"Tour de Feuer": Lying, Cheating and Stealing his way to become City Attorney?

As the cover to the best hit piece of the 2013 Campaign Season states ...... "Some men will LIE, CHEAT and STEAL to finish the race first" and .......... 

Is that the alleged "Lauryn Hill of Political Consultants" John Shallman running interference against the law-abiding, other candidates for City Attorney?

Move over "Lapdog Weiss" for the "Lance Armstrong Feuer" of the 2013 City Attorney Campaign. The reaction to the Feuer/ Shallman Hit Piece can be measure via these comments from noted Trutanich Critic Joseph Mailander.

Most notably, it caught my wife's attention first, rather than mine--and she's undoubtedly a better judge of impact than I am.  Abundantly liberal but in her own trade far removed from politics, she's not really connected to any of these races, and when she read it said, "No way I'm voting for Mike Feuer," she said, and even seemed disappointed to learn that I still might. Mission accomplished! The yellow cover is perfect (view after the jump), and the inclusion of a headshot of John Shallman, Nuch's old campaign manager (see below right) who is now also running the Greuel for Mayor campaign, as one of the other top racers in this Tour de Sewer is a lovely touch.  Someone sure knows how to please his client! Now, the thing about the text is--ouch--it's not very much of an elaboration.  Of the CHEATS STEALS LIES trifecta, I'd say the one that answers to reality least is STEALS--but the other two are fairly fair game. 

Of course, we must flashback to the 2009 classic Lapdog Weiss Piece when Shallman was not on the receiving end of the hit.

This piece still resonates four years later.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

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Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

Will former Mayor Villar Lapdog City Attorney Candidate Jack Weiss, become Chief of Staff for a possible City Attorney Mike Feuer?

 Mayor Antonio Villar and 2013 City Attorney Lapdog Candidate Mike "Bet Tzedek" Feuer.

Mayor Villar and 2009 City Attorney Lapdog Candidate Jack Weiss.

Hola to all in the local political cybersphere as we end our bloggin Spring Sequester and what a better way to return, than with this explosive bit of political chisme.

According to reliable sources, former CD 5 City Councilman and failed Mayor Antonio Villar Lapdog City Attorney Candidate Jack Weiss, may be returning to the city payroll come July 1, 2013.

The return of Weiss to gainful city employment, is predicated on Mike “Bet Tzedek” Feuer becoming City Attorney, who then would select Weiss as his Chief of Staff, according to our sources.

For activists in CD 5 and city-wide, a union of Feuer and Weiss in the City Attorney Office, should be a rallying call for preserving an independent office, that is only beholden to the interests of the citizens within the City of Los Angeles.

** Here is some latest observations on the runoff contests for May.

** CD 1: Is it strange or the standard M.O. of the City Clerk Office, that we have not seen any updates on the uncounted Absentee or Provisional Ballots? Maybe this has to do with the fact that Gil Cedillo, is “this close” to breaching the 50% level, in his race against current City Councilman Ed Reyes anointed successor Jose Gardea?

** CD 9: The University of Southern California’s “Neon Tommy” News Blog, has this tear gusher on the “rags to one percent staffer riches story” of City Council Candidate Ana Cubas. We would recommend that the undergrads dedicate ample cyber space in exposing the “S.C. (scandalous conduct) Proclivities” of the former highest paid, city council Chief of Staff.

** CD 13: Who would have higher name recognition in CD 13, former LA Dodgers “one game wonder” Hee Seop Choi or LA County Labor Federation “parachute city council candidate” John Choi?

** LAUSD District Six: Simple political word problem for the brother and sister indoctrinators of UTLA, “If a candidate for the LAUSD School Board was a prior enabler on the now litigious 2012 LA City Redistricting Commission, what makes you think that Antonio Sanchez will vote against the educational interest of the “Eli Broad/ Mayor Villar/ Councilman Huizar / LAUSD School Board President Monica “Gorda Boo Boo” Garcia Education Machine“?

