Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

He's back! No, I don't mean me, but none other than the love of Betty Pleasant's life, Supervisor Mark "Don't Call Me Curly" Ridley-Thomas is showing his disdain for County taxpayers and treating their money as his. The Times is reporting that the former Mark Thomas allegedly charged various improvements on his home to the County, beyond a security system to which Supervisor is entitled to. The Times article states "John Thompson, who oversaw the work at Ridley-Thomas' property, said that in addition to an alarm system, workers installed a wall-mounted air conditioner and heating unit as well as a refrigerator and flat-screen TV." In addition to the County funded work, Ridley-Thomas allegedly converted his garage into an office without proper City of LA permits. You may remember that several years ago, Ridley-Thomas had spent nearly a million dollars on "renovation" of his county office.

This CAN'T be good for tourism - crime at LAX has jumped 10% so reports the Daily Breeze. The biggest jump appears to be in property thefts and larceny, while other categories ranging from violent assaults to unregistered vehicles appears about the same. The reports lead the head of the LAX police officers union to peg the spikes to cutbacks in the number of officers.

The end of two eras comes next year when longtime LA City Council Members Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks will be termed out of office. And you can imagine that yes indeed a long line of comers to the thrones have signed up. For Parks 8th District that covers much of South LA, candidates filed so far include pot shop owner Paul Jonathan Scott, community advocate Leonard Delpit; Bobbie Jean Anderson, a former state legislative aide; and two nonprofit group executives: Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Forescee Hogan-Rowles (you may remember Hogan-Rowles, cheered on by Betty Pleasant, came close to unseating Parks in 2011). Over in LaBonge's CD4 which covers a nice part of Los Angle-leez, pulling papers are Tara Bannister, an executive with the National Apartment Assn.; Teddy Davis, a one-time aide to former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; developer and advertising agency owner Sheila Irani; Wally Knox, a former state assemblyman; Joan Pelico, chief of staff to Councilman Paul Koretz; real estate broker John Perron Jr.; Carolyn Ramsay, LaBonge's chief of staff; Oscar Winslow, president of the Los Angeles City Attorneys' Assn.; and Steve Veres, an aide to state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles).  Do not be surprised if one more candidate gets into the CD4 race - former radio talk show host, mayoral candidate and current President of the Board of Public Works, Kevin James.

And finally, Mayor Garcetti was the Grand Marshal (not John Marshall) of Monday's Kingdom Parade, celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Our bloggin' friend Joseph Mailander offered up one of his trademark wry observations in telling Facebook fans "some aide in Mayor Eric Garcetti's office wants you to know that he actually unlocked his doors and went outside of his car in an African American neighborhood to-day." Fortunately, as is the practice of the Mayor's office, the entire moment was photographed and shared with all.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Templum Maximum Ego Antonovichus
aka Antelope Valley Courthouse

In an effort to provide more jobs for City workers, the City of Los Angeles took over management January 1st of rental golf carts at City owned golf courses. You might be able to guess what happened the first day: no one remembered to plug the carts in and charge them.  Lots of unhappy golfers!

Read more »

What's Up at LAX in 2011 and Open Thread for Sunday

More international flights for LAX?

The LAX Blog is back with predictions for 2011 for the Airport.  Among those on the list are more international flights out of LAX and more local control for LA/Ontario.  Read all of it here.  

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Due to official concerns over potential protests over new extremely invasive TSA policies Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa subjected himself to the new porno scanners at LAX saying "Let me be clear: My job is to make the airport as safe as possible for all of those passengers.'' We're not sure whose job is to make LA safe for female journalists.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

What happened to August being a slow news month?

In a single day, we have a California ban on same sex marriages being overturned by a Federal Judge, a City Councilmember and his wife being arrested and charged with 24 criminal and felony counts including voter fraud and perjury, and gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman being handed her ass on KFI's John & Ken Show.

-Councilman Alarcon proclaims his innocence and assembles a high powered defense team. He is due back in court on Sept 27th. And here I was thinking that the November elections were the only excitement left this calendar year!

-Prop H8 goes down, for now. George Takei has a few words of advice , as does Alvin McEwen at the excellent site, Alternet. And for good measure, more words of wisdom from the conservative attorney that fought to have Prop 8 overturned. I wonder how fast he'll will be thrown under the bus by the Goobers? Wow, that was fast!

-Google Apps is still coming to LA City Government, just a bit late and at a penalty after some security concerns were raised by the LAPD.

