Assemblyman Mike Gatto to forgo 25th State Senate District Campaign

The former Silver Lake, "Stay at Home Infant Assemblyman", now termed-out Assemblyman "Slobo Mike" Gatto, announces his intentions to forgo contentious 25th State Senate District Campaign against former Assemblyman Anthony Portantino and LA County Board of Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

The former "Infant Assemblyman"

 ** Blogger's Note: Its with profound sadness, via sources and the Sacramento Bee, that the former "Investigated Stay at Home Infant Assemblyman Lil Mikey", now grown into nearly, termed-out Assemblyman "Slobo Mike" Gatto, has announced that he will forgo his Campaign for the vacant 25th State Senate District Seat. Assemblyman Gatto is quoted by the Bee as sighting family concerns and the unsolved murder investigation of his father as primary reasons for dropping out of challenging Democratic rival Anthony Portantino and Republican Mike Antonovich for the Seat currently held by Carol Liu. But according to a reliable source, another possible reason for "Slobo Mikey" withdrawing from the contentious contest, was a poll that showed him performing poorly. "Slobo Mikey's" poor poll showing, can be attributed to his strained relationship with the Armenian Community as exampled by the recent "replay" of the 43rd Assembly District Democratic Delegate Elections, that saw a major victory for Anthony Portantino-supporting delegates----Scott Johnson. 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article47590820.html#storylink=cpy

Now termed-out Assemblyman "Slobo Mike" Gatto.

HOT Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

With termed-out Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich now officially a candidate for the open 25th State Senate Seat, a new "Uncensored Antonovich Website", is up and running as the main Democratic Candidates, Assemblyman Mike Gatto and Anthony Portantino, prepare for a "Campaign Blueblood Letting" in 2016.  

The State Senate Campaign of termed-out Supervisor Michael Antonovich is already garnering opposition attention.

From last evening's KRLA 870 AM's Randy Economy Show, to this Sunday's afternoon cyber-missive via the LA Daily News, the disclosure of termed-out LA County Board of Supervisor Michael Antonovich's bid for the open 25th State Senate District Seat, is already garnering attention ......., including from Democratic Operatives, who want to keep the Seat in the Blue Category.

A new website titled "Uncensored Antonovich" at uncensoredantonovich.com, is up and running, exposing the supposed "Ethical Lapses", "Inappropriate Emails" and "Head-Scratching Decisions" from the Republican Antonovich's twenty-plus years on the Board of Supervisors.

 Its head-stratching to say the least, that surrogates of one of the two major Democratic Candidates in this contest, 43rd AD Assemblyman Mike Gatto and former Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, would put resources into the creation of this "uncensored outing of Antonovich ........, or maybe not.

While the voting demographics of the 25th State Senate District favors the Democrats, its not a given that under the State of California's "Open Primary Rules", that both Portantino and Gatto make the top two in a Runoff Election, considering that a strong Republican Candidate (in the form of Antonovich), could coalesce the party's register voters into a formidable block, that takes out either Assemblyman Gatto or Portantino.

Thus, if the political planets align the right way (and monetary resources are allocated) the California Republican Party (and Antonovich) can pull the upset in 2016.

** Continuing on the topic of quick responses, the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee was the recipient of same-day recognition for its 12-2 Vote to approve the "Mobility 2035 Plan" (which should also garner legal attention in the near future) at its Friday Meeting. That afternoon, KFI 640 AM Afternoon Drive Duo of John and Ken, wasted no time in bestowing its weekly's "Hacks in the Dumpster Award" on the twelve, yes-voting Clowncil Central Committee Members (click link to hear Podcast), with special attention given to CD 11 Clowncilman Mike Bonin ......., and the "Social Justice Champion" (who went to Princeton) CD 14 Clowncilman Jose "Increase Mobility for USC" Huizar.

** Anybody with a spare "Benjamin" can get a inside look of a Former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar's Hollywood Hills Bachelor Pad as the former City Terrace Native hosts a fundraiser for the "2016 Hillary Indicted Legal Fund" tonight. While the "Person of Interest" will not be in attendance, you may have the opportunity to enjoy a ride with a "certain blogging, designated driver (for the right price of course)".

Your thoughts ...............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Machine for Tuesday

They're back from summer recess!

Welcome back!

