Breaking: SEIU "Shellacked" in Wisconsin

MSNBC reports Democrats failed in Wisconsin's recall elections to gain back control of the state's legislature from Republicans.

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.

Former SEIU 660 President Alejandro Stephens to serve four months in prison

"Former SEIU 660 President Alejandro Stephens contemplates jail time".

Four months, probably less with good behavior.

But for disgraced former SEIU Local 660 President Alejandro Stephens, the stigma of contributing to debunking the legacy of the late Los Angeles County Labor Federation Leader Miguel Contreras, will weigh on Stephens for life in the labor community.

Stephens enters jail today, having pleaded guilty to tax evasion and federal mail fraud. His plea was the byproduct of a 2004 scheme that funneled $52,000 from the Contreras created Voter Improvement Project (VIP), into campaign coffers, for his successful election as President of SEIU Local 660. Local 660 is the primary union for 50,000+ LA County workers.

While Stephens is the only person doing jail time, the likes of former girlfriend and California SEIU Leader Arnelle Grajeda ("A.G."), son Carlos Grajeda ("C.G.") and Contreras ("M.C."), were listed by federal investigators as "co-schemers. The feds also questioned former SEIU International Leader Andy Stern, on whether he provided Stephens with a "no show position", but no accusations or charges are pending.

For SEIU, the Stephens conviction is the latest embarrassment for the union in Los Angeles. Stephens and Grajeda join the likes of former SEIU 6434 Leader Tyrone Freeman, who looted union coffers and directed those monies to dubious non-profits with ties to family members. Freeman also attempted to raise the dues of some of his poorest members and directed them into financial resources for LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas campaign. Freeman was removed by SEIU and awaits any legal repercussions stemming from his various schemes. The excessive dues that were taken from his members, were made whole by the union.

But the biggest hit here, besides Stephens doing jail time, is to the legacy of the late Miguel Contreras. With the conviction of Stephens, which by the way, was an outgrowth of the Martin Ludlow/ SEIU 99 investigation and convictions and mixed it with the dubious political follies of Contreras disciples former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. the Contreras Legacy is forever tarnish.

The harsh reality is that political historians will look back upon the supposed golden era of the Labor Left in Los Angeles and see where destructive narcissus behavior, mixed with financial excesses in the labor-dominated halls of governments, led us to our looming day of financial reckoning.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

** Bloggers note: I served with Carlos Grajeda on the City of Commerce Part-Time Union Board which was part of the old SEIU Local 347, under the ethical and democratic leadership of then General Manager Julie Butcher. During my time as Treasurer and Secretary, many of us knew of the linkage of Stephens and the Grajedas. But none of us knew of the scheme which resulted in the legal proceedings, that are the premise for this post.

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on SEIU "Friend" Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, LAPD shakeup, Councilwoman Perry "Shakedown" (LOL!) of AEG and other News

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and County Labor Federation Head Maria Elena Durazo

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas ex. "SEIU Brother" Tyrone Freeman

What does County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas have to hide, especially from Federal Investigators and the Los Angeles Times?

But first, a flashback moment.

Controversy surrounding a powerful Los Angeles labor leader threatened Thursday to alter the landscape beneath the county's hottest political race, which has been fueled by record amounts of union spending.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors candidate Bernard C. Parks, who trailed in the June primary, challenged opponent Mark Ridley-Thomas to return more than $4.5 million raised on his behalf by a labor alliance that included beleaguered union leader Tyrone Freeman.

Parks, a Los Angeles city councilman, also noted that county officials have accused Freeman's local of raising more than $5 million in illegitimate union dues from low-wage home healthcare workers, a charge that union attorneys have flatly denied.

That was then, this is today from LA Times Investigative Reporter Paul Pringle.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has declined to release any records of communications between his office and a longtime associate who has been employed by corporations that do millions of dollars of business with the county and a rail project that Ridley-Thomas helps oversee.

Ridley-Thomas similarly rejected Times requests for any e-mails, memos and letters involving the companies that hired the associate, Cynthia McClain-Hill, earlier this year.

The Times has reported that federal authorities have questioned people about Ridley-Thomas' ties to McClain-Hill and her employment with a joint venture managed by Flatiron Construction, which is building the $862-million, taxpayer-funded Expo Line light rail train. McClain-Hill, a lawyer who owns a lobbyist firm and has contributed thousands of dollars to Ridley-Thomas' campaigns, also works for Unisys Corp., which provides computer services to the county. Under the California Public Records Act, The Times sought more than nine months of records, including copies of the supervisor's appointment calendar and telephone bills.

