Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

An "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" deconstruction on the Wendy "The Villar Greuel" 12,000 Police Scheme.

 The Villar Greuel's attempt to emulate Mayor Antonio Villar on LAPD staffing, gets a stinging indictment.

In private life and politics, John Shallman "numbers" have been a source of many questions.

Great Monday morning to all (unless you have bloggin stomach issues).

But what is a little stomach issue when compare to having your “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Campaign”, become a fact-challenged pinata for the discerning scribes at the Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street” (aka Los Angeles Times)?

With no apologies to the lovely ladies at the “Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet” and the “Valley Business Establishment Enablers” at V.I.C.A., the Old Gray Hag has regain a journalistic step of factually-based reporting, that has not been seen in a Los Angeles Mayoral Election in some time.

The “Private Citizen/ The Villar Greuel Political Consultant” John Shallman has predictably steered his “Villar Greuel” candidate from a resource-rich contender (at least before Shallman’s bills come due) into a looming political bust (think Chris Essel, Torie Osborn, Pat McOsker in recent times).

Today’s trifecta of stories ( by Jim Newton and regarding Jan Perry mailers attacking the Villar Greuel) in the Old Gray Hag, along with the especially the damning deconstruction of her 12,000 police officer proposal, is not a way to start a campaign week. Further, it is evident that the selling of the Wendy Greuel Brand to local media has been an outright failure (except for a certain Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet). Whether this trend plays out at the polling place on Election Day, is a work of Shallman in progress.

** So much for the Mayor Antonio Villar’s new “radical middle political incarnation“, when the old progressive mechista still reigns in your sellout political soul, as evident by the City Terrace native support of the half-cent sales tax proposal.

**  Most interesting read is Sacramento Bee longtime state capital beat writer Dan Walters missive on the background behind the Assembly Speaker John Perez for Labor Secretary speculation. To think that LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo has that much national clout, is well, most interesting to say the least.

** Our friend Downtown News Editor and Scribe of Wit Jon Regardie's latest “Regardie Report”, regales us on the latest campaign actions of the downtowncentric candidates as we excerpt below. Enjoy!

The Inside-Outside Game: Ana Cubas is making strides in the Ninth District council race, and the $126,000 she had raised by Jan. 19 puts her behind only LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara in the money tote board. She’s positioning herself as an immigrant success story (she’s a native of El Salvador), and in a Dec. 27 email to supporters wrote, “When I first started my campaign, I was told I couldn’t do it. I was too young, I was Latina and, despite my longstanding employment in public service, I was not considered an ‘insider.’” There are only about 9,000 things wrong with that claim, but the most egregious is the “insider” line. Before running, Cubas spent three years as chief of staff to Councilman José Huizar. She also did time as chief legislative analyst for then Council President Alex Padilla. How do you get more inside City Hall than that? Please, the line would make Pinocchio gag.

Your thoughts ……………
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Deconstructing the Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet endorsement of the Villar Greuel for Mayor

The former Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet of Record endorses the Downtown LA Establishment Machine choice for Mayor, City Controller Wendy "The Villar Greuel".

 How low can the Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet go when its supports the political third team incarnation of Mayor Antonio Villar, "The Villar Greuel"?

The Former Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet of Record is honored by the Downtown LA  establishment.

** Blogger's note:  As a public service of bloggin, journalistic fact checking, we invite you to join us in this Sunday morning deconstructing of a sadly, "Former Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet of Record" Editorial that endorses the third term incarnation of City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villar, City Controller Wendy "The Villar Greuel", for Mayor. Once a great journalistic, counter-balance of record to the establishment elites controlled "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street", the now simply "Moldy Green Sheet" has become just another fishwrap of declining column inches of press releases. The once proud Editorial Board lead by Ron Kaye, has given way to Carolina Garcia, who's oversight of the editorial board has produced "opinion missives for record", such as this classic regarding noted ethnic cleanser Assemblyman "Slobo Mikey" Gatto, "Fiscally minded and intelligent, he's the kind of legislator California needs" (BTW, Ron Kaye provides more background on the racial profiling proclivities on "the kind of legislator California needs"). Thus, like in the endorsement of  "Slobo Mikey" Gatto, we hope a pending lunch date did not get in the way of the facts behind its endorsement of the Villar Greuel. But upon our deconstructing below, its apparent that the mold is affecting the cognitive thought processes of a once proud community paper of record---Scott Johnson.

From the "Valley Daily Moldy Green Sheet" on its endorsement of Greuel,

Before Los Angeles goes to the polls next month to choose a new mayor, voters must ask themselves: Which candidate has the strongest combination of qualifications, political skill and personal character? Which of the eight people on the ballot can best represent city residents' diverse interests? Which man or woman has the best chance to lead L.A. back from the fiscal brink?This newspaper's editorial board has weighed those questions and found a clear answer. It's Wendy Greuel.

This video should serve to counter that assertion ........

This video highlights the Villar Greuel's lack of veracity on the Gold Card Scandal.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Michael Scott for Mayor?

In an editorial that was just way too long for me to read, as I enjoy season three of The Office on Netflix, the Daily News calls on the Mayor and City Council to "toughen up" with regard to the City budget.  The Office is funny but that made me laugh, too.

It looks like Bernard Parks has won and and avoided a run-off in his City Council race but leftists and the always classy Betty Pleasant don't seem to want to admit it.  The unions targeted Parks, further setting up the IBEW as the poster child for why what Governor Walker is doing in Wisconsin is the right thing.

