Fuentes Shepherds $15 Million Bond to Affordable Housing Developer

Samoa Street: Site of Coming 48 Unit Apartment Complex

You won't read about it in the papers very likely, but $15 million of taxpayer money is being directed towards a controversial housing development in Sunland-Tujunga, rammed through the City Council while most of the citizenry is gearing up for the holidays.

Councilman Felipe Fuentes backed affordable housing bond funds going to a 48 unit four bedroom apartment complex on a narrow hillside road in Sunland-Tujunga, despite the protests of local residents and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council.

Developers, in a letter to the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and the Sunland Tujunga Alliance stated that without the public funds, their project would not pencil out.

In addition to the impact the property would have on strained local infrastructure, safety issues with regard to parking and the ability of fire personnel to reach the property, residents objected to how a required bond hearing was not held, in lieu of the City Council discussing the matter. Many have noted that the Council is likely in violation of the law here.

The next step will be a state panel issuing the final approval for the bonds; however many residents feel that will simply be a rubber stamp of the Council's rubber stamp.

Let us hope that this is a wake-up call to the community that the game has changed, that developers and the City Council see Sunland-Tujunga as a prime area to concentrate affordable housing and that one can not fairly expect the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and it's Land Use Committee to shoulder the burden of this fight. Individuals will need to get involved, dollars may need to be raised to hire attorneys and cover other expenses of the fight and perhaps, a suitable replacement for Mr. Fuentes for the 2017 election needs to be identified, groomed and supported now.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Election Day 2014

As a minority of register voters head to the polls today, we ponder how the endorsements of Mayor Eric Garcetti will influence voters in the contested 33rd Congressional District, the open LA County Board of Supervisor Seats and LA County Assessor Campaigns. 

Will the endorsement of Mayor Garcetti (on keyboards at last Sunday's Lummis Day Festival), play well with voters?

Great bloggin Election Day to all as a minority of register voters across "Greece on the Pacific" (the formerly "Golden State") will cast ballots for a myriad of statewide and local political offices.

For Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti who is nearing the one year mark since being sworn in as the replacement for former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar, today's Elections will be the first check of his political barometer regarding the Rhodes Scholar Progressive influence on selected contests.

With former President Barack "H" Obama Labor Secretary (and subject of an Federal Investigation) Hilda Solis firmly establish as the frontrunner to replace District 1, LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina, political observers will surely be keyboarding Tuesday morning musings on Mayor Garcetti's endorsement influence in the hotly contested District 3 LA County Supervisor Race, along with 33rd Congressional Cage Match and the crowded affair to replace the disgraced John Noguez as LA County's Assessor.

For West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, State Senator Ted Lieu and West Hollywood Jeffery Prang respectively, tonight's results will be telling if the "Garcetti Touch" enables them to campaign on to November. Thus, enhancing future political opportunities for the first year Mayor.

** Orale!! Mayor Garcetti picked Cesar Chavez Avenue, between Evergreen and St. Louis Street as one of LA's "Fifteen Great Streets". We are left to ponder whether this designation will raise the "taxes" that Street Vendors must pay for the privilege to sell Paletas, Tamales, and hot Cheetos along the newly designated thoroughfare?

** In a "Do As I Say, Don't Do As I Do Political Moment", City Attorney (and AB 109 Co-author) Mike Feuer, has double the number of Neighborhood Prosecutors. Thus undoing his joint efforts with former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar and most of the City Clowncil Central Committee, to enact political payback on now former City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

** Downtown News Editor and reigning "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie, found gainful time to surf various websites of Clowncil Central Committee Members and what new tidbits of cyber facts did he unearth? An excerpt ...........

Felipe Fuentes’ Fowl Play: What does Seventh District rep Felipe Fuentes do for fun? If you guessed yachting or lawn bowling, you’re wrong. Instead, his website states that, “Felipe likes to spend time with his family working on their garden, tending to their chickens and sharing home-cooked meals.”
I don’t know why this strikes me as fascinating, but it does, and I’m curious how many chickens Farmer Fuentes has, if he ever brings them to work, if he has a favorite chicken, if he first got a chicken or an egg, and if any of them are named Antonio Villaraigosa.

