Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Some LA Times endorsments for March 3rd primary candidates coming through.  In a stunning blow to Jack Weiss the Times has endorsed prosecutor Carmen Trutanich for City Attorney saying that he has "a strong vision for the office, with tough prosecution of violence tempered by a real-world recognition that gang crime must be answered with alternatives for youth." Holding their nose the Times endorsed Wendy Greuel for Controller over Nick Patsaouras saying that :Patsaouras has been instrumental in moving the region's transportation plans forward," but Greuel is more inclined to twist arms in City Hall, a trait they view as important for a Controller.

LA Weekly's Daniel Heimpel has read the fine print of Measure B and finds some similarities to past shady LA boondoggles, despite the promises from B's proponents that this time is "different."  Heimpel retells the story of a DWP plan to invest $2 million in an electric scooter company that flopped as well as a department plan to generate wind power that wound up costing three times as much and hasn't produced a single megawatt. 

The LAUSD is moving ahead to build a new school in Echo Park but can't move forward until they get an approval from Councilman Eric Garcetti. Garcetti is upset about aspects of the design of the school and won't sign off until LAUSD makes the changes he wants. Speaking through a spokeshole Garcetti said he "has requested that the district review its plans for the school and see if it can be made more appropriate in size, scale, and design for the neighborhood."

Looks like Jan Perry's goofy fast food ban isn't working.  Consumers in South Central are eating at places such as McDonalds as opposed to Subway because they can get more food for their money. Speaking to a USC blog, Marlon Grissom a resident of Watts who supports the ban still thinks it won't change his neighbor's food choices,  "They wouldn't go to the healthy places. They'd still go to KFC."

I know this is old news but I didn't know it.  I had always heard that there was a rumor that entertainer Carol Channing was really a man.  Well that's not probably true but for decades Channing hid the fact that she is African-American.  Who knew?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Uh-oh the anti-billboard people aren't going to like this.  Joe Mailander at Street Hassle reports that Mayoral candidate Walter Moore took a campaign contribution from Clear Channel billboards.  Mailander also notes that Moore also spent thousands on advertising on Clear Channel radio stations.

Speaking of billboards, the City Council voted to support state legislation outlawing digital billboards. Voting against the resolution were Council Members Richard Alarcon, Bernard Parks, Tony Cardenas and Ed Reyes voted against the measure with the concern the state law would usurp local control.  I agree it has to be an area by area issue. We have a new digital billboard at the NoHo Commons, entrance to the NoHo Arts District and it looks great.  Not only does it advertise the stores at the Commons but there are listings of local plays and artwork displayed.  It makes a great entree into the area.

Wednesday evening the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council voted to oppose Measure B, the controversial solar energy proposal on the March ballot.  Appearing on behalf of the Yes on B forces were MTNHNC board member Gary Barratta and speaking for the opposition was John Stammreich of the No on Measure B campaign.  Also in attendance were representatives of the DWP; some NC members expressed to me later their concern that comments made by the DWP staffers bordered on advocacy for the Measure, in violation of state law.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina will announce she is endorsing Los Angeles City Controller candidate Nick Patsaouras Thursday. Molina was quoted as saying "There is no public advocate as tireless and relentless as Nick is in his determination to maximize every penny possible for taxpayer-funded projects. You will not find a more tenacious fiscal watchdog than Nick."

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

The LA Times makes the case how scary it would be indeed if there were a troika of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and "two of his most unwavering supporters" Jack Weiss as City Attorney and Wendy Greuel as City Controller running the City following the March primary election. Greuel's primary opponent Nick Patsaouras told the Times "It's very apparent that Wendy is part of the inner circle, which will cloud her judgment and compromise her independence."

The DWP has to raise rates, the City is broke, yet we can give out free light bulbs to all residents! And amazingly, the DWP will be paying people to go door to door passing out these light bulbs all over Los Angeles! Yes, I understand they are the power saving, newfangled CFL bulbs.   But ask these questions: 1) How much did the bulbs cost, 2) Who got paid and 3) How much will it cost to have them hand delivered to all residences in the city?

