Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Alex Walker, a computer programmer and activist in peace and civil rights causes, has announced as a Green Party candidate in the special election to fill the seat of State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas who was elected to the County Board of Supervisors in November.  Walker stated, "Republicans and Democrats in California are dysfunctional. Voters voted for Obama for president and Mark Ridley-Thomas for county supervisor with a promise of a 'New Politics.'  Also seeking the seat are Democratic Assemblymen Mike Davis, of Los Angeles and Curren Price, Ridley-Thomas' hand picked successor, of Inglewood. 

LAist offers it predictions for 2009, among which includes the forecast that "Bob Hertzberg, Eric Garcetti, and Tavis Smiley all launch mayoral campaigns."  Sorry guys, the filing period is long over and the race is between Mayor V, Zuma Dogg and Walter Moore.

Former Mr. Britney Spears, Kevin Federline, is dating again.  Wags say  he's been seen canoodling with a six-foot tall blonde one year younger than the pop princess who bore (some of) his children.  Apparently Britney is pissed.

Following our campaign to return the venerable broadcaster to the KTLA announcer's booth at the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, Stephanie Edwards re-joined Bob Eubanks and his new hip after a two year exile.  As such, KTLA once again racked up the highest ratings of any parade coverage in LA.

Wednesday Hotsheet at 3 a.m.

Did the crowds look a little less robust than typical at yesterday's Rose Parade? In a town filled not only with celebrities but even celebrity chefs, New Orleans import Emeril Lagasse was the grand marshal.

Steve Hymon reports today on the inability of LA neighborhood councils to impact land use decisions. Everything in the article is familiar territory to our readers, but it is worth a glance. The article mostly faults NCs and points to no successes other than some "worthy community projects and slick websites." The MOU with the DWP and the Home Depot retreats are not mentioned.

A man was shot and killed at Forest Lawn Glendale in an apparent gang-related murder. When you know the cemetary, it blows your mind. There is mobile security all over the place. There is also only one auto exit, and nobody except for very ambitious joggers visit the cemetary on foot; an immediate, sharp and sustained rise greets all visitors.

You Love a Parade

JM, Christmas: Unpleasant Guy on Stilts on Pleasant Residential Street near Hollywood & Highland, 12.25.07 / click to enlarge

Joseph Mailander a guy in la • elsewhere • email

If you're wondering about Stephanie Edwards: No.

Two-thousand-six in the rain was her last year working the Rose Parade for KTLA. Dour Bob and Bubbly Michaela will be working the Rose Parade for KTLA next Tuesday. No more Steph on New Year's no more. Life just hasn't been the same for any of us since Lucky's became Albertson's anyway. It's small consolation to be able to watch Cal Poly building its float at the station's website.

And why hasn't the DooDah Parade registered yet? Because this year, it's on January 20. Please recommend to the non-authorities that Zuma Dogg be Grand Marshal. Maybe he's not available or willing, but to me it seems a natural.

BTW, this year the DooDah parade disorganizers promise that all the participants must submit to drug tests, and must test positive.

Speaking of doo dahs on parade, a few of you wondered who this guy Jonathan, who I photographed standing by his trusty Kawasaki in front of Jan's on Beverly, was. It's Jonathan Shaw, counterculture writer / schlock-artist / metaphysician. His myspace page is here. No doubt he's male, but I really doubt he's been 20 for a while.

The Call by Mayor Sam

Zuma Dogg's inside sources once again prove to be right, Monday morning KABC Radio will announce the return of Dodgers baseball to their airwaves in 2008. KABC was the radio home of LA's major league franchise for many years. In recent airs, the games aired on KFWB. Pre-emption of the Mark Levin radio show during home games could mean additional listeners for Kevin James on KRLA AM; away games will cut into the hours of Larry Elder and Al Rantel sending listeners to Mark "Mr. K" Germain on KTLK AM. Hell don't wait for Dodger baseball, tune into Mark's and Kevin's shows both tonight!

In other radio news, Franklin Avenue reports that veteran former KABC broadcaster Michael Jackson is returning to the airwaves on a new talk station that also resurrects the legendary KGIL callsign at its original location of 1260. Talkradio fans remember that KGIL was a great talk station that once featured hosts such as KTLA newsman Bill Smith and the late John Swaney.

At the same time FA covers rumors that morning talk jock Don Imus could return to the airwaves in LA, possibly on KABC. Lets put 790 on notice - IF you remove Doug McIntyre and replace him with Don Imus I will NEVER listen to KABC again and will do everything possible via this ever popular blog to encourage others do to the same. Your stupid losses of Mark Germain and Kevin James has vastly cut down the time I listen to your station, lets not make any more dumb mistakes.

More stuff after the jump...

I predicted - and will continue to - that Al Gore's head is too big to not run for President. Al himself hasn't ruled it out; at the same time a number of major leave efforts are underway to draft the man who invented the internet to run for President in 2008.

Here's an instance where a Clowncil is going to piss off someone no matter what they do. The Beijing government of China plans to enter a float in the 2008 Rose Parade. The City of Pasadena's Human Relations Committee has urged that the City take a strong position on the communist government's poor human rights record. On the other hand Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogard would prefer the Council not take a position; obstensibly not to piss off the powerful Tournament of Roses Association (as well as most likely George Bush, American companies doing business in China as well as Beijing itself). On the other hand human rights activists and local Chinese immigrants who suffered at the hand of the goverment are adamant a stand be taken. Stay tuned.

According to a political quiz, I am a Libertarian.