Politics

Maven's Morning Coffee: a new poll in the mayor's race, a special election in the Valley, an old claim against a councilman

A new poll from the Los Angeles Times finds Eric Garcetti leading Wendy Greuel in the mayor's race by 10 points.
Alice Walton/KPCC

Alice Walton | April 22, 2013

Good morning, readers. Welcome to the Maven's Morning Coffee -- a listing of the important headlines, news conferences, public meetings and announcements you need to know to fuel up and tackle your day.

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Today is Monday, April 22, and here is what's happening in Los Angeles:

Headlines

In Rick Orlov's Tipoff column, mayoral candidates hit the airwaves, Antonio Villaraigosa talks about Mitt Romney, and the city's budget proposal gets a release.

A new poll from the Los Angeles Times finds Eric Garcetti leading Wendy Greuel by 10 points in the mayor's races. "The most important question in this campaign is whether Wendy Greuel can convince voters that her support from organized labor does not make her beholden to them," said Dan Schnur with USC’s Unruh Institute of Politics, per KPCC.

Former President Bill Clinton was in town this weekend to participate in a town hall with Wendy Greuel at Langer's Deli, reports KPCC. "I think if every voter in Los Angeles saw her the way I do, and the way people who know her well do, she would win," Clinton said.

Los Angeles Times writer Jim Newton looks at what the mayoral candidates will do with the city's budget. "When it comes to the city budget, the two candidates are so lost in the details that they often seem to be missing the big picture," he writes.

Councilman Dennis Zine says as controller he'll audit the LAPD's risk management division, which the Los Angeles Times uses as a jumping off point to talk about a 1997 sexual harassment claim against Zine. At the time, the councilman was a police sergeant.

Over at LAObserved, cartoonist Steve Greenberg gives his take on City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

The Daily News looks at the special election to fill Rep. Tony Cardenas' old seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

Pressers

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will release his budget proposal at City Hall at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., he'll be at the Department of Water and Power to welcome Formula E racing to L.A.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich will plant trees at Charles H. Kim Elementary School at 10:30 a.m.

Mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti will debate in an event sponsored by KPCC, NBC 4, Telemundo and USC. USC's Health Sciences Campus at 7 p.m.

Meetings

10 a.m. Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee, City Hall, room 1010