Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for MLK Day

Is CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino playing a dangerous game in escalating the contentious Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) West Coast Ports Labor Dispute, by his supporting of a March along the San Pedro Waterfront?

CD 15 City Councilman (and ILWU Supporter) Joe Buscaino.

** The former "Average Joe of San Pedro" who brought San Pedro and the Greater CD-15 together in electing a Native Son done great, to replace now Congresswoman Janice Hahn as its Councilperson Joe Buscaino, is using his homegrown, political capital, in taking a side on a contentions labor issue with local and nation economic implications. Via the "Average Joe's Official Facebook Page, the former LAPD Senior Lead Officer is organizing a Major Rally in support of ILWU's grievances against PMA as noted below.

The PMA's action in further cutting night shifts at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is another step closer to a lockout. It’s the wrong time to take the type of actions that will hurt the hard working residents that I represent. It will only serve to worsen the slowdown and congestion at the ports, disrupt the global supply chain, and result in irreparable damage to the reputation of our ports complex at a time when competition is peaking. I believe we are at a point where there may be no winners in the end. I beg the PMA to come to a resolution by allowing the ILWU jurisdiction over the chassis issue and bring our economic engine back to efficient operation before we lose business permanently.

** A Kamala Harris and Antonio Villaraigosa Weekend Meeting?

Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaking with Attorney General Kamala Harris. 

From Willie Brown Jr. in today's Column within the Opinion Pages of the San Franscisco Chronicle ......, State Attorney General Kamala Harris and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were spotted having dinner the other night. I assume they were talking about her — and possibly his — bid to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016.

My speculation is that Villaraigosa was looking to cut a deal under which he would opt out of the Senate race and Harris would stay neutral in the 2018 governor’s campaign, which could well pit Villaraigosa against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

** From the dark underworld comes the below video featuring the Evil Dictator Adolf Hitler's diatribe on California Governor Jerry "Moonbeam II" Brown's proposed High Speed Rail's route through the western Angeles National Forest. Enjoy and props to its creator. 


Hitler not a fan of Moonbeam's Choo Choo.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Senator Barbara Boxer has sought to hit hard in defining a negative image for her opponent Carly Fiorina.  However those who attend her rallies and hear Fiorina speak in person find a different person than what Boxer, one who is warm and has ideas for California.  The GOP challenger will have to overcome Boxer's commercials; however I predict a stunning repudiation of Boxer buoyed by Meg Whitman's multi-million dollar ground war will lead Fiorina to a three point victory over Boxer.  So long Babs.

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The Worse TV Show Ever?

Franklin Avenue's always fun Retro Friday marked that the NBC television network is going through it's once-a-generation visit to the toilet as America's fourth place web.

The Peacock however has been there before and as the Franklins note it was the early 80s that they served up delightful trash such Harper Valley PTA, Nero Wolfe and The Brady Brides.

Yet FA forgot what is the defininitive worst ever NBC show, if not the worst show of any network.

Supertrain.



Supertrain, which was really nothing more than The Love Boat on rails, lasted barely two months and only 9 episodes.  As the most expensive television show to produce up that point, the program nearly bankrupted NBC and as Wikipedia notes the show is considered "one of the greatest television flops."

Supertrain featured a super-speed, extra-wide train that ran from New York to Los Angeles in 36 hours.

However, NBC need not worry.  History shows things will get better.  For every Supertrain, Sheriff Lobo, etc. there's a Cheers, Cosby, Seinfeld, ER and Friends.

And what of the then fantastical train itself? California may very well be getting something very similar.