This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.
Essel: A Sign of Things to Come | Photo by MayorSam
Rick Orlov takes a look at the race in CD2 and reports nothing new. In addition to reminding everyone that Chris (now going by Christine) Essel has spent over a million dollars on a job that pays a fifth of that Orlov types a bold prediction by Clowncilman Greig "Sleepy" Smith that someday all elections might be decided by mail-in ballots.
Because some local and little read bloggers seem to think it was a fabrication, feel free to peruse the police report of the stalking incident at Paul Krekorian's home. The report features statements given by eyewitnesses (names redacted for their safety) who saw an Anglo man in his 40s snooping around Krekorian's home and snapping photos. Photos of the home have reportedly shown up in Chris Essel mailers.
The City Clowncil sure loves events. What's the latest? Spending time and resources when we can least afford it to bring the World Cup to Los Angeles in 2018. Maybe they can send Oprah and Obama to help pitch it.
The City Clowncil sure loves events # 2. Sparse crowds in attendance at the Hollywood Santa Parade, formerly the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The event, once run by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce featured stars such as Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. Dumped by the Chamber as a money loser following severly declining television ratings, Clowncilman Tom LeBong has spent millions of your tax dollars via a closely allied associate of his to produce an event which features big name stars such as Lee Majors and former "American Idol" contestant Ace Young.
Jason Mandell writing in the LA Weekly asks the question if CD2 run-off candidates Paul Krekorian and Chris Essell will support so-called "clean money" efforts for campaign financing, noting that former candidate Michael McCue has actively been pushing the issue for some time. Advocates for this scheme however can't explain how campaigns would be publicly funded particularly when the City coffers are emptying fast. One small error in Mandell's story was that in addition to Essel and Krekorian there were eight "neighborhood candidates" in the race; actually that would be seven.
Law enforcement authorities recyently raided two homes owned by State Senator Roderick Wright as part of an LA County District Attorney investigation into his legal residency. However it may not have any impact as experts say that state law does not require state legislators to actually live in their district once they are elected. Further, even if the District Attorney is able to prosecute Wright it will be up to the Legislature itself to actually remove Wright.
The Latino Politics Blog once again on the story when it comes to controversial Orange County Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. This time it concerns the case of a former aide to Sanchez who recently received probation after pleading guilty to theft charges. Caroline Valdez admitted to stealing office funds as well as forging Sanchez's signature for a bonus. Interesting however it the blogs take on the position. Adriana Maestas sees Valdez as a victim of Sanchez who plucked Valdez out of ASU prior to graduation, introducing her into the pressure cooker of Washington, DC on a $30K annual salary. That may be true but nonetheless Valdez is an adult and should know the difference between right and wrong no matter how grim and unfortuante her circumstances. Plenty of other young people do.
Former LA Department of Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks is up for a new job as the head of a Tacoma, Washington based animal welfare agency. You may remember Boks was a key figure in a sexual harrassment lawsuit against the City that saw a $130,000 settlement. Though cutting a controversial swath during his time in LA, Boks has many supporters who view the settlement as frivolous and cheered his role in the City.
LA's Metro trains are taking a cue from the East Coast. For the first time in the nearly 20 year history of the system the MTA has adopted turnstiles at stations posts Militant Angeleno. No tokens but fancy shcmancy electronic debit cards get you in.
Latinopoliticsblog.com posits that NBC's hiring of Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter and granddaughter of former Presidents, has more to do with family and privilege than ability. Most likely but this is nothing new. Media outlets have hired other political progeny ranging from Eleanor Mondale to Maria Shriver to Ron Reagan to Meghan McCain.
LA has "reformed" it's special event fee waiver program that has garnered much criticism. However the reforms came under fire of Council Members Richard Alarcon and Paul Koretz who felt that - while big bucks events like the Oscars and Grammys will still get a City subsidy - many smaller community based events will be forced to be cancelled as fees go up.
An ass has shown up to the County Board of Supervisors. No it wasn't one of the five Supes. Gidget a 29" inch high miniature donkey visited the board for an eloborate ceremony to kick off the LA County Fair. And you thought Tom LeBong was funny!
Former State Senator and 60s sixties radical Tom Hayden writes in the redesigned LA Times his concerns about the ethical implications of William Bratton's departure as LAPD Chief. Bratton is going to work for Michael Cherkasky whose firm was hired by the City of Los Angeles to monitor the LAPD's compliance with a use of force consent decree. Hayden wants an independent investigation of Bratton's relationship with Cherkasky and to determine if Cherkasky had already made plans to hire Bratton as soon as the consent decree was lifted. With investigations by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich this issues adds to the laundry list of questions that must be asked before Bratton leaves town for good.
Good point by Jason Burns at Metrobloging. California and Los Angeles citizens voted to tax themselves to build more rail lines. Yet the train cars are being ordered from Korea, Italy and Germany, all countries whose collective asses we kicked in various wars. With high unemployment, recession and Obama stimulus efforts why aren't these train cars being built in LA?
In case you were wondering my view of the LA Times recent website redesign, you can read it here.
Congrats to Franklin Avenue bloggers Mike and Maria on the birth of their second son, Nathan Antonio (Antonio???) on August 11th. Baby came in at 8 pounds, 3 oz. Mom and child are doing great as are Dad and big brother Evan, 4.5 yrs. Our best wishes to the happy family!
In the aftermath of the resignation of William Bratton as Chief of the LAPD already speculation is rampant on who his successor will be. There is significant feeling that the replacement should come from within the current ranks of the force. However Council President Eric Garcetti is not closing the door on an outsider telling the LA Times "There's wonderful leaders inside the department, and there's wonderful people who have left the department and are elsewhere, and there's other people like Bill Brattons out there who have been doing a great job in other cities." The surprise announcement by Bratton had some insiders speculating if his departure is related to details of the investigation of the Michael Jackson funeral expense by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich that could potentially prove embarrassing for the Chief. Stay tuned.
Once again William Bratton proves he doesn't get the LAPD or Los Angeles tradition and screws over the men in uniform. This time he's going against the wish of the both the LAPD union and the film industry by banning retired LAPD officers who work film shoots from wearing LAPD uniforms. Instead Bratton wants the officers to wear something resembling some local business improvement "safety ambassadors" wear. The film industry is right to concern than when dealing with issues on a film location the officers wearing the new uniforms won't command the same respect.
So the Mayor has supposedly found private funds to pay the parade to mark the LA Lakers World Championship yet he says even if he hadn't located the donor cash he would have spent City funds anyway. The Mayor also claims the parade will earn $15 million for the City. Questions: 1) Who is funding this parade and what do they get for it, 2) Where does the Mayor get off saying he'd spend the funds anyway and, 3) Who really believes this parade will generate $15 million in taxes for the City?
The DWP implemented a "cash for grass" program and no its not related to this photo. Homeowners who replace their lawn with water saving plants, rocks or cement will get $1 for every square foot of thirsty lawn they remove. Of course, the DWP is playing a bit smart here; if you haven't been watering your lawn and its already dead they won't pay you to remove it.
Neighborhood Councils are among those invited to a "volunteer appreciation picnic" organized by the Mayor on June 27th. No word on how much this costs or who is paying for it but a memo sent by Villaraigosa staffer Antonio Sanchez includes the real reason why the event is being organized: "We hope to organize a picture with neighborhood council members and the newly elected City officials." There you go. One giant photo op.