** City Controller: So sad to see how low the political star of CD 3 City Councilman Dennis “The Valley Zine” has fallen.

** Mayor: How much pandering does it take “The Villar Greuel” to secure the support of the LA County Labor Federation? Better question would be how much new revenue will “The Villar Greuel” need to create to pay off all her Labor IOUs?

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

The Campaign Money Laundering Twins?

Former CD 5 City Councilman Jack Weiss and Mayor Antonio Villar.

Quick, what did we learn from the City of Los Angeles Ethics Commission's actions yesterday that saw the supposed ethics watch dog of local government, levy a total of $250,750 dollars in fines? That the City of LA is lucky we didn't elect Jack Weiss as City Attorney.

While the Ethics Commission's $183,750 dollar fine against Koreatown Developer Alexander Hugh garnered the major attention from the print media (with the likes of LA Observed and Street Hassle absence with coverage), under the media radar was the fact that the Jack Weiss for City Attorney Campaign, were recipients of campaign money of both entities fined by the Ethics Commission yesterday.

As the Times reports on the $67,000 fine against Alcion Ventures, Investigators found that between June 2008 and September 2009, Alcion Ventures reimbursed employees thousands of dollars after they wrote checks to four politicians: Councilman Jack Weiss, who was running for city attorney; Ron Galperin and Chris Essel, who both waged unsuccessful campaigns for City Council; and the office-holder account of Councilman Richard Alarcon.

Keen political observers will remember that Jack Weiss City Attorney Campaign was attached to the hip of Mayor Antonio Villar's re-election endeavors (think Nuch's great "Lap Dog Mailer") with the same group of campaign operatives running both campaigns. And as LA Times David Zahniser reported in his earlier piece on the County Grand Jury indictment of Alexander Hugh, the concept of campaign money laundering is not a foreign one to "Team Villar".

Campaign fundraising violations often swirl around City Hall but only occasionally result in criminal prosecutions. The most recent concluded in 2009, when two Florida businessmen were fined $312,000 after participating in a scheme to reimburse contributors to Villaraigosa's 2005 election campaign. One of those men, Sean Anderson, began directing the money one day after dining with Villaraigosa.

Not exactly the background you want in a City Attorney ...... and his supportive Mayor.

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

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

As Carmen the Clown and Jane the Joke go after pot shops many property owners and real estate experts say the shops have been good for the local economy.  One study even says the dispensaries have pumped over $100 millions of sales tax into government coffers.  However NIMBY types, such as Dangerous Enemy of Freedom Lisa Sarkin, are out to use the government to prevent something that should be legal for consenting adults.  If anyone needs to spark up a doobie and mellow out it is certainly Enemy Sarkin. Oh Betty Pleasant too.

Councilman Dennis Zine has worked hard to bring a much needed Costco to Woodland Hills.  Folks need the jobs and residents like to shop there otherwise Costco wouldn't risk the capital to invest in the area.  Still some wacko NIMBYs with plenty of time and their hands (perhaps some other folks who need to smoke some pot or at least get more sex than they may be currently getting) are calling for Zine to be impeached.  Anyway nimrods City Council members can't be impeached.  They are recalled.  And as Phil Jennerjahn found out it's a hell of a nut to crack. Even well organized and wealthy stakeholders couldn't muster a recall of the then most hated member of the Clowncil, Jack Weiss.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Stupidvisor Mark Ridley Thomas working on his office renovation.

Getting closer to Christmas. The Clowncil is on extended recess. Next few days of Hotsheets may not be 100% political. Deal with it.

Mayor Villaraigosa appoints former Burbank City Manager and ex-CRA chief Bud Ovrom as head of the Department of Building and Safety. This is a good appointment. Perhaps with Ovrom in charge and ex-Burbank elected Paul Krekorian on the Council we can bring some of the successful methods of that City to make LA more business friendly. Sidenote: San Fernando Valley business leaders are optimistic about Krekorian's victory.

