Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for MLK Day

Is CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino playing a dangerous game in escalating the contentious Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) West Coast Ports Labor Dispute, by his supporting of a March along the San Pedro Waterfront?

CD 15 City Councilman (and ILWU Supporter) Joe Buscaino.

** The former "Average Joe of San Pedro" who brought San Pedro and the Greater CD-15 together in electing a Native Son done great, to replace now Congresswoman Janice Hahn as its Councilperson Joe Buscaino, is using his homegrown, political capital, in taking a side on a contentions labor issue with local and nation economic implications. Via the "Average Joe's Official Facebook Page, the former LAPD Senior Lead Officer is organizing a Major Rally in support of ILWU's grievances against PMA as noted below.

The PMA's action in further cutting night shifts at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is another step closer to a lockout. It’s the wrong time to take the type of actions that will hurt the hard working residents that I represent. It will only serve to worsen the slowdown and congestion at the ports, disrupt the global supply chain, and result in irreparable damage to the reputation of our ports complex at a time when competition is peaking. I believe we are at a point where there may be no winners in the end. I beg the PMA to come to a resolution by allowing the ILWU jurisdiction over the chassis issue and bring our economic engine back to efficient operation before we lose business permanently.

** A Kamala Harris and Antonio Villaraigosa Weekend Meeting?

Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaking with Attorney General Kamala Harris. 

From Willie Brown Jr. in today's Column within the Opinion Pages of the San Franscisco Chronicle ......, State Attorney General Kamala Harris and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were spotted having dinner the other night. I assume they were talking about her — and possibly his — bid to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016.

My speculation is that Villaraigosa was looking to cut a deal under which he would opt out of the Senate race and Harris would stay neutral in the 2018 governor’s campaign, which could well pit Villaraigosa against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

** From the dark underworld comes the below video featuring the Evil Dictator Adolf Hitler's diatribe on California Governor Jerry "Moonbeam II" Brown's proposed High Speed Rail's route through the western Angeles National Forest. Enjoy and props to its creator. 


Hitler not a fan of Moonbeam's Choo Choo.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

The late-night misadventures of Andrea AlarCON..

City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works President Andrea AlarCON.

Finally! Someone asked the question many in City Hall had been broaching in private.

As more details on the troubling behavior of City of LA Board of Public Works President Andrea AlarCON come to light, one lingering question that many in City Hall have been broaching in private, was finally presented to Mayor Antonio Villar by City Hall beat writers.

From the Daily News regarding AlarCON's "after-party actions" ............

The Nov. 16 Project Restore party honored Villaraigosa. The mayor attended the event, but then left City Hall, his spokesman Peter Sanders said."The mayor wasn't with Commissioner Alarcón after the Project Restore party," Sanders said.

Que? In context, many in City Hall have speculating whether the relationship between Mayor Villar and AlarCON is more than professional. One City Hall insider went as far to question whether the former "LA Antonio Times" would have the journalistic cajones to ask the Mayor whether he was with AlarCON during the time  the daughter was left alone at City Hall. Now we have more details on the night in question, but the rumors on the duo's past liaisons still persist . But regardless of whether AlarCON has visited Mayor Villar at Getty House for other than city business, the glaring issue here is why AlarCON has not been charge yet for child endangerment  That question should be ask of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.

** The Ports of Los Angeles and to a lesser extent Long Beach, are in a state of near shut down as 50 union clerical workers continue their job action. Ocean shippers are considering other berthing options to disembark their cargo in "Greece on the Pacific"..

** Ready for this political surprise via LA Weekly's Patrick Range McDonald?

By now it's common knowledge that Los Angeles City Council members love their perks and holidays. Just read the L.A. Weekly cover story "Los Angeles on $300,00 a Year." But now they're taking time off from dealing with important city business -- it's officially called a "recess" -- for a major conference they don't even attend.   

Props to City Councilman Ed Reyes and Mitch Englander for actually attending the conference.

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

Mayor Villar: "Its not a yacht, its a boat"

"Angelena II", at least Mayor Antonio Villar didn't "rename and christen it" the west coast version of the "Monkey Business".

Great afternoon for a ride on the water of LA Harbor, we think not. But for many who wanted a closer view of the container cranes of Los Angeles Harbor, the Angelena II was the city-owned vessel of choice, thats if you knew of its existence. 

Not wanting to engage in a battle of semantics with Mayor Villar on the classifications of sea-going vessels, this yacht (after all, would the City Terrace raised Villar call a Low Rider just a car?) has been used to give approved riders a visual experience one of the world's largest container ports. As KCBS Channel Two's David Goldstein reports, the likes of the Morongo Band of Indians were partakers in an Angelena II cruise on the port waters. Maybe they are waiting for the day when the Salton Sea is open to the Gulf of California and join their Cabazon brothers in building a container port in Indio, based upon the knowledge gained from their yacht ride?

