Great Quotes from the Debate
"This is a sad day for Los Angeles," Alarcon said. "This indictment has created a pall at City Hall, a pall that says we can point fingers at individuals or we can step forward and change Los Angeles, change the rules."
Parks echoed Alarcon, saying, "This is why the whole city of Los Angeles needs to be looking to clean up our government."
Villaraigosa said the indictments confirm his views on the problems in the city, and showed the need for a change.
"All of us have raised money, but I know the difference between right and wrong," Villaraigosa said. "You can't have a city government where decisions are linked to contracts."
Hertzberg said the problem is pervasive in the city and has had a chilling effect.
"I've been out of government for some time now and I can't tell you how many people I call who say hey have a contract with the city and are concerned about making a contribution," Hertzberg said. "We need new leadership in the city."
And last but not least:
"I have a 20-year career here of unquestioned honesty and integrity," Hahn said during the debate at Temple Beth Amat in West Los Angeles before more than 300 people. "I have said we will not tolerate anyone ripping off the city and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Posted by Anonymous @ 1/14/2005 09:49:00 AM
32 Comments:
Those are all great quotes, even Hahn's. But how does that prevent this from happening again.
Laura Chick should be embarrased that these bills got paid, under the charter (see below) she is responsible for reviewing all demands and PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF ANY DEMAND she should check everything out. What happened? Note how the charter language includes services, like PR work.
Is this a structural problem that needs to be scrutinized??
Sec. 262. Approval of Demands on Treasury.
(a) The Controller shall, prior to approval of any demand, make inspection as to the quality, quantity and condition of services, labor, materials, supplies or equipment received by any office or department of the City, and approve before payment all demands drawn upon the Treasury if the Controller has adequate evidence that:
(1) the demand has been approved by every board, officer or employee whose approval is required by the Charter or ordinance;
(2) the goods or services have been provided, except that advance payment may be authorized by ordinance for specified categories of goods and services;
(3) the payment is lawful;
(4) the appropriation for the goods or services has been made;
(5) the prices charged are reasonable;
(6) the quantity, quality and prices correspond with the original specifications, orders or contracts; and
(7) any additional criteria established by ordinance have been satisfied.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Controller shall delegate to the various offices and departments the duties of inspection of goods and services and approval of demands, in accordance with methods for inspection and approval established by the Controller, but the Controller may suspend the authority delegated pursuant to this subsection upon a finding of abuse of that authority or on a determination that the office or department lacks adequate controls to exercise that authority properly. In the event of suspension of the authority delegated pursuant to this subsection, the Controller shall assist the office or department to achieve adequate controls and standards prior to reinstatement of that authority to the office or department.
(c) The Controller shall withhold approval of any demand, in whole or in part, if there is a question as to whether it is improper, illegal, or unauthorized, and immediately file a report with the Mayor and Council stating the objections to the demand. The Council shall promptly consider the report and may overrule or sustain the objections of the Controller.
(d) The Controller shall keep a record of all demands on the Treasury approved by the Controller and of all demands to which objections have been made and overruled.
What happened Laura, how did your office drop the ball so badly? Why have a charter if you're going to ignore it?
Excuse me while I stop laughing. Each and every one of these men are the last to be saying anything on this matter. They all have their own corruption. Let's start with Parks and Rampart. Connie Rice's report will tear him apart. He knew long before it broke in the news and tried to cover it up. Antonio took money not only from Fleishman, but ENRON (made hard working people loose everything) they also had executives indicted, he used his own special interest groups when he was in Sacramento. Poor Bob is waiting for his gavel to land. He worked as a consultant for Fleishman and now we're learning worked on DWP contracts. Alarcon is another one who took special interest money in Sacramento. They lack trust, integrity and now voters know they are no better.
Why the hell aren't city council sittig in their damn seats when the meeting starts? Isn't there something in the charter about that? It's shameful that they can't even find the time to sit for a meeting and listen like all other politicans around the country. Where's the video camera?
I just heard that Jimmy Blackman has been with Antonio at all his campaign events. Isn't he a paid Chief of staff by the city? Doesn't seem like he's taken a leave of absence like Parks Jr. If he's Tony's campaign manager shouldn't he be on the filing report?
Truth or Dare:
JH: Was the meeting with a famous defense Attorney (for now nameless)to raise more funds for the re-election or.....? Is that a new "go between shadow" between you and TE or is it only the imagination? Also, how does cash get reported - Is there a special form????
AV: Funny thing... the same company that arranged your 1/5 Million dollar campaign for the sales tax increase on the November ballot is working for you now.... for nada???? Also, that meeting held last week with (????) was that strategy or "independant" and "never to be reported" campaign mailings? Are "for your troubles" payments approved campaign expenditures?
BH: Why is DWP/FH suddenly popping up near your name? Is there some more to this than meets the eye?
BP: Not worth the key strokes
RA: Whatever....