Tom LeBong joins the nanny state and wants to ban outdoor smoking patios in LA. I HATE cigarette smoke but I also believe in freedom of choice. If a restaurant allowed smoking I would not go there. But I think its up to them and the market. In any case Tom LeBong is a greater danger to his District than second hand smoke is. Just ask anyone who lives there!

Stupidvisor Mark "Curly" Ridley Thomas will hold off on his mega-dollar office renovation. The County Stupes took a vote that sends the project to an auditor for review but inside sources told KFI's Eric Leonard that Curly will now do the project ala Johnny Cash and build it "one piece at a time" under the radar after the smoke clears. Let's keep an eye on that if we can!

David Markland at LA MetBlogs catches onto something MayorSam and Griffith Park Wayist have had on their radar lately: LA's politicians have had a near obsessive relationship with The Grinch this holiday season. What's next? Green Eggs and Ham with Jan Perry?

Paul Hatfield pens a brilliant Christmas poem for Mayor V.

Forget about TV 35 and trying to save public access TV. That's so not 2010. Apple Computer is on the verge of deploying the killer app that is going to do to cable TV what blogs have done to fishwraps and add to that services like Roku, YouTube and Hulu. Anyone can be a TV producer these days.

Mulholland Terrace reports via a cached version of a story removed by a ball-less Chicago Tribune website that "Sam Zell is leaving control of Tribune Company in the hands of a former shock jock who used to reportedly roam the offices of a past employer with a rubber penis tied around his neck." Randy Michaels, who takes the CEO reins from Zell who remains Chairman, "made a name for himself back in the '70s and '80s farting on the air, cracking jokes about gays and tantalizing listeners with descriptions of 'incredibly horny, wet and ready' naked in-studio guests." And you were worried about the fishwraps!

Simon Cowell will step down from his role as the chief judge on Fox's popular "American Idol" television program. We suggest Jack Weiss be his replacement. He still needs a job so why not?

FBI files on Michael Jackson that were to be released Monday and then were delayed have finally been put on public view. However much of the information has been redacted and a lot of it is miscellaneous and sheds no light on his alleged child molestation activities nor his mysterious death. It is not certain if these files were scrubbed but what is clear is that its the files of the LA and Santa Barbara County District Attorneys that will be more revealing. No word on when or if those documents will come forward.

Evening Briefs and Outtakes on Job Opportunities for Unemployed Ex. City Council Members and other News

"Sorry Jack, no jobs available at this time, but you might want to check out the following..."

Happy "first of the month" to all who have, or are awaiting your various government payments. Thus, as we watch the sun set on this first day in December, and in the spirit of compassion, I ask, does former CD 5 Councilman Jack Weiss have a new job?

In this time of giving, Weiss will be spending his first holiday season in recent memory, away from his ex. well-paying gig at City Hall. The shock of not having a consistent pay check and slush fund to splurge on supporters, must be a harsh reality for Weiss at this time.

As Weiss is bluntly realizing, there is not much demand for someone who was woo, seduce, exploited, used, then abandon, in the name of advancing one's, "Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Political Agenda".

Surely, Weiss thought that his friend Tony, from east of the 405, would come through with that LAX gig, but no call came. That chance to become the President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, was just that. Thus, economic opportunities look fleeting for some abandon politico, with not many friends.

But rest assured, some former Rosemead City Councilman is leading the way, in showing how you can still collect on your past doings within the "horseshoe". Simply, apply for unemployment Jack!!

From the Pasadena Star News,

ROSEMEAD – Former city councilman John Nunez has collected unemployment since voters ousted him from the council in March.

Nunez has so far collected $11,250 in unemployment, and he continues to collect $450 a week, according to City Manager Jeff Allred.

Nunez served on the council for four years before he lost his bid for reelection. He finished last among six candidates for three seats. While on the council he was paid $2,318 a month.

City officials objected to Nunez's unemployment request, but the California Employment Development Department approved it anyway, Allred said.

"We have the ability to question and contest a request and we did that. It's not a traditional employment situation," Allred said. "But the determination to grant a request is solely that of the EDD."

