Mayor Sam Exclusive: The Wendy Carrillo Campaign "DISAPPEARS" Endorsement of Richard Polanco ........, while continuing to EMBRACE support of Jose Huizar

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, we expose the HYPOCRISY of the Wendy Carrillo Campaign's "DISAPPEARING" of its Endorsement by former State Senator Richard Polanco ....... while still embracing the support of CD-14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. Meanwhile ........, the Luis Lopez Campaign garners Endorsements from The La Opinion Newspaper, UTLA and former Candidate Ron Birnbaum. 

The Outing ........, then Disappearing of former State Senator Richard Polanco's Endorsement of the Wendy Carrillo (the former Huizar Staffer) Campaign.

** Blogger's Notes: Its Kickoff, whoops GOTV Time on this last Sunday before Tuesday's 51st Assembly District's Special Election and while the Luis Lopez Campaign garners Endorsements from the La Opinion Newspaper, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and former 51st AD Candidate Ron Birnbaum .........., the Wendy Carrillo' s "Campaign of Endorsements" attempts to DISAPPEAR (naught) an Inconvenient Supporter.

Last week, the Wendy Carrillo's "Campaign of Endorsements" was PROUD to announce ..........., and then abruptly, DISAPPEARED its support from former State Senator Richard Polanco, once his past "Sacramento Issues (and cost to the taxpayers)" were made public via a Facebook Post (pictured above). 

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Shall(man) we meet the Consulting Duo behind the racist, repugnant Bennett Kayser Campaign Mailer?

We (and so should UTLA) wonder what the alleged "John" behind wife's Lani Shallman's "West Coast Public Affairs Consulting Company", thinks about the racist, repugnant Hit Piece directed at LAUSD School Board District Five Member Bennett Kayser?

 John (husband) to Lani (wife) Shallman: "Lani, I get a tingling sensation up and down my leg when you go negative (allegedly)". 

The repugnant campaign consulting craft of exploiting racial divisions for political gain.

As on any given Friday (especially during a political campaign), expect a dropping of the bad into the News Cycle ......., and this Act of Gutter Politics pictured above, personifies that.

The outrage and push back is growing immense over the Independent Expenditure Committee Mailer, pictured above, attacking LAUSD School Board Member Bennett Kayser, who is facing a re-election challenge from two Charter School Advocates, including Ref Rodriguez, who the IE Committee responsible for the mailer, supports.

The condemnation of the mailer, even included one of the candidates listed as supporting, current LAUSC School Board District One Member George McKenna (besides McKenna and Rodriguez, the mailer's also express support for District Three and Seven Board Members Tamar Galatzan and Richard Vladovic respectively).

 

McKenna, in a statement attributed in LA Times Columnist Steve Lopez's missive on the controversy said the following ........, McKenna told me (Lopez) he didn’t know who that group is, did not ask for its endorsement, and did not want it.

“I am unequivocally opposed to it,” he said, adding that he has in fact endorsed Kayser. Friday morning, he issued a statement calling the flyer “racially inflammatory” and asking the group to withdraw its support of him.



But as the condemnation of the mailer grows, we took time to review the City of Los Angeles Ethics Commission Web Page, seeking to ascertain who the so called "The Parent Teacher Alliance", with major funding provided by the California Charter School Association (CCSA), commissioned to produce the mailer ........., and the answer may prompt an inconvenient episode for Kayser's Number One Supporter, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA).

Ethics Commission records show that Encino-based "West Coast Public Affairs", charged a total of $55,424.40 for three mailers, attacking Board Member Kayser, including the $16,302 cost of producing the mailer in question.

If the name of the Encino-based "West Coast Public Affairs" sounds bloggin familiar, it should (and probably is to certain state and federal tax officials). The firm shares the same address and phone number ........., as John Shallman Communications. A quick link to the Client List of Shallman Communications, will find recent, past reference to work with UTLA-supported Board Members, such as the late Margueritte LaMotte, along with current Board Members Steve Zimmer ........., and BENNETT KAYSER.

