Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

In what appears to a deep and insightful policy analysis (not) a blog calling itself The Policy Report comes out in favor of the controversial Measure B on the March ballot.  The Policy Report wrongly assumes the only reason opponents oppose B is because Mayor Villaraigosa is in favor of it.  Their deep thinking extends to their reason for voting for it is that passage of B will allow the Mayor to reaching targets in the controversial Kyoto Protocols.  Of course those in the know understand that B is severly flawed - so much so the City Council's own staff and consultants said so - and represents a dangerous precedent in turning decision making authority over to the City Council and DWP - while doing nothing to encourage the solar industry in LA.

In related news, CityWatch reports that Council Member Bill Rosendahl is wavering on his support for Measure B.  Rosendahl may be moved by the depth of opposition to the plan among activists in Los Angeles.  At a meeting of nearly 70 Neighborhood Council members with the DWP Saturday only two in the audience expressed support for the measure.  Rosendahl was quoted by CityWatch as saying "I might end up supporting it, I might not."

Assemblyman Mike Feuer is joining the billboard fray and has introduced state legislation to ban digital billboards.  However Christine Pelisek writing at the LA Weekly Daily Blog thinks the bill has little chance citing that previous effots have gone "nowhere in Sacramento, where billboard-industry money is spread around like a cold in kindergarten."  I know most folks have issues with billboards but I don't.  No doubt the City of LA has pursued a shady path when it comes to them and perhaps there should be some restrictions on where they go but a lot of us under 50 seem to think cool billboards in Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, LA Live and other parts of town are de rigeur.




The City of LA spends more on home and business alarm system false calls than it gets in alarm permit fees.  That's quite simply because most people who install alarms fail to get a permit.  Ironically the City has no system in place to cross check LAPD false call visits with current alarm permits.  Los Angeles is now going to put the onus on alarm companies to make sure they collect the permit at the time of installation.


The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip is having deep reprecussions here in Los Angeles.  Factions on both sides gathered in Westwood to support Israel and to protest its attacks on Hamas strongholds.  Among those speaking to pro-Israel groups were City Councilman Jack Weiss and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, while Jeff Warner, action coordinator for L.A. Jews for Peace told his supporters "The war isn't going to bring peace, security or prosperity to either the Israeli or Palestinian people."

There seems to be at least one person in favor of keeping Billy the Elephant at the LA Zoo besides Tom LaBonge, zoo staff and the zoo booster organization, GLAZA.  A blog called Exotica in a Savage Garden says that if Billy is sent to a sanctuary as animal rights activists are asking "He will not be allowed to breed, and there are no species survival plans in place in these sanctuaries. They don't even allow public viewing unless you fork over $200! I think that's BS."

He's got just 7 days before he becomes President of the United States and will be required to give up his beloved BlackBerry.  Yet Barack Obama says that "They're going to pry it out of my hands."  There are security and transparency considerations that get in the way of the President having a BlackBerry however it is 2009.  I am sure the braniacs in the CIA or some Federal Agency can rig up the BlackBerry so Obama can continue to work the way he is used to.