Councilman Park's Prophetic 2006 Concerns on flawed LAPD Crime Stats

As the Los Angeles Police Commission meets behind close doors to review and decide whether LAPD Chief Charlie Beck merits a Second Term (most likely), we venture back to 2006 when a former Chief voiced concerns about the department's reliance on the infant and flawed COMPSTAT Program. 

Derided as "Bitter Bernie" by his critics, CD 8 City Council Bernard Parks has been prophetic in voicing his concerns about LA's Budget and LAPD's COMPSTAT Program.

 The Political Duo responsible for the politicization of Crime Stats.

As we wait for the City of Los Angeles Police Commission to announce their anticipated rubber stamping of a Second Term for Chief Charlie Beck (** Afternoon Update, they did), join us in a blogging flashback to 2006 when a former chief, turned CD 8 City Councilman, sounded the prophetic alarm about the flawed and politicization of the department's COMPSTAT Program ........

Read more »

Who the Hell is Betty Pleasant?

'Independent Paper May Be Even More Shady Than The LA Times'

Betty Pleasant is a longtime "writer" for the "independent" South Los Angeles based "newspaper" The Wave.  Betty completely aghast that a federal investigation of shady dealings of the campaign of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has decided the tack to take is to completely slime Ridley-Thomas' former opponent, Councilmember Bernie Parks.

Rather than honestly report on the serious investigation - which has even potentially extended to include Chief Bratton - as opposed to Patrick Range McDonald in the LA Weekly - Betty decides to go after Parks.  Pleasant calls parks "one of the worst and most vicious officials"  LA has ever had.  She even goes further to call Parks a "sore loser." To continue the looniness Betty even digs up the ghost of long ago LAPD Chief Willie Williams who has never met a free Vegas hotel room or buffet that he didn't like.  Great journalism Betty!

But when you dig deeper you may find the true source of Betty's motivation. First off, county records show that Ridley-Thomas spent extensively on campaign advertising in the paper while Parks spent nothing.  An independent expenditure by an SEIU backed independent expenditure committee placed $180,000 in advertising for Ridley-Thomas in the paper.  Is The Wave pay for play? We don't know but at least one political consultant has confidentially told us Wave management allegedly said that lack of positive coverage was tied to a lack of advertising in the paper.

The bottom line is that Pleasant's screed is a sign that Ridley-Thomas supporters are desperate to deflect attention from a very real federal investigation. But we need not give Pleasant much credit.  This deep thinker has also opined that the recent conversion from analog to digital television was a conspiracy similar to the much ballyhooed but totally false notion the oil companies hunkered down to rid Los Angeles of streetcars.  Looks like we've found another loon.

Investigation Could Touch Brattton; Bernie Vindicated

"As one of the most renowned law enforcement people in the world, I'd say Bratton's solid endorsement is worth a lot."

Anonymous Dum-Dum, Mayor Sam Comments Section

Page 201 of the landmark Christopher Commission Report on the problems with the LAPD under Chief Daryl Gates found that while a Police Chief has the legal "right" to endorse candidates for office the Chief should not.  This was not only the view of the panel led by the esteemed attorney and former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher but by a number of other big city police chiefs surveyed.  At issue were endorsements made by then Chief Gates even following the admonishment of several members of the Police Commission. Even Gates himself later told the commission he made his endorsments out of "anger" and that such endorsements were "improper and should be discouraged."

Despite that admonition and a more current reminder from the LA Weekly earlier this year, Bratton, as he usually does, went ahead anyway and endorsed a spat of candidates and causes including Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Jack Weiss' failed bid for City Attorney and even his own boss, backing Mayor Villaraigosa for re-election.  ThisBlogger in draft: Mayor Sam's Sister City - Home of Los Angeles Politics - Create Post is typical of Bratton's smug and self-serving efforts that run afoul of what most folks would consider ethical behaivor and common decency.  Fortuanately, we'll be done with him soon.

In physics however there for every action there is a reaction and at least one of Bratton's endorsements - that of Ridley-Thomas is going to come back and bite Bratton in his Irish "Bah-stan" ass.

As reported by my  buddy Patrick Range McDonald in the LA Weekly federal authorities are investigating Ridley-Thomas's fundraising efforts and that of an organization backing Ridley-Thomas, the "Alliance for a Stronger Community." The federal investigation could extend to Bratton himself.

