Happy April Fools from Mayor Sam!

Normally, for April Fools' Day, we craft up some jokey, satirical nonsense fake stories. You can see some of our past work here.

This year, I thought funny photos might be more fun. Enjoy.

Welcome Los Angeles Tourists to the Hollywood Sign!

Seems as if local NIMBY neighhbors to the world famous Hollywood Sign, which is older than anyone who lives up there, want to keep tourists to our great city from seeing this iconic landmark.

That's like New Yorkers blocking access to the Empire State Building or South Dakotans throwing up roadblocks to view Mount Rushmore.

In the interest of tourism, our local economy, good hospitality and pissing off these dumb CD4 NIMBYs, we offer up to tourists to Southern California these opportunities to see the totally awesome Hollywood Sign.

And with the good search engine optmization that the great Mayor Sam blog offers, we'll be certain this will wind up in so many Google searches tourists do, insturcing them how to reach the Hollywood Sign.

One way to see the Hollywood Sign

The folks at CurbedLA have put together three sure fire sets of directions on how tourists can visit the Hollywood Sign. 

Neighbors to the Hollywood Sign have apparently protested to Apple and other internet firms about maps and apps that show how to get to the Hollywood Sign.

You can read more about visiting the Hollywood Sign at sites such as Trip Advisor and Yelp.

You can also read the official Hollywood Sign website, though they have to do a dance between promoting the sign and not pissing off local politicians.

Council Member Tom LaBonge welcomes you to Hollywood,
home of the Hollywood Sign!

Did you know that an LAPD officer is posted at the Hollywood Sign 24 hours a day? With rising crime in Los Angeles, one would wonder if that is a good use of resources.

And certainly while we encourage that tourists to Southern California do visit and enjoy the Hollywood Sign, we certainly do advise you to adhere to the law, read posted signs and do not illegally tresspass.

But do enjoy our iconic Hollywood Sign!

Hat tip to the fun folks at CurbedLA!

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

He's back! No, I don't mean me, but none other than the love of Betty Pleasant's life, Supervisor Mark "Don't Call Me Curly" Ridley-Thomas is showing his disdain for County taxpayers and treating their money as his. The Times is reporting that the former Mark Thomas allegedly charged various improvements on his home to the County, beyond a security system to which Supervisor is entitled to. The Times article states "John Thompson, who oversaw the work at Ridley-Thomas' property, said that in addition to an alarm system, workers installed a wall-mounted air conditioner and heating unit as well as a refrigerator and flat-screen TV." In addition to the County funded work, Ridley-Thomas allegedly converted his garage into an office without proper City of LA permits. You may remember that several years ago, Ridley-Thomas had spent nearly a million dollars on "renovation" of his county office.

This CAN'T be good for tourism - crime at LAX has jumped 10% so reports the Daily Breeze. The biggest jump appears to be in property thefts and larceny, while other categories ranging from violent assaults to unregistered vehicles appears about the same. The reports lead the head of the LAX police officers union to peg the spikes to cutbacks in the number of officers.

The end of two eras comes next year when longtime LA City Council Members Tom LaBonge and Bernard Parks will be termed out of office. And you can imagine that yes indeed a long line of comers to the thrones have signed up. For Parks 8th District that covers much of South LA, candidates filed so far include pot shop owner Paul Jonathan Scott, community advocate Leonard Delpit; Bobbie Jean Anderson, a former state legislative aide; and two nonprofit group executives: Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Forescee Hogan-Rowles (you may remember Hogan-Rowles, cheered on by Betty Pleasant, came close to unseating Parks in 2011). Over in LaBonge's CD4 which covers a nice part of Los Angle-leez, pulling papers are Tara Bannister, an executive with the National Apartment Assn.; Teddy Davis, a one-time aide to former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; developer and advertising agency owner Sheila Irani; Wally Knox, a former state assemblyman; Joan Pelico, chief of staff to Councilman Paul Koretz; real estate broker John Perron Jr.; Carolyn Ramsay, LaBonge's chief of staff; Oscar Winslow, president of the Los Angeles City Attorneys' Assn.; and Steve Veres, an aide to state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles).  Do not be surprised if one more candidate gets into the CD4 race - former radio talk show host, mayoral candidate and current President of the Board of Public Works, Kevin James.

