Los Angeles Political Hotsheet for Tuesday

Is HACLA Commissioner Maria del Angel, the person of interest in Eastern Group Publications story?

More controversy this morning from the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA), the city housing agency that has brought you $2,500 tidy bowls, a paranoid department head Rudy "the $400,000+ Man' Montiel and tales of corruption that are on par with the latest dubious dealings at the DWP. The Eastern Group Publications is reporting that residents of the Pico Gardens are alleging that a "housing commissioner has unfairly received special perks and privileges".

While EGP does not name the commissioner in question, the fact that the person was living in Estrada Courts before moving to Pico Gardens, leaves us to believe that the person is Maria del Angel, who according to her bio at HACLA's website is or was, a Estrada Courts resident.

Among the allegations made in the story are "claims that unusually expensive upgrades were made to the commissioner’s apartment, air conditions were installed in violation of housing rules, and that housing staff were paid with public funds to do special favors for the commissioner, like installing flat screen TVs".

The tenants who's letter was the basis for story, also contacted CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar which led to this response.

In a written statement to EGP, Councilman Jose Huizar said, “We are aware of the letter and have been in contact with those who reported the various concerns. Our office takes any allegations of improprieties seriously. We are asking the Housing Authority to investigate and reply in writing to questions in the letter that come under their jurisdiction,” he said in a written statement.

As a side note, Councilman Huizar's Campaign Counsultant Parke Skelton released a list of community leaders who are endorsing Huizar for re-election. One of them is ............. , Maria del Angel, Variety Boys and Girls Club, Housing Commissioner*.

Lets see where that investigation ends up.

OTHER NEWS:

** LA Weekly's Snarky Blogger Simone Wilson, posts on the looming deadline for those who want to comment pro or con on the ballot measures in the March, 2011 Elections. In the opening paragraph, Wilson manage to get this whack on one of our former bloggers here at Mayor Sam.

Are you one of those rare municipal geeks who always seems to know what the F is going on at City Hall? Have you always dreamed of seeing your street savvy in mass print? Are you woefully unemployed and have nothing better to do for the next 24 hours than perfect an argument about a jargony fiscal matter no one cares about? (No, we're not talking to you, Phil Jennerjahn. Please restrain yourself.)

Wonder if Mary will practice restraint after that whack on her blogging flav?

** Barrowing from the LA Weekly headline with additional wording in ( ), "Jack Kyser, Every L.A. Reporter's (except for blogger Walter Moore) Favorite Economist, Dies".

** Daily News Rick Orlov reported yesterday that Assemblyman Mike Gatto was pursuing various policy initatives. What about reporting on the DA investigation regarding his residency? Makes you want to puke.

** Wonder if Councilman Jose Huizar will continue his string of yes votes on proposed DWP rate increases?

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

Scott johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

The talk continues around the Mayor's Ticketgate scandal.  While more facts come out and promised records from the Mayor are a jumbled mess Villaraigosa still has a lot of fans out there.  Those attempting to draw the nexus between the Mayor's active social life and bad policy making may have more work to do to educate the masses.

Besides Ticketgate the Mayor is facing questions over his $120K trip to Europe last December.  But not so much over the receipts and the five star hotels but more so as to who was included in meetings most notably possibly a Southern California businessman who may need help from the Mayor to get approval for a project in the Mojave Desert.  Read more at Eric Spillman's blog.

Paul Hatfield reports that Council Member Tom LaBonge may be up to no good.  According to the report LaBonge is prepping a motion to raid Neighborhood Council Funds to pay for the free charter buses Councilmembers use to curry favor with community groups such as sending senior citizen groups to Pechanga or children to tour Griffith Park with Tom, etc.  While we certainly want to provide options for the community to get out that's not the purpose of Neighborhood Council funds.

And finally Walter Moore's favorite economist (perhaps next to Zuma Dogg) is retiring.  Jack Kyser, the Chief Economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation is frustrated however LA's economy isn't where it should be.  Shouldn't be surprising though when Kyser's current and past employer, the LA Chamber of Commerce supports just about every downtown tax and spend scheme that comes down the pike.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

The candidates for Mayor were asked if they support the vision for a "subway to the sea."  Candidate Carlos Alvarez does as well as subways to everywhere else.  Because he rode the subway in London, Phil Jennerjahn is surprisingly for this boondoggle as - no surprise - is Mayor Villaraigosa.  Walter Moore and David Hernandez correctly note the fiscal irresponsibility of the project and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg drives it home saying the project consumes "a lot of money, time and hope tied up for something that may or may not even happen for 30 years."

The Planning Commission has delayed plans to re-write the City's billboard laws, changes that could have a chilling effect on free speech in Los Angeles.  In the meantime while billboard hysteria reaches a fever pitch during the City's primary elections, a recent poll bears out what I suspected - that most folks don't care and aren't even aware of the fight with 47% of Angelenos saying the advertisments are attractive.  Among Hispanics, the fastest growing segment of LA residents there is a near total lack of interest in the issue, with only three percent of that demographic saying the issue had any relevancy to their lives. That being said the billboard NIMBYS are loud and wicked - and voter apathy concentrates their venom - so local politicians cross them at their own peril.

How many DWP employees does it take to pass out a lightbulb? About $3 million worth.  Each of you will get free energy-saving CFL lightbulbs and the DWP will personally deliver them to your home.  I guess some genius at the DWP didn't figure out it would be far more cost effective to include a coupon in ratepayers' bills.  Question: Will they deliver light bulbs to the homeless? Yet another reason - DWP poor decisions - Vote No on B!

Saying that he is "a fiscal reformer with the energy and know how to clean up the financial mismanagement at City Hall, cut government waste and bring more accountability to city departments," former Los Angeles City Controller Rick Tuttle endorsed Fifth District Council Candidate Ron Galperin. 

About 400 entertainment industry jobs in the Los Angeles area will be lost in 2009 according to a research report released by the he Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.  The LAEDC's Jack Kyser - Walter Moore's second favorite economist - said the industry "faces challenges on many fronts."