KCET to Air Howser Tribute

Tonight, SoCal Connected will air a special dedication in memory of Huell Howser (67), longtime host of KCET’s California’s Gold as well as Visiting with Huell Howser, California's Golden Parks and California's Green. For nearly three decades, Howser shone light on some of California’s most interesting and notable landmarks, events and destinations, from the celebrated to the obscure.

The following special guests will speak tonight about Howser, who was one of public television's most iconic figures:

Al Jerome, President and CEO, KCET
Mary Mazur, COO, KCET
Phil Noyes, Producer, Huell Howser Productions
Louis Fuerte, Cameraman, Huell Howser Productions
DJ Walde, Los Angeles historian, author and SoCal Connected contributor

Tonight’s episode airs at 5:30 p.m. and repeats at 10:00 p.m.

After his visit to the Musicians Institute (Visiting episode #1805), Huell was so inspired that he grabbed the mic and recorded his own version of "California, Here I Come" accompanied by the students who also produced the rock video.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

President Obama will visit, but won't speak at Ground Zero today; He plans to just lay a wreath. White House says "the power of that requires no words". George "I could really care less about finding Osama" Bush was invited to attend today's ceremony, but declined to participate.

California Redevelopment Agencies are trying to re-brand themselves in a desperate attempt to stay alive after Gov Brown has called for their termination. First order of business, the heartstrings maneuver; promise more money for school kids!

I had the privilege of spending a good portion of yesterday working with several City & County agencies to clean out numerous homeless camps in the Tujunga Wash. Thanks to the efforts of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH) we were able to secure alternative housing for 6 individuals. My personal thanks to LAPD Senior Lead Officer Larry Martinez for overseeing and coordinating this effort, with assistance from Senior Lead Officer Rich Wall, and to Councilman Paul Krekorian and his, as always, amazing staff. In this case, CD2 staffers Jackie Keene and Heather O'Conner, for their instrumental efforts in making this project happen. Big thanks to DWP Police, General Services Police, Dept of Mental Health Services, People in Progress, Street Services, and Dept of Sanitation. Wow, great work everyone, thank you so much!
You can read my take on this huge undertaking (so huge, we have to come back in 2 weeks to finish it) and check out some photos from today, over at The Foothills Forum.

KCET has released a comprehensive and fascinating Field Guide to the Los Angeles River. A must read for all LA River aficionados.

It just gets weirder by the day: Tour guide, birthday party clown, homophobe, eternal last place candidate, and a guy that doesn't have a clue about oil supplies or pricing, Phil Jennerjahn, has a new passion; STALKING Paris Hilton.

We salute and say goodbye to Claude Stanley Choules, the last known combat veteran of WW1, who passed away today in Perth, Australia at the age of 110. He was quite a guy!

This just in; France legalizes absinthe. Don't tell you know who!

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Your Los Angeles Department of Water and Power forget to bill a number of customers for several months and then hit them with back billing, some bills in the tens of thousands of dollars.  "We fell short," a DWP spokesman told KNBC.

LA City Clowncil members aren't too sure about the idea of a "collections sheriff" to seek unpaid City taxes and fees.  No wonder, they can't even get the DWP bills right; better to shelve this idea.

Metro is cracking down on individuals who illegally hawk merchandise on it's trains in Los Angeles. Everything from candy to pirated DVDs are offered up on board.  No word if they plan to crack down on board members who have cozy relationships with contractors.

The Church of Scientology is buying KCET's current studios as the former PBS affiliate looks to downsize.  A commenter at CurbedLA however would have preferred a Whole Foods Market.

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Last Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet of 2010

A group of public housing residents who had protested at the home of LA's Housing Authority head, Rudolf Montiel, and then found themselves evicted saw their evictions overturned by the agency Thursday. When the evictions first became public a few months ago, several members of the City Council expressed outrage.  In addition to overturning the evictions, the agency settle with the residents to pay their legal fees and provide computers onsite.

Councilman Dennis Zine will recuse himself from voting on an LAX contract because his girlfriend is an employee of one of the bidders.  Zine has been reportedly dating Veronica Becerra, who works for contractor Tutor Perini who wants a $270 million contract to build a utility plant at the airport.  Airport staff however have recommended to the Council the bid by a competing firm.

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Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Former Assemblyman Lloyd Levine is looking for a job.  At least that's what an email he sent out to several supporters stated. In the email Levine writes "I recognize that this might be the worst time to find employment since the Great Depression (editor's note: clearly not true), which is why I am reaching out to you, hoping to learn about the best possible opportunities as they arise."  According to one rumor that lit up the State Capitol gossip wires on Friday, Levine has found employment at a Sacramento store that sells runners' shoes. If you have a more rewarding opportunity for Lloyd you can send it him at levine4assembly@hotmail.com.

Isn't "Two Bill" Gil Cedillo's time up? God forbid this shady race baiter gets elected to Congress when there is a dynamic, thoughtful Mexican-American mom and self-made business sucess story in the person of Teresa Hernandez running for the 32nd Congressional seat vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.  Lets hope the voters get it this time.

Bernie Parks gets Jasmyne Cannick's "Negro Please" Award for wanting to keep the Parker Center name for LAPD's new headquarters; in honor of former LAPD Chief William Parker.  Wonder what Mike Trujillo thinks the name should be?

Though it may seem like the usual feel good holiday photo op, there is nothing more truly Christian than volunteers washing the feet of the homeless over Easter Weekend in Skid Row.  But, as blogger Don Garza correctly notes, it also serves a purpose: health workers can inspect the homeless individuals' feet for signs of illness and serious medical conditions and provide them treatment.

With declining enrollment in Los Angeles' schools should the LAUSD be spending billions on a full bore ahead program of building new schools? KCET (hat tip to CurbedLA) is asking that question in a new report, "Blackboard Bungle."