T. Gloria I.F. Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine

Its all about Gloria as the Political Musing Class keyboards analysis on the upcoming battle between the termed-out Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor and the embattled CD 14 incumbent Jose Huizar. 

CD 14 City Council Candidate and LA County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina, with some potential CD 14 Campaign endorsers?

With apologies to Van Morrison and Patty Smith, there is a new G-L-O-R-I-A climbing the Political Musing Class Charts in Ciudad de Los Angeles.

At 66 years of age and not ready to slow down, CD 14 City Council Candidate and out-going LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina, has been a musing God-send as the likes of Jill Stewart, Doug McIntyre and others, have taken to keyboard as we excerpt below.

** Late Morning Update: Councilman Huizar's Sexual Harassment Trial postpone to March 2, 2015. One day before the CD 14 Election.

From Doug McIntyre in the Daily News:

Molina’s decision to take on the ethically challenged incumbent, City Councilman Jose Huizar, raised eyebrows among City Hall watchers since professional politicians in L.A. tend to stay out of each other’s way. Of course, Huizar is a special case; his personal indiscretions have made him particularly vulnerable. In 2012 Huizar, driving a city-owned vehicle, plowed into a motorist stopped at a traffic light. Despite the late hour, no Breathalyzer was given until several hours after the accident, and when the victim finally agreed to a taxpayer-funded $185,000 settlement, Huizar had the chutzpah to declare, “I take full responsibility.”The second shoe will drop in November when a sexual harassment suit filed by former Huizar aide and paramour Francine Godoy goes to trial.

Godoy alleges Huizar, a married father of four, retaliated against her for refusing to carry on a sexual relationship. Godoy’s salary jumped from $47,000 in 2006 to $132,000 in 2013, during which time she moved into an office next to Huizar’s with a “specially constructed connecting door,” according to City Watch LA columnist Jack Humphreville.

From Jill Stewart in the LA Weekly:
Former city controller Laura Chick had harsh words for both Huizar and Molina: "I was surprised and a little aghast" about Molina's announcement, she says, "because I happen to believe in something called the art of leaving. Gloria Molina has served this city long and well, but it's time to pass the baton. I was very surprised that in this long time of public service that she hasn't found someone to mentor. Men — or especially women. And it's disappointing to me."
But, Chick adds, "That said, I hope to heck someone puts Jose Huizar out of office."
Grace Yoo, a Koreatown activist involved in a federal lawsuit that claims the 2012 Wesson-led redistricting chopped apart legally protected communities, has not taken a side in the Molina-Huizar war.
But if Molina can persuade voters that the City Council is emerging as a new version of the old boys' club — 14 males who vote in lockstep on 99 percent of council matters — she may pose a threat to Huizar.
Yoo says, "I think the fact that Gloria Molina stepped into the CD14 race means that this very quiet race has, all of a sudden, become a very major race. ... She's been the first Latina on so many occasions. She certainly wouldn't be the first Latina City Council member — but the fact is that we currently only have one" woman on the council: Nury Martinez, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley.

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


Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

"The High-Five Loving LA City Prosecutor".

OH THE (POLITICAL) DRAMA! Naught, more like waste of judicial resources.

The eyes of the local media and political bloggersphere were fixated on the Superior Courtroom of Judge Joseph Kalin as the attorneys for District Attorney Candidates Carmen Trutanich and Alan Jackson played out their "ballot designation scrabble contest".

The Jackson Campaign had undertaken this legal procedure to prevent "Team Nuch" from using the ballot designation of "Los Angeles Chief Prosecutor" and  after yesterday court proceeding, the judge bestowed this ballot designation upon the City Attorney for his quest to succeed District Attorney Steve Cooley, "LA CITY PROSECUTOR". Drama over.

** In a straight shooting missive on the fiscal future of the City of Los Angeles, CEO Miguel Santana warned the Office of Failing Two-Face Mayor Villar and the City Clowncil Central Committee, that the era of dancing the "one time budget fix cha cha" is over, unless the city's leaders aspires to become the "Stockton on the Coast".

** Imagine the thought this blogger had when he drove back into Blackberry range and found that "Charro Huizzy Corleone" is back from his fling with the fishes.