-More conflicts of interest alleged in the battle for fast food at LAX. Can we get a battle going for better food at Bob Hope Airport? Just asking.

-The Sunland-Tujunga Alliance has a hearing before the rubber stamping North Valley Area Planning Commission this afternoon at 4:30pm at the Marvin Braude Bldg in Van Nuys. This time it's over an industrial propane filling station trying to open right in the center of a pedestrian friendly retail area. Michael LoGrande, are you listening? Councilman Paul Krekorian will be there to speak on the community's behalf (thank-you Mr. Krekorian).

- Oh Noes! Say it ain't so! Hanging with the Mouse gets more expensive starting today!

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Mayor Villaraigosa's Deputy Chief of Staff Jimmy Blackman - a longtime part of the Mayor's inner circle - is leaving reportedly to "spend time with his family." What we're hearing is that Blackman was pushed - by new Villaraigosa point man Austin Beutner.

Councilman Eric Garcetti is throwing some red meat to the anti-billboard NIMBY wackos by seeking to ban supergraphics in Hollywood however the business community is fighting back. If there is a place in LA that is suited for this type of signage that creates a district where economic activity could benefit all of LA it is Hollywood. Someone please explain that to the Birkenstock wearing, soy milk swilling BANANAs who don't care if LA goes into the economic crap hole.

Apparently folks Downtown are more concerned about what restaurants get big rankings in the Downtown News than anything else.

Attorneys for the Hare Krishnas have succeeded in getting blocked at least for now of an LA City law that would have prevented them from soliciting at LAX. However putting a nativity scene on public property is still considered to be something akin to pornography.

Have a complaint about a tow truck company in the City of LA? The LAPD has a new hotline you can dial up to turn them in.

Despite near universal satisfaction with his performance amongst his constituents, Council Member Paul Krekorian still hasn't won over one detractor. Phil Jennerjahn's latest screed rips Krekorian with near Zuma Dogg like passion.

And finally it's been a time for anniversaries lately. Congratulations to the always excellent Village to Village Blog which marked it's first anniversary this week.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Hey buddy how come there's no story about me in today's hotsheet?

When you're on old billionaire who made mega-profits selling cheap homes to people who couldn't afford them what else is there left to do? Build a shrine to yourself and call it an art museum - and better yet - do it at taxpayer expense.  And Eli Broad is going to get even more taxpayer money to do it.  Read more at Walter Moore's blog.

John Longenecker writing in the Los Angeles Examiner notes an amazing occurrence - a fairly written article at the local fishwrap of record.  This time it's about Second Amendment activists who openly bore arms in Hermosa Beach.  This is part of a trend to educate the public on their gun rights which are often under attack from do-gooding politicians and the media.  The Hermosa Beach gunowners received mostly positive feedback from citizens.  Having heard a volley of thug gunfire outside my own home Saturday evening - in a high rent section of town - the right to responsible gun ownership is comforting counterbalance against gangs, thugs and criminals that are both home grown and imported from every corner of the world.

If you hope to get through LAX without being accosted by Hare Krishnas, LaRouchies and fake nurses asking for money you're in luck.  The Ninth District Court of Appeals upheld Los Angeles' enforcement of an ordinance banning such solicitation.  Now if we can apply that to the homeless we'd be in good shape.

The City of Glendale is considering spending between $2 to $30 million on a bridge over Interstate 5 to connect that city to Griffith Park.  Wonder what folks on the LA side of the line think about additional traffic into the already distressed park.

And finally Phil Jennerjahn has a message for the "birther" crowd; those opponents of President Obama who have a nearly irrational and obsessed notion that Obama was not born within the United States; shut up.  Jennerjahn correctly notes that such silliness is distraction from more important reasons to oppose Obama and the Democrats.  I would say the same about those Republicans who are fanatical about the gay marriage issue.

Tune into Mayor Sam later this morning for an important announcement.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

The grown-ups are now officially in charge in CD2.  Councilman Paul Krekorian was sworn in Tuesday.

In light of the attempted Christmas Day underwear bombing LAX has announced plans to step up security.  The airport says it will hire more police officers and buy more full body scanners.  Mayor Villaraigosa told reporters at a presser "If people know they can fly into the safest airport in the United States of America, they're going to want to come here."

The LA Times reported that part of the reason behind the Mayor pushing out former CRA head Cecilia Estolano was her refusal to comply with the Mayor's order to move the agency to less pricy digs.  However not that Estolano is gone a move is underfoot by the property's owner to keep the agency there and, according to CurbedLA, the claim is they would actually save money.  Stay tuned.

