This video a re-cap and analysis of L.A. City News tweets and posts from this blog, today. Turn down volume on Stickam player on upper right, to turn music off, to watch video. (Sorry about the Stickam ad that plays, every time the blog pulls up. Gonna have to do something about that, if possible. But need the Stickam player, and all the other services seem to have ads, too. But it's only short ad at the beginning, then no more.)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Zuma Dogg Political Strategy Advice For AUSTIN BEUTNER (Based on his comments in Los Angeles Times) PLUS: L.A. City News Tweets for 5/31/11
Austin, my man...you're WAY better at making money, than Zuma Dogg...but when it comes to being your own political spin guy...not so much.
From L.A. Times Op-Ed:
Jim Newton: The race to succeed Mayor Villaraigosa: Beutner has just wrapped up 18 months of working for the government as the $1-a-year "first deputy mayor."
That puts Beutner in an awkward position. When I asked whether he imagined himself running as heir to Villaraigosa's legacy, he answered with studied caution. He was proud, he said, of the administration's record for the 18 months that he was part of it.
Zuma Dogg, who thinks AB is the best solution of the candidates mentioned, so far, for "fixing the city," offers this response in hopes he doesn't blow it with people. Austin, you DID NOT CREATE THIS MESS...and no matter how many hats (or crowns) you've been wearing the past 18 months...DO NOT TRY TO GIVE THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF TEXTBOOK DYSFUNCTION (Aka: Antonio's Administration!) IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU REALLY DID ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS...because public perception is that City Hall is on fire. You can't convince victims of Japan reactor meltdown that, "We did SOME things RIGHT!" Again...I'm sure you did MAGIC, given the circumstances...but if you try to sell the public, when they ain't buyin' that...they will nix you instead of punch your chad. HERE'S SOMETHING THAT WON'T MAKE PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE Antonio in a suit for someone taller:
From: Mayoral Campaign Strategy for AUSTIN BEUTNER: Because Zuma Dogg already sees him walking into "human nature" pitfalls: AUSTIN BEUTNER: Some un-paid strategy from the master: When asked about being heir to Villar's City Hall legacy, as deputy mayor...do NOT try to spin, "Proud of achievements (list achievements) over past 18 months." The ONLY answer you can give is:
"I'm flattered that the mayor brought me on board, at city hall, to help figure some things out. Of course, I wasn't elected into the position, and it's not like I had control of the steering wheel. But it did give me tremendous insight, knowledge and experience as to how all city departments operate; where the problems lie; and understanding as to what it will take to, 'fix the city," as mayor. - (What) Austin Beutner (Should Be Saying)
- 1st thing Villar-backed LAUSD school board approved. ZD protested at meeting!: LAUSD health benefits for part-timers. NOW, $60 million SURPLUS, now in the red!!!! WAY TO GO ANTONIO. Everything you touch, turns to crap. - http://lat.ms/lWdeFG 3 minutes ago
- Mayoral Campaign Strategy for AUSTIN BEUTNER: Because Zuma Dogg already sees him walking into "human nature" pitfalls. - http://goo.gl/cU5SS 5 minutes ago
- City considers eliminating taxes on mutual funds - LOS ANGELES - The city today will begin considering whether to el... http://ht.ly/1cY7vL 16 minutes ago
- NON-SHOCKER TO ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS @VIillaraigosa's City Hall: FBI wants broad probe of LA building dept. Memo leaked!: http://lat.ms/mxce7v 17 minutes ago
- OH NO! ZD needs that route, this summer! Not enough THC to mitigate!!!: PCH sewer project to squeeze summer traffic: http://lat.ms/mPukff 19 minutes ago
- If you're calling w business proposal for ZD, please do: But don't contact w activist issues. I keep getting sucked back. CAN'T AFFORD TO! 27 minutes ago
- NO OFFENSE to Mayor Sam's "Home of L.A. Politics" blog, but if you don't even post about Villar's leaked memo on FBI investigation, are you? 46 minutes ago
- @Villaraigosa: How does it feel to go from "Mr. Everyone LOVES Ya," to not being able to walk L.A. city streets/need wall around your home? about an hour ago
- If Villaraigosa doesn't shut his chump mouth, soon, I think he's gonna be 1st mayor in history to get his ass kicked/beat down by angry mob. about an hour ago
- How you know someone is a non-leader, pussy. As mayor, you blow all the money, decimate depts via ERIP/cuts; then say, "Run a tight ship." about an hour ago
- When chump @Villaraigosa says he expects all department supervisors to, "run a tight ship," what has he, as the leader, done to facilitate? about an hour ago
- If you need to speak with me about something, PayPal $20, w message/phone number and I'll call/respond. Don't call until you PayPal, FIRST. about 2 hours ago
- Don't have a cell phone. Only way for me to check messages is on home computer. Won't be in, today. Won't get messages. I'm retired, anyway. about 2 hours ago
- YOU ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE THEM OUT: You're not willing to commit voter fraud, don't have union backing or office holder's slush fund. =LOSE! about 15 hours ago
- HOW YOU KNOW SOMEONE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW TO FIX PROBLEMS PLAGUING CITY HALL: First thing they say is, "We gotta vote 'em all out!" about 15 hours ago
- We see that L.A. is so inefficient, City Hall couldn't accomplish your goal if they WANTED TO. You AIN'T gonna vote 'em out. FIX THE SYSTEM! about 15 hours ago
- PLEASE STOP SAYING YOU ARE GONNA VOTE THEM OUT!: THEY have voter fraud, union backing, political office/infrastructure. You have nuttiness. about 15 hours ago
- 100 points: Average IQ of Venice Beach boardwalk crowd, any give day. ("COMBINED TOTAL" of crowd! Not "per person" average.) about 19 hours ago
- When I walked down Venice boardwalk, used to look around at beautiful LA women. Now I look around to make sure no shanks are about to fly. about 19 hours ago
- ZUMA DANGERFIELD: Just took a stroll down Venice Beach boardwalk. BEAUTIFUL CROWD! GUINNESS RECORD: World's Biggest Parole Violation Parade! about 19 hours ago
- 46,000 Prisoners Released Early: Welcome Home! No where to go? Hang out @ LA City Hall. Comfortable seats & Air Conditioning! M, W & F @10A. about 19 hours ago
CONFIDENTIAL VILLARAIOGSA MEMO LEAKS: FBI seeks wider probe of Los Angeles building department (How CLOSE To The Mayor Will This Touch?)
FBI agents want to take their bribery investigation "as wide and as high as they can." (As "as high as they can", could be the mayor, I guess? Could "wide" be city councilmembers?)
In a confidential memo to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the department manager says federal agents are including supervisors in a bribery probe. The memo was sent by mistake to hundreds of other people.
The FBI probe into corruption at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has expanded beyond rank-and-file inspectors to include the supervisors who policed their work, according to the agency's top executive.
In a confidential May 10 memo to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, General Manager Robert "Bud" Ovrom said FBI agents want to take their bribery investigation "as wide and as high as they can." Because supervisors are included in the probe, city officials expect to determine if "illegal collaboration or poor supervisory skills" contributed to the misconduct, he wrote.
Two field inspectors have pleaded guilty to charges that they accepted bribes in exchange for building approvals. The city's failure to detect those activities may have been, at least in part, the product of staffing cuts at his agency, Ovrom said in his memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Times.
With high-level managers leaving as part of the city's early retirement program, the department was "not always providing adequate training" to their replacements, he wrote. "It is bad enough that these incidents happened," Ovrom said. "It is perhaps even worse that our supervisors never caught this blatant illegal activity."
The nine-page memo offers fresh details on the federal and city investigations and a rare insight into a city agency trying to manage a fast-growing scandal. The report was supposed to be confidential but was sent accidentally by Ovrom to hundreds of Building and Safety employees, The Times learned. [DOH!] The department declined to comment on the investigation.
