The Sister City Made the News
The LA Times:
Blogger's Parking Pics Sting Hahn
Councilwoman offers an apology after photos are posted of her car parked in a handicapped spot.
By Steve Hymon
Times Staff Writer
August 13, 2005
The buzz around City Hall on an otherwise quiet Friday: the posting of photos online of Councilwoman Janice Hahn's car parked in a handicapped spot.
The anonymous posting on the political blog called Mayor Sam's Sister City — a reference to the late Sam Yorty, a former Los Angeles mayor — included a photo of Hahn's car, a hybrid, parked in the City Hall garage and showed her license plate number.
The photo of the car illegally parked was taken at a Blue Line train station in Watts, where Hahn and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended an event on Thursday marking the 40th anniversary of the Watts riot.
Many postings on the site are anonymous and it's widely assumed around City Hall that many of the bloggers either work or have worked for the city.
That the photo was taken in the City Hall garage — which is not open to the public — is also a hint that a City Hall employee took the photo.
Hahn heard about the posting and apologized Friday in media interviews. She said a staff member was driving the car and that the individual had been "severely reprimanded."
"Someone was picking me up, I was not driving the car," she said. "We were short on time and I think they were trying to get as close as they could to where I was speaking.
"I'm embarrassed, I'm absolutely embarrassed, it's something that I personally would never do and something I have no sympathy for when other people do it," she added.
"Anyone who abuses handicap parking is the worst of offenders."
The Daily Breeze:
By David Zahniser
Copley News Service
August 13, 2005
Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn issued an apology Friday after photos showing that her city-issued Honda had been parked in a handicapped space were displayed on a Web site devoted to City Hall politics.
Hahn, who represents the Harbor Area, said she reprimanded one of her employees for leaving the car in the space for the disabled during a community event in Watts.
While saying she takes "full responsibility" for the incident, Hahn said she was dropped off at 116th Street and Avalon Boulevard by the staffer, who then drove the car to the handicapped parking space.
"I'm embarrassed," Hahn said. "It's just something I personally have such a problem with, when people do that. It's a very wrong thing to do."
Hahn, who introduced a motion earlier this week calling on Los Angeles International Airport to provide more disabled parking, said the car was parked illegally at a press conference she attended Thursday with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Watts.
The photos appeared on Mayor Sam's Sister City -- Home of Los Angeles Politics, a Web site that features anonymous postings on city officials. Alongside the photos, the anonymous author -- who uses the name Chief Parker and is a regular Hahn critic -- called the councilwoman's behavior an abuse of power and urged the public to contact her office.
"Let this be a lesson to folks that disagree or do things that upset me, I am watching you," wrote the author, who regularly posts comments supportive of Villaraigosa.
The Web site criticized Hahn earlier this week for voting against a contract extension with BFI at the Sunshine Canyon landfill, saying she used the vote as revenge on Villaraigosa, who defeated her brother in the mayor's race. Last month, the site posted a warning to mayoral staffers about leaking information to the media.
Hours after the photographs appeared, Hahn promised to educate her employees on the importance of parking legally. But one advocate for the disabled suggested that Hahn or her driver receive a ticket like other motorists.
"Those (parking spaces) are intended for folks that have a legitimate need for that type of parking," said Kimberly Lewis, an attorney for the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
Half a dozen seniors who dined Friday at the Watts Senior Center were relatively unfazed by the incident, saying either that they needed more information on the controversy or had no plans to change their view of the councilwoman.
"I'm looking at what she can do, not where she parks," said Watts resident Zannie Egans, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1945.
Retired mechanic Charlie Mangram, who uses a wheelchair himself, said the driver of Hahn's car should not have broken the law, but he acknowledged the temptations that come with a city-owned car.
"I figure if I had a government staff car, I'd feel like I could park it anywhere -- in the red, in the blue, in the handicapped area," he said. "So I wouldn't say anything about it. I figure she was justified."
Note from Mayor Sam** KABC Radio picked up this story and has been airing it on their local news reports.