Given that the City's top cop should be above even the appearance of impropriety and political dealings, all future Chiefs would be wise to follow Christopher's and Gates' advice.  Looks like a vindication of Ridley-Thomas' chief opponent, Councilmember and former LAPD Chief Bernard Parks who did follow the policy as Chief and was savaged by Bratton during the campaign.

Mid-Day Briefs for Lunch Time Contemplation

"Why is Chief Bratton really quiting ??"

That is the premise of LA Weekly's Editor Jill Stewart article "Bye-Bye Bill Bratton".and her musings on Bratton's reason for his sudden resignation are center on five points of speculation.

As gleaned from activists, officials, political strategists and analysts, the Top 5 reasons for the chief’s departure were shaping up like this:

. Bratton would have been the leading candidate for mayor if Antonio Villaraigosa became governor in 2010 and abandoned his mayoral job two-and-a-half years years early. Seven weeks after Villaraigosa announced he would not run for governor, Bratton announced he was bailing out as chief.

. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s budget could implode, thanks to a poorly researched, widely pilloried L.A. City Council plan to buy out city workers to help meet a $530 million deficit. If the early-retirement idea backfires, as some experts predict, Bratton would be pressed to absorb severe cuts. The upbeat LAPD growth era would be over.

. Bratton’s new boss will be his friend Michael Cherkasky, who was the monitor for Judge Gary Feess’ oversight of a federal consent decree that for eight years controlled many aspects of the LAPD. On July 17, Feess lifted the consent decree. Despite Bratton’s claim that he cut his CEO deal with Cherkasky only after Feess’ ruling, it’s possible Bratton has been plotting his revolving-door-to-riches getaway for months.

. Bratton drew criticism for meddling in election politics, publicly backing Jack Weiss for city attorney. Weiss lost. Now the victor, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, is investigating how $1.4 million in city overtime was approved for the Michael Jackson memorial. The probe may mire Bratton in unpleasant accusations by an elected official — the same man the hired-hand chief opposed for office.

. Bratton may be facing rocky personal times. The oft-betrothed Bratton and his fourth wife, lawyer and Court TV commentator Rikki Klieman, have spent much of their lives in Boston or New York. The couple placed their home in Los Feliz up for sale in July for $1.875 million, setting off speculation — all of it denied — that they were leaving. Now they are.

As you can see, speculation is always good for the consumption of column inches and increasing readership. Then the former "Mr. Jane Fonda" is calling for an investigation into the relationship between Bratton and Michael Cherkasky. He joins LA Times Columnist Tim Rutten and "fellow traveler", who also devoted coulmn inches in scribing his thoughts about the "smell level" of Bratton's ties to Cherkasky.

Other News:

** For those who were outrage over the Tennie Pierce Settlement, consider these numbers on the latest legal payouts from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles City Council voted today to pay $8.1 million to two firefighters who won jury awards after they filed discrimination and retaliation lawsuits against the Los Angeles Fire Department.

** LA Weekly's Steve Mikulan muses on the NUMEROUS responses about his comment regarding the"Obama Socialist Poster", "All that's missing is a noose." Memo to Steve, you said it, now you have to deal with it. And this blogger thinks that the poster was right on. Where is the racism in that ??

** Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced this morning the nomination of former U.S. Attorney Debra Yang to the Los Angeles Police Commission. Yang would replace former Commission President Anthony Pacheco, who resign to fully pursue his legal career.

** Law enforcement official announced morning raids on a South L.A. street gang that were front and center in the unrest after the Lakers won the Championship. These same gangbangers will soon be donning those "Silver and Black Jerseys" as football season approaches.

** Continuing on the subject of unruly sports fans. We can get a quick gauge on our crime stats this evening from 7:00 PM till 11:00 PM, as Raider Football returns to the visual airways via KTLA Channel 5. And how do you scare a Raider Fan ?? "Third Strike!!"

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

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on Bratton, Bratton and some other News

" You talking about me ??"

One can gauge the inpact of LAPD Chief Bill Bratton on the city's "body politics" by the amount of column inches devoted to his surprise resignation.

