HOT Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine Propaganda Hag for Monday

As the 2015 Christmas Season commences, Tribune-financed Buyouts of Los Angeles Times Scribes, Editors and Support Employees, are a barometer of leaner times ahead for the supposed "Fishwrap of Record", in reality, the "Democratic Propaganda Tool of Choice" for the LA Political Elites. 

The increasingly-empty "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street".

** Blogger's Note: On this first Monday after the Thanksgiving Holiday, we want to be the first to wish our cyber-audience a politically-incorrect, MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON. 

Quickly assuming our MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON bloggin persona, we want to spread the CHRISTMAS cheer to counter the UNHAPPY HOLIDAYS PERIOD of those bemoaning the latest constriction underway at the local, "Democratic Propaganda/Agenda Journalism Tool of Choice" known affectionately as the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street (aka LA Times)". 

It would be a copy-edited understatement to keyboard that the once "Fishwrap of Record", is going through a extended period of tumult, which began with the termination of Publisher Austin "Mini Riordan II" Beutner by its corporate Tribune overseers........., and now is manifesting itself, via the latest round of buyouts of Scribes, Editors and assorted support staff. 

To gauge the level of despondence within the Otis Chandler-conceived, "Old Gray Collectivist Hag" aging support base, one merely needs to venture, cyber-westward to the LA Observed Blog where the likes of former Times Scribes Kevin "Westside White Guy" Roderick and Bill "Westside White Guy Emeritus" Boyarski, provide instantaneous updates on who of their former, democratic-leaning brethren, have accepted taken Tribune money in ending their employment.

But while the likes of "WWG", "WWG Emeritus", Jack Humphreville and the Los Angeles Political Machine await in denial, the appearance of the Eli Broad-financed Mothership (with David Geffen and Richard Riordan on board) to return Austin Beutner, to a future, locally-owned, "Hag, turned Agenda Tramp for the Elites", pardon us for this momentary, politically-incorrect musing on the real reasons for the demise of the Times.

First, the Times while espousing diversity, did not back the talk, as its send walking the likes of T.J. Simers, "GOP Blogger" Andrew Malcolm and cartoonist Michael Ramirez in recent years.

Second, the Times ceded its role as a objective, discerning observer of the Los Angeles Political Machine, by its newsroom, editorial wall of separation-breaking, shilling for local democratic candidates (remember the "LA Antonio Times Era"?) .........., and best exampled on its lack of reporting regarding the "background" behind the death of Los Angeles County Labor Federation Leader Miguel Contreras. 

Third, the absence of objective reporting, replaced by Agenda Musings regarding the issues of  Race, Climate Change and ILLEGAL Immigration.

Simply, a objective "Fishwrap of Record", ceases being such, when its factual news missives, are mixed with the agenda desires of a editorial mindset that is exampled by the Times constricting,  circulation Liberal Westside readership. Thus, its time for a new evolution of cyber-Journalism based upon the basic "Who, What, Where, When, How and Why of Reporting" ......, and a healthy, diverse dialog on the opinions, derided from reviewing the contents of record----Scott Johnson.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

With no apologies to "The Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" (aka LA Times), CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks emerges again from some supposed "wilderness banishment" to keyboard another refreshing, salient missive on the current state of affairs at 200 Spring Street ........, and beyond

Contrary to the summery of misallocated story budgeting at the LA Times, Councilman Parks is all smiles.

Read more »

Wendy Greuel and the Return of Sherry (Shirley?) Bebitch Jeffe

Who is Eric Garcetti? I don't know
him from Adam.

It's been such a long time since we've heard from our old friend, self-appointed political "analyst" Sherry (Shirley?) Bebitch-Jeffe. We've talked many times over nine years of Sherry's lack of relevance and asymptomatic analyses of LA politics.

I don't know what cushy academic post Sherry has these days, nor do I even care to bother to take the time to look it up, but Sherry has been trotted out for years by the local drive-by media, too clueless and too lazy to know what is really happening in LA and it's neighborhoods, that they bring out this icon of fossilized out of touch political thinking.

