Another CD-14 Connected Non-Profit, FOUNDED Criminally Corrupt

In an under-reported conclusion to a stealth 2011 CD-14 Election Scandal, three former Executives of the Connected Non-Profit Chicana Services Action Center ......., pleaded GUILTY August 15 to embezzling millions of dollars from the Community Based Organization (CBO), financed by grants from the County and City of Los Angeles.

CD-14 City Councilman Jose Huizar at the 2014 Dedication of Chicana Services Work Source Center in Boyle Heights, financed in part by a $440,000, Councilman Huizar-secured City Grant.

** Blogger's Notes: If there is ONLY one department at the Internal Revenue Service that merits an increase in employees, it would be the unit responsible for the needed auditing of Connected 501-C3 Non-Profits, especially those in Democratic-controlled Enclaves, such as Ciudad de Los Angeles. 

In an UNDER-REPORTED conclusion to a Fraud Investigation, with links to former LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina and CD-14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, three former executives of the Chicana Action Services Center, PLEADED guilty to embezzling million of dollars from the coffers of the connected CBO, financed in LARGE part, from LA County and City Grants.

Read more »

Molina Power!! Councilman Cedillo and Supervisor Solis reaffirm Support for Molina-crafted Flat Top Open Space Purchase

With former LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina standing firm in backing her crafted deal to acquire the Montecito/Lincoln Heights Flat Top Open Space for the City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks, both CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo and LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis, reaffirm their respective support for the agreement, as is. 

Former LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina (center) and Montecito Heights Improvement Association President Roy Payan (in blue jacket)

 ** Blogger's Note: Judging from the comments via CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo Chief of Staff Arturo Chavez and LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis Field Deputy Fernando Delgado, at last night's Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) Meeting, there was never any intentions of reneging on the former Supervisor Gloria Molina-crafted purchase of the Montecito/Lincoln Heights Flat Top Open Space, for inclusion into the City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks System. Thus, respecting the formally-approved intentions of the trail-blazing Latina Officeholder.

For the record, the vision of Montecito Heights Improvement Association President Roy Payan, with help of former Supervisor Molina and the respected Environmental Non-Profit Organization, Northeast Trees, to preserve the Landmark Property, by its inclusion into the Public Land Inventory of the City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks (and not the Land Bank Fiefdom of Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy(SMMC)/Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority's (MRCA Joe "Big Oil" Edmiston), will become reality.

CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo Chief of Staff Arturo Chavez at last night's ASNC Meeting.

It was clear by the public declarations of Councilman Cedillo's Chief of Staff Arturo Chavez (with background documentation) and Supervisor Solis Staffer Fernando Delgado, that any alleged scheme to usurp the will of former Supervisor Molina, have never been contemplated ......, but as witnessed at the previous meeting of the ASNC's Montecito Heights Issue Committee, something very different was being choreographed, allegedly without knowledge to both Councilman Cedillo, Supervisor Solis  ........., and Gloria Molina.

Speculation is that former Supervisor Molina Staffer, retained by now Supervisor Solis, Teresa Villegas (wife of USC's David Galaviz), was somehow engaging in a "rouge endeavor" to give the Flat Top Acreage to "Big Oil Edmiston's" MRCA, with the apparent help of Northeast Trees Board President Robert Nakahiro (former CD 1 City Council Candidate). During the aforementioned meeting, Nakahiro openly challenged the statements of Payan and Molina, regarding the document-substantiated agreement that Rec & Parks were to be given the land.  

LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis Field Deputy Fernando Delgado.

Discerning political observers find it hard to fathom that a noted environmentalist Officeholder, would consider dealings with SMMC/MRCA's Joe"Big Oil Edmiston", considering his abrupt, surprise settlement of a lawsuit with an Oil Company, seeking to drill for oil on Prop A-purchased land in the Whittier Hills Preserve ........., in return for a "share of the revenue". Thus, if Villegas was engaging in secret dealings with Emiston via Northeast Trees, the adverse political repercussions would be immense, considering that LA County is still actively involve in the litigation, regarding the proposed, controversial Whittier Hills Oil Drilling.

Former Supervisor Gloria Molina and current Supervisor Solis Staffer Teresa Villegas.

But with the public declarations via both representatives of Councilman Cedillo and Supervisor Solis, an approve agreement, remains such and the players in an aborted scheme, are left to ponder the reduction of their respective Political Capital ............., and community respect.

Your Thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Another Broken Deal Cedillo (and Supervisor Solis) Moment regarding the Flat Top Open Space Acquisition?

In her first Public Policy-related appearance since the 2015 CD 14 City Council Elections, former LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina, is taking a leadership role, in demanding that CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo and LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis, follow through on her crafted deal that financed the purchase of the Montecito Heights "Flat Top Open Space", with the intent of giving the land to the City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks Department (and not Joe Edmiston's "Mountain Recreation, Conservation Authority").