** Homeboy Industries founder Father Greg Boyle calls LAPD Chief Bill Bratton "LA best Police Chief" .

** LA Times Op-Ed by James Q. Wilson: "Goodbye to the Chief".

** LA Times Editorial: William Bratton: "A Top Cop".

** LA Weekly's Jill Stewart: "Who Will Replace Bill Bratton as LAPD Chief ??".

** Crime on the rise in Bratton's Los Felix Neighborhood ?? Los Felix Ledger via Eastsider LA.

** LAPD Officer "Jack Dunphy" in Nation Review Online: "Farewell to the Chief".

** LA Daily News: "Rank-and-file cops offer mixed review of Chief Bratton".

** LA Daily News Editorial: "Thanks, Chief".

** Ron Kaye's LA: "Bratton Quits".

** Witness LA's Celeste Fremon: "Bill Bratton Resigns as Chief".

Other News:

** Ron Kaye reports on the unethical assault upon LACERS General Manager Sally Choi by the Unions and City Council members for stating the truth about the cost of Early Retirement Package.

** Billboards are in the news again via LA Times David Zahniser.

** Who's plane was use to bring home reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee from the "Peoples Paradise of North Korea" ?? Leave it to ex. President Bill Clinton to follow the money.

** City Controller Wendy Greuel to "woman up" for Chris Essel to replace her in CD-2 at a 10:45 AM photo op.

Breaking News Parking enforcement just ticketed all the cars at the Wendy-Essel press conferenc. Time for a Freedom of Information request to see which city assigned vehicles were ticketed and who they are assingned to. Do the tax payers have to pay the tickets as well?

TICKET GATE????????

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

LAPD Duplicating Services, Wasting Taxpayer $ at LAX

While the Mayor drains funds and services from City parks and libraries in pursuit of 1,000 new LAPD officers, airport employees are openly questioning why a significant LAPD force still patrols LAX each day.

The LAWAPD, the 'LAX police', is the public safety agency tasked with public safety at LAX. This specialized agency maintains a force roughly the size of two full LAPD divisions.

Yet at an unknown cost to the taxpayers, LAPD reportedly has 150 officers every day at the LAX-LAPD substation as well as on motor units, foot beats, acting as detectives, at screening stations, manning K9 units, and so on. With the exception of the Bomb squad, all these officers duplicate positions currently staffed by LAWAPD.

The issue of who should provide public safety services at LAX was effectively decided four years ago. At the time, LAPD Chief Bratton was pushing for an LAPD takeover of LAX. Critics of LAWAPD, both official and unofficial were claiming that LAWAPD officers were incompetent, untrained, and were unable to carry out their mission.

In 2005, an extensive $900,000 study by CTI Consultants found that not only should there not be a merger between LAPD and LAWAPD, but that LAWAPD had the training, specific expertise, competency, and size to professionally and successfully manage LAX. The study determined that indeed LAWAPD was carrying out their mission and that they were the best agency based on their specialization to do this job.

Chief Bratton did not accept the consultant's findings. Although the report was pretty clear about keeping LAWAPD in place at LAX, an LA Times article of the time documented Bratton's rejection: "...This is absolutely outrageous... I don't get it. We just spent $900,000 and now they're going to tell us we're going to spend more money and the question wasn't even answered. What's the best model? Should the airport take over or should the LAPD take over?"

In a final effort to marginalize the study's findings, Bratton and the Mayor forced the issue to public vote in May of that year. The public itself resoundingly voted down the consolidation of the LAWAPD into LAPD, prefering to keep the specialized services of LAWAPD in the airport and LAPD patrolling the streets.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Is Burbank based Assemblyman Paul Krekorian going to announce he is running to replace Wendy Greuel on the City Council? That was the buzz around  town Thursday evening.  Stay tuned!


Celeste Fremon thinks that it would be a good idea to change the City Charter so that His Imperialness Bill Bratton can serve ad infinitum as LAPD chief.  One wonders how consistent an old lefty like Celeste is and did she favor the Christoper Commission's term limits back when Daryl Gates was chief? I am also curious if Celeste thinks that the Police Chief should be dabbling in partisan and electoral politics, again much in contravention of the findings of the panel that sought to reform the LAPD in the wake of the Rodney King beating.  This is no different than the Republicans who were aghast at FDR's election to four terms and sought to change the constitution to prevent that from happening again.  Yet, when those very same term limits meant no more Ike after 1961, they wanted to change the game again.  Fortuanately, Ike was smart enough to know that was wrong.

