Villaraigosa's "Clean Tech Corridor" Crashed And Burned, But Trust Him, This Stadium Won't Cost You A Dime

The LA Weekly seems to be the only newspaper reporting that Mayor Villaraigosa's much-touted "Clean Tech Corridor" has completely crashed and burned.

And yet, you are asked to rely on Villaraigosa's prediction that a new stadium will pay for itself.  I say "baloney." (Actually, I say something else, but I'm trying to be all polite and stuff.) 

Villaraigosa and the City Council are signing YOUR name, Joe Taxpayer, to a loan document. You won't get the money, but you will get the bill -- for approximately $86 million per year. Now, people in the private sector are unwilling to risk their own money on building a stadium downtown.

Multiplicity: Clones, Clowns And Candidates For Mayor

Remember that movie, "Multiplicity?" You know, the one where Michael Keaton clones himself, such that there are four indistinguishable versions of the exact same person running around, getting into mischief?

That's pretty much the story for all the candidates in L.A.'s 2013 Mayoral race, except for Kevin James.

Think about it.  What is the difference between City Council Members Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry, former City Council Member Wendy Greuel, and Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner? They are all exactly the same person.

After all, when have any of those people disagreed about anything? When have any of them spoken or voted against a proposal any of the others have made? Never. They are one and the same person.

They agree on everything. They can't even sing that "You say to-may-to, and I say to-mah-to" song. They all say "to-mah-to."

The City Of L.A.'s Budget "Crisis" Is Still Phony

How big is the City of L.A.'s budget deficit?  Yesterday, according to the LA Weekly, Villaraigosa blurted out $500 million, even though the City Administrative Officer -- you know, DUI Guy -- says $350 million.

But that's not what's important. What's important is that this whole budget "crisis" is completely contrived. How can I say that? Easy. Look at the CAO's own figures from a presentation he made to the City Council earlier this week, and you'll see that revenues are down just five percent from the all-time high of $7.11 billion in 2008-09:

When Did Congress Declare War On Libya?

Congress has not declared war on Libya. 

Declaring wars, however, is a power assigned to Congress, not the President, under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Presidents from both parties have disregarded that fact, as have many members of Congress and the public at large.

How about we start obeying the law for a change? The Founding Fathers put that clause in there for a reason. The decision about whether to kill people and destroy property in another country is as important as decisions get. It's one that should require agreement by a majority of the people's elected representatives, don't you think?

An "undocumented" war is an illegal war.

Thank You House Of Representatives For Nixing NPR

If people want to listen to NPR, let them buy a dang tote-bag, but don't tax me to pay for Garisson Keilor's monotonous monologues. Thank you, House of Representatives, for taking the first, important steps in making government affordable. Meanwhile, I'll take advantage of radio paid for by another country's taxpayers: BBC via podcast, thank you very much.

Have You Made Your First Contribution To Kevin James Yet?

I contributed my first $100 to the Kevin James's campaign today. Why? Because as the guy who finished second in the 2009 Mayoral race, let me tell you the key to victory: more money, more quickly.

Let's win this time, shall we? Contribute whatever you can to Kevin James right now, and keep it coming in future months. We cannot afford the status quo. Here's a link to Kevin's website:  KevinJamesForMayor.com.

Kevin shown demonstrating his proposed solution for L.A.'s traffic jams.

Cops On Horseback

Driving home from court yesterday, along Sixth Street, after the LAPD issued its report finding the shooting there a year ago was justified, what do you suppose I saw? Cops on horses!

The Picture Worth A Thousand Words About L.A. In 2011

Take a look at this picture from the L.A. Times, and while you're at it, look at the ad from the City of Los Angeles for tax amnesty accompanying it. Says quite a bit about what happens to a City when 88% of the voters skip city elections, don't you think?

Austin Beutner Commences Outlandish "Outsider" Campaign

Hey, what do you do if you're already the de facto Mayor of a City teetering on bankruptcy, and you want to dupe people into making you the actual Mayor? Easy! You pretend you haven't been an insider for the past two years, and start pointing fingers at your rivals, the members of the City Council. Good luck with that one, A.B.

He's not like Villaraigosa at all. See? He uses his RIGHT hand to fondle his chin. Totally different.

Campaign 2013 Begins. . . .

Photographic decapitation in action

The last election is so "two days ago."

The relevant race now is the City-wide election scheduled for March 2013.  Up for grabs are the following seats:  Mayor (Villaraigosa is termed out); City Attorney; City Controller; and half the City Council seats (i.e., the odd-numbered ones).

This raises several issues:

Will the Republican Party of Los Angeles do anything, anything at all, to help any Republicans win any of those seats? Probably not, even though all they would have to do to win an election in this town is show up. Abysmally low turnout is the key.

