Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

In putting together today's hotsheet, here on our fifth birthday, I figured out more is not happening in LA than is happening.  Usually I have a choice of items to share with you but on this auspicious day absolutely nothing is going on.

Soon, Los Angeles won't have a police chief.  Not that we want to keep the egotistical overblown one we have now but it is so hard to find good help.  There's really no one (or is noone?) in charge at DWP but they keep bringing people over.  With daily pipe bursts and power outages incredibly the DWP and clowncil are going to ask for more of your money. Besides that the LACERS President has quit and we have to find a new manager of Building and Safety.  Good times for city professional staffing folks!

Efforts by the Mayor to get the Subway to the Sea going soon are off the hook.  The annual Fiesta de la Gente in CD14 is scrubbed because Jose "Weezy" Huizar could't come up the required jack for park fees.  Is HUIZAR'S WINTER WONDERLAND in trouble? And if Nuch, Cooley and the AARP crowd thought they were going to bust up medical marijuana dispensaries anytime soon, well that ain't happenin' either. The Dodgers aren't likely going to go to the World Series (but Manny got a shower!) and well, the Angels probably aren't either.

However there's some good news.  The Mayor got to go on two great vacations on your dime, one to Africa with BettyLuParker and another to Iceland with his power posse to plan his future.  Hope that the Mayor took Doug McIntyre's advice not to get between an Icelander and his bartender on a Friday night.  And the legendary Sportsmen Lodge Hotel and Event Center in Studio City is back and better than ever.

Anyway, happy birthday to us.  I can't belive its been five years since that day that the Fourth Floor Blog went down and we put up our first post.  There are WAY too many people to thank individually but I want to express my gratitude to our contributors past and present, our many friends in journalism, politics and community activism and all the politicians who have provided us with material so good you couldn't make it up.  It's been a good run.

Hot Sheet for Wednesday

Yesterday's primaries in Kentucky and Oregon, (Clinton took Kentucky, and Oregon went to Obama) put Senator Barack Obama in the lead with the most pledged delegates.

Recalling the lengthy road he has traveled,Obama told a boisterous crowd gathered near the Iowa state Capitol: "Tonight, Iowa, in the fullness of spring,with the help of those who stood up from Portland to Louisville,we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people,and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States."

Just another night of fatal shootings in the Valley: The DN reports of a night marred with violence and a lock-down of a North Hollywood neighborhood; a car full of men open fire at a man in Northridge (his injuries reported to be non-life threatning); while in NoHo, two men are fatally shot and five others wounded in two separate, but (according to police) related shootings.

Moore (LAPD's Deputy Chief Michel Moore) said the North Hollywood shootings may have involved a car-to-car exchange of gunfire as there appeared to be a number of cars involved. In the Northridge shooting, the victim's injuries were not
life threatening. He appeared to have been wounded from a shotgun blast fired at a long distance, Maarschalk said, adding he was not cooperating with police.

The gunman who opened fire at a church carnival in Granada Hills over the weekend has now been formally charged with three counts of attempted murder. Fernando Diaz Jr., 33, is accused of using a semiautomatic .22-caliber rifle to fire into the carnival just before 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic Church.

Rob McKay at the Huffington Post suggests that when it comes to campaigning, Small is the New Big in Progressive Politics:

The next stage of the on-the-ground campaign will be the battle for the swing states in the general election. The grab for this group of voters has generally been coordinated by a seasoned team of professional campaign staff operating in war rooms and spending millions in mobilizing voters. But new efforts among progressive voters, musicians, and grassroots groups are saying the way to be
"big" in '08 is to "go small." And how resources are spent in this election and after,could determine whether the Democratic Party is about short-term voter excitement or permanent citizen engagement.

File under: Doncha Hate When That Happens?: Will Corporate America's Chairpeople ever learn the difference between the "reply" and the "forward" button when it comes to email? Countrywide Financial Chairman Angelo Mozilo gets schooled on the differences.

