Barbara Boxer Asked LAUSD to Violate the Law

According to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, representatives of the Barbara Boxer for Senate Campaign sent a letter to LAUSD teachers asking them to recruit students to serve as volunteers for her campaign.

This is a big violation of the California Education Code which states:

California Education Code, section 51520: “During school hours, and within one hour before the time of opening and within one hour after the time of closing of school, pupils of the public school shall not be solicited on school premises by teachers or others to subscribe or contribute to the funds of, to become members of, or to work for, any organization not directly under the control of the school authorities, unless the organization is a nonpartisan, charitable organization organized for charitable purposes by an act of Congress or under the laws of the state, the purpose of the solicitation is nonpartisan and charitable, and the solicitation has been approved by the county board of education or by the governing board of the school district in which the school is located.

Press release and doc below:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Tells L.A.U.S.D. and Los Angeles Board of Education:

“Barbara Boxer Asked LAUSD to Violate the Law”

Boxer campaign solicited Teachers to get students to volunteer for Campaign work

 Sacramento --- The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) notified the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Board of Education today that, in abject ignorance of California state law, the political campaign of Senator Barbara Boxer has openly solicited teachers employed by LAUSD to urge their students to volunteer for her campaign.

HJTA's letter to the school district urges LAUSD to immediately inform all its personnel, credentialed or otherwise, that it would be a clear violation of law for teachers to recruit their students on school property during school hours to volunteer for a specific political campaign.

“This is open and shut,” said Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.  “Pursuant to both case law and a specific provision of the California Education Code, what Boxer wants would leave LAUSD subject to both civil and potentially criminal sanctions.  Common sense should also tell her that seeking public resources and classroom time from teachers to do her political bidding is just wrong.  Barbara Boxer should know better.”

A copy of the letter was faxed to both the school district and the Board of Education this morning, and is attached here in PDF form.

A copy of the letter which was sent from Boxer’s office to teachers is also attached here.

   

For more information about the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association or for an online copy of the letters, visit: http://www.HJTA.org.

Jack Weiss' Gift to Developers Epilogue

Shady City Attorney candidate Jack Weiss received Council approval Wednesday for his pre-election give away to developers. Here is some background:

In July 2008, the State passed SB 1185. SB 1185 seems to be relatively benign. First, it only extends the life of SUBDIVISION MAPS by one additional year AND lengthens the extension time period of subdivision maps by one year thus giving an applicant a total of two additional years to record their final subdivision map, assuming they request an extension. Second, it ONLY applies to RECENTLY APPROVED subdivision maps that are set to expire between July 15, 2008 and and January 1, 2011 (which means they were approved between July 15, 2005 and January 1, 2008) roughly a 2 1/2 year window of subdivision maps that will be given a grace period of two more years. State law does NOT provide an extension to the life of "RELATED ENTITLEMENTS", aka "ASSOCIATED DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS".

On April 16, 2008, Wacko Jacko made a motion with respect to the implementing ordinance that proposed extending the life of "ASSOCIATED ENTITLEMENTS by 24 MONTHS". (Besides this addition, the motion had a subtle omission - it did not mention that the State law only applies to a narrow group of subdivision maps, those that are in the 2 1/2 year window noted above.)

On October 16, 2008, the City Planning Department Recommendation Report was presented to the City Planning Commission. It proposed the following: (1) to comply with the State law by giving two additional years to subdivision maps that would otherwise expire during the the 2 1/2 yr window of time noted above (aka "QUALIFIED subdivision map approvals") AND (2) "to lengthen the life of OTHER ENTITLEMENTS related to a qualified subdivision map approval by one year."

The ordinance that passed Wednesday:

(1) lengthens the life of tentative and vesting tentative tract and parcel maps that expire between July 15, 2008 and January 1, 2011, by one year;
(2) lengthens the allowable extension time of ALL tentative and vesting tentative tract and parcel maps by an additional year in perpetuity (PLUM loosened the Planning Dept's restrictions); and
(3) lengthens the life of other discretionary entitlements related to qualified subdivision map approvals by one year.

Part (1) tracks the State law. Part (2) is NOT narrowly tailored to comply with the State law...a small giveaway to developers. Part (3) is just a huge giveaway to developers.

So, why should you be upset?

