Say It Ain't SO, Tomas O'Grady!

What happens when the supporter of one City Council candidate sues an opponent of the candidate and serves papers on said opponent at a candidates' forum event? In today's day and age, the candidate puts his hands over his ears screaming "La la la la la la la!!!" and his supporters go apoplectic.

Have any proofreaders on staff?

That's what happened when a piece at MyLANews.com reported that Hollywood Hills resident Eugene Matthews filed suit against CD4 candidate Sheila Irani, for allegedly chopping down trees on his neighboring property. Irani has denied the charges.

Where it becomes a sticky wicket is that Matthews is reportedly a major supporter of Irani's opponent, Tomas O'Grady.

And that wicket becomes stickier a O'Grady, in distancing himself from Matthews, did not condemn Matthews apparent theatrics as being in bad form (particularly in that they would potentially benefit O'Grady) but approached a victim like stance telling participants on a community Facebook page that he wished to be "left out of it."

O'Grady further steps in it it with a blog post "Please Leave Tomas O'Grady Out These Disputes" (with apparently the same headline proofing troubles MyLANews.com has) singing "Don't cry for me, Silver Lake / Los Feliz" cementing in this blogger's mind that the good Mr. O'Grady is not ready (after a previous run for Council four years ago) for prime time and will not be able to do battle as a Council Member in the matter that his District would need, now more than ever.

Street Hassle, Ron Kaye: CD4 Race Tightening; Desperate LaBonge Goes Uber-Dirty

Street Hassle via Ron Kaye.

After a lot of hustling by challengers Tomas O'Grady and Stephen Box this past weekend, the late smear tactics of Councilman Tom LaBonge indicate that the race in CD 4 has considerably tightened.

Where's my pumpkin loaf?

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.

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Magically Delicious! Tomas O'Grady on the Air Tonight!

Los Angeles City Council Candidate for the Fourth District, Tomas O'Grady joins David, Frank and myself this evening on Live LA Saturday Night on LATalkRadio.  

O'Grady, whose life adventure has taken him from the farms of western Ireland to Los Feliz, is seeking to best longtime controversial incumbent (and another Irishman) Tom LaBonge.

Also on the show, as always, from Jackass 3D, comedian Rip Taylor.

Listen tonight at 8:00 p.m.  Call with your questions live at 323-203-0815, or post them here.

Afternoon Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Thursday

"CIty Councilman Bill Rosendahl will bare chest for medical procedure".

Great afternoon to all as we bring you up to speed on all thing political outside of CD 14, in the City of Los Angeles.

We wish a speedy recovery to Venice Beach City Councilman Bill Rosendahl who will go under the knife to repair an abnormal heart rhythm. Rosendahl who's heart is of a liberal variety., ( also should note that he had the heart to help former Mayor Sam Blogger Dave "Zuma Dogg" Saltzberg) looks forward to returning to his normal duties within the Horseshoe on Spring Street, within days.

** As Mayor Sam reported, the former CD 12 City Council Candidate Brad Smith, is back to being current CD 12 City Council Candidate Brad Smith. Smith, who's sudden departure from the CD 12 campaign proceedings was cause for rampant speculation and consternation from LA County Democratic Activists, (who's county endorsement was seen as going to waste) has resolved his "personal and economic issues".

** Lets give CD 4 City Council Candidate Stephen Box credit for "this novel exercise of candidate meet and greeting". Candidate Box dispenses with the bike and tries on the hiking boots for a Sunday's stroll through the brush. ** A Bloggin Disclaimer: Beware of 'six-figure salary city employee" who tosses footballs and high school gridiron tales on the trails of Griffith Park.

** Is CD 4 City Council Candidate Tomas O'Grady and his minions of the Los Felix Forward Coalition, gaming financial disclosures to present supposed larger community support?

** For those who are ignorant on CRA/LA's leading role in decaying ethical government in the City of Los Angeles, take some time to delve into Ron Kaye's numerous recent postings on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's orchestrated dealings via CRA/LA's "vessel of choice" Chris Essel.

** LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is at the receiving end of criticism for yesterday's MASSIVE response to the shooting of a LAUSD school police officer near El Camino High School.

** The Community Alliance for Open Space (CAFOS) is moving forward with its lawsuit to overturn CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon's debacle to place an unionize truck driving school, within open space designated land at the former Lopez Canyon Landfill. It might be worth noting that a "Certain PLUM Committee Member" has some contributions issues that the likes of the Sierra Club might want to know, or not for sake of embarrasment.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

I'm not sure if Ron Kaye and the folks at the LA Weekly are surprised by this, but apparently Mayor Villaraigosa knew about plans by AEG to propose that the city-owned West Hall of the Convention Center be torn down for an NFL football stadium, months or perhaps years before it went public.  This, of course, was unknown to everyone else while other plans were being made for Convention Center business and an NFL stadium elsewhere.

