Mary Benson Balks At City Council Meeting During Her Public Comment Time (She Mocks Zuma Dogg, But Couldn't Pull Off ONE Public Comment....LOL!)

[Editor's Note: You KNOW it's a cranky RANT, when it's all one paragraph!]

Mary Benson has a looooooooong way to go before she can POP OFF with her big, overly-long winded (to the point of a bureaucratic filibuster) mouth at Zuma Dogg for the way he spent HIS time at city hall and "card board box" living conditions that ensued as a result. During the recent CD 2 City Council debates (forum, actually) Ms. Benson felt the need to "take off the gloves" and attack Zuma Dogg (a fellow grass roots candidate, and the grass roots candidates were supposed to attack the BIG 3 MONEY candidates, not each other, Mary) in response to my comments during the campaign that, "of all the candidates on the ballot, I am the only person who has attended a majority of the meetings over the past three years, and went over an entire year, without missing a single council meeting. And there is NO ONE in the city who can say that. Not any of the elected officials, staffers, members of the public, or anyone. (AND after the year-streak, I just took one day off to prove to myself that I could, and was back the next meeting for another "Lou Gehrig" sting of meetings.) So yes, that's a benefit and advantage worth mentioning, because it provided me with the historic perspective and knowledge of knowing most of what has been happening at a very detailed and complex level, as I have scanned all of the agendas and spent countless hours interviewing/questioning city hall officials, outside experts and members of the public on these top city issues. Ms. Benson took that as an opportunity to say, "not all of us can live in a cardboard box..." EXCUSE ME! It's true I was willing to dedicate myself and make a commitment in a way no one else ever has, and I had no business making that commitment if I ended up on the streets and now so burnt out, I think I'm beyond returning to the functionality I was enjoyed. BUT MARY BENSON CAN STILL KISS MY ASS...BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T EVEN WALK ONE DAY IN ZD'S SHOES! LOL! SHE COULDN'T EVEN MAKE IT THROUGH ONE COUNCIL MEETING! On Friday, Mary showed up for her big public comment at the council meeting, because she is running for City Council. Not THIS election, but the next CD 2 election in a year in a half. (She has ZERO chance of winning, because this election there was no incumbent [open seat], but next time, there will be an incumbent, and she ain't gonna beat THAT...PLUS the other BIG MONEY candidates that will run next time, as well.) But campaigning, she is. And that's nice. BUT, Friday she shows up to the council meeting and sits in that first row (on-camera) position you are familiar with seeing Zuma Dogg sit in awaiting his hundreds and hundreds of comments. Because it's NICE to sit in that first "on camera" seat in the first row, because it allows people to know, "O.K., Zuma's there and waiting to speak." (For the people who tune in to see ZD, and might not STAY tuned in, if they aren't sure if I'm coming up. Like a "coming up" bug on your screen.) So Mary did that on Friday. And there she was in the front row to let everyone watching know, "Look at me...I'm HERE today at the council meeting!!!" But again, it ain't that easy or fun to sit through these long-winded council meetings. And when they called Mary's name to speak, she missed her turn. Whether she was just out of the room for a minute, or left entirely. Either way, for whatever reason she was sitting in the front row, it didn't add up to one, two minute public comment. Zuma Dogg never walks away from a meeting without maxing out the entire seven minutes allowed. So Mary Benson has a loooooooong way to go before she can be proud of any achievements insied council chambers. She obviously took a first stab at it on Friday. But mission aborted. I KNOW I MAKE IT LOOK EASY ON TV, MARY. Now feel free to keep my name out of your mouth and say hello to your pal Walter Moore to me. You both have ONE thing in common. NEITHER ONE OF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO BE IN A RUN-OFF AND YOU BOTH HAD TRASH TO TALK ABOUT ZUMA DOGG. You losers DEFINE yourselves by your candidacies. You walk around saying, "I ran for office and got 'so and so' many votes." And BOTH of you had to do it at the expense of Zuma Dogg. But NEITHER of you could walk ONE DAY in my shoes, losers. LOL!


[Pictured: Mom had to drive the camera out to Barnes and Noble on a Saturday Night when Zuma Dogg was spotted in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks area. Didn't spend a PENNY in the media to achieve this result.]

SOMEWHAT RELATED: People like Walter Moore and Mary Benson can run their big fat mouths about Zuma Dogg and his activities in the the COUNTIES of Los Angeles and Ventura, but do you have ANY IDEA what it takes to produce the type of public feedback that I am treated to on the streets on a daily basis? Recently, last month, I walked into an upscale bar in Malibu that I hadn't been to in about a year. IMMEDIATELY, many in the crowd flock to ZD to say, "hello," and let me know how much they admired my efforts over the past nine years in the L.A. media. The FIRST person who came up to slap me on the back...BEFORE I even walked in the door as I stood outside the door already greeting people who were already running up to me said, "You're an "f-ing" legend, Zuma Dogg." AND FOR THE RECORD, I'll have you know, Sean Penn, Kid Rock and other Hollywood actors were there that evening, too. AND AMONG THOSE PEOPLE, Zuma Dogg is a legend in that person's mind. AND IT WENT UP HILL FROM THERE. (Ask Jill Stewart what happened in Agoura Hills the first time we ever met at a local bar, there. CONSTANT interruptions by people trippin' that ZD was there, LIVE before their eyes!)

So I don't appreciate being besmirched publicly by mean-spirits like Walter Moore and Mary Benson. I don't think these people are stopping me on the streets calling me, "legend" and all the other accolades you are familiar with because I attack you two losers. Now try and carry on without having to do it at my expense, Mr. Moore and Ms. Benson. AND THAT GOES FOR ANONYMOUS COMMENTS, TOO, Walter!

Can Eternal Election Loser Walter Moore Simply Get OVER Zuma Dogg and move on with his life without and do something for the community instead

I know a lot of nutty wackos out there like to attach their fears and dream to their savoir, professional mayoral election loser, Walter Moore and maybe some of you wackos can tell him to grow up and get over Zuma Dogg, already. They mayoral election was over months ago.

First of all, Walter isn't really as sharp as he tried to lead you to believe. I've been immersed with most of the activists around town, and it isn't Walter Moore who has the information that knocked Zuma out, early on, like the Neighborhood Council and other front-line community members. When you go to a DWP oversight meeting or NC meeting or Planning and Land Use Meeting or any community meeting...HE AIN'T THERE. AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE WATCHDOG INFO THAT MATTERS. But he searches and mines for the little
"gotcha stuff" that annoys us all and the talk show hosts like to laugh about. (NOT THAT IT IS GOING TO SAVE THE PENSION MONEY IN WALL STREET OR WORK TOWARD FIXING THE DWP PIPES AND FIXING THE BUDGET. BUT, if you want to know a lot of things that are going wrong and a lot of finger pointing, Walter is YOUR guy!

He comes up with some stuff, but again, have you ever seen him at one of your meetings, BESIDES when he shows up during his losing mayoral campaigns?

WHAT HAS HE EVER DONE BESIDES RUN FOR OFFICE? I MEAN, REALLY.

He makes fun of me and others for going to council every day, and using the excuse that some of us (him) have to work for a living. FINE...but does that mean you can NEVER, EVER attend a meeting (council or otherwise)?

Walter has sent me numerous emails in the past telling me what a fantastic job I am doing out there and what a tremendous service I provide, adding, if I only took off my hat and glasses, wore a suit and drop the act, I would be a real force. WELL, I did that Walter. (LOL!)

But in the media he just CANNOT TAKE that he is many times mentioned with me in articles. Today he referred to me as a "fool" on Ron Kaye's blog. And he's always posting on sites like Daily News, "why do I get lumped in with 'him' (me)."

Walter, you should be honored to be mentioned along with me, because the people love what I do and admire the effort. YOU, don't do squat except use people, like the Shaws for your (Fill In The Blank's) Law that you were just waiting to push for your election.

