Nithya Raman Shrugged Before Dead Bodies Piled Up

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman spent the first few years of her time in City Hall ignoring warnings about violent attacks on her constituents by homeless addicts, especially in a one-block area of Sherman Oaks.   I wrote about that just the other day, also warning Raman of the dangers that some of the homeless also posed to themselves.

As usual, the lawmaker whose predecessor, David Ryu, was ousted after just one term in office, just shrugged.

Within a week, not one, not two, but three homeless people from this one block in the San Fernando Valley died on the streets of what used to be a nicer-than-average neighborhood.

To read about this preventable series of tragic deaths, jump over to my Substack, and sign-up while you're there for my free newsletter, and follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

Odd Couple: Why Fed-Up LA Needs Mayor Rick Caruso and Controller Kenneth Mejia

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Los Angeles City Council is more responsible than any other government for the hideous conditions on the ground which have intensely bled into surrounding communities.  

If it has accomplished anything good of late, or even in recent years, shoot me a note; I am not aware of a single praiseworthy and thorough endeavor. Not-a-one.

At any rate, lying, neurotic Mayor Eric Garcetti, aka Mayor Yoga Pants, will soon be gone after more than 21 disastrous years in LA City Hall.

For this and many other reasons, fixing LA starts by flanking it with grown-ups from somewhere other than the government to serve as a check and balance system to its immense failures, corruption, waste and its once again exposed deeply rooted racism.

My suggestion?

For starters, cast votes next week for Mayor Rick Caruso and Controller Kenneth Mejia, both of whom come from somewhere other than government.  While they may at first seem like polar opposites, in fact, they are the best available starter kit that a fed-up LA needs most.

To read the rest of this story, jump on over to my free Substack and don't forget to subscribe.  You may also follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

LA Must Protect Itself From Itself

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - It's 2022 and Los Angeles has a narrow, approaching window to start fixing its copious political challenges and corruption.

Having watched a few decades of local elections, here is what LA needs to do to save itself from itself.

1. Stop electing candidates based on their last name, skin tone and if they sound like an echo chamber of each other and the media.

2. Take everything the Los Angeles Times says or endorses with a grain of salt…and tequila. Stop relying on its endorsements since it almost entirely serves as a protective public relations unit for liberal and left politicians and their ideas to the total lack of balance of other sides, opinions and candidates. It is worth noting that the Times has endorsed, or even repeatedly endorsed, virtually every candidate currently or recently facing recall.

3. Start electing people from outside of the local political ecosystem. Encourage and elect those who have built something significant in the private sector. People who know what it’s like to make payroll in the face of illogical, oppressive and un-scientific government mandates. Think engineers, teachers (not school board members), healthcare professionals, private sector attorneys and the like. Elect reluctant politicians, not career ones.

Let’s repeat that: elect reluctant politicians, not career ones.

***

All the commotion so far about who is running for Mayor of LA and other offices is just that: chatter. It means nothing until February 7, 2022, when the candidate filing window opens to file a Declaration Of Intention to Become a Candidate. That narrow window closes less than a week later, on February 12. That’ll be the entirety of our options. People who fail to file will not make it onto the primary ballot.

Then there’s the race to gather 500 valid signatures by March 9, a rigged process designed to favor monied candidates. Those who submit at least a thousand votes for verification do not have to pay the $300 fee.

To continue reading this column, please join me on my Substack and sign-up to become a free subscriber.  Also, follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport. Thanks as always to our friend Scott Johnson for this platform.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

He's back!

With July 1st, comes a new session for the Los Angeles City Council but the leadership of Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry and Dennis Zine remains intact, even though all three plan eventual runs for higher office; Mayor for Garcetti and Perry and City Controller for Zine.  That being said, Councilman Richard Alarcon was the sole vote for Herb Wesson as President Pro Tem of the Council.  Alarcon has an issue with Perry already being a declared for candidate for Mayor and continuing to serve in the leadership.

As the new session begins, some of our readers may find solace in the fact that Alarcon and Reyes only have two years left on the Council, you have four more years of Tom LaBonge, Tony Cardenas and  Bernard Parks though.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Repercussions continue from the cancelled City Council meeting due to a lack of quorum caused by tardy Clowncil members.  The Daily News takes the Clowncil to the woodshed for showing "an implicit disrespect for the people the City Council is supposed to serve." Of course in a few short months the Daily News will endorse all these same incumbents.

