Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday; The Joseph Mailander "Community Leader" Edition

Joseph Mailander's "credible source" and "community leader" in handcuffs.

"I have spoken to over twenty people directly regarding this dispute, and many more in email.
I count seven community leaders--note I didn't say members, I said leaders--who strongly oppose revisiting the Specific Plan. They are: Terre Ashmore. Kathleen Travers. Elaine Brown. David DeMeule. David Cain. Terry Hake-Church. And one who would rather remain anonymous at this point."
- Joseph Mailander


Joseph Mailander's inexplicably obsessive attacks on volunteer community activists in Sunland-Tujunga turned comical yesterday after Joseph labeled several of his questionable sources as "community leaders". One of his "community leaders" is a convicted felon recently arrested on federal weapons charges, another one is a squatter (David Cain, 2nd VP of the STNC) reportedly living in an old truck shell in the Tujunga wash.
 
  In a series of hit pieces against the community, Joseph Mailander cites as one of his main sources none other than David "Doc" DeMulle, a convicted felon (felony perjury, felony attempt to obtain aid) and local smear merchant. "Doc" was arrested just last year on felony weapons charges for possession of and possible sale of hundreds of firearms including automatic rifles and hand grenades.

  Joseph Mailander's sources for information, Elaine Brown and Terry Hake-Church, the latter a woman often appearing at community meetings barefoot, are historically known for opposing any changes to the Specific Plan and have been criticized for driving Commerce Avenue into the ground through their Commerce Avenue Business and Restoration Association (COBRA). COBRA has fallen under heavy criticism for it's mismanagement and failing to revitalize the historic business district of Commerce Avenue. Many in the community have donated funds to COBRA, which Ms. Brown and Ms. Hake-Church claim is a 501(c)3 non-profit group. But what happened to those funds and why is COBRA now trying to completely disappear from the face of the earth ? 


"Don't Ask, Don't Tell " may soon be a relic of America's homophobic past as a federal court has just ordered the U.S. Government to immediately stop enforcing the ban on openly gay soldiers serving in the military. The Dept. of Defense says they will comply with the ruling  even as DOD and Justice Dept attorneys are examining the decision.

Councilman Dennis Zine has announced that he will indeed seek the office of City Controller in 2013. Zine is promising a more open, transparent, and efficient city government if elected. You may recall that Zine was called out earlier this year for voting on several matters that involved companies that had hired his lobbyist/land-use consultant girlfriend, Veronica Becerra. Zine claims that Veronica does not lobby him.

If you're not following Cher on Twitter, you don't know what you're missing. I have no idea what she is talking about but it's an entertaining never ending state of blissful Cher-ies...