Top Ten Reasons To Vote No on Proposition S

From the home office in North Hollywood, California...

The Top Ten reasons to vote No on Proposition S...

10 - City Hall wastes our money on things like $500,000 for calligraphy and $18,000 for sphincter control classes. And that's just the start...

9 - Business, homeowner, consumer and neighborhood organizations oppose it.

8 - The ballot language is intentionally deceptive, untrue and a shady effort by the Mayor to bamboozle you.

7 - Nobody cooler than Joseph Mailander opposes this crooked proposition and he'll be on the radio Thursday (KPCC FM 89.3, 10:30 a.m.) to let the people know about it.

6 - The Mayor's airing deceptive TV commercials starring Chief Bratton that misleads the people on the Proposition.

5 - Both unions and developers support Proposition S. That's enough of a reason itself to say no.

4 - Proposition S would tax internet service.

3 - The LA Times supports the measure; but doesn't tell you they don't have to pay the tax.

2 - Those pesky telemarketers who call you during dinner only have to pay half as much tax as you.

And the number one reason to vote no on Proposition S

1 - Every time you get a text message for a booty call, you'll have to pay Antonio Villaraigosa.

Mayor's Office Chickens Out from Walter Moore Phone Tax Radio Debate

Walter Moore reports that he was "un-invited" from a scheduled public radio debate on the phone tax mesaure, Proposition S, at the request of the Mayor's office.

According to Moore radio station KPCC was told representatives of the Mayor's office would not appear on a debate over the measure if Moore were to appear presenting the con side of the argument - even though Walter is the designated opponent in the official City sample ballot!

Their alternate choice? Our own Joseph Mailander, who recently published his own anti-Prop S take in the local fishwrap of record.

What is the Mayor's team afraid of? That Walter would clean their clock? Indeed he would. But so will Joe.

Its also interesting to note that a number of Neighborhood Councils have invited Walter to present his views on Proposition S had recently canceled his appearance at the last minute. Did they receive back room pressure from the Mayor's office? Correction: It was scheduled proponents of Proposition S who cancelled THEIR appearances ostensibly upon hearing of Moore's scheduled appearance. Moore was however allowed to make his presenation and in the cases where the Council in question took a vote on Proposition S, they all voted to oppose the tax measure. Still a number of Neighborhood Councils have endorsed a NO vote on Proposition S including the Northridge West Neighborhood Council, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, the Reseda Neighborhood Council and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. During many of Walter's appearances at such meetings, City staffers would stand up and speak and say "I'm not allowed to campaign for or against Proposition S," following which they would begin to campaign for Measure S.

I saw exactly this myself at the Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council when a representative of the Mayor's office did the very same thing.

Update: I had requested my own Neighborhood Council agendize discussion of Proposition S at it's last meeting and was essentially denied such without securing participation of someone from the Mayor's office to speak in favor of it. Still, a number of Council board members did express their personal opposition to Proposition S and this came from several people who rarely agree with one another on anything.

When you have a Mayor who puts a mis-leading tax increase measure on the ballot, one that will tax your landline, text messages, internet service, etc., runs dishonest television commercials featuring the Chief of Police, illegally uses city staffers to campaign for the measure and then chickens out on a debate, you realize how sad things have become in Los Angeles.

Vote No on Proposition S!

Proposition S Shady Update for Tuesday

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory reports an asteroid between 500 to 2000 feet wide will pass within 334, 0000 miles of Earth Tuesday morning. Expect shortly thereafter that the Mayor will declare without the passage of Proposition S, the big rock will turn around and slam into our planet.

In the meantime, a cash strapped city has plans for a $36 million city funded gentrification of Broadway even though the Latino business owners, workers and shoppers who've kept the famous district afloat for years aren't taking to the idea of their tax dollars being spent to bring in yuppies to put them out of business. Broadway has potential, but its pretty vibrant at present. Anyone who wants to develop it should put their own money into it. In the meantime, Walter Moore points out the disconnect between bureaucrats crying city poverty on one hand and others passing out the tax money on the other.

The next part is almost too good to be true. Yet again the Mayor has provided us with our daily laugh. In an effort to do his part about the City's sagging finances, the Mayor is "asking employees to take unpaid vacation days, return city cars and issuing fewer cellphones and Blackberries." It is however not clear whether this directive applies to the Mayor and his staff.

If you didn't catch Joe Mailander's excellent op-ed piece in the Fishwrap of Record, be sure to check it out.

