Whistleblower hotline: (213) 785-6098
mayorsam@mayorsam.org

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Recall Villaraigosa?

TonyPerhaps responding to MEAT's baiting, the Recall Villaraigosa team sent us over their latest press release. Their hope - to get Tony Villar to drop out of the Mayor's race OR resign from his council seat. Is this just the rantings of a few disgruntled bar owners as MEAT says or is a grass roots movement brewing? Nonetheless, I am sure this is one more headache Tony didn't want. And it at least gives Jim Hahn something to smile about.

FROM THE

COMMITTEE TO RECALL ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

Los Angeles, January 26, 2005

Recall Group to Villaraigosa: “How Much is Your Pledge Worth?”

“While we are not taking any side in the race for mayor and our focus is solely on recalling Antonio Villaraigosa from office as the 14th district council member, the voters of the city of Los Angeles should be very wary of any promise made by Mr. Villaraigosa in this campaign,” said Recall Committee chair Eliseo Villanueva.

“Stating that ‘Honesty and ethics in City Hall start at the top’, this week Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa released his ethics pledge to the people of Los Angeles. But I want to remind the people of Los Angeles that we in the 14th council district are only too aware of Mr. Villaraigosa’s pledges,” said Villanueva. “In 2003, in his race against the sitting councilman, Mr. Villaraigosa made a pledge to the voters of the 14th district over and over again that he would serve a full 4-year term and not run for mayor. He broke that pledge less than 18 months in office.” Worse still, continued Villanueva, anybody who reminds the Councilman of his pledge immediately becomes the target of a smear campaign.”

One of the pledges Mr. Villaraigosa makes is that he will take personal responsibility for his own actions. We urge the Councilman to abide by his ethics pledge now. There is no reason wait. Mr. Villaraigosa can take personal responsibility for his actions and pledge of 2003 now.


Therefore the Recall Committee reminds Councilman Villaraigosa of his pledge to stay in office as the Council Member for the 14th district for the full 4-year terms and urges him to either:

  • Pull out of the race for Mayor, or
  • Resign immediately from the office of Council Member serving the people of the 14th district.

Mr. Villaraigosa, if your pledges are to be believed by the people of Los Angeles act now. If the recall is forced to continue it will be a sure sign that your “pledges” are worth as much as your pledge to the 14th district in 2003. It will be a sure sign that your “pledges” are nothing more than political theater. And it will be the surest sign that you do not deserve the votes of the people of Los Angels in the upcoming mayoral election.

Posted by Mayor Sam @ 1/27/2005 08:56:00 AM

41 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This a posting from the Yahoo Group
NortheastLA


From: "Juan" es_topdog@yahoo.com
Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:55 pm
Subject: Villaraigosa "Pledge"

It is really difficult to take him seriously about any pledge when
he can't even keep his pledge from 18 months ago.

Here's my two cents on them.

AV: I will take personal responsibility for all my actions and the
actions of my deputy mayors.

ES: So what personal responsibility is he taking for breaking his
vow not to run for Mayor?


AV: I will appoint deputy mayors based on knowledge, experience and
integrity.

ES: I assume he did that with his current staff and they don't seem
to be delivering a product head and shoulders above the past staff
members in the council office.


AV: I will require my department heads to adhere to a strict code of
ethics.

ES: Didn't I just see somewhere that his field rep Monica Garcia
duped the Hermon Dog park advocates. Told them not to worry about
name changing and then she recommended to the Board of Rec and Park
to adopt Arroyo Seco and abandon Hermon.


AV: I will require my commissions and boards to hold regular
meetings during evening hours and in different areas of the city, so
working people can attend.

ES: This is coming from the guy who killed the evening "no
appointment necessary" (meet with your Councilman) hours that the
former councilman used to offer his constituents. What a joke.


AV: I will be open and accessible to members of the public in every
community.

ES: This one I believe, sure seems like he's in every community, but
the one he represents.


AV: I will promptly respond to all requests from concerned citizens,
Neighborhood Councils and the City Council.

ES: I wonder how the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council feels right
now about this one. They supported Hermon Dog Park and he ignores
them so that his donors can get Arroyo Seco Dog Park.


AV: I will appear before the City Council on a regular basis to take
questions and discuss city policy.

ES: It would be nice if he'd appear before his CD 14 constituents on
a "regular basis to take questions and discuss city policy."

