Jerry Brown Stumps Hard for Carmen the Clown

Old Buddies

Why anyone would vote for Carmen Trutanich boggles the mind but why any Republican would vote for this shady former tuna packer completely erases the sane mind.

Republicans need to support Allan Jackson - rational minded independents, Democrats, Libertarians, etc. should also back Allan. He's received support ranging from moi to Joseph Mailander to Walter Moore to Ron Kaye (who gave a two-way nod to both Jackson and fellow Deputy DA, Jackie Lacey). Not often do those guys agree.

"Los Angeles County voters need only remember three letters when they cast their ballot for district attorney on June 5: ABC. Anybody But Carmen." - LA Daily News 

Carmen's biggest supporters are Jerry Brown, Antonio Villaraigosa and Phil Jennerjahn.

Hollywood activist John Walsh reports today that he has received robocalls from Jerry Brown on behalf of Trutanich.

Why even Democrats would vote for Carmen when there are perfectly capable progressive choices such as Jackie Lacey or Bobby Grace confuses me as well.

Remember - like the Daily News says "Anybody But Carmen."

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

The Real Republican

Jim Newton profiles "Republican" mayoral candidates Austin Beutner and Rick Caruso.  Last I heard Beutner was registered decline to state and rumor is Caruso has or is re-registering as a Democrat.  Newton fails to mention actual Republican Kevin James, who has the backing of most Republican power players in LA.  He also says that Villaraigosa's victory against "goofy" Walter Moore "doesn't count" even though Moore and several other "goofy" candidates with little money and no name ID held the overfunded and popular incumbent to just 55% of the vote.

Apparently bloggers Joseph Mailander and Phil Jennerjahn have found an interesting way to amuse themselves - they will bet on whether or not Republican Sarah Palin will run for President.  Jennerjahn is convinced the former Alaska Governor will drop her hat into the ring; Mailander is putting his money on that Palin will remain on the book and talk TV circuit that's been so lucrative for her.  Mailander and Jennerjahn tried to get me involved in their reindeer games, holding their funds and being the final arbiter, I have politely declined.

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Friday Free for All: Wagging the Fishwrap

The Return of MEAT?

I guess we made the LA Times and cub reporter Maeve Reston look somewhat out of touch for neglecting to mention the candidacy of Los Angeles broadcaster and former US Attorney Kevin James for Mayor in their piece about Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner's plan to jump into the race.

The Times later quietly revised their story to include James.  Pathetic.  Some however see the Times failure to note the candidacy of James as more than malfeasance.  Former candidate Walter Moore commenting on Mayor Sam said, "This isn't an oversight. This is an agenda."  Essentially agreeing with Moore - from the other side of the political spectrum - was blogger Mulholland Terrace who claims that Reston sees James as a threat to Beutner who is likely to become the Times' and Downtown set's favored candidate.

Not good for Beutner, who no one likes anyway, that some of the focus was shifted to James when it should have been all Beutner. Also not good for Wendy Greuel, who was enjoyed the support of Mayor Villaraigosa that his own personal lackey has entered the campaign.

Also mentioned in the Times story was that veteran consultant Ace Smith is joining Team Austin; could that mean that Michael "MEAT" Trujillo might find his way back to run the Beutner campaign? Probably not, Mike is damaged goods after his Jules Winnfield like political bullet in the head memo. But stranger things have happened.

Kiss of Death

Mayoral candidate and exploding potato-head Kevin James now has the support and some funds from the anti-Latino, racist buffoon, Walter Moore.

Truly, a match made in heaven!

If you recall, Walter Moore's  past position as a board of director of Clean Sweep LA largely discredited that organizations efforts and his public support of Kevin James will likely damage that campaign as well.

Potential candidates for any office in the City would do well to distance themselves as far as possible from Mr. Moore and his culture bashing myopic vision for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday: Mike Trujillo Day Two

Mike Trujillo vs the Pasty White Guys

More after the jump...

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Los Angeles Political Hotsheet for Tuesday

Is HACLA Commissioner Maria del Angel, the person of interest in Eastern Group Publications story?