And finally, one wedding and announcement of an impending wedding hit the news: Sorry boys, but Jessica Alba quietly wed her boyfriend and Baby Daddy Cash Warren yesterday, while George "Mr. Sulu" Takei of Star Trek fame announced his intention of marrying long-time love Brad Altman:

The actor announced on his website that after 21 years together, he and Brad Altman,his business manager partner,were "overjoyed" to be able to marry legally and were "enjoying the delicious dilemma of deciding where, when, and how we will be married".

"Our California dream is reality," wrote Takei, 71, on his site georgetakei.com. ""No more 'separate but equal.' No more second-class citizenship. Brad and I are going to be married as full citizens of our state."

Ain't love grand? Congratulations and best wishes to both happy couples!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet Teaser

In Monday morning's Hotsheet:

• Steve Cooley
• Library Scare Tactics
• MTA's revisits 30 year old Disney idea
• Bradley makes the big time
  

Publishing at 4:00 a.m., Monday, May 19, 2008

And at 6:00 a.m. - More Charges Against Bob Blumenfield

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Guess who's a blogger now! None other than your favorite Police Chief turned Councilman turned Supervisor candidate, "Bitter" Bernie Parks! The candidate unveiled his new blog last week and today features a post entitled Ridley-Thomas Flip-Flops...Again. The Councilman's Chief of Staff and son Bernard Parks, Jr. told me that Bernie writes his own email blasts but I don't know if he's writing his own blog posts. Blog away Bernie!

Alan Mittelstaedt writing at CityBeat (not Citywatch) essentially makes the case that if we worried about public corruption as we do about taco trucks (or silly debates about giant houses) we could see more of the types of indictments such as that of Bell Gardens City Councilman Mario Beltran announced by District Attorney Steve Cooley last week.

Here's one for the books. All four candiates for Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court Office Number 84 have been rated not qualified by the County Bar. Pat Connolly, “Criminal Gang Prosecutor”; John “Johnny” Gutierrez, “Administrative Law Judge”; Bob Henry, “Prosecutor Deputy Attorney-General”; and Lori-Ann C. Jones, “Superior Court Commissioner.” are all running for the seat being vacated by Judge Gibson Lee, who opted not to run.

The Daily News opines on a big bi-partisan rip-off. MAYOR POLLOVILLAR, the KENNEDY REPUBLICAN and the CHILD FORMERLY KNOWN AS DUBYA want you to pay tolls for the privilege of driving on the freeways your tax dollars paid for. With $4 a gallon gas who can afford more?

Apparently homosexual men are as interested in Britney Spears as us breeder guys are. A gay blogger reports that the former teen diva has been awarded extended visitation rights to see the two sons she produced with former husband Kevin Federline.

The Final Mayor Sam Hotsheet for 2007

Mayor Sam Awards - The Cowabunga in Sunland-Tujunga

After today, I'll be headed for a year-end fact finding mission somewhere near Palm Springs and won't return to NoHo until New Year's Day. So let me the first to wish you a very Happy New Year holiday and say "Go Trojans!"

A state appellate court handed a victory to socialism in overturning an appeal against the city's "living wage" ordinance at LAX hotels. You may remember that the city backed down on the law when hotel owners had enough signatures to trigger a referendum. So the city did a switcheroo after the hotel owners figured they won and didn't submit their paperwork and passed a new, nearly identical law. A State Superior Court ruled the city was in the wrong and invalidated the law. Hotel owners may appeal to the State Supreme Court. Whether you support the living wage law or not, the move by the city and the resulting appellate decision could have a chilling effect on the referendum process, handing even more power to special interests - be they unions, developers or NIMBYs.

Don Garza has declared Mayor Villaraigosa the "Most Influential Person" in Central City East for 2007. I like Don. I won't say anything more.

Big concern in Pico-Robertson over the Mayor's plan to eliminate parking and reverse traffic flow on Pico and Olympic. Businesses fear the lack of parking will drive customers away. The observant Jewish community who walk to services, shopping, etc. fear it will change the character of their neighborhood. All this so Zev and observing Westsiders can get to the Disney in time for curtain.

LAVoice is alive! At least long enough to post a picture of some old white guy protesting Cardinal Mahony.

