Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca to Plead Guilty to Lying regarding Jailhouse Corruption Probe

The Federal Investigation regarding Los Angeles County Jailhouse Corruption has resulted in the extraordinary, Breaking News of former Sheriff Lee Baca "Pleading Guilty to Lying". 

Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca reviewing future accommodations?

** Blogger's Note: Extraordinary news breaking this morning regarding the Federal Investigation into LA County Jailhouse Corruption.

From the LA Times: 

Retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will plead guilty in a downtown courtroom Wednesday to making false statements, marking a dramatic turn in the ongoing federal investigation into corruption in the Sheriff's Department.According to a charging document filed by federal prosecutors on Wednesday morning, Baca lied about his involvement in keeping an inmate away from FBI agents who wanted to interview him about brutality and corruption by sheriff’s deputies in the county jails.Baca also lied when he said he was unaware that his subordinates planned to approach an FBI special agent at her home, the document said.Baca's attorney, Michael Zweibeck, said his client had agreed to plead guilty to a single count as part of a deal with prosecutors that will see him spend no more than six months in prison and possibly no time at all.

Don't expect Baca to make many License Plates, if any, during vacation time at Club Fed----Scott Johnson. 

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

We bring you this bloggin PSA on the pratfalls of over-indulging in Political Pipe Dreams, that lead to Narcissist Episodes of delusional thoughts of future Political Grandeur, as a former "Failure Mayor" seriously contemplates a run for US Senate.     

 Objective, discerning Angelinos will never forget the Two Term Reign of former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar (formerly marry to Corina Raigosa).

Read more »

Paul Tanaka and Crew coming in deep into El Sereno for Fundraiser at the Hecho En Mexico Eatery

Live from El Sereno!! Its another money-making fundraiser at the politically-connected Hecho En Mexico Eatery, in support of LA County Sheriff Candidate (and former Lynwood Viking Homie) Paul Tanaka.

If you are connected, both politically and fiscally, then Hecho En Mexico can host a fundraiser for you (at the right percentage of the proceeds).

 For the price of $60, we wonder if that includes an exclusive viewing of the Lynwood Vikings Tattoo of the former LA Sheriff Lee Baca underling? 

** Blogger's Note: As the candidates to replace former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca seek out votes in the lead up to the June Election, Mayor Sam discloses embattle candidate Paul Tanaka's pending Fundraiser at the Hecho En Mexico Eatery this Wednesday, on the eve of Thursday's Sheriff Candidate Debate at the LAPD's Hollenbeck Youth Center. Supporters of Tanaka have been handing out complementary tickets for Wednesday evening's gathering at the politically-connected eatery, but the fact that the owners are playing host to one of the alleged masterminds of jailhouse abuse is bound to raise eyebrows within the working class community. Thus, as a public service, we highlight the past of Tanaka and some of his former "crew", in the spirit of educating the LA-32 NC Community of El Sereno---Scott Johnson.

The photo above features a younger Tanaka and his Lynwood Vikings Guys, channeling their inner-gangsta personal.

An Evening of Inspiration or a needed money grab to counter former LAPD Asst.Chief and current Long Beach Chief Jim McDonnell's Daily News Endorsement? 

For those who may be near the Hecho En Mexico Eatery Wednesday evening, the gang signs above are not from the likes of local gangsters, but from the former crew of a candidate for Sheriff who merits no support.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Say No to Credential-Lacking and Scandal-Prone Terri McDonald for Interim Sheriff

A retire State of California Parole Officer Caroline Aguirre, states the multiple reasons why Terri McDonald deserves not to be appointed the Interim Sheriff, replacing a retiring Lee Baca. 

Sheriff Lee Baca's under qualified choice to replace him as Interim Sheriff, Terri McDonald.

