BREAKING NEWS!! Assemblyman Matt "Da-PERV-neh" to Resign

Former "Shermanator (Congressman Brad Sherman Staffer)", turned Assemblyman Matt "Da-PERV-neh", announces his Resignation from the California Legislator, affected at the end of the Month.

Another "Shermanator" announces his intentions to walk away from Public Office.

** Blogger's Notes: Surprise, surprise (NAUGHT), another San Fernando Valley State Democrat Officeholder of ILL-REPUTE, has announced his RESIGNATION. 

West San Fernando Valley Assemblyman Matt "Da-PERV-neh", joins former Northeast San Fernando Valley Assemblyman Raul "PERVY-negra", in cutting short their appointed term in office ......., after MULTIPLE allegations of Sexual Harassment/Inappropriate Conduct, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

The Los Angeles Democrat was accused Monday of pushing Sacramento lobbyist Pamela Lopez into a bathroom at a Las Vegas hotel last year and masturbating in front of her. Jessica Yas Barker, a former employee who worked under Dababneh in U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman’s district office, said he created a hostile work environment full of sexual and derogatory remarks. Dababneh denies the allegations. In an interview, he said he took the charges personally and was leaving office to focus on clearing his name. He added that he did not feel pressured to resign, but said the claims against him had knocked him off his feet. After spending more time with his family this week, he said, he realized that “the passion to serve in a public capacity isn’t there” and “I’m ready for a change in my life.”

Can you say D-E-N-I-A-L? 

What is NOT in denial, is the fact that soon-to-be EX Assemblyman Da-PERV-neh's "extra-curricular conduct", was a subject of speculation (and concern) by those within local Democratic circles, from the VERY beginning of his Officeholder tenure, as reported previously here at Mayor Sam.

We should note that the OFFICIAL HAZER of Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (and fellow SHERMANATOR), announced the TERMINATION of his 2018 State Treasurer Campaign two days ago-----Scott Johnson.

Los Angeles Politics HotSheet for Monday

The well reported Martin Declaration by Deputy City Attorney Claudia Martin isn't helping Carmen Trutanich much. Going into next week the City Council is looking to emasculate Trutanich by pulling various functions from his office and handing them to private attorneys.  We discussed this matter at length on Live LA Saturday Night this past weekend with blogger and activist Zuma Dogg and Deputy DA David Berger.

Jerry Brown and the State Legislature are taxing online purchases, leading to e-tailer Amazon shutting down thousands of mom and pop affiliate businesses in California.  Who's behind this travesty? Liberal Democrats? Well, yea, but there's a bigger villain here: Wal-Mart.  Amazon is prepping a ballot measure.


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Friday Free for All

I'm back.  Yet another visit to the Pacific Northwest with the added opportunity to avoid YAWNmageddon.

Free Matt Dowd!

Now that Janice Hahn is going to Congress, the fight begins for her seat with yet another special election. While I don't have a horse in this race, it appears that firefighter union head Pat McOsker is quickly becoming the bloggers' favorite to be the whipping boy of this race.  McOsker, part of a politically connected family equally known for it's salty and surly aggressiveness as for it's dominance on the LA political scene, is already showing a need for anger management therapy.  Street Hassle reports that McOsker gave an expletive laden retort to questions as to his ability to simultaneously helm the union and run for Council. In the meantime, anonymous detractors of McOkser have started a blog and apparently endured the wrath of McOsker's brother, Mike.

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Friday Free for All

California's landmark Parent Trigger Law, which allows students' parents to take control of failing schools, is currently before the State Board of Education which is crafting policies and regulations around the laws.  School teachers and administrators, of course no fan of the law, are seeking to direct how those rules are imposed.  Parent activists who worked to get the law passed, including Lydia Grant of Sunland-Tujunga, have filed an ethics complaint against board member Patricia Rucker, who is also a paid lobbyist for the California Teachers Association.  The parents are saying that Rucker's participation represents a conflict of interest and she should recuse herself from proceedings on the Parent Trigger Law.  Joining the parents is retired State Senator Gloria Romero, who authored the law, in calling on Rucker to step away.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Betty Pleasant (portrayed by TV's LaWanda Page
celebrates the inauguration of Bernard Parks.