The City reports that its new credit card parking meters are raking in the dough. Remember if a parking meter doesn't work it's no longer a free parking pass. You have to actually move your car elsewhere. Non-totalitarian cities in LA County such as Burbank don't hold you up for parking and don't even have meters.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday: The "Bullshit" Edition

Quorum Bullshit: The LA City Council meeting was cancelled Tuesday because not enough members were present to achieve quorum. Gil Garcetti, Jr., Bernard Parks, Sr., Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine, Tom LaBonge, Richard Alarcon, Herb Wesson, Greig Smith, and Paul Krekorian were there and on time. Everyone else was not including Weezy, Hamburger Jan and the Cat Whisperer.

Inconveniencing Commuter Bullshit: Members of a rap band who will get no free publicity here blocked a local freeway Tuesday morning as part of a publicity stunt. This is the same kind of manure as those illegal alien protesters who laid down in the street in West LA.

Read more »

Council Calendar

Submitted by our friend....

Excerpt from SPECIAL MEETING Agenda:

Items for Which Public Hearings Have NOT Been Held - Items 23-24

(10 Votes Required for Consideration)

ITEM NO. (23)

10-0600-S30 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY and ORDINANCE FIRST CONSIDERATION relative to amending the Los Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC) to modify the surplus funds transfer provisions of the Special Parking Revenue Fund. Recommendation for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR: PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying ORDINANCE relative to amending Section 5.117 of the LAAC to modify the surplus funds transfer provisions of the Special Parking Revenue Fund.

Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the City Attorney. Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report. Community Impact Statement: None submitted.

(Budget and Finance and Transportation Committees waived consideration of the above matter)


LINK to Special Meeting AGENDA:

http://ens.lacity.org/clk/councilagendas/clkcouncilagendas368162_09102010.pdf 

PS: The BEGINNING of NEXT week is also quite busy for the City Council, considering that we are in the midst of the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah ends tomorrow at sundown, and Yom Kippur starts at sundown on Friday the 17th).

So far, there are THREE Committee meetings on the Council Calendar for the Beginning of Next week:


On MONDAY the 13th, the PUBLIC SAFETY Committee has a 4-page Agenda:

http://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend2768169_09132010.pdf 

Also on MONDAY, BUDGET AND FINANCE has a 4-page Agenda:

http://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend1868173_09132010.pdf 

On TUESDAY the 14th, PLUM is meeting with a five-page Agenda:

http://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend2668174_09142010.pdf 

My "Speculative Guess of the Month": There will likely be a Full City Council meeting on Tuesday, but it does not look like there will be one on Wednesday.

Council Stands Up to Mayor and DWP

From the LA Times:


Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s appointees at the Department of Water and Power on Wednesday evening rejected the City Council’s proposal for a 4.5% electric rate hike, opting for a larger increase that was more in line with the amount Villaraigosa had sought for his renewable energy proposal.


On a 13-0 vote Wednesday night, the City Council voted to veto the DWP board’s latest rate hike proposal, sending it back to the utility for more work.

Los Angeles Political Hot Sheet For Thursday

"The trickle before the Flood??"

We are on bloggin storm watch!!

Lets get ready to welcome El Nino to Southern California next week. A series of El Nino influence storms is setting its sights on our area and residents near the burn areas like Sunland-Tujunga should take time to prepare.

What will be interesting to note in this upcoming weather event, is the coordination of local agencies and the political leadership response. The rains that are forecast for next week are on the level of the 2004-2005 rainy season which set an all-time record for rainfall in Los Angeles (as recorded in the official Los Angeles rain gauge at USC).

Many will remember then Mayor James Hahn, in his yellow rain gear, responding to trouble spots around the city with then mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa closely behind him in search of photo ops. In one instance Mayor Hahn had just assess the damage in the Garvanza area of CD 14 where homes were "red-tagged" only to see Villaraigosa show up and get camera time in helping one family remove belongings from their home.

Who shall take the lead in the "politics of weather" next week? Will be of interest, only after the top priority of making sure that all are well in the areas of concern.

** While residents in the burn areas eye the puffy clouds of rain in their future, the LA Weekly reports that the Los Angeles City Council puffed away another day in the search of Medical Marijuana reform. Meanwhile the editorial scribes at the "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street came out against legalizing "ganga" in California.

** In CD 14, we have an Rick Coca sighting. Coca who once reported for the Daily News but now is earning each penny in spinning/ communicating the positive attributes of Councilman Jose Huizar (when he is not typing "Coca Puffs" on the blogs). Coca responded to criticism of Councilman Huizar over his delay in announcing a $50,000 reward for information on the murder of an fifteen year old Boyle Heights teen in December, which we noted here at Mayor Sam last week.

