Mrs. Home Depot for CD2. Not.

Given the volume of pro-Mary Benson comments from residents of Sunland-Tujunga I'm getting both in email and here on the blog I'm not sure that Tamar Galatzan will do well in that part of CD2.

And if anything it may be that you can put lipstick on a pig but in the end its still not kosher.

Residents of Sunland-Tujunga remember too well their valiant and succesful effort to block a behemoth, The Home Depot, from invading their valley. Too, they'll remember that a corporate lobbyist hack attempted to shove the big orange down their throats in a "bizarre" manner as described by the LA Weekly.

That would be Brendan Huffman - the husband of Tamar Galatzan. Upon Tamar's entry into the Council race one Mayor Sam blogger wrote the following:

Brendan, as you may recall from past Mayor Sam stories, is the outspoken and uninformed shill who showed up at several hearings pleading on Home Depot's behalf. At these hearings, Brendan predicted City wide meltdown if Home Depot was not allowed to open in Sunland-Tujunga. He wrote an article in the San Fernando Valley Business Journal where he mistakenly claimed that Home Depot owned the property, mislabeled the community fight as a fight by a competitor, blamed it all on day laborers (never an issue), and failed to understand that just because you are Home Depot, you can't open where you damn well please.

That writer was none other than (now) Galatzan supporter Joe Barrett. To be fair Joe expressed an open mind given Tamar's willingness to meet with him and other ST activists and her spin on the matter at an early forum. However Joe wisely pointed out that Galatzan didn't need "to have to drag around the baggage of a spouse that's never seen a proposed development that he didn't love."

Hometown candidate Mary Benson has street cred when it comes to Home Depot. So does Zuma Dogg. They may not have put in the hours of folks like Joe Barrett, Abby Diamond, Nina Royal, Lydia Grant but they were passionate advocates at many levels to stand up to the Georgia based monster that eventually left town with its tail between its legs leaving Huffman to say "I don't get it?"



On the other hand where was Tamar? Did she attend meetings? Did she speak to the City Council did she once speak out about the project's impact on neighboring Apperson Elementary School where small children would be subject to choking on diesel fumes and potentially getting run over by frequent delivery trucks rolling over the neighborhood's small streets? As an advocate for the community did she attempt to rein in her husband in uplifting a potential violent assault on a community? Not that I can find any evidence of.

Now Valley Doll tells me that she wouldn't want to be blamed for anything her husband does. Fair enough. But I also know that Valley Doll would speak up if her husband was doing something shady. So what did Tamar know, when did she know it and what did she do about it? Nada.

It seems to me if one is there with you in a fight you owe your allegiance to them more than someone who is a johnny-come-lately no matter how much you think its going to make one person win or another lose. I have tremendous personal respect for Joe but I can't agree with him here.

In my own personal, slightly uninformed, humble view, residents of Sunland-Tujunga would be better off voting for Mary Benson or Zuma Dogg (or any of the other candidates) than Tamar. If anything, based on experience.

Your thoughts?

Tamar Galatzan & Her Problem Husband

CD2 Candidate Tamar Galatzan made her first appearance in Sunland-Tujunga at Wednesday night's Neighborhood Council meeting. She came not to stump speech or lay promises on Wendy's former constituents, but to address a sticky issue that threatens to derail her campaign in this foothills community; her husband, former VICA CEO, Brendan Huffman.

Brendan, as you may recall from past Mayor Sam stories, is the outspoken and uninformed shill who showed up at several hearings pleading on Home Depot's behalf. At these hearings, Brendan predicted City wide meltdown if Home Depot was not allowed to open in Sunland-Tujunga. He wrote an article in the San Fernando Valley Business Journal where he mistakenly claimed that Home Depot owned the property, mislabeled the community fight as a fight by a competitor, blamed it all on day laborers (never an issue), and failed to understand that just because you are Home Depot, you can't open where you damn well please.

Tamar opened her remarks by saying something like, "You know ladies how often our husbands can be wrong". This brought a chuckle from the room and helped to break the tension. Tamar told of the many "discussions" her and her husband held about the Home Depot issue and then added that no one tells her how to think or act.

She continued by relating the numerous cases, as a prosecutor, that she has pursued against Home Depot in Van Nuys for their unwillingness to deal with their site being overrun by day laborers, who she said "urinate, fight, gamble and drink".

She is to be commended for finally making a trip up to S-T to take on this issue. She dealt with it pretty well, she managed to place some distance between her and Brendan, and just maybe the community can try really, really hard to separate her from him. It won't be easy, but tonight was a good start.