When you tell your friends about Proposition S and the increase in taxes on their cell phone, text messages and internet service make sure they know all about the 27% employee salary increases, the tax breaks given to the owners of the Staples Center that matches dollar for dollar the estimated tax revenues from Proposition S and all the shady ways the Mayor has bamboozled you. But its okay - he's cutting back on BlackBerrys. Of course he is - he doesn't want the City to have to pay the extra tax!

Bratton Prop S Commercial: The Big Lie

It began with Mayor Villaraigosa calling it a "tax reduction." Remember however - you can not reduce a tax that doesn't exist.

The shady ballot designation. The scare tactics about not having money for police officers. All of which has been disproved by folks like Walter Moore and Daily News Editor Ron Kaye.

"Every year, LA's general fund revenues grow at an average rate of 5.7%. The problem is that since 2000 Los Angeles' employee costs have risen 7.5% a year, a 53% increase."
Ron Kaye, Editor, Daily News

The latest and most eggregious of the lies comes from a commercial featuring LAPD Chief Bill Bratton. The pro-Prop S TV spot says that the measure closes "a corporate tax loophole." Absolutely no mention of the fact that the measure IMPOSES A TAX ON LANDLINES, CELLPHONES and INTERNET SERVICE. No mention either that the tax will be on EVERY PHONE LINE YOU HAVE. Most people have a landline, a cell phone and maybe a DSL line. That's three lines at 9% a pop.

As the Daily News reported Sunday, "the measure would allow the city to tax voice mail service, pagers, text or instant messages sent by cell phone or PDA."

The pro-Prop S website - PropSFacts.com - is almost as bad. They at least mention the phone task but they frame Proposition S as "closing a loophole so that corporations and others that are not currently paying the tax pay their fair share."

Those "others" are you.

But you and others like you can fight back. We don't have the big bucks from the developers, public employee unions, etc. but we have the power of the people and the internet. Here's one way to get the word out to your friends.

The No On S Anti Shady Phone Tax Cut and Paste Campaign Message

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know how shady Proposition S is. You know how its going to tax cell phones, landlines and internet service. You know how politicians are lying to the people to get this measure passed. Therefore as a public service, we're providing the below for you to get the word out to as many of your friends who live in the City of LA.

Email Message:

Dear Friend,

In the election Tuesday, February 5th, the City of Los Angeles will ask you to vote on Proposition S which will add at least a 9% increase to your telephone and internet services. Unfortunately, they Mayor and the politicians are selling this tax as a "tax reduction" and using scare tactics that the City will run out of funds for police and fire if this measure is not passed.

Do not be fooled. A court ruled this tax illegal (because the City didn't ask you first) and City revenues are up more than ever. The City needs the money to give to downtown developers of condos and sports arenas and to give 27% annual increases to City employees. When was the last time you got a 27% tax increase?

Be sure to vote no on Propotision S.

Text Message:

Your cell phone bill could go up. Be sure to vote NO on LA's Proposition S on Feb 5.

LA Chamber Wimps Out on Measure S

Proving itself yet again to be less of a business advocacy organziation and more of a "we like playing with the big boys and getting free drinks/eats club," the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has broken ranks with other business minded organizations who are opposing Mayor Villaraigosa's fradulent phone tax measure on the February 5th ballot.

The Chamber - which wants so bad to hobnod with the Mayor, other elected officials and the developers and unions who feed them - probably knew it also could no longer remain to be seen as a legitimate protector of it's members' interests if it were to go all the way with the Mayor on this patently deceptive measure. Therefore, they have declared themselves:

NEUTRAL on Measure S
Measure S is the city of Los Angeles’ proposed 9 percent communications user tax which will apply to landline and cell phones as well as Voice over Internet Protocol communications. The city currently has a 10 percent communications user tax on telephone services, which generates $270 million per year and has been challenged in court because it was enacted administratively rather than through a vote of the people.

City Hall declared a “state of fiscal emergency” to lower the voter approval threshold
from two-thirds to 55 percent. The tax rate was reduced from 10 percent to 9
percent but the new tax would apply to a broader range of communications than
the current tax.

City Hall is correct to be concerned about the potential loss of $270 million. And taxpayers are correct to be concerned about the lack of public discussion about the current state of fiscal affairs and options moving forward.