In addition to the four employees who were either arrested or placed on leave, the department is looking at 10 more Building and Safety workers, Ovrom wrote. The federal grand jury has already instructed the department to turn over personnel records for 12 current and former employees, including Germain and Gonzalez.
According to an FBI affidavit filed in April, an informant told investigators that bribes were "systemic" at Building and Safety and described giving cash, building materials and even a vacation in exchange for city approvals. FBI agents launched a wiretap operation in August, sending an undercover agent to job sites to pose as "Manny Gonzalez," a construction contractor needing sign-offs from city inspectors.
In January, with the undercover sting operation in its sixth month, Building and Safety received an anonymous complaint about bribes at 52 construction sites, all of them in South Los Angeles.
The city's internal investigation began after the anonymous letter was received. It could expand, Ovrom wrote, to private contractors and land use consultants who have "an unusually high working relationship" with certain Building and Safety employees. "It takes two to tango," he wrote.
Read More (Full Story)
[ZD PUBLIC COMMENT REFLECTIONS: I remember the day, over a year ago, I said that ZD heard there was an FBI investigation into bribe taking at city hall...MAN...Council looked like they were watching a horror film, as ZD let that one loose on TV 35. Guess it was true. THANKS TO THE TIP! You just gained credibility with ZD!]
In a confidential memo to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the department manager says federal agents are including supervisors in a bribery probe. The memo was sent by mistake to hundreds of other people.
The FBI probe into corruption at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has expanded beyond rank-and-file inspectors to include the supervisors who policed their work, according to the agency's top executive.
In a confidential May 10 memo to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, General Manager Robert "Bud" Ovrom said FBI agents want to take their bribery investigation "as wide and as high as they can." Because supervisors are included in the probe, city officials expect to determine if "illegal collaboration or poor supervisory skills" contributed to the misconduct, he wrote.
With high-level managers leaving as part of the city's early retirement program, the department was "not always providing adequate training" to their replacements, he wrote. "It is bad enough that these incidents happened," Ovrom said. "It is perhaps even worse that our supervisors never caught this blatant illegal activity."
The nine-page memo offers fresh details on the federal and city investigations and a rare insight into a city agency trying to manage a fast-growing scandal. The report was supposed to be confidential but was sent accidentally by Ovrom to hundreds of Building and Safety employees, The Times learned. [DOH!] The department declined to comment on the investigation.
In addition to the four employees who were either arrested or placed on leave, the department is looking at 10 more Building and Safety workers, Ovrom wrote. The federal grand jury has already instructed the department to turn over personnel records for 12 current and former employees, including Germain and Gonzalez.
According to an FBI affidavit filed in April, an informant told investigators that bribes were "systemic" at Building and Safety and described giving cash, building materials and even a vacation in exchange for city approvals. FBI agents launched a wiretap operation in August, sending an undercover agent to job sites to pose as "Manny Gonzalez," a construction contractor needing sign-offs from city inspectors.
In January, with the undercover sting operation in its sixth month, Building and Safety received an anonymous complaint about bribes at 52 construction sites, all of them in South Los Angeles.
The city's internal investigation began after the anonymous letter was received. It could expand, Ovrom wrote, to private contractors and land use consultants who have "an unusually high working relationship" with certain Building and Safety employees. "It takes two to tango," he wrote.
Read More (Full Story)
[ZD PUBLIC COMMENT REFLECTIONS: I remember the day, over a year ago, I said that ZD heard there was an FBI investigation into bribe taking at city hall...MAN...Council looked like they were watching a horror film, as ZD let that one loose on TV 35. Guess it was true. THANKS TO THE TIP! You just gained credibility with ZD!]
Monday, May 30, 2011
Now Streaming...Zuma Dogg's iTunes Player (Aka: Zuma Music Radio - "L.A.'s Greatest Hits of 70's & 80's!")
[Pictured: ZD likes to sing along. But that's the Pay-Per-View feed.]Listen in on what Zuma Dogg is listening to, today: Zuma Music Radio - L.A.'s Greatest Hits of the 70's & 80's! (Aka: Streaming my iTunes player, online.) The music stream starts, automatically at http://LACityNews.com. (Also at http://stickam.com/zumadogg if player doesn't appear.)
NEW FEATURE: Google stats has "Most Viewed for Past 30 Days" ranker than auto feeds into the blog. (See right hand side.) Here's a posting:
- Zuma Dogg Discusses Austin Beutner as L.A. Mayoral Candidate on L.A. Talk Radio Show (4/23/11):
- Greetings To Venice From "Boston Dawna": Damn!, does she have some hot bombshells to drop over LAPD Pacific Division and A Local Venice Website
- Everything You Need To Know About The Role of Los Angeles Board of County Supervisors -- AND A GOOD QUESTION TO PONDER (B.O.S. 101 for Dummies)
- Zuma Dogg Meets KABC 7's Lisa Hernandez In Dream Chance Encounter
- L.A. City News for 5/23/11 - Chief Beck, Board of Supervisors, Pension Fraud Question, 2nd Building Inspector GUILTY & Video of "Gold Card" Catfight
- NBC INVESTIGATION: DWP OVERCHARGES CUSTOMERS - Department To Issue Refunds (Class Action Lawsuit To Be Filed By ZUMA DOGG!)
- Zuma Dogg Coverage of Media Circus As Arnold Schwarzenegger Drives Away From Santa Monica Office
- L.A. TIMES: District Attorney Opens Investigation Into Villaraigosa's Top L.A. Housing Authority Apointee (Conflict of Interest)
- Zuma Dogg City Council Update on "our" 3 Year Anniversary [Why is this 2 yr old post in Top 10 for past 30 days? Must have some interesting content. Gonna check it out...]
And FYI: There were more cops at the drum circle, yesterday to break it up, than there were people at the drum circle. Gotta run up that overtime, after all that crime that happened over three consecutive weekends, right after they announced LAPD was having their budget cut. NOW, it's a BRILLIANT justificiation to run up the overtime machine. (It was FREEZING AND WINDY, yesterday at the drum circle. Hope you can display that show of force, with horses and helicopters, and SUVs and motorbikes and every cop in the city when it's 90 degrees in the summer, when it's packed. Anyway, who cares? Just demonstrate the need and run up the overtime, and EVERYONE gets paid!!! $$$ !!! $$$ !!! $$$ !!! (It looked like an LAPD annual BBQ/picnic/convention on the sand, yesterday. Should have had the Chief make an appearance for a staff meeting, as long as the entire department was on the beach to break up the smallest drum circle, ever. (AND NOW...on with the countdown!)
Friday, May 27, 2011
HEADLINE: "BIG BROTHER COMING TO LOS ANGELES?":WILL LAPD ALLOW A FEW PRIVATE RESIDENTS TO INSTALL AND MONITOR CAMERAS ALONG VENICE BOARDWALK AREA?
THIS EXCERPT FROM A "WAY TOO HOT" EMAIL TO ZD, TODAY, JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO GO OUT FOR A NICE BIKE RIDE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, FRIDAY!?!?!? (You never CAN control when the Batsignal is gonna go off. And like Neil Young said, "Shadiness Never Sleeps." (What do you think he meant by "Rust," y'all?)
EXCERPT FROM EMAIL TO ZD (The only part I can post...FOR NOW!):
"On Friday May 27 2011, a Venice-based, non-profit website (self-proclaimed, community watch group) and their associates are going before a select group of LAPD and city officials. They are presenting a plan to buy cameras themselves to be installed on Ocean Front Walk and elsewhere. Which will be solely monitored by associates of (this Venice-based, non-profit website). Are they, once again, manipulating the system for their own benefit and devious plans." [Of COURSE I know everyone's names, aliases and the website URL. Don't need to post it, for now, though, cause it's not about exposing the people, but just making sure the project never happens. This HOPEFULLY will be enough to get the job done.]