 

** Blogger's Note: On Tuesday, the LA County Board of Supervisors will meet and decide whether to follow the recommendation of scandal-laden, retiring Sheriff Lee Baca, by naming Baca underling Terri McDonald as Interim Sheriff. McDonald herself, has "baggage" from her recent times with California Department of Corrections and was recently disclosed in a LA Times expose (or an accidental Act of Journalism), to be not qualify for the appointment. But behind the scenes speculation, is that a McDonald appointment would be seen favorably by California Governor Jerry Brown, who valued McDonald's help in pushing the AB 109 Prison Realignment Debacle during her time in the Department of Corrections. Thus, the LA County Board of Supervisors, despite McDonald's lack of credentials ( ** and scandals of her own as noted by Caroline Aguirre), may anoint McDonald as the county's top cop in return for additional state-funding via Governor Brown---Scott Johnson

 

Who is the real Terri McDonald ? When she departed from her employment with the California Department of Corrections she like so many others decided to go into double dipping and obtain new employment now with an appointment by Sheriff Lee Baca as a new Assistant Sheriff to be in charge of Los Angeles County' Jail facilities. McDonald like Margareta Perez ( one of the new Assistant Chiefs with the Los Angeles County Probation Department ) left the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  and the Division of Adult Parole Operations in complete shambles.

McDonald covered up investigations of misconduct by both Prison Administrators and Parole Administrators.  Contributed to the elimination of both vocational and rehabilitative programs within the California Prison System.derailed the Division of Adult Parole Operations .

She also played a role in the coverup of the current investigation where more than 100 females inmates claimed that they were swayed to sign off on documentation for sterilization. The signed off sterilization forms were not sent up to a special medical committee in Sacramento for approval. A major violation of Corrections policy. A law suit has been filed. Responsible to a degree for the continued lack of oversight to monitor the Federal Courts mandates surrounding the California Prison system. Failure to provide updated truthful documentation for the Federal Courts.

Failure to find solutions for the massive California State Prison overcrowding without causing damage to the overall health and welfare to the residents of the state of California.  Coverup and or the  destruction of documentation surrounding  the true data and numbers of parolees failures as a result  AB 109. Mandated that hundreds of parolees be discharged early from continued parole supervision as to save the state money. Many of those individuals have been rearrested for new very violent criminal offenses  to include  murders, rape and other violent assaults .

Already the first of many wrongful death law suits have been filed surrounding AB 109. A High Risk Sex offender raped , and then beat his grandmother to Death. More recently prior to her departure from her employment with Corrections she played a role in having a parole supervisor  served with adverse actions because she dared to come forward and tell the news media that she was ordered and instructed by both Corrections and Parole Administrators ( Perez ) not to submit parole violation reports on  those parolees classified as High Risk Sex offenders who removed their GPS tracking devises. California State Senator Ted Lieu in response to the news media reports wrote SB 57 , which states that any paroled sex offender who tampers or removes their GPS device must receive a parole violation and a revocation time of 180 days.

CNN did an excellent TV special on this topic and the failures of AB 109.  McDonald was a key player in pushing forth AB 109. One should ask if she received her appointment as a result of her connections to Jerry Brown. We have already seen here in our county the horrible outcome of AB 109. Four people shot in the head and killed by a gang member who was placed under AB 109 in Northridge. A young child kidnapped and raped by yet another individual under AB 109 and again in Northridge. A young female in Hollywood killed by a male under AB 109 because she refused to give him a dollar. A young mother in Long Beach killed by a hard core gang member under AB 109, a Sixteen year civilian employee of the LA.Co. Sheriff's Department killed after being caught in the crossfire  of a gang shooting in Pasadena and a young father working two jobs to support his family killed by yet another hard core gang member in Highland Park.