Sherry's take on local politics is solely from her armchair scholarship of the matter with brief expeditions into the Downtown world of awards dinners, corporate conferences (you know, anything hosted by a politician and Wells Fargo),etc. When it came to knowing about the growing blog movement in LA, Sherry could only recall former LA Times reporter, the lovable Westside White Guy, Kevin Roderick, lost in his (Anglo)LAObserverd world with another Caucasian relic from LA's past, Bill Boyarsky, spinning a disconnected view of what is really going on LA.

Like Messrs. Roderick and Boyarsky, Sherry presents a buttoned down view of LA politics, clothed in the finest from Macy's, that is all spoon fed from the Downtown Status Quo Gang and the powers that be. Sherry (or is it Shirley?) knows nothing of the true work of Neighborhood Councils, citizen activists, grass roots candidates, gadflies and the rag-tag journalists that are bloggers who are on the streets, connected to the best and in the gutters, wherever it is happening.

That's why we had to find it ironic that the latest presser out of Wendy Greuel's struggling for relevance Mayoral campaign had to dig deep to find none other than Sherry declaring the embattled and controversial controller as the "winner" of a recent candidates' debate. Here's some of the missive:

On Monday, Wendy turned in an outstanding debate performance, showing all Angelenos that she would be a tough fiscal watchdog as Mayor of Los Angeles. Respected NBC political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe called Wendy the winner of the debate by a nose.

Perhaps next Wendy can get an interview with Betty Pleasant.

Trujillo Goeth Before the Fall

As reported here yesterday, former MayorSam blogger, Antonio Villaraigosa driver and political consigliere, Michael "MEAT" Trujillo sent out a prideful email over his apparent victory helming the victorious campaign of CD15 candidate, Joe Buscaino.

For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
Romans 12: 3

Meat, who has gotten into all kinds of trouble in the past with his email proclivities (here and here), is now telling LAObserved blogger, Kevin Roderick, that he did not write the email and that someone "is having fun with me." Trujilllo claims that his name was attached to an email crafted by some other individual.

Yet, as Roderick notes, Trujillo's Facebook page has a post, time stamped about the same time the email went out, featuring very similar sentiments.

And no wonder people are turned off to politics.

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday: "CRA Adelante Advisory Committee supports Governor Brown"

CRA Adelante Advisory Committee takes unified stance for Governor Jerry Brown's proposed abolishment of California's CRA agencies.

Somewhere on the heights of University Hills last evening, Kevin Roderick's "Pop Star Mayor" found its bloggin equivalence in Street Hassle's "Jose Adelante". Thus, my bloggin life is complete with bloggers "WWG" and Joseph Mailander being joined for bloggin eternity, as "musing scribes of puff" on the political clients of Parke Skelton, but shall we focus on real news via Ron Kaye and others?

Real discerning reporters, bloggers and columnists would of been well served in attending last night's CRA Adelante Advisory Committee Meeting in Councilman Jose Huizar's own Boyle Heights neighborhood, where the full board voted to support California Governor Jerry Brown's proposed abolishment of CRA/LA and CRA's statewide.

As NELA Lives Blog's Tony Butka muses on Tuesday proceedings, being that he was an active participant at Tuesday evening gathering, Governor Jerry Brown and State Controller John Chiang, need to focus on the selfless actions of this diverse board who's message should resonate loud and clear throughout the city and state political community. BTW, considering the importance of last night's meeting, not one member of Councilman Huizar's staff attended, which was noted by those from the community.

** Late afternoon update: Governor Brown tells Mayor Villar and other city mayors that "redevelopement money is not there".

** Care to know what your friendly CRA staffer is being paid? Link here. Then there are the pension costs.

But then there are more important "comedic affairs" that Councilman Charro Huizzy Corleone must attend to .............

Read more »

Mayor Sam Ends Silence on "New" LA Times Website

For some reason my views on the recent redesign of the Los Angeles Times website seem to be hotly sought.