B-E-A-C-A-U-S-E...based on the REST of the email, Zuma Dogg says y'all better squash those plans, because the rest of the email will discredit certain elements that are to be involved in the creation and execution of the plan. And it can make things uncomfortable for project backers, and that's not my intent or goal. So hopefully, this is enough to squash it, so I don't have to start posting the attached (court) documents.
[Hey Wicked Witch of the Boardwalk...Uncle Zuma "Dorothy" Dogg has the bucket of water, ready to dump! So think REAL HARD if you want to proceed with this plan, please. I DID NOT LIKE being surrounded by LAPD when I was performing at Venice Beach. I think I'm starting to put the pieces together...LAPD cameras see ZD on boardwalk. LAPD insider calls his outside community contact and says, "Call in with a complaint." THEN, the LAPD cops show up, not even knowing they were sent out in a cahoots double-duo bamboozle. SO I GOTTA PULL THE PLUG. AND LUCKILY...SOMEONE ATTACHED MY HAND TO THE CORD! That's the benefit of being a beloved, most recognized, political, shady-busting voice of all time, with TREMENDOUS rapport with the community. Add it all up...ZD'S GOTS THE GOODS! The project (AND, the party) are O-V-E-R! And as usual, don't get cocky and arrogant and under-estimate, second-guess ZD. Ask around how that goes. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!? NO ONE WANTS THIS TO GO ANY FURTHER. And this is the only notification. IF I HEAR ONE MORE WORD...SH*T STARTS TO FLY LIKE AIR FORCE ONE!]
HEADLINE: "BIG BROTHER COMING TO LOS ANGELES AS LAPD ALLOWS GROUP OF PRIVATE RESIDENTS TO INSTALL AND MONITOR CAMERAS ALONG VENICE OCEAN FRONT WALK?"
5/28/11 UPDATE: Greetings To Venice From "Boston Dawna" (Damn!, does she have some hot bombshells to drop over LAPD Pacific Division and Venice311.org (Part 1) -- THE EMAIL SENT TO ZD THAT TRIGGERED THIS WHOLE AVALANCHE. AND IT'S JUST GETTING ROLLING!
EXCERPT FROM EMAIL TO ZD (The only part I can post...FOR NOW!):
"On Friday May 27 2011, a Venice-based, non-profit website (self-proclaimed, community watch group) and their associates are going before a select group of LAPD and city officials. They are presenting a plan to buy cameras themselves to be installed on Ocean Front Walk and elsewhere. Which will be solely monitored by associates of (this Venice-based, non-profit website). Are they, once again, manipulating the system for their own benefit and devious plans." [Of COURSE I know everyone's names, aliases and the website URL. Don't need to post it, for now, though, cause it's not about exposing the people, but just making sure the project never happens. This HOPEFULLY will be enough to get the job done.]
B-E-A-C-A-U-S-E...based on the REST of the email, Zuma Dogg says y'all better squash those plans, because the rest of the email will discredit certain elements that are to be involved in the creation and execution of the plan. And it can make things uncomfortable for project backers, and that's not my intent or goal. So hopefully, this is enough to squash it, so I don't have to start posting the attached (court) documents.
[Hey Wicked Witch of the Boardwalk...Uncle Zuma "Dorothy" Dogg has the bucket of water, ready to dump! So think REAL HARD if you want to proceed with this plan, please. I DID NOT LIKE being surrounded by LAPD when I was performing at Venice Beach. I think I'm starting to put the pieces together...LAPD cameras see ZD on boardwalk. LAPD insider calls his outside community contact and says, "Call in with a complaint." THEN, the LAPD cops show up, not even knowing they were sent out in a cahoots double-duo bamboozle. SO I GOTTA PULL THE PLUG. AND LUCKILY...SOMEONE ATTACHED MY HAND TO THE CORD! That's the benefit of being a beloved, most recognized, political, shady-busting voice of all time, with TREMENDOUS rapport with the community. Add it all up...ZD'S GOTS THE GOODS! The project (AND, the party) are O-V-E-R! And as usual, don't get cocky and arrogant and under-estimate, second-guess ZD. Ask around how that goes. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!? NO ONE WANTS THIS TO GO ANY FURTHER. And this is the only notification. IF I HEAR ONE MORE WORD...SH*T STARTS TO FLY LIKE AIR FORCE ONE!]
HEADLINE: "BIG BROTHER COMING TO LOS ANGELES AS LAPD ALLOWS GROUP OF PRIVATE RESIDENTS TO INSTALL AND MONITOR CAMERAS ALONG VENICE OCEAN FRONT WALK?"
5/28/11 UPDATE: Greetings To Venice From "Boston Dawna" (Damn!, does she have some hot bombshells to drop over LAPD Pacific Division and Venice311.org (Part 1) -- THE EMAIL SENT TO ZD THAT TRIGGERED THIS WHOLE AVALANCHE. AND IT'S JUST GETTING ROLLING!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
MEDIA PREVIEW: New claims Arnold Schwarzenegger used his security detail to hide sexual liaisons from wife (Attorney General Planning "Evaluation")
Oh no...just when the media dust cleared around the Santa Monica office of former Governor and former Hollywood Superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger (located in the path Zuma Dogg needs to take to get to "Groundworks Coffee" en la manana)...I have a feeling the Cirque De Sol Media is about to return. (PLEASE only send the adorable, friendly, female reporters!)
(From TMZ) - Arnold Faces an "Inquiry":
The Office of the Attorney General said they plan on conducting a preliminary evaluation of Schwarzenegger's sexual escapades, in which he allegedly used state-funded security details to cover up trysts with women in his hotel room. Arnold's people deny the charge and say it is "completely false." Read more:
New claims Arnold Schwarzenegger used his security detail to hide sexual liaisons from his wife
EXCERPT:New allegations include that he used the police assigned to him when he served as Governor of California to cover up sexual liaisons from his now estranged wife Maria Shriver.
The accusation was made by William Taylor, a former security chief in the Hyatt hotel in Sacramento, the capital of California, where Mr Schwarzenegger, now 63, stayed while in office.
Mr Taylor told The National Enquirer that California Highway Patrol officers regularly took women to the former actor's suite.
"The women looked between 18 to 25 years old, blonde and scantily dressed in club wear," said Mr Taylor, who The National Enquirer claimed had undergone a polygraph lie detector test.
The women would usually stay from two to four hours and sometimes they would be driven away by the patrol officers, Mr Taylor said. The California Attorney General's office was reported to be considering a formal investigation.
The claims echo the "Troopergate" scandal that engulfed Bill Clinton when two Arkansas State Troopers claimed to have arranged sexual liaisons for the politician when he was Governor of that state.
MEDIA ALERT: Brand New PORSCHE Parked In Schwarzenegger's Parking Space, NOW! (Is That His NEW Car? See Pictures HERE!)
2:00PM: A brand new, shiny PORSCHE is parked in the parking space of disgraced former Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger's Santa Moncia office. Did he get a new car, since his Bently is now so recognizable; or is the mall security guy watching TV, again, in the cigar shop and let someone else park in the ex-Governor's space? (Hasn't happened before. ZD feels Arnold drove to his office in a new car and is in there, now. So, some of you more adorable, female news anchors...grab your crew and stop by for a visit with ZD as we wait to see. I'll be in my VIP suite, overlooking the scenario. Wave and I'll come out to say, "hello.")PS: News media: It's "temporarily registered." I have the VIN number and phone number to the dealer who sold this car, if you're interested.
