EXPOSE': LAUSD's "Schools to Prisons" Program - How it works and WHY? (Soon to be exposed in media!)

"LAUSD "Schools to Prisions":

"Pipeline to Prison":  Targeting the kids with low test scores who are driving down the LAUSD overall averages. (The schools are paid by the state based on test scores.)

What is happening to the kids -- and what the schools are doing to address this concern, is becoming a hot topic issue across the country, among parents. Here are some details.

Because schools get money based on test scores, it appears they are targeting students with low scores with truancy tickets that police are writing. for example, jeremy marks had received truancy tickets from the school police. this made it look like he is a problem. But some of the tickets were for being one minute to five minutes late -- after riding to school on MTA metro. The tickets are $250 for first offense and can go up to $400 and then $900 for multiple offenses. So then the parents are forced to pull their kids out of school, which is what the schools want, because then the kids are not dragging down the test scores. AND, they are also making the money off of these tickets from the low-income people who need the help most. When you get ticket, you have to appear in court. So you miss another day of school. And if you chose to fight the ticket, you have to miss another day of school.  PLUS, the parents have to miss work to fight the ticket...all over being one minute late.

He never did anything and was not involved in the altercation and was falsely imprisoned for eight months for attempted lynching on an officer and attempting to cause a riot. Th DA is trying to plea bargain it down, but Jeremy will not. So if/when Jeremy wins the case, he will have a huge lawsuit. There were complaints filed about these school police BEFORE a student was beaten six days later for smoking a cigarette. But Jeremy was videotaping it, so Jeremy was scooped up. The person who was smoking was let out the next day. But Jeremy was imprisoned for eight months for doing nothing but videotaping a fellow student being beaten by the police. The video showing this will be seen in court during a trial. The video will show the student who was beaten, being restrained by the officer. BUT NOT JEREMY! HE IS NOT BEING RESTRAINED. You will see Jeremy in the background of the video, filming his own video. There will be a trial, but first there was a bail redction hearing but the DA's office wasn't prepared, so it got postponed till Jan 17th or 18th (will have to check exact date). And the trial is continued indefinitely.  (So NOW the school-aged, 18 year old (adult) teen-ager has to try to concentrate and study in school...WITH A DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRIAL HANGING OVER HIS HEAD.

The school gets a lot of money -- AND, the prisons get THREE TIMES the money that the schools do, per kid. In the eight months he was in jail, he got NO education. So he cost the state $33,000 instead of $11,000 for ZERO EDUCATION!

BECAUSE there is more money in the PRISONS than in EDUCATION!

So push the kids with low test scores into prison -- YOU CAN RAISE THE TEST SCORES...AND MORE MONEY CAN BE MADE, PER KID, BY HAVING THEM IN PRISON (at three times the expense, per kid.) A WIN-WIN, I think we can all agree!

20 organizations are coming together to demand time with the school board and reforming the "Schools to Prisons" program.

Zuma's MOST EXPLOSIVE Day of TWITTER Posts Ever! (L.A. City Quick Hits)

