Sticks and Steins
The latest buzz is that the skids are allegedly being greased to slide longtime commissioner Ellen Stein off the Board of Public Works in order to deflect criticism of Mayor Hahn's recent controversial removal of board member Cynthia Ruiz (an allegeged Hahn opponent Antonio Villaraigosa supporter) from the panel. Hahn dumped Ruiz and replaced her with City Councilman Tony Cardenas' longtime aide Yolanda Fuentes, to allegedly garner East Valley Latino support of Hahn's re-election. The post is quite a plum as its the City's only full time commission and members are paid $100,000 per year (the same cost as one police officer).
We took a look at this issue as well as a look at the amount of money the commissioners have donated to various elected officials here. By the way, nearly two weeks after Fuentes was confirmed by City Council, Cynthia Ruiz remains on the Board's website. You got to love how fast ITA moves! Maybe they only have dial-up.
As noted before as well, Stein is the wife of longtime playmaker and developer Ted Stein, who has surfaced in play to pay allegations while serving as an member of the Airport Commission. A contractor who lost an airport bid claims that Stein allegedly shook them down for a donation to Mayor Poopy's anti-Valley independence campaign. Vendors that were considered for the contract donated nearly $150,000 to the anti-Valley fund. The firm that refused to donate was supposedly shown the door.
Stein is also the mother of Hahn staffer, Jennifer Stein, who serves a liasion to both the Valley and the Jewish community for the Mayor. All in all, one heck of a connected family.
So the question on the table is - if Mrs. Stein is ready to take the sacrificial plunge for Poopy - where does she go and will she return to the BPW should the Poopster pull of the comeback play of all time and actually get re-elected?
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Posted by Mayor Sam @ 12/26/2004 01:30:00 PM
49 Comments:
I do not what is worse - is that these people who have taken over city government and have made it basically into a group of organized crime families (La Cosa Stein, La Cosa Hahn, La Cosa Villaraigosa, et al) OR that the voters don't vote, don't give a shit and keep electing these scumbags over and over again.
Poor Los Angeles.
Let's put the facts out there. Cynthia Ruiz is related to Villaraigosa's family. As a commissioner she used her position to attend community meetings and openly campaign for Villaraigosa on city time. She should have been removed. And if any of you think that Villaraigosa, Herztberg or Parks wouldn't put their own people around them if they were Mayor, you don't know politics. Why hasn't anyone said anything about Parks son being his Chief of Staff and has absolutely no experience? About his family being on the board of directors with the DARE program? Look it up!
By the way, the "alleged" Villaraigosa supporter Cynthia Ruiz and is now working for his campaign.
I am a city hall staffer. And, I've got to admit the criticism of Parks' son is unfair. He's the reason Parks has gotten so much media attention. So, by all accounts he is pulling his weight. Just about every Councilman or woman would kill for the attention that Parks has received. His son is often the last one to leave City Hall and he's also a pretty good guy.
Exactly. So let's keep everything on an even playing field.
I agree that Jr. may be responsible for his dad's media attention. But, enough with the "good guy" stuff. I hear he can be just as evil as his old man... or even worse! Think about it... the combination of Bitter Bernie and Bobbie? The movie "Dameon" comes to mind.
As a thrown in with the "Pay to Play" Stein, can you include a free resignation letter with proof of purchase?
How the hell did this thread turn into a bashing bernie rap ?
First, as to what this thread was all about, it will be really transparent if Ms. Stein either resigns or is removed. It is a bit late, isn't it. She should have gone first, if the reason he was letting Public Affairs Commissioners go was to give everyone a chance. Also, the Commissioners get more than 100k per year don't they? Don't they get a car and other benefits on top of that? A cops starting salary without benefits in LA is about 50k isn't it? so maybe two cops ? .....and they go through a more than 1/2 year of training !!
Next, Bernard Jr. is a good young man and doesn't deserve the treatment he is getting here. He is well educated and was well trained both in another major City and in LA for his media training and skills. He is well liked and well respected in the Council and in his own office for his hard work, his great temperment and his professionalism. So, if you cannot trust your skilled and trained son, then who can you trust? Rather have a intemperate sleazy campaign manager to lead your offices? Rather have a retread old staffer who is ready to retire...but you keep on because she/he cannot get another job? Tell you what,if I were a councilmember, I would hope that all of my staffers would have the brains, the attitude and the commitment of Bernard Parks Jr. I know the young man...know him well and would be proud to have him as my son or employee.
If what you guys are saying is true about Jr. then his father should take some lessons from him. He sounds like he has good qualities his dad should acquire.
Will Hahn's inevtiable relection really be such a "comeback play"?