The California Department of Corrections is currently facing hundreds of civil law suits and yet today in the Sacramento Bee, there is mention of yet another law suit which has just been filed. A Federal Judge has demanded an immediate investigation surrounding an inmates death  and also told the Department of Corrections  "Not to Destroy or lose any written Documentation " 

Now I ask you  , how many of these current  pending law suits against the California of Corrections  have Terri McDonald' name on them ? McDonald should never have been hired on by Lee Baca.  But how many members of our County Board of Supervisors already knew about McDonald'  questionable past ?  One should ask McDonald why she consented to and failed to object to the multiple promotions of Maria Franco  aka Queen of the Sex Offender Shuffle ( David Goldstein TV Special ), Protest marches by community residents in 2008 , a large Community meetings in Alhambra also in 2008 aired on TV # 5.

 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Hump Day

Please excuse the bloggin exhale ..............

As the first full work week of 2014 reaches the hump, all in the world of local political print commentary is normal with the return of the reigning "Scribe of Wit", Downtown News Editor Jon Regardie from his Holiday Season Hiatus.

Regardie's first missive of 2014 looks ahead to seven connected Angelinos who are poise to jolt the local establishment in the new year.

Never straying far from our CD 14 centric bloggin center of being, we bring you an excerpt on one of Regardie's seven subject matters, who's recent actions east of Downtown, has caught the attention of the noted Clippers Fan.

Ana Guerrero: Ana Guerrero has been with Eric Garcetti since 2001 and currently serves as the mayor’s chief of staff. But for how long? City Hall is abuzz with speculation that Guerrero will jump into the 14th District City Council race in an attempt to unseat incumbent José Huizar. She hasn’t copped to a campaign yet, but you can be sure that the consultants are doing the background work and assessing how wounded Huizar is following the revelations of an affair with a former deputy. Guerrero likely won’t enter the 2015 election without the blessing and backing of her boss. This could be a test of her viability and, more intriguingly, Garcetti’s patronage.

...... we ponder if the "Monkey Butler" will entertain a response?

** Despite the riveting appeals of LAUSD School Board Member Steve Zimmer, the remaining Failure Mayor Antonio Villar allies on the School Board, stood together in blocking an appointment to replace the Late District One School Board Member Marguerite Poindexter-LaMotte during last evening's looooooong, devisive meeting on Beaudry. Reigning School Board President Richard Vladovic acted as the Dr, Death in killing the appointment option.  

** The fallout of the surprise, sudden resignation (and the number of declared candidates) of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, continues to grow. While the short term fixation is on who will replace Sheriff Baca at the end of the month. the Los Cerritos News is reporting that Assistant Sheriff and City of Lakewood Vice-Mayor Todd Rogers is "100% intent" on seeking to be elected the next Los Angeles County Sheriff. Sheriff Baca during his morning press conference had stated that Assistant Sheriff Rogers should be consider as his possible interim replacement. 

** With a changeover of City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commissioners, just on the other side of the playground, the out-going cast of commissioners have a nice present on their last agenda for a certain "Uber Wannabee Griffith Park Superintendent", that would cause the late Col. Griffith consternation, via the Griffith Park Wayist Blog. We should also note that longtime Rec & Parks Commission Frontperson Barry Sanders is being replace by the wife of CD 3 City Clowncil Central Committee Member Bob Blumenfield.

** Lastly, as the controversy grows over the potentially disastrous Hollywood Millennium Project, another accidental act of geologic fact will take place in the late A.M. 

MILLENNIUM PROJECT OPPONENTS REACT TO EARTHQUAKE MAP

Opponents to Hold News Conference at City Hall

At 11 am tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 8), the California Geological Survey will hold a news conference in the Carmel Room at the Junipero Serra Building, 320 W. 4^th Street, Los Angeles. At that time CGS officials, led by State Geologist Dr. John Parrish, will release the agency’s earthquake map for the Hollywood area.
That map is likely to have a very significant impact on the controversial Millennium Hollywood Project.

Fifteen minutes or so after the CGS news conference, Robert P. Silverstein, attorney for the city-wide coalition of community groups opposed to the project, will join Hollywood community activists at a news conference on the First Street Steps of City Hall to comment on the new earthquake map and its impact on the Millennium project.