The issue isn't about receiving contributions, it's about tying those contributions to city contracts. To my knowledge only one candidate is accused of doing this.
FROM MEAT:
Hey Truth or Dare guy – let me help you clear up a few things about Antonio.
Yeah – the same company that worked for Antonio on the sales tax measure is working for him again, but they are also the same company that worked for him 4 yrs ago on the first mayor’s race. Next, that company (at least the one I think you are referring to) makes political ads – have you seen any ads from Antonio on your television screen regarding the mayor’s race? No you haven’t dum-dum – so why are you trying to create an issue where none exists. Oh yeah, I forgot that’s all the dum-dums on this blog like to do, creating issues where none exist.
Lastly, on that strategy mtg you are referencing – it was a campaign organizing mtg - -and yes MEAT was there dum-dum. It wasn’t an independent thing – it was a volunteer thing, as for your weird conclusion that political mailings will come of it – that’s just plain strange. Are you saying candidates can’t have campaign mtgs with campaign supporters? If that’s what you are saying, than you are dumber than I thought.
Also note to the alcohol/ slimy bar financed recall guys. Where are your signatures? Where’s the campaign? Where’s this whole we will follow him wherever he goes juggernaut of yours. No need to answer – my folks that are pretending to help you guys have told me all I need to know.
Blog away dum-dums.
To FAT: Over 12000 recall sigatures will be delived to the City Clerk in the time frame outlined in the Charter. We don't have to deliver them to you. And before you make any demands on the recall people, I suggest you deliver on your promise - hey, it must be a Villaraigosa thing, not only does Antonio have a habit of breaking promises so do his supporters it seems! - and list what you said you were going to list: The 70 odd neighborhood watches and the names of the bar owners who are financing the recall. For the record, the recall people never said they were going to follow Antonio around and for a good reason. We are obviously confining out efforts to the 14th District and as we all know THAT'S THE LAST PLACE TO FIND ANTONIO.
Yeh, MEAT, you can't really keep talking about "slimy" bar owners supporting the recall when you haven't delivered the list like you said you would.
Interesting that Antonio must be using Cerrell Associates in Larchmont Village. I don't think it's Rick Taylor. If they're not charging Antonio that means when Antonio coughed up $500,000 commercials for Measure A he must have told them include my mayoral commericals as well. Someone should do some legwork and find out if indeed they're doing it for free.
FROM: MEATBALL
Antonio owes Jimmy Blackman $50
http://ethics.lacity.org/efs/public_rpt_sf.cfm?doc_id=3237&city=la
But he did pay his AMEX bill
http://ethics.lacity.org/efs/public_rpt_se.cfm?doc_id=3237&city=la
But no record of TV commercials ordered yet, of course I am no expert at the shell game they call campaign filings.
FROM: MEATBALL
Antonio owes Jimmy Blackman $50
http://ethics.lacity.org/efs/public_rpt_sf.cfm?doc_id=3237
FROM MEAT:
STOP POSTING AS MEATBALL YOU IDIOT -- Look if you are going to pick a name be a little more original -- stop stealing my name and come up with one of your own.
MEATBALL DOES NOT = MEAT -- but the names are too similar -- get a life name stealer.
blog away dum dum
I like MEATBALL. AT least he's posting his facts. Keep posting Meatball. If Jimmy is only owed $50, then who was paying his salary all those times he was with Antonio at campagin events? Is Jimmy on the campaign payroll or city taxpayers footing the bill?
Let's all remember this: If Jimmy Blackman or any other staffmember (from Antonio's camp or any other camp) that work for any level of government do stuff after hours, then it's ok. So if peoeple are going to be critical of the work that anybody does, let's be specific to make sure that we don't throw mud where it's not needed.
How dare you insult the comments. I think what they're saying is if Jimmy Blackman is going around with Antonio doing his mayoral campaign stuff then he should take a leave of absense just like Parks Jr. did. Was Jimmy at the debates? If he was then his butt should be in trouble cause he's getting paid city time, my tax dollars working on the mayoral campaign. Everyone should keep track cause Antonio is one sneaky bastard.
So let's get back onto the original subject:
CORRUPTION, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, INDICTMENTS, MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, JIM HAHN . . . . . . . .
FROM MEAT:
I don't care what Meatball says -- say what you want -- just come up with your own name.
Why you ask -- because Meat is the original Meatball. Meat has always been short for that -- so i don't want their to be any confusion.
So, how did Hahn respond to the Stodder indictment today? By attacking Hertzberg's ties to Fleishman. A dubious strategy at best, but one that recognizes that Hahn is now in a dogfight to hold onto a place in the runoff.
Good for Jimmy. These guys have been beating up on him a long time. Its nice to see he has the balls to go back at them. Especially being that everyone single one has their own damn baggage and corruption hanging over their head.
Good for Jimmy? The only defense he has is to spread his mud on other people?
