Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

SEIU 721 Regional Director Julie Butcher.

Memo to my former SEIU 347 General Manager Julie Butcher, DNC and Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz may find your latest endeavor "borderline offensive" but this blogger says "you go sister"!

As Daily News Rick Orlov notes in this Monday's edition of his Tipoff Column, Butcher and her brother and sisters of the the Coalition of L.A. City Unions, which has been working with the mayor for the past three years, is scheduled to hold a news conference this week calling on President Obama and the Democratic National Committee to remove Villaraigosa as chair of the Democratic Party's summer convention in Charlotte, N.C.

The main message behind the movement is that Villaraigosa has lost touch with his Democratic roots.

Democratic roots? The only root that the former Tony Villar of City Terrace has never lost touch of is the root of self-preservation.

Political Consultant John Shallman's infamous Titanic Mailer.

We are not the only one to catch on to "Green Political Consultant John Shallman's proclivity for recycling campaign material (while charging high end prices).

From Orlov.

In politics, nothing gets old. Or thrown away.Just look at the campaign of Carmen Trutanich, who is looking to move up from city attorney to district attorney at the June 5 primary.Trutanich, who has returned to using Tru as a nickname on his website, has released a "Blueprint for Justice," on how he would manage the $190 million D.A. budget.  In his 2009 city attorney campaign, it was a "blueprint for change." Now, it's a "blueprint for a new direction."

That consulting bill for the "Blueprint" is in the mail from Shallman Communications.

 The Occupying Red Rabble on the South Lawn of City Hall.

The 99% that strives to be wards of the government via edits from the likes of SEIU and Van Jones, will gather at the red light of dawn to march as a collective on the International Day of the Worker.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mere hundreds turn out for Amnesty/May Day Rally in Downtown LA

Commie/Socialist Anthem "Internationale" in English (top) y Espanol (bottom).

Can you you feel the pain of Paleta/ Ice Cream Salesman Luis Ortiz, as told to the LA Times?

"It's really sad," Luis Ortiz, an ice cream vendor who has been coming to the rallies for the last 15 years, said of the small turnout. "I've sold very little, almost nothing."

Brother Luis was counting on thousands or tens of thousands of his fellow working class brothers and sisters to turn out in Downtown LA for the 2011 observance of the "International Day of the Worker". But from the heady days of 2006 when a rising latino politico proclaimed to hundreds of thousands Amnesty supporters, "WE CLEAN YOUR TOILETS!". This year's observance was attended by about the same number of  patients at Chicano/ Amnesty Activist Larry "Nativo" Lopez new home at Patton State Hospital. 

Could it be that the waning influence of President Barack Obama, mixed with a resurgent Republican Congress, has taken the steam out of the immigration rights/ labor movement?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

The Los Angeles City Council has taken the next step in their efforts to oppose Arizona's immigration reform law.  They have voted to join in a lawsuit against the Grand Canyon State along with the SEIU, UFCW and all the usual suspects.  But there's a wrinkle - former Mayoral candidate Walter Moore points out that the Clowncil voting to have the City join the lawsuit is actually a violation of the City Charter; as well, even voting to boycott Arizona is outside the Council's charter authority.  Moore has sent a letter to City Attorney Carmen Trutanich urging his office not to get involved and noting that a resident of the City could turn around and sue the City over the issue.  In the meantime Paul Hatfield reports that the Valley Glen Neighborhood Council is the very first in the City to have gone on record opposing the City's boycott.

Always classy Betty Pleasant is peeing her pants in joy.  Betty, who never misses the opportunity to take potshots at Councilman Bernard Parks, is "reporting" that District Attorney and newly minted Attorney General candidate Steve Cooley is investigating Parks' residence status.  Betty also claims "friends" in the DA's office have sent her documents from the investigation.  That might be illegal Betty, you better call an attorney soon.  In a related note the Sister City learned today that Cooley is investigating yet another elected who does not live in the District they represent.  We can't say who but when it comes out it will be a doozy.

You may remember that several journalists, including several Spanish language television reporters and crews,  were roughed up by LAPD officers following the May Day Immigration melee in 2007.  Wednesday the City Council voted to approve a total of $450,000 in settlement payouts to some of those journalists.  More lawsuits are still pending.