Silverstein expects to be present at the CGS news conference but he will not be speaking to the media at that time. He will reserve his comments for the subsequent news conference at City Hall.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Jan. 8^th, 15 minutes after the CGS news conference

WHERE: First Street Steps of City Hall

WHAT: Attorney Robert P. Silverstein, representing Stopthemillenniumhollywood.org, will comment on the CGS map and how it will impact the Millennium project. Community activists involved in the Millennium fight will be present as well, carrying signs.

John Schwada
john.schwada@gmail.com
310 597-9345 (office)
310 709-0056 (mobile)

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Sheriff Candidate Bob Olmsted's Press Release regarding Reisgnation of Sheriff Lee Baca

** Blogger's Note: The Campaign of former LA County Sheriff Commander Bob Olmsted was quick to respond to the sudden resignation of his former superior Sheriff Lee Baca. Judging from the tone of the release, Olmsted is seeking to brand himself as the "Reformer Candidate" to replace Baca. That said, discerning political observers may question how a supposed "reformer" would associate his campaign with Shallman Communications, but we will withhold judgment, pending learning more about the candidate and surely others yet to declare---Scott Johnson in CD 14.

  

For Immediate Release

January 7, 2014

Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348

Shallman Communications

 

WITH BACA RESIGNATION, OLMSTED SKYROCKETS TO FRONTRUNNER STATUS

 Whistle-Blower and LASD Reformer Hits $250,000 in Fundraising

LOS ANGELES, CA— On the heels of incumbent Sheriff Lee Baca’s resignation, today the Bob Olmsted for Los Angeles County Sheriff campaign announced that Bob Olmsted has raised a quarter of a million dollars by the December 31, 2013 fundraising deadline.

By comparison, in the most recent campaign for countywide office, former candidate and current District Attorney Jackie Lacey raised $220,000 by the same six-month-out marker in her June 2012 Primary.

Indicating his wide-ranging grassroots support, Olmsted raised over $100,000 in online contributions. Significantly a large share of those who contributed to Olmsted were current or former LASD officials, signifying the fact that those who know the department best trust Olmsted over others.

Additionally, Olmsted’s strong fundraising numbers follow his favorable poll results from an opinion research survey taken in mid-December.

The poll, conducted by EMC Research, illustrated the fact that Olmsted’s profile as a former LASD Commander and whistle-blower resonated substantially with voters, and after respondents were given information about the recent FBI indictments, Olmsted jumped to a double-digit lead over Sheriff Lee Baca, who is now no longer running, and former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka.

Combining Baca’s resignation with Olmsted’s strong fundraising performance and his favorable poll numbers, Olmsted has skyrocketed to frontrunner status in the race for Sheriff.

Olmsted stated:

“He can run from the job, but he can’t hide from the culture of corruption.  It’s like cleaning up after a hurricane.  The storm is gone, but the damage remains.  It’s time to clean house, implement major reforms and restore honesty and integrity to this department.

As a former Commander in the Sheriff's Department, I went to the FBI about misconduct in the Department only after Sheriff Baca and his crony, former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, refused to do anything about it. 

As a whistleblower, you're always taking a risk, but I knew that I had to do what is right. It is gratifying to see that we now have a chance to truly reform this department and bring the necessary changes that honor the service of the brave and honest deputies who risk their lives everyday to keep our communities safe.

Read more »

FBI to announce Indictments and Arrests in LA County Jail Investigation

How high in the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Chain of Command will the FBI's Arrests and Indictments in its investigation of LA County Jailhouse Abuse go?

Will today's FBI Arrests and Indictments reach the level of Sheriff Lee Baca and former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka?

Numerous media outlets are reporting arrests and pending indictments of Los Angeles County Sheriff Department officials by the FBI, in its investigation of LA County Jailhouse abuse cover-ups and the alleged tampering of an inside FBI informant.