Remember today is your last day to vote in the Mayor Sam Awards! Who will win?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Don't forget to Vote for Your Choices in the Mayor Sam Awards

Why is it so important for Mayor Villaraigosa and other elected officials to pass the Mayor's shady phone tax increase, Measure S? In order to pay for a 23% pay increase for non-emergency city workers. Pass the word, when was the last time you got a 23% pay raise? By the way in case you missed it, you absolutely have to catch Zuma Dogg's Measure S themed holiday parody.

When Steve Hymon asked where the funds to build a "subway to the sea," Mayor Villaraigosa accused the LA Times Columnist of "raining on his parade." That's a great way to avoid a simple yet serious question on a taxpayer funded project. Of course the Mayor loves nothing more than riding in parades and having his photo taken.

Daily News columnist Sandy Sand gets it half right when she finds foolish Goofy Jan Perry's plan to ban fast food in South Los Angeles. Decrying the nanny state, Sandy says its education and capitalism that will address the issue of obesity. So far so good - but then she heads right over to government sponsored universal "Arnold-Care" as the other answer. Sigh.

The Daily News supports the move by the City Clerk's office to take over the elections for Neighborhood Councils. Though it's going to cost a little more, it may lead to further participation and at least cleaner elections. With foolishness like this going on, the Councils need all the help they can get.

A new monorail is about to be pressed into service - at Disneyland.

The City Council is going to cut back cablecasting of it's meetings to one per month - that's the Santa Ana City Council. This is the same Clowncil that bans City Commissioners from blogging. Sounds like they have some issues with openness and transparency down there in Orange County.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday: One Sentence Edition

Young-Gi Kim is one nominee so far for sexiest City Hall staffer in the Sammie Awards - is she single?

The Coliseum Commission just can't stop hatin' on USC.

Bitter Bernie says the Minnesota Vikings are coming to LA.

Reyes wants bike paths but no one is using them.

An old, crabby white guy is upset that someone has the money to build the home of their dreams.

After 20 years blowhard Congressman Henry Waxman gets out of the way of a subway.

We have lots of hot air in City government so wind power might work.

The City has no money and wants to raise taxes but they can boost salaries.

Antonio Villaraigosa your shot at love has ended.

In the meantime, Tila Tequila picked the boy over the girl.

The City of LA thinks poor people are too stupid to make proper food choices.

Is Eric Garcetti dating Britney Spears?

Ed Edelman is actually still alive.

Republicans are going for Barack Obama in Nevada.

LAUSD facilities should be available to the public - after all we paid for them.

Some in the Santa Clarita Valley want to be their own City - take a lesson from the Valley do it!

Former Laura Chick aide Ruben Gonzalez has become a partner in Harvey Englander's powerful lobbying firm.

Dick Riordan is opening a version of The Pantry in Pacific Palisades.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Joseph Mailander has what could be the photo of the year, certainly the best photo of a government vehicle since this one, that is an LAPD patrol car reportedly parked in front of Mayor Villaraigosa's Mount Washington home for several days. Amazingly, the members of the spin zone have managed to convince themselves its not a police car, its not there and it never happened. Keep repeating that mantra kids!

-ms-

Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council voted to have the Los Angeles City Clerk take over running the elections for Neighborhood Councils. Generally in favor of the idea but wanting to delay it a bit was Councilman Bill "Open Shirt" Rosendahl who told reporters "You don't need to make a decision today and shove it down the throats of my neighborhood councils.'' Wow. Really?

-ms-

The Coliseum Commission meets Wednesday to try and come up with a relatively acceptable plan that will convince USC to stay in the historic stadium and not move to the Rose Bowl. So far the Commission's counter-offers have yet to satisfy USC's concerns as to whether or not needed renovations to the facility will be made.

-ms-

Thursday is the long anticipated "Day Without A Bag." Proving he's ready to celebrate, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will appear Wednesday on KCRW Radio at 1:00 p.m. to kick off the big day.

-ms-

David Hernandez reports that Ted Hayes - convicted of trespassing in the Mayor's Office - was refused by the Judge in the case to allow him to serve time in jail. Hernandez is behind a campaign to draft the longtime homeless activist Hayes to run against controversial Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her 35th District seat.

