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Antonio Villaraigosa was up early and out on the streets Thursday to put on the right face in the aftermath of the London terrorist bombs. He appeared with Chief Bratton and Sheriff Baca in the morning, rode the Red Line subway to show it was safe, took council president Alex Padilla along to the British consulate on Wilshire to sign the condolence book, appeared on Larry King and attended security briefings. The Times story mostly gives him props:
"I've never seen anyone this energized, going all the way back to [Mayor Tom] Bradley, and I was his press secretary," said Joe Scott, a political columnist, blogger and communications director for the Los Angeles County district attorney, who added he was speaking as an individual.
Also around the city beat:
• David Cunningham III resigned from the police commission. He was a Hahn guy.
• The Mayor Sam blog says that Dan Laidman is the new City Hall reporter for the Daily News, joining Rick Orlov. Laidman formerly reported for the Contra Costa Times and Monterey Herald.
• Robert Greene and Harold Meyerson observe the inaugural festivities for the LA Weekly. Meyerson's observations on the last-minute juggling of seats for the swearing-in is entertaining.
• Alex Padilla tells CityBeat's Steve Appleford he hasn't decided whether to run for the state Senate—and hasn't ruled it out.
• Councilman Bernard Parks isn't playing nice with his new friend the mayor, demanding that the ban on lobbyists on commissions apply to union activists as well.
• Villaraigosa will pay his respects Friday at the funeral for Assemblyman Mike Gordon, then attend roll call at the Van Nuys LAPD division.
• Blogger Will Campbell gets a wedding scroll from Eric Garcetti.
of LA Observed