The always interesting Here in Van Nuys blog has a thoughtful post.  On Van Nuys Blvd, several major car dealerships have moved and the old facilities are being razed and the asphalt being pulled up.  This gives one the rare opportunity to see a wide swath of empty Valley land.  It also gives pause as to what could be done with such.  For example, a shopping and dining experience built around an urban farm.  Sadly, there are no intelligent developers in the Valley who can't see beyond frozen yogurt and nail shops but wouldn't it be cool if there was one who could figure out how to make money building a restaurant that grows some of it's own food right outside the window?

Bloggy Bits for Monday

The old, dead Republican Mayor has returned from a long trip north and has time to give you a few bloggy bits to open thread on. We'll back up to full speed in a day.

In the meantime:

Knocking Down City Hall Fences -- and Nonsense
RonKayeLA: "The other day, I had quite a surprise while at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks park: A barricade was erected preventing access to approximately 300 lineal feet of a popular jogging trail that has been around for 20 years."

LA officials approve $12.85 million payout over May Day melee
Press Enterprise: "The Los Angeles City Council has approved a $12.85 million payout for demonstrators and bystanders who were beaten by police at a pro-immigration rally."

Los Angeles Measure B Opponents Lack Substantial Arguments Against Proposal
The Policy Report:  "The Measure B opponents claim that Antonio Villaraigosa is making a backroom deal with the IBEW Union.  I have no knowledge of this.  Here is what I do know– it doesn’t matter to me who installs these solar panels.  I want the City of Los Angeles to have 400 Megawatts of solar power which Measure B plans to create.  Even if the IBEW increases their political influence in the City, does it matter?  The cost of getting that solar power is adding more IBEW jobs to the Department of Water and Power, and that is a fair trade to me."


Dispute arises on Measure B cost
The Daily News: A consulting firm hired by the city to detail a proposed solar-power ballot measure estimated the cost at $1 billion - or only one-third the amount of earlier projections, officials said Monday. City officials had previously estimated that it could cost up to $3 billion, but could be reduced to $1.5 billion with federal tax credits. A separate, highly critical outside audit to be released soon, however, estimates the cost at up to $3.6 billion and argues that the city would not be eligible for the tax credits.

Pre-dawn missives for Friday

LAPD Officers Chuck Garcia and Ryan Moreno may shake the foundation of law enforcement in the City of Los Angeles and City Hall. Backed by the Police Protective League, Gracia and Moreno are fighting against the supporters of the Grape Street Crips and sadly their "friends in city government.

Last night, "Fox News at 10", earned an Emmy for local reporting, but more important, shine the light on the fraud that is Gang Intervention Programs in the City of Los Angeles.

For those in denial about the influence that Street Gangs have on their local populance and in extention their political overseers, one must see tonight's "Fox News at 10" second and last part exclusive on the connection between the Grape Street Crips and Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

And the reward for Officers Garcia and Moreno? A orchestrated campaign of complaints from the parents and supporters of gang members who control the drug trade and sadly, positions of leadership within the community, that led to their transfare and lawsuit.

Lastly, for those who still believe that the cops are the problem? Then engage the fine officers at Hollenbeck and bring up Lupe Andrade. Then you may grasps how gangs are evolving to survive in 21st Century Los Angeles.
PART ONE
PART TWO
Press Release from Councilwoman Janice Hahn on allegations by gang members.
Link to read ex. Daily News Editor Ron Kaye's take on the Fox News report.
Responce to Fox News report on April 30 by Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

Post mortems galore on the "First day in May" or a "Day without a Kobylt".
"OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET"
"MOLDY GREEN SHEET"
"CENTRAL CITY EAST"
"BLOG DOWNTOWN"
"LA EASTSIDE"
"WITNESS LA"
"LOS VOZ DE AZTLAN" (nut jobs come in all colors)
"MINUTEMAN PROJECT" (for Don Q. and his "internal friends")

The buzz is all about "SAVING THE TACO TRUCK!!"