In a move truly reminiscent of shutting the barn door after the horse has left, CM and possible Controller candidate, Dennis Zine, has called for reforms at the Department of Building and Safety.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto has reversed course and issued an apology for his rant about not getting paid when Controller John Chiang followed the law and refused to pay lawmakers who did not turn in a balanced state budget on time.  Blogger Paul Hatfield correctly notes that Gatto's apology is appropriate however the issue of the budget mess remains. Gatto, who received tough treatment from KFI's John and Ken last week, can be relieved the shock jocks are reportedly on vacation this week.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

No-See-Em Any More

The LA City Council has voted to end the much despised Red Light Camera program on July 31. Councilman Zine is also advising LA residents to ignore any tickets that they may receive if caught on camera blowing through an intersection between now and July 31.. Thanks, Dennis!

Uh-Oh, Empty suit in Cali! Hide your checkbooks!

Union Rescue Mission is shutting down some homeless shelters that are under contract to local and federal agencies due to non-payment or not adequate compensation for services provided. URM is claiming that they are still owed over $300,000 by FEMA for operating four winter shelters in Los Angeles.
URM has also experienced a big drop in donations while experiencing a 100% increase in need for services. Additionally, URM will be facing a $1.3 mil deficit beginning July 1st.

Joseph Mailander AKA Mulholland Terrace AKA The Stay at Home Blogger managed to step deeply into his own blogger poop twice already this week (and it's only Wednesday). His 2 reports on the efforts by the Sunland-Tujunga community to improve and bring some teeth to our Specific Plan were long on innuendo and speculation, but noticeably absent of  basic facts. Bizarrely, he calls out the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance (the group I am co-director of) for being quiet on a proposed SB1818 apartment complex: 
"The Sunland Tujunga Alliance, once groud zero of the City's anti-density advocacy, has also been unusually quiet about a pending 64-unit inclusionary zoning project on Samoa..."

 A couple of problems with Joseph Mailander's statement; 

1.The STA has never dealt with housing issues or high density in our entire existence. Our focus has always been upholding the Foothill Blvd Corridor Specific Plan, which regulates commercial properties and retail development.
2.There are currently no plans filed with the City for the Samoa Project.  It's extremely difficult for anyone to fight against a theoretical apartment building.

Joseph, next time, try to do a little research, get both sides of the story, and maybe actually attend a S-T community meeting instead of writing your story pretending that you were there.

Finally, in case you missed Red Spot's story; Mike Gatto is very, very, upset!

USER ALERT! Mike Gatto Blog May Contain Link to Malware

Proceed at your own caution.

According to Google, the Mike Gatto Is A Sweet Dude Blog may be an unsafe site as it uses content from a site known to distribute malware. Google gives more details here. Who knows what kind of gadgets, funky code, etc. those folks may have installed over there to keep an eye on you.

Indeed, something is not right here.

Is This The Kind of Offensive Material Mike Gatto Wants His Name Associated With?

A blog dedicated to Assemblyman Mike Gatto is amusing as it is disturbing; but some of the content on it does not seem befitting of an elected official.  While one would assume that Gatto and his official staff have nothing to do with the Mike Gatto is a Sweet Dude blog (or at least HOPE!), we wonder why the Gattoistas have not (to our knowledge anyway) made public attempts to distance themselves from the blog and it's creators.

You may remember Nahabedian as one of the pathetic joke candidates Mike Gatto crushed as he took control of the 43rd District. She ran a relentlessly negative campaign against Mike Gatto, which probably had less to do with politics than it did with her obvious desire to possesses him sexually.

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Mike Gatto Hates Cameras

Public Event, Public Official, No Cameras?
First time I've seen this video even though the incident took place last year. 

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Joe B has prodded me to do a Hotsheet even though it is Christmastime and I don't feel like it. So here I go and he probably won't like this.

If you are into things like City Design Guidelines then Ron Kaye has a nice Christmas present for you.

Used to be a big deal in the media who Mayor Parkervillar was dating. Now, they're just not into him anymore. Dennis Zine is LA's newest municipal stud.

The Sezmi $20 a month over the air "cable-like" television service is going out of business.

