Morning Briefs on "The Well-Oiled Machine" for Monday

After last week's impressive Re-election Victory via "The Well-Oiled Machine" of CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, discerning media scribes are wasting no time in keyboarding missives on what will become known as "The 2015 CD 14 Wipeout".

How many Political Favors do I owe after my Re-election?

A 2015 CD 14 Elections Post Mortem in progress.

So how does a supposed, level battle for the hearts and minds of the less than 10% of CD 14 voters that care to cast ballots, become a Grand Canyon-like abyss, which the Gloria Molina Campaign would never resurface from, in her failed attempt to unseat the self-noting Princeton Graduate Incumbent?

Fred Register, the longtime Altadena-based Political Consultant tells the LA Times David Zahniser that time dedicated to actual campaigning played a role ........, "I do absolutely think that if she was really determined to do this, she should have started much earlier," said Fred Register, Molina's campaign consultant. 

Indeed, Team Huizar was lubricating its victorious Election Machine in late 2013 by identify loyal community voting blocks (with a total of 10,000 votes as a goal), then granting them funding for their respective community endeavors (ex. Eagle Rock Music Festival, El Sereno Bicentennial Parade, Bringing Back Broadway), which successfully countered the negative media, generated by his multiple episodes ofTonto-like behavior.

Thus, by the start of 2015, the Public and Privately-finance Huizar Re-election Machine was not going to succumb to a abbreviated, Twentieth Century-styled Campaign, devoid of Social Media messaging, and especially, with no Downtown LA presence.

** From Glassell Park's Tony Butka, here are a couple a reasons why, in his opinion, that the ex LA County Board of Supervisor went down on last Tuesday.

As to why Gloria Molina did so poorly, I think there were two main factors.  First, she really wasn't ready for the rhythm of a 2015 City election process.  Huizar went after that huge vote by mail crown with the some $800,000 he had in the bank before Molina even got serious about playing in January.  His consultants and humongous campaign staff did a bang up job, too. Heck, I was even invited to friend one of them on Facebook -- and yes, I accepted :-). 
The second reason is that Molina just didn't have a ground game.  She did well in the debates, but if over 1/2 the votes are being locked up while you're talking, who cares what you say or what happens at the polls on election day.  I kept looking for her 'machine' to ramp up, and it never did.  Or if it did, I sure didn't see it.  To be sure, she had a dedicated group of volunteers, but in 2015, that isn't what wins elections.  As I cautioned in my first CityWatch article about the Northeast Dems endorsement, nowhere was written that she would be able to get into a runoff and have the luxury of really running  a campaign.

** From Gene Maddaus at the LA Weekly, with no apologies to East Los Angeles Community Corporation (ELACC) President Maria Cabildo, CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar's Re-election is a victory for ..........., "The G-word". But lets give Parke Skelton credit for stating "what could of been" ........., considering;
The outcome was by no means inevitable. Back in September, Parke Skelton, Huizar's strategist, did a poll that showed Huizar with a slim, two-point lead. Skelton was actually relieved that he wasn't in worse shape."I thought there was a good chance that he might be so far behind I'd have to tell Jose not to run," Skelton said Wednesday. The poll offered Huizar a path to victory. Voters were asked whether things in their neighborhood were going in the right direction, and 63 percent said yes. Skelton's strategy was to barrage voters with mailers to remind them of tangible improvements in their neighborhoods. And as we noted last week, there was a "Public Cost" for that mailing blitz.



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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

 

Morning Briefs of the CD 14 Campaign Scene for Hump Day

As the candidates in the 2015 Edition of the CD 14 City Council Elections prepare for their last candidate forum/debate, event organizer The Eagle Rock Association (TERA) may want to be open and transparent regarding a recent "Contract" between the organization and the Office of Councilman Jose Huizar.

Is it fair to question the objectivity of Forum Organizer TERA considering ........, In the 2014 TERA State of the Town address, TERA president Bob Gotham started the meeting extolling the accomplishments of TERA. He mentioned that TERA provided $6000 towards the Take Back the Boulevard effort that resulted in the bike lanes on Colorado Boulevard.

