Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Mayoral candidate Walter Moore reports he is very close to reaching the $150,000 contributions received threshold in order to qualify for matching funds in the 2009 election.  However, there's still an out for Mayor Villaraigosa.  When Walter reaches that threshold, the Mayor could decline matching funds for his campaign which would release him from a requirement to debate Moore or any other candidate who qualifies for the matching funds.

Though LAPD figures claim crime is at the level it was in 1967, Community activist David Hernandez makes a good point: 247 people in LA have been murdered so far this year, hardly a reason to celebrate.  Hernandez also adds up the numbers, nearly 1200 have been killed during Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's administration.

City Council President Eric Garcetti has announced that Albina Ferreyra has been appointed as his Field Deputy for Atwater.  Previously Ferreyra served as a deputy for 1st District Councilman Ed Reyes.

Even though there's no money for it and route options are considered controversial in various communities, the MTA plans to press forward with not one but two subway boondoggles for the Westside.  Let's hope that the sales tax increase scam on the November ballot doesn't pass and give this nonsense any more life.  As we know, you can't build enough trains to end LA's traffic woes.  The answer lies in allowing private operators to meet the market demand for commuter public transportation (as is done in New York) and to encourage the growth of new business around housing.

Though the City is facing a water crisis and has ordered drastic efforts to save water, various City agencies are still found wasting the precious liquid.  The LA Times documents Recreation and Parks Department employees hosing down tennis courts.  Maybe they need a water broom.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

Franklin Avenue notes that the City of LA's birthday is Thursday but the City has apparently forgotten.  The city website still show's last year's events.  Oh well.  Most drugstores have belated birthday cards.

At the risk of getting a swarm of anonymous comments from Bart Reed and Zach Behrens, Governor Schwarzenegger has an opportunity to veto the Westside-centric transit tax scam to go on this November's ballot.  With the the Governor readying a sales tax increase of his own it's not likely voters will pass additional taxes that are paid for by the rest of the County but only benefit one side.  Though Schwarazenegger has promised to veto all bills until a budget is passed, he's already broken that promise on another transit related bill that came before him.

I wonder if Zuma Dogg addressed this in public comment.  Today the LA City Council voted to extend a moratorium on new medical marijuana facilities.


You can't hose your driveway off with a hose under the City's new water conservation rules however if you use something called a "water broom" you can do it that way.  Though the item retails for $200, LAist reports that you can get a rebate for $150 from the Metropolitan Water District.