2:37PM UPDATE: You snooze, you don't get the pictures or VIN registration information. New, temporarily registered PORSCHE parked in Schwarzenegger's space was moved. I didn't see if Arnold left in it, or it was moved. Guess ZD only one with pics and dealer/VIN info, y'all.
EVALUATING LAPD CHIEF BECK'S PRESS CONFERENCE, TODAY, ON STOW SUSPECT LINEUP AND "CONFIDENCE" LEVELS (Trying To "Read Between The Lines")
First of all, although not a fan of the department, I am not at all trying to be critical of LAPD over the Dodger's Stadium Stow suspect investigation. As a matter of fact, I tipped the hat to Chief Beck, as I never have before, in the way he handled the press conference, earlier this week, when he announced to the city and nation that they had arrested a suspect who he was confident was the right person: A Tip of The Hat To Chief Charlie Beck and LAPD on Arrest of Dodger's Parking Lot Suspect!
And I'd like to add, NONE of this is Chief Beck or LAPD's fault. They didn't beat Stow. They aren't responsible for other people's actions...and it seemed to me to be damn near impossible to pull a needle out of a haystack, which is what it would take to find the guy, at this point.
AND, I'm even operating under the premise, that AT THE TIME, Chief Beck TRULY WAS confident they had the right guy. BUT, some of the confidence MAY have also been out of over-zealousness. Because, if you analyze the words which have been spoken, today...VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATELY, one could read into today's comments and walk away feeling the whole case is really at square one and they're not going to be able to pin it on the current suspect being held (on another probation violation.)
Here's my analysis via tweets:
- CHIEF BECK: I'm as sure as you need to be to make an arrest and pursue prosecution.” ("As you need to be!" Don't need hard proof for trial.) less than a minute ago
- LAPD CHIEF BECK said only that the results of the lineups "added to the evidence" against Ramirez. (Could mean only 1 of 6 positively ID'd.) 14 minutes ago
- ZUMA DOGG: Taking all bets LAPD has NO CASE to file against Stow Suspect at this point and he will walk. Please bet me. I need the money. 17 minutes ago
- Though all clues in today's LAPD conference indicates lineup didn't ID Stowe suspect, it HAD to be a success or how could Beck be confident? 28 minutes ago
- OH NO: How much you wanna bet, "Confident we have right suspect," means no witness ID, but still goin' with it." No other DNA, etc evidence. 36 minutes ago
- Not a legal expert, but if witnesses positively Identified suspect, wouldn't LAPD want to say so, to let public feel safer? Secret=Oh no! 38 minutes ago
- LINGUISTIC EVALUATION: "Satisfied with lineup results," could mean witness said, " I don't see him in line," with credibility and certainty. 41 minutes ago
- Police acknowledged Tuesday that the District Attorney's office is not prepared to file a case against Ramirez without additional evidence. 45 minutes ago
- STOWE SUSPECT: Chief Beck says he's confident right person has been arrested, but investigators not ready to send the case to D.A.'s office. 47 minutes ago
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Zuma Dogg's L.A. City News Tweets for 5/25/11
Today's tweets based on these most recent L.A. City News blog posts.
Everything You Need To Know About The Role of Los ...
ZD TWEETS:
More at http://facebook.com/zumadogg
- Zuma Dogg on Zev Yaroslavsky As L.A. Mayoral Candi...
- L.A. TIMES: District Attorney Opens Investigation ...
- Zuma Dogg - L.A. City News for 5/24/11 - A lot of ...
- CalPERS Pension Fraud: INVESTIGATION into Gift Tak...
- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa "Gets An Earful" F...
- Another Los Angeles building inspector pleads GUIL...
- CalPERS Gets BAMBOOZLED by Wall Street Over "Mile ...
- EMERGING DETAILS: Why District Attorney Steve Cool...
Everything You Need To Know About The Role of Los ...
ZD TWEETS:
- What's "inexplicable" mean? (I hope something good.) Someone interviewed me in person, yesterday. Called ZD, "inexplicable magic." (Thanks?) 20 minutes ago
- NOT BAD RESEARCH TO HAVE: When it comes to elections, ZD KNOWS what is MOST IMPORTANT to people, based on which posts get BIGGEST VIEWS! about 18 hours ago
- You AIN'T the only one reading: It helps when I post a lot of content, as I've been and http://LACityNews.com just had BIGGEST day in years! about 18 hours ago
- Usually, if I fired off a cranky, bipolar email in 7a-10a hours, I will usually send an apology in afternoon. If you don't get one=YOUR BAD! about 19 hours ago
- Pension heads taking gifts IS a BIG cause it will bring down crooks on BIGGER stuff. But U only started paying attention over "gifts" part. about 21 hours ago
- You jealous, simple, activists SICKEN me. You don't care about BILLIONS lost in fraud, but get all worked up about "gift taking." LOSERS! about 21 hours ago
- KNEW IT: I scream about BILLIONS in pension money lost to fraud=CRICKETS. But, new post on "gift taking" by pension heads=MORE POPULAR POST. about 21 hours ago
- Someone FINALLY knocks "ZD on Austin Beutner" out of #1 Most Viewed for week: "ZD w #LisaHernandez!" She's a HUGE STAR, based on the stats. about 21 hours ago
- TERMINATOR, JR. PHOTO, W/OUT FACE BLURRED. Maria, gimme a break. You MUST be blind to not see it! Picture at http://facebook.com/zumadogg about 22 hours ago
- CALPERS FRAUD: Buennrostro took gifts including a condominium & round-world trip from co-defendant, former board member Alfred Villalobos. 1 day ago
- LA TIMES ON CALPERS INVESTIGATION: Allegations of influence peddling/corruption emerged during scandal that gripped CalPERS in fall 2009. 1 day ago
- CalPERS Louis. Moret & Fred Buenrostro being INVESTIGATED over gifts. Do Google search for ZumaDogg blogging on these two names. BIG STUFF! 1 day ago
- MORE CALPERS PENSION SHADINESS: Gifts to state pension officials are under investigation - http://goo.gl/hUk8H 1 day ago
- 3rd World Mess, HERE WE COME: "Even worse news. The state still hasn't issued the bonds which will let us complete the 405." - Villaraigosa 1 day ago
- SUCCESSFUL!: We cut about 4,600 positions, laid off more people than we have at any time in recent history." - Villaraigosa @ Budget Forum. 1 day ago
- HE BLEW IT, YOUR SHOULDER: Villaraigosa at budget forum, repeating over and over: The city is broke. Everyone has to shoulder the burden." 1 day ago
- Kids show up to Charter school that Richard Riordan is Chairman of, to find DOORS ARE LOCKED: Didn't pay the bills! - http://goo.gl/AEgei 1 day ago
- Search for 2 other Dodger beating suspects goes on as LAPD works to minimize damage from leak of photo http://lat.ms/jffbG2 1 day ago
- Supreme Court upholds order: California to release 46,000 inmates. FAILING SOCIETY! Too many people failing/locked up, not enough state $. 1 day ago
- By any standard, I'd say this is the sign of a failing society/government. Too many criminals, not enough state money: http://goo.gl/8EWsJ 1 day ago
- LAPD infuriated @ media for leaking photo of Giovanni Ramirez. This could taint witnesses for "line up." Search his name on net to see pic. 1 day ago
- ANOTHER ZD coincidence... blogging HARD, SCREAMING for FEDERAL investigation into California pension fraud, then they announced one in Feb. 1 day ago
- One of the biggest ZD coincidences was calling Andrew Cuomo with names and links to posts on pension fraud, then those folks getting busted. 1 day ago
- TAKING OFF ON ZD'S GOOGLE BLOG STATS: About Board of County Stupidvisors.Wish ZD wrote it, but smart enough to post it. http://goo.gl/83XIL 2 days ag
More at http://facebook.com/zumadogg
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Zuma Dogg on Zev Yaroslavsky As L.A. Mayoral Candidate
[Pictured: One SWELL guy! Moe Howard's Estate called. They want his act back!]SUMMARY: DO NOT VOTE FOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY FOR L.A. MAYOR! (Look at his record and performance as Los Angeles Board of County Stupidvisors.)