-ms-

The Downtown News agrees that Angelenos should be allowed to hail cabs just like in New York, San Francisco, Chicago or any other real city in America. And it needs to be done to provide the cabbies market incentive to pick up short hop fares by removing the stupid fare zones where folks can currently grab a taxi.

-ms-

Some are accusing Carson City Clowncilman turned Assembly candidate Mike Gipson of trying to bribe voters with a chance to win free gift cards at Target if they presented a ballot stub to his campaign office (thank God it wasn't Home Depot) but Gipson claims it was just an effort to turn out the vote. State officials say the move is legal; though probably skirts the spirit of the law. Didn't matter, Gipson lost the special election for the Democratic nomination to LA Community College Trustee Warren Furutani (get ready - open College board seat - line up candidates!)

-ms-

Is this any surprise? Her older sister drives around with her infant child on her lap; now 16 year old actress Jamie Lynn Spears will disclose to Ok! Magazine that she is 12 weeks pregnant.

-ms-

And finally, don't forget to RSVP for our Holiday Party on Saturday and to vote in the 2007 Mayor Sam Awards.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Do you ever go to a restaurant like TGI Friday's or Chili's on a busy night and get one of those pagers that alerts you when your table is ready? Then you have had an experience just like that of Antonio Villaraigosa who found of being Mayor of LA does get you a table at a restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mayor V explains to the media why he is supporting Hillary Clinton for President.

At sort of an attempt to use the free market to solve traffic problems, the MTA is considering making HOV lanes toll roads.

The thing I find just as annoying as liberal NIMBYS who fight Home Depot or Wal-Mart are do-gooder Republicans who rally against what's on television. Advice for both 1) Don't shop there, 2) Change the channel.

Curbed LA features the usual NIMBY tale of those who feel obliged to fight for the "character" of a community versus "evil" developers. But that's not the story here. This time the blog comments are the real fun as an anti-development poster finds that aesthetics don't extend to his colorful posting language. Yet another poster gives his view that everything in Los Angeles "looks like dribble of shit all over." Talk about blogging away dum dums!

Here is a holiday gift any female or homosexual male would appreciate that also supports a good cause - a beefcake calendar of Los Angeles City and County Firefighters. If you're like me and cheesecake is more your thing you can support disabled military veterans with the second edition of Gina Elise's retro themed calendar, Pin-Ups For Vets.

It's TV trash but I have to admit to enjoying guilty pleasure, none other than MTV's A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila. The latest buzz is that Tequila - in compete opposition to the premise of the show that she is bisexual and looking for either the man or woman of her dreams - is actually straight and has a boyfriend. You have to say that things are really going nutty when celebrities are being outed as hetero. According to sources, Tequila denies the charges.

And finally, if you're looking for Toluca Lake and don't own property on the shoreline forget being able to see it.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Red Spot had it here yesterday - USC sick of the crap they're getting from the Coliseum Commission in negotiations for a new lease to play football in the stadium may bolt for the Rose Bowl. The Trojans are proposing a 10 year $100 million deal to repair the Coliseum themselves and take over its management. The Commission is holding to some pipe dream that NFL football is coming and only want to rent to USC for home games only. The idiots on the Commission need to wake up and realize what a major loss it would be for USC to leave LA and reward them for their decades long loyalty. Fight on!

Ten years later and Bernie is still bitter about the LAPD's "3-12" schedule that allows officers to work three days a week if they work 12 hour shifts. The plan is popular with officers. Many officers can not afford to live within city limits and live far from where they work. Fighting traffic three times a week instead of five is less stressful. Giving them four days to rest extends their usefulness. This time though Bitter Bernie managed to drag Jan Perry away from banning fast food long enough to mess with the cops.

Most readers know the old, dead Republican Mayor is the first to pounce on Clowncil members when they do or say anything remotely stupid. However writing about Wendy Greuel's "transportation mission statement" Boi From Troy was a bit over the top in comparing her comments to "something the pointy-haired boss would think up in a Dilbert cartoon." Actually in calling for the outline of plan with measurable goals and metrics Greuel is actually quite businesslike. Still busted up about Lloyd Levine getting hitched Scott?