The Montecito/Lincoln Heights Flat Top Open Space.

** Blogger's Note: For those who thought that former LA County Board of Supervisor (and CD 14 City Council Candidate) Gloria Molina, would trek quietly off into the political sunset after her unsuccessful campaign for the CD 14 City Council Seat last Spring .........,, there is no quiet in the trail-blazing Latina Politico's vocabulary.

In her first appearance regarding a public policy issue since last Spring, the former LA County Board of Supervisor (and CD 1 City Councilperson), demanded that CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo and her replacement Hilda Solis, stand by the LA County-approved purchase of the Montecito/Lincoln Heights "Flat Top Open Space".  

Former LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina with ASNC Member and Flat Top Open Space Advocate Roy Payan.

The acquisition of the Flat Top Open Space acreage, was a supposed culmination of a multi-years effort by Montecito Heights Improvement Association President and Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Member Roy Payan, to preserve the community-renowned locale, with a superb view of the Downtown LA Skyline (especially at night), by being designated Open Space ........, as noted via The Eastsider in the Fall of 2014.

The purchase of about 37 acres is expected to be completed next month, said Megan Moret, press deputy for County Supervisor Gloria Molina, who agreed to use her office’s allocation of Prop A funds to finance the deal. The funds will allow North East Trees, an environmental group,  to purchase the property but the City of Los Angeles will eventually take control of the property, Moret said. 

........, or so they thought.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservacy/Mountain Recreation Conservation Authority Strongman Joe Edmiston.

But in a meeting of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Montecito Heights Issues Committee, Payan, with former Supervisor Molina concuring, stated that Northeast Trees was reneging on its plans to turn the land over to the City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks ......., and instead, was planning to give the acreage to the controversial Joe Edminston-controlled, Mountain Recreation, Conservation Authority (MCRA), with the support of CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo, along with LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Edmiston, a former East Los Angeles College Student, Sierra Club Lobbyist and self-created Chief Ranger (with gun) of his own Open Space Preserve/Land Bank Fiefdom via the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/MRCA, has longed craved adding Northeast LA acreage (including Flat Top) to his control. 

Yet, the supposed master of crafting deals to purchase property for Open Space Preservation, has garnered a Tsunami-size backlash from many preservation advocates (including Supervisor Molina), regarding his "surprise support" of Oil Drilling within the Proposition A-financed Whittier Hills Preserve as noted in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

However, MRCA, the operational arm of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the largest conservancy in the nation, surprised the county by saying it would drop its lawsuit in exchange for cash. If the drilling project moves forward and oil is extracted and sold, MRCA would get $280 million, or about $11.25 million a year for the life of the project.  

Thus, is it fair to ponder whether "Ranger Joe" is scheming to "Land Bank" the prime real estate of Flat Top, until the market presents the best opportunity to sell off the acreage to a Developer?

Northeast Trees Executive Director Mark Kenyon.

In the interim, the paramount question that needs answering by the likes of Northeast Trees Executive Director Mark Kenyon (Husband of former Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Board Member Clare Marter Kenyon), CD 1 City Councilman Gil "Chevron" Cedillo and LA County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis, is why they are attempting to modify a much-wanted act of Open Space Preservation, that would of added a new preserve jewel to the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department ........., and instead, place a beloved community locale, in the trust of a self-made Land Bank Baron, not beyond exploiting (and scaring) the same Open Space, supposedly being preserved? 

** Link here for details on the Monday, February 22, 2016 Meeting of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council at Ramona Hall at 7:00 PM.

9. FLAT TOP OPEN SPACE: MOTION: The ASNC Board moves to send letters to Councilman Gil Cedillo and Supervisor Hilda Solis in support of the community’s wishes that Northeast Trees adhere to the purchase agreement’s original intent as adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on September 30, 2014 that the “City of Los Angeles will ultimately be the owner of the property and the and the successor to the grant obligations” among other points. (The full agreement is available at http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/88363.pdf).

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

WayBack Wednesday: Huizar's BlackBerry Love

A comment thrown out by candidate Gloria Molina at Wednesday evening's CD14 debate at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock has made us get sentimental for the days of 2008 when a joint Zuma Dogg-Mayor Sam breaking news story showed Council Member Jose Huizar in the midst of some heavy duty texting during a Council meeting.

"Why are you not answering my calls?

This was on the Council Member's then BlackBerry. For some of you young kids out there, a BlackBerry was not really a smart phone, but not quite a dumb phone either that all of us had before Android hit the scene. The rub was that Huizar was sending "lovey-dovey" messages to some particular female. Of course, years later the Council Member's affairs played out in the press and our suspicions were correct.

"Lovey-dovey messages?"