Board of County Supervisors (BOS) are FAR WORSE than L.A. City Council; and based on my review of Stupidvisor Yaroslavsky's performance, at the BOS meetings, as televised throughout the county...MOE HOWARD'S ESTATE CALLED: They say, "Ceast and Desist on the 'Moe from 3 Stooges' Act."
So Zev is a career politician, who has sat on his lazy, bureaucratic ass for twenty years, or so, in the same seat, as the county slid right into the toilet, under his brilliant analysis, assessments and voting record. (He paid $200,000 to have his social network set up for him. (Didn't YOU set up you facebook, twitter and blog, for free, by yourself? Even if he had to pay someone to do it, $200,000??? What does HE care...not HIS money.)
So more to come on Zev "The 4th Stooge" Yarboslobsky: But finally, here's what concerns me about his campaign for mayor, if he chooses to run. (And I say he still might not run, cause Austin Beutner, the city hall-backed candidate, has retained the political consulting services of Ace "Avril" Smith. So that means Zev is gonna be DESTROYED in the mailer attack campaign. And Ace is known to get UGLY. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL U-G-L-Y!!! (So I don't know if Zev wants to endure that type of whipping.)
But here's what concerns me about Zev's campaign (positive for Zev): He's currently a long-standing Board of County Supervisor. He has union support and big support from his years and years in that position. And BOS is WAY bigger than City Council, in the fact that they oversee more and make decisions on much bigger money and projects. And everyone knows, these elected officials benefit in their campaigns by the leverage and even infrastructure of their office and position. And here's why:
Imagine if you are a big shot who DOES NOT SUPPORT ZEV and he wins?: OH MAN, are YOU on the out...better take your chances with Zev!!! Because, guess what? If he LOSES...oh no...his ass is still "Krazy Glued" to his BOS seat, and he'll still be voting on all those big projects and money. (Hope you don't have business with the city OR county, if you don't support Zev.)
I don't think any of these amateur. chump-change councilmembers will me able to mount the political infrastructure to beat Austin and Zev in the run-off. (Even though I think Jan Perry will surprise people with the amount of support and money she raises, out of the gate, compared to Garcetti. And Wendy...buh bye! City Hall threw you under the bus on the "Gold Card" ticket fix story, letting everyone know, you either HAD to know about it, or were a moron. Plus, you are too cold and do not even have the ability to be warm and fuzzy, like the despicable Antonio, Garcetti and these other phonies. AND AGAIN...it ain't gonna be the smooth sailing, like it was when you ran for controller against two grass root candidates with $50 bucks spent, between them. (You'll be fighting for union/billionaire share by TOO many other elected insiders. Riordan is backing Austin...when YOU used to be his gal. May as well pull the plug now, to save face on election day.)
So Zev will get support, cause if not...you're almost screwed, either way.
But Zuma Dogg predicts Austin Beutner would DEFEAT Zev Yaroslobsky in a run-off, because ULTIMATELY, people will have had enough of the same, old, tired, elected officials...Ace Smith will DESTROY ZEV in the run-off election...and all the movers and shakers have already fallen in love with Beutner -- and the more who meet him, the more who will jump on his bandwagon.
Anyway...whoever decides to run...if Zev runs...vote for ANYONE ELSE! (And you have a nice day!)
Refresh to top of LACityNews.com
L.A. TIMES: District Attorney Opens Investigation Into Villaraigosa's Top L.A. Housing Authority Apointee (Conflict of Interest)
[Ever hear me talk about "conflicts of interest" in the housing departments, where people working for the departments also work for other companies that do business with the department? Here's Mayor Antonio Douchebagaraigosa's TOP L.A. Housing Appointee. Wonder if he gets a "taste?" Villar's pension cronies are ALSO under investigation. But that's a SEPARATE investigation. Scroll this blog for THAT post. Plus, another investigation. I'm covering at least FOUR investigations into Villaraigosa's City Hall. Eventually, the trail will have no where else to go...DID THIS LITTLE DOUCHEBAG, ELEVATOR-SHOE, WEARING, PUNK APPOINT ANYONE WHO IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION? IS VILLARAIGOSA'S LEGACY GOING TO BE THAT OF A CONVICTED CROOK OF A FELON? Keep watching...]
L.A. housing official is focus of district attorney's inquiry
Prosecutors are looking into whether housing authority board President Beatriz Stotzer's work for a firm that manages apartments for affordable housing developers violates conflict-of-interest rules.
L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley's office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are looking into the private work done by L.A. housing authority President Beatriz Stotzer. (Lawrence K. Ho, Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley has opened a conflict-of-interest inquiry into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's top appointee at the city's housing authority, officials said Monday.
Cooley's Public Integrity Division is trying to determine whether housing authority board President Beatriz Stotzer violated state laws as a result of her private work for New Capital LLC, a company that manages apartments for affordable housing developers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman said.
Meanwhile, the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, which provides most of the housing authority's $1-billion annual budget, confirmed that it was conducting its own review of Stotzer, who also serves as president of New Economics For Women, a low-income housing developer.
James Todak, special agent in charge of HUD's office of inspector general, said his agency was "aware of the concerns about whether Stotzer owns or manages" properties that receive federal rent subsidies and was working with the housing authority to "address the issue." Todak declined to comment on specifics but noted that, according to HUD policy, housing authority board members are "not supposed to" own or manage so-called Section 8 properties.
Both inquiries are examining Stotzer's multiple roles. She is president of the city's public housing authority, which distributes federal rent vouchers, while also serving as the unpaid board president at New Economics and another nonprofit group, West Valley Community Development Corp. Both groups develop affordable housing.
Complicating matters further, Stotzer is also chief executive at New Capital, which performs work for, and is partly owned, by New Economics for Women.
Cooley's inquiry into Stotzer was launched in response to a private complaint. An inquiry is pursued to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to suggest that a crime may have been committed.
read full LA Times article
HERE'S TODAY'S L.A. CITY NEWS for 5/24/11 - A lot of stories.
L.A. housing official is focus of district attorney's inquiry
Prosecutors are looking into whether housing authority board President Beatriz Stotzer's work for a firm that manages apartments for affordable housing developers violates conflict-of-interest rules.
L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley's office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are looking into the private work done by L.A. housing authority President Beatriz Stotzer. (Lawrence K. Ho, Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley has opened a conflict-of-interest inquiry into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's top appointee at the city's housing authority, officials said Monday.
Cooley's Public Integrity Division is trying to determine whether housing authority board President Beatriz Stotzer violated state laws as a result of her private work for New Capital LLC, a company that manages apartments for affordable housing developers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman said.
Meanwhile, the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, which provides most of the housing authority's $1-billion annual budget, confirmed that it was conducting its own review of Stotzer, who also serves as president of New Economics For Women, a low-income housing developer.
James Todak, special agent in charge of HUD's office of inspector general, said his agency was "aware of the concerns about whether Stotzer owns or manages" properties that receive federal rent subsidies and was working with the housing authority to "address the issue." Todak declined to comment on specifics but noted that, according to HUD policy, housing authority board members are "not supposed to" own or manage so-called Section 8 properties.
Both inquiries are examining Stotzer's multiple roles. She is president of the city's public housing authority, which distributes federal rent vouchers, while also serving as the unpaid board president at New Economics and another nonprofit group, West Valley Community Development Corp. Both groups develop affordable housing.
Complicating matters further, Stotzer is also chief executive at New Capital, which performs work for, and is partly owned, by New Economics for Women.
