A "Two Percent Substance (of choice) Presidential/Mayor Gar-SOFT-ee" Faces the Reality of his Homeless Crisis

Mayor Eric Gar-SOFT-ee (in Yoga Pants) interrupted his "Two Percent Substance (of choice) 2020 Presidential Aspirations Tour", to view first hand, the blunt reality (and growing communal push back) regarding his failed absentee leadership, in mitigating the affects of a life-threatening Homeless Crisis.   

There was NOTHING SOFT about the Venice Community's Push Back against an Absentee Mayor's Home Crisis Policies last week.

** Blogger's Notes: A "Politico-SOFT-ee Fraud", exposed at home, again.

From Lincoln Heights, Koreatown, Sherman Oaks and last week in Venice (recorded on videos below), a growing (and diverse) amount of Los Angeles Neighborhoods, are pushing back against the failure of leadership from their City Clowncil Central Committee ............, and its absentee "Two Percent Substance (of choice) 2020 Presidential Aspirant" Mayor Eric "Gar-SOFT-ee (in Yoga Pants)".

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The calm before the political storm ....

Blogger Notes: We are quickly embarking on a bloggin field trip to 200 Spring Street to see what should be an eventual day of government in action. First, the "Red Rabble on the South Lawn" will likely avail themselves on their right to comment on  Mayor Antonio Villar and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck "supposed time table" to liberate the surviving green spaces around City Hall. Second, Venice Beach is on the agenda which should bring out the "noted public comment orators" of the past few years. Third, we have the Elephant Hill Boondoggle up for full council consideration. Expect "the big SMMC/MRCA Ranger with hat and gun" to be in attendance, to secure his latest land grab financed by an over-inflated deal to a Councilman Huizar Campaign Fundraiser. See you there---Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Mexican Man - Photo by CindyLu

Residents of Venice don't like homeless people camping out in RVs so the City Council passed a law to keep the RVs out. However the California Coastal Commission has jurisdiction over the area (due to coastal access laws) and has told the City nyet. Now NIMBYs in Venice are suing the Coastal Commission and the City has joined them. Your tax dollars at work.

Attending lots of ribbon cuttings in his term the Mayor said "I like big scissors and I can not lie." Blogdowntown has photos and details on all the latest openings the Mayor has been in attendance at

To create an opportunity for more ribbon cuttings Mayor Villaraigosa wants to accelerate 30 years of rail construction in Los Angeles into about 10.  Though the big question is where the funding will come from the MTA is of the mind that increasing the pace during the current downturn might have cost saving advantages.

Goofy Betty Pleasant is at again.  Following her big advertising payoff by supporters of Mark Ridley Thomas in her latest "column" she's found another reason to slam her favorite enemy Bernard Parks. Though I did get a chuckle out of Betty retelling her confrontation with Tom LeBong, asking him when he's going to do something about "raggedy-ass Griffith Park."

And finally some Latino organizations were offended by a "Mexican Man" Halloween costume being sold by Target stores near Oakland.  If that's not enough for you blogger Cindy Lu of Loteria Chicana has found a series of Halloween costumes that are sure to offend everyone.

Zuma Dogg Says Artist Stabbed at Venice Beach; Calls for Action

From Zuma Dogg:

As you know, Zuma Dogg and Matt Dowd entered City Hall chambers over a Venice Beach ordinance that went into effect over three years ago.

The city continues to make changes that makes things worse. ZD and Matt have complained ON THE RECORD on TV 35 about the problems with the way they are operating the performers spaces.

IT ALL CAME TO A HEAD TODAY WHEN ONE OF THE PERFORMERS (SOMEONE WHO HAS ALSO APPEARED ON TV 35 TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS)


WAS STABBED TODAY IN THAT PERFORMERS SPACE BY ANOTHER PERFORMER. ZUMA DOGG FEELS THIS IS A BY PRODUCT OF THEIR F*CKED UP POLICY THAT WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT.

And now our friend was stabbed today. He is in the hospital. A police helicopter is looking for the person who did it.

ZUMA DOGG HAS REQUESTED A MEETING WITH VILLARAIGOSA AND VENICE CM BILL ROSENDAHL.

Since I predicted the problem, experienced threats and was run off the beach, myself in the run of my life....

I HAVE THE SOLUTION...I WANT TO PRESENT IT TO CITY HALL...AND THEY CAN DO IT.

The problem: Villaraiogsa is nothing but a mafiosa thug, himself who has stabbed someone (i don't know if he killed the person with the knife, or just hospitalized them) - so I doubt he will be sensitive to an "all hell breaks loose stabbing scenarios at Venice Beach" cause we know the people who he runs with, the people who back him, the people who really make this city tick (the mafisoso types) and that they mayor is not stranger to a little knife stabbing to settle the score.

So that's why I want Bill Rosendahl at the meeting, too.

I hope someone returns one of the messages I left.

Because if there is no interest on this by the mayor, I need to start rabble-rousing about a recall campain, because we can't have a mafiosa mayor who stabs people himself run for governor.

And I don't even think he is legally eligible to be mayor based on the stabbing in his past and the record. Whether Gavin Newsom looks into it, or not, and it becomes something people care about is another thing.