The Feds are looking at Supervisor Ridley-Thomas? Wonder why?

The federal queries grew out of a U.S. Labor Department and FBI investigation into alleged corruption within the Service Employees International Union, a key financial backer of Ridley-Thomas' election campaign last year, people familiar with the probe say.

Could it be that someone with former SEIU ties is "singing" to the Feds? Plus, it is no secret that Supervisor Ridley-Thomas has close ties to SEIU and their "associates" as noted by veteran practitioner of "outcome-based, agenda journalism", former LA Times scribe and current LA Observed contributer Bill Boyarsky.

The Project Acorn event was at the headquarters of Local 721 of the Service Employees Union. It hadn�t started so I walked around the Virgil Avenue neighborhood, a few miles west of downtown. It�s a neighborhood of apartments, probably affordable for working families (if they double up) but they will be out of range if building ever resumes. At the union hall, I ran into Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, and interviewed him on the closed Martin Luther King Jr. hospital for a story I plan to do for LA Observed on his race with Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks. Then I introduced both Mama Hill and a short video about her and about how she faced foreclosure.

Too bad that Boyarsky was fixated on the outcome of his agenda missive, thus missing the chance to get to the bottom of now Supervisor Ridley-Thomas dubious ties to SEIU, but then this is from the noted denier of "Raineygate".

OTHER NEWS:

** Less than one week from being sworn in as former Chief Bill Bratton's "designated heir" in the role of City of Los Angeles "Top Cop", Chief Charlie Beck announces a shake up of his command staff.

From the Los Angeles Times.

Beck, who was confirmed as chief by the City Council last Tuesday, promoted Deputy Chief Michel Moore to become one of the LAPD's three assistant chiefs and assigned him to a newly created post in charge of Special Services, according to an announcement released Monday.

In his new post, Moore will oversee an array of specialized operations that, until now, have been run separately, including the agency's Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the elite Metropolitan Division and the Detective Bureau.

To make room for Moore, Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who for several years has been the second-highest-ranking person in the department, dropped one rank to deputy chief and will take on a new position as chief of detectives.

Link to the takes on Chief Beck's shakeup from Ron Kaye and the Daily News.

** With apologies to the Bob "Big Hug" Hertzberg, Governor Arnold "Kennedy Republican" Schwartzenegger has chosen fellow moderate/RINO republican State Senator Abel Maldonado, to replace now Congressman John Garamendi as Lt. Governor, Maldonado must be confirm by both the Assembly and State Senate.

** Hold your laughs please, Councilwoman Jan Perry said Monday she is talking to officials at Anschutz Entertainment Group about reimbursing at least some of the $3.2 million in taxpayer money spent on the "non- permitted" AEG/ Michael Jackson memorial. Now LOL!!

** Talk about stimulating your political appetite. The City Council will resume talks Tuesday on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance that would let dispensaries sell pot to qualified patients -- even though the city attorney and district attorney insist such transactions would be illegal.

The City Council will consider amending the fifth draft (in how many flippin years!?) of the proposed ordinance submitted by the city attorney. Among the three dozen amendments proposed to the measure are:

-- only 70 collectives would be allowed citywide, or one medical marijuana facility per 57,000 residents, each chosen via a blind random drawing; link here for the rest.

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

Conservative Media Mogul Andrew Breitbart to Guest Host on KFI 640 AM from 7-10 PM Sunday Night

Biggovernment.com creator Andrew Breitbart

LA Times Media Columnist Jim Rainey of "Raineygate" fame.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his ACORN "Rent a Mob" supporters.

ACORN's role in helping elect "Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa".

Conservative media mogul Andrew Breitbart, creator of "breitbart.com", "bighollywood.com" and "biggovernment.com", will guest host on KFI 640 AM, tonight from 7-10 PM. This time slot is usually the domain of erudite, conservative host John Batchelor.

Breitbart's "biggovernment.com" expose on the dubious doings of ACORN, as documented by aspiring video-journalists Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe, hit locally last week with videos of ACORN LA's operations.

ACORN LA release this statement, regarding the LA videos, through their favorite PR organ known locally to most as the Los Angeles Times, aka, "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street".

But from the "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street", there is still no statement about the "journalistic malpractice" that was Media Columnist Jim Rainey's "outcome-based, agenda journalism" hit piece on Breitbart's ACORN expose, thus "Raineygate" continues.

Breitbart, for his part, has drawn the ire of the "holy grail" of liberal "outcome-based, agenda journalism" in the form of the Columbia Journalism Review. This is for his comments directed at United States Attorney General Eric Holder.