Your City Clowncil Central Committee is back in session today and the chamber has gone to "POT", that is the discussion on the future of Medical Pot Dispensaries in the City of Los Angeles. Currently, City Clowncil Strongman Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson is allowing 20 minutes of public comments for each side of the proposed ban. Then the Clowncil will sequester themselves in Close Session to review legal information. Expect this to last most of the day.

** Other News:

** What happen on a Kern County ranch is now a scandal that will not go away at LAUSD. The lawsuit stemming from the private behavior of former Superintendent Ramon Cortines at his Kern County spread, was to have been settle but the district made public the identity of the plaintiff.

** Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Mike Antonovich wants to become the "Republican Kenny Hahn", meaning he wants term limits relaxed on members of the Board of Supervisors.

More news later in the day.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14     

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Templum Maximum Ego Antonovichus
aka Antelope Valley Courthouse

In an effort to provide more jobs for City workers, the City of Los Angeles took over management January 1st of rental golf carts at City owned golf courses. You might be able to guess what happened the first day: no one remembered to plug the carts in and charge them.  Lots of unhappy golfers!

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Blog away dum dums.

The LA City Council is going to ask for a tax that even a NIMBY could love but it doesn't mean it should be passed. The Clowncil has voted to place a measure on the November ballot that would tax billboards and supergraphics. Though the city is pleading poverty Mark Reddick, President of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council, makes a good point - “We don’t have a revenue problem in the city; we have a spending problem.” Reddick is absolutely right and at some point most of the rest of you will get it.

Clowncilman Greig Smith voted against LA's goofy boycott of Arizona but was wishy washy when asked why.  Not so with County Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Don Knabe who oppose a similar LA County boycott of Arizona.  Antonovich did not mince words calling the boycott "Stupid."  Perhaps Antonovich and Knabe are concerned about the economic impact of a boycott of LA and it's tourist attractions; San Diego lost several million dollars in hotel bookings from Arizona residents when that city only passed a condemnation of Arizona and not quite a boycott. With Arizonans gearing up for a counter-boycott of Los Angeles and other cities those considering sticking their nose into Arizona's business (especially when California already has an identical law on the books to Arizona's) might think twice.

Bloated mush-mouth Clowncilman Paul Koretz compared Arizona's anti-illegal immigration laws to Nazi Germany and caught a lot of heat for it.  But here's something about Nazi Germany Koretz may want to remember as he is cheerleading banning the carrying of unconcealed weapons in public.  It was in Nazi Germany that Hitler required all citizens to register their guns and banned Jews from owning weapons, just before they were loaded on boxcars and hauled to the ovens.  Koretz should think twice and consider that the second amendment is there for a reason.

The former Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro is being turned into a "Great Park" a enormous public space that will create a park twice the size of New York's Central Park.  Now efforts are underway to turn part of the park into a massive urban farm.  Maybe that's a good idea for the Grand Avenue Park in Downtown LA, given how many hungry people we have in LA.  It would be funny to see Eli Broad in overalls don't you think?

This may be bad news for the Republican and Democratic parties: Californians are fleeing both parties in record numbers  20% of voters in the Golden State have registered as decline to state.

If your home is in a hillside area its time to soon to clear the brush around your property.  The LAFD News and Information Blog has great information including how to hire a professional to clear the brush and how the inspection process works.

CD 14 Councilman, errr, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich Protects El Sereno Neighborhood

The residents of eastern El Sereno, or should we call it the "option three neighborhood", can thank the likes of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, for removing the above-ground option for the completion of the 710 freeway.

Details in the below press release.

PRESS RELEASE
October 23, 2009
For Immediate Release

ANTONOVICH PROTECTS PASADENA, SOUTH PASADENA AND EL SERENO NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DEVASTATION IN 710 GAP CLOSURE

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – To protect the residents of Pasadena, South Pasadena and El Sereno from the devastating consequences of above-ground construction of the 710 gap closure project, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Supervisor Gloria Molina and Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to ensure that MTA define the project as a “tunnel” project consistent with Measure R ballot language.

The MTA had previously taken out the word “tunnel” from its proposed long range transportation plan and left the definition vague as to whether or not the project would be a tunnel or a surface route that would devastate the communities through which construction would take place.

These communities previously had tried to get state legislation (SB 545, Cedillo) passed this year to mandate that the gap closure project would have to be constructed underground to avoid damaging the communities with a surface alignment. That bill was not signed into law by the Governor despite support from both the Assembly and the Senate.