....... wondering if the Cocks and Hens within the Fuentes Coop, can "chicken-scratch legislation", on behalf of campaign-contributing Special Interests?

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14   

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Members of Team Villar are farmed out to save the third term incarnation of the Mayor Villar Political Machine, Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel"

The Villar Greuel's "Left and Rights Turns" have discombobulated her campaign message. 

Will Janell Erickson be able to right the floundering, pandering campaign vessel of the Villar Greuel?

Former Mayor Villar's Chief of Staff Jeff Carr "favorite duo" of Janelle Erickson and Matt Szabo.

Hola and great Cesar Chavez Day to all as Spring Break begins for hundred of thousands of LAUSD charges, with shuttered city facilities, in honor of the great anti Illegal Alien Activist.

You have to admire the adaptability of the Third Floor Duo of Mayor Antonio Villar’s Deputy Mayors Janelle Erickson and Matt Szabo. Szabo who recently return home to unpack his carpetbag after his fail attempt to replace Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti on the City Council, is back to work for his endorsing boss, according to Daily News Rick Orlov’s latest Monday “Tipoff Column”.

As Szabo returns, his partner in “mayoral office power games” (think the ouster of Former Chief of Staff Jeff Carr) Janelle Erickson, has been farmed out to save the imploding Wendy “The Villar Greuel” Campaign. Erickson will assume the duties of Campaign Manager, which would be second nature to her, having done the same for the “Villar Greuel’s” past city council campaigns.

Numerous discerning political observers (Parke, the Calitics Blog)  are openly questioning the rationality of these latest campaign team changes and skeptical of the Election Day outcome for the “Villar Greuel Campaign“.

** The tabulation of outstanding Provisional and Absentee Ballots from the March 7 Elections, will take place tomorrow at the City Clerk’s Piper Tech Office. The final tally could determine whether CD 1 City Council Candidate Gil Cedillo wins outright and avoids a runoff with current City Council Ed Reyes Chief of Staff Jose “Mini Density” Gardea. The final results could also push CD 7 City Council Candidate Felipe “Mini Padilla” Fuentes into a May runoff with Nicole Clark.

** While “Mini Padilla” Fuentes awaits his quest to become the next CD 7 City Councilman (then in short order, “City Council President Mini Padilla II”), he is not lacking for income as new Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, has found ample public duties for the former assemblyman, to justify a $8,500 a month pay check (pardon the “bullsh.. cough“).

** A great turnout took place for the Eagle Rock dedication of the Art Snyder Community Room. County Supervisor Mike Antonivich, City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Former City Councilmans Richard Alatorre and Mike Hernandez were in attendance. But notably absence was current CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Lastly, we bring you this episode of State Parole Agent minus brain cells, who brings his new “AK 47 toy” to assigned CD 9 job site, which contains hundred of violent parolees. From the Pacovilla Corrections Blog.

los angeles sleuth says:March 25, 2013 at 02:23Information received by more than 20 individuals, parole agents and parole supervisors from several different assigned locations. PA 3 did take his new purchased toy ( assault weapon ) unclear if weapon was loaded or not to the previously referred to South Central Parole Complex. He was observed showing off his new toy to fellow co-workers by a parole administrator who then called Region 3 Headquarters and reported the incident. Many are saying that this PA 3 received an LOI less than 3 months after the initial date of the incident. Many unanswered questions. DOM written policies were violated. Unanswered questions. Did anyone notify CHP, after all the location of the incident was in a State Office ? This PA 3 placed the lives and welfare of his co-workers , clerical staff and others in harms way. He should have been re-assigned until a formal and complete investigation was completed. Formal letters to be sent out next week to many to and include state elected officials, State AG’s office , news media, LA. DA office, and others informing them of this latest incident and cover up by the Queen of parole MF and others. I have been told of yet another attempted cover up by parole administrators in Region 4 where a Parole Supervisor lost his cool and some type of altercation took place with a parole agent. I have been told that this incident took place in the Pomona-Ontario Parole Complex. Both parties involved has been transferred to other parole locations. I was also told this is why the current head of Region 4 made the decision to retire now than later. ( soon to retire.)