Last Friday the LA City Council got a lot done.  They celebrated a belated St. Patrick's Day, Persian New Year and Latina History Day.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Poor Matt Szabo! The Deputy Mayor and former Mayoral spokeshole has been doing the bidding of the Mayor for a very long time. In fact we've been told that Szabo doesn't break wind without first checking with the Mayor and then getting an all clear from Mike Trujillo.  But we digress.  We've been worried about Szabo's condition having worked for Villaraigosa for several years.  Now poor Matt got upbraided by Jan Perry in Clowncil Tuesday when he was all tongue tied over his presence at a DWP meeting.  More from Mulholland Terrace.

Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes is known for carrying the water for lobbyists and special interests in Sacramento having passed some 11 lobbyist written bills. He's also received tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from these interests.  Now the Daily News asks nicely "Please stop."  If anyone is actually working over there, maybe the Daily News might want to look at the independent expenditures some other Assembly members (including a recently elected one) have benefited from and watch what bills they pass.

If you thought Jan Perry giving Matt Szabo a "what for" in chambers Tuesday was fun, our very favorite spokes-hole, Jeremy Oberstein of Paul Krekorian's office tweeted Council Member Dennis Zine and former DWP GM David "The Green Cowboy" Freeman's dialogue from a comical tragedy known "Freeman and the Zine."

The comedy continues on Spring Street.  CMs Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz have introduced legislation allowing the number of cats one household may own to be increased from three to five cats.  Though I don't believe in such laws to begin with, who the hell needs five cats? I am glad however these esteemed legislators are on top of this pressing issue of such concern to all of Los Angeles.

We all know how the Mayor has managed to solve so many problems in Los Angeles that he has the bandwidth to add one more duty to his job description, that is the ability to perform weddings.  Currently California law only allows Mayors to perform weddings if temporarily deputized by the County Clerk.  A bill brought by San Francisco Assemblymember Fiona Ma would have given Villaraiogsa such power but alas it was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.  His reasoning? The law only extended to charter city mayors and not all of California's mayors and gosh darn it we want any mayor in California to have the right to goof off right?

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

The Daily News is right on in an editorial opining against a proposed property tax levy against homeowners to support city libraries.  While everyone loves libraries it doesn't seem right to ask for even more money from homeowners especially when they have made it clear in the defeat of the LAUSD's effort to place a parcel tax last month.  Libraries need to review where they stand in a technological era and determine if they're truly providing core services and how best to do that with limited funds.

The City of LA may get behind a state plan to consider same day voter registration which allows voters to register on election day.  We want to increase participation (as long as it's informed and not just folks voting for someone who sent them a potholder) but this is a really bad idea. It opens the door to lots of potential nonsense and burdens voting officials to get it all right.  Currently California allows voters the opportunity to register 15 days before the election.  This is sufficient and gives election officials enough time to verify registration and get it right.

The City of LA is considering shifting the responsibility of upkeep of sidewalks to the property owner.  Though many will cackle this makes sense.  Sidewalks are not considered a core city service everywhere else in the US and have only been handled by the City since the 70s.

The City of LA may have missed an opportunity to earn some money to close it's budget shortfall - Long Beach is considering taxing medical marijuana.  The Queen Mary city is facing an $18.5 million deficit and figures since it taxes alcohol and cigarettes, why not pot?

Morning Briefs and Outtakes after some Huffing and Puffing at City Hall

From Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke", "That doobie should cure my cancer for good".

They came by the hundreds to witness government in action from behind the horseshoe on Spring Street.

What brought out this crowd to witness 15 highly paid politicians in action? Budget cuts? DWP rate increases? Cuts in Police and Fire services? A Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa photo op? No, it was all about the Pot dudes and dudettes!!

Speakers in "nickels and dimes" assortments made their way to the podium for their allotted two minutes of huffing and puffing on all sides of the Medical Marijuana issue. Just wondering if any of these speakers provided an "ounce or gram" of reason on the issue?

Some four hours later, the smoke of political retoric cleared and "in rubuff to the city attorney" (part of this morning's LA Times headline), two city council committes went ahead "and voted Monday to approve an ordinance that allows marijuana dispensaries to continue to sell the drug to people with a doctor's recommendation.

From the Times story, The city attorney's office has maintained for a year and a half that Los Angeles has no choice but to ban sales because state law and court decisions are clear that collectives can only cultivate marijuana. That opinion had stalled the council's deliberations because dispensary operators insisted it would force them to close.

As the LA Weekly reports, groups like Americans For Safe Access on Monday stated the courts in California have supported the sale of pot to patients with doctors' approvals and that if the council moves forward with is sales ban it will take City Hall to court. Give me pot or give me death!!

Councilman Dennis Zine for one, is tire of this whole saga. as noted in the Daily News "What I have seen is we are going in circles and are not accomplishing a damned thing." Here is thinking that Dennis needs a puff right about now.

Then, in all the smoke of retoric, came this profound thought from CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar, Some council members responded favorably to the city attorney's suggestion to consider capping the number of dispensaries. Councilman Jose Huizar proposed a cap of 70, allowing two in each of the 35 community plan areas."Hopefully, that will allow us to control for the over-concentration," he said.

Leave it to Councilman Huizar to come up with a plan to "cut and paste" the excess concentration of pot shops. Maybe he can start in Eagle Rock. That thought alone could cause one to "water the bong and take a big puff".

But back to reality, as the City Council vacillates on the course of action to take in regards to the proliferation of "pot shops" in Los Angeles, The LA Weekly has a must read story how pot shops are marketing to LAUSD students.