1. PLAIN & SIMPLE: Just posted my most EXPLOSIVE blog post EVER, a few minutes ago at http://LADailyBlog.com. You SHOULD know when you see it.less than 10 seconds ago from web
2. Villaraiogsa-backed Councilman Jose Huizar is on "conflict of interest" radar in CD 14 over $250 Million questionable trolley project. SHADYabout 2 hours ago from web
3. Villaraiogsa recently appointed Jose Huizar to MTA board. Huizar is working on BIG & SHADY MTA project and sits on the related non-profit.about 2 hours ago from web
4. Besides L.A. re-call talk, there is a CD 2 Council seat up for grabs, with filing starting in July. Another chance to "take back the city!"about 3 hours ago from web
5. And of course there's the Villaraiogsa re-call talk that is a train you WILL NOT be able to keep from leaving the station.about 3 hours ago from web
6. I was also contacted today about a recall of (Villar-backed) Councilmember Jose Huizar, over the Broadway Trolley project, and much more.about 3 hours ago from web
7. A group of teachers started a blog to recall LAUSD Boardmember (Villaraigosa-ally) Monica Garcia: http://RecallMonicaGarcia.B....about 3 hours ago from web
8. BREAKING NEWS: CA ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY BROWN SUBPOENAS THOSE MENTIONED BY ZUMA DOGG IN MY PENSIONGATE COVERAGE! http://LADailyBlog.com.about 4 hours ago from web
9. People in L.A.who may wonder why I am blogging about NY's Andrew Cuomo...it's because he is part of same overall corrupt political posse.about 6 hours ago from web
10. I hope NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's PENSIONGATE investigation doesn't unravel. I hear he is hiding stuff and is MEGA-SHADY, himself.about 6 hours ago from web
11. I'm just expending and absorbing too much energy being out on the streets all the time. Too much noise, too much everything. I NEED RELIEF.about 6 hours ago from web
12. It's only 8:20 AM and I'm already unraveling from being out on the street and not sleeping or resting or eating properly. NOT looking good.about 6 hours ago from web
13. Janice Hahn wants to run for Board of Supervisor in 2012 if Don Knabe retires. But Don told me he WILL RUN for his third term. Sorry Janice!about 7 hours ago from web
14. ACTIVIST ALERT: The morning arrived way too quickly for ZD and today is NOT the day to be emailing me with your nutty community bullshit.about 7 hours ago from web
15. I think if New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo wants to investigate corruption, he needs to investigate himself. Who is he trying to kid?about 16 hours ago from web
16. Antonio Villaraigosa, you're a nice guy (even though a total corrupt-loser as mayor) but I am tired of your spinners. YOU ARE GONNA SEE THATabout 16 hours ago from web
17. If I were Los Angeles Mayor ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, the ONLY thing I would be doing this holiday weekend is telling his spinner to SHUT UP!about 16 hours ago from web
18. To: ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA: I think your spinner is being a SORE LOSER on Mayor Sam. I AM GOING TO SPIN YOU STUPID, SON! I MEAN YOU ANTONIO!about 16 hours ago from web
19. Someone spinning for VillarWeiss mentioned my name on another blog, along with some desperate remarks. I like him, but he's gonna regret it.about 17 hours ago from web
20. People have to remember, any "status/recognition/respect" I have from the masses in this city was achieved THE HARD WAY; not money buying itabout 17 hours ago from web

ZumaTimes.com
The only link you need.
LA Daily Blog feeds there!
Plus Twitter and ZD's YouTube link

A Letter About LA City's Broadway Trolley Project From "RECALL JOSE HUIZAR" Campaign: (Not to be confused with Recall Monica Garcia Campaign)

I mentioned on my Twitter page today, that I was contacted by THREE people, over THREE different LA City recalls, and un-coincidentally, the are all long-time cronies who are on the same crew: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragiosa, his boy (CD 14 replacement Councilmember) Jose Huizar, and Huizar's prodige, LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia who worked under Huizar when he was screwing up LAUSD as Board President. And of course, Lil' Weezy (Huizar) is the puppet who agreed to do Villaraiogsa's diry work as Counclimember when Antonio left his CD 14 council seat to f*ck up the city and state, forever, as Mayor of Los Angeles. Here is an email from the Huizar Recall Team:


Pictured: Dueling Docaillos! (Keep your enemies closer!)

Lowdown on Bringing Back Broadway:

To go hand in hand with this massive corruption, in order to streamline this project, Huizar has been appointed by Villar to the METRO board 3 weeks ago and I believe he sits on the non-profit involved in this story, if that is even possible.

Huizar is head of another shill non-profit to put streetcars on Broadway, costing over $100 million. $10M in private funds have been raised, as pressure is put on a theater owner Ezatollah Delijani, owner of Los Angeles, Palace, State and Tower Theaters, to pony up more money.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/05/21/opinion/doc4a04babf3860f296507665.txt

Excerpts:
"In a recent interview Huizar noted, “There’s a demographic of people who will ride the streetcar but won’t ride a public bus.”" - Yeah, guess what crowd won't get on a public bus...hint...$$$, not the people in the district.

"Even Huizar’s plan for Broadway includes not just a streetcar, but also a new $50 million parking garage." - City funded to pay for Delijani Parking

In order to sway Delijani to donate to this private non-profit, Huizar has proposed to name a public square, at 7th and Broadway, "Delijani Square". Also, although reported by the Downtown News that most of the other theater owners feel there is more than ample parking on Broadway, Delijani won't donate to the private non-profit until he secures more parking.

