Lloyd Levine's Liquor Store, Tobacco Money Mailer

Lloyd Levine

Remember our old friend, Lloyd "The Nanny" (or "The Bachelor") Levine, former San Fernando Valley Assemblyman who traded on his political consultant daddy's name to get on the government payroll for six years?

Assemblyman Levine, who on his way to become California's nanny targeted everything from light bulbs to plastic bags, has been eclipsed by bigger nannies of late such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg or First Lady Michelle Obama, but I digress.

Around the Capitol reports that he's back, trading on all of that to live off the money of political candidates and special interest groups seeking to influence Tuesday's election.

Levine is helming a "slate mailer," those erstwhile pieces of former pulp that wind up en masse in your mailbox every election cycle. While they try to create the image of a political party or some community organization cheerfully cheering on their favorite candidates and cause, as some of sort of altruistic team effort, the truth is (most of the time except for some throwaways like to Presidential candidates who have no need for the mailer) each and every ballot recommendation on the slate was bought and paid for. Many times the mailer can pair candidates and props who absolutely are not simpatico.

For those who produce the mailers, it can be quite financially lucrative. For those who appear it's a cost effective way to keep the mailbox war going and to be associated with other candidates and causes (and worthy sounding "organizations) that could help push a voter their way.

Levine's "Coalition for Literacy" AKA Cory's Liquor

Levine's latest mailer, for which he and his father's company pulled down nearly $350K from moneyed interests, including payments from pro-tobacco interests, seeking the spotlight, is in the name of some organization called Coalition for Literacy.

Both Around the Capitol and the bombastic Hollywood gadfly/activist John Walsh report that the address on the mailer for the Coalition is 1954 West Carson Street in Torrance.

John Walsh and Friends on Cable TV

A quick Google Maps search for that address reveals it's the home of Cory's Liquor Store.  According to Around the Capitol, cash is sent to the Levine office in Sherman Oaks.

Among a series of local candidates (and freebies for Obama and DiFi) who paid to be on the mailer, one of the more prominent appearances is by the "No on 29" campaign, an effort funded by tobacco companies to fight yet another tax on cigarettes. Around the Capitol reports that Nanny Levine told them he received no tobacco money for the mailer, yet records show No on 29 paid at least $17,500 for their appearance.

When voter turn out is lower than ever, local and state government has reached levels of corruption that would make former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley blush, and the City is literally crumbling, it's no wonder citizens are cynical when political interests can get personally rich playing this game.

One wonders if and when the populace will ever wake up. Levine is betting no.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Well maybe they didn't mean it.  The LA Weekly reports that the Los Angeles City Council is "dangling" the idea of a DWP rate increase in order to get a hold of $73 million in DWP surplus funds the City desperately needs.  In the meantime the Moody's bond rating service - AKA "jerks" according to Councilman Richard Alarcon - has once again downgraded the city's credit score and maintains a bleak outlook for LA's financial future.

Now we know who wears the pants in the Jerry Brown household and at the California Chamber of Commerce - Mrs. Jerry Brown AKA Anne Gust who made her fortune working for a company that encourages young women to become further anorexic to fit into smaller clothes at higher prices.  The Chamber had aired commercials reminding voters of Brown's record of opposing Proposition 13 among other things and Gust had a Brown cow.  Calls were made to some of the members of the Chamber and pressure applied leading to the ad being quickly dropped.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has secured a court injunction to fight drugs and gang violence in Skid Row. Now this is the kind of thing we expect our City Attorney to do instead of fighting pot shops and silly billboards.

Phil Jennerjahn contacted us to show us a mock-up of the donation envelope for his recall campaign.  You may remember Phil's strategy for getting the mountain of signatures required for the recall, as he explained to Kevin James on this radio show, is to get a critical mass of potheads to campaign for the measure, so many that members of the SEIU will join Phil's parade.  And now that Antonio Villaraigosa's latest missteps in the whole DWP mess may have given Phil a little possible mojo, here comes Captain Ego AKA Walter Moore to tie his Red Ryder wagon to Phil's star just like he did with the Shaw family.  Watch out Phil that Walter - who made fun of your mercilessly during the Mayoral campaign - doesn't throw you under the bus as he did with the Shaws.