So for what and why is TERA given a $5,600 contract? Repayment for support of Huizar's Colorado Blvd. Bike Lanes?

** For those who missed the last "Brass Claws Debate" at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA), former one time CD 14 City Council Candidate and Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member Tony Butka, keyboards a descriptive missive on the proceedings at City Watch. To sum up his thoughts ......, For those of you who can’t read a whole article and just want to cut to the chase – Huizar should be very very worried about getting in a runoff with Gloria Molina!

A Neighborhood Council Disenfranchisement Alert!!

As the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners host a Special Meeting this evening at the El Sereno Seniors Center, to consider downsizing the LA-32 NC from 21 to 15 Members, "recent campaign issues" pertaining to the NC's current President Marleen Fonseca (formerly Terminated LAPD Civilian Employee "Marleen Caudillo") and her employer, the Enginners and Architects Association (the union for grieving DONE employees), merit investigating whether the attempted downsizing, is really a subjective undertaking. 

LA-32 NC President (and EAA Labor Rep) Marleen Fonseca (lower left) and fellow EAA members with its endorsed CD-14 Candidate, City Councilman Jose Huizar.

** Blogger's Note: During a time when various candidates for Public Office are seeking to empower voters, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) will be holding a Special Meeting this evening in El Sereno to consider a proposal by "Disempowerment LA" to downsize the LA-32 NC from 21 to 15 members. At its last meeting, BONC voted to delay taken a position pending further review and scheduling to promote more community input. What are the reasons for "Disempowerment LA" wanting to take this drastic action? Department GM Grayce Liu cites past quorum issues, but when ask to provide documented background ......., none exists. Further, when a Board Member sought documentation on why the LA-32 NC was placed on Exhaustive Efforts, via a California Public Records Act Request, NONE of the documents given stated an issues with quorum. The real reason for this drastic action is simple, its all about Councilman Huizar's need for control. Last Spring, CD 14 staff was heavily involve in recruiting candidates for the NC and allocating "resources" to those who could supply voters. Thus, the result was the selection of a Huizar-friendly NC ......., and now, the next step is down-sizing to preserve that majority. ** But not before disclosing some inconvenience truths ---Scott Johnson.

EAA's $12,000 Campaign Contribution to CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Some background on former Alhambra resident, turned LA-32 President Marleen Fonseca (formerly Terminated LAPD Civilian Employee Marleen Caudillo).

** From her October 10, 2013 Civil Service Termination Hearing:

The Department added that the chief of police had made it very clear that if an employee has a DUI arrest the Department will work with them to help overcome whatever the problem is. However, if a second offense occurs, he has stated, there is no room in the Department for that employee and they will be discharged. The Department cannot make special provision for outstanding employees or employees it likes who have received a second DUI. The policy must be uniform across the board. It was with regret that this employee was discharged, but it was the only avenue open to the Department.

** From the Minutes of a February 13, 2014 Civil Service Commission Meeting:
8. WRIT OF MANDAMUS Make a matter of record the filing in Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Los Angeles a Writ of Mandamus in the matters of:
Marleen CAUDILLO v. Board of Civil Service Commissioners
(Case No. BS146740). File No. 53332
COMMISSION ACTION: MADE A MATTER OF RECORD

Judging from the documentation above, the potential disenfranchisement of the LA-32 NC has more to do with personal and political favors, than dealing with none-existent "quorum issues".

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

 

TGIF Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine

After multitudes of interviews with the double-digit amount of candidates seeking to replace termed-out CD 4 City Councilman Tom LaBonge, the Los Angeles Times endorses former Councilman LaBonge Staffer, turned Small Business Owner Sheila Irani.

The LA Times Endorses Sheila Irani for City Council District Four.

CD 4 Candidate Steve Veres, staffer of self-crowning, California State Senate President Pro Tem "Kevin de Leon the First", did not even merit "creditable mention" in the Time's CD 4 Editorial.

Here is some papers that CD 4 City Council Candidate Sheila Irani wouldn't mind being served with.