** Pause with me for a moment as my latest episode of 2013 Mayoral Campaign News shakes abates after LA Weekly's Jill Stewart most recent missive regarding a Loyola Marymount University Poll on the 2013 campaign. For LA County Supervisor Zev "Hamlet" Yaroslavsky, this poll could break his "inner standoff" on his deliberations whether to run or not. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Thursday afternoon's "close out" on the Los Angeles Political Scene

Mayor Villar at Summer Night Light festivities (in daytime).

** As the number of Summer Night Lights shooting victims for 2011 stands at 3 (or 4 if Cypress Park incident is related to SNL) Mayor Villar is planning a "night out" for his fellow mayoral chums to visit the Summer Night Lights Program at Costello Park in Boyle Heights/ VNE Territory (Kevlar is optional for this visit).

** THIS IS FUNNY VIA THE LA WEEKLY'S JILL STEWART!

 Credit to LA Weekly's Keith Plocek

Via Stewart's amusing post on the upcoming CD 15 Special Election, do we really need city council members who think, vote and agree the same way "99.993% of the time" while sharing DNA with Mr. Potato Head?

Read more »

LA Weekly Editor Jill Stewart continues to slam Councilman Huizar on CLARTS Fund transparency

"Weekly of Record Editor Jill Stewart"

"Councilman Jose Huizar's Chief of Staff and purveyor of empty answers Ana Cubas, as posted at the LA Weekly".

Can Parke, Trujillo and the rest of the Huizzynistas do anything to stop the CLARTS Fund Controversy from going viral? What will "Team Huizzy" do to deflect the growing attention from "Tricky Huizzy's" commandeering of public fund to promote the image of the Boyle Heights/ Zacatecas "rags to political corruption poster child"? Hmmm, maybe plant a story on Rudy Martinez using Home Depot day laborers to repair flipped houses, who knows?

But as 2010 nears its final couple of days, the once unknown discretionary fund, at least after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Jose Huizar took over as CD 14' councilperson following Nick Pacheco, will continue its growth in prominence with each day of continue stonewalling by the Princeton graduate.

LA Weekly Editor Jill Stewart continues her probing comments of Councilman Huizar's abstinence on disclosing specifics regarding the diversion of the CLARTS Fund into vague fiscal accounts. Vague in the sense that once the money is transfer, its becomes an arduous exercise in transparent patience to unearth how each cent was utilize for the betterment of CD 14.

The central feature in today's posting on the CLARTS Fund by Stewart is the comments of The Voice Newspaper Editor Carlos Morales regarding his struggles with Councilman Huizar to get full disclosure on the status of the amenities fund, which he has not received directly, despite promises by CD 14 staff, mainly Chief of Staff Ana Cubas. Can you call this payback for reporting on something Councilman Huizar wanted few to know? Did "Tricky Huizzy" go to Princeton as he is known to remind many at his scripted events? I think the answer is yes.

But in the early days of 2011, we may have some examples how "Tricky Huizzy" plan to utilize the CLARTS Fund, just in time for his re-election campaign. Can you say patronage? Quid pro quo? More ahead in the New Year.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Outtakes from CD 14: Activist corrects the record and calls out Huizar, Plus more on the CLART Fund Controversy

" Another week of stonewalling on the CLARTS Fund."

"Big Huizzy keeping watch for itemize CLARTS Fund accounting."

Hola and great Monday after Christmas from the "Cut and Paste Republic" where we need no stinkin line-items to account for Councilman Jose Huizar's "promotion of me", correction, the CLARTS Fund.

But before we move on, we must check the mail bag at Outtakes in CD 14. BTW, you too can send mail to redspotincd14@yahoo.com for consideration.

We received this from prominent CD 14 Activist Caroline Aguirre regarding a past comment here at Outtakes.

On 12-04-10 an individual who identified themselves as Anonymous posted statements attributed to me as stating that young Occidental College students, both young adults and minors had been consuming alcohol to the point of alcohol intoxication at an establishment own by Rudy Martinez located in CD 14. first and foremost to the person ID as Anonymous. For those individuals who know me , know that I can speak up for myself. I also suggest that Anonymous first verify that the information they are posting is true and accurate. And if they are going to refer to me I suggest that at the very least they learn how to spell my name.

This is the accurate information. During the past two years the residents who reside around Occidental College have seen a major decrease in the number of college students who are observed walking home from local bars in an intoxicated state. Prior to this most were observed exiting from the York Bar.

