Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

 Please don't make Victoria Tarazi Bjorknert chain herself to a bulldozer.

A contentious battle is coming to a head in Malibu where local surfers, environmentalists, and residents are fighting to stop the California Dept of Parks & Recreation from draining, dredging and re-sculpting the beloved Malibu Lagoon. Complicating the matter is that Heal the Bay, to the dismay of many, actually supports the project. Parks & Recs claims the dredging and redesign is needed to improve water circulation and reduce stagnation, but opponents argue that the work is radical, unnecessary, and will only serve to wipe out bird habitats that have only recently reestablished after a previous dredging and redesign that took place in 1983. In a LA Weekly story last Oct, Wetlands Defense Fund spokesperson Marcia Hanscom said of Heal the Bay's support, ""I'm sure they understand clean water. They understand plastic [bag] bans. They don't understand coastal wetland ecosystems, wetland ecology."
The activists working to save the Malibu Lagoon have put forth an alternative plan to rejuvenate the area that they say is less intrusive and would protect the existing wildlife. The bulldozers are currently scheduled to butcher the lagoon in June, just as the area is filled with new hatchlings. This means certain death for the birds, and the complete devastation of a unique and rare SoCal wetlands ecosystem.
As they try to raise awareness and legal funds, Save The Malibu Lagoon will hold a rally this Saturday, April 30th from noon until 4pm at the Malibu Lagoon parking lot, PCH at Cross Creek. Expect to see a who's who of surfers in attendance including my dear friend Victoria at this event.

Councilman Krekorian's office has several openings for interns interested in learning the intricacies of City Government. "Positions are open to those in the communications field for qualified candidates wishing to gain a greater understanding about L.A. politics while working in the fast-paced and exciting world of City Hall." reads the announcement. What the announcement doesn't say is that successful candidates will be working with the highly regarded and alley-obsessed CD2 communications director, Jeremy Oberstein.

As goes Wisconsin, so goes the Nation?-The signature gathering effort to recall the Wisconsin senators who supported the Scott Walker/Koch Bros union busting bill has now qualified 9 senators (6 Republicans and 3 Democrats) for a recall election.
 Meanwhile, the Republican effort to recall the Senate Democrats that fled the state in order to halt the passing of the bill is not doing so well;
On a level of failure that can only be described as "Jennerjahnian" in epicness, the deadline for submitting signatures for 2 Democrats targeted for recall passed today without a single signature being submitted.  How bad is it for Republicans in Wisconsin? They're now trading "Shots for Signatures".

If you think the LA air is dirty today... you whiny kids should have been here in 1948!
Nevertheless, and still disturbing as ever, LA once again has received the distinction of having the worst air in the nation.  Congratulations, we got a big F in all categories.

Liberals rejoice!  He's back, and he has an important announcement!!

You Can Make The Choice Not To Waste Plastic Shopping Bags!

I've battled the Nanny State over this issue before but I still feel the free market and not legislation by bachelor nannies is the right way to solve the problem of plastic shopping bags not being recycled. You can add Walgreen's to the list of stores that offer shopping bag options for customers. Way to go! And the County of LA joins Heal the Bay in the voluntary Day Without A Bag next Thursday.

Extra:
Free market alternatives to mandatory bag recycling.