Cooley's inquiry into Stotzer was launched in response to a private complaint. An inquiry is pursued to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to suggest that a crime may have been committed.
read full LA Times article
HERE'S TODAY'S L.A. CITY NEWS for 5/24/11 - A lot of stories.
Zuma Dogg - L.A. City News for 5/24/11 - A lot of Updates
Here are the stories from yesterday on L.A. City News. (http://LACityNews.com). A lot of stories, so I re-posted them all on one thread to make it easier to check out. (Not bad output for someone who didn't have one dollar in his pocket today, and isn't on anyone's payroll=no paycheck for ZD.) Here's what caught my attention, today. (ALSO SEE TWEETS ON RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS BLOG.)
Another Los Angeles building inspector pleads GUILTY (as O.J.) in FEDERAL bribery probe (Oh, he ain't done getting "probed!") (Talk show host, Kevin James just said on the air that he heard this investigation has expanded BEYOND building and safety department and expect to see more arrests, "sooner than later.")
CalPERS Pension Fraud: INVESTIGATION into Gift Taking: ALL THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN BLOGGED HERE, ALREADY...Phase One of SMACKDOWN!
L.A. TIMES: District Attorney Opens Investigation Into Villaraigosa's Top L.A. Housing Authority Apointee (Conflict of Interest)
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa "Gets An Earful" From Disgruntled Crowd at Budget Town Hall Meeting (HE'S TOAST! THE CROWD HAS TURNED ON TONY!)
Another Los Angeles building inspector pleads GUILTY (as O.J.) in FEDERAL bribery probe (Oh, he ain't done getting "probed!") (Talk show host, Kevin James just said on the air that he heard this investigation has expanded BEYOND building and safety department and expect to see more arrests, "sooner than later.")
CalPERS Gets BAMBOOZLED by Wall Street Over "Mile Wide Rules" (Told To "Get Smart Fast!")
EMERGING DETAILS: Why District Attorney Steve Cooley Wants NOTHING TO DO WITH (DUMPED!) Carmen Trutanich (Same Reasons He Sickened The REST of Us!)
CD 2 Councilman Krekorian Wants To Transfer Money Into Neighborhood Council Fund....BUT HE HAS TO APPROVE EVERY EXPENDITURE! (DOH!)
BIG VIEWS ON THIS ONE!: Everything You Need To Know About The Role of Los Angeles Board of County Supervisors -- AND A GOOD QUESTION TO PONDER (B.O.S. 101 for Dummies)
L.A. City News for 5/23/11 - Chief Beck, Board of Supervisors, Pension Fraud Question, 2nd Building Inspector GUILTY & Video of "Gold Card" Catfight
CalPERS Pension Fraud: INVESTIGATION into Gift Taking: ALL THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN BLOGGED HERE, ALREADY...Phase One of SMACKDOWN!
DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "ZUMA-DOGG" ALONG WITH THE NAMES IN BOLD TYPE FOR MORE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL. They ALL seem to know and love L.A. Board of County Supervisor Gloria "Kingpin" Molina. (I better be careful, I've been warned she carries a big machete behind her back.) More analysis to come...but I think this is just the little thread on the sweater that they are pulling on, to unravel the whole thing. Son of Sam got busted over a tail light. Al Capone over taxes. Here's the little starting point that might be leading to a big ending point!
From Los Angeles Times
California's political watchdog agency has opened an investigation into gifts to state pension officials from private equity fund managers.From Los Angeles Times
The state's Fair Political Practices Commission is conducting the investigation, made public Monday, that focuses on executives at the California Public Employees' Retirement System.
The list of 49 CalPERS officials and former officials being investigated includes four of the fund's 13 board members: President Rob Feckner, Vice President George Diehr, Louis F. Moret and J.J. Jelincic.
Also on the list are Chief Investment Officer Joseph Dear, former Chief Executive Fred Buenrostro, senior investment officers Curtis Ishii and Forouk Majeed, and former senior investment officers Christy Wood and Joncarlo Mark.
Gifts, including gourmet meals, private jet travel and bottles of wine, were commonplace before allegations of influence peddling and corruption emerged during a scandal that gripped the $237-billion CalPERS beginning in fall 2009.
Since then, the fund adopted regulations that provide for full reporting of economic interests and a ban on gifts to staff. The fund also backed proposed legislation that would prohibit all gifts to public officials, including CalPERS board members.
The investigation was first reported Sunday by Private Equity Hub, a financial news blog.
Gift reporting infractions could result in punishments ranging from warning letters to fines of $5,000 per incident. By law, state government employees must report all gifts from a single source worth more than a combined $50. Gifts with a total value of $420 from one source cannot be accepted.
One of those being investigated, Buenrostro, is the defendant in fraud lawsuit filed by the California attorney general's office that alleges that he took a number of gifts, including a Lake Tahoe condominium and a round-the-world trip, from a co-defendant, former board member Alfred J.R. Villalobos.
Villalobos allegedly used his influence with the CalPERS board to receive more than $40 million in fees for helping put together investment deals between the fund and private equity managers.
Monday, May 23, 2011
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa "Gets An Earful" From Disgruntled Crowd at Budget Town Hall Meeting (HE'S TOAST! THE CROWD HAS TURNED ON TONY!)
3rd World Mess, HERE WE COME: "Even worse news. The state still hasn't issued the bonds which will let us complete the 405." - Villaraigosa
SUCCESSFUL!: We cut about 4,600 positions, laid off more people than we have at any time in recent history." - Villaraigosa @ Budget Forum.
HE BLEW IT, YOUR SHOULDER: Villaraigosa at budget forum, repeating over and over: The city is broke. Everyone has to shoulder the burden."
Villaraigosa gets an earful during town hall meeting in Reseda - Daily News
SUCCESSFUL!: We cut about 4,600 positions, laid off more people than we have at any time in recent history." - Villaraigosa @ Budget Forum.
HE BLEW IT, YOUR SHOULDER: Villaraigosa at budget forum, repeating over and over: The city is broke. Everyone has to shoulder the burden."
Villaraigosa gets an earful during town hall meeting in Reseda - Daily News
RESEDA - Worries about a possible sewer tax. Concerns about budget cuts at a Porter Ranch fire house. Frustration at a lack of adequate mass transit.
The concerns aired at a Daily News-sponsored town hall with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Reseda on Monday night reflected the worries of residents living in a cash-strapped city. | Click here to see more photos.
And to the 200 people who attended, Villaraigosa offered little solace, repeating over and over: The city is broke.
"There's a finite pool of money here," Villaraigosa told the crowd. "Everyone has to shoulder the burden."
Rose Weller, from Sherman Oaks, voiced worry about a proposed sewer tax. "Seniors should be exempt from such tax," she said.
"I hear what you are saying," the mayor replied. "People are suffering."
While sympathetic, Villaraigosa didn't sugarcoat his answers. (Because there is no way he can, or he would. He's out of bullshit!!!)
With a massive, gridlock-inducing closure of the 405 Freeway scheduled for a few days this summer, Faramarz Nabavi of Encino asked when transportation officials would come up with better mass transit alternatives to the 405.
The mayor was blunt in his response. "I am going to let you know even worse news. The state still hasn't issued the bonds which will let us complete the 405."
While the mayor referred to the state's budget problems, it was the city budget that was underlying most of the questions and responses. Last week the City Council approved a $6.9 billion budget that cuts (SUCCESSFUL!) a range of city services. Among them was a Los Angeles Fire Department redeployment plan that reduces firefighting resources but adds to the agency's medical response capabilities.
Some in the audience were focused on the effect of that fire redeployment plan, although Villaraigosa rejected the characterization by audience member Scott Gould, a Porter Ranch resident who termed the fire cuts "draconian."