Just think of the possibilities Jack, you can get a weekly check and retool for a post-political career as lets say, PR flack for some Medical Marijuana Clinic. What about rape victim advocate? What about going the "Mike Hernandez route? If only you can find a friend among your former colleagues who would hire you. You can also ponder a career as the "Official Trutanich Bloggin Critic", for the right price of course. (But some would say that you are already doing that here at Mayor Sam)

But most important Jack, you can be the first from within the "Horseshoe on Spring Street" to apply for jobless benefits. Thus, leading the way for the likes of "City Councilperson" (see her police report) Chris Essel, who made need some jobless assistance after December 8. After all, your sacrifices and legacy of achievement, warrants this final act of "political theater".

OTHER NEWS:

** The LA Weekly's balance coverage of the Medical Marijuana issue at City Hall, is causing some within the "herb community" to call a "Medical Weed Ad Boycott" of the "Weekly of Record".

** The "pondering, vacillating fourteen" in the Horseshoe on Spring Street, puts off resolution again on the Legalization of Pot, errr, Medical Marijuana issue. From the LA Times, “I want to make sure the council digests what has been said. To have that discussion tomorrow, I think, would have been a waste of time,” said Ed Reyes, chairman of the council committee that worked on the draft ordinance. He said he hoped the council would complete the draft next week but added, “But I said that the last time.” (For the last four and a half years ED!!)

** The former "Killer King Medical House of Terror" is set for an rebirth as the UC/King Medical Center, sometime in 2013.

** IBEW's "Boss D'Arcy" and his merry band of grossly paid DWP employees, are the recipients of a new 5-year contract, courtesy of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's DWP Commission.

From the Los Angeles Times,

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s appointees at the Department of Water and Power approved a new five-year contract with its employee union this afternoon, brushing aside warnings about the agreement’s effect on the utility’s retirement fund.

On a 4-0 vote, the DWP commission forwarded to the council a plan that would give the utility’s employees a 3.25% bonus this year, followed by four increases that range from 2% to 4%, depending on inflation.

The city’s top budget advisor has recommended passage of the agreement but also warned that the pact could put a new burden on the DWP’s pension fund, which suffered a 15.5% investment loss last year. (We know who reigns at City Hall).

** Not all are sad to see Councilwoman Janice Hahn, go off in search of a new political home, in Sacramento.

** OurLA.org's Chelsea Cody has an excellent expose "on the real savings" of Mayor Villaraigosa's "self-touted" Drug Discount Program. but then it was all about getting his mugshot in your wallet.

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

Mayor Sam's Late Afternoon Thoughts

Here's where Paul Krekorian gets into trouble.

The voters are PO'd as of late. Not that Paul isn't a nice guy but if he is tied to Villar then he's got trouble. Remember Jack Weiss?

No doubt that Krekorian will have excellent resources and makes for an attractive candidate but being a carpetbagger and being tied to AV is not going to help him in the super pissed-off places like Studio City, Sunland, Tujunga and West Van Nuys, all places where folks vote in higher than average numbers in a special election.

I got an invitation to Wendy Greuel's pre-assumption festivities.  It's a catered affair at CBS Studios featuring a live band.  Now I know criticizing these soirees especially for the third and fourth floor types is like criticizing Christmas but one has to ask the question: who's paying for this? I am certain not the taxpayers so it means once again we probably have donors donating to another "transition fund" and footing the bill for a high-end celebration that makes the pol happy.  Quid pro quo? Pay to play? Or is Wendy paying for it herself? If that's the case, then kudos, nothing wrong with putting on your own party.  However I did go to Wendy's first inauguration before she became an entrenched pol and that was a low-key respectable affair with no caterers and only a boom box for entertainment.

Finally, have you seen Jack Weiss since he lost the election? He's looking terrible; kind of like Tom Hanks from Castaway (after the plane crashed).