Other Press Coverage**
- KTLA, Channel 5
- KFWB Radio (thanks to Steve Kindred for the heads up.)
Posted by Anonymous @ 8/13/2005 06:00:00 AM
45 Comments:
OK, guys, it is time to let this go.
The lady has apologized and promised to take corrrective action.
It is time to move on.
P.S. I hope the errant staffer had to listen to all ten hours of Jim Hahn's speeches without falling asleep, the penalty for which is to have to listen again and again, until you can stay awake for the whole ten hours.
P.S.S. No one has ever finished the punishment and lived to tell about it.
Which moronic staffer was this and what does "severely reprimanded" mean?
hey you fucken idiot sam, take down the headline that janice hahn hates handicapped or i will spam this site with every transexual website in the world.
you have thirty minutes you fucken waldman.
Congratulations to you all.
On a related note, the anon thug above makes clear that there really are enemies of protected political free speech, even here, even now, in the high tech world of 21st Century California. And it's getting worse.
Since we all suffer with daily assaults on our ability to use this medium -- and even just our own essential equipment! -- we may need to move in the direction of defining disruptive spamming, viruses, hacking, etc., as the modern equivalent of mail tampering -- a federal offense of high order.
I can't believe David "Z Man" from Daily Breeze and Steve Hymon LAT who I like can go after this story but not the bigger story of Antonio making up having created "80 neighborhood watches" when he was councilman. It is so EASY to research. All the LAPD officers who patrol those areas will tell you. Go to community meetings and they will tell you. Why is it important??? Because it goes to the heart of his character as a LIAR. He used this in his campaign TV ads. C'mon Steve and David get the guts and do the story.
Don't believe the b.s. that they couldn't reveal the watches because of privacy issues. Simply ask them for the date they were created and what area of the Senior Lead Officer. Privacy is protected and we get our answer.
Wow, that dope used my name as a noun!
Anyway kudos on the story. I know that when I was on crutches for six months, after having a tumor removed from my ankle, I would have trouble finding handicapped parking because other people would park in the spaces.
"Openly rant and bitch" is an understatement. Chief Parker is a liar. And one day I will find him.
Great articles in today's papers. The press pays attention so is defintely not over...more stories to come i hope
Chief? Wake up! Start posting...we know you partied all night long but come on at least Frank gets up early.
I see Ms. Hahn all the time tooling around in her civic hybrid. I've never seen anyone drive her. In fact, I've seen her staff as passengers while she drives. I don't buy that it was a staffer. She did inherit Kenny's personality...when all else fails, blame the staff. pretty pathetic. David Z., try to remove your head for Ms. Hahn's posterioronce in a while. You've gotta be getting a worse quality of air than at the port.
It's yet another instance that demonstrates the positive role that anonymous bloggers may have in civic life.
The big story here isn't that this item made the Times (that's parenthetical to it) but that someone in the blogosphere was able to have a dealing with a Councilperson's office in a way that heightened awareness and sensitivity in that office.
Great scoop. I look forward to many more, and hope as a result of this that the word gets out more about this blog.
Great post. Janice Hahn I accept your apology. Who knows if others feel the same. Accountability is a must in our society and her apology came in good time. Lead by example. She screwed up, she realized what she did, and now she apologized.
Can other politicians do the same?
Mayors & Chief
The paper hits it right on the money. Pictures are from City Hall Employee emailed to you. Good scoop brought attention to abuses that should be exposed. Politicians must be made aware that the people are watching and they should govern and act accordingly, for the people. Not selfishly.
9:18 AM
You feel strongly about the "80 Neighborhood Watch" story, email them with your tips and evidence. I commend them for printing this story. It takes guts to stand up for what is right, and I like Janice Hahn, but her actions were not right. Some may hate her and others like her, that is your opinion. What is important here is that every politician knows that "We The People" are not going to tolerate misuse of government position. Politicians must also be held accountable for their actions, others will see this as taking responsibility. We need this now more than ever to help people become better citizens of our society.
You're the shit Mayor Sam. Way to go.
