Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Another Station Fire Casualty

Okay, my first hotsheet, so be nice.

-The Irrelevant Mayor, Tony Villaraigosa, made an appearance on Pat Morrison's KPCC show yesterday where he feigned sympathy for the 14% of Los Angeles that are currently unemployed. I couldn't listen any further than his opening monologue, but you can give it your best shot HERE.

-Stephen Box, the "Should be Commissioner of All Things Bicycle" along with his beautiful wife Enci, were interviewed on KPFK's new show "Bike Talk" last night.

-Griffith Park Wayist, the hot new blog on the block, has their "Top Ten LA Political Stories of 2009" now up. The LA Weekly has already picked up on the post and I highly recommend it to all of you.

-OurLA names Carmen Trutanich "Man Of The Year". One of the first comments on Ron Kaye's blog is, "and the "Woman of the Year is?". Looks like the pressure is on.

-Paul Krekorian is set to be sworn into office as Council Rep for CD2 sometime in early January. So how does Paul, a guy that has yet to assume office, spend his time today? He spends it in Sunland-Tujunga assessing the Station Fire damage and potential debris flows with local, highly respected activist, Elaine Brown. Very impressive!

-Finally, a Very Happy Birthday to my amazing & beautiful daughter Stormy! She turned the big 14 on Tuesday!

April's "NC Face-to-Watch"

Pacoima Neighborhood Council president Veronica Padilla was named to the North Valley Area Planning Commission last week by Tony Villar, making Ms. Padilla our choice for the April 'NC Face-to-Watch'.

If your response to Ms. Padilla's appointment is "Who?", then you're not alone. Less than a year ago, Ms. Padilla wasn't even active in the PNC. But she's been very busy since taking the presidency away from controversial board member Jorge Quezada. She's really spiffed up the published image of a neighborhood council that's had its share of serious internal conflict .... pretty much like any other NC in the City .... and she's already managed to catch the roving eye of Tony Villar himself. Rumor has it that the new Commission member actually bears a resemblance to Villar's most visible paramour, Mirthala Salinas, but if you want to judge this for yourself, you'll have to go to the next PNC meeting since Padilla has virtually no Internet presence -- or City presence for that matter -- prior to jumping in at the PNC top. Even her photo is missing from the PNC's web site.

As of yesterday, Padilla hasn't disclosed anything to the PNC Board about her appointment. If she remains as the PNC president, such an appointment would make her hearing anything on the PNC board related to land use a major ethics issue. This probably explains why Quezada has been conspicuously sticking close to this rising star.