As the time nears the 1 P.M. Press Conference by G-Men Officials, the LA Times is reporting that seven officials have be indicted on obstruction of justice and giving false testimony under oath. The San Jose Mercury News states that at least a dozen officials have been implicated.

As one can visualize, this story is very fluid with Randy Economy of the Los Cerritos News noting the following .........

United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Bill Lewis will be announcing the arrests during the press conference that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m..
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Mike Parker told HMG-CN that he is referring all media questions to the Los Angeles office of the FBI and that he would not comment on the specifics of the situation.

** LA Weekly's Gene Maddaus gets the award for best pre-press conference report via this missive at the "Weekly of Record" ..........

Federal authorities have indicted 17 current and former members of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department on a range of charges, including obstructing an investigation of abuse in the county jails, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

The federal charges also relate to two incidents of violence against county inmates, as well as unrelated mortgage fraud and gun charges, according to the sources. The highest ranking defendants are two lieutenants -- Gregory Thompson and Stephen Leavins -- according to a copy of one of the indictments, posted after the jump.

More updates later this afternoon.

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

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Local Political Columnist Tony Castro is the latest to muse on the controversy involving the alleged actions of CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

 

 

As we near the end of our first week of a bloggin, political news cycle since our return, Former Herald Examiner Newspaper Scribe Tony Castro is the latest to offer his observations on the most recent controversy involving CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Castro, who's deconstruction of Parke Skelton's crafted façade of the former Los Angeles Mayor known as Antonio Villaraigosa, was lauded by many, draws parallels between the behaviors of the "Political Papi/ Mijo Duo" of Villaraigosa and Huizar respectively.

When he was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2005, Jose Huizar appeared to be the second coming of the history-making new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.
Perhaps even better, some said.
Huizar, after all, had the trappings that possibly could better rally the Democratic Party that controlled Los Angeles, Calif., and that could potentially lead to a new American political landscape nationally.
He was the first Latino immigrant elected to the city council of a major American city. He was likable, attractive, smart and educated and connected in a way Villaraigosa wasn't.

So true ...........

When this blogger first meet the Princeton Graduate, Barrister via the UCLA School of LA and recently elected LAUSD School Board Member at former CD 14 City Councilman Nick Pacheco Re-election Kickoff in 2003, my initial impression was Huizar's political future could only trek upwards.
But a decade later ( and many broken promises left on the side of the road of his political journey), the potential has been replace by the facts that points to an insecure persona, prone to episodes of angry, irresponsible, petulant, vindictive behavior, in both his political and personal conduct.

......... and rest assure come 2015, a once promising political rising star will face a challenge for his political life regarding this most recent, alleged "Tonto-like Conduct", which will reflect negatively on CD 14 voters, who have grown weary of the narcissus behavior of a Political Mijo connected to a fail, former Mayor name "Antonio Villaraigosa".

** Another controversial politico (with gun and badge) Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, will surely face a growing list of challengers to maintain the title as LA's top sheriff come 2015. Most intriguing is today's "Old Gray Collective Hag on Spring Street" (aka LA Times) report that former LAPD Senior Lead Officer, now CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino, has been approach about running against Baca. We should note that the "Average Joe of San Pedro", stated that his intention was to serve long term (three terms) as CD 15's officeholder.

** With the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" pronouncing Mayor Eric Garcetti's appointments to the Police Commission as a "shake up", of follow up interest to discerning political observers should be the nomination of Sandra Figueroa-Villa to the oversight panel. With the FBI investigating the alleged nefarious doings of the Montebello Calderon Political Family, it might raise some eyebrows to note if any of Figueroa-Villa's employees/ associates have close ties to the Calderon Political Machine.

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


Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Future CD 15 and CD 13 City Council Colleagues Joe Buscaino and Matt Szabo?

Its time for Mayor Antonio Villar's loyal Deputy Mattie Szabo to cut his piece of the political pie.

