Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

California Assembly Speaker and primo to Mayor Villaraigosa, John Perez, has admitted he is gay but, according to California Watch, he allegedly didn't admit that he hadn't graduated from UC Berkeley even though that was part of his official bio for years.

Sarah Palin isn't saying yet if she is running for President in 2012, but she just bought a house in Scottsdale, Arizona.  In the meantime the LA Times notes fewer women running for office. Given the sexist attacks on Palin in 2008 - many by other so called "feminist" women - one wonders why any woman would run these day.

  

The recession put on hold a massive transit oriented development in NoHo at the Metro Red Line terminus. The billion dollar NoHo Art Wave - featuring scores of residential, office and commercial space - may be back on as financing appears more likely.

The LA Can't Drive Blog has a good one: a tailgater tailgating a tailgater.

Like Bustamante, Jan Perry Could Lead by Dieting

It's no surprise that a dietitian from that hot bed of nanny-state socialism, UC Berkeley, has a screed in Sunday's Daily News supporting Goofy Jan Perry's plan to ban fast food in South Central. Juliet Sims says that "South L.A. residents bear the burden of a toxic-food environment while nearby communities have access to better food." Sims seems to think its the work of a racist cabal that seeks to foist high fat, mega-caloric food on minorities.

Like Perry, Sims doesn't get the fact that its simply a function of the market. Where there is demand, product is sold. For whatever reason, a large percentage of people who live in South Central don't want to purchase what could be considered healthy food. When fast food outlets offer "healthier" choices they find sales of these items are very low.

Here is a collection of various views on Perry's proposal.

Forcing people to get thin by government fiat is not going to be successful. I speak from personal experience; I was able to change my eating habits and enjoy significant success without municipal assistance. Our leaders need to lead by example and educate the citizenry to make better choices. Indeed, Cruz Bustamante did that very thing. Perhaps Perry should be dieting rather than going on a legislative binge.

By the way if you want tips on how to eat healthy at a fast food place, click here.

Perry would be far better off working to ban crime, violence and irresponsible behavior in her district. But that doesn't get you on CNN.