More controversy this morning from the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA), the city housing agency that has brought you $2,500 tidy bowls, a paranoid department head Rudy "the $400,000+ Man' Montiel and tales of corruption that are on par with the latest dubious dealings at the DWP. The Eastern Group Publications is reporting that residents of the Pico Gardens are alleging that a "housing commissioner has unfairly received special perks and privileges".

While EGP does not name the commissioner in question, the fact that the person was living in Estrada Courts before moving to Pico Gardens, leaves us to believe that the person is Maria del Angel, who according to her bio at HACLA's website is or was, a Estrada Courts resident.

Among the allegations made in the story are "claims that unusually expensive upgrades were made to the commissioner’s apartment, air conditions were installed in violation of housing rules, and that housing staff were paid with public funds to do special favors for the commissioner, like installing flat screen TVs".

The tenants who's letter was the basis for story, also contacted CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar which led to this response.

In a written statement to EGP, Councilman Jose Huizar said, “We are aware of the letter and have been in contact with those who reported the various concerns. Our office takes any allegations of improprieties seriously. We are asking the Housing Authority to investigate and reply in writing to questions in the letter that come under their jurisdiction,” he said in a written statement.

As a side note, Councilman Huizar's Campaign Counsultant Parke Skelton released a list of community leaders who are endorsing Huizar for re-election. One of them is ............. , Maria del Angel, Variety Boys and Girls Club, Housing Commissioner*.

Lets see where that investigation ends up.

OTHER NEWS:

** LA Weekly's Snarky Blogger Simone Wilson, posts on the looming deadline for those who want to comment pro or con on the ballot measures in the March, 2011 Elections. In the opening paragraph, Wilson manage to get this whack on one of our former bloggers here at Mayor Sam.

Are you one of those rare municipal geeks who always seems to know what the F is going on at City Hall? Have you always dreamed of seeing your street savvy in mass print? Are you woefully unemployed and have nothing better to do for the next 24 hours than perfect an argument about a jargony fiscal matter no one cares about? (No, we're not talking to you, Phil Jennerjahn. Please restrain yourself.)

Wonder if Mary will practice restraint after that whack on her blogging flav?

** Barrowing from the LA Weekly headline with additional wording in ( ), "Jack Kyser, Every L.A. Reporter's (except for blogger Walter Moore) Favorite Economist, Dies".

** Daily News Rick Orlov reported yesterday that Assemblyman Mike Gatto was pursuing various policy initatives. What about reporting on the DA investigation regarding his residency? Makes you want to puke.

** Wonder if Councilman Jose Huizar will continue his string of yes votes on proposed DWP rate increases?

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

Scott johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday

Repercussions continue from the cancelled City Council meeting due to a lack of quorum caused by tardy Clowncil members.  The Daily News takes the Clowncil to the woodshed for showing "an implicit disrespect for the people the City Council is supposed to serve." Of course in a few short months the Daily News will endorse all these same incumbents.

The City reports that its new credit card parking meters are raking in the dough. Remember if a parking meter doesn't work it's no longer a free parking pass. You have to actually move your car elsewhere. Non-totalitarian cities in LA County such as Burbank don't hold you up for parking and don't even have meters.

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Mitchell Englander: Atrocious

Word on the street is that Mitchell Englander has $400K in his campaign slush fund. He may need it in the year of no incumbents, especially when prominent folks in his District think the following of him:

"I am not in the pockets of lobbyists and I am not running for City Council.


Mr. Englander is both. So in that regard yes, I am less experienced in screwing over a constituency. Less experienced at lobbying for the very things my constituents oppose. Less experienced at playing politics with the public trust - In that regard I cede that Mitch has more experience than I, and I wear that like a badge of honor.


... many people, including myself, believe Mitch is an atrocious candidate for CD 12."

-Jim Alger
Mayor Sam, February 12, 2009

In the most solidly Republican district in the City, the only one where Walter Moore bested Antonio Villaraigosa, a true conservative with chops and dough can rise above the bought and paid for RINO Mitch. So the lesson is attention all CD12 comers - raise some money and you can easily take on Mitchell.