This type of issue is really the beat of Pulitizer Prize claiming uberjournalist Kevin Roderick, best known to Mayor Sam readers as Westside White Guy, former denizen of America's suburb and the Westside's most prominent suburban Anglo crank. Indeed, Old Kev was all over the breaking news like a 13 year old blogger jumping on the latest Hannah Montana CD release.

So what's my opinion? I could care less. The Times has thrown up something looks like a free Wordpress theme and that's supposed to make a diference?

The bottom line is that template be damned, THE OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET's best days are behind it. Changing the website layout does nothing if the content continues to stink and that the Times continues to cede actual coverage of City politics to the Jill Stewart era LA Weekly which continues to shine and continues to serve.

All of that being it is what it is, it certainly is appropos that the cosmetic change to a newspaper website is a trending topic in vapid and vacuous LA.

Los Angeles Magazine presented the "sancha" and now a........

LA Observed breaks this exclusive on the cover story of next weeks Los Angeles Magazine.

This passage form Kevin Roderick's post, aroused curiosity, and merits comment.

"It's a common enough sentiment around town, even among Democrats, but a pretty startling turn given the early pro-Antonio leaning of the magazine's editor-in-chief, Kit Rachlis. When my profile of Villaraigosa ran in December 2006, the headline read Pop Star Mayor and the editors put him on the cover. Villaraigosa was only 18 months into the job then and still seemed to be maturing into the role".

It seems that Roderick is trying to have it both ways here. He pins the "Pro-Antonio leanings" on editor Kit Rachlis and seems to imply that his "bloggin, infamous puff piece" on Villar was done under the direction of Rachlis, but we know better.

Scribes like Rachis, Roderick, PR writers at the former "LA ANTONIA TIMES" and assorted Westside liberals, were all under the influence of the "image kool-aid" brewed by the likes of Parke Skelton and Ace Smith (with the distribution driven by Trujillo), and now are bearing their "political souls" in search of salvation for their roles in the debacle that is the "reign of Villar"

It is a safe bet that Los Angeles Magazine will see a spike in local sales next week, I plan on buying multiple copies, in the hope of inducing any remaining "Villarnistas", to see the follies of their ways in trusting one, Antonio Ramon Villar.

Your thoughts.......

**** Mirthala and Antonio together again!!

Congratulations Westside White Guy You Done It Again!

Displaying the level of writing that earns plexiglas Pulitzer Prize paperweights, old Kev AKA WESTSIDE WHITE GUY - the lord and master of (Anglo)LA Observed does it again in his efforts to slam the LA Weekly:

"Former Daily News reporter Berth Barrett shows up in the LA Weekly with astory so DN-ish ‹ 'the San Fernando Valley is emerging as the poster childfor middle-class flight' ‹ it even quotes David Fleming."

Uh, actually Barrett quoted Daniel Flaming, an expert on LA's business climate. Not sure if he's an economist but he's not David Fleming, the Wizard of Universal City.

Keep up the good work Kevin. The kleptocracy loves, the kids, not so much.

Update: Kev with his pants down corrects it:
My bad: It's Daniel Flaming! LA Weekly

What Is Wrong With Kevin Roderick...

...is what's wrong with the LA Times and much of the status quo elite in this town who are either blind to and/or complicit with the actions of the kleptocracy that is destroying this City.

Yes, Roderick is fiddling while Rome burns.

A bit dramatic, yes. But contrast the two blogs this morning of two grizzled old newspapermen, Westside White Guy Roderick formerly of the Former Firshwrap of Record and suburban freedom fighter Ron Kaye, immediate past helmsman of the MOLDY GREEN SHEET (aka Daily News).

Roderick's main piece on Mayor Villaraigosa this morning:
"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, art collector Cheech Marin and local arts leaders will kick off the first annual LA Arts Month at 10 a.m. at the Japanese American National Museum."

In other words our Mayor's most important task today is to join a man who made millions pretending to smoke pot in movies (and funny movies they were) at an art museum.

Yes, Roderick is fiddling while Rome burns.