You're assuming a lot if you think Hahn is a shoe in. Word has it that someone in his administration is going to get indicted at the start of the New Year. If you read Orlov's story on Monday, it seems as though even Hahn knows it's coming. He's completely changed his tone from "Nothing wrong has occurred to my knowledge" to "If someone did do something wrong, we should nail them!" Sounds to me like the mayor is once again late to the party.
wHAT MAYOR ?
Hahn has been saying for ages that if anybody has done anything wrong they should be nailed. This is not new and once gain people just use this blog to spin rather than give honest opinions, most of the time.
Maybe Hahn's next comment will be "Did I do that?"
Hahn's inevitable re-election. NOW THAT's THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE HEARD ALL YEAR!
What a wonderful day it will be when the Hahn staffers, who are among the worst in City Hall, realize that all the employee union endorsements don't translate into as many votes as they think. There are huge numbers of people out there who HATE their boss and would vote for someone they're not crazy about, just to get him out of office! He's burned too many bridges!
Union votes do translate into something when the average voter turnout for local elections is around 13%.
Low turnout can definitely be a factor. But even with the low turnout, there is still one question: Who is Hahn's base?
If Antonio has Westside/Latino support, Parks has black/conservative support, Hertzberg has Valley/Westside support and Alarcon has Latino/Valley support. Who does Hahn have? Who consistently votes for him? Who is his "bread and butter"?
For the first time in recent history, I believe we have an incumbent who doesn't have a base. And, that couldn't be good for Hahn.
Are you saying Hahn will come in after Parks and Alarcon? The guy who is really in trouble is Villaraigosa. The unions went with Hahn. Alarcon will erode Villaraigosa's eastside support. Hertzberg will take much of Villaraigosa's westside and jewish support. And Villaraigosa will have the recall to contend with. I'd rather be in Hahn's shoes than Villaraigosa's in this race.
That was a nice posting, Kam.
Thank you. I have to do something to earn my keep. I will call myself MAK in keeping with this blog.
I don't know who he'll finish behind. But, the question still is: Who in the hell votes for him? What group? If it takes between 150,000 and 160,000 votes to get in the runoff, where does Hahn get his from? If Villaraigosa, Parks, Hertzberg and Alarcon can all account for a base(no matter how small), that means they have a head start on reaching the magic number. Which group gives Hahn his head start?
From MAK. Are you expecting me to give away campaign secrets? But I will say this: If the election was held today, Hahn and Villaraigosa would be going into a run-off. In March it will be Hahn and Hertzberg. In May it will be Hahn. And where will Villaraigosa be? Another failed attempt for mayor and on a recall ballot.
You're not answering my question. Where does Hahn get the freakin' votes? Or does he hope that miraculously Los Angeles turns into Florida and the votes won't count? Where does he get the votes?
Where does Villaraigosa get the freakin' votes? He lost labor's backing and is getting recalled.
Its Hertzberg vs. Parks. Simple - Tony and Richard knock each other out with the Latino vote. Richard gets some valley vote but most goes to hertzberg. Bitter Bernie and Huggy have no competition for the most dedicated voters in the election - little old Black and Jewish ladies who always vote. Hertzberg gets a bonus of Valley folks, other Jews and Westsiders. Bernie gets South LA, other Black folks and crazy ass white Republicans who think Bernie is LA's answer to Colin Powell. Hahn gets some unions but city workers are gonna tell him to shove it and split with him and Antonio and maybe Richard. Hahn has no other base.
In the general, Hertzberg takes it 52-48. Cops, unions and Latinos come out big time for Huggy. Jews too at the prospect of LA's first Jewish mayor.
How is Hertzberg going to overcome his low polling numbers? Right now he's polling in the single digits. The only ones polling in double digits are Hahn, Villaraigosa and Parks.
So was Riordan at this point. Hertzberg will unleash the dough.
Money is important. And, it worked for Riordan. But, Hertzberg is no Riordan. Can he really gain the 15-20 points he needs just to pull even with Hahn, Villaraigosa and Parks?
Embarrassing story on Hertzberg in today's LA Times Opinion section. He messed up coming out with his issue on the schools. Should have stuck to public safety. Hahn is at his best when under the gun. He couldn't be in a worst position right now. I bet he comes out on top once again. None of the other candidates have a vision that's appealing to voters. Soem of their issues Hahn has taken care of. Don't count the Latinos out voting for Hahn. Their so mad at Tony that Hahn's getting their support.
Furthermore, Riordan wasn't running against an incumbent or two other higher-profile candidates. Even if Hertzberg could spend the money to lift his numbers. His success depends on at least two of the three others losing a lot of percentage points. And, I don't know how likely that is.
It was quite bizarre how the Times came out of the blue to pick on Hertzberg. We know Antonio's their guy. But, an attack this early raises questions. Are Hertzberg's numbers threatening Antonio's?
Secondly, these Hahn supporters keep giving these theories as to how he will win. But, no one wants to answer where his votes are coming from. Please, someone give me an answer. Where are you MEAT?
It's Parks-Villaraigosa. Hahn has no base, and both easily outshine him. In May, L.A. voters will have a clear choise: Liberal Villaraigosa or Moderate Parks. Villaraigosa will once again capture the labor that has abandoned him. Parks will pick up endorsements from Hertzberg and Alarcon. Hahn will likely go with Villaraigosa. But, keep at mind that no one wants an endorsement that has to be delivered from a jail cell.
Hey, loverboy. It was Villaraigosa who abandoned us.
Are you serious, loverboy. Didn't Villaraigosa promise to stay for (at least) a full 4 year term? Didn't he say he was going to be better than Pacheco? What he has been is an absentee councilmember. Over 66 days out of the state campaigning for Kerry. Now he's campaigning for mayor. Why did we need to replace a reasonably good elected representtaive for a guy who is clearly more concerned for himself, his ambition and his oversized ego. One thing is for sure - he just used the 14th District to run for mayor.
He'll always have your vote, loverboy, because you work for him. I'm glad you have time for such games. What a campaign Villaraigosa is mounting!
FROM MEAT:
Here's out it may playout -- This race is Hahn, Hertzberg and Villaraigosa -- Hertzberg needs to raise 5 million to be in the run-off and its not a Hahn-Hertzberg general. Either scenario Antonio is in the run-off.
EVERY CONSULTANT, CAMPAIGN PROFESSIONAL, PEOPLE WHO ARE SMARTER THAAN YOU, know Antonio is in the run-off vs?????.
Oh and by the way -- Becerra at this point 4 yrs ago had more money and name ID -- ALarcon will be the Becerra of 4 yrs ago.
blog away dum-dums.
Who once wrote that MEAT made a candidate cry? I can see english teachers crying when they read his posts.
Did someone call Pacheco a reasonably good elected official? He's reasonably good at billing the city to host his fundrasiers.
But you couldn't defend the comments made about Antonio, eh? Interesting.
I'm not buying your spin on Hertzberg, MEAT! Judging by the numbers I've seen, he's not even in the ballpark.
Pacheco may be good at billing things to the City caused he learned from the best, Jim Hahn.
Is this recall getting to Antonio? His hacks are being a little vicious today.
I agree Hahn's hands are dirtier in this than Pacheco. I would have no problem giving Nick a pass if it meant Jim Hahn gets to see the inside of a nice, cozy little jail cell.
CD14Loer is Manny from Highland Park who is the only supporter in the district I have heard of. Everyone else wants Antonio OUT. I want someone to tell me how much money Antonio took from ENRON. That was hard working class people's money and seniors 401K retirement money. ANtonio took money from Fleishman as did Parks, Hertzberg etc. etc. Hertzberg took money from BFI and that will hurt his valley vote. I'm hearing valley people are not supporting Hertzberg because of his dumb school issue he came out with. IF he can be that dumb after voting against the same school issue 3 years ago how could he possibly be smart enough to be Mayor. Valley voters are not supporting Antonio either because of all the recall talk. They are very leary of Tony and what his own constituents are spreading citywide. So I say it's Hahn and possibly Alarcon in run off. Cops, unions for Tony...hell no. Police league endorsed Hahn and labor as well. Who has endorsed any of the other candidates? No matter what you say about Hahn so many others are standing behind him whether you want to accept it or not.
Sure, he has some endorsements. But, will that translate into votes? Nobody in Hahn's camp seems to want to reveal where he's getting his votes from. An article in the Daily News says it will take between 125,000 and 150,000 votes to get into the runoff. Once again, WHERE ARE HIS VOTES COMING FROM? Every candidate has a base that gets them closer to the 125,000 or 150,000 votes needed. What group can Hahn count on? If you say labor, I have two words for you: Gray Davis. He has to try and piece together the votes that Villaraigosa, Parks, Hertzberg and Alarcon don't get while dodging an indictment, which is sure to come for someone in his office. I also hear that his numbers are sinking since the corruption issue started picking up steam. Is that true?
Here you go Meat and CD14Lover..this is why Antionio should stop attacking Hahn and deal with his own skeltons......In 1996, Mr. Villaraigosa wrote a letter asking the president for clemency for convicted drug dealer Carlos Vignali, a onetime rapper who was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for running a cocaine-smuggling ring.
Mr. Villaraigosa has accepted large campaign contributions from Vignali´s family, both before and after writing the letter.
Hey Meat and CD14LOver. this is what your bright candidate said to press today after getting minor endorsement....A clean environment is the foundation of a livable community," the Eastside councilman said during a news conference outside the Department of Water and Power's downtown headquarters. "It's not a luxury. It is a necessity." What a lame ass! Doesn't he know that public safety is what makes a community livable. All he knows how to do is pick up a broom
Cardinal Mahoney wrote a letter also for the same guy!
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