And finally, Mayor Garcetti was the Grand Marshal (not John Marshall) of Monday's Kingdom Parade, celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Our bloggin' friend Joseph Mailander offered up one of his trademark wry observations in telling Facebook fans "some aide in Mayor Eric Garcetti's office wants you to know that he actually unlocked his doors and went outside of his car in an African American neighborhood to-day." Fortunately, as is the practice of the Mayor's office, the entire moment was photographed and shared with all.

Save Funding for City Parks!

It could happen here!

The following is from Kristin Sabo, parks activist and caretaker for Amir's Garden at Griffith Park. No one in Los Angeles has more insight into how the City's Department of Recreation and Parks operates. Below, she details how the City is "double dipping," taking funds from the parks' budget in an effort to "charge" the department for "services" from the City. These chargebacks do nothing more than help the City hide it's budget deficit due to wasteful spending and take dollars - as mandated by the City Charter - from recreation for children, families and all residents of LA. 

Read more - and then take action...

"Crippling "Chargebacks" covering other departments' budgets by taking funds from Rec and Parks) are killing our S-T parks and Hansen Dam. The Mayor's budget for 2013-14 is even worse, if that is possible.

Please read this document for an explanation of the "chargebacks" and the Recreation and Parks services we've lost so far. It's disgusting.

The $56 million in Chargebacks to Rec and Parks in FY 2013-14 being perpetrated on this City's children and parks users by the Mayor, CAO and the City Council is completely unconscionable.

The budget hearing for Rec and Parks is Wednesday May 1st. Please submit your comments to the Budget and Finance Committee ASAP.

Budget & Finance Committee Hearing
Wednesday, May 1, 1pm
John Ferraro Council Chamber - Room 340
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you can't attend that day, please contact the members of the Budget & Finance Committee and let know that you demand an end to Chargebacks and adequate funding for our parks.

Email Councilmember Paul Krekorian, or call him at (213) 473-7002
Email Councilmember Mitch Englander, or call him at (213) 473-7012
Email Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, or call him at (213) 473-7011
Email Councilmember Paul Koretz, or call him at (213) 473-7005
Email Councilmember Tom LaBonge, or call him at (213) 485-3337"

LaBonge Stages His Own Huell Howser Memorial

Never one to step away from bravado and cameras, Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge has scheduled his own memorial for late broadcaster Huell Howser, who died earlier this week.

This is despite the fact that Howser's dying wishes were to have no memorial and this has been made very clear by his family and business partners.

Ryan Morris, spokesperson for Howser told NBC News “There’s not going to be any service – either public or private,” said Howser’s spokesman, Ryan Morris. “There are people planning things, but anyone close to Huell is not going to attend any of those.”

Morris also stated that the best way to honor Howser would be to make a donation to Chapman University, to which the public television broadcaster had donated his archives and much of his personal estate.

Perhaps, if LaBonge truly wanted to honor Howser, he'd write a check to Chapman. “Huell was very serious about not having any tributes, any funerals, any memorials ,” Morris said. “He didn’t want to draw attention to himself.”

That may be an approach LaBonge should seek to emulate.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

HAHA! CD 9 City Council Candidate Ana Cubas casts herself as the next Gloria Molina, naught!

** Discretion Alert!! Viewing this photo is not for the political light-hearted on a early Monday morning.

We will keep this brief and to the point, regarding Ana Cubas and other "latinas" attempts to emulate Los Angeles County Latina Political Icon Gloria Molina, in seeking public office .

Lets go back to this historic exchange in the 1988 Vice-Presidential Debate between Senators Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle.

Historic debate put down that went for naught.

Memo to Ana Cubas, to paraphrase the late Texas Senator, "we have known Gloria Molina, we have benefited from the trail-blazing work of Gloria Molina, and Ana, you will never be a Gloria Molina". 

...... and this CD 14 flashback to the dubious way of Ana Cubas, via the sadly defunct Downtown Garment and Citizen Newspaper (we miss you Jerry).

BIG BROTHER FOR BLOGGERS?: Some of the keyboardists who weigh in with political postings on local blogs could be getting more attention than they’ve bargained for. Word on the street says that a local political pro (Uli ?) with sufficient technical training to have hacker skills regularly plumbs cyberspace for clues on who’s posting what on which blogs…SATURDAYS IN CD 14: There seems to be more than one way to hunt a blogger. Reliable sources say that Ana Cubas, chief of staff for City Councilmember Jose Huizar, spent a recent Saturday morning calling around the 14th District to accuse constituents of posting items from this column in the blogosphere. Memo to Cubas: Feel free to give a call if you have anything to say about reports in this space—you’ll find contact information at the end of column. Meanwhile, it’s been several weeks and still no word back on calls seeking comment about the item that started this whole go-round—a report from reliable sources that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigators are looking into Huizar’s spending habits…

Seems like two days ago Ana.