He should really stay away from making these type of campaign
promises, because they only make him look silly.

January 27, 2005 9:53 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

No, we didn't post because of Meat - we think he's a joke. But we DON'T think you are a joke, Mayor Sam. That's why we sent you our press release - and we have another one coming very soon!

January 27, 2005 9:54 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

FYI: Wendi Riser from Hermon is the publisher.

All Things HERMON. . . (01/25/05)

*** Last night at the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) Board meeting I spoke during the public comment period on Hermon community's right - as the founder and host community of the Hermon Dog Park -- to be able to have the leading voice in how city services like that are identified here, while sharing the dog park with alll our Council District 14 neighbors (and beyond).

This is what I said:

"One of the main reasons Hermon bought-in to the ASNC was because historically, our smallness allowed politicians to walk over us. We felt that by joining with other small and mid-size communities we would have a stronger voice.

If I had time, I'd list the ways Hermon has had it's identity stolen by the City over the years. But most of you know we lost the street name Hermon Avenue in the late 1970's so Councilmember Art Snyder could name it after his daughter.

Councilmember Nick Pacheco helped us fight to get our identity back by getting on of the Arroyo Seco Parks to be named for Hermon once again (Now "Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco").

Two years ago folks from Hermon and Montecito Heights began the Hermon Dog Park project, to be in Hermon Park -- as much as a marketing and identification tool for Hermon as it was to improve our present park use, and give dogs and theiir owners a place to meet and play off-leash.

Before Councilmember Pacheco left office, and after a well-attended community meeting in Hermon that showed overwhelming consensus for a dog park, the councilmember allocated the $80K from Prop K funds for the "Hermon Dog Park".

The name, "Hermon Dog Park" has been used for several years and has been supported by the Dog Park Organizing Committee, the host community Hermon Neighborhood Association, and Hermon Local Issues Committee. On Feb. 23, 2004 the ASNC voted to support the Hermon Dog Park, and on Sept. 27 you (the ASNC Board) voted even more specifically to back the name "Hermon Dog Park." Our council office was informed of each of these decisions.

Last Wednesday, Donnette Thayer (of Montecito Heights) and I attended the Recreation & Parks Board of Commissioners meeting where our Field Deputy Monica Garcia assured us that nothing about the name of the dog park would be discussed that evening.

So we were SHOCKED when only a few minutes later Rec and Parks asked the Parks Commissioners -- at the request of Councilmember Villaraigosa's office --to remove the word "Hermon" from any reference on record and replacce it with the name "Arroyo Seco."

The council office has shown that input from other communities has been given more weight than our choice (that of the Hermon community and ASNC). That seems a bit to me like being able to name your neighbors' kid.
There have been five public meetings on this, all properly noticed, the last two were specifically about the name, and not once did ANYONE object to the name Hermon Dog Park.

In Councilmember Villaraigosa's 12-month report, they list the dog park as "Hermon Dog Park". However now, in his 18-month report, his staff turns back the clock two years and refers to Hermon Park as the "current Arroyo Seco Park."

Ironically, on the same page of the 18-month report just above the sanitized Hermon-less "Dog Park", is another CD 14 project in another small community -- but THEY get to keep their name -- Garvanza Skate Park.

WHY?

Names do matter.

We really don't like to think that our identity is being stolen AGAIN by yet another councilmember's office. But that's what it looks like to me, and sadly, I wanted you to know how little weight and seriousness your unanimous votes are being given by the CD14 office. Please help us keep our identity.

Thank you."

January 27, 2005 10:15 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Here is the official CD 14 position regarding the Board's decision to name the dog park "Arroyo Seco Dog Park in Hermon."

This sounds so familiar, oh yeah, "Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim."

I would be insulted if they told me this and I lived in Hermon. How idiotic.



From CD 14:


Dog Park supporters, please be advised of the following important points:

An official name has not been designated for the dog park.

For their own internal purposes, Recreation and Parks will refer to the project as Arroyo Seco Dog Park in Hermon to reflect the input they've received from the CD 14 community; this bares no weight on the final decision / name.

CD 14 welcomes input on the name of the dog park. Although there may be different opinions on the name, we can all agree the dog park will be very positive for the Northeast and surrounding community.

