Hahn Writing Off the Valley
We learn from LA Observed that Mayor Poopy is a "no-show" in the Valley:
11:50 a.m. update: Mayor Hahn's office advises he won't be giving the State of the Valley speech at lunch today in Van Nuys after all. No immediate explanation was given.Sounds like brilliant campaign strategy to me!
Posted by Anonymous @ 12/09/2004 01:08:00 PM
41 Comments:
No matter. The Valley wrote off Hahn in 2002.
Word has it that both Hahn and Alarcon will be at a poor kids Christmas party in the Valley on Sunday. Photo op time.
Hahn wouldn't be appointing Yolanda Fuentes from the Valley to the Board of Public Works and removing Cynthia Ruiz from the Eastside if he was writing off the Valley. Give me a break.
Oh come on - you know that was a bone to Cardenas.
The official story is that Hahn fell ill on the way to the event and they had to turn the car around.
Perhaps "Mayor Poopy" is not exactly accurate given the details I heard of his illness...
FROM MEAT:
Yolanda Fuentes is so influential that she lost her only attempt at public office. She is soooo clean she let councilman cardenas (then an assemblymember) pay her close to $40,000 for consulting services which were then laundered into her assembly account. Nice way to get around campaign finance laws. Yolanda's nephew is Hahn's former deputy mayor of the valley, so this is not some sort of nod to the valley, its a nod to a clan of folks that like to play just as dangerous as this mayor.
This mayor doesn't get any more votes for this appointment than he already had, if anything he just lost major support for not keeping ruiz on the board. Makes me wonder outloud what Zine is going to do next...tea leaves suggest...he pulls away from Hahn like Chick did.
Hahn is currying favor with the Padilla/Cardenas axis so that they'll campaign for him in the Valley and among Latino voters.
And let's get real, here, about what determines the outcome of an election.
First is money, money, and more money, which make all the broadcast advertising (TV and radio) and targeted mail pieces possible, not to mention the opinion and demographic research that determine advertising and direct mail messages and strategies.
Endorsements are the second most important thing, but only because they reinforce the messages of paid media. Actual issues? Those are last on the list. Most voters don't read the paper, much less watch the debates or participate in discussions (online or otherwise) like this one.
So whether or not Hahn showed up for VICA today is small potatoes in terms of winning the election. The check-writing, political ads, and direct mail are the only things that really count. And that means the Fuentes appointment matters.
Fuentes did loose the assembly race to Cindy.
Why? Cindy = HOT Yolanda = NOT HOT
FROM MEAT:
I agree with the above poster about money mattering the most. I also agree that the Fuentes appointment matters, as i've heard it was part of the -- if you want my endorsement here's what you have to do quid pro quo. Thats the way cardenas operates, thats the way this mayor operates, thats why Hahn is paralyzed by scandal, thats why Cardenas was linked with the evil indian ads 4 yrs ago. Its why Yolanda skirts campaign finance laws, its why Fuentes, Padilla's and Cardenas's campaign consultant - James Acevedo (A hahn appointee to the Harbor commission) is being investigated by a grand jury as well.
All of these folks deserve each other -- right down to the indictment.
As someone who knows the Valley well, I can say without a doubt Hahn doesn't care for the voter-rich Valley nor will he focus on our growing needs from city services, to landfills, and municipal airports. He doesn't make any effort to show up to Valley. Obviously if he did we would give him hell for the last four years. So maybe it is better he stays away. Either way, Mayor Hahn feels the heat of the Valley well after secession. It's not going anywhere Mr. Mayor no matter if you remain mayor of if someone else wins, including the so-called "Valley's own" Bob Hertzberg. He won't get a free ride by any means if and that is a huge "if" he miraculoulsy wins the election (odds are a resounding no on this prediction).
Now, Mayor Hahn is making a huge mistake by letting Cynthia Ruiz go. She is a model public servant with the ability to get things done and works extremely well with her colleagues at the Board of Public Works, the Councilmembers and the community. As someone who has had the opportunity to work with her in the community, i am very saddned to see her go and resent Mayor Hahn playing politics to score endorsements. Don't get me wrong, Yolanda is a Valley resident and player, but changing starters with bench-warmers in the first minute of the game is ridiculous. Come on Mayor Hahn you can't fool the rest of us.
FROM ARMANDO:
The Mayor and his staff can try to spin the removal of Cynthia Ruiz and replacing her with Yolanda Fuentes however they want, but it's obvious to anybody with any knowledge of City Hall Politics that this was nothing short of favors exchanged for favors, and political retaliation at its worst.
