Continental Drift: Why was Sen. Tom Hayden...

Continental Drift: Why was Sen. Tom Hayden talking about Valley secession at a breakfast forum in Westwood (B1)? Seems folks on both sides of the Santa Monicas fret about Los Angeles’ woes. Said Hayden: “L.A. is the most messed up city on the West Coast of the continent. . . . It’s too big and it ignores neighborhoods.”

Stuck Soup? Anyone who believes MTA subway tunneling has something in common with a madcap Marx Bros. movie need look no further than the 300-foot-long digging machine stuck under the Santa Monica Mountains at the Cahuenga Pass. . . . It is wedged 225 feet under Fredonia Drive. The “Republic of Freedonia” was the fictional location of the Groucho classic “Duck Soup.”

Stand-Up Guy: Mayor Riordan stood up for affirmative action on Friday. Or at least for not banning it in state and local government. . . . Riordan (B1) said he opposes a ballot measure called the California Civil Rights Initiative because it’s “divisive.” He hates quotas and preferences, though.

Pain Check: The big crowd due at the Hangar in Lancaster was disappointed Friday night: Seattle Mariner Randy Johnson didn’t pitch after all. . . . He canceled his scheduled appearance with the JetHawks because Mariner doctors said he shouldn’t play (C8). Johnson has been on the disabled list with a back injury. No word on when he may pitch.