Don Shirley: Pianists make history
Iris Schneider on Annie Leibovitz
The consultants for Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti talk to Warren Olney about what went right and what went wrong in the just-concluded race for mayor of Los Angeles — and John Shallman repeats his complaint that the LA Times coverage didn't help.
Archive: Campaign 2013
The consultants for Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti talk to Warren Olney about what went right and what went wrong in the just-concluded race for mayor of Los Angeles — and John Shallman repeats his complaint that the LA Times coverage didn't help.
John Shallman, the Valley-based lead consultant for Wendy Greuel's campaign for mayor, didn't care for Times columnist Jim Newton's analysis of what went wrong. He also suggests the Times cheerled for Eric Garcetti, saying in a piece for the LAT website that "The Times was to Eric Garcetti what Fox News was to Mitt Romney."
Morning mess on the 405 in Westwood. Labor's losing bet on Wendy Greuel. How City Hall powers will test Garcetti. Are independent PAC's now toxic to LA candidates? Ex-LAT publisher now in at SF Chronicle. Orange County of 'Arrested Development.' Plus KPCC looks atLAPD's helicopters. And more inside.
Gary took photos throughout the runoff campaign for mayor between Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel. Here is a selection of our favorites.
Quotes often tell the story. These are from a variety of sources, all uttered today as far as I can tell. "One of the worst run campaigns I've ever seen in my life," a veteran LA political strategist says of the Greuel campaign.
It's not just labor. Elected officials such as Gloria Molina and Jose Huizar backed Wendy Greuel, but Eric Garcetti "represents the 2.0 model of Latinos in LA," argues the former editor of Ciudad magazine.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky welcomes the election of Eric Garcetti, Mike Feuer and Ron Galperin as "a new generation of leadership for the city." He says he's comfortable with his decision last year not to run.
Eric Garcetti chose a playground in Echo Park for his debut as the mayor-elect of Los Angeles. He thanked Wendy Greuel for a good campaign and says they will always be friends.
The voter turnout in Tuesday's Los Angeles city election will be shamefully low by the time the ballots are all counted. But it won't be the 19 percent that some in the media are using.
In order to become the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, analysts believed that Controller Wendy Greuel needed to win a majority of female voters and pick up a solid majority in her home turf in the Valley and, as the somewhat less liberal of the candidates, win the niche of Republicans who vote in LA. Kevin James' endorsement was crucial in the end.
Today seems like a good day to bring back out the cute photo that Eric Garcetti posted to Facebook a few years ago, of him and his father Gil. "Nice mustache, Dad!," Garcetti wrote.
Eric Garcetti is 42 years old, the youngest mayor of Los Angeles in more than a century, and he will be the city's first Jewish mayor. He won with 53.9 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Wendy Greuel.
The Loyola Marymount exit poll conducted by students under the Center for the Study of Los Angeles forecasts Eric Garcetti will win the mayoral election with 54 percent of the vote. In actual votes counted so far, Wendy Greuel is slightly ahead.
Greuel and Garcetti vote. Both will hit the Apple Pan this morning — at almost the same time. A ton of Campaign 2013 links from across the US. More phone numbers for me to call from Greuel. Plus: Tanaka slams Baca again. Fox 11 promotes Pablo Pereira. KCET promotes Juan Devis. Sherwood Forest gets postal recognition. And SoCal firefighters head for OKC.
Villaraigosa was in Dubai, but quietly. Jackie Goldberg makes no endorsement in her old council district. Yahoo-Tumblr CEOs make their case. AP boss says phone record seizures unconstitutional. News-Press employees drop union. What's behind those Village Voice layoffs. Under the radar LA rental 'hoods and more.
After two full weekend days of campaigning, Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel were back at it before sunrise this morning. Here's a snapshot of the day, the weekend and the final hours of Campaign 2013.
The ten-point Garcetti lead over Greuel that only the USC-LAT poll found last month has shrunk a bit. But it's better for Garcetti than the dead heat that the last major poll in the race found.
Mayoral votes could take weeks to count despite low turnout. (Only in LA...) Why Angelenos don't vote. Villaraigosa versus the ads. Greuel's job at DreamWorks gave her a Rolodex. Some Garcetti endorsements. Plus the LAPD consent decree, subway noise and Disney Hall, and David Beckham's retirement is a big story in Europe. Kings win 4-3.
Final Thursday of Campaign 2013: Attack ads. Newsy tweets. Obama's Axelrod jumps in. George Lopez wants to run. Follow the money. Look at the billboards. Two million can vote, but 1.6 million won't. And was the LAPD consent decree dismissed yesterday?
As Latinos’ numbers and influence continue to rise, they are feeling optimistic. African-Americans see their hard-earned political gains jeopardized by a declining population share. Whites are the most satisfied with how things are going in their neighborhoods.
The women's magazine thinks that Greuel's first politics mentor was Tom Brady, but gets to the bottom of her preferred "go-to look."
Juice still rules in the state Assembly. A City Hall run entirely by men? Glendale stands up to DWP union chief Brain D'Arcy. Streetsblog writers split on Greucetti. John le Carre is LA's new bestseller. Metro rail ridership is up. Five hottest rental neighborhoods and hot quote of the day.
Final Greucetti debate. DA to join Feuer. Why would anyone want to be mayor? Outrage over the feds exploring AP phone records. JPL told to stop discipline over emails. Another bear in the foothills. Plus another state backs gay marriage and the Kings and Sharks begin tonight.
As a user's guide for voters, the LA Weekly's Gene Maddaus summarizes some areas where there is daylight between Garcetti and Greuel. Such as on education, development, the DWP — minor issues like that.
Garcetti backer switches over Kevin James. LAT weighs in on City Attorney race. 9th district as focus of special interests. Planning director Michael LoGrande on merging with Building and Safety. Mellowing of Maxine Waters. "Marketplace" parts with Robert Reich. Variety's dealings with Commerce Casino. Plus no Kings-Ducks series.
Doug McIntrye of KABC and the Daily News comes out for Greuel, but after all her husband is his agent. Plus: The candidates fan out for Mother's Day and the Garcetti daughter makes a video appearance. And a roundup of media coverage.