The Chamber would also be correct if they were concerned about the tremendous waste of public funds and that - as noted by Daily News Editor Ron Kaye - "Every year, LA's general fund revenues grow at an average rate of 5.7%. The problem is that since 2000 Los Angeles' employee costs have risen 7.5% a year, a 53% increase."

Therefore there is no need to be concerned about taxpayers keeping an extra $270 million in their pocket, that is unless you're an elected official who needs to keep feeding the beast.

No On Measure S

PTA Moms Against Measure S

Today, parents of Beckford Ave. Elementary school will be receiving their monthly newsletter. Inside, they'll find the following editorial by a PTA parent urging ALL PTA members to vote No on Measure S.

Rock the Vote Beckford!
By Debbie Lopez

It's another campaign year and another chance for Beckford parents to get involved in the future of not only our country, but locally as well. On February 5th, the Beckford Auditorium will once again be a polling place for the upcoming Presidential Primary election.

Are you registered to vote yet?

The last day to register for the Feb. 5th election is January 22nd. Registering is easy! Just visit: http://www.sos.ca.gov/

"NO on Measure S"
PTAs may be asked to help secure the passage of a school bond or local parcel tax election or to participate in campaigns to pass or defeat other election ballot measures.

One of the Purposes of the PTA is "to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth." It is by educating its members — and through them, the general public — on the impact of issues affecting children and youth, that PTAs can best influence the course of action of those who make policy decisions, thereby achieving the Purposes of the PTA. Measure S (the "Cell Phone Tax 'Reduction'"), as written, applies an unfair tax to voters, as we will be charged 9%, while telemarketers (grrr… who call you as you sit down to dinner) will only be charged 5%.

This places an unfair burden on families who rely on cell phones to keep in touch with (and keep tabs on!) their children. The Northridge West Neighborhood Council voted to take a position AGAINST Measure S. The Neighborhood Council agreed with the COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT, DIVISION TWO, who ruled that the current cell phone tax the city is collecting is a violation of Prop. 218, passed by California voters in 1996. By voting NO, the current tax goes away. A YES vote enables City Hall to tax you for using the internet, wireless networks, text messaging, instant messaging, VoIP and similar services.

As a high-performing school, Beckford is not eligible to receive funding (such as Title 1 funds) that we so desperately need. Our Valley neighborhoods contribute a substantial amount in tax revenue each year to the City's General Fund. That is where the money from Prop S. will be going. There is nothing in the wording of Measure S. that specifically binds these funds to things like additional police and fire units. Voters can't ever really be sure exactly where and HOW those General Fund dollars are going to be spent. Unfortunately, we don't see too much of it coming back into the Valley in the way of help for our schools.

If it were not for the generosity, the hard work, the endless hours of volunteering, the commitment, the love and support of our Beckford families, we would not have the funding for many of the wonderful educational programs here at Beckford. Perhaps it's time to take a stand, Valley Families.

How about we just vote NO on Measure S, and instead make a donation to the Bell Fund, or take your sweetie on a date to our "Ace of Hearts" fundraising gala? Money wisely spent, and guaranteed to be used for the betterment of our school and our children's education. PLEASE COME TO OUR PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING ON JAN. 22 AND LEARN MORE!!

Beckford PTA will be encouraging ALL Valley PTAs to join us in voting NO on S. Additionally, in lieu of dumping tea into the L.A. River, we are also asking that at the same time members are voting NO, to send a donation to their PTAs instead of Measure S taxes to the City's General Fund. This way, members can be assured that their hard-earned dollars are going directly to schools instead of lining the coffers of the "Bermuda Triangle" that is the General Fund.

We wil be speaking at the montly PTA President's Meeting later this month, and asking our PTA Council to please circulate the above editorial to each of the schools in the area, and to send it home in their newsletters.

NO ON S AND SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS! PLEASE VOTE NO AND SEND A DONATION TO YOUR LOCAL PTA. OUR SCHOOLS NEED THE MONEY MORE THAN THE CITY, AND WE'LL SPEND IT MORE WISELY, TOO!

---

Debbie Lopez is a community activist, PTA leader and mom in the North Valley.

Measure S Phone Tax Scam Update

Lots of phone tax stuff here - and the battle to kill Measure S (for Shady!) is well underway.

First off can you kill a phone tax? Yes, the Federal Government did. And they found that the income lost from the phone tax was more than made up for by revenue increases as a result of the tax going back into the economy.

How about this - a liberal is opposed to the phone tax!

