Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Our sources are telling us there was one barn burner of a session at Monday night's meeting of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council's Land Use Committee meeting. Tipsters say a representative of Councilwoman Wendy Greuel's office, in trying to explain the backroom deal between City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and Home Depot to place a controversial branch of the store in the mountain community, made essentially "circular comments" that provided no answers. Frustration and emotion ran so high that one committee member broke down in tears and expressed that she has "lost faith in the whole process." I suspect its going to get a whole lot uglier before the matter is resolved.

Following our big time expose that City Planning Director Gail Goldberg is allegedly a big time beer fan, the department is leaking like a sieve and lots of information is coming our way. It will take some time to parse it all but here's the latest tidbit: Planning Department employees who happen to be minorities say they're getting passed over for promotions and that an outside investigation and lawsuits may be in the works. Our sources tell us that Goldberg and her second in command, Michael LoGrande allegedly have frequent meetings at a local sports bar to drink beer and make changes to department staffing.

Last year the City Clowncil agreed to big time pay increases for city workers - more than the private sector would ever get - and now that the City is in a big budget crisis the Clowncil wants to reopen negotiations and take some of those raises back. But it seems as if the unions are not taking the Clowncil's calls.

A well known Valley NIMBY is griping in a local publication about SB 1818. You know that's the state law that basically allows developers to overrun local zoning laws if they provide some level of "affordable housing." Of course the NIMBY is up in arms but what she doesn't realize is that it's the NIMBY/CAVE/BANANA mentality that drives this very nonsense (as well as the need for developers to be shaken down by local politicians). If the market drove development, scams like SB 1818 wouldn't happen, there would be stronger reasons for developers to develop smart and it would create genuine "affordable housing." However in the current environment developers and land owners can not make the best and highest use of their land.

In the same article the same NIMBY is also aghast that the City has come to the conclusion that preferential parking districts "are turning neighborhoods with public streets into what are essentially gated communities accessible only to the residents and their guests." I've always felt that these districts - which limit parking only to those people who live next to the streets that they are created on - are on a shaky constitutional ground. When you consider that the streets are maintained with gasoline and property taxes paid by more than just the local residents, the preferential parking districts are unfair.

Pay Raise Score Card

The City is going broke but many of our elected officials feel it's justified to take a 4.16% pay raise, placing their salaries well above many local private executives. One even - Councilman Richard Alarcon - is brazenly declaring that he deserves the raise for how hard he works (see this story so you can say bullshit Richard). However a fairly politically astute group of local city leaders are forgoing the increase. And a few others are taking the half-ass measure of donating the raise to "charity."

Some time ago, the law was changed to tie Council Members' pay to judges, whose salary is set by the state, in order to prevent the Clowncil from giving themselves pay raises. Quote of the day once again goes to ex-motorcycle cop Denny "What Was He Thinking" Zine who told the Daily News "The real issue here is why are judges being paid so much?" Yea.

Here's a score card so you know who's who:

Declining the Raise: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Controller Laura Chick; Council Members Wendy Greuel, Janice Hahn, Jack Weiss and Council President Eric Garcetti

Taking the Money and Running: City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo; Council Members Ed Reyes, Tom LaBonge, Bill Rosendahl, Jan Perry, Herb Wesson, Richard Alarcon and Tony Cardenas

"I work very hard for my district, seven days a week, every single holiday and most nights of the week."
Clowncilman Richard Alarcon

Half-Measure Not-Heroes (keeping the raise but giving to charity): Councilmen Dennis Zine, Jose Huizar

"The real issue here is why are judges being paid so much?"
Ex-Motorcycle Cop CM Denny Zine

AWOL: Councilmen Bernard Parks, Greig Smith

("Simpsonized" City Clowncil is the amazing work of David Markland of Metroblogging LA.)

City Clowncil To Get Pay Raise

It will be the fourth time in less than three years, but the City Council is about to get a pay raise, bringing members' annual salaries to a level more than most business executives, nearly $180,000.

The salary increase also triggers a pay raise for the City Controller, City Attorney and the Mayor who collectively make almost three-quarters of a million dollars per year.

Given tight budgets, tax schemes placed on the ballot and other misplaced spending priorities, this is the wrong time for Los Angeles' elected officials to take a pay cut.

Okay and listen up - everyone listening? The old, dead Republican Mayor is sending out major props to Mayor Villaraigosa for REFUSING HIS RAISE. You guys moan and complain that I never say anything good about the Mayor; well there you go. I told if the Mayor does something good, I'll recognize. The Mayor did something good here.

Now - will Rocky Delgadillo, Laura Chick and the the 15 members of the Clowncil follow the Mayor's lead and reject the increase? Who will be the first? Let me know - I will put it here for everyone to see.