That's not the case, Villaraigosa said, "when you look at what the (fire departments) in cities around the country have done."(Don't shift focus, Chumptonio. That doesn't mean THOSE departments haven't been decimated, as well. And L.A. is very unique in it's wide geographic layout and complicated landscape, compared to other cities of our population. GIVE ME A BREAK, ASSHOLE...YOU BLEW IT IN A HISTORIC WAY, CLOWNTONINO, YOU LITTLE OUT OF SHIT, ELEVATOR-SHOE WEARING, PUTZ!)
Villaraigosa, whose term ends in 2013 (WANNA BET!), is exiting a far different city than the one he inherited. (SUCCESSFUL!) The current unemployment rate in Los Angeles is 13 percent, according to state data. When the mayor entered office in July 2005, the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent.
"This was the third year in a row of mega-deficits," he said. "That's what we had to cut. We've cut about 4,600 positions, laid off more people than we have at any time in recent history."
But Villaraigosa did offer some hope for the city's finances. "This will be the last year of budget cut deficits of this magnitude," he said. "The next two years, I expect it to go down." (Hey Mayor, you have a history of having your head up your little ass when you make your projections and expectations. YOU HAVE A HISTORIC RECORD OF BEING WRONG, ASSHOLE! NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP AND SIT DOWN! (OH, you already are!)
Another Los Angeles building inspector pleads GUILTY (as O.J.) in FEDERAL bribery probe (Oh, he ain't done getting "probed!")
Congratulations to L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley...oh wait, once again he didn't have anything to do with this, cause it isn't the Mayberry-like City of Bell. Gotta leave the REAL stuff to the REAL law enforcement BIG BOYS!
A second Los Angeles city building inspector caught up in a federal probe of bribery in the building department formally admitted his guilt Monday.
Hugo Joel Gonzalez, 49, of Eagle Rock pleaded guilty to a charge of soliciting and accepting bribes.
Over the course of an FBI investigation that spanned several months last year, Gonzalez accepted $9,000 in cash and wire transfers to his bank account from an FBI informant and an undercover agent. (DOH!)
In exchange, he approved permits for properties he had never inspected and, in some cases, never set foot on, according to court documents. (Was just trying to save the environment by cutting back on the carbon his vehicle would have emitted on the drive over to inspect the property. PLUS, he was merely trying to save the city gas money! APPEAL IT, BRO!)
In at least one case, he asked for $500 to pay "tribute" to another inspector so he could inspect a property outside his area of responsibility, along with a $2,000 bribe for himself. (How shady!...his bribe was bigger than the guy he was taking a "tribute" bribe for. THE NERVE!)
Another building inspector who was arrested as a result of the same investigation, Raoul Germain, 60, of Altadena entered a guilty plea to the same charge earlier this month.
Both inspectors have been fired. (I don't know...seems kinda rash. Hope they aren't jumping to conclusions. I know they just got busted by FBI, but still hasn't been an "internal investigation" by the Human Resources Department.)
The FBI informant, who worked for a residential developer with many projects in South Los Angeles, called the problem of bribery in the building department "systemic," according to an affidavit filed in the case. (MANY PROJECTS must mean MANY MORE BRIBE TAKERS...and that's only SOUTH Los Angeles. Hear some other pockets of town are shady, too. Like the REST of it.)
The Department of Building and Safety has received three subpoenas from a federal grand jury, including one seeking personnel records for at least 11 current and former employees. (Price Is Right Sounder: Whomp, whomp, whomp, whomp....WHOOOOOOOMP!) OH, this should be fun to watch. A parade of inspectors marching to the courthouse to plead, "GUILTY!" Hey wait a minute...wonder what ANTONIO VILLARAIOGSA HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS!?!?! I'M SURE HE COULDN'T HAVE KNOW A THING, SINCE HE'S NEVER IN TOWN.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Joe Akrotirianakis declined to comment on whether more arrests will be coming. (If there weren't, why wouldn't he just say, "no." And I don't think the FBI gets involved over two guys taking bribes.)
I think the Los Angeles County Supervisors are going to have to end up taking over L.A. City. John Perez can make a motion in the Assembly, or something. It's going to be taken away from the current people running it. There won't be anyone left. They're all going to be in prison, a furlough day or early retirement.
CalPERS Gets BAMBOOZLED by Wall Street Over "Mile Wide Rules" (Told To "Get Smart Fast!")
ANY BLOGGERS, TALK SHOW HOSTS OR ACTIVISTS GONNA START PIPING UP, ABOUT PENSION FRAUD, MORONS?
WALL STREET JOURNAL - 5/23/11 (Not just Zuma Dogg saying it!): Bank of New York Mellon Corp. has been fighting accusations that it took advantage of clients while trading currencies. A Wall Street Journal analysis of more than 9,400 trades the bank processed over the past decade for a large Los Angeles pension fund could provide ammunition to its critics.
Wall Street drives a truck through mile-wide hole in the rules (REUTERS, not just Zuma Dogg - 5/23/11)
WALL STREET JOURNAL - 5/23/11 (Not just Zuma Dogg saying it!): Bank of New York Mellon Corp. has been fighting accusations that it took advantage of clients while trading currencies. A Wall Street Journal analysis of more than 9,400 trades the bank processed over the past decade for a large Los Angeles pension fund could provide ammunition to its critics.
BNY Mellon priced 58% of the currency trades within the 10% of each day's trading range that was least favorable to the fund, the analysis shows. As a result, the trades cost the pension fund, the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, $4.5 million more than if the average trade occurred at the middle of the trading range for each day, the analysis showed.
This sounds kinda like a bank that takes your deposits and checks and re-orders them to create as many overdraft fees as possible, doesn't it?
But the bank said there was nothing improper about the practice. It said clients like the Los Angeles pension fund knewor should have knownthat the bank doesn't act in their interests when pricing the trades.
The currency trades at dispute in the Los Angeles pension fund case are called "indirect" or "standing-instruction" trades. In an indirect contract, clients allow banks to handle currency trades.
Doesn't this create a fiduciary relationship? The bank says no. I bet the pension fund thought otherwise.
The lawsuits allege that instead of giving the pension fund a price based on the time of day the trade was executed, bank transaction desks choose an exchange rate after the factusually one near the worst of the day for the client. The process for producing "falsified FX rates" for pension funds is called "locking the rates," according to both the Virginia and Florida complaints. The lawsuits allege that the bank would pocket the difference between the cost of the real trades and the "falsified FX rates" charged to the fund.
Wall Street drives a truck through mile-wide hole in the rules (REUTERS, not just Zuma Dogg - 5/23/11)
Point three: Basically pensions are not doing due diligence
The story that the Wall Street Journal and Felix covered relates to the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA). The LACERA held $33 billion of assets at the end of 2010.
This story is a replay of the actions of State Street Bank earlier this decade. In 2009 it was revealed that State Street executed about $35 billion in foreign-exchange trades for Calpers and Calstrs, another big California pension fund, and overcharged them by $400 million between 2001 and 2008.
Eric Dash of the New York Times reported the following that October:
State Street tellingly referred to the state pension funds as “dumb” clients since they allowed the bank to handle foreign exchange transactions for them, according to a complaint filed by the whistleblowers. Smart clients, it said, traded directly with the bank and obtained better rates.
The lawsuit contends that State Street concealed fraudulent pricing practices by entering false exchange rates into electronic trading databases and reporting false prices in the account statements that it provided Calpers and Calstrs. The lawsuit also accuses State Street of deliberately failing to include time stamp data in its reports so that the pension funds could not verify the actual cost of the trade.
Calpers is the nation’s biggest public pension fund. It’s seems that the investment professionals there should be aggressively getting market quotes as a matter of due dilengce. There are many places that provide quotes for foreign-exchange trading. FXall is the leading “multibank” foreign-exchange platform where instituional investors can get competing bids for trades.
