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Wednesday, 5.24.06 *
There's one federal judge in town who's mighty ticked off today, the mayor isn't shying away from immigrants, and a second day of complaining that LAX won't be any fun this summer. Plus the man accused of landing the fish on Anita Busch's car wants it known he ain't no snitch, ya got it? Click for your full cup of Morning Buzz.
♦ B.I.G. lie?: Federal judge Florence-Marie Cooper now says she was deceived into declaring a mistrial in the wrongful death suit filed by the family of Notorious B.I.G. and awarding the family $1.1 million from the city of Los Angeles. The family's lawyer has much explaining to do, says the judge.
♦ Not gunshy: Mayor Villaraigosa plans to reactivate the Office of Immigrant Affairs that his predecessor, Jim Hahn, started within the Office of the Mayor, says the Daily News.
"It's a service not just to immigrants but the rest of the community," said Thomas Saenz, counsel to Villaraigosa. "We're making sure we have common community connections and common understanding of civic life." The office was created in 2004 by then-Mayor James Hahn and approved by the City Council, using $125,000 in federal funds. Political consultant and Planned Parenthood executive Nora E. Vargas was hired to head the office but left within a year. Hahn didn't seek funding in the 2005 budget and the office disappeared.
♦ Another long day: At 7:30 tonight, Villaraigosa stops in to deliver remarks at the Encino Property Owners Association meeting in (you guessed it) Encino.
♦ LAX crush: More warnings about the summer horror that might be Los Angeles International:
About 200,000 more travelers are expected to use LAX from Memorial Day through Labor Day compared with a similar period last year, even as the number of seats to U.S. destinations remains flat. Aviation experts warn that the mismatch could force passengers to be denied boarding even if they have tickets, or lengthen waits when flights are delayed by weather or mechanical problems because no other planes are available. "Everybody is going to share an armrest," said Robert Mann, an aviation analyst at R.W. Mann & Co. "Your ability to remain calm in the cabin is going to remain at a premium."
♦ South L.A. farm: Would you believe Joan Baez and veteran tree-sitter Julia (Butterfly) Hill are now on hand?
♦ Had to happen: The LAPD blog racked up another first—yesterday correcting it's identification of a woman as a suspect in the abduction of a six-week-old baby in South L.A. Oops, the Times didn't get the word and runs a story this morning that still names the ex-suspect. * Oops on me: Two women by the same name have passed through the case, as the Times story makes clear down low. Today the LAPD blog posted a follow with photos.
♦ Early release: Sheriff Lee Baca vows to check on the criminal histories of inmates before they are cut loose early from county jail.
♦ Deja vu: For the second time in a month, the media trots down to Long Beach to observe the final passing of the local airliner industry.
♦ Staying' alive: Alexander Proctor's attorney just wants everybody to know—especially fellow inmates who might be looking for a contract from Anthony Pellicano and friends—that his client hasn't cooperated with the feds: "Alex is the most resolute nonsnitch I've ever met. It's a matter of pride with him. Snitching is against his code of ethics."
♦ Party challenge: Is the Westside/South Bay primary race between Rep. Jane Harman and carpetbagger Marcy Winograd a battle for the soul of the Democratic Party or a distraction for the party? The LAT's John Balzar lets you decide.
♦ Caught in the headlights: Yesterday on KPCC's "Airtalk with Larry Mantle," 45th Assembly district hopeful Kevin de Leon was confronted with charges that he ignored a speeding ticket and was cited for driving on a suspended license and failure to appear (and also has been nabbed for driving with expired plates and running a red light.)
♦ Valley boys: Gregory Orfalea never met murdered reporter Daniel Pearl, yet he knew him from growing up together over the hill in the San Fernando Valley.
♦ Gain but no first down: The NFL agreed to spend $5 million to look at the Coliseum's bid for a team—and another $5 mil on Anaheim's bid.
♦ In the wind: I'm told—meaning I believe it, but haven't confirmed—that the Interactive unit at Los Angeles Newspaper Group suffered a double blow yesterday when content director Jay Tuten gave the word he's leaving for AP in New York and taking his fiancee, Mai Dinh, co-editor of LA.com.
♦ Thanks!: Sidney Sheldon—Oscar and Tony winner, novelist and creator of TV series—is donating his literary archives to UCLA.
♦ Ducks lose: Spectacularly exciting final period in last night's Mighty Ducks-Oilers playoff fame&eight goals scored—but Anaheim is on the cusp of being swept.
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