Some Los Angeles personalities making the news today, gleaned from my lunch-time reading:
- Former Mayor Richard Riordan has come out for Barak Obama: “I think he’s a much more open person. He’s young, he has more energy, more electricity.” As for McCain, Riordan says “When I was mayor I had dealings with McCain where I didn’t respect him”. From what I heard on the radio coming into work, Riordan attempted to work with McCain on issues related to LAX, and McCain was pretty uncooperative. Riordan is noting he hasn’t gone Democratic — he’s still supporting Republican candidates in other races. Still, in my eyes, this is a significant endorsement, for Riordan is someone many Angelenos respect.
- The attempt to inject youth into the Rose Parade by KTLA-5 has failed. Channel 5 has announced that Stephanie Edwards is returning in 2009 to co-host the Rose Parade with Bob Eubanks. KTLA replaced her with a much younger anchor in 2005 — resulting in much criticism. Edwards was confined to a sideline role interviewing crowd members, soaked by rain. She has been off the broadcast since 2006. There’s a good discussion of this kerfluffle over at LA Observed (la_observed)
- Long-time KABC talk-show host and restaurant reviewer Elmer Dills has passed away. Dills developed his knowledge of food and wine as an officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. He has had a series of talk-shows covering restaurants and food on stations such as KABC, KMPC, KIEV, KRLA, and finally on CRN Digital Talk Radio.
- Pacific Palisades resident Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the news again. Yes, the assembly and senate passed a budget (which has significant effects on every Californian–which no one caught in my last post). However, the governor is vetoing it because it doesn’t include everything he wants. He has also noted that if the legislature overrides his veto, he will return the favor by sending back most of the laws it passed in the last legislative session. According to Mr. S: “Every bill will be carefully evaluated, and hundreds of bills will be vetoed”. In some ways (OK, many ways), both sides are acting like children. I do hope this is remembered in November, and in two years, as folks vote for state offices.
(What do you mean I resemble today’s XKCD?)