Tamar has some real competition in this race with Krekorian, Essel, Sheftel, Benson, possibly Pugliese, and others. The last thing she needs is to have to drag around the baggage of a spouse that's never seen a proposed development that he didn't love.

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on the Memorial for the "King of Pop N Chaos in Downtown ??", and some other News

Let July 7, 2009 go down in history as the day Los Angeles and the World sang a collected "BEAT IT" to Michael Jackson as thousands descend on Downtown Los Angeles for the Memorial to the "King of Pop".

City officials are pleading with the general public to stay away from the area around the Staples Center unless they have tickets to be there, but a "Beat of History" is sure to draw thousands to be a part of an historical farewell to a conflicted pop icon.

Some in the local political community are singing a "BAD TUNE" when it comes to the millions that it will cost the City of Los Angeles to maintain the peace from the Jackson Family Compound in Encino, with a stop at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills, to the Staples Center downtown.

Councilman Dennis Zine in the Los Angeles Times and on the Kevin James Show Wednesday evening, called on the City Attorney to explore ways to recoup the full cost from the owners of the Staples Center, Anshultz Entertainment Group (AEG) , and a large majority agree.

People in Downtown Los Angeles are speculating that 500,000+ may head their way and if you are looking for a place to stay?? Good Luck!! All hotels are full.

But if one is an nightowl one may consider watching the Elephants from the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus make their way from the railyards near Union Station to the Staples Center where the Big Top will open on Wednesday.

*Morning update on the "March of the Elephants" with comments from an early rising Councilwoman.

Acting mayor and city councilwoman Jan Perry sat in her car with a smile on her face as she watched the elephants trek along Washington Avenue in the wee hours of the morning. She woke up at 3 a.m. to catch a rare glimpse of the animals.

"I wanted to come down and see how this worked because I've never seen it before," she said. "I'm impressed at how quiet they are."

Here is hoping that todays festivities will not desolve into a disruptive circus and be an positive celebration of the Entertainer, Michael Jackson.

* KFI is reporting that Michael's remains will be transported to Staples Center from Forest Lawn for the Memorial.

** LAPD announces that 3,200 officers will be deploy for today's Memorial

Other Political News..........

Los Angeles School Board Member Tamar Galatzan announced Tuesday evening that she is a candidate for the City Council District Two Seat vacated by City Controller Wendy Greuel.

"Tamar Galatzan announced at Valley Glen NC tonight that she is running for CD2. Her husband, as you may remember, is Brendon Huffman, former head of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association".

Huffman, who's position with VICA now resides with Stuart Waldman will draw the ire of those in Sunland-Tujunga who remember Huffman shilling for Home Depot in their failed attempt to open a store in the S.T. (BTW Stuart, many of us involved with the Southwest Museum will not forget that you through VICA and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, spoke on behalf of the Autry National Center at last week's Board of Referred Powers hearing)

And does this mean that Political Consultant Mike Trujillo will help Galatzan and attempt to end his losing streak of failed candidates and causes ??

So with the list of candidates growing larger in CD 2, the question is who will make it to the runoff after the prelims ??

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

Liberals, Galtazan and Home Depot

If you're interested in the fate of liberalism, then the Valley Grassroots for Democracy Book Club has something right up your alley: a discussion with the guy who literally wrote the book on the subject; school board member Tamar Galatzan's chief of staff Tom Waldman, author of Not Much Left: The Fate of Liberalism in America.

If you attend the event - this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the State Office Building you might want to ask Tom what liberals think of a school board member who has yet to speak out on the environmental impact of opening a Home Depot 500 feet from a public school and how his employer is allowing a private corporation to use a public school to shill for their business interest.

You may also want to ask Tom if Ms. Galatzan is consistent in her liberalism in keeping quiet on an issue that her husband - the VICA's Brendan Huffman - is shilling for.

VICA's Useless Mission

It's not a surprise that the Valley Industry and Commerce Association is opposing Proposition 98 though the measure has a very free market mission in preventing local government from taking private property to give to developers. VICA's leadership is rife with developers and other business interests who really are more in favor of a cozy relationship with government than the free market.

In terms of advancing the true business needs of the Valley, it's quite a useless organization. VICA has been around for nearly 60 years and during that time the Valley has degenerated from a vibrant, growing community to a near third world nation. Contrast it's fortunes with that of other nearby regions such as Santa Clarita or Orange County and you'll see how the lack of leadership and vision has really hurt the Valley.

And of course VICA is run by Brendan Huffman, husband of LAUSD School Board member Tamar Galatzan. Brendan, a big time supporter of the Home Depot in Sunland-Tujunga is said to have never met a developer he didn't like.