chisme from the mandog and life's true stories: Election Time!

It’s time to elect (re-elect) our local leaders here in the City of the Angeles. We live in District 14 which cover Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, Mt. Washington, El Serreno and parts of Highland Park . . . Mostly Latino households and many Mom and Pop businesses.

The race for Councilman has just two names on the ballet. I guess the average Joe no longer finds it in her/his interest to represent a pretty progressive group of communities. Maybe it’s the cost, maybe it’s the lack of interest, maybe our local community leaders just are burnt out. I don’t know, but its upsetting that we are given just two choices. So tomorrow March 8th your gonna either vote for the incumbent José Huizar or his challenger Rudy Martínez.

I haven’t decided who to vote for and that’s a first as I usually have made up my mind months ahead of time. Huizar hasn’t really done an earth shaking job. This have been done during his term(s) but nothing to write home about. Martínez is a good businessman, but not having the experience in politics concerns me, you can run a successful business but City Hall is a whole other game. Maybe next race we will have some really good candidates that will want the voter to go out and vote!

School board District 5 race is a whole other story. You got several candidates and two of them who might be in a run off. You have the politically back Luis Sanchez which offers us nothing more than same stamp of approval that sits currently on the Board and UTLA backed classroom leader Bennett Kayser. No brainer here, I am voting for Mr. Kayser for the sole reason that if we keep on electing the same old same old, NOTHING CHANGES! Enough is enough, let’s put some fresh blood on that board! I found this funny video on YouTube of Mr. Sanchez….

Now for the fun… On February 25th my fab friend Ms. Jenny Lens invited Ronn Savala and I to her exhibit of California Punk photos over at the Subliminal Projects Studio in Echo Park. The event entitled “Too Fast to Live, To Young to Die… selctions from California Punk and featured other works (besides Ms. Lens) BY EDWARD COLVER, SHEPARD FAIREY, GLEN E. FRIEDMAN, DAVE MARKEY, RAYMOND PETTIBON, JORDAN SCHWARTZ, WINSTON SMITH was a hit!

SHEPARD FAIREY and JENNY LENS real crowd pleasers!

What a nite! Ronn and I came early as Jenny Lens was kind enough to put us on her VIP list. It was a rainy nite and the crowd was many. Because we were let in 1 hour before the opening we got to see much of the exhibit. They had a wall covered with Xerox copies of band fliers (just like the old days before fancy inexpensive printing). And the music DJ’s by Mr. Shepard Fairey made for fun memories. One of my favorite actresses, Drew Barrymore was in the crowd. She bought a pix of Joan Jertt and Lita Ford from Jenny Lens (good pick Drew!). Of course I had to take advantage of the Kodak moment so enjoy the pics!

Myself and Ms. Drew Barrymore!

The girl with the Camera Eye Jenny Lens, Drew Barrymore and a Ramone

New friend Kelly Flint sporting one of the fliers from the wall. BTW she has a fab hair do!

Jenny Lens and Rom Savala enjoying a cold one!

Super Chingona and woman about town, Josefina Lopez will be celebrating her 42n birthday on March 18th… Happy B-Day Josefina!

My neighbor Tony Lunn and his trio are playing at Colombo’s Italian Steakhouse and Jazz Club on Saturday, March 12th. Their set begins at 9:30 pm. His music is inspiring so I hope you get a chance to catch his show.