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The day after the weekend of the Gran Marcha, blogs try to figure out what it means....plus, the funeral for Marco Firebaugh, a smattering of closures (but mostly not) for Cesar Chavez Day, that all-Latino showdown out in the Valley, another Pellicano mystery and much more...and of course the day's front pages and most informative L.A. links...turn the page.
♦ Parsing the Gran Marcha: Blog discussion on the political effect of 500,000 marchers in the streets of downtown L.A. at Marc Cooper, New West Notes, Kausfiles, LA Voice, American Digest and others.
♦ Paying respects: Expect a turnout of political leadership at the 9 am funeral mass for former assemblyman Marco Firebaugh at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
♦ Lukewarm statement: Los Angeles city offices and libraries, those in selected other cities, and some colleges will be closed for Cesar Chavez Day. Public schools and other services remain open, the Daily News says.
♦ 20th senate district: The Daily News takes stock of the Alex Padilla-Cindy Montanez showdown in the East Valley. Says Allan Hoffenblum, the Republican consultant and editor of The Target Book:
It will be a very heated battle. They're both young, both ambitious, and are anything but wallflowers. Both have combative personalities. It will be very interesting to watch.
♦ Pellicano mystery: Why was Times reporter Anita Busch threatened to back off a story about Steven Seagal? The paper reports today that Seagal is no longer suspected of hiring muscle in the case.
♦ Monday columns: Rick Orlov reports on Mayor Villaraigosa returning a $1,000 donation from lobbyist Arnie Berghoff. Steve Hymon updates the Times' goldfish stunt and busts in on a private dinner for city officials hosted by lobbying Joe Cerrell in Washington.
♦ Gumshoes: The sheriff's department is bringing in more retired homicide investigators as private contractors to sift through cold case files looking for new clues, the Daily Journal says.
♦ Not as wild: Extravagant mansion parties in L.A. used to mean something, James Verini writes in his LAT nightlife column Small Hours, but not anymore.
What made these places and parties good, aside from dented bumpers and nude lawn sprints, was their organic quality. These were Bacchanalia presided over by self-invented Bacchuses, in stately pleasure domes of their own decree; tableaux, if you will, of the city itself. Egos abounded, but no one was trying to sell anything, except perhaps some Bolivian marching powder in the bathroom. Lately, however, Hollywood power has grown more corporate, more cautious. The mansion-party-throwing class has fallen prey to the Fifth Estate, viz. the publicists.
♦ Embedded with the Trojans: USC's football coach has found a sure way to co-opt the media: put a Daily Trojan reporter on the team. Via Dawizofodds
♦ Looking to buy: Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. are at an information disadvantage in bidding that starts today for the McClatchy newspapers. NYT
♦ Downtown's coming parking crisis: The Downtown News takes inventory of what comes after all the surface lots are built on.