In the much awaited LA Times Endorsement for the City Council District Four Open Seat, the Editorial Board sat through multiple interviews before bestowing its coveted support for the former Councilman LaBonge staffer, turned Small Business Owner.

The Times states of Irani ........., "Irani is intelligent, quick on her feet and has a background in business, real estate investment, city government and volunteer community work, all of which would serve her well on the council. Armed with an MBA from UCLA, she launched a small marketing business that helped public-sector clients across the country promote congestion-easing transportation initiatives. She has a sense of the hurdles faced by small-business owners in L.A. Like most of the candidates in the race, she favors business tax relief, although she's not willing to drain the city budget to do it".

Surprising in the Times Editorial is the lack of "creditable status" given to the top two money candidates David Ryu and especially in the case of Steve Veres, the Staffer to self-crowning political royalty California State Senate President Pro Tem "Kevin de Leon the First".

Apparently, the Establishment Machine's Candidate Veres, did not impress the Editorial Board with his creative scheme of securing free help from "Private Citizen/Volunteer Campaign Consultant" John Shallman before wife Lani's "West Coast Public Affairs" started during work for the IE Campaign (with undisclosed benefactors), supporting his campaign.

** CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar took time out of his b-u-s-y campaign schedule to host his first El Sereno Townhall Meeting in recent times at Farmdale Elementary. With the usual assortment of cronies such as Hugo "Comandante" Garcia, Eddie "paid for Honorary Mayor" Santillan, Joe "noted Corner Store imbiber" Cano and Tammy "Maytag" Membreno in attendance, roughly 60-75 Stakeholders (with about 20 Huizar staffers filling the seats), spent about 90 minutes discussing community issues (well ...., mostly Cal Trans related). 

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The Political Blowback on a Northeast Windstorm

Twitter message from Councilman Huizar, share your frustration-NELA suffered most damage-believe me I am pushing dprts. to get service up as quickly as possible-

Twitter message from "DJJesC" to Councilman Huizar on Dec. 2, "heard there's been service restored to some areas of El Sereno-include u?

Blogger notes: If you thought the wind storm event of December 1, 2011 was a historic event and it was, the brewing political blowback will surely have a place in the Northeast Los Angeles historical archives. Northeast Los Angeles blogger Tony Butka who resides in wind-ravage Glassell Park, has emerge from the darkness to post this scree on the lack of a disaster plan to deal with this type of natural event and as you can read in Council man Jose Huizar's twits , there is a need for better communicating the city's response to this type of event. We post Butka's post in whole after the jump---Scott Johnson in CD 14. 

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Tony Butka's Part Three Post on Elephant Hill Controversy: "Enter Jose Huizar"

 Another dubious deal for Councilman Huizar.

"The $9.1 Million Dollars Elephant Hill"

** Blogger Notes: As we noted earlier today, Northeast Los Angeles Blogger Tony Butka has a series of blog posts at his nelalives.com blog that chronicles the evolution of the Elephant Hill Controversy from its initial development proposals, to its $9.1 Million Dollars purchase by the City of Los Angeles. In Part Three of his series "Enter Jose Huizar", Butka highlights the questionable actions of Councilman Huizar, Ed Reyes (and Jack Weiss) via their role on the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, which led to this inflated purchase via barrow money. Excerpts below---Scott Johnson

Councilman Huizar's role in "exempting" Elephant Hill from Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) on Hillside Development: Moving throughout 2006, the City political machine mostly blew off all protests over the Interim Control Ordinance.  In retrospect, two interesting events occurred almost without notice; first, the appointment by Councilman Huizar of Jessica Wethington Mclean from the Mt. Washington activists group to a staff position in CD 14 clearly signaled the Councilman & Mayor’s intent to steamroller the Interim Control Ordinance through, and two, in the fine print of the Ordinance as adopted in November 2006, the Elephant Hill project was exempted.  You got it, exempted — Section 4 (Exceptions):

“The prohibition specified in Section 2 of this ordinance shall not apply to any vesting tract subdivision, the application for which was deemed complete prior to the effective date of this ordinance.”