Lastly, we will have later posts on the growing list of "Waste, Frauds, and Abusers for the Villar Greuel".

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Monday

Kamala Harris and Steve Cooley

Shades of Florida 2000 at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Office?

If you listen to the charges and counter-charges from the respective spokespersons for San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, as the vote count trickles on in the California Attorney General Election. Then the California version of Bush v. Gore may not be far off.

You can click on to the link above for the blow by blow spin but at the time of this post, the Daily News is reporting that Kamala Harris holds a 14,089 vote lead over Steve Cooley. More drama to come.

Read more »

State Senator Alex Padilla eyeing run for Mayor in 2013. ** Or is it Congress?

"East Valley Political Bookends:" State Senator Alex Padilla on left, Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes on the right.

He once was the leading "Latino Business/Moderate Democrat" on the City Council, serving with the likes of former CD 14 Councilman Nick Pacheco after both being elected in 1999.

But in 2003, with the late Los Angeles County Labor Federation Chief Miguel Contreras leading the way, the Latino Left Political Machine exerted its new found muscle and push aside Nick Pacheco, with its "chosen one" Antonio Villaraigosa taking over in CD 14 and did not look back until becoming Mayor in 2005.

For Padilla, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who was elected to the City Council at the age of 26 and becoming its president two years later, upward was the only direction this political upstart could go. But with the likes of the Los Angeles Times pushing the Villaraigosa agenda, Padilla was relegated to leaving the council in 2006 to run for the 20th State Senate District seat that he was just re-elected to.

Meanwhile the "shining star" that was Villaraigosa political aspirations has disappear into a "political black hole" and with the Latino Labor Left Machine 's excesses causing a backlash at the polling place with investigations pending. Thus, will the 2013 Mayoral Race see a return of moderate Latino candidates?

Maybe sensing this, Padilla recently announce to a luncheon group of the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum that he was looking at a possible run for Mayor in 2013, as reported in the Downtown News.

Read more »

LA Weekly on Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes: "The Worst Legislator in California"

Was CD 7/2 City Councilman Richard Alarcon "ratted out" by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes?

Is it easy to say that Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes is a "political bad guy"? Does CD 7/2 City Councilman Richard Alarcon have residency issues? The answers are one in the same.

But while 9.999 out of 10 may agree with the premise of the LA Weekly Story by David Futch on the Special Interest Ghost-Authoring proclivities of the East Valley Democrat, what one can find more sinister here, is the depths that Fuentes will sink to advance his self-serving political agenda.

After all, what is worse than being a alleged political rat? From a recent post here at Mayor Sam.

I just heard an interesting tidbit that it was Fuentes who threw Alarcon under the bus. If RA is pushed out, Fuentes could run and possibly get his seat, finish out his term and still have twelve more years. In any case, it's a no win situation for CD7 and the rest of the city.

Read more »

Did Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes “rata” on Councilman Richard Alarcon?

Should have CD 2/7 Councilman Richard Alarcon been aware of Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes lurking behind his political backside?

Nothing like a little political speculation on a late Sunday evening, provided by a politically educated, anonymous poster.

I just heard an interesting tidbit that it was Fuentes who threw Alarcon under the bus. If RA is pushed out, Fuentes could run and possibly get his seat, finish out his term and still have twelve more years. In any case, it's a no win situation for CD7 and the rest of the city.

People who live in Shadow Hills, CD2, have said that RA and his family live there. He should have followed the rules or he wouldn't be in this mess. He was living there when Wendy last ran for CD 2 but he probably knew he couldn't beat her so he opted to run for the state instead. The opportunity to run for a third term came up with the passage of Prop R and when Padilla vacated his seat for the state. When he ran and won CD7 as a resident, he tried to negotiate with Greuel to give up CD 2 territory so that he would be legal before anyone discovered he didn't live in his CD 7 district.

