Krekorian Gets DPSFV Nod

The Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley has endorsed Paul Krekorian for Council District 2 over fellow Democrats Tamar Galatzan and Chris Edsel.

The Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley unanimously endorsed Paul Krekorian Monday night in his bid for the City Council’s Second District, a potentially game-changing move for the Sept. 22 race. The 57-0 vote was an unprecedented moment in the group’s history.

“As a lifelong Democrat, I am elated to have the unanimous support of these Valley activists who have joined me in this movement to reform city government and make it work for us,” Krekorian said. “With this base of support, we can now springboard toward doing the important work of representing the Valley during this especially important time of great economic peril and uncertainty. This Democratic partnership for change sends a clear message that my campaign is a grassroots movement of the community and for the community.”

Krekorian now counts more than three dozen community groups, leaders and advocates among his endorsements. Recently, he was endorsed by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and has been supported by dozens of legislative leaders from U.S. House of Representatives, the state Assembly and state Senate.

“It was a great honor to throw our unconditional support behind Paul - an action this group has never undertaken,” said Agi Kessler, chair of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley. “Paul’s long record of action and representation led all of us to believe that he will be ready to face the challenges on Day One to improve the Valley. We were pleased to support him and are wiling to do all we can to ensure Paul is our City Councilman.”

Valley Dems Offer Up Endorsements in March Primary

The Endorsement Committee of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley has made the following recommendations for official endorsements in the City of Los Angeles March Primary Election.

Bottom line; Jack Weiss received more votes from the panel than Mayor Villaraigosa, Richard Alarcon barely gets an endorsement, apparently the Valley Dems don't like Nury Martinez for School Board and there are actually at least three Democrats out there that get that Measure B is shady.

This report goes to DPSFV's full board of directors for approval Monday evening:

Endorsement Committee Consent Calendar January 5th, 2009

Mayor:
Antonio Villaraigosa
Endorsement Recommended
7-Yes, 3-No, 1-Abstain

Controller:
Wendy Greuel
Endorsement Recommended
8-Yes, 2-No, 1-Abstain
Nick Patsaouras also interviewed

City Attorney:
Jack Weiss
Endorsement Recommended
10-Yes, 1-No

Council District 3:
Jeff Bornstein
NO Endorsement
Recommended Unanimous
“Not qualified at this time”

Council District 5:
Paul Koretz
Endorsement Recommended
10-Yes, 1 Abstain
Adeena Bleich also interviewed
Ron Galperin also interviewed
Robert Schwartz also interviewed
Robyn Ritter Simon also interviewed
David Vahedi chose to not interview

Council District 7:
Richard Alarcon
Endorsement Recommended
6-Yes, 3-No, 2-Abstain

LAUSD Bd of Ed 4:
Michael Stryer
Endorsement Recommended
7-Yes, 3-No, 1-Abstain
Steve Zimmer also interviewed

LAUSD Bd of Ed 6:
Louis Pugliese
Endorsement
Recommended
9-Yes, 1-No, 1-Abstain
Nury Martinez also interviewed

LA Comm Coll Bd of Trustees 2:
Angela Reddock
Endorsement Recommended
10-Yes, 1-No
Steve Finley also interviewed
Tina Park chose NOT to interview

LA Comm Coll Bd of Trustees 4:
Kelly Candaele
Endorsement Recommended
8-Yes, 3-Abs

LA Comm Coll Bd of Trustees 6:
Greg Akili
Endorsement Recommended
8-Yes, 3-Abstain
Robert Nakahiro also interviewed
Nancy Pearlman also interviewed
Art Sims chose NOT to interview

LA Comm Coll Bd of Trustees 7:
Miguel Santiago
Endorsement Recommended
Unanimous

Prop B:
Solar Energy/Green:
Endorsement Recommended 8-Yes, 3-No

Sunday Hotsheet First Edition

Mayor Villaraigosa has to be having buyer's remorse about appointing Jane Ellison Usher to the Planning Commission. Her pro-NIMBY memo screed will be exhibit A in Sandy Hubbard's lawsuit against SB 1818 - which is bad policy for another reason that I've discussed before. (By the way on a slightly unrelated note, here is an interesting article from almost 20 years ago about Usher's husband, Harry, a longtime LA power player. The story goes back to the days before Mayor Villaraigosa, even Mayor Riordan, Mayor Sam and the internet. Thought provoking to see what Usher thought LA's issues were in 1990.)

We posted it Saturday, even LA Observed covered it but crickets from the fishwraps of record, digital or otherwise, on the alleged anti-Semitic comments of Reverend Eric Lee, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles. Lee reportedly made the remarks during an event marking the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King at which Israeli-American philanthropist Daphna Ziman was honored for her years of activism on behalf of the poor. Blogger Ed Morrisey wondered "where the press was for this event. With the Mayor attending an event honoring King, one has to believe that the LA Times would have had at least a beat reporter there."

When a Westchester based blogger and Neighborhood Council member challenged DWP General Manager H. David Nahai as to why the utility transfered millions of dollars of revenues to the City of Los Angeles general fund instead of investing it in the Department's infrastructure, Nahai referred to the blogger as an "angry person." Glad to see Nahai gets it!

Captain Greg Nelson makes a good point about how developers can work with the community on their projects in order to blunt some NIMBY/BANANA/CAVE hysteria around their projects. I've mentioned this before, using the example of developer J.H. Snyder and his consultant Ira Handelman who did a beautiful job of engaging the North Hollywood community on several large projects that achieved significant and widespread community support.

The San Fernando Valley Democrats have another picnic-softball game next week. Tip to City Council Staffers: Don't drive your City owned vehicle to the picnic. Snoops will be watching.

Following Luke Ford's post that the Westside White Guy claimed credit for Pulitzer Prizes Ford believes he has no right to, David Markland had a brief interview with the blogger that Sherry (Shirley?) Bebitch Jeffee says is the only one she knows from Adam. Though he was discussing Ford's allegation, I guess the WWG decided it was an opportune time to lie about our blog and say "I don’t trust the accuracy or the ethics of anything at Mayor Sam, and I don’t know anyone in L.A. politics who does." Yea - sure Kev. That's why they all read it and that's why lots of send us tips, news and other items. What a waste of time to try to get stuff on a blog that no one reads or trusts.