Zach Behrens notes that Obama California campaign manager and Measure B godfather Mitchell Schwartz thinks there was a message in the defeat of the controversial proposition and hopes that LA's leaders take the hint. “When something that should be very popular doesn’t pass, it is a wakeup call to the mayor and the City Hall establishment," Schwartz told  Daniel Heimpel at the LA Weekly.

No wonder some of the "umbrella organizations" over Neighborhood Councils get scant participation from all but a fingerful of NC members citywide. Perhaps folks don't see these organizations as ready for "prime time." A recent notice I got from the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition said "The LANCC meets on the first Saturday of each month: MEETING SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH."  Now, yes, I did graduate from LAUSD but I am pretty sure that March 28th is not the first Saturday of the month.

Now we know why the City has made significant increases to parking meter rates and cut back on hours you can park, severely impacting local business and residents: there's gold in them thar hills! Friday the Clowncil will transfer $56 million from a parking meter fund surplus to help cover the City's budget deficit.

The LA Times reports that Bergamot Station art museum in Santa Monica could be a victim of the Expo Rail Line.  Local NIMBYs want the legendary location to be used as a maintenance yard for the line, instead of a nearby industrial property that is within the NIMBY's line of site.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Zuma Dogg notes a startling item buried in Wednesday's City Council agenda. According to Mr. Dogg "if measures are not taken, 56% of the city's general fund, 56% of every L.A. City dollar, will have to go to cover the city employee's pension and retirement funds." Zuma accuses officials charged with investing employee pensions of playing "fast and loose with the city taxpayer money" and that actions of the Mayor caused the funds to lose $7 billion in the last year, leading to what one unnamed Council Member calls "Armageddon." Say what you want about Zuma Dogg, but he's been consistently right in his financial predictions. Read more at Zuma Times.


Dueling polls and press releases Wednesday from both the Carmen Trutanich and Jack Weiss City Attorney campaigns.  Both campaigns have wildly different interpretations of where the race currently stands.  Still the view of many political watchers is that Weiss is in trouble.

LA Weekly has a good article on the latest in the billboard fight with a handy-dandy map tool to see if (gasp!) billboards are coming to your hood.  Noting that none other than uber-planning geek Mike Woo - the man who wanted to ban parking in LA - is taking up the billboard cause because his tony hood got a digital model.  Really folks, there are far more serious issues in LA right now.

It wasn't that long ago that folks were tired of Police Chief Daryl Gates and his years long hold on the office that led to a reform that was at the heart of the Christopher  Commission's recommendations in the wake of the Rodney King beating.  But now Herb Wesson thinks we should have an imperial police chief and wants to extend William Bratton's term beyond the two five year terms currently in place.  On the other hand a leader of the union that represents police officers wants to explore the idea of making police chief an elected office, much like the LA County Sheriff.

A swarm of earthquakes on the Salton Sea has some geologists wondering if these temblors could trigger a massive shaker - The Big One - on the San Andreas.  No one knows for sure but one "quake predictor" is prognosticating a terramoto for LA by sometime this weekend - not quite on the level of the Big One but reaching Northridge Quake territory. 

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Scientists are concerned that a swarm of small quakes near the Salton Sea on lesser faults leading to the San Andreas could potentially be transfering the energy that could fuel "the big one." Graham Kent, a research geophysicist at UC San Diego told the LA Times that the recent quakes are "a flashing yellow light that tells you to be prepared and to spend some time trying to understand the significance."

A battle underway by some residents in Van Nuys that want to rebrand as Sherman Oaks.  Read more about it here.

Despite orders from the Mayor to stop it and condemnations from City Controller Laura Chick over City deparments including the DWP ordering bottled water on the City's dime Police Chief William Bratton is defending his purchases of bottled water.  If the water is solely for emergencies and for officers in the field that's one thing.  We at the Sister City would like to know if the LAPD is using bottled water for management meetings or other purposes not directly benefitting the officers.  You can email us or call the hotline above if you have evidence of such.

Is Governor Schwarzenegger considering a run for the Republican nomination for US Senate next year? CBS says the signs are out there.  I would assume however the Republican nominee should actually be a Republican however.

Slow Internet Evening Hotsheet

Time Warner Cable is still having challenges (the support technician I spoke to said "the engineers are aware") but let's try to crank out the hotsheet I owe and maybe one for tomorrow through all the latency.