And no Phil, not Walter Moore.

Clean Sweep LA's Embarrassment and Potential Downfall

Walter's rant in this clip starts off a bit slow, but this "Clean Sweep LA" board of director soon gets right to his paranoid and divisive point.

Unfortunately, CSLA will face many unnecessary obstacles, and questions as to their motives, as long as Walter Moore is associated with this campaign.

C'mon Ron, CSLA can do better than this.

Sunday Morning Hotsheet

So let me get this straight. A developer who can't afford to build a hotel and says it won't be successful in the current environment wants taxpayers to foot some of the bill. Developers of the billion dollar Wilshire Grand project want the City to provide financial assistance for construction and our fools Downtown are actually considering the idea. If the developers don't get the money their options "include shutting down the hotel and waiting for favorable financial market conditions, selling the structure or settling on development alternatives that would not include a hotel." Welcome to capitalism folks.

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Moore: Cardenas And Huizar Will Lose In March 2011 Election

Details below the fold

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

But Antonio's seats are better than mine!

Man, being an elected official sure has it perks. We all know about Mayor V's free tickets. The latest politician to score free Lakers and USC tickets as well as wine, whiskey, tequila, cigars and cologne is District Attorney Steve Cooley. Of course a spokes-flack says that Cooley has the "highest integrity" and these were gifts from friends. It's nice to have friends in high places.

Speaking of perks for pols Walter Moore makes a good point. Though City Controller Wendy Greuel has released the salaries of City workers her report does not list the perks they receive such as free cars, per diems, insurance, etc. Moore recounts that during an interview with KABC's Peter Tilden, Councilman Dennis Zine hemmed and hawed when asked what perks he gets.

Attorney General Jerry Brown is investigating the pay scandal in the City of Bell but a new report recounts outrageous pay for officials in the City of Oakland when Brown was Mayor there. The situation was so bad that an auditor was brought in following Brown's departure that found a tangled web of high salaries as well as unknown bonuses, paid leaves and vacation buybacks far in excess of salary agreements. The situation was so bad an unnamed Democratic leader said that Brown was “the worst administrator ever to come down the pike.”

Despite serious ethical allegations against her, Maxine Waters, like Richard Alarcon, seems to have not lost support amongst her supporters. Daiquiri Jackson, a member of a South Central church, told reporters that Waters was being targeted because she is a minority woman. However this is nonsense because most of the House members - Republican and Democrat - who have been brought up on ethics charges the last few years have been white males.

The Los Angeles and First blog has given Mayor Villaraigosa a report card and he averages a C minus. With an F in budgeting and a D+ in the economy it's hard to go up from there.

Mulholland Terrace brings to our attention a ridiculous exercise sponsored by the Mayor and the CRA: a "contest" for the best ideas on how to build a "clean corridor" in LA. The purse? $11,000.

Activists and parents from the North Valley are not giving up until an independent review into the death of teenager Zac Champommier. You may remember that Zac was shot down in cold blood by LA Sheriff's Deputies in a shopping center parking lot for no apparent reason. For two weeks now protesters have held rallies in Studio City near the site of Zac's murder.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Will this solve Walter Moore's Hispanic Problem?



The City of LA is offering a $50,000 reward for information in this past weekend's slaying death of 34 year old bride-to-be Chere Osmanhodzic. Chere's body was found inside her burned out Valley Village home after firefighters extinguished a suspicious blaze that may have been set to destroy evidence of the murder. So much anguish in Valley Village over this one.

Michael LoGrande has been big news all week after being selected as the new Planning Director to replace the departing Gail Goldberg. Ron Kaye has an excerpt from a Planning Report story by Michael's former boss. Ouch!

In case you haven't heard, the US Constitution is safe (for now) after a federal judge halted implementation of many key elements of Arizona's controversial SB1070 law. Pandering AZ Republican Gov Jan Brewer, says she will appeal the ruling that basically shreds the "Show Me Your Papers "law.