** Warning!! This make cause you to shed some tears. LA Times Scribe David Zahniser reports on the potential increase in stress for the "Fifteen within the Horseshoe on Spring Street" as they jockey for their respective political futures.

** Los Angeles County Fire Urban Search and Rescue members are on the way or on scene in Haiti to help in the massive international effort, that is unfolding to help the millions that have been affected by Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. We wish them godspeed in their efforts.

** Our old bloggin colleague Joseph Mailander has an missive in the current LA Weekly on the "politics of opera" and its potential cost to the Los Angeles taxpayers.

** Lastly, the picture above was taken last June, at what was left of the Hazard Park Wetlands. This after the sensitive habitat was weed whacked in an supposed act of miscommunication. may our upcoming rains help replace what many have given to preserve.

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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

New LAPD Chief Charlie Beck Sworn In For Duty, DA Steve Cooley Vows to Prosecute Illegal Pot Shops

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa swears in LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

Photo from LA Times Al Seib

From the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles City Council today appointed Charlie Beck as the city's new police chief.

The council unanimously approved Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's nomination at a hearing this morning. There was no organized opposition to the nomination of Beck, currently an LAPD deputy chief, but the stakes are high.

The choice comes at a time of uncertainty for the department as Beck will be given the task of sustaining former Police Chief William J. Bratton’s hard-won gains amid dwindling city budgets. Beck, 56, has risen quickly through the department’s command ranks in recent years and was viewed widely as the favorite to be selected by the mayor.

From his success in rehabilitating the Rampart Division, which had been at the center of a corruption scandal, and later as head of the LAPD’s forces in South Los Angeles, he has earned praise from police and civic leaders for blending a tough stance on crime with a progressive approach to improving the police department’s relationship with the public.

Villaraigosa chose Beck nearly three months after Bratton announced he would step down at the end of October. During his seven years as chief, Bratton oversaw dramatic declines in crime and improved long-strained relations between police and minority communities.

Meanwhile, District Attorney Steve Cooley Disregards City Council Vote and Vows to Prosecute Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

From the Los Angeles Times.

Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said today he will prosecute dispensaries that sell medical marijuana even if the Los Angeles City Council adopts an ordinance that does not ban such sales.

On Monday, two council committees rejected the city attorney’s advice and changed a provision in the proposed ordinance, allowing cash transactions as long as they comply with state law.

“Undermining those laws via their ordinance powers is counterproductive, and, quite frankly, we’re ignoring them. They are absolutely so irrelevant it’s not funny,” Cooley said.

Cooley said state law and state court decisions have made it clear that collectives cannot sell marijuana at dispensaries.

He reiterated his view that most, if not all, dispensaries in the county are in violation of the law. “We don’t know of one that’s not engaging in just over-the-counter sales,” he said.

Then this quote from Councilman Ed Reyes, soon after Cooley's announcement.

Councilman Ed Reyes, who has overseen the development of the city’s ordinance, said that he did not think Cooley’s comments would cause the council to rethink whether to allow sales. “This is not about Cooley vs. Reyes, or Cooley vs. the council. This is about the quality of life. We all have better things to do than to do this legal jousting,” he said.

Thus, for those who plan on navigating the choppy waters of Los Angeles politics, the next couple of years should be full of verbal and legal broadsides between the "S.S. Clowncil" with Captain Villar at the helm and the "S.S. Cooley Nuch" acting as the legal enforcer of local political navigation.

BTW, nice to see that Councilman Reyes is consistent in his sanctuary tendencies for all illegal law breakers, regardless of age, sex, or creed.

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

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Following his visit to a topless swimming pool in Vegas, the Mayor is ready for his next press event - promoting the Toyota Prius.  Considering all the money President Obama is spending to prop up the US auto industry its incredible that Villaraigosa wouldn't support an American "Green" car such as the Chevy Volt which is getting some great reviews.  But then Mayor V only cares about himself.

Rick Orlov notes that the Los Angeles City Council is about to head off to its annual two week vacation. I don't see that as a problem because the less the Clowncil meets the better we off are. CM Dennis Zine however wasted no time and has already taken a cruise vacation earlier this summer and is looking forward to more time off.  Herb Wesson on the other hand says he plans to be in his office boning up on local issues and relishing that he won't have to wear a tie for two weeks.