When is a Mayoral aide not campaigning for the phone tax on the City dime? When he's campaigning for the tax.

Pasadena also has a phony phone tax on the ballot, it's called Measure D. The good folks fighting that battle have a web site here.

The Daily News agrees - the phone tax "sucks!"

Make sure you email, fax or snail mail all the Mayor Sam blog reports about the phone tax to your friends. They need to know and they need to know to not be deceived by the "reduction" title.

A Liberal Opposes the Phone Tax AKA "Measure Shady"

Dear Los Angeles Voters,

You have another treat waiting for you on the Feb 5th ballot...

Proposition S--"Reduction of Tax Rate and Modernization of Communications Users Tax."

Wow!!! Great!!! A tax REDUCTION to vote on!!!

What's that you say? Politicians have actually put something on the ballot to reduce our taxes??? Sounds too good to be true??? IT IS!!!!

The following article gives a rather in-depth backgrounder on what's up with our LA City Council and the Mayor. Both of them want this badly to keep the phone tax you now pay streaming into the general fund. The reason it's on the ballot NOW, is because there are court cases that could invalidate the tax COMPLETELY. Our illustrious City Council, including my guy, Dennis Zine, voted to put this on the ballot BEFORE the court case is decided. By doing this, they get the city voters to VOTE IN THE TAX so that any subsequent court decisions are moot and will not apply since the voters have APPROVED the tax. Sleazy, eh??

Now it well may be that the city needs these funds for various services. But, aren't you a little tired of being lied to? I know I am. Wouldn't it be nice if they could just present their case clearly? Have enough respect for the voters to actually tell the full story? TRANSPARENCY would go a long ways to restoring some level of believability. As it is, most people are assuming that most politicians are lying all of the time, and they're not far from wrong. This proposition re-enforces the rampant distrust of our electeds.

Listen to these sales points from the ballot: "reduction of tax rate," "10% to 9%," exempt low-income senior-citizen and disabled households," fund general municipal services, such as 911, police, fire protection." On and on, and NO WHERE ON THE BALLOT is there a full disclosure that court decisions are pending that could ELIMINATE the tax entirely, UNLESS voters are fooled into voting in this tax permanently. The best part is the "treat taxpayers equally regardless of technology used." This obfuscation really means that you get to pay MORE by adding the tax onto internet services. Wow, great tax reduction! Oh, and you'll be happy to know that telemarketers are treated MORE equally than you with a tax break...they get to pay 5% instead of your 9%.

So there you have it. PDLA's endorsement committee has NOT taken a formal position on this measure...mainly because we were dealing with all of the other state props last time around. But, the absentee ballots are coming out now, and several people have been asking about this one. So, check this over.

The Voter Information Pamphlet sent from the city gives the complete legal language as well as analysis from the City Legislative Analyst and the City Administrative Officer. Both of these are beholden to the City Council and tailor their writing accordingly. As usual, there are the usual suspects listed supporting this and a single opposing person....funny how they never seem to have many opposition voices included.

Just be sure that you do NOT ever vote for ANY of these propositions without doing a thorough study. This should include who is behind the measure as well as who has paid for the signatures if it's one put on by an interest group. ALL of them recently seem to have a hidden agenda concealed by seemingly innocuous language written for voter consumption. The casual voter will be fooled every time.///

Linda Sutton
Truth Now Productions
41st AD Delegate
PDLA, Endorsement and Education Committees
PDA-SFV
Progressive Caucus CDP, Media Reform
Valley Democrats United
West Los Angeles Democratic Club
LANIC
UTLA, Human Rights Committee, House of Reps
NEA, Peace & Justice

LA Weekly-- "Better Than Phone Tax"

Live Blogging from my Neighborhood Council

An aide from Mayor V's office is promoting Measure S even though he says he's not - and was shut up by the board.



An aide from Tom LeBong is here passing out LeBong Calendars.



Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Measure S Good Investment for AEG

** UPDATE ** ATTENTION: JOHN and KEN SHOW producer(s) and/or AL RANTEL SHOW producer(s): Great topic for your show. Tell your listeners everytime they go to Staples Center or Home Depot Center or the Nokia Theatre THEY WILL BE PAYING those places' taxes on their SPRINT, VERIZON, T-MOBILE, BOOST, etc. CELL PHONE BILL (INSTEAD OF THE BUSINESS/PROPERTY OWNERS)!

