Visuals from the Gil Cedillo CD 1 Runoff Kickoff

A standing-room only crowd turns out for CD 1 City Council Candidate Gil Cedillo's New Campaign Office Grand Opening/ Runoff Kickoff in Highland Park.

 CD 1 Candidate Gil Cedillo, MCs his own Campaign Office Grand Opening and Kickoff before an estimated 150 plus supporters.

** Blogger's note: The dueling CD 1 Campaigns of Gil Cedillo and Jose Gardea, held simultaneous campaign kickoffs, mere blocks from each other along Figueroa Blvd. in Highland Park, on Saturday. While recent non-IE campaign contributions totals, give an edge to Gardea (thanks to Big Developers and Mt. Washington stalwarts), clearly, Cedillo has the masses on his side (reflective in his 49% plus vote tally) and the support of third place finisher Jesse Rojas (who's vote total kept Cedillo from winning outright on March 7). With certain IE monetary and ground pounding support from his labor friends, the chances of the former union and state political leader, becoming the replacement for termed-out City Councilman Ed Reyes, are better than even, but six weeks of campaigning (which should get contentious), will play out among the neighborhoods ........... and on the various communication medians within CD 1 (more photos from the Cedillo event below)---Scott Johnson. 

A couple of green lights along Figueroa, separated the dueling campaign events (the Gardea event is near where the people are standing next to second green light in the distance). ** One person commenting on the small location of the Gardea Campaign Headquarters, broached that Gardea/Reyes, should of asked 7-Eleven to provide free space, in lieu of allowing more beer and and wine selling locations within CD 1.

The likes of CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard AlarCON (fresh off of his City Council "Walkout"), State Senator Ron Calderon and former CD 14 City Councilman Richard Alatorre were in attendance and gave praise to Cedillo.

Third place finisher (and now campaign kingmaker) Jesse Rojas speaks in support of candidate Gil Cedillo.

Read more »

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

CD 1 City Councilman Ed "Density" Reyes.

Will CD 1 City Councilman Ed "Density" Reyes "give himself in" on the true motive for his new found crusade against the proposed Chinatown "Mini Walmart Supermarket"?

Not content to acquiesce to the Planning Committee decision that would allow the propose market to move forward, "Density Ed" now will take his "Mini Walmart" crusade to the City Council  PLUM Committee. We have no doubt that PLUM members Paul Krekorian and Jose Huizar will join colleague "Density Ed" in moving the "Mini Walmart" crusade to the horseshoe for a floor vote.

That said, we are left to ponder this, why would "Density Ed" rile against the evil "Mini Walmart" while corporate, non union 7 Elevens are replacing community beloved small businesses throughout his district? Maybe in Density Ed's convoluted thought process, its more acceptable to grow corporate, non union cheap beer and wine outlets (at the expense of established small businesses) than allow mini-supermarkets with fresh food? But then we would be giving Density Ed too much credit if his crusade against "Mini Walmart" was base upon public policy.

Follow along as we conduct an exercise in political deductive reasoning. First, Density Ed is termed out in 2013 and wants his Chief of Staff Jose Gardea to continue the "Density Ed Way" in CD 1. Second, "Density Ed" and staff spent large amount of time supporting the latest union-backed carpetbagger Jimmy "PACman" Gomez for the 51st Assembly District seat. Third, its an open secret that many politicos who endorsed "PACman" have an "understanding" that union PAC money will flow to their respective campaigns, for their support of  "PACman's" political ambitions..

Thus, what is good for the political future of "Density Ed", his Chief of Staff Jose Gardea and Jimmy "PACman" Gomez, have found common ground in a crusade against a mini-supermarket.

** OTHER NEWS:

** As the Downtown News reflects upon the golden era of downtown leadership within City Councilwoman Jan Perry's CD 9, we have this words of advise in the form of two numbers for CD 14 newest constituents, "3 and 5". "Three" is for your absolute loyalty to your new city councilperson.. "Five" is for the level of influence, if you can turn out the contributions and votes in that order, then your phone call actually will get returned before the next weekly Friday email blast.

** KCBS/KCAL Investigative Reporter David Goldstein strikes again and Mayor Antonio Villar is minus a IT General Manager. But as we get ever nearer to the end of the "Reign of Villar, when will the staffers start jumping ship in search of future political employment as Rick Orlov highlights in today's "Tipoff Column"?

** Lastly, we have video of a certain political figure who showcases the fine art of political narcissism in the form of a mea culpa before members of the cloth. But while forgiveness may be a virtue to those spreading the word of God, the local political community is full of those who act god-like without virtues, especially when it comes to political forgiveness.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14           

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Zuma Dogg stating the facts to CD 11 City Councilman Bill Rosendahl.

City of Los Angeles political historians would be advise that any future works on the Mayor Antonio Villar Era at City Hall would be incomplete without mention of three Venice Beach Boardwalk Merchants who took their grievances to City Hall and became civic legends. Matt Dowd, Michael Hunt and an incenses salesperson/ sidewalk performer who's moniker "Zuma Dogg" will forever be preserved in local civic history, shook up City Hall and left their mark, especially in the "public comment records" and on the payout ledgers of the city treasury.

Now after the dust has settle and grievances had been resolved by counsel, CD 11 City Councilman Bill Rosendahl's latest attempts to impose rules on the sometimes anarchy of the Venice Boardwalk, has prompted Zuma Dogg to give notice that he will put Rosendahl on the spot  for any illegal actions that impinges on his constitutional rights of expression. Meanwhile, in addition to given notice to Councilman Rosendahl, Zuma Dogg has another endeavor in the works, more on that later.

OTHER POLITICAL NEWS AFTER THE JUMP:

Read more »