WHISKERED COUNCILMEN BACK AT WORK.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer The Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. returned from its summer recess Tuesday still somewhat in vacation mode: starting 10 minutes late, with tales of travels and a new look for three of its members. ``What is this? A mid-life crisis?'' one aide joked as Councilmen Tony Cardenas Tony Cardenas served in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, he had the powerful position of chair of the Budget Committee. He is now a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 6th district, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley. , Alex Padilla Alex Padilla is a politician in California. He was elected as the State Senator for the 20th District of California in November 2006 and was inaugurated in early December. In order to enter the Senate he had to resign as Councilman for the 7th District on the Los Angeles City and Ed Reyes Ed P. Reyes has served on the Los Angeles City Council since April 2001. A native of Northeast Los Angeles, Councilmember Reyes represents many of the neighborhoods he grew up in including Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park. returned to work sporting beards, goatees and moustaches. ``I lost my razor and I'm not sure I'll be able to find it again,'' Cardenas retorted as he stroked his new goatee. The council was off three weeks -- two weeks for its summer recess and a third for members attending the California League The California League is a minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth of Cities conference in San Diego. The most adventurous was council President Eric Garcetti, who spent two weeks in Pensacola, Fla., and San Diego, fulfilling his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. ``It was an incredible group of people, and I learned a lot that I hope I can apply here when it comes to leadership,'' Garcetti said. One of the lessons involved taking charge in a life-threatening situation and learning to delegate authority to make sure everyone was brought to safety. ``There is definitely a Navy way of doing things,'' said Garcetti, still sporting the closely cropped haircut given recruits. For others, like Councilmen Dennis Zine and Bill Rosendahl, the time off provided a chance to get away -- Zine to Hawaii and Rosendahl to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. ``It was eight days without phones, cell phones, television or newspapers,'' Rosendahl said. ``It gives you a chance to realize there is a life without being plugged in.'' For the council, it also was a return to some of its critics. Most notably, the council was serenaded with a rap song by Zuma Dogg, the homeless gadfly gadfly, name for various biting flies, especially those that attack livestock, e.g., the botfly and the horsefly. who managed to tie together criticism of the council's absence with illegal immigration and urging people to vote in the upcoming Nov. 7 election. With the council's return also comes a renewed effort to enforce decorum DECORUM. Proper behaviour; good order. 2. Decorum is requisite in public places, in order to permit all persons to enjoy their rights; for example, decorum is indispensable in church, to enable those assembled, to worship. among public speakers after a long-running battle earlier this year over a speaker's use of racial slurs. Councilman Bernard Parks said that although some of speakers' language is protected by the First Amendment, the council will begin trying to enforce some rules to prohibit ``personal, impertinent IMPERTINENT, practice, pleading. What does not appertain, or belong to; id est, qui ad rem non pertinet. 2. Evidence of facts which do not belong to the matter in question, is impertinent and inadmissible. (or) unduly repetitive ... threatening or abusive language.'' rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Council members, from left, Tony Cardenas, Alex Padilla and Ed Reyes returned to work Tuesday sporting new facial hair after their summer break. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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