Councilman Huizar forces Monterey Hills Investors to submit another EIR after exempting their project from ICO: On the other hand, in a master stroke of duplicity that can only happen with career politicians, on November 28th, just days before the December 10th effective date of the new ordinance, Councilman Huizar introduced a motion to stick it to Monterey Hills Investors and require a new Environmental Impact Report.

Councilman Huizar's response to city staff concerns about supplemental EIR: Wow!   Even City Hall bureaucrats who are pretty hardened to the subterranean nature of Council politics, were shocked.  In a May 27, 2007 memo to the PLUM Committee, the Planning Department essentially told Councilman Huizar that he couldn’t do what he wanted to do, and that it was a ministerial act. And in a virtually unprecedented move, the Planning Department attached a May 22, 2007 Memo to CD14’s Jessica Wethington Mclean (remember her?) listing the questions that Council Office had been sticking to the Department, together with their response saying that they were wrong.  Wow indeed.

Politics and and money playing a role in this saga: As a back story, there is another, really wonderful conspiracy theorist dream take on all  of this litigation.  The lawsuit on behalf of Monterey Hills Investors was filed by none other that big time LA City Lobbyist Benjamin Reznik!  And good guy that he is, Ben fund raised for all three members of the PLUM Committee — Ed Reyes, Jose Huizar, and Jack Weiss.

Next in Part Four: In the final Part 4 of this article, we’ll see the other shoe drop and discover how our taxpayers dollars were once again recycled by the City and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, as Elephant Hills lives on.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Tony Butka: "Eastside Adelante PAC-Paying the High Price of Democracy?"

Maybe CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar didn't want the Adelante PAC snooping around his no-bid giveaway of $150,000 of CRA/LA money to the theater group, whoops, meant to say outreach specialists CASA 0101?

Blogger note: Former Cd 14 City Council Candidate and Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member Tony Butka reports on the retaliation measures undertaken against the CRA?LA Adelante Project Advisory Committee, for their support of California Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to use CRA money to offset the state's budget deficit. In addition, Ron Kaye notes that Chris Essel's CRA/LA will reconvene tomorrow in the spirit of replicating their role in the charade to usurp the will of Governor Brown and activists city-wide.

Read Tony Butka's piece after the bloggin leap.

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Tony Butka rebukes Councilman Jose Huizar's "DWP Rate Payer Advocate" claims

 Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member and former CD 14 Candidate Tony Butka

DWP falsehoods via Councilman Jose Huizar.

Blogger note: This blogger and many others who are well-verse with DWP corruption were taken back when Councilman Huizar send out this campaign mailer. Tony Butka's "No Way Jose-You Are Not The DWP Advocate" is posted here in its entirely and can be found at Butka's NELA Lives Blog.

A few days ago I got a political ad in my mail from Councilman Huizar, basically claiming credit for Measure I on the ballot March 8th – The one about establishing a DWP RatePayer Advocate. Well, if he insists

More after the bloggin leap..........

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Outtakes from CD 14 Campaign Report: "Endorsements, Forums and the Power of Incumbency"

Lunch time political munchies with video.

Hola from the "Cut and Paste Republic" where endorsements in the La Opinion Newspaper have become an mere exercise in "cut and pasting" CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar's Campaign Consultant Parke Skelton talking points and presto! We have a endorsement editorial. Excerpt below.

Huizar’s leadership has had a positive impact on district residents, especially in Boyle Heights and El Sereno. Not as much progress has been apparent in the city’s Northeast part, which is the reason for opponent businessman Rudy Martinez’s campaign. Despite this, we believe Huizar’s administration has been adequate in northeast area's like Eagle Rock, for example, as to merit a second term.

Base upon that, then most would surmise that Councilman Huizar would have no problem espousing this editorial at candidate forums in El Sereno and Boyle Heights. But then "cut and paste talking points" meet with reality as there is no forum schedule in Boyle Heights (** thanks to Huizar's supporters on the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council who did not want a forum, wonder why?) and some have speculated here whether Huizar shows at the LA 32 Neighborhood Council Forum on Thursday.

More after the bloggin leap.

