Council drama ends before it begins

Nothing ruins a good fight like giving in. Wendy Greuel said late Friday that she won't try to topple 30-year-old Alex Padilla from his lofty perch as president of the City Council. She did it by quietly dropping a release on reporters at 6 p.m. and, according to the Daily News, taking no questions. The Times story points out that it had become clear Greuel lacked the votes to win. Padilla may be safe now, or is he? Two years ago, he backed Hahn for mayor over Villaraigosa. Well, as of July 1, the council gains a new big fish---Villaraigosa, the former Speaker of the state Assembly and renowned player of hardball politics. And Antonio has a good memory.