Los Angeles Archives
This is a very large file. For the full smaller digest version, click here.They graded paradise, at least the Griffith Park version
The hiking trail leading from the Griffith Park ranger station on Crystal Springs Drive up to Five Points is now open, as is the "hogsback" trail that leads from there up to Mount Hollywood. Unfortunately, as I started hiking up the latter yesterday I screamed out at the top of my lungs, "what the ##&@ did they do?" For, the wise geniuses that recently used helicopters to flock the park with a mulch compound after the recent fire (in order to prevent the natural process of erosion) have graded the hogsback trail. What that lacked in rocks it made up for in being a bit steep, including dirt steps and various other features that made it an entertaining place to engage in some trail running. It also featured unused and rusty pipes that were good for practicing balancing. That's all gone now, and it basically looks like a fire road. I don't know exactly what work they had to do that they had to bring vehicles down it (something not possible before), but the only thing that makes sense is that they wanted to build a berm in order to prevent the mulch from being washed away or to prevent a deepening of natural crevices along the sides. However, as it was the water would have run down the center, and as it is now the water will run down in a wide sheet. While that might prevent the berm they built from being breeched, I tend to think that as it was would have taken care of it. I note also that I was strongly tempted to walk cross-country at the start, but decided against it lest I displace any of their **#*@#*@#@#*@#&@#& mulch.
AVWatch: Antonio Villaraigosa panders at gala supporting fashion designer charged with rape (Anand Jon, McAuliffe)
Anand Jon is a fashion designer who's been charged with 59 counts of sexual assault or rape involving women between 14 and 27 (link). The number of charges was recently raised from 46 in June, and he's now in jail. His lawyer says it's all fabricated.Meanwhile, on September 15th, former MEChA leader, Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair, and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended a gala organized by Jon's sister for the "Friends of the South Asian American Communities". It featured a large number of people wearing t-shirts saying, "We Support Anand Jon" (link).
In addition to Tony Villar, former DNC chairman and current Chairman of the Hillary Clinton for President campaign Terry McAuliffe was there (note the "We Support Anand Jon" t-shirt):
What a party indeed.
...members of the fashion community participated in [Jon's sister's] Fashion extravaganza in support of global independence, civil rights and her brother the crown prince of couture designer ANAND JON... A line up of stunning models wearing "WE SUPPORT ANAND JON" opened a spectacular fashion presentation on the 15 of September for the annual gala event for FOSAAC celebrating 60 years of Indian independence... [...a video "humaniz[ing]" Anand Jon was shown...]UPDATE: In comments, "Intimately Involved" says:
After the LA Mayor introduced Terry McAuliffe, Sanjana Jon, Marla Maples, Camille McDonald, and Amrita Thapar took the stage and made a plea to the community and politicians to take a strong stance and consideration regarding the violation of individual's civil rights. GUILTY BY COLOR should be eradicated and justice served was the main message promoted through the show.
The Honorable Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa had greeted the audience with "Namaste". The Mayor expressed his warm gratitude towards the South Asian community, he had said, "you have always supported me whether it was for State Assembly or the Speaker of Assembly and now as Mayor." The Mayor had said, "It is not only India’s Independence but it is Mexican Independence as well, our flags are similar and so are the people. It is my honor to be the Mayor of Los Angeles, where my grandfather had come a hundred years ago with a dream. ...[American dream, Mahatma Gandhi, etc.]... So the connection between Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian people, Mexicans, Americans of every nationality is deep and profound. ...["peaceful co-existence among the nations", etc... ...[Los Angeles is a] diverse city in America and a diverse city in the world...
[McAuliffe said:] "...The South Asian Commuinty has been with us in our good and bad times. I will never forget what you have done for the Clinton family. You have been our friends and you have made us stronger."
This accusation is completely false. I was intimately involved with the event and the fact is that sanjana jon, anands sister, was hired explicitly as a professional to create a 15 minute fashion show to commence the evenings schedule of awards and dinner. The event never was advertised in anyway to be connected with Anand John. The true summary of the events, rather than a blog post that ambiguously states names, is locate here: http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/1053/1/print/ The event was to celebrate Indian Independence Day with an award show and dinner. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was invited to introduce Terry McAulife, the guest of honor, and to present him his award. Please get your facts straight next time. This kind of slanderous garbage deserves to be in tabloids, as there is no 1st person verification, and John and Ken drew their sources from a blog post.The "best" defense from the Villar/McAuliffe perspective would be that the "blog post" is a pro-Anand inflation of the events. Does "Intimately Involved" deny that there was a pro-Anand video and that pro-Anand statements were made? Even if only a small part of the event was pro-Anand, shouldn't Villaraigosa and McAuliffe have distanced themselves from that part of the event, and shouldn't McAuliffe have avoided having his picture taken with someone wearing a "We Support Anand Jon" t-shirt? Wouldn't, for instance, Hillary run from a photo op with someone wearing a Che t-shirt? The indiapost link says Sahara One Television was there; perhaps someone has a tape. I note also that "my facts" are the ones not in italics; the only contradiction between "Intimately Involved"'s description and mine is the extent of his sister's involvement in organizing the event. And, assuming the italicized quotes from Villaraigosa are accurate, he's still a pandering fool.
UPDATE 2: Whether Sanjaya Jon "hijacked" the event or not, it should have been abundantly clear to anyone watching the fashion show that support for Anand Jon was a major part of it. Both Villaraigosa and McAuliffe have been around the block multiple times, so surely they must have wondered who this "Anand Jon" was. Despite that, McAuliffe still had his picture taken with someone wearing one of the shirts. Here are four photos from http://www.newsasia.us/fosaac-pics.asp, click for a larger version:
UPDATE 3: Kevin Kaul (fosaac.com/kevinkaul/bio.html) - founder and chairman of the "Friends of the South Asian American Communities" (fosaac.com), the group that organized the event, is a Hillraiser (hillaryclinton.com/feature/HillRaisers).
And, from fosaac.com/images/fosaac%20ad%20sep%2015th%20jpeg_1.jpg here's the flyer for the event:
The "Cultural Program Highlights" section says "Fashion extravaganza by international fashion designer Sanjana Jon. This special event will also mark the runway debut of Donald Trump's beautiful daughter Tiffany Trump." There's no mention of her brother that I can see. It also features what appears to be a letter from George Bush, and it lists another "chief guest": Lee Baca. It also says that Barbara Boxer was invited; apparently she had other things to do.
Lotsa dogfood: Tennie Pierce LAFD settlement made ($1.43 million)
Apparently the City of Los Angeles may announce later today a settlement with former L.A. Fire Department fireman Tennie Pierce, who sued the department over supposed racially-motivated hazing that involved other firefighters putting dog food into his spaghetti.
Story here, phone numbers to call if you're in the area here.
UPDATE: He and the city have settled for $1.43 million. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa calls it the "best possible" outcome.
UPDATE 2: From the Veritable Home of Liberalism Itself:
Pierce had sued, claiming racial harassment among other things, after a colleague slipped dog food into his spaghetti following a volleyball game in which Pierce repeatedly joked "Feed the big dog!" in reference to himself. An L.A. Weekly investigation found no evidence of a racial component, racial comments or other racial undercurrents surrounding the prank.
Not only that, but he'd previously taken part in other pranks, like the one pictured here.
And, he only ate two bites of dogfood, putting his take at $715,000 per bite. I'll eat a whole can for 1/100 the price!
AVWatch: Tony Villar, Mirthala Salinas go greek
See the picture.
He later appeared on the Chabad telethon and supposedly broke into a dance.
When not being mayor of Los Angeles, Tony Villar/Antonio Villaraigosa is a former leader of the racial separatist group MEChA as well as being a Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair.
AVWatch: Antonio Villaraigosa Villarnovela; reporter shoved; Mirthala suspended
The Villarnovela starring Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair, Los Angeles mayor, and former MEChA leader Antonio Villaraigosa continues with at least two new episodes:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today sought to put the scandal surrounding his personal life behind him, one day after the Telemundo network suspended his girlfriend, newscaster Mirthala Salinas, for covering the mayor while they were romantically involved... But a Villaraigosa news conference at the Port of Los Angeles ended chaotically, with a port police sergeant shoving a television reporter against a cargo container as she attempted to pursue the mayor.
You can see a video of the reporter being shoved here. To make it even worse, she's from a Spanish-language station:
The director of media relations for the Port of Los Angeles later issued a statement expressing "regret that this incident occurred" and saying the matter "is being investigated." Port police "intervened to deny access" when the mayor entered a restricted area and reporters tried to follow, according to the statement.
Hillary Clinton could not be reached for comment, because I didn't try. Tony Villar's political future was reportedly spotted applying for a job as a greeter at WalMart.
L.A. DA: still investigating priest abuse scandal, criminal prosecutions not ruled out
The Los Angeles diocese of the Catholic Church recently announced they were settling all outstanding civil suits in regards to the priest abuse scandal for $600 million.Now, L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley has released a statement [1]:
"Today's massive civil settlement highlights the institutional moral failure of the archdiocese to supervise predatory priests who operated for years under its jurisdiction.I don't know the extent to which he's under the sway of the local powers that be that have heretofore protected Cardinal Roger Mahoney, including mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Times, so whether he really means that or not isn't known.
...We are aware there could be records that may become available to us as a result of today's settlement. If these documents reveal evidence of criminal activity on behalf of individual priests or anyone else, we will pursue them.
"The book is not closed on our investigation."
[1] da.co.la.ca.us/mr/071607a.htm
AVWatch: Antonio Villaraigosa's *second* girlfriend?