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday: "CRA Adelante Advisory Committee supports Governor Brown"

CRA Adelante Advisory Committee takes unified stance for Governor Jerry Brown's proposed abolishment of California's CRA agencies.

Somewhere on the heights of University Hills last evening, Kevin Roderick's "Pop Star Mayor" found its bloggin equivalence in Street Hassle's "Jose Adelante". Thus, my bloggin life is complete with bloggers "WWG" and Joseph Mailander being joined for bloggin eternity, as "musing scribes of puff" on the political clients of Parke Skelton, but shall we focus on real news via Ron Kaye and others?

Real discerning reporters, bloggers and columnists would of been well served in attending last night's CRA Adelante Advisory Committee Meeting in Councilman Jose Huizar's own Boyle Heights neighborhood, where the full board voted to support California Governor Jerry Brown's proposed abolishment of CRA/LA and CRA's statewide.

As NELA Lives Blog's Tony Butka muses on Tuesday proceedings, being that he was an active participant at Tuesday evening gathering, Governor Jerry Brown and State Controller John Chiang, need to focus on the selfless actions of this diverse board who's message should resonate loud and clear throughout the city and state political community. BTW, considering the importance of last night's meeting, not one member of Councilman Huizar's staff attended, which was noted by those from the community.

** Late afternoon update: Governor Brown tells Mayor Villar and other city mayors that "redevelopement money is not there".

** Care to know what your friendly CRA staffer is being paid? Link here. Then there are the pension costs.

But then there are more important "comedic affairs" that Councilman Charro Huizzy Corleone must attend to .............

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News Flash - Charges filed against GPNC Board Chair Bradley

Blogger's note: HE'S BACK! One of our past favorite poster childs of political power run amok, is at it again. Longtime community activist Tony Butka brings you the details of Glassell Park Neighborhood Council's resident egomaniac's "gone wild with CRA collusion", with help from CD 14 Councilman Huizar supporter and fellow GPNC member Ruby DeVera. Link here to see past videos of Bradley's antics.

Tuesday evening Board member Tony Butka filed a demand with the Glassell Park Neighborhoood Council that the Chair, Bradley, be removed for cause from the Board. For the details, see the post

I presented my demands as a Board Member to have Bradley removed from the board on the grounds of having the interests of EBE Associates and himself at heart, rather than the GPNC and the community, as he plays footsie with the CRA/LA NELA Project staff to gin up support for the project while lying to the Board about both his conflict and activities. Just think about it -- Bradley, CRA, Huizar, Reyes, Garcetti. Who could ask for anything more?

-this is a guest post from Tony Butka. More later...

** Link here to read emails which expose Bradley and Ruby De Vera's collusion with CRA staff.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday: The Bad Day for Jose Huizar Edition

It could not get worse, Tuesday, for Councilman Jose Huizar. How could such awful things happen to a Princeton educated nice guy?

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Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday

The image above is provoking a major amount of speculation on its origin within CD 14. It seems that according to multiple blogs, including one we all know, someone in-house among the numerous staffers of Councilman Huizar, had a little fun with their boss. The "latinopoliticsblog" posted the image above and were rewarded with a rare response from none other than Councilman Huizar. Knowing an exclusive journalistic opportunity when they see one, the webmaster posted after Huizar's comments if he care to discuss "CLARTSgate", but by then "Tricky Huizzy" had disappear back into cyberspace.

Memo to Dennis Romero at the LA Weekly, this is how Councilman Dennis Zine trolls for chicks. Notice that he has no need for the services of the "Drivin Ms. Daisy of LA Politics". Yet, Zine's "trampin escapades" may had cost him today when his latest squeeze's employer Tutor Construction lost their bid for a major contract at LAX.

It was not long ago that longtime neighborhood council activist Tony Butka was chatting up his chances of becoming "City Councilman Tony Butka", with the likes of KRLA's Kevin James. But while deciding to withdrawal his candidacy, Butka has redirected his energies in a "bloggin direction" with his new "NELA Lives blog".