Has the "EDUCATION TUTOR" to Tony V. Ruben Cortines, "CROSSED THE T" on the Admiral Brewer era at LAUSD?

What candidate for State Office just traded his address on Alexandra in the 90027 for a new mail drop on S. Flower, Downtown? You may recognize the DNA linkage.

This is for Density junkies like Tony V., Ed Reyes, Huizar, the above mention carpetbagger and their "Tree hugging friends", its all about the water. With rationing on the way to becoming reality, maybe it was a good thing that only 8,500 showed up to march downtown.

The "KENNEDY REPUBLICAN" may wish for you to "pay to drive" but thanks to his "brother in law", may lose the choice to fly to work.

......and in closing, what once was happy, heady times after the Recall of Gray Davis now are the blunt reality that we elected a "CALIFORNIA KENNEDY", who has driven the "fiscal vehicle" of the State of California off the bridge of "fiscal responsibility" into the deep waters of crippling deficits that he can't emerge from without damage. That damage will come in the form of new taxes that a "GIRLY MAN" would disapprove of.

Pre-dawn missives for May Day, 2008

Time to rise, face the tomb of Marx, and sing "INTERNATIONALE" for our "brothers and sisters comrades" on this day of the worker.

May Day in Los Angeles has evolved from the days of "Meet and Confer" between riot gear wearing members of the LAPD and young communist/anarchists, to now what has become an actual event complete with large scale marches and political pandering to match.

May Day 2006 will always have a place in Angelino political folklore for the utterance of a certain slogan. "WE CLEAN YOUR TOILETS!!", by a then rising, and going places political leader.

In 2008, the likes of Fabian Nunez, Ed Reyes, Gil Cedillo, Dov Charney and Larry "Nativo" Lopez will take to the streets to remind Americans that no peace, thus no justice, will continue until we legalize/reform our immigration laws and stop the raids by ICE.

Afternoon shorts from Downtown:
Los Angeles Chamber of Collective, err, Commerce calls on ICE to stop the raids.
Major Ports shut down in protest of Iraq War.
L.A. Times running poll on the pro and cons of today's marches .
LA Times 5:50 PM Fewer protesters on May Day
****Day without a Kobylt at KFI****
Where are the crowds??? No Kobylt, no protesters.
LAPD estimates 6,000 people walked the streets

The one irony of many on display today is if we had the ability to flash back 20 years, The same unions marching today for immigrant rights (ie. more dues paying members and VOTERS), would of been protesting the impact of illegal immigration on the Blue Collar community, times do change.

The local fishwraps, the "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET" and the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET" have column feets of news print dedicated to today's events in downtown and pertinent background information. City Beat remains faithful to its leftist/unionist ideals, and stories about airport contracts, polluted school sites and a LA TIMES/LAPD PR release on gang suppression are just some of the other issues of the day.

Solidarity to all and.................................SAVE THE TACO TRUCK!!! NO TACOS, NO PEACE!!!!

BREAKING NEWS!! DC MADAM commits suicide, did Captain Jack have a scoop on local connection to the trial???

LINK to see Fox News at 10 Exclusive story on Councilwoman Janice Hahn/Grape Street Crips collaboration.

A Guy in LA

COMES NOW the first entertaining must-read on your May syllabus, the first from this time of troubles that scarcely seem to trouble the City at all. It's by one Scott Olin Schmidt, and it speaks fire and truth.

The premise. "There's a Spanish-speaking Los Angeles and an English-speaking Los Angeles and, as recent events here demonstrated, the two rarely speak to each other."

The evidence, please. Here's Scott on the May Day disturbance: "While the media went apoplectic over the attacks on members of their own, most of Los Angeles seemed to shrug and move on. The incident in MacArthur Park barely registered a blip in coffeshop or cocktail conversation on the English-speaking Westside."

Here's Scott on the Griffith Park Fire-slash-photo-op: "Bringing Bratton to the press conferences at the Griffith Park fire was a stroke of brilliant political theater on Villaraigosa's part. While most of non-Spanish speaking Los Angeles had a vague idea that he was embattled, there was no city-wide resentment towards him as there was for former police chief Darryl Gates. The Griffith Park inferno was the May Melee for Gringo L.A. impacting the livelihood of its residents who had to flee the fire, Sierra Club environmentalists, equestrians and those who can afford to live in Los Feliz."