There has never been an LA mayor who grew up on the San Fernando Valley side of the city's geographic and cultural divide. Good story in the Times on Greuel and Garcetti — but look what Austin Beutner says.
City Controller hopefuls Dennis Zine and Ron Galperin sat down with Warren Olney on "Which Way, LA?" to debate issues in the race. They are both trying to persuade voters they will continue the role of controller as watchdog of city spending, even though that is kind of an exaggerated image.
In the latest financial reports filed by the mayoral candidates, Eric Garcetti has a big edge in cash left to finish the final eleven days of campaigning. But in the end, more money may be spent on Greuel's behalf.
405 overruns. New SEIU ad for Greuel. Trutanich endorsed by Delgadillo. Why so few women or Asians get elected to the City Council. Bud Ovrom to run the Convention Center. Village Voice editors quit rather than cut. LACMA officials move into Variety tower. An editorial on Meghan O'Rourke. Plus Muerto Mouse from Lalo Alcaraz.
if you were hoping for an uplifting message about why you should vote for Wendy Greuel to be your mayor, you will be disappointed. At least she is on TV again. Clip inside.
In making my choice, says publisher David Abel, "I hope to prod many of my friends, who, like me, have remained uncommitted to date, to again engage in electoral politics and to vote."
Greuel suspends TV ads. DWP coughs up the salary data and it's revealing. City Council blinks on LAFD staffing. Dorner reward goes four ways. Hillary Clinton in town. Possible ambassadorships for Hollywood Obama backers. Disney drops bid to trademark Dia de los Muertos. And yes, you did see an elevated train over DTLA in a TV ad.
Villaraigosa going back to China. LAPD vs USC students. California Supremes uphold cities on pot dispensaries. Greucetti to debate on KCRW. Joe Mathews rooting for the Koch brothers to get LA Times. Twitter hiring a head of news. And more, including the LAT says Spanish pronunciations are making a comeback.
The weekly's editorial hopes that Garcetti "would grow in the job," and says it's "a pity" that Greuel is too close to unions. It's the LABJ's first endorsement for mayor.
Subway turnstiles. LA's rough streets. Rick Caruso on 10,000 cops. Mary Melton of Los Angeles finally gets that Emmis promotion. Get ready for YouTube subscriptions. Howard Kurtz does the mea culpa. The movie academy opens up voting. Magic Johnson swatted, converting the LA River and more. Links inside.
After Sunday, there are only two more weekends before the next mayor is chosen. I still don't detect much bubbling interest among the populace, but Garcetti did get about 150 people to come out to the Tapia Brothers farm in Encino on Sunday. Inside: The latest news and coverage.
A group of Jewish real estate men that migrated over from Nibbler's in the 1990s sits down every Sunday morning and receives politicians — including Greuel and a Garcetti — and has welcomed both Yitzhak Rabin and Vicente Fox.
Springs fire holds at 10,000 acres and 10% contained. LA lifts red flag status. Villaraigosa spokesman moves on. Greucetti blames him/herself for high DWP salaries. Daily News re-endorses Greuel. Jackie Goldberg vs. Gil Cedillo. Kobe Bryant vs his mom. Rosendahl says cancer in remission. New dean at Southwestern and new giraffe at the zoo. Plus more.
DWP salaries and the union's role for Greuel. Mike Woo endorses. Gov. Brown will go after handguns. LA Times latest to drop "illegal immigrant" from style guide. Register's lack of diversity. Slate vs. Joel Kotkin. Press Club to fete Carl Reiner. And Vin Scully to honor Roz Wyman at lunch today.
When I was on Facebook tonight, this invitation popped up for a Wendy Greuel fundraising reception in Venice scheduled for Friday. Notice the ad next to the invite.
May Day and Wyvernwood rallies downtown. Wendy Greuel's text messages to Kevin James. Endorsements in the Valley. The Koch brothers make more political plans. LACMA's new buildings plans and a scary motorcycle vs bike accident caught on video. Plus much more.
What Peter Drucker might have thought of Greucetti. Greuel returns felon's donation. LAX runway vote today. Times endorses O'Farrell. Maria Shriver and Jillian Barberie get new TV gigs. LAT print circulation down again. Is LA "quivering" at the Koch brothers rumor? Plus Malibu Lagoon, crows, Angels and more.
LA Times says "neither candidate is ready" to be mayor but endorses Garcetti. Independent spending in the race undercuts limits. Greuel's son, Garcetti's daughter. NYT trend alert. NBC 4 to look at police chases. Register hiring again. Bob Hope stuff goes on sale and more.
Big NEH grant for Tom Bradley documentary. Robo polls in the mayoral race. Hillary Clinton coming. Sheila Kuehl makes it official. LAPD drunk driving checkpoints are back. Why "nerd prom" isn't cool. A book on Rupert Murdoch. Tsunami debris hits Northern California and injuries thin out the Lakers even more.
Delays and cost overruns on the 405 project: surprise! Bloomberg pumps another $350,000 into LA race. Anti-busing figure dies. Times endorses Galperin. Want $125 to do exit polling? What could go wrong for the Koch brothers. Items about Noel Greenwood, Michael Copps, Philip Dixon, Lisa specht and more.
South Bay victims of LAPD's Dorner frenzy get $4.2 million. New charges against Assessor Noguez. Latest in Greucetti. Rod Wright heads to trial. Coldwater Canyon reopens. NYT changes on 'illegal immigrant.' In Los Angeles Magazine this month. New SoCal bestsellers and the LA River bikeway gets a boost in Universal City.
Harold Meyerson, the former LA Weekly political columnist, argues in a Washington Post column that the choice of the next mayor is only the second-most important local question in Los Angeles these days.
Greucetti debates again. Emily's List goes negative against Garcetti. Competing marijuana measures on the ballot. LAPD motor officers acquitted. LAX evacuation order blamed on worker. UCLA bans tobacco, and more notes.