Hats off to the Occidental College Security Staff, Occidental College students themselves, residents of CD 14 and to the bar owners to and include Rudy Martinez.

Lifelong CD 14 Resident,

Caroline Aguirre

As Caroline Aguirre stated above, she can speak for herself and pity the politico who is the recipient of her discerning demeanor which in this case, is none other than Councilman Jose Huizar.

On September 25, 2010, "Team Huizar" decided that it was within their powers to exert local control over federal property, in this case the York Blvd U.S. Post Office parking lot and why this brazen takeover of post office parking spots during normal Saturday hours? (They even took over the handicap parking!) To promote the image of a "take charge councilperson" of course. But then it seems that no one took charge of filing out the appropriate paper work, this according to Aguirre and the Office of Congressman Xavier Bacerra.

But then this is the same councilman who ignores public records requests.

** On the subject of public records, LA weekly Editor Jill Stewart is the latest scribe to opine on Councilman "Tricky Huizzy's" less than stellar record as a councilperson and purveyor of public documents.

One important fact here in the CLARTS Fund Controversy, from the vague documents that Tricky Huizzy now cites as "transparency in action", is from 2005 to the present, "Tricky Huizzy" has made 11 transfers of $50,000 or more to the "General City Purpose" account. In addition, Tricky Huizzy has steered $1.217 million dollars into his "Council Office" account. This totals to $1.767 million dollars of the CLARTS Fund that has been allocated for what?

...... and now you see the need for "true line-item transparency".

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Martinez, Huizar: Photo by LA Downtown News

The LA Weekly profiles CD 14 candidate Rudy Martinez - who is scaring some of LA's power brokers - and we learn a few interesting things.  Martinez is pissing off diva incumbent Jose Huizar.  Huizar campaign manager - fresh off the Janice Hahn and Measure B victories - Mike Trujillo doesn't know Martinez is Latino.  And apparently Huizar doesn't tip waitresses.  Should be fun!

Read more »

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Friday

"Mayor Antonio Villar off to Mexico to tout Eco-Green Agenda"

With the first major winter storm of 2010-2011 inbound for the weekend, Mayor Antonio Villar and entourage pack their bags for the warmer environments of Mexico City. Villar and other mayors of the world, will hack and cough as they discuss their respective green-based ideas for growing local economies, in the dirty, rarified air of Mexico's largest city.

As Villar and the other like-minded mayors discuss how to use the junk science of climate change to alter their respective economies, Villar is none too happy about another form of climate change taking place in California. That would be the "political climate change of citizen redistricting".

Villar bemoaned the fact that no Angelinos were among the pool of 36 applicants for the state's redistricting commission. This episode of civic pity brought about the ensuing witty retort from the keyboard of "LA Weekly of Record" Editor Jill Stewart, who poo poos "Mayor Ahhh Whinervillar's" bemoaning the lost cause of gerrymandering, perfected by the likes of Michael Berman.

So while Mayor Villar mucks up the already polluted air of Mexico City with dubious climate change pronouncements, based upon junk science. Positive political climate change, based upon elective facts, is coming to California and no episode of civic whining will alter this.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

When the Clowncil does something good we have to give them credit.  They've rejected a DWP request to increase water rates telling the utility they weren't buying the pitch.  A spokesman for Council President Eric Garcetti said that following the DWP's last attempt to bamboozle on rate increases their credibility is still pretty low.  DWP can come back in a month and try again.

Read more »

April 14, 2010, The Day that Los Angeles City Council President "Eric Gartraitor" betrays the Citizens of Los Angeles

Memo to Los Angeles City Council President "Eric Gartraitor".

While you celebrate your six-figures return on that hair care business in Beverly Hills, somewhere in your convoluted mind, it becomes your "emergency priority" to stick to the struggling families, businesses and other public and private entities, a utility, errrr, tax hike that boulders on corruption, never seen in this once proud city.

The political cynic in me and others such as Ron Kaye and Kevin James, have seen this DWP rate increase coming. the theatrics of the last couple of weeks, have been only that.

One political observer in CD 14 for example, was highlighting how CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar was telling those who still give him the time, that "Papi", whoops, Mayor Parkervillar was mad at him for voting against the previous attempt to raise rates.

So how did Councilman Jose Huizar vote yesterday on Council President Eric Garcetti "Special One Motion"? Of course, he voted the way "Papi" wanted.