We reported the other day that City Council Member Bernard Parks was giving up his spot on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitant Transportation Agency.  Now it appears that Parks may have been pushed.  Lots of conflicting stories about the matter from the Mayor's office as well as the Council offices of those who are rumored to be replacing Parks on the panel that will soon has millions of dollars in sales tax money to spend on boondoggle transit projects that will undoubtedly go over budget, be way behind schedule and make some very special people, rich.

The LA Times reports that former South Dakota Senator and designated Obama Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Daschle failed to pay $128,000 in taxes over three years during his turn in the private sector earning over $1 million a year as a corporate "advisor." A spokes-hole for Daschle said that the Senator "is embarrassed and disappointed by these errors."

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

The Daily Breeze profiles the three candidates for City Controller in a piece Saturday.  Rick Orlov talks to Council Member Wendy Greuel who is trying to get out of Mayor Villaraigosa's shadow, former DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras who hopes to achieve further name recognition and visibility for his reform agenda and Walter Moore affiliated candidated Suzy Evans who did not return Orlov's phone calls or emails (hello?). 

In case you missed it over the weekend: "Fraud and Disorder."


Interesting piece in the Times about our March 3rd elections.  The Former Fishwrap of Record laments the lack of choices in most of the races or even the lack of a contest.  While they say they often agree with the assessments of how fouled up City government is that lesser known candidates make, they often can not find much more than that to make a endorsement of an alternative candidate.  So they wind up endorsing the incumbent and realize it often makes them look foolish or inconsistent.  Still the Times in conducting courtesy endorsement interviews with all candidates are hoping that perhaps someone will prove them otherwise and therefore will take more time than usual with their process.  As well, beyond the usual interviews, the Times plans to hold the open vetting process of Measure B the City didn't and will rely heavily on the comments of it's readers on the controversial measure in coming to a conclusion.


Now that President Obama has signed an executive order that the terrorist prison camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba be closed; the next issue is where to put the detainees (which is why I say that Gitmo won't be closed anytime soon; at best there will be modifications to the process there).  If you think we have NIMBYs here on billboards and super-sized houses wait until some Congressman gets word that Al Queada is going to be stored in his district.  Still Congressman Bill Young of Florida has a great idea where to send them - in Nancy Pelosi's district at Alcatraz.

Tom Hanks has stirred controversy in the Gay community for apologizng for his part remarks that members of the Mormon faith were "un-American" for their support of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California. A statement released by the actor-director stated that "Everyone has a right to vote their conscience; nothing could be more American. No one should use 'un- American' lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have."  Even more interestng reading in the comments at gay blog Towlerroad including claims that Hanks was motivated by the coming release of his film "Angels and Demons" to "Tom Hanks is a dork" to a remark that Mormonism was the "Scientology of the 19th Century."

David Freeman on Measure B

 Editor's Note: Last Monday we published a commentary by Nick Patsaouras, former Chairman of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners stating his opposition to controversial city ballot measure Measure B. Today we present an opposing view from the former General Manager of the DWP, David Freeman.

As a very young man I witnessed how a renewable energy project – building dams to harness the hydro power of the Tennessee River – provided a powerful economic stimulus that created thousands of what we now call green collar jobs. The Tennessee Valley Authority which I chaired under President Carter transformed the most poverty-stricken part of America into a thriving middle class region.

Years later, as the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest and dirtiest public utility in the nation, I got rid of two coal fired power plants while avoiding rate increases. It is my considered judgment that LA’s Solar Initiative, Measure B, is the lowest cost option available for action now to combat global warming and create much needed green collar jobs.

The Coalition for Clean Air, Coalition for Solar and Clean Energy, Los Angeles Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, and the American Lung Association of California have formed a coalition to support Mayor Villaraigosa’s plan to install 400 megawatts of solar power on commercial rooftops here in LA - more than any other city in the nation. That plan, Measure B, has been put before LADWP customers and Los Angeles voters for public discussion, debate and a decision on the March 3 ballot.

Beyond cleaning up our air quality, Measure B will help stimulate our economy by creating thousands of good-paying, green collar jobs people can raise a family on. It includes a preference for solar manufacturers based here in Los Angeles. This means the LADWP, by switching to solar, invests directly back into the City of LA. It also means solar manufacturers, who are building facilities and creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country, will have a significant incentive to locate in Los Angeles and bring those new jobs here.