Getting back to this evening, during a heated exchange in the debate, Molina made the broad statement "We don't need a sexual harasser in City Hall." Wow. Kind of harsh. But maybe Gloria is on to something.

Anyway, enjoy the retro moments!

(Photos and video by Zuma Dogg)

Will "Tony Villar's First Cousin John (Perez)" Political Afterlife start anew in CD 14?

As the fail "Tony Villar's First Cousin John (Perez) for Controller Campaign" assume room temperature, speculation is rampant that the former Assembly Speaker;s Political Afterlife may have a CD 14 destination in 2015.

Its official! First Cousin John has left his hope for Statewide Office for a Political Afterlife in ........

We can always replay the moment when "The Tony Villar's First Cousin John (Perez) for Controller Campaign EKG Watch" went Flat Line for the final time, with First Cousin John pulling the plug on his expensive, divisive recount of the vote. 

........, in a possible run for CD 14 in 2015?

Oh the love of bloggin speculation!!

As the Sacramento Special Interest mourn the loss (and count the wasted Millions in contributions) of Tony Villar's First Cousin John (Perez) for Controller Campaign, rumors are swirling around Ciudad de Los Angeles that First Cousin John's time in a Political Afterlife may end quickly in CD 14.

While the carcass of First Cousin John's Controller Campaign assumes refrigerator storage temps, a Political Afterlife away from Sacramento may take place in CD 14, with a possible challenge of current CD 14 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Jose Huizar in 2015.

It was always First Cousin John's desire to become the first member of the Villar Clan to win Statewide Office, but according to sources, if ethical issues facing the Princeton Graduate, turned philandering politico, continue to worsen, then its possible that another Villar Clan Member may seek to become the CD Officeholder.

Another name still making the rounds is termed out LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has invested County Funds in several high-profile projects within the district. Supposedly, Mayor Garcetti's Chief of Staff Ana Guerrero was to have a "chat" with Molina soon after announcing that she would not seek to challenge Huizar.

The wildcard here on either or both challenging the two term incumbent, will be a possible Sexual Harassment Trial involving Huizar and his former Deputy Chief of Staff Francine Godoy.

Stay connected for the latest political chisme!!

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14



Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Get ready for a return of the Politics of Weather as rain arrives mid-week.

From along the Santa Ana River above Redlands.

Good bloggin morning to everyone as we return from a quick weekend getaway from "Disempowerment LA-occupied LA-32", to the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains.

As you can tell from the photo above, there are still places in our surrounding mountains that have flowing water. But come Wednesday, Mother Nature will bring something called R-A-I-N back to Southern California for an extended stay. If the upper-level Jet Stream is redirected over Central California, or further south, with a west to east flow, then we may experience an "Atmospheric River Event", which would go far in alleviating our severe drought but not without health and safety ramifications..

In Southern California, it always seems that major rain events are predicated with major brush fires that leave hills and mountain slopes striped bare and primed for debris flows. Thus, when Mother Nature reminds everyone of her supreme authority over us, as she will, come especially Friday, then brace yourself for a return of "Politics of Weather", with your local politico donning yellow rain gear, with plastic wrap cameras, recording it all. ** BTW, climate models are hinting at strong El Nino for next winter, can't imagine any politico wanted to exploit that news for a photo op. 

 LA County Board of Supervisor (and possible CD 14 Candidate) Gloria Molina drop kicks Op-Ed supporting 710 Freeway Tunnel. 

** Memo to the likes of the "No on 710 Coalition" and "Concerns Neighbors of El Sereno", your LA County Board of Supervisor (and possible CD 14 City Council Candidate), Gloria Molina, along with Assemblyman Ed Chau, co-keyboard an Op-ed in the San Gabriel Tribune that details their joint support of a 710 Freeway Tunnel to close the six mile gap to connect the 710 to the I-210 Freeway in Pasadena. Local activists might want to consider the following .............

These residents were promised decades ago that this fix was a stop-gap measure. Opponents need to quit trying to stop the gap from being closed.
These same naysayers also erroneously claim that a tunnel will worsen air quality. They conveniently ignore how air quality is already horrendous in Southeast L.A. — especially for its children, where 12 out of every 100 children develop asthma.
There is a direct connection between asthma in Southeast L.A. and the pollution caused by cars and trucks forced to stand idle along an incomplete 710 Freeway. It’s all the more true since commuters must use the streets as de facto “streetways.”
The pollution that 710 tunnel opponents don’t want is already in the air, being breathed by Southeast L.A. families — who don’t have the extra time and resources to devote to NIMBYism.
These comments should put an end to the "Molina Boo Boo for CD 14" rumors.

** Memo to Mayor Eric Garcetti's Chief of Staff (and possible CD 14 Candidate) Ana Guerrero, please inform your East Area Director Patricia Alarcon that "Disempowerment LA-occupied LA-32 Stakeholders are awaiting a response to this email sent to Ms. Alarcon on February 14, cut and pasted below.