The marijuana of today is far more potent that the "Humboldt or Colombian" of the seventies. Thus, students who start with puffs of weed today are more likely to advance to other drugs like liquid meth, which are becoming mega income producers for the Mexican Drug Cartels.

In addition, our public lands are becoming one big giant pot plantation for the Cartels, witness the cause of this summer's La Brea Fire in the back country of Santa Barbara, which was an illegal campfire at a plantation site in the Los Padres National Forest. Mineral King Highway in Sequoia National Park has been nicknamed "Marijuana King" by park rangers who have eradicated many illegal plantations at great harm to the native environment. And in Fresno County this year alone, law enforcement authorities have eradicated over $1,000,000,000 of marijuana from public lands.

This issue is nothing to puff upon for much longer.

OTHER NEWS:

** Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, with his non-profit allies and UTLA backed teacher groups, will compete for control of four campuses, including Jefferson High School, as part of a groundbreaking reform initiative.

The impending face-off emerged Monday as groups inside and outside the Los Angeles Unified School District scrambled to meet a 5 p.m. deadline for applications to run 30 district schools.

In separate news conferences, the union and the mayor lauded their own education records as they marked a milestone in the widely watched reform effort.

After filing "letters of intent" for their targeted schools, the bidders, including charter school operators, now have until Jan. 11 to develop full-fledged proposals.

** The full City Council is expected to confirm Deputy Chief Charlie Beck as the rightful heir to former Chief Bill Bratton's position as LA's "Top Cop". And somewhere, an ex. chief is nodding in approval to the designated choice for ascension to his former position.

** District Attorney Steve Cooley has launched a 24 hour tip line to halt the spread of illegal dog fighting. What about a 24 hour a day tip line for political corruption?

** Do we have to waste column inches for this "duh question"? From the editorial board of the "Daily Moldy Green Sheet" or the Valley's paper of record. Cost recovery: Should L.A. recoup Jackson memorial costs?

What do you think? Should the city try to get $3.2 million back from AEG? If so, how? City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has already been pressuring AEG executives to reimburse the city. But perhaps it makes more sense for the city and AEG to made some sort of trade on behalf of Angelenos. Would a certain amount of free tickets to Staples Centers for Angelenos seem fair? How about a free beer at one of the L.A. Live watering holes? Or free screenings of "This is it" (the Michael Jackson movie has made more than $100 million in global receipts - so far - in which AEG has a stake) at the Hollywood Bowl for a couple weeks?

Or perhaps there's more creative ways for Staples Center to give back to the generous people of Los Angeles.

Send your ideas to opinionated@dailynews.com. Please include your full name, the community or city in which you live and a daytime phone number. We'll print as many as we can in Sunday's Opinionated section.

Your thoughts...................... and you wonder why "news print" is use for dog training or wrapping the "catch of the day".

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on the Eve of "El Grito"

"Not everyone is happy with Summer Night Lights"

We start off our morning with this public plea.

FROM: Community Artist, Apprentices, and Master Artist/SNL 2009

RE: Summer Night Lights (SNL) Contract

DATE: September 2, 2009

To Whom May It Concern,

We the artists of the SNL Gang Reduction Program demand immediate payment for our services. Many of us turned down other work to be a part of this important effort. The SNL programs success is majorly due to the arts component that is present at all 16 parks. We all depend on this - this is our work, we have committed ourselves not only to our craft but to our community to provide the services they all deserve. Likewise we deserve to be treated as professionals in our field of expertise. The Arts community is one of the most effected groups from the current economic downturn and continue to be disregarded by this neglect on the part of the City of Los Angeles.

The experience working hands on with the community has been remarkable. Many of us artist have gone through various lengths and have over exceeded in order to sustain the art, music and dance workshops for Summer Night Lights. For example, asking our colleagues, friends and organizations to donate materials, paying directly from our pockets, swiping our credit cards, borrowed money for equipment and materials. Although we have been partially reimbersed for materials, we have not been paid for our time and professional experience. There has been a significant amount of preparation, time, planning and effort to make SNL a success. Our efforts have over exceeded our expectations and requirements.The latest press release sent out on August 24th regarding White House Conference on Gang Violence and Crime Control states the following: “U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder praised Mayor’s SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS program as an innovative approach to reducing gang violence.” This press release illustrates the success of the program however on the other hand we are outraged that we have been left in the shadows; we have been left to fend and find innovative methods to implement and succeed on our own without proper compensation. We have not been paid for our services or materials and equipment.

The contract clearly states that the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayors office will provide modest budgets for materials and equipment, we were told by, Michelle Berne, DCA of a budget cut from our original proposal for equipment and materials, soon after we received 25% of our materials budget three weeks into the program. SNL is now in the last week and we have not received not a single payment for our services.We need answers today, via email, letter and a follow up phone call. Thank you for your time and effort in bridging our communities thru the arts.

Sincerely,

SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS 2009 MASTER ARTIST, COMMUNITY WORKERS, AND APPRENTICES

Maybe these contract workers/ artists should realize that it was more important to bailout Father Boyle's Homeboy Industry with $200,000 in T-shirt sales and pay $6,000 to the 16 "Summer Night Advocates" to spin the virtues of the program within their respective hoods.

OTHER NEWS:

** The Daily News City Hall Beat Writer Rick Orlov, highlights Antonio's comadre Maria Elena Durazo, Jim Alger's buddy Mitch Englander and the re energize Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in his Monday's "Tipoff Column".