On the other hand over at Ron Kaye:
"Yes on B campaign manager Mike Trujillo, under questioning from Shaffer, called the council's power to complete change Prop. B at any time "tweaking it." Talk about a "false and miseleading" statement."

With the Mayor, Council and a few well-heeled special interests they are about to foist a plan on voters - called immensely flawed by the City's own staff and consultants - that will signficantly raise power rates, cripple any chance to allow the free market to develop a green industry in LA and grant alarming new powers to the Council on a number of issues.

Yet Roderick sips lattes, signs books and polishes his Pulitzer either blind to it all or just doesn't care.

We shouldn't pick on Roderick alone because it is the same disease that the Times has (save for David Z and a scant few other journos who pay attention), all local TV, other blogs, even the Daily News these days.

And they wonder why no one is reading the papers anymore.

The Old Gray Hag She Ain't What She Used to Be

Kevin Roderick posts up a super-long screed lamenting the terminal nature of THE OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET (also known as LA ANTONIA TIMES, The Former Fishwrap of Record and The Los Angeles Times).

For the Westside White Guy for sure it's all traceable to poor decision making and foul language by Sam Zell owner of parent company Tribune Media. I guess it all started when Zell dropped an F-bomb on a staffer.

Yet the Times is having the same problems the dinosaur media is having all over the country and is in worse shape because 1) For years being embedded as part of the kleptocratic old guard that runs LA and never having the balls to take on those who have been destroying the City, 2) Focusing on the fru-fru tastes of a small handful of enclaves in sections of Council Districts 4, 5, 11 and 13 while ignoring everything from South Central to the San Fernando Valley and 3) Simply never ever getting it when it comes to how the new media works and being completely unable to conquer the Internet as some newspapers have.

For years The Times has been embedded as part of the kleptocratic old guard that runs LA and never had the balls to take on those who have been destroying the City.

It's time for the handwringing over the Times to come to an end. The horse and buggy had it's day and so did the Times. Unlike papers in other cities the Times never challenged Los Angeles and now it's paying the piper in it's seeming irrelevance. New technologies, blogs and other publications will get the word out, probably more directly and without the Spring Street filter, and we'll be the better for it.

City Hall Seeks to Silence Critics

It's amazing to me that this story has yet to show up in any of the local media when one considers the civil liberties implications of the Mayor of a major city taking opponents of a controversial measure to court to silence their dissent. In searching the net, the activist blogs are on the beat but our favorite nannypoo local status quo loving West Los Angeles suburban crank Kevin "Westside White Guy" Roderick poo poos Ron Kaye's story.

First some background to get you up to speed. Last month the Council rushed to place a measure on the March City Primary ballot which would effectively raise DWP rates 12% (on top of an already approved 24%) to fund an initiative for solar energy. The plan calls for the DWP to use taxpayer funds to place solar panels on the roofs of public and private buildings using only DWP employees who are members of the politically connected International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union whose various arms and committees have donated thousands of dollars to LA's elected officials in recent years, including chief plan proponents Council President Eric Garcetti, Council Member and City Controller candidate Wendy Greuel and Mayor Villaraigosa. The speed with which the Council moved to place the measure on the ballot led the LA Times to remark that it had the "scent of a swindle."

"This rush to the ballot has the scent of swindle about it."
LA Times

The next turn in the story of a swindle was excellent reporting by the only reporter apparently awake at the LA Times, David Zahniser discovered a "secret" analysis by a City hired consulting firm found the plan "extremely risky' and considerably more expensive than was being portrayed by the Department of Water and Power.'" The key findings of the analysis inlclude that the DWP, in the consultants analysis, does not have the infrastructure in place to carry out the program and that it would cost at least $2 billion more than DWP General Manager H. David Nahai claims it will.

Amazingly, according to Zahniser's report, when Garcetti received the consultant's findings he allegedly not only kept them from the public but his fellow members of the Council. After the sunlight shone by the Times' story, Garcetti released the report to Council members (of course well after they voted to place the measure on the ballot).

