A Year of Martinis
In all of the hoopla surrounding the inauguration of Antonio Villaraigosa as our new Mayor, an important milestone in the blogosphere went almost unnoticed this week.Martini Republic turned one year old.
Joe Mailander and crew certainly have one of the most interesting blogs in LA, mixing their own brand of (mostly) left-wing politics with a love of John Barleycorn. They even channelized their blog into distinct tracks of local politics, theatre, sports, and of course, alcohol.
Joe often sets his sights on President Bush and the war on the war on Iraq, but some of his most entertaining posts come from his occasional dustups with Kevin Roderick, blogger in chief of the more stodgy LA Observed.
As we entered the blogosphere, we appreciate the support and kind words the Martini Republic folks have sent our way. Indeed, in their birthday message, they sent props to Mayor Sam.
Happy Birthday guys! Keep up the good work.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 7/01/2005 06:11:00 PM
38 Comments:
RE: LAUSD & CITY HALL CORRUPTION
The only way this issue is going to be monitored, eliminated, and put in the media is when parents take charge and riot in groups. Yes, riots! If we have to riot in the streets against the LA County Board of Supervisors, LAUSD, and Mayors office for allowing white collar crime to flourish at the expense of the children's future.
All of you that have connections to parent groups, network and let them know of the abuse.
We have rights and if we have to take it to the media and streets, let it be so.
Is Antonio's Council of Education Advisors the same thing as the Padilla/Huizar governance committee? Anybody know?
JOSE PROPOSED A 30 MEMBER GROUP TO STUDY LAUSD. ALL THEY WILL DISCOVER IS HIS SILENT LAND DEALS AND INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP.
OH YEA. AV PICKED HIS FRIENDS FOR THIS GROUP AND HUIZAR WILL BE PROTECTED!
In the LA TIMES...
""The education piece of it is personal with this council," Padilla said. "A lot of us are products of the Los Angeles public school system and now we're in position to do something about its problems."
WHAT! WHAT DID YOU SAY PADILLA! EXACTLY, YOU AND YOUR FRIEND HAVE BEEN IN THIS SAME POSITION B4 AND YOU DID NOT CHANGE A THING. STOP THE FROSTING THE PROBLEM. PADILLA AND HUIZAR ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS OUR SYSTEM (LAUSD) DOES NOT WORK.
PRODUCT OF LAUSD MY ASS. PADILLA YOU SURVIVED, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER, I REPEAT THE OTHER 70% OF THE KIDS THAT ARE TREATED LIKE SHIT AND IGNORED DUE TO THE LOW INCOME AREA THEY LIVE IN?
The American Civil Liberties Union announced this week it had reached a settlement with the Los Angeles City School District on a federal lawsuit that accused employees at a high school of harassing gay and lesbian students and staff members.
********************
Just another way to launder money from LAUSD liberal administrators to the VERY liberal ACLU. pathetic....Huizar, get your gay buddy to calm down the crowd...
LAUSD raising the issue of property tax...when will this communist mentality ever end!
LAUSD won a large state grant of nearly 6 million....hurray....one thing....
LAUSD must sign the check over to the ACLU or HUIZAR/AV, all the same.
WHY DOES A DROP OUT WANT LAUSE POWERS?
HMMMMMMM? HE IS A TYRANT LAND MONGER CALLED VILLARAIGOSA.
LA TIMES
While he opened his mayoralty on a tone of moderation, some of the most significant aspects of Villaraigosa's speech were things left unsaid. Absent, for example, was his call to have the mayor appoint board members overseeing local schools — his most controversial statement since his election in May.
Unanswered, too, was a broader question: How exactly will he go about solving major problems that have proved intractable to his predecessors?
Inaugural speeches are often vague. In this case, the lack of specifics could serve a strategic purpose — to delay the dissent that is sure to emerge once Villaraigosa takes concrete action.
LA TIMES
In just over half an hour, Villaraigosa invoked "dreams" 18 times, suggesting the city must set high goals, even if the means of achieving them seems elusive.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-analysis2jul02,1,6998672.story?coll=la-headlines-california
Much Unsaid in Villaraigosa's Inaugural Talk
He avoids confrontation -- along with some key details -- while calling for progressive change.
Promises, Promises Could Cost L.A. Millions, Billions
Villaraigosa will face a harsh reality: Campaign declarations are easier to make than to carry out.
Hiring 1,300 additional police officers: $130 million.
