Notes From Cancerous And Chaotic LA City Hall

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - You asked, so I explored.

Where is Nury Martinez's city-issued car?

According to the General Services Department, one day after resigning in disgrace earlier this month, LA City Council President Nury Martinez handed over the keys to her city-issued car, a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In, Modern Steel color, purchased for her for $41,551.30, including tax.

The taxpayers also covered her insurance, maintenance and gas up until then.

To find out what else this column discovered, head on over to my Substack and sign up for the free newsletter.  And don't forget to follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

City Hall Censoring Sexual Harassment Reporting on High-Ranking LAFD Karen Bass Fundraiser

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Well that didn't last long.

Despite syrupy promises of transparency and integrity by newly-minted interim City Council President Paul Krekorian in the wake of an ongoing City Hall racism scandal and stalemate with the two remaining Councilmembers who refuse to resign, ongoing efforts to relentlessly censor and retaliate against this column are in full bloom.

It's amazing what good inside sources and three recent appearances on "The John and Ken Show" on KFI AM 640 will do to stoke City Hall paranoia as it loses its grip on its secrecy habits just a few weeks ahead of a general election.

The rest of my free column is over on Substack.  While you're there, sign-up for my free newsletter and follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

Angry Mob 3, Racist LA City Council 0

By Daniel Guss - It looks like the geniuses at LA City Council are in a pickle.

With Nury Martinez finally realizing that she had to resign in disgrace late yesterday, Jamba Juice Mitch O'Farrell, the president pro tem, is running the show, except that his dearth of leadership is now front and center.

As I predicted on Monday, "there is precisely zero percent chance that even a single City Council meeting can move forward with so many voices calling for Martinez, Cedillo, de Leon and Herrera to resign."

To read the rest of my column, jump on over to my Substack.  While you're there, sign-up for my free newsletter and follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

Excess Recess: Another Reason To Fire LA Politicians

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Los Angeles infamously has the highest-paid city council in the United States.  Its fifteen members rake in $224,000 in salary, as of 2021, plus gobs of perks and lucrative jobs for their family members while vastly under-serving constituents even in the most basic things like keeping us safe, putting out fires and fixing sidewalks and potholes.  City-wide officeholders like the City Controller, City Attorney and Mayor are paid 10%, 20% and 30% more, respectively.

In the 135 days between December 10, 2021 and last Friday, do you care to guess how many of its thrice-weekly meetings it canceled?

(L.A. City Council president Nury Martinez - Photo Credit E. Mesiyah McGinnis/LA Sentinel)

To read more, jump on over to https://danielguss.substack.com/ and sign up for the free newsletter.

Follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.

(Daniel Guss, MBA, was runner-up for the 2021 Los Angeles Press Club journalism award in the Activist Journalism category.  In 2020, he was runner-up for Best Online Political Commentary.  He has contributed to Mayor Sam, CityWatchLA, KFI AM-640, iHeartMedia, 790-KABC, Cumulus Media, KCRW, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal, Pasadena Star News, Los Angeles Downtown News and the Los Angeles Times in its Sports, Opinion and Entertainment sections and Sunday Magazine, among other publishers.)

BREAKING NEWS!! CD-13 City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell ENDORSES Joe Bray-Ali in CD 1 Runoff

In a RARE Los Angeles City Hall Political Move, CD-13 City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell has ENDORSED CD-1 City Council May Runoff Challenger Joe Bray-Ali against Incumbent City Councilman Gil Cedillo. 

CD-13 City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell.

CD-1 City Council Challenger Joe-Bray-Ali.

** Blogger's Notes: Breaking News from the Joe Bray-Ali Campaign via CD-13 City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell. From the Downtown News.

“Joe Bray-Ali understands the issues facing Los Angeles and demonstrates a sense of urgency in addressing the affordable housing crises, safety in our neighborhoods, and responsiveness to constituent needs,” O’Farrell said in a prepared statement. “His positive grassroots campaign has motivated more people to participate in the democratic process at the local level and become engaged in the pressing issues that affect Angelenos. This city faces daunting challenges and we need someone like Joe to bring a fresh perspective, new ideas, and an open mind to decision making for our city.”

Simple HUGE!!

MayorSam on the Air!

Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., I'll be guest co-hosting with Frank Sheftel on LATalkRadio.com on his Frank Talk program.

Our guests include Mel Tillekeratne, Founder and Leader of the Monday Night Mission. Tillekeratne is leading a campaign entitled "Mitch O'Farrell's War On The Poor" protesting an LA City Council motion supported by O'Farrell which looks to ban feeding homeless people in public spaces. Progressive human rights organizations and evangelical Christian groups who provide services to homeless and poverty stricken individuals have formed an unlikely coalition over the matter.