The chart at the top of the post shows data from the Bank for International Settlements and shows how smaller banks, non-financial institutions and retail investors have all jumped into the foreign-exchange market as direct trading participants.
These giant pension funds owe their pensioners at least some confirmation that the OTC trade prices they are getting are competitive. There is no room for these funds to be “dumb money” anymore. The successful retirement of their beneficiaries requires that they get smart fast.
EMERGING DETAILS: Why District Attorney Steve Cooley Wants NOTHING TO DO WITH (DUMPED!) Carmen Trutanich (Same Reasons He Sickened The REST of Us!)
GREAT POST ON WHY SALLY DUMPED HARRY, I MEAN WHY COOLEY DUMPED TRUTANICH. (Same shit that pissed off ZD and the rest of the city.) DOUCHETANICH!
EXCERPT FROM: Cooley Cools It With Trutanich – It’s Official, Trutanich “Not Up To The Job!” Posted on May 23, 2011
by losangelesdragnet
EXCERPT FROM: Cooley Cools It With Trutanich – It’s Official, Trutanich “Not Up To The Job!” Posted on May 23, 2011
by losangelesdragnet
Although the Dragnet first reported the breakdown in the close relationship between LA District Attorney Steve Cooley and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, it took a little time for the mainstream media to confirm the rumor.
It's over - rumored rift between Cooley and Trutanich confirmed
Rick Orlov at the Los Angeles Daily News reports that “Cooley became disenchanted with Trutanich shortly after he was sworn in.”
“”It was becoming clear, across the board, that (Cooley) did not believe Trutanich was up to the job,” said a Cooley political adviser.”
Orlov’s confirmation of the bust-up of the former bffs was also picked up by Kevin Roderick at LA Observed.
Both sources report that the bust-up occurred shortly after Trutanich was sworn into office. Readers will recall that Trutanich swiftly set about defining his administration as one of sound-bites and grandstanding, with Trutanich’s ill-fated accusation of “criminal aspects” to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG’s) handling of the Michael Jackson Memorial. This was equally swiftly followed up with Trutanich’s alleged threats to arrest Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry and a number of City employees over the granting of billboard permits at AEG’s new downtown movie complex.
Sources close to Trutanich said that they were “shocked” that within 3 days of taking office, Trutanich seemed to care little for a ‘head-to-toe” evaluation of the way the City Attorney’s Office could be improved, and was “obsessed” with taking on AEG over the Jackson Memorial with “little or no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.”
Such internal disapproval surely found its way to Cooley, who probably also felt that Trutanich had become intoxicated with hogging the headlines instead of doing the job he was elected to do. Cooley is believed to have likened Trutanich’s antics to exceed even those of his “press release a day” predecessor Rocky Delgadillo.
The straw that probably broke the camel’s back is believed to have occurred in November 2010, when Cooley learned of Trutanich’s intention to run for District Attorney in violation of a sworn campaign pledge not to use the City Attorney’s Office as a springboard for higher office.
Apparently, Trutanich did not have the courage to reveal his intentions to Cooley, and Cooley only learned of Trutanich’s treachery when a longtime political aide informed Cooley that he had been hired to work on the Trutanich DA campaign.
Although Orlov reports that “Both sides say, for the record, there is no major rift between the two,” sources inform us on background that the pair “hardly speak” except when forced to appear at public events where both have been scheduled to appear.
READ MORE (continue)- See Original Post on L.A. Dragnet Blog
CD 2 Councilman Krekorian Wants To Transfer Money Into Neighborhood Council Fund....BUT HE HAS TO APPROVE EVERY EXPENDITURE! (DOH!)
CD 2
MOTION (KREKORIAN - GARCETTI) relative to funding for the purpose of providing grants to Council District Two Neighborhood Council.
Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
1. TRANSFER/APPROPRIATE $22,000 in the Council District Two portion of the Cultural Affairs Fund No. 100/30, Account No. 9699 (Council Civic Fund, and the unallocated, unencumbered balances in all accounts in the Council District Two Real Property Trust Fund No. 684, and $56,175 in the Council District Two portion of the State AB 1290 Fund No. 53P/28, Account No. G304, to a new account in the Neighborhood Empowerment Trust Fund No. 44B/47 entitled: “Council District Two Neighborhood Council Grant Program,” for the purpose of providing grants to Neighborhood Councils, with the understanding that all expenditures from this account shall be authorized by the Councilmember representing Council District Two (PAUL KREKORIAN) and with the further understanding that any limitations currently existing on the purposes for which these funds can be expended shall continue to apply.
Forget about the fact that you are transferring money from all these other funds to shovel into Neighborhood Council (I wonder what the recipients of THOSE funds, despite what you think about those funds, have to say about this.)
But here's what caught my attention. Neighborhood Council is supposed to have money to spend on things they want to spend the money on. They are supposed to decide on how to spend their piece of the pie. THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR. To do things council cannot do for you. BUT THIS SAYS THE EXPENDITURES shall be authorized by Councilman Krekorian? So what's the point? And I know he is Mr. Perfect Councilman, but doesn't this open it up for him to have his lap dog supporters come up with expenditures for Krekorian to approve that KREKORIAN wants approved. (Imagine if it was Huizar proposing this.) I know Paul Krekorian is PERFECT... but after ALL OF THE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTHORITY the NC system has been fighting for...NOW, you have to have Krekorian approve the expenditure? Again, what's the point. TOO MUCH POLITICAL LEVERAGE ON HIS PART.
L.A. City News for 5/23/11 - Chief Beck, Board of Supervisors, Pension Fraud Question, 2nd Building Inspector GUILTY & Video of "Gold Card" Catfight
[Pictured: Serving Greater Angelinos Since 2000.]Posted a lot since Friday, so here's an easy way to check out everything since you left your work computer on Friday. (Aka: L.A. City News for Monday, May 23, 2011)
A Tip of The Hat To Chief Charlie Beck and LAPD on Arrest of Dodger's Parking Lot Suspect!
Everything You Need To Know About The Role of Los Angeles Board of County Supervisors -- AND A GOOD QUESTION TO PONDER (B.O.S. 101 for Dummies -- BECAUSE THEY ARE!)
Zuma Dogg's Question For L.A.'s Blogging Budget Activists (Regarding LACERS - City Pension Fund)
Sunday Inspritational Story by Zuma Dogg (Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Stephen M. Hawkins, Quantum Physics, Universal Stuff)
L.A. CITY CORRUPTION RUNS DEEP: Second L.A. building inspector to plead guilty to taking bribes
CBS 2 VIDEO REPORT & L.A. Times Report: Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel Under Fire for "Gold Card" Ticket Fix Controversy
LEADERSHIP IN LOS ANGELES: Before We Can Create Change In L.A., We Have To Fix The Broken System (It Doesn't Matter Who You Elect, Until Then!)
DESSERT VIDEO: Zuma Dogg Meets KABC 7's Lisa Hernandez In Dream Chance Encounter
[Pictured: ZD's Google blog stats say she's HUGE! When I get my lawsuit damages money from the City, maybe I can afford to hire her as my co-host! L.A.'s new "Dream Team." (If you close one eye...ha, ha...I know what you were thinking.)]
SEE ALSO: Twitter feed on right hand column of this blog. AND, more on ZD's facebook.
5/23/11 TWEET TO ZD: Thank you for making my night, tonight, David. You inspired me, made me laugh & renewed my vigor to work on my reform efforts. Thank you! : ) [Good...then get to work...you just sent that tweet a couple minutes ago, and, it's only 12:36 am!]
http://ZumaDogg.com
Home Page to A Decade of Legendary-Triumphantness.
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