Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Wednesday 5.8.13

Politics and Campaign 2013

Wendy Greuel's campaign has suspended TV advertising due to a lack of money, according to the Times' Michael Finnegan. But the independent ads paid for by the PAC dominated by the DWP workers union continue on the air, featuring Bill Clinton. "In effect, Greuel’s cash shortfall has forced her to leave the most significant aspect of her communication with voters -- TV advertising -- to the DWP union’s campaign operation just as Garcetti is making the union’s support for her candidacy his main argument against her." LAT

The DWP finally released pay data requested by the Times and it shows average employee pay rose 15% over the last five years, compared to 9% for other city workers, even as the economic slump hit the city's budget. The data "set off a frenzy of finger-pointing" by mayoral candidates Greuel and Garcetti. The latter is running TV spots calling Greuel "the DWP mayor." LAT

In the KCRW-Zocalo debate Tuesday at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Greuel and Garcetti talked education and agreed that LAUSD teacher evaluations using the so-called value added methods should be made public. LAT, DN, KCRW

Greuel did a media stunt with Steve Lopez of the Times, stopping in for the columnist and his camera at the South LA barbershop, Tolliver's, where he sets a lot of his columns. LAT

Alex Cohen and A Martinez at KPCC's "Take Two" posted short personal-style interviews with Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti.

The City Council blinked and came up with $1.6 million so that LAFD chief Brian Cummings will undo his redeployment of 22 firefighters a day to put more ambulances on the street. The firefighter union bitterly opposed the plan. LAT, DN, KPCC

karen-jim-reynolds-grab.jpgA panel of retired judges divided the Chris Dorner reward fund among four people, with most of the $1 million directed to the couple in whose Big Bear condo the killer hid out near the manhunt command post. LAT, DN, LA Weekly

What the city might get from Mayor Villaraigosa's last overseas trip. DN

Ontario and the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will join Inglewood and Culver City in a legal battle over an environmental plan for LAX approved by the Los Angeles City Council last week. DN

Hillary Clinton for president supporters say they will gather outside the Beverly Wilshire at 6 p.m. when she is inside the hotel accepting the Warren Christopher Public Service Award from the Pacific Council on International Policy.


Media and books

Six Hollywood names are reportedly up for ambassadorships in the Obama Administration. The Hollywood Reporter

Willie Brown's San Francisco Chronicle column and its potential conflicts of interest analyzed. Columbia Journalism Review

Disney withdrew 10 applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the term “Dia de los Muertos.” LAT, LA Weekly

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to pass an urgency ordinance to require the use of condoms in adult film shoots. DN

Fox 11 union workers unhappy over the lack of a contract plan to rally the same day the station unveils a newly designed news set.

More news, notes and observations

elevated-train-ad.jpgYes, you saw correctly. Commercials for the University of Phoenix airing on LA television show an elevated Metro train crossing over Flower Street in Downtown. Franklin Avenue

Starting on June 1, Amtrak will require reservations and a $5 fee for bikes on the Pacific Surfliner trains connecting San Luis Obispo to San Diego by way of Los Angeles. "The policy is so onerous for bicycle commuters, one has to assume it’s intentional," says Damien Newton at Streetsblog LA


More by Kevin Roderick:
'In on merit' at USC
Read the memo: LA Times hires again
Read the memo: LA Times losing big on search traffic
Google taking over LA's deadest shopping mall
Gustavo Arellano, many others join LA Times staff
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Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14