The politics of silence: As one of...

The politics of silence: As one of the few major officials in the state to take no position on Proposition 187, L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan has been the object of some jokes. His absence was noted when City Atty. James Hahn joined Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and Sheriff Sherman Block Friday at an L.A. County Jail news conference to reiterate opposition to the anti-illegal immigration measure. Quipped Hahn: “Was I supposed to swing by and pick up the mayor?”

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The curiosity factor wins out: More than 10,000 students walked off campuses in the L.A. area to protest Proposition 187 the other day, but only nine youngsters left Mt. Vernon Middle School--believed to be the lowest total in the school district. A Mt. Vernon official attributed the small walkout to student interest in a visit that day by Los Angeles police officers, who staged a demonstration on the use of the department’s dogs in drug investigations.

Sacre orange!Joan Lappen of Pacific Palisades found an ad for “Ducking a la Orange” in a Catalina newspaper that would surely raise the eyebrows of a French maitre d’. Then again, it might be just the dish for Mayor Riordan.

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Unofficial economic indicator?

Norman Sklarewitz was a bit surprised to see that the First Professional Bank building on West 3rd Street displays a sign that says: “No Cash on Premises.”

“I wonder if this says something about the lot of professionals these days,” Sklarewitz commented.

We phoned the bank to find out. An employee assured us: “This is the bank’s business office, a satellite office. We don’t have tellers here.” She assured us that the various branches of First Professional have plenty of cash on their premises.

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But do they award frequent taxi miles?Lee Solters says that on a Southwest Airlines flight to L.A., “the plane was taking an unusually long time taxiing to the gate after the landing. When it became very noticeable, a flight attendant announced, ‘Now you know why we are called low-fare Southwest Airlines. We fly you halfway and drive you the rest.’ ”

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Shooting for the stars: Celebrities and other guests at the recent Jack Webb Tribute, which benefited the Los Angeles Police Department’s Historical Museum, found a surprise in their program--a $250 gift certificate good for a one-year membership in the Beverly Hills Gun Club. We’re so touched by the gesture that we won’t belabor the point that the Beverly Hills Gun Club is really located in West L.A.

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Radio people can squeeze a joke out of anything: After Mark Denis of KOST/KFI radio reported nearly simultaneous truck spills of oranges on the Foothill and San Bernardino freeways, colleague Ken Davis added: “That’s no pulp fiction.”

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Making a visitor feel at home: Then there was KNX radio’s Dona Dower, who alerted motorists to the spill of a portable toilet on the Harbor Freeway. She added: “In honor of Prince Charles’ visit, I’ll call it a Port-a-Loo.”

miscelLAny A net loss of $903,000 over the last 12 months was reported Friday by that lingerie landmark, Frederick’s of Hollywood. We’re sure they’ll snap back.