Then there are the dubious dealings of Councilman Herb Wesson, that need mentioning in this debacle. Wesson who like Mayor Parkervillar, once held the Speakership in the California Assembly, reverted to the Fabian Nunez handbook, and over wine with cigars, in the company of Mayor Parkervillar at Getty House, crafted the backdoor negotiations that led to Garcetti's "Special One Motion".

For Council President Eric Gartraitor, his "Special One Motion" (maybe Gartraitor needs some Special One ethical fiber in his political diet) coming as a last minute emergency motion, were crafted by the former Rhodes Scholar, to evade a growing group of activists city wide, who are rebelling against the blatant corruption at 200 Spring Street.

But Gartraitor's shady manipulation of Council Rules and maybe the law, did not escape without the comments of citizen activist "Wayne Spinler of Van Nuys", who use his right to comment and what he did should be seen by all. Spinler in one of the greater public comments at City Hall in recent history, nail the mayor and the Council with a verbal bullseye, on their collectivist efforts to backdoor ratepayers with another monetary hit, to sustain the Mayor's and Council's lust for irresponsible spending.

Jill Stewart at the LA Weekly, takes a break from her editing duties to pen a timeline missive on the theatrical proceedings, these last few weeks leading up to yesterday's usurpation of ethical government.

Ron Kaye at his blog calls the actions of Council President Gartraitor and Mayor Parkervillar, a day that will "live in infamy". In addition, he has posted the You Tube videos of yesterday's repugnant proceedings, mixed with the video of Wayne Spinler's salient comments.

For Council President Gartraitor, yesterday's act of political treachery, may have 2013 ramifications. Gartraitor should count on his leading role in yesterday's proceedings and his comments about Angelinos being "undertaxed" to haunt his future political aspirations.

Wonder if Gartraitor looked so dour after yesterday's doings as he was in the above photo? I bet not.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Jill Stewart of the LA Weekly asks a great question: "Is the Los Angeles City Council the stupidest political body currently active in Southern California?" And the answer is clearly yes when, as Stewart points out, with funding and staff near the level of the Obama White House, the LA City Council is facing a crumbling city yet spends it's time banning 7-11s from the hood.

The DWP is part of the City that's crumbling. Yet for now the Clowncil may have got it right for a change when they rejected a DWP water rate hike. In the meantime while some members of the Council are seeking what many community activists have long fought for, a DWP ratepayer advocate, newly re-minted DWP head David "Cowboy" Freeman is intrasigent insisting "I am the ratepayer advocate," evoking memories of Paul's TV owner declaring "I am the king!"

Remember shady Measure R? Lots of politicians were chomping at the bit to raise sales taxes in the middle of a recession to build choo-choo lines around LA. As many animals do, the electeds often eat their own and this is evident as its Zev against the Eastsiders who are attempting to divert funds the Supervisor wants for the Red Line on the Westside to the Gold Line for example serving the Foothills. If Zev doesn't get his way he's going to put another measure on the ballot to get his.

And finally looks like Gavin Newsom thinks he's Obama:

Mid-Day Briefs for Lunch Time Contemplation

"Why is Chief Bratton really quiting ??"

That is the premise of LA Weekly's Editor Jill Stewart article "Bye-Bye Bill Bratton".and her musings on Bratton's reason for his sudden resignation are center on five points of speculation.

As gleaned from activists, officials, political strategists and analysts, the Top 5 reasons for the chief’s departure were shaping up like this:

. Bratton would have been the leading candidate for mayor if Antonio Villaraigosa became governor in 2010 and abandoned his mayoral job two-and-a-half years years early. Seven weeks after Villaraigosa announced he would not run for governor, Bratton announced he was bailing out as chief.

. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s budget could implode, thanks to a poorly researched, widely pilloried L.A. City Council plan to buy out city workers to help meet a $530 million deficit. If the early-retirement idea backfires, as some experts predict, Bratton would be pressed to absorb severe cuts. The upbeat LAPD growth era would be over.

. Bratton’s new boss will be his friend Michael Cherkasky, who was the monitor for Judge Gary Feess’ oversight of a federal consent decree that for eight years controlled many aspects of the LAPD. On July 17, Feess lifted the consent decree. Despite Bratton’s claim that he cut his CEO deal with Cherkasky only after Feess’ ruling, it’s possible Bratton has been plotting his revolving-door-to-riches getaway for months.