Here's a better strategy: Get an idea of his own, pull his head out of his a##, and lead the damn city.
FROM: MEATBALL
Eat my meat, MEAT! Here is some MEAT for your buddies:
CALIFORNIA FORM 460
Payments and Contributions Made (Other Than Loans)
Villaraigosa for Mayor 2005
I.D. NUMBER 1267602
Jimmy Blackman Reseda , CA 91335 $302.99.
Celine Cordero Long Beach , CA 90808 $5,362.53
(is this the same Celine Cordero who as a Student Senator at CSULB tried to censor the student paper for not being politically correct?)
From another filing:
Jimmy Blackman Reseda , CA 91335 $1,430.00
Much more MEAT out there, ehh MEAT? I just don't have time to post it all, but its out there for you guys who want to eat some MEAT.
MEAT when are you going to give Jimmy B. his last $50 you guys owe him?
You talk crap about the Mayor but when its turned on your guys you can't handle it can you MEAT?
Love & kisses,
MEATBALL
From: MEATBALL
One last thing...your boy Antonio is sure going to cry when those petitions are certified. Or at least you OWE us to come on this blog and tell us how much of a dum dum you are!
FROM MEAT - the original Meatball as Meat has always been short for that --
Well you get a golf clap from me on knowing how to go onto the city ethic's website and poste something on a blog. Real good, but again dum-dum there is nothing there.
Celine is on the Antonio campaign staff -- so i don't get why her name is blogged here AND lets says you work for Joe ANYONE and after work and on weekends you VOLUNTEER your time to help a campaign -- sometimes folks who are civically involved do these things -- and there maybe times where you spend some of your money to help the campaign, knowing that you will get reimbursed for the Hot Dogs you bought - or the Water you purchased for volunteers -- big wow.
You really got them buddy -- whoa stop campaigning Antonio -- some dum-dum here found our achilles heal, better fold up camp right now.
Learn how campaigns operate, learn how people can get reimbursed and stop wasting your keyboards time with your fingers.
blog away dum-dum -- and all the wannabees out there too.
Gotta love the LA Times story today saying that the attacks on Jimmy by the bulies can possibly backfire. They are looking like a bunch of hypocrites. It didn't help Kerry and people say a big reason he lost. Too much negative campaigning turns people off. We're sick and tired of hearing it and it also burns the hell out of us when each of the candidates have their own shit. Meat why does your boss take off all the negative comments on his blog? He has nothing but bullshit positive stuff and we all know that's absolutely his people posting.
So I guess those federal prosecutors and the DA's office are a bunch of bullies too. Too bad that argument won't work to stop the criminal investigation and further indictments.
Every time you refer to your boss' opponents as "bullies" it adds credibility to the argument that Hahn is weak, can't take the heat and can't stand up to fight like a man. Los Angeles deserves a strong mayor and not someone who goes cryin' to mommy when his feelings are hurt.
The LA Times also reports:
"Under terms of his bail, Stodder must remain in Southern California and try to find employment, according to [Judge] Turchin."
Do you think there's a spot in Hahn's press office for him?
MEAT referred to Hahn as the City's CEO, which I agree.
That makes Laura Chick the CFO, chief financial officer.
If MEAT was honest, he would recognize that as CFO Laura Chick is responsible for overseeing city contracts and payments (as posted above). Unlike, the private sector, Hahn as CEO cannot fire Chick as CFO, because she was elected to that position.
MEAT is as dishonest as his buddy Antonio,however, and will keep SPINNING that Hahn should have been the one to oversee these contracts.
Remember, in politics perception is reality and the facts don't matter in a campaign. We are in the middle of a campaign and the challengers will say anything, even lie, to advance their campaign.
Anyone who has worked for an elected knows that a Chief of Staff is always on the clock. It is not a traditional job where you have any free time or there is a determined 'after work' period. In addition, LA City Ethics meets with the full council staff before the campaign season begins and informs them of the strict rules in person and in writing. So, any council office that follows the rules makes sure that 1) their Chief of Staff takes a leave of absence (since he/she is the key person for the elected and the key staff figure to the community...therefore is key to the campaign) and 2) any staff member who participates in any campaign-related activity (if not on leave - has to take a no pay day - documented on their time card for that week). So, there are some of us on this blog that do know a thing or two about campaigns and may have participated or coordinated a few. This is an important issue to track. The City takes it seriously, and community leaders and voters should also.
I give Parks Jr. credit for doing the right thing and taking a leave. Why the hell doesn't Jimmy Blackman? Did he fill out one of those cards? Jimmy is an idiot and comes across as a arrogant moron. Parks Jr. at least has class unlike his dad but is very well respected. Jimmy should take lessons from him.
MIKE -
How dare you complain about someone stealing your nickname! You stole it from me. I'm the original MEAT. Now get back to work before I fire you.
Your boss,
Rob Reiner a.k.a. MEATHEAD
I'll take Jimmy over Jr. any day!
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