The Times points out something I've been saying frequently lately - City department heads like Police Chief Bratton should not be endorsing candidates in City elections. As the fishwrap notes "the Christopher Commission concluded, amid its many recommendations, that the chief of police should refrain from engaging in city politics. 'Because the chief's office is inherently powerful,' the commission wrote, 'it is unseemly for the chief to use that position to influence the political process. ... Such activity politicizes the chief, and ultimately the department.'"  We agree.

We've heard about this the last few days but how unseemly it was to have Mayor Villaraigosa - in the throws of a re-election campaign where he's yet to really discuss the issues - campaigning for Governor in Northridge last weekend?  As the LA Times notes "there was Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, giving a low-key pitch for his reelection next month without so much as a nod to his potential rivals in the June 2010 primary for governor."  Is California ready for an 11% Governor?

Political recurring disease Laurette Healey is back again hitching her wagon to yet another shady solar measure like she did with last year's Proposition 7.  Healey is using her vast mailing list to push Measure B.  Besides being opposed by those who know solar what both measures have in common are both Healey  and the so-called "Green Cowboy" David "I was there when FDR built the Tennessee Valley Authority" Freeman.  One wonders what's in it for them? We may eventually know.

If he's elected Mayor, Candidate David Hernandez promises to send Billy the Elephant to a sanctuary where he can be with other elephants.  Herndandez issued a statement saying that "Time has come for Billy the Elephant to join Ruby at the PAWS Sanctuary. It is clear the Los Angeles City Council and Special Interest Groups are using Billy as a bargaining chip in moving the Zoo’s Elephant exhibit forward."

Why Is DWP Campaigning for Measure B?

From my inbox:

You are cordially invited to attend a community meeting where LADWP will present facts about the Comprehensive Solar Plan including Measure B and the Huron Consulting Group will discuss the Independent Assessment of LADWP Owned Solar Projects (Measure B).

February 25 – 7:00 pm
Banning’s Landing
100 E. Water Street, Wilmington 90744
Parking: Street or Lot Entrance on Water Street

Will the other side be allowed to present? Send your questions to neighborhood.newswire@ladwp.com.

When this election is over I'd like to see someone pursue a ballot measure that will prohibit government agencies like DWP or LAUSD from "advocating" on ballot measures that impact them as well as banning department heads like the DWP General Manager and LAPD Chief from campaigning for city issues and candidates. Time to start cleaning up the corruption.

By the way I'm told that protesters from the unions and environmental groups that oppose B have outnumbered the general public at this meetings. The Sister City encourages as much peaceful, legal protest outside these meetings as possible.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

City Attorney candidate Carmen Trutanich announced Monday he's been endorsed by both the Los Angeles Airport Police Supervisors Association and the California Narcotics Officers' Association.  Later, reacting to a press event for opponent Jack Weiss where he was endorsed by LAPD Chief Bill Bratton (should the LAPD Chief even be endorsing candidates?) Trutanich said "It's ironic that Weiss, who has one of the lowest attendance ratings of any councilmember, is holding a political press conference in the middle of his work day."  We still wonder what Weiss' colleagues Bernard Parks, Jan Perry and Herb Wesson have to say about the Mayor and Weiss showing up to a press opp to discuss LAPD plans for their Districts without inviting the three local Councilmembers.

The National Photographers’ Rights Organization is working to educate photographers on their rights to take photos in public despite what security guards, other employees and even Miriam from Van Nuys say.  The law is you have every right to take photos in public from public property even if what you are shooting is private property or even individuals.  In the stunning video below members of NPRO are apparently harrassed by security guards at the US Bank Tower which is managed by Maguire Properties.  The NPRO's blog claims that an account under the name of Maguire Properties (not verified as actually being an account opened by anyone at the property management firm), that was allegedly posting threatening messages against the NPRO on their YouTube page, has been removed. This reminds me of my time in Sunland-Tujunga where I was told by security I could not photograph the now surrendered Home Depot site from the sidewalk.

Jasmyne Cannick on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Missing Councilmembers

Blogger Jasmyne Cannick covers yet another Jack Weiss campaign event Mayor Villaraigosa press conference detailing a plan to place more LAPD resources in Council Districts 8,9 and 10 to fight the gang problem.

Curiously, the Council Members from those districts are nowhere to be found and the Mayor states he has no idea where they're at, though he has Fifth District and City Attorney Candidate Jack Weiss standing at his side during the entire photo op press conference.