Monica Garcia, Field Deputy
Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Council District #14
Eagle Rock Field Office
2035 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: (323) 254-5295
Fax: (213) 485-8788

January 27, 2005 10:41 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It seems the proponent of the name the "Arroyo Seco Dog Park" was on the host committee of Antonio's birthday party. And the same person was also co-chairing a fund raiser for Antonio. So, we have Antonio ignoring the community and favoring one of his fundraising pals! WOULDN'T THIS BE A VIOLATION OF THE PLEDGES HE'S JUST MADE TO THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES! Can we trust this guy? NO!

January 27, 2005 10:44 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It appears that the CD14 statement was made before the meeting referred to by Ms. Riser. To the previous poster: Hell No, we can't trust Antonio.

January 27, 2005 10:49 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Recall Villaraigosa? Get real.

How about a "Convict Jim Hahn Committee" instead?

Oh - that's right - he just has legal defense committees. The "Convict Jim Hahn" committee is the US Attorney.

If Hahn wins, he'll be taking the oath in handcuffs. That's a real reason for a recall.

Come on Nick - give it up. You lost.

January 27, 2005 11:36 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I have no problems with a committee against Hahn. Go a head and form one. But the one we have at the moment is the Recall Villaraigosa Committee. Now, you may be one of those who don't care if politicians lie. But don't force your very low standard of ethics in politics onto other people. Or, more precisely, your very SUBJECTIVE low standard. And, by the way, my name's not Nick.

January 27, 2005 11:55 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Jim Hahn will never be convicted of anything. He is not under investigation. It is his commissioners and staffers.

Pay attention.

Of course, it will be incredibly damaging and maybe fatal to his re-election if his staffers or commissioners get convicted of a crime (an indictment will hurt, too).

January 27, 2005 12:25 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

To the previous poster:


Nick may have lost the election but Antonio has lost his constituents respect and trust.

He's even lost his luster and fire in the belly according to recent media reports.

I would love to see a rematch between Nick and Antonio, now that we can compare apples to apples.

January 27, 2005 12:28 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The 14th district, like any other council district in Los Angeles, should have the best possible representation at City Hall. Let's hope if Villaraigosa is recalled many qualified candidates will run to replace him. I hear LAUSD school board president Jose Huizar is interested in running as is a judge and some local activists. If Pacheco runs again, why not? But the most important thing is for the district to get a good advocate at City Hall. Unfortunately, and reluctantly, I am now of the opinion that Councilman Villaraigosa is not that person.

January 27, 2005 1:18 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Ok you all know that as we wait MEAT is conferring with Antonio's campaign people as to how to spin this back in his bosses favor. Their telling him what to post to spin it back on Hahn. People are saying Antonio is toast. His arrogance did him in. Always acted as if he was better than his constituents. Treated community in CD14 as if they were uneducated and insulted their intelligence time and time again. They finally got fed up!

January 27, 2005 1:41 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

MEAT may post, and why not, we all need a good laugh on these rainy, dreary days.

January 27, 2005 2:05 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

FROM MEAT:

I suppose i was getting all my spin from Valencia today because thats where i was all morning. Why were you in Valencia Meat? Well dum-dum i have a normal job, and i do not represent the campaign, i am NOT their spokesman, i am just a hack that can out hack you.

So wanting to take each issue with care and respect they so rightfully deserve let me go slowly - one by one.

The Dog Park --- Let's forget that 4 out of the 5 neighborhood councils in the area oppose the Hermon name. Let's also forget that the next closest dog park is in Silverlake - so this isn't only a Hermon deal. Let's also forget that Antonio is a former resident of Hermon. With all that said, is Hermon being forgotten in the shuffle NO -- Is there a sign errected yet - NO. There are folks that wanted the name to be Arroyo Seco Park in Hermon -- and thats the temporary name of the dog park until the neighbors can come to a conclusion.

I think the real important thing is - -there is a dog park people can use and feel good about -- not about which ego gets stroked over the name issue.

Oh and to say that someone on a birthday committee is getting his/her way isn't accurate. This is 1 neighborhood council vs 4 - with no decision finalized yet.

Next dum-dum up -- Antonio has done nothing for CD14.

