♦ As expected, Mayor Villaraigosa did recommend Cecilia Estolano to be CEO of the Community Redvelopment Agency. Villaraigosa's CRA commissioners have to approve her, but they could just mail that in.
♦ Daily News sources say that reporters Lisa Mascaro and Evan Pondel are both leaving the staff, her to move to Washington and him to change careers. Email is out seeking details, but that's a major hit in the small newsroom.
♦ Marchers return downtown Saturday for the Cesar Chavez Walk. Villaraigosa makes his remarks with United Farm Workers chief Arturo Rodriguez on Olvera Street at 8:45 am.
♦ Rumors have the downtown journalist hangout The Redwood Saloon reopening soon on 2nd Street. New owners are renovating as we speak, aiming to attract downtown loft dwellers more than the Times folk across the street.
♦ Michael Higby, the acerbic and sometimes potty-mouthed Junior Chamber of Commerce wag behind Mayor Sam's Sister City, emailed that he will exit the local politics blog and announce changes on Saturday. Just in case, that is April Fool's Day.
♦ Orange County plans to start removing emergency call boxes from freeways, figuring that everybody carries a cell phone in their car now. Kenny Hahn rolls over in grave.
♦ Jonathon Foerstel of the deep and nostalgic website LA Time Machines and the new Southern California Restaurant Historical Society guested on KPCC's "Talk of the City" (audio) this afternoon.
♦ The Onion—yes, the Onion—is looking for "a qualified, culture-savvy writer to work as the Los Angeles City Editor." Wil Wheaton at Blogging.la found the Craigslist item and says the job will totally impress girls (or boys) at parties.
♦ Lots of links around the local blogosphere to Geoff Manaugh's essay in words and photos about the Los Angeles River. He reminds me to mention a site with enlightening river photos that I've been meaning to point to for months. Friends Of Vast Industrial Concrete Kafkaesque Structures takes an unromantic view of the channel—kind of an anti-Friends of the L.A. River sentiment—and informs about the markings and entry points found along the route. And nice photos, like the official starting point here behind Canoga Park High School: