Zuma Dogg's MEGA-THREAD For Monday December 22, 2008 (Re-cap of many L.A. Blogs and News Sites)

THIS SHOULD GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON ALL THE BLOGS AND NEWS SITES. Most recent stories on bottom of thread.

FINAL ZUMA DOGG SHOWS ON TIME WARNER PUBLIC ACCESS: Time Warner Santa Monica System (Channel 98 for most people.): Tuesday December 23rd at 12 noon (Election 09 ULTIMATE Political Rant Episode); and the FINAL show taped will air on December 25th at 11:30pm. Time Warner Hollywood system, covering the rest of the City, airs Sunday December 28th at 11:00pm. (A show just aired last night, on that system.) It too, is the final show taped. And it's a fitting middle finger salute to Douchetonio on the way out the door, y'all!

Happy Holidays From Zuma Dogg & Santa Claus!
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/13/08

Zuma Dogg Busts Mayor Villaraigosa's X-mas Tree (He can't even run that!)



NEW: Welcome to LOS ANGELES VOTERS FOR CHANGE (March 3, 2009 Election Slate)
via L.A. Voters For Change by LA Voters For Change on 12/19/08
Please go to http://lavotersforchange.com/.

We hope you join us in promoting this slate of candidates and ballot positions in the March 3, 2009 City of Los Angeles general election.

The Power of LA Voters For Change

We The People of Los Angeles, have a chance to create some real change at City Hall during the March 3, 2009 general election where Antonio Villaraigosa is up for re-election, several Los Angeles city council and LAUSD board member seats are on the ballot; along with numerous ballot measures.

Last mayoral election, no one had heard of YouTube or MySpace. Most of us had never even heard of a "blog", let alone read one. And although many of you had email accounts, this election cycle, EVERYONE has an email account and list of email address contacts. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO START MAKING MUCH MORE OF AN IMPACT IN THIS NEW TECHNOLOGICAL ERA!

LA VOTERS FOR CHANGE has put together a blog where we will post videos from candidates, news articles and blog posts that help support some of the reasons we need change in 2009.

L.A.'s Solar Energy Fraud: Is this what President-elect Obama stands for?
via Ron Kaye L.A. by Ron Kaye on 12/21/08
The trail of responsibility for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's fraudulent solar energy proposal leads straight to President-elect Obama, raising questions about whether all that talk of change and citizen participation and democracy was just so much lip service.

Bitter Cranky Update From Zuma Dogg as a blog reader thinks more people should realize the value of ZD's blogging.
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/22/08

Zuma's LA Daily Blog: MORE Bad Publicity For Villaraigosa *...*
via Google Alerts - zuma-dogg by on 12/22/08
WE'RE TALKING "FRONT BURNER" LIKE THE DAYS WHEN ZUMA DOGG WAS BLASTING ABOUT CONDO-CONVERSIONS IN VIOLATION OF VACANCY RATES!!! HOW DID THAT GO FOR YOU HERB! MY NEW YEARS RESLOUTION IS TO KEEP YOU HONEST, HERB. NONE OF THIS DOUBLE-TALK, ...Zuma's LA Daily Blog - http://ladailyblog.blogspot.com/

The 'Secret' Solar Plan Document -- 13 reasons Prop. B is a Fraud
via Ron Kaye L.A. by Ron Kaye on 12/20/08
Editor's Note: Judge David Yaffe gave Jack Humphreville and other signatories on the No on Prop. B ballot argument until Dec. 30 to respond to the legal intimidation by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's lawyer who is representing Mitchell Schwartz and the League of Conservation Voters political action committee which claims there are false and misleading statements. Rebuttals are due Jan. 5 and the next hearing is Jan. 8.

ZUMA DOGG EXCLUSIVE: LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL TO TIGHTEN "RULES OF DECORUM" RULES -- WHICH PAVES THE WAY FOR A SIX MONTH BAN ON PUBLIC SPEAKERS
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/17/08

Austin Mess: Bigger, Stinkier, Curiouser
via Mayor Sam's Sister City - Home of Los Angeles Politics by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Higby) on 12/17/08
Round one: Ben Austin, charter school leader, parent advocate and presumed favorite son of Mayor Villaraigosa fails to get sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot to run for the school board seat being vacated by Marlene Canter. Austin claims that his political consultant, Sue Burnside,...[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

BREAKING NEWS: Mayor Attempts to Censor Prop B Facts
via Mayor Sam's Sister City - Home of Los Angeles Politics by petra.fried0@gmail.com (Petra Fried in the City) on 12/19/08
The Mayor is dragging community activists and neighborhood council DWP Committee members to court today in an attempt to censor the facts associated with Prop B, the IBEW's $3.6 billion money-making March 3 ballot scam disguised as a "solar energy bond". From Ron Kaye: ...Please be aware that...[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Showdown at City Hall: Billboard Blight or Moratorium
via Ron Kaye L.A. by Ron Kaye on 12/16/08
The warning signs are clear: The City Council and the mayor have no stomach to take on their benefactors -- the billboard companies -- who they gave away the city to even after they won a lawsuit to stop the visual blight of electronic and illegal signage. Only you can put the fear of the people in them. And they are worried about a rebellion. On Tuesday, the council met for an hour to talk about the billboard problem -- behind closed doors because it's none of your business -- but didn't disclose what conclusion they reached or whether they violated the open meetings law by talking about the moratorium.