Yet another water main break. This time, Tuesday at about 1:00 a.m. in Wilmington, creating a massive flood on North Alameda Street.

Bloggers at Griffith Park Wayist and Village to Village are calling for Neighborhood Council leaders to boycott the Mayor's Budget  Survey.  The feeling is that the survey is a meaningless sham and an opportunity for the Mayor to feign participation and have an out to throw stakeholders under the bus when things get bad.  I will join this call as last year when I took the survey I found it lacking in many ways and the only way to give input was to add comments in the margin.  Spread the word - no survey.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Janice Hahn and Tom LaBonge | Photo by Jim Winstead; used under Creative Commons license.

Deputy Mayor Diego Alvarez will take on a new position one that is charged with bringing light rail closer to LA's airports.  First step will be for Alvarez to get the Green Line a few blocks closer to LAX via the new Expo Line however the City Council has asked for a study to bring either the Green or Expo lines actually into the airport.  The other task will be to work with the MTA to bring the Gold Line to Ontario Airport. 

CurbedLA notes an LA Times report that notes a significant drop in violent and property crimes in LA.  Does anyone find this coincidental with the increase in medical marijuana dispensaries in the City? Imagine if we out and out legalized the stuff.  I'm just sayin'.

Betty Pleasant not taking a holiday break from running her mouth tries to spin away on her beloved Mark Ridley Thomas' near million dollar office renovation scandal.  Ms. Pleasant says the offices are as raggedy as when Kenneth Hahn left them back in 1992.  Isn't there an after-Christmas sale Betty can hang out at?

Speaking of the Hahns, here's a fun website for you to check out.

Doug McIntyre pens a good piece for the Daily News.  Mayor Villaraigosa said he had a great year.  Too bad it sucked for the rest of Los Angeles.

It appears a new end of the year tradition is Time Warner's annual spat (remember last year with Viacom or 2006 and 2007 versus the NFL?) with some provider of programming and threats from both sides that the channels will go dark.  Each side attempts to enlist TV viewers as soldiers in the war for one or the other.  This year it's TW vs Fox as the two media behemoths tussle over fees as the current agreement expires.  As in every year a last minute resolution will occur as TW needs the programming and Fox needs the eyeballs.  In the meantime cable companies and television stations will become less and less relevant thanks to broadband based programming sources such as YouTube, uStream, Roku, Hulu and others.

Good tip from our friend Brian Humphrey at the LA Fire Department.  Don't be stupid and burn Christmas wrappings nor your Christmas tree in the fire place.  Now that the gifts are open it's time to take that tree down.  Put it out on your curb (if it won't fit in your green bin) on your regular trash pickup day and the City will collect it for recycling.  Or you can take it to any number of drop-off points.

Open Thread for the Rest of Wednesday

The City of LA forced to return $21 million it stole from LAX.  Blog away dum dums.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Joe B's CD2 Election Blog reports that former City Council Candidate Frank Sheftel has come out in support of former opponent Chris Essel.  A statement from Sheftel at the blog details his reasons for doing so.  However Sheftel does not indicate if he believes the Armenian Genocide happened or not.

AEG President Tim Leiweke says that City Attorney Carmen Trutanich "bullied" him and demanded that AEG reimburse the City for nearly $6 million in costs for the Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center.  Nuch says when it comes to being a watchdog over the City's cash he doesn't mind being a bully.  Going after the sacred cows and power elite in LA is a good thing for Nuch to do.  It will bear him far more good will and political capital than going after the pot shops and busting crazy old loon Mayoral candidates.


What do you do when you're a termed out Assemblyman in need of a job? You get the Mayor to hire you at the Port.  What happens when, because LA's politics are so incestous, you have to give that job up because your wife's law firm represents the unions that the Port's employees belong to? You move over to the DWP.  That's what Wally Knox is doing and that's SO LA!

LAX has raised parking fees at the airport's economy parking lots.  Lots B and C will see a $2 per day increase going up to $10 and $12 a day respectively.  Tip: Check out LAX Park Place where you can get indoor valet parking for around $9 a day, with free shuttle and no waiting for that damn bus.

Nanny state alert! The City of Calabasas is considering a ban on plastic grocery bags.  Now we all know the old, dead Republican Mayor hates plastic shopping bags and uses reusable cloth bags at stores like Ralphs, Trader Joe's and HOWS.  He doesn't need the government to tell him to do that nor do those stores need big brother to motivate them to do something that makes sense and is environmentally friendly.  Remember when plastic bags are outlawed only outlaws will have plastic bags.

