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.