Gold Line,
MTA Strike,
Ascot Hills,
6,000 neighbors cleaning up the community,
LARX,
Voted in the affirmative to put 300 more cops on the street - today! (he voted 2 days ago),
80 neighborhood watches -- not backing down from this claim, never did.
Closed many bars - forcing ABC (a state agency he pressured since he was the former speaker)
i can't remember everything else, but apparently you guys won't let say anything about the stuff he did in the assembly soooooo i won't.

ok, now for the recall weirdos ---
they claim there is a smear campaign??? who are they talking about me? if its me - they are iidddiots because A. I don't for Antonio and B. I don't even live in the district -- the fact that i am the smear is funny cause...well, its just funny thats all.

truth is - they are funded by disgruntled alcohol peddlers, truth is they haven't gotten enough signtures to keep pace with what they need, truth is, its a political stunt to do just what they did today. Distract from the real issue of this race - Jim Hahn and force attention elsewhere. Again when you are losing like hahn is - you throw hell mary's like this recall to see if it sticks - it hasn't so the press has moved on.


really guys - give me something better than dogs and make believe recalls.

blog away dum-dums.

January 27, 2005 2:58 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Tony HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH GREIG SMITH'S PROPOSAL..All press people will tell you it was all Greg. Now Tony wants to take credit. What an asshole! Typical when someone does all the work after the fact he wants to take claim. Tony wasn't mentioned once in council yesterday, not only that he didn't say ONE WORD AT COUNCIL YESTERDAY. If he was the co-authored why hasn't Smith said one word about him and give him credit. All anyone has to do to resolve this is ASK GREIG. SOMEONE ASK GREIG IF TONY HELPED HIM WITH THIS PROPOSAL. ANSWER ...HELL NO

January 27, 2005 3:29 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

FROM MEAT:

I said he voted in the affirmative -- don't recall writing anything else about the Smith proposal. Calm down dum-dum - i think everyone on this site can read what i wrote.

crazy, illiterate dum-dums.

blog away.

January 27, 2005 3:39 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

MEAT must be desperate if he wants to consider Tony's rental pad in Hermon to run for council as a basis to call him a former Hermon resident.

January 27, 2005 3:55 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

FROM MEAT:

I find it sad that the above poster thinks that people that rent aren't residents.

blog away.

January 27, 2005 4:00 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

MEAT writes, "There are folks that wanted the name to be Arroyo Seco Park in Hermon -- and thats the temporary name of the dog park until the neighbors can come to a conclusion.

I think the real important thing is - -there is a dog park people can use and feel good about -- not about which ego gets stroked over the name issue."

What neighbors? The Dog Park is within the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and is not so large as to be considered a regional project requiring the input of any other neighborhood council. The fact that there are few, does not change the size of the park. It is small and in the corner of Hermon Park.

http://www.montecitohts.org/dogpark/map.html

MEAT, the neighbors have spoken, it should be called Hermon Dog Park.

http://www.montecitohts.org/dogpark/ASNC_support.htm


Yes, MEAT there is a dog park that people can use and feel good about AND now YOU can thank Councilmember Pacheco for that -- he funded the project.

January 27, 2005 4:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Ok I hope the name of a dog park isn't that important. Arroyo Seco sounds much better anyways. Also, a councilmember can't please all of his/her constituents. The basis for the recall is absurd. Nevertheless you have your legal right to do so. Good thing you live in America and not in Fallouja. Councilmember Villaraigosa has done a great job according to a majority of his constituents. He has brought visibility to the challenges in his district. The Eastside Light Rail Extension is underway. Things are happening. I guess things can't move quick enough for the recall folks, but you should look at the failed leadership on the 3rd Floor.

January 27, 2005 4:07 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

As far I can tell the Recall folks only talk about his broken vow, not to run for Mayor. This may not be enough for you, but a vote on it will ultimately decide if its enough for him to be kicked out of office.

It seems that Villaraigosa supporters have tried to muddy the waters and subscribe to the recall proponents complaints on this blog from other people to confuse the public.

I think Tony will have to answer more questions about his tenure as a Councilmember during the recall, but recall propponents have been very clear about their reason: broken vow.

Keeping your vows are important to many people, but maybe not to the above blogger.

January 27, 2005 4:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

FROM MEAT:

First off the fact that you guys have me commenting on a dog park more than once - should be commended, i have better things to do (and no i am not a member of Antonio's staff so i can be as rude as i want).

That said, i posted before the nearest other dog park is in Silverlake -- so other communities will use it. Also if pacheco funded it great! no problem there, but the fact that the name can be so divisive and the fact that there exist petitions on both side of this issue, means some more thought is going to have to placed in this, because a councilman listens to both sides.

Forgot to mention one more thing on my last post about the fake recall.