LAPD Duplicating Services, Wasting Taxpayer $ at LAX

While the Mayor drains funds and services from City parks and libraries in pursuit of 1,000 new LAPD officers, airport employees are openly questioning why a significant LAPD force still patrols LAX each day.

The LAWAPD, the 'LAX police', is the public safety agency tasked with public safety at LAX. This specialized agency maintains a force roughly the size of two full LAPD divisions.

Yet at an unknown cost to the taxpayers, LAPD reportedly has 150 officers every day at the LAX-LAPD substation as well as on motor units, foot beats, acting as detectives, at screening stations, manning K9 units, and so on. With the exception of the Bomb squad, all these officers duplicate positions currently staffed by LAWAPD.

The issue of who should provide public safety services at LAX was effectively decided four years ago. At the time, LAPD Chief Bratton was pushing for an LAPD takeover of LAX. Critics of LAWAPD, both official and unofficial were claiming that LAWAPD officers were incompetent, untrained, and were unable to carry out their mission.

In 2005, an extensive $900,000 study by CTI Consultants found that not only should there not be a merger between LAPD and LAWAPD, but that LAWAPD had the training, specific expertise, competency, and size to professionally and successfully manage LAX. The study determined that indeed LAWAPD was carrying out their mission and that they were the best agency based on their specialization to do this job.

Chief Bratton did not accept the consultant's findings. Although the report was pretty clear about keeping LAWAPD in place at LAX, an LA Times article of the time documented Bratton's rejection: "...This is absolutely outrageous... I don't get it. We just spent $900,000 and now they're going to tell us we're going to spend more money and the question wasn't even answered. What's the best model? Should the airport take over or should the LAPD take over?"

In a final effort to marginalize the study's findings, Bratton and the Mayor forced the issue to public vote in May of that year. The public itself resoundingly voted down the consolidation of the LAWAPD into LAPD, prefering to keep the specialized services of LAWAPD in the airport and LAPD patrolling the streets.

Did LAWA Move to Wyoming?

 

Apportioned
Photo: Winds of Change Blog

According to the windsochange.net blog, some LAX Flyaway buses are registered in Wyoming.  Why is that do you ask?

The buses are not owned by the City but according to an inside source at LAWA by a private contractor the City has an agreement with to offer the service (quick - check the ethics commission website).

Winds of Change probably has the right answer:

Now it makes a lot of sense to register a commercial vehicle in Wyoming...which costs a flat $60/yr. In California the CVRA fee (assuming a 48,000 pound GVWR) would be $1,161 plus license and registration.

Commercial vehicles with appropriate permits are allowed to operate in California. So I'll wager that we get a few dollars extra; but right now a City-sponsored transit agency is skirting state taxes in a way that would doubtless get a private bus line in trouble.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

The City of Long Beach is looking at something the City of LA should consider - privatizing it's airport.  The Federal Government has a program to allow this however only Chicago's Midway Airport has gotten anywhere near close (hmm...they may want to double check those deals).  However I believe the City should sell NOT lease LAX to the highest bidder, then put the sale proceeds into a trust for some stated civic purpose (like Police).  The City and LAWA have a hard enough leasing vendor spots without corruption; imagine if they had to approve leases for the whole airport.

The story over the outrage on the business killing crazy parking rules and overpriced parking meters in NoHo gets legs.  Not only an LA Times story but KTLA picks up the television pice of the story.  LeBong is "working on it." 


One blog writes its final chapter while another one emerges on the blog-LA-sphere.  The venerable Boi from Troy, USC loving gay Republican Scott Olin Schmidt, announces he is leaving the blog he has made home for five years.  On the other hand the guy who gave major juice to both the Huffington Post and the Drudge Report, Andrew Breitbart, fires up Big Hollywood this morning.  Breitbart says his new site is "not a “celebrity gabfest or a gossip outpost" but a "continuous politics and culture posting board for those who think something has gone drastically wrong and that Hollywood should return to its patriotic roots."

A few days ago I challenged the practice of being a NIMBY only and asked where is the vision for Los Angeles? 20 year old LA native and current Columbia student Adam Seiff crafts one in the Daily News of all places.  Seiff opines that the "L.A. of our lifetimes will be fueled by new industrial centers to provide high-paying jobs, affordable housing to live in and accessible public spaces to enjoy." 