But here's where it gets worse. Former Daily News editor turned blogger and activist Ron Kaye joined with several other community activists in composing the ballot argument against the plan. However the straightforward argument, mild in tone, was apparently too much for the Mayor and the Council. Earlier last week Villaraigosa hired an attorney and drug Kaye and his co-writers - including City Controller candidate and former DWP Commissioner Nick Patsaouras - into court to challenge their argument, calling it full of lies and mistruths (read the argument and do your own research - Kaye's argument is backed up by the facts). Amazingly, in addition to asking the court to throw out the opponents' ballot argument, the Mayor and his toadies are asking Kaye et al to come up with the court costs.

"They have made our Christmas week tough, trying to find a lawyer, raise money, understand the law and the risks we face."
Ron Kaye

Kaye and his associates are faced with going up against high powered and high paid attorneys including a well funded plaintiff in the case - high powered lobbyist Mitchell Schwartz - particulary during the holidays when attorneys and resources are in limited supply. Kaye reports that attorney and longtime activist Noel Weiss - himself a candidate for City Attorney - has joined The Solar Eight -- Jack Humphreville, Soledad Garcia, Humberto Camacho, Kristine Lee, Nick Patsaouras, Joe Pulido, James O'Sullivan and Kaye - as their legal advisor in the fight.

The case's next hearing is January 8 where the group will answer the Mayor's toadies' charges. That is a significant date for civil liberties, transparency and good government in Los Angeles. We will be watching.

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.

Kevin Roderick Puffs Away

Just when I thought that maybe I could come around to finding some value to Kevin Roderick's reporting he comes up with something stupid. 

Antonio Watch's hot sheet tipped to an excellent Patrick McDonald LA Weekly piece about local government shadiness around public access TV in Los Angeles featuring profanity laced tirades from Fellow Mirthala Banger and Father of the Year Fabian Nunez.

McDonald did an extensive interview with Zuma Dogg who prior to becoming the public advocate for the community he was a veteran local public access show producer and host.

So Roderick presents the grandest display yet of his Westside suburban crank driven myopia and manifestation of the ever present need of an aging, forgotten Anglo newspaper "reporter" to preserve the Sherry Bebitch Jeffe "I don't know any other bloggers from Adam" status quo, the amazing talent that allows Roderick to continually win Pulitzer Prizes in the ballrooms of his mind, he pens the following in today's LAObserved:

LA Weekly runs a puff piece on City Hall gadfly and candidate Zuma Dogg, the paper's past freelancer. LA Weekly

I'm almost wondering if our favorite Westside White Guy actually (AngloLA)Observed Patrick's piece?

Sure, WWG continues to get the brute force share of west of the 405 bluehairs who are curious about the latest Zocalo series on the Peruvian midget Diaspora and the newest place to have some foie gras, as well as the willingness of well funded but mostly irrelevant local public radio stations to put their imprint on him,  but for sure given the actual news reported on blogs throughout this city, LA Observed hardly leads on anything that actually matters.

Longbardi Questions Roderick's Latest Award

ERS News blogger Eric Longbardi is incredelous over a recent award won by West LA based blogger Kevin Roderick, chief correspondent at LAObserved.

You might remember the story that Longbardi has been pushing, originally reported by blogger Luke Ford, that Roderick is allegedly falsely claiming credit for Pulitizer Prize awards won by his former employer The Los Angeles Times in recognition of stories that Roderick did not write but was a member of the team that produced them.

Longbardi is aghast that Roderick recently won recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists for his efforts by a journalist “who uses the new media’s unique characteristics and capabilities while striving to uphold traditional journalism’s highest standards of honesty, accuracy, responsibility and accountability.”

The ERS blogger holds that given his view that Roderick has been less than honest in the Pulitzer issue the LAObserved editor is not deserving of the SPJ award.

In the Thanksgiving Day post, Longbardi recaps the original charges against Roderick including deconstructing an interview by David Markland and former LA Voice blogger and Roderick's colleague at The Times at the same time Mack Reed's opinion that though he had a similar role in the stories and received the same "trophy" from the LA Times as Roderick, Reed does not consider that he himself "won" a Pulitzer.