Faced with a global warming crisis that threatens life as we know it, the opponents say this measure will cost too much. They are wrong. They used numbers based on what the small solar companies are charging to put panels on individual homes – about $9 a watt.

Today the going wholesale price is at or below $3 a watt and going down for the thin film product the LADWP will be using in its solar panels. The best estimate of LADWP installed price is $3.75 watt. When Measure B is implemented, the Department will be buying large quantities of modules and installing them on large commercial flat rooftops. It’s a basic rule of economics: prices come tumbling down when big purchasers leverage their power in the marketplace.

Solar panels, over their 25-year life, will be cheaper than the natural gas power it will replace when it is owned by its utility as LADWP proposes. After the initial installation of solar panels, it is much like a hydroelectric dam and if the city owns the equipment, it gets steadily lower in cost each year as the original investment is depreciated. Solar panels just sit there making clean power and only the inverters that convert it to usable electricity require replacement over time.

Measure B is a giant step forward in the Mayors’ promise of a truly green Los Angeles.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Zuma Dogg got an interesting phone call.  According to his tipster former DWP head and "Green Cowboy" David Freeman - one of the chief boosters of  the shady solar killing initiative Measure B - allegedly an assistant whose allegedly brother owns a solar panel manufacturing firm in China.  You may remember that Council President Eric Garcetti has stated that the solar panels bought by the DWP under Measure B would have to come from China. And what's worse the tipster alleges that Mayor Villaraigosa visited the solar panel plant  in China on his visit there.

Is Measure B in trouble? Bill Rosendahl is being wishy-washy about his support for the controversial plan; now reports say that CM Janice Hahn is similarly neutral.  It appears some Members of the Council are hearing from their constituents in big numbers and B is becoming something some of them may want to distance themselves from.

Looks like The Related Cos. - the developer behind the controversial Grand Avenue development project - doesn't have enough dough to start the project so they will be forced to pay a $250,000 per month penalty to the Los Angeles Grand Avenue Authority until they break ground.  The economy is definitely a factor here; why not let them off the hook and put an end to this boondoggle, also known as Eli Broad's Mausoleum?

Word on the street - City Council member and Controller candidate Wendy Greuel is not happy that the city's Engineers and Architects have endorsed her opponent Nick Patsaouras.  Apparently Wendy was overheard whining that the union didn't support her.

Despite Britney Spears' $27,000 awards show ring, the gift bags worth the cost of a new Lexus and the free guitars, video games and liquor provided to artists who show up to the Grammys, they still managed to shake down the near bankrupt city of Los Angeles for $125,000. And the City Clowncil gladly gave it to them at a time when the City is running a deficit and event waivers have been turned off for the City's community and non-profit organizations.

There's always fun in the small cities that surround or are surrounded by Los Angeles.  Though they all almost provide far better local services, they often have their own special dramas and delicious soap operas.  The latest is in the City of San Fernando, not to be confused with the San Fernando Valley, where Council members Julie Ruelas and Jose Hernandez were recalled Tuesday by significant margins.  Ruelas will be replaced by Ernesto Hernandez who voters chose over Ralph Arriorla and Jose Hernandez will make way for Brenda Esqueda who bested Henry Romero.

The social networking site Facebook has banned its members from posting photos of mothers breastfeeding their babies.  What does this have to do with LA? Well, it was back in the 90s when a then Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa passed a law that made it legal to breastfeed in public without getting arrested for indecent exposure.  Well, we all know that Antonio likes, well never mind, I won't go there.

Speaking of social networking sites, looks like Kevin Roderick of LA Observed wants to be Mayor Villaraigosa's friend.

Solar Energy: The Right Way

By Nick Patsaouras

For more than three years and more recently as President of the Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners, I fought to end waste, inefficiency and contracting abuses in the city-owned utility and sought to create a Ratepayer Advocate to protect the public in the future.

Now we're being asked to give a blank check to the DWP and City Hall to spend billions of dollars on the nation's largest solar energy initiative ever -- a proposal that has no planning, no financial analysis, no engineering study.

Approval of Measure B on the March 3 ballot would be a costly mistake. It will cost ratepayers dearly, set back hopes for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and provide the special interests and politicians with a license to steal.

I resigned from the DWP Commission in October right after this measure was introduced without even being brought to the DWP board, right after my efforts to bring transparency and accountability by creating the Ratepayer Advocate were brushed aside.