. Bratton drew criticism for meddling in election politics, publicly backing Jack Weiss for city attorney. Weiss lost. Now the victor, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, is investigating how $1.4 million in city overtime was approved for the Michael Jackson memorial. The probe may mire Bratton in unpleasant accusations by an elected official — the same man the hired-hand chief opposed for office.

. Bratton may be facing rocky personal times. The oft-betrothed Bratton and his fourth wife, lawyer and Court TV commentator Rikki Klieman, have spent much of their lives in Boston or New York. The couple placed their home in Los Feliz up for sale in July for $1.875 million, setting off speculation — all of it denied — that they were leaving. Now they are.

As you can see, speculation is always good for the consumption of column inches and increasing readership. Then the former "Mr. Jane Fonda" is calling for an investigation into the relationship between Bratton and Michael Cherkasky. He joins LA Times Columnist Tim Rutten and "fellow traveler", who also devoted coulmn inches in scribing his thoughts about the "smell level" of Bratton's ties to Cherkasky.

Other News:

** For those who were outrage over the Tennie Pierce Settlement, consider these numbers on the latest legal payouts from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles City Council voted today to pay $8.1 million to two firefighters who won jury awards after they filed discrimination and retaliation lawsuits against the Los Angeles Fire Department.

** LA Weekly's Steve Mikulan muses on the NUMEROUS responses about his comment regarding the"Obama Socialist Poster", "All that's missing is a noose." Memo to Steve, you said it, now you have to deal with it. And this blogger thinks that the poster was right on. Where is the racism in that ??

** Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced this morning the nomination of former U.S. Attorney Debra Yang to the Los Angeles Police Commission. Yang would replace former Commission President Anthony Pacheco, who resign to fully pursue his legal career.

** Law enforcement official announced morning raids on a South L.A. street gang that were front and center in the unrest after the Lakers won the Championship. These same gangbangers will soon be donning those "Silver and Black Jerseys" as football season approaches.

** Continuing on the subject of unruly sports fans. We can get a quick gauge on our crime stats this evening from 7:00 PM till 11:00 PM, as Raider Football returns to the visual airways via KTLA Channel 5. And how do you scare a Raider Fan ?? "Third Strike!!"

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

"Weekly of Record" takes aim at City Hall

If one could read the thoughts behind the eye lids of one Antonio Ramon Villar, one may find a few choice words directed towards LA Weekly News Editor Jill Stewart, broken into verbal fragments that begin with AHHH.

Once again Stewart and her current group of scribes dare to go where the sadly- missed Herald Examiner would once venture and the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" only viewed from across the intersection with cocktails.

Whether it is the DWP, Chief Bill Bratton, the density fantasies of Councilman Ed Reyes, Planning Director Gail "Suds" Goldberg or "Friends of Numero Uno Markets Founder George Torres", they all are fair game for the scribes at the "Weekly of Record".

Scribe Daniel Heimpel gets double byline honors with his stories on the DWP's lawsuit and smack down by a judge regarding transfer of money to the City of Los Angeles's General Fund, and another judge hitting the city with an adverse ruling regarding its "Density Bonus Program".

Scribe Patrick Range McDonald deconstructs LAPD Chief Bill Bratton's premise that the City of Angels crime stats are on par with the mid-1950ies.

Scribe Steven Leigh Morris guides us through former City of Los Angeles Planning Commissioner Jane Usher's missive on the follies on one Gail "Suds" Goldberg.

Lastly, Jeffery Anderson, who has made many "ports of call in the world of free press", gives us his retrospective on the guilty verdict of Numero Uno Market Founder George Torres and his possible ties to the cities political community.http://www.laweekly.com/2009-04-30/columns/george-torres-numero-uno-no-more-but-even-after-his-racketeering-conviction-questions-remain-about-which-l-a-political-and-business-figures-were-influenced-by-his-money/

This passage should provoke some thought.....

Yet the jury heard enough to reach a speedy decision: Torres was convicted on almost every count, including his attempt to bribe former L.A. City planning commissioners Steven Carmona and George Luk to secure a zoning permit.

Still, the question remains, how many other public officials were influenced by Torres’ money? How many other L.A.P.D. officers got close enough to Torres to arouse suspicion? The indictment states that an L.A. City Councilman appeared to be waiting in the wings to receive bag money from Torres, via Carmona and Luk.

Who could that have been? Is that person still in office?

