Notes from LA

How’s this for leadership: Councilmember Janice Hahn placed an ill-conceived parcel tax on the ballot, then kicked back and waited for it to pass with a cynical assumption that Obama’s voters would stick it to homeowners. Well, they certified the vote this morning and she miscalculated by half a percentage point. Orlov:

…a city parcel tax to generate $30 million annually to pay for gang prevention and anti-violence intervention programs received 66.27 percent of votes; it failed by less than half a percentage point. The parcel tax, Measure A, drew 712,039 yes votes and 362,396 no votes.

Ms. Hahn, consider this your cue to start working for us, not against us. The lazy approach didn’t work out this time. Meanwhile the problem isn’t solved, and you’re still sitting there empty-handed. I trust that if you really care about gang prevention, you’ll find $30 million in the existing budget. You and I both know it’s there.

A new book is out detailing the “inner workings, secret meetings, and elaborate murder plots” that make up the Mexican Mafia’s daily routine, written in cooperation with Rene Enriquez, an Eme boss-turned-informant.

The Black Hand, by Chris Blatchford

Wally Fay—editor of In The Hat, and author of his own book on the subject—says this one is required reading for policymakers:

The people who should be forced to read this book, or have it read to them while jetting around the country or riding in the back of chaufered limos are the politicians and policy makers. Policy decisions and laws cannot and should not be made based on information filtered through staff panels, social scientists, mis-informed or biased “advocates, ” or groups who have a financial interest in the outcome of policies.

Enriquez holds “prisoner rights” advocates directly responsible for the organization’s growing muscle and warns that while the feds have made steady progress in the streets, local pols and law enforcers are out to lunch. For a major eye-opener, listen to the interview below in its entirety.

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Is a county employee posting politically incorrect blog comments and whitewashing Gloria Molina’s Wikipedia? (H/T: Mayor Sam)

Also:

• Wow, 3 earlier Metrolink survivors were on #111 (LAO)
• Public Safety Officials to Endorse Prop A (LAist)
• Boks’ crew still nipping at his heels (DN)
• California budget almost finished (LAT)