** Former City Controller Candidate and DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras has come out in support of Tamar Galatzan for the vacant CD 2 Council Seat. He joined with Galatzan in a presser to push for an "DWP citizen advocate".

** The "Old Gray Westside Hag On Spring Street" opines on the dire fiscal days ahead at City Hall. The opening sentence gets to the point.

City Controller Wendy Greuel reported last month that Los Angeles, if it stays on its present course of spending and anticipated revenue, will run out of money next May.

But the question here is whether Greuel and her former City Council colleagues will have the fortitude to tell the likes of IBEW, SEIU and AFSCME, that their early retirement scheme will need more concessions??

** Kudos to LA's and Drudge cohort Andrew Breitbart on the roll out of his latest "bloggin endeavor", "Big Government". Maybe Breitbart will find some time to investigate some of the sub contractors getting gang money in this city. Wonder if ACORN can help in facilitating the creation of a brothel, with a large choice of "Telebimbos" for a certain Spring Street Politico??

** Racism is alive and well in the collectivist cranium of one "Old Gray Westside Hag on Spring Street" Columnist Tim "KIM IL" Rutten, the "Dear Leader of objectively bias Westside Journalism". Paraphrasing Samuel Johnson, "Racism is the last refuge of an mainstream, collectivist columnist with West LAist Liberal tendencies".

** This is dedicated to the Jack Weiss Groupie/ Nuch hater. Patrick R. McDonald questions whether the City Attorney is screwing over some homeless guy in Northridge. The scary part is the name of the "real estate expert" Comment away hater!!, ......... and don't forget to keep tabs on the busted pipes.

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

Morning Briefs and Outtakes for Monday

"The Albert Robleses of Southeast Los Angeles"

The last time I saw these two "Albert Robleses" was in Downtown LA's United States District Court.

Albert T. Robles (top photo) had been found guilty of multiple counts of corruption in the City of South Gate and was awaiting sentencing, meanwhile his defense attorney was Albert Robles (lower photo), former candidate for District Attorney, was attempting to get his client off with some dubious, verbal legal nonsense that drew a quick retort from the presiding judge.

Albert T. Robles was sentence to ten years in prison and Albert Robles went on to run for District Attorney, it is this campaign and the use of "robocalls" that has "Little Albert Robles" (nickname from those in the know in Southeast LA), under investigation for not disclosing who paid for the calls.

One would of thought that with the conviction of Albert T. Robles, that the "Robles Machine" would fade away, but to the contrary, the machine has been entrusted to the likes of "Little Albert" and others (Angel Gonzalez, Chacons, Pedroza, and others) in Southeast LA who were taught by the likes of Lou Moret and Richard Alatorre.

The machine shows its face in the form of political mailers that make outlandish charges from fictional campaign committes, with paid street walkers from "Victory Outreach" handing out campaign material and the use of absentee ballots to get out the vote.

Somebody might want to ask Montebello City Councilman Robert Urteaga how he feels about the Chacons and their tactics, at this time ??

Other News:

** Nick Patsaouras and Doug Epplehart are highlighted today in Daily News Rick Orlov "Tipoff Column. Patsaouras wants to create an office of "ratepayer advocate" to oversee the DWP. Epplehart wants to cut in half the salaries of the Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller and City Council.

Thumbs up on both, but let Corina get her half from Tony first.

** Those low rent paying merchants at El Pueblo have responded to the audit from the City Controller Office and lets guess who is patting himself on the back for his leadership on this issue ?? Hint, huevos for you, if invited.

** A no-brainer from the Editorial Board at the "Daily Moldy Green Sheet" about the need for the City of Los Angeles to revamp its business taxes.

** Rumors are circulating on the streets about fraud in the Mayor's Gang Prevention and Intervention Program, what do you expect when you are paying $6,000 to "Summer Night Lights Advocates" and awarding contracts to those who contribute to re-election campaigns ??

Your thoughts......

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

So who does the exit of Antonio Villaraigosa from the Governor's race help? The San Francisco Chronicle says it will be their own Mayor Gavin Newsom however the dean of California's political writers Dan Walters says advantage Jerry Brown.  The correct answer is Jerry Brown.  Newsom has a lot of problems with some of the key voters in the primary such as conservative Democrats in the Central Valley, older Latinos and Blacks, all of whom are more likely to vote than Newsom's base of young people and liberal leaning gays.  Also take note that a Northern Californian has not been elected Governor since the last time Brown was Governor nearly 30 years ago.  And as it it is, though Brown lives in Oakland and is by birth a Northern Californian he spent many years in LA, served for a while as a local elected official in LA and still has a network here so for all intensive purposes Brown is the So-Cal candidate.  Caveat: If Senator Dianne Feinstein gets into the race all bets are off.

Hoping to improve its relations with local Muslims the LAPD has named its first Islamic chaplain.  Sheik Qazi Asad, a Pakistani national, has done work for the LA County Sheriff's Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Asad told the LA Times, "We need to establish very good communication . . . where both parties are talking to each other. This is just opening up the door."

With the City of Los Angeles in a serious financial situation members of the City Council are leading efforts to allow the City to have the option to declare bankruptcy.  Members led by Councilmen Dennis Zine and Bernard Parks are opposing legislation currently being considered by the State Legislature to restrict California's cities from going bankrupt.  Democratic Assemblyman Tony Mendoza of Artesia introduced AB 155 in January that puts review provisions and conditions on cities before they can file for bankruptcy protection.