Now here are some folks doing the right thing to effect leadership change in Los Angeles.  Rather than goofy recalls which are good talkradio fodder the folks at Griffith Park Wayist are actually seeking individuals to groom and support to run against Councilman Tom LaBonge who apparently has pissed off folks from North Hollywood to Los Feliz.

The parent company of the OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET may be close to coming out of bankruptcy.  The New York Times reports that Tribune Media is near a deal with creditors.

The country is changing.  A good old-fashioned American Sears auto center is being replaced by a European style public mass transit station.

What happens when you're a political wunderkind who can't even beat Lloyd Levine in a primary? You move to another state and run for office there while tapping into old connections to get the endorsement of a former Vice President.  That's what Andrei Cherney, former Clinton speechwriter and abortive Bob Hertzberg protege is up to these days.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Former Assemblyman Lloyd Levine is looking for a job.  At least that's what an email he sent out to several supporters stated. In the email Levine writes "I recognize that this might be the worst time to find employment since the Great Depression (editor's note: clearly not true), which is why I am reaching out to you, hoping to learn about the best possible opportunities as they arise."  According to one rumor that lit up the State Capitol gossip wires on Friday, Levine has found employment at a Sacramento store that sells runners' shoes. If you have a more rewarding opportunity for Lloyd you can send it him at levine4assembly@hotmail.com.

Isn't "Two Bill" Gil Cedillo's time up? God forbid this shady race baiter gets elected to Congress when there is a dynamic, thoughtful Mexican-American mom and self-made business sucess story in the person of Teresa Hernandez running for the 32nd Congressional seat vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.  Lets hope the voters get it this time.

Bernie Parks gets Jasmyne Cannick's "Negro Please" Award for wanting to keep the Parker Center name for LAPD's new headquarters; in honor of former LAPD Chief William Parker.  Wonder what Mike Trujillo thinks the name should be?

Though it may seem like the usual feel good holiday photo op, there is nothing more truly Christian than volunteers washing the feet of the homeless over Easter Weekend in Skid Row.  But, as blogger Don Garza correctly notes, it also serves a purpose: health workers can inspect the homeless individuals' feet for signs of illness and serious medical conditions and provide them treatment.

With declining enrollment in Los Angeles' schools should the LAUSD be spending billions on a full bore ahead program of building new schools? KCET (hat tip to CurbedLA) is asking that question in a new report, "Blackboard Bungle."

Lloyd Levine: Shoe Salesman?

 

One of the craziest rumors coming out of our Capitol based sources: Former State Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, who lost a primary battle for the State Senate last year is now working for a Sacramento shoe store.

We're looking into it, doubt it's true, but lots of the kids in Assembly and Senate offices were reportedly having fun with this one.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Department of Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks isn't the only city department head in trouble.  BongHwan Kim, the General Manager of the City's Department of Neighborhood Services - the department that oversees the City's system of Neighborhood Councils - is facing a complaint from the union that represents DONE's workers.  Among other things, the complaint alleges Kim demoted a staffer for taking complaints to the union.  You may remember that before Kim was given the GM job, we reported on a DONE management report that many of the department's staffers found Kim to be unqualified to take the position.

In the hub-bub of the Presidential campaign, hopefully you have not missed some excellent reporting by Petrafried in the City with respect to important issues around Griffith Park, the most recent of those can be found here. Most notably, some bizarre ideas coming out of Council Member Tom LaBonge.

In case you missed it last night, rumors abound that soon to be termed out Assemblyman Lloyd Levine may be replacing controversial Department of Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks.  Stay tuned.

Much has been said about the high class junket that executives of bailed-out financial firm AIG took to the tune of nearly $400,000.  However one blogger tries to make the case that there's no connection to the bailout as the junket was undertaking by the insurance side of the house, which is not involved in the current mess.  Hmmm, not sure most folks will get the distinction, still a poor choice by those execs.

We report a lot of bad news about LA so here's something good: The American Planning Association has chosen Echo Park as one of the great neighborhoods in America.  By the way, according to CurbedLA, Echo Park Lake is stocked with trout and catfish at different periods of the year and, apparently, bass breed freely in the lake.  So take your kids fishing and have a ball.