He forgot all those key grip hikers, and he falls a little flat in imagining that Antonio would even be interested to bother "bridging the gap between these two Los Angeleses." The premise would have been better if it were divided along its true axis, not Latino/Anglo but poor/privileged. The race chasms needn't be bridged at all---that's something every Mayor since, well, Sam, knows and loves about his position of power in the City; and until the working poor are sufficiently mobilized, there's no need to toss them even the barest of political bones.

In LA, your only task as Mayor is not bridge, nor to solve, no, not even to lead; it's merely to counterbalance. That's what the obsequiously-obliging Bratton was incongruously doing at the privileged people's fire, and that's what his police force was doing, while Antonio was in Latin America, through the poor people's May Day melee that accidentally roughed up some working class media types, but has been very soon forgotten in privileged LA.

Bratton and Villaraigosa Should Resign

Placing blame for bad decisions made by police officers at last week's May Day protests, Police Chief Bill Bratton reassigned two top cops and busted one of them down from Deputy Chief to Commander.

Click read more for the rest...



Deputy Chief Cayler ``Lee'' Carter a 33-year veteran of the LAPD and commanding officer of operations at the LAPD's Central Bureau was demoted to the rank of commander and assigned to his home. Commander Louis Gray, a 39 year veteran and Carter's second-in-command was moved to a post in the Office of Operations. Bratton will announce his recommended replacement for Carter during the Police Commission meeting Tuesday.

"I have to be comfortable with the leadership around me," Bratton said, but he noted that he could not state the specific reasons for the moves because they were personnel matters.

Mayor Villaraigosa - who was out of the country during the protest and surrounding incidents - told reporters ``We're not going to shift responsibility down the chain of command. Accountability begins at the top. What happened on May 1st was wrong and we're taking immediate action to address it. Let me be clear about this: When I say accountability starts at the top, it starts with me."

We have to remember that both Villaraigosa and Bratton planned to be out of the country weeks before the protests. Surely the LAPD had intelligence that troublemakers were likely to take advantage of the event and egg police on. Given that, it was completely irresponsible of Bratton and Villaraigosa - as top leaders of the city - to attempt to skip out of town when this volatile event was on the calendar.

"Let me be clear about this: When I say accountability starts at the top, it starts with me."
Mayor Villaraigosa

There is no doubt that some officers acted badly. However there were protestors and other troublemakers who were the source of the trouble; these moves to blame officers by Bratton and Villaraigosa only seek to wash over their behaivor and allows the perpetrators to get away with it.

And it also discounts the fact that a number of the protestors - no matter how much they are good people, hard working and are very good at cleaning toilets (according to the Mayor) are here ILLEGALLY and are violating the law as well. However the Mayor, the Chief, the City Clowncil and a good chunk of LA are in denial of that fact.

Indeed, as much as Carter and Lee are responsible for the actions of the officers below them, so too are Villaraigosa and Bratton. The Mayor said "accountability starts at the top."

Therefore considering all that happened - and that the Chief and the Mayor irresponsibly planned to leave town (Bratton was scheduled to leave a little later than Villaraigosa and therefore when things got of hand there was time for the Mayor to cut the Chief loose and order him to stay in the country) - its only fitting and right that the Mayor and the Chief resign.

Of course, they are going to deny all responsibility, pin the blame on underlings and move on. But no doubt the members of the Command Officers Association and the Police Protective League will have a few words to say. We'll be glad to hear them.

A few other views:
Mayor Villaraigosa Pisses Me Off
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Rushes to Judgment

Pro-Illegal Blogger Video May Exonerate LAPD

A pro-illegal alien blogger captured a good portion of the protest and aftermath in MacArthur Park on May Day. The video shows that despite masked hooligans and other individuals attempting to engage the police and causing trouble, the police officers were remarkably restrained and well organized.

Indeed, it may have been the efforts of the LAPD that prevented the troublemakers from getting further out of control and starting actual riots.



More videos at MS2. Click here.