Planting 1 million trees: $140 million.
Extending the Red Line subway to the beach: $2.7 billion
All those officers, all those trees, all that track and the more than three dozen other major promises that Antonio Villaraigosa made to the people of Los Angeles during the mayoral campaign will not come cheap.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-promises1jul01,1,6858410.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
Now, Villaraigosa comes face to face with one of the harsh inevitabilities of politics: It's easier to make grand pronouncements than to carry them out.
Even before today, Villaraigosa confronted the city's budget realities, learning that he may have to deal with a potential deficit that could balloon to $278 million within three years. And his agenda faces skepticism from some observers who, though confident in his abilities, say he may have promised too much to deliver in four — or even eight — years.
His speech, titled "A City of Purpose," will address broad themes...
Mayor Frank,
The title was stolen too...he is in deep shit Mayor Frank,,,have fun hearing about it in the media soon. The smart thing for him to do is to apologize to the person he plagiariazed from and make mends, forgiveness is earned not taken for granted.
It's being reported that AV named 3 people to public works dept. Does anyone know who they are?
manny, moe and jack
Jesus Christ, some old anti-AV cutter and paster came out of the closet! Friday must have been a tough day for him.
Villaraigosa better not appoint any perverts to any commissions like James Hahn did.
Plagarism? Many apologies please.
www.fulldisclosure.net
An Emmy Award winning website that provides investigative reporting and journalism by Leslie Dutton. Find current news about LAUSD.
Enjoy!!!
Gracias to the prev anon
It is windy today Mayor D. Freeman.
Does anybody find it somewhat disturbing that Mayor Villaraigosa has just appointed his "comadre", Cynthia Ruiz, back onto the Board of Public Works - but not only as a member, now as the President?
I will admit that her removal of Hahn was just a straight-out political move because of her ties to Villaraigosa, but this is completely hypocritical of what Villaraigsoa said he would do.
He criticized Hahn for appointing close friends and fundraisers to powerful positions. And now that he has the chance to clear up City Hall, he appoints someone who: 1) is related to him as his comadre, 2)was a campaign staff member from his Boyle Heights Campaign Office and 3) openly raised money for his campaign, to lead one of the most powerful commissions in the City???
This completely sends the wrong message that he really intends to clean up City Hall of special favors. Sure, she should have never been removed in the first place. But after the roll that she played in his campaign, it's questionable what role she should play within City Hall.
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!
Everyone should relax. Cynthia only got the job because of politics. Pacheco's former chief of staff Rubalcava was removed because Villaraigosa wanted his person there.
Politics got her in and politics got her out.
Same thing happened to Pacheco's appointee
Thank you previous blogger. You hit it right on the nose. City council confirms the appointment and if they haven't done their homework then you can't blame Hahn. Let's add another fact that many people are failing to accept. Cynthia is a godmother to Antonio's family. She was out in the community using her position as a commissioner openly campaigning for Antonio. Many residents have a problem with that cause she's getting paid by our tax dollars. She's not as innocent as many of you are making her seem. She knew what she did was wrong.
Is Fuentes, the sister of the former deputy mayor, the current chief of staff of Padilla and the former political hack of Acevedo, Cardenas and Padilla too ?
No, she is not the sister of the former deputy mayor. She is his aunt.
Can you beleive that the majority of people on the Eastside had no idea who Cynthia Ruiz is. She never went to a community meeting and advised the residents the resources available to them. I hear Yolanda Fuentes is one of the best so we're looking forward to working with her.
Ludlow and Villaraigosa couldn't help themselves in being the biggest phoneys. They know better than anyone that Cynthia Ruiz was appointed to kiss Antonio's butt and now that the Mayor doesn't have to do that, he changed a disloyal commissioner.
I can't believe people are trying to portray Ruiz as a victim. She knew the rules of the game and broke them by being disloyal.
have never seen so many supporters at a commissioner's confirmation hearing. You're right about Tony Villar. He all of a sudden changed his tune. He knows Yoland Fuentes has so much support not just in the valley but citywide that he wanted to make nice and came off looking like an idiot. When you put the two resumes together of both Cynthia and Yolanda by far Yolanda's experience in the community and with politicans by far outweights Cynthia's. She was the much better choice. I've heard before being selected as commissioner she was doing what Cynthia should have been doing in the community. All I ever saw Cynthia do is ride in parades. She has always been an Antonio supporter and she got caught on city time. Amazine how all the council members all of a sudden changed their tune in council this morning.