Jasmyne does an excellent job of uncovering a number of subtle yet conflicting statements made by both the Mayor and LAPD Chief William Bratton during the speechifying and question-answer period.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Piece in the fishwrap of record celebrates the six year reign of LAPD Chief William Bratton.  With crime significantly down over his term obserevers speculate what is Bratton's next act; will he move on to another role.  Bratton isn't saying and claims he loves LA. 

Though some unions and a handful of community activists oppose the expansion of Holy Cross Hospital in the North San Fernando Valley a broad coalition of hospital leaders, health care professionals, community and business leaders made an impassioned plea before the City Council on Friday to put a stop to a requirement for an environmental impact report that will delay construction of the much needed facilities further.  Councilman Richard Alarcon, in whose district the hospital is located, favors the EIR.

Tim Rutten writing in the LA Times calls for the City to step in and take over the beleagured Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown Los Angeles.  Among other reasons, Rutten's reasoning is that the Museum rents facilities from the City.  Fair enough, however the City should not be in the museum business.  If there is sufficient support from the public for the museum it will survive; the City should require the museum to purchase the facility or at least pay fair market rent for it. 

Blogger Amber Moon is the latest to join the chorus to condemn Mayor Villaraigosa's less than outraged reaction to the arrest of  former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's son Esteban on suspicion of murder. Following the arrest Villaraigosa released a statement remarking that Esteban was a good boy and lacking an expression of shock over the murder nor remorse for the victim.

We talk a lot about the rough and tumble of City of Los Angeles politics but often times there is often even more excitement going on in the smaller cities surrounding  LA.  Final votes have been certified and controversial City of Commerce Council Member Tina Del Rio was recalled from her seat by a mere 35 vote margin.  Elected to replace Del Rio is former Commerce Council Member and Mayor Lela Leon, who has been active in Commerce politics and community affairs for several years.

A City Council committee is considering a plan that would force owners of apartment properties who wish to sell their investments to offer a first right of refusal to existing tenants who could work to purchase the property or even sell their "right" on the open market for cash.  This would have a chilling effect on investment in housing; including many small rental properties that are owned by individuals, many of them who use them for retirement income.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

A law enforcment blog gives high praise to LAPD Chief Bill Bratton for falling crime rates and the ability to gather political capital in Los Angeles.  However, Rick Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri challenges Bratton's claims that his methods have controlled crime and that for the last decade economic growth drove crime down.  The coming recession, according to Rosenfeld will be the true test, saying “We haven’t had a recession since late 1950 in which crime did not go up.  The one we’re entering is not likely to buck that trend.”

Mayor Villaraigosa's cousin and newly elected Assemblyman John Perez is on a list of new state legislators to watch and one of only two openly gay legislators in the group.  The Mad Professah blog opines that Perez could be a future Assembly Speaker.

The Sacred Fools Theatre Company has a new production of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol just in time for the holidays.  This version replaces lead villian Ebenezer Scrooge with historic Los Angeles figure William Mulholland who was the founder of the modern LA Department of Water and Power.  There is no truth to the rumor that one of the characters in the musical is current DWP head H. David Nahai as the "Ghost of Christmas Shady."

What you might have missed on the blog over the long holiday weekend:

• Thanksgiving Photo Opps Continue
• Zuma Dogg Marathon
• Why your car insurance rates just went up

Lindsay Lohan Votes

Do you think she voted for anything Bill Bratton campaigned for?

.........we now return you to your local issues.

"The Chief Bobby of London"??

Los Angeles Police Chief William "Bill" Bratton is rebutting rumors that have him interested in becoming the top cop in London, England.

The former Mayor Sam Award Winner had this to say to the Daily News,

"It's being speculated on over in England, but it's not likely. I'm not interested," he said.
"I'm flattered to be thought of in a positive way, but it's nothing that's going to happen."

The ambitious and upperly thinking chief with bombastic, accented wit to match, has been the subject of speculation that he is interested in the position of "Head of Homeland Security" if Barack Obama were to win the Presidential Election.

In other news out of City Hall............

Layoffs have arrived in Recreation and Parks.

150+ part time employees have been cut from the payroll and hundreds more have seen their hours cut. Positions such as park rangers, recreation assistants, child care workers are among those that face reductions.

Interesting to note is that Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Huizar recently supported a proposal by Rec. and Parks to give a lease to a non-profit for "the development of recreation programing" at the Hazard Park Armory.

Can one speculate that these "Friends of Labor" are contracting out city services to non-labor entities who have political ties at City Hall??