One of Butka's first scoop was this post When is an "opinion Poll" Not a poll? It seems that one of Butka's sources got curious when a pollster called their residence and proceeded to ask questions about the CD 14 elections. Noting that all the comments about Councilman Jose Huizar were positive and the Rudy Martinez questions were negative, the source asked the pollster who they were polling on the behalf for and the pollster responded "FM3". Butka did some quick research and found that "FM3" is short hand for Fairbanks, Maslin, Maulin, Metz and Associates who is working on behalf of ....... Councilman Jose Huizar.

Then today, with "CLARTSgate" still the dominant topic, Team Huizzy finds a "friendly blog" to release their pre-ordained results.

Your thoughts........ and pity the staffer who mocked "Huizzy Corleone".

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday

"Los Angeles Wave Newspaper's Betty Pleasant is mad at Zev Yaroslavsky's Plastic Bag Ban"

Good pre-Thanksgivings morning to all in the political bloggersphere.

As many of you look forward to the four-day weekend, at least in the public sector, most of us will make our way into the supermarket of choice to load a select bird into the shopping cart. What bag you choose to carry to your vehicle is a choice that Angelinos in Unincorporated Los Angeles County, will have less of, thanks to Nannycrat, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Member Zev Yaroslavsky and guess who is not happy? "BETTY"

This from the author of the Los Angeles Wave Newspaper's "Soulvine Column" Betty Pleasant.

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Friday

"Mayor Antonio Villar off to Mexico to tout Eco-Green Agenda"

With the first major winter storm of 2010-2011 inbound for the weekend, Mayor Antonio Villar and entourage pack their bags for the warmer environments of Mexico City. Villar and other mayors of the world, will hack and cough as they discuss their respective green-based ideas for growing local economies, in the dirty, rarified air of Mexico's largest city.

As Villar and the other like-minded mayors discuss how to use the junk science of climate change to alter their respective economies, Villar is none too happy about another form of climate change taking place in California. That would be the "political climate change of citizen redistricting".

Villar bemoaned the fact that no Angelinos were among the pool of 36 applicants for the state's redistricting commission. This episode of civic pity brought about the ensuing witty retort from the keyboard of "LA Weekly of Record" Editor Jill Stewart, who poo poos "Mayor Ahhh Whinervillar's" bemoaning the lost cause of gerrymandering, perfected by the likes of Michael Berman.

So while Mayor Villar mucks up the already polluted air of Mexico City with dubious climate change pronouncements, based upon junk science. Positive political climate change, based upon elective facts, is coming to California and no episode of civic whining will alter this.

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Outtakes from CD 14: City Council Candidate Rudy Martinez to report $200,000+ for his Campaign

CD 14 City Council Candidate Rudy Martinez as a member of our Armed Forces

Councilman Jose Huizar and Family at this years Mexican Independence Day Parade

** Tuesday afternoon update as of 5:00 PM, Jose Huizar is reporting $203,274, Rudy Martinez reports $202,620.

Mayor Sam has learned that CD 14 City Council Candidate Rudy Martinez will report $200,000+, for his campaign to unseat current City Councilman Jose Huizar, in the March 2011 Elections.

Martinez who has been aggressive in the early campaigning within CD 14, will parley a mix of self-financing and contributions, to reach the $200,000 mark for the October 12, 2010 Filing Period.

The fact that Martinez is evolving into a strong challenger for the CD 14 Council Seat, may be why that Councilman Huizar, is attempting to restrict Martinez from appearing in community events, that get funding from his various monetary resources.

Community sources with ties to the Eagle Rock Veteran's Day Parade, report that Councilman Huizar is attempting to deny Martinez, a veteran, a spot in the parade. Back in July, Martinez was denied a spot in the El Sereno "Fourth of July Parade". This was despite the fact that the A & E Cable Channel that produces his "Flip this House Show" would of donated $500 toward the parade expenses and that Martinez would not identify himself as a candidate for CD 14.

On the subject of candidates, long time community activist and Glassell Park Neighborhood Councilmember Tony Butka, has announced that he will become the fourth candidate in the CD 14 contest. we plan on bring you more on Butka's Campaign, in the near future.

Your thoughts.

Scott Johnson in CD 14