safter school program, provides over 2,000 3rd, 4th and 5th graders withquality art instruction and an opportunity to explore their own creativity.The Council relies on donations and its volunteers to carry out its programs. Everyone interested in the arts and in the unique culture of Hollywood is invited to join. The Hollywood Arts Council has emerged asthe voice for Hollywood's unique culture and a strong advocate for theimpact arts can have on the life of a community. The Council has renew edits dedication to promoting, nurturing and supporting the arts and isevolving to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Hmmm. "LaBong" working on the plants.......