Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Alex Walker, a computer programmer and activist in peace and civil rights causes, has announced as a Green Party candidate in the special election to fill the seat of State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas who was elected to the County Board of Supervisors in November.  Walker stated, "Republicans and Democrats in California are dysfunctional. Voters voted for Obama for president and Mark Ridley-Thomas for county supervisor with a promise of a 'New Politics.'  Also seeking the seat are Democratic Assemblymen Mike Davis, of Los Angeles and Curren Price, Ridley-Thomas' hand picked successor, of Inglewood. 

LAist offers it predictions for 2009, among which includes the forecast that "Bob Hertzberg, Eric Garcetti, and Tavis Smiley all launch mayoral campaigns."  Sorry guys, the filing period is long over and the race is between Mayor V, Zuma Dogg and Walter Moore.

Former Mr. Britney Spears, Kevin Federline, is dating again.  Wags say  he's been seen canoodling with a six-foot tall blonde one year younger than the pop princess who bore (some of) his children.  Apparently Britney is pissed.

Following our campaign to return the venerable broadcaster to the KTLA announcer's booth at the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, Stephanie Edwards re-joined Bob Eubanks and his new hip after a two year exile.  As such, KTLA once again racked up the highest ratings of any parade coverage in LA.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Here's an example why government subsidies don't work.  Thursday United Airlines said it will cancel air service from LA Palmdale Airport, owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles, just a year after it started daily service from the Antelope Valley to San Francisco.  The service, which Mayor Villaraigosa called one of the "top accomplishments" of his administration was failing miserably with planes taking off only a third full.  United had received a nearly million dollar government grant to fly out of Palmdale and when that grant ended, the airline really had no further incentive to continue service.  The City has been trying to jump start an airport in Palmdale since the days of the real Mayor Sam.  For whatever reason, folks don't want to fly out of Palmdale.  If they ever do, the airlines will come calling.  That's the great thing about the market, it works.  Now, how about the City sell Palmdale airport to the County or the cities in the 661 and invest the money here locally where it's needed.

Federal investigators are reporting that Metrolink engineer Robert Sanchez did send text messages on the day of last Friday's horrific train wreck, however they do not know yet if Sanchez was sending messages at the time of the crash. In typical closing the barn door when the horse is out fashion, California Thursday banned text messaging by train operators.

Senator Hillary Clinton pulled out of a planned protest event against Iran at the United Nations next week when she learned that Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be participating in the event. Some Jewish leaders are calling this a mistake and question how Clinton not joining in protest of nuclear weapons on Iraq will affect Jewish votes for Barack Obama. Syndicated columnist Micah Halperin told Fox News  “It changes my view of (Clinton’s) wisdom, of her ability to take a situation, analyze it and come out on the right side, and that is deeply troubling to almost every voter in America, not just Jewish voters.”

Political philsopher Lindsay Lohan has offered to campaign for Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama but the Illinois Senator has reportedly said thanks but no thanks.  Campaign spokesholes said "'Lindsay is not exactly the kind of high-profile star who would be a positive for us."  The snub caused Lohan's father Michael to accuse the Democrats of hypocrisy, "For Barack Obama to condemn my daughter for past indiscretions when he admitted to the exact same himself is indicative of what kind of president he would be."

Former Britney Spears husband Kevin Federline reportedly wants to get back with the pop diva and the baby mama to two of his children.  Spears and Federline divorced in 2006 however a source allegedly close to Federline says "He confessed she’s the love of his life, his soul-mate and was sorry things went so wrong with them."

The Mayor's Arts, Gossip and Culture Report

The blogger at Art's Place - Art - took his first trip to the Renee and Henry Segerstron Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the new venue for classical music behind the Orange Curtain. Though he finds the acoustics roughly equivalent to the Walt Disney Concert Hall but Art says "the view up top is spectacularly more grand and democratic at Disney Hall, with the hall's elegant bowl shape and the crazy organ at the back of the stage. And the chairs at Disney don't squeak." No, but they probably have more legroom at the Segerstron, right Joe?

Britney Spears' 17 year old sister Jamie Lynn is five months pregnant and getting married soon, so what did her fiance Casey Aldridge do? He asked his future sister-in-law's previous husband for financial advice. What did Kevin Federline tell Casey? Watch out for the mother-in-law. Well, duh!

Having received the blessing from Neil Patrick "Doogie Howser, MD" Harris for another guest shot on his CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, Britney Spears wants script approval on the show. Yea, she'll be asked back.

The Daily Trojan picks the four best sushi places in LA, but they left one off the list - Miyako in the NoHo Arts District (yea in the Valley). Miyako has the best value, with tasty sushi and some of the most amazing service. The usual chefs, Keho and Sam, along with server Nita have managed to mix awesome sushi (and once in a while they surprise you with some awesome secret roll, none of which I can tell you about) in an environment somewhat like Cheers.