Mid-Day Brief on the Corrupt Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday: "Two ex. Coliseum Employees and Rave Promoter Arrested"

" The Raider Nation and Corrupt Public Officials Affordable Housing"

Breaking News this morning on the public corruption front as two former Los Angeles Coliseum employees and a Rave Concert Promoter await room/cell assignments at Twin Towers after their arrests this morning on undisclosed charges.

The "Bloggin Comandante" Dennis Romero reports for the LA Weekly.

Former Coliseum general manager Patrick Lynch, events manager Todd DeStefano and rave promoter Reza Gerami were arrested this morning by investigators from the District Attorney's office, Jane Robison of the District Attorney's office told the Weekly.

Why?

They're not saying.

But it has been reported that all kinds of shenanigans were happening at the venue in recent years, including, as the Weekly first reported, the shuffling of under-the-table cash to union stagehands who probably should otherwise received payroll checks for their work.

The payments were said to have been made by event promoters. That amounted to hundreds of thousands if not more than a million dollars.

On top of that, DeStefano was accused, in reporting by the Los Angeles Times, of taking money on the side -- $1.5 million or more -- from event organizers, including rave promoters.

And Lynch, who allegedly stood by while all this happened, reportedly took advantage of perks and loopholes and was even accused of getting a publicly paid-for car out of his employment.

A tipster told us that "indictments" would come down this week. The District Attorney's office isn't commenting further. .

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Los Angeles City Council Member Dennis Zine faces a major dilemna as he is allegedly dating a woman who is a lobbyist for a major firm that was denied a lucrative contract at LAX.  The firm is now protesting that decision.  Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in West Los Angeles told the South Bay Daily Breeze that Zine should recuse himself from voting on the contract.  Because Zine is not married to the lobbyist and would not personally benefit, it may not be illegal for him to participate in deliberations.  However Stern said  "He shouldn't be participating in a decision that involves somebody he's dating, and he certainly shouldn't be the one leading the charge on this. It just doesn't look appropriate."

The State of California desperately needs money and USC wants to buy the Coliseum, next door to the campus and the home of it's football games.  The Coliseum Commission, as well as Council members Jan Perry and Bernard Parks are saying "hold the phone."

Read more »

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

When it comes to shared sacrifice for LA's Neighborhood Councils in the current budget climate, the Daily Breeze agrees that the 10% reduction proposed by the Mayor is fair.  So does Eric Garcetti. Yet Sleeping Greig Smith and Bitter Bernie Parks want to slash the panels' annual stipend to an amount equal to the the price of a two bedroom home in Van Nuys  - in 1958.  Smith is apparently so resentful of the Councils in his District that he's willing to play economic hardball.  However before that happens City Hall will be under siege from SLAP-happy Bastille stormers fresh off their historic victory on Measure B.  It's unlikely Sleepy and the Bitterman will be able to find more than a handful of CMs who will want to face pitchforks up their patoots.

Council President EricGarcetti is asking his constituents what should be done with all the new Obama era spendalus money targeted for his District.  Atwater Village Newbie has a good answer: "Do your job."  Rather than creating photo opp worthy new projects focus on fixing what's already broken.  Good advice.

The always on top and politically active Beckford School moms and dads in the San Fernando Valley are stepping up again.  They're joining with some neighboring schools to stage a protest rally against the LAUSD's nonsense.  Pretty impressive in that they've lined up both controversial school board member Tamar Galatzan as well as comedian Sandra Tsing-Loh.  Via the Beckford Parents Blog.

LAUSD couldn't entice big name educators from the East Coast to come and run the new multi-million dollar "arts" high school downtown so they've turned to Van Nuys instead. The Downtown News reports that Suzanne Blake of Vista Middle School will helm the new campus, which has been the target of criticism from within several camps in LA.

Speaking of the Downtown News apparently our friend and blogger Don Garza from Central City East has a problem with the paper.  Don feels that the News is spamming him with weekly news updates and can't seem to get off the list.  We think that both the News and Don Garza are excellent sources of information about our City's center however perhaps our other friend Jon Regardie, executive editor of the paper, can get Don off the list or at least take him out for a cup of coffee and patch things up.  We hope so.

We noted recently proposals in the State Legislature to sell the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, most likely to USC. Apparently County Supervisor and Coliseum Commission board member Zev Yaroslavsky is aghast at the idea.  The Coliseum Commission - a confusing joint powers arrangement of the City, County and State - has really done a poor job over the years managing the facility, probably botched any chance for pro-football in LA proper and has allowed the facility to forgo much needed improvements.  There is no doubt USC would do an excellent job of running the stadium.  Zev needs to think less about his season tickets and stop acting like a Bruin.

