In Case You Missed It

This past Sunday morning I was featured featured on a segment of Sunday Morning Newsmakers with Larry Marino on AM 870 The Answer, starting at 9:00 a.m., PDT. We discussed the City Council's recent vote to lift the ban on murals on buildings in Los Angeles.
If you missed it, you can listen by clicking button below.
 

Michael Higby Appears on AM 870 The Answer this Sunday

Sunday morning I'll be featured on a segment of Sunday Morning Newsmakers with Larry Marino on AM 870 The Answer, starting at 9:00 a.m., PDT.

We'll be discussing the City Council's recent vote to lift the ban on murals on buildings in Los Angeles.

You can listen to the program on the radio at 870 AM, on the internet at the station's site or via the iHeartRadio app for Andorid, iPhone or BlackBerry.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

With the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee voting to lift the decades long ban on new murals, we present a possible subject matter for the first new CD 14 Mural, in honor of the work of its City Councilman ( and BTW, Princeton Graduate) Jose Huizar.

Once upon a time in recent CD 14 Political History, there was a young former $45,000 a year office scheduler Francine Godoy, who was recently banished to the Bureau of Sanitation (allegedly), after achieving promotions up the "pole of advancement", to Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, at a yearly salary of $135,000.  

Her former boss Jose Huizar, raised in Boyle Heights, who by the way, graduated from Princeton University and is now its current City Councilman, transferred over recent years $1.2 Million Dollars plus, from the Central Los Angeles Refuge Transfer Station Amenities Fund into his "Salary Account" (did those transfers pay for Francine's pay raises?).  

Aggregating these recent CD 14 political stories with Councilman Huizar's successful effort to lift the ban on new murals, we call upon the Princeton Graduate to allocate some CLARTS Funding to honor the supposed former working relationship (allegedly) between him and Ms. Godoy, in mural form, as exampled above. After all, some of the most salacious CD 14 Political Novellas are best preserved in mural form. Que No?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14



Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

With thanks to new City Clowncilpersons Mike Bonin, Gil Cedillo, City Attorney Mike Feuer and even losing Mayoral Candidate Wendy "Boss D'Arcy's Greuel", "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" John Shallman can enjoy some quality time in the tropics.

 Just think how much sun block and luxury "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" John Shallman can buy with former Mayoral Client Wendy "Boss D'Arcy's Greuel" outstanding campaign debts ( wonder if the IRS has any interest in Shallman's vacation?).

Good morning to all as we share this moment of tropical tranquility via none other than "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" John Shallman.

You have to admire the audacity ( or up front manipulator of campaign laws) of the "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant", to bask in the tropical sun ( with sun block needed on the head) while his latest high profile client loser Wendy "Boss D'Arcy's Greuel", is floundering in a half-million dollars plus campaign debt, via Mr. Shallman's consulting.

But "Boss D'Arcy's Greuel" should not pout, after all, she was an willing enabler in Shallman's fiscal proclivities that made her the latest example of the "Private Citizen/ Political Consultant's" questionable campaign spending. 

The least she can hope for is a tropical postcard with the next campaign debt due date.

** The City Clowncil Central Committee in due course ( at 10 AM) will take up the question of murals and whether the time is now to end the cities ban on new wall side art works. KABC 790 AM and Daily News Columnist Doug McIntyre shares his thoughts via his latest "Moldy Green Sheet" column. Excerpt below.

Councilman (Jose) Huizar is considering a two-track bill, one that would ban single-family home murals but allow neighborhoods to opt in if they so choose. The other would legalize murals anywhere in the city but allow neighborhoods to opt out.
How Huizar defines “neighborhood” is unclear, and a call to his office was not returned.
Meanwhile Gil Cedillo leans towards Option A, according to the councilman’s spokesman, Fredy Ceja, who claims the residents of Cedillo’s district are “too busy” to opt-in.

....... at least Cedillo's Office returns phone calls.

** If you ever wonder what the current sellout price is for the Los Angeles City Clowncil Central Committee, Jack Humphreville has the tally and move over Steve Austin, there is a new "Six Million Dollar Boss" in LA (or at least in City Hall).

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

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

As the state and local budgets feel crushed under the weight of years of generous public employee pay raises and unsustainable pensions, Costa Mesa may be ground zero for politicians to push back.  The city is looking to lay-off over 200 positions, nearly half it's total workforce.

President Clinton and other reform minded Democrats in the past supported public school choice, primarily as a way to force schools to perform better but also to stave off the push by conservatives for vouchers.  In most cases public school choice allows parents the opportunity to move their kids to other schools or even other districts if their local school stinks.  Now, carrying the water for the LAUSD, Democratic State Senator Roderick Wright has introduced legislation to put an end to inter-district transfers in California.

Read more »

Friday Free for All

Stories for you to check out and comment on.

You don't often hear those two names together nor the two bloggers ever agreeing but Phil Jennerjahn and Mulholland Terrace are both big fans of The Masters.

Apparently the City of Los Angeles has declared war on murals on private property, destroying them in the Fairfax District and in North Hollywood.

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez complains to MSNBC (via LatinoPoliticsBlog) that she might not get paid if the government shuts down.

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clipped from Losanjealous: Creeptastic mural still there...

Joseph Mailander a guy in la • elsewhere • email


"When did LA start hating murals?" serial muralist Judy Baca writes in CityWatch.

I have a feeling it's a rhetorical question, but try these for answers:

• When CalTrans wouldn't maintain theirs, even though they covenanted to.


• When it was demonstrated that murals did nothing to mitigate graffiti, which is often how they are pitched to arts commissions.


• When graffiti artists started getting commissions as muralists.


• When people realized that if a motorist actually took her eyes off the road long enough to look at one, she just might get in an accident.


• When LA's gallery scene evolved, creating more demand for individuals who work on individual canvasses, rather than hundreds who work on projects to the greater glory of one artist, usually named Judy Baca.
  

Indeed, it's a loaded question that often begs for an answer provocative of an ethnic debate. "Is Los Angeles fast becoming an environment hostile to murals?" she asks again. Among some art circles, including mine, that's not the question. The question is, "Should parts of LA be zoned for murals, while other parts---and especially freeways---be allowed to remain mural-free zones? Should we stitch a well-defined mural component into each community master plan?

If murals are linked to graffiti abatement, then murals should be permitted only where graffiti is a pronounced problem. If muralists and commissioning agencies can't work together to maintain the murals they commission over time (see fiascos on the 10 and the 101 and the 110 and...forget it, there are nothing but fiascos on freeways), and we are destined to put the worst murals in the most public places, then let's change that, so that all of murals don't get impugned by a shoddy few; let's at least make sure murals end up where they belong, and where they are most loved.