Mayor Garcetti's East Area Director Patricia Alarcon.

Good morning Ms. Alarcon,

Hope this email finds you well on this Valentine's Day.

In lieu of the recent punitive actions taken by Empower LA against the LA 32 Neighborhood Council and your email confirming the Mayor's Office receiving the documentation, I respectfully ask if Mayor Eric Garcetti will be taking a formal position on the current standing of the LA 32 NC Elective Body.

Further, if the Office of Mayor Garcetti is to take a formal position, then the office should consider the following before drafting a formal reply.

First, with Empower LA taking punitive actions against LA 32 which includes controlling the drafting of its agenda. What assurances can stakeholders have that their respective issues will be given objective due diligence by an elective body free of pre-conceived political bias? At the time of Empower LA's Memo, the LA-32 NC were working on important time sensitive issues, involving the USC Health Science Campus Master Plan and Zoning concerns involving a Charter School, among others (** including funding request for parade with past IRS issues). Will the Office of Mayor Garcetti ensure that the community comments heard by the LA 32 NC on these issues, get an objective resolution? 

Second, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti's staff grant access and accord all LA-32 NC Board Members the right to speak freely regarding the "personal dynamics" (including Empower LA's collusion with board members in targeting certain individuals) that were the foundation for Empower LA's punitive actions?

Third, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti's staff investigate internal Empower LA work place issues that have cause employees of the department to file a work place grievance over the role of the "Council for Council Mentors" to act as "NC First Responders" in intervening as Crisis Mentors for NCs, at no cost to the taxpayers?

Fourth, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti work with Empower LA and the City Attorney Office to address the issues of "Procedural Bullys" ( the husband and wife duo of the El Sereno Historical Society come to mind), who's are wasting taxpayers money by filing frivolous complaints, denigrating upstanding community members who don't agree with their "El Sereno-centric vision" and creating the hostile meeting environment noted in the Empower LA Memo? 

Fifth, will the Office of Mayor Garcetti take a stand against the repugnant, incendiary racial comments made sadly by board members and those in the community against some serving on this elected body? Would the Office of Mayor Garcetti consider using the resources of the Human Relations Department to set up a series of workshops within NCs to combat racial bigotry?

In closing Ms. Alarcon, its my sincere hope that the Office of Mayor Garcetti will help the LA 32 NC move forward in bring all resources to the table in achieving objective remedies that grows a strong, independent community-centric elective body, while holding those responsible for the "repugnant, personal conduct" that was unfortunately, the basis for the punitive actions taken by Empower LA.

With respects,

Scott Johnson 

LA 32 NC Recording Secretary

A potential CD-14 City Council Candidate should not smoke away an opportunity to listen to very real voters.

** Please note that the comments above are solely my own and not reflective of any formal LA 32 NC approved position.

** Also note that I will make this comments public in the spirit of openness and transparency. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14     



An Upcoming "Molina Boo Boo, Gorda Boo Boo and Academia Production"?

The Struggle to preserve Mr. and Mrs. Mark(os) Aguilar-Ferguson lucrative 1% Educational Collective is coming to a Downtown LA Hall of Administration Protest/ Press Conference next Tuesday.

The Academia Charter Denial Protests continues ....................

 

The moment of truth (or the full disclosing of education fraud) for the controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, will be upon us as the supporters of Mr. and Mrs. Mark(os) Aguilar-Ferguson lucrative 1% Educational Collective, gear up for another mass attempt of intimidation, targeting the LA County Board of Education.

As we previously reported, LAUSD School Board Member Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia was hired by LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria "Molina Boo Boo" in June, as a Senior Deputy overlooking the County Board of Education, apart from other responsibilities. Further, we noted that sources told Mayor Sam that "Gorda Boo Boo" and "Molina Boo Boo", were lobbying County Board of Education Members to overturn the Charter Revocation of the Academia High School Campus by LAUSD last May.

Its interesting that Academia would hold a press conference at the LA County Hall of Administration before there mass gathering at the Downey Headquarters of the LA County Board of Education, but it would not be surprising that Tuesday's Academia Press Conference and Rally, were being choreographed by the duo of "Gorda and Molina Boo Boo".  

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 



"When Gorda Boo Boo met Molina Boo Boo": LAUSD's Monica Garcia new job with Supervisor Gloria Molina

"When Molina Boo Boo met Gorda Boo Boo": A new political working relationship is born.

Hillel Aron of the LA School Report Blog breaks story of LAUSD School Board Member Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia new job with LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria "Molina Boo Boo".

 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria "Molina Boo Boo".

"Molina Boo Boo's" new employee LAUSD School Board Member Monica "Gorda Boo Boo" Garcia.

