Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

As former Los Angeles Failure Mayor Antonio Villar makes the rounds of California Municipalities in search of a 2018 Political Rebirth, he may want to fully disclose (and screen) what happen between him and Charlie on that infamous night in Cabos?

What happens (or gets transmitted) in Cabos, stays in Cabos (or at least until a pending state-wide election in 2018).

** Blogger's Note: For those who live fast and loose, especially when far-removed from the choreographed facades of a ambitious political persona, let the above photo of HIV-positive Charlie Sheen and former LA Failure Mayor Antonio Villar, enjoying a night of partying in Cabos San Lucas (allegedly), remind the political fast lane crowd of the potential, adverse consequences of questionable, life-style choices. Here at Mayor Sam, we have posted "ahhhhh" ......, many missives over the years regarding the alleged, alcohol-fueled theatrics of the City Terrace-native. But few will remember what a "Lifestyle of Excess" did for the likes of late Southeast LA County Assemblyman Marcos Firebaugh, who died at 39 due to Influenza and Liver Failure. Two years before he died, then Assemblyman Firebaugh upon the discovery of the Liver Ailmate that would take his life stated ......, "I drank like a fish, ate like a pig, stayed out till wee hours of the night and never slept," ......, which was a recipe for a early death.

** As the political fallout from the Paris Terrorist Attacks engulfs the national political landscape, we ask the following question of Mayor Eric Garcetti in lieu of "Greece on the Pacific (formerly The Golden State)" Governor Jerry "Moonbeam, Part II" Brown's pledge to work with President Barack "H" Obama in relocating Syrians Refugees to our state. "Will Mayor Garcetti pledge to cooperate with all Federal Agencies (including ICE),in protecting all Angelinos/US Citizens, from any possible crimes committed by refugees relocated here ........, and from those who seek refuge within Los Angeles illegally (by rescinding Special Order 40)? 

** So much for another Governmental Pledge of Traffic Reduction via Mass Transit as researchers from USC, announced that while ridership increase along the traffic-chocked corridor, the number of vehicles DID NOT decline. But lets remember that this Sales Tax-financed project provided funding for campaign-contributing giving contractors, sub-contractors and the dreaded non-profits.

** CD 4 City Councilman David Ryu is solidifying his "Outsider Status" via his latest pronouncement that outs the expenditure of money on questionable sidewalk repairs at the Van Nuys Civic Center. According to the Daily News ......., Ryu said the priority should be residential or commercial property sidewalks, rather than city properties, where he said those fixes aren’t immediately needed. “Although there is legal reasoning as to why many sidewalks need to be repaired, we should be more strategic when it comes to repairing the massive backlog of damaged sidewalks,” Ryu said in a statement after the hearing----Scott Johnson.

Kevin James Made Me Cry. Or Did He Make Me Sick?

Factotum and Factotumer

It's no secret that this blog was a major supporter of Kevin James when he was running for Mayor in 2013. Kevin, after intense study, observation, traveling around the city and spending hours and hours on the air examining city issues and learning how incredibly corrupt, broken and in distress this City is in.

We all know what happened - James performed well in the Mayoral primary but did not make the runoff. He pivoted to support Eric Garcetti over Wendy Greuel in the general election and was summarily issued the role of President of the Board of Public Works, the highest paid appointed position in city government.

During the campaign, James railed against waste, fraud and abuse. He decried the leadership of the City, including Garcetti. He spoke out against things like a sales tax to fix roads and sidewalks.

Well, I guess James is now one of them. The former Mayoral candidate turned Garcetti factotum is supporting a major sales tax to fund these repair projects.

Talk about being clowned.

Well, never again. Let's just say Kevin might as well as register as a Democrat, and jump in with the tax, spend, waste and steal crowd because that's the only place he will have a home. Community leaders and citizens who counted on him to be the one to hopefully TRY to turn things around have been severely let down. It's almost as if the Kevin James we stayed up into the wee hours of the night listening to, whose studio I traveled to myself at 11pm on a school night to discuss issues and who we supported to make a difference doesn't exist anymore. He's been replaced with a Garcetti issued doppelganger who LOOKS like Kevin but does not sound like him.

But then again, maybe all those years of late night radio was only entertainment and he didn't mean any of it.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

The Daily News is right on in an editorial opining against a proposed property tax levy against homeowners to support city libraries.  While everyone loves libraries it doesn't seem right to ask for even more money from homeowners especially when they have made it clear in the defeat of the LAUSD's effort to place a parcel tax last month.  Libraries need to review where they stand in a technological era and determine if they're truly providing core services and how best to do that with limited funds.

The City of LA may get behind a state plan to consider same day voter registration which allows voters to register on election day.  We want to increase participation (as long as it's informed and not just folks voting for someone who sent them a potholder) but this is a really bad idea. It opens the door to lots of potential nonsense and burdens voting officials to get it all right.  Currently California allows voters the opportunity to register 15 days before the election.  This is sufficient and gives election officials enough time to verify registration and get it right.

The City of LA is considering shifting the responsibility of upkeep of sidewalks to the property owner.  Though many will cackle this makes sense.  Sidewalks are not considered a core city service everywhere else in the US and have only been handled by the City since the 70s.

The City of LA may have missed an opportunity to earn some money to close it's budget shortfall - Long Beach is considering taxing medical marijuana.  The Queen Mary city is facing an $18.5 million deficit and figures since it taxes alcohol and cigarettes, why not pot?