Voting begins in mayoral election. Villaraigosa to release budget this morning. LAPD clams up on DUI checkpoints. SAG-AFTRA cuts 10% of staff. GLAAD gives out media awards. Some LA reading plus Los Angeles Magazine's working-out editor and a Mexican food icon dies.
A new USC Price/Los Angeles Times Poll in the mayoral race is good for Eric Garcetti and bad for Wendy Greuel. The poll of 500 likely voters finds Garcetti in front, 50% to 40%, and with leads among Latinos, younger voters and women. Greuel also is not getting the solid base in the Valley she hoped for. Details inside.
Challenger Mike Feuer is sitting pretty good with a month to go in the runoff race for city attorney. Trutanich would need to win a big majority of the undecideds to keep his job.
More sheriff controversy. Sparks fly between Greuel and Garcetti. New ad has Boxer, Riordan and Magic for Greuel. The pride of stories not done. New editors at Sunset and Boom. Eloise Klein Healy. More media and politics notes and Anthony Bourdain returns to LA.
Kevin James endorses Trutanich. Emily's List puts up $400K for Greuel. Villaraigosa name checks Mitt Romney. Fairfax Theatre project approved. More questions about high-speed rail. Plus a new SoCal bestseller, two more deaths from meningitis, a local victim of the Boston Marathon bombs and the LA theater community pulls together.
Wild allegations name Sheriff Baca. Greuel's budget plan. A missing story of "42." LA's top radio station, another newspaper puts its building up for sale and no Angeli pop-up for now. Plus more.
Wendy Gruel's new TV spot in the Los Angeles mayoral race focuses on gun violence and says she will work with police and mental health experts to improve safety. She is shown driving and also mentions a murder-suicide at her family's hardware business. Watch inside.
Big money in the school board race. Porn filming all but stopped. Villaraigosa's legacy. Jenna Marbles. The new meningitis threat. Plus Campaign 2013, media and books notes including a local media wedding covered by the New York Times.
A dome for the May Company. Baca to face the feds. A blah Greucetti debate. What was Villaraigosa thinking on Social Security? A city of architects but not architecture plus more politics and media notes inside.
Greucetti debate on Channel 7 tonight. Lancaster couple's run-in with sheriff's deputies. A gay leader in Watts. Plus Jason Bentley as LA's music director, federal status for the San Gabriels, new board members for MOCA and more.
State of the City and Greucetti coverage. The LA Kings on Twitter. More awards for California Watch. NBC4 tries again with Fred Roggin. Plus LA's new bestselling book, new book editor at the NYT and a walking tour of Venice modern architecture.
Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to deliver his eighth and final State of the City speech as mayor starting at 5 p.m. in Royce Hall at UCLA. His people are billing the address as a call to mayoral hopefuls Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel to seriously address education issues. He also gets personal about his life arc. Inside: full text of the prepared speech and the opening video.
Power struggle in the Wendy Greuel campaign. Who's with Jerry Brown in China. Villaraigosa's final State of the City this afternoon. Plus the sea lion mystery continues, an honor for KABC's retired Dr. George Fischbeck and more.
Controller Wendy Greuel will officially unveil the backing of Rep. Maxine Waters at a 10 a.m. media op on the City Hall steps. A couple of hours after Team Greuel alerted the media, Councilman Eric Garcetti's campaign posted to YouTube a video of Rep. Karen Bass endorsing him.
Gov. Brown chats before heading to China, ex-governor Schwarzenegger pushes climate change alarms, who in the California delegation to Congress owns a gun, moves in Campaign 2013, tips if you encounter a sick sea lion and today is the funeral for Roger Ebert in Chicago. Plus much more catching up.
This has the looks of another quality endorsement day for mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel. Plus: She and Eric Garcetti talk about City Hall finances. And Garcetti to roll out Councilman Tom LaBonge.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said today that President Obama doesn't plan to weigh in on the Los Angeles mayoral race. Both Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel are Democrats and Obama supporters.
An hour after Eric Garcetti unveils Kevin James as a new backer, Wendy Greuel delivers her 2.0 speech — revealing a new, feistier runoff approach and a promise to be more, yes, independent. "The game is on," Greuel says. Key points and full text inside.
Mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti has a 10 a.m. presser scheduled with Kevin James, the former radio talk show host who came in third in the March 5 city primary election. They are doing the deed outside the Van Nuys city hall, officially the Valley Municipal Building, on Sylvan Street.
The chess game of South LA endorsements in the mayoral race continues. Today at 11 a.m., City Councilman Bernard Parks is scheduled to publicly endorse Eric Garcetti at the Garcetti headquarters on south Crenshaw Boulevard.
Light snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, Wesson's committee on the budget stacked with Greuel backers, Garcetti questions Hollywood towers plan, NPR dropping "Talk of the Nation," Register's paywall is on the way and more.
This is kind of fun to watch. Hours after Eric Garcetti put out the word that he was endorsed by City Councilwoman Jan Perry, and before the media op was even held, Wendy Greuel's team announced that she has been endorsed by Magic Johnson. That presser is scheduled for 1 p.m. outside the West Angeles Church of God in Christ on Crenshaw Boulevard.
They have called a joint media op for 11 a.m. "to discuss the LA mayor's race" at the 28th Street YMCA. It's an auspicious time for Garcetti to roll out an endorsement by Perry, if indeed that's what happens. People were starting to ask where Garcetti has been.
Greuel includes Mayor Villaraigosa as an example of a leader who has failed to bring jobs or fix the economy, just days after hiring one of his top deputies to be her campaign manager.
Arguments today on DOMA, HuffPost goes all out for marriage equality, bullet train's believers are now doubters, Council President Wesson calls Anschutz sincere, USC village to grow, Petraeus apologizes, Joyce Carol Oates takes over #1 spot on SoCal bestseller list and an old mural is recovered downtown. Plus Peabody award winners and a gardener found dead in a pool with leaf blower on his back.
Gil Cedillo falls short of 50% and has to face Jose Gardea in the runoff. There's no change in the order of finish in the mayoral race or other contests, but as expected the low voter turnout to be moaned about creeps up to 20.79 percent.