 

Great TGIF to all, especially Hillel Aron of the LA School Report Blog for blessing us with this forthcoming blog post of political, tongue in cheek commentary.

Aron reported yesterday that "Gorda Boo Boo" has now become a "part-time board member" by accepting her new gig with "Molina Boo Boo" as we excerpt below (** with salient thoughts in bold).

In an under-the-radar move ( its hard to envision Gorda Boo Boo doing the limbo under a radar beam, but I digress), Monica Garcia has taken a job in LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina‘s office, which means she’s now a part-time member of the LA Unified school board (with still, a full size presence).

“For seven years, I did the LAUSD Board member job full time,” Garcia told LA School Report. “While I appreciated that intense focus on education, I took this opportunity that came through with Supervisor Molina’s office. I wanted to learn. I respect her a lot ( one "Boo Boo" to another). She is a model for serving for ( double predicate) the public.”

Garcia’s official title is Senior Legislative Deputy, focusing on three areas in particular: the LA County Office of Education ( hmmm, more on that below), the Probation Department and the Fire Department. She took the job in June, shortly before her six-year tenure as school board president came to an end.

“Certainly, my role changed ( elections do have consequences) and it did give me an opportunity to accept a new responsibility,” said Garcia. “Change is good.” ( and added pay is good for my bottom be ....., line).

Maybe her first responsibilities as Supervisor "Molina Boo Boo's" Deputy overseeing the LA County Office of Education, was an under-the-radar lobbying effort to get the LA County Board of Education to overturn the Charter Revocation of the Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School High School Campus, which was upheld in a vote on Tuesday.

Its been a open secret for years that Supervisor "Molina Boo Boo" had a favorable opinion of the El Sereno Educational Collective, but for political reasons, has never been overt in her support. We understand from sources that "Gorda Boo Boo" was actively lobbying County Board of Education Members, which lit up the political radar screens of those against the school. A petition against overturning the Charter Revocation quickly made the rounds and were submitted to Supervisor "Molina Boo Boo" and her County Board of Supervisors colleagues.

We will report more, once further documentation becomes available.

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



Mayor Sam Exclusive: Is Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina eyeing a return to LA City Hall in 2013?

A longtime political operative has told Mayor Sam that Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Member Gloria Molina  is seriously considering a run for her old CD 1 City Council seat in 2013.

Molina, who many consider the top Latina politician in California, served on the City Council from 1987-1991 when she continued her historic trail-blazing by becoming the first Latina elected to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisor, after achieving the same distinction in the State Assembly and City Council.

Currently serving her last term on the Board of Supervisors, if Molina were to decided on running again for CD 1, possible challengers include Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, current CD 1 City Councilman Ed Reyes Chief of Staff Jose Gadea , CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar Chief of Staff Ana Cubas and local businessman Jesse Rojas. No doubt this field would thin out if Molina declares for the seat.

** Another political observer opines that Molina returning to the Horseshoe would be huge, but does she really care to......

** Further speculation ...... Does a potential Gloria Molina return to CD 1 in 2013 set up Molina to achieve history again in 2017 by becoming the first "Latina Mayor of Los Angeles"?

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

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Uh-oh the anti-billboard people aren't going to like this.  Joe Mailander at Street Hassle reports that Mayoral candidate Walter Moore took a campaign contribution from Clear Channel billboards.  Mailander also notes that Moore also spent thousands on advertising on Clear Channel radio stations.

Speaking of billboards, the City Council voted to support state legislation outlawing digital billboards. Voting against the resolution were Council Members Richard Alarcon, Bernard Parks, Tony Cardenas and Ed Reyes voted against the measure with the concern the state law would usurp local control.  I agree it has to be an area by area issue. We have a new digital billboard at the NoHo Commons, entrance to the NoHo Arts District and it looks great.  Not only does it advertise the stores at the Commons but there are listings of local plays and artwork displayed.  It makes a great entree into the area.

Wednesday evening the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council voted to oppose Measure B, the controversial solar energy proposal on the March ballot.  Appearing on behalf of the Yes on B forces were MTNHNC board member Gary Barratta and speaking for the opposition was John Stammreich of the No on Measure B campaign.  Also in attendance were representatives of the DWP; some NC members expressed to me later their concern that comments made by the DWP staffers bordered on advocacy for the Measure, in violation of state law.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina will announce she is endorsing Los Angeles City Controller candidate Nick Patsaouras Thursday. Molina was quoted as saying "There is no public advocate as tireless and relentless as Nick is in his determination to maximize every penny possible for taxpayer-funded projects. You will not find a more tenacious fiscal watchdog than Nick."

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Delicious political circus at a meeting of the MTA Board last week.  Following a discussion of the shady transit tax Measure R and rail safety issues board member and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky declared that fellow board member and Supervisor Gloria Molina's comments were "selfish nonsense."  Molina wanted the board to consider crossing gates for the Gold Line extension through her district as well as barring the MTA from sending out campaign material on Measure R.  Following that, Zev walked out of the meeting as he had threatened earlier.