Also joining us will be Steven Vincent and Jay Beeber of the Los Angeles Parking Freedom Initiative, a citizen movement to sponsor a municipal ballot initiative to rectify the abuses of the current parking enforcement policy in Los Angeles.

We'll be discussing other news items of the week and perhaps taking your phone calls at 818.324.0815.

You can listen live on your computer at www.latalkradio.com or on a mobile device via the LATalkRadio iPhone app, the LATalkRadio Android app or the TuneInRadio app (for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry or Amazon Kindle).

Glassell Park NC's Bradley has a Special "Meet and Greet" Announcement .....

Glendale Kia and Northeast Activists are host a Candidate Meet and Greet this Friday night at the LA River Center in Cypress Park. Information via Bradley below.

 Former President Bradley of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council.

As a bloggin public service, we post this announcement by Bradley of the Glassell lPark Neighborhood Council.

Please join Northeast and East Los Angeles Business Leaders, Residents, and Stakeholders on Friday May 17, 2013 from 6pm – 9pm for a Candidate’s “Meet & Greet” Forum at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens located at 570 West Avenue 26 in the Community of Cypress Park. (see flyer)  Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich, Candidate for LA City Attorney, Ron Galperin, Candidate for City Controller, Jose Gardea, Candidate for Council District 1 and John Choi, Candidate for Council District 13 will be present to engage, enlighten and educate participants on their agendas and why they should be your elected official for the next 4 years.  Eric Garcetti, 2013 Candidate for Mayor and Kevin James, previous Republican Candidate for Mayor may stop-by to say “hello” and join in on the “Meet & Greet” Forum. 

This Event is sponsored by local businesses, community leaders and KIA Dealership in the Northeast/East LA Community and is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FREE Food & Refreshments will be served with FREE Parking provided on a first-come, first space basis. Please remember that the City of Los Angeles general, municipal, and special elections are on Tuesday May 21, 2013.  Your decision on selecting the right candidate for Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller, or Councilmember will affect the way you live, work and own property in the City of Los Angeles

If you haven’t made your decision on who to vote for yet, WE hope to see you there on Friday May 17, 2013 from 6pm – 9pm for a Candidate’s “Meet & Greet” Forum at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens located at 570 West Avenue 26 in the Community of Cypress Park.

Bradley,

Advocate/Facilitator/Organizer

www.glassellparknc.org http://www.glassellparknc.org

** We should ask whether if CD 13 Candidate Mitch O'Farrell and CD 1 Candidate Gil Cedillo, were invited to attend this event? UPDATE: The Mitch O'Farrell Campaign was not invited to this event. The Gil Cedillo Campaign is checking their records.  

Were Wendy, Dennis, Mitch and Gil invited to this event?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Outtakes from the CD Hipster 13 Election Proceedings

The "Other Guy" John Choi in the CD Hipster 13 Campaign files a voter fraud complaint against Mitch O'Farrell as the respective runoff campaigns in CD 1,9 and 13 venture into negative territory ahead of May 21. 

Does this John Choi Hit Piece cross the line of respectable campaigning?

We bring you the latest choreographed campaign scandal from the progressive choice in political consulting S G & A. (the home of the legendary "Parque" Skelton).

As the connected and non-connected players in the campaign to select the replacement for CD 13 City Councilman Eric Garcetti, make their choice between former Garcetti Staffer Mitch O'Farrell and recent CD 13 Transplant (nice way of saying carpetbagger) John Choi, the rhetoric and accusations from the respective camps is treading on illegality.

The Choi Campaign Consultant Mike Shimpock has fallen back on tire tactic of S G & A to manufacture a supposed scandal by accusing the O'Farrell Campaign of the following as reported by the LA Times.

According to a spokeswoman for L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, prosecutors are trying to determine whether backers of one candidate illegally filled out mail-in ballots for dozens of voters in the Armenian enclave in East Hollywood. The May 21 election will decide who succeeds Eric Garcetti, who is running for mayor.In a complaint sent to Lacey's office, an attorney for candidate John Choi accused backers of Choi's opponent, Mitch O'Farrell, of "widespread voter fraud and illegal electioneering activities."The complaint alleges that O'Farrell campaign workers filled out voters' ballots for their candidate while telling them they were voting for Sam Kbushyan, a candidate of Armenian descent who ran and lost during the primary election. 

Why would the Choi Campaign want to target Kbushyan and his supporter?

Both campaigns are looking for votes in Little Armenia, in large part because Kbushyan and his supporters registered nearly 3,000 new voters there in the March 5 primary.Kbushyan surprised many in the political establishment when he came in third, placing higher than several other contenders with more money and City Hall support.