I can't believe Panarama City and the rest of CD7 don't believe rules should be followed. This sets a bad precedent for everyone and not a good image for those who think it's ok to lie. What happened to honesty, accountability and transparency. No excuses or variances should be allowed that are against the law. What he did is against the law and unacceptable.

BTW, anyone who believes that the third term was wanted by councilmembers in order to do a better job is a fool. They wanted the third term in order to collect pensions from the city. They must do 10 years in order to get it and 2 terms is only 8 years. I'm not sure if Alarcon gets the pension because his terms were not consecutive, but the city pays much more than the state, which was a huge incentive for him to return when he had the opportunity. It's time we clean out the horseshoe and get honest leaders.

August 07, 2010 1:24 A

After all, it was the Daily News who recently editorialize Fuentes proclivities’s to advance the Special Interests monetary endeavors in Sacramento. Thus, could Fuentes be hording the favors of the Special Interests to spearhead his quest to become the next "Collectivist Overlord of CD 7"? Then lets not forget the other possible candidates as the Capital Weekly reports.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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

Who needs a week to read a 14 page document? Apparently members of the Los Angeles City Council.  A vote scheduled for Tuesday on legislation regulating medical marijuana dispensaries has been postponed until next week so that Clowncilmembers can study the document prepared by the City Attorney's office.

A  City Council panel led by CM Tony Cardenas says that Mayor Villaraigosa should not control the City's anti-gang programs.  Cardenas points to a lack of transparency from within the Mayor's office and laments the Council having no oversight authority over the programs.  The Mayor's staff denies the charges however Cardenas is suggesting the programs be moved to a new agency independent of the Mayor.

No wonder Brian D'Arcy and the IBEW is pulling out all stops to elect Chris Essel.  A city audit shows that massive pay increases given to DWP employees could bankrupt the utility's pension plan.  With news like that D'Arcy needs every vote he can get to continue to rob the DWP blind.

If Chris Essel is elected to the Clowncil she will find a chilly reception from the District's Neighborhood Council leaders.  Two of them, Lisa Sarkin and Judy Price, respond to and refute several claims Essel made during recent candidate forums.

Big three way race to assume the mantle of Speaker Karen Bass in the State Assembly. Among those jockeying include Kevin DeLeon, Felipe Fuentes and Mayoral primo John Perez.  If chosen, Perez would be the first openly gay member to serve in the leadership role.  The winner will be Perez.

And finally some good news about one of the last class acts remaining in Los Angeles.  The Dodgers announced that Vin Scully will be back for a record 61st season annoucing Dodger games on radio and television.  82 year old Scully - who has already been in the Hall of Fame for thirty years - said in a statement quoted in the LA Times that he was "very excited and optimistic"about next season.

Evening Briefs and Outtakes on Mayor Villaraigosa's Travels "South of the Border" and News from CD 2, Sacramento and 710 Tunnel Stuff

" The cliches never change when it comes to Mexico, for Mayor Villaraigosa"

In case you didn't notice, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is out of country again, expousing the virtues of "Ciudad de Los Angeles".

This time, his travels (paid by us of course) take him south of the U.S. border to Mexico as the LA Times Phil Willon reports.

While traveling in Mexico today, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took a swipe at efforts to build a massive fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying U.S. politicians should spend their time building bridges instead of walls, the Associated Press reported.

“We should focus on what we have in common instead of focusing on our differences,” Villaraigosa said after a meeting with Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard. On Sunday, Villaraigosa met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón at the National Palace. Before the mayor was given a tour, the two discussed immigration and public safety issues, according to a representative of the mayor’s office.

Villaraigosa’s trip to Mexico started Thursday, when he led a delegation of authors, artists, filmmakers and musicians to the 2009 Guadalajara International Book Fair, where Los Angeles had been declared the guest of honor.

A $2.1-million grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs paid for the delegation’s trip to Guadalajara, including travel expenses for four staff members from the mayor’s office and a dozen from Cultural Affairs. Councilman Jose Huizar and City Librarian Martin Gomez also were part of the delegation.