Mayor V will fill his one millionth pothole Monday in Toluca Lake. You may remember back in March the Mayor filled the 800,000th pothole.  The Mayor may be criticized for his lack of time spent actually running the city but it sure looks like Antonio Villaraigosa has made a priority of filling holes in LA.

Starting next month the LA Live project will begin to rollout the various phases that have completed construction. Set to open first is nightclub Club Nokia, and restaurants, the Lucky Strike bowling alley, the Conga Room and Trader Vic's.  Million dollar condos will be available in 2010.  Among the future residents: Mayor Villaraigosa and Governor Schwarzenegger.

Yet another Republican has come out against Proposition 8 which would outlaw same-sex marriage in California.  Former Reagan Administration member and five term Congressman Tom Campbell.  Campbell says "Republicans also care about jobs; and as a business proposition, it makes no sense to support Prop. 8. Discrimination at any level is bad for business."

I just ran across a great post by feminist and stay-at-home mom blogger Jessica Gottlieb at the LA Moms Blog. Gottlieb deconstructs the cult of Obama that many of us have been subjected to for the last few months.  Think about it, how many of your friends have replaced their photo on Facebook or MySpace with that of Obama. Gottlieb nails the whole objection to the Obama singing, posters and more with "We're Americans, we don't have Kings and Queens, we don't have presidents we Revere. We have presidents that we hold accountable through checks and balances. We have Presidents and Vice Presidents that we employ and reserve the right to fire."

One of the big issues in LA is how to get folks to the Music Center downtown and where to park.  The DWP has raised hackles by declaring their parking lot off limits to patrons.  They tried shuttle buses from the Westside but usage was lacking.  Even adding free bottle water and on-board arts talks didn't raise interest. Perhaps this is one reason why it's not wise to center all these facilities downtown and we should adopt a regional approach.

Could a County Employee Be Posting Racist Blog Comments and Whitewashing Wikipedia?

SaveOurTacoTrucks.org is fighting the good fight against bureaucrats who want to shut down the wagons that gringos like Joe B. (his favorite: the one outside the Target in North Hollywood) love to frequent and often dispense delectable regional cuisine out of various Latin nations.

Now in a stunning development the folks at the pro-taco truck campaign's blog have discovered that the source of racist, anti-white (and anti-taco truck) comments posted on the site several months ago came from the same IP address that was found to be editing County Supervisor Gloria Molina's Wikipedia entry.  (Gloria is opposed to taco trucks.) Let's let the taco truck folks continue:

Now, there’s also something much less obvious about this post that we noticed. Every time a comment is posted, the IP address (essentially a unique internet ID) is noted. Interestingly, the IP address (159.83.252.234) for the two posts is registered to the County of Los Angeles.

Stay with me, because it gets better.

In April, somebody took the time to post a section about the controversy on Gloria Molina’s Wikipedia page. On September 10th, the entire “Controversy” section was wiped out, white-washed like a mural in the Arroyo Seco. Fortunately, Wikipedia also notes the IP address of anybody who makes a change to an article. Want to guess the address responsible for this change?

That’s right, the exact same eleven digits: 159.83.252.234.

So what we have here is someone using an LA County computer to post hateful, racist comments on SaveOurTacoTrucks.org that is also whitewashing Gloria Molina's Wikipedia entry on a regular basis.  Hmmm, time for an investigation?

Citizens' Alert: You Can Kill the Transit Tax Scam

As reported here Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted against placing a half cent sales tax for Westside transit projects on the November ballot. This sales tax must be rejected because 1) It benefits only one part of the region but would be paid for by everyone in the County, 2) With the economy in dire straits the last thing people will need is a half cent sales tax when especially when the Governor is proposing an additional one cent sales tax, 3) You can't build enough trains to get us out of our traffic mess and 4) Mayor Villaraigosa is behind this.

In order to get this on the ballot, the MTA plans to spend more of your money including suing the County and potentially spending $10 million for an election of their own.

You need to contact the MTA board members and tell them to give it a rest. You do not want your tax money spent on lawsuits and elections in order to collect more taxes from you. Please email and call the following board members and tell them to vote to shelve the tax altogether. Feel free to send this post to your friends and neighbors.

