Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Prediction: Expect NIMBYs - including candidate for Mayor Zev and Clowncilman Tom LeBong - opposed to development at Universal Studios and the Universal City Metro Station to use the fire at the Studios as a further reason to block the development plans that would - among other things - bring the famed NBC Studios from Burbank into the City of Los Angeles.

In light of a ridiculous idea for the City to create business preferential parking districts as a way to raise money, CityWatch takes a look at the whole concept of the districts which allow residents/homeowners in a given area to snatch up street parking from non-residents. I've never been in favor of these districts as I see them as an unconstitutional taking of public streets for a select few. A stakeholder tells CityWatch's Ken Draper that he finds the districts exclusionary sayng “We have to ask: whose street is this anyway?” Our property lines end at the curb. We all pay taxes. The streets belong to all of us. What gives me the right to tell you you can’t use your taxes-paid-for street?"

Zuma Dogg's story on the latest in the court case against Proposition R features a photo essay that makes me think maybe life isn't so easy for some of our City Council members.

Billboard wackos may not like this but cities like Los Angeles have provided public restroom facilities that clean themselves and are partially funded by advertising. The arrangements make available the restrooms and other street furniture at no cost to cities.

Rumor has it that Britney Spears is being considered to appear in the latest Broadway production of Grease portraying Sandy, the part made famous in the film by Olivia Newton-John. However there is no official confirmation of the casting at present.

Reiner's First 5 Funds San Francisco Yuppies

You may remember that Rob "Meathead" Reiner was the big proponent behind the "First 5" ballot measure which placed a big tax on tobacco in order to raise money for "early childhood education." Like most liberal plans gone wrong (aren't they all?) the First 5 program is turning out to be a big fraud.

I am sure most people who voted for the measure thought the money would go to low income children. But according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "Whether rich or poor, applicants can get up to $11,000 over three years for all kinds of activities from First 5 San Francisco, a local agency charged with distributing tobacco tax revenue to promote early childhood development."

The Chronicle reported a few of the items that were part of a $200,000 grant of the taxpayer money:

-- "Multi-Family First Time Camping Experience" included a camping lesson and overnight trip to Big Sur for six families.

-- "Couples Travel and Learn Together" included an overnight stay at the Four Points Sheraton in Pleasanton, where couples from Chinatown took marriage workshops. It also included $250 in Target gift cards.

-- "Families of La Piccola Scuola Italiana" included holiday party space rental and the purchase of a Babbo Natale (Italian version of Santa Claus) costume.

Even a liberal Berkley professor, Bruce Fuller finds issue with this, telling the paper that "Rob Reiner sold this as a way to help kids from low-income (families) - zero to 5 - have better futures," said Fuller.