Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Hopefully he didn't like it
and he left the state

Nearly a year after the idiot from New York left town (but leaving behind his chief nemesis) we see that crime continues to go down despite the grown-ups taking back the LAPD from that Irish blowhard.  Chief Charlie Beck told the LA Police Commission that there were no homicides in LA over the weekend and that the overall homicide rate is down 4.9% over last year.

It had to kill The Los Angeles Wave, the pit where Ugly Betty Pleasant wallows in her mud, to report that the District Attorney's office cleared Councilman Bernard Parks of bogus charges he had pulled a Richard Alarcon and wasn't living in his District.  The DA's Public Integrity Unit said it found no merit in the claims that Parks had filed fraudulent voter registration affidavits.  I bet Betty is wetting her pants just about now she's so damn mad at that awful racist cracker District Attorney!  Doesn't he know she OWNS the Black Community?  Anyway speaking of Ugly Betty next week we'll have some stories about some friends she has praised that previously published reports so that they are not so praiseworthy.  And if Betty doesn't like it she kiss my enormous but shrinking white ass. And sadly it's not just Betty; the LA Weekly is going to owe Bernie an apology too.

Read more »

Morning Mental Health Break

Photo credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

“In some cases they might represent power and authority or are guardians. … In other cases, they could be our animal alter egos, our most basic selves.”

—Peter Shelton

I’m a big fan of Peter Shelton’s art installation on the west side of LAPD’s new headquarters. It doesn’t matter “what they are,” what matters is that LA’s approach to public art is evolving from the stupidly-symbolic, politically correct kitsch polluting so many American cities.

Steve Lopez, pursuing the “what are they” angle, thought William Bratton’s reaction would entertain you: Cow splat.

“I don't think anybody can figure out” what the shapes are supposed to be, Bratton said. “Bisons and hippos maybe. I haven't the faintest idea what the two tallest things are on either side.”  Nor does he understand what any of this has to do with police administration, if anything. “I don't get it,” he said. “It's just a shame.”

For the record, “they are” a rotund beast, two bison, two bears and two hippos. Go experience them.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday

More excellent reporting from the Latino Politics Blog. A recent post notes that the state legislators who drive the three most expensive government provided vehicles are Senator Ron Calderon, Senator Gil "Two Bill Gill" Cedillo and Senator Dean Florez, who according to the LA Times drive a Cadillac STS, a Lexus 400H and a Lexus LX 400 respectively, all on your dime. The blog couldn't have put it any better when they said "I think that in a climate where so many of us are penny pinching, asking students to make sacrifices or go without summer school, Cal Grants, and face fee increases at public colleges and universities, it certainly leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Californians to have to foot the bill for luxury cars for the state’s already well compensated elected leaders."

Once again William Bratton proves he doesn't get the LAPD or Los Angeles tradition and screws over the men in uniform.  This time he's going against the wish of the both the LAPD union and the film industry by banning retired LAPD officers who work film shoots from wearing LAPD uniforms.  Instead Bratton wants the officers to wear something resembling some local business improvement "safety ambassadors" wear.  The film industry is right to concern than when dealing with issues on a film location the officers wearing the new uniforms won't command the same respect.

So the Mayor has supposedly found private funds to pay the parade to mark the LA Lakers World Championship yet he says even if he hadn't located the donor cash he would have spent City funds anyway.  The Mayor also claims the parade will earn $15 million for the City.  Questions: 1) Who is funding this parade and what do they get for it, 2) Where does the Mayor get off saying he'd spend the funds anyway and, 3) Who really believes this parade will generate $15 million in taxes for the City?

The DWP implemented a "cash for grass" program and no its not related to this photo.  Homeowners who replace their lawn with water saving plants, rocks or cement will get $1 for every square foot of thirsty lawn they remove. Of course, the DWP is playing a bit smart here; if you haven't been watering your lawn and its already dead they won't pay you to remove it.