So I think today would be a good day for that bitter, racist clown Walter "Wacko" Moore to move on with his life and stop defining himself by having to whine about Zuma Dogg.

AND GO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF FOR ONCE WALTER. YOU'RE NOT SO SPECIAL. AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT ANY MORE SPECIAL THAN ANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU LOOK DOWN ON.

We'll end it here, but if you INSIST on dragging this out...I'll continue. YOU WILL LOSE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE...A LOSER. Next time you are quoted or have something to say, try to say it without having to define yourself in contrast to me. Just say what you have to say and complain about what you want to complain about and point fingers where you want to point them. WE KNOW...YOU ARE A SERIOUS GUY WHO IS BETTER THAN ME AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE COMPARED TO ME AND YOU ARE IN A LEAGUE OF YOUR OWN AND YOU WENT TO HARVARD AND ARE A LAWYER. WE GET IT. JUST SAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO PUSH AND TRY TO LEAVE MY NAME OUT OF IT. I know whenever I need to know something that matters, your name is always left out.

ZUMA DOGG- “LOOKING FOR TOP DOG SPOT” -- “COMMUNITY ACTIVIST” RUNNING AGAINST VILLARAIGOSA

As published by Carlos Morales in the December 2008 issue of "THE VOICE" Newspaper serving Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, El Sereno and surrounding areas. (Also published by Tom Topping in December issue of Boulevard Sentinel newspaper serving Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mt. Washington and Glassell Park.) Plus, look for "Zuma Dogg" in the December 11th issue of LA Weekly.

DECEMBER 2008
323.221.7400
voicepub@gmail.com
Page 9

ZUMA DOGG- “LOOKING FOR TOP DOG SPOT”
“COMMUNITY ACTIVIST” RUNNING AGAINST VILLARAIGOSA











ZUMA DOGG

Why Zuma Dogg Wants To Be
Candidate For Mayor of Los Angeles

For the past month, I have
been out on the streets of Los Angeles
gathering signatures for my
nominating petition to get “Zuma
Dogg” on the ballot for the mayoral
election in March 2009.

A candidate needs 500 signatures to
get on the ballot for the election
(Mayor, City Council, LAUSD),
but it’s not as easy as you think.
Some candidates pay people
to gather the signatures, or have
staff members gather for them.

But Zuma Dogg has been getting
them the hard way…one by
one on the streets of Los Angeles.
(Sidewalks, actually.)

And although my body is heavily
taxed at the end of the process
from running all over the city, it
was a great opportunity to discuss
the different issues (problems)
with the city with constituents
from across the city.

So here are some of the main
issues (reasons) that resonated
best with people as I had to the
same basic question over and
over a thousand times, “Why do
you want to be mayor and what is
your platform?”

Well my name is Zuma Dogg,
and after attending most of the
city council meetings over the past
two and a half years (including a
recent six month stretch, without
missing a single meeting), I do
not like what I see regarding the
way the current mayor and city
council is running the city.

First of all, the City of Los Angeles
is worse than Vegas. At least
in Vegas you have set odds. The
City of LA will try to get away
with anything (in violation of the
Constitution, City Charter or even
State or Federal Law), then it’s up
to YOU, the constituent to sue the
City; but most people can’t, the
city knows that, and that’s what
they plan on.

CLEAR CHANNEL BILLBOARDS:
Look how all of these
bright, fl ashing (UFO) Clear
Channel billboard have popped
up all over the place, in places
they were NEVER intended to be
installed. (You are NOT supposed
to have a backyard view.). And
now, someone showed up at City
Hall, last week, claiming that
many of these billboards were installed
under fraudulently signed
permits. Even Councilmember
Eric Garcetti is now saying that
many of these billboards are in
places they were never intended
to be installed.

HOUSING: The city has continued
to warn us how they have
to keep building massive density
housing structures to keep up with
the population boom migrating to
Los Angeles. However, in case
you hadn’t noticed (and everyone
ZD has spoken to HAS), the city
has gone all upscale million dollar
condos across the city and forgot
about all the moderate-priced
housing for people who work in
the city. People like teachers, police,
clerks, cooks, labor workers,
staffers, retail workers AND EVERYONE
ELSE WHO KEEPS
THIS CITY FUNCTIONING.
Now, all the million dollar housing
(much of it built in violation of
zoning and vacancy laws) is sitting
vacant; and people are forced
to live outside the city and commute
back in, each day, which
makes traffi c much worse.
We need to focus on providing
moderate-priced (workforce)
housing, because you cannot have
a city where all the rich people
live in one area, and everyone else
is pushed out or into the streets.

THEY ALWAYS SAY IT’S FOR
ONE THING, THEN IT GOES
FOR SOMETHING ELSE: It’s a
Citywide issue that affects every
DWP rate payer in the Boulevard
Sentinel reading area; TRASH
COLLECTION FEES! If you
check your most recent DWP bill,
you will notice the trash collection
fee (solid waste fee) has TRIPLED
over the past two years.
When they created this fee, they
said it was to hire 1000 new police
offi cers (LAPD). Now, not
only do we fi nd that after tripling
the fee, they haven’t hired the
cops, but NOW, City Council is
talking about a hiring freeze on
police! (Then are you going to
refund the trash collection fees
that you said was in a “lockbox”
fund that would not be used for
anything else?)

FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY
EARMARKER FOR THE
COMMUNITY ENDS UP EARMARKED
FOR CRONIES,
BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS
AND SPECIAL INTERESTS:
This is Zuma Dogg’s pet peeve
issue, after attending a couple
year’s worth of council meetings;
THE FRAUD, WASTE AND
ABUSE OF FEDERAL AND
STATE MONEY, TO PROVIDE
SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT
IN THE COMMUNITY
(mostly through non-profi ts)
then the money is diverted into
“shady” non-profi ts and given
to billionaire developer projects,
instead of going into the communities
for the intended purposes.
THEN, they come back and raise
your fees and say they need new
property taxes to help solve the
problem; after they just wasted
most of the money they were given
for the problem.

For example, there is billions of
dollars in CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) to redevelop
BLIGHT in the community.
Emphasis on the word, “blight.”
It’s for “blight.” (Get it!) So what
happens? They end up handing
your tax increment money over
to Billionaire Eli Broad, Related
Co (one of the biggest developers
in the world); in partnership
with the Arab Emirate Family
of Dubai for the “Grand Avenue
Project.” A project that boasts of
a Mandarin Hotel, tippy-top of
luxury (and expensive) condos,
“boutique” shops and eateries.
(How about some actual amenities
people living downtown actually
need? Instead of some international
millionaire play palace
mall?) That is not redeveloping a
blighted community!

Zuma Dogg as mayor, will
make sure that if you are applying
for money from the City of
Los Angeles, it is going into the
community…not a bunch of shill,
front-end loaded, crony deals.

OVERALL, between ballot
measures that are written to be intentionally
deceiving (they called
a council term extension a “limit”
on the ballot; and the new Prop
S phone tax a “reduction); violations,
variances and exemptions
of every planning issue imaginable;
and what appears to me and
many activists who attend the
council meetings regularly; the
“fraud, waste and abuse” of public
money to provide services to
the community (and everything
else that comes across the council
agenda on a daily basis); you
got one guy who is pissed-off and
doesn’t like what he sees. His
name is Zuma Dogg; and I hope
to knock Antonio out of the box
and help get on top of some of
these issues and help reduce the
waste and help refl ect the spirit
of the community, not the bank
accounts of the career politicians
and their cronies.

ZumaDoggForMayor.com

LA WEEKLY ARTICLE: Shutting Down Public Access TV (Featuring Zuma Dogg, Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles)

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The final two episodes of "The Zuma Dogg Show" will air on Time Warner's Hollywood system on Sunday December 21st and 28th at 11:00 pm on the public access channel. And no...Viagraosa won't like it.

You gotta admit, Patrick Range McDonald has got to be the best investigative news reporter in America. And LA Weekly has got to be the best weekly newspaper in America. (Maybe even the whole world.)