From my experience as an engineer, businessman and 30 years as a watchdog on government spending, I can tell you as a fact the DWP isn't up to the job managing a solar energy this big and this important.

As things stand, the DWP just doesn't have the managerial skill and experience to handle a $3.6 billion solar initiative that's supposed to deliver within five years more than 30 times as much solar energy as the DWP has been able to deliver in the last 12 years.

Despite its high wages and benefits, the DWP has a very hard time recruiting and keeping workers and maintaining existing water and power facilities. Its management and staff are already overburdened trying to fulflil the Department`s commitment to complete a multi-billion dollar investment to bring those facilities up to date.

Just 11 months ago, DWP management felt the best it could do was manage a program to add 20 megawatts of rooftop solar energy to government buildings. Now, it is being asked to own, install and maintain a 400 megawatt system on commercial and industrial buidlings as well plus oversee a public/private solar energy program twice as big.

If past performance is any measure of future success, DWP isn't up to the task of handling this much money. A wind farm in Utah was financed by Lehman Bros., the failed investment firm, and now DWP faces losing that project as part of its renewable energy portfolio or being hit with big cost increases.

Measure B is a blueprint for disaster and the public will get the bill. Let's go back to the drawing board and come up with a renewable energy plan that makes fiscal sense and common sense, that protects ratepayers from catastrophic increases in their bills and delivers what we all went: A renewable energy program that we can afford, that is well planned and managed and makes Los Angeles the center of a thriving clean energy industry.

City Hall Seeks to Silence Critics

It's amazing to me that this story has yet to show up in any of the local media when one considers the civil liberties implications of the Mayor of a major city taking opponents of a controversial measure to court to silence their dissent. In searching the net, the activist blogs are on the beat but our favorite nannypoo local status quo loving West Los Angeles suburban crank Kevin "Westside White Guy" Roderick poo poos Ron Kaye's story.

First some background to get you up to speed. Last month the Council rushed to place a measure on the March City Primary ballot which would effectively raise DWP rates 12% (on top of an already approved 24%) to fund an initiative for solar energy. The plan calls for the DWP to use taxpayer funds to place solar panels on the roofs of public and private buildings using only DWP employees who are members of the politically connected International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union whose various arms and committees have donated thousands of dollars to LA's elected officials in recent years, including chief plan proponents Council President Eric Garcetti, Council Member and City Controller candidate Wendy Greuel and Mayor Villaraigosa. The speed with which the Council moved to place the measure on the ballot led the LA Times to remark that it had the "scent of a swindle."

"This rush to the ballot has the scent of swindle about it."
LA Times

The next turn in the story of a swindle was excellent reporting by the only reporter apparently awake at the LA Times, David Zahniser discovered a "secret" analysis by a City hired consulting firm found the plan "extremely risky' and considerably more expensive than was being portrayed by the Department of Water and Power.'" The key findings of the analysis inlclude that the DWP, in the consultants analysis, does not have the infrastructure in place to carry out the program and that it would cost at least $2 billion more than DWP General Manager H. David Nahai claims it will.

Amazingly, according to Zahniser's report, when Garcetti received the consultant's findings he allegedly not only kept them from the public but his fellow members of the Council. After the sunlight shone by the Times' story, Garcetti released the report to Council members (of course well after they voted to place the measure on the ballot).

But here's where it gets worse. Former Daily News editor turned blogger and activist Ron Kaye joined with several other community activists in composing the ballot argument against the plan. However the straightforward argument, mild in tone, was apparently too much for the Mayor and the Council. Earlier last week Villaraigosa hired an attorney and drug Kaye and his co-writers - including City Controller candidate and former DWP Commissioner Nick Patsaouras - into court to challenge their argument, calling it full of lies and mistruths (read the argument and do your own research - Kaye's argument is backed up by the facts). Amazingly, in addition to asking the court to throw out the opponents' ballot argument, the Mayor and his toadies are asking Kaye et al to come up with the court costs.