Neighborhood Councils are among those invited to a "volunteer appreciation picnic" organized by the Mayor on June 27th. No word on how much this costs or who is paying for it but a memo sent by Villaraigosa staffer Antonio Sanchez includes the real reason why the event is being organized: "We hope to organize a picture with neighborhood council members and the newly elected City officials."  There you go. One giant photo op.

Lunchtime Hotsheet

Late last night, Councilmember Eric Garcetti tweeted, “My district director reports from Chicago that privatized parking meters have created such an outrage it is all that the city can talk about.” Garcetti, of course, is referring to Mayor Villaraigosa’s push to privatize meter and garage operations. Meter privatization in Chicago led to spike in parking rates, followed by a revolt in which parking meters were “mangled by tire irons and coin slots filled with Super Glue.” LA’s livability has taken such a hit in recent years, part of me thinks: go ahead, make my day; we need a breaking point. PS: For another glimpse into the world of Chicago shot-caller–baller management Villaraigosa so admires, check out this piece on the city’s longest-serving councilmember.

The Daily News reports Paul Krekorian is renting an apartment in Valley Glen while he mulls a run for City Council. Tomorrow is the deadline to establish residency in CD2. Considering the state of affairs in Sacramento, it’s hard to fault Krekorian for considering a fresh start (and healthy pay increase) in sunny Southern California.

Also via the DN, a judge is set to decide Monday whether to renew the LAPD’s eight-year federal consent decree. Councilmember Dennis Zine and Chief William Bratton say the oversight has served its purpose and should expire. The ACLU argues we aren’t there yet.

The LAT reports that Wikipedia has blocked contributions from Church of Scientology's Los Angeles headquarters and a number of Scientology critics. The two sides were apparently fighting an intense revision war. The article notes that three years ago, Wikipedia banned Capitol Hill networks “when it was revealed that congressional aides had been deleting references to unmet campaign promises.” Meanwhile, a war of revisions continues to rage on Jack Weiss’ page.

Finally, if you haven’t already, click over to version 2.0 of the Times’ Mapping LA project. Nearly one hundred boundary changes since the February release. The census data is a bit stale, but it’s fun to browse. … Crime and voting data would make it super useful.

Hump Day Hotsheet

“Did you all have a good dinner? Did you have dessert? Am I dessert?”

The Dow plunged 504 points Monday, but the show went on last night at Greystone Mansion. The Times described Barack Obama’s $28,500-per-head Beverly Hills fundraiser as “fraught with risk,” as organizers took measures to keep the event private. I googled — and even checked the official Obama blog — but came up empty-handed on the dinner and wine lists. Kevin Roderick received a few text message reports from the the scene of the $2,500 after party; one complaining about waiting an hour-and-a-half for the event to start; another one quoting Barbra Steisand complaining about the camera phones, “I thought there was to be no media tonight.”

Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel introduced a motion yesterday, urging the feds to implement long-overdue train safety systems that have the ability to override engineers in emergency situations. Meanwhile, NTSB investigators revealed that the Metrolink train’s emergency brake was not engaged in the seconds before Friday’s collision, prompting speculation that engineer Robert Sanchez may have suffered a stroke or heart attack.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to veto a budget passed by the Legislature yesterday, describing it as “fiscally irresponsible” and a “get-out-of-town budget.” Indeed, Republican lawmakers want just as a badly as Democrats to get back to their districts, and the comprise budget, no matter how fundamentally flawed, contains no new taxes. Schwarzenegger’s proposal may be the most fiscally responsible, but after five years, his credibility is shot — plus, no one is fooled by temporary tax increases.

After a 15,000 hour investigation, Chief William Bratton recommends terminating four officers and disciplining 11 others for their parts in the 2007 May Day Melee. The officers at risk of losing their jobs can now appear before a “military-style” panel consisting of one civilian and two high-ranking officers to contest the recommendations. The ACLU is dissatisfied with Bratton’s recommendations and wants an inquiry into LAPD training practices.

