Notes from LA

On days like these, I’m thankful that Bernie Parks didn’t make the Big Leagues. When it comes to city budget battles, he’s the only councilmember with the cojones to call BS on Villaraigosa and Bratton. … And, boy, is the Chief ever full of it today. DN:

[Bratton] noted that voters this year approved a hike in the city’s trash fee to pay for more police officers. The mayor hopes to add 1,000 officers to bring the total force to more than 10,000.

“It’s unfortunate there are those who would blame the city deficit on the hiring of police officers,” Bratton said. “For them to renege on the city’s promise to hire more police officers … I will be happy to remind the voters of that.”

While he reminds you of that, here’s a reminder of what the trash tax was actually spent on.

Bernard Parks accuses former Villaraigosa campaign consultant, Anthony Thigpenn, of organizing campaign activities for Mark Ridley-Thomas out of an old firehouse in CD8:

We saw it with our own eyes. Twenty or 30 cars parked around the building and people told us they were involved in political campaigns, and that is not appropriate on city-owned property.

Villaraigosa stepped in to save his buddy after Parks served Thigpenn’s non-profit with an eviction notice. The matter may now be headed for a Council vote.

Professor Zuma Dogg’s essential lecture: