City Officials, Think Twice!

If you think people like Zuma Dogg and the other watchdogs of the city are just silly pawns, think again. Pay attention to the fate of Mr. Leland Wong, the former city commissioner.

The "more lenient" sentence of 5 years in prison, on 14 felony counts, for a guy who served in three different mayoral administrations is a sign that it can happen to you.

Yes, this 'blog posted this story the other day, but we want to give you an extra spoonful of Robitussin to make you think just one more time. Richard Alarcon, are you listening? That zoning switcheroo you tried; not too smart. Mr. Huizar? Plastering your face on the neighborhood walls like a banana republic? Mr. Reyes? Why did you support that latest liquor license in a part of the city already overloaded with places to buy booze? Ms. Hahn? Just how many millions in tax money are being redirected to buy guns and support, rather than deter, drug operations?

Click, click. That's the sound of cameras snapping, and cuffs being clicked on the perps as they're led to prison. If you think it can't happen to you, just ask the Wong family how they're feeling this morning. Former Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards' family can't be too proud of him, either, with his Bonaventure Hotel sexcapades.

And it won't be easy getting work after prison, with a felony permanently affixed to your name.

If you see one of our elected officials at a Laker game, snap a photo with the date embedded, and include the people they're there with. Then save it. Someday, it might help send them to prison.

If they're doing nothing wrong, they've got nothing to worry about.

Leland Wong gets five years for corruption

City Hall insider Leland Wong will get some time for his dirty dealings.

From the Los Angeles Times,

A judge on Friday sentenced former Los Angeles city commissioner Leland Wong to five years in state prison for his role in a "pay to play" corruption scandal that plagued the administration of former Mayor James Hahn.

Wong was found guilty last summer on 14 of the 21 felony counts brought against him in a case that focused heavily on his work for Evergreen, a Taiwan-based shipping company that had been seeking a lucrative lease at the Port of Los Angeles.

With Wong sentencing and with the investigation of Ted Stein drawing to a close, the curtain goes down for the final time on the dubious dealings of the Mayor Hahn era.

No word on the start date for the sequal "Political Follies of Villar".

Friday Hotsheet for a silly week

Capping off a week the Daily News is calling Silly Season, Councilmembers Jan Perry and Wendy Greuel were spotted hailing cabs with giant foam fingers and Police Chief William Bratton is taking flak from some West Hollywood pol for “outing” Lindsay Lohan.

But it looks more like Gloomy Season back at the Daily News. Denim is out, as is Chris Weinkopf, reports L.A. Observed. Employees unsure of what to wear are advised to “recall how you dressed when you interviewed for your position.” Columnist and Friendly Fire blogger, Weinkopf, will call it quits August 22nd. Perhaps we’ll see more meat on his personal blog in the coming months? Here’s to two ex-DN employees telling us how they really feel.

In case you missed any of our fabulous bloggings this week, here’s a little roundup:

• Mayor Villaraigosa bailed out of a speaking engagement over the weekend.
• Dennis Zine responded to us with a list of synchronized traffic signals in the Valley.
• Maxine Waters went nuts (again) and gang czar Jeff Carr resurfaced.
• There’s more, apparently, to the proposed new anti-gang contracts than meets the eye.
• L.A. shook, Dennis Zine reported live from the scene, and Villaraigosa missed another big-time photo op.
• Leland Wong was nailed hard for corruption (our readers predict his buddies get ratted-out next).
• Greig Smith stuck his finger in your eyes and Jan Perry got her Happy Meal.
• José Huizar’s attempt to run roughshod over Boyle Heights residents became a P.R. problem.
• Ed Reyes, Eric Garcetti, and José Huizar offered up a room at City Hall for car wash owners and workers to negotiate a living wage.
• Mirthala Salinas resurfaced in Studio City.
• William Bratton delivered a very politically-incorrect celebrity gossip report.
• And more proof was offered that you must read Mayor Sam every day if you want to be in the know.

Whew! I’m ready for a cocktail and a lazy weekend.

Wednesday Hotsheet for Hot Streets

“You’ve been getting a deal for 50 years from this city”

How’s that for representation? The words of Councilmember Greig Smith as City Council voted 11–1 yesterday to increase the tax you pay for garbage collection to 140% of the current rate. Councilmember Dennis Zine was the sole dissenter. Incredibly, Smith nuked his own argument prior to the vote:

The council and mayor led people to believe that [the trash tax] was only to pay for police. That was never the case.

Exactly! The trash tax money has no particular budget allocation. Therefore, garbage collection has never been subsidized any more than tree trimming, street sweeping, and graffiti removal ever have been. Trust that we’ll replay Smith’s words the next time he’s counting on—oh, I don’t know—your vote.

Most of us felt the magnitude-5.4 quake that struck near Chino Hills yesterday, but did you hear that loud sucking sound an hour later? That was wind leaving Mayor Villaraigosa's sails as Wolf Blitzer asked, “where were you when this earthquake struck?” “Well,” the mayor replied, “w-where I am right now … is in London.”

Memo to Mayor V: the next time you need a vacation, consider Los Angeles as your destination. No, really—it's a great place! You really ought to visit sometime; we have beautiful beaches, not to mention world class cultural institutions, dining, and shopping. As an added bonus, you'll be right here for the next seismic event, be it another temblor or MacArthur Park Melee.

Back downtown, City Council voted 12–0 yesterday to prevent new stand-alone “fast food” establishments from opening in a 32-square-mile area of South Los Angeles. Councilmember Jan Perry’s proposal has been criticized and mocked from coast to coast. Jan Perry claims she’s been called a Nazi, a fascist, a Stalinist, and fat, but the only comment that hurt “was the fat one.” Jan Perry is clearly not listening.

In other news, the city streets continue to heat this week. A murder mystery in Century City, some crazy dude driving 110 miles per hour the wrong way at the 5–405 interchange, and former Los Angeles city commissioner Leland Wong is in big trouble. Today will be 70s at the beaches, 80s inland, and 90s in the Valley. Stay cool, stay safe, and blog away dum-dums!

Haiku: Wong's Wang Wrung

Here's an afternoon haiku for those who are tired of the media losin' it over a nothing earthquake:

Bonaventure girls.
Hot "Rub & Tug" services.
For Leland & Troy.

From your friends at http://www.noblehaiku.blogspot.com/

Villaraigosa Fundraisers Raise Eyebrows

Mayor Villaraigosa is gearing up for what could be an expensive re-election campaign holding big bucks fundraisers all over the place. Walter Moore reports on soirees hosted by Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York, former Assembly Speaker and former Mayor Willie Brown in San Francisco and Benny and Juliette Klepach in Florida.

Y'all might remember Benny Klepach. He owns Duty Free Air and Ship Supply and has connections with a patchwork of airport concessionaire firms that were involved in a controversy over employee contributions to Villaraigosa when he was challenging then Mayor Jim Hahn in 2005. Villaraigosa eventually returned the donations. Klepach previously owned two concessions at LAX and through a spokesman said he has not decided if he will bid on upcoming airport concessions to be voted on Villaraigosa's Airport Commissioners. According to the LA Times, Klepach's previous LAX contracts will be mentioned in the upcoming public corruption trial of former Airport Commissioner Leland Wong.

In the meantime if you're interested in attending a Villaraigosa fundraiser closer to home, you can attend one hosted by local lobbyist Victor Griego to be held this Saturday Downtown.