Not only are there more tapes, it’s not just ACORN. And this message is to Attorney General Holder: I want you to know that we have more tapes, it’s not just ACORN, and we’re going to hold out until the next election cycle, or else if you want to do a clean investigation, we will give you the rest of what we have, we will comply with you, we will give you the documentation we have from countless ACORN whistleblowers who want to come forward but are fearful of this organization and the retribution that they fear that this is a dangerous organization. So if you get into an investigation, we will give you the tapes; if you don’t give us the tapes, we will revisit these tapes come election time.

This blogger has no doubt that Breitbart will cover the above topics during his three-hour stint on KFI, this evening. But hopefully Breitbart will dedicate some time to discussing ACORN's local connections to LA's various politicos.

For example, one can find so much to dwell on in this one paragraph, from former LA Times City Hall Beat Writer and Ethics Commissioner Bill Boyarsky, as posted at LA Observed.

The Project Acorn event was at the headquarters of Local 721 of the Service Employees Union. It hadn�t started so I walked around the Virgil Avenue neighborhood, a few miles west of downtown. It�s a neighborhood of apartments, probably affordable for working families (if they double up) but they will be out of range if building ever resumes. At the union hall, I ran into Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, and interviewed him on the closed Martin Luther King Jr. hospital for a story I plan to do for LA Observed on his race with Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks. Then I introduced both Mama Hill and a short video about her and about how she faced foreclosure.

We can explore ACORN's relationship with SEIU to begin. How about now County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas links to SEIU figures such as the disgrace former head of SEIU 6434 General Manager Tyrone Freeman? What about the connections of former SEIU 660 officials Arnelle Grajeda and Alejandro Stephens to the late Miguel Contreras's dubious V.I.P. non-profit? Then we can discuss Boyarsky's support for ACORN and how it would affect his '"objective comments" regarding the ethical lapses of Columnist Jim Rainey.

Further, maybe Breitbart could take some calls from local activists who are well-versed in Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's links to ACORN and their role in getting him elected to CD 14 in 2003 and in 2005, to Mayor. Patterico's Patrick Frey would be an logical person to have on-air to discuss the numerous past episodes of "outcome-based, agenda journalism" at the "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street" and how they penned "hit pieces" as noted by the Boulevard Sentinel in 2003, during their former incarnation as the "LA Antonia Times". Their goal was to merge newsroom and editorial resources, into the objective of furthering the "political agenda" of Antonio Villaraigosa.

In closing, hope you tune in tonight, then look forward to the spin tomorrow from the likes of LA Observed and the LA Times, the old guard of the liberal "outcome-based, agenda journalism".

Your thoughts........

$3.1 Million in union cash for Ridley-Thomas

Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt chosen candidate for the 2nd District Board of Superviser Mark Ridley-Thomas is raking in the cash from various unions.

from the LA Times blog "LA Now"

A union committee reported gathering $3.1 million in the last two months to help state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas win the 2nd District seat being vacated by county Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke.

With the Nov. 4 election only weeks away, the independent expenditure committee has amassed a total of $7.1 million to help Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) defeat Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks.

Wonder how much is SEIU's contribution to this fund?? Something for Tyrone Freeman to tell the D.A. in his pending corruption case.

BTW, good luck to the Dodgers against the Phillies.

Strong-arming the City Council backs Villaraigosa into a Corner

Did Mayor Villaraigosa try to strong-arm Councilmembers Tony Cardenas, Bernard Parks and Dennis Zine into not holding a meeting of hundreds of city employees and animal rescuers last night?

You betcha.

Did it work? No sir!

According to those in attendance, nearly 200 people composed of animal shelter employees, union officials, rescuers, and media attended the special evening Personnel Committee meeting at Van Nuys City Hall to demand the termination of Edwin M. Boks, the Animal Services general manager and Linda Barth, his hand-picked assistant general manager.

Villaraigosa’s office also ordered Boks’ Animal Services commissioners to not attend the event, although two (Archibald J. Quincey and president Glen Brown) disregarded those directives.

The Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Daily News have stories about this today, but both missed the most shocking testimony of the evening, which was confirmed by several people in attendance.

Former chief veterinarian of the Department of Animal Services, Kathy Rainey, said Mr. Boks ordered her to “conduct certain veterinary practices with infectious diseases without regard for public safety, including allowing public access to a rabies isolation area, even though such jurisdiction is a county function once rabies is diagnosed."

Mr. Boks, she said, told her that the worst that could happen is that she would receive "just a slap on the wrist and that the California Veterinary Board should not be in our business."

The vet also said that Mr. Boks allowed other medical decisions to be made by another Assistant GM, even though she has no background in veterinary medicine, causing six other veterinarians to leave the city to practice elsewhere.

After detailing other shocking behavior from Mr. Boks and/or Ms. Barth, Dr. Rainey said that as a public health official, she resigned because if she acted as Mr. Boks directed her to, the California Veterinary Board could have revoked her license.

The veterinarian advised that if such practices were ever reported to the state, and proven to be true, it could cost the city its own state license to run animal shelters.

A 29 year department employee, Kathy Mooney, said she is retiring early due to Mr. Boks' intimidation, said she felt like she is "hanging herself" by coming to the meeting, told how in her job as the keeper-of-department-kill-statistics, Mr. Boks creates ever-vaguer statistics so that Mr. Boks can make false claims that the city is "95% No Kill," even though it kills tens of thousands of animals per year.

Victor Gordo, a union representative, told of the threats, intimidation and unfair labor practices employed by Mr. Boks and Ms. Barth.

Mr. Brown (the Animal Services commission president) publicly denied that these wide-scale employee concerns were ever brought to the commission’s attention. That could be because Mr. Brown appears to have missed at least 10 commission meetings during his two year tenure. (Mr. Brown's claim were publicly disputed by Maria Atake, another former commissioner who told about her experiences with Mr. Boks. She said that the commission is a "rubber stamp for Ed Bok.")

Other problems addressed include a complete lack of training, policies & procedures, and emergency preparedness.

At one point, Dennis Zine asked, "Is there anyone in the room who has anything positive to say about Mr. Boks or Ms. Barth?" Only one employee got up, but it was to say, "Yes, they have united everyone in this room against them!"

The meeting ran so long that, after a full 4 hours of testimony, the Councilmembers still had dozens of speaker cards that had yet to be called, so the Council members told the crowd that the meeting would be reconvened within a few days.

Going back to the original point: Why did Mayor Villaraigosa try to strong-arm the City Councilmembers into not having the meeting?

That answer is embarrassment. For years, the Mayor has stayed with Mr. Boks because, to admit that he made yet another hiring mistake would be to arm future political opponents with proof of Villaraigosa’s incompetence. But now, with numerous TV and video cameras recording last night’s meeting, the Mayor can no longer claim he didn’t know.

All the Mayor can do is try to strong-arm the City Council, again, which, this time, it appears won’t be enough.

The Mayor is meeting on Thursday with Union officials to discuss the future of Mr. Boks’ and Ms. Barth's employment with the city.

~~~~~

As Paul Harvey says, then there’s “the other side of the story.” There is a money trail to someone who has been influencing the mayor to keep Mr. Boks. If anyone has more information about this, please write to us. Be prepared to help us name names.

Assorted Unionize Ass Clowns for the months of August and September

Memo to SEIU International Leader Andy Stern, can we get sponsorship for our prestigious award??

After all for the last couple of months the exploits of your union leadership and the resulting exploitation of members dues, have rekindle the investigated journalistic creed at the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" and up our hits here at Mayor Sam.

But most important for a city in need of democratic reforms, your leaders follies may help release organize labor's "strangle hold" on City Hall and County Government.

"Brother Andy", your principle that "bigger is better", that being in your restructuring of SEIU locals into "super locals" has brought you these returns locally.

*Tyrone Freeman of SEIU 6434 diverted dues money to non-profits run by family members.

**Arnelle Grajeda, Leader of "Super Local 721" is placed on admin. leave due to questions about money given to "sancho".

***Julie Butcher, former General Manager of SEIU 347 and now in charge of LA and Orange County Cities under 721, renews attempt to take over EAA membership, which could have national implications in the area of inter-union relations.

But there is one person not pictured here who's political aspirations in the short term could be the first to suffer in this growing scandal. Wonder who Mark???

Did the FBI Raid SEIU 721?

Wednesday evening a source within SEIU had tipped us off that the FBI were, at the moment, at the offices of Local 721.

Thursday morning the Communications Director of SEIU 721, Elizabeth Brennan emailed me to say nothing could be further from the truth.

So in an effort to allow Ms Brennan the opportunity to share her side of the story, I replied back asking her to give me details about what actually happened. Brennan then responded "What additional details are there? What you wrote is not true."

So in true, dialectic fashion I then asked Ms. Brennan "What was the FBI doing there?"

Crickets. No response.

Not "The FBI came by for a cup of coffee," or "That wasn't the FBI but Adee Plumbing," or "I'm going to say this and say it one time, the FBI was never here, not at all, no one, now we have to go back to the business of running this union for the workers."

So Ms. Brennan is saying what I wrote is not true (deny, deny, deny!) but she won't confirm if they were there or not.

A reader pointed out that "some people are saying the FBI was invited there by SEIU, others are saying it never happened."

When SEIU gets their story straight, or at least answers the question, we'll print it.

FBI Raids SEIU 721

An insider has told us that the FBI raided the offices of SEIU Local 721.  Stay tuned.

Aaarrrrgh! SEIU Mutiny Ahead!

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, scores of SEIU-member animal shelter employees will issue a No Confidence vote against Edward M. Boks, the General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services.

On the tail of Laura Chick's two recent audits declaring financial mismanagement, and a failure for his to prepare for the upcoming (October 1st) city-wide spay neuter law, the SEIU is finally putting its paw down and will ask for Mr. Boks' termination.

Boks lost similar positions in Maricopa County, Arizona, and New York City prior to coming to Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa hired him shortly after being elected.

An SEIU insider says, "Mr. Boks' showboating personality, and penchant for controversy and blogging has kept the city from progressing toward Mayor James Hahn's promise of a No Kill city by 2008. His misbehavior is also believed to be the cause of the failure of AB 1634, the California Healthy Pets Act, Lloyd Levine's proposed statewide mandatory spay-neuter law. Collectively, Mr. Boks' antics make for an unacceptable work environment for our members."

Grajeda Out at SEIU; Payments to "Boyfriend" in Question

The LA Times reports yet another leader at the Service Employees International Union has stepped down amidst an ever growing series of scandal and controversies at the powerful union.

According to The Times:

Annelle Grajeda is the third major SEIU leader to step aside following reports in The Times about the union's financial practices. The SEIU acknowledged Saturday that Grajeda was on leave as president of the L.A. local and the union's state council, and as an executive vice president of the national organization, because of allegations that she was improperly involved in the payments.

The union did not provide any details of Grajeda's purported role in the payment to the former boyfriend, Alejandro Stephens. The SEIU said it has demanded that Stephens, who was a longtime president of the Los Angeles chapter before it merged with several others, return the money.

In 2007, Stephens was paid nearly $14,000 by the Los Angeles office in "disbursements for official business" and $75,000 in consulting fees by the state council, according to the union's financial filings with the U.S. Labor Department.

Like their buddies who are elected officials, apparently these union leaders who talk a good game about "justice" for working people are really more about themselves and more about lining their pockets.

Lets hope the members of the SEIU realize they've been clowned and throw the whole lot out.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

LA County Supervisors have raised taxes again.  Property owners will be required to cough up another $50 million per year to fund the County's beleaguered hospital system.  Supervisor Mike Antonovich cast the lone dissenting vote.

Media Alert: If you thought the City using law enforcement resources to hassle the Shaw Family August 17th at Leimert Park was an abuse of power by the City, check back here on the blog at about 9:00 a.m. for a story about how a City agency has threatened community activists with police action for speaking their minds.

The scandal around deposed union leader Tyrone Freeman has fired up the battle between the SEIU and the EAA which represents the City's engineers and architects.  EAA has begun running radio commercials calling on LA's elected leaders to begin an investigation of the controversial SEIU. With labor divided and potentially in hot water, does this open the door for a candidate with means to enter the race and challenge a wounded Mayor Villaraigosa?


A Mexican national who allegedly massacred 19 people in Tijuana ten years ago has been found living in East Los Angeles. Jesus Ruben Moncada was arrested while taking out his garbage by ICE agents and handed over to 500 Mexican federal agents at the border Friday.

We usually ignore local blog crank Don Quixote, however I had to note his comment on our post about potential John McCain running mate Bobby Jindal.  Quixote who often posts comments on other blogs calling me a racist posted a bigoted comment about Jindal's Indian heritage. Good to see Don being consistent.

If you didn't have a chance to visit the blog over the weekend, here are some stories you may want to catch up on:

• A Pick for McCain
• A "Q and A" with "Madam Mayor Jan Perry",....at least for next week
• Hillary reacts to Biden's selection as Obama's V.P.
• Just In - Griffith Arsonist Apprehended
• A Volunteer's Story of Today's Jaimiel's Law Rally at Leimert Park

And finally, apparently actress Denise Richards' Hidden Hills neighbors weren't big on her shooting a reality show at her home.  So now, the 5600 square foot, five bedroom home is listed for sale at $4.25 million, about $100,000 than she paid for it.

How about $7,334,470?

In December 2004, the LA City Council voted to create the Office of Public Safety which consolidated a large number of public safety positions outside the LAPD in to one unit. This was pushed as a budget savings move which, in analysis by the CAO, could save Los Angeles between $200,000 and $900,000 annually.

In February 2008, councilites Greuel and Weiss issued a press release praising the increase in services and the amazing financial savings the creation of OPS has brought the City. (Whoohoo! Save us money!) Simultaneously, stating that they need more funding to do the job they promised to do in 2005 at an annual savings to the City, OPS has requested 2008-09 funding increases of: $2,480,000 + $911,000 + $1,000,000 + $1,532,000 + $25,000 + $1,386,470 = ... (drumroll) ... $7,334,470

Oops!


OPS was created using a ****load of Homeland Security funding with the noble ideal of somehow saving the City money while simultaneously transforming the City’s General Services Department Police into a one-size-does-fit-all solution to law enforcement issues not handled by LAPD in Los Angeles.

This money-saving consolidation caused huge upheavals in a number of the affected City Departments: Zoo, Recreation and Parks, Libraries, General Services, Convention Center all saw a large numbers of employees move to a new department along with the responsibility of some of the most fundamental services they provide. Today these departments continue to be responsible for making sure the services are provided to their respective public patrons, even though these services are now out of their control.

Devised by James Hahn and Wendy Greuel, the plan was shoved shamelessly through by SEIU who was pushing their 'one City, one workforce' mandate (shades of “one size fits all”) and who wanted control of a second police force that was unencumbered by the consent decree and the large number of paying union members that came along with the package.

In a yearlong series of public dog and pony shows, SEIU promised the public that the same services would be provided by OPS as were previously provided by Zoo security, Park Rangers, Library security officers, and GSD Police and Security at public buildings, plus a huge increase in the strictly public safety component. However, the statistics upon which these promises were made were incorrect by anywhere from 33% to 1000%, and SEIU and OPS knew it. Oops!

Regardless, on February 9th, 2005, OPS took over security at more than 800 City locations. And how is that going, so far?

As happened at a Feb 17, 2008 Elysian Park Public Safety forum hosted by Ed Reyes, LA City parks patrons -- those who are either not afraid of political ramifications or not afraid to lose their City-related jobs -- will tell you that not only are the same services not being provided by OPS, but previous service levels that used to be provided by a perpetually underfunded and understaffed Park Ranger division are not even being maintained. The promised “24 hour security coverage” holy grail might exist on paper, but good luck getting a response if the call isn't sexy enough for OPS to respond. Half the time they don’t even have a car in the area, which is exactly one of the main issues SEIU promised the public to correct with OPS. As for that CD 1 Elysian Park Public Safety forum? With concerned members of the public, Council Office and Rec and Parks officials and Park Rangers waiting, OPS arrived 90 minutes late. ...Oops.

Other agencies' public patrons have similar complaints. The Library Commission actually had the political gonads to vote against supporting the Consolidation, and their concerns have proved well-founded. In early 2007, KCBS did an indepth investigation on the huge increase in crime at LA City libraries, the very libraries whose security was taken over by OPS in 2005. In defending the rapidly growing money pit and bureaucratic nightmare, OPS Chief Garry Newton complained that his department was getting more calls that their faulty statistics said they would. He also stated that crime was actually down in City Libraries, but had no data to support the claim. Oops!

