Random Notes and Thoughts

A good article from the LA Weekly covering how LA dug itself into a hole. One of the points was of particular interest to me.  The city has had four Chief Administrative Officers in five years.  This is an important position, perhaps the only position in the city that runs the numbers and prepares financial [...]

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Spiders, Corp and NCAA Football

This article includes some eyewitness observations of Aaron Corp’s performance in spring practice. It also contains some interesting insight on the role of football in any school’s general admissions.  While a successful season or program might increase the number of applicants, the quality of the applicant pool does not improve.  It seems logical to me.

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Council Adopts Compromise DWP Rate Hike Motion

While anticipated, this is still disturbing.  The City Council passed a compromise rate increase motion.  How the Council and the Mayor allowed lucrative raises to the IBEW and now slapped the ratepayers with the first of what might be several rate increases is unconscionable. As I noted in an earlier post, the DA needs to investigate [...]

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Aaron Corp Will See Action at Richmond’s Spring Practice Game

The Richmond Spiders will play its annual intra-squad scrimmage on April 10th at UR’s new on-campus stadium. Former USC Trojan quarterback Aaron Corp will get an opportunity to show his stuff. According to observers, Corp has been throwing the ball well – quick release and nice tight spirals.  Although the offensive line carries less experience [...]

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Village to Village Makes Appearance in Washington Post On-Line

A very brief appearance in this clip.  Watch for my name – about 50+ seconds into the video. It concerned subway security in the wake of the Moscow bombings. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/03/29/VI2010032902541.html?sid=ST2010032900773

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Recall the Mayor? Not Worth the Effort

I have heard a number of people grumble “recall the Mayor.” Purportedly, there is a recall petition in the works, but it lacks leadership and organization.  The likelihood of securing the 250,000 plus signatures comes down to two chances – slim and none. Just as well because there are much better objectives for local activists.  [...]

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Time for a Criminal or Civil Investigation of the DWP

The DWP’s Chief Opearting Officer sent a politely worded memo to the Energy and Environment committee of the City Council today. As polite as it was, in no uncertain terms, he stated that the credit rating of the DWP would be adversely affected if the proposed rate increases were not approved. He added: “…it (DWP) will not [...]

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The Economy’s Needless Addiction to Housing

From time to time, I have expressed my concerns about the role the housing industry plays in the economy. In a nutshell, the housing market transitioned from one dominated by the need for shelter and quality of life to a commodity market where properties were flipped and traded like wheat futures.  It will take many years to clean [...]

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State of Siege in LA

One might associate a “state of siege” with a country in South America or Africa.  This status is usually assigned to situations where there is a government lockdown and basic rights of citizens are curtailed. It does sound a bit like LA, though. We are at war with ourselves and the stakes are high – the [...]

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Was That a Vote of No Confidence in the Mayor?

The Mayor was stuffed 15-0 by the City Council on Tuesday.  Had a mercy rule been in effect, the voting would have been terminated at 11-0. The Council did not buy into the Mayor’s obvious ruse to salvage the tattered threads of his political career by banking on a bogus green energy program – one that [...]

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