If Hahn really wanted to give others a chance to serve on these boards, why didn't he remove somebody else on the board who has had much time on the board, rather than somebody who was just recently reappointed to a 5 year term. Not too long ago, the people of the Valley sent a message to Yolanda Fuentes when she got spanked by Cindy Montanez: "We don't trust you enough to give you the power to represent us". So how is the Mayor going to justify such a move, when Ruiz got overwhelming approval from the Councilmembers who she worked with and the constituents that she represented???
Maybe the Mayor's Teamwork LA can go out to those communities and explain this foolish move. This will surely come back and bit him in the butt.
Since the Mayor was concerned in the press about giving many people opportunities to serve on commissions and removed Ruiz after a year of good public service, Mayor Sam, could you please investigate and report to your readers, the names and length of service of each of the commissioners and whether or not any of them or their spouses raised funds for Mayor Hahn's campaigns and if so how much. Since Mayor Hahn is so concerned with campaign reform and claims to have such high integrity, you COULDN'T find any such connections now could you? ....or other paid commissioners who should 'give others a chance to serve'?
What a shock !! Hahn making a commitment to something, someone and then breaking it ? ! ?
How could that be.....particularly to the Valley?
Remember what he did with his commitment to remain neutral to secession to get the Valley's Vote ?
Remember what he did to Civic Leader and Philanthropist David Fleming after he pulled out all stops to support Hahn in the runoff and then was unceremoniously dumped from the Fire Commission, with no reason, no personal telephone, etc.
Remember how many times has he refused to come to the Valley(unless for a fundraiser), including those events honoring volunteers, like the Fernando Award dinner, which Riordan attended every year, and which Hahn committed to attend and then the last minute cancelled over and over again. Does the word USER......or MANIPULATOR .....or LIAR .....or PAWN or ......fit ? And this is our Mayor ?
I was at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at City Hall earlier this week, and the mayor could barely speak--he was sick enough that he lost his voice.
Let people be human--I'm no huge Jim Hahn fan, but he was sick this week. Really sick. It happens sometimes.
From: Mayor McCheese
1) Hahn should have just said he didn't feel well. It was reported on the news this morning he was sick and skipping events.
2) Of course Jimmy was handing out favors to Tony C.
3) Yes, Cindy is hot, Yolanda is not. Also, Cindy smart, Yolanda, not. Cindy's politics are far more socialist than Yolanda, but indeed the voters found her a much more respectable and capable person. And way hotter.
People, people, people....Cynthia Ruiz is a relative of Antonio's. She's his comadre therefore, blood thicker than water. Secondly, she was at community meetings publicily endorsing and campaigning for Antonio. Ask anyone on the Northeast side. The one meeting that anger some residents was the one the Veterans. If she was using her position as a commissioner, (and she was) than sorry she was right to resign. None of the council members got the whole story.
OH PLEASE! Hahn was upset with a commissioner engaged in political activities???? What a f'in hypocrite!
Steve Cooley - are you listening?
FROM MEAT:
To the blogger above saying the councilmembers didn't get the whole story. Whoever you are you seem to always think that somehow there's more than meets the eye. First off, Ruiz is not a blood relative of Antonio's -- she's never ever publicly endorsed anyone for Mayor, and if during her tenure she pissed of folks, so what, thats life.
Hey buddy the burden of proof is on you - to prove that she endorsed a candidate, cause she did not, the whole blood is thicker than water, i agree with that except they are not related.
blog away dum-dums.
Looks like Jimmy Hahn stepped on his dick. I don't like Tony Villaragosa but there was no reason to pull Cynthia off and put in that dumbshit Yolanda.
Yolanda was nearly a triple user. She lost the assembly nomination, Cardenas lost the council race to Wendy and then, only then, she got to keep a job because Alex was nice enough to carve out a valley seat for Tony.
And you wonder why the city is fucked up!
WOW MAYOR SAM YOU ARE REALLY MAKING IT BIG IF BOI FROM TROI IS BLOGGING ON YOUR WEB!
There you go again MEAT acting as if you know more than anyone else. Cynthia is comadre (godmother) to Antonio's family. She is the one who told community members and everyone in city hall. There's nothing wrong with that. However, you can't use your position to get invited to meetings and then use that position to campaign on my tax dollars for a candidate whoever it is. Secondly, YES she did campaign and used her position. MEAT just hates to not be right all the time.
Mayor Sam and Chief Parker also no 4 letter swear words should be allowed.