Will anyone good run for Mayor? Yes. But that's all I can say about that right now.  That, plus, "it ain't me, babe."

Will anyone good run for the other offices? Probably not. Good people look at things like the outcome of this last fiasco, and decide against spending their time and subjecting themselves to the requisite abuse.

Is there hope for our city? No.  Get out while you can. You now live in a corrupt, bankrupt city, run for the benefit of special interests. Save yourself. You can't save the oblivious people who live here.

The Winner By A Landslide: Obliviousness

There was an election? Did not realize that. Who won?

The official bird of Los Angeles is the ostrich.

Guess what percentage of L.A.'s registered voters did not bother to vote in yesterday's election? The answer is 88.41%.

Let me put that another way:  1,454,005 of the 1,644,647 people registered to vote in America's second-biggest city simply skipped an election.  They did so even though the City is nearly bankrupt, and even though approximately half of them live in districts where they could have replaced current City Council Members.

Every single feckless incumbent was re-elected to office, without even a run-off, by maddeningly small margins.

Councilman LaBonge stayed in office with a margin of just 827 votes. That is, he needed 8,130 votes to win, and he received 8,956.

Here Are Your Election Night Results

Just click the following link to get the latest updates from the City Clerks: election results.

Snapshots Of Journalistic Malpractice: L.A. Election "Coverage"

Why don't more people vote in L.A.'s local elections?  Two words: journalistic malpractice. The local media essentially ignore local elections, and, therefore, so do the voters in America's second-biggest city, a city with nearly as many people as Ireland.

To document this utter failure of the Fourth Estate, I have taken screen shots from local newspapers and TV stations today, election day.  Click on them to zoom in, and see if you can even find anything about the election:

How To Vote Tuesday

Here are my recommendations for L.A.'s election on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 (click here for a printable version):

Los Angeles City Council

District 2:  Bisani
District 4:  Box
District 6:  Barron
District 8:  Hogan-Rowles
District 10:  Shaw
District 12:  Smith (NOT Englander, and NOT Chelebian)
District 14:  Martinez

Ballot Measures
NO on all of them

Community College:
Seat 1:  Essavi
Seat 3:  Write in "Mark Isler" (I know.  It's a hassle, but so are crummy politicians.)
Seat 5:  Gutierrez

LAUSD:
District 1:  Lee
District 3:  Pugliese
District 5:  Fernandez
District 7:  Love

Ticketgate: Et Tu, Carmen?

A picture's worth a thousand words. A commenter on my last essay, who calls himself "Chief Damn," and who has website of his own, revealed that City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has accepted tickets from AEG worth nearly $1,000.

Those Spring Street politicians just go gaga for "freebies" from AEG, don't they? I guess it's official:  we've got a chicken guarding the hen house. So much for protecting the public interest from the special interests.

City Attorney Chickens Out

Hey, you want to tie up traffic for thousands of commuters by lying in the middle of the street? Go right ahead.

L.A.'s City Attorney won't do a damned thing about it. He has elected to surrender the streets to whoever cares to take them.

The Los Angeles Times reports he's dropping all charges against the clowns who messed up the West side with their protest in support of the "Dream Act."

Thanks for nothing, Carmen Trutanich.

Work Harder So Others Won't Have To

City Hall is handing $56,600 of YOUR money to a couple to help them buy a condo. Why? Why are YOU being taxed to pay for someone ELSE's condo?!

Their names are Steven Patrusky and Dina Charles-Patrusky; they're buying a condo at 5500 Lindley Avenue, #206, Encino, 91316; and you are kicking in $56,600 courtesy of L.A.'s Housing Department.

Yes, THAT Housing Department -- the one run by the chow hounds who stay at luxury hotels, send you the bill for room service, and pick up a per diem on top of it.

Gathering To Remember Jamiel Shaw II Wednesday Night

Please join Jamiel Shaw II's family and me Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. to remember this outstanding young man whose senseless murder was preventable.  Althea Shaw, whom I support for City Council, sent out the following announcement:

In remembrance of Jamiel Shaw II, we will have the 3rd Candlelight Vigil on March 2, 2011 at 5:30pm.   We will stand where Jamiel took his last breath.

As many of you know, Jamiel was murdered three doors from our home on March 2, 2008.  Jamiel's mother was serving in Iraq when she learned that her Son was murdered.  The defendant charged with murdering Jamiel is a documented gang member living in the Country illegally.  Our family will continue to stand for Justice.

Please join us as we remember the life of Jamiel Andre' Shaw, II.  For more information about Jamiel's life please visit www.JamielsLaw.com

2136 - 5th Avenue

Los Angeles, CA  90018

323.454.8803

March 2, 2011 @ 5:30pm

We thank you for your continued support!

Jamiel Shaw's Family

Remembering Jamiel Shaw II...

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