Morning Briefs and Outtakes for this Day after the "Fifth of July" Celebration in CD-14

" The "Mayor" speaks on the cost of Michael Jackson Memorial"

*Acting Mayor/ Councilwoman Jan Perry got her face time this morning on CBS's "Early Show" as noted at the Time's "L.A. Now Blog" .

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry said she was concerned about the cost involved in Tuesday's huge Michael Jackson memorial and would "love it" if the Jackson family helped pay some of those bills.

But Perry, speaking on the CBS "Early Show," said city officials have not heard from the Jacksons. Perry, who represents the downtown area, said she did not have a cost estimate for police and other city services that will be needed Tuesday.

*Ron Kaye's OurLA.org writer and CD-14 activist Monica Harmon has some choice comments about allocating city resources, ie. cash, to cover the cost of "maintaining public order" for tomorrow's Jackson Memorial.

*Downtown News Editor and "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie had some salient observations and commentary from last week's swearing-in festivities at City Hall.

A note to Mayor Garcetti/Hertzberg/Caruso/Perry/Chick/LaBonge/Wesson/Nuñez/Alarcon (hah! That last one made me laugh as I wrote it) or whoever else envisions him or herself as having a chance to take the oath of office on July 1, 2013: You may want to rethink the idea of allowing other newly elected officials to approach the speaker’s podium on the day you ascend to power. It certainly seems like a magnanimous gesture, but you may get more than you bargained for. (Hey Jon, you forgot Huizar in your list of names, signed Jose Huizar.)

Villaraigosa was very good at the morning event. His 31-minute address was thoughtful and laid out a clear agenda, with notable goals and even a vague allusion to his first-term shortcomings. He was better than he has been in a long time.

But Trutanich was even better. Maybe it was partly because, as a political outsider, he’s still got that new car smell. Maybe it was because, as the son of a San Pedro cannery worker who made it into office as much on his own campaign as on the fact that people hated his opponent, few really know what to expect.

During introductions at the event, Nuch earned the biggest round of applause (master of ceremonies Derek Fisher — yes, the Laker, and no, I have no idea why he was the MC — got the second best response). Nuch got better from there. (And the next day Villar and Parker jets off to Africa to role play Jerry Brown and Linda Ronstadt.)

*That CD-14 bastion of low rents, no oversite and dubious dealings known as El Pueblo is the latest to face an audit from the City Controller's Office. That was met with this retort from El Pueblo Commission Member/ Southwest Society Member/ Woman of the Year, Carol Jacques

Although she had yet to read the report, El Pueblo Commissioner Carol Jacques was critical of the audit, noting that interim City Controller Rushmore Cervantes was a former general manager at El Pueblo.

“I felt there was a conflict of interest there,” she said. “I think you have a guy that was here last time four years ago. It’s like him auditing himself about things he should have completed.” (Wonder how Ms. Jacques would feel about an audit detailing the cost of favors, appointments, and public giveaways to members of the Southwest Society ??)

.....and as we enter the first full week of the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year, is Jose Huizar Deputy Chief of Staff Henry Casas still on the city payroll and why ??

Your thoughts........