Saturday Special Hotsheet

Old Bank Building in Highland Park - Photo by Mayor Sam

The Daily News asks "Wasn't the last trash fee increase supposed to pay for new cops?" Yes, it was. They also accuse the Mayor of lying. Wow. The Mayor lie? Unbelievable. Yes, the Mayor lies.

Speaking of more lies from your elected officials, you knew about the DWP rate hikes the Clowncil pretended to be against and then voted for a week later. What you don't know about are secret DWP surcharges that can be passed onto you with no notice on a regular basis. These surcharges are even more than the rate increase.

Not believing Chief Bratton's "Culver City" spin, the troops are defying their leader. The Los Angeles Police Protective League has come out against his stand in favor of Special Order 40 and is supporting Councilman Dennis Zine's watered down version of Jamiel's Law. It's a baby step and a bit in the wrong direction, but it's a start nonetheless.

Billionaire investor Ed Roski announced his plans Friday for a new football stadium for Los Angeles, this one on land he owns in the City of Industry. Though there is no team slated for the stadium, local pols are still pursuing the dream of an NFL team at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and state legislators are vowing no public funds, Roski's going to go ahead anyway.

If you went to law school and have big time student loans to pay, you might consider becoming an attorney for Britney Spears. In the last month she's spent $375K for lawyers in her child support case, almost as much as in her conservatorship hearings and a weekly retainer of $10,000 to her court appointed lawyer.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

A rambling screed on some blog I never heard of says NFL Football is coming to LA. Really? Not at the Coliseum since the Mayor declared it dead in an effort to keep USC at the historic stadium, despite them being treated shabbily by Bitter Bernie Parks' Coliseum Commission. Anyway, economics dictate a team will land in LA someday, but at a privately built stadium either Downtown in South Park or at Dodger Stadium (or even more likely somewhere outside LA like Carson).

President Bush delivered a crushing blow to plans to develop the West Los Angeles Veterans' Administration property near the 405 and Wilshire when he signed budget legislation that essentially prohibits the VA from doing any kind of development deal on the property. You know that the old, dead Republican Mayor is pretty strict when it comes private property rights and development. However, when the land is owned by the taxpayers, a little NIMBY/CAVE/BANANA action is warranted considering, well, it's our land.

Government programs and the bureaucrats who run them seem to go on like the Energizer bunny even when the masses the presume to be helping choose not to take advantage of the program. In this case, the Los Angeles Unified School District is set to lose millions of dollars in Federal funding for school lunches because, well, students are not participating in the program. School Board President Monica Garcia - who's never met a free lunch she didn't like - is aghast and is coming with all kinds of explanations as to why the kids and their parents don't take up the free food program. Everything from long lines (wouldn't that be a deterrent to the paying customers as well?) to embarrassment to too short lunch periods are the scapegoat. As we noted yesterday most of these government programs throw billions at a social cause for decades and nothing changes.

And finally, as Tammy Bruce noted, at a recent event, actress Sharon Stone didn't put it in a box, but she had a holiday present for her male fans.

Thursday Hotsheet at 3 a.m.

JM, Grand Central Bike Rack, 12.11.07


He tried to take over the District; he padded the board with dittohead candidates; he went to the State for permission; a million or so was spent; nothing really worked. Now, a day after both quotidien fishwraps called the Mayor's money-without-a-plan microdistrict a "victory," the UTLA may challenge some results at two of the three affected high schools. It never ends.

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Trojans are promised a longterm offer sometime today. Proximity is not entitlement; the Commission should not give the Coliseum away just because the alum network is upping the pressure and leaning on everyone and her mother to do so. USC no more wants Pasadena than the Coliseum wants to lose USC; don't throw that chip away.

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The national fishwrap of record follows the Times on the LACMA gift. The gift is a staggering 130 pieces, but you know all those Giacommettis and Klees look the same. Yawn.

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Don't get too worked up over the prospect of People v. Dogg or even Garcetti et al. v. Dogg as prospective First Amendment cases should Council institute and enforce a mask law. As recently as 2004 a Circuit Court (the Second) ruled (in KKK v. Kerik) that the First Amendment does not protect wearing masks especially if wearing a mask is not an essential element of the message being delivered. This Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal.