Matt Burch, a fitness trainer at BodyImage Gym in the Noho Arts District became a local hero recently when he captured a purse snatcher.  Burch was working out at the Lankershim Boulevard gym when he noticed local NoHo Business Improvement District security guards having trouble catching up with the fleeing crook.  Burch dashed out of the gym, flew past the guards and tackled the bad guy until Police could arrive.  Burch says, however, don't try this at home.  He's a long time martial arts practioner and body builder who happens to be a veteran repo man and star of the TruTV network reality show Operation Repo.


Want some Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gear? The folks at Zazzle have a selection of mugs, notecards, keychains and greeting cards available for purchase.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Jane Usher has resigned her post as President of the City's Planning Commission. The outspoken advocate who dared to take on City leaders as well as downtown interests on development issues was a growing thorn in the side to Mayor Villaraigosa who appoined Usher to the post.  Though Usher has said she needs to give up the volunteer post to get a job, insiders say she was pushed.  Local neighborhood activists who found an ally in Usher expressed regret at her departure;  Mike Eveloff, president of the Tract 7260 Homeowners Association told the LA Times,."She was someone who seemed to have an understanding that development was getting a little out of control." 


LA Weekly's blog profiles City Controller candidate Nick Patsouras, whose surprise challenge to Council President Wendy Greuel has shaken up local politics a bit.  Various factions are lining up behind each while both are virtual unknowns to most of the City. Should be an interesting race.

The City Council has decided against a plan to provide additional security measures for security at LAX for celebrities.  Stars who wish extra protection from the paps will have to provide their own.  Council Member Janice Hahn told the Daily News "Our airport police are there to protect everyone, and I feel that everyone who comes to LAX should be treated as a celebrity."

A gossip blog reports that Mayor Villaraigosa was the "hit" of the opening of the new Conga Room at LA Live Wednesday night.  Showing how well he spends 89% of his time on activities unrelated to governing the City, the Mayor took a Desi Arnaz turn at the conga drums while hob-nobbing with celebrities Paul Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria.  Sadly, photos are available.

We really have issues with Council President Eric Garcetti referring to his live in girlfriend, Amy Wakeland, as "his partner."  One wonders if Eric ever makes it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue if Ms. Wakeland would be referred to as the First Partner.  Well, before that happens, the Garcetti-Wakeland Partnership, LLC is looking for a scarecrow for their organic garden at their Elysian Park home.  Isn't the yuppie life challenging? Hey Eric - how about getting me a scarecrow for a Councilman over here - that would be a huge improvement over our Griffith Park destroying, high school loving Clowncilman.
 We got an email Thursday that the Mayor's office is looking to hire a finance manager for it's Minority Business Opportunity Center, however the deadline for applications for the post was four days ago.  However, assuming the Mayor is still looking, the position pays as much as $77,000 a year.

Villaraigosa Fundraisers Raise Eyebrows

Mayor Villaraigosa is gearing up for what could be an expensive re-election campaign holding big bucks fundraisers all over the place. Walter Moore reports on soirees hosted by Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York, former Assembly Speaker and former Mayor Willie Brown in San Francisco and Benny and Juliette Klepach in Florida.

Y'all might remember Benny Klepach. He owns Duty Free Air and Ship Supply and has connections with a patchwork of airport concessionaire firms that were involved in a controversy over employee contributions to Villaraigosa when he was challenging then Mayor Jim Hahn in 2005. Villaraigosa eventually returned the donations. Klepach previously owned two concessions at LAX and through a spokesman said he has not decided if he will bid on upcoming airport concessions to be voted on Villaraigosa's Airport Commissioners. According to the LA Times, Klepach's previous LAX contracts will be mentioned in the upcoming public corruption trial of former Airport Commissioner Leland Wong.

In the meantime if you're interested in attending a Villaraigosa fundraiser closer to home, you can attend one hosted by local lobbyist Victor Griego to be held this Saturday Downtown.

Bedtime Music

L.A. International Airport by Susan Raye.

The song was rerecorded with updated lyrics in 2003 by Shirley Myers for the 75th Anniversary of LAX. Raye, who had been retired from the music industry since 1986, made a rare public appearance to sing classic hit at a concert at the celebration and to be on hand when a proclamation was issued to make the song the official song of LAX.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

The Fishwrap of Record opines that the battle between City Councilman Tony Cardenas and City Controller Laura Chick over anti-gang programs is typical of the dysfunction that continues to plague City Hall; leading activist/attorney Connie Rice to declare the City is "...stuck on stupid" in the fight against gangs. Still, the Times' prescription - to turn it all over to Mayor Villaraigosa - is equally stupid.