Not unexpectedly, both Los Angeles mayoral candidates — Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti, or their staffers for them — showed their support for gay marriage by switching their Facebook profile images on Tuesday. As you can see from the screen grab, Councilwoman Jan Perry did not.
Gen. Petraeus to make speech tonight at USC, Kings live stream from the White House at 10:30 this morning, Maxine Waters and Henry Waxman at odds over LAX runway move, city of Riverside pulls out of Dorner reward fund and former LA news anchor John Beard talks about returning to "Arrested Development." Plus more.
"I saw this strength of Wendy's first-hand in 1994, when she was a valued member of my administration's Department of Housing and Urban Development," Clinton says in a statement. "When the Northridge Earthquake struck -- causing so much loss of life and destruction -- Wendy sprang into action."
Controller Wendy Greuel's campaign for mayor made headlines for the wrong reasons in the past few days, losing four key operatives with experience on the Obama campaign, bringing in two new key people, then switching up campaign managers — against a backdrop of what the LA Times calls "missteps." She did, however, add the support of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Big support for gun control in California, the mayoral candidates' fine line with labor, jokes from last night's political roast, Gloria Molina endorses Trutanich, the death of the Boston Phoenix, Amy Wilentz is still alive, and media focus on the fathers of UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad and the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez. Plus more
More takes on the Riordan endorsement of Wendy Greuel (his third choice so far in the race), potholes as an LA issue, upcoming USC-LAT poll, the fiction of "Phil Spector," Frontiers files for bankruptcy, "End of the Rainbow" opens, the architect facing charges over a firefighter death, and the 50th anniversary of a death at Dodger Stadium. Plus more.
Former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan signed on today as an unpaid adviser to Wendy Greuel, shortly after former mayoral candidate Steven Soboroff endorsed Eric Garcetti. Several months ago, Riordan dismissed all the candidates as a bunch of losers.
Greuel changes tune on city pensions, Steve Lopez wonders about the Valley and Greuel, Herb Wesson has a plan for city finances, KCRW relaunches DnA, "Gone Girl" is the local bestseller, three LAPD cops hurt in Palms fire, Army Corps suspends brush removal in Sepulveda Basin and what's in Los Angeles Magazine for April. Plus more.
Daily Variety's last print issue, Greuel wants to reopen City Hall pension talks, KPCC looks at Villaraigosa legacy, Lohan goes away again, Iraq war on "SoCal Connected," first complaint filed under LA County's condoms in porn law, and a new "Naughty Girl's Guide to Los Angeles."
They are meeting any media that comes out on a Saturday afternoon at the Doll Factory, the Temple Street home of the Derby Dolls near downtown. Unless they are going to strap on skates, I'm assuming this is where Pleitez announces he is endorsing Garcetti in the runoff for mayor. Plus: Greuel gets Emily's List.
Times chides Greuel, city attorney candidate won't endorse, Democrats regain super majority in Sacramento, college waiting lists "a human tragedy," Chris Hayes takes over "The Ed Show" slot on MSNBC, earthquake warning system worked on Monday and news of tonight's downtown Art Walk (and its oral sex-desiring leader.)
LAUSD settlement with Miramonte victims, Owens Valley air and water, Villaraigosa in New York, Manchester says no partnership with Koch brothers, Kushner ticks off Gustavo Arellano, MOCA talks with the National Gallery and what happened to all the DDT off Palos Verdes? Plus: Interest in Chicano studies declines.
The County Federation of Labor's political unit voted to endorse Wendy Greuel for mayor after she told a closed-door meeting, "I'm gonna stand with labor, not stand up to labor." County Democrats, meanwhile, gave more support to Eric Garcetti but failed to make an endorsement.
Campaign consultants for Greuel, Garcetti and Perry dissect the mayoral primary races that are behind us — turnout is the story — and look cautiously ahead. Meanwhile, the Sacramento Bee's cartoonist lampoons Angelenos for not voting.
Kevin James isn't sure he'll endorse Garcetti or Greuel, county Democrats will try again tonight, Register's Aaron Kushner doesn't believe in afflicting the comfortable, new demographic projections for LA, media and politics notes — including when Vin Scully dated the creator of Sesame Street — plus Deanne Stillman, Dwight Howard and more.
Jan Perry has no love for Greuel, pushing for South LA and Valley votes, what Jim Newton wants to hear, Garcetti en Español on Univision, John Shallman items, and is mass immigration a thing of the past in LA? Plus the closure of Bahooka Family Restaurant.
"Everything is on the table" for City Hall budget cuts, Villaraigosa on his legacy, Rosendahl the happy warrior, Cronkite Award winners, Anschutz is #3 on SI list of sports powerful, and photographer Art Shay talks to Lisa Napoli at almost 91.
On the day after Los Angeles voters eliminated the also-rans for mayor and other offices, the survivors began jockeying for position for the 11-week sprint to the runoff. Greuel got another union behind her, Garcetti dropped that oil lease in Beverly Hills and hands were wrung about voter turnout.
The New York Times was right on top of the Los Angeles mayoral election results, but they still have problems with the name of finalist Wendy Greuel. They only left out one letter.
The vote counting in Tuesday's City of Los Angeles primary election provided no real surprises. Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel will face off in a May 21 runoff for mayor, as every poll said that they would. There will be runoffs in the other citywide races, and in at least two City Council districts.
Scrambles and shenanigans in the final days, the wackiest mailers, Kathy Riordan told to resign from Animal Services commission, uproar at Caltech and Studio City's hot public school, Muslim Girl in OC gets her column back and TMZ wants to hire a managing editor: "it’s not brain surgery."
A Republican to run against Brown, Villaraigosa gets no votes for governor, where the mayoral candidates will be today — think transit lines and Diddy Riese again — plus John and Ken take New York, Nikki Finke catches Vanity Fair deleting a story dismissive of Jessica Chastain, and Coldwater Canyon to close.
Front-runners Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel got out early Sunday and took the campaign for mayor to the streets. Unlike Saturday, at least a few TV cameras followed along — and LA Observed too.