Nice of Antonovich, with help from Villaraigosa and Molina, to come to El Sereno's assistance, but why do the fine citizens of El Sereno have to rely on the politicos above when they have a Councilman who has a seat on the MTA board? We are still waiting for Huizar to comment as noted in yesterday's post regarding his leadership on the 710 freeway tunnel issue.

And now with the tunnel back as an option in regards to completing the 710 freeway, wonder how much Don Jones is bemoaning the fact that he is an "former CalTrans tenant", considering that it may be decades before any solution to the 710 freeway issue becomes finite?

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

Vacation Hot Sheet

BREAKING: City Council quorum was lost today when Mike Hunt: African American Klansman and jackass-at-large refused to remove his white sheet during public comment. Unfortunate that Mr. Hunt appears to have gotten exactly what he wanted with his stupid behavior. He's apparently done this before.
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Mayor Sam is on vacation, leaving us burros alone to play with the toy while he's gone.

Yesterday the City Council approved allowing a section of Van Nuys to become part of Sherman Oaks with only Huizar and Cardenas opposing the motion. LAist blogger Steven Rosenberg, now finding himself a resident of Sherman Oaks, doesn't feel too positive about the controversial switch.

LA County Supervisor Antonovich wants the Los Angeles Opera to discontinue the Ring Festival L.A. planned for next year. Antonovich wants Wagner's pieces replaced, calling Richard Wagner a “Nazi composer.” That the Third Reich usurped a great deal of Wagner's Norse mythology and symbolism for their own propaganda is not in question. The question is whether the adoption of someone's work by an entity should permanently taint or label the work. Wagner himself was hardly a Nazi by definition, having died in 1883.

City planning commissioners are stumping for a renewal of their influential and manipulative positions today in council. How many of them are relatives of councilmembers, high profile developers, union leaders? These guys just passed major new electronic billboards for the Convention Center during the City's moratorium on new billboards, ticking off the new City Attorney. Do you think they should be reappointed?

Judging by the number of people berating the City Council for paying for the Michael Jackson event, the public is still pissed off at the Mayor for his perceived arrogance regarding who should pay for the City's huge public safety response. Who do you think should pay for it? The Los Angeles Business Journal is taking a poll.

Cindy Miscikowski returns to the City loony bin with her appointment to the Harbor Commission. Good? Bad? Deja vu?

Nominations are open for the "Bloggin 5150 Troll" award. Your pick?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

LA County Supervisors have raised taxes again.  Property owners will be required to cough up another $50 million per year to fund the County's beleaguered hospital system.  Supervisor Mike Antonovich cast the lone dissenting vote.

Media Alert: If you thought the City using law enforcement resources to hassle the Shaw Family August 17th at Leimert Park was an abuse of power by the City, check back here on the blog at about 9:00 a.m. for a story about how a City agency has threatened community activists with police action for speaking their minds.

The scandal around deposed union leader Tyrone Freeman has fired up the battle between the SEIU and the EAA which represents the City's engineers and architects.  EAA has begun running radio commercials calling on LA's elected leaders to begin an investigation of the controversial SEIU. With labor divided and potentially in hot water, does this open the door for a candidate with means to enter the race and challenge a wounded Mayor Villaraigosa?


A Mexican national who allegedly massacred 19 people in Tijuana ten years ago has been found living in East Los Angeles. Jesus Ruben Moncada was arrested while taking out his garbage by ICE agents and handed over to 500 Mexican federal agents at the border Friday.

We usually ignore local blog crank Don Quixote, however I had to note his comment on our post about potential John McCain running mate Bobby Jindal.  Quixote who often posts comments on other blogs calling me a racist posted a bigoted comment about Jindal's Indian heritage. Good to see Don being consistent.

If you didn't have a chance to visit the blog over the weekend, here are some stories you may want to catch up on:

• A Pick for McCain
• A "Q and A" with "Madam Mayor Jan Perry",....at least for next week
• Hillary reacts to Biden's selection as Obama's V.P.
• Just In - Griffith Arsonist Apprehended
• A Volunteer's Story of Today's Jaimiel's Law Rally at Leimert Park

And finally, apparently actress Denise Richards' Hidden Hills neighbors weren't big on her shooting a reality show at her home.  So now, the 5600 square foot, five bedroom home is listed for sale at $4.25 million, about $100,000 than she paid for it.