Scott - I thought I told you not to tell anyone. Keep it up and I'll
have to let them know that you are boifromtroy.
Love, Bonny
I really am shocked here. The man was SICK. I mean, really honest-to-god horrible flu sick. And you idiots are saying that he is ignoring the Valley, that he is a liar, etc. Are you perfect? Have you never been ill in your life? Elected officals are ALLOWED to be sick. One of our former presidents got the flu and VOMITED on the Japanese prime minister. Would you then say that he was IGNORING the Asian people because he left the dinner.
And frankly, in my opinion, the Fernando Awards are a joke-a total sham-and simply a bore. Glad to hear the Mayor didn't waste his time.
You're wasting your breath with these bloggers. They ignore anything that sheds a positive light on Hahn. The other mayoral candidates have nothing better to do than slam him because they don't have an idea in hell or vision for Los Angeles. Antonio's community plan came and went. Bob's still on the orange bus I'm sure visiting schools when the Mayor has no say in LAUSD. Also Bob voted against this same issue splitting up the schools when he was in Assembly in 1992 (I believe) LA Times reported this week. Heaven forbid HAHN for being a human being and getting sick but he's under a microscope so any little thing he does someone will find something negative to say. How truly sad that these candidates have started such a Negative attack and acting like bullies ganging up on one person. You would think if they put fresh ideas as leaders that would be much more positive but then I guess when you have nothing to say the easy way out is to ATTACK. I call it bad KARMA
Another anti-Valley city hall insider slamming the Fernando Awards and the organizations we have set up here to take care of our own.
You could give Jimmy Dick Hahn a pass on a one time deal for being sick. But it seems as if anytime he's supposed to come to the Valley and there is some controversy brewing, he gets Gray Flu.
Jimmy F'ed the Valley by illegally campaigning against secession. How did he do that? By telling city contractors that if they didn't donate to the anti-secession campaign, they would not get contracts.
If you guys hate us so much let us go. But then again you need our money to keep your crumbling, gang infested city going.
We shall prevail.
There you again...slamming the Valley. How does Hahn suspect he will win any votes in the Valley if he doesn't make an effort to show up and look interested. I don't care if he puts on a fake face; at least its a face. We have not seen Hahn in the Valley in like forever. Sure, these small events with Valley leaders may seem cheesy in comparison to the ritzy dinners and events with Downtown LA leaders, but come on make a damn effort Mr. Mayor. The Valley controls the destiny of public policy in the City of LA and we can make or break you.
STOP THE PRESSES...STOP THE PRESSES. How easy you all Valley people forget. Hahn was just in the Valley 1 1/2 months ago and one of the biggest Valley Town Hall Community Policing meetings with Bratton. HELLLLOOOO....don't you guys readd your own paper? Again saying remembering only what you want. Why hasn't anyone said anything about Parks never going to the valley until recently to campaign. Two years ago when he was jocking to be re-appointed he was suppose to attend a huge town hall meeting and there were protesters outside. He drove up in his black tinted car with a driver, took one look at protesters and went back over the hill. So go ask him while he was LAPD chief why didn't he go over the hill?
I'll give you that one on Parks.
"The Valley controls the destiny of public policy in the City of LA and we can make or break you"
Now that is truly the funniest thing I have heard all day!
TOUCHE!!!
Can I just say what a "classy" guy Alaracon is. Parks, Tony, Bob are all saying nothing but negative things in the paper about Hahn. Alaracon is acting like a mature man with dignity and class not saying a word and wanting to speak only on the issues. I don't see any negative posts on him here or other websites. I hope he doesn't change
FROM MEAT:
I don't like being wrong and i wasn't -- i clearly said Ruiz wasn't a blood relative and she isn't. You implied she was, i was merely correcting you. As for the campaigning on your public dime -- again, i've asked cynthia whose a friend of mine exactly what you just posted and she said NO she never did that. Now of course its her word versus yours -- your word being that of an anonymous person who won't even share an e-mail address like i have, i think the burden of proof is yours buddy. Innocent until proven guilty -- so please explain.
As for the Mayor being sick -- he was sick -- honestly, let the man be sick and recover. I want a 100% healthy mayor to smash in political oblivion -- no harm, no foul on not attending the Valley event.
As for those folks upset about the negative nature of this campaign -- welcome to LA -- it ain't going to change and i sure don't want it to.