Hint, was this possibly current city office holder councilman in 2004??

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Jill Stewart writes about the talk over what will happen to Wendy Greuel's 2nd Council District seat once she assumes the Controller position. Municipal law says the Clowncil can either call an election or appoint an individual to serve out the rest of Greuel's term which ends in 2011. Stewart notes that the last time the Council appointed to a vacant seat was in 1966 when the Fourth District seat was handed to Tom LaBonge svengali, the late, great John Ferraro. If an election is not called and an insider appointed a rebellion could very well brew. David Hernandez is making pre-emptive strikes with a tour of Neighborhood Councils starting Wednesday night in North Hollywood and Sunland Tujunga. If that's not enough, a group of angry Sunland-Tujungaistas are firing up their mighty machine to fight any potential shadiness.

LA Weekly picks up on Zach Behren's quixotic quest to try to report illegal dumping via the Department of Public Works' website. About the same time your old, dead Republican mayor had a similar experience reporting some illegally dumped bedroom furniture in North Hollywood via the City of LA's 311 system. Looks Zach shook up Public Works and may have got the problem fixed. How about Zach for CD2?

Like their bretheren elsewhere in Los Angeles, residents in Janice Hahn's San Pedro are livid over increases in parking meter fees and reduction in parking hours. Contra Costa Times

The driver of a Mercedes-Benz McLaren in Sunset Plaza apparently doesn't care they've parked in a red zone nearly blocking a fire hydrant. Why not? Our school board president does it! LA Can't Drive.

LA seems to have a problem handling trains. An MTA Gold Line train goes out of control and went runaway in a tunnel under Boyle Heights. LA Times.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Ron Kaye and I were both interviewed for a piece by T.A. Frank in The New Republic about Tuesday's elections. Frank keenly observes how screwed up our City is when he notes that the election "failed to make the front of The Los Angeles Times."


Calitics deftly wraps up why Tuesday's election was a dismal failure for the Mayor.

He ended up with just 56% of the vote after running a dismissive non-campaign where he refused to debate and spent almost no time in the city. One of his top lieutenants, Jack Weiss, is now in a runoff for city attorney despite spending millions on his campaign. And Measure B, the solar power initiative which the mayor backed, is too close to call at this hour, as provisionals and late absentees are tabulated.

To top that off one of the Mayor's picks for school board has either narrowly won or perhaps narrowly lost a race that should have been a cakewalk for her.

Continuing on this theme, our friend Jill Stewart at the LA Weekly says "The anti-Villaragiosa blogosphere will now have bragging rights to say Villaraigosa's key opponent was his own record." I guess we just did.

And it appears, just like Dick Nixon, we may not have Walter Moore to kick around any more.

Another Mayoral candidate we probably won't hear from again anytime soon is Craig X. Rubin. Rubin held his "victory" party appropriately at "The Comedy Store" and told supporters "The party starts at 9 p.m. and is expected to last until Rubin and his supporters hear the words, 'And the winner is Rubin'" No word if the party is still going on at this time.

Following the election, LA's leaders are dealing with what could be a ominous budget situation. Rick Orlov reports that "Interim City Administrative Officer Ray Ciranna predicted the budget deficit - $430 million this year - will worsen as revenue declines in virtually all areas, including taxes on sales, hotel rooms and parking." Of course the Mayor and City Clowncil have been spending like drunken sailors for the last four years so they only have themselves to blame.

Speaking of City spending, LA Weekly readers are not too happy about our $300,000 a year Council members. One reader, Nick Antonicello of Venice Beach chimes in with the following question, "How does Bill Rosendahl, with his bombastic and clownlike approach to government service, earn more than a U.S. senator or member of Congress?"

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

The LA Times has a profile of Mayoral candidate Walter Moore of who Cal State Fullerton professor Raphael Sonenshein, said "somewhere between a minor candidate and major candidate. If someone's going to have a splash, it's going to be him . . . but it's not nearly enough to unseat the mayor." Also uncovered by the report is that Moore did not contact the family of slain teenager Jamiel Shaw before pursuing his death as a campaign issue, "We actually heard about it on the radio. We weren't happy with that,"Althea Shaw told the Times. Councilman Dennis Zine accused Moore of playing politics with Jamiel's death telling the fishwrap "The fact is, I just don't think it's appropriate to use a tragedy to run for public office."