Former MEChA leader and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently separated from his wife, and the reported reason was because he had a long-running affair with Telemundo newswoman Mirthala Salinas. She reported about him before she was taken off that beat several months ago, and Telemundo reportedly asked her a couple times prior to the big announcement whether something was going on.
Now, it's come to my attention that there might be even more going on. According to an uncorroborated rumor received by Mayor Sam, Tony Villar has a second girlfriend, a Korean developer. And, according to the rumor, Salinas may have been the one who released the news about the affair he had with her as revenge.
While I'd prefer that the scandal that ends Tony Villar's political career involves his past radical involvement and his strong support for illegal immigration and Mexico's agenda, I guess this will have to do.
UPDATE: Tony VillarRaigosaInsertTheNextNameHere's alleged second girlfriend is allegedly named at this alleged link. I know nothing! Except, are those real?
Source: Why is Griffith Park still closed?
Earlier today, I was driving through Griffith Park when I saw a very handsome, dashing, and intelligent fellow on a mountain bike. Recognizing the "Lonewacko.com" sign on the side of my car, he flagged me down and related the following tale:"I'm not proud of what I just did, but I just violated a few signs and biked and hiked through Griffith Park. And, what I found there will shock you, my favorite blogger. I biked up from Travel Town up to where the City Fathers have been so kind to build a (green) trash dump. That's where the gate is, and, well, sir, I'm not proud to state that I read the sign saying that the Park is closed 'for your safety', just as I lifted my bicycle over the gate and began continuing my ride up the road.Then, he biked off before I could get any more information. I assure the wonderful and highly esteemed Griffith Park rangers that if I knew who he was I'd definitely tell them.
"I continued biking up the road, after the point where our kind and intelligent City Fathers are building yet another water tank (right next to the building where they've got some kind of a power generator thing) and just before the upper terminus of their (green) waste dump.
"Up and up the road I biked, until the freeway was just a distant roar, until I came to a blockade of hobbyhorses which I confess I biked through... Then, I came upon a dirt road leading up to Mount Hollywood and walked my bike up it - once again going around a set of hobbyhorses warning that the Park was closed - before I locked it up not far up the road, whence I proceeded on foot to the top of Mount Hollywood. All along the way there was absolutely no fire damage...
"As I got near the top of the peak, I saw a large amount of fresh footprints, indicating that other scofflaws have preceded in my footsteps... There was no one else on top, and there was absolutely no fire damage except to the south of the peak... However, that fire damage was indeed extensive, extending all the way from the south flanks of the peak over to hogs back trail, with a couple of the canyons - including the one with the Bird Sanctuary - completely burned out.
"Now I know why Tom LaBonge cried. Just kidding! The Bong is an idiot. Fire is a natural occurence, and no doubt there have been thousands of large and small fires throughout GP's natural history.
"I'm sorry to go on so long, as I know that you're an important and busy blogger, but it's my estimation that there is no good reason to continue keeping the Park closed, as long as new signs are erected pointing out that people should stay away from the burn areas. The tourons who could get into trouble almost always stay on the main, wide trails, and those who take the rougher trails generally know what they're doing. So, that really shouldn't be an issue. I think what we're dealing with here is a combination of idiocy (see: LaBonge, Tom), scared nanny staters who have no knowledge of nature (see: LaBonge, Tom), and those who are more interested in other things like helping illegal aliens (see: Villar, Tony).
"Could you, my favorite blogger, get the word out that Griffith Park should be re-opened, and that those who seek to squeeze every last drop of money out of it should be driven from office and forced to take the Master Plan with them? That'd be great!
AVWatch: Antonio Villaraigosa, wife separate
This is usually the type of stuff we don't cover, but, from earlier this year:
Apparently responding to blogger Luke Ford’s allegation that the Villaraigosas had split up, the mayor told the Times last night that the entire family — himself, Corina and the two teenage children — is living at Getty House. "Absolutely not true," Villaraigosa said of the gossip. "We are not separated."
He also said he hadn't been wearing his wedding ring... because he'd lost weight.
Now:
After several months of intense speculation amount his marital status, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Friday that he and his wife, Corina, are separating after more than 20 years of marriage.
While some - including some very socially conservative Hispanics - will be upset about the divorce itself, the more relevant issue for our purposes is that, once again, Villaraigosa is shown to be a dissembler.
UPDATE: Someone here asks:
Will he go back to his maiden name?
(For those who haven't been following the life and times of one of the former leaders of the racial separatist group MEChA, he was originally called "Tony Villar".)
AVWatch: Antonio Villaraigosa, Fabian Nunez at MacArthur Park candlelight vigil?
[SEE THE UPDATE BELOW]According to this [1]:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Speaker Fabian Nunez and radio host El Piolin are billed as participants in a Thursday procession and candlelight vigil for immigration reform at MacArthur Park. They gather at Immanuel Presbyterian Church at Wilshire and Berendo about 5:30 pm and begin walking about 6:40.However, the page they link to doesn't say anything about those three, only including a flyer listing the organizers:
CARECEN, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA; possible Mexico collaborateurs), COFEM, Garment Worker Center (GWC), Instituto Popular de Educacion del sur de California (IDEPSCA), Koreatown Immigration Worker Association (KIWA), Los Angeles Archdiocese Social Justice Committee, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Multi-ethnic Immigrant Worker Organizing Network (MIWON), Pilipino Worker Center (PWC), SEIU 1877, We Are America CoalitionUPDATE: From this:
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez are expected to join immigrant-rights protesters Thursday at a rally denouncing police behavior during a May 1 immigration rights rally...But, wait, it gets even better:
"The LAPD denied our community both a political and physical space to nonviolently claim our rights to legalization for all undocumented immigrants and a fair immigration reform for the country," said the event's organizer, Mexican American Political Association President Nativo Lopez. "Political leaders and organizations throughout the country stand solidly with us."
...[Police Chief William Bratton], who will be at the LAPD's assembly area at Thursday's rally, according to his office, told KPCC-FM on Wednesday that the ranking officer who was in MacArthur Park during the May 1 melee [Deputy Chief Cayler "Lee" Carter Jr.] has decided to retire rather than continue on home duty pending an investigation.
LAPD officials will distribute fliers to people at the staging areas of Thursday's immigration march and rally at MacArthur Park, assuring participants that officers want to work cooperatively with them.[1] laobserved.com/archive/2007/05/back_to_macarthur_park.php
The flier, written in English, Spanish and Korean, reads:
"Procession for Justice
"The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to working in cooperation with the event organizers [ed: as the links show, some of the organizers have questionable links and positions] to protect your right to free speech. We wish to allow you to engage in marches, demonstrations, protests and rallies in the city of Los Angeles to freely express your opinions.
"The goal is to provide you with an atmosphere that is safe and in harmony with your right to free speech. We appreciate your cooperation in assisting us in our ability to ensure that you have a positive experience."
[2] la.indymedia.org/news/2007/05/198666_comment.php
UPDATE: An audio snippet of Alcalde Villaraigosa speaking - all in Spanish - at the rally is in this MP3 file. Whether he said anything at any time in English is not known. He promotes a path to citizenship, lists several religious and ethnic groups saying they're all Americans, and at the beginning and the end says, "we're here and we're not leaving."
And, from this related article:
...A coalition of civic leaders, legal advocates and newspapers is seeking all internal LAPD records involving the clash between police and protestors during May 1 immigration reform rally.Schey has at least three links to the Mexican government.
The group is requesting copies of videotapes of the incident, policy documents, the names of officers involved, communications on the use of force at the event, and memos between elected city officials.
Peter Schey of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law says the information will help prevent any cover up.
June 24: illegal immigration rally at Hollywood and Vine
According to this, the ANSWER-linked Juan Jose Gutierrez - director of Latino Movement USA - is planning yet another illegal immigration march, this time for June 24 at the famous corner of Hollywood and Vine:
"All of us here today are united in expressing in the clearest voice possible that our community will not be intimidated into inaction... The struggle for democratic rights and democratic immigration reform will continue."
AVWatch: Villaraigosa promoting allegedly Mexico-linked group
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa rushed back from his supposed trade mission to Central America and Mexico to deal with the aftermath of the MacArthur Park mini-riot.
Now, that he's back in our country, he's holding a press conference. While he says he believes in due process, he's implying that it doesn't apply in this case since it's so obvious that the police overreacted. He also didn't say anything about those who were throwing things at police.
He's also suggesting that people call CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles) for more information. That group has allegedly collaborated with the Mexican government.
Related:
Fabian Nunez: LAPD officers set out to do "target practice" on "immigrants"
Los Angeles: Delgadillo, Cooley to work with ICE; Bratton resists (Special Order 40)
From this:Suspected gang members who are in the country illegally and are arrested for even minor crimes could face quicker deportation under new policies unveiled Wednesday by the top two prosecutors in Los Angeles.Not all are happy, including a group that allegedly has collaborated with the Mexican government:
City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said they are partnering more closely with federal immigration officials and attorneys to identify the gang members for deportation, adding that illegal immigrants appear to make up a significant portion of the gang population.
The partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement marks a departure for local law enforcement, which generally keeps federal immigration officials at arm's length and largely prohibits Los Angeles police officers from asking the immigration status of either crime victims or suspects.
"It erodes the public trust in law enforcement," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles. "The lines are blurring."And L.A.'s "leaders":
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton reiterated Wednesday that he opposes any change in the department's immigration policy, known as Special Order 40, which prohibits officers from asking anyone about their immigration status.Delgadillo says he also supports Special Order 40, meaning that he appears to be playing both sides of the street.
That is also the position of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
But two members of the LAPD command staff, who spoke on the condition that they not be identified, said they would like to be able to run immigration checks on suspected gang criminals once they are arrested.