** We hear a hot rumor that CD 4 City Councilman Tom LaBonge was up to his old buffoonery ways this past Saturday at LAPD Hollywood Division's toy giveaway. The kids and parents in line were force to wait as the "reigning clowncil buffoon" demanded that all the officers present, gather with him for a photo op. Then the CD 4 Buffoon had the gall to accuse Mayoral Candidate Kevin James of electioneering for the mere act of partaking in an event, that he was part of last year. (** eyewitness account on LaBonge's action in the comment section).

** Its a Monday and time for another "Tipoff Column" from the elder City Hall Beat Writer Rick Orlov. The trio of topics this week include the new mane/look of Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Valley Greuel", the departure of Pat McOsker as President of UFLAC (will Mayor Villar send his best wishes?) and Mayor Villar's symbolic, excellent South American Trade Trip Adventures.

** Lets give credit for the Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street roaming (the increasing deserted halls of the former fishwrap of record) local political columnist Jim Newton, for stumbling into the issue of Mayor Antonio Villar's looming and growing LAPD overtime debt, that will be past on to the next mayor.

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

LaBonge and Reyes Get Ducky!

Want some banana bread?

With everything going on in the city, ranging from poorly paved sheets to not enough police officers to a lack of jobs and affordable housing, it is so gratifying to see that my Councilman, Tom "LeBong" LaBonge is attacking something much needed for Los Ang-a-leez.

Amphibious"duck" vehicles to tour the Los Angeles River.

On your right, is, uh, Van Nuys!

I've ridden ducks - a vehicle that is essentially a boat that can easily switch from navigating a body of water to driving on dry land - at the beautiful Wisconsin Dells. Tourists in Boston, Seattle and money other cities enjoy the ducks, originally developed during World War II for military use.

Tom and his fellow Clowncilman, Ed "River Rat" Reyes are teaming up to use some of that fancy CRA money for the effort.  Ed and Tom are committed to the fallacy that the LA River is one of the great rivers of the world akin to the Nile, Mississippi, Columbia or even the Consumnes.

The Clowncil is scheduled to vote on a part of the plan at Friday's meeting.

Ed's in pretty deep

Given that the LA river has all of about a mile or so that is actually deep enough for a boat, it makes sense that you would need a duck to traverse the entire course of LA's most storied flood control channel, easily maneuvering around shopping carts, rocks and dead bodies.

When it comes to leadership like Tom LaBonge and Ed Reyes, LA proves municipal government is not all that it's quacked up to be.

Bloggin Friday Afternoon Political News Dump

Bloggin Disclaimer: This blog prides itself on being all things Los Angeles politics and the chisme associated with the cast of politicos that provide the content on a daily basis. But when politics cross over and bring shame to what once was a source of civic pride, then forgive us for this momentary diversion from the follies of 200 Spring Street. Please if you have time tomorrow, consider partaking in this exercise in civic activism and let your voice be heard "Send Frank Back to Boston! .... and no more free tickets for Mayor Villar". Then lets hope someone like Mark Cuban steps up to buy out McCourt. After all, do you want Michael "MEAT" Trujillo to be the "voice" of a publicly-owned Dodgers?

** In a classic Friday afternoon news dump, the California State Senate and Assembly released financial spending records for all its members, this in response to protestations by Assemblyman Anthony Portatino and subsequent Public Records Act lawsuits by the Los Angeles Time and Sacramento Bee. now its time to see what the likes of Infant Assemblyman Mike Gatto spent in his short time in Sacramento.

** Political observers in CD 14 are wondering what their current councilman thinks of CD 4 City Councilman Tom LaBonge public utterances on annexing the unincorporated LA County "Whiteside Neighborhood" to the City of Los Angeles.

** State Senator Kevin De Leon one-up Assembly Speaker John Perez on the City of Vernon with his support of internal reforms instead of deincorporation as espouse by the Speaker. Could this be payback for the Villar's family maneuverings on Perez becoming Assembly Speaker? 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Clowncil on Vacation continues

"The Payasos of 200 Spring Street will return after Labor Day"

** Mid-day update: The Board of Public Works with Andrea Alarcon presiding, voted to deny permits for this weekend's Sunset Junction Festival.