Don't forget Zuma Dogg's event Friday night at Casa Princesa Cafe in Highland Park.  Karaoke, voter registration, public comment, karaoke, the $5 Gift Store and, of course, Zuma Dogg will be there.  Who knows, maybe the old, dead Republican Mayor himself will make a cameo.

Boks Out, Levine In?

What happens when your dad tries to buy you a State Senate seat but you wind up losing to a beloved liberal kook? Perhaps your dad buys you a job as a department manager with the City of Los Angeles.

HaikuLA has been covering extensively the general upset and disapproval of just about everyone in city of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services General Manager Ed Boks. Its probably to safe to say Boks' days on the job are numbered. So if Ed is about to hear "You're fired!" who gets the job?

This evening a very reliable inside source tell us it's none other than termed out Assemblyman and failed State Senate candidate Lloyd Levine. Levine's father is the influential rainmaker and political consultant Larry Levine. Is it possible that the elder Levine has made a deal to get a job for his soon to be unemployed son? We may soon find out.

Public Access TV Comes to an End

How do you shut down free speech and generate more City tax revenue at the same time? By passing a law signed by forced out politicians Fabian "Fellow Mirthala Banger" Nunez and Lloyd "Daddy couldn't buy me a Senate seat" Levine.

Among other things, AB2987 authored by Levine and Nunez will essentially allow cable operators to shut down public access television channels and instead pay a significant fee to the City.  Then, theoretically, it would be up to the City to allow time for public access programming on it's community affairs Channel 36, if it wanted.

On Wednesday, the Clowncil approved a mostly meangingless measure by Members Tony Cardenas and Jan Perry instructing the City's Information Technology Agency to review what impact this law will have and what options there are.  However, the City's resident expert on cable television, Councilman Bill Rosendahl, himself a former cable television executive and on-air personality, lamented the Nunez-Levine act will mean the death of public access. In the clip below, both Rosendahl and Council Member Dennis Zine make passioned pleas of support for public access followed by Tom LeBong who makes some sort of non-sequitir reference to the old 1950s cop drama, Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford.



We remember that City Councilman Bernard Parks ordered the public affairs program Full Disclosure from it's airwaves. Who at City Hall will decide which program air and which don't?

On the other hand, with YouTube, blogs and other forms of technology is public access even necessary? I am certain more people read this blog than watch most of the shows on Channel 25 here in the East Valley (truthfully most of them are awful). That's a question that should be considered over time however it's ultimately a decision that should be up to the cable operators as private businesses and not have to be shaken down by politicians who will only waste the money.

Aaarrrrgh! SEIU Mutiny Ahead!

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, scores of SEIU-member animal shelter employees will issue a No Confidence vote against Edward M. Boks, the General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services.

On the tail of Laura Chick's two recent audits declaring financial mismanagement, and a failure for his to prepare for the upcoming (October 1st) city-wide spay neuter law, the SEIU is finally putting its paw down and will ask for Mr. Boks' termination.

Boks lost similar positions in Maricopa County, Arizona, and New York City prior to coming to Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa hired him shortly after being elected.

An SEIU insider says, "Mr. Boks' showboating personality, and penchant for controversy and blogging has kept the city from progressing toward Mayor James Hahn's promise of a No Kill city by 2008. His misbehavior is also believed to be the cause of the failure of AB 1634, the California Healthy Pets Act, Lloyd Levine's proposed statewide mandatory spay-neuter law. Collectively, Mr. Boks' antics make for an unacceptable work environment for our members."

Primary Post-Mortem

Presidential politics bore me to tears, and for some reason, this cycle is especially bad. The posturing, the panting pundits, the pageantry, the puppets—err, candidates. It all just grates on my nerves. So, let’s go local, because despite a record low statewide turnout, it was a fun night with a few unexpected twists in the Mayor Sam faves.

Who knew? Despite Stuart Waldman’s key endorsements and perceived front-runner status, Bob Blumenfield pulled an impressive—and decisive—53% in a four-way race. Waldman and Laurette Healey each drew 21%.

No surprise there… Fran Pavley defeated Lloyd Levine 2-to-1. Unfortunately (as others have pointed out), this doesn’t mean he will now go away. Someone, somewhere, will find him a public teat to nurse while planning his next run.