"We cannot go there because of City Hall," one commander said.
It's going to be a Megasummer!
Visiting Southern California? Feel free to print out and refer to the following chart:
This year's midwinter = late Spring (in Maine, but really dry)
Two weeks ago = Spring
Now = Summer
Summer = Megasummer!
Note: temperatures in the right side of each equation are PG (Pre Gore).
Walter Moore for Mayor of Los Angeles?
Somewhat out-of-control Republican Walter Moore is running for Mayor of Los Angeles, and he's looking for $150,000 so he can get into the debates. First example of something not quite being right: he can't even put up a website at the short form of his domain (MooreIsBetter.com); instead, it redirects to the previous MegaLink. Obviously, we can't all have the polished political machines of the current L.A. alcalde, but why can't Moore even get his domain right?
Nevertheless, as pointed out the last time around, if he's allowed into the TV debates he might raise some interesting issues.
AVWatch: Villaraigosa offers bread, circuses, and... free wireless
According to the press release here, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa - a former leader of the racial separatist group MEChA - has announced that the City of Los Angeles will have free, citywide wireless internet by the year 2009. The city has a massive illegal alien population and a somewhat associated very large crime problem, but apparently those problems have already been solved so now it's time to move on to the more important stuff. Of course, in 2010 Tony Villar is expected to run for governor of California, and our corrupt media would be more likely to focus on his signature programs rather than his past and his current failures. Sez the mayor:
"By giving every resident high-speed access, we will transform Los Angeles into a cutting-edge city across every neighborhood and every economic sector... LA WiFi will help us meet the technology needs of our world-class media and creative industries, give a leg up to small businesses, plug every neighborhood directly into the knowledge-based global economy, and make computer training programs for students an after-school reality."
Like those people decades ago who suggested that personal computers could be used to store recipes, the city has already determined what it's going to do with its new toy:
The City of Los Angeles could use the network to enhance the delivery of city services by transmitting data between police patrol cars, instantaneously sending the location of potholes or forwarding on-site building inspection reports to speed up the building process.
Posted at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)
"Declaration of Los Angeles" (city council-approved pro-illegal immigration resolution)
The Anti-Defamation League, their Latino-Jewish Roundtable, and several other groups have convinced the Los Angeles City Council to sign the "Declaration of Los Angeles", a far-left resolution that claims to support human rights for "immigrants", but which is little more than a resolution in support of illegal immigration, couched in the expected doublespeak. Next year they're going to try to get the California legislature to sign on, and the Mexican partisans in that body will probably trip over themselves to comply.
The press release quotes Amanda Susskind, Director of the ADL Pacific Southwest Region:
"At this particularly volatile time in our country's history, we find it of utmost importance to unite against hatred and victimization aimed at many people who migrate to this country. Without negating the need for safe and secure borders, nor aligning ourselves with partisan politics on the issue, the ADL stands strong in the desire to support basic human rights and fair treatment of immigrants."
There certainly is some "hatred and victimization" of all types of immigrants, yet as their history shows the ADL is willing to smear those who simply support our laws of engaging in those practices. And, of course, "migrate" is a bit close to the Mexican government's favorite euphemism for illegal immigration, "migration". And, of course, their "fair treatment" - based on their past statements - is "comprehensive immigration reform".
According to the release, the Declaration also condemns "xenophobic rhetoric... especially about Latino immigration". As above, their definition of "xenophobia" is what others call "opposition to massive illegal immigration". They also oppose "vigilante civilian patrol groups creating the potential for violence and an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness", a truly Orwellian phrase considering the massive lawlessness and political corruption associated with what the ADL supports.
The doublespeak continues:
The Declaration calls upon local, state and federal government officials to: recognize and protect the basic human rights of immigrants, support humane treatment of undocumented persons, publicly denounce xenophobia, monitor and respond to extremists groups that advocate bigotry or racism, hold to the highest standards of human rights and dignity all law enforcement and judicial processes that relate to deportation, detention and immigration status, and recognize the need for a safe and secure United States.
Of course, the government monitoring and responding to groups that abide by the laws is a truly fascistic idea, but no one ever said the other side were nice people. And, the implication that the DHS is not dealing with "undocumented persons" (illegal aliens) humanely is meant to chill attempts at enforcing our immigration laws.
In brief, their position - and the one now taken by the Los Angeles City Council - is only a slightly cleaned-up version of that that one might expect from the Mexican government.
Which brings us to their partners in this enterprise:
* ACLU of Southern California (has at least one indirect link to the Mexican government)
* American Jewish Committee
* American Jewish Congress
* Archdiocese of Los Angeles (led by Cardinal Roger Mahoney)
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center
* Bet Tzedek Legal Services
* Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (alleged collaborateurs with the Mexican government)
* Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
* Gay and Lesbian Center Legal Services Department
* Korean American Coalition
* LA Center for Law and Justice
* League of United Latin American Citizens
* Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (has at least on indirect link to the Mexican government)
* National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles Section
* Progressive Jewish Alliance
* Public Counsel Law Center
* South Asian Network
Posted at 04:05 PM | Comments (3)
"Corruption hits cities in L.A.'s shadows"
From this:A string of gritty suburbs in the shadow of Los Angeles has produced a growing parade of public officials jailed for corruption, and prosecutors say illegal schemes on a scale more commonly associated with big Eastern cities have devoured tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.The rest of the article briefly mentions cities such as Lynwood, Bell Gardens, "Aztlan City" aka Maywood, Huntington Park and Vernon. Not mentioned are: Bell, Cudahy, and Commerce (the last might not be so dirty).
The latest to be led away in handcuffs is the former treasurer of South Gate [Albert Robles], sentenced this past week to 10 years in prison...
Posted at 06:51 AM | Comments (2)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa lied, exaggerated about his past?
Tony Castro of the L.A. Daily News (who seems to have a few skeletons in his closet) offers a long look at Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's psychological makeup and his mythogizing of his past. While it doesn't mention Tony Villar's radical past - including being a leader of the racial separatist group MEChA - it is full of quite-possibly-true nuggets:...In June, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles reported that retired Sherman Oaks teacher Herman Katz had grown "weary" of the yarn Villaraigosa has often told of how Katz dramatically turned his life around while the teenage Villar was struggling at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights - almost making it seem as if Katz had become his surrogate father, paving his course to eventual political stardom.Much, much more at the link.
...In fairness to the mayor, experts say, everyone is subject to what W. Keith Campbell, associate professor of psychology at the University of Georgia and a "narcissism expert," calls "memory distortion."
...For Villaraigosa, the name change was only part of the reinvention. A low-rider image cultivated from the time he led student protests in high school and later at UCLA was discarded, down to having "Born to raise hell" tattoos removed from his arms. He replaced it with a look out of Gentlemen's Quarterly, including a personal tailor and professionally bleached teeth...
..."He walked in and reminded me of Zorro," Pulido recalled. "His hair was slicked back, and he had a little thin mustache, and he reminded me of Tyrone Power in ('The Mark of Zorro') movie."
...In fact, Villaraigosa's organized athletic career was limited to playing on the Cathedral High School team in ninth grade...
Posted at 01:20 PM | Comments (1)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa to veto firefighter $2.7 million settlement
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to veto the $2.7 million settlement that was to go to black firefighter Tennie Pierce, who claimed racial discrimination after other firemen played a prank on him that resulted in him eating two spoonfuls of dog food. Pierce's nickname was "the Big Dog", and he had taken part in several other pranks against others.
The settlement offer was "negotiated" by L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, and subsequently approved by the L.A. City Council. A large part of Tony Villar's decision is no doubt due to the campaign waged by KFI's John & Ken, which caused a great deal of negative publicity. And, millions of dollars in other claims may be still out there. And, of course, Villar probably feels that all that money can be put to a better use, such as subsidizing illegal immigration.
Posted at 04:58 PM | Comments (1)
City Council won't reconsider $2.7 million firefighter settlement despite prank photos
Tennie Pierce is a black Los Angeles firefighter who claimed that he was the victim of a race-related prank in which he was given a plate of spaghetti containing dog food. He ate two bites before he figured out what was going on. The Los Angeles City Council recently voted 11-1 to give him a $2.7 million settlement rather than take it to trial.
Since that time, KFI's John & Ken have waged a campaign to get the council to reconsider their decision, but they recently voted that down six to six. It's not known who was on the side of sanity, but it would be at least Dennis Zine and Bill Rosendahl.
This was after photos surfaced that appear to show Pierce himself taking part in other pranks against other firefighters. In fact, his lawyer says that was figured into the settlement.
Maybe there's a way for L.A. residents to sue the City Council, or perhaps his expert witness, sociologist David Wellman. According to this, he previously opined:
"[Blacks] have a gyroscope that picks up hostile stuff that somebody else would not see as hostile."
Posted at 04:27 PM | Comments (3)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa first former MEChA leader to make big leagues
Duke Helfand of the Los Angeles Times offers a hagiography of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in "Mayor to reap spoils of election victories".
He has a vision "of an eco-friendly metropolis with less traffic, more affordable housing, new trees and perhaps a subway to the sea." And, Aztlan! Except, that's not mentioned.
It acknowledges one of the reasons AV might have avoided endorsing Phil Angelides until late:
Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory on the same ballot means that California's top job will be vacant in four years, clearing a path for Villaraigosa if he elects to go that route.
We're informed that he's a "comer", in the sense of being a "Latino version of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, an African American." And, while no details are provided on what they discussed, it mentions Tony's dinner in Washington DC with Felipe Calderon.