ADDITIONALLY normally businesses oppose additional taxes placed on them because it hurts their business. BUT THE PHONE AND CABLE COMPANIES ARE NOT FIGHTING THIS because they have big plans that need the APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL and don't want to make them mad! HOWEVER - A SIMILAR MEASURE in Pasadena IS being fought by the phone companies because the same pressure does not exist there. LASTLY the Mayor's proposal has a PROVISION TO TAX YOUR USAGE OF THE INTERNET.

DON'T BE FRIGHTENED BY THE MAYOR'S THREATS - THE CITY HAS THE MONEY IT NEEDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WITHOUT THIS TAX.


Along with the usual suspects such as the unions and old rich biddies like Edith Wasserman, another six figure donation has come in to support Mayor Villaraigosa's phone tax scam, Measure S.

Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the Staples Center, Home Depot Center and the soon to be built Do-It Center Fieldhouse in Sunland-Tujunga (okay just kidding on that one).

Here's the numbers:

AEG Donation - $100,000

Amount Mayor Villaraigosa says the Phone Tax needs to collect in order to save the city from buzzards, locusts, riots and financial ruin - $243 million

Amount AEG could get in tax breaks from the City on it's LA Live complex - $270 million

Return on Investment for AEG - $269,900,000

Loss to the City - $27 million, which will require the Mayor to ask for another tax.

Here's some financial advice to the City - cut LA Live's tax to $243 million, don't stick Angelenos with another tax and then cut more of the bullshit out of the budget.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Don't forget to Vote for Your Choices in the Mayor Sam Awards

Why is it so important for Mayor Villaraigosa and other elected officials to pass the Mayor's shady phone tax increase, Measure S? In order to pay for a 23% pay increase for non-emergency city workers. Pass the word, when was the last time you got a 23% pay raise? By the way in case you missed it, you absolutely have to catch Zuma Dogg's Measure S themed holiday parody.

When Steve Hymon asked where the funds to build a "subway to the sea," Mayor Villaraigosa accused the LA Times Columnist of "raining on his parade." That's a great way to avoid a simple yet serious question on a taxpayer funded project. Of course the Mayor loves nothing more than riding in parades and having his photo taken.

Daily News columnist Sandy Sand gets it half right when she finds foolish Goofy Jan Perry's plan to ban fast food in South Los Angeles. Decrying the nanny state, Sandy says its education and capitalism that will address the issue of obesity. So far so good - but then she heads right over to government sponsored universal "Arnold-Care" as the other answer. Sigh.

The Daily News supports the move by the City Clerk's office to take over the elections for Neighborhood Councils. Though it's going to cost a little more, it may lead to further participation and at least cleaner elections. With foolishness like this going on, the Councils need all the help they can get.

A new monorail is about to be pressed into service - at Disneyland.

The City Council is going to cut back cablecasting of it's meetings to one per month - that's the Santa Ana City Council. This is the same Clowncil that bans City Commissioners from blogging. Sounds like they have some issues with openness and transparency down there in Orange County.

Antonio Villaraigosa: Keep Your Hands Off The Internet!

We knew that Tony Villar's Measure S phone tax was a big scam.

The Mayor has been selling the tax as a tax reduction when in reality it's a tax increase. Why? Because a court struck down the tax hence cutting the tax to zero for you. The philandering Tony Villar is trying to revive all but 1% of the tax. He says the City needs the money but Walter Moore details how this is a crock of BS.

However the latest news is that Measure S has the potential to tax the Internet. The Villaraigosa Administration will be able to tax text messages, instant messaging, MySpace, blogs, whatever. And they're salivating at the opportunity to do so.

Currently, US law protects the Internet from being taxed by the Federal government, state or local governments. However, we're probably one Hillary away from losing that protection.

But we can do something about it. Vote no on Measure S. And while you're at it, make a donation to Walter Moore's campaign if you want to put an end to this type of nonsense.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

As we predicted Tuesday, the City Clowncil for now passed on a plan to raise electric and water rates in Los Angeles. Council members Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry and Bernard Parks introduced a motion to send the hikes back to the DWP to be taken back up by the Council on February 20th, a good two weeks after the Measure S Phone Tax scam will have been voted up or down.

You better cut back on your water usage or big bad Mayor V is going to impose mandatory cuts in water usage on you. Of course, he's one to talk right?

In New York you can hail a cab when you need one. In Los Angeles the law requires you to go to a designated cab stand, wherever that may be. Jan Perry is behind a move to change that law. Now that's a good thing Jan, focus on that instead of nanny state activities.