The recall folks called for Antonio to resign from council or step down from the mayor's race, right?

you know why you say something dumb like that -- because you don't have capacity to get the signatures you need -- they are falling way way short - desperate lines like this in press releases show their grassroot support is more pesticide than grass.

blog away.

January 27, 2005 4:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

MEAT wrote "because you [RECALL PEOPLE} don't have capacity to get the signatures you need -- they are falling way way short."

Under the Charter they have 120 days to collect the signatures for a recall election (independent of the regular elections).

Do you know how much time they have left to collect the signatures, I heard they still have 3 1/2 months? That's seems like a lot of time to get it done, right?

MEAT, you would know better, can you correct this if I am wrong?

January 27, 2005 4:26 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I told you MEAT would give us all a laugh. And, MEAT, thanks for telling us you don't live in the 14th, but it's quite obvious that you don't to those of us that do. Why did I already know that don't live in the 14th? BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T GOT A FRIGGING CLUE ABOUT ANYTHING WE ARE DISCUSSING!

In Pacheco's transition memo it references the Hermon Dog Park and it was Pacheco who got the money for the park. Why would Antonio change the name, albeit it to a temporary name (according to MEAT)? Why? Because the proponent of the Arroyo Seco name is a fundraiser for Villaraigosa whereas Ms. Riser was a Pacheco supporter in 2003.

January 27, 2005 4:29 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

A previous blogger wrote:

Councilmember Villaraigosa has done a great job according to a majority of his constituents. He has brought visibility to the challenges in his district.

Could you please respond to this post from a previous topic, it seems pretty harsh (and well documented).

LIAR >> VILLARAIGOSA LIES TO CONSTITUENTS ABOUT NOT HAVING MONEY FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS AFTER BEING SWORN IN:
Villaraigosa entered the council and told everyone he didn’t have money to support community projects because Pacheco took it all. He lied; he had around $800,000.00 in his political account -- “Friends of Villaraigosa 2006” -- and could have used it to support community groups.

State Fund Account Link:
http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1245233&session=2003&view=general

FAILURE >> VILLARAIGOSA FAILS TO MOVE ON MOON CANYON CAUSING GAP IN FINANCING ACQUISITION:
Villaraigosa fails to move on the eminent domain of Moon Canyon and thus causes the Spring 2003 appraisal to be obsolete. His failure causes a requirement for a new appraisal and a higher price comes in for the property. Villaraigosa staffers lie to community members and he tries to blame Pacheco for not leaving any money or not enough money to complete project. The original allotment of $550,000.00 is well over the original appraised value of $400,000.00 for land. If he really cared he could use some of the amenities money he used for Para Los Ninos already.

Moon Canyon (adopted June 12, 2003) Item 40
CFI: 02-0600-S72: 2002-2003 YEAR-END BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS : City Administrative Officer 0116-00001-0000

UNTRUSTWORTHY >> VILLARAIGOSA BREAKS VOW NOT TO RUN FOR MAYOR:
It can’t be said enough about how Villaraigosa is simply using his seat for his own political ambition.

Boulevard Sentinel Article from Villaraigosa supporter disgusted with his broken promise:
http://www.boulevardsentinel.com/08-2004.htm

LIAR >> VILLARAIGOSA LIES ABOUT SECURING TRAFFIC SIGNAL IN FRONT OF EL SERENO SENIOR CENTER:
Villaraigosa has been known to take credit for the work of others. It is rumored that he has told people that he got the traffic signal in front of the El Sereno Senior Center for the late Paul Salaz, past Honorary Mayor of El Sereno. DOT records indicate that this traffic signal was paid for and scheduled for placement 3 years before he entered into office.

Motion authorizing MOU between Cal Trans and DOT (adopted 4/19/00):
CFI: 00-0532 : EL SERENO-INTERIM TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS : Pacheco Mover 2000 / Svorinich, Jr.

FLIP FLOPPER >> VILLARAIGOSA “FLIP FLOPS” ON LOCAL TAX FOR COPS
Villaraigosa runs around telling people he opposes a local tax for cops, but when he had a chance to vote on it in Council he supported a local tax for cops.