Then, after his various other miraculous activities are described, he says - "with a grin" that he's "very, very close to both [Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid]". Then, it looks like someone is looking for a job:
"He's like one of the star minor league players that you're expecting to be an all-star," said Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant who served as former Vice President Al Gore's press secretary. "Once you make that jump, you have to hit major league pitching, but the expectation is that he will."
Once Tony hits the big leagues - if he ever does - he's going to be outside the sphere of influence of the Los Angeles Times and "reporters" like Duke Helfand. One of the 110MPH sliders Tony's going to get is the fact that he's a former campus radical and former leader of the racial separatist group MEChA. And, while he has somewhat renounced that group, that renunciation is belied by his continual radical statements and actions.
Posted at 11:27 AM | Comments (2)
Griffith Park Observatory re-opening tonight (only for "special people")
Los Angeles' famous Griffith Park Observatory has been closed for renovations for a few years. However, it's re-opening tonight... but only for "special people". This dispatch filed by our Roving Bike News Team:
I drove up Hillhurst behind a very, very slow older tour bus with Wyoming plates. It was apparently too wide for the road, and had to even drive partway on the center median, destroying a large portion of the grass surface. I assumed it was for a band or something, and, after I finally got around it I thought nothing of it.
The RBNT biked up the road and soon saw signs saying "O.C.D.", then began seeing television trucks and the like. TV fans probably know what's coming next! Yes, indeed, it was an outside shoot for the television program "Monk". It would have been possible to perhaps see some shooting or something, but our team deciding to keep peddling since we've never seen the show and didn't really care.
Then, after almost completing our loop and stopping outside the locked gate for the Observatory, who should show up but the tour bus we saw earlier. From the conversation he had with the guard, combined with various messages over the guard's walktie-talkie as well as personal reportage by speaking to the mostly non-English-speaking guard we gleaned that the Observatory is opening tonight. But, he said we couldn't go in, since it was just for "councilmembers", people who've "donated millions of dollars", and in general, just for "special people". The buses were going to be ferrying said "special people" from the parking lot below up to the landmark, and they were making a dry run to familiarize themselves with the route. Of course, there's only one route so we suspected they were just going to do some sightseeing.
Our team also gleaned that the VIPs and other "special people" wouldn't start arriving for 45 minutes. Rather than waiting so long for a possible glimpse of Leonard Nimoy or "Mayor Reconquista" (former MEChA member Antonio Villaraigosa), we decided to peddle down the hill for an enjoyable downhill. I hope that TLB HQ is not upset with this decision.
No, not at all. In fact, we would have done the same thing.
The Observatory re-opens for we the hoi polloi on November 3. Let's hope Mayor Reconquista and the other "special people" get their fill tonight and decide to take a pass on that day's festivities.
Posted at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
More on the NCLR-linked racial separatist charter school (LAUSD)
Judicial Watch has obtained some documents shedding more light on the "Academia Semillas del Pueblo" (a charter school approved and funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District) and their anti-American agenda.
The more damning aspects are in the PDF file, including an interview with KABC's Doug McIntyre. Despite having a clearly anti-American agenda they were approved by the LAUSD.
And, they've also received funding from the National Council of La Raza (aka National Council of The Race).
Posted at 04:20 PM | Comments (1)
Local government agencies not checking immigration status?
Debra J. Saunders reports on the attempts by Carl Olson of State Department Watch to try to get local Los Angeles-area agencies (mostly Westside/Malibu/Ventura) to use ICE's Basic Pilot Program to check whether someone can be legally employed. It might seem simple enough: these are legally-created entities, they should follow the law. Apparently he's come up empty. And, a state bill that he was involved with to require agencies to perform the check only got one vote in committee.
Perhaps it's time to start filing FOIA requests or similar or consider taking this to court.
Those he's contacted include: Ventura County Board of Education, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, City of Port Hueneme, Pleasant Valley School District, City of Malibu, Las Virgenes Unified School District, West Covina Unified School District, Santa Monica Community College District, Los Angeles Community College District, and Ventura County Transportation Commission.
Posted at 10:16 PM | Comments (1)
Mountain Rescue: Griffith Park
Shown above, a Los Angeles Fire Department rescue helicopter awaits an apparent hiking accident victim in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. This is the helipad near the "Five Points" intersection; apparently the accident occured closer to the Observatory (probably on the "Hogsback" section) and involved a broken clavicle (neckbone).
The "Hogsback" starts shortly after the helipad and runs to the fire road that runs around Mt. Hollywood; presumably they chose to transport the victim down the grade to the helicopter rather than hiking up the trail to a vehicle.
Before seeing this, I spent some time driving and then biked in Cheeseboro Canyon and powered up some hills (I was on the Palo Comado or a connecting trail), but I decided to cut that short since it was too hot. I came back to do a Griffith Park loop which, while on the road, is at least shaded in parts.
Posted at 09:30 PM | Comments (3)
Special Order 40 video
There's a video here featuring interviews conducated over the past decade concerning Los Angeles' illegal alien sanctuary law, aka "Special Order 40".
Posted at 05:14 AM | Comments (0)
AVWatch: "The Revolution", starring Darryl Hannah
Earlier today various police forces evicted dozens of farmers from a 14 acre plot of land in South (Central) Los Angeles. Those resisting the eviction included a couple tree sitters, Darryl Hannah, Joan Baez, Danny Glover, Martin Sheen, Laura Dern, Tom Morello, Willie Nelson, Alicia Silverstone, and other washed-up or semi-famous celebrities. (There were around 350 individual plantings, but apparently some farmers had already been moved to other properties).The backstory is provided in "Farmers, Celebrities Evicted From Urban Plot". At first glance, it might seem a bit absurd:
...Personnel using a huge fire ladder this afternoon removed actress Daryl Hannah and protest organizer John Quigley from the tree where they had vowed to remain as long as possible... Television broadcasts showed a large ladder extending from a firetruck reaching into the tree where Hannah, Quigley and two other people were located... Hannah said she was sleeping in her tent when the Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies - who handle evictions in the county - arrived. Quigley alerted her to the raid, and she raced up the tree in about a minute...What the L.A. Times - as can be expected - doesn't cover is the actual ideologies of the leaders of the "resistance". For that, let's turn to "Farmers Kicked Out of Community Farm in South-Central Los Angeles" ( narconews.com/Issue41/article1892.html ). That article contains nugget after nugget offering a clue to what they really believe, so the following are just the more revealing bits:
...Tezozomoc, a spokesperson for the farmers, said the aggression shown today would certainly unleash a strong sense of community discontent against the city government.A summary from the American perspective: due to massive illegal immigration, we've imported many people who seem to be just a tad on the "collectivist" side. Is importing people who support the EZLN really in the best interests of this country? Is helping communists build a proletariat in our best interests? While Darryl Hannah is just a loony and useful idiot "liberal", the real leaders of this movement clearly don't support our laws and the fundamental principles of this country.
...The Other Journalism confirmed that below and to the left, the farmers of South-Central – adherents and members of the Other Campaign on the Other Side – have joined with their Mexican brothers and sisters south of the border.
...Indeed, opposite the high-caliber guns and police batons were guitars, drums and whistles; in front of the high-impact helmets and shields were bandanas and ski masks, Zapatista symbols that are by now imbued with anti-capitalist significance; answering the prominent acronyms of LAPD and SWAT (Los Angeles pioneered the creation of this repressive unit, which is armed to the teeth and is by definition charged with fighting "terrorists") were "Viva EZLN", "Save our Farm" and "The people united, will never be defeated!"
Rufina Juarez, one of the most tenacious defenders of the community’s land, said to the Other Journalism that the aggression they were subjected to will not be forgotten. She also had strong words of criticism for Villaraigosa, who over the course of his corporate ladder-climbing, power-hungry career has used his "origins" and "race" as political bargaining chips.
"Mexicans," she said as tears welled up in her eyes, "have a long tradition of defending our land and we aren't going to forget this aggression..."
For more that the L.A. Times isn't covering, see la.indymedia.org, such as la.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/162192.php:
Living on the Farm, dirty fingernails, eating just-plucked food, daily meetings, outdoor showers, and good conversation would be an easy routine to fall into. But at the South Central Farm, the pastoral life is interrupted by a steady stream of media and celebrities, and conviviality and community is built as much from the tension of impending arrest as it is by common work and values.Peasant values are the only true values, comrade.
Posted at 09:51 PM | Comments (4)
LAUSD: alleged separatist school abiding by charter
Some charter schools are more equal than others, and the LAUSD has determined that an alleged Chicano separatist school is abiding by its charter and is able to continue operation:
"They have followed the charter that they wrote originally," said Kevin Reed, chief legal counsel for the district. "What we care about is that the curriculum is inclusive and not exclusive."
KABC reporter Sandy Wells was allegedly assaulted outside the school as he was trying to interview the principal, then was allegedly tailed after he left the school. The LAPD continues their investigation.
Funders of the school include the Pasadena College chapter of MEChA and the National Council of La Raza ("The Race").
Posted at 03:50 AM | Comments (4)
AVWatch: James Sterngold helps Villaraigosa hide extremist side
That S.F. Chronicle staff writer offers "Immigration rallies force L.A. mayor into political tight spot: Villaraigosa backs away from image as single-issue leader"In a long, late afternoon conversation in his office, Villaraigosa, 53, often pausing to collect his thoughts, said he fears that his conspicuous involvement may make him vulnerable to being branded a one-issue politician, aligned with one community.He doesn't really have to worry, now does he? After all, he's only been a former member of the racial separatist group MEChA for over three decades, and due to the MSM - largely the L.A. Times - covering up for him that hasn't affected him all that much. Even when he was forced to somewhat renounce that group by one guy carrying a sign to his campaign appearances, the L.A. Times didn't cover it. After all, in their world it didn't exist.