The one upside to Paul Koretz taking office next Wednesday is Jack Weiss will be long gone. However the Daily News is kvetching that despite that the City Council will still be populated by most of the same jokers who've been there for some time.  That's despite the fact the that former green sheet of record actually endorsed all these clowns and didn't support candidates who could have made the difference they're seeking.

Alger, Draper and Measure B: "Pieces for our Time"

When it comes to shady Measure B on the March primary ballot we have both the Daily News and Ron Kaye calling out City leaders for keeping the details under wraps and while activists Jim Alger and Ken Draper are throwing up all kinds of roadblocks to keep Neighborhood Councils from having a full and fair discussion of the controversial plan.  As the Daily News says "It seems like civic leaders are hoping voters won't ask too many questions," hence perhaps the effort to harrass Neighborhood Councils into not discussing the measure.


Alger has taken it upon himself to send out email missives to Neighborhood Council members all over town warning them to take heed of notification requirements that many feel don't even apply to Measure B and some that would even prevent some Councils from discussing the measure (based on their schedule) or be forced to consider special meetings, something most board members would not relish.

In the meantime Draper has a hissyfit over some Neighborhood Council leaders' advocacy and the sacred need to protect a "Memoradum of Understanding" negotiated some time ago between the DWP and various NCs in Los Angeles. Joseph Mailander writing at Street Hassle was correct to say that Draper's protocol concerns "sandbagged"  the No on B efforts.


The truth is that if the "Memorandum of Understanding" is going to be used in an effort to silence debate and intimidate a portion of NC board members who are reluctant to take on the City, then it's not worth the paper it's written on and NCs should consider something else.  


By the way didn't Neville Chamberlain once sign a "Memorandum of Understanding?"

Editorials on Mayor Villaraigosa's $5 Billion Housing Plan

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's ambitious 5 year, $5,000,000,000 Housing Plan has garner some interesting responses in print publications big and small.

From the big soon to be small LA Times, "A foundation, at least".

It is easy -- too easy -- to be underwhelmed by the housing plan released this week by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Much of it we have seen before: streamline the development process, encourage denser housing near transit stops, build permanent supportive housing to get the chronically homeless off the streets. Great ideas, if only they would be fully implemented. **Even controversial elements such as "mixed-income housing" -- a mandate that all new developments include "affordable" units -- come with few particulars and leave the nuts-and-bolts discussions for later.(**Nice of the Times to point out Ed Reyes's contribution to the Mayor's plan).

Jumping over the Santa Monica Mountains, we get this from Ron Kaye's old stomping grounds at the Daily News, "The mayor's plan for affordable housing has curious timing".

WHILE a worried nation waited for Congress to save the mortgage-mangled U.S. economy with $700 billion in Wall Street relief this week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was already moving on with his five-year, $5 billion answer to the city's affordable-housing woes.

This interesting timing raises one important question: Is Antonio crazy-smart, or just crazy? (Ahh, crazy and smart??)

Back in Downtown LA we have the news story and editorial, "Mixed-Income Ordinance Needs Work" from the Downtown News.

From the editorial,

It is too early for this page to take a stance on whether to support or oppose the Mixed-Income Ordinance, as what the Council will ultimately vote on - if it even gets that far - will almost certainly be far different from what has been presented to date (the basics calls for requiring 12.5%-22.5% of units in large projects to be set aside for low- to moderate-income households, or developers could pay to have the units constructed elsewhere). What we do urge, however, is that Villaraigosa and those pushing the proposal proceed very carefully and consult with all sides. We also urge that they keep a keen focus on the happenings and situation in Downtown Los Angeles. This community has seen far more residential development than any other part of the city in the past decade, and there are still dozens of housing projects proposed for the area. Thus, any ordinance requiring affordable units would have a particularly heavy impact in Downtown. (One should also take into consideration that the current administration at City Hall has issues with developing a "END GAME" on a vast variety of initiatives, can one remember the Million Tree Initiative??)

Then we finish with this from the "Downtown Garment and Citizen", "Villaraigosa Housing Proposal: Billions of Dollars and Too Little Sense".

The Garment & Citizen appreciates Villaraigosa’s willingness to step up to a challenge. We like politicians who want the spotlight when the going gets tough. We also appreciate Villaraigosa’s political instincts, which are usually well-honed.

We must, however, respectfully inform the mayor that he has gone tone deaf on this one.

Our nation is currently amid a crisis wrought by a lot of folks who talked in vague terms about the financial aspects of housing, and a bunch more who didn’t listen closely enough. We have a bunch of elected officials trying to figure out what to do about our problems, and it’s a safe bet that many of them still can’t explain how Wall Street’s exotic financial instruments figure into the misery. We have a big chunk of our corporate class that used to revel in the sharp edges of the free market but now await government rescue.

Now is not the time to launch a $5 billion proposal that relies on “tax-credit equity” for even a single bit of its funding. Not unless you are willing and able to explain the meaning of tax-credit equity, and how it benefits taxpayers. Nor is this the proper climate for putting 20% down on a $5 billion proposal and “leveraging” the rest of the funding. (Sounds right on to me...)

Your comments greatly appreciated.........

Wacko Jacko Cries to Daily News

You can read more about this at Ron Kaye's site but since Louise Clarke Stone was nice enough to point this out to us I decided to share it here.