E'en so---when was the last time you saw a City Hall beat print guy toeing First Amendment waters?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Not too long after Mayor Villaraigosa declared NFL football dead at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum talk started anew of a stadium in Chavez Ravine. But I don't think its going to happen. The NIMBY/CAVE/BANANA movement is just too strong and it will take years to get through the lawsuits alone. The honest truth is private landowners just don't have rights anymore.

This sounds like something out of a Sanford and Son episode: Thieves are stealing copper wire from streetlights. Its expensive to replace and before it's fixed a significant number of streetlights in a community will remain off. The valuable material can catch quite a pretty penny from recyclers. Which makes it even dumber that radio station KPCC posts an article showing you the tools necessary and the steps to take for anyone who wants to join in on this thievery.

The City of Los Angeles wants to blanket the City with free wireless internet. That's good for Zuma Dogg and anyone else who wants to remote blog; the problem is no city government yet has been able to figure it out. However, a number of non-profit community based initiatives are working well. How about leaving it to the private sector?

Just about every politician in Los Angeles has a plan to raise taxes and cries poverty when it comes to the municipal budget. However the Daily News reports that the City has wasted millions of dollars mismanaging state and federal grants. In an audit of the process, City Controller Laura Chick found there is no tracking or central management of grants leading to missing out on some grants or spending more money to get the grant than the grant is worth.

The MTA loses nearly $7 million a year to fare scofflaws who don't adhere to it's "honor system" of no turnstiles on it subway and rail lines. Now the MTA is considering putting in East Coast style gates on the entrance to the lines, requiring a fare payment to ride. However, some idiot writing in the Former Local Fishwrap of Record thinks that the multi-million dollar fare loss is a small "price to pay for the architectural and aesthetic benefits" of the stations' "openness."

How do you get to do a major real estate development and trick the NIMBYs and local Clowncilman to get on board? Dig up historic plans that show your project was supposed to be there all along.

I don't know how I missed this, but over a month ago Luke Ford reported a woman who looks a lot like a television reporter we all knew and some (well one) loved checked into Sherman Oaks Hospital's maternity ward.

Fellow Mirthala Banger Speaker Fabian Nunez's spending sprees are going to mess it up for all the other pols. The California Fair Political Practices Commission is considering regulations to crack down on the use of campaign funds for personal use.

LAist calls Clown Prince of the City Clowncil Tom LeBong a "grinch" for claiming the DWP's annual holiday light show in Griffith Park is "green." Critics say the event is far from green especially considering the fact that LeBong and the DWP have banned bicyclists from riding the city streets through the show in contravention of state law.

Mayor Villaraigosa's Plan to keep USC at the Coliseum

As a public service we bring you the Mayor's "Seven Points of Reason" to keep USC Football at the Coliseum.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has expressed his desire to keep USC playing its football games in the Coliseum, issued the following letter to the members of the Coliseum Commission today as it met to discuss the relaionship with USC.

Villaraigosa outlines seven principles of a proposed agreement:

For eighty-five years, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been synonymous with Trojan Athletics. With this great university calling this great public building home, the public interest has been served in countless ways.I believe that the future of the Los Angeles Coliseum is inconceivable without USC and I, therefore, urge the Coliseum Commission to immediately negotiate a long-term agreement with the University of Southern California based on the following rules of the game:(O.J. slash and cut his way through those)

First, USC makes a long-term commitment to the Coliseum that will bring jobs and produce economic vitality in South Los Angeles long into the future.(Hmm. remember them??)

Second, the Coliseum Commission and USC commit to a major renovation to bring the facility up to modern standards.(Law requires that, whats new, a tenament on "Skid Row"??)

Third, the renovation efforts will give priority to necessary improvements in amenities serving the larger public, such as restrooms and concession areas.(For Raiders fans, a tad late)

Fourth, USC agrees to make a significant financial commitment to the restoration project.(Tuition money can only go so far)

Fifth, the Coliseum Commission and USC acknowledge that the Coliseum is a public treasure which belongs to all members of our community, and that opportunities for community access, use and enjoyment of the Coliseum in a variety of athletic, education and cultural events will be enhanced and improved.(So is "HUSKIE STADIUM" at East L.A. College)

Sixth, the Coliseum will be treated at all times as an historical landmark, and its architectural character shall be protected and preserved.(Until the next "QUAKE")

And seventh, any agreement will recognize a superseding interest in bringing the Olympic Games to the Coliseum.I am committed to working together as teammates to get this agreement over the goal line.(Were waiting Barry Sanders)

.......and "ELMERS THE HORSE" pranced with glee while the Trojan band played "CONQUEST".