But while a supporter of immigrant rights, Villaraigosa has been careful not to align himself with some of the more forceful demands and actions of the rights movement.In 1999, AV had this to say:
"As leader of the state Assembly, I say President Zedillo [of Mexico] had great impact in defeating Proposition 187"This time around, he appears not to have welcomed Vicente Fox to Los Angeles, nor has he joined Fox in starting the Chicano Power handclap on the floor of the California Assembly as he did with Zedillo. He's learning!
Then, James Sterngold turns this into even more of a fawning profile, implicitly tarring the only opponent quoted in the speech as - what else - a nativist and a racist. Taking the cue as he has before, Tony plays the victim card:
One complication, Villaraigosa said, is that his position on immigration reform has been distorted, leaving him vulnerable to charges that he is pandering.If you'd like to suggest that the author does a better job next time, write: jsterngold@sfchronicle.com
He said he has consistently backed firm border control and the need for immigrants to learn English, yet has been characterized merely as "pro-immigrant," suggesting he wants the border left more or less open.
Barbara Coe, chairwoman of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform and a staunch opponent of providing rights to illegal immigrants, said that in her view, and in the view of people like her, Villaraigosa endorsed lawlessness, plain and simple.
"He only represents one ethnicity and not all the citizens of the city," Coe said. "He's pandering. He feels he's going to ride the tide of the illegal aliens in Los Angeles."
The mayor said he is aware of such criticisms, and he makes clear he finds them objectionable. Asked if he fears that opposition to the immigrant rights movement could be shadowed by nativism or racism, he replied:
"I know what you're getting at, and I'll say this: You take the world as it is. I don't spend a lot of time focusing on that."
Posted at 08:34 PM | Comments (1)
"Day without Illegal Alien" not so bad
I drove across Hollywood in record time. An intersection that's usually backed up a block or two was only backed up a half a block...
I'm sure that the great majority of legal residents of Los Angeles would gladly pay an extra 10 cents for lettuce just to enjoy such light traffic on a daily basis. Plus, think of all the money that was saved by cars not having to idle at stops...
As my part in the anti-boycott, I bought a water pump and an O2 sensor (~$130) and paid a couple bills...
When's the next boycott?
UPDATE: How long before L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proposes spending $500,000 to plant trees on Wilshire Boulevard so those foreign citizens can march in the shade?
Posted at 06:48 PM | Comments (15)
AVWatch: patriotism is the last refuge of Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles (Alta California), is swiftly backing away from the coming anti-illegal immigration backlash. As previously noted, he'll be out of town on Monday. And, while he supports the marches he wants students to stay in school. His latest pronouncements are that those foreign citizens who are marching in our streets should carry American flags and that the National Anthem should be sung in Spanish.
Just because those who are even more extreme than he will call him a "vendido" for those remarks, please don't be fooled. While he is for a large part simply an opportunistic empty suit, his actions from the 60s to just a week ago show his true radical nature.
UPDATE: Tony also says he might attend a rally in the afternoon; apparently his big meeting in Dallas will be rather short.
Posted at 10:00 PM | Comments (5)
Gas hits $3.00; Bush approval at 33%
One of the cheaper gas stations in central Hollywood is at $3.05; one of the perennially cheapest gas stations in the general area, the Arco at Riverside and Fletcher, is at $3.01. In far-away Beverly Hills, br'er Drudge is currently featuring a shot of gas at over $4.00.
Meanwhile, and probably somewhat related to that as well as to immigration-related matters, Our Leader's popularity is at 33% according to a Fox poll.
Posted at 10:57 PM | Comments (2)
AVWatch: 500-to-1 against Villaraigosa's support of illegal immigration marches
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, former MEChA leader Antonio Villaraigosa informs us about the response to his recent involvement in the illegal immigration marches:The letters and e-mails have been overwhelmingly negative, maybe 500 to 1, maybe a little more... But I think we're elected to do what's right, not necessarily what's popular.Yes, but 500 to 1? Maybe - could it be true - AV is wrong?
The interview is one tiny little step more tough than interviews that might have been seen in past issues of Pravda, or, closer to home, Robert Hilburn interviewing Bruce Springsteen. Like this:
Q: Illegal immigrants place some burden on city services, whether it's fire or police or sewer or whatever. Is there any way to measure the cost that the city of Los Angeles pays to care for people who are here illegally, and is that a cost worth paying?Needless to say, the LAT doesn't press that point. Civic leaders can't just pass the buck, especially when they make the situation even worse. Shortly after being elected alcalde, AV went to Mexico and implicitly promoted illegal immigration. He also came out against California border patrols.
A: I don't know what the cost of providing services to the undocumented would be, but I do know this: The responsibility for those costs is the federal government's, and for more than a decade I have maintained that the federal government, which receives the Social Security and income taxes generated by these immigrants, should reimburse cities and counties for any expense incurred.
He then avoids the LAT's question about the burden on the LAUSD, and then claims that he supports enforcement of our immigration laws:
A: For many years now, I have said that every country in the world has immigration laws, we have every right to have immigration laws, and, as a nation founded on the principle of the rule of law, it is our responsibility to enforce those laws and to have consequences when our laws are broken.His solution is not to enforce the current laws, but to change them to match the desires of those who support massive legal and illegal immigration by enacting something similar to Kennedy-McCain.
Finally, I've said that while we have every right to enforce our immigration laws, that in a great and good America founded on the backs of immigrants, we must enforce those laws in a humane and constitutional way.
And, we already enforce our immigration laws in a "humane and constitutional" way. (Perhaps he's thinking of how he and Mexican president Zedillo helped block Prop. 187). Those who support illegal immigration - including Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. Times - are automatically supporting worker abuse, corruption, and all the other negatives that illegal immigration automatically includes.
Posted at 04:48 PM | Comments (1)
Los Angeles Times, Joe Hicks on student protests
The Los Angeles Times gives some background on the recent pro-illegal immigration student protests (one of which featured the Mexican flag flying over an upside-down American flag) in "Student Protests Echo the '60s, but With a High-Tech Buzz".You can practically smell the patchouli as the aging hippies at the Times celebrate the youthful activists fighting the power, man. It's all like one big party.
Never mentioned is how many of those involved are actually foreign citizens, nor do they cover the culture of entitlement, nor do they cover the propriety of promoting what is in reality a show of racial solidarity and power.
To fill in some of the gaps, now comes community activist Joe Hicks:
...many Latino immigrant-rights organizers and their sympathizers seem to be saying that there is some inherent right being expressed when people sneak into the country, thumb their noses at the law and make fools out of those who wait patiently in foreign lands for visas to come to the United States.Why couldn't the L.A. Times have said the same thing? Perhaps someone at the LAT should try and find out.
It is quite clear that many of those participating in the demonstrations have adopted the stance of the beleaguered victim, perceiving frustration about illegal immigration as racism. Some comments have been painfully ignorant. One protester said: "I'm here to make sure that Mexicans get their freedom, their rights."
During the student protests, the American flag was only occasionally on display, while the Mexican flag was omnipresent. A student said he was waving the latter in support of La Raza (the race), while another asked why illegal immigrants were "treated like criminals." Perhaps he wasn't aware that crossing the U.S. border without the required visa is now, and always has been, against the law.
The participation of students, some as young as 13 and 14, is especially troubling given that all too many seemed clueless about the issues. Perhaps more puzzling is that some of the student walkouts took place on a day honoring the memory of Cesar Chavez. The great Chicano labor organizer held a march in 1969 from the Coachella and Imperial valleys to the Mexican border. Chavez and the United Farm Workers were protesting the use of illegal immigrants as strikebreakers. Further, Chavez believed that illegal immigration was antithetical to the wage interests of the migrant workers he represented...
Posted at 04:51 AM | Comments (5)
A million dollar Ferrari, Homeland Security, and the San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is a nice place, and much better than the more famous San Fernando Valley. However, it's a bit sleepy and there is no critical infrastructure there that I know of. Which makes this story quite a bit odd:As sheriff's detectives investigate last week's crash that destroyed a $1-million Ferrari, they are now looking into an obscure nonprofit organization that provides disabled people with transit in the San Gabriel Valley.The DUmmies do some investigating and find some interesting things.
The car's owner, a former video game executive from Sweden, told Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at the scene of the Feb. 21 accident in Malibu that he was deputy commissioner of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority's police anti-terrorism unit, detectives said Thursday.
A few minutes after the crash, two unidentified men arrived at the scene, flashing badges and saying they were from "homeland security", according to Sheriff's Department officials.
Deputies allowed the men into the accident scene, where they spoke to Stefan Eriksson before leaving, Sgt. Phil Brooks said.
Posted at 12:15 AM | Comments (1)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa supports illegal immigration, Cardinal Mahoney
"Mayor Reconquista", aka Antonio Villaraigosa, supports Cardinal Roger Mahoney's call to disobey HR 4437 if it passes. Of course, both of them are lying or misinformed regarding the effects of that bill, but I guess the fact that it might affect his power base has clouded his judgement. Kinda like the time he signed up to lead a chapter of the racial separatist group MEChA:Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised Mahony's comments and called the federal plan "incredulous."
"I can tell you that the cardinal, I think, is right is saying that the church should not be in the business of enforcing our immigration laws," Villaraigosa said Wednesday. "That's a federal responsibility.
"The idea that the church would deny services to the homeless, that the Catholic church would deny services to families who are hungry because of their immigration status is absolutely incredulous," he said. "I certainly understand his sentiments."
Villaraigosa said he has not researched what ramifications such a law would have on city workers.