L.A. wants opinions on budget crisis
via KABC - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports on 12/22/08
The city of Los Angeles wants residents to give their opinion on the current budget crisis.

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS
via News by editor@dailynews.com (The neighborhood council calendar is published Mondays. Fax or e-mail information two weeks in advance to 818-713-0058 or dnmetro@dailynews.com.) on 12/22/08
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS Here is a list of this week's neighborhood council meetings.

Mayoral Candidate *Zuma Dogg* & Time Warner
via Google Alerts - zuma-dogg by on 12/22/08
LA Weekly nicely profiles activist and public-access television star Zuma Dogg who is running for mayor on the March ballot. But the story is much more than just Zuma, it's...Civic Center, Los Angeles, CA... - http://www.yourstreet.com/news/los-angeles-ca-civic-center

LA Weekly Blogs Zuma Dogg's Public Access Videos! (Plus Leslie Dutton and others!)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/12/08

The *ZUMA DOGG* Video Blog: Recent YouTube Videos By *Zuma Dogg*
via Google Alerts - zuma-dogg by francine dancer(francine dancer) on 12/22/08
The ZUMA DOGG Video Blog: Recent YouTube Videos By Zuma Dogg.life after punkbunny - http://francinedancertv.blogspot.com/

Zuma Dogg Can Tell You, Villaraigosa DOES NOT Have The Supporter He Used To, Cause They Are Now Calling "Zuma Dogg" (Now That He Is On The Ballot)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/13/08

Zuma Dogg For Mayor: Campaign Blog Thread (Volume 1)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/14/08

NEW: The "Zuma Dogg For Mayor" Campaign T-SHIRT & Campaign Sign
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/14/08

Zuma Dogg on Marc Germain's "Talk Radio One" Show
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/16/08

Zuma Dogg Gets the 'Big Mo'
via Mayor Sam's Sister City - Home of Los Angeles Politics by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Higby) on 12/15/08
Zuma Dogg for Mayor Sign - Ink Studios Gallery, NoHo Arts District - Photo by Mayor Sam Mayoral candidate Zuma Dogg senses growing momentum for his campaign and challenges the notion that Walter Moore, with support from talkradio hosts and about $200,000 in campaign funds, is the leading challenger...[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

LA VOTERS FOR CHANGE: Lincoln Heights 90031 Blog Discusses March Election (Reyes vs Rosas, Zuma Dogg vs Villaraiogsa)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/17/08

Los Angeles City Council Approves Six Month Moratorium on Billboards
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/17/08

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Wants To Know: What's Important To YOU, Sucker? (He Really Wants To Know, Please Don't Let Him Down)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/18/08

Laura Chick Audit "SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT" Regarding L.A. City Councilmember Janice Hahn
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/18/08

LA Times SLAMS Measure B, And Garcetti Looks Garshady Over This "Green" Plan
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/18/08

EVEN MORE Bad Publicity For "Measure B" (Solar Energy Boondoggle) On March '09 Ballot (See Also: Eric Garcetti/Wendy Greuel)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/19/08

Los Angeles Times Exposes Measure B (Solar Energy Bond) As "Extremely Risky" While Council President Eric Garcetti Witholds Information From Public
via L.A. Voters For Change by LA Voters For Change on 12/19/08

Analysis calls ambitious L.A. solar plan 'extremely risky' An outside consultant says Measure B, which easily made the March 3 ballot, is more costly than portrayed by the city's Department of Water and Power.By David ZahniserDecember 19, 2008When members of the Los Angeles City Council agreed last month to put an ambitious solar energy plan on the March 3 ballot, they talked effusively about their desire for cleaner air and "green" technology jobs -- the kind that could boost the economy during a recession.What they didn't discuss was an analysis by a city-hired consulting firm that called the solar plan "extremely risky" and considerably more expensive than was being portrayed by the Department of Water and Power.