Following being outed by Zuma Dogg for being a serial non-meeting attender, Council Member and Hopeful City Attorney Jack "Wacko Jacko" Weiss had to bitch and whine about media coverage he's not getting:

Weiss responds (to DailyNews)

Re "Lack of will" (Our Opinions, Aug. 19):
It's disappointing that the Daily News' coverage of the DNA backlog has been limited to one story and one editorial, because DNA is a constant priority for me. As promised, every week I lead a discussion in the Public Safety Committee on the DNA backlog and cold hits, but like the rape-kit backlog, these hearings haven't gotten the attention they deserve. For six years, I've made DNA a priority. Just in the past year, I got crime lab staff and found funding for outsourcing 400 backlogged rape kits. Last year, I gave the LAPD $100,000 from my office staff budget to test 100 rape kits because this issue is and always will be a high priority for me.

- JACK WEISS
Los Angeles City Council member

* * * * * * * *

Stone responds (to Weiss)

I am shocked -- I tell you -- shocked. Jack Weiss reads the newspaper and actually responds to something other than his cell phone? Weiss must have actually attended a Council meeting and, as usual, was bored with the public comment portion of the meeting. I guess this is a demonstration of Jack Weiss throwing down the gauntlet in his bid for the position of City Attorney. Well, Mr. Weiss, as usual, I am underwhelmed with you. The City has put up with Rocky for all these years and now you think you should get your chance -- no way. You have been allowed to insult the "public" of the City of Los Angeles for too long already. I vote "no on Weiss for LA City Attorney" and encourage others to do the same.

"Ass Clown Award" for the month of June

In the interest of saving Eastern Sierra Watershed, lets waste no more cyber energy in naming DWP General Manager H.(osed) David Nahai the recipient of June's "Ass Clown Award".

"Arrogant", that was Nahai's reaction to Journalist Alan Mittelstaedt request to disclose his personal water usage.

"Disdain", that being Nahai's respect for the law requiring release of public documents within 10 days of request.

"Aloof", that being Nahai's demeanor to the general public.

"Potty Mouth", that describes the vernacular of Nahai and "Dining Buddy" Tony Villar at certain restaurants.

"Dismissive", thats regarding concerns about the "Part-time employment" of Cindy Montanez.

"User", that is what Daily News Scribe Beth Barrett was in "spinning" Nahai's response to Mittelstaedt's badgering regarding his water usage.

"Enabler" that describes the "WWG, Puff Roderick" fluff piece on Nahai.

"Reality", that being these simple facts regarding Nahai's water usage........

H. David Nahai (DWP General Manager) - 434,220 gallons

Rocky Delgadillo (City attorney) - 423,368 gallons

Mayor Villaraigosa - 386,716 gallons

Jack Weiss - 254,320 gallons

Bill Rosendahl - 230,384 gallons

Tony Cardenas - 219,912 gallons

Greig Smith - 219,164 gallons

Dennis Zine - 194,480 gallons

Wendy Gruel - 190,740 gallons

Jose Huizar - 142,120 gallons

Eric Garcetti - 88,264 gallons

Janice Hahn - 83,776 gallons

Bernard Parks - 35,156 gallons

"Crack back", that is what the Daily News did to "E. Pluribus Waterwaster" in this editorial.

"Hypocrite" that is one who calls himself a "environmentialist" , kisses up to the likes of "Eco-developers", "Kaufman, Broad and Sierra Club", thens sucks up a stream in the Eastern Sierra to turn his lawn into a "Wetlands".

"Congratulations", that is for being named the "Ass Clown Awardee for June"

"TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON DAY" in Los Angeles.....and some "Looking Ahead"

Dawn rises on "thee day" in Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's "TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON", that being his effort to raise $1.5 million dollars, thus scaring off any other protential opponants to his re-election campaign besides Walter Moore.

With LA Times Reporter David Zahniser's reports at L.A. Now taking the weekend off, we turn to the Valley's "Fishwrap of Choice" the Daily News and political scribe duo of Rick Orlov and Kerry Cavanaugh for background on the Mayor's "TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON DAY" festivities.

"Villaraigosa really hits his stride on Sunday, with four back-to-back fundraisers. He starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Brentwood home of private equity manager Frank Biondi ( Former head of Universal). Then it's off to a 1:30 p.m. reception at the Beverly Hills home of real estate investor Simon Mani (Republican Donor). At 4 p.m., the mayor will schmooze in Westwood with businessman Sim Farar (Big time democratic donor), and then he ends the day with a 6 p.m. Beverly Hills reception hosted by the Persian-American community (H. David Nahai aka, "E. Pluribus Waterwaster" and friends).

Villaraigosa has already held three out-of-state fundraisers. One in Florida, another hosted by Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago and another at the New York City pad of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Villaraigosa is racing to raise as much money as he can as early as he can to scare off potential challengers for. Political observers are keeping an eye on mall mogul Rick Caruso, who has toyed with the idea of running. But it's unlikely that multi-millionaire Caruso would be intimidated by Villaraigosa's war chest."

Rick Orlov also has a extensive front page missive on the Mayor "looking forward" to his last year of his four year term on the "Third Floor", some comments should cause Mayor "AnVil" some consternation and concern.

But David Diaz, an urban studies professor at California State University, Los Angeles, said he would give Villaraigosa average marks.

"Given the excitement of his election and when he first came in, I think he's just been average," Diaz said

From Joel Kotkin,

Still, Villaraigosa's economic strategies are not without critics as he grapples with the budget shortfall and the prospect of layoffs if property tax and other revenues don't pick up soon.