One of our tipsters tells us that LA City Planning Department Director Gail Goldberg and her chief zoning investigator Michael Logrande allegedely hook up regularly at a downtown watering hole to "talk shop and drink beer." According to the anonymous source, "Gail likes her beer!"

Greg Nelson proposes that the City could do well to lease out LAX. A number of cities worldwide have either leased out or privatized their airport. Chicago is about to do the same with Midway Airport. Nelson estimates that leasing the airport could generate $100 million a year in new revenue. He urges Neighborhood Councils to study the idea and urge the City Council to consider it.

I thought this was a piece from five or ten years ago but a Daily News editorial for Sunday accuses the Mayor and City Council of having "spent the city to the brink of insolvency even as they have jacked up taxes, fees and rates at every turn." They then follow up with a litany of everything we'd all agree is wrong with the City. Question now is, what are we going to do about it?

Post-mortem on the end of the Fabian Nunez era in the California Assembly. Nunez was successful in turning his Assembly Speaker post over to his hand picked successor, Karen Bass, but his immediate future appears uncertain. Perhaps Mirthala will be waiting by the phone.

LA's Homeless Blog takes issue with a silly notion by Christopher Hawthorne in the Fishwrap of Record that Mayor Villaraigosa heads up a "world class city" such as London, New York or Shanghai. The Homeless Blog rightly makes the case that a city like Los Angeles - with a significant and unaddressed homeless problem - is more of a third world city.

Did you know a number of tunnels run under downtown, connecting various government office buildings?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

The Mini Mayor has chosen a superintendent for his mini school district. Once again he turns to San Diego to find a bureaucrat, this one, Angela Bass, an administrator in the San Diego schools has long personal ties to the superintendent of the big school district, Admiral David Brewer.

NBC Universal has big plans for their property - which means they need the support of politicians and the community. So why are they not playing ball and supporting the LA River Bikeway? They don't have to, but they should.

The LA County Republicans once again prove they're expert at eating their own. And continue to further relegate themselves to a permanent minority status.

Some geniuses in City Hall thought it might be a good idea to implement toll roads going into LAX. However, other bureaucrats and even a few Clowncilmen find it to be a really dumb idea.

If you want a Walter Moore for Mayor bumper sticker, you can get one for free if you send him a self addressed stamped envelope. Click here to get the details.

Saturday Morning Hotsheet

JM, Elmo is Lost, Sunland Tujunga, 1.17.08


Joseph Mailander a guy in la • elsewhere • email

It's too bad Jim Murray and Bud Furillo and Jim Healy and Stu Nahan aren't around to eulogize Georgia Frontiere.

~~~

LAXpansion---This won't please the folks in Westchester: Fee for peak-hour landings at LAX proposed. Councilman Bill Rosendahl's tentatively for it.

"The plan would allow flights to be spaced out more evenly, while the funds generated from increased landing fees could be used for runway and airport improvements, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who announced support earlier this week for a similar proposal in New York City." Folks in Westchester are largely distressed by the prospects of more LAX expansion.

~~~

Livable Places is revving up for the next affordable housing tax measure, with a program in slated on Ardmore for January 30. Spanish translation services will be provided.

Here's the way Livable Places spins Measure H's 2006 loss:

In November 2006, LA residents sent a clear message that they want our Mayor and Council Members to address the city’s housing crisis. In 13 out of 15 council districts, strong majorities voted for new housing bonds, propositions 1C and H. Reliable and practical ways to increase housing choices do exist.In November 2006, LA residents sent a clear message that they want our Mayor and Council Members to address the city’s housing crisis. In 13 out of 15 council districts, strong majorities voted for new housing bonds, propositions 1C and H. Reliable and practical ways to increase housing choices do exist.

"Sent a clear message"---in fact, and as usual, LA residents had no idea what they were voting for, baffled by a bad faith ballot measure. But even so, you would think from that that the measure won. It lost. You would also think that the City would be interested to call a new tax a "tax", rather than a "bond" on the ballot, but that didn't happen either, and it likely won't happen the next time.

The CRA's Joan Ling, whom I recently featured in this Mimosa, when some rare moments of debate in Council broke out regarding her, and former Councilman Michael Woo, whom voters sent a clear message that they didn't want as Mayor in 1993, are both on the Board.