Hotsheet for Thursday: Pseudology & PsyOps

Eastside to the Westside

I hear Mayor Villaraigosa is going around claiming to have reduced spending (presumably he’s referring to the elimination of 700+ planned jobs), despite the fact that spending this fiscal year is up 32% over FY 2004–05. This comes as little surprise; Villaraigosa lost all respect for our intelligence somewhere between Measures R and S. He knows that if Angelenos can be duped into extending councilmember term limits and levying an 8% phone tax on themselves, he can get away with anything.

You hear it from the policymakers. You see it repeated in the news and around the blogosphere: MTA proposes a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transit projects. To call this a word game is putting it lightly; in the theater of combat, it’s called PsyOps. A recent L.A. Times piece by Steve Hymon begins:

It may be only half a penny, but from the looks of things on Friday, an effort to raise sales taxes in Los Angeles County to pay for a slew of mass transit projects and road improvements will probably be a heated contest this fall.

Only half a penny. In addition to the other eight and one-quarter pennies—if the purchase price of the item in question is only $1.00. There’s a good reason guys like Hymon, Villaraigosa, and Yaroslavsky use half-cent, and not the accurate and honest half-percent—and no, it isn’t to conserve a syllable. I don’t know about you, but even when I support something, I feel dirty when it’s sold dishonestly.

City Council voted 10–2 yesterday urging the County Supervisors to reconsider their Tuesday vote blocking consolidation of the half-percent sales tax proposal into the November ballot. Unlikely allies Dennis Zine and Richard Alarcón stood against the motion, arguing that the Valley would not receive its fair share of new transit funding. Oddly, this is not Alarcón’s philosophy when it comes to, say, police protection.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich responded to Mayor Villaraigosa with a well-articulated position against the half-percent MTA sales tax proposal. Ron Kaye has the full text. Money quote:

This current measure is steeped in a cynical political calculation that the November presidential election turnout, the tangible Countywide frustration with traffic problems and the desperation to do something would be enough to win a two-thirds majority, even if the proposed sales tax measure was against the best interests of the County voters.

My opposition to the sales tax proposal isn’t based on its inequities; after all, to complete pointless projects for the sole purpose of making things equitable would be even worse for taxpayers. My position is simple: it’s time for the folks in charge to develop some respect for their constituents. Here’s the lesson I hope Mayor Villaraigosa and City Council take away from this: when you ram your trash taxes, your gang tax, your phone tax, and your phony bond measures down our throats, eventually the important things don’t look worth paying for either.

Call it coincidence or a bow to pressure, but Councilmember Jack Weiss has announced October hearings to review the interpretation and implementation of Special Order 40. Dennis Zine is pushing to amend the 29-year-old police directive to include elements of “Jamiel’s Law.” A press conference and protest are scheduled this morning in front of Weiss’s Robertson Blvd. field office.

In other news today, Mayor Villaraigosa’s culinary faves have been published again (what, no foie gras this time?), a couple of political nerds are promoting Senator Dianne Feinstein for governor, and if Zev Yaroslavsky gets his way, you’ll start seeing calorie counts next to the menu items at your favorite eateries.

Citizens' Alert: You Can Kill the Transit Tax Scam

As reported here Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted against placing a half cent sales tax for Westside transit projects on the November ballot. This sales tax must be rejected because 1) It benefits only one part of the region but would be paid for by everyone in the County, 2) With the economy in dire straits the last thing people will need is a half cent sales tax when especially when the Governor is proposing an additional one cent sales tax, 3) You can't build enough trains to get us out of our traffic mess and 4) Mayor Villaraigosa is behind this.

In order to get this on the ballot, the MTA plans to spend more of your money including suing the County and potentially spending $10 million for an election of their own.

You need to contact the MTA board members and tell them to give it a rest. You do not want your tax money spent on lawsuits and elections in order to collect more taxes from you. Please email and call the following board members and tell them to vote to shelve the tax altogether. Feel free to send this post to your friends and neighbors.