You may have lost your job or the organization you support has been struggling due to the recession but the politically connected need not have those troubles.  The Los Angeles City Council has voted to make a major infusion into the controversial anti-gang program, Homeboy Industries, which has been struggling due to declining contributions.

Busy weekend for CD2. Watermelon Festival draws candidates. Chris Essel to throw Sunland-Tujunga under Richard Alarcon's bus? And Tamar Galatzan vs the Mommy Bloggers.

MJ Takes Over Clowncil Today

It's MJ day in City Clowncil with not just one but five - count 'em five - items related to the King of Pop's memorial on the agenda.

With AEG poised to make at least $50 mil on the sale of MJ footage to Sony, today could be some of the best Clowncil action this year so tune in if you can.

ITEM NO. (24) 09-1717 MOTION (ZINE - HUIZAR) relative to the selection process for vendors to the City, in connection with approximately 3,500 boxed lunches for emergency personnel assigned to the Michael Jackson memorial.

ITEM NO. (25) 09-1716 MOTION (HAHN - LABONGE) relative to the total local revenue attributable to the Michael Jackson Memorial Event from July 4-7, 2009.

ITEM NO. (26) 09-1715 MOTION (ZINE - PERRY) relative to the City resources used and expenditures made in response to the public reaction to the passing of Michael Jackson.

ITEM NO. (27) 09-1678 CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF MOTION (PERRY - PARKS) relative to the memorial service to honor the memory and accomplishments of the late entertainer, Michael Jackson, at the Staples Center on July 7, 2009

ITEM NO. (28) 09-1789 MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to establishing a process to justify and validate the use of City funds and resources to provide for public safety and assemblage management at significant events.

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on the Local Political News

"ALL IN THE LOCAL POLITICAL FAMILIA"

Meet the familia that doubles as the local political machine in Los Angeles.

And when the mijos or mijas of machine members get in trouble like "Lil Fabian", Esteban Nunez and his "Hazard Crew Homies", what actions do the elders of the "familia" undertake in protecting their own ??

Letters and more letters, as LA Weekly Christine Pelisek reports in her extensive article, "Esteban Nunez Case: Bad Little Suburban Boys". , and their results ??

Lawyering up with top firepower worked well. A week later, on December 9, though it shocked Santos’ friends and family, Judge Szumowski reduced bail from $2 million to $1 million for all the men — after dozens of character letters seeking leniency arrived at the court.

While not uncommon in murder cases, these particular letters really stood out. They came from union honchos, California politicos and high-powered friends of Fabian Núñez, including Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor leader Maria Elena Durazo, former and current California Assembly members Dario Frommer and Kevin De Leon, and many others.

“In my heart, I know Esteban Núñez as a young man of good and upright character,” wrote Villaraigosa. Assemblyman De Leon described Núñez as “considerate, gentle and well-mannered.” Labor honcho Durazo wrote that young Núñez “took responsibility by working” at a grocery store. “Going to college showed me that he was preparing for his future. He didn’t take anything for granted.”

Núñez “is a nonviolent, sweet young man” who “has stayed in school and perseveres on,” wrote Tracy Campbell of the California Hospital Association — a close associate of Esteban Núñez’ high-powered mom.

Even Corina Villaraigosa, the mayor’s publicity-shy ex-wife, weighed in. “I know that Esteban is in school and working toward a bachelor’s degree.”

One can grasp the power of written spin, errrr, written testimonials.

City O.K.'s 7 Billion Dollar Budget, for now.

City Council members unanimously approved a $7.01 billion budget on Wednesday but warned that spending could be cut if city unions fail to make concessions and if the state takes local money to fix its own financial mess.

The budget calls for some 2,000 layoffs, scales back many city programs and essentially slices about 15 percent, on average, from every city department.

As Rick Orlov reports, this not a done deal, but the unions should ask the mayor why non-profits are being given city money to undertake tasks that the likes of Recreation and Parks have done in the past..., see Legacy LA.

Councilman Parks and Zine, Mayor shouldn't control Pension Boards.

Responding to investigations of public pension systems across the country, two members of the Los Angeles City Council called Wednesday for a reduction in Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's power to pick pension board members.

Councilmen Dennis Zine and Bernard C. Parks said no single politician should be able to control a board majority at both the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System and Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions -- agencies that invest billions of dollars on behalf of retired public employees.