"They have made our Christmas week tough, trying to find a lawyer, raise money, understand the law and the risks we face."
Ron Kaye

Kaye and his associates are faced with going up against high powered and high paid attorneys including a well funded plaintiff in the case - high powered lobbyist Mitchell Schwartz - particulary during the holidays when attorneys and resources are in limited supply. Kaye reports that attorney and longtime activist Noel Weiss - himself a candidate for City Attorney - has joined The Solar Eight -- Jack Humphreville, Soledad Garcia, Humberto Camacho, Kristine Lee, Nick Patsaouras, Joe Pulido, James O'Sullivan and Kaye - as their legal advisor in the fight.

The case's next hearing is January 8 where the group will answer the Mayor's toadies' charges. That is a significant date for civil liberties, transparency and good government in Los Angeles. We will be watching.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

While Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spends only 11% of his time on City business and would prefer spending his evenings with celebrities at trendy LA nightspots, South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa is working well past midnight some evenings in her City Hall office, so much so that the South El Monte City Council slapped an 11:00 p.m. curfew on the Mayor.  While the Council members say that its neither safe nor healthy for the Mayor to work alone so late, Figueroa claims the move was part of the petty politics that are part and parcel of the frivolity that is the politics of LA County's many small, independent cities.  Some members of the Council have suggested going as far as confiscating Figueroa's keys to City Hall.

In the meantime, the Daily News prints a list of the salaries of the nearly 100 people who work for Mayor Villaraigosa; all on your dime.  Mayoral flack and spin jokcey Matt Szabo is pulling down an easy 100Gs; chief Villar handler Jimmy Blackman is getting about 1.5 times that.  And, if you will, Lisa "Do Nothing" Sarno is making a good $125K per year to plant trees. 

Zuma Dogg is interviewed by Talk Radio One host Marc Germain about his campaign for Mayor.  Unlike some other local talkradio hosts, Germain does not appear to be impressed by candidate Walter Moore, calling Moore's candidacy "one note."

What is it about museum mergers in LA? The Los Angeles County Museum of Art wants to merge with the soon to be bankrupt Museum of Contemporary Art.  Sounds like a good plan to me and local leaders such as Zev Yaroslavsky agree.  However LA's honorary grandpa Eli Broad and City Clowncil President Eric Garcetti are worried the stronger museum will plunder the weaker museum's collection.  Wait a minute! Haven't we been told that never happens?

City Controller candidate Nick Patasouras unveiled his slick new website featuring high powered endorsements from Sheriff Lee Baca, Supervisor Gloria Molina and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg. Some of the transit geeks who read our blog might enjoy some of the photos in Nick's gallery from his days as head of the RTD and later MTA's board of directors.

If you want to help out victims of the fires in Sylmar to have a happier holiday, here is an opportunity for you to contribute.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

Jane Usher has resigned her post as President of the City's Planning Commission. The outspoken advocate who dared to take on City leaders as well as downtown interests on development issues was a growing thorn in the side to Mayor Villaraigosa who appoined Usher to the post.  Though Usher has said she needs to give up the volunteer post to get a job, insiders say she was pushed.  Local neighborhood activists who found an ally in Usher expressed regret at her departure;  Mike Eveloff, president of the Tract 7260 Homeowners Association told the LA Times,."She was someone who seemed to have an understanding that development was getting a little out of control." 


LA Weekly's blog profiles City Controller candidate Nick Patsouras, whose surprise challenge to Council President Wendy Greuel has shaken up local politics a bit.  Various factions are lining up behind each while both are virtual unknowns to most of the City. Should be an interesting race.

The City Council has decided against a plan to provide additional security measures for security at LAX for celebrities.  Stars who wish extra protection from the paps will have to provide their own.  Council Member Janice Hahn told the Daily News "Our airport police are there to protect everyone, and I feel that everyone who comes to LAX should be treated as a celebrity."

A gossip blog reports that Mayor Villaraigosa was the "hit" of the opening of the new Conga Room at LA Live Wednesday night.  Showing how well he spends 89% of his time on activities unrelated to governing the City, the Mayor took a Desi Arnaz turn at the conga drums while hob-nobbing with celebrities Paul Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria.  Sadly, photos are available.