Here is the beginning of the massive 5000 word article that underscores the shadiness of the end of public access as only LA Weekly could do.

Masked avenger: Once derided, Zuma Dogg earned respect on public access TV. - LA Weekly photo: Orly Olivier

Shutting Down Public Access TV
AT&T and L.A. City Hall quietly lead a national push to silence the little guy

By Patrick Range McDonald
Published on December 10, 2008

The day before Thanksgiving, Zuma Dogg, an outspoken community activist who has a comedian’s sense of the absurd, stands in the far back of the thinly attended City Council meeting at Los Angeles City Hall, waiting his turn to speak during the public-comment period. Wearing a black ski cap pulled down to his eyes, with black wraparound sunglasses and a black, long-sleeved T-shirt, he looks like a bank robber. But as host of The Zuma Dogg Show, he’s not only one of the most recognizable figures at City Hall, cordially greeted by passersby, including security guards and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, he also has the ear of high-level insiders, who feed him information in the hope that he’ll expose, and possibly stop, one questionable government project or another.

“People say no one watches public access,” Zuma Dogg uncharacteristically whispers, “but if you’re on there consistently, then people absolutely watch it. You now have a guy who’s famous in L.A. and without spending a lot of money. Public access changed my life.”

Zuma Dogg, who takes his stage name from Zuma Beach and the rapper Snoop Dogg, hears City Council President Eric Garcetti politely call out his name for the hundredth time or so in the past few years. He hustles off to the podium at the front of the cathedral-like chamber, where bright lights shine down from the ceiling and automated television cameras roll for L.A. CityView, the public-access channel that broadcasts every City Council meeting.

“I’m hearing rumors of a hiring freeze over fire and police!” Zuma Doggs yells into the microphone. “Will the council member who has that idea please raise his hand because I’d like to say it’s the stupidest, dumb idea! It’s outrageous! How can you put a hiring freeze on fire and police? It’s the first line of defense of public safety and the city, and here’s why I’m really upset! You did nothing but put up high-density [apartment and condo] projects! High density! With millions of people! So you’re prepared for all of these people! You must keep up with the fire and police hiring to go with the population boom!”

After his allotted two minutes are over, Zuma Dogg takes a breath and returns to the back of the council chamber, where strangers, who enjoyed the hard time he was giving to city leaders over the crowded new housing erected in L.A., give him the thumbs-up, shake his hand, and, on two separate occasions, slide him 20-dollar bills. Since he spends most of his time producing public-access shows and attending City Council meetings and hearings, Zuma Dogg doesn’t hold a traditional job. Instead, fans and friends help him get by. In fact, in his first years on the scene, because he sometimes slept in his van, he was quietly derided by insiders, including a gaggle of journalists who attend council meetings, the subtext being, who cares what some homeless guy thinks?

His persistence, and now, even critics must admit, his growing expertise on city policy and city government, have changed all that. “I always feel the love,” Zuma Dogg says. “I walk down the street anywhere in this city and people are always coming up to me. I think they’re a little more generous today because of Thanksgiving.”

Zuma Dogg largely built his cult status, and the much-needed donations that came with it, through appearances as a rapping, rhyming watchdog of the Downtown powers on such public-access stations as Channel 98 on the Westside. Just last week, he turned that notoriety into the ultimate public-access fantasy: The Los Angeles City Clerk formally approved his signed petitions, officially placing his name on the March 3, 2009, ballot in his exceptionally improbable run for mayor.

Despite his standing as the Eminem of public access in L.A., he may have already involuntarily taped his final cable show.

If everything unfolds as planned, on January 1, Time Warner, which owns more than 90 percent of the cable-television market in Los Angeles, will walk away from operating 12 public-access studios in L.A, which help everyday people to create hundreds of hours of content on 11 freewheeling, neighborhood-based public channels.

The dozen studios will go dark, their freely provided TV cameras and other pricey equipment — now available for anyone in L.A. to use without charge — will immediately be off-limits, and most of the little guys who dominate public access will be silenced.

READ MORE


ZumaDoggForMayor.com

Join Zuma Dogg and Mayor Sam's Blog for the HOLIDAY EVENT at Casa Princesa THIS FRIDAY December 12th at 7pm. Click here for event details.

ZUMA DOGG COMMERCIAL FOR "HOLIDAY PARTY" EVENT AT CASA PRINCESA

MORE VIDEO From "Zuma Dogg For Mayor" Campaign Kick-off Parade!

Zuma Dogg For Mayor Intro Spot

B2 Stealth Bomber Flys Over "Zuma Dogg For Mayor" Parade

Zuma Dogg For Mayor Parade - Full MUSICAL Routine with Dancers & Cheerleaders

"Zuma Dogg For Mayor" Campaign Kick-off Parade (Part 1)

MC Zuma Dogg Unveils The City Hall Christmas Tree Display

Zuma Dogg in the ZD "Take Back the City" Mobile

ZumaDoggForMayor.com

Zuma Dogg Asks Bloggers And Community Leaders To Unite Toward One Impactful Action, Starting...NOW! (Plus Video of ENTIRE SLAP Meeting!)

SATURDAY’S SLAP MEETING: I went to my second SLAP (Saving Los Angeles Project) meeting, this past Saturday, headed by former Daily News Editor Ron Kaye. Last month, the meeting was under-attended, due to at least two other major meetings also held that day. (Like the DWP Oversight Committee meeting that was attended by a lot of people who would have otherwise been at SLAP.)

This month, there were about 28 people in attendance. The good thing about SLAP is that it is comprised of community leaders from across the City of Los Angeles, many of whom also participate in Neighborhood Council and other community groups. So if nothing else, they can go back to their community groups and help spread the word of the SLAP agenda/issues.

But the problem is, when you get so many leaders in a room from across the City, and no ONE person is in charge of taking charge and focusing things down to one or two ACTIONS to actually get something done…it’s a lot of re-capping the last meeting – and trying to decide what to do next and we're still waiting for something to actually happen…and a lot of people are getting weary of the lack of tangible action. AND THEN, you have to wait another 30 days (until the next meeting) to follow-up on last month. As someone who likes the concept of SLAP and see great potential, I would like to see SLAP do more in between meetings; perhaps with email blasts, conference calls, and video conferences to keep the momentum going between meetings.

ENTIRE SLAP MEETING (Zuma Address Crowd WITHOUT Glasses at 34 minutes)


I just called Michael “Mayor Sam” Higby and mentioned that if Zuma’s “LA Daily Blog” and his “Mayor Sam’s” blog, worked in conjunction with Ron Kaye’s SLAP (RonKayeLA.com), the effort (of the community/bloggers taking back the city from corrupt politicians), the movement would gain much more momentum. Michael liked the idea and agreed. (In the record industry, when three radio stations are playing the same record, the record takes off on the charts much more quickly.)

ZUMA & MAYOR SAM’S HOLIDAY PARTY THIS FRIDAY AT CASA PRINCESA: I know Ron likes to keep his SLAP separate from Zuma Dogg, and don’t think he really wants to join forces with ZD and Mayor Sam for events like this, but THIS FRIDAY, is the Zuma Dogg (LA Daily Blog) and Mayor Sam (Michael Higby) HOLIDAY PARTY at the world famous Casa Princesa in Eagle Rock, CA. A lot of people who participate in SLAP also know ZD and read Mayor Sam (it’s the same crowd for the most part), so maybe some SLAPPERS can hold an un-official gathering at the event Friday Night (7pm) to kick things around and kick around some ideas to bring to next month’s meeting. CLICK HERE FOR EVENT DETAILS.