Saturday is the 52nd anniversary of Rosa Parks' bold stand for civil rights when she fought segregation in the South. The County of Los Angeles has declared it 'Rosa Parks Day" but so far the Los Angeles City Council has not yet done the same. With only one more Council meeting left before the day they better get around to it soon. They can fine time to condemn our country and vote against the war but seem to have a hard time honoring a real American hero.

Roy Disney has a major share in the family business, The Walt Disney Company who counts among it's many subsidiaries ABC. No wonder he's opposed to NBC Universal's plan to build a new facility at the Universal City Metro station. How old is this guy anyway? Why does he care about traffic that's 5-10 years away?

What's this? Mayor V - National Chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Presidential Campaign - showing up in a Barack Obama press release?

Ann Cottrell - congratulations you've just become the 10,000th passenger to fly out of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport - what are you going to do now? Shake Mayor Villaraigosa's hand!

A Green Party blogger finds Mayor Villaraigosa's Million Trees program a "bone headed idea."

And finally - no jokes please; Gloria Molina is spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to build designated County "fitness zones."

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Duke Helfand writing in the Former Fishwrap of Record says that Mayor Villaraigosa "faces a steep climb to California's top job." A number of self inflicted wounds have proably derailed his efforts to seek the Governor's seat in 2010 and greased the skids for others such as former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown. Of course, I told you that months ago.

Mayor Villaraigosa and Wacko Jacko announced a plan to make Pico and Olympic virtually one way streets in opposite directions in an attempt to deal with traffic. Riddle me this Batman, if the same number of cars more or less travel in different directions on each street, isn't this like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? The cars have to go one place or another. The answer isn't changing direction but reducing the number of cars, one way or another. Stakeholders in the area claim that the Mayor and Jacko have done little to consult the community on the plan.

Walter Moore asks "Has Mayor Villaraigosa really reduced crime?" Good question, as the Mayor and Chief Bratton blow each other's horns falling crime rates are really based on a long term demographic shift and efforts taken back during the Clinton Administration. Nice try boys.

Not only is Sunland-Tujunga unfriendly to business, but formerly Republican Orange County has also caught NIMBY fever. Its so virulent that while folks in Huntington Beach are fighting a Costco in their city, BANANAs in neighboring Westminister are joining the fight. Perhaps some CAVEs from the Valley might want to join in.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes about a growing resentment among African Americans that Latino politicians are eerily silent on Hispanic gangs that have targeted Blacks with violence.

Urban legends to the contrary, public officials in both cities say that Los Angeles is not paying low income residents from housing projects such as Nickerson Gardens to move to Moreno Valley in the Inland Empire.

In celebration of the Dodger's 50th anniversary in Los Angeles, the baseball team will play an exhibition game versus the World Champion Boston Red Sox at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the team's home before Dodger Stadium was built.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

City Planner Jack Chiang - following a bonehead call to an opponent of a development project in Valley Village - has been taken off the project, pending the development of a "code of conduct" by the City Planning Department. In the meantime, writing at LAist Zach Behrens picks up on spin on the matter from the City Attorney's office.

Writer Earl Ofari Hutchinson takes the City Council to task for the current budget mess. Hutchinson says the city has been on a "runaway train" when it comes to spending, one "jampacked with big salary increases for city officials and managers, out-of-control spending on construction projects, and ballooning workers' comp and pension payouts."

Zuma Dogg and friends offer Sister City readers a new service, stock picks and investment strategy. Chat it up here.

Capitol Weekly calls into question the tribal legitimacy of the Santa Ynez Chumash Indians, owners of the Chumash Casino near Solvang. As well, they make the claim that Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta has a minimal amount of Native American blood and can't even trace his roots back to the tribe.

Yet another dream transit map over at LAist.

The Long Beach Press Telegram editorializes in favor of the Long Beach City Council cutting back on public comment. Among the moves taken by the Council; removing the ability of citizen comments to take items separately much like the filing of public comment cards call an item "special" in Los Angeles.

Mayor Sam's Hot Sheet for Wednesday

Cirque Du Soleil has signed a multi-year agreement to stage a new Hollywood themed show at the Kodak Theater. This agreement makes the exotic Canadian circus troupe the only other tenant at the struggling venue along with the Academy Awards. No event waivers though please. Of course Mayor V showed up at the photo op today; take a look at a weird ass photo of the Mayor and a "friend" from the LA Times via Franklin Avenue.

If you're part of the NIMBY, CAVE and/or BANANA movements this place sounds like utopia for granola loving liberals like you - a blogger lives in some unnamed city where Wal-Mart (mis-spelled Wallmart) is illegal, there's a Trader Joe's where one can sign petitions and developers who would build low-income housing are just not welcome.

If a department store put out a sign that said "No Wetback Documents Allowed" when it came to applying for credit there would be a firestorm. So why is it no one is disturbed by the actions of a furniture store near Washington, D.C. that is advertising "Credito sin papeles de gringo?" Racism is racism and both comments are equally offensive.

If you're thinking of deep frying your turkey, the LAFD suggests you think twice. Not only is it not that healthy, unless you have the right equipment, enough open space and know what you're doing its really dangerous. Every year we hear stories of someone who burns down their garage trying to cook their holiday bird in a vat of boiling oil. By the way, I like the way the LAFD is going about this - warning and educating people rather than the usual nanny state tactic of banning it.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Corporate Welfare Report: The Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox are getting a free spring training facility courtesy of Arizona taxpayers. This ends decades that the Dodgers trained in Vero Beach, Florida at a facility they owned and had to pay taxes at.

Mickey Mouse has joined the NIMBY/CAVE/BANANA movement! That's right Disney is fighting mad that someone wants to build condos and apartments across the street from the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim - all because Disney was too punch drunk from their 50th anniversary celebration and stupidly brought in clueless executives from other parts of the company to run the park, one who had no idea how the politics in Orange County work. So what is Disney doing? Like the best of NIMBYs, they're seeking a political/legal solution.

The Daily News reports that fees paid by developers don't cover the cost of reviewing applications, effectively sticking taxpayers with the bill. However, if there wasn't so much waste, abuse and anti-business regulation surrounding development, this wouldn't be an issue.

Fellow Mirthala Banger Fabian Nunez has lost the support of the prison guards' union for his employment extension act, better known as Propostion 93, a term limits scam being hoisted on voters. Now this is because the prison guards are pissed about not getting the pay raise they wanted. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to have one of the most powerful public employee unions on the right side of an issue.

Post-Script: Special kudos to Joseph Mailander for providing as always insightful, interesting and often amusing contributions to the blog - and especially for stepping up when the old, dead Republican Mayor has been slacking off.

Mayor Sam's Hot Sheet for Thursday

The City of Santa Clarita Valley is up in arms about a development project near Sylmar. Las Lomas is a major mixed use, transit oriented development that will combine housing, office space, retail and a Metrolink station. It will bring jobs and housing to an area that needs it. Mayor Villaraigosa is being urged not to follow through with the City of Los Angeles' plans to annex the area, but Los Angeles needs to have control over the area, not a bunch of CAVEs and NIMBYs in Santa Clarita who have no business messing around in the Valley. Encourage the Mayor to support this important development which will be a major boon to our local economy.

This is why you don't mess with property owner's rights - developer Rick Caruso has won several million dollars in a lawsuit related to interference with his Americana at Brand development in Glendale. Take heed Sunland-Tujunga!

Mayor Sam's Sunland-Tujunga prediction: Due to actual and perceived conflict of interests between the City Attorney's office and the law firm Latham and Watkins, the City will be forced to hire outside counsel to defend it in the lawsuit filed by Home Depot over the blocking of opening their store in the community. Also, the City will have a tough time defending such a high powered case. Therefore, the City will decide to settle with Home Depot, place a number of cosmetic restrictions on them, perhaps require some donation to the community and grant the retailer the permit to build out and open their store. Game over.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

DWP boss Ron Deaton was planning to retire in January following his heart troubles during a trip to Costa Rica. Now, the LA Times says that the 42 year long highest paid city employee (telephone tax watchers: this guy makes $345K a year) is not so sure and may stay on.

Councilman Tom LeBong does an interview with Halloween blog Creepy LA and discloses his costume for this year: an LADOT traffic officer. In the meantime the City Council earmarked nearly another $2 million to one of LeBong's favorite causes, the revitalization of Griffith Park, which will surely raise the hackles of activists fighting commercialization of the park.

If you've been wondering where Mayor Villaraigosa has been, he's in Nevada looking for voters for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Faux economist Jack Kyser of the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission was given an award by his own employers. As Walter Moore has pointed out Kyser is not trained as a economist and despite getting many local journalists to hang on his every word he has had some goofy theories. Still even Kyser thinks the massive pay raises given by the City to municipal employees is way off the mark.

I don't know if Jose Huizar will try to make this walk, but Franklin Avenue is doing another annual walk through LA, covering the length of Pico Boulevard from LA to Santa Monica. If you're interested, visit their site and sign up.

Downtown LA via CurbedLA reports that at least $120 million in downtown Quimby funds can't be accounted for by the Department of Recreation and Parks. Hopefully the District Attorney is going to take a look at this. As you know developers are required to pay these funds to the City to build new parks, but none have been built Downtown. And they want your phone tax money!

How does Wal-Mart get around NIMBYs and politicians who block them from opening big stores? Just open up smaller stores.

Capitol Weekly reports that Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes bills at a rate twice that of Gray Davis or Pete Wilson. The more bills vetoed the better I say.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Born In East LA
Pending Cityhood by East Los Angeles could help efforts at San Fernando Valley secession, which a revival of is currently in talks. You notice that no area ever asks to JOIN the City of LA? Maybe that should tell you something.

NIMBYs At It Again
More narrow minded NIMBYs have bigotedly decided what type of recreation we will have in the San Fernando Valley. Councilman Tony Cardenas - who sent the San Fernando Valley Fair to Santa Clarita - and his committee have rejected a much needed motorcross track on a old landfill in an industrial section of Sun Valley.

The Debate Is Off
Council Member Janice Hahn wants attendees at the upcoming Congress of Neighborhood Councils to debate the pending DWP rate hike. Many Councils have already adopted a position opposed to the rate hike. Hahn's request is being rejected by DONE; they're saying the event doesn't have enough time on its agenda for the discussion.

Summer of Love Goes Trick or Treating
Loteria Chicana shows you how to dress like the Mayor and Mirthala for Halloween.

Another Year, Another Show
The Sister City celebrates it's third birthday.

Some stories you may have missed over the weekend

The Parks Are Melting In The Dark
The City has eliminated funding for the paddleboats at Echo and MacArthur Parks has been cut but the cash strapped City has the funds to put on a parade only 15,000 attend.

Council Plays Monopoly
Did you know that when City owned property is sold, the Council Member in whose district the property is gets to determine where 50% of the funds received from the sale are spent?

Show Me The Money
Downtown developers have contributed millions to a City fund to build more parks near their developments. But everyone is asking "where are the parks and where is the money?"

Mayor Sam's Hot Sheet for Wednesday

Even though dietitians say its not an effective way to get people to eat healthy, goofy Jan Perry is still going through with her plan to ban new fast food restaurants in South Central. Unlike people in Studio City or Brentwood, Jan Perry feels that poor Blacks and Mexicans need the government's help to keep them thin.

Here's something to make you so sick you won't overeat - the thought of Governor Schwarzenegger talking about whether or not Mayor Villaraigosa wears pajamas to bed.

The City is in so much trouble that it needs to raise your phone tax to save it, but apparently the Clowncil still has time to conduct foreign policy. At the prompting of open shirted Bill Rosendahl, they passed a resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. How about a similar proposal urging the withdrawal of criminal alien gang members from LA?

Here's something good that hopefully will work: the City received $150 million from the State to install synchronized traffic lights which could cut down gridlock in some areas. Lets hope 1) the equipment they buy actually works 2) the City doesn't pay three to four times what they cost retail, and 3) they don't get stolen before they are installed.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Out With The Old, In With The New?
Are John and Ken correct that Mayor Villaraigosa and former television reporter Mirthala Salinas no longer an item? And to top it off Mirthala has a new man? I don't know but if the fact the dalliance caused Mirthala to lose her job but not the Mayor ended the relationship; or the daily reports I've been getting of an alleged new "girlfriend." I just really hope your gossip is not true, I'm not ready for another roller coaster ride.

