Morning Buzz: Wednesday 2.3.10

Mayor's job czar supports Meg Whitman for governor, Gavin Newsom could ruin Janice Hahn's day and the "litmus-test politics" behind GOP opposition to Steve Cooley — plus much more.

Austin Beutner, the mayor's new jobs czar, has contributed $5,000 to Meg Whitman's campaign for governor according to the Sacramento Bee's contributions database.
Nice yarn in the LAT's Column One slot about an older couple and a mystery. LAT
A new poll puts San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as the instant front-runner in a three-way Democratic match-up for lieutenant governor. SF Chronicle
"Self-destructive, litmus-test politics is a trend that began here in California, and its consequences have helped make the state increasingly ungovernable," Tim Rutten says in columnizing about Republicans opposed to Steve Cooley running for AG. LAT
County supervisors approved the donation of hundreds of surplus bulletproof vests, helmets, batons and other Sheriff's supplies to Mexican police agencies. LAT
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas called for an audit of the MTA's outside legal bills. DN
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky explains why he'll vote for the Expo Line extension to Santa Monica.
The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank estimates, based on sampling and interviews, that 983,400 Los Angeles County residents received food assistance from pantries, soup kitchens and shelters served by the Foodbank in 2009. Report
David Tillman resigned as president and CEO of the Motion Picture Television Fund, which has been roiled by the decision to close the hospital and long-term care facility in Woodland Hills. The Wrap
Steve Lopez's friend Nathaniel Ayers has cut his first CD. LAT
City officials are in talks to double the number of L.A. intersections with right-turn-on-red cameras, in order to raise more revenue apparently. LAT
Magazine circulation is still declining, but not as much as last year. Ad Age
Erroll Southers, who withdrew his nomination to head T.S.A, will be on Patt Morrison's show on KPCC this afternoon.