The former Sunland-Tujunga resident and Verdugo Hills High School graduate, Governor Jan Brewer, wastes no time after the ruling and tries to turn lemons into lemonade by immediately begging for money.

She may well need that money for legal fees, as Phoenix station KPHO is running a story about ties between Gov. Brewer and a Private Prisons Company;

"In the meantime, a CBS 5 News investigation revealed that there is one business that could profit from the implementation of SB 1070 and similar immigration measures. The private prison industry houses illegal immigrant detainees for the federal government. Those companies could gain contracts with state and local agencies to house illegal immigrants arrested for state violations.Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA, holds the federal contract to house detainees in Arizona. The company bills $11 million per month. CBS 5 Investigates learned that two of Brewer’s top advisers have connections to CCA. Paul Senseman is the governor’s deputy chief of staff. He is also a former lobbyist for CCA. His wife is listed as a current lobbyist for the company. Chuck Coughlin is one of the governor’s policy advisers and her campaign chairman. Coughlin’s company, HighGround Public Affairs Consultants, currently lobbies for CCA."

Watch this excellent video to see the governor running away when asked about the shady connections.

As a side note, AZ cops are breathing a sigh of relief that the Judge ruled the way she did.

E-meg is learning about California the hard way. It looks like $100 Million might not buy her the Governorship of California after all!

And finally, I'd like to welcome an old friend, Lanny Clifford, who just read Mayor Sam for the first time yesterday. Lanny is an Ice Road trucker on a year long assignment in North Dakota. He's made us his homepage and threatens to pipe in with his opinions when he's not risking his neck delivering goods for the man.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

 

Dopey Los Angles City Clowncil Members found yet another potential landmine in it's goofy boycott of Arizona's SB1070: They would have to end SuperShuttle service at LAX because the popular airport transport service has an office in Arizona. The Council voted for now to ignore that fact and let the shuttles run.  Oh and continue to pay the city over a million dollars in fees.

By way of Griffith Park Wayist we learn that Anthem Blue Cross CEO Leslie Margolin is resigning.  Anthem came under fire earlier in the year for allegedly raising rates on cancer patients.  Bonus points if you can remember the recent State Assembly candidate who benefited from a nearly $100K independent expenditure from Anthem Blue Cross?

Time for me and JoeB to have the last laugh. It's official Phil Jennerjahn announces that the goofy effort to recall Mayor Villaraigosa has failed.  Phil blames the economy saying political fundraisers aren't doing well.  That flies in the face of last Saturday's Clean Sweep kick-off turned out 200 locals in the heat and raised several thousand dollars. It's all about organization Phil.

Don't tell Carmen Trutanich but the City of Oakland has approved a plan to allow four industrial pot growing facilities to locate within the East Bay's city's limits.  Hundreds of applicants will compete for the license to one of the four spots with the hope of becoming the "Silicon Valley of weed." Speaking of Trutanich looks like Walter Moore, who is currently the target of a jihad by Villaraigosa flunky Mike Trujillo, is on his a jihad of his own against the City Attorney.

Members of one of Mayor Villaraigosa's favorite unions, UNITE HERE, plans to shut down traffic during rush hour Thursday evening on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood.  The union is pissed off that hotel janitors are not paid the same wage as computer programmers.  If that's on your commute, plan an alternate route.

Filmmaker Shawn Nee has produced a short documentary that tells the sad tale of an elderly gay man whose partner died and the man lost his home because Social Security does not recognize domestic partnerships.

Does Michael Trujillo's Racial Diatribe create Political Trouble for Councilman Jose Huizar in 2011?

Academia Semillas del Pueblo Principal Marcos Aguilar to Councilman Jose Huizar, "Those political vultures flying around are awaiting the end of your political life" Link here to read story associated with this recent photo.

This is all speculation, but some would say that is priority # 1 for a political blog like Mayor Sam.

According to local political sources, Campaign Consultant and Mayor Antonio Parkervillar crony Michael Trujillo, may have brought upon himself and a possible future political client, a political firestorm, after his racially-tinged comments yesterday, directed at former Mayoral Candidate Walter Moore and Ron Kaye's "Clean Sweep LA Campaign.