Clowncil Told To Go On Diet
How does the City of Los Angeles stay within its means in the face of declining revenues? Of course as politicians their natural reaction is to raise taxes, however a City official is advising the Clowncil to do something revolutionary: cut back on spending. City Administrative Officer Karen Sission advised the Council to cut back on wasteful spending, particularly eliminating the practice of giving "fee waivers" to events hosted by select organizations. This is something Zuma Dogg has championed for some time.

Antonio's Trees of Mystery
Doug McIntyre has a great piece in Monday's Daily News about the Mayor's Million Trees program. So far 440 trees have been planted and another 100,000 have gone missing. McIntyre uses this only one example of how local government is running amok and that the "City Council and Villaraigosa are managing Los Angeles as if it were a fantasy-league city."

Where's The Dough?
Besides trees, apparently the City can't account for millions of dollars paid by developers of downtown real estate earmarked for parks. The Downtown News reports that developers have paid between $3000 and $9000 each per unit constructed into so called "Quimby Funds" intended to develop nearby parkland. On Wednesday, the Department of Recreation and Parks will have some "'splainin'" to do to the Clowncil.

Mirthala Could've Worked There
The official website for the new Metro Studio@Lankershim, the multi-million dollar mixed-use development at the site of the Universal City Metro Red Line station, was revealed today. The site gives an idea of what the facility - which will include the new home for NBC News, KNBC Channel 4 and Telemundo - will look like.

Pirates Are Everywhere, Savvy?
Avast ye mateys! We found one in Burbank and now it seems like pirate ships are popping up all over Los Angeles. With all the recent pirate activity here on Mayor Sam is this a sign of things to come? Who next could find himself in Davy Jones' locker?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The "perfect storm" of LA traffic could come Monday morning as Interstate 5 in the Newhall Pass is significantly impacted by a fiery truck crash Friday. More information, details and tips here.

More on the following by clicking read more: Hardware Stores and Strip Clubs, Beware of Politicians Crying Wolf; Asking for More Taxes, NBC Universal Scorecard, LA Fire Department versus the Nanny State and Brady's Bunch.



The LA City Clowncil has identified a new scourge right up there with liquor stores and strip clubs: hardware stores. There used to be nothing more all American than the hardware store. But thanks to wackos here and there, they're now worse than pornography. Along with religion right?

WestchesterParents blog makes a very good point as to why you should not trust politicians' requests for you to vote for more taxes and more bonds. Every time a politician wants to reach into your wallet, they give you some dire circumstances that will occur if you don't pony up. Here is a litany of past appeals for funds that were supposed to solve our state's coming water crisis - and yet we still are in the midst of one of the worst water shortages in 20 years. Just say no.

NBC is coming to Universal City but not everyone is happy. Councilmember Wendy Greuel and the local Chamber of Commerce supports the project; Councilmember Tom LaBonge and County Supervisor Zev Yarovslasky - as well as some local NIMBYs - are saying wait a minute.

The LAFD Blog has some good tips about preparing for minor and major disasters that could come your way. Don't way for your local nanny state neighborhood council to take care of you, be accountable to yourself and your family and follow Brian Humphrey's excellent advice.

The every so often LA Times puff piece on gadfly Brady Westwater has run in Steve Lopez' column. How about a piece on Don Garza who is far more in tune with what is happening in Downtown LA that goofball Westwater? Yea, I don't agree with some things Don says but he's far more in touch than a guy who changed his name to get chicks.

The LA Times reports that a strip club plans to open in an old meat packing plant in Regent Square however residents and some local officials want to block the business. One point against the club is its proximity to another adult oriented business - a "bondage" club. City law says that such businesses must be at least 1000 feet apart. The strip club is 993 feet from the bondage club; owners plan to lop seven feet off the building in order to comply. At least one local stakeholder isn't so opposed: he says that the gentleman's club should smell much better than the meat packing plant did.