"In our situation, if the federal government required us to do something because the law of the land dictates that ... you got to enforce the law," Villaraigosa said. "But I can tell you that my understanding is that this legislation will not pass in the Senate."
Councilman Dennis Zine, a Catholic, released a statement today saying he supported Mahony's comments.
"I agree with Cardinal Mahoney that the patchwork of legislation of the past is unrealistic in moving forward with meaningful reform of the immigration policies of this country," said Zine, who chairs the National League of Cities' Immigration Task Force. "We need to come up with a program that works."
Posted at 11:46 PM | Comments (5)
Ambassador Hotel artifacts for sale
There appear to be various artifacts from Los Angeles' landmark Ambassador Hotel available from eBay. I don't know which ones of them were legally obtained and which were not, so caveat emptor. Items available include postcards, mugs, and even piano keys.
Posted at 05:23 AM | Comments (2)
Los Angeles City Council opposes Minuteman Project, supports illegal immigration
Lead by Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council has approved a resolution opposing "anti-migrant vigilantes" and supporting "immigration reform", i.e., a massive amnesty:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2005-2006 State and Federal Legislative Program support for any legislation which 1. denounces the vigilante actions of private individuals or groups along the border and entering our urban communities to engage presumably in civilian patrol initiatives to assist the federal government in enforcing the immigration laws; 2. prohibits or otherwise hinders any vigilante type civilian action resulting in spying on others or sharing information with law enforcement officers and fosters the view that each and every person who is present within the city, county, and state, are presumptively here lawfully as citizen, legal resident, or visitor with appropriate documentation; and 3. enacts comprehensive immigration reform that combines a path to permanent status for immigrants here and wider legal channels for those coming in the future with humane and effective enforcement.
What's interesting is that they seem to have lifted language and concepts from an earlier resolution by - guess! - the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
See "Los Angeles City Council approves illegal alien day laborer hiring hall" for more on the council and its members. And, see "Financial Times discovers dangers of massive illegal immigration" for a recent study reporting on the devastating impact of illegal immigration on the city.
Posted at 02:06 PM | Comments (6)
LAUSD: Johnnie Cochran Middle School
On the 24th, the Los Angeles Unified School District unanimously voted to rename Mt. Vernon Middle School (near Crenshaw and Venice) in honor of Johnnie Cochran. He attended that school as a lad:
"This extraordinary, superb lawyer with movie-star celebrity status was an outstanding student at Mt. Vernon Middle School and Los Angeles High School," principal Scott Schmerelson told the Associated Press.
His client list included: Todd Bridges, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Oh, and also Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson.
"It's in bad taste," Denise Brown told Reuters. "Yeah, he was a great defense attorney. But what about your moral obligation to children and society?"
Somewhat related: Oakland's proposal to rename Jefferson Elementary School.
Posted at 02:06 PM | Comments (1)
AVWatch gets competition from other site
Over the past several months I've posted a few entries about L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and I've put "AVWatch" in the title to make it easier to find them (use the search box to the right).
I recently discovered a site dedicated solely to keeping a close eye on the person some call "mayor reconquista": "Antonio Watch". It doesn't seem to have anything on MEChA or Tony Villar's other past unsavory activities and associations, concentrating instead on recent events. Hopefully they'll get around to that and thereby reduce my workload.
Posted at 01:07 PM | Comments (1)
Special Order 40 allows felony arrests
From this:A long-standing order designed to restrict Los Angeles police from enforcing immigration laws does not bar officers from pursuing deported felons who have re-entered the country, Assistant Police Chief George Gascon told the Police Commission on Tuesday.The article then contains quotes from "liberal" activists and mentions that this "clarification" was prompted by Heather MacDonald's articles. What exactly this "clarification" means and what exactly the police are actually doing is a bit unclear; perhaps "Jack Dunphy" will weigh in at NRO.
The interpretation of Special Order 40 - the 27-year-old policy that prohibits officers from arresting people for illegally entering the country and from investigating a person's immigration status - comes as Los Angeles Police Department leaders get ready to finalize a department directive on how officers should interpret the order's restrictions.
"We deal with violent felons who are wanted, regardless of what their immigration status is," Gascon told the new Police Commission. "We have always acted upon information regarding this very specific population."
Posted at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
Should Maywood CA secede? Should they change their name to "Aztlan City"?
Maywood is a small (1.14 square miles), densely packed (28,000 residents), and almost exclusively Hispanic city southeast of Los Angeles. In fact, it's 96.3% Hispanic, with just 739 whites and only 43 blacks.Now:
City Council in this predominantly Hispanic Los Angeles suburb has passed a resolution prohibiting local police from taking on immigration enforcement duties.It doesn't take much effort to see that there might be other reasons for this beyond an attempt to conserve resources. For instance, proudly featured at their site is the release from February 14, 2005 indicating their full support for Gil Cedillo's attempt to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens (PDF file). It includes
Maywood's resolution, passed unanimously 5-0 late Tuesday, also promised to reject any future federal law mandating cooperation between police and immigration officials in the city of 45,000 residents [according to Maywood's website, the 2000 Census says 28,000 -- LW].
"We want to make clear that our police department will not become immigration agents," said mayor Thomas Martin. "We also want to send a message to places like Costa Mesa that police should be focused on gangs and drugs, and not overextending their resources..."
SB 60 was re-introduced by Senator Cedillo to provide hard working and law abiding immigrant drivers across the state with access to a California Driver's License. Currently, immigrant drivers are not allowed the opportunity to obtain a valid California Driver's License.Obviously, that's misleading. Those affected by this would be illegal aliens, not "immigrants". And, those who enter or stay illegally and no doubt work illegally and use illegal documents are not "law abiding". The claim in the second sentence is completely false: legal immigrants can get driver's licenses.
Until such time as Maywood announces they're seceding, they are a part of the United States. If they don't act like it, perhaps it's time for the state or the federal government to step in and take action. It's not like something similar hasn't happened before, and only back in 2003 and involving the nearby South Gate. See "South Gate: Mexico Comes to California" or State controller to audit South Gate after corruption scandal.
On a side note, see if you notice anything strange about their history page. Just as a guess, did they type that in out of an old book?
And, would any "liberals" out there care to speculate exactly how a city so close to South Los Angeles could have so few African-Americans? While there might be other reasons, I know what I suspect.
Posted at 06:25 AM | Comments (3)
Los Angeles City Council approves illegal alien day laborer hiring hall
The municipal entity known as the City of Los Angeles is directly enabling illegal immigration by leasing a section of the parking lot of a new Van Nuys Home Depot from that store. They're paying $1 per year, and a non profit called the Youth Policy Institute will run it. The vote in favor of this was unanimous.
Once again: the City of Los Angeles is directly enabling illegal labor and illegal immigration.
Now, see the entry "Home Depot, Antonio Villaraigosa, Fernando Guerra, and Microsoft" from last June and this entry about City Councilman Ed Reyes.
Home Depot was paying a lobbyist $10,000 per month to lobby the Council concerning their day laborer sites. It appears to have been successful.
Of course, one remedy is for city residents to file suit against the City. Another would be for some intrepid reporter to do a bit of digging on this story and follow the money.
Posted at 07:09 AM | Comments (2)
"Liberalism" caused Los Angeles' massive underground economy
The Milken Institute has released a study called the "Los Angeles Economy Project", which reports that nearly 680,000 workers in the region work in the underground, cash-only economy. And, nearly half of those are in Los Angeles alone.Needless to say, most of those involved are illegal aliens. And, this situation costs the cities, counties, and feds two billion dollars in lost revenues.
"Liberalism" is directly responsible for this situation because of:
1. Onerous regulations forcing many companies to pursue a workaround.
2. Encouraging and allowing massive illegal immigration.
Now, "liberals" are trying to solve these problems they created and, as can be expected, they're only going to make it worse. The LAT offers the editorial "Beneath L.A.'s economy" which suggests loans and "amnesties" as a way to bring those businesses which are "economic outlaws" into the system.
And, they also provide a laundry list of all the downsides that the massive illegal immigration they support has caused. The Los Angeles Times freely admits that llegal immigration leads to companies that aren't in "compliance with tax, wage and safety laws". It leads to "unfair competition", a "burden on public health systems", and "worker mistreatment". They note that "outlaw businesses... offer no compensation to injured employees and often pay below-minimum wage" and they are "unlikely to collect and pay sales taxes."
And, they also try to lie to their readers:
Yes, much of this problem is tied to illegal immigration and economic desperation. Yes, dealing with the status of immigrants requires a federal solution.Obviously, the first sentence is right. However, the second is an outright lie. The City of Los Angeles could do a great deal to reduce illegal immigration, starting by ending its sanctuary practice ("Special Order 40"). Perhaps, in retrospect, Antonio Villaraigosa's trip to Mexico where he practically invited everyone in that country to come visit him was a costly mistake.
And, the LADN offers "L.A.'s underground cash" which interviews Daniel Flaming, one of the study's co-authors:
"There are several factors that create economic desperation: a slow recovery from the 2000 recession, a growing immigrant labor force that in all likelihood includes a growing undocumented labor force. Those workers, in particular, are desperate."Just enforce the immigration laws, and this problem will take care of itself.
And stemming the trend won't be easy, Flaming said. He believes it will require not only penalties for underground employers, but also incentives, such as technical assistance, for employers who compete legally, as well as efforts by both public and private organizations in education, skill development and citizenship programs.
Posted at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
Venus, a UFO, or a spy blimp?
At about 3:30pm today I saw a large, white, stationary object high in the Los Angeles sky. I was next to the Bird Sanctuary in Griffith Park at the time. I'm pretty sure this was too large to be a star or a planet, and anyway Venus is currently to the southwest, but the object was more SSE. I didn't take a bearing, but I'm pretty sure this wasn't to the west.