To further encourage Delijani money, again Huizar completely oversteps his authority as an elected public official by offering to rename a public square for "pay-to-play" signage:
http://lainsight.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7132&Itemid=70

Huizar wants to amend naming of city square from "Delijani Square" to "Ezat Delijani Square

Michael Delijani is also a member of the DLANC:

BUSINESS DIRECTOR- HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Michael Delijani

In response, Huizar, again using public taxpayer money, has proposed the city of LA purchase a building on Broadway for...wait for it...$27 million to convert into a "public" parking garage. Sounds like typical money laundering to me. Public pays for parking for Delijani, and in return Delijani donates to this non-profit.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/05/21/news/doc4a04c037642e9371828634.txt

Excerpts:
"Huizar sees the proposed structure as a bargaining chip to spur remaining theater owners to invest in their properties."
...
"Michael Delijani, whose family owns Broadway’s Los Angeles, Palace, State and Tower theaters, has long cited a lack of parking as an obstacle to reactivating the properties. That is particularly the case, he said, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, where his theaters are located."
"By contrast, the small stage door to the Delijanis’ Los Angeles Theatre abuts St. Vincent Court, where no parking is allowed, and a cramped, approximately 20-car lot."

But, the other theater owners say otherwise:
Other area property owners say ample parking already exists on Broadway.
“Parking is not really an issue for any of the venues here on Broadway,” said Orpheum owner Steve Needleman. “Numerous ones have had sold-out shows and they have had no problem with parking.”

Huizar’s office is attempting to purchase a potential garage site on the 600 block of Broadway. Huizar has said he expects to spend up to $27 million to purchase a site, and converting it to a space for at least 300 cars would likely cost another $25 million.

In addition to this shady money-laundering and total misuse of public resources to secure private funding, Councilman Huizar clearly points our that this one project, encompassing all of one city street amongst thousands of other needy streets that need basic repair, necessities:
"Bringing Back Broadway is one of my highest priorities as a City Councilmember. "
http://www.bringingbackbroadway.com/support/index.htm

What is not mentioned is that this project will essentially kick out the already struggling Latino businesses currently on Broadway, in an attempt to gentrify Broadway. This project is funded by the weekend theater crowd, as they want a streetcar to whisk them from theater to theater, and not be bothered by Latino merchants on Broadway. This streetcar will destroy the native, thriving Latino community, not to mention the growing modern residential community currently moving into lofts, as Broadway becomes a weekend retreat for the ritzy Malibu crowd.

Finally, adding further insult to industry, Huizar is trying to lobby for Federal funds for this pie-in-the-sky, kick out the hardworking native Latinos and build a playground for Malibu's finest, the entire nation's taxpayer dollars, instead of directing funds to things like education, teacher salary, and small Latino business development.

Hey, ho, Huizar's got to go....And I know a Dogg that can not only heave Huizar out, but step into the breach with authority and help make CD14 one of the greatest, most vibrant city district in LA and show the rest of the city how great our Latino Angelenos and their culture really are.

VIDEO: Monica Garcia parks state vehicle in (RED) no parking zone

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Zuma Dogg's blog posting has moved from LADailyBlog.Blogspot.com to ZumaTimes.Blogspot.com starting with this post. LA Daily Blog is exactly one year old. And I think in that year, it covered the entire spectrum of fraud, waste and abuse and I want it to now be an "archive" of that era and "reference manual" for all the shady tricks the Southern California elected officials are pulling on voters. So there is your KISS "ALIVE 1" as ZD works on new material for KISS "ALIVE 2!"

CLICK HERE FOR STORY AND VIDEO

ZumaTimes.Blogspot.com

LAUSD School Board Prez Monica Garcia's Sister Appointed by Villaraigosa to East L.A. Area Planning Commission

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraiogsa has appointed Lilia Ester Garcia, the sister of current LAUSD School Board President Monica Garcia to the East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission. (Jose Huizar's district...Well, isn't that convenient.)

Hope it isn't quid pro-quo for not having LAUSD interfere with the Las Villas Liquor Arcade that is going up less than 500 ft from LAUSD schools. (In violation of a City ordinance.)