Late night update from the Los Angeles times

Coliseum, Bitter Bernie and Shadow Governments

Boi from Troy counts up the votes with the coming decision required by the Coliseum Commission on the matter of the USC lease. In less that two days, this group of boobs which include Bitter Bernie, Zev Yarovslasky and Yvonne Burke could chase the Trojans to Pasadena.

Along with the LA Times, I continue my call for the Commission to vote themselves out of business and turn over management (not the pink slip for some of you dummies who don't get it) of the stadium to USC.

In other news, in light of the Commission's nonsense, the Former Fishwrap of Record takes a look at joint powers authorities (of which the Commission is one), a unique Frankenstein monster of governments that allows multiple jurisdictions to take control but avoid accountability to a single group of voters for various government or marginally government functions. The OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET however fails to note the most notorious and evil of JPAs, that shadow government known as the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority which consists of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and various local agencies.

Don't Listen To Bitter Bernie; Let USC Run Coliseum

The battle between Rose Bowl bound USC and the Coliseum Commission has turned up a notch as the university threatens to move if the Commission is so short sighted to not show the Trojans they respect they deserve.

Various members of the Commission say they've allegedly received death threats from SC fans, which of course is not cool.

However the Commission - including folks like Bitter Bernie who thinks that an NFL team is still coming to the Coliseum (a folly even Tony Villar has given up on) - needs to realize that their white elephant is in far better hands under the management of sports and marketing powerhouse USC.

Bernie and the fools assume that if USC is given a master lease on the facility that soccer games, rock concerts and other events that earn the stadium revenue and have an impact on local businesses will come to an end.

However, since USC is looking to earn revenue to pay for maintenance and upgrades on the Coliseum, assuredly they won't just schedule money loser sporting events of their own.

For nearly 30 years, the Coliseum Commission has failed to make this gem succeed. Let someone else try.

Even the Former Fishwrap of Record agrees.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Well known Silver Lake activist Jason Lyon was booted from the local neighborhood council when city arbiter Michael de la Rocha ruled that Lyon had allegedly violated election rules by using a neighborhood council email list to campaign for office. At the same time the arbiter strongly urged DONE to develop stricter rules around the use and maintenance of such lists.

The next time you hear a politician saying we need money for government services and we need to raise taxes, remember this bit of news: A county agency spent $1.2 million on printer toner in one month - enough toner to last for four years, except the toner only has a shelf life of two.

Here's the latest on the Coliseum-USC battle: 1) The Mayor throws the Coliseum under the bus, 2) The LA Times is worried the stadium will become a relic and 3) County Supervisor Don Knabe may be worried he's not going to get free SC home games tix anymore.

Some goofy liberals think that building major housing developments without parking will get people to ride buses. Other goofy liberals think that same plan is part of some conspiracy to make driving and parking only for the rich.

Skid Row has been a seething urine-soaked cesspool for decades. Now, artists, developers and others are coming in to clean up the place and make it livable. For some reason that's considered evil. What's really evil is that the homeless - of whom 90% are mentally ill and in need of institutionalization - are allowed to be homeless and are enabled in their socially and personally destructive behaivors by the liberal elites in this city.

Fresh off his street sweeping performance, Clown Prince of the City Clowncil Tom LeBong is the latest elected after your wallet. Once content with only putting lights on statues in dangerous parks, LeBong wants a parcel tax for transit.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of several companies of Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters, a building in the Fashion District was save major damage when hit by a recent blaze.

Once again in the news, Rodney King was apparently shot in the face with some type of gun in San Bernardino. King's injuries were minor and he was sent home following treatment.

CurbedLA wonders if the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown LA is cool or not. As a kid when the hotel was new, I remember getting a big kick out of riding the vacuum tube looking glass elevators than run on the outside of the building.

We cried foul when Tom LeBong got the City to pony up a few hundred grand for the Hollywood Santa Parade at the same time funding was cut for the pedal boats at MacArthur and Echo Parks, something enjoyed by low-income families. A Christmas Miracle has happened because once again the City figured how to bring the boats back.

No, it has nothing to do with his recent breakup with his soncha, but Mayor Villraigosa is getting an AIDS test. Yea, its another photo op but maybe it will do some good to encourage testing. Though I can't imagine too many people are sitting around saying "Well I should have an AIDS test but I wasn't going to hassle with it. But I'm going to get one now that Mayor Villaraigosa got one!"