LAUSD get unexpected windfall from Sacramento.

In their effort to sell the dubious Prop Q, the "Monolith of Waste on Beaudry" received news that an extra $165,000,000 was on the way to be wasted in parts unknown.

Mayor 11/100 Antonio Villaraigosa on the road again.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is heading to Palm Beach for a meeting of the U.,S. Conference of Mayors, his office announced. No further details were available. (this must qualify as Rick Orlov's shortest story ever)

"89/100 of the details" are never made public unless you run into a guy name "Antonio" in a elevator with wine and takeout.

Translating e-mails by ex. LACERS GM Robert Aguallo.

New friend of Goerge Pla, Henry Cisneros, and Richard Alatorre has these interesting e-mail exchanges with counterparts accross the country as noted by the Times David Zahniser.

In the weeks before Aguallo left his job running the city’s largest pension agency, he dropped a few e-mails soliciting private contributions for his party/charitable fundraiser to companies that had sought lucrative business with his agency. But equally unusual was the April 30 exchange between Aguallo and Joseph Haslip, the New York City assistant comptroller for pensions, about an coming conference in Chicago.

The subject line: “Dude, Are U Doing Opal-Chicago?”

Aguallo: “yes...this LA Pimp will be there..will brief you on my next adventure...”

Haslip: “Dude the nyc pimp will be in the house. I hear the OC pimp is coming too.”

Happy Sunday to all!!

Former Commissioner's Blog

This may not be news, but an MS reader sent me the link to the blog of the former Los Angeles Animal Services Commissioner , Marie Atake, who resigned after Mayor Villaraigosa's office turned a deaf ear to her concerns last year about Edward M. Boks, the shelter GM.

KABC Eyewitness News did a story on her departure after, she indicates, the Mayor put out false information about the state of the department, and conditions within the shelters. The Mayor dismissed her concerns as a "difference of opinion."

Atake, who founded an animal charity in Marina Del Rey called Forte Animal Rescue, was telling the truth, as demonstrated when the shelter workers, veterinary staff, and officers made a demand earlier this week for Boks' firing.

Mr. Boks has yet to post a response on his rather colorful city blog, but we'll link it here when he has one.

Is Mayor Villaraigosa boasting false crime stats?

Walter Moore wrote yesterday that LAPD — and by extension, Mayor Villaraigosa — are understating the city’s crime rate by using an inflated population estimate. When I saw the number — 4,220,260 — it looked suspicious so I decided to do some digging.

I pulled population estimates for 2000 through 2007 from both the US Census Bureau and the California Department of Finance, and compared them to the figures LAPD uses in its crime statistics reports. Here’s what I found:

Not once between 2000–07 were LAPD’s population estimates anywhere near the Census Bureau estimates — not even within 100,000 people. In fact, LAPD’s estimate was consistently 3% greater than the Census Bureau’s until 2005, when it more than doubled to 7%. Then, the following year, it shot up again, to 9% — nearly 400,000 more LA city residents, according to LAPD, than estimated by the Census Bureau. In other words, more than the combined populations of Burbank, Glendale, and Santa Monica.


LAPD vs. US Census Bureau

The California Department of Finance’s numbers were closer to LAPD’s, but still failed to explain the threefold spike between 2004 and 2006. What’s more, it appears LAPD actually used the DOF estimate in 2000, before increasing it significantly for subsequent years’ reports. Perhaps strangest of all, LAPD’s estimates remain unchanged from 2003–04, and again from 2006–08.


LAPD vs. California Department of Finance

None of the population estimates in LAPD’s COMSTAT reports are sourced.

I’m not charging crookery here, but at face value, this is all very odd. Considering that these statistics have been published by our local press, and will undoubtedly feature prominently in the mayor’s reelection campaign, voters deserve to know LAPD’s source and/or methodology.

Bratton May Need to Back Zine Law; Lindsay Lohan Has Gone Back Straight

According to The Young Turks web show, celebrity diva Lindsay Lohan has been caught with, uh, well, men.

You may remember that Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said there was no need for a Councilmember Dennis Zine sponsored anti-paparazzi law because, among other things, Lohan had "gone gay."

Following being outed as a lesbian by Bratton, Lindsay told the Chief to mind his own business. And because he's a Democrat, Bratton got a pass on the bigoted remark.

So what does Bratton do now?