As for the vision thing -- Antonio 4 years ago unleashed some of the most detailed plans on every major issue this city faces (in fact the affordable housing trust fund was a true blue Antonio idea) i suspect if someone really wants to hear his vision they can look it up, but until a good chunk of voters are paying attention there's no reason to start talking. I bet Antonio's plan isn't the same this time around, but i suspect it won't deviate from the previous one too much.
blog away dum-dums
So what positive light was being shed on Poopie? That he had the runs?
Why do we even care about the Valley? It's the land that breeds NIMBYism. I don't think the Valley knows the term "progress"; just complaining. Maybe Mayor Hahn should stay away. We should focus on areas of the city that want to be a part of the solution rather than complaing about everyone else causing the Valley's own problems. In any case, the Valley will get screwed either way no matter who wins the mayoral election.
Hahn is the boy who cried wolf too often. He and his little minions at City Hall tell so many stories that no one knows when to believe him or not. Now isn't that a sad story for the Mayor of one of the most significant cities in the world.
My question is, with all the garbage going on from criminal grand juries, to pay to play, to Fleishman Hillard, to Mayoral appointments and those he wrongfully kicks off and wrongfully leaves on commissions .....and all the rest..............WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING TO INDICT, IMPEACH, OR JUST BOOT OUT OF OFFICE. The stories are BIG and seem to disapppear as the City slips into it's own self destructive mode.
JIM, if you care so much about the City and care so much about your family(kids...and you of course should as a good father....and from all reports you are), then give it up for the benefit of both the City and your Family.
Simply put, assuming you really did try, you failed miserably as have those around you. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the City under your leadership has never been in more disarray, never had more of a problem of perception of corruption than it is now. Your leadership, even if you tried your best, has FAILED and your staff and commissioners and supporters have failed you and most importantly the City and it's residents.
Do you really, really want to be Mayor....and if so why? There are other jobs available that you could do well in, be comfortable in and have the opportunity to look back on your public career(the good and the bad)and move forward positively with respect and peace.
That is my wish for you and for the City and it's residents this holiday season.
Thanks for trying.....now PLEASE GIVE IT UP !!!!
Comparing Hahn to a President who vomited overseas ? ? ? ? ?
Well, the Mayor has been vomiting all over the Valley for many years now.....a part of the City in which he lives.
At least that President only vomited once, did it where he doesn't live and directed it at only one person.
Come on now.......there are some that have said the Mayor HAS BEEN so sick that he hasn't been able function for the past 4 years !!!
Cynthia was hot and appointed because Hahn was kissing Villaraigosa's butt after he trounced Pacheco. Pacheco's appointee was removed, because Villaraigosa wanted that, and Ruiz was appointed. Politics!
Now, everybody wants to cry because Cynthia was removed, give me a break. Rubalcava was doing an excellent job and Villaraigosa pushed her out.
What goes around, comes around.
Everyone should just grow up.
FROM MEAT:
Hold on there one second brother man -- i'd agree if you were rigt but you are not.
Sen Gil Cedillo (a hahn backer, surprise surprise) requested that cynthia ruiz get the commission post not Antonio.
I wanted to clear that misconception up.
Forget about Ruiz, isn't Feuentes ths sister of Filipe Fuentes, Hahn's former deputy mayor, Padilla's chief of staff and former go for for Acevedo and then Assemblyman Cardenas. If so.....well .......politics Hahn style !!!
Cedillo needs to move on and let go of that dumb illegal immigrant driver's license bill. No way in hell Congress will ever pass it. I never once heard Cedillo say anything about how does he expect the poorest residents of this city to pay for car insurance. Funny how he never ever brought that issue up. Do think people in LA want all these illegals driving with no car insurance. Wake up Gil
Let's not forget that when Cindy montañes was a "no body" it was Yolanda Fuentes, Tony Cardenas and Alex Padilla who helped her to get elected in the San Fernando City council but then when she formed her own "machine" w/ Alarcon and her sister Maribel and all her"significant others" Cindy suddenly forgot who was there for her when she needed the most. Yonada Fuentes was. But then Cindy run against Yolanda. We in the community know that Yolanda was more prepared and knowledgeable regarding the position than "insignificant Cindy". Therefore, It was us, the community who lost in that race by appointing Cindy who has done nothing for our community except to be "friends" with Mr. Nuñes who is supporting Antonio Villaraigosa. So, Dear reader next time you open your mouth to question Yolanda Fuentes make sure you clean it, because she is worth more than any of your friends. Why it does not surprised me that Cindy is friends with Antonio "Del Villar"(what are you hiding)alias Villaraigosa who happens to be friends with Ruiz. They are all ungraceful and untruthful people.
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