Rewinding to the night of the Joe "The Average Joe" Buscaino Victory Party in San Pedro, many City Hall power brokers made the journey down the 110 Freeway to bask in the moment of political freshness that was the Buscaino victory over Mayor Antonio Villar's chosen candidate Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Narcissists most insiders/power brokers are, many felt the need (or had a higher purpose) to "intergrate me" into this historic political moment.

One of those was Deputy Mayor now CD 13 City Council Candidate Mattie Szabo who spent the evening working the room late into the festivities. It would seem that Szabo was looking ahead beyond to July 1, 2013 when he hopes that his next gig in Los Angeles Politics will come with a seat within the Horseshoe.

As most astute observers will note, Szabo's positive relationship with the Coalition of Unions, plus his ability create "Pay Pal Accounts", should make him a top tier candidate to replace Councilman Eric Garcetti.
** We had a noontime dedication to Mattie from "Mini Amin Wesson and the City Clowncil Dancers"

Mattie, hope you join us soon!

 
  ANOTHER SOULVINE THURSDAY

South LA Wave Newspaper Columnist Betty Pleasant

In this weeks incarnation of the Soulvine, Betty interjects herself into the national controversy over the health issues of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

AND FINALLY — Come on now; let’s have it — what’s wrong with Jesse Jackson Jr.? The man is a member of Congress and holds a precious Democratic seat and he cannot be allowed to be off in a medical facility somewhere being treated for some condition that nobody wants to talk about. This is ridiculous. The man was elected by the people; he is public property and nothing about him is private. His Chicago constituents and The Soulvine need to know what is wrong with Jesse Jackson Jr. Is he in rehab? Is he in an insane asylum? Does he have AIDS? Is he well enough to be re-elected in November? Heck, we need to know, because all this mystery around him can cause us to lose a valuable Democratic seat in the House of Representatives. It’s too bad he didn’t pull this stunt during the primary election when the voters could have chosen another Democrat to face the Republican. But no-o-o he’s doing it now.

Don't expect Betty to get offer any of the Jackson's Budweiser business anytime soon.

** Lee Baca is calling upon his political friends and county political office holders to return their stinking badges to him pronto.

** City of Los Angeles Chief Budget Guy Miguel Santana reassures angelinos that LA will not become the "Stockton/Mammoth Lakes/San Bernardino" of Los Angeles County. Would Richard Riordan care to comment?

** KCBS/KCAL Investigated Reporter David Goldstein once again has dire news about another top City of Los Angeles official. Wonder what the response from Mayor Villar will be this time?

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

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Mayor Villaraigosa likes free stuff; apparently so does Sheriff Lee Baca.  Since assuming office the Sheriff has received over $120,000 in free gifts from companies that do business with the Sheriff's office.

Here's yet another reason to stand up for public employee unions: two LA traffic officers have been creating porn films while on the job.  And KNBC is reporting City officials failed to discipline the duo.

Film and television executives who shoot outside LA are finding these productions are often more positive than those locally.  The Midwest work ethic of residents in places like Chicago and Pittsburgh was noted by one producer.
Read more »

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Tuesday a judge reduced the bail for jailed suspected murder Esteban Nunez, son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, from $2 million to $1 million. Reports at press time are that Nunez has raised the bail and has been released.

After a bungled attempt last week by School Board President Monica Garcia to oust Superintendent David Brewer the LAUSD Board of Education voted 5-2 Tuesday to buy out the remaining term of his contract, for about half a million dollars. Brewer told reporters earlier Tuesday that he believed racism was behind his termination.

As reported by Joe B.on Mayor Sam Tuesday, the retail hardware giant Home Depot has revived a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the City to allow the Atlanta based firm to open a controversial branch in the foothill community of Sunland-Tujunga. Interesting comments from readers of the trendy real estate blog CurbedLA who don't apparently understand why residents of Sunland-Tujunga don't want this store forced on them.