The Smart Car is a good way to commute and get around in a town like Los Angeles. The market is responding with a car that gets incredible gas mileage and can itself twice in the average parking place. Also, the car is affordable. If you want to buy one, dealerships are coming to Los Angeles, including North Hollywood.

Writer Matthew DeBord agrees with the MTA's plan to install turnstiles at subway and rail car stations.

Previously Andrew at Here In Van Nuys posted the terrifically blighted intersection at Vanowen and Sepulveda in Van Nuys. In contrast, Wellesley Island, New York where property owners know how to build and maintain attractive buildings.

If you wondering if there are some perks to being homeless, Godzilla Don has posted the day's menu at The Los Angeles Mission.

Be sure to vote for North Hollywood over at The Curbed Cup..

"MEASURE S(am)" will tax you for reading this

"Big Tobacco", "Big Oil", "Big Hardware", now "Big Blog"? Demonetization leads to....taxation.

When "LEFT, LIBERAL, NANNY, NIMBYS" run low or crave more of your hard earn cash. They will stop at no level of deceit to create more "L.A. Aqueducts" of revenue streams to steal your "Liquid Assets". Thus being able to feed the thirsts of the likes of "DWP BOSS D'ARCY" and the wastelands of "LA Bridges".

All need to read the language of what I will christen, "Measure S(am). This in dedication to the "PEOPLE'S CLOWNCIL OF 15",("SPRING STREET RINOS"included), who are attempting to extend their "sticky fingers of taxation" to the "TAX FREE REFUGE" of Internet and wireless.

The Daily News reports that the authors of "MEASURE S(am)" at City Hall, have their broad eyes on the Federal Sunset Clause ending in 2014, that will open the Internet and wireless frontier to the taxation speculators.

City Administrative Officer Karen Sisson said the Communications Users Tax was
purposely written as broadly as possible.
"We don't know what form telephony is going to take moving forward. You can't foresee what that includes in the future," Sisson said

Assets preservationists should be rallying to protect one of our last "tax-free environments" from the ravages of "BIG TAXATION". Our own "ASSETS PRESERVATIONIST", Walter Moore is drafting the "official opposition response" that will appear in your "sample ballots brochures".

"How do you say you're not taxing the Internet when the statute specifically
says it's covering DSL, Voice-Over-Internet protocol, text messaging, instant
messaging and PCS?" said Walter Moore, who is writing the opposition to the
measure for the Feb. 5 ballot.

Yet in some twisted thought, I can think of a way to increase revenues to the cities coffers. Why don't we tax the likes of "DONE DUM" who is alleged to spend his work time shilling for the "VILLARNISTAS"?. Mulling this further, we would just be offsetting the cost of his Internet time defending and huffing for the "POLITICO FORMERLY KNOWN AS MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, tony villar".

Twisted mullings past, this is one environmental battle to perserve "TAX FREE ELECTRONIC SPACE" that assets preservationists from the "LEFT" and "RIGHT" can unite to win.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Hoping to not doom chances for passage of Mayor Vs phone tax by pissing off the voters even more, the City Clowncil will probably hold off on DWP rate increases that have been tossed around for a while now.

A green blog derides Mayor Villaraigosa for failing to get Angelenos to conserve water and says that the Mayor seems to "epitomize everything the rest of us think about Los Angeles; all surface, a suit and smiling face with no more real substance than a Saturday AM cartoon rerun." Ouch!

Walking from the Metro to work, Steve Lopez runs into a press conference on thieves stealing copper wire from LA's street lights.

Our post on new KNBC weathercaster Elita Loresca stirred up some readers with some of finding the "sexiest newscaster in America" to look like a "tranny" and others finding her unattractive because the Phillipine born and Southern California reared Loresca "looked too Mexican." If you want more on Loresca you can check out a fan created blog that reviews her wardrobe or check out video and more pictures at the Backyard.

Now that he's ended it with Mirthala, Mayor V may want to post some personal ads on Craig's List or Match.com. Our friend Jon Regardie has drafted some up for the Mayor. Or the Mayor could take the advice of Speed Seduction creator Ross Jeffries to get some good mileage going for the holidays.

Here in Van Nuys has a great post about what a horribly ugly corner Sepulveda and Vanowen in Van Nuys (or is it Valley Glen or West Lake Balboa or Lake Balboa or Encino or Sherman Oaks? Someone please advise.) is. Who is the Clowncil Member over there?

