Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The City Council wants to give the Grammy Awards $125,000 to cover event costs borne by the City.  Yes we hear the usual spin that these events bring so much to Los Angeles (they do) and that the cost is merely an investment (see here where I take that argument apart).  The recording industry is apparently pleading poverty yet pop princess Britney Spears has acquired a $27,000 ring to wear to the show.  If the City Council doesn't have the fortitude to say now in this time of budget crisis, we once again raise our call to the Grammy organization to step up and say "we will decline the subsidy, we know the City that has nurtured, supported and enrichened us for over 50 years is hurting."  Don't hold your breath folks!

Marc Cooper becomes the latest "journo" to go bitter man on his former employer.  Like a less disciplined Kevin Roderick, Cooper's rambling screed spewing all over the LA Weekly is filled with personal invective which obscures what few good points Cooper might have.  Cooper wastes an enormous part of his digital ink on the absurd claim that Zuma Dogg's piece on the controversial Grand Avenue development in Downtown LA was actually written by weekly editor Jill Stewart.  One wonders if Zuma Dogg was challenging George Bush on a regular basis instead of the unaware elites' favorite kleptocrat Mayor if Cooper would view Zuma differently.

The nanny state continues unmolested as Los Angeles City Council Member "Sleeping" Greig Smith wants to ban smoking in outdoor areas of restaurants.  This old, dead, Republican mayor never smoked, hates smoking and doesn't like to be around it.  That being said I don't need the government to decide where people can and can't smoke; the market does that just fine.  In fact, Tom LaBonge confirms it when he tells the Los Angeles Tmes “The patrons are really demanding it.”  That's right Tom.  The smart establishments get it and many of them banned smoking way before the City told them to.

Los Angeles has undertaken a $2 million campaign to encourage tourism.  Tom Hanks, Kobe Bryant and Lauren Conrad are among the celebrities appearing in the "That's So LA" campaign now underway.  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters "During this tough period, one of the sectors taking the biggest hit is tourism. Families are cutting back on travel. In some cities, that might not matter too much."

The Daily News reports the recession has hit hard a number of upscale businesses on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.  However a shoe repair shop and a fitness center that underwent a makeover report either no impact or increased sales.

Central City East blogger Don Garza says that a number of residents of the Skid Row hotel he lives in are complaining that the hotel management routinely enters their units in violation of their rights.  Garza is among several of the residents who have posted legal notices on their doors directing the management to keep out.

Outtakes from the "RED SPOT INSTITUTE"

Good, wet Valentine's Day to all!!

No word whether Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa got wet during his "carbon intensive photo junket" to the Owens Valley.

Flying by helicopter, Villaraigosa, dining buddy David Nahai and assorted staffers touch down for a quickie on the Lower Owens River to keep the eco lobby in denial about the true "green creed" of the City Terrace native.

On the subject of green, this relating to the waste of in the funding of gang programs. Both Laura Chick and the "Clowncil of Fifteen" are out with their plans to improve the bottom line. Notice the word that is missing, "a-u-d-i-t".

LA Weekly's Marc Cooper takes out after the "FORMER OFFICIAL STATE WINE TASTER" and his "MOO BOY LACKEY".

In spite of vigorous protests from the French national Chamber of Commerce,
distraught at losing one of its most loyal and profligate consumers, it's
strictly adieu Fabian, as the speaker lost his bid for a six-year term extension
when the voters wisely kiboshed Proposition 93. No more $2,562 shopping sprees
at Louis Vuitton's Paris outlet, no more $5,149 wine purchases from Bordeaux
(and no more $2,701 gift belt buckles for Arnold) funneled out of Mr. Speaker's
campaign funds. Voilà! No more Mr. Speaker.

The "Sniper" rides along with the "POLITICO FORMERLY KNOWN AS MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, tony villar". He has a few choice words for "TRAILER PARK ZELL" aka "CEO of BIG TRAILER PARK and TRIBUNE".

The "four year community college" on Jefferson and Fig. You know the one where the band plays two songs, has a "glue white horse" and "paid for" athletes??, will not be moving anywhere, anytime soon.

.....and in the spirit of love, the City of Santa Clarita will be cracking down on illegal flower merchants today. Only if this could happen in CD 14.