"The economy is pretty much dead in the water and his strategy is all smoke and mirrors," said Joel Kotkin, presidential fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University.

"It's all based on real estate, and I think the city is in the worst shape it has been since the riots. Los Angeles has no real economic-development strategy."

From Gerald Silver, President of Homeowners of Encino,

Silver said he and others have long been concerned about overdevelopment and the resulting impacts.

"When it comes to issues like that, I would give him a D," Silver said. "What he has failed to do is link growth and development to consumption at a time when he is asking the rest of us to conserve.

"We can't wash our driveway down, yet a big new development that will use more water and power sails through."

Silver was among a key group of Valley homeowners who backed Villaraigosa four years ago against former Mayor James Hahn. Now, he said, he's not sure if he would support him for re-election. It depends on his opponents, and whether he makes additional improvements in the Valley.

........and the obvious observation,

Jaime Regalado, director of the Pat Brown Institute of Politics at California State University, Los Angeles, said it is such political matters that Villaraigosa has to address.

"I think he has done a reasonably good job in recovering from his problems last year. Maybe he's two-thirds recovered," Regalado said.

"But there certainly isn't the shine he had two years ago."

Friday Morning Missives

Good Friday morning to all, especially to our dueling elected Department Heads on Spring Street.

A long simmering feud between City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and City Controller Laura Chick boiled over into a departmental "slap fight" with the City Controller subpoenaing the City Attorney for record pertaining to its oversight of the office's Workers Compensation Program.

The City Attorney’s decision to withhold this important information from public scrutiny is a slap in the face to the people he serves. In an effort to provide the public with the accountability they deserve, I am exercising my subpoena powers for documents and records in the City Attorney’s Office pertaining to the Workers’ Compensation Program.

Since becoming Controller seven years ago and conducting 154 audits, this is only the second time that I have been forced to utilize my subpoena powers, and I don’t do so lightly. Unfortunately, due to the City Attorney’s actions, I am left with no other choice.

Memo to Ms. Chick, that 154 number you cite in your press release should be 155. There is a department in the Garland Building that has the initials of C-D-D? They use to oversee a program called L-A- B-R-I-D-G-E-S? That program gave regular city pay checks with your "John Hancock" on it to someone associated with the M-E-X-I-C-A-N M-A-F-I-A?

So Ms. Chick, stop with the theatrics on how you are going to huff and puff and blow down "Rocktard's Door" and do what many of the community wanted done long ago, AUDIT L.A. BRIDGES!!

****Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn faces four criminal charges stemming from a city program that provided low interest home loans to city officials. Dorn a ordained minister was a former sheriff deputy, asst. city attorney and Juvenile Court Judge, was a regular on the "Talk Back Radio Show" with George Putnam in the 80's and 90's discussing his thoughts on the Juvenile Justice System.

****We forgot to mention that former councilman "M.L.K." has resurface, that being "Martin Ludlow King". The convicted former councilman is passing the time working with the football players at Dorsey High School. New LA Times Sports Columnist Kurt Streeter does the "hosanas in print" in expousing Ludlow taking accountibility...and falling on the sword for others, in the SEIU 99 Courruption Trial. Then there is something about a late public figure and a lack of autopsy.

****The Daily News is a "fishwrap" in need of leadership. After being "used" by DWP General Manager H(osed) David Nahai, then trying to save face with its "confessional retort", the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET calls upon LAPD to revise it immigration policy known to all as Special Order 40.

****The "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET....for sale" is a "Johnny come lately" to that dysfunctional group known as the "Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council" led by former late Assemblyman Marcos Firebaugh aide and currently employed by Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon, Jose Sigala. BTW, Sigala is also related to LHNC's David Galaviz.

.........later today, more on the "TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON" Day Five.

Daily News "Used By" and "Turns the Table On" H. David Nahai

With apologies to former Daily News Editor Ron Kaye, we must in the public interest post these excerpts on how a Pompous, Arrogant, Thin-Skinned, Aloof, Poor Excuse of a Public Servant, that being Department of Water and Power General Manager and "Co-Chief" (with IBEW's "Boss D'Arcy"), H. David Nahai, brought shame to the once proud, but now "MOLDY GREEN SHEET.

From today's Daily News Editorial "Confessions and manipulations of a water-waster".

Auditors of the spacious spread owned by H. David Nahai on Beverly
Hills-adjacent Deep Canyon Drive found that the general manager of the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power is one of those very water-wasters that
the city is, under his own leadership, cracking down on.

In fact, Nahai's lawn is so overwatered by sprinklers that it's sitting
in a foot of subsurface moisture.

Those were the revelations that Nahai made to the Daily News in a story
this week. In that story, Nahai acted contrite - and seemed ready to take action
to trim his average $232 monthly water bill.

It was embarrassing for Nahai, to be sure. And it reinforced the belief
by many that Los Angeles' leaders regularly engage in hypocrisy. Here was the
man scolding Angelenos for using too much water caught in the wasteful act
himself.

But shouldn't Nahai be forgiven for generously opening his home and his
water usage to the public - a commitment to model good conservationist behavior?
Certainly, if that were the whole story.

Now getting to the "Heart of a User".

The story behind that story, in fact, shows more political calculation than chagrin. Nahai's offer to the Daily News was nothing more than a clever pre-emptive strike against another reporter he considered a bother. For weeks Nahai had resisted requests from independent journalist, blogger and all-around muckraker Alan Mittelstaedt to turn over his water bills. It was a reasonable request. The man who was resurrecting the water police and portraying himself as a conservationist ought to be willing to be an example.