Mayor Villaraigosa joined with mayors from other big cities nationwide asking President-Elect Obama for major infusions of Federal cash for "infrastructure" projects. Would that include things like Grand Avenue or LA Live? How about properly spending the money you collect already and you would have sufficient funds for basic needs. President-Elect Obama - watch out for these shady guys!

When times are tough here at home, Sheriff Lee Baca has a goofy idea to send 350 LA County Deputy Sheriffs to provide security at the inaguration of Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. next month. It appears that at least a portion of the expense would be borne by LA County leading Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Mike Antonovich to question the wisdom of such a move.

LA CityWatch reports that the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition has re-elected President Leonard Shaffer over Mid-Town North Hollywod Neighborhood Council member Gary Barrata by "a lopsided vote" at their election meeting on Saturday.

Off duty sheriff deputy killed in drive-by shooting in Cypress Park

From the Los Angeles Times.

Juan Abel Escalante, a 27-year-old father of three who worked at the Men's Central Jail, is killed in a drive-by shooting in an area that has been troubled by gang feuds.

The shooting occurred at 5:45 a.m. in the 3400 block of Thorpe Avenue, and the deputy died at the scene, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Chris Gomez.

No further details were released because of the ongoing investigation by police and sheriff's investigators. "We don't want to release any information right now that will interfere with that investigation," Gomez said.

Report on KFWB AM 980 states that the deputy may have been on his way to work when the shooting took place.

"We have no information about the suspect," said LAPD Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz. "The best detectives in our Police Department are handling this case."

A neighbor, Gloria Ruiz, said that her son and the deputy grew up together and had both served in Iraq. She said he had a strict upbringing and his mother "would gleam whenever he had good grades."

Bratton described the area as a historically troubled one because of a feud between the gangs in the Cypress Park and Glassell Park areas, but said that it had been quiet in recent months after an LAPD raid earlier this year.

Both LAPD Chief Bratton and Sheriff Lee Baca are on the scene. They describe the deputy as a two-year member of the department who was assigned to the counties detention system.

Our prayers go out to the LASD and the family of the fallen deputy.

Blood on Chief Bratton's Hands?

LAPD Chief William Bratton continues to put his head in the sand when it comes to at least one of the motivations behind gang violence in Los Angeles: race. Whether it comes to Special Order 40 or the motive for the murder of Jamiel Shaw, the Police Chief arrogantly and irrationally denies that race could ever be a factor.

On the other hand Sheriff Lee Baca is more realistic and feels that - according to the LA Times - "racial animus among various gangs a serious problem that is not being discussed enough." If we continue to follow Bratton into a mire of political correctness a lot more innocent people are going to die. Does the Chief want that blood on his hands?

John Schwada to Break Jamiel Bombshell

Fox News reporter John Schwada will report on this evening's Fox News at 10 the explosive allegation that the murder of Jamiel Shaw, II was racially motivated as part of a reported black on brown gang race war. According to our information at this time, Schwada will report that Pedro Espinosa, who has been charged and plead not guilty to charges of shooting and killing Jamiel, was carrying out an ordered hit on an African American individual.

UPDATE:

From Schwada's exclusive report:

• Jamiel, Sr. believes that Jamiel was killed because he was Black.
• Comments by Sheriff Baca confirm there's a race war amongst gangs.
• Baca says that Latino gang members in jail "shot callers" ordered hits on Blacks on the outside.
• War is between the Black Keystone Gang and the Latino 18th Street Gang
• Jamiel's killing may have been revenge for the murder of a Latino youth outside a liquor store; like Jamiel this youth was not a gang member.
  

Summerbabble

At least the men around town are finally opening up. You know, they can be so quiet. They probably needed some therapy, the talking cure...

I liked Jon Regardie including Kobe Bryant along with Antonio and Rocky in a piece on this year's early summer phenomenon: Men Who Talk Too Much, and the Women Who May or May Not Love Them.

Lay right next to it this posting of blogger Angry Mom, a housewife in town and one to watch a little more, who includes Sheriff Baca and indelicately cuts to the chase, noting that the back-door dishing the is becoming a three-way, including the Sheriff.