Read more »

Congressman Becerra Endorses Mitch O'Farrell for CD 13

CD 13 City Council Candidate Mitch O'Farrell.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN XAVIER BECERRA ENDORSES MITCH O’FARRELL FOR LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 13

April 11, 2013

Adding to a growing list of local endorsements since winning the March 5 primary, the Mitch O’Farrell campaign announced today that Mitch has received the endorsement of Congressman Xavier Becerra. Congressman Becerra represents Los Angeles and shares many of the same neighborhoods of Council District 13.

“I have known Mitch for over 10 years and appreciate the quality of his leadership and high standard of service. He will make a great Councilmember for the 13th Council District because he cares deeply about the people in it, and knows how to make things happen. Mitch is tireless in his desire to serve,” said Becerra.

“It’s a great honor to receive the endorsement of one of our nation’s leading lawmakers—someone whom I have worked with on numerous projects within the 13th District,” said Mitch O’Farrell.

Mitch also stated, “I have always looked up to Congressman Becerra and his dedication to the democratic values of fairness and equality for all. As a Congressman for 20 years, he has positively impacted the lives of Americans across the U.S. and especially the residents of the 13th City Council District. I look forward to working closely with Congressman Becerra to help improve our neighborhoods, keep up our wonderful momentum, and always seek ways for government to be more efficient and effective for all residents.”

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Former Councilperson Bernard Parks and Jan Perry Planning Staffer David Roberts endorsed by LA Times in CD 9 Contest. 

A candidate like David Roberts who know the district and has a plan for economic revival, is worthy of being its next CD 9 City Councilperson.

Great Monday morning to all as we enter the last full week of campaigning before our March 5 Election Day.

How excited are you in casting your vote four the next mayor, a new councilperson, a sales tax increase, some Doomberg-financed LAUSD School Board candidates and lets not forget LACCD Trustees?

According to Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet (aka Daily News) City Hall Beat Writer Rick Orlov, only ten percent of register voters have returned their absentee ballot. That telling fact should add urgency to the campaigning of the candidates as they seek out voters to get their respective campaigns, in the top two slots, as most contests seem likely to end up in a May Runoff.

** In the contested campaign battlegrounds of Council Districts 9 and 13, the “Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street” (aka LA Times), has endorsed former CD 9 Redistricting Commission Representative David Roberts and City Councilman Eric Garcetti staffer Mitch O’Farrell, respectively. We spent some quality time interviewing Roberts last week at his Campaign Headquarters and will endeavor to share that conversation with our audience this evening.

** The candidates to replace CD 1 City Councilman Ed Reyes will meet tonight in their last debate before Election Day at the Sacred Heart Church Auditorium (Sichel and Griffin Streets) in Lincoln Heights, beginning at 7:00 PM.

** Tune in your radios to Westside LA/ Santa Moscow’s Public Radio Station KCRW at 2:15 PM , as the candidates for City Attorney come together for their last debate. Expect a contentious, vigorous dialog as the sitting City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and main challenger Mike Feuer are sure to rain verbal salvos on run another.

** The Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street is up to its old agenda journalism antics with today’s supposed expose on the past and currents comments by Mayoral Candidate Kevin James. So much for the thought that one evolves his opinions as he or she goes through daily life’s experiences.

Mayor Sam exposes more campaign work via "Stay at Home Wife/ Political Consultant Lani Shallman

John and Lani Shallman sharing quality consulting time at home. 

** Lastly, we have a “Stay at Home Mom/ Political Consultant” Lani Shallman sighting!! Last seen making over $ 1 Million dollars in business, off the likes of a WalMart and Tea Party associated IE PAC in the 46th Assembly District Election. Mrs Shallman is doing IE work in support of WalMart Friend and CD 9 Candidate State Senator Curren Price. Those chums of WalMart sure have each others back.

MAIL-1

Date Payee/Description Amount 02/07/13 West Coast Public Affairs/ Printing, mail service, delivery, data files, postage $14,286.58

$14,286.58

MAIL-2

Date Payee/Description Amount 02/07/13 West Coast Public Affairs/ Printing, mail service, delivery, data files, postage $14,268.58

$14,268.58

MAIL-3

Date Payee/Description Amount 02/12/13 West Coast Public Affairs/ Printing, Mail Service & Delivery, Data Files, Postage $14,286.58

$14,286.58

MAIL-4

Date Payee/Description Amount 02/12/13 West Coast Public Affairs/ Printing, Mail Service & Delivery, Data Files, Postage $14,286.58

$14,286.58

MAIL-5

Date Payee/Description Amount 02/21/13 West Coast Public Affairs/ Printing, Mail Service & Delivery, Data Files, Postage $14,286.58 02/21/13 JMM Research/ Survey $6,500.00

$20,786.58

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14