The comments which were first posted at the Griffith Park Wayist by Mulholland Terrace, have set off pointed exchanges in the political bloggersphere, mostly center around the past comments of Walter Moore.

Bloggers such as Joe Barrett, Paul Hatfield , Mulholland Terrace and the "Westside White Guy" have chimed in on whether Moore has exhibited racist tendencies. Ron Kaye for his part, is focus on the positive of yesterday's events, but did take time to comment to LA Times Reporter David Zahniser about Trujillo's remarks. Moore has responded to Trujillo's comments at his own blog.

But while Trujillo may be basking in the political spotlight once again, he should remember that old cliche, "be careful what you ask for". Relating that cliche to Trujillo's most recent handy work, may cost him big time...... and money.

Political observers are speculating that CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, has all but sign Trujillo to run his campaign for a second full term. But Trujillo's spotlighting of Moore's supposed racial transgressions may force Huizar to revisit the past controversial comments of Academia Semillas de Pueblo Principal Marcos Aguilar.

Huizar recently transported Aguilar, staff and students, to help dedicate the second stage of the Ascot Hills Passive Park Project. For those who don't remember what Marcos said, we reprint them below.

TCLA: Finally, what do you see as the legacy of the Brown decision?

MA: If Brown was just about letting Black people into a White school, well we don’t care about that anymore. We don’t necessarily want to go to White schools. What we want to do is teach ourselves, teach our children the way we have of teaching. We don’t want to drink from a White water fountain, we have our own wells and our natural reservoirs and our way of collecting rain in our aqueducts. We don’t need a White water fountain. So the whole issue of segregation and the whole issue of the Civil Rights Movement is all within the box of White culture and White supremacy. We should not still be fighting for what they have. We are not interested in what they have because we have so much more and because the world is so much larger. And ultimately the White way, the American way, the neo liberal, capitalist way of life will eventually lead to our own destruction. And so it isn’t about an argument of joining neo liberalism, it’s about us being able, as human beings, to surpass the barrier.

Questions here Trujillo are these. In your haste to promote one self, did you severely damage a client/ potential client, by forcing these past issues, related to racism, to be revisited? Did you cause those who were non-committal in the 2011 election, to distance themselves from Huizar, over your racist connotations, directed towards Clean Sweep LA supporters?

Or maybe in the words of "Parque Esqueleto", this is all part of the plan to ward off the challenge of Rudy Martinez?

Very typical. Common SG&A tactics. As they did in the 43rd race they have learned to gin up "progressive" bloggers to fight opponents SG&A can't beat on the merits by tossing around the racist and homophobe cards.

Trujillo and SG&A will be working to save the quite troubled Jose Huizar; they are scared to death of opponent Rudy Martinez.

They can't call Martinez, a Mexican, anti-Latino. So perhaps he hates "teh gheys." Maybe, just maybe, Trujillo will exercise the nuclear option and call Martinez a pocho.

Thus, you have a glimpse of the inner Trujillo. And you wonder why this guy can't win a campaign? That is unless you are terminally ill.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Why Clean Sweep Must Dump Walter Moore

You would be hard pressed to find a voter in Los Angeles that would not like to see the goals of the LA Clean Sweep Campaign achieved. One goal in particular stands out; "Respect for Everyone".

Respect for Everyone...

Unfortunately, LA Clean Sweep will face some major obstacles in their appeal to the public as long as it allows the intolerance and prejudice of Walter Moore to be associated with this promising grassroots endeavor.

Here's the wisdom of Walter from his Mayoral Campaign;



Inexplicably, Mr. Moore sits on the board of directors for the Clean Sweep Political Action Committee.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

Hey buddy how come there's no story about me in today's hotsheet?

When you're on old billionaire who made mega-profits selling cheap homes to people who couldn't afford them what else is there left to do? Build a shrine to yourself and call it an art museum - and better yet - do it at taxpayer expense.  And Eli Broad is going to get even more taxpayer money to do it.  Read more at Walter Moore's blog.