Despite the fact that he wrote letters on his behalf, Antonio Villaraigosa won't say whether or not he agrees with Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to reduce the murder sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of former State Assembly Speaker and Schwarzenegger/Villaraigosa BFF, Fabian Nunez.  We do remember that the Mayor did speak of the young convict as "...a good boy.

The first candidate's forum for CD12 took place Wednesday night at the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.  All six candidates on the ballot were in attendance where the topics covered equestrianism and developers. Oh and apparently current CD12 flack Mitchell Englander not mentioning his day job.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

Joe B has prodded me to do a Hotsheet even though it is Christmastime and I don't feel like it. So here I go and he probably won't like this.

If you are into things like City Design Guidelines then Ron Kaye has a nice Christmas present for you.

Used to be a big deal in the media who Mayor Parkervillar was dating. Now, they're just not into him anymore. Dennis Zine is LA's newest municipal stud.

The Sezmi $20 a month over the air "cable-like" television service is going out of business.

Even though Democrats currently control all three branches of the Federal Government somehow it's the Republicans' fault the DREAM Act didn't pass. Next up Democrats will be blaming Republicans for the demise of the dinosaurs, the Spanish Inquisition and the cancellation of the 1978 NBC television show "Supertrain."

My friend Phil Jennerjahn still thinks the SEIU wanted him as a keynote speaker for a protest outside the Parkervillar manse. Phil - two words for you - cable pundit.

I guess Tom LeBong wanted to be the center attraction and not the moon itself during a Griffith Observatory program on Monday night's rare Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse. Makes sense since Tom likes to have everything be in his shadow. I sure hope Tomas O'Grady and Stephen Box are serious. We can't afford four more years of this clown which then greases (no pun intended) the skids for Mike "The Situation" Gatto. Excellent work as always by the folks at Griffith Park Wayist.

Veterans as Stepping Stones

Tomas O'Grady seizes the moment. Try not to throw up.

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 »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Egads! The well heeled liberal suburbanites of Beverly Hills (you remember - swimmin' pools, movie stars) are aghast that choo-choo trains with hordes of non-Whites aboard will run underneath their mansions as part of the route of Mayor V's Subway to the Sea. Joining the fight to make sure no such travesty happens is none other than County Stupidvisor Zev Yaroslavsky.  Yikes.

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

Vas te faire encule Conseil municipal!

Shades of France.  How do you get the City Council to stop doing something? Get a powerful public employee union who has several bought and paid for members on the Clowncil to yell and scream.  That's what happened when Bernard Parks brought a motion to rein in the DWP's employee pension program and put under the control of the City. "Uh-uh," said the union that represents the utility's employees.

It's coming down to the wire for the Clowncil to put Jose Huizar's series of election "reforms" on the ballot for next spring.  You need to pay attention to this.  It includes things that sound good like "instant runoff voting" (where the devil may be in the details) and extremely concerning schemes such as consolidating neighborhood polling places into "Neighborhood Voting Centers" where "trained staff" would help people vote.  Contact your Councilperson on this one folks.

If neither jovial 4th District Councilman Tom LaBonge nor his bearded bicycling opponent Stephen Box are your cup of tea you may have another choice for that CD.  Neighborhood Council member Tomas O'Grady has thrown his hat into the ring and is catching attention for his work to help save libraries in Los Angeles.  Of course there is blogger Phil Jennerjahn also in the race and some folks are still pushing businessman Jack Humphreville to run.

KABC's John Phillips deconstructs a questionable LA Times poll that shows candidate for Governor Jerry Brown up by massive numbers.  As in past OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET's fall classic polls this one is clearly overstating turnout models.  Phillips says the poll is nothing more than "Democratic Party masturbation." Next week both the Times and Democrats may have to find other ways to pleasure themselves.

It happens somewhere every election cycle and this time here in Southern California we have a dead politician on the ballot.  Former State Senator Jenny Oropeza died last week but election rules require her name to stay on the ballot and were she to get a plurality of votes she could even win the race.  John Stammreich has been Oropeza's opponent and while some polls have been showing the South Bay Republican in a dead (pardon the pun) heat with Oropeza no one knows how her untimely passing will impact the final tally.  If Oropeza happens to win the election her office would be declared vacant and another election would be required.