Trutanich, who is running for reelection in Tuesday's election, has suspended campaign activities. His mother, Esther, died this afternoon at San Pedro Hospital from complications involving pneumonia.
SpaceX capsule in trouble, digital billboards ruling, California's dry winter, mayoral candidates and Hollywood, Pleitez still running, LA invites South Pasadena journo to vote, 99 essential LA restaurants and more.
Wendy Greuel called the media to her Van Nuys Airport-adjacent headquarters this morning to attack Councilman Eric Garcetti for endangering children and profiting from oil drilling near Beverly Hills High School. Except it appears that no oil has been drilled for under Garcetti's property, no children have been endangered, and any profit has been extraordinarily slim.
The pope leaves Rome, Bradley Manning pleads guilty, LA asks for OK to remove homeless property in TB fight, who will buy the LA Times?, indie spending tops
$3 million in mayoral race, Jan Perry's old tax liens and more from the campaign trail.
Wendy Greuel goes negative, Kevin James goes noir, Boxer urges history, Linda Griego recalls history and a roundup of media coverage in the race for City Hall. Election is next Tuesday.
How power works here, sobering wisdom on mayoral candidates from Mike Woo, a doctor spends $150K on Greuel, Jan Perry day in the media plus much more. Election Day is a week from today.
Yet another controversy over a mayoral campaign mailer by candidate Jan Perry. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky released a statement this morning criticizing Perry's use of his name in a mailer. He does not endorse Perry.
Newton on Garcetti and UTLA, new union spending for Greuel, the Kevin James and Jennifer Aniston connection, Rick Orlov's Monday Tipoffs, the voters aren't voting, new endorsements and who the Socialists like (or don't like) for mayor — plus a roundup of more media coverage of the races.
Trying to trick voters with the fake Republican tag is a loser's move, said John Burton, chairman of the California Democratic Party. "To suggest that Wendy Greuel is anything other than a proud Democrat is absurd.”
Irvine PD got the call about Dorner from his former partner, a bad Skid Row TB strain kills 11, Garcetti's and Greuel's budget claims under question, Greuel touts landlord backing, La Opinión endorses Garcetti, Zimmer vs. Anderson for the school board, plus an LAT photographer on the Pulitzer juries and Metropolis returns to KCRW.
Thursday's latest filing of campaign finance reports in the mayoral race shows the top two candidates essentially as matched in fundraising as they are in positions on the issues. There's no real news in the numbers.
Greuel's negative turn and support for Hollywood density plan, Garcetti's conflict on digital billboards, embedded reporter with Pleitez, Harvard-Westlake alums for Garcetti and some more endorsements, plus other Campaign 2013 races and labor trouble at the Hollywood Park Casino. And: An opinionated, annotated Oscars ballot.
Dorner stalked at least five LAPD families before killing, mayoral candidates talk runaway production but not really, Jan Perry's "disingenuous" anti-Greuel mailers, "The Closer" creator gives to Garcetti PAC, outside money in the school board races tops $1 million, David Dreier gets a gig and much more Campaign 2013 news. Plus: the Oscars are now just the Oscars and it's 40 years for Sue Laris and the Downtown News. (And added: a fix.)
There are at least two schools of thought on the long-standing practice of holding Los Angeles city elections in odd-numbered years. The former city controller argues that bundling with the national elections will raise voter participation. But maybe that's not the problem.
Debate carried on Channel 7 finds the candidates for mayor firming up their positions. Plus: A video spot for Greuel, Mr. D'Arcy's DWP, Zine's Mountaineer and links to media coverage galore.
The LAT praise is better than lukewarm, but not quite love. Garcetti has "the most potential to rise to the occasion and lead Los Angeles out of its current malaise.... At this time, out of this field, he's the best choice." Also this: "It is hard to see how [Greuel] would rise to the challenge..."
Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt — I guess we should call him the Dodger Stadium parking lots owner now? — shows up in the filings as a donor of $50,000 to Working Californians to elect Wendy Greuel Mayor 2013. That's the officially independent committee that says it will use big contributions from labor and the entertainment industry to buy TV ads for Greuel.
Dorner questions, Sheriff Baca's friends get gun permits, Jerry Buss ailing, Top Shop draws a crowd plus a Campaign 2013 update: new commercials, PACs and media coverage, an Austin Beuter op-ed and a examination of the Wendy Greuel-DWP union nexus.
Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen lead the way with $150,000. Boxer will headline fundraiser at Haim Saban's Feb. 20. Plus: Will Ferrell video for Garcetti and more campaign notes.
Here is the second 30-second TV spot from the Wendy Greuel for mayor campaign. Script and video inside, plus a response from Eric Garcetti.
Councilman Eric Garcetti is the first of the mayoral candidates, I believe, to air a TV spot in Spanish. He calls it "Comprobado" and speaks in Spanish about his record. Watch.
I moderated a town hall of the five leading mayoral candidates on Sunday in Hancock Park, and their plans for Getty House — the official city residence — became an issue. Plus the cost to Wendy Greuel of her half-baked LAPD expansion plan, the Times endorses Galperin and more campaign coverage from the weekend.
Supporters of Measure A on the March 5 ballot say that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will take part in a Monday news conference announcing support for the sales tax increase, along with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and LAFD Chief Brian Cummings.
For Wendy Greuel's mayoral campaign, these were a couple of good if expected endorsements. She has campaigned hard in the Valley. The National Women's Political Caucus of Los Angeles County also announced its endorsement.
In the race for mayor of Los Angeles, Councilman Eric Garcetti doesn't have a record of accomplishment that stands out among the others, or better connections, or more popular positions, or much more money. One advantage, though, with some voters is his image as a blogger, bike rider, composer, chef and performer — like at last night's appearance alongside Moby.
The manhunt for fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner is complicated by snow in the Big Bear area. There have been no sightings elsewhere, the San Bernardino sheriff said. Plus: Eric Garcetti raises about $250,000 at Hollywood fundraiser and plays with Moby, Beutner grills the candidates, LAT endorses Feuer, end of the Berman-Waxman machine, and author Daniel Olivas on the Catholic sex abuse scandal.