Please Sign the LOS ANGELES VOTERS FOR CHANGE Petition HERE
via L.A. Voters For Change by LA Voters For Change on 12/17/08
Click here for the "LA Voters For Change" Petition

Some Good Reasons To Vote "NO" on Measure B (Solar Energy BONDoggle)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/20/08

Obama ups the ante on economic stimulus plan
via Los Angeles Times - Print Edition on 12/21/08
New warnings about the economy prompt his team to more than triple the cost of the plan in an effort to create or save more jobs. Warned that the economy may get considerably worse, President-elect Barack Obama has more than tripled the size of the economic stimulus package he embraced during the campaign and is aiming to create or save 3 million jobs, up from 2.5 million, transition officials said Saturday.
Hedge Funds Dump NYC Real Estate

via WSJ.com: What's News US on 12/21/08
Several hedge funds are dumping New York-area office space as they struggle with investor redemptions and stingier lenders.

L.A.'s mysterious solar energy plan
via Los Angeles Times - Opinion on 12/22/08
Rooftop solar energy is a fine idea, but voters are still in the dark. It's a no-brainer: Capture the sunlight that pours down most days on Los Angeles rooftops and convert it to electricity. If solar panels can generate enough power to run even a few of the air conditioners that Southern Californians use to weather our scorching late-summer days, it will be worthwhile. The Department of Water and Power estimates that the city can do that and more -- it expects 400 megawatts from rooftop panels that pump energy right into the local distribution system without new transmission lines running across sensitive ecosystems. The program could make L.A. the nation's leader in nonpolluting solar technology. No arguments here.

L.A.'s new arts school an expensive social experiment
via L.A. Times - Education on 12/22/08
The campus has long been intended as a local school, mostly serving students from surrounding neighborhoods. Critics say the district's best resources shouldn't be restricted geographically. With just nine months left before it opens, a new arts high school in downtown Los Angeles still lacks a principal, a staff, a curriculum, a permanent name and a clearly articulated plan for how students will be selected -- critical details for a school that aims to be one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States.

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: TV Ad Support for L.A.Times
via Google Alerts - zuma-dogg by on 12/22/08
Zuma Dogg SITES WE ALSO ENJOY Al Martinez · Chris Gulker · Clawson-Preston Memorial · Dad Talk · Edward's Facebook · Edward's YouTube · ExpatJane · Flickr Photographs · LA Times Composing Room ...Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club - http://www.edpadgett.com/blog/blog.html

L.A. can use race as factor in magnet schools
via SFGate: Top News Stories by begelko@sfchronicle.com (Bob Egelko) on 12/22/08
Los Angeles can continue to seek racial balance in assigning tens of thousands of students to specialized magnet schools despite California's voter-approved ban on race preferences in government programs, a state appeals court has ruled. Friday's decision by...

Governor brings budget fight to L.A.
via KABC - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports on 12/22/08
Governor Schwarzenegger is bringing is fight over the state budget crisis to L.A.

Los Angeles City Budget. What's Important To You?
via LAFD News & Information by LAFD Media and Public Relations on 12/18/08
The City of Los Angeles is facing major financial challenges over the next few years that will affect many facets of each of our lives. Mayor Villaraigosa and other City leaders are asking for your input on the performance and necessity of the services provided by the City and to help them place priorities on the levels to maintain.Mayor Villaraigosa and City Leaders are conducting an online survey, and all stakeholders are encouraged to take this survey to convey your concerns regarding the priorities City leaders should establish when developing the City's budget.

Schwarzenegger Will Veto Democratic State Budget
via CBS 2 - KCAL 9 - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports on 12/18/08
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will veto an $18 billion package of budget cuts and tax increases Democratic lawmakers pushed through the state Legislature.

Zuma Dogg Busts Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's In City Hall Christmas Tree Bamboozle (He Can't Even Run A Christmas Tree)
via Zuma's LA Daily Blog by zumadogg@gmail.com (zuma dogg) on 12/18/08

Interpreting W. Edwards Deming's 14 Points (Methods for Management of Quality and Productivity)
via The ZUMA DOGG Video Blog by Zuma Dogg on 3/15/07
QUALITY DIGEST/June 1994Long after Deming's death, his 14 points will continue to transform U.S. industry. Interpreting Deming's 14 Pointsby Zuma Dogg[Editor's note: W. Edwards Deming died December 20, 1993. The following article analyzing his famous 14 points was written before his death. Fortunately, Deming had the opportunity to review this analysis.]His name is W. Edwards Deming, the American who taught the Japanese about quality.Back in the late 1940's and early 1950's, Japan was in an economic crisis. They had just lost the war and it was time to rebuild. They took Deming's methods for management and productivity and put them to use in industry. The rest of this economic miracle is history. They listened when no one else would. How can WE bring our industry and our nation "out of the crisis"? Let's review Deming's 14 points of transformation:

LA Times SLAMS Measure B, And Garcetti Looks Garshady Over This "Green" Plan

It's over for Measure B, the "green" energy solar measure on the March 3rd, 2009 ballot, that everyone was already against anyway, except for the shady politicians.

Analysis calls ambitious L.A. solar plan 'extremely risky'

An outside consultant says Measure B, which easily made the March 3 ballot, is more costly than portrayed by the city's Department of Water and Power.

By David Zahniser
December 19, 2008

When members of the Los Angeles City Council agreed last month to put an ambitious solar energy plan on the March 3 ballot, they talked effusively about their desire for cleaner air and "green" technology jobs -- the kind that could boost the economy during a recession.

What they didn't discuss was an analysis by a city-hired consulting firm that called the solar plan "extremely risky" and considerably more expensive than was being portrayed by the Department of Water and Power.

Measure B, which calls for unionized DWP workers to install solar panels on rooftops and parking lots across the city, sailed onto the ballot with a unanimous vote. But days earlier, the council's top policy advisor was so troubled by the proposal that, in an e-mail to Council President Eric Garcetti, he recommended that the council delay it until a future election.

After receiving the analysis from the consulting firm, Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller warned Garcetti that the solar measure could result in "substantial increases" to the electricity bills of DWP customers.

Neither Miller nor Garcetti made those findings part of the public record. Since then, Miller's office has rebuffed requests from The Times for a copy of the consulting firm's analysis, saying the state's public records law allows city officials to withhold any document that would reveal the "deliberative process" between the council and its chief legislative analyst.

Miller said Thursday he is no longer worried about the cost, as long as the DWP can secure $1.5 billion in solar tax credits. But he said the agency still must deal with other findings from the consultant, which concluded that the utility "does not have the planning mechanisms and resources in place" to accomplish the solar plan.

Garcetti, for his part, said the consulting firm's findings were not made part of the record because they were among several opinions that he solicited informally on the ballot measure. Solar industry experts disagreed with the numbers produced by the consultant, he said.

"They said that this [ballot measure] was absolutely doable and that that [the consultant's analysis] was wrong."

Still, foes of Measure B said the findings confirm their worst suspicions about the measure -- and the process used to get it on the ballot.

Opponents have called Measure B a backdoor mechanism to make voters sign off on a huge package of DWP rate increases. And they accused Garcetti and Miller of concealing the findings of the private analysts, P.A. Consulting Group.

"That's the problem with City Hall," said former DWP Commission President Nick Patsaouras, who opposes Measure B and is running for city controller. "They think the average taxpayer is not smart enough to tell them the truth."

In a Nov. 4 e-mail obtained by The Times, Miller told Garcetti that he entered into a "quick contract with a very reputable firm" to study the solar plan at Garcetti's request. He offered to keep the analysis from other council members even as he complained that DWP officials had failed to do their own thorough analysis of the measure. "It concerns me greatly that the department did not come forward with this information themselves," Miller wrote. "It would have been as available to them as it was to me."

Miller later concluded: "Since this request came directly from you, I am not sharing this with [Councilwoman] Wendy [Greuel] or the other members until you clear it."

Garcetti said he later gave Miller permission to give the findings to other council members -- and would not have voted to place the measure on the ballot if he thought the findings were accurate.

Still, Councilman Bernard C. Parks, who heads the council's Budget and Finance Committee, said he never received the findings -- and wished that he had.

"If this is accurate information, or at least a point of view, the council should get the chance to ferret through this," Parks said.

The DWP has already agreed to impose increases of nearly 24% on electricity bills between 2006 and 2010. DWP officials contend the solar plan would lead to rate hikes of no more than 4% for the average household, and that those would occur no sooner than 2011.

But according to a one-page summary attached to Miller's e-mail, P.A. Consulting Group warned that ratepayers could face annual surcharges of up to 12% per year if Measure B passes.

The analysis also said that the solar plan would cost $3.6 billion, not the $1.5 billion suggested by DWP General Manager H. David Nahai.

"Bottom line is they do not believe that the department can deliver on this program at all, and that the costs associated with the program are way understated," Miller wrote in his e-mail to Garcetti.

CITY CONTROLLER ELECTION ALERT SIDEBAR: Wendy Greuel
wants to be City Controller? Not with a comment like this; "Greuel,
who is also running for city controller, said she also looked at Miller's document
but concluded that the DWP had answered all the questions raised by it."

WAY TO GO "GREUESOM!" I LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATE'S REPLY MUCH
MORE..."That's the problem with City Hall," said former DWP
Commission President Nick Patsaouras, who opposes Measure B and
is running for city controller."They think the average taxpayer
is not smart enough to tell them the truth."

Read More "Greuesome Garshadiness"