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do the math. $7,334,470 in additional funding is far greater than a maximum of $900,000 in savings, and this doesn’t included the major funding increases OPS has received using different excuses at different times in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The so-called savings are long a thing of the past. Yet, services to City patrons are no better in most cases, and worse in many cases.

Th OPS Consolidation is a very complex beast and Union and City officials are on notice to be team players about supporting this pet project; publicly they make a united front on the wonders of OPS-ness. But for the public, it comes down to this: OPS does not provide the same services as were previous provided and it does not save the City any money -- it actually costs a great deal more. Meanwhile, OPS has absorbed all of the Homeland Security resources and funding that may have gone to agencies like Zoo and Library Security forces and the Park Rangers who actually did provide the services in question as possible on the thinnest of fractions of the funding the OPS behemoth currently consumes. Now during the City budget crunch, OPS wants more. A lot more.


----------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Ben Golombek - Greuel
February 6th, 2008 (213)
473-7002

Lisa Hansen - Weiss

(213) 473-7005 Greuel, weiss OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY has improved security and saved city money OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY'S CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE EXTENDED

LOS ANGELES - Continuing their efforts to improve public safety and save taxpayer money, City Councilmembers Wendy Greuel and Jack Weiss, today, led the Los Angeles City Council in extending the Citizen Oversight Committee for the City's Office of Public Safety (OPS) for an additional two years. In December 2005, Councilmembers Greuel and Weiss led the City Council in creating the Office of Public Safety, which consolidated security divisions from City Departments, outside of the Los Angeles Police Department.

"The Office of Public Safety has helped to save the City money and make Los Angeles safer," said Councilwoman Greuel. "We have more security in our parks and at our City facilities with improved response times. Now more than ever, the city must address its economic inefficiencies and streamline the way it does business."

Because of the creation of OPS, City security forces now have the ability to respond to incidents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a result, OPS has been able to respond to 131% more calls than the Departments collectively could before the consolidation. The creation of the OPS has helped to save the City money by reducing bureaucracy and duplicative administrative roles.

"The collaboration of the City's public safety departments has been beneficial to maximize limited resources and expertise," said Councilmember Jack Weiss. "Continuing the oversight of the Office of Public Safety will ensure that this office delivers on its promise of efficiency in City services."

The consolidation has also helped enhance security at City facilities -- improving access control, monitoring systems, quality control for contract security, improved policies, procedures and training.

The OPS includes officers that were formerly part of the Departments of General Services, Library, Zoo, Recreation and Parks, El Pueblo and Convention Center.

# # #

Frantic Friday Scrambling

Joseph Mailander a guy in la • elsewhere • email

Tick...tick...tick...

SEIU endorses Obama, the Times says. Jawdropping.

The Mayor takes rightwing money to try to buy Prop S some insurance, Zahniser said earlier today.

The City may be throwing 40 unit condos up everywhere, and an election may be three days away, but Councilman Dennis Zine wants to protect Britney with a personal safety zone. By ordinance. Amazing.

Mayor Sam Awards Nominations

The nominations are in! To vote for the 2007 Mayor Sam Awards, "The Sammies," please click here.

You have until midnight on the 30th to vote, we'll announce the winners on the 31st.

Local Elected Politician of the Year
Assemblyman Paul Krekorian
Eric Garcetti
Janice Hahn
Michael Ten of South Pasadena
Sheriff Lee Baca

Local Elected Politician's Staffer of the Year
Stuart Waldman
Michael Tou
Young Gi Kim
Josh Kamensky
Jennifer Cohen

Hottest Politician's Wife, Husband, Boyfriend or Girlfriend
Corina Raigosa
Long Beach City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal's husband Daniel
Tony Cardenas' wife

Sexiest City Government Employee - Female
Kellie Hawkins, Exec. Dir, Comm on Status of Women
Young-Gi Kim
Janelle Erickson
Kieren in Perry's office

Sexiest City Government Employee - Male
Antonio Villaraigosa
Jimmy Blackman
Matt Szabo
Bernard Parks

Cutest Couple
Janice Hahn and Reggie the Alligator
Mirthala and Antonio
Mr. and Mrs. Kefflebaum
Janice Hahn and Noel Weiss

Dumbest Politician of the Year
Lloyd Levine
Rocky Delgadillo
Tom LaBonge
Ed Reyes
Fabian Nunez

Dumbest Staffer of the Year
Manny Figueras
Lisa Sarno
Mitch Englander
Uli Sanchez
Bob Blumenfeld

Crook of the Year
Mike Carona
Richard Alatorre
Governor Schwarzeneger
Fabian Nunez
Rocky Delgadillo

Dumbest Idea, Program or Cause
Jan Perry's Fast Food Ban
mayoral school "takeover"
AB1381
Mansionization
Alatorre and Roos becoming lobbyists for developers

Model of Efficiency Award (someone in City government who actually got something right)
Bill Robertson, Director of LA's Street Services Bureau
Michele Siqueiros
Brian Humphrey, LAFD

Biggest Mistake
Lloyd Levine dumping Stuart Waldman
Rocky not registering his car
Villaraigosa holding a news conference to announce his affair and then complaining that the media was prying into his personal life
Prop R
Funding Gang Prevention programs.