Whether you agree with Longbardi or you support Roderick, all in all it presents an interesting story that perhaps journalists and some bloggers are way too obsessed with awards and that perhaps there are so many awards they are not as meaningful as they once were. It should be noted that many of these awards may be self-nominated and many of them require the payment of a fee or joining an organization in order to be considered.

Outtakes from the Red Spot Institute for Friday

"E. Wastewater Pluribus" is watching you!!

in about 45 minutes your right to water the garden, wet down the concrete, wash the car, or turn your lawn into a wetlands, is denied you from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.

One may wish to engage in an act of civil disobedience, but with a stroke of the pen by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, H. David Nahai's "Blue Shirts" will have the power to impose fines on any "protest by water".

One wonders if protest was on the minds of city employees who were caught on tape by the Los Angeles Times, with the water running??

And what is going on with DWP, Commission President Nick Patsaouras?? Ron Kaye has some insight.

****Ron Kaye opines on the expective approval by the City Council on the Mayor's first six contracts for gang intervention work.

The recommended contractors are:
-- Community Build in the Baldwin Village area;
-- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in Cypress Park;
-- Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches in the Florence-Graham area;
-- People Coordinated Services in the Newton area;
-- El Nido Family Centers in Pacoima; and
-- Violence Intervention Program in Ramona Gardens.

Community Build and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles were previously awarded contracts through L.A. Bridges, the anti-gang city initiative that will end at the end of the year. On July 1, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa assumed control of the city's anti-gang strategy.

****The Daily News Rick Orlov has the early scorecard on the City Attorney race between Councilman Jack Weiss, Attorney Carman Trutanich, and Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian.

****Who is the real Kevin "Pulitzer" Roderick aka "Westside White Guy"?? ERS News had their thoughts which prompted this retort from the "Observing West LA Life and his Times" guy from the heights of Mar Vista Hill.

"A bit of the real Roderick"

"This March I grew tired of Longabardi's email harangues. I called him an asshole and wrote, "these whines shredded your cred a long time ago. from the errors and wildly off base claims you make in these screeds i'd be hard pressed to trust anything i see your name on." His reply directed a few insults my way and said, "Im still waiting for you to write about my work -- why don't put your money where you're big mouth is and use your personal opinion blog to so so. You don't cause just like the LA Times, if you do you risk being OUTED."

....and we have a "bloggin feud"!!

Great Friday to all!!!

FREEDOM AND FREE ENTERPRISE FOR ALL!!

Open Thread for Tuesday

Today's Open Thread: Your views on the biggest contest since THE THRILLER IN MANILA; that of the Westside White Guy, also known as the Alleged Fraudulent Prize Winner of Record, the dude who is always OBSERVING WEST LA AND HIS LIFE AND THE LA TIMES, always ready to use his "blog" to cut down anyone he feels the personal need to, versus that Champion of Justice, the Georgetown Guru, the Prince of Princeton, Walter Moore! Moore is now scaring the elites in LA enough to merit a swipe from an angry, old suburban, Anglo refusenik from the Valley.

Kevin's bitching about Walter's point at Ron Kaye's blog that the OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET is aggressively marketing its properties to a Spanish language audience and benefits from the growth of that market (nothing wrong with that, that's capitalism) but that the business strategy is coloring the coverage of the Times' illegal immigration question. Moore may have a point, but there's probably more of an unwillingness by the Times to upset the apple cart and not challenge the hegemony of the orthodox liberal elite. Not something you can easily see from Mar Vista. Or Spring Street.

Blog away, dum dums.

Saturday Special Hotsheet

San Francisco has always been goofy but can you believe they are actually spending money to advertise to bring illegal aliens to the city to get government welfare services? The city is spending nearly $100,000 to advertise it's sanctuary city status. Does that include free bus fare for gangbangers? Lets give them some free advertising right here. We'd be glad to send folks up there.