Parks “Local Tax for Cops” Motion (Adopted 11/16/04) with Villaraigosa Vote.
http://161.149.221.240/clk/councilfiles/clkcouncilfiles189124797_11092004.pdf

SCHEMER >> VILLARAIGOSA DUPES NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL FOR $1,000.00:

Field Deputy Dora Garcia recently attended the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council claiming poverty on the part of the Council Office and requesting a $1,000.00 from the Neighborhood Council’s $50,000.00 annual allotment. Dora failed at the executive board but succeeded at the general membership meeting. The entire time this was transpiring the Councilmember was sitting on at least $226,000.00 dollars in an amenities fund for CD 14.

Board of public works letter of intent to purchase (BPW report dated 2/3/2003)
CFI: 03-0307 : CENTRAL LOS ANGELES RECYCLING AND TRANSFER STATION : Mayor / Board of Public Works : Transmittal from the Mayor / Board of Public Works relative to authority to issue the proposed Letter of Interest for the acquisition of the Central Los Angeles Recycling and Transfer Station

Para los Ninos $50,000.00 (adopted 11/02/04)
http://161.149.221.240/clk/councilfiles/clkcouncilfiles182324469_10272004.pdf

This motion outlines the how the amenities trust fund came to exist.

January 27, 2005 4:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Come on, you gotta give Antonio credit for the some of the things he's done - and done well. He knows how to steal credit from another poltiician better than anybody I have ever seen.

January 27, 2005 4:36 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

To the above post: Stealing credit is as easy as "pouring breakfast cereal" for somebody like Antonio Villaraigosa!

January 27, 2005 4:38 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Hey MEAT. I checked the list of contributions to the Recall Committee. Didn't see any from "sleazy bar owners" but did see a few from people who supported Villaraigosa in 2003.

January 27, 2005 4:45 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I swear to god you people must hit the refresh button more times than there are minutes in a day to see what people are posting. I enjoyed your long post...it was quite a read. Of course its too much to read when you have a job to attend to. Good luck with your recall effort. I guess he did break his vow. So does that mean that CD 14 constituents will lose out if he is elected Mayor of the City of Los Angeles? I guess it does according you fine people. Good luck!

January 27, 2005 5:08 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Question to MEAT. When you next speak to Antonio, or whoever it is you speak to, ask why Antonio thought he had to promise the people of the 14th that he wouldn't run for mayor and would stay as councilman for the full term? I don't want to know why he thought he had to break that vow/promise/pledge, just why he thought he HAD to make it in the first place.

January 27, 2005 5:19 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Thank you for the kind words about the recall in the last but one post (if you are still the last to one post. But you know who I mean.)

January 27, 2005 5:45 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

So does that mean that CD 14 constituents will lose out if he is elected Mayor of the City of Los Angeles?


If Antonio somehow pulled off getting elected Mayor, I do think CD 14 constituents would lose out and let me tell you why.

First, it wouldn't be enough for him to be Mayor. From day one he will be campaigning for Governor. During this effort he will focus on the voter rich portions of the City, the westside. Plus, he always feels he doesn't have to court the eastside -- remember his comment to that eastside group about getting 70% of the vote anyway.

Second, as Mayor he will want to play on the National stage even more than when he was working outside his district for John Kerry. His need to work with millions of constituents will overwhelm any loyalty he may have to CD 14.

Finally, if Villaraigosa were to become Mayor, it seems pretty clear that Nick Pacheco would return. He ran for District Attorney and I'm sure he would run for his old seat. Pacheco would be the most likely victor and we all know how much Villaraigosa hates Pacheco.** As Mayor, Villaraigosa will not do a thing to assist Pacheco as Councilmember of the 14th District. Please don't confuse my assessment of the situation with support for Pacheco, I'm just laying out the most likely scenario.

So, yes CD 14 will suffer if Antonio became Mayor.


** FYI:

Pacheco supported Villaraigosa for Assembly
Villaraigosa supported Pacheco for Charter Commission
Villaraigosa opposed Pacheco for City Council
Pacheco opposed Villaraigosa for Mayor
Villaraigosa knocked Pacheco out of office.

I guess Pacheco's due for a counter punch.

January 27, 2005 6:12 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

If you are right and once/if Villaraigosa is elected in March or May he will pay more attention to the westside (and I agree with you) and he will spend more time on the national stage (and I agree with you) then he won't be bad only for the 14th district he will be a disaster for all the people of Los Angeles. Look at his record in the 14th district. Absent on the Kerry campaign for almost 66 days. Even before he is mayor spending more days on the westside than on the eastside. Drops the ball on the Moon Canyon development. Changes the name of a dog park as a favor (?) to a campaign fundraiser. Tells his constiuents his office has no funds when $250,000 comes into CD14 coffers every quarter from a project set up be his predecessor. And the list goes on and on. Bad for the 14th? Villaraigosa'a already bad for the 14th. But he will be a disaster for the city.