The object looked like it was at an altitude of at least a mile or two, and it did not move in the five minutes or so that I was observing it. However, after driving away and looking for it about 15 minutes later, I could not find it.
Was this Venus? Or, perhaps friends from across the galaxy coming to pay us a visit? Or, could it be a blimp or large balloon of some kind?
Perhaps it was just a weather balloon. Yeah, that's it.
Posted at 05:14 PM | Comments (0)
The Los Angeles Times scandal
Apparently there's a (new) scandal brewing at the Los Angeles Times involving them allegedly helping to cover-up the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls, real name Christopher Wallace).
There are two parts to this scandal: first, the matter itself. Second, the fact that it's been ignored by the other MSM players. Details appear not in the WaPo or the NYT, but in Rolling Stone Magazine, hardly your source for investigative journalism.
Frankly, I don't really have much interest in the underlying story involving as it does rap "music", but I'll definitely be looking forward with glee to the LAT's reputation being sullied even more than their other coverage has managed to do.
Posted at 03:35 AM | Comments (0)
Tookie at LAPL CEN
Yesterday, several loads of students were bused to the central branch of the Los Angeles Public Library where they were held spellbound as various celebrities read the works of... Tookie Williams. This was part of a worldwide effort against the death penalty, and similar pro-Tookie events were held in other U.S. states.
Celebrities attending the LAPL event included Jamie Foxx and - of course! - Mike Farrell. Whether Martin Sheen and Ed Asner showed up is not known. And:
The Los Angeles rally attracted about 40 people, including clergy, death penalty opponents and the Black Riders, a group of youths in black clothing and camouflage outfits who raised the clenched-fist black power salute and chanted "Let Tookie live!"
Unfortunately, I did not attend this event, but I'd certainly be interested in learning who provided the money for the buses and any charges for the use of the room at the library. Perhaps some little birdie will come forward with that information. It'd be a shame if public money is used to support clemency for someone whose previous actions have caused so much long-term damage to the city.
Posted at 12:16 AM | Comments (1)
Eric Garcetti now President of Los Angeles City Council
Da, koneshno, comrades! Eric Garcetti now president soyuza Los Angeles-a!
Byvshe: Eric Garcetti has blog.
Posted at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
Bob Sheer disfavored, sent to Novosibirsk
The Los Angeles Times has dropped Bob Sheer, and three guesses to who's picked him up...
No, not the LA Weekly...
No, it's not People's Weekly World either...
Yes, that's right, HuffPost.
In related news, the numbers of political cartoonists at papers appears to be about equal to the number of pantomime ponies at banks as they've also fired cartoonist Michael Ramirez. This is apparently the Times' idea of balance:
In a major shake-up of its editorial pages, the Los Angeles Times announced Thursday that it was discontinuing one of its most liberal columnists as well as its conservative editorial cartoonist.
UPDATE: The icon weighs in for the first time at his new digs:
The publisher, Jeff Johnson, who has offered not a word of explanation to me, has privately told people that he hated every word that I wrote. I assume that mostly refers to my exposing the lies used by President Bush to justify the invasion of Iraq... Fortunately sixty percent of Americans now get the point, but only after tens of thousand of Americans and Iraqis have been killed and maimed as the carnage spirals out of control. My only regret is that my pen was not sharper and my words tougher.
In the comments, someone says:
I just cancelled my subscription, and it felt great. To do likewise, call 1-800-LA TIMES.
I agree. All thinking persons should immediately cancel their subscriptions.
Posted at 11:16 AM | Comments (1)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa rides on Ameriquest jet, pays 10% of cost
"Mayor Reconquista", aka Antonio Villaraigosa, was recently given short notice that he could appear at Rosa Parks' funeral. Now, if he were an average citizen, about the only thing he could do is try to get a last-minute flight from LAX or BUR. Needless to say, the former MEChA member is not an ordinary citizen:Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is under fire from some ethics watchdogs for using a private jet owned by a company that has a lobbyist assigned to City Hall.AV is paying them back out of a "political account" and not city money. But, he's only paying them $438 each for him and an aide. In the article, the owner of a private jet company says he would have charged $3900 per person for the same flight.
Villaraigosa used the plane owned by Orange-based Ameriquest last week to fly to Detroit with an aide, his two-member security detail and another person after he received a last-minute invitation to speak at the funeral of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.
Villaraigosa was paid $20,000 for doing consulting work for Ameriquest in 2001 and 2002, and the company has contributed nearly $200,000 to his two mayoral campaigns, his inaugural gala and a political committee he controlled while he was speaker of the Assembly.
"It's very troubling. It doesn't set a good standard for the new administration," said Robert Stern, president of the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. "It's one of those perks the mayor should do without."
Previously: he got involved in the L.A. Zoo's elephant controversy and, by the way, the Los Angeles Times is still covering up Villaraigosa's past.
Posted at 05:49 AM | Comments (2)
"LA County needs to spend $50 billion on upgrades, engineers say"
One of the subtitles to this story should be: "Los Angeles County experiencing wonders of massive illegal immigration, almost all of it from the Third World."This is also one of the causes:
Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills... said that under former Govs. Edmund G. Brown and Ronald Reagan, infrastructure projects comprised 15 percent of the state budget. Today, he said, it represents less than 3 percent.However, we just can't continue to live in a fantasy world controlled by the far-left and socialists, some of whom have questionable loyalties to this country. Here's one example, and here's another.
From the article:
With crumbling streets, gridlocked traffic and mounds of trash, Los Angeles County's deteriorating infrastructure needs $50 billion in upgrades over the next five years to meet growing demands, a statewide engineers group said Thursday.
Of nearly a dozen infrastructure systems studied, the county's streets, highways and urban-runoff systems received the lowest grades - D's - while its solid-waste system got a B-plus. Flood control, wastewater and port systems got B's.
Giving the county an average grade of C-plus, the American Society of Civil Engineers warned that significant problems are on the horizon for the infrastructure unless there are changes in attitude and funding.
"If the county doesn't begin to make repairs now, if there is a failure, it could cost five times what we are talking about," said Harvey Gobas, chairman of the Los Angeles County Infrastructure Committee and past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Los Angeles.
The report card, released at the group's annual meeting at the University of Southern California, comes as population growth increases pressure on county facilities, despite millions of dollars in recent improvements.
Gobas said traffic and landfills are among the most pressing problems.
Posted at 03:03 AM | Comments (1)
Supes: no pr0n in L.A. County libraries
The Los Angeles County Supervisors are trying to block pr0n being viewed on computers in County libraries. But, don't despair, as the LAPL is still progressive and has a pro-pr0n policy in effect. Get your pr0n there.Posted at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
Dick Morris to sign book Friday Oct. 14 in the OC, Westside
Former presidential advisor Dick Morris has sent me an email, and I thought I'd share it with you.As you may know, my wife Eileen and I have just written a new book entitled Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race. It argues that Hillary Clinton is the inevitable Democratic nominee and that Condoleezza Rice would not only be a great president, but the person most likely to beat Hillary.I'll alert my readers.
I am going to be in Los Angeles, California on Friday October 14th.
I will be signing books at Costco in Orange County at 12:00pm and Barnes & Noble on 1201 3rd Street in Santa Monica at 7:30pm.Yes, well, what with the high price of gas and all, and the Westside being on the other side of town, well, sir, it's like this...
I would love to meet you there and to personalize my signature to you or anyone to whom you would like to make a gift.
I look forward to possibly meeting you.
Yours,
Dick Morris
Posted at 02:36 AM | Comments (2)
Los Angeles Times to get less "liberal"
According the Nikke Finke of the LA Weakly, the Los Angeles Times' phone solicitors are reading the following from a script when they call:
I want you to know that we're bringing in a lot more conservative voices and conservative columnists.
This "frankly shocked" Finke, as one might imagine.
This guy confirmed this when calling in to the LAT's subscription line and posing as a suck... potential subscriber.
Perhaps after this move the LAT could comb through their past issues and print an issue listing all of their previous lies, misleading statements, and things that they've ignored over the years. Of course, that might defoliate the Amazon, so perhaps they could put that online.
Posted at 05:56 PM | Comments (1)
"English bypassed in L.A."
The L.A. Daily News offers several anecdotes of immigrants to Los Angeles not bothering to learn English: "English bypassed in L.A.". Koreans learn Spanish, Hispanics learn Korean, and all don't need to learn English:
"To an outside person, it looks like something nice. There's an ethnic exchange going on. But the reality is that it's an exchange of necessity [because of commerce]," said Vy Nguyen, a lead organizer for the Korean Immigrant Worker's Advocate...
Well, to some outside persons, such as "liberals", it might be nice. But, to those who think about this it's just another byproduct of Gramscism, otherwise known as multiculturalism.
"In California, Spanish is more important than English," said [Korea Times columnist Martin Paik], a Seoul native. "I haven't found any inconvenience because I don't speak English. ... I don't need to speak English. If you can speak Spanish, you can drive, employers can have clients, you can order in restaurants, you can do anything."
And:
Paik admits he often gets funny looks from Spanish speakers who at first glance are surprised by his fluency. But once the tongue starts wagging, Latinos - especially immigrants - quickly let down their guard. They are accustomed to seeing Asians in their homelands. Mexico City boasts a robust Chinatown and Argentina is home to thousands of South Korean immigrants.
How high-minded of them.
["Yoon Seong, a 60-year-old Korean - by way of Spain" says:] "For me being here, the Hispanic community is the only world for me. I don't need English here. All that you need in California is Spanish."