Lunchtime Hotsheet

Late last night, Councilmember Eric Garcetti tweeted, “My district director reports from Chicago that privatized parking meters have created such an outrage it is all that the city can talk about.” Garcetti, of course, is referring to Mayor Villaraigosa’s push to privatize meter and garage operations. Meter privatization in Chicago led to spike in parking rates, followed by a revolt in which parking meters were “mangled by tire irons and coin slots filled with Super Glue.” LA’s livability has taken such a hit in recent years, part of me thinks: go ahead, make my day; we need a breaking point. PS: For another glimpse into the world of Chicago shot-caller–baller management Villaraigosa so admires, check out this piece on the city’s longest-serving councilmember.

The Daily News reports Paul Krekorian is renting an apartment in Valley Glen while he mulls a run for City Council. Tomorrow is the deadline to establish residency in CD2. Considering the state of affairs in Sacramento, it’s hard to fault Krekorian for considering a fresh start (and healthy pay increase) in sunny Southern California.

Also via the DN, a judge is set to decide Monday whether to renew the LAPD’s eight-year federal consent decree. Councilmember Dennis Zine and Chief William Bratton say the oversight has served its purpose and should expire. The ACLU argues we aren’t there yet.

The LAT reports that Wikipedia has blocked contributions from Church of Scientology's Los Angeles headquarters and a number of Scientology critics. The two sides were apparently fighting an intense revision war. The article notes that three years ago, Wikipedia banned Capitol Hill networks “when it was revealed that congressional aides had been deleting references to unmet campaign promises.” Meanwhile, a war of revisions continues to rage on Jack Weiss’ page.

Finally, if you haven’t already, click over to version 2.0 of the Times’ Mapping LA project. Nearly one hundred boundary changes since the February release. The census data is a bit stale, but it’s fun to browse. … Crime and voting data would make it super useful.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

As I stated on the John Phillips show Friday night Mayor Villaraigosa has little shot at securing the Democratic nomination for Governor - particularly given his wounding in the March and May City Elections - and most likely won't run. While Team Villaraigosa is busy denying reports the Mayor has opted out; they're currently on the ground assisting fellow Clinton compatriot Terry McAuliffe to win the Democratic nomination for Governor in Virginia.  This follows on the heels of a report that former Democratic Presidential candidate Ralph Nader is claiming that McAuliffe attempted to buy Nader off if he agreed to not run in key battleground states in the 04 election, when McAuliffe was Chairman of the Democratic Party.  Sounds like "T-Mac" would fit right in in Los Anngeles.

Zuma Dogg often tells me of things before they hit the mainstream press and usually I don't pay enough attention to it at the time.  Whether it was Pensiongate, Weatherly Capital or Meruelo Maddox I read about these things weeks or months after Zuma has brought it to my attention.  That's why maybe I better pay attention this time when Zuma Dogg says that City Controller-elect Wendy Greuel's connection to a fundraiser for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo "will become a bigger issue in weeks to come."

The goofball effort to rebrand a portion of Van Nuys as Sherman Oaks has managed to find one friend in the person of Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce Bob Cohen though it seems just about everyone else in both communities - including both elected Neighborhood Councils - oppose the effort. It really seems like a battle that a Chamber of Commerce should stay out of; if I was a business owner I would think twice about Chamber membership when it spends time on something other than helping the local economy.

It looks like Paul Koretz has secured election as the new Councilman for the 5th District having just barely bested community leader David Vahedi.  Still some questons remain about election irregularities, claims the County Clerk has denied.  What everyone will be watching for is if Koretz cn clean up the mess his predecessor Jack Weiss has left for him and if he can avoid Weiss' mantle of being the "Most Hated Councilmember."

Jack Weiss' Golden Parachute: Collateral Damage at LAWA?

UPDATE: I'll be discussing this issue with John Phillips sitting in for Al Rantel tonight at 6:30 p.m. on KABC Radio, AM 790 or online at www.kabc.com.

Link to clip from radio show: http://mayorsam.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-05-30T00_29_00-07_00

Used to be that when a politician was termed, voted out or retired from office they'd take a cushy job in private industry or a lobbyist or once in a while return to a previous or family business. If they were a purist they might go into academics.

