Morning Briefs on Redistricting Vote Day at City Hall

Friday, March 16, 2012 will be a historic day for the City of Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee under the leadership (or strong arming) of CD 10 City Councilman Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson. The body convenes today to meet its June 30 deadline to approve the findings (or backroom dealings) of the 2011/2012 Redistricting Committee Expect a full chamber and verbal fireworks galore.

If ask to pick the moment that best sums up the true intentions behind the closed door proceedings of Redistricting 2012, this five minute video clip of the allegations made by young Koreatown Activist Jimmy Chai would get top honors.   

By far, the biggest targets of Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson and ally Mayor Antonio Villar scheme to redraw the political spoils, have been City Councilman Bernard Parks and City Councilwoman Jan Perry. The duo along with the activists behind the "Koreatown Spring" do not figure to let today's anticipated choreographed proceedings deter them from undertaking legal actions against the city.

The waiting will be the hardest part for former City Councilman Herb Wesson "Senior Staffer" turned Redistricting Committee Executive Director Andrew Westall as he awaits his chance to become "CD 4 City Councilman Andrew Westall" in 2015. This opportunity come thanks to a late night action of the Redistricting Committee to add Westall's Toluca Lake Neighborhood to CD 4. Political reward? We think yes. 

The biggest winner besides City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson in the Redistricting 2012  proceedings have been Mayor Villar's  "political mijo" CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. Huizar expects to gain the shakedown rich enclave of Downtown. With the likes of former Building and Safety Inspector Samuel In now paired with Huizar's close confidant Gustavo Valdivia, this can not bid well for ethics in a Huizar controlled Downtown LA.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

...... and lastly, every backroom political endeavor needs an enabler (and driver) for the controlling machine.

"MEAT"

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

The Koreatown Spring continues

City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson

As the "Koreatown Spring" continues against unjust redistricting and alleged shakedowns for campaign contribution from City Council President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson staff, we bring you photos of this historic moment in City of Los Angeles political history.

............ and lastly, the insiders of the scam that is Redistricting 2012 front Michael "MEAT" Trujillo to spin their backroom proclivities in this year's redistricting process.

"MEAT"

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

 An exclusive disposal contract with Athens was the start of the end of the "CD 14 East Era" in Montebello.

We are two months into 2012 and the Machine of Mayor Antonio Villar and longtime "labor sister" LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo, are once again attacking your right to choose. This time it is business and apartment land lords right to choose the trash pick-up company of choice. If the fellow traveling duo of Durazo and Villar get their way, ten exclusive garbage zones would be designated city wide. Those zones would be awarded to companies with union staff, green trucks ....... and willing to pay the "franchise fees". But if I were Durazo , Villar, the Sierra Club and Madeline Janis, the Montebello experience may be the political barometer on the backlash brewing against this blatant attack on free market choices in the City of Los Angeles.

** CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino mans up for his "yes vote" to raise DWP water rates.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, the Los Angeles City Council voted to amend the water rate ordinance to allow increased collection for water quality improvement. The rate increase amounts to $1.14 for the average resident of Council District 15.  This was a very difficult decision for me, but this action was urgently needed in order to meet a deadline to comply with US EPA & State Department of Public Health safe drinking water standards.  Had the council not acted, the City would have been faced with costly fines, which would have also resulted in higher DWP rates.  "We can't afford to compromise on our water safety. For less than the price of a cup of coffee a month, we get peace of mind knowing that our water is clean, safe and secure for our families," said Buscaino. "While it may make sense to support this increase, I'm not so sure I will be able to support future rate increases and I will definitely want to see the new Ratepayer Advocate's analysis and recommendations." (We will wait and see).

** LA Weekly's Simone Wilson continues her quest to merge creativity and photoshop as she goes "poodle for CD 1".

** A spokesperson for the Korean American Coalition stated that 500-1,000 showed up for the Hands Across Koreatown Prayer for a Unied Koreatown. Yet not one mention in the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street or the Daily Moldy Green Sheet.

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

Support an United Koreatown Community in CD 13 (.. and transparency in redistricting)

** Blogger's note: Shall we call this a "Bloggin Action Alert" for all those disenfranchise by the backroom dealings of the City of Los Angeles Redistricting Committee? DARN RIGHT! Take time out tomorrow and become part of the political awakening of Los Angeles Korean-American Community, as they stand up for an united Koreatown Community, Link here for information on parking and map of rally location. Like our neighbors in Westchester, CD 4, Northeast LA, CD 9 and Sunland-Tujunga, activists in Koreatown have been front and center in demanding common sense and openness in the redistricting process. Unfortunately, the likes of Mayor Antonio Villar and his ally City Council President Herb Wesson see the once in a decade redistricting process as an endeavor to ensure a flow of campaign cash and alleged kickbacks for services rendered. All communities within the City of Los Angeles who have been aggrieved in this process should take time out tomorrow and join hands for a open and fair redistricting process---Scott Johnson   

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