The political adviser for Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and other Hollywood figures signed a letter to industry activists asking for contributions of $15,000 to an independent expenditure committee that plans to air commercials pushing Wendy Greuel for mayor.
Both Greuel and Garcetti have bases in Hollywood. The race is pitting mogul against mogul, agent against agent, says the Hollywood Reporter.
KPCC's press release last week for its mayoral debate coming up on Wednesday night talked about the "four major candidates for mayor" who would be taking part. I guess some discussions ensued. Here's how the release reads now.
Archdiocese says it warned LAUSD about Pina, Greuel and Garcetti swear solidarity with SEIU in private, ex-LAPD official may run against Sheriff Baca, Congress may try to regulate LA helicopters and Steven Cuevas (in picture) heads LA bureau of 'California Report' for KQED.
Los Angeles Magazine in a new piece up today calls Kevin James "the surprise of the mayor’s race." The story, though, is really about how candidate James has softened the kinds of things he used to say when he was an anger talk radio host.
Greuel jumps ahead in TV ads, exploring the Jewish and Valley connections in the race for mayor, an interactive map from the Times, editor opf the NYT chats with Alec Baldwin, Virgin America will fly from LAX to San Jose and more.
Archdiocese gives up on blacking out names, Greuel's claims still in dispute, Greuel and Garcetti get endorsements, Boxer urges Villaraigosa to go for Transportation secretary, Cornfield plan a winner, Tuiasosopo says he fell in love with Te'o and burglars targeted LAT subscribers who went on vacation.
No SEIU endorsement for mayor candidates, they bore Steve Lopez, celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel take sides, analyzing the chiefs of staff, ex-governors talk about immigration, KCET partners with Writers Bloc, the Sierra snow pack is below average and La Cienega reopens. Plus more.
Ex-mayor Jim Hahn is handling small claims cases in the Santa Monica courthouse, living nearby with his wife and enjoying not being in the spotlight. "It's a pretty great thing to be mayor of Los Angeles," Hahn tells KCRW's Saul Gonzalez. But, "I have to say this is the happiest time of my life."
Salma Hayek endorses Eric Garcetti for mayor: "He has the heart of a hero. He's romantic..." She also cites that he plays piano, gardens, cooks and speaks Spanish and French as well as English. Watch the video.
Wendy Greuel's platform to run for mayor is that, as city controller, the audits by her office found $160 million "in waste and fraud." It's the theme of her first 30-second spot going on the air today. Watch here.
Reportage on last night's mayoral debate, Greuel hits the airwaves, going for the women and Jewish vote, more Campaign 2013 coverage, admitting an error in the Sepulveda Dam wildlife area, earthquake warnings and more.
Fred Davis posts his first hit video on Garcetti, Greuel and Perry, plus barreling across the Valley with Dennis Zine at the wheel and Monday is TV debate night.
Jack Klunder, the president of the Los Angeles News Group and publisher of most if not all of the chain's newspapers, is not a voter in the city of Los Angeles. But he has given $750 to mayoral candidate Kevin James, in three separate contributions since 2011, and also reportedly provided him with tickets to Lakers, Dodgers and Kings games.
The reason that the office of city controller is viewed as a fiscal watchdog and audit factory is due largely to Laura Chick, who came before Wendy Greuel. Chick's endorsement helps City Hall newcomer Ron Galperin.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Eric Garcetti and labor leader Maria Elena Durazo were among the select partiers. Inauguration celebrants danced past 3 a.m. to "Love Train" and "We Are Family."
Diversity makes the news, Times video of the candidates, a media coverage roundup and more — including a wonderful Steve Lopez line summarizing Antonio Villaraigosa.
Greuel becomes the target, Jan Perry profiled, HuffPost editor gushes for Garcetti and more, including the sheriff's want to talk to Robert Wagner and LA's bike parking plan.
Mayoral candidates in Sherman Oaks, Garcetti at Van Nuys Airport, city attorney candidates favor gun controls, mayor endorses Matt Szabo, Alex Sanchez a free man, state dings Army Corps for Sepulveda Dam clearing and more.
The union representing rank-and-file LAPD officers today gave its mayoral nod to Controller Wendy Greuel.
Brad Sherman feeling the chill of revenge, Supes delay stormwater tax and City Council defers street tax, Villaraigosa to discuss gun violence this afternoon, city attorney debate, DMV study of unlicensed drivers, new CEO for THR, Dunkin' Donuts coming to SoCal and Jackie Lacey gets her first commencement date.
Mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti is sitting today for what the Reddit online community calls an AMA. He posted about two hours ago: "Hi I'm Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Councilmember and candidate for Mayor. Ask me anything. I will be back around 4:00 PT to answer your questions."
Arrests in Nordstrom Rack robbery-assault, Murdoch quips about buying the LA Times, The Atlantic pulls sponsored blog post extolling Scientology, Councilman Alarcon says son is homeless in the Valley, Ace Smith to run independent expenditure campaign for Greuel, Lady of the Lake returns to Echo Park Lake and more.
Daily News profiles Greuel, Perry hangs in, the mayor's hollow claim on LAPD strength, the energizer mayor and more notes for a Monday.
What you need to know about the fundraising race, coveting Obama and the Clintons, talking about housing, Greuel moves into South LA and more from around the campaigns.
Carmen Trutanich is, of course, the incumbent city attorney. I guess those future meetings with the mayor's office will be kind of chilly.
Controller Wendy Greuel's prospects of being elected mayor "depend largely on how effectively she can repel" criticism that her publicized audits are for show and that her record, including a vote for the big 2007 raise for city employees, mark her as a City Hall insider, LA Times political writer Michael Finnegan says.
Four years ago, former Assembly Speaker and mayoral candidate Robert Hertzberg co-led the transition team for newly elected city attorney Carmen Trutanich.
The first of our regular updates looks at the Temple Beth Jacob debate, a Friday zing war between Garcetti and Greuel, who's covering the campaign for the LA Times and more.