The mayor’s trip to Mexico City cost an estimated $8,600 and was paid for by Villaraigosa’s office and Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that oversees Los Angeles International Airport.

It's unclear what source of funds will be used to pay the travel expenses of the mayor's LAPD security detail.

Also nice to note that since since the start of his second term as Mayor, Villaraigosa has been out of country on an average of one in six days. Talk about hands on leadership.

** The latest rounds of numbers are out from the Ethics Commission, regarding financial contributions to the CD 2 Special Election Candidates Paul Krekorian and Chris Essel. As they debate this evening in their supposed last debate in Valley Village. Krekorian holds a slight edge in 'hands on cash" while Essel is reaping the latest financial windfall from the Police Protective League.

Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC Los Angeles, CA 90017 (Independent Expenditure) Support Christine Essel City Council Member - District 02 Chris Essel for City Council 2009 - General (1321633)[Election: 12/08/09] 11/30/09 11/30/09 Radio Buy #3 RADSC-6 $60,000.00

Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC Los Angeles, CA 90017 (Independent Expenditure) Support Christine Essel City Council Member - District 02 Chris Essel for City Council 2009 -General (1321633)[Election: 12/08/09] 11/30/09 11/30/09 Cable buy #3 TVSC-4 $44,099.00

Meamwhile Krekorian is seing some independent money come his way.

Service Employees International Union Local 721 CTW, CLC State & LocalLos Angeles, CA 90020 (Independent Expenditure) Support Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819)[Election: 12/08/09] 11/28/09
11/27/09 Printing, Production, and Postage MAIL-1 $4,435.00

Service Employees International Union Local 721 CTW, CLC State & LocalLos Angeles, CA 90020 (Independent Expenditure) Support Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819)[Election: 12/08/09] 11/28/09
11/28/09 Phone banking (estimate) $3,600.00

United Firefighters Of Los Angeles City Local Union #112 Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Independent Expenditure) Support Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819)[Election: 12/08/09] 11/24/09 11/25/09 Literature/Postage MAIL-2 $7,772.25

** From today's Daily News City Hall Scribe Rick Orlov "Tipoff Column",

The biggest insider game being played in Sacramento these days is over who will succeed Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

Bass wants to follow the procedure she agreed with in taking over from former Speaker Fabian Nunez, with a lengthy transition period, beginning in January when she hopes the Democratic caucus will agree with her.

But, two members, Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes of Van Nuys and Kevin De Leon of Hollywood, are aggressively trying to get commitments to back them as the next speaker.

Then there is this wildcard candidate.

Democratic caucus members have been looking at a third choice, Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles.

Perez, who is a cousin of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, would be the first openly gay member to serve as speaker. This state is doomed.

** From the "Concerned Neighbors of El Sereno" regarding the "710 Tunnel Proposal".

Dear Neighbors,

As you may have heard, a Resolution on the 710 Tunnel Portal in El Sereno is being reviewed by the Information Technology & Government Affairs Committee; after which LA City Council will take their recommendation for their vote. If this Resolution fails to pass, the location of the portal will remain in the residential community of El Sereno, over 200 Caltrans homes will be destroyed, and at least 100 more residents will be displaced between Alhambra Ave. & Huntington Dr. Not to mentioned, the noise, vibration, lighting, air & odor pollution, dirt, soil & muck,neighborhood & traffic disruption, hundreds of thousands of truck-trips/year, and elevated risks and impacts for up to12 years of construction.

We NEED SUPPORT at the following 2 meetings to show the ITGA Committee and LA City Council that we NEED this Resolution PASSED.

ITGA Committee meeting - Tuesday, December 1, City Hall, 1st & 3rd street, Room 1010, at 2:00

LA City Council - will consider this Resolution on Friday, December 4th mtg, Location: (Live) San Fernando, (via telecon) City Hall, Time 10:00 AM

Hope to see you all there,
Val Marquez

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

Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes gives "Monetary Thanks" to CD 2 Council Candidate, err, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian

"A simple act of professional appreciation?? Yeah Right!!"