BUT I WILL BE THERE TO FAN THE FLAMES ON A RECALL CAMPAIGN OVER THE STABBING-MAFIOSO MAYOR WHO HAS ALREADY DESTROYED THE CITY....


HE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADVANCE!

Hope to hear from Doucheariogos's office shortly.

I'm calling media outlets as we speak.

Zuma Dogg Marathon: Zuma Busts LA City Water Wasting

Zuma Dogg catches the City wasting water in Venice (warning - tad of profanity at the end but it's worth it.)

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday

Without view of the harm that additional taxes will do to our economy and the regressive effect on poor families of increasing sales taxes blogger Kenneth Alpern throws his support behind a significant increase to in that tax ostensibly for rail transit.  Alpern even acknowledges that government spending could be curtailed elsewhere to provide funding to transportation but figures that's too hard so why bother.  The key to ending gridlock and providing transit is to reduce the barriers to business in California, work to place jobs near housing so folks don't have to commute and open up public transit to competition from the private sector who would absolutely do a far better job in providing this service than the MTA has ever done.



Speaking of taxes, Dennis Zine is making noise that he may oppose Janice Hahn's ludicrous gang property tax increase if he isn't certain Canoga Park will get it's "fair share."  There could be a glimmer of Denny's former Republican soul shining through however as he told the Daily News "People are feeling the pinch," Zine said. "The economy is really in bad shape, and it might not be a good time to ask people for more taxes."  Bingo Former Motorcycle Cop of Record!  THAT's the reason to oppose the tax and not whether you get your slab of bacon or not.  Make us proud Councilman Zine - send goofy Janice Hahn the message that the people are tired of tax increases.



Based on the numbers and past history, it's not likely Republican Presidential candidate John McCain will win California's boatload of electoral votes.  Hence, it appears the GOP standard bearer is not going to make much of an effort in the Golden State. However McCain owes it to the downticket Republicans, especially those in tight races, to do his best to turn out as many votes for himself as possible.



My friend Ron Kaye isn't the only one opposed to big screen flat panel HD televisions.  Apparently Barack Obama wants to rip them out of the White House.  Sure he does, when Richardson comes over for Superbowl Sunday yea they're going to read Lincoln's speeches instead.  By the way Ron I was at the store pricing 60" flat panels the other day.  Contributions to this goal from Mayor Sam readers would be greatly appreciated.  What a great way to give back to your favorite old, dead Republican Mayor who has brought you four years of enjoyment as he remodels his home.



Residents in Venice are up in arms over folks who move into their hood and live in RVs and cars parked on the streets.  Councilmember Bill Rosendahl feels that there should be some compassion shown these semi-homeless folks and wants to set up special "districts" to keep these vehicles from parking overnight in Venice (and sending them to someone else's neighborhood).



The City Council is considering placing a 25 cent per bag tax on plastic bags used in stores in Los Angeles.  Along with the trash tax, telephone tax and a coming sales tax for public transit how much more are we going to pile on, especially for the poor? This is a free market issue and the free market can solve the problem.  Check out stores like HOWS, Walgreens, Trader Joe's and others who sell reusable cloth bags.  I have to tell you as much as I hate plastic bags (the stores use WAY too many of them to put 1-2 items in each and they're not convenient) I hate excessive taxes just as much.  Imagine a poor family buying groceries having to spend less money on food so they can cover the extra sales and bag taxes on their weekly grocery take.  There are other ways to protect the environment.



Rick Orlov joins the war on billboards.  Laws should be followed and illegal efforts should be punished, however just because one group of folks in LA doesn't like the advertisements doesn't mean a lot of other folks don't find them cool when done right in the right place.  This again goes towards the need to eliminate the class warfare element of the Battle of Los Angeles.



Britney Spears' guest appearances on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother earned her some fan appreciation and critical notice but it wasn't enough to get her an Emmy nomination in the guest star category.  Also snubbed: Olsen twin Mary-Kate for her appearances on the Showtime series Weeds.

Venice is the New Sunland Tujunga

It's not big box department stores and it doesn't have anything to do with emergency supplies but some NIMBYs in Venice have some things in common with fellow members of their species in Sunland-Tujunga.

First off its offended the sensibilities of some Venetians that Pinkberry - apparently now the Home Depot of frozen yogurt after just a few short years in business - has opened a store on Abbot Kinney.

Click read more for the rest of the sordid tale...



A commenter named "M" at CurbedLA summed it up best when he/she said "Wow. I understand the haterade for Pinkberry, but sometimes you want to remind people that it's just frozen yogurt."

A letter writer in local rag Venice Paper pens a nasty note to the owner of the property where the Pinkberry is existed. You'd almost think the guy slapped his mother, not just rented his property out. In the meantime, Councilman Bill Rosendahl is looking to propose a law that could ban chain stores from Venice (but not homeless or gangs because they are not evil like chain stores).

Moving on, the Venice Neighborhood Council may have hatched up an even bigger scheme than the "Sunland-Tujunga Do-It Emergency Supplies Two-Step." A developer has built a building that is four feet taller than it should be. He's applied for an exception from the City. Curbed LA reports that the Neighborhood Council will support his application for a mere contribution of $500,000.

And who said LA wasn't fun?