Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Piece in the fishwrap of record celebrates the six year reign of LAPD Chief William Bratton.  With crime significantly down over his term obserevers speculate what is Bratton's next act; will he move on to another role.  Bratton isn't saying and claims he loves LA. 

Though some unions and a handful of community activists oppose the expansion of Holy Cross Hospital in the North San Fernando Valley a broad coalition of hospital leaders, health care professionals, community and business leaders made an impassioned plea before the City Council on Friday to put a stop to a requirement for an environmental impact report that will delay construction of the much needed facilities further.  Councilman Richard Alarcon, in whose district the hospital is located, favors the EIR.

Tim Rutten writing in the LA Times calls for the City to step in and take over the beleagured Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown Los Angeles.  Among other reasons, Rutten's reasoning is that the Museum rents facilities from the City.  Fair enough, however the City should not be in the museum business.  If there is sufficient support from the public for the museum it will survive; the City should require the museum to purchase the facility or at least pay fair market rent for it. 

Blogger Amber Moon is the latest to join the chorus to condemn Mayor Villaraigosa's less than outraged reaction to the arrest of  former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's son Esteban on suspicion of murder. Following the arrest Villaraigosa released a statement remarking that Esteban was a good boy and lacking an expression of shock over the murder nor remorse for the victim.

We talk a lot about the rough and tumble of City of Los Angeles politics but often times there is often even more excitement going on in the smaller cities surrounding  LA.  Final votes have been certified and controversial City of Commerce Council Member Tina Del Rio was recalled from her seat by a mere 35 vote margin.  Elected to replace Del Rio is former Commerce Council Member and Mayor Lela Leon, who has been active in Commerce politics and community affairs for several years.

A City Council committee is considering a plan that would force owners of apartment properties who wish to sell their investments to offer a first right of refusal to existing tenants who could work to purchase the property or even sell their "right" on the open market for cash.  This would have a chilling effect on investment in housing; including many small rental properties that are owned by individuals, many of them who use them for retirement income.