Lord, have mercy! In recent weeks, Bernard Parks locked up a series of big endorsements and the momentum appeared to be on his side, but yesterday he fell short of the magical 50%—and, um, short of Mark Ridley-Thomas by five. The two face a run-off in November. Here’s to five more months of great bloggings from Parks!

This is your open thread for the day. Feel free to gloat, lament, and analyze—or, completely change the subject.

Why Lloyd Levine Wants to Be a State Senator

Lloyd's term as an Assemblyman is coming to a close and he needs a job to keep him in Sacramento.

Why?

He's getting married to Sacramento news anchor Edie Lambert. You could have followed their entire courtship from first date to engagement on board Southwest Airlines flight 1455 right here on the blog.

Can't blame him, she's a cutie. And unless he wants to have a long distance relationship from the Valley to the State Capitol or start over on the Bachelor, Lloyd needs to go home to Sacramento.

If Lloyd isn't elected to the State Senate, he does have at least one skill to potentially bank on - he did win the Capital Nose Picking Contest against Republican Assemblyman Cameron Smythe.

Problem is the voters are going to overwhelmingly choose Fran Pavely, for right or wrong. But you never know, love may win in the end.

Update. Here is some video of Edie. Maybe some of our readers are right.

FLASH: Daily News Endorses Waldman, Pavley

Though he has to sit first through a verbal spanking from the MOLDY GREENSHEET OF RECORD, 40th Assembly District Candidate Stuart Waldman garners the endorsement of the Daily News, a significant victory for the former Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and current seat holder Lloyd Levine.

Though the News is disgusted by the spat between Waldman and chief opponent Bob Blumenfield over Blumenfield's questionable campaign financing, they gave the nod to Waldman based on his past experience and their hope once in office he'll put all this behind him. The paper also stated that fellow candidates Laurette Healey and Dan McCrory "just aren't viable candidates."

In a related story, the Daily News endorsed Levine's opponent for the Democratic nomination for the 23rd State Senate District, Fran Pavley. The News compared Levine to Blumenfield saying the Assemblyman's "tenure has been more about serving himself than the Valley."

Voters in both races go to the polls June 3rd.

Corruption in AD 40 Race? Charges filed Against Blumenfeld and Healey

We all know how shady local politics are but Assembly candidates Laurette Healey and Bob Blumenfeld are quickly becoming the poster children for alleged shady dealings.

First off, we've become aware of a complaint filed with the State Labor Commissioner by a person employed by the campaign to secure Laurette Healey the Democratic nomination for the 40th Assembly District seat being vacated by Lloyd Levine. The individual claims that they were to be paid $3500 a month for their services. Three weeks into the engagement the campaign worker was asked to sign a contract. They asked if they could time to have a lawyer review it. When the worker told the Healey campaign there were elements of the contract they could not agree to; the campaign allegedly refused to pay the individual for work performed prior to the request by the campaign for a contract. To see the complaint filed against Healey, click here.

The other bad little kid in the AD 40 Democratic race is Bob Blumenfeld. A third candidate in the race, former AD 40 Chief of Staff Stuart Waldman, has filed charges with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Blumenfeld's employer, Congressman Howard Berman and Blumenfeld's father, political operative Michael Blumenfeld created an independent expenditure committee - the Santa Monica based "Valley Democrats for Change" - as method to launder contributions from Berman and the elder Blumenfeld to the candidate's account. If this allegation is correct, Berman and Blumenfeld would be in violation of campaign laws which limit the amount an individual can contribute to a campaign. According to the complaint released by the Waldman Campaign, Berman and Blumenfeld reached this limit last year. Additionally, the law prohibits independent expenditure committees from working in concert with the candidate; Waldman's complaint details and alleges involvement and coordination from Berman and his staff in the Blumenfeld campaign.

In a related story, bad news for the man Waldman, Healey and Blumenfeld are seeking to replace. Levine's opponent in the 23rd Senate District Democratic race, Fran Pavley, is running 2-1 ahead of Levine in recent polls.

Blumenfeld's "Stacking the Room" Comes to Head Tonight

40th AD Democratic candidate Bob Blumenfeld got caught with his pants down around his knees trying to "stack the room" (his words) to gain the endorsement from two different Democratic organizations. In both instances the candidate failed and no endorsement was given.

Linda Sutton writing at Calitics captures the next site in the circus tour, the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club. According to Sutton, the father of our favorite backstabbing nanny bachelor (you know who) bought at least 80 memberships (and hence votes) putting them on his credit card just before the deadline hit. The fun starts tonight.

In the meantime, Blumenfeld's opponent Stuart Waldman announced an endorsement that didn't require a credit card, that of Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.

Sunday Burro Droppings

Ron Kaye got a very nice Passover card from the Backstabbing Bachelor Nanny Lloyd Levine. Kaye said that Levine must have presumed he was Jewish. Of course the card was really a campaign piece for Lloyd's soon to be over run for State Senate. Kaye was offended by the card finding it pandering and useless as to telling voters what Levine's clear plans are if elected.

Joseph Mailander, Zuma Dogg and the Sister City all brought up something we've been talking about for a while - Mayor Villaraigosa's plan for a citywide personal income tax. It's been in the third floor crock pot for some time but it could be on this November's ballot. According to Captain Jack, the plan calls for "a 2.5% tax on income over $35,000 per year which would put at least $875 per income earning person into City coffers per year. " However, when you get your sample ballot, don't go looking for "Proposition Whatever - A Measure to Impose A Citywide Personal Income Tax." It will most likely be called the "2008 Act to Bring Hearts, Flowers and the Smurfs to Los Angeles." We've learned about that trick at least once and really twice.

The Hollywood Sign was actually built by real estate developers promoting a big housing project and now developers who own land adjacent to the sign want to develop it. You can imagine that has everyone in a tizzy.

A blogger refers to Ed Roski's plan to build a football stadium in the City of Industry as a "pipe dream" and opposes any public funding for the project. The blogger says one of the benefits for Roski however to build the stadium outside the City of LA is that "he will not have to deal with Mayor Television and the Bickering City Council."

Two bits of housekeeping. You may have thought that our use of various photos as a lead in to the hotsheet (as opposed to the usual picture of the old, dead Republican Mayor) is a rip-off of Joseph Mailander's hotsheets here on the blog and now at his new site, Street-Hassle. Guilty as charged. It was such a great feature I felt someone needed to keep it going at Mayor Sam. So now with both blogs you have two sets of photos to enjoy. The other item is you might have noticed a change in my byline. The old Mayor isn't going anywhere but in my continuing use of various Google products, I've decided to consolidate all my accounts under one name. As well, two other blogs I maintain, Downtown NoHo and Absolute Random Nonsense will be brought under the Mayor Sam Networks umbrella in an effort to provide you more content.

Pavley Leads Levine In, uh, Pavley Poll

Here's a straight shot from a credible Jack Hoff source:

"The Fran Pavley for SD 23 campaign is circulating the results from a 400 sample survey conducted by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research between March 2-4. It finds that Pavley leads 36% to 18% over primary election opponent Asm. Lloyd Levine in the initial ask, and 'after balanced positive paragraphs about both,' Pavley's lead increases to 56% to 29%. The poll also finds 'Pavley crushes Levine' in the half of the Senate District that overlaps AD 41, which Pavley represented for six years, and that she leads 'among men and women; liberals, moderates and conservatives; Catholics, Protestants and Jews; Latinos and Anglos; and among all age groups.'"

JH: As a compromise, Levine has just offered Pavley the highly prized Chief of Staff position upon his election...

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Edward Headington joined the blog as a contributor Monday. Check out his inaugural post about yet another Ralph Nader presidential campaign. Ed is a veteran political observer, media consultant and occasional pundit. We expect him to bring quite a bit to the blog. Welcome, Edward!

San Diego City Clowncil members only make $75,386 per year. However, Los Angeles City Clowncil members make near executive level salaries of $178,789 annually. The San Diego folks must be crying foul; they're looking at creating salary increases based on the same formula used by LA. How about getting a real job?

A new service here at the Blog - the Mayor Sam Event Calendar. We'll try to keep this as updated as much as possible and add to it regularly. Its linked in the Mayor Sam Network section. Feel free to send us additions to the calendar.

Boi from Troy reports that the knuckle draggers - uh I mean conservatives - took over the California Republican party from the KENNEDY REPUBLICANS.