Nahai was annoyed by the request and the persistence of this journalist, and knew he would have to give up his wasting ways sooner or later. So he used a tactic common to clever public figures: He took his story elsewhere. Hah. Take that nosy Nelson!

Politicians, celebrities and other powerful people have been playing games like this ever since there was a press to play with. It's unfortunate, and the public likely has little idea of the manipulation that goes on behind the scenes every day just to get public officials to grudgingly provide important information.

What's more, this story illustrates not only that Nahai is a crafty political figure, but that he - as so many others in the city's leadership - only did the right thing when forced. Would disgraced San Diego Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham have stopped taking bribes from defense contractors had not he been exposed by the San Diego Union-Tribune and the FBI? Not likely.

H. David Nahai is a lawbreaker (for violating the Public Records Act) and frontman for the likes of Mayor Villaraigosa, Ari Swiller and Keith Brackpool who will reap $$$$ of the back of ratepayers for their pet projects and companies (Cadiz Inc., Renewable Resources).

Props and happy return to the LA Weekly for Alan Mittelstaedt and thanks for the fortitude to show what a fraud H. David Nahai is to the Conservation Community,....including the Sierra Club.

Comments from the "WESTSIDE WHITE PUFF PIECE GUY" The person who at this time regrets writing this example of "PUFF JOURNALISM" .

Memo to the Daily News, Walter Moore has been, is, and will continue to run for Mayor

This morning as usual, the radio was tuned into KABC 790 AM "Doug McIntyre Show".

Doug is the best in AM Los Angeles when highlighting, with intellect and reason, local issues of the day.

This morning he took exception to the Daily News, aka, the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET" for this sentence in a story about the Mayor's San Fransisco Fundraiser tonight.

The invitation-only champagne reception is expected to raise tens of thousands of dollars for Villaraigosa's re-election campaign next spring. As of now, the mayor has no announced challenger.

Original version of sentence.

Revised version which still obmits Walter's name.

Now I would provide a link to the whole story so that the sentence could be seen in its proper context, but the MOLDY GREEN SHEET has removed the story in question, must of been embarrass into action by the comments of one of their Op-Ed writers on the air this morning.

For months now Walter Moore has been running commercials and appearing on local AM stations. Further he is the author of "Jamiel's Law" which would revise Special Order 40. I find it hard that a "MOLDY GREEN SHEET" Copy Editor, unless based in India like the OC Register, could of not caught this oversight before the story went to press. Then what about asking your in house political writer Rick Orlov to scan the story for any mistakes??

And by the way, I recall Doug mentioning something about a retraction............

FLASH: Daily News Endorses Waldman, Pavley

Though he has to sit first through a verbal spanking from the MOLDY GREENSHEET OF RECORD, 40th Assembly District Candidate Stuart Waldman garners the endorsement of the Daily News, a significant victory for the former Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and current seat holder Lloyd Levine.

Though the News is disgusted by the spat between Waldman and chief opponent Bob Blumenfield over Blumenfield's questionable campaign financing, they gave the nod to Waldman based on his past experience and their hope once in office he'll put all this behind him. The paper also stated that fellow candidates Laurette Healey and Dan McCrory "just aren't viable candidates."

In a related story, the Daily News endorsed Levine's opponent for the Democratic nomination for the 23rd State Senate District, Fran Pavley. The News compared Levine to Blumenfield saying the Assemblyman's "tenure has been more about serving himself than the Valley."

Voters in both races go to the polls June 3rd.

Mayor Sam's Sunday Brunch

Zev Yaroslavsky rolls to an inevitable candidacy for Mayor next year hitchhiking on the development issue. This time it's an op ed piece in today's LA Times. Zev makes a point he's been doing so for a while; that the housing required to accomodate LA's growth can be obtained without LA's elected officials taking a hatchet to zoning laws and community plans. Zev claims than an additional one million housing units can be built within existing code and plans. And he mentions the Coming City Superstorm I've been telling you about; one Zev could ride all the way to Getty House.

It's bad enough new Daily News editor Carolina Garcia has to move from Monterey to Woodland Hills; the usual Valley naybobs are chomping at the bit to "acclimate" her to their "vision" of the Valley. Good profile of Garcia at the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.

Charlotte Laws and other Neighborhood Council leaders are pushing for a series of changes to the charter of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Congress. The biggest change is to the name of the organization which would become the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition. Another change Zuma Dogg may be interested in would be that the LANCC's Senate would change it's name to the "Board of Delegates" and those who have enjoyed the title of "Senator" would now be referred to as "Delegates."

Speaking of Neighborhood Councils, the first round of elections for the advisory panels administered by the City Clerk's office are coming soon. Though many of Councils have required stakeholders to present some form of ID in order to run and vote, the City's new policy (which will be uniform in the next round of elections) is to simply allow someone to "self-affirm" their status a stakeholder, which doesn't really matter anyway because the City's new policy is that "you're a stakeholder if say you are" completly eliminating some requirement that Council members have a real connection to the community in which they wish to serve. Perhaps when it comes to taxes we could self-affirm if we owe and declare the basis for it.

Garcia to Helm Daily News?

Reporter G is speculating that Carolina Garcia, executive editor of the Monterey County Herald, may be the next editor of the Daily News. Garcia's appointment if it comes would replace the long time reign of Ron Kaye as the head of the former MOLDY GREEN SHEET, who resigned last week.