Thus, in knowingly exposing myself to another "Cease and Desist Rant" from Shallman's Attorney, it seems that the "Private Citizen/Campaign Consultant John Shallman (whoops!! meant wife Lani), is placing the accumulation of revenue paramount, again (via over-inflated billing, allegedly), over her (or is it husband's?), supposed democratic leanings and loyalty to past clients ........, but then there are some past tax liens that may still be outstanding?

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

Sunday Hotsheet

Jane Harman and her cigar club

Villaraigosa consigliere Austin Beutner is mulling over thoughts of succeeding his boss and says he will decide next month.  In a Daily News piece, the Deputy Mayor says despite his personal wealth, he does not intend to self-fund his campaign.  He'd rather sell himself to the usual suspects.

Has LA's teacher union, UTLA, found itself in it's waning days? The LA Times takes a look at the curent state of the once powerful organization which has not elected a school board member in eight years and isn't even trying this year.  As public employee unions fall more and more out of favor with the public, the UTLA has become the poster child for greedy special interests that have sunk California fiscally.

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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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Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Big local political stories hit on Tuesday. The Autry National Center museum in Griffith Park has (for now) put the brakes on a controversial expansion plan.  Los Angeles County Democrats gave their nod to CD2 candidate Paul Krekorian in a landslide over fellow Dems Chris Essel and Tamar Galatzan. In shocking news Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety General Manager Andrew Adelman is the main suspect in the alleged rape of a woman July 10.  (You can read the whole gory story from the search warrant over at The Enterprise Report)

Ken Draper writing at LA Citybeat warns that the results of the CD2 race will have a significant impact on the City's Neighborhood Councils.  The winner of the race will go on to take Wendy Greuel's role as chairperson of the City Council's Education and Neighborhoods Committee.  Given Chris Essel and Tamar Galatzan's support for financial disclosure for members of the volunteer panels, its no doubt the election of either of them would be a disaster for the boards.  That's likely why a significant number of Neighborhood Council leaders have endorsed Paul Krekorian who has opposed financial disclosure and whose staff is well know to many of them.

Mayor Villaraigosa is supporting efforts to turn over 50 new LAUSD schools to charter school operators. The Mayor recently wrote in an LA Times op-ed piece "For too long, leaders at every level of government have defended a status quo that serves the interests of adults more than children; that gives bureaucrats a near monopoly over public education." Still, the Mayor faces fierce opposition to the plan from the teachers' union, UTLA President A.J. Duffy told NBC News the Mayor's plan will “cause chaos in our public education.”

And finally Zuma Dogg noted the presence of members of the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury at today's Los Angeles City Council meeting.  The Civl Grand Jury investigates local government agencies and can act on individual citizen complaints.  Zuma says that the members, identified by their Grand Jury namebadges, sat through public comment on non-agenda items at the beginning of the meeting and then left at the conclusion of public comment without saying a word.  Zuma wonders if the Grand Jury is investigating complaints that he submitted to the ACLU accusing the City Council of violating the free speech rights of citizens who come before it to speak.  Stay tuned.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

The teachers union, parents and the Mayor are battling over a new LAUSD high school. The new $106-million Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center is designed to relieve crowding at perennial basketcase Roosevelt High School which falls under the Mayor's "Partnership" of controlled schools. The Mayor and his team feel that because Mendez pulls students from Roosevelt, its their. The UTLA as well as parents say hold the phone. Though the Mayor is quietly attempting the takeover it appears it's the next battle in an escalating conflict between Villaraigosa and the Mayor (oops I meant the union but hey maybe there is an epic like battle between Villaraigosa and the Mayor!). Stay tuned.

I don't even think Obama was thinking of this when he devised the spendalus program. Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council will vote to use Federal dollars to make a $30 million loan to bring Cirque du Soleil to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Yes we will hear the usual about how great it will be to have the circus come to town and all the jobs/money it will generate. But how many thousands of businesses in Los Angeles do just that without sweetheart deals from the City? No need for this circus; we already have a Clowncil.