We really have issues with Council President Eric Garcetti referring to his live in girlfriend, Amy Wakeland, as "his partner."  One wonders if Eric ever makes it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue if Ms. Wakeland would be referred to as the First Partner.  Well, before that happens, the Garcetti-Wakeland Partnership, LLC is looking for a scarecrow for their organic garden at their Elysian Park home.  Isn't the yuppie life challenging? Hey Eric - how about getting me a scarecrow for a Councilman over here - that would be a huge improvement over our Griffith Park destroying, high school loving Clowncilman.
 We got an email Thursday that the Mayor's office is looking to hire a finance manager for it's Minority Business Opportunity Center, however the deadline for applications for the post was four days ago.  However, assuming the Mayor is still looking, the position pays as much as $77,000 a year.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Rick Orlov logs School Board President Monica Garcia's bungled attempt to fire Superintendent David Brewer.  The article also chronicles Garcia's personal achievement as a poor youth from LA's eastside who worked her way through UC Berkely and USC to eventually become President of the Board of Education.  Despite her own record of accomplishment (surely obtained through years of hard work on Garcia's part) she's a purveyor of the politics of victimization which ultimately says that mostly minority poor and working class people are too stupid to achieve without government help  - despite the irony of her own tremendous rise from adversity.

Just in time for his campaign for City Attorney Council Member Jack Weiss has fired up a package of "anti-gun" proposals through his public safety committee (yet he won't move on Jamiel's Law).  Among the proposals are one that would make it easier for landlords to evict residents who own guns.  Of course, anti-gun laws have zero impact on gang members who don't follow them and smuggle illegal guns in from overseas.

He said he's not asking for a bail-out or a hand-out but Mayor Villaraigosa once again left town to go to Washington, D.C. to beg for Federal money.  You might want to send a letter to Congressional leaders that before they give a blank check to our 11% Mayor they may wish to examine all the fraud, waste and abuse that has LA in the mess it's in.

The campaign for City Controller is kicking into full gear.  Wendy Greuel has put up her website and is inviting folks to her campaign barbecue.  Nick Patsouras has qualified for the ballot as has minor candidate Suzy Evans whose first act was to slam Patsouras.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

There probably isn't a City Council member wo engenders more animosity from the citizenry than Jack Weiss. Now he wants to be City Attorney. Weiss told Ron Kaye "Ron, I have to tell you how happy I am just to be sitting around the horseshoe." The problem is - as noted by Kaye and by Zuma Dogg quite some time ago - Weiss is rarely in his seat during Council meetings and has avoided about as many votes as Barack Obama. Weiss was politically smart to hitch his wagon to the Antonio Villaraigosa political machine as he seeks to follow Rocky Delgadillo but it won't be without a fight. Former Deputy District Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian are planning full bore challenges against Weiss.

Following the resignation by Nick Patsouras to run for City Controller, San Fernando Valley attorney and activist Lee Kanon Alpert has been named as President of the Board of Department of Water and Power Commissioners. Alpert told the San Fernando Valley Business Journal “I do enjoy it. You feel like you are participating when you can be heard on issues that are vital to the survival of the city.” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will fill the seat left open by Patsouras' departure.

Council Member Dennis Zine is pushing a law that would restrict access of paparazzi photographers to celebrities in public but one former attorney turned tabloid television show producer/host is calling Zine's efforts ridiculous. Harvey Levin of the program and website TMZ said "It's ridiculous. Cops don't walk around with tape measures. Laws already exist that need to be enforced."

When the San Fernando Valley opted out of building subway or light rail beyond the Red Line in North Hollywood local politicians came up with the Orange Line busway as an alternative. Now a number of Valley denizens are calling on the MTA to look at the option of converting the bus road to a light rail line. However in addition to cost there is opposition from local politicians such as Zev Yaroslavsky.

Don't forget the fundraising BBQ today benefiting LAPD Officer Taybren Lee who lost his home and all his belongings in the recent Sylmar fire. Click here for more information.

Pot smokers voted for Barack Obama in large numbers but they might be having buyer's remorse. Capitol Weekly reports that Obama's assumed appointments of Eric Holder for attorney general, and Donald Vereen as transitional co-chair of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) have medical marijuana advocates concerned as both Holder and Vereen have been historically opposed to medical marijuana.

Caruso Watch for Tuesday

7 days and counting. He says he's still thinking about it.

Is he or isn't he? We were the first to report he is and now the rest of the media is getting on board.

The dean of the City Hall reporters, Rick Orlov, notes developer Rick Caruso's flirtation with running for Mayor and even gives us props for staying on the beat.  Orlov postulates that Caruso may have some trouble with the African American community because he was on the Police Commission when they declined Bernard Parks' bid for a second and of course because he once called Maxine Waters a name that rhymes with, uh, rich.