Late great morning to all in the "Ciudad de Los Angeles" bloggin political cybersphere!

The city clowncil is midway through its first week of taxpayers funded vacation that will see them return on the Tuesday after Labor Day. You know the supply of political chisme is low when the "Bloggin Maven of City Hall's" Morning Coffee of decaff political news, can fit with space left over in a thimble. Slow is the news when CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard AlarCON's daughter Andrea's role in the Sunset Junction Controversy,is the source of links for the "Bloggin Maven" and Joseph Mailander at Street Hassle.

We have a CD 4 Councilman Tom Labonge and family vacation sighting in Berlin, Germany where the Los Angeles "traveling gnome for sister city relations", received the "Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit" medal from Cousel General Wolfgang Drautz.

A month and four days after two people were shot leaving the Summer Night Lights Program at Wilmington Recreation Center, Mayor Antonio Villar is schedule to visit this evening at 8 PM. will a "certain candidate" (think Paul Koretz twin) for the CD 15  City Council seat, join the mayor tonight?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Businesses are leaving the state in droves.  So are people. Yet California's politicians are spending more than ever and encouraging builders to keep building for people who aren't here.  Tom LaBonge played with a shovel  and kicked off construction of yet another housing project.  The question remains not who is going to pay for this but why aren't you people saying anything about what these pols are doing to our state?

Want another way to boot more commerce out of the state? Enact a tax on online purchases.  It's even easier for a virtual business to leave the state than brick and mortar.


Read more »

Sunday Blog Roundup

Only four years left to really screw up Griffith Park!

Militant Angeleno has some shots of the latest design for City of Los Angeles street signs along with a fascinating history of previous LA designs.

L.A. Can't Drive: has the tale of a driver who could not handle North Hollywood's challenging five point intersection at Lankershim, Vineland and Camarillo.

Newly re-elected lame duck Clowncilman Tom LaBonge has his bucket list for LA's largest park at Griffith Park Wayist.  Wayist: "the Griffith Park Master Plan now reduced to a Vision Plan so that it can be filed away and ignored."

Read more »

Of Hamburgers and Homophobes

Today, blogger, serial candidate and sometime Hollywood Tour Guide Phil Jennerjahn threw Kevin James under the lavender bus.

That's radio talk show host turned mayoral candidate Kevin James who likely has identical positions to Jennerjahn on issues such as business tax reform and event waivers and individuals such as Mayor Villaraigosa and Council Members Jan Perry, Paul Koretz and Paul Krekorian.

What's Phil's beef? James is a self confessed homosexual.

I don't know what the gay or straight positions are on trash pickup, low income housing or Tom LaBonge's shady dealings with the Hollywood Sign but Phil must.

But because it is likely that Phil would not support Alex Padilla, Wendy Greuel, Jan Perry, Eric Garcetti for Mayor, he might want to consider getting behind James, of course no pun intended.

We're suggesting the two get together at a local In-N-Out, have a Double Double Summit and work out their differences.

Of course, Kevin really has better things to do. Phil will continue to amuse.

By the way Phil not sure why you were surprised.  Kevin has been out for years and very active in Gay political circles.

BREAKING: Food Trucks and Politics - Dinner Time GOTV for Box!

If Stephen Box pushes veteran Tom LaBonge into a run-off tonight; it may be because of the Food Trucks.

Bottom line is this - old school Tom HATES the food trucks and has tried to make their lives miserable. Stephen Box has been quite supportive on the other hand and has earned massive support from the trucks and their foodie fans.  Box has even organized meet-ups of trucks and voters that have been quite successful.

Something interesting is happening right now - in a scene perhaps reminiscent of Egypt the downtrodden masses are using social media to turf out a decades in power dictator.  Twitter is abuzz with food truck operators and fans tweeting out the vote for Box.  

Developing.

The Choice is Clear in CD4: Stephen Box

Reports abound that polls taken by non-campaign sources show LaBonge coming in second.  Hence his recent desperation and bizarre behavior.

I wish we had known about this sooner, but it appears that LaBonge may have perpetrated a massive shady fraud on the so-called "Save the Hollywood Sign" effort.

The guy has to go.  There is no worse Councilman than LaBonge.  Even the shady or clueless ones.

Stephen Box will upset the apple cart, which we need.  We even need a whole new apple cart.