Obviously, without knowing English they aren't prepared to be Americans. Their news will always be filtered through one ethnic lens or another, and they won't be exposed to as wide a spectrum of viewpoints. Somehow I think that that's one of the side-effects that the multiculturalists want. While those who only look at economic matters might rejoice in their economic benefit, from a civil standpoint this is not a good development.
Posted at 07:47 PM | Comments (2)
SaveTheSeal only has three days left, please sign petition
SaveTheSeal is trying to turn back the damage the ACLU did to the Los Angeles County seal. Please visit their site to find out where you can sign their petition. Signatures are needed immediately since the have to be turned in on Friday.
Posted at 02:26 PM | Comments (0)
A smear from Eugene Tong and Patricia Farrell Aidem of L.A. Daily News
Recently a Canyon Country (L.A.) paramedic was killed by an illegal alien driver. According to the CHP:[The driver] is an illegal immigrant who has been arrested a dozen times and was deported once to Mexico. He has been convicted of four felonies, drug charges, thefts and a count of willful cruelty to a child, for which he served five days in jail...The Sep. 13 L.A. Daily News article "Governor meets widow, sons of dead paramedic" from Eugene Tong and Patricia Farrell Aidem discusses a visit from Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's not available on the web, but a very large (over 2 Meg) picture is here. The article includes the following:
The [accident] has become a focal point for groups battling to deport illegal immigrants and, in particular, to deny them driver's licenses. While the state Legislature approved licensing immigrants, the governor has vowed to use his veto power.Hey! I can do that too!
Conservative web sites, as well as white-power sites, are rocking with posts about the case.
Nancy Pelosi, as well as the CPUSA, support illegal immigration.Let's try another one:
Joe Lieberman, as well as the Berkeley Socialist Solidarity with North Korea Friendship October 10th Committee for World Peace and Liberty, both advise not nuking North Korea.Think I can get a job at the Daily News?
Posted at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
Los Angeles City-mandated illegal alien day laborer centers?
There's a proposed L.A. City ordinance that would require big box home improvement stores to have an attached center for day laborers. As previously discussed, the great majority of those workers are illegal aliens.There's a bit of an update in "Making a place for workers", but it doesn't have much more beyond "...and our day laborer sites won't encourage illegal immigration" and Home Depot, Antonio Villaraigosa, Fernando Guerra, and Microsoft.
Read the last two links, and let me know if you think there's something a bit... questionable going on.
The current article includes this more-honest-than-I'd-expect admission:
"It's an incredible issue for urban California," said Fernando Guerra, a lobbyist for Home Depot and professor who heads Loyola Marymount University's Center for the Study of Los Angeles.And, this:
Guerra, who said he was speaking for himself and not Home Depot...
Home Depot officials said they have yet to review the recently proposed city ordinance.
"Day laborers are not a Home Depot issue alone," said Kathryn Gallagher, a spokeswoman for Home Depot. "It's a community issue. It needs to be a community effort. We are happy to sit down at the table and be part of the solution."
Posted at 08:07 AM | Comments (0)
Los Angeles Dog Trainer-Enquirer-Times fires Michael Kinsley
The L.A. Times has forced out recently-demoted editorial page editor Michael Kinsley. He's issued the following voluntary confession:
"...For whatever reason... [publisher Jeff Johnson] isn't merely uninterested in any future contribution I might make, but actively wants me gone. So I'm off, with some regret and some excitement, to the Washington Post, duties TBD but including the column. I hope it will continue to appear in the LA Times as well, but that is beyond my control... I'm sorry this has ended on a bitter note. I've loved my brief time at the Los Angeles Times. I've learned a lot, and made (I hope) some friends for life. Even the frustrations have been fascinating frustrations. And I think I've done some good for the paper, though others may not agree. The LA Times has some of the nicest people and finest journalists I've ever worked with, starting at the top with Dean (Baquet). And even Jeff will have to give me credit for bringing in [Kinsley's replacement Andres Martinez]. I expect great things from him, and from you..."
Posted at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
"L.A.'s schools bleed red ink"
Gosh, what could be causing the Los Angeles Unified School District to be in such a financial bind? This current story appears to have many culprits, including the beloved teachers' union. But, there's only so much money to go around, and any money spent on educating a citizen of another country is money that could be spent on our own citizens and on health benefits for teachers and such.Meanwhile:
Acknowledging that their effort will probably lead nowhere, Los Angeles Unified school board members will try again today to figure out how to pay for billions of dollars in retirement health benefits and workers' compensation costs - a burden that weighs heavily on the district's future.
...unfunded debts: $6 billion to provide health insurance to retirees and their families, as well as half the district's $685 million in workers' compensation liability...
... In 2002, the LAUSD spent a record $148.5 million on workers' compensation claims, and the projected cost to pay all outstanding claims is about $627 million by June 2006.
The district pays the bulk of its workers' compensation and retiree benefits out of its $5.8 billion general fund - the same fund used to pay for teachers' salaries, textbooks and school supplies...
...United Teachers Los Angeles officials said their members will not compromise on health benefits...
"The best possibility might be (for) the federal government or the state to intercede or to give the district a long-term payment plan to make it as painless as possible," said Sam Kresner, executive assistant to the UTLA president...
Posted at 10:31 AM | Comments (1)
Massive Los Angeles power outage; your blogger OK; morbid sight seen
Earlier today a massive power outage knocked out power to about half of the city of Los Angeles, as well as parts of the County, the Dog Trainer informs us.
I know, I was there! Since I couldn't either blog or surf for midget pr0n, I decided to go for a slow jog in Griffith Park. Yesterday I did top-of-Lake to Echo Mountain in about 1:45, but I decided I could stand another workout. As I was lumbering down Crystal Springs Road, at the junction near the Ranger Station I saw something that I really didn't want to see.
Did you know that the L.A. County coroner has very large trucks, about this size? I'd say it's good to know that someone is prepared, except it's not good to know. It didn't appear to be in a rush, so I guess he was just cruising.
The slow jog soon turned into a hike as I went up a trail and came back along Crystal Springs to the station, thence back to the Zoo parking lot.
While I had a nice jog/hike, it's not too good to know that our power system is so fragile.
Say, did you know that the IBEW will begin renegotiations with the City Council concerning a contentious pay raise tomorrow? And, back in the 80s apparently there was some sort of suspicious short out around the time of some other contentious issue? (source: caller "Charlie" to KFI). See "DWP's Power Surge" for the details on the pay raise.
UPDATE: It should be mentioned that, AFAIK, there was no looting. Nor did Angelenos resort to cannibalism. But, I'm still searching.
UPDATE 2: Pasadena Pundit weighs in (no permalink):
...the blackout occurred exactly one week after a Field Opinion Poll was released on Sept. 5 showing that public opinion was divided on Proposition 80, which would re-monopolize electricity in California... Prop 80 is dubbed the "Anti-Blackout" proposition by its supporters, which include the So Cal Edison Company, the Democratic Party, municipal utilities, and government employee unions. Oddly, the only areas in the state that have thus far experienced major blackouts involve Los Angeles DWP and Edison customers...
Hmmmm....
Posted at 05:14 PM | Comments (0)
Three advertising aircraft crashes in three weeks. Odd?
In the past three weeks, two airplanes and a helicopter have crashed in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area. All three aircraft were towing advertising banners. The latest crash was today:...Long Beach Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Reeb says the ad banner apparently became snarled when the Bell Jet Ranger helicopter crashed.If that isn't odd enough, all three aircraft were (according to KFI) owned by the same company.
The pilot, who was alone in the helicopter, was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Reeb says he is expected to survive.
Last month a pilot who was towing a banner walked away from a crash-landing when the high-wing Piper P-A-18 came to rest upside down near Rancho Palos Verdes.
The next day an ad banner came off a plane in Long Beach and landed on power lines, causing a power outage.
At this point in time I'm going to assume that something else is going on. The only question is why the FAA or some similar agency has not stepped in and started an investigation to find out exactly what that is.
Posted at 09:37 PM | Comments (0)
"Day Laborers, Cities Seek a Way That Will Work"
The L.A. Times reports in "Day Laborers, Cities Seek a Way That Will Work":...Cities throughout California and around the nation are struggling to cope with the sheer numbers of day laborers, or jornaleros. Critics say the sites not only encourage people to come to the U.S. illegally, but also create traffic jams and are eyesores. Supporters say the workers are simply trying to make an honest living and are crucial to local economies...
...Cities have made bold moves, then sometimes suspended or reversed them. Redondo Beach barred day laborers from seeking work on its streets; a judge then blocked the move. Costa Mesa opened a center to match workers with employers, then decided to close it. Burbank required Home Depot to build its own hiring hall, then put the opening on hold...
"Local government doesn't exist to drive that kind of policy," said Glendale Police Capt. Mark Distaso. "This is something that needs to be dealt with on a federal level."
...Day laborers began gathering in California in the 1960s after the end of the bracero guest-worker program, said UCLA professor Abel Valenzuela, who has conducted numerous studies on workers. Their numbers have multiplied in recent years, with the expansion of part-time work and the influx of immigrants. He estimated that there are as many as 35,000 people seeking work at hundreds of sites in California.
The majority of day laborers are undocumented immigrants from Mexico or Central America...
..."We are not the solution, nor are we the problem," said [Home Depot] real estate director Jeff Nichols.
The company has posted signs to discourage workers at some stores — and provided supplies to help cities build hiring halls near others...
...The laborers, meanwhile, are fighting back — holding rallies, marches and national organizing conferences to push for centers and against restrictive ordinances. They also are seeking to improve working conditions, advocating for higher wages and filing claims aga