Starting January 1st, you will no longer be able to transfer for free from the Metro to an LADOT or DASH bus.

Redondo Beach levied fines on cable operator Time Warner. When Time Warner asked to appeal to the the local Clowncil, they were turned down. Now, they're suing.

Kudos to Joseph Mailander for getting linkage from LAist for his post advising Mayor Villaraigosa on how he should use his bully pulpit to bring recalcitrant movie studios to the bargaining table in the writers' strike. Just wish they would have given the byline to Joe and not me (cause you know good old reactionary Republican me would come down on the side of the studios).

Even though they use "bio-fuels" with a minimal carbon footprint, City Clowncil liberals in New York City want to ban the horse and carriages that are a city icon.

State Senator Alan Lowenthal, writing at Capitol Weekly, says that if the Governor and members of the Legislature really want re-districting reform, they could pass SCA 10, rather than getting ready for a costly signature gathering drive and ballot fight.

Gossip mongers are parsing a recent speech by Jodie Foster that the actress is coming out as a lesbian. Who knew?

Blog and ye shall receive

Walter Moore has been selected to write the ballot argument against Proposition S, which—as every Angeleno should already know—is Mayor Villaraigosa’s proposal to increase the phone tax from 0% to 9%.

This is terrific news, because it means our fellow voters will receive up to 300 words of truth about
Proposition S.

Indeed. Previously: Fake news from Los Angeles

Daily News Editorial, "Mayor V. tell the truth"

Quick diversion away from the sport pages, one was able to find this editorial in today's Daily News,"Tell the truth".

First, lets remember that this editorial is directed towards the "POLITICO FORMERLY KNOWN AS ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, tony villar". Last I remember, this is the same man who could not tell the truth to his wife. So why would the editorial board of the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET" expect him to be truthful to the cities populace ?

Second, I do remember a ex. councilman who briefly moved into CD 14 on his way to a Third Floor office on Spring Street. There was something about serving a full term as councilman. Plus he promise to protect and keep a certain museum in the Arroyo Seco Valley.

Third, what about those "80 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES" he help create ?

Fourth, does anyone remember a certain councilman who voted three times "NOT TO RAISE" trash fees ? One would of thought that he was the "LATINO REAGAN", well that is a stretch. Then when becoming Mayor, he gets and takes credit for the implementation of the raised trash fees ?

So why waste newsprint on requesting an impossibility ? After all, you are asking the Mayor to state facts, not "PARKEque" Skelton creative "SPIN".

Excerpt from editorial:

"Already City Hall is gearing up a campaign of lies and gross distortions. Villaraigosa can do better. He can admit the money will fulfill the overly generous new contracts for city workers, the free cars for city employees and politicians' staffs, the junkets, the subsidies to luxury hotels"

Thought to Ponder:

If we are in a true "FISCAL EMERGENCY". Why don't we call on State and Federal leaders to send a "RAPID RESPONCE TEAM" of auditors ? They would be vested to "check the books" at City Hall. Thus, ascertaining if we are truly in a "FISCAL EMERGENCY".

LA Daily News - Tell the truth

The Mayor's Shady Phone Tax Bamboozle

The Mayor has got the City Clowncil to place a tax on cell phones and long distance calls on the ballot.

However the Clowncil must come back next week and declare an emergency so that it can be placed on a special election ballot during February's Presidential Primary vote. If he can't get unanimous consent here, the measure has to wait until the regular city elections in 2009.

"Here's what my constituents are going to ask me: Councilwoman, it's kind of ironic that the city is declaring a state of emergency when this week we're discussing a 13 percent increase in salaries of our employees."
Councilwoman Janice Hahn

But a money hungry Mayor doesn't want to wait that long.

CityWatch questions the Mayor's failure to bring the tax before Neighborhood Councils. Indeed, this is one of the reasons why Councilman Greig Smith will not support the measure.

Even otherwise aggressive tax and spend liberals on the Council made a few good points as to why this is a bad idea. Councilwoman Janice Hahn told the Daily News, "Here's what my constituents are going to ask me: Councilwoman, it's kind of ironic that the city is declaring a state of emergency when this week we're discussing a 13 percent increase in salaries of our employees."

And in the video below Mayoral candidate Walter Moore makes the case why the City doesn't need this tax money. If we could do a real audit you will see the City is wasting money left and right and generates more than sufficient funds to pay for current services.