These two board members voted against the tax the first time. Tell them to stand strong and continue to oppose it:

Michael D. Antonovich
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Fifth Supervisorial District
fifthdistrict@lacbos.org
(213) 974-5555

John Fasana
City Council Member, Duarte
fasanaj@accessduarte.com

These two members of the County Board of Supervisors either abstained or were not present for the MTA vote but voted against putting it on the ballot at Tuesday's Supervisors meeting. Call and email them to encourage them to vote against lawsuits and special elections:

Gloria Molina
Los Angeles County Supervisor
First Supervisorial District
(213) 974-4111
molina@bos.lacounty.gov

Don Knabe
First Vice Chair
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Fourth Supervisorial District
cpedersen@lacbos.org
213-974-4444

These board members voted for the tax the first time around but come from cities that the transit tax scam doesn't benefit. Tell them to stand with the rest of County and vote against spending any more MTA money on the scam:

Bonnie Lowenthal
City Council 1st District, Vice Mayor, Long Beach
(562) 570-6919
district1@longbeach.gov

Ara Najarian
Second Vice Chair
Mayor, City of Glendale
anajarian@ci.glendale.ca.us

The following are Mayor Villaraigosa's appointees to the MTA Board from the San Fernando Valley. Doubtful they'll cross the Mayor despite their reputation for being fiscally responsible but feel free to call them anyway and tell them not to screw the Valley:

David W. Fleming
City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee
david.fleming@lw.com
(213) 891.7902

Richard Katz
City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee
(213) 922-4605
Boardoffice@metro.net

The following board members are lost causes and are either shady or provincial or both:

Antonio R. Villaraigosa
LACMTA, Chair
Mayor, City of Los Angeles

Yvonne B. Burke
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Second Supervisorial District

Pam O’Connor
City Council Member, Santa Monica

Bernard Parks
City Council 8th District, City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee

Zev Yaroslavsky
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Third Supervisorial District

County Supervisors play games with the transit tax

In a move that may leave taxpayers on the hook for additional printing and legal costs, the Los Angeles County Supervisors have voted 3–2 against consolidating a half-percent sales tax proposal into the November ballot.

Los Angeles Times reports:

In a surprise move, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors denied a request today to place a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot to pay for up to $40 billion of road and mass transit improvements, including the so-called subway to the sea.

(snip)

Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder Dean Logan said the MTA must now pay up to $10 million for a special second ballot on election day or ask a court to force the measure onto the existing Nov. 4 ballot.

Supervisor Gloria Molina cast the deciding vote against the consolidation move in protest of Zev Yaroslavsky’s “back room deals.” The tax proposal may still appear on a separate ballot this November. A confident aide tells LA Observed:

Voters WILL still vote on the sales tax issue. It will just be a separate ballot that voters will get during the same election.

As mentioned earlier, the half-percent “transit tax,” combined with a one-percent increase proposed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would raise Los Angeles County’s sales tax rate to 9.75%.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Bad news for the Mayor and the LAUSD.  A poll commissioned specifically by the Mayor finds that at least 53% of Angelenos feel the City is on the wrong track.  It's even worse for the School Board as 73% of those surveyed feel the Board is doing either a poor or fair job managing the school district.  The poll also shows significant support for smaller schools and charter schools.



The MTA Board of Directors voted to place a sales tax increase on the November ballot in order to pay for Westside transit projects.  Board Members Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Duarte City Councilman John Fasana were the only two members to vote against the tax.  County Supervisor Gloria Molina abstained and County Supervisor Don Knabe was absent.  The measure must now receive the approval of the County Board of Supervisors and then a 2/3 vote Countywide in order to go into effect.  Significant opposition to the tax - which primarily benefits only West Los Angeles neighborhoods - exists in eastern and northern cities in the County which could derail passage.  Additionally, a number of transit activists were either disappointed at items not included in the measure or were outright opposed to the spending plans.



City officials are afraid the state may turn to tapping into local funds to help balance the state budget.  The City of Los Angeles is heavily lobbying against such a move considering the fiscal instability of the City at present.  However, representatives from the Govenor's office as well as legislative leaders say there are no plans to go after local funds at present.  But don't expect the Mayor won't use this as another reason to raise local taxes, uh, fees.



If you're looking for something fun to do next Tuesday in Boyle Heights, you can attend Councilman Jose Huizar's town hall meeting featuring the Councilmember and various City department heads.  6:00 p.m.., Tuesday, July 29th at The Puente Learning Center in Boyle Heights.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

A FoxNews report on a gang member who claims he has been paid by Councilmember Janice Hahn for "gang intervention programs" is creating a huge buzz around City Hall. The gang member who has been arrested for issues ranging from indecent exposure to possession of marijuana and said that Hahn assisted him in getting out of jail. Now the individual has been convicted to life in prison in a rape case. Some community activists are calling for District Attorney Steve Cooley to investigate Hahn's actions and gang intervention projects funding. The report also details other gang members who have received gang intervention funds and police officers who claim that these gang members bragged about their city funding and laugh at Hahn for the irony of it all.