That's not necessary anymore when the politicians in office have found all kinds of ways to spend money to appoint former elected officials to cushy government jobs and commission seats that pay wages they could not get in private industry, legally anyway. From Cindy Montanez to Richard Katz to Mike Hernandez out of office politicians can be assured job security by their friends who still control the pursestrings.

The latest, greatest and shadiest of this may be the chatter we're hearing that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is planning to appoint termed out Council Member and defeated City Attorney candidate Jack Weiss to the $200,000 a year position of Deputy Mayor of Homeland Security for the City of Los Angeles. According to our source, the position is a hidden line item in Mayor Villaraigosa's 2009-2010 budget that creates the position with airport funds and houses it at LAX.

Even more disturbing that recycling the most hated and defeated politician in recent Los Angeles history are allegations that the City plans to lay-off 24 existing LAWA employees and replace them with the entire CD5 Jack Weiss staff (assuming that some of them wouldn't rather seek employment with Paul Koretz).

We asked a source in the Mayor's camp to confirm or deny the story but our source claimed ignorance. That's usually spinnish for "We aren't denying it." Our source also noted a number of potential shakeups typical of a Mayor entering his second term, such as the recent departure of Fire Chief Douglas Barry. I was told to expect more "shakeups" including at the Police Commission and "many, many" others.

Assuming the move of Weiss to the Mayor's staff is true - as well as the wholesale firing of LAWA employees to give their jobs to Weiss loyalists - no doubt LA's SLAP-happy pitchfork and torches crowd will be up in arms.

Stay tuned.

Weiss Before The Loss

Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye Jack Weiss!

Notes on the Election Scorecard, with respects to Allan "Mud" Malamud R.I.P.

Someone not happy this morning ??

Can Bratton announce his endorsement now for Jose Huizar in 2011 ??

So what does LAPD Chief Bill "Bull" Bratton really think about Councilman Dennis Zine ??

One political incarnation that will not materialize in the near future.

Antonio Ramon Villar

Mechista Tony Villar

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Governor Antonio Villar

"Landslide Koretz", LOL!!

Governor "Kennedy Republican" handle his ass kicking like a "girlie man".

Draft Emanuel Pleitez for CD-14 in 2011.

How long before Kevin Roderick, aka "WWG" starts fawning over Los Angeles Community College District, Board of Trustee winner Tina Park. One can envision a puff story in Los Angeles Magazine in the near future.****Link here to read about the latest girlie interest for "WWG".

Maybe Gil Cedillo can replace Tyrone Freeman at SEIU 6434, Cedillo knows his way around usage of Union Credit Cards, allegedly.

Where do Parke Skelton and Ace Smith house the "Cybertrolls" ??

Paul Koretz and David Vahedi are the "Al Franken and Norm Coleman" of LA politics for the near future.

How long before the likes of Keith Brackpool, Ron Burkle, Eli Broad, and other Special Interests abandon the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Bandwagon ??

Who wins the award for election coverage ??

"OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET"

"Weekly of Record"

"Daily Moldy Green Sheet"

Winners on Election Day:

Los Angeles new political star, Tina Park.

Carmen Trutanich.

District Attorney Steve Cooley, maybe future Attorney General Steve Cooley ??

Talk Radio hosts Doug McIntyre and Kevin James.

KFI's John and Ken's Tax Crusade.

City Council President Eric Garcetti.

Neighborhood Councils.

Parke Skelton and Eric Hacopian in CA-32.

Judy Chu.

CD-5 for supporting Nuch.

Gavin Newsome and Jerry Brown.

Emanuel Pleitez for strong first time showing in CA-32 race.

Taxpayers.

Ron Kaye

Losers on Election Day:

Ace Smith and the "Weiss Ass Cybertrolls" (Ully and Mike).

Villar/Durazo Machine.

County Federation of Labor.

Labor, Eco Left in Sacramento.