Best Place to Drink After A City Council Meeting
The water fountain on the fourth floor
Pete's
The Redwood
Little Tokyo

Worst Public Official or Government Employee Driving Skills
Michelle Delgadillo
Lance from Tom LaBonge’s office

Most Corrupt Special Interest (organization or individual)
SEIU
Eli Broad
Richard Muerelo
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
Rivers and Mountains Conservancy

Special Waiver Award (anyone you want to nominate for any reason - state both and why)
Zuma Dogg because I like big balls
Red Spot for his brilliant social commentary, grammatical errors notwithstanding.
Ted Hayes bitch slapping Maxine Waters
Michael Hunt for dressing like a Klansman

Local Journalist of the Year
Kevin Roderick
Jon Regardie
Joseph Mailander
David Zahniser
Joseph Chapman

Media Outlet of the Year (blogs, newspapers, radio or television stations)
LAist
CityWatch
Daily News
BBC
Channel 4 News

Sexiest Local Journalist
Sharon Tay
David Zahniser
Mariel Garza
Sioux-Z Jessup
Lisa Hernandez

Person of the Year (the person who had the biggest impact locally - good or bad)
William Bratton
Laura Chick
David Hernandez
Antonio Villaraigosa
Zuma Dogg

How To Solve The Sunland Tujunga Underwear Problem

Apparently people in Sunland Tujunga don't have enough underwear in their wardrobe and they hate big hardware stores.

Home Depot has leased land in their area and is attempting to build a hardware store that according to community activists, every single person who lives in the community opposes.

Therefore as a free idea from the Mayor Sam Insitiute for Advanced Studies of Community Underwear Needs we offer the following recommendation:

Joe Barrett and team should pool their funds together, create Community Underwear, LLC, buy the land and buy-out Home Depot's lease.

Then CU-LLC could immediately begin to build their underwear mall featuring the cafes they want to sit at and sip lattes while in their underwear.

Everyone would be happy.

Perhaps even SEIU and UFCW would be glad to contribute pension funds to the project.

"Sisters of Labor" and the negotiations for new MOU

Flying under the "radar of local politics" is the on going negotiations between the City of Los Angeles and a united group of unions.

Leading roles among the union groups are the trio of women above;

Maria Elena Durazo, leader of the County Federation of Labor. "Friend of Antonio". Widow of former Federation leader Miguel Contreras.

Annelle Grajeda, former General Manager of SEIU Local 660, now the head of the new SEIU "Super Local" that covers the Southern California region

Julie Butcher, former General Manager of Local 347, now regional director of the Los Angeles, Orange County cities regional gruop, serving under Grajeda.

With a end of September deadline looming, city unions have join together to push for salary parity with the likes of the contract given to DWP employees. In the past two years, city employees, outside of the DWP, have been given a modest 2% raise each year. But as seen with the stance by EAA, the other unions want their "piece of cake".

Big question here is how are the City Council going to pay for any new MOU's ? That answer may get "PERSONAL", as in a new "PERSONAL INCOME TAX". Insiders at City Hall report that work is underway on a proposal to tax incomes. You can assume that this will generate discussion. Stay Tune.

CityWatch - An insider look at City Hall - ViewPoint - Unions Join Up to Fight City

Unions Win Key Victory

After tactics by the City Council a year ago to rush through discussions on city employee contracts without following state rules or allowing public input, representatives of the unions that represent municipal employees announced a key victory Tuesday.

"Negotiations are moving forward with the city," said Bob Schoonover, President of the LA & OC Cities Regional Board, as well as VP of the the SEIU Local 721 Interim Board and leader of the LA City bargaining team.

Employees will continue to work with the City's Executive Employee Relations Committee to win cost-of-living raises. In the meantime, the contract will be extended to September 30th. At that time - assuming a contract is signed - the employees will receive the raises retroactively through July 1st of this year.

L.A. Times Fake "Debate" Over Rent Control

By Walter Moore, Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles, MooreIsBetter.com.

Yesterday the L.A. Times purported to publish a written "debate" on the pro's and con's of rent control. One little problem: they forgot to invite anyone to represent the "con" side. Instead, they published the thoughts of two writers, each of whom defended rent control.

Here's what one guy -- our own beloved writer, Joseph Mailander -- said about rent control: "Make no mistake about it: The city of Los Angeles needs to protect its tenants from unduly high rents. That is something it does very well." Mailander took the position that rent control can promote the public interest if structured properly: "In truth, rent control is a lot like collective bargaining; while it has the potential to do some good, it also has the potential to harm."

The other guy, a politics professor at Occidental -- because why would you invite an economics professor, after all? -- let Mailander have it right between the eyes with this zinger: "The heroes in this story, who organize for affordable housing, are ACORN, the Coalition for Economic Survival, Coalition LA, LA Voice, LA Metro, LA Community Action Network, UNITE/HERE, SEIU, People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER) and other grassroots activist groups, including the LA Coalition End Hunger and Homelessness, which is sponsoring tomorrow's Tent City rally at City Hall."

Wow! Now that's a debate!

Next week's topic is whether Miller beer is the best beer ever because it tastes great, or because it's less filling? Week after that: Certs-- candy mint or breath mint?

Oh well. Let's just be glad they didn't quote faux economist Jack Keyser.