Those who wish Jamiel Shaw, Sr. would stop crusading in favor of Jamiel's Law and against Special Order 40 protection for gang members are getting more desperate. First off, as we reported here in an exclusive interview on the Sister City, the father of an innocent youth allegedly murdered by an illegal alien gang member said he had been "offered a better paying job" in order to give up the campaign for Jamiel's Law. Now, Shaw has told KFI's John and Ken that District Attorney prosecutors have threatened to paint a very different picture of his son's life who was not a gang member.

Hal Netkin chronicles Council Member Dennis Zine's flip flops on Special Order 40 over the years. I remember several years ago attending a Community Police Advisory Board meeting when Zine was still head of the Police Protective League. At the time Zine called for the elimination of Special Order 40 as one way police officers would be able to fight gang crime.

Gloria Molina is going against taco truck operators in unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County, including East Los Angeles. However Molina has found a gabacho led effort to save the trucks which dispense delicious regional specialties and often server as community gathering spots for Latin immigrants wishing a brief reconnection with the old country.

Britney Spears left her LA home to return to her native Kentwood, Louisiana for her 17 year old sister's baby shower. This is the first time that Spears had visited her hometown since 2006.

Clinton "LITTLE O TONIO" Yell Leader Watch, Day Four

BREAKING NEWS!!

"LITTLE O TONIO" will be back in the city of employment.

Whether you grimace upon reading this, or if you on the "THIRD FLOOR" must meet the "SPIN DEADLINE", we can say at last that our Mayor is home... for how long???

"LITTLE O TONIO" and "MRS. BILL CLINTON" will be at two townhall meetings in Northridge (Alger for Clinton Announcement??), and Burbank respectively.

Sob stories are on the agenda as the compassion duo hear tales of financial trauma foster by reliance on Big Government. No word if Trujillo will provide fainting children for the backdrop. At least he will know how to navigated the streets of his valley barrio.

In the East Valley Barrio, councilman Richard Alarcon, aka, "THE ZORRO MARXIST" announced his support of John Edwards.

Later in the day Supervisor Gloria Molina may get a personal "CHAT AND CHEER" from "LITTLE O TONIO" and "MRS. BILL CLINTON". the campaigns of both Clinton and Obama will be knocking with flowers and bom boms as they seek her endorsement.

Back at City Hall, spinsters, staffers and union hacks are plastering city work places with the dire details of civic services without the phone/Internet tax. Dire tails that compare with the troubled childhood of one Tony Villar.....a novella by Parke Skelton. Just another reason to give thumbs down to Skelton's latest novella PROP S.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Red Spot had it here yesterday - USC sick of the crap they're getting from the Coliseum Commission in negotiations for a new lease to play football in the stadium may bolt for the Rose Bowl. The Trojans are proposing a 10 year $100 million deal to repair the Coliseum themselves and take over its management. The Commission is holding to some pipe dream that NFL football is coming and only want to rent to USC for home games only. The idiots on the Commission need to wake up and realize what a major loss it would be for USC to leave LA and reward them for their decades long loyalty. Fight on!

Ten years later and Bernie is still bitter about the LAPD's "3-12" schedule that allows officers to work three days a week if they work 12 hour shifts. The plan is popular with officers. Many officers can not afford to live within city limits and live far from where they work. Fighting traffic three times a week instead of five is less stressful. Giving them four days to rest extends their usefulness. This time though Bitter Bernie managed to drag Jan Perry away from banning fast food long enough to mess with the cops.

Most readers know the old, dead Republican Mayor is the first to pounce on Clowncil members when they do or say anything remotely stupid. However writing about Wendy Greuel's "transportation mission statement" Boi From Troy was a bit over the top in comparing her comments to "something the pointy-haired boss would think up in a Dilbert cartoon." Actually in calling for the outline of plan with measurable goals and metrics Greuel is actually quite businesslike. Still busted up about Lloyd Levine getting hitched Scott?

Saturday is the 52nd anniversary of Rosa Parks' bold stand for civil rights when she fought segregation in the South. The County of Los Angeles has declared it 'Rosa Parks Day" but so far the Los Angeles City Council has not yet done the same. With only one more Council meeting left before the day they better get around to it soon. They can fine time to condemn our country and vote against the war but seem to have a hard time honoring a real American hero.

Roy Disney has a major share in the family business, The Walt Disney Company who counts among it's many subsidiaries ABC. No wonder he's opposed to NBC Universal's plan to build a new facility at the Universal City Metro station. How old is this guy anyway? Why does he care about traffic that's 5-10 years away?

What's this? Mayor V - National Chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Presidential Campaign - showing up in a Barack Obama press release?

Ann Cottrell - congratulations you've just become the 10,000th passenger to fly out of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport - what are you going to do now? Shake Mayor Villaraigosa's hand!

A Green Party blogger finds Mayor Villaraigosa's Million Trees program a "bone headed idea."

And finally - no jokes please; Gloria Molina is spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to build designated County "fitness zones."