CD-5 for electing Koretz.

Governor "Kennedy Republican"

California Teachers Unions.

"OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" and "Daily Moldy Green Sheet" for supporting the "Ones"

"OLD GRAYING LEFTIST SCRIBE ON SPRING STREET", George Skelton.

Sierra Club.

Gilbert "One Bill" Cedillo.

"Barrio Pimp" Jose Huizar for supporting Jack Weiss.

Jack Weiss.

Southwest Society and the Autry Machine.

............and the "Lame Duck Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa!!"

A Night Against The Status Quo

Governor Schwarzenegger crashes and burns. Jack Weiss loses. An amazing night. But wait there's more.

Earlier Tuesday evening (on Twitter) I called the race in the LA Community College Seat 2 contest for Tina Park over incumbent Angela Reddock, it is now certain that Park will win, current returns with 86% of precincts reporting show Park with 54% of the vote over Reddock with 46%. Reddock had the LA Times but looks Park, who was backed by the LA Republican Party, had the voters in an unexpected win.

It had also looked like insider favorite Paul Koretz was handily defeating Neighborhood Council candidate David Vahedi but very recent returns with 82% of the precints show that Vahedi has closed the nearly 6 point gap he had all night and now the race is extremely tight, way too close to call at this point. If Koretz still wins, it won't be a strong victory if this trend holds.

Other than LA Community College Seat 6 candidate Robert Nakahiro losing to incumbent Nancy Pearlman nearly 62% to 38% it looks like overall a smashing defeat for the status quo and political insiders. That just may be the mood of the voters overall these days. Perhaps elected officials may start taking the people seriously now. Or not.

The Final Push

The latest flier from TRU.




If anyone has a last minute flier from Weiss, I would be happy to post it.

Watch This Before You Vote: Jack Weiss' Laundered Contributions

Jack Weiss, the "Republican Choice" at what cost ???

Consider these numbers.

02/10/09
L. A. Co. Republican Ldrshp. Voter Guide Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY
E - Payment (LIT - Campaign Literature)
[Period:
01/18/09-02/14/09]
$4,482.37
[Election:

02/23/09
Republican Voter Checklist Torrance, CA 90501
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY
E - Payment (LIT - Campaign Literature)
[Period:
02/15/09-02/25/09]
$2,500.00
[Election:
03/03/09]

02/11/09
Republican Woman's Voice Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY
E - Payment (LIT - Campaign Literature)
[Period:
01/18/09-02/14/09]
$2,311.64
[Election:
03/03/09]
03/03/09]

And while "trolling" through the numbers, we found this.

05/12/09
Ulisses Sanchez Los Angeles, CA 90023
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1316235 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY 2009 GENERAL
E - Payment (WEB - Computer)
[Period:
05/03/09-05/13/09]
$814.00
[Election:
05/19/09]

Nice to see Ully's friends steer some pocket change in his direction.

**** Afternoon reminders, how could I forget the "Original Red Spot in CD 14" ??

01/23/03 Continuing the Republican Revolution Tustin, CA 92781 Antonio R. Villaraigosa Council Member - CD14 1250526 - Villaraigosa for Council E - Payment (LIT - Campaign Literature) [Period: 01/19/03-02/15/03] $1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/03]

01/01/01* Continuing the Republican Revolution Newport Beach, CA 92660 Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor 1234344 - Villaraigosa for Mayor - General 2001 E - Payment $18,000.00 [Election: 06/05/01]

With political "mijo".

03/30/07 Republican Voter Checklist Torrance, CA 90501 Jose Huizar Council Member - CD14 1291807 - RE-ELECT JOSE HUIZAR E - Payment $800.00

.......and "Carpetbagger" ??

04/08/99* Republican Voter Checklist San Pedro, CA 90731 Victor Griego Council Member - CD14 983543 - Friends of Victor Griego E - Payment $500.00 [Election: 06/08/99]

Seems that some game plans never change when it comes to the "machine".

Photo from the "David Berger for City Attorney" Web Site.