The State only meant to impact close-to-by-right projects, like condo conversions, not controversial projects, nor projects whose related entitlements have already expired. SB 1185 stays within the realm of the Subdivision Map Act, clearly a State matter. The Legislature knew how to lengthen the life of other discretionary entitlements, and chose not to do so, because that would be a huge giveaway to developers. Our City seems to have no qualms doing that, however.

Shouldn't there be an analysis of how many and which projects will be impacted by this ordinance? One would think that certain projects should not be given a longer life for related entitlements, and that the projects that do get an extra year for related entitlements should have to pay a hefty fee for it. Don't we have a budget crisis? Why are we giving away significant value for NO consideration? The more egregious the entitlements (or if they've already expired or they're close to expiration), the higher the fee should be.

Once again the shady Clowncil bamboozles the people.

Villaraigosa Fundraisers Raise Eyebrows

Mayor Villaraigosa is gearing up for what could be an expensive re-election campaign holding big bucks fundraisers all over the place. Walter Moore reports on soirees hosted by Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York, former Assembly Speaker and former Mayor Willie Brown in San Francisco and Benny and Juliette Klepach in Florida.

Y'all might remember Benny Klepach. He owns Duty Free Air and Ship Supply and has connections with a patchwork of airport concessionaire firms that were involved in a controversy over employee contributions to Villaraigosa when he was challenging then Mayor Jim Hahn in 2005. Villaraigosa eventually returned the donations. Klepach previously owned two concessions at LAX and through a spokesman said he has not decided if he will bid on upcoming airport concessions to be voted on Villaraigosa's Airport Commissioners. According to the LA Times, Klepach's previous LAX contracts will be mentioned in the upcoming public corruption trial of former Airport Commissioner Leland Wong.

In the meantime if you're interested in attending a Villaraigosa fundraiser closer to home, you can attend one hosted by local lobbyist Victor Griego to be held this Saturday Downtown.

Los Angeles City Council Agenda Item For 1/15 Includes Preparation of Lay Off Lists & Potential Financial Emergencies (Aka: City Hall Scare Tactics)

First of all you know Prop S (for "shady") really is shady, because Eric Garcetti is running around town trying to scare/threaten unions of lay-offs if they don't vote "yes" on Proposition "S" ("shady").

And now, for a hilarious comedy/propaganda scare tactic...here's something from the agenda for January 15, 2008 regarding the Katrina-like devastation the City of Los Angeles will be suffering if people do not dig deep into their pockets and vote "yes" on Prop S (for "shady"), the newly created cell phone and internet tax, that Antonio Villaraigosa is trying to mislead you into thinking is a tax reduction. Read the ballot language.

Does this look like it is a brand new tax that will be added to your bill; or something that you are currently being billed for that will go down if you vote yes?

"Proposition S updates, modernizes and reduces the current telephone tax in Los Angeles. " -Shady Ass Mayor and Clinton Campaign Co-Chair Antonio Villaraigosa (Hey Antonio...go canvas the City for absentee ballots. Make sure you don't fill them all out in the same handwriting.)

Meanwhile, here's some scare tactics coming to a council chamber near you. Make sure you show up at City Hall on Tuesday January 15th and sing a verse of "Prop S Punk" and tell those shady coffer drainers what you think about Proposition "S" (for "shady").

ITEM NO. (7)

07-4036

BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT relative to preparation of a fiscal contingency plan.

Recommendations for Council action, as initiated by Motion (Parks - Greuel - Garcetti):

1. INSTRUCT the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to:

a. Commence preparation of a fiscal contingency plan, as a potential response to drastic reductions in City revenues that could hit the City in the near future. The plan should be submitted for consideration in conjunction with the Mid-Year report to be released in early January 2008. The plan should include detailed recommendations for extraordinary budgetary controls to be implemented March 1, 2008, that will maintain key City services while balancing the City Budget and restoring the Reserve Fund to prudent levels.

b. Work together to develop, as part of the City’s Financial Policies, clear and concise re-opener language for all Memorandums of Understanding addressing potential economic downturn/financial uncertainties and/or declared financial emergencies.

2. INSTRUCT the Personnel Department to immediately commence preparation of potential lay off lists for implementation, as necessary.

(If The City of Los Angeles were a stock, looks like you should sell! And if you are thinking of investing in the City...looks like you should be thinking a lot more than twice. It's the Countrywide of U.S. Cities, y'all!)

SUMMARY: I hope George W. Bush is reading this. Los Angeles Mayor and Hillary Clinton Campaign Co-Chair Antonio Viagraosa has declared a financial emergency for the City of Los Angeles and Bush should be ready to help bail the City out and maybe have one of those Live Aid style Saturday International fund raisers where all those super-groups reunite for charity.

Or maybe Eli Broad can stop donating to museums 10 million dollars at a time and help out where it's needed.

How about having Antonio have The Bill Clinton Foundation kick in and help save Los Angeles. Now there is a worthy cause! Remember VillarClintons...you can't take over the budget of a school system, if there is no City?

Maybe if Antonio wasn't always flying to Asia, or New Hampshire, or Iowa, or Florida, or trying to take over the state school districts, or always running from photo op to photo op -- we wouldn't be in this mess.

But the real problem is that his whole administration has been one big con job. Why should he start being ethical now? (Someone from the mayor's team assured me last year that AB 1381 was fully constitutional and would be upheld by judges...it wasn't and it wasn't.)

Zuma's Prop "S" (for "shady") Mayor Sam Thread f/Walter Moore
Zuma Dogg - "Prop S Punk" Music Video

SUNDAY UPDATE: Daily News piece on Prop S (for "SUCKERS")

Disclosure: LACITY (short)

Zuma Dogg Weekend Update/Open Thread

SPECIAL EVENT FEE WAIVER PROPOSAL: First of all, Zuma Dogg wants to declare the Led Zeppelin reunion a "Special Event" and waive any and all fees related to this reunion, in hopes of attracting the event to the Los Angeles Forum or local stadium. (Not at shady Staples center.) The fees should be waived due to the economic boost that this event will have on the city as a regional attraction. And if you don't do it, it is only because you are racist against Classic British rockers, and all who appreciate this art form that is better than any of Uncle Eli's snobby museum operas.

CM QUOTE OF THE DAY: Not to say that the only thing Tom LaBong has on his mind is football, but it appears the only thing Tom LaBong has on his mind is football. (He should be in that SNL skit, "Da Bears...Ditka! Da Bears, Ditka!) During a press conference about fixing traffic problems, the mulit-color, squiggly-line painting CM had THIS to add, "You got to have a plan, just like right now both coaches from USC and UCLA are devising a plan to win on Saturday. We want both teams to be successful. I'm pulling for USC." Glad to see the traffic situation is in able hands and empty heads.

ZD YouTube Holiday Countdown: Since ZD has become such hot topic this weekend, and some people may just becoming aware of the beloved public advocate, here are some of the most popular ZD videos of all time.

(first video is a Christmas carol from Zuma Dogg.)

ZUMA'S CLASSIC RADIO CALLS: Click here for podcast archives (including streaming audio) of ZD's KABC calls (during the good old Mr. K/Kevin James days) and some other fun things, including a jingle for Mayor Antonio.

ZUMATIMES.COM: Click here for archives to all ZD stories blogged on Mayor Sam and other ZD related articles and whatnot. (Check out "Newsletter" -- giant post of every ZD story from three months/quarter.) Plus, links to Council TV feeds/archives, custom search engines you can use, links to all the streaming radio show and all the links I like to use throughout the day, all in one place.

STORY ZD IS WATCHING:
Anonymous said:

It isn't about "sanctuary cities", this is just a smoke screen to go after Antonio's other baggage. Being the mayor of a sanctuary city just opens the door and makes him fair game.

There is an investigation going on that is going to sink Antonio. Even the L.A. Times knows about this and they have even backed away from their carte blanche support of Antonio. This investigation leads right back to Clinton 1 and Hillary's brother.

Vignali and Garcia were the major landowners for properties around Staples Center and L.A. Live. The Reps are just biding their time until both Hillary and Antonio are in their cross hairs.

Do some more digging Mayor Sam - everyone in the know is already talking about this.

December 01, 2007 8:37 PM

This is new to MY radar, but looks like something to watch. Might end up seeing this one on Hannity and Combs. (It's Colmes, you idiot!)

STORY WATCH UPDATES: I might post some story updates (from some of the emails in my inbox I haven't gotten to) under the comment section of this thread. Meanwhile, post the stuff you think we need to be aware of that they won't be reporting about in the newspapers.

Good evening, everybody! My name is Zuma Dogg, and people say I am a waste of time, who has never changed a thing. So I better start fresh, and double up my efforts. Here's a starting point!

Love,
Zuma Dogg