I told you previously that two big name local politicans are set to endorse Caruso over Villaraigosa.  Last time I hinted that one of them has a mustache.  I'll tell you the other one has an M in their name.

If Caruso runs he won't be alone in challenging the status quo.  Ron Kaye broke the news that longtime civic activitst and DWP Commissioner Nick Patsaouras has announced he will run against Council Member Wendy Greuel for City Controller.

Caruso could have an uphill battle in his effort to topple Mayor Villaraigosa because he's rich, a Republican and worst of all, a developer! But alas, Cal State Fullerton political scientist Raphael Sonenshein told the LA Times "That said, I wouldn't write off Caruso. First of all, when you have lots of money, you can control your own fate in many ways. The question is: Is the disappointment with Villaraigosa so widespread?"

Capitol Alert examines the story and the impact a competitive race will have on Villaraigosa's designs to run for Governor in 2010.  A bruising primary and general election battle will drain the Mayor's war chest and put him quite a bit behind potential Democratic gubernatorial  opponents Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom.  Sidenote: Caruso donated $12,000 to Brown.

Uber-liberal blog Calitics declares that a Caruso victory "would be simply horrendous for the biggest city in the state" describing the developer as "a right-wing Bush Republican developer who created the great eyesore that is The Grove in Los Angeles along with Americana at Brand in Glendale." Are they afraid Caruso won't fill the potholes?

And finally a blog called "Talented Earthquake Productions" urges Caruso not to run, saying that "Antonio is doing a solid job. He may not be the transformational Mayor we all want and sort of expect from him, but he hasn't made any major mistakes."  Advice from the old, dead, Republican Mayor: If you stop expecting politicians to be "transformational figures" you won't be disappointed when you find out they are not.

Ron Kaye Breaks The News: Patsaouras for Controller

We've been talking about potential horse races this spring in the City Elections and that someone was going to light the match that will trigger an avalanhce or at least mini-rockslide of folks to challenge the "annointed" ones for public office in Los Angeles.

Ron Kaye breaks the story that the match has been lit.  Not (yet) by the Mayoral candidacy we've been teasing - Rick Caruso - but by an unexpected candidate to challenge Council Member Wendy Greuel, that is Nick Patsaouras, current DWP Commisioner but longtime civic leader in Los Angeles (remember, he has a transit plaza named after him). He's an engineer and an immigrant success story.  Yes, Ron, Wendy must be a bit surprised.

I actually met Patsaouras when I was a small child and he was a classmate of two cousins of mine and fellow member of the International Club at Los Angeles Valley College.  Back then he was "Nick the Greek."  I don't remember it but my mom told me the story.  Nick's wife Sylvia is also a distinguished community leader and urban planning expert in her own right.

With Patsouras as Controller and Caruso as Mayor you could wind up having two proteges of Tom Bradley running the City, both of who could break us of the political nonsense of the current day (don't take that as an endorsment by me of either, I am currently UNDECIDED).

Read the rest of the story at Ron Kaye.

Drink up, Janice! Eau de Toilet Water

Of all the bad ideas that Janice Hahn has come up with, forking over millions of dollars to gang members is no longer the worst one.

Council-kook Janice Hahn spent a recent half hour on Channel 35 espousing the merits of recycling water, including waste water. "By the time the water is recycled," Hahn says, "It's cleaner than when it started."

No shit, Janice!

Just to be sure, though, perhaps the entire Hahn family (and all City Council families) will come into the John Ferraro Chambers at City Hall, along with Nick Patsouras and H. Moneymaker-Waterwaster Nahai, and the couple formerly known as Mirthala & Antonio, to drink a few glasses to show us how yummie and refreshing it is. And we can have Mayor Sam & Zuma Dogg ensure that it came out of the recycled water tap.

JANICE HAHN: "This is delicious Tom LeBonge waste! Tom? Did you order the consommé yesterday?"

TOM LeBONGE: "No, Janice. It was corn chowder. But you can hardly tell the corn chunks from the other chunks! We've got the best DWP in the nation! Let's give them another raise!"

Maybe we could distribute Charmin instead of napkins.