Even though Democrats currently control all three branches of the Federal Government somehow it's the Republicans' fault the DREAM Act didn't pass. Next up Democrats will be blaming Republicans for the demise of the dinosaurs, the Spanish Inquisition and the cancellation of the 1978 NBC television show "Supertrain."

My friend Phil Jennerjahn still thinks the SEIU wanted him as a keynote speaker for a protest outside the Parkervillar manse. Phil - two words for you - cable pundit.

I guess Tom LeBong wanted to be the center attraction and not the moon itself during a Griffith Observatory program on Monday night's rare Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse. Makes sense since Tom likes to have everything be in his shadow. I sure hope Tomas O'Grady and Stephen Box are serious. We can't afford four more years of this clown which then greases (no pun intended) the skids for Mike "The Situation" Gatto. Excellent work as always by the folks at Griffith Park Wayist.

Los Angeles Political Hotsheet for Tuesday

Is HACLA Commissioner Maria del Angel, the person of interest in Eastern Group Publications story?

More controversy this morning from the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA), the city housing agency that has brought you $2,500 tidy bowls, a paranoid department head Rudy "the $400,000+ Man' Montiel and tales of corruption that are on par with the latest dubious dealings at the DWP. The Eastern Group Publications is reporting that residents of the Pico Gardens are alleging that a "housing commissioner has unfairly received special perks and privileges".

While EGP does not name the commissioner in question, the fact that the person was living in Estrada Courts before moving to Pico Gardens, leaves us to believe that the person is Maria del Angel, who according to her bio at HACLA's website is or was, a Estrada Courts resident.

Among the allegations made in the story are "claims that unusually expensive upgrades were made to the commissioner’s apartment, air conditions were installed in violation of housing rules, and that housing staff were paid with public funds to do special favors for the commissioner, like installing flat screen TVs".

The tenants who's letter was the basis for story, also contacted CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar which led to this response.

In a written statement to EGP, Councilman Jose Huizar said, “We are aware of the letter and have been in contact with those who reported the various concerns. Our office takes any allegations of improprieties seriously. We are asking the Housing Authority to investigate and reply in writing to questions in the letter that come under their jurisdiction,” he said in a written statement.

As a side note, Councilman Huizar's Campaign Counsultant Parke Skelton released a list of community leaders who are endorsing Huizar for re-election. One of them is ............. , Maria del Angel, Variety Boys and Girls Club, Housing Commissioner*.

Lets see where that investigation ends up.

OTHER NEWS:

** LA Weekly's Snarky Blogger Simone Wilson, posts on the looming deadline for those who want to comment pro or con on the ballot measures in the March, 2011 Elections. In the opening paragraph, Wilson manage to get this whack on one of our former bloggers here at Mayor Sam.

Are you one of those rare municipal geeks who always seems to know what the F is going on at City Hall? Have you always dreamed of seeing your street savvy in mass print? Are you woefully unemployed and have nothing better to do for the next 24 hours than perfect an argument about a jargony fiscal matter no one cares about? (No, we're not talking to you, Phil Jennerjahn. Please restrain yourself.)

Wonder if Mary will practice restraint after that whack on her blogging flav?

** Barrowing from the LA Weekly headline with additional wording in ( ), "Jack Kyser, Every L.A. Reporter's (except for blogger Walter Moore) Favorite Economist, Dies".

** Daily News Rick Orlov reported yesterday that Assemblyman Mike Gatto was pursuing various policy initatives. What about reporting on the DA investigation regarding his residency? Makes you want to puke.

** Wonder if Councilman Jose Huizar will continue his string of yes votes on proposed DWP rate increases?

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

Scott johnson in CD 14

LA Times: Assemblyman Mike Gatto's residency under investigation by District Attorney

"Remember this young Assemblyman?"

Not long ago in the recent political past, there was a young, up and coming politician from the working-class community of Silver Lake. But due to legal considerations, we bring you this from today's Los Angeles Times website.

David Demerjian, who heads the district attorney's public integrity division, said he is checking into allegations that freshman Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) did not live in his district last year at the address where he was registered to vote. Gatto's 43rd Assembly District includes Glendale and the northeast Los Angeles area. Gatto called the allegations, filed by a local Republican Party official shortly before the Nov. 2 election, groundless and politically motivated.