These two board members voted against the tax the first time. Tell them to stand strong and continue to oppose it:

Michael D. Antonovich
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Fifth Supervisorial District
fifthdistrict@lacbos.org
(213) 974-5555

John Fasana
City Council Member, Duarte
fasanaj@accessduarte.com

These two members of the County Board of Supervisors either abstained or were not present for the MTA vote but voted against putting it on the ballot at Tuesday's Supervisors meeting. Call and email them to encourage them to vote against lawsuits and special elections:

Gloria Molina
Los Angeles County Supervisor
First Supervisorial District
(213) 974-4111
molina@bos.lacounty.gov

Don Knabe
First Vice Chair
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Fourth Supervisorial District
cpedersen@lacbos.org
213-974-4444

These board members voted for the tax the first time around but come from cities that the transit tax scam doesn't benefit. Tell them to stand with the rest of County and vote against spending any more MTA money on the scam:

Bonnie Lowenthal
City Council 1st District, Vice Mayor, Long Beach
(562) 570-6919
district1@longbeach.gov

Ara Najarian
Second Vice Chair
Mayor, City of Glendale
anajarian@ci.glendale.ca.us

The following are Mayor Villaraigosa's appointees to the MTA Board from the San Fernando Valley. Doubtful they'll cross the Mayor despite their reputation for being fiscally responsible but feel free to call them anyway and tell them not to screw the Valley:

David W. Fleming
City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee
david.fleming@lw.com
(213) 891.7902

Richard Katz
City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee
(213) 922-4605
Boardoffice@metro.net

The following board members are lost causes and are either shady or provincial or both:

Antonio R. Villaraigosa
LACMTA, Chair
Mayor, City of Los Angeles

Yvonne B. Burke
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Second Supervisorial District

Pam O’Connor
City Council Member, Santa Monica

Bernard Parks
City Council 8th District, City of Los Angeles Mayor Appointee

Zev Yaroslavsky
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Third Supervisorial District

County Supervisors play games with the transit tax

In a move that may leave taxpayers on the hook for additional printing and legal costs, the Los Angeles County Supervisors have voted 3–2 against consolidating a half-percent sales tax proposal into the November ballot.

Los Angeles Times reports:

In a surprise move, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors denied a request today to place a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot to pay for up to $40 billion of road and mass transit improvements, including the so-called subway to the sea.

(snip)

Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder Dean Logan said the MTA must now pay up to $10 million for a special second ballot on election day or ask a court to force the measure onto the existing Nov. 4 ballot.

Supervisor Gloria Molina cast the deciding vote against the consolidation move in protest of Zev Yaroslavsky’s “back room deals.” The tax proposal may still appear on a separate ballot this November. A confident aide tells LA Observed:

Voters WILL still vote on the sales tax issue. It will just be a separate ballot that voters will get during the same election.

As mentioned earlier, the half-percent “transit tax,” combined with a one-percent increase proposed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would raise Los Angeles County’s sales tax rate to 9.75%.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Bad news for the Mayor and the LAUSD.  A poll commissioned specifically by the Mayor finds that at least 53% of Angelenos feel the City is on the wrong track.  It's even worse for the School Board as 73% of those surveyed feel the Board is doing either a poor or fair job managing the school district.  The poll also shows significant support for smaller schools and charter schools.



The MTA Board of Directors voted to place a sales tax increase on the November ballot in order to pay for Westside transit projects.  Board Members Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Duarte City Councilman John Fasana were the only two members to vote against the tax.  County Supervisor Gloria Molina abstained and County Supervisor Don Knabe was absent.  The measure must now receive the approval of the County Board of Supervisors and then a 2/3 vote Countywide in order to go into effect.  Significant opposition to the tax - which primarily benefits only West Los Angeles neighborhoods - exists in eastern and northern cities in the County which could derail passage.  Additionally, a number of transit activists were either disappointed at items not included in the measure or were outright opposed to the spending plans.



City officials are afraid the state may turn to tapping into local funds to help balance the state budget.  The City of Los Angeles is heavily lobbying against such a move considering the fiscal instability of the City at present.  However, representatives from the Govenor's office as well as legislative leaders say there are no plans to go after local funds at present.  But don't expect the Mayor won't use this as another reason to raise local taxes, uh, fees.