ZUMA’S IDEA FOR A THREE-WAY BLOG ATTACK ON FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE AND MISREPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND SPIRIT: I would like to see a “motion” drafted, then circulated as a petition, that addresses some specific concerns that hopefully we would all agree on. For example:

As the people of Los Angeles are concerned about the fraud, waste and abuse by elected members of City Hall…

A) FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH NON-PROFITS: Before the City of Los Angeles hand over Federal and State money to non-profits, to provide services in the community, a non-profit will be audited, before money is handed over, to help insure as much of the money makes it into the community, instead of into the hands of political cronies. Because then, the mayor and city council come back and raise your fees and place new taxes on the ballot, to help pay for the problem that they just wasted all the money for.

Higby came up of the idea of “planning” and how things pop up by the City looking the other way (to paraphrase Michael). So perhaps something like this;

B) BILLBOARDS IN VIOLATION OF PLANNING: We the people demand that the City of Los Angeles enforce their own laws regarding zoning and planning issues that have allowed flashing digital billboards and many other billboards to pop up in areas in which they were never intended. The reason many of these billboards HAVE popped up is because of shady deals with the City Attorney’s office and turning a blind eye. Zuma’s new motto is, “Exemptions should be an exception, not everyday reception!” (Exemptions and variances are the rule of thumb, not the exception.)

C) Email ZumaDogg@Gmail.com with your ideas for the motion and I will try and put something together and then, all the blog readers from Mayor Sam, SLAP and ZAP (Zuma’s Action Plan) can circulate this motion as a petition throughout the city, then present it to city council during a meeting.

The challenge will be to create something that almost everyone will feel good about and want to circulate. YOU WILL NEVER PLEASE EVERYONE, BECAUSE THIS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INCLUDE EVERY ISSUE IN THE CITY. This is supposed to be for the big picture issues regarding the way Villaraiogsa and City Council do not represent the interest of the community, but the interest of the privileged cronies and special interests. I think we can draft something most everyone agrees with. And then those who do, can circulate.

SO THIS FRIDAY AT CASA PRINCESA COULD BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS, AND HOPEFULLY, I WILL HAVE PETITIONS TO SHOW PEOPLE.

VILLARAIGOSA USED COLLEGE STUDENTS (INCLUDING BURBANK) TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR HIS PETITION: Someone contacted Zuma Dogg from the Highland Park area saying that a college student (who lived in Burbank) was gathering signatures for Villaraiogsa’s “candidate for mayor” petition, in exchange for college credit at East Los Angeles Community College.

This female college student knocked on this person’s door at around 8:30pm. The person who contacted me was concerned for the girl’s safety, since she was all by herself at night in an area that has had some problems. (Not the safest idea.) But if you are getting college credit to gather the signatures, I guess you are willing to take the risk.

Meanwhile, what a pussy of a coward the mayor is, over all of this. For all of his money and organizations behind him, he has to go have college kids gather the signatures for him, in exchange for college credit. But this shouldn’t surprise you. The mayor uses “his people” from CD 14 and CD 1 like human props to get the money for the community from the government. Except the community doesn’t see the money. Villar’s cronies and associates do.

What happened to you Antonio? Everyone says you were a real, "bro" and good guy before you took office. (Hope ZD doesn't change!) Someone must have reached in and stolen your soul.

Look at the way you use “your people” in CD 14 and CD 1 as human props to get the Federal and State money, then you hand it off to your cronies and the community who believed in you never sees it. I HOPE SLAP, ZAP, AND MAYOR SAM CAN WAKE A FEW PEOPLE UP AND OPEN THEIR EYES.

I was at the Highland Park Holiday Parade, yesterday. Zuma Dogg is always concerned about the REAL corruption and racketeering that goes on under Villaraiogsa. But to your average former Villar supporter in CD 1 or CD 14…he’s just a plain embarrassment. They don’t know about all the stuff ZD is most concerned about. They just had high hopes for him, and he totally let them down and has just become a joke of and embarrassment. The whole Mirthala thing triggered it all. Then the “photo op” attacks in the media. And the 11% story in LA Weekly. And the “pothole” stuff. And they are just embarrassed by him. But Zuma Dogg thinks they have much more reason to be concerned than just the fact that the mayor is a jack-ass mascot puppet like Mickey Mouse walking around Disneyland. But that’s what the past two and a half years of blogging have been about.

ED REYES PULLS A POWER TRIP AT HIGHLAND PARK HOLIDAY PARADE: Looks like Ed Reyes didn't win over any voters at Sunday's Highland Park Holiday Parade (Aka: Zuma Dogg For Mayor Campagin Kickoff Parade.) It was reported back to Mayoral Candidate Zuma Dogg that CD 1 Councilmember Ed Reyes was heard "bullying" the community members (VOLUNTEERS) who were working at the parade. Apparently, Reyes didn't like being kept around waiting, further back in the parade route, and wanted to be bumped up to the front of the parade so he wouldn't have to wait. He was heard reminding people that he could have the parade shut down. It didn't work though, because the event volunteers did not rearrange the kids and other community members who were a part of the parade, just to bump the career politician to the front of the line. SHAME ON YOU ED "DUMMY" REYES.

STOP BY CASA PRINCESA THIS FRIDAY DECEMBER 12th at 7PM FOR THE MAYOR SAM & ZUMA DOGG HOLIDAY PARTY. Try and send out emails to as many people inviting them. And although this is a fun, holiday party (including $10 food buffet, karaoke, music, and guests); you know when you get all us bloggers in the roon, we ain't talking about the Lakers. So we can look at the petition draft and maybe people can take copies with them. I just think one SLAP meeting a month isn't gonna get the job done between now and the March elections.

Casa Princesa - 7pm
4527 York Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA
(Just one-tenth of a mile east of Eagle Rock Blvd. DIRECTLY across the street from the Sparkletts factory. And the Casa Princesa installed a new sign on the building, so it will be easy to find.)

Mayor09.com

Zuma Dogg & Mayor Sam's Blog "Holiday Party" FRIDAY December 12th at Casa Princesa in Eagle Rock, CA

Friday, December 12th at 7PM is the perfect time for another Zuma Dogg LIVE Event at Casa Princesa in Eagle Rock, CA.

* MAYOR SAM & LA DAILY BLOG HOLIDAY PARTY: First of all, somehow, the Christmas/Holiday season has already gotten here. IT'S DECEMBER, ALREADY! And, I just exchanged emails with Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby, and he said that HIS blog isn't having a Holiday Party, yet...so ZD and Higby are turning it into the "ZD & Mayor Sam's" Holiday Party.

From Zuma's LA Daily Blog

* ZUMA DOGG FOR MAYOR PARTY: After trekking all over the city, gathering 1000 signatures -- and being verified as a candidate for mayor, it's time to have some fun under the banner of "Zuma Dogg For Mayor." Yes, campaign contributions will be accepted for my candidacy; but it will be the same kind of event we have had in the past, only hopefully, even a little better since now it is a "mayoral candidate" event, y'all -- plus annual Holiday Party!

* LA WEEKLY ISSUE RELEASE PARTY: The issue of LA Weekly, with the feature article on the end of public access, FEATURING ZUMA DOGG, will be coming out that week, so it will also be an LA Weekly issue release party. Pick up your commemorative, souviner issue and have it signed by Big ZD from the 213. I did a photo shoot for LA Weekly, this week, and it was fun. Should be a good shot, or two, hopefully in the issue. ;) ALSO: Pick up issues of Tom Topping's Boulevard Sentinel, that features a FRONT PAGE article by Zuma Dogg; and Carlos Morales' "The Voice", also with an article by ZD! Here is last month's article by Zuma Dogg in Blvd Sentinel.

* $10 FOOD BUFFETT: Based on the feedback from the last events, and especially since it is a HOLIDAY party, Casa Princesa will have a food buffett, that Zuma Dogg demanded a price cap of $10. It will be the stuff people like, such as wings, chicken wings, chicken filets, egg rolls, veggie burgers, pizza...I'll make sure it's the stuff people really want.

* "TOYS FOR TOTS" DRIVE: Casa Princesa already has a "Toys For Tots" box (U.S. Marine Corp Reserve) in the house. So Zuma Dogg will have the .99 cent toy store set up, so you can buy some .99 cent toys and throw them in the box as donations. ZD has the popular, little electronic toy items that are HOT this season and are sure winners for any kids.

* MEET THE CANDIDATES: I spoke with City Attorney candidate, Noel Weiss, today and he will be in attendance for people to meet and greet. PLUS, I called the other City Attorney candidate, Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich and left a message invititng him, so hopefully, he will be available, too. Plus, Louis Puglise, LAUSD candidate was at the last ZD/Mayor Sam Casa Princeas event, so hopefully, Louis will stop by, and ZD will be inviting all the other candidate who are running to stop by to meet people. (If you have a favorite candiate, send them this blog post and have them contact me at 213-785-7272.)

ZUMA DOGG FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN SIGNS: I will make you a "custom" Zuma Dogg campaign sign -- or you can make your own customized sign. You can call it a cheap way to make a campaign sign, cause I don't have money for printing; but homemade "custom" ZD signs is as ZD as it gets. Maybe I can draw you a "Zuma Dogg" T-shirt, too! (Like the one in this picture that I've worn on TV 35 and the one the LA Weekly wanted me to wear for the photo shoot.)

ZUMA DOGG "UNMASKED": I'll probably spend some time walking around without the hat and glasses so people can see what the next mayor of Los Angeles really looks like. LA Times' David Zahniser saw me at City Hall with only a baseball cap, and no glasses or beard (clean shaven) and he stopped dead in his tracks realizing it's a look he has never seen before. DEFINITELY more of a mayoral look.

ZUMA DOGG & MAYOR SAM'S HOLIDAY PARTY

CASA PRINCESA

Friday, December 12th at 7pm

4527 York Blvd.

Eagle Rock, CA 90041

(Directly across from Sparkletts, one block east of Eagle Rock Blvd.)

Mayor09.com

Donate To "Zuma Dogg For Mayor" To Help Me Get T-Shirts Made and other stuff.

LA Times Notes "Zuma Dogg" Qualifies As Mayoral Candidate For Their Readers

Thanks to LA Times City Hall reporter David Zahniser (your favorite), for not only mentioning that ZD qualified as candidate for Los Angeles City mayor, but felt so compelled as to add the, "But, yes,..." as though he had to break the news the whole city was waiting for. THANKS, Dave! (You should have seen the look of shock of David's face when he saw me at City Hall this week for the first time without my ski cap and sunglasses. It stopped him dead in his tracks. I think he was surprised how clean-cut and mayoral I looked...I HOPE!)

And you thought election season was over
9:15 AM, December 4, 2008

By 8:30 p.m. last night, election officials still had not finished reviewing petitions submitted by 17 candidates in races for school board, community college board, City Council and citywide offices. Would-be candidates who lack the required number of signatures will lose their chance to run.
Still, the election picture is now considerably clearer. Five candidates are in the race to replace City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, who is being forced out by term limits. Six candidates are running for the Westside seat being vacated by Councilman Jack Weiss, who hopes to become city attorney.

Much more to come as the city clerk keeps reviewing signatures. But yes, "Zuma Dogg" -- a self-described community advocate who is typically the noisiest presence at City Council meetings -- qualified in his bid to run for mayor.

For more, go to the city clerk's website.

-- David Zahniser

Next SLAP Meeting THIS SATURDAY (December 6th at 1:30 p.m.)

From: RonKayeLA.com

Saving L.A. Project (SLAP)

"SPREAD THE WORD" ELECTION STRATEGY MEETING: Saturday 1:30 p.m., Dec. 6, Hollywood Community Center,6501 Fountain Ave., Hollywood, right after L.A. Neighborhood Council Coalition meeting. Join the movement to CHANGE L.A. -- Unite, Organize, Mobilize.

A lot is at stake in the March 3 city primary and we can make a difference if we come together around a common strategy to change L.A.'s political culture. Help develop and implement a strategy for change. Help raise the funds we need and to carry out a grassroots movement to educate voters across the city on how L.A. can be fixed.

ZD with Ron Kaye
(plus City Attorney Candidate Carmen Trutanich)


Mayor09.com

BREAKING NEWS: "Zuma Dogg" Qualifies for March 2008 LA City Mayoral Election

It's official, y'all..."Zuma Dogg" will be on the ballot in March '09 for the Los Angeles mayoral election. Out of the 1000 signatures turned in, it took about 700 signatures to verify the 500. (So I had about 300 more to burn.

From Zuma's LA Daily Blog

DONATE TO "ZUMA DOGG FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES"

Zuma Dogg
Zuma@Mayor09.com
213-785-7272
Mayor09.com

Why Zuma Dogg Wants To Be Candidate For Mayor of Los Angeles (Part 1)

For the past month, I have been out on the streets of Los Angeles gathering signatures for my nominating petition to get “Zuma Dogg” on the ballot for the mayoral election in March 2009.

A candidate needs 500 signatures to get on the ballot for the election (Mayor, City Council, LAUSD), but it’s not as easy as you think.

Some candidates pay people to gather the signatures, or have staff members gather for them. But Zuma Dogg has been getting them the hard way…one by one on the streets of Los Angeles. (Sidewalks, actually.)

And although my body is heavily taxed at the end of the process from running all over the city, it was a great opportunity to discuss the different issues (problems) with the city with constituents from across the city.

So here are some of the main issues (reasons) that resonated best with people as I had to the same basic question -- over and over -- a thousand times, “Why do you want to be mayor and what is your platform?”

Well my name is Zuma Dogg, and after attending most of the city council meetings over the past two and a half years (including a recent six month stretch, without missing a single meeting), I do not like what I see regarding the way the current mayor and city council is running the city.

First of all, the City of Los Angeles is worse than Vegas. At least in Vegas you have set odds. The City of LA will try to get away with anything (in violation of the Constitution, City Charter or even State or Federal Law), then it’s up to YOU, the constituent to sue the City; but most people can’t, the city knows that, and that’s what they plan on.

CLEAR CHANNEL BILLBOARDS: Look how all of these bright, flashing (UFO) Clear Channel billboard have popped up all over the place, in places they were NEVER intended to be installed. (You are NOT supposed to have a backyard view.). And now, someone showed up at City Hall, last week, claiming that many of these billboards were installed under fraudulently signed permits. Even Councilmember Eric Garcetti is now saying that many of these billboards are in places they were never intended to be installed.

HOUSING: The city has continued to warn us how they have to keep building massive density housing structures to keep up with the population boom migrating to Los Angeles. However, in case you hadn’t noticed (and everyone ZD has spoken to HAS), the city has gone all upscale million dollar condos across the city and forgot about all the moderate-priced housing for people who work in the city. People like teachers, police, clerks, cooks, labor workers, staffers, retail workers – AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO KEEPS THIS CITY FUNCTIONING.

Now, all the million dollar housing (much of it built in violation of zoning and vacancy laws) is sitting vacant; and people are forced to live outside the city and commute back in, each day, which makes traffic much worse.

We need to focus on providing moderate-priced (workforce) housing, because you cannot have a city where all the rich people live in one area, and everyone else is pushed out or into the streets.

THE ALWAYS SAY IT’S FOR ONE THING, THEN IT GOES FOR SOMETHING ELSE: It’s a Citywide issue that affects every DWP rate payer in the Boulevard Sentinel reading area; TRASH COLLECTION FEES! If you check your most recent DWP bill, you will notice the trash collection fee (solid waste fee) has TRIPLED over the past two years. When they created this fee, they said it was to hire 1000 new police officers (LAPD). Now, not only do we find that after tripling the fee, they haven’t hired the cops, but NOW, City Council is talking about a hiring freeze on police! (Then are you going to refund the trash collection fees that you said was in a “lockbox” fund that would not be used for anything else?)

FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY EARMARKER FOR THE COMMUNITY ENDS UP EARMARKED FOR CRONIES, BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS: This is Zuma Dogg’s pet peeve issue, after attending a couple year’s worth of council meetings. THE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE OF FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY, TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY (mostly through non-profits)…then the money is diverted into “shady” non-profits and given to billionaire developer projects, instead of going into the communities for the intended purposes. THEN, they come back and raise your fees and say they need new property taxes to help solve the problem; after they just wasted most of the money they were given for the problem.

For example, there is billions of dollars in CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to redevelop BLIGHT in the community. Emphasis on the word, “blight.” It’s for “blight.” (Get it!) So what happens? They end up handing your tax increment money over to Billionaire Eli Broad, Related Co (one of the biggest developers in the world); in partnership with the Arab Emirate Family of Dubai for the “Grand Avenue Project.” A project that boasts of a Mandarin Hotel, tippy-top of luxury (and expensive) condos, “boutique” shops and eateries. (How about some actual amenities people living downtown actually need? Instead of some international millionaire play palace mall?) That is not redeveloping a blighted community!

Zuma Dogg as mayor, will make sure that if you are applying for money from the City of Los Angeles, it is going into the community…not a bunch of shill, front-end loaded, crony deals.

OVERALL, between ballot measures that are written to be intentionally deceiving (they called a council term extension a “limit” on the ballot; and the new Prop S phone tax a “reduction); violations, variances and exemptions of every planning issue imaginable; and what appears to me and many activists who attend the council meetings regularly; the “fraud, waste and abuse” of public money to provide services to the community (and everything else that comes across the council agenda on a daily basis); you got one guy who is pissed-off and doesn’t like what he sees. His name is Zuma Dogg; and I hope to knock Antonio out of the box and help get on top of some of these issues and help reduce the waste and help reflect the spirit of the community, not the bank accounts of the career politicians and their cronies.

END OF PART ONE OF A SERIES OF NEVER-ENDING SHADINESS...MORE TO COME

ZumaDogg@Mayor09.com
Mayor09.com

BIG Day of Signature Gathering For Zuma Dogg in Van Nuys & Silverlake

Zuma Dogg, Candidate for Los Angeles Mayor, passes the 500 signature mark today on the nominating petitions. Of course, everyone knows, you need about 800-1000 signatures to get 500 "good" qualifying signatures.

SILVERLAKE FARMERS MARKET: I think Silverlake is the best place to gather signatures in the City, because I am finding a really high percentage of the people are registered to vote; and support the idea of someone running for office (from a "democratic" standpoint). Very diverse community. A real jewel of a community in Los Angeles. Today they had a Farmer's Market, and I got a bunch of signatures. You should check out the Farmer's Market of Saturday mornings, right on Sunset Blvd.

WOODLEY PARK FAIR: There was a HUGE "Children's Day" (kind of) fair at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. It was thrown by the City of Los Angeles and a lot of non-profits had booths set up, but the real attractions were the food and rides, just like with any fair. Rides were only a dollar, but food was "stadium" prices (everything double what it should have been). Fritz Coleman hosted with Los Lobos, George Lopez, Nancy "Bart Simpson" Cartwright and a bunch of TOP cartoon voices, among others ZD didn't see. But overall, there were about 5000 people (according to LAPD), and a mostly Hispanic crowd. The "Special Event Fee Waiver" on this will be H-U-G-E, but I think it is a money maker for the City. Hopefully, not a "shady" money maker. It was the first annual. If there is a second annual, CHECK IT OUT. It was the nicest "open to the public" event of it's kind that I have ever seen. (Eagle Rock Music Fest was great, too...but this was a great day-time event.)

JAMIEL'S LAW AT WOODLEY PARK: The Jamiel's Law petition gatherers got several hundred signatures, at Woodley Park, too!!! (ONE gatherer got 400 signatures ALONE!) AND THANKS TO KEVIN JAMES for letting Zuma Dogg make a last minute announcement about Jamiel's Law petition event at Woodley Park on Friday Night. One of the people who showed up to help gather signatures, heard ZD's announcement on Kevin's show, and alerted he to show up to help. (And Kevin will be especially happy to hear she was a Walter Moore supporter with Walter Moore buttons. And she was campaigning for Walter. SEE!!! ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY! (Sarcastic tone): ZD COULDN'T be happier he helped alert a Moore supporter, who showed up and campaigned for him. Maybe I can hold a charity fundraiser for Villaraiogsa, next!

TOTAL SIGNAUTRES=about 500: I got about 100 signatures on Saturday. (You can only get so many before you can't even go through the pitch one more time. Since I am the candidate, myself, people take a lot of time asking what you stand for, and you end up talking to people WAY to long, just for a petition signature. BUT that's what it takes, and there's no easy way for a guy like me, other than to continue to plow ahead. So I got the first 500...now it's off for the next 500!

PayPal Alert: Donations HAVE been coming in this week in small amounts. THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS KICKED IN!!! I've been going through gas money faster than the CRA goes through tax increment money, and I'm down to my last few dollars this morning. If you haven't donated to ZD before, and would like to see "Zuma Dogg" on the ballot, please PayPal a little gas money. (Don't worry if you think the amount is small...ZD does A LOT on A LITTLE!) And if everyone PayPal'd the small amount they think is TOO small, it's A LOT to ZD!)

If you don't have PayPal account, you can still use a credit or debit card.

Mayor09.com

Zuma Dogg, Candidate For L.A. Mayor UPDATE:

THANKS DOUG!: As you know, Doug Mcintyre of 790-KABC radio has triggered several early-morning ZD "cranky-attacks" when he talks about the mayoral election and complains that LA Times doesn't mention Walter Moore; meanwhile Doug doesn't mention that Zuma Dogg is running. I've tried to explain how it isn't "ZD vs Walter", but "ZD & Walter & Everyone Else vs Antonio". SO IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR Doug this morning mention Walter...AND David Hernandez and Zuma Dogg. Doug still LEADS with Walter being the one he supports...BUT AT LEAST TAGGED IT WITH ZD AND HERNANDEZ IS ALSO RUNNING. AND, Doug ran down the "All the other candidates vs Antonio" scenario. (The goal is for all the OTHER candidates to get 50% of the vote to prevent Antonio from getting the 51% he needs for a win.) AND..."Zuma Dogg For Mayor" is SUPPOSED to be an opportunity for the talk show hosts to have some fun with Zuma Dogg while raising awareness on the issues and how the City is under the attack of corrupt politicians at City Hall. But for now, thanks for mentioning the other guys, too, Doug!

ZUMA DOGG SIGNATURE UPDATE: Wednesday was another day of ZD pounding pavement and gathering signatures throughout the City. Have about 375-400. (Not all will verify, but it's a good amount for this date, so far.) Got a lot of signatures at City Hall in the morning. Then headed up Sunset Blvd and hopped out of the car when I would see a crowd of people sitting outside at a sidewalk cafe. (Sunset Junction area is good!) THEN, it was off the the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council for more signatures. I will be shooting for the full 1000 you can submit (to find 500 qualifiers). The good news, is I see I can get people signed up as long as I keep moving 10 hours a day. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need someone to PayPal $10 or $15 today, cause I need gas and oil to carry on. BUT I FEEL GOOD THAT I WILL EASILY GET THE 1000 BEFORE THE DECEMBER 3rd DEADLINE AT THIS POINT! So please PayPal if you can, cause it looks like it will be worth it if you want to see "ZUMA DOGG" on the ballot.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING UPDATE: What a meeting yesterday over the Elelephants and the L.A. Zoo. One thing was clear...Cardenas obviously wants the sancutary in HIS DISTRICT. And LaBong obviously wants the money to stay in HIS district. I think it was probably the LOOOOOOOONGEST discussion and public debate that I have seen inside Council chambers. I have NEVER seen Tom LaBong get so fired up and passionate over something. I have NEVER seen so many public comments speakers. Garcetti said it was the most amount of cards he remembers in a long time. I wish the People of Los Angeles would spend a day like this on the schools or homeless or affordable housing!

