Illegal Alien Rallys “March smaller, but festive” according to LA Times
Thousands of workers waved American flags, marched to mariachi music and rallied for labor and immigrant rights in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, as May Day gatherings drew light but peaceful crowds.
Turnout across Southern California and the nation was markedly lower than in the last few years, when millions of marchers in more than 100 cities hit the streets on May Day to urge a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and other reforms.
In Los Angeles, where about 8,500 people took part in three separate marches that merged to rally at 1st Street and Broadway, some participants said fear of government raids and growing apathy about pros pects for change had dampened turnout. About 20,000 had been expected to participate. . .
Gov.’s staff exploring new taxes
SACRAMENTO — As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to say publicly that he will hold the line against new taxes, his administration is laying the groundwork for a possible tax increase.
Administration officials are soliciting advice from business groups and other special interests on how to propose billions of dollars in tax hikes that could help close a budget shortfall the governor now says is as large as $20 billion.
Schwarzenegger’s staff is exploring a range of options, including sales taxes on lawyer and accountant services, on high-end services such as golf lessons and personal-trainer sessions, and on takeout coffee and other prepared foods that are not taxed now. . .
‘Elitist’ Arnold irks small towns
Lawmakers from small town California – with their quaint downtowns and peaceful fields – apparently need to get out more. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-California, on Wednesday urged them to see the world.
“They come from those little towns, and they don’t have that vision yet of an airport, or of a highway that maybe has 10 lanes, or of putting a highway on top of a highway,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “They look at you and say, ‘Well, we don’t have that in my town. What are you talking about?’”
The governor’s comments didn’t sit well on Thursday with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. There was also criticism. . .
Carona appears in court for pretrial hearing
SANTA ANA – The defense team for embattled ex-Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona wants Orange County prosecutors to turn over tens of thousands of pages of documents on the state’s prosecution of former Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo and Greg Haidl – the son of another former law-enforcement official.
Carona’s lawyers also want the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to turn over records regarding its investigation of Don Haidl and Entrade Inc. – an accusation referenced in the criminal indictment against Carona.
Carona, who resigned in January, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he deprived the public of the honest services of an official through a broad conspiracy, using his office to garner cash and gifts in exchange for favors to friends. . .
Investigation: Is Los Angeles Gang Intervention Money Going to Los Angeles Gang Members?
Los Angeles (myfoxla.com) — The Los Angeles Mayor’s Office is soon taking over control of all city anti-gang programs and plans to increase spending on gang prevention and intervention.
Chris Blatchford has this FOX 11 News investigation of how some of that money has gone to the gangsters themselves. . .
IRON MAN
How many of you over the years are taken Robert Downey Jr. in the “ghoul pool”? Yeah, well he’s still going and now he’s got an iron suit. Sure, you expected him to be in an iron lung by now, but I can tell you, he didn’t recover fully – his face does bear that “Keith Richards look” of a few too many years of drug abuse.
The magic of this film is simply in taking yet another comic book hero and casting against type in nearly every role – and then adding some witty writing as the finishing touch.
Downey is Tony Stark, tech wiz extraordinaire – his specialty is weapons of war. But rather than being a “tech nerd”, he’s a major playboy. Just what the world needs – a narcissistic Bill Gates, just think of Tony as a hybrid of Gates and Hugh Hefner (who makes a quick cameo appearance), if that’s possible. Gwyneth Paltrow is his long suffering super efficient assistant, Terrence Howard is his U.S. military buddy, and rounding out the main cast is Jeff Bridges, as his mentor and business partner. (more. . . )
