Guess who’s not coming to dinner: The...

Guess who’s not coming to dinner: The announcement proclaims that L.A. City Councilmen John Ferraro and Hal Bernson “invites (sic) you to attend a gala dinner honoring Councilman Nate Holden for Mayor.”

Just one problem, besides the faulty grammar. Ferraro and Bernson aren’t backing Holden for mayor.

“I haven’t even ruled out running myself,” noted Ferraro, who has written Holden to ask that he “set the record straight” with the other invitees.

Ferraro and Bernson (who has also written a letter of protest) contend that they allowed Holden to use their names only because they were under the impression that the dinner would be a routine councilmanic function, not a mayoral fund-raiser.

“I’m very upset--that’s a low blow,” countered Holden when told of his colleagues’ protests. “They did give me the right to use their names.”

Oddly enough, Ferraro and Bernson learned of the wording on the announcement through constituents. Though the Holden gala is just 15 days away, neither has received an invitation.

Hold the Mao: China opened its first Carl’s Jr. restaurant on Wednesday.

List of the day: Choosing a new police chief in L.A. wasn’t a simple process in the old days, either, as the late columnist Matt Weinstock pointed out.

In his 1947 book “My L.A.,” he wrote that the City of Angels “added several notches to its reputation for screwiana at one oral quiz given police officer candidates for chief.” Some examples:

* One applicant was asked, “Do you think there are others better qualified than you for chief?” The applicant’s reply: “Yes, but they didn’t pass the written exam.”

* Another officer was asked if he, as chief, “would devote more attention to traffic or prostitution.” The officer answered that “he would consider traffic first because if there were too many traffic accidents there wouldn’t be any men to patronize the bordellos.”

* What Weinstock terms the “classic” exchange occurred some years earlier during an exam when an officer was asked what he would do “in case of a race riot.” His response: “I would take down the number of both cars.”

Apparently, racing cars were not uncommon on the streets of L.A., even half a century ago.

A reason to go on living: “Burbank--Noon--A news conference and luncheon will be held (today),” says one wire service preview of events, “to discuss the details of the Celebrity Polo Game and Professional Polo Season.”

Still life: LAPD dispatchers sent out this bulletin: “At Wilshire and Wilton, a 187 (murder) victim.”

About five minutes later, a response came from a patrol car. “Code 4 (no further assistance needed),” officers said.

“It’s a mannequin.”

miscelLAny:

Confirmed Amelia Earhart sighting: A statue of the famed aviator stands in North Hollywood Park. She was a resident of North Hollywood at the time of her disappearance in 1937.