LA Mayoral Candidates on TV

From candidate David Saltsburg:

It's the moment Los Angeles has been waiting for...the debut of Zuma Dogg on FOX 11's "Good Day LA" with Dorothy, Jillian and that other guy. (Just kidding, Steve!) After eight years of Zuma Dogg as a public access superstar in the City of Los Angeles, it's about time they had me on the show. We'll be discussing my candidacy for Mayor '09 in the 7am and 9am hours. Tell the sales department to get ready...the ratings are going to be HUGE! (Hey wait...7am? Am I going to be required to speak?)

Any others?

REAP Program Used to Flip Properties for Developers?

Mayoral candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg hints that there could be a coming Federal investigation of the City's Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP).  The program's original intent was to allow renters of housing with deferred maintenance to direct rent payments towards the cost of repairs.

In an interview with the Sister City, Saltsburg said that properties are put into the REAP program because the City claims some level of repairs must be made.  However, the law does not allow owners to make modest increases to rent to cover the cost of repairs.  Saltsburg said "Most of these renters are paying about $400 a month in rent.  They'd likely have no issue paying $500 a month to make the repairs and guarantee they have a place to live.  If the property is seized and the residents evicted they're not likely to find replacement housing in LA anywhere near what they were paying."

However, Saltsburg claims that City leaders could be using the program to force mostly middle class and elderly investment property owners into selling the older properties at a song to politically connected developers who are seeking the land for constructing upscale income housing.  In the last several days owners of these properties have come before the Council stating that their properties have been essentially stolen from them under the program.

Saltsburg has been saying for several days that for some reason Council President Eric Garcetti has become frustrated when the Mayoral candidate attempts to discuss the REAP program during open public comment at City Council meetings and has taken steps to silence Saltsburg. 

Saltsburg also told me the Mayor and Council President often claim to be pro-business and advocates for low-income housing.  He asserted that flies in the face of what's happening with the REAP program in that not only are the small investors losing their properties but of course the residents are being evicted.

Stay tuned.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Supporters of the Los Angeles Zoo's efforts to keep on track the multi-million dollar effort to construct a controversial elephant exhibit thought that they had lost the battle and the votes needed on the City Council to keep the elephant pen from being shut down.  Then a white knight in the form of Global Crossing founder and Wall Street rainmaker Gary Winnick came to their rescue.  Winnick hired crisis management guru Mike Sitrick to turn it around for them.  Sitrick who handled PR for Paris Hilton during her county jail days and Rush Limbaugh during his pill popping phase got right to work and, according to insiders, managed to turn Bill Rosendahl to the dark side bringing along Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes and securing the Zoo a win.  The bill: tipsters say $250,000.


Mayoral Candidate David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg will be interviewed by KABC Talkradio AM 790 host Doug McIntyre Monday at 9:30 a.m.  By the way if any other Mayoral candidates want to send us over their media appearances we'll be glad to post them.

Lots of hand wringing by paperweight winners over the LA Times decision to axe it's "California" section and move local news to the main section.  However Ron Kaye, a blogger who's actually run daily metropolitan papers, says that's not a bad thing.  Kaye opines "The Times becoming a Los Angeles newspaper could be the best thing for the city. The community needs a powerful, credible voice to stand up for the common good, the greater good, to passionately tell the stories of who we are and how we could do better."  In his hand wringing our favorite paperweight winner keeps making the claim that by getting rid of the California section, the Times can print its Calendar entertainment section at night, hence keeping it more newsy.  However, Ed Padgett, a blogger who has actually printed a newspaper explains how the paper is actually printed.  Folks this is the kind of reportage that wins Pulitzers. 


The LA Weekly reports that Mayor Villaraigosa and Southern California Congressman Xavier Becerra apparently didn't rate invitations to President Obama's Superbowl party at the White House.  But guess who did: Senator John McCain, but apparently the former Republican Presidential candidate was not able to make it.

From the weekend:

• Jasmyne Cannick on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Missing Councilmembers 
• Candidate Adeena Bleich Stumps in CD5