Say goodbye to the past, goodbye to pumpkin bread and goodbye to "What high school did you go to?"  It's now the think-outside-the- BOX era.

CD 4 City Council Candidate Stephen Box gets endorsement of LA City Workers

The endorsement of Stephen Box by LA City Workers is a major game changer in the contentious CD 4 Election proceedings.

Your thoughts....

Scott Johnson in CD 14

LaBonge Goes All High School

The day prior to what could be the biggest election of his political career always controversial and never boring Councilman Tom LaBonge finds himself in a minor brouhaha.

He has unfriended local businessman, activist and talkradio host Frank Sheftel on LaBonge's Facebook page.

LaBonge, who is known for starting off introductions asking individuals "What high school did you you go to?" has been at odds with Sheftel in the past over various issues in the District but, according to Sheftel, they have had an amicable working relationship over the years.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Folks in CD14 are out of work and there is little business opportunity in the District.  That must be why Councilman Jose Huizar is talking the City into spending a million to study a goofy streetcar idea for Downtown.  Follow the money folks, follow the money.

The LA Times recaps their endorsements. The set as a whole will not please either the downtown status quo folks nor the Clean Sweepers, and in a few districts, neither.  They are CD2: Krekorian, CD4: O'Grady, CD6: Goodman, CD8: Parks, CD10: Wesson,  CD12: Englander, CD14: Martinez.  Count that up folks the Times is actually calling for half of the incumbents up for re-election to be tossed out.  And in the case of CD4 the other Fishwrap in town, the Daily News, endorsed the other challenger to Tom LaBonge, Stephen Box.

Read more »

Late Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Monday

Can we lead UTLA's AJ Duffy away one last time?

Great afternoon to all including LAUSD School Board Candidates Jesus Escandon and John Fernandez who faced the wrath of UTLA Henchman AJ "Puff" Duffy, and now are the latest poster child's highlighting the dysfunction state of affairs, within LAUSD biggest union of public indoctrinators/educators.

From the outside, looking in, one gathers the the pressure to maintain some semblance of influence within LAUSD, is causing the likes of Duffy, to purge UTLA supported candidates, who's background may bring defeat in the upcoming March 2011 Elections.

LAUSD District 7 Candidate Jesus Escandon was striped of his UTLA endorsement after the discovery of a 1997 DUI Conviction and arrest for street fighting. We should note that Escandon was a candidate in 2007 for the same seat and nothing was revealed at that time.

LAUSD District 5 Candidate John Fernandez is vowing to fight Duffy's efforts to purge him. Fernandez has been straight forward in discussing his past issues but has never been convicted of a crime. Duffy stated that serious issues pertaining to Fernandez veracity and integrity were the cause for withdrawing the endorsement. But then if Duffy had any integrity, he would admit that his leftist band of indoctrinators and himself, deserve the big share of the blame for LAUSD's current state of being.

More News after the Bloggin Leap:
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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday: The Bad Day for Jose Huizar Edition

It could not get worse, Tuesday, for Councilman Jose Huizar. How could such awful things happen to a Princeton educated nice guy?

Read more »

This Veterans Day Tom LaBonge Raises Red Tape Not Yellow Ribbon in CD-4

Tom LaBonge (CD-4) and the Los Angeles City Council have launched their latest obstructionist stunt.

This time around, they’re targeting Los Angeles’ veteran community on Veterans Day. The LA Times gives its take here.

David Weiss is a former Marine and represents a coalition of prominent LA veterans group. Weiss submitted a routine community plan on the veterans’ behalf to commemorate Veterans Day by draping the Hollywood Sign in Labonge’s district with a yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbon.

Over the years, draping the sign has become a longstanding tradition that draws attention to a variety of causes.

Weiss says his proposal has received support across the board because it is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate nonpartisan support for our troops at a time of war with zero cost to the City.

The Hollywood Sign Trust and the Chamber of Commerce both enthusiastically approved Weiss’s proposal and his group’s agreement to self-fund the project, but Tom LaBonge and the rest of the Council are determined to prove that getting things done in LA isn’t about process or what’s fair and appropriate or even how many reputable organizations have lined up behind you.

In this Council it’s about who you know, and LaBonge doesn’t seem to know our veterans.

LaBonge was Weiss’s last stop in a months-long approval process, and Weiss says when he met with Councilman LaBonge, he received approval quickly.

Read more »