Out of all the requests that had been made to the Board of Public Works since Cynthia Ruiz(aka:cry baby)started, more than half have been accomplished by the New and Lovely Commissioner Yolanda Fuentes. I have to disagree that Cynthia Ruiz just rode in parades. I never had the chance to see her ride in the parades, but rather found that her lunch spot was at the Plum Tree in China town. I did however hear that Ms. Ruiz is now organizing for Antonio as she was spotted at the Democratic Club meeting.
Great Job Commissioner Fuentes!
HEY FOLKS WHERE DO I SENT MY MONEY SO THAT CRY BABY ASS KISSER TO ADV TONY CAN GET HER HAIT DONE A COLOR THAT GOES WITH THAT FACE AND SKIN TONE'S. MS RUIZ DO YOU HAVE A MIRROR AT HOME OR WOULD LIKE YOU LIKE ONE CAUSE YOU JUST DON'T GET IT THAT IS NOT A COLOR ON A HAIR CHART WELL AT LESS WHERE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ADV GO TO. ANYWAY GET IT DONE TO YOUR BIRTH COLOR OR DID FOR GET WHAT COLOR IT WAS??
Let's not forget that when Cindy montañes was a "nobody" it was Yolanda Fuentes, Tony Cardenas and Alex Padilla who helped her get elected in the San Fernando City council but then when she formed her own "machine" with 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.
Hey my man Sammy
Why are you deleting all my posts. All I did was tell everybody how ugly and overated Jennie C Lacy is. Why the hell does she have lacey as a last name. Hey guys, she is short and nasty looking. Mr. Villaraigosa must be taking some medication to date this HO.
Double Apple Martini Please. Extra Extra Cold...
=-)
SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE SOME PRETTY BITTER PEOPLE POSTING HERE. CYNTHIA RUIZ DID A GREAT JOB WHEN SHE WAS COMMISSIONER. SHE WAS CUT SHORT. HAHN HURT HIMSELF WHEN HE ALLOWED FORMER COMMISSIONER JANICE WOOD AND FORMER DEPUTY MAYOR NATHALIE RAYES TO CONSPIRE TOGETHER TO FIRE HER WITHOUT ANY SENSITIVITY THAT SHE WOULD BE OUT OF A JOB. LOOKS LIKE BOTH JANICE WOOD AND MS. RAYES GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED. SURE SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT SHE WAS GETTING INTO BUT I'M SURE SHE WAS EMPOWERED WHEN SHE WAS FIRED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WHO WOULD ENSURE THE KARMA OF "WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND". ISN'T IT IRONIC! WHO'S CRYING NOW?
Frankly many of us like Cynthia so therefore you are full of shit.
Many community members' problem with Cynthia Ruiz is exactly what someone posted. NO ONE IN BOYLE HEIGHTS KNEW SHE WAS A PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER. She never attended any community meetings. From what I heard the meetings she did attend she campaigned hard for Antonio instead of doing her job. Many had a problem with that so Hahn replacing her was right. Yoland Fuentes has been a better commissioner than Cynthia. Her knowledge and experience far outweighs Cynthia's. Antonio is now starting his administration being hypocritical and putting his friends on boards.
The main point is that Villaraigosa completely broke line with one of his main campaign issues by appointing Cynthia Ruiz to a key City commission (let alone one that pays a lot of money).
Her removal from the Board by Hahn was pure politics. I'm sure that the second that the media started rolling video feed from 2001 and Cynthia Ruiz came out with Villaraigosa, Hahn wanted her out. When she was ousted, Garcetti and Zine were both really upset when this happened, because they felt that she was serving their districts well.
Had Cynthia Ruiz not been as involved in Villaraigosa's campaign, the claim that this wasn't payback to her for her loyalty would be mute. But after she was ousted, she went into campaign mode for Villaraigosa and went out to raise money and help organize in the field.
I would have expected this from Hahn, but after all the campaign promises of cleaning up the pay-to-play politics of City Hall from Antonio, I surely didn't expect it from him.
Let's stick to the issue. Cynthia Ruiz campaigned for Antonio while holding down the job of public works commissioner. You don't go to community meetings and not do your job but campaign for a candidate. I understand she's related to Antonio's family but since AV is the one who has come out strong on Ethics and stated he would not putting his friends on commissions he's all of a sudden done an about turn. It just doesn't look good coming out of the gate. Hopefully we'll still get the good services the city provides.
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