TGIF Brief on the Free Speech-inhibiting Los Angeles Political Machine

The fiscal cost of the City of Los Angeles restriction of Free Speech at public meetings, continues to rise as Venice African-American Boardwalk Vendor Michael Hunt is awarded $215,000 for his ejection from a Recreation & Parks Commission Meeting, which he spoke while wearing KKK garb.

 The likes of Michael Hunt (in KKK Garb) and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltzberg exposed the limitation on Free Speech by the City Clowncil Central Committee.

Michael Hunt in KKK garb, speaks before the City Clowncil Central Committee during Public Comment.

When an Act of Outrage exposes a limitation on Free Speech, the taxpayers are bound to pay, again.

The Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee has decided to cut their legal loses by voting to pay Venice African-American Boardwalk Vendor Michael Hunt $215,000 for violating his First Amendment Rights in ejecting him for speaking in KKK garb at a Recreation & Parks Commission Meeting.

Many can easily find outrage in Michael Hunt's Act of Speech, especially when garbed in Klan wear. Yet, Hunt, along with fellow Venice Boardwalk Merchants Matt Dowd and David "Zuma Dogg" Saltzberg rightfully brought their grievances to City Hall and via their masterful use of Public Comment time, exposed the City Clowncil Central Committee reactive proclivities that have cost the taxpayers close to $1 Million Dollars in legal fees.

Instead of the City Clowncil Central Committee embracing Speech, the City Clowncil Central Committee Strongman Herman "Mini Amin" Wesson led body has enacted protocols that discourage Public Comment via cutting back on time, agenda placement, and the shutdown of off site locations among others.

In reality, while many will focus on the Act of Outrage by Hunt, the recent actions of the City Clowncil Central Committee and the repugnant (and legally costly) behavior by the likes of CD 14 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Jose Huizar, are more egregious. Thus, if outing the nefarious actions of the City Clowncil Central Committee as a whole, or the questionable act of character of the likes of Clowncilman Huizar, requires an Act of Outrage, then onwards with your First Amendment-protected exercise in expression.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

BREAKING NEWS: INJUSTICE: Jury Awards Winners in Zuma Dogg Federal Lawsuit Only $1

More to come later, but here's the news as we have it from Zuma Dogg's Twitter page. Despite winning a Federal lawsuit against the city, artist/blogger/activist David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg, his long time business associate Matt Dowd and several other Venice Beach performers who claimed that the way the city selected public performance spaces violated their civil rights, as well as a first amendment case by Saltsburg against the city for actions taken against him during public comment by the Los Angeles City Council, the jury in the case have awarded each of the plaintiffs only $1 each in damages. Local political watchers were stunned, longtime writer/blogger Joseph Mailander posted on his Facebook page that he found the news "depressing." Saltsburg himself tweeted the decision makes the case that  "Government can break law w impunity/no repercussion."

Morning Briefs on the Gadfly-Hating Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Some current and former members of the City Clowncil Central Committee via KFI's John and Ken Show.

Great morning to all from the "Communal City-State of Los Angeles" where fifteen members of the City Clowncil Central Committee wants to restrict your right to convey via diverse modes of communication, comments regarding actions of the special interest elected City Clowncil Central Committee that reign from 200 Spring Street. As a reminder to the Clowncil Central Committee, we post this ..........

Congress (.... and the City Clowncil Central Committee) shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (that includes Councilman Huizar and the CLARTS Fund).  

The First Amendment must be a foreign concept to the likes of CD 11 Clowncil Central Committee Member Bill Rosendahl and Clowncil Central Committee President Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson who are exploring ways to restrict speech from the likes of John Walsh, Chris Shabel and Miki Jackson pictured above, in light of Tuesday's comments in the Clowncil Central Committee Chambers by El Sereno Resident Michael Carreon that provoked feigned acts of victimization from Clowncil Central Committee Members Paul Koretz and Bill Rosendahl. Derided by some in the "establishment media" as "Gadflys", the likes of Walsh and Jackson have been instrumental in exposing safety issues at MTA and questionable actions at LACCD respectively. Others such as Zuma Dogg, Matt Dowd, Mike Hunt and Arnold Sachs have highlighted in public (and courtroom) the free speech hypocrisy of the supposed progressives that control the Clowncil Central Committee. Now, as the Clowncil Central Committee plots its revenge against those first amendment practitioners, Hillel Aron at the "Weekly of Record" profiles those City Hall regulars who are derisively labeled "Gadflys", but in actuality are the citizen watchdogs of an increasingly fascist City Clowncil Central Committee.          

