Tea Party Power in the Southland

While the camera has panned over to the people protests of the Middle East and the Establishment Government Protests of the Upper Midwest (as always, Read Althouse for the updates), off screen in the Pacific West, we plan and prepare for the next Election.

This is the first of two posts about how the Tea Parties can rock California Politics.  But, to quote the late Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-MA): All Politics is Local. 

So this first post is on the Tea Party and Los Angeles; The next post (written next week) will be about the Tea Parties and the State (and the state) of California. 

The Corruption that is Now

When the story of Bell rung throughout the Southland, it was the tip of an iceberg, but not the only one to ring.  Take a look at the current power structure that is in the City of Angels:

LAUSD:  The board members make $26,000 a year + any salary they make as teachers or Administrators within LAUSD -- thus any board member can "Double Dip," While teachers, schools and administrators are suffering, the LAUSD Board does not sacrifice one dime to the students.

LADWP:  The pay of LADWP employees break all records in the LA Basin.  13% of the employees make over $100,000 a year.  The LA City Council (we'll get to them very soon) agrees to any changes to the rates without consulting the voting public.  They do a good job, but however, can the City afford these outstanding costs?

Los Angeles City Council: From the top, this 15 seat majority Democrat run Council makes $171,648 a year, PLUS $50,000 or more in stipends.  And I counted too many potholes down Wilshire Boulevard from Downtown to the Miracle Mile area.  Where is this money going?

Tea Party Power or Fighting the Man! among the Palm Trees

It's easy to complain about how the Power Structure in the City of Angels work -- but it's harder to come up with solutions. The Tea Party people are the Rebels against the Democratic Empire (so are we RPLAC and CAGOP folks, but that's another post) and there are ways that they can destroy the Death Star of arrogance by the current power holders.

How? 

Because the Tea Party (in all their myriad organizations throughout the Southland) can move in places RPLAC and the CAGOP cannot, here is a way they can stretch their influence.....

Start a Plebiscite and Law Suits against the current Power structure. 

Here are some of my ideas for reform, I can only hope a coalition of Tea Party groups pick up the idea and run with it (feel free to make them your own, just email me when you do):

1)  The corruption starts with a small number on the Los Angeles City Council with no accountability.  In NYC, there are 51 Council members for a larger population then LA.  15 Council Members makes sense in a small town of 50,000 but not 9 Million (yes, MILLION). 

Create a Proposition for Presidential Primary 2012 to expand the City Council to 65 Seats (thus 1 seat per 150,000 population) with only 3 -- repeat, THREE -- staffers per member.  The Council pay is to drop to $35,000.  Staffers make less.  Because of more members on the Council,  the people's problems will be taken care of.  And every two years, one "class," goes the re-election for two years only.  And in the Plebiscite will be an Inspector General [IG] for members of each region of LA.  The IG will operate independently of the LACC, but will work for the Los Angeles City Attorney.  each IG will be appointed for six years and they can only investigate areas they live in. 

2)   Any rise in pay of the LADWP must be given to the public to read ninety days before the LACC acts on it.  Any rise in LADWP charges should be shown to the public 120 days before.  This can be either a lawsuit or a Plebiscite.

3)  All LAUSD board members must have students in the schools.  If the schools and administrations are struggling, the LAUSD must take a cut in pay (and no "Double Dipping,").  If students are the most important, everyone should sacrifice, not just students or administrators in Baudry.

4)  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors should be downsized to a County Supervisor and a Board of Nine.  The people elect members of the Board in Four year stints, and the Board elects the County Supervisor for Six Years.  Again, an IG is needed here too.

Accountability is the key to a stronger, more business friendly LA.  The Tea Party can change be game changers if they move quickly. 

Changing California for the General Election 2012 is coming soon!

To quote Cuervo Jones in Escape from LA (NSFW): You might have survived Cleveland. You might have escaped from New York. But this is L.A., vato. And you're about to find out that this fucking city can kill anybody!

I'm betting the Tea Party can beat LA.

My question: What reforms are needed in Los Angeles City and County?

Winning in Los Angeles (Mid Summer edition)

First some notes:

If you want to read up on which political party supports those who work in the dark (spies), click here.  As a Goth who dances in the dark, I recognize comrades in arms.

