Monday notes

Edited since first posted

LAist has found a sure-fire way to get more City Hall readership, at least for the day. The blog has posted a Q-and-A with Rick Orlov, the senior Daily News' reporter in City Hall. This week's LAist Interview was posted by Ericka Lozano instead of usual interloctur Jessica Ritz. A couple of excerpts:

6. Who are your favorite fellow political writers, local or otherwise?

That's a long list of folks I have worked with and admired, from Bill Boyarsky and Dick Bergholz at the LA Times, and John Marelius at the San Diego Union-Tribune (and formerly of the Daily News). David Broder and Dan Balz at the Washington Post set the highest standards.

[skip]

12. What's the best place to walk in LA?

Around City Hall. It really looks like a government building is supposed to look, either on the Third Floor rotunda or the 27th floor tower room, where you get a great view. I also like walking around Hollywood. And from the parking lot of any golf course to the first tee.

Orlov's Tipoff column in today's Daily News mentions that aides to Bob Hertzberg held briefings with City Hall reporters last week explaining the candidate's past contract with Fleishman-Hillard. Orlov reported that the preemptive strike was spurred by opposition research Hertzberg had done on himself. Also, Mayor Jim Hahn ventures out to the Valley tonight to attend a meeting of Valley VOTE, the group that got secession on the ballot in 2002.

Also noted:

• The L.A. Business Journal leads the paper with a long triple-byline, year-ending review of the pay-to-play and other controversies around Mayor Jim Hahn. The story observes that Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards, airport commissioner Ted Stein, harbor chief Larry Keller and Fleishman-Hillard executive Doug Dowie all left their posts and that Hahn is in a tough reelection battle. "No matter how the various investigations, political manueverings and campaigns play out, 2004 will be remembered as the year that shook the foundations of L.A.'s political establishment," the paper says.

• Rose & Kindel is close to being acquired by one of the big international PR giants, the Business Journal says—but the paper doesn't know which one. The major lobbying firm was started in 1987 by Maureen Kindel, who had been a deputy to Mayor Tom Bradley, and Cristina Rose.

• The Times reported Sunday that Rep. Maxine Waters' son, daughter and husband have made more than $1 million in the last eight years "doing business with companies, candidates and causes that the influential congresswoman has helped."

• Fleishman-Hillard asked that the city's lawsuit against the PR firm be transferred to Ventura County, saying potential jurors in L.A. have been tainted.

• The L.A. League of Conservation Voters debate between the top five candidates for mayor is Tuesday night at LACMA. It's being aired live by, I think, KPCC and KPFK and taped to air later on Channels 7, 28 & 36.

• In a televised showdown, advice columnist and L.A. blogger Amy Alkon took on Frank Pastore, the former major league pitcher whose post-election op-ed piece in the Times postulated that America is about "ethnic and religious unity."

• Michael Kinsley's Sunday op-ed column in the Times applauded bloggers for their "seriousness and sophistication."

• In the Jewish Journal, editor Rob Eshman demands Cardinal Roger Mahony denounce Catholic League head William Donohue for his MSNBC remarks calling secular Jews the source of evil in Hollywood. Also, Rabbi David Wolpe calls the book by Kabbalah Learning Center leader Michael Berg "spiritual snake oil."