 Zuma Dogg

 Matt Dowd

 Mike Hunt

Arnold Sachs

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Friday Free for All

I'm back.  Yet another visit to the Pacific Northwest with the added opportunity to avoid YAWNmageddon.

Free Matt Dowd!

Now that Janice Hahn is going to Congress, the fight begins for her seat with yet another special election. While I don't have a horse in this race, it appears that firefighter union head Pat McOsker is quickly becoming the bloggers' favorite to be the whipping boy of this race.  McOsker, part of a politically connected family equally known for it's salty and surly aggressiveness as for it's dominance on the LA political scene, is already showing a need for anger management therapy.  Street Hassle reports that McOsker gave an expletive laden retort to questions as to his ability to simultaneously helm the union and run for Council. In the meantime, anonymous detractors of McOkser have started a blog and apparently endured the wrath of McOsker's brother, Mike.

Read more »

Obama's Plan Might be Working, Matt Dowd Gets Richer

Dow is up 450 points.  Dowd, I agree, PayPal Zuma some of those earnings.

Zuma Dogg and ABC News Nightline Crew at Los Angeles City Hall

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

We're not even through with this election, with voters not having weighed in on shady propositions like Measure A and Measure R and Mayor Villaraigosa is already planing more tax and spend ballot measures less than six months from now on the March ballot.  The latest bit of shadiness involves a plan to get you to pay for solar panels for buildings throughout LA.  Solar energy is great but let the market make it happen - with the current energy situation people are taking a hard look at solar and other alternative forms of energy.

An unexpected source of support of  Proposition 8, the state ballot measure that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California, comes from Venice based public commenteer, musician and agent provocateur Matt Dowd.  Dowd tells The Sister City "Will there be a flood of men coming over the border to get green cards by marrying a man already here? how is the validity of these 'gay' marriages determined, and will the federal government even recognize these CA. marriages when it comes time to file for your 'spouse'. I think its dangerous ground to allow same sex, if only for that immigration concern. anyone worried now about immigrants taking resources from the citizens, well, get ready for the next wave. I say YES on Prop 8." There you have it.

The Daily News editorializes the City of LA should allow Providence Holy Cross Medical Center to continue it's plans for expansions to help meet the shortage of hospital beds in the San Fernando Valley.  The editorial takes the LA City Council to task for holding the hospital hostage to a dispute with the unions, who are blocking expansion until the hospital makes a deal with them.  However, the News kind of forgets a relatively organized group of folks in the community who also don't want the hospital to expand.

The father of LA City Councilman Bernard Parks, Earl Parks, has passed away at the age of 87.  The elder Parks like his son was also a law enforcement officer in Los Angeles, serving for the Port Police.  The Sister City expresses our sincerest condolences to Councilman Parks and his son and chief-of-staff Bernard Parks, Jr. who has been a friend of this blog.

Mayor Sam Turned Four

If you missed Mayor Sam’s fourth anniversary party last night, you missed an inspiring blend of activism and entertainment. Attendees included the No Home Depot crew, folks from Ron Kaye’s SLAP organization, advocates for the Southwest Museum, José Aguilar, David Hernandez, Louis Pugliese, Mayor Sam bloggers, and many others.

Host Zuma Dogg directed the rotation of artists and speakers with finesse—even delighting the crowd with his signature rendition of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. Other performances included Matt Dowd absolutely killing it on his 1962 strat, and Michael Higby’s stunning delivery of the pop standard, Fly Me to the Moon. Who knew Mayor Sam could sing?

The biggest highlight of the evening, however, was David Hernandez’ announcement that he is entering the race for mayor of Los Angeles. That’s right— things just got three-dimensional, y’all. Stay tuned, and blog away, Dum Dums.

Matt Dowd to Perform at Sister City Fourth Anniversary

You may not like his public comment, but Matt Dowd is by far one of the most talented guitar players in Los Angeles.  Check him out playing ZZ Top's La Grange on Venice Beach here.



Matt will be performing this Friday night at our big Fourth Anniversary party hosted by Zuma Dogg at Casa Princesa in Highland Park. Everyone is welcome to attend, we'll have karaoke, open mic for musicians, singers and poets, public comment and special guests. The fun starts at 7 and goes until closing. See you there!