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Red Spot had it here yesterday - USC sick of the crap they're getting from the Coliseum Commission in negotiations for a new lease to play football in the stadium may bolt for the Rose Bowl. The Trojans are proposing a 10 year $100 million deal to repair the Coliseum themselves and take over its management. The Commission is holding to some pipe dream that NFL football is coming and only want to rent to USC for home games only. The idiots on the Commission need to wake up and realize what a major loss it would be for USC to leave LA and reward them for their decades long loyalty. Fight on!

Ten years later and Bernie is still bitter about the LAPD's "3-12" schedule that allows officers to work three days a week if they work 12 hour shifts. The plan is popular with officers. Many officers can not afford to live within city limits and live far from where they work. Fighting traffic three times a week instead of five is less stressful. Giving them four days to rest extends their usefulness. This time though Bitter Bernie managed to drag Jan Perry away from banning fast food long enough to mess with the cops.

Most readers know the old, dead Republican Mayor is the first to pounce on Clowncil members when they do or say anything remotely stupid. However writing about Wendy Greuel's "transportation mission statement" Boi From Troy was a bit over the top in comparing her comments to "something the pointy-haired boss would think up in a Dilbert cartoon." Actually in calling for the outline of plan with measurable goals and metrics Greuel is actually quite businesslike. Still busted up about Lloyd Levine getting hitched Scott?

Saturday is the 52nd anniversary of Rosa Parks' bold stand for civil rights when she fought segregation in the South. The County of Los Angeles has declared it 'Rosa Parks Day" but so far the Los Angeles City Council has not yet done the same. With only one more Council meeting left before the day they better get around to it soon. They can fine time to condemn our country and vote against the war but seem to have a hard time honoring a real American hero.

Roy Disney has a major share in the family business, The Walt Disney Company who counts among it's many subsidiaries ABC. No wonder he's opposed to NBC Universal's plan to build a new facility at the Universal City Metro station. How old is this guy anyway? Why does he care about traffic that's 5-10 years away?

What's this? Mayor V - National Chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton's Presidential Campaign - showing up in a Barack Obama press release?

Ann Cottrell - congratulations you've just become the 10,000th passenger to fly out of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport - what are you going to do now? Shake Mayor Villaraigosa's hand!

A Green Party blogger finds Mayor Villaraigosa's Million Trees program a "bone headed idea."

And finally - no jokes please; Gloria Molina is spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to build designated County "fitness zones."

USC considering a move to the Rose Bowl ?

Allow for this thought, would the University of Southern California, aka USC, leave the Coliseum for the Rose Bowl ?

Before you dismiss outright this question, consider the fact that USC and one of the historically inept public commission, the Coliseum Commission, have been deadlock on a future lease agreement for USC Football.

This impasse has the University engaging Pasadena about playing future home games in the Rose Bowl as early as Fall of 2008. The deadlock between the University and the Coliseum Commission centers around the lease proposal by USC to be the "feature tenant" in exchange for a 10 year lease deal that would see USC commit $100 million dollars toward stadium renovations. The University also wants the exclusive rights to market the Coliseum for events such as concerts and other special events.

The Coliseum Commission for their part are clinging to some forlorn hope that the NFL will listen to the likes of Councilman Bernard Parks and relocate a team to the historic stadium. Thus do not want to give USC the "feature role" at this time.

It is this type of "myopic vision and foresight" that chased the formerly "Los Angeles Rams" to Anaheim in 1979. UCLA then lefted for Pasadena soon after. Then after luring Nate Holden's favorite team , the Oakland Raiders south in 1982, cause Al Davis to take $9 Million to look at some Gravel Pit in Irwindale and scamper back to the Bay area in 1995.

If USC were to leave the Coliseum for Pasadena, this would deal a potentially fatal blow to the revitalization of the "Figueroa Corridor".

So for all sports fans and especially the "Trojan Family", will USC "fight on" in the Coliseum ? Or will the Coliseum Commission solidify itself as the "Champion of Ineptness" ?

Mid-morning update: "Open Letter from USC AD Mike Garrett"

I think that "Gravel Pit" in Irwindale is still avalible

Afternoon Update: USC- Rose Bowl Talks involve 1-year deal

NFL Talks On The Rocks

According to the Daily News, football talks have stalled and officials are avoiding the subject. At this point, apparently, the NFL values Los Angeles only as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other cities. Nice.

Los Angeles officials have refused to talk about it, but the NFL flat out told them three months ago that a professional football team will not be coming to the Coliseum, the Daily News has learned.

According to letters obtained by the Daily News, the city's latest hope of luring an NFL team involved pleading for Los Angeles to host a Super Bowl to try to regenerate interest in moving a team to the city.

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