With Wendy Greuel having moved up to Controller and her former Council district under the control of a caretaker, some residents of CD2 say the District is going to hell. Reports of homeless squatting, piling up trash, crime and other quality of life issues are piling up with no response from the City. A special election is set for Greuel's successor in September and likely not a moment too soon.

And finally Laurette Healey continues to delight. Apparently angry over our recent post outing her comments about the "complexion" of Sherman Oaks versus Van Nuys, she posted the following on her Facebook page: "Love that the wizards behind the Mayor Sam website have finally outed themselves. Michael Higby - YOU have some splaining to do!" She then links to a post from LAObserved that the bloggers at Mayor Sam have come out from behind the anony-curtain. Of course this story is from 2005 but Laurette's been busy lately.

UTLA to stage one day strike on May 15

As thousands (**maybe not that much according to news sites) take to the streets to demand amnesty for lawbreakers and thousands of indoctrinators, err, teachers preach the virtues of this "international day of the collective worker", United Teachers of Los Angeles is "this close" to authorizing a one day strike on May 15.

From the Los Angeles Times.

The union representing Los Angeles teachers is moments away from announcing plans for a one-day strike on May 15 to protest the pending layoffs of as many as 3,500 teachers.

The tentative plan has teachers picketing outside their schools that morning, then meeting at one or more locations for an afternoon rally. Demonstrators would be protesting against increased class sizes for students in the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as the layoffs.

No doubt the choice of the May 15 date has to do with the Special Election Day on May 19.

Look for other unions to replicate UTLA actions with work place activities to bring out the vote on Prop 1A-1F.

In the words of Nancy Reagan, "JUST SAY NO!!"

****Maybe the march organizers should of hired those professional protestors from ACORN??

Students Can Go Pink But Should Have Parents' Permission

Los Angeles' teachers' union organized a protest against potential staff layouts at LAUSD Friday but some are concerned that the union and those protesting the cuts made students unwitting pawns in the protest.  Students were told to wear pink to school and particpate in protests; if they did they would receive "extra credit."  

Some parents participated in supporting the teachers and chose to bring their children along to protests.  I have no problem with that; participating in political dissent could be a great object lesson for children.  However I believe teachers should not have involved students without their parents' permission.  I also believe that some of the rhetroic unnecessarily traumatized children; forcing them to believe that their favorite teacher may be let go.  Though that may very well be the case for some teachers, I think it borders on abuse to use scare tactics on children.

Austin Mess: Bigger, Stinkier, Curiouser

Round one: Ben Austin, charter school leader, parent advocate and presumed favorite son of Mayor Villaraigosa fails to get sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot to run for the school board seat being vacated by Marlene Canter. Austin claims that his political consultant, Sue Burnside, screwed the pooch including pulling over 300 signatures from the neighboring district of board member Marguerite Pointdexter LaMotte, hence not eligible to sign Austin's petition.

Round two: Sue Burnside issues a statement that she had nothing to do with Austin's ballot FUBAR; that she was out of town, unawares and that some mysterious figure misrepresented himself as her employee and bamboozled Austin. The Sister City identified this "mysterious figure" as allegedly Montebello Councilmember Robert Urteaga who at one time was listed as a member of Burnside's staff on her website.

"I was told that Burnside and Associates would take me as a client and gather signatures for our campaign. Robert Urteaga gathered our signatures on behalf of the firm."
Ben Austin

Round three: Via his website, Austin issues a statement calling Burnside's statement nothing but bunk saying "I called Burnside and Associates. I was told that Burnside and Associates would take me as a client and gather signatures for our campaign. Robert Urteaga gathered our signatures on behalf of the firm, told us that they had collected and validated the requisite amount of signatures -- until I later discovered that they had gathered signatures in the wrong district, and used the wrong list to validate the signatures."

In the meantime: Mayor Sam readers blast Burnside and smell something stinky, whether it was, at best, incompetence on Burnside and Urteaga's part or at worst, dirty tricks allegedly on the part of the two given their reported ties to the teachers' union, United Teachers Los Angeles and former Councilman Nick Pacheco, both not fans of the Mayor.