Paul Krekorian Campaign Consultant Eric Hacopian has undertaken another "political campaign black ops" with support of Connected Attorney Stephen Kaufman.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Assemblyman "Felipe Fuentes-Handel" has picked the most particular time to offer a "$15,000 financial thanks" to fellow Assemblyman Paul Krekorian for his support during the recent budget process in Sacramento, some details from the Times story.

Using $15,000 from his state campaign committee, Fuentes bought television time in the San Fernando Valley for an ad praising the work of Krekorian, a Los Angeles Democrat, during the recent budget debate in Sacramento. The ad does not mention Krekorian’s bid for the council seat vacated by City Controller Wendy Greuel but thanks Krekorian for “protecting Valley families and local jobs during this budget crisis.” Krekorian’s campaign consultant, Eric

Hacopian, said his client was not aware of the ad until voters began calling his office to say they had seen it. One of Krekorian’s opponents, Christine Essel, issued a news release accusing Krekorian of attempting to skirt campaign finance rules, and her campaign questioned why the ad had not been filed with the city Ethics Commission.

Stephen J. Kaufman, a lawyer for Fuentes, said the assemblyman merely wanted to thank Krekorian for his role during the budget negotiations. “These ads are not being done with respect to the CD 2 race. They do not mention Assemblyman Krekorian’s candidacy and they do not reference the City Council election in any way,” Kaufman said. The ads, he continued, “do not urge the viewers to do anything, let alone urge voters to make a decision one way or the other with respect to the election.”

One can only shake their heads and observe the result of one of Hacopian's better "Black Ops" in support of a candidate.

And for you Sierra Club members, your endorsement means what to Krekorian considering Fuentes past "commitment" to preserving Sunland-Tujunga's last piece of open space, the Verdugo Hills Golf Course.

The Fuentes association may not be helpful to Krekorian with some voters in the northern reaches of the district. Fuentes wrote a proposal, which was ultimately shelved, that would have allowed MWH Development Corp. to build 229 homes on the Verdugo Hills Golf Course despite the objections of neighborhood activists and Los Angeles city officials.

Politics as usual.

These comments from the LA Times story.

** used to be the appearance of impropriety was cause for dismissal, Fuentes and Krikorian shoud resign immediatly
Posted by: simi chuy September 17, 2009 at 08:59 AM

** What a crock? He just happens to run tv ads "thanking" the only member of the State Assembly who has an election in one week? Apparently, no other member of the Assembly deserved such thanks? What did Krekorian do that was so special and worthy of thanks in the worst budget crisis in the history of California?

Does anyone really buy this garbage? How stupid does Krekorian and Fuentes think we are?
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but could it be do to the fact that the City's laws won't allow contributions that large, so Fuentes found a way around the law to donate $15,000.

Is there any wonder why Sacramento politicians are held in such low esteem? Shameless. I can see why he sent his lawyer to do all the talking for him. You know the old saying, "Keep your friends close and your lawyers closer."
Posted by: Lawrence M. Smalley September 17, 2009 at 09:32 AM

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

The Return of Zorro!

Councilman Richard Alarcon has probably been termed out of more offices than anyone in local politics  After eight years on the City Council Alarcon was elected to the State Senate after a bruising primary battle.  When he termed out there his City Council successor Alex Padilla was elected to his Senate seat and Alarcon got himself elected to the Assembly seat given up by Cindy Montanez who lost the primary battle to Padilla.  When LA voters approved the shady term limits extension Measure R, Alarcon got a bonus term on the City Council so he gave up his Assembly seat after one month to return to the City Council.  Then Felipe Fuentes won Alarcon's seat in a special election.

Now with Alarcon facing terming out again in 2011 Fuentes has his eye on Alarcon's seat.  Fuentes would be termed out himself in 2012 so he better get a jump on the next job move.  With his election to the Council in 2011 surely a special election will be called, Alarcon can serve out the rest of Fuentes' term and then be entitled to another three terms in the Assembly serving through 2019 when at the age of 65 he can find his next job or go on Social Security.

But back to the present. Alarcon can't count yet on Felipe winning his Clowncil seat but he can plan his 2012 Assembly Campaign and by golly he's done it! And to give him a big boost Beverly Hills developer Arturo Sneider has donated nearly $4K.  Sneider, who heads up Primestor Development is in the process of developing a major commercial property in Alarcon's Council District, Pacoima Commercial Center, which needs lot of City help and CRA work before Alarcon leaves the Clowncil in two years.

Of course the way you can put the kibosh on all of this is not to elect Fuentes to Clowncil, making him an Assembly lame duck and forcing Richard Alarcon to find another job.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Joe B. broke the story here first but yes Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes has pulled his shady Assembly Bill 212 that would have allowed the developers of a controversial housing development in Tujunga to move forward without city oversight. Pressure from the blog and other quarters no doubt forced Fuentes to pull the bill. The bigger question is why didn't Councilwoman Wendy Greuel - who represents the area in the City Council - know about it sooner? I was speaking Wednesday evening with a longtime local who remarked to me that it's a prevailing view that Greuel's staff is often not on top of things leading their boss to be embarrassed many times. Well, it it is hard to hire good help these days.

James Carville says that Barack Obama should pick Al Gore as his running mate. Okay. C'mon. Stop laughing kids!

The march towards Soviet style socialism continues in Los Angeles as school board member Tamar Galatzan and District Attorney Rocky Delgadillo are behind a movement to require all LAUSD students to wear uniforms. Many schools have voluntarily implemented uniforms and those who support them say it helps improve student performance. As one who grew up and attended LAUSD schools from the 60s through the 80s I can tell that's BS. Its about holding kids accountable to do their homework and that the parents are involved. Lets just wipe out any individualism kids have. Yes, it is time to break up LAUSD if this is the nonsense they're involved in.

Who knew? Valley Doll previously covered the roller skating Derby Dolls; now City Council President Eric Garcetti shows up at a recent Dolls match to sing the National Anthem.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Zuma Dogg reports that the LA City Council was bamboozled by an Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes authored law that would remove much of the Council's control over planning decisions. Speculation is that Fuentes was inspired to write the law at the behest of his mentors, City Clowncilmen Richard Alarcon and Tony Cardenas in order to facilitate development at the controversial site of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. I would imagine if the Clowncil spent less time on public proclamations for Mickey Mouse and cheerleaders and passing nonsense resolutions against the war they'd have more bandwidth to recognize shadiness right under their noses.

The Daily News endorses Assembly Candidate Stuart Waldman and State Senate Candidate Fran Pavley in this morning's paper.

Mayor Villaraigosa gets behind the wheel in the Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade Monday. One blogger forgave the mayor's "ineffectiveness" in handling the City's finances.

KNX reports that City Controller Laura Chick says the city is doing a horrible job in promoting it's tourist attractions. Chick is pushing for the city to have multi-lingual greeters at LAX, neighborhood tours and more publicizing of the various festivals held around the City.

Los Angeles World Airports is working to grow service at it's LA/Palmdale Regional Airport but its finding tough going. Currently United Airlines has two daily flights to San Francisco. The City hopes to expand the number of flights by encouraging the use of more fuel efficient turbo prop airlines, yet some passengers are leary of the planes and prefer jets. At the same time airlines are reluctant to expand into Palmdale until there's more demand; yet demand is driven by availability.

LAist repots that the state's ban on talking on your cell phone while driving finally goes into effect on July 1st. However a loophole in the law technically allows you to still send text messages while driving.

Zev Yaroslavsky has put the wheels in motion for the County to meet the State Supreme Court declared date of June 16 to allow gays to marry and get marriage licenses. To facilitate the crush, the County will open up a special branch license office in WeHo. In the meantime, the Court's ruling will mean a cash bonanza for political consultants on both sides of a coming ballot measure seeking to overturn the Court's decision on the November ballot - donations are pouring in from all over to the yes and no campaigns.