Tonight's mayoral candidate forum from Beth Jacob synagogue will be live streamed on the website of the Jewish Journal. Good choice, since the forum moderator is Jewish Journal president David Suissa.
In her editor's note introducing the January issue of Los Angeles magazine, Mary Melton doesn't sound too wowed by the candidates who are running for mayor. The next leader of...
The Los Angeles Times ran a Sunday editorial urging people to recognize that the election on March 5 is a big one that could shape the future of the city for years to come. They're right, you know.
Rick Orlov in the Daily News looks at the lineup of ballot argument signers for the City Council's proposed sales tax increase. Some members are for it, some against. Same with labor.
The certified names and ballot titles from the city clerk for mayor, city attorney, controller, city council, board of education and community college district board of trustees.
I chatted briefly Wednesday with hospitalized city attorney candidate Mike Feuer. He said he's up and around, isn't in too much pain, and even got to drink some apple juice. He should be out of the hospital in a few more days.
The jaws of life were needed to free city attorney candidate Mike Feuer from his damaged Toyota Prius, and he is in intensive care in stable condition, campaign strategist John Shallman now says. Feuer tweets his thanks to @LAFD and @911LAPD.
Feuer's Prius was hit by a truck that ran a red light. The candidate for city attorney will remain in the hospital for a few days, but his campaign says the injuries are not life threatening.
When the Center for the Study of Los Angeles sent out undergrads to conduct exit polling of voters on Nov. 6, the center had them tack on questions about next year's mayor's race. Meanwhile: Garcetti wins the endorsement of Valley Democrats.
How Latino voters go could obviously be a big factor in deciding the next mayor, especially if the Latino vote falls heavily toward one candidate. Controller Wendy Greuel took a big step on Monday, announcing the endorsements of State Sen. Alex Padilla and two members of the City Council.
Interviewed by Warren Olney on KCRW's "Which Way, LA?," former mayor Richard Riordan rejected criticism by Mayor Villaraigosa and others that his pension reform plan would have cost the city money. Plus: Little digs at Herb Wesson, Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti.
Former mayor Richard Riordan and his Save Los Angeles group are shutting down the effort to place a pension reform measure on next spring's city of Los Angeles ballot.
The LAT's weekend story about Republican media adviser Fred Davis vowing to raise and spend $4 million in independent expenditures for mayoral hopeful Kevin James is the most interesting thing to happen in that race in awhile. Both Greuel and Garcetti are already using it to raise money. It's the subject of tonight's LA Observed segment on KCRW.
City Councilman and candidate for mayor Eric Garcetti up in the saddle, posted to his TwitPic account in October with the message "Happy Horse Day." While we're on the subject,...
Councilwoman Jan Perry's move last week to re-brand herself as the business-minded reform candidate in the race for mayor is at least "viable," Times columnist Jim Newton says. What choice does she have really?
On Sunday it was mayoral hopeful Wendy Greuel's turn to go for a trail ride with the equestrians of Chatsworth. It's a rite of political passage in LA: we even have a pic of Antonio Villaraigosa in the saddle.
Measures to raise the California sales tax (Proposition 30) and to extend the already-higher sales tax in Los Angeles County (Measure J) are up for a vote on the November 5 ballot. Now City Council President Herb Wesson is floating the idea of an additional half-cent sales tax increase within the city of Los Angeles to be voted on next March.
The former City Controller sent out email this afternoon endorsing her successor in next year's mayoral election. Here's the full text of what she said.
Statement just in from developer Rick Caruso, putting an end to speculation that he would join the mayoral race late.
Candidates for mayor in next spring's election have already raised $9.2 million — including the $1.8 million collected by Austin Beutner before he dropped out. Reports filed on Wednesday show City Councilman Eric Garcetti with a slight lead in both the total money raised so far and in the amount taken in during the latest reporting period — as you can see in our handy charts.
Councilman and mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti is not only a Rhodes Scholar who plays jazz piano. He also was in a junior high school breakdancing group and has the moves to prove it.
LA Times City Hall reporter Kate Linthicum was struck by how many personal bridges that ailing Councilman Bill Rosendahl appeared to burn in a speech today about his decision not to run for reelection.
Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who has been fighting cancer, plans to announce in a letter to his district tomorrow that he will not seek reelection in the spring, the LA Times reports.
That story yesterday out of the Los Cerritos Community News tying developer Rick Caruso's properties to the emerging probe around tax reductions by Assessor John Noguez drew a strong objection today from the fill-in assessor appointed by the Board of Supervisors. "Several erroneous conclusions based on nonexistent evidence," says a letter to the paper's publisher from Santos Kreimann.
Garcetti gets Salma Hayek but few LA names, a bunch of other endorsements, what will be in the news today and more.
Rick Caruso, the wealthy developer who's mulling a run for mayor as a self-financed candidate, received special treatment and substantial property tax reductions from the office of county Assessor John Noguez, then donated thousands to Noguez's political efforts, according to the Los Cerritos Newspaper Group.
Ad buyers have inquired about TV time in November, sources say, and Caruso also reportedly begged off a sizable commitment of money to pension reform citing large upcoming political expenses of his own. We'll see.
Former City Controller Laura Chick found herself in a feud with City Attorney Carmen Trutanich almost as soon as he took office in 2009 — with her endorsement, by the way. Now she's with Mike Feuer, and calling Trutanich a liar and a demagogue. There's a backstory.
Gene Maddaus at the LA Weekly got the list of contributors to the account City Attorney is using to make good on his promise to raise $100,000 for after-schol programs if he broke his previous promise not to run for any office other than the one he now has. (Which he did.)
Councilman and candidate for mayor Eric Garcetti plays the part of the Los Angeles mayor in the forthcoming film, "End of Watch." They got together with campaign supporters at a preview screening.
City Councilman Eric Garcetti plans to "outline some of his thoughts on the future of Los Angeles" in a Thursday evening speech at Los Angeles City College.
The Los Angeles City Council gave preliminary approval of new campaign rules that raise contribution limits to $700 in City Council races and $1,300 in citywide races. Plus more matching funds.