[That post, btw, is hilariously titled "The LA Times is the new TMZ"...]

To further promote Kobe as a sensible example, for a moment forget the marital troubles Kobe's had in the past, and visualize what his loose talk has done to the other intimes of what has historically been one of the world's best men's clubs: your Los Angeles Lakers.

Say you're who has been recently fingered as trade bait by Kobe. What kind of performance, what kind of team will these people work up next year, if fate finds them all together on Team One again?

Similarly, the domestic difficulties and perplexing psychobabble being dished by Villaraigosa, Delgadillo and yes, Baca early this summer, and their various staffs' willingness to dish on each others, offer a very entertaining summer for we who are not on any team can seemingly sit back and enjoy. But the downside of all the male psychobabbling is that the staffs will begin to feel that doing the business of we the voters is a joke---I mean, even more than they already do.

Orlov almost says as much today, quoting a City Hall aide: ""Everyone is joking about it, but you know we are all checking to make sure we don't have anything that could embarrass us or our boss." In the new kind of climate, where your GM no longer can say "I'll take care of it" and a nod-and-a-wink to another GM could do that, the business of the City this summer is less CRA and more CYA.

Regardie notes that Delgadillo issued a press release a couple Fridays ago about the City Attorney securing a conviction in a cat-hoarding case. While the conviction is likely to please people like Daniel Guss as well as cat-owners and animal activists everywhere, it's typically not the kind of item that you send out to the masses of one of the world's MSM epicenters.

It reminds us, in fact, of Councilman Huizar (who?--it's been a while) pointing to organizing a big-item trash pickup in Eagle Rock as a top accomplishment in advance of his election.

What happens if the psychobabble extends through the summer and the City becomes even more do-nothingly dysfunctional than it already is?

In two short years of Antonio, we already have so many density-terrifying projects up that LA already feels like Tokyo in many now-dystopic spots. The solution to every problem in LA since July 2005 has been: oh, that's too hard, let's just permit more units and more retail. Not more market solutions to the housing crunch, mind you, and not more inviting-to-enterpreneur development: just more units and more corporate retail culture. You can probably expect that trend to go irrationally exhuberant now.

L.A. WEEKLY EARLY EDITION "NO GUNS, CONT.", "SHERIFF BACA, VINDICTIVE TO CHALLENGERS"

It is a simple fact that to read "THOUGHTFUL, DEEP PROBING JOURNALISM", then you have to wait till the "WEEKLY OF RECORD" hits the streets on Thursdays. But on the LA Weekly Web Page, some stories are re least a day or two early. That the case this week.

Jeffery Anderson continues his series of articles on the discredited anti gang program "NO GUNS" and its founder Hector Marroquin.

This week, he highlights how Marroquin committed an "HOME INVASION ROBBERY WHILE ON CITY OF L.A. PAYROLL !!". If this doesn't "SHAME" Controller Luara Chick into auditing the L.A. Bridges Program. then she should resign.

The other article highlights the "SNARLEY, VINDICTIVE" side of "SHERIFF TO THE STARS", Lee Baca.

Baca and Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona must of been "TWINS SEPARATED AT BIRTH", seeing how they treat political opponents.

Read away and just maybe there will be another article of interest on Thursday.

Paris Hilton Shaking Up Local Government?

On the heels of the early release debacle of Paris Hilton, Full Disclosure Network is replaying a debate between Sheriff Lee Baca and tough as nails Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Most laughable comment: Lee Baca says LA County Jails make Arpaio's jails (which make use of chain gangs and prisoners in pink underwear) look like summer camp.

In the meantime Sheriff Baca now has to grovel before the altar of the Reverend Al Sharpton (for letting a rich white girl off the hook) and could be facing a recall. Baca's not the only one facing a possible recall - Congressional candidate Merv Evans wants to recall the hanging judge in Hilton's case, Judge Michael Sauer.