But seriously, in these days of fiscal belt-tightening, what is the Port of Los Angeles doing spending big bucks in refitting a yacht for joy ride junkets around the harbor? One can gain the same experience of a harbor cruise by enjoying a ride on one of former CD 15 City Council Candidate Jayme Wilson's dinner excursions on the water. There is also a City of Los Angeles Fireboat that could also double as a tour boat and educational platform for school kids. Yet, at the end of the day, a world port is befitting of a world-class yacht, ... or boat in the public conscious eyes of Mayor Villar.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

What happens when you mix GoProud, a gay republican group, with CPAC, the annual conservative neanderthal convention? You get to see the true colors of conservative groups like the Family Research Council, Concerned Women of America, and the National Organization for Marriage. These groups, along with several others, are opting not to participate in next years convention simply due to the presence of GoProud. What's the matter with these goons?  The Party of No remains the Party of Hate (but we always knew that, right?). Speaking of Hate; the Southern Poverty Law Center recently dropped the HATE GROUP bomb on the Family Research Council . The FRC now can count itself in the close company of other stupid groups like the KKK, the Neo-Nazis, The New Black Panthers, The Neo-Confederates and almost 900 other organizations that make up the SPLC Watchlist.

One strong indicator that the US economy is on the rebound is the amount of cargo passing through our ports. Great news! Cargo flow at the Port of Los Angeles is actually surging, with a 20% increase over 2009. Damn Obama! Next thing you know, he'll be giving the US back to the Native Americans.

More big Port of Los Angeles news; Heavy Duty Hydrogen Fuel Cell trucks will soon be making an appearance at the docks. An 18 month trial run is set to begin in early spring.

Governor-Elect Brown plans to live up to his cheap ass frugal reputation and will only be serving hot dogs and potato chips at his Inauguration next week. Alas, we'll probably never know what a tremendous, over the top, invitation only, fit for a queen feast, Meg would have served had Nicky and Gloria not screwed up her attempted purchase of the California governorship.

Finally, meet Perry. After suffering through a financial collapse, Perry decided to go off the grid, cash/barter only, DIY, pay as you go. He bought a small bit of land (that seems to always be partially underwater), and a motor home (that really needs some work done) and he's started posting about his daily challenges and accomplishments. Good reading from a very determined and intelligent man.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Los Angeles Port President David Freeman joined Port of Long Beach Prexy Mario Cordero for a joint appearance last week in San Pedro about the controversial "Clean Trucks" programs to be adopted by both ports. The goal - to lower diesel emissions and pollution at the ports and in surrounding communities - may only be window dressing. Freeman denied that one of the more talked about provisions of the LA plan that could require truck drivers at the port to be employees rather than owner-operators was more about pleasing unions (unions can't organize truck drivers who are independent operators) than making the Port more green.

Mr. Tamar Galatzan and VICA head Brendan Huffman has a letter in Monday's Daily News praising the selection of Marcus Allen as the new CAO for LA. Brendan, how come they iced the plan to dump Robin Kramer until none of us are looking?

Joel Budd writing in the Economist is the latest journalist to delve into the development issue in Los Angeles. Though he captures well the usual NIMBY/BANANA/CAVE anti-growth mentality, the story also makes it clear why the city has to look at all types of growth strategy including smart development and transit oriented development. We just can't get keep growing out.

The MTA and the City are trying to encourage more people to use public transit yet at the same time they're cutting service on the lines that the most transit-dependent need most. Makes sense of course. Even Tony Villar finds fault with it.

Except for some of the NIMBYs who read this blog, most of you probably have no idea who Sandor Winger is, but he's the man that anyone wanting to annex Las Lomas and other prize properties in LA County has to get through. The Newhall Signal profiles the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission who spends his days pouring over proposed county maps and often tells guests he "feels crappy." Maybe on his desk: new plans to annex Las Lomas?

Saturday Hotsheet at 3 a.m.

JM, Boy Setting Bicycle on Roof, York Avenue, 12.05.07

Conduct unbecoming: hangman nooses are popping up dangling from rearview mirrors at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the Daily Breeze reports.

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Sam Hall Kaplan describes in the DowntownNews how the planning, even the pre-planning stages for north Chinatown and the Cornfield are shaping up. "'Just think of it, 400 mostly underdeveloped acres, a few miles from the Civic Center and Downtown,' exclaimed [Planning Department admin Claire] Bowin, who deftly ran the workshop with thehelp of, among others, the Western Justice Center and the nonprofit Livable Places."

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As nearly everyone everywhere has predicted, there will be no immanent settlement to the Writers' strike. Why couldn't the Mayor use some jawboning power on this one? [answer: What, and risk offending studios?]

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It's not just their relentless seven-year coverage of priest molestation. If the Catholic Church made an error in the eightteenth century, the Times will be there to cover that, too.

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Uh-oh, looks like MayorSam isn't the only place where comment wars rage.