In the Times piece Moore also states that "You got people butchering goats in their frontyard. You've got barnyard animals running around." I haven't seen any goat butchering and I don't know if that's a Wiccan ritual but when it comes to barnyard animals maybe Moore means South LA.  Janice Hahn has a solution though - allow each home to have one rooster.  However that might mean a ban from Jan Perry on Kentucky frying those chickens.

Sea creature antics big news at Pulitizer Paperweight winning WWG's "blog."  "An octopus at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium opened a valve on its tank and flooded the place with seawater."

Speaking of our favorite faux Pulitizer prize winning suburban Anglo crank, fresh from the Sherry (Shirley?) Bebbitch-Jeffe cocktail circuit, Westside White Guy blurbs the Zuma Dogg-Craig Rubin incident story and somehow works in a gratituous slam on Weekly Deputy Editor Jill Stewart, one of the only media "outlets" in town that doesn't - unlike Old Kev - take it up the patoot from Villlaraigosa and the LA kleptocracy  - and completely misrepresents a story she's written.  Westside White Guy can push for his press club martini stained status quo but as his beloved fishwraps fold and the government he supports is slowly getting unmasked, the world as Roderick knows it may soon be coming to a drastic and sad end.

I've been having big problems this week with Time Warner cable internet and so have others.  Apparently the cable provider has been the victim of denial of service attacks by hackers.  Credit, Time Warner?

And then there were five

Candidate Phil Jennerjahn will be participating in The Great Debate this Sunday, sponsored by Mayor Sam.  With that, the list now includes:

David Herndandez
Phil Jennerjahn
Walter Moore
Craig X. Rubin
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg.

Panelists are Ron Kaye, Jill Stewart and Debbie Lopez.

We're sorry but all seats have been given out.  However you will be able to watch the debate live on streaming video.  You can however still submit questions for our panelists to ask by clicking here.

And now here's Phil Jennerjahn and I'm sure he approves this message:

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Excellent piece by Jill Stewart in the LA Weekly takes a look at the race for City Controller between Wendy Greuel and Nick Patsaouras . Greuel is viewed as a friendly and popular politician however a funny thing happened on the way to her coronation to succeed Laura Chick - a hardscrabble, battle worn old Greek who knows where the bodies are buried jumped in the race. A series of embarrassing moments for Greuel, pissed off voters, growing skepticism of incumbents tied to the failing economy and a perceived too cozy relationship with Mayor Villaraigosa has privately caused some in Camp Wendy to be "concerned." Stewart notes this in her piece; saying that the Greuel campaign is sensitive to the Villaraigosa issue and has backed off on joint appearances with the Mayor.


Steve Lopez chats with former Villaraigosa Planning Commission Jane Usher  who eventually left the family when she get tired of the shadiness that is LA City government.  Usher is hopeful for eventual change in LA but like many of us is terrified of the "terror troika" being elected to lead LA.  So she's backing Carmen Trutanich for City Attorney, most likely sensing that Jack Weiss is the most vulnerable and scariest of the troika.

The DWP finally managed to shut off a fire hydrant in the Valley that's been gushing 50 gallons of water a minute for the last ten days.  According to the Daily News, after several days the utility ultimately figured out how to save some of the water  while they tried to figure out how to turn off the flow.  The DWP seems to have a lot of trouble with hydrants lately .  And now they want to take over the solar industry in LA? Vote No on B!

Antonio Villaraigosa has one  and now Britney Spears is getting version 2.0 of her wax figure  at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. In the meantime, Joseph Mailander at Street Hassle has an audio-animatronic version of the Mayor for your amusement .

Walter Moore: You Took $43,000 of Our Money; You Owe It To Debate

** UPDATE: WALTER MOORE AGREES TO DEBATE THIS SUNDAY **

This Sunday this blog is hosting a Mayoral debate and has invited those candidates who have been discussed regularly on this blog.

Candidate Walter Moore, who has qualified to have his campaign financed partially with your tax dollars, has refused to participate in our debate.  We're not quite sure why but Walter owes it to the voters and taxpayers to show up and be questioned along with the other candidates by our esteemed panel.

It's ironic because it was only four years ago when Walter first ran for Mayor and was shut out of the debates.  It was this blog and others who championed that Walter should be included in the debates even though we did not support his candidacy at that time.  You can read that here  and here  and here.  Even Villaraigosa stalwart MEAT agreed Walter should have got his shot at the podium.