If you're looking for something fun to do next Tuesday in Boyle Heights, you can attend Councilman Jose Huizar's town hall meeting featuring the Councilmember and various City department heads.  6:00 p.m.., Tuesday, July 29th at The Puente Learning Center in Boyle Heights.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Mayor Villaraigosa is aruging with LAUSD officials over how many kids are dropping out of the District's schools.  Whether it's 33% (what the District says) or 50% (what the Mayor says) it's tragic. And considering the Mayor's battle is one not to help the kids but one for money and power one can only wonder when the leadership will arise to take our local schools out of the hands of the miserable LAUSD as well as the  Mayor's.



Council Members Wendy Greuel and Jan Perry want DASH bus services to run late downtown.  With the growing population downtown and the attendant eateries, shopping and entertainment venues that are opening more short haul public transportation in the city center is a good idea.  However the City doesn't have the money to provide the service.  So rather than creating "public-private partnerships" which are breeding grounds for fraud, waste and abuse, why not change the law to allow private operators to operate jitney service Downtown.  Market demand will create the service that is needed.  And ultimately it could become a model for the rest of the City.



The transit tax may be in trouble.  The Mayor and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky want the funds to be spent on Westside transit projects.  The problem is that the tax has to be approved by 2/3 of voters countywide.  Leaders from other parts of the County, led by County Supervisor Mike Antonovich want a piece of the pie.  Folks in Lancaster aren't really interested in paying for the "Subway to the Sea" and residents in the San Gabriel Valley have transportation needs of their own.  Might need to cross this one off the list.



Speaking of taxes, last week we gave you the list of taxes, fees and bonds politicians want you to vote for on the November ballot.  Get ready to add another one.  The County of Los Angeles has their own version of the City's Proposition S, taxing your cell phone calls and text messages. 

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Ron Kaye started the revolution Monday with an event that was everything from high energy to attracting some of the usual crazies. However, it was enough to rankle the rankled as we saw the spinners in action here before the event even began. Depending on who was spinning, attendance numbers ranged from a dozen to 300. I'll go with Joseph Mailander's count of 175 as probably the most accurate sounding. Kaye captures some of the media coverage of the event. Most notable absence: Mayoral candidate Walter Moore who held his own rally a few weeks ago in Northridge. Oddest appearance: Councilmember Dennis Zine holding a large shield emblazoned with a giant letter Z.



Rick Orlov reports that the transit tax scam has a full set of tricky hurdles it must clear before it can even get on the November ballot, the least of which is San Gabriel Valley based legislators who don't see that the tax will help transit projects in their area. The most honest observation by Orlov about the tax is that if it does make the ballot "the tax measure will give (Mayor) Villaraigosa a chance to launch yet another campaign for which he can raise money." Yes, bingo, you have found the answer. In the meantime LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and other area pols are seeking to hold onto funding to expand the Metro Gold Line which is breaking ridership records left and right.What did Tom LeBong take away from his junket to Europe? That LA needs more bicyclists! Great tell your boy Bill Rosendahl to stop messing with the bike riders and do as Steve Hymon suggests and get the MTA to install some more bike lockers at the North Hollywood MTA station in your District (LeBong you do know that NoHo is in your District don't you?). 



Hollywood Boulevard is working hard to re-make itself into a pedestrian oriented urban landscape but two more people were killed crossing the famous street as LAPD officers were chasing a suspect. LAist reports that Despite promises two years ago from Councilmember Eric Garcetti to change the roadway to a "pedestrian priority classification," Hollywood Blvd is still classified as a major highway.



With shadowy intrigue and allusions to corrupt former Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, Zuma Dogg posts (at risk to his own safety he says) that Federal Agents are allegedly in the process of conducting an investigaton that may find Mayor Villaraigosa doing 25 to life in Federal prison. It involves a long rumored story about "bodies" buried under a grocery store and the tale of a local businessman who could have more than 100 potential counts against him. Stay tuned.  



And finally, former professional wrestler and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura says he's not planning to run for Senate from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. However never say never as Jesse has until Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. to file. Were he to run, Ventura would join a race against current Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and former Saturday Night Live comedian Al Franken, the Democratic nominee.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

It has been said that whenever County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is considering running for a new office he loses weight and gets in shape. The LA Times follows Zev's new regimen and shows him looking quite fit. Check out the differences in the photos from a year ago and now. Well, there's lot more homeowner groups to barnstorm!