Mayor Sam's 4th Birthday

Friday, October 17th, 7:00 p.m. to closing

Hosted by Zuma Dogg

Casa Princesa Cafe

4527 York Blvd. (at Avenue 45)

Highland Park

Zuma Dogg's Rally A Hit!

A number of community activists, Mayor Sam readers, artists and neighborhood folks turned out for Zuma Dogg's election rally at Case Princessa in Highland Park.  The event was such a success that next Friday, October 17th, Mayor Sam in partnership with Zuma Dogg will host the Sister City 4th Anniversary Party (Part 1). Stay tuned for more details.

MC Zuma Dogg

Zuma jams with Matt Dowd.  I may not agree with everything Matt says but the boy can wail on the axe.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Think what you might about Zuma Dogg and Matt Dowd but if what the Mutt reports is true, I am aghast. While holding down a Venice Beach performance space for Dowd as the Kiwi gadfly ran an errand, Zuma was hassled by Venice Beach officials and LAPD officers who wanted to hand the space over to a "performer" who juggles machetes from a ladder. Oh yea that's really something servants of public safety should be protecting!

An audit by City Controller Laura Chick makes the finding that Los Angeles World Airports chief Gina Marie Lindsay did not unlawfully influence two different evaluation panels to choose a contractor which she had previous ties to in the awarding of lucrative construction contracts at LAX. However, insiders at the Airports department say otherwise.

Yet another tax increase! Assemblyman Mike Feuer got his fellow members to pass a local sales tax increase to fund the MTA. However you'll get a chance to vote on it, probably in November.

South Bay Area Congresswoman Laura Richardson who lost a home in Sacramento following foreclosure has two other homes in Long Beach and San Pedro that have fallen into default at least six times according to The San Diego Union Tribune. Richardson acknowledged using her personal funds to pay for her campaigns instead of paying her bills. She will face two challengers in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Looks like Bob Blumenfield has secured the animal wacko vote. Too bad cats and dogs can't vote though. Well at least not yet; don't put any ideas in Richard Alarcon's head.
And finally, If you're looking for some interesting family entertainment, check out the Toy Theatre Festival at the Music Center on June 14th. Toy Theatre is a genre of puppetry in which plays are enacted using two-dimensional rod puppets in a small model theatre.

Zuma Dogg vs. Tom LaBonge

Zuma Dogg and Matt Dowd have a run in with Councilmember Tom LaBonge at City Hall. Here are Zuma's comments on the incident:

"LA City Councilmember Tom LaBong is the kinda guy you WANNA love and you SHOULD love. Like the popular football captain that everyone likes. But Tom has a controlling, bullyish streak that always gets in the way. All Matt and Zuma want is for Tom to let the Council President and Sergeant at Arms run and control the meeting. Tom is a more disruptive figure than any one else in chambers, most days. Hey Tom, hit the La Bong and chill out my man! You're supposed to be the fun, cheerleader CM that everyone loves."

Zuma Dogg Talks Special Order 40 with Mayor Villaraigosa

Had Matt Dowd not bogarted the situation I think Zuma Dogg could have got more time with the Mayor; however in this piece ZD chats Special Order 40 and transparency in anti-gang programs with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Phil's Diner, North Hollywood - Photo by Mayor Sam

This story should make you giggle. Mayor Villaraigosa is looking for every way he can to tax you more and more. But of course they're not taxes but fees because he can't increase your taxes (well legally anyway) without your vote. And what makes it deliciously fun is the City Council might insist - at least for a couple minutes, about as long as they were opposed to water and power rate increases - that any increases be offset by cuts in "spending at City Hall." Ha ha that's they them! They won' t even give up their slush funds that they use to pay for event waivers, free food for Matt Dowd and other nonsense. Incredible! Hope you people wake up soon! Get ready soon for the city income tax!

Columnist Ira Mehlman does an excellent job of deconstructing the liberal hypocrisy in the reaction to the calls by Jamiel Shaw's family to pass Jamiel's Law. Mehlman perfectly captures the usual arrogance of some of our City Clowncil members, "Councilman Bill Rosendahl condescendingly explained that the reasons for city policies that shield illegal immigrants – even those who commit crimes – were far too complex for them to grasp and that further discussion needs to be put off for another time."

A blogger thinks that the members of the DWP Commission should be responsive and accountable to the people. Were they hitting the medical marijuana y'all?

Future Mayor Zev Yaroslavsky had an Antonio type moment over the weekend. He picked up a major "man of the year" type award from a local film festival.

Matt Dowd's Open Thread

So what's up in Venice today?