MORE TO COME: A lot of stuff is being left un-blogged, as I'm out all day and evening getting signatures. I'll try to catch up.

Zuma Dogg Gathers Another 70 Signatures Today

CITY COUNCIL RETURNS: After a week off, LA City Council returned, and there were a lot of important items on the agenda. Try and catch a replay on TV 35, or go to the LACity.org website and do a search for "Our Next Speaker Is Zuma-Dogg" under the Council meetings on demand.

CRA MONEY (FOR BLIGHT) GOING TO LEGAL FUND FOR SHADY PROJECT: On today's agenda was another one of those shady CRA (Community Robbing A-holes) "mixed-use" projects. First, let me remind you the CRA money is supposed to be used to "Redevelop" (hence the "R") the "Community" (hence the "C"). But you should call it the LDA: "L" for "Legal" and "D" for "Defense." Cause that's what (who knows how much of) the $3.6 million dollars on today's agenda will be used for. You see, the shady project (in Garcetti's district, of course) is a giant skyscraper in one of those "un-skyscraper" residential areas. A MASSIVE VIOLATION! And of course the CRA is being sued, due to the massive zoning violation. So let's funnel $3.6 to help pay for the legal defense. (THAT'S NOT BLIGHT Y'ALL!!!)

ZUMA DOGG GATHERS ANOTHER 70 SIGNATURES TODAY: Thanks so much to everyone who signed my petition Downtown today, around the City Hall area...especially in the food court area. BUT SUPER-SPECIAL THANKS to everyone in SILVERLAKE on Sunset Blvd in the Sunset Junction area. Almost everyone ZD approached on the sidewalk in front of the coffee shops and cafes were not only all registered in the City of L.A., but almost ALL were willing to sign a petition for someone wanting to run for mayor. (The sheer democratic process.) And what ZD found MOST interesting, is although these people were all willing to sign. 

ZUMA DOGG FOR MAYOR SIGNATURE TOTAL: About 350...but they say you need about 1000 to get 500 good qualifying signatures. But the good news is, I see I can get these signatures myself, even though it's the "hard way."

WHAT'S WRONG WITH WALTER MOORE?: I understand that Walter Moore has sent out an email to his supporters informing them that he is not willing to take time off from his work to gather signatures; and OF COURSE doesn't want to cancel his out of state Thanksgiving vacation to get the signatures. So he is trying to put pressure on his supporters to do it for him. Guess he's too good to get out there with the real people of the City. He HAS heard about these people, and has read about them in his Ivy League textbooks. Walter says he's in a different league than Zuma Dogg. He is right. I'm in the league of someone who woke up, put my last three dollars in the gas tank to drive down to the council meeting and sat through the meeting to get my daily allotment of public comment time (including agenda items)...THEN walked all over the City trying to get MY OWN signatures, because I'm absolutely panic-stricken that I may not get them. But after getting 70 today, I feel a lot better that I'll be able to 'em.  Walter just doesn't get that saying he refuses to take time off work or cancel his vacation plans to get signatures for HIS OWN CAMPAIGN will rub his own supporters the wrong way. WILL SOMEONE TELL WALTER MOORE HE IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR, NOT KING. 

Mayor09.com

Zuma Dogg, Candidate For Mayor, on Implementing Dr. Deming's 14 Points at Los Angeles City Hall

As Zuma Dogg is out on the streets, pounding pavement (I have holes in my shoes), talking to people as I gather signatures, one message that convinces people to sign my petition quickly is when I talk about the "Deming 14 Points" stuff.

Now, I don't harp too much on the fact that my plan to reduce bureaucracy inside City Hall through the implementation of Deming's 14 Points...however, I just break it down for them in actual specifics they can understand.

For example, they like, "The job of mayor is to help City workers do their best job by breaking down barriers between departments and reduce the bureaucracy. When you call 3-1-1, they keep you on hold WAY too long, then they bounce you to some email, or the wrong person, and you have to start all over again. THEN, they tell you it will take EIGHT MONTHS to send someone out to trim your tree."

My friend called 3-1-1 because tree branches were blocking the STOP sign -- at an LAUSD school crosswalk...and the constituent was told by the council office it would take EIGHT months.

Now before we talk about the EIGHT MONTHS to get your tree trimmed that is blocking a STOP sign at a school crosswalk...let's apply Deming's 14 points to 3-1-1.

Because, although it's not the most important thing...it's the first; most basic thing...cause it's many people's first experience with City Hall and the City of Los Angeles -- and you know what they say about first impressions.

So applying Deming's 14 Points to 3-1-1. Here's ZD's application:

The job of live human operators at 3-1-1 should not be to be a "robot dummy" saying, "Thank you for calling 3-1-1, how may I direct your call? THEN, to be asked for your Zip Code. The information may please the mayor, but delaying the call to ask market research questions annoys the caller; after being on hold for a while. THEN, they also ask if you would like to write down the number. So that is two un-necessary questions (that delays the process), right off the bat.

BUT, that is just a mere tangent of the issue.

THE REAL ISSUE HERE, is that the purpose of 3-1-1 operators should be to answer as much and as many questions of the constituent as possible and the goal should be to have the caller hanging up WITHOUT HAVING to be connected to anyone else.

YES PEOPLE...that is the goal of any service like 3-1-1. Not a starting place in which calls are routed and bounced all over the City, then into voice mail...but a service to try and end the call at the starting point.

It should be, "Thank you for calling 3-1-1, how may I help you?"

a) 3-1-1 operators already have the computers and LACity.org website at their disposal. Much of the information people are asking for can be found right on the City website, in the first place.
I am not suggesting you say, "That information is on the City website." But have the operators use the City website (and any additional information databases you can provide operators) to answer as many questions as possible...right off the bat -- and possibly preventing the person from having to be connected to another busy staffer.

b) If there is a question that the operator cannot answer based on the city website and additional information databases...the operator should be able to take the message for the appropriate Councilmember or City Department staffer AT THAT TIME.

c) If the constituent wants to leave more information than just name, number and brief message for someone to get back to them, if the operator could not handle the call, up front...send them straight to the Councilmember's/City Staffer's voice mail.

In other words, there is no need to;

1) call 3-1-1;
2) have the operator connect you to the Councilmember's Office;
3) only to eventually end up being sent to voice mail;
4) after having to re-tell their story to the Council staffer who picks up the phone.

So the 3-1-1 operators need to be trained and educated and empowered on how to answer any and all questions ON THE FRONT LINE/IN THE FIRST PLACE...but, if the caller needs to leave a voice mail, there is no reason to send them to a council staffer who will then only take the same message the council staffer would have taken -- or send them to voice mail, anyway.

WHY WASTE THE COUNCIL STAFFERS TIME, AND WHY IRRITATE THE CONSTITUENT/CALLER WITH ADDED LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY???

MAYBE YOU THINK THIS IS A SMALL THING...AND IT IS...BUT IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL/BASIC THING THAT DEMONSTRATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "AUTOMATIC PILOT" DUMMY BUREAUCRACY -- AND A CITY HALL OPERATING UNDER DEMING'S 14 POINTS.

And all the top experts in the City of Los Angeles already know about Deming, and they are probably thrilled at the thought of a mayor who embraces it. First thing, would be a meeting with all Department Heads and Commissioners and High Level Managers...to get everyone together and on the same page with the new way things are done under the 14 points...THEN, it would be a GIANT Citywide meeting for ALL City employees at Dodgers Stadium for the world's biggest training and empowerment seminar.

Deming's Four-Day seminar was called, "Methods for Management of Quality and Productivity."

MORE ZD ON DEMING AT LA CITY HALL:



"Interpreting Deming's 14 Points" by Zuma Dogg
- "I appreciate much the attachment ("Interpreting Deming's 14 Points") you sent. It is well done." - Dr. W. Edwards Deming.

Google Search of Zuma Dogg on Deming's 14 Points for L.A. City.