John Longenecker writing in the Los Angeles Examiner notes an amazing occurrence - a fairly written article at the local fishwrap of record.  This time it's about Second Amendment activists who openly bore arms in Hermosa Beach.  This is part of a trend to educate the public on their gun rights which are often under attack from do-gooding politicians and the media.  The Hermosa Beach gunowners received mostly positive feedback from citizens.  Having heard a volley of thug gunfire outside my own home Saturday evening - in a high rent section of town - the right to responsible gun ownership is comforting counterbalance against gangs, thugs and criminals that are both home grown and imported from every corner of the world.

If you hope to get through LAX without being accosted by Hare Krishnas, LaRouchies and fake nurses asking for money you're in luck.  The Ninth District Court of Appeals upheld Los Angeles' enforcement of an ordinance banning such solicitation.  Now if we can apply that to the homeless we'd be in good shape.

The City of Glendale is considering spending between $2 to $30 million on a bridge over Interstate 5 to connect that city to Griffith Park.  Wonder what folks on the LA side of the line think about additional traffic into the already distressed park.

And finally Phil Jennerjahn has a message for the "birther" crowd; those opponents of President Obama who have a nearly irrational and obsessed notion that Obama was not born within the United States; shut up.  Jennerjahn correctly notes that such silliness is distraction from more important reasons to oppose Obama and the Democrats.  I would say the same about those Republicans who are fanatical about the gay marriage issue.

Tune into Mayor Sam later this morning for an important announcement.

Carmen Clowns His Base

Or at least so says Walter Moore...

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

The talk continues around the Mayor's Ticketgate scandal.  While more facts come out and promised records from the Mayor are a jumbled mess Villaraigosa still has a lot of fans out there.  Those attempting to draw the nexus between the Mayor's active social life and bad policy making may have more work to do to educate the masses.

Besides Ticketgate the Mayor is facing questions over his $120K trip to Europe last December.  But not so much over the receipts and the five star hotels but more so as to who was included in meetings most notably possibly a Southern California businessman who may need help from the Mayor to get approval for a project in the Mojave Desert.  Read more at Eric Spillman's blog.

Paul Hatfield reports that Council Member Tom LaBonge may be up to no good.  According to the report LaBonge is prepping a motion to raid Neighborhood Council Funds to pay for the free charter buses Councilmembers use to curry favor with community groups such as sending senior citizen groups to Pechanga or children to tour Griffith Park with Tom, etc.  While we certainly want to provide options for the community to get out that's not the purpose of Neighborhood Council funds.

And finally Walter Moore's favorite economist (perhaps next to Zuma Dogg) is retiring.  Jack Kyser, the Chief Economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation is frustrated however LA's economy isn't where it should be.  Shouldn't be surprising though when Kyser's current and past employer, the LA Chamber of Commerce supports just about every downtown tax and spend scheme that comes down the pike.

Sunday Afternoon Ticketgate Discussion

Steve Lopez of the former fishwrap of record thought it would be cute to take Mayor Villaraigosa to a Dodger game in the cheap seats.  Still Lopez paid for the $12 ticket though apparently the Mayor paid for the nuts.

After that Lopez muses that if it weren't for all the pesky laws that the Mayor may have broken in his misadventures that he likes the idea of Villaraigosa dressing up, grabbing LuParker and heading off to the Grammys, Oscars and Beyonce concerts.  Damn those laws!

Meanwhile Walter Moore for the prosecution continues the case against the Mayor tearing apart the calligraphy defense.  The Mayor says he has to show up to events that he need not disclose so that he may hand out one of those handy certificates of commendation to those involved.  But insead, as Moore asks, is the Mayor passing out certificates to go to events?

In the meantime something to think about for those who are of the mind that the Mayor has done wrong and that everyone hates him make sure you're not in a bubble.  While the usual suspects comment on blogs slamming the mayor don't let that fool you into thinking it's what the masses think.  Lots of comments on Facebook that people want their mayor to be out and about as well as the reception the Mayor got in the cheap seats with Lopez remind us not everyone gets it.