Note to Zine and Parks, This is yours and the other 12 clowns, (minus Mayor Papi's "Lil Mijo" in CD-14), time to reassert control over the Mayor's politicalization of various city departments.

Teacher starts hunger strike to protest.

A group of teachers and community activists started a hunger strike Wednesday in protest of the Los Angeles Unified School District's plan to lay off thousands of teachers.

At least nine teachers and two activists are participating in the action, said Sean Leys, a Lincoln High School teacher.

What you know!! a rare teachable moment in LAUSD on dieting, advocating and not teaching at the same time.

"Landslide Koretz" still not "Councilman Koretz".

As of Tuesday, Koretz led challenger David "Ty" Vahedi by 702 votes, winning 18,286 in last week's election compared to Vahedi's 17,584 in the 5th Council District race.

Koretz, a former state assemblyman, sent an e-mail to supporters shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, saying that 100 votes were left to count and that he could safely call himself the winner.

However, Los Angeles County election officials said his declaration of victory was premature. The Registrar's Office estimates that 500 to 1,000 ballots remain uncounted. Those include 100 damaged ballots, with the remainder being uncounted mail-in or provisional ballots.

Wow, no comment or mutterings from the "Progressive Viking of Spin" ??

Your thoughts........

Mayor and Clowncil compromise on LAPD hiring near.

Who came out ahead on this ??

From Los Angeles Times City Hall Scribe Phil Willon.

[Updated at 6:30: A threatened cut to the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department apparently will be averted in a compromise reached by members of the City Council.]
[An earlier version of this post incorrectly suggested that the mayor's office had brokered the compromise.]

The council has been considering a police hiring freeze as one way to reach the $530 million in cuts needed to close the city’s looming budget shortfall.

Over the weekend, however, aides to the council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said they found enough money to hire replacements for up to 480 of the 520 officers who typically leave each year through retirements and such. Apparently, the city’s share of property taxes next year will be $20 million greater than expected, and $4 million provided by the federal government could also be used to hire officers. Plus, the council may decide to use some of the $18 million held in city reserves.

The money will only allow the city to maintain close to its current level of police staffing. It won’t be enough for Villaraigosa to continue his goal to grow the Police Department by 1,000 officers, one of the top priorities of his administration.

The council is expected to vote on the compromise this evening.

****Council just voted to approve city budget via KRLA News, more later.......

Councilman Dennis Zine reports on the "Kevin James Show", "that Jack Weiss showed up late and left early, during today's budget deliberations. The only to do so".........., wonder why ??

More from Zine, "budget is mostly resolved pending tomorrow's election results. It is a certainty that budget will face modification".

Open Thread for Friday

No Hotsheet today kids, make your own, it's free.

Zuma Dogg illuminates a Daily News story about the dog and pony show that are the Los Angeles City Council meetings with all the time they waste on silly procolamations and presentations.

For Mr. Snark who says that the bloggers here have never got a City proclamation:

Fraud and Disorder

Coming this fall to television; starring the Los Angeles City Council.

Clowncil and Friends - Obama is talking TO YOU.

Memorandum to the City Clowncil and their "friends":

READ AND OBEY.

This also covers one of your historically favorite places to violate the law - the California Public Records Act.

Got info? Give the old dead Republican Mayor a call at (213) 785-6098 or email to mayorsam@mayorsam.org Why? Because your President said to, that's why.

--------------------------------------------------------

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

January 21, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Act

A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants." In our democracy, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability through transparency, is the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open Government. At the heart of that commitment is the idea that accountability is in the interest of the Government and the citizenry alike.

The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.

All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA.

The presumption of disclosure also means that agencies should take affirmative steps to make information public. They should not wait for specific requests from the public. All agencies should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government. Disclosure should be timely.

I direct the Attorney General to issue new guidelines governing the FOIA to the heads of executive departments and agencies, reaffirming the commitment to accountability and transparency, and to publish such guidelines in the Federal Register. In doing so, the Attorney General should review FOIA reports produced by the agencies under Executive Order 13392 of December 14, 2005. I also direct the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to update guidance to the agencies to increase and improve information dissemination to the public, including through the use of new technologies, and to publish such guidance in the Federal Register.

This memorandum does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

A StuPendous Plan For Los Angeles' Future ---

STUPENDOUS is wondering ...

What did Mayor Sam say in 1973? That this city is the envy of all the world? He couldn't have been talking about our Los Angeles!

Here we are. We're the second largest city in this great country of ours. Yet, we are so inept in so many different things. For one, our politicians are truly pathetic. Or maybe it's this city? We have allowed Los Angeles to become a second class city. We've got to stop this non-sense.