My take on the Republican primary election will be done before Labor day to help give a sense of which races are worth watching. 

And finally, I have some finishing work to do on the pre-project tomorrow and this weekend, so I will be brief on the 'net this weekend.  I should be working on the Southland Fundraiser within the week.

Now, if you're a candidate (and a friend like Merlin Froyd, Mark Reed and Terry Rathbun for instance), Los Angeles is heating up this summer and is prime for the plucking.  So, before we get to winning in LA, here's a cool 80's song you get in the mood:

There are three issues you can walk around and campaign on, hitting the same (Democratic) target every time.  Ready? Let's win in LA!

Issue One) The City of Bell is run by Democrats, how many Bells are in Los Angeles? Do you know how much the Los Angeles City Council makes? or the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors? How about the LAUSD board? And of course, the LA DWP? In this time of economic havoc for everyone, how much do these Democrats make? Those monies can be given back to Los Angeles, and will help with....

Issue Two)  The Teamsters nearly threatened a strike that would have shut down the Industry on August 1.  Luckily, they changed their minds.  However, the teamsters own the LA Democrats lock, stock and barrel.  Ask those in the Industry, can they afford a shutdown NOW?  Yea or nay? Next year, most film and TV unions will work together to get better wages, support their cause, and we get their votes.  This is not rocket science. 

Issue Three) The 405/Sunset Blvd. shutdown for three years.  The only way people from the Westside can get to the rest of the city is by the 405 or Sepulveda.  By shutting down this major thoroughfare for three years shows that the current Democratic Mayor and LA DOT does not care about the public.  How many other places in LA are being shut off from other parts by the idiocy of our Mayor? 

This is July's lesson, be ready for more next month.  Also, be ready for the Southland Fundraiser. 

My question: What other issues can help our great Los Angeles GOP candidates win?

How Los Angeles Water and Power Gives Los Angeles to the GOP

We are still in Los Angeles week, and the biggest thing that is hitting the city is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power raising rates 4.8% across the city in July.

Even though any tax rates for the City have to be voted on by the public, the all Democratic run Los Angeles City Council voted for the rate hike.

Mayor Villaraigosa, already weakened by scandal and awaiting appointment into the Obama Administration, backed DWP because he does not have to face the voters again. The City Council is all Democrat since the flood (water issues will pop up in the second cycle of Los Angeles week) and they are never thrown out.

The public, the public employees (teachers, police and firemen) are getting screwed by DWP. There are many empty offfice buildings throughout Los Angeles and many empty storefronts too. Add the DWP rate hike to the mix and bye bye business' and hello Federal Recievership! Why are teachers losing jobs? The DWP IBEW. Why are the LAPD struggling with adding police? DWP IBEW. Why are the firemen being laid off? DWP IBEW.

This November, the Republicans will win many federal offices in both the Senate and the House, and the Tea partiers will help them. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Why should any Los Angeles Republican House member save the seat of any Los Angeles City Council member whose idiocy brought them into this mess?

If the GOP want to be really smart, let Los Angeles remain at the edge of bankruptcy until 2013 and allow President Palin's administration take the Federal receievership of Los Angeles. Are you Los Angeles Liberals awake now?

Does the City want to help against the DWP? Here's a hint:

1) The Mayor and City Council work pro bono (with no stipends) until Los Angeles is in the black financially.

That's it.

Want to stop DWP?

1) The LAPD should not respond to any call from someone who works at DWP IBEW. The Los Angeles Public should call open season on any DWP IBEW stealing from their hard earned money and the LAPD have no reason to help them.

2) Call a General Strike for everyone on May 5, 2010. Everyone protests in this town, well, every protester who still wants to live in Los Angeles, meet up the Tea Partiers (who believe it or not, share the views on this) and protest at 111 North Hope Street in Downtown LA on May 5th at 10AM. Every Union not DWP IBEW (including the Hollywood unions) get down there and ask why they want to take your money?

Bring the protest inside at 11AM, with support from the LAPD Unions who are hurting too from the DWP IBEW.

Because of the City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa, Los Angeles will be under Federal recievership after 2013. Under President Palin's Federal Recievership.

Unless everyone in Los Angeles votes for Republicans to sit on the City Council next year.

What other solutions do you have against the LADWP?