Click here for Council Memo from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Click here for ETHICS MEMO!!! (SEEMS TO BE A SLIGHT PROBLEM WHERE THE ETHICS COMMISSION DIDN'T RECEIVE THE INFO ABOUT GARCIA'S APPOINTMENT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE UNTIL MARCH 4th, for the March 5th confirmation. And this letter from the Ethics commission didn't make it in the City Council file till March 7, 2008. (City's bad!)

SO CONFIRM NOW, WORRY ABOUT THE ETHICS LATER. Meanwhile, Ethics has already commented on the need for Monica's sister to recuse herself, as needed, since she is the Executive Director of a janitorial watchdog group. (See Ethics Memo link above.)

LACityNews.com
zumadogg@gmail.com

Greuel, Brewer & Moore Invite You To Public Safety Meeting: ASK THEM ABOUT MT. GLEASON MIDDLE SCHOOL! (See post)

Now this is a meeting that no-one will want to miss!

COUNCILWOMAN - WENDY GREUEL (Who will be attending for a short time)

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF - MICHAEL MOORE (Commanding Officer- Operations, Valley Bureau )

LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT - DAVID L. BREWER III

Invite you to attend: "Public Safety through Neighborhood Empowerment"

Please attend this important event to discuss Public Safety Issues in your neighborhood and find out about resources to help you get involved in making your Neighborhhod cleaner, safer, and a better place in which to live.

Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:30-8:30 p.m.
All Nations Church
10000 Foothill Blvd.
Lake View Terrace , Ca. 91342

********************************************************

Zuma Dogg has posted several stories about Mt. Gleason Middle School

The teachers and most of the staff are incredible and if it weren't for them the school would be too unsafe, in my opinion for the students to attend.

Now as the STNC Education Representative, I would like to share a few of the things that I have supported Students and Parents with during the last Year and a half at our local Middle School:

A Student reported that she had been "Touched by a Substitute Teacher" School Response: Child was not put into protective custody, Parent was not notified.
Police were not notified and were only contacted by the LAUSD school administration five (5) days later. Both of the non-reporters were promoted.

Administration forced 700 female students to share a restroom with only four (4) working toilets for "lunch and nutrition" for over 5 months. 4 toilets sat with no doors or stalls.

School Response: A half-assed quote to the local paper stated " The girls don't want to use the restrooms, They are too busy talking to their friends."

Parents have removed students from the school for fear of their Safety.

The boys are being forced to use the Girls restrooms at both after-school programs.

Students report that there are fights almost Daily. I often get calls from parents confirming this.

Last week I witnessed a fight on campus, through a locked fence. I broke up the fight with a neighbor. He said there all fights all of the time. that the Students climb over the fences to get out. As his house is close to the fence, the kids often climb the fence and jump off of the roof.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time on the phone with the District trying to deal with Safety Issues. I have Spoken to Julie Korenstein and appreciated the help that I get.

I have attended LAUSD Safety Commitee Meetings with Numerous reports regarding Safety issues.

Our Neighborhood Council is setting up a School Communication System and education committee for local school oversight.

The Response from the School /District has been to send a "Posse" (A Quote from the Teacher's Union Rep) to the Neighborhood Council Meetings to keep me and other Parents Quiet.

If they hear Something they don't like they call us liars.Not one update, or nice thing is ever said by them. they just all sit and glare at us.

Oh, did I forget to mention Irma Good the District Director over the Principal also attends the Neighborhood Council Meetings? Yes, she is the one that insinuated to Zuma Dogg, that the Wwapon that was picked up on campus and turned over to the District could have easily been made by the parent, rather than express concern over the handmade weapon found on school grounds.

I have gone to Wendy Greuel's office to talk about the School Safety Issues, but have been told that the schools aren't her problem and that I need to go to the District.

I go to the District, but a Principal, that is not providing a safe school environment per Federal law, remains on campus.

The Neighborhood Council has representation on School Committees, but nothing the School is doing is making sense and the Parents and the Community are not being notified of Changes

So...I Thought Neighborhood Councils were set up to support Neighborhood Empowerment

Now We have a Meeting to attend, Is this going to be the "Here we are the Ready to help You Brigade?"

Well, I certainly hope so, because in my opinion this continued throwing up road blocks in front of the Neighborhood Councils, and not really helping to solve the issues, is getting old.