** DISCLAIMER: Please note that the words above were courtesey of Los Angeles Times Scribe Jean Merl. The Mayor Sam blog in no way, is responsible for this reporting.

From "The 818 Now Blog".

Gatto’s residency also now under investigation

** DISCLAIMER: Please note that the headline above is solely the creation of The 818 Blog. The Mayor Sam Blog in no way, is responsible for this headline.

From the "Westside White Guy" Kevin Roderick of "Observing West LA Life and his Times Blog".

The DA's office is looking into whether freshman Assemblyman Mike Gatto lives as required in his Burbank to Northeast LA district. He's another of those officeholders who claims not to live in the house outside the district that he owns himself, but in the house his mother owns inside the district. LAT

** DISCLAIMER: Please note that the words above are those of the "Westside White Guy". The Mayor Sam Blog in no way, is responsible for the word selection of the "WWG".

From The Jennerjahn Report.

Barnett to Cooley: Investigate Gatto

Dear Mr. Cooley:
My name is Jane Barnett, and I am a resident of Los Angeles County. I am writing to you with regard to my concern about the residency and voting history of California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto. (you can read the rest by linking above).

** DISCLAIMER: The headline and posting of Jane Barnett's letter to District Attorney Steve Cooley, were solely the actions of The Jennerjahn Report. The Mayor Sam Blog in no way, was responsible for the information posted at The Jennerjahn Report

From the podcast archives of KRLA Talk Show Host Kevin James.

Scott from CD 14 talks about the D.A. looking into Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

** DISCLAIMER: The early-morning utterances of Scott Johnson are solely his. The Mayor Sam Blog in no was, was responsible for spoll-checking his diction.

Your thoughts.............., with the disclaimer that the Mayor Sam Blog is no way, responsible for the content of the comments. After all, "disclaimers", mixed with "cease and desist threats", are a bloggin part of a Assemblyman Mike Gatto world.

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday: DA Steve Cooley being investigated by Callifornia FPPC

"Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley addressing the media"

Is San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris Campaign Consultant Ace Smith "going the Parke Skelton route", when it come to filing frivolous complaints with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), against their respective challengers for state office?

Witness when Parke Skelton's previous client Assemblyman Mike Gatto's supporters filed a FPPC complaint against challenger Sunder Ramani, the mere appearance of financial malfeasance, was enough to garner attention from willing allies within the newsprint community and in the bloggersphere. This regardless of the truth behind the accusation of the complaint.

Now Ace Smith is borrowing the FPPC tactic from his consulting soul mate Parke as the San Francisco Chronicle's Megan Lagosi reports,

As the vote counting in the attorney general race continues -- as well as bickering among the campaigns -- we have some real news to report: The state's campaign finance watchdog confirmed today that it has launched an investigation into Steve Cooley's gift-taking in recent years -- a practice detailed in The Chronicle.Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=77108#ixzz15TjUkmnL

Tactic looks familiar here?

Meanwhile, back here in Los Angeles County, both sides are "calling out the goons", in the LA Weekly's words, to observe the vote counting at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office in Norwalk.

As of 12:30PM, the California Secretary of State Office shows Harris leading by 30,997 votes.

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A Mayor Sam Retraction

" Glendale News-Press caption refers to Congressman Mike Gatto"

For the record, a post written at Mayor Sam by myself, stated that "a Mike Gatto" had been evicted from a 901 Levering Ave. 15, Los Angeles, California 90024. Further, I stated that "a Mike Gatto" was subjected to a court judgment for $1,355.00.

Upon further review with my sources, it has been concluded that the "Mike Gatto" mentioned in the post, is not the current Assemblyman Mike Gatto. For that, I apologize for my mistake.

It should be noted, that there was never was any communication from the Mike Gatto Campaign, for a retraction, prior to the "Cease and Desist Letter" from Assemblyman Gatto.

It is my paramount priority when writing for Mayor Sam to present the correct facts went musing on a chosen subject or person. But like the Glendale News-Press above, it is our responsibility to make corrections when warranted.

Scott Johnson

Two Hours to go! Don't Forget to Vote!

From Griffith Park Wayist