I think we must have a shortage of politicians. I think that's why we have politicians who play musical chairs, changing political seats every four years or when their term limits run out. That's got to be it. Why else would we allow this non-sense to go on? If I look at who is holding office today, it's basically the same people that were holding some other office ten or fifteen years ago. These are our career politicians. And you wonder why this city is in trouble? These people
don't have any ideas. They don't have any vision, and they certainly don't have a plan. This city needs new blood, and we need it now!

I have a plan. And it's a plan that has already been put into motion without the good people of Los Angeles even realizing it.

Our Chief of Police is an import. So is our Superintendent of Schools. And so was the previous Superintendent before him an import.

Why can't we import candidates for different offices from all over the country? Just think about the possibilities of having someone from another city govern this city of ours. Exciting? Can you name a few former mayors from other major cities who might do a pretty good job here in our Los Angeles?

What about importing city council members from other cities, too? Our gang sitting right now would definitely have to run a real campaign in order to get re-elected. How many of them have run uncontested campaigns or without much competition? That's got to stop!

We don't even have a two-party system here in this city. We don't even have a two-party system in our state. How come?

Changes are needed. New thinking is needed. We need to start importing new blood into our political process. The people sitting in office right now are inept, and that is putting it mildly.

While I applaud Messrs. Moore and Dogg for their attempt to win the mayor's office, what is really needed is a professional campaign with professional politicians who have a proven track record of success and a real fighting chance to win.

There are many across this country of ours, and we should start importing this talent now!

That's what STUPENDOUS is thinking. What is your thinking?

Mother Loved Tommy Best

PBS is currently running a fascinating retrospective on the cutting edge series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Tom and Dick Smothers were, and still are, an extremely articulate and talented pair of folksingers/comedians to which CBS innocently gave a television voice in 1967. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour featured the duos' music, comedy sets and vignettes interspersed with other 'Sullivan'esque performers' and guest stars' appearances. The likes of Steve Martin, Glen Campbell, Mason Williams, and Rob Reiner were, in turn, writers for the show.

What's fascinating about this variety show is that Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Dennis Miller arguably owe their current livelihood to Tommy and Dick. Although their show started out as a direct descendant of Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, and Milton Burle, the frighteningly familiar political climate at the time quickly seeped into the production. In 1967, mainstream television satire addressing current events did not exist. Tommy and Mason Williams were the driving forces that moved the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from above-average Vaudeville homage to cutting-edge, political satire prototype. That in itself is an incredible accomplishment, but that it happened for more than one season during an era where the White House habitually had political censors on-site during production is even more astounding.

Comedian Pat Paulsen was a regular on the show. Mason Williams and Tom Smothers cleverly realized they could educate what was still a fairly innocent viewing public on the sordid details of the political process by running Paulsen for President in 1968. One gag had Dick Smothers interviewing Paulsen on the big issues of the time. Dick was off camera, and the close shot was of just Paulsen's head cut straight down the middle in vertical split-screen. Whenever Dick would ask Paulsen a question, the right half of the candidate's face answered one way, the left half in a completely different way.

The 'talking out of both sides of the mouth' piece was hilarious. Paulsen always had a utterly brilliant delivery. What smacked me upside the head while watching this was that Paulsen was somehow foreshadowing .... TOM LEBONG!

To wit, let's look at the vote earlier this week on the Cyclists Bill of Rights --

(quotes from LAStreetsblog.org)

July 2008 LeBong: "What we need to do first is get more people out of their cars and onto a bike. They need to feel confident that they are safe."

December 2008 ...However, Councilman Tom LaBonge had some changes he wanted to see. First, he found the Third Amendment which states, Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement. While he didn't have a problem with the basic idea, he was worried that the language was inflammatory to the local police by implying that they were uneducated. LaBonge was also worried that children would get the wrong idea about cycling because the document fails to cover the responsibilities of cyclists as well as their rights.

Wow - and all that without a split-screen special effect, too! Amazing!


...Hey Tommy LeBong! Mother always loved you best!

CYCLISTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and


NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:

1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.

2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.

3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.

4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.

6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.

7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.

8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.

9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.

10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.

11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.

12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.

And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!

Zuma Dogg Marathon: Zuma as Gene Simmons

Bernie isn't amused.



Bonus clip: "Oh no not Parks!" (The mic in Van Nuys was left hot after public comment.)