Red County reports that the LA City Council plans to "go to war" with State Senator George Runner. Wednesday, the Council will consider a resolution to oppose Runner's Safe Neighborhoods Act on the November ballot that will eliminate bail for criminal illegal aliens and stiffens penalties for gang involved crimes. If you favor this measure, call your City Council member and tell them you expect them to be tough on crime. Tell your friends to do the same. Doesn't the City Council have more pressing issues than to be passing resolutions against ballot measures?

LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has gone on record as opposing the County's needle exchange program. These programs - in which intravenous drug addicts receive "clean needles" for old - are intended to slow the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. However, studies have shown in city after city these programs do not achieve their stated purpose and actually increase drug use.

This might be an opportunity for the Westside White Guy. As a cost cutting move, The Former Fishwrap of Record is no longer going to produce it's own Sunday supplement magazine and turn production over to it's Los Angeles Times Media Group. However if they really want to cut corners how about making it the analog fishwrap version of OBSERVING (WEST) LA AND HIS LIFE AND (LA ANTONIA) TIMES? Maybe there's a Pulitzer in there somewhere?

He's filled many times more potholes but Mayor Villaraigosa joined with potential opponent Magic Johnson to announce the filling of the 10,000th job by a city program the Mayor has championed. According to reports, the 10,000th job was filled at a Vons Market.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The Grand Avenue boondoggle becomes even more so. Developer Related Companies now says that the project has to be delayed at least 16 months due to current market conditions. LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich is angered by the moving; stating that other developers may have bid or been considered had they known the project deadline would be moved. Antonovich is now calling for the project to be put back out to bid. How about we go one better - cancel the thing now before it sucks billions and billions of dollars of tax money from police, fire, parks, streets, education and more.

Doug McIntyre admits that he forgot to vote last Tuesday. I too, for the first time in many years did not cast a ballot. Doug's reason is he was busy and engaged with other things; mine was I was pretty sick in bed. As bad as that seems, McIntyre and I are of the same mind: why bother? Voter participation is so low that the brain dead masses that do vote can be so easily manipulated by the special interests and idiocy reigns supreme. On a sidenote, given how abysmally low voter turnout was, we don't want to hear any more electeds complaining about Neighborhood Council election turnout.

Zuma Dogg has made a habit for many to watch Los Angeles City Council meetings on Channel 35 on cable TV within the City. However residents of Upland and Ontario will no longer get coverage of City Council meetings in those cities as the local cable operator, Time Warner, will no longer cover them.





Now that Hillary Clinton's dropped out of the Presidential race, Mayor Villaraigosa has jumped on the Barack Obama bandwagon. And maybe it's helping: a recent poll shows the Illinois Democrat capturing up to 62 percent of Latino vote over Senator John McCain.

They've been installed all over Los Angeles but an unusual coalition of the NAACP, the Libertarian Party and environmental groups are joining up to place a measure on the ballot to reject traffic cameras in Cincinnati, Ohio.

When it comes to potential Presidential daughters, blogger Meghan McCain appears to be one of the more interesting to come down the pike in a while. The 23 year old recent Columbia University grad is traveling with her father - Senator and Republican Presidential nominee John McCain - and blogging the campaign from the Gen Y point of view. Looks like Meghan will most likely be the next Eleanor Mondale or Ron Reagan.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

We reported Tuesday that a developer who had contributed significantly to Councilman Jose Huizar was denied to build a major condo development downtown by a zoning administrator. Later in the day Councilman Huizar secured passage of the Clowncil taking jurisdiction from the Planning Comission, making the development more likely to happen now. The developer, David Seewack, told Downtown Blogger Don Garza, "I feel fantastic!" Now if we allowed the market to dictate land use in the City developers wouldn't have to pay off Clowncil members and things would be a lot less shady.

In an audit of City legal settlements Controller Laura Chick said :Los Angeles' approach to potential lawsuits is "reactionary and knee-jerk," often wasting taxpayer money in costly settlements and court judgments that could have been avoided. " Ya think?

The Pico Neighborhood Council is opposing the Mayor's Pico-Olympic traffic plan and is seeking signatures on its online petition.

LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich reports that social spending on illegal immigrants was up $3 million from September in November.

The City of Los Angeles has won awards for its floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade only eight times in nearly 80 years. If you saw this year's uninspired entry of floral covered cargo ships you'll know why. Though I don't know if this parade entry featuring Clowncil members was any less ridiculous than this one.