Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

President Obama will visit, but won't speak at Ground Zero today; He plans to just lay a wreath. White House says "the power of that requires no words". George "I could really care less about finding Osama" Bush was invited to attend today's ceremony, but declined to participate.

California Redevelopment Agencies are trying to re-brand themselves in a desperate attempt to stay alive after Gov Brown has called for their termination. First order of business, the heartstrings maneuver; promise more money for school kids!

I had the privilege of spending a good portion of yesterday working with several City & County agencies to clean out numerous homeless camps in the Tujunga Wash. Thanks to the efforts of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH) we were able to secure alternative housing for 6 individuals. My personal thanks to LAPD Senior Lead Officer Larry Martinez for overseeing and coordinating this effort, with assistance from Senior Lead Officer Rich Wall, and to Councilman Paul Krekorian and his, as always, amazing staff. In this case, CD2 staffers Jackie Keene and Heather O'Conner, for their instrumental efforts in making this project happen. Big thanks to DWP Police, General Services Police, Dept of Mental Health Services, People in Progress, Street Services, and Dept of Sanitation. Wow, great work everyone, thank you so much!
You can read my take on this huge undertaking (so huge, we have to come back in 2 weeks to finish it) and check out some photos from today, over at The Foothills Forum.

KCET has released a comprehensive and fascinating Field Guide to the Los Angeles River. A must read for all LA River aficionados.

It just gets weirder by the day: Tour guide, birthday party clown, homophobe, eternal last place candidate, and a guy that doesn't have a clue about oil supplies or pricing, Phil Jennerjahn, has a new passion; STALKING Paris Hilton.

We salute and say goodbye to Claude Stanley Choules, the last known combat veteran of WW1, who passed away today in Perth, Australia at the age of 110. He was quite a guy!

This just in; France legalizes absinthe. Don't tell you know who!