Schiff received News Corp. contribution
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) received a $1,000 political contribution from the American subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., according to the latest information from the Federal Election Commission.
The contribution in March came from the political action committee for News America Holdings Inc. — Fox, an affiliate of News Corp., which has been embroiled in the British phone-hacking scandal for weeks.
Schiff’s office on Thursday did not respond to requests for comment.
Overall, the News America Holdings money was a small part of the $483,324 Schiff raised during the latest six-month reporting period, according to the Federal Election Commission.
But that amount was far less than what Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) took in. He raised $824,064 during the past six months, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Valley Village) raised $579,701. Sherman could face off against Berman as district maps are reshaped.
Schiff’s possible reelection rival, Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), raised $58,882 during the same period.
PACs for several unions gave Sherman $5,000 contributions during the past three months, including the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Operating Engineers Local 12 and the International Assn. of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
A PAC for Price Waterhouse Coopers also contributed $5,000. Committees for the Mortgage Bankers Assn. and the Credit Union National Assn. donated a total of $10,000 each.
Schiff reported a $5,000 contribution from a PAC for Sheet Metal Worker’s International and a $3,000 contribution from a PAC for the American Assn. of Clinical Urologists.
State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) reported that he raised $320,070 during the past six months, including $5,000 contributions from PACs for Sheet Metal Workers’ International, Unite Here Tip Campaign Committee and United Assn. of Journeymen and Apprentices of the United States and Canada Local 447.
Mark Kellam
Sherman remains outside Burbank’s district
The latest round of redistricting maps shows Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) continuing to no longer represent part of Burbank.
The latest round also cuts off the piece of North Hollywood that was included in the first set of proposed maps for Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-Burbank) district. Instead, the district’s western border would end at the Burbank city limit.
In the state Assembly, the latest maps also continue to show that Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) would no longer represent Burbank and Glendale because he lives in Silver Lake, which would be outside the newly drawn maps.
Mark Kellam
Najarian to lead council of governments
Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian has been elected to lead the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments as the nascent coalition sets out to implement its agenda.
Najarian — who also serves on the board of directors for Metrolink and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority — takes over the post held by L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
The council was established to give cities in the San Fernando Valley region a unified voice in lobbying for state and federal entitlements, and to coordinate regional infrastructure projects.
In a statement, Executive Director Robert Scott said the fact that the group meets only quarterly slows progress on moving issues forward, so he planned to tap what he called a “powerful and energetic” board to “make the most of their time.”
The coalition of cities has spent much of its first year hammering out an agenda that will likely focus on coordinating transit projects and stoking growth in intersecting business sectors to maximize job creation.
Jason Wells
Sherman named a friend of national parks
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) recently received the Friend of the National Parks Award from the National Parks Conservation Assn. for his commitment to preserving national parks.
One of Sherman’s major accomplishments is protection of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It’s the most visited part of the national parks system, with more than 33 million visitors annually, according to the park service.
Mark Kellam