Sidenote: Back before the Mayor Sam bloggers outed themselves, Ben Austin was one of the many our readers thought was behind this blog. I deny any such charges.

PERB Rejects LAUSD Request For Injunction To Stop Planned Teacher "Late Sign-In" Tomorrow

children protesting candy bar price increase, May 1, 1947.

An LAUSD attempt at blocking tomorrow's slated "Late Sign-In/Protest Walk" failed as the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) turned down LAUSD’s request to go to court to prohibit UTLA from their planned action tomorrow.

Many schools have sent out email blasts, or pre-recorded phone blasts to LAUSD parents informing them that they expect all children in school during the time of the action. Parents, however, have expressed a desire to keep their children with them to stand along side their teachers in a show of support. Teachers are also encouraging parents to talk about the walk with their children and many support the decision of parents to have children participate.

As a parent, I plan to have my 7 year-old daughter walk along side both me and her teacher. It's never too early to instill a sense of civic duty and responsibility to speak out by participating in acts of peaceful civil disobedience. Yay Kid Power! I'm just hoping her fellow First Graders don't get all militant and crazy and the riot police need to be sent in to control them.

While not entirely a fan of UTLA (I've seen how the most horrible, traumatizing teachers are protected and am not happy with that system), I will, however support them in this action tomorrow.

I'm also excited at the prospect of parents coming together and talking and planning what the next steps for our school should be.

At our elementary school, we'll be losing a kinder classroom; our wonderful Literacy and Math Coaches are not coming back in the fall (man, those two staff cuts hurt more than you'll ever know...) and if more children enroll in the summer, we face the possibility of grade level-split classes (eg. a K-1st grade split, or a 1st grade - 2nd grade split).

The true "neighborhood" schools which are highest performing, non Title I, are being hammered the hardest with the budget cuts.

Way to punish the Shining Stars of the district.

But don't worry ... the parents of LAUSD are just beginning to learn how to howl, and hopefully, tomorrow will give them just a taste of what we can do when we come together for a greater cause, and for the parents of LAUSD, there is no greater cause than our children.

See you on the "Late Sign-In" picket line tomorrow morning!


Please send coffee.

LAUSD Dealing with Permit Problems and Potential Teacher Action This Friday

Many LAUSD parents were stunned to learn last week that the LAUSD permits which allow them to send their child(ren) to a school outside of their neighborhood school boundaries would not be available for any incoming siblings. Reasons given were due to the upcoming budget cuts and the loss of teachers and classrooms.

There are two general basic permits that LAUSD parents utilize and apply for: a work permit (used when a parent is part of the work force within the school's boundaries) or a childcare permit (used when a childcare provider for the parents resides within the school's boundaries). Traditionally, permit quotas have been high enough to accommodate most parents requesting one. Some parents have been attending schools for many years using permits and have one, two and on occasion, three students attending the same school on permit.

Many schools in the Valley (especially the higher-performing schools) are withdrawing any and all permits for siblings of existing "permit students" who are ready to start kindergarten and all other new incoming students who will be registering for school for the first time next fall and looking to get their foot in the door of a good school using a permit.

This has left some parents in the unbearable position of either pulling their existing student from the permit school and enrolling both students at their neighborhood school (even if it is no where near the quality of the permit school they're at now), or separate their children and allow the already attending child to stay at the school they're at now, while sending their younger, just-starting-children to another school different from their brothers or sisters.

Monday found many parents on the phone to their schools of choice, hoping to get their child's name on a waiting list. Most of those parents will not know the status of any available permits until after enrollment is done for neighborhood children, sometime towards the end of August.

In other LAUSD News ...

UTLA is calling for a Teacher Protest this Friday, June 6 for the first hour of school (warning: pdf of the Action flyer). They want teachers to picket in protest of the proposed budget cuts and have asked parents and children to join them. Children whose parents are unable to attend these protests and to sign their children out of school for the protest will more than likely be treated to an extra long recess period and teaching aides and administrative staff will be supervising. If you have a child in LAUSD, please talk to your teacher to see if they will be participating in the walk, and what plans your campus has in regards to child supervision.