Now that he's out of the race for mayor, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky warned that whoever does get the job will be faced with an immediate financial crisis and echoed Richard Riordan's warning that the unions must be tamed.
Former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan sounds pretty disappointed that Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky opted out of the race for mayor. Of the candidates who are in the race, Riordan said Thursday, "I think we have to look hard for other candidates" — and joked that his best suggestion for voters might be "to move out of the city." A Garcetti spokesman replied, "Dick's out of control."
City Controller Wendy Greuel and Concilman Eric Garcetti put out statements on Zev Yaroslavsky's decision to remain on the Board of Supervisors and not join the field seeking to become mayor of Los Angeles.
Zev Yaroslavsky said today that he will finish out his term on the county Board of Supervisors and not make a bid to become mayor of Los Angeles. "While I have never been a supporter of term limits, I do believe that four decades is long enough for any citizen to hold elective office, especially in an executive capacity."
Mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel unveiled three more endorsements today that are actually kind of interesting. One of them is Robert Hertzberg, the former Speaker of the Assembly who ran for mayor in 2005 as sort of a voice from the Valley, lost in the primary then joined Antonio Villaraigosa's campaign and had the title role in the transition.
"Millions of us have hit this obstacle over the last ten years," Councilman Bill Rosendahl says of his cancer. "We're optimistic about this." He also plans to make a video with the mayor candidates.
Chances are we won't hear a whole lot from or about Emanuel Pleitez as the mayoral race evolves into the big-bucks contest that everybody expects. But he did answer the call from LA Taco to give his list of favorite tacos. Wendy Greuel hasn't done that.
In her bid to become the first mayor of Los Angeles from the Valley since Sam Yorty, Controller Wendy Greuel has put together an early list of supporters that has some range to it.
Kim announced today that he's resigning as general manager of the city's Department of Neighborhood Empowerment on August 4 — and departing Los Angeles — to take a position in San Diego. This means he's out of the race for the 13th Council District, the crowded derby to choose a successor next year to termed-out mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti.
Last night on Facebook, Mayor Villaraigosa's deputy chief of staff updated his profile photo and included a sly comment: "Hmmm...I feel like this pic makes me look like I'm running for office. Perhaps I should change it ... ;)" Today he let it be known that he has submitted his resignation to the mayor and will join the crowded race for the open City Council seat in the 13th district.
But today’s ruling "must be seen as only a partial victory," says the Los Angeles mayor who is a key surrogate for President Obama's campaign. "The Supreme Court’s decision does allow Arizona to implement the law’s most problematic and potentially most harmful section: the ‘papers please’ provision."
Election night reporters who opted for the Carmen Trutanich headquarters in San Pedro, or were sent there by an editor or producer, ended up with the best story. The onetime frontrunner in the race for District Attorney self-destructed so badly that his ability to hold on to his job as Los Angeles City Attorney next year has to be in doubt.
Word got out this morning that Austin Beutner was telling friends and supporters that his quest to become mayor of Los Angeles next year was over. Mark Lacter had an item earlier at LA Biz Observed. Here's Beutner's statement this afternoon.
Councilman Eric Garcetti has given the people what they want before by posting to Facebook his inside-the-rope cellphone pics of celebrities receiving stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in his district. Today he caught a good view of the cameras watching actress Scarlett Johansson watch them.
As part of its CityThink efforts, Los Angeles magazine hosted another of its breakfast conversations this morning at Kate Mantilini, this time with Ben Hecht, the president and CEO of Living Cities. The May issue features a return of the 52 Great Weekends feature, and a profile of KFI power talkers John and Ken, and a Q&A with Controller Wendy Greuel.
Warren Olney will host a little radio debate tonight between the Valley congressmen who are running against each other.
Mayoral candidate Austin Beutner is providing this map letting residents click on any Los Angeles Fire Department station to see the local response time stats.
The Wendy Greuel for mayor campaign put out a release today naming the senior players. The primary election is one year from today.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer formally announced his candidacy for City Attorney this morning. He lost to Rocky Delgadillo in 2001.
When the last campaign fundraising reports came in six months ago, Austin Beutner's camp crowed how he was setting the money pace for the 2013 candidates for mayor. This time, they are pooh-poohing any of that.
Periodic campaign reports are due Tuesday, so the day before brings the press releases trying to grab a headline (or prevent a headline) for a factoid that matters little at this stage.
Ace Smith and Sean Clegg, the longtime Nothern California-based political advisers to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, have left the mayoral campaign of businessman Austin Beutner in the days since he gave a policy speech criticizing City Hall.
Foo Fighters for Obamajam, Wesson punishes City Council rivals and an LAPD detective arrested, plus more.
City Councilwoman Jan Perry talks with Conan Nolan on NBC 4's News Conference about the city's redistricting process being tainted by politics.
Galperin lost the race for City Council in the 5th district to Paul Koretz in 2009.
City Council President Eric Garcetti tossed his name in the crowded ring this morning.
I guess we'll get some clues about the mayoral aspirations of developer Rick Caruso this afternoon.
Nobody knows nuthin' yet, but the LA Weekly went ahead and asked a half-dozen local political figures to handicap the 2013 race for mayor anyway.
City Council veteran Jan Perry did what everyone expected her to do and filed the papers to form a fundraising committee for a 2013 mayoral bid. Nice and quiet, no...
Kevin James, who does midnight to 3 a.m. on KRLA, is throwing his microphone in the 2013 race for mayor in Los Angeles.
It's amazing Rick Caruso doesn't fall over, as much leaning as he's doing on the question of running for mayor in 2013.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, answering a question from Patt Morrison in the weekend LAT, says he has no real regrets about not running for mayor against Tom Bradley in 1989. And as for 2013?
This was the week that developer Rick Caruso got the next mayoral race — whether in 2013 or sooner — pretty much underway.
New at LA Observed
Clinton fundraises in LA
Jim Henson Studios on La Brea became a presidential campaign stop on Thursday.
Brown declares disaster area
The natural gas leak above Porter Ranch now qualifies for various government actions. Story
Performing arts with cheer
Donna Perlmutter closes out 2015 with productions downtown and on the Westside.