I should probably blog this on Monday but a reader sent in a correction to our post about Luke Ford's story on Kevin Roderick's alleged lies about his Pulitzer Prizes. Seems I may have been a bit too charitable to the Westside White Guy. I said that Roderick was an editor on the stories that won the awards. According to our tipster, old Kev was an editor at the Times but did not edit the prize winning pieces. I guess that's like if you work at a TV station who has a show that wins an Emmy you could call yourself an Emmy winner. Our source told me that Roderick "is a fraud; at the very least his claim is bogus." Stay tuned.

Wacko Jacko has the thinnest kids and Bitter Bernie has the fattest. Someone has actually taken it upon themselves (with a hefty dose of your money) to do a study on childhood obesity by Council District. Of course, they're probably going to recommend all kinds of government programs. I have a program that works - its called personal choice. If you don't put the shit in your mouth, you lose weight. It's amazing folks, I can tell its absolutely true.

The Foothill Cities Blog has an interview with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with the Presidential candidate giving some amazing answers.

That wacky dude who is allegedly the voice behind Captain Jack, Greg Nelson, has a piece in the latest edition of Citywatch celebrating NIMBYs. Captain Jack, uh, I mean Greg compares folks who oppose new housing as well as those who fought freeways we could have used now to American revolutionaries. Me thinks Greg be having a bit too much of the grape, savvy?

Kevin Roderick A Fraud?

That's what the email in my inbox said. Allegedly.

I've been hearing about this for a while but Luke Ford has bit and published (and yes I know he published it a few days ago, who cares) a piece taking to task LAObserved blogger, the lovable Westside White Guy, Kevin Roderick himself.

It appears that, according to Ford, Roderick has claimed credit for a handful of Pulitzers he didn't actually win.

To be fair, WWG worked as an editor on the LA Times stories he claims the prize for, but the byline and award went to others according to Ford.

I have a friend who won an Emmy and I took him out to dinner. Maybe I should claim that I've won an Emmy?

Its not the end of the world but given how much Roderick often unfairly slams other journos we couldn't resist.

You too can "spoll" like Red Spot

Much have been said about my abilities to cut, erase, and mutilate the English language.

This afternoon, "HIS BOORNESS", that being the "OBSERVING WEST L.A. LIFE AND HIS DYING TIMES", Kevin "WWG" Roderick has this "ode" to me on his site.

Also, Villaraigosa's police advice team of Ace Smith, Michael
Trujillo and
Miguel Espinoza is headed to North Carolina to help Hilary
Clinton.

I knew "WWG" always had a soft SPOT for me.

EVENING CORRECTIONS, ALMOST:

Some City Council members are frustrated by the impasse over control of gang programs are considering action to free the issue up from Councilman Tony Cardenas's committee. Also, Villaraigosa's political advice team of Ace Smith, Michael Trujillo and Miguel Espinoza is headed to North Carolina to help Hilary Clinton.

Roderick has a fetish about "double Ls".

LA Press Club Waxes Nostalgic on the Herald Examiner

This may be somewhat esoteric for anyone who grew up on Land of the Lost, loves the Smurfs and/or listens to Depeche Mode, but there was a time when the Herald Examiner was the place to be here in Los Angeles. Last Thursday, the Los Angeles Press Club hosted “A Return to Corky’s: The Ultimate Herald Examiner Almost-20th Reunion Party.”

Journalists from all over the world were there to recall a Southern California publishing tradition that dated back to 1871. Several notables from the local political/journalism scene were there: Santa Monica Councilmember Bobby Shriver, former KCBS Political Editor Linda Breakstone, LA Daily News Editor Ron Kaye, LA Times Top of the Ticket Editor Don Frederick, Show Business Historian Alex Ben Block, famed critic Peter Reinhart, LA Observed's Kevin Roderick, and the legendary former HerEx editor, James G. “Jim” Bellows.

It was a packed house, to say the least, and there were many stories to be shared. By far, my favorite was the one told by Don Frederick (videos 2 and 3) on his hanging up on a somewhat inebriated Bill Hearst.

(Full Disclosure - I am the Publicist for the Press Club, did outreach for the event and shot the video.)

The Slideshow

Video 1
Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Video 6

Video 7

Video 8

Video 9

Video 10