January 27, 2005 7:56 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I live in CD 14, the whole rrcall is a joke. Hahn's people are trying to make a big deal about it because Hahn has done nothing for the Eastside. When the recall gets enough signatues then we will pay attention. Until then how is the pay to play in City Hall comming along?

January 27, 2005 10:04 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

You better get ready for a disaster then, my friend. Hertzberg has pursued a strategy that will put Villaraigosa and a very weakened Hahn in the runoff. Hertzberg will then be courted and won over by Villaraigosa and we will have Mayor Villaraigosa, thanks to Bob Hertzberg.

January 27, 2005 10:05 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What's Hahn got to do with the recall? And when we do have enough signatures it won't only be you paying attention, I think Mr. Villaraigosa will be paying some attention, too. And talking about pay to play: What do you think of Councilmember Villaraigosa changing a name of a dog park to satisfy one of his fundraisers? Think what he'll do as mayor?

January 27, 2005 10:26 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Hahn has done more for CD14 then Antonio has. He helped get $2.5 million of federal money for the CLEAR program for the area that has the highest crime in Boyle Heights and got money for after school programs in elementary schools in Boyle Heights. Antonio's priority is getting brooms and demanding and threatening the community to show up and sweep or else they may lose their funding. If you go to council and embarrass him, Jimmy or Antonio will immediately hunt you down in chambers and give you a scolding. Talk abut 1st ammendment rights, they don't believe in them.

January 28, 2005 7:26 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Please note: 1) the "4 out of 5 Neighborhood Councils prefer the other name" comment is an absolute, unmitigated (go-straight-to-h*ll-if-you-tell-a) lie. When asked repeatedly to provide proof of this, both the affluent, mayoral-campaign-contributing, influence-purchasing proponent of the "other" name and the council office failed to produce the evidence. When asked by another out-in-left-field Northeast NC considering the motion if she would name the "Big 4," the big-bucks bankroller "couldn't remember exactly"; 2) There are ONLY 1 and 1/2 CD 14 neighborhood councils adjoining or anywhere near the home NC (and most of the #2 big bully NC is in CD 1, and voted without a quorum present). What other far flung outpost chimed in, Boyle Heights (?) 15-20 miles from the nearest drop of Arroyo Seco water, for godsake -- why not ask Chinatown what they think, or the Garment District." Has Phillipine Village chimed in yet? They can't be counting Eagle Rock (?) in the FOUR -- the selfish folks who couldn't spare one frickin' inch of vacant paved parking lot, -- let alone park space -- in their huge spread-out NC district for a similar facility. Do they think THEY deserve to name the project they nearly NIMBY'ed out of the district (and existence) entirely? Can you spell Hipp-o-Critt?

SHEEEE-esh, them cajones much be the size of soccer balls!

January 28, 2005 5:16 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Pretty funny! Here's an updated "yuck"... How can you tell if a politician is lying? (Answer: His lips are moving.)

How can you tell Antooooooonio is lying?

His lips are moving, and Parke Skelton is in the corner telling local media that "in District 14, the people really WANT the councilman to lie to them. They not only expect it, they know it's what's best for them!"

January 29, 2005 12:44 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Here's one for you. Antonio is the only mayoral candidate who has desperately been trying to find out what the questions will be at the Alliance of Neighborhood Councils Mayoral debate on Feb. 7th. He's had his supporters calling people wanting to know who's going in his CD14, and what questions were presented. How sad that he's the only one that needs to know ahead of time. Gee, wonder what he would say if he didn't have Hahn to attack. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He hasn't said one damn thing in all these weeks just attack Hahn. He doesn't have a vision, no plan, no strategy. I would love for him to show up to a town hall meeting in CD14 and let the residents blast him away. Then maybe he'll have a clue. He's in la la land

January 29, 2005 8:21 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Tony Villar is a fake one, ambitious politician, what he wants is to be a National Figure on the Democrat Party wherever is left of it, he's next stunt will be to run for Governor and then for President. he doesn't care about LA or people, he cares just about himself.

April 15, 2005 7:12 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

Advertisement

Advertisement