If you would like Zuma Dogg to attend your meeting for a run-down of the 14 Points, and have your questions answers on how to apply the points to YOUR business or group...email: Zuma@Mayor09.com or call 213-785-7272 and maybe I can spend a little time on the phone answering questions.

ALERT: Planning & Land Management (PLUM) Meeting on Lincoln Heights Hillside Development TUESDAY at 2PM at City Hall!

LINCOLN HEIGHTS HILLSIDE PLUM MEETING: This is a big issue with people in both Shady-Reyes' CD 1 (Reyes') and Weezley-Huizar's CD 14 COuNcil districts. The City wants to limit homes to 1000 square feet on hillside property that people bought to build their "dream home" or even just a regular home. Can't build much of a home on 1000 square feet. Some people from the area, who are affected, feel the City is doing this to make the land useless to the current owners (who want to build), the value will drop, and then people will want to sell it back to the City at a low rate.

Whatever the situation, it all goes down Tuesday at 2pm in room 350 of City Hall, at 200 N. Spring Street. (Don't make "one wrong turn" or you may find yourself in the middle of skid row.)

So if you are heading to City Hall, and accidentally end up on Skid Row...turn right and look for the HUGE corruption factory in the skyline. THAT'S City Hall.

THE RETURN OF FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE/L.A. City Council: After one week off, Tuesday at 10:00am (or sometime shortly thereafter) it's the return of "Zuma Dogg, Public Comment" -- also know as the LA Shitty Clowncil meetings.

ABC-TV SAN FRAN TO FEATURE ZUMA DOGG's COVERAGE OF MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOME: Remember over the summer when ZD busted Gubernatorial hopeful, San Fran Mayor, Gavin (The Clown) Newsome? Well, parking in the fire lane wasn't the only thing about the trip to Startbuck's Malibu that was shady.



I'll post the story from the ABC/San Fran website on Thursday, after the story airs. (Maybe Zuma Dogg can run for Governor against Antonio and Gavin in 2010. If I win Mayor, I promise to immediately run for Governor!)

HELP ZD GET SIGNATURES...About 300, So Far: ZD has about 300 signatures on the nominating petitions for mayor of Los Angeles. But you can probably throw half of them in the toilet. So I think I will need 1000 to get the 500. If you know of any big meetings coming up, or work in an office where a bunch of people can sign...holla at ya boy (213-785-7272) or email Zuma@Mayor09.com and let me know where and when. It's not a given that I am going to get them, on my own.

ZumaTube.com

Walter Moore Is A Big Crybaby In Daily News Because He Is "LUMPED IN" With Zuma Dogg

Here's a quote in today's Daily News from the angry mayoral candidate Walter Moore is is upset that he is "lumped together" with Zuma Dogg. But Walter had to attack me, not on my stance on the issues, but for my homelessness and appearance.

WALTER MOORE: "There are people (running) who should be wearing foil hats, and probably are," Moore said.

He lamented that most mainstream media ignore him and implored voters not to "lump me together with some guy who thinks he's an exorcist or some homeless guy who wears a ski cap and sunglasses. We are not in the same league."

HEY WALTER, screw you pal. I didn't see you inside City Hall ONCE over the past two and half years, you selfish asshole. Everyone reading this knows what I have been doing over the past two and half years. YOU DIDN'T DO SHIT, EXCEPT FOR YOURSELF. All YOU did Walter, was wait around for someone to get shot and killed, and when they did, you jumped on it like an ambulance chaser and created your (Fill In The Blank's) Law, that unfortunately turned out being called "Jamiel's Law."

I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DEBATE WALTER. FORGET THE OFFICIAL CITY DEBATE, CAUSE YOU KNOW I WON'T BE IN THAT ONE. YOU WANNA CHALLENGE ME ON MY HOMELESSNESS, WALTER?

I WANNA CHALLENGE YOU TO A DEBATE ON CITY ISSUES.

I want to know where Walter stands on something BESIDES Special Order 40!!!

EVEN HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTER DOUG MCINTYRE SAYS HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH WALTER ON EVERYTHING. So basically, he agrees with Special Order 40, and that's it.

WALTER IS A ONE NOTE POLITICIAN WHO HASN'T DONE A THING FOR ANYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY BUT HIMSELF!

I decided to run for mayor after my experience at city hall as an advocate. He decided to run for mayor because he lost the past eight other times.

MY LIFE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND I'M A WRECK BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF FROM DOING EVERYTHING I COULD EACH DAY TO WARN THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT LIES AHEAD WITH THIS SHADY CITY HALL. Spent hours on hold to get on the radio, all the time watitng for a minute or two of public comment time, all the time and minutes talking with people on their issues, all the time blogging...all the meetings. I FELT THE COMPELLING NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT AND ALERT THE MASSES. What did YOU do Walter..NADA!

But Walter is a desperate, desperate man, who has NEVER been to City Hall to stick up for people as Zuma Dogg has. He's using the death of a High School student to elevate his mayoral campaign (YOU DON'T NEED JAMIEL'S LAW....AT ALL!!! I SUPPORT THE SHAW'S SO I HAVENT' SAID ANYTHING BECAUSE I LOVE AND SUPPORT THE SHAW'S and they didn't know they were just being used by Walter as props at the time)...

BUT JAMIEL'S LAW IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT RAISED MASSIVE AWARENESS...

THAT IS THE TRUE VALUE OF JAMIEL'S LAW. AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SHAW FAMILY, AS PEOPLE. THEY ARE THE ONE'S WHO GOT PEOPLE TO CARE.

IT NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS ATTENTION IF WALTER WAS OUT THERE PUSHING IT. NO ONE LIKES HIM. HE'S TOO COLD. HE'S NOT "OF" THE PEOPLE...HE IS "ABOVE" THE PEOPLE.

So Walter Moore wanted to get into a pissing match with Zuma Dogg. He should have read his Ivy League "campaign strategy" books. He just made a major mis-step, and now that he has let me know he wants to "go there"...

DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANYONE YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE WHO CAN GIVE WALTER THE "PUBLICITY" HE NEEDS BETTER THAN THE HOMELESS GUY WITH HAT AND GLASSES?!?!? Should be fun on TV 35 when I turn Mr. Moore into my comedy pinata! THE EMAIL BLASTS WON'T BE FUN EITHER, WALTER, you arrogant, shallow dummy. YES, I AM CALLING WALTER A DUMMY. I HAVE SPENT TIME CORRESPONDING WITH HIM ON ISSUES OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

I WASN'T GOING TO TAKE THIS APPROACH (Slamming Walter on TV 35 and elsewhere), but HE WANTS TO DO THIS! I feel it's unfair, cause Walter is no match for Zuma Dogg.

He may be "Ivy League" but he's pretty shallow in the common sense department. He BLEW the affordable housing (Prop B) ballot argument. Not caring enough to show up to City Hall was the first part. THEN, not being able to figure out the shadiness was the other part. BUT DON'T WORRY, I sent Walter what I came up with, so he was informed.

BUT HEY, I'M HOMELESS.

MONDAY MORNING (11/17/08) UPDATE: I was out all day (and evening) Saturday and Sunday, in many areas of the City, gathering signatures. I have about 300, so far, but I think I'll need 1000 to get 500 "good" ones. I DEFINITELY need PayPal donations to continue today and this week, cause I'm out of money, right now, and can't continue until some gas money come in. MEANWHILE, it's been an AMAZING and ENLIGHTENING experience being out there on the streets, talking to so many people, each day. And I end up talking to people who DON'T want to sign (because they like the mayor) and that gives me an opportunity to raise awareness on what a lousy and dangerous mayor he is. Lots of fun stories, and I'll blog about the feedback, and what "issues" people are responding most favorably to.

If you don't have paypal account, you can still use a credit or debit card. AND EVERYONE, MAKE SURE TO HIT "Update Total" under "donation amount" box.

Mayor09.com