I'm all for legalized gambling but I bet the folks at the Fran Pavley for Senate Campaign might want to know that - untrue to his usual Nanny State leanings - Lloyd "The Bachelor" Levine is working to re-legalize widespread internet poker in California. I am sure the tight-assed, old fart, nanny-poo, do-gooder liberals in the 23rd Senate District might not like this. Or the Indian casinos. Or horsetracks.

Franklin Avenue reports that legendary LA hot dog eatery Pinks will be giving out free dogs on Friday and Saturday.

Atwater Village Newbie isn't sure but it looks like the City is still allowing drivers of the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape Hybrid to park free at City parking meters. If anyone knows, please let us know.

And finally, a new blog here in LA - Stuff White People Like. Do they include recipes for tater tot casserole?

Lloyd Levine Bests Cameron Smyth at Nose Picking

Looks like our Boy Assemblymen Republican Cameron Smyth of Santa Clarita and Democrat Lloyd Levine of Van Nuys can find nothing better to do during important policy debates on the Assembly Floor than pick their noses and send text messages. Still, looks like Lloyd's technique is more developed than Cammy's.

Bachelor to Marry; May Soon Need Nanny

We had it here when they went on one of their first dates at Spataro; but now its official: a local pol is marrying a television journalist.

No, not this politician nor this (now former) journalist, but none other than our favorite backstabbing patron saint of the nanny state and soon to be former bachelor, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine and his lady friend Sacramento TV news reporter Edie Lambert.

With a failing campaign to overtake Fran Pavely for a Democratic State Senate nomination, the boy had to do something quick. Getting engaged to a pretty young girl is a good story.

What I don't get is why Boi from Troy is implying that Levine was considered to perhaps be playing for another team. What does Scott know and when (or who) did he know it?

By the way reports say that romantic Lloyd asked Edie to marry him on a flight back home over Thanksgiving.

Will the wedding be carbon neutral and the bride wear a recycled wedding gown? Time will tell.

It’s hard out there for a bachelor

This morning, the Los Angeles Times followed up on a story that broke in yesterday’s Capitol Weekly. Fifty-thousand mailers are headed for postboxes on the leafy Westside extolling the “green” virtues of the absentee ballot, prominently featuring a photo of “environmental champion” Fran Pavley.

The mailer is being distributed by EdVoice, an education-oriented nonprofit based in Mill Valley, Calif. There is a picture of Earth on the cover and the request "Protect Our Planet." It urges residents to "vote for president with a carbon free ballot" and includes a dig at those who would drive to the polls by car for "polluting the air and contributing to global warming."

Fran, of course, happens to be running for state Senate against Lloyd “The Bachelor” Levine, but EdVoice insists the mailer has nothing to do with electing the former Assemblywoman, and everything to do with “getting out the vote.” Quipped the Capitol Weekly:

…if you can find a way to capture the steam that must be coming out of Lloyd Levine’s ears, you might be able to power a small city for a few hours.

Levine has declined comment.

Anatomy of a "Deal?"

Somewhere along the way to Assemblyman Lloyd "The Bachelor Wannabe" Levine endorsing his longtime Chief of Staff Stuart Waldman for his soon to be termed out seat (a seat the Waldman was and is far more qualified for than Levine could ever hope to be) insiders said a deal was made that threw the loyal Waldman under the proverbial bus.

The alleged deal goes like this. Levine, locked in a tough primary race against fellow Assemblymember Fran Pavley for a State Senate seat, needs some juice to have a shot against the popular Pavley. So, along with his mentor and daddy - political strategist Larry Levine - Lloyd goes to local king maker Congressman Howard Berman.

The tale continues. Yes indeed Howard will give his blessing to young Lloyd. But there's a price. Levine must retract his endorsement for Waldman to succeed him and transfer it to Berman's protege, Bob Blumenfeld.

Then in a move that baffled many at the time, Levine unceremoniously pulls the endorsement and fires Waldman from the job he held and excelled at for many years - several of those years with Levine's predecessor Bob Hertzberg.

Though Levine issued statements that hinted no deal was made; visit Levine's website and indeed - Berman's endorsement is prominent!

So tell us - there was no deal?

By the way - can anyone tell us why Lloyd has a legal defense fund with contributions from the likes of AT&T?