After Moore lost that election, we here at the Sister City gave him a platform that helped boost his name recognition and awareness  among those who follow these sort of things.  Walter blogged at Mayor Sam until he left when I wouldn't yield to his demands for making policy changes to the blog.

All of that being said, Walter should debate.  David Hernandez and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg have shown they value the voters  and have agreed to participate.  Though Walter has declined, our offer stands up until 1:30 on Sunday.  Walter is welcome to be part of the discussion.

In other debate news, candidate Phil Jennerjhan joins the ranks of Walter Moore and Antonio Villaraigosa as no-shows for Sunday.  Jennerjahn says that he will be attending the California Republican Party Convention in Sacramento with his partner.  Lots of votes up there!

In the meantime, we've made two great additions to our debate panel.  Moderator Ron Kaye will be joined by Jill Stewart, Deputy Editor of News at LA Weekly .  Jill has been a long and distinguished member of the local print and electronic media, who has never been afraid to take local leaders to task when they stray from ethical bounds or veer off into incompetency.  Rounding out the panel will be Debbie Lopez, former Sister City blogger who currently writes at Street Hassle  and Valley of the Doll  has joined our panel a .  Debbie is a thoughtful and intriguing writer and thinker who brings energy, experience as an activist and passion for Los Angeles to the conversation.

If you would like to attend our debate which will be shot for playback on line and well as streamed live there are a few seats left.  Please click here to request a ticket .  We will respond back with the proper information.  You may also feel free to submit a question  to be asked of the candidates or even vote in a candidate poll .

Revolution by Newsrack

If the revolution that takes down LA's kleptocracy happens in 2009 it will no doubt be due in part to the excellent reportage of David Zahniser in the LA Times and the folks at the LA Weekly namely, Jill Stewart, Daniel Heimpel and Patrick Range McDonald.

Indeed, Weekly helmstress Stewart offers up thanks for her former colleague David Z., one of a few honest reporters at the Times not enamored with the 11% mayor, who recently broke the story of a secret report critical of the City's solar energy boondoggle, Measure B, which has us asking the question "What did Eric Garcetti know and when did he know it." Heimpel's excellent reportage has been dishing out the outrageous details of Jeff Carr's secret panel of "deciders" who dole out millions of taxpayer dollars for mysterious "anti- gang" programs.

Rounding out the foursome with their finger on the reality of what's happening on Spring Street is McDonald whose expository composition on the phenomenon that is Zuma Dogg was an excellent introduction to the deeper story of the shadniness around fellow Mirthala banger Fabian Nunez and his giveaway legislation benefitting cable television providers. A piece that well past his prime "blogger" Kevin Roderick dismissed as a "puff piece."

With "Mayors" like Villaraigosa and "journalists" like Roderick thank God we have Stewart, Heimpel, McDonald and Zahniser to squeeze the truth out of those who are full of something else.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

If you were wondering where Mayor Villaraigosa was Thursday evening, do not fret, we've tracked him down.  He was all the way in San Antonio, Texas, spending some of that 89% of his time that he doesn't attend to City business attending a fundraiser in honor of, well, Mayor Villaraigosa hosted by Democratic stalwart Henry Cisneros.

Just two weeks left to sign the petitions for Jamiel's Law.  The Shaws and their supporters are doing a great job getting to lots of events and getting a ton of signatures but any petition drive needs to get at least twice as many signatures as required to ensure success.  Read this article here to see where you can sign if you haven't yet.


If you missed it, we have video of Mayor Villaraigosa's Deputy Mayor Jim Bickhart sleeping on the job at a recent meeting.  No matter how you spin, its reminiscent of Councilmember Greig Smith who uses Council meetings for nap time.


Thefts of copper wire from City street lighting polls have reached epideminc proportions.  The light poles are destroyed when the wire is stolen resulting in significant costs to the city.  DWP and LAPD representatives held a news conference Thursday asking the public to keep their eyes open and report any suspicious activity.

Anti-billboard hysteria over at the LA Weekly has reached bizarre levels.  The Weekly's Jill Stewart declares that City leaders to create Times Square-esque zones in downtown LA is the result of "male penis envy."

Looking for a cute two bedroom home just a two minute drive from home games at Dodger Stadium? CurbedLA has a cozy cottage that can be yours for just about a quarter mil.