HOT Monday Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine

While the Port of Los Angeles-representing Politicos flock to welcome the largest Container Ship ever to berth at the Harbor, the facts are that the twin Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are still in recovery mode after recent work actions.

Photos via David Roberts.

** You can't blame the likes of Mayor Eric Garcetti, CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino and Congresswoman Janice Hahn for flocking dockside at the Port of Los Angeles to welcome the largest Container Ship ever to berth at the Nation's busiest Harbor. The French-based Shipping Company CMA CGM's newest Container Ship "Benjamin Franklin", is a behemoth with its 1,300 ft. length and 180 ft. cross section, that enables a capacity of 18,000 "TEUs" (one TEU equates to a 20 ft shipping container). 

While the berthing of the Benjamin Franklin is hopefully the first of many Ports of Call for the growing fleet of mega Container Ships being built by the world's largest shipping firms, recent train counts via the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, show that since the end of the most recent Labor Job Action in late 2014/early 2015. the amount of daily train traffic is down from 47 (2014) to 39 (2015) per day.

In recent years, both the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have invested Billions of Dollars in upgrading their respective waterfront infrastructures, to accommodate for the arrival of the newest generation of mega Container Ships, by dredging shipping channels and building dockside rail-loading facilities (while secretly rolling-back, promised pollution-cutting requirements) .

Yet unlike ports in Europe and Asia, which have invested in robotic automation that keeps pace with the growing size of ships ........, and their desired quicker unloading needs, The twin ports, especially LA, are endangering their share of the global trade market, as they remain vested to the interest of Organize Labor (and City Hall, which has increasingly used the Port of LA Department as a patronage dumping ground).

For the moment, the twin ports can rejoice in the fact that the Panamanians are having issues with the seals on the new, larger locks for a upgraded Panama Canal, which will enable large Container Ships (but not those of the super size of the Benjamin Franklin), to bypass West Coast Ports. But if the twin ports remain wedded to Labor's 20th Century-rooted dockside practices, the loud horns pronouncing a economic-sustaining Port of Call, may become fleeting.

Infrared Video of Aliso Canyon Gas Leak. 

** The video posted above shows the COSTLY ramification of not replacing a safety valve on a certain Porter Ranch area Methane Gas Line. BTW, we are still seeking any semblance of comment from California Governor Jerry Brown as the Daily News notes. But then the female sibling of Governor Moonbeam II might take exception to any comments that cast dispersion on her employer's contribution to supposed, Climate Change-causing CO2 pollution?

USC President Max Nikias (on right) with LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis and local enablers.

Hmm, can you find the safety issues?

** Memo to USC President Max Nikias, can you have your staff recognize the potential safety issues that your Norfolk Street Extension, may have on Hazard Park patrons who use the Historic Handball Courts? But then according to sources, its still a goal to move the courts to another area of the park, away from its decades-long location  Remember, supposed Good Neighbors don't endanger fellow community members.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

Its Official!! Congresswoman Janice "Babs" Hahn is running for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, seeking to follow in her legendary Father's footsteps.

We wonder what uber-Hahn booster Noel Weiss, thinks of "Daughter of Kenny's" next political endeavor? 

Could the political entity known for its "Five Kingmakers" become majority "Queen" in 2016?

That is a strong possibility as Congresswoman Janice Hahn announced this A.M. that she will forgo reelection to her Congressional Seat to hopefully replace termed-out Supervisor Don Knabe on the five member Board.

The Liberal Congresswoman and former CD 15 City Councilwoman will have a obvious name recognition advantage but her distinctly, left of center record may cause some consternation in the moderate-leaning district.
AFTERNOON UPDATE: Hahn endorses State Senator Isadore Hall for her Congressional Seat. Republican Mike Gin, former Mayor of Redondo Beach joins the list to replace Knabe on the Board of Supervisors.

** The sun rose on the Hollywood Hills this morning to reveal another man-made deluge of water via a 1920s-installed cast iron pipe, which submerged a pair of cars and renewed, again the debate over the need to overhaul a failing water system infrastructure.

** Staying on the DWP topic, DWP Watchdog Jack Humphreville opines whether it was a good think that IBEW/DWP Strongman Brian "D'Arcy Rizzo" stop cooperating with an agreed-upon Audit on the Joint Safety and Job Training Non Profits considering ........., This will allow Ratepayers to ask even more questions about the terms of the settlement agreement and why it does not extend back to 2000 when the Joint Safety Institute received its initial funding of $1.2 million.  And why the unusual terms which prohibit the Controller and CAO from making and preserving copies of appropriate documents?

** Meanwhile, Village to Village Blogger Paul Hatfield muses on the predictability of the breakdown in the agreed upon Audit and cites possible actions that can be taken lieu of a City Council acting decisively in requesting accountability ......, whoops, pardon the blogging day dream.

** Memo to City, County, State and Federal Officials seeking a resolution to the labor turmoil at the Port of LA and Long Beach. Please explain how a small union with members making up to $42 per hour, with FREE Medical Insurance, is going to garner popular support for its latest grievances? Plus, lets not forget looming south of us is a widen Panama Canal, opening soon.

** THIS IS ANOTHER FUENTES/MARTINEZ/CARDENAS/PADILLA/BOCANEGRA MACHINE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION MISSIVE WARNING!!

Northeast San Fernando Valley Democrat Machine Bloggin Tool Rosemary Jenkins, has keyboard another "Wanton Missive of Distortion" (WMD) against a perceived enemy of the NESFV Democratic Machine. This time, with the CD 6 City Council Elections less than two weeks away, "The Bloggin Tool" goes caustic and personal on the latest Grass Roots Challenger to the supposed Ruling Class, Cindy Montanez.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14