Your thoughts.........

Jack Weiss Hates Palms

Dear voter:

If you need yet another reason to vote AGAINST Jack Weiss in the city attorney's race, consider his sad record in following up on a petition by his Westside Village constituents asking the city for help in moving out of the Mar Vista Community Council across the 405 Freeway to join up with the abutting Palms Neighborhood Council. He said on February 22, 2005, that he'd take some steps to resolve the boundary dispute.

He never did so, leading me to conclude that he is interested nAot in fairness but in looking around for influential people to support him in his political push to higher office.

Read about it at
http://www.palmsvillagesun.info/WV-old/WV.05/WV.05.03.html#WVCA-Meeting

But if you need a reason to vote FOR Jack Weiss, remember that his office was instrumental in maintaining the wide property setbacks that Palms residents have enjoyed for more than a century (since 1886). Greedy landowners wanted to build their big, clunky buildings without the generous front landscaping that have marked many Palms streets for so long. His staff argued to the Area Planning Commission against such invidious proposals, and Palms residents won by a close Planning Commission vote of 3-0 against the wishes of absentee landlords.

You can read THAT story at
http://www.palmsvillagesun.info/RealEstate.07.02.html

So take your pick on Weiss: It's a mixed record.

Sincerely,

George Garrigues

The illegal Jack Weiss fundraiser that keeps on giving......

That, in terms of political headaches and possible violation of ethics laws as Los Angeles Times Scribe David Zahniser reports in today's latest story on "Pensiongate 09".

A pension board appointee of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may have violated city law by accepting a campaign donation from a Los Angeles businessman whose client sought a $10-million investment from the board.

Kelly Candaele, who served until three weeks ago on the board of the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System, received $1,000 on Dec. 2 from Dan Weinstein, managing director of Wetherly Capital Group. That firm pitches investments to city and state pension boards.

Lets follow along and highlight the "insiders" and key "players" in "Pensiongate 09".

Candaele voted to invest in a Wetherly client twice last year. Months later, he took a contribution from Weinstein for his campaign for reelection to the Los Angeles Community College District board.

Stephen Kaufman (did this guy let someone's "cousin" sleep on his couch to establish residency for a certain Assembly race ??), Candaele's attorney, described Candaele as an ethical public servant who was unaware he had voted on a Wetherly client before taking the contribution.

"He makes it a point to familiarize himself with the laws governing his conduct as a public official," Kaufman said.

Highlighting the players in "Pensiongate 09", continues....

Villaraigosa ask Candaele to resign from the city's seven-member pension board three weeks ago, after The Times inquired about a fundraiser that Candaele held for Councilman Jack Weiss' campaign for city attorney. Under city law, commissioners are barred from hosting campaign fundraisers for city candidates.

Candaele co-hosted the Weiss event with Weinstein and Richard Ziman, an advisor to Wetherly Capital at the time. In recent weeks, Ziman ended his affiliation with Wetherly, a company spokesman said.

As a community college board member, Candaele held his own reelection fundraiser on Dec. 2, receiving $1,000 from Weinstein and $1,500 from Ziman. The event featured such hosts as Villaraigosa, State Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) and Councilwoman Wendy Greuel.

Weinstein's firm has been a subject of interest over the last two months for New York Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo, who has been investigating allegations of kickbacks in the New York pension fund.

On Tuesday, former Wetherly employee Julio Ramirez Jr., a San Marino resident, pleaded guilty to securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with Cuomo.

And what did Candaele do for "supplemential income" ??

Weinstein also confirmed that he serves on the board of a nonprofit group, More Than Shelter, (what another Legacy LA ??) which has paid Candaele to create tribute videos about honorees for its annual awards dinner.

Weinstein said Candaele, who works in video production, did the job at his own cost and did not make any money from the banquets, the most recent of which was held Thursday.In addition to his educational duties, Candaele has worked for the Democratic Party's State Central Committee.

He received nearly $20,000 over the last year from the committee for video production work, according to interviews and campaign records.

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