Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Friday 6.28.13

Government and politics

Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti, back from Belize, will attend his final City Council meeting today as a member of the body. He also will be officially take the oath as mayor, ahead of Sunday's ceremonial event.

Jimmy Kimmel will emcee Garcetti's Sunday party at the City Hall steps. Performers will include Moby, Ariana Delawari and Melanie Fiona. LAT

Villaraigosa leaves L.A. mayor's office with a solid legacy, says Michael Finnegan in a Column One piece. LAT
Also: Leaves his mark on schools. LAT

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's marathon farewell bus tour of LA includes a final crime stats presser with Chief Charlie Beck at 9:30 a.m. and a 2:30 p.m. stop at Pink's Hot Dogs.

Two months ago, Villaraigosa had a staff of 179. As of last Friday, it was down to 37. "From the looks of things, it does not appear that many Villaraigosa staffers will stay on with incoming Mayor Eric Garcetti." LA Weekly

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 race for president. ""I don't know why she wouldn't run." Salon

About 90 members of Congress collect a government pension on top of their $174,000 salary, including Californians Feinstein, Boxer, Garamendi and McClintock. Story runs with a video interview of reporter Shane Goldmacher. National Journal

The Proposition 8 experience raises a question: can and will state lawyers refuse to defend other voter initiatives they don't like? LAT

City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana accused of "shaky math and polarizing ideology." Frying Pan News

Connie Rice on "Christopher Dorner's web of lies about the LAPD." LAT Op-ed


Media and books

FAQ: What You Need to Know About the NSA’s Surveillance Programs. ProPublica

Jay Rosen explains "a few principles for how I operate as a critic" of the news media. Press Think

Steve Lopez puts out the word: he's available as a voiceover artist. LAT

goodyear-blimp-kcrw.jpgKCRW's Saul Gonzalez rides the Goodyear blimp over LA and learns about how they float through the sky. With pictures. WWLA

The mother and sister of the late Jenni Rivera are doing interviews timed to the release of Rivera’s posthumous autobiography, "Unbreakable: My Story, My Way."

California History, the journal of the California Historical Society, is now published by UC Press. The new editor is Josh Sides. Announcement

Suggested best Twitter practices for journalists, from Twitter.

Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2013.

KPCC chief Bill Davis on Facebook:

I feel the need to say this while he's still alive: Nelson Mandela is *the* greatest political leader who has lived during my lifetime. I put his impact and achievements above those of Gorbachev, Thatcher, Nehru, Reagan, Mao, Ben-Gurion, King, Eisenhower, Mother Teresa, or any other world leader you'd care to mention--even Churchill. Mandela's championing a liberal (in the classic sense of the term), inclusive, multi-ethnic democracy--and the integrity with which he helped to create such a democracy in RSA--is unmatched in the past half century. Mandela was the first to admit that his efforts were not perfect, and that RSA is still struggling to fulfill his aspirations. That said, Mandela is the only world leader I can think of who embodied Ghandi's commitment to non-violent self-rule and was also incredibly effective at the task of governing.


I do not know if I'll ever witness another leader who matches Mandela in my lifetime. I hope I speak for many in thanking him for providing a life-long source of inspiration and hope.


More news, notes and observations

United Airlines explains: Flight to London did not run out of toilet paper. Forbes

At LAX, Singapore Airlines can board an A380 with about 470 passengers in 40 to 45 minutes. Which is apparently good. Forbes

USC musicians will take their licks on Route 66. USC

The Natural History Museum of LA may be set to downsize some educational programs. LA Weekly

Fireworks events for the LA area, starting this weekend. DN

The upcoming season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre includes Roger Guenveur Smith’s “Rodney King.” Via Center Theatre Group

The Lakers put up billboards urging Dwight Howard to stay with the team. DN

UCLA celebrated the Bruins' first national championship in baseball. UCLA Newsroom

The Dodgers won their sixth straight game and Yasiel Puig came through again. He's now hitting .427 with seven home runs.


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