Friday Hotsheet for a silly week

Capping off a week the Daily News is calling Silly Season, Councilmembers Jan Perry and Wendy Greuel were spotted hailing cabs with giant foam fingers and Police Chief William Bratton is taking flak from some West Hollywood pol for “outing” Lindsay Lohan.

But it looks more like Gloomy Season back at the Daily News. Denim is out, as is Chris Weinkopf, reports L.A. Observed. Employees unsure of what to wear are advised to “recall how you dressed when you interviewed for your position.” Columnist and Friendly Fire blogger, Weinkopf, will call it quits August 22nd. Perhaps we’ll see more meat on his personal blog in the coming months? Here’s to two ex-DN employees telling us how they really feel.

In case you missed any of our fabulous bloggings this week, here’s a little roundup:

• Mayor Villaraigosa bailed out of a speaking engagement over the weekend.
• Dennis Zine responded to us with a list of synchronized traffic signals in the Valley.
• Maxine Waters went nuts (again) and gang czar Jeff Carr resurfaced.
• There’s more, apparently, to the proposed new anti-gang contracts than meets the eye.
• L.A. shook, Dennis Zine reported live from the scene, and Villaraigosa missed another big-time photo op.
• Leland Wong was nailed hard for corruption (our readers predict his buddies get ratted-out next).
• Greig Smith stuck his finger in your eyes and Jan Perry got her Happy Meal.
• José Huizar’s attempt to run roughshod over Boyle Heights residents became a P.R. problem.
• Ed Reyes, Eric Garcetti, and José Huizar offered up a room at City Hall for car wash owners and workers to negotiate a living wage.
• Mirthala Salinas resurfaced in Studio City.
• William Bratton delivered a very politically-incorrect celebrity gossip report.
• And more proof was offered that you must read Mayor Sam every day if you want to be in the know.

Whew! I’m ready for a cocktail and a lazy weekend.

L.A. Lights

Solomon Wolfson, L.A. Light Festival, 28th December, 2007 (via Flickr)

Ever notice how the power always seems to stay on for the DWP Holiday Light Festival?

Meanwhile, my little slice of NELA seems to be among the first to lose power any time the wind blows, rain falls, or temperature rises—this time, however, we’ve managed to dodge the bullet (knocks on wood). Sometimes, there’s no rhyme or reason; last week, several Century City high rises went dark on two separate occasions, and for hours at a time, disrupting business and damaging equipment.

Many of you natives simply accept DWP downtime as a fact of life. We refugees know better. Whatever attracted us to this strange land of milk and honey, it wasn’t an electric utility that drove us away.

In a recent appearance on KFI’s The John Batchelor Show, New Yawk expat Chief William Bratton blasted DWP as “horrible,” and, “the worst” after losing power to his Hollywood Hills spread.

Oh, and who could forget columnist-turned-park ranger Steve Lopez’ recent run-in with a blackout, where he all but demanded three-party talks with David Nahai and Councilmember Eric Garcetti?

The problem, of course, is that these backlashes are few and short-lived; DWP is not taking the heat it should be taking, no pun intended, and when someone does bring fire to print or the airwaves, they don't challenge the paradigm, they just vent.

DWP needs to know that its greed and negligence have real, and negative repercussions on both L.A. businesses, and the lives of Angelenos. If you lost power in the latest storm, post your neighborhood name and tell DWP how long you sat in the dark. After all, they read Mayor Sam, too.

Mayor V Coming Home Early

When you leave town and don't mind the store when the weathers rough, chickens come home to roost.

Mayor V has all of a sudden decided his work in El Salvador is done; he's coming back to LA to save Bill Bratton's ass which is in big trouble right now with the left, the right, the media, possibly the District Attorney and the FBI.

So much for that sailing to renewal. Bitter Bernie has got to be feeling good about right now.

If Chief Bill has to leave town; some of these items might be useful to him.