Harry
I wonder if any constituent work got done in Hahn's office yesterday...
Constituent work should be a priority...if no work was done...they won't get reelected.
To the idiot who keeps bringing up the 80 neighborhood watches, get a life and move on. NOBODY CARES! It doesn't make a difference anyway since there's always a shooting on York Blvd or a ghetto bird flying over my house every Friday night in HP!
AV is mayor, so get over it and put your focus on getting Pacheco elected, although he has no chance since he messed with AV in the 03 race.
Antonio Villaraigosa and staff using tax dollars and staff time to promote Jose Huizar.
Note to Journalist Dave...
Your story makes it very clear that Chief Parker is very pro-Villaraigosa implying that this site is a pro-AV site.
While we all did vote for AV for Mayor in the general, Mayor Frank and I did not and the Chief is really the only AV partisan in the bunch. Though I will admit that he will take the Mayor to task when he feels like it.
You have been accused of having a pro-Hahn, anti-Villaraigosa bias. Are you attempting to lead your readers to believe that the Mayor is using this site to go after Janice Hahn or other opponents?
That is not my purpose. I am sure at some point the Mayor will do something to piss me off and I will let you know.
(Now stand by for a bunch of postings about Huizar who I am not supporting, 80 neighborhood watches, etc.)
Stu Waldman,
That was pretty clever to post a threat to yourself then sign in and respond to it. Worthy of your journalistic equivalent, Geraldo Rivera.
And just like Geraldo, you will soon be forgotten.
Remember that pic everyone from Waldman's first run for office - him in his national guard outfit with a helmet and gun? Talk about Dukakis and the tank all over again.
Oh, dear me, political invective goes both ways...
I'm with Phil. Let this story go. What else can Janice do? She apologized, she reprimanded and promised it wouldn't happen again.
I'm with the poster who is begging for the CD 14 Hahn supporters to shut up about the 80 neighborhood councils. Nobody and I mean NOBODY gives a shit anymore. It's over. Whether or not it's true and whether or not AV is a liar - the fucking thing is over. I can barely stand to read the phrase "80 neighborhood councils" again.
And to the poster who says that Stuart Waldman is somehow connected to this blog.. that is beyond obvious. I don't know if he is a contributor or just a friend of one, nor do I care. I just hate looking at his fat face and I have never heard anyone refer to him as someone who can get things done. Yuck. The only thing he gets done is cruising the room looking for people to schmooze. Any day, he'll start that hugging thing. Triple yuck.
Why is Chief Parker a liar? What did he lie about?
Of course the Antonio lovers like to say get over it, move on and forget about the "80 neighborhood watches." Why should we? Antonio uses this lie to campaign for Mayor as one of his biggest accomplishments. Now if he outright LIED (which he did) then it should be exposed. Why is it ok for you guys to post stuff and have reporters research and do a story? Like someone stated it's all about accountabillity. Chief Parker promised way back he would do his own investigation and post results. He never did. If reporters wld just research they would find out Antonio lied and then we will move on.
Well we have let the story go, but now the press is running with it. We're only following that part of it.
I personally don't buy Hahn's explanation, but that's another story.
And no, Stuart is not connected with this blog, we know him because sometimes he has emailed us whining about Chief Parker.
First, it was the Army not the National Guard. What have you done for your country?
Second, Chief Parker posted a lie about me and said that he knew it was true because I told him.
Third, what's so wrong with hugging?
I am one who always begs you to give up the 80 neighborhood council whine about Antonio and guess what? I campaigned for and voted for Hahn. So there blows your theory that it is Antonio lovers asking you to give it up.
It's an intelligent plea from someone who at least knows what is important and what is not. Neighborhood councils are important. The 80 neighborhood councils story is not.
Janice Hahn never uses drivers. She always drives herself.
Enough said.
Mayor Sam,
It 80 neighborhood people should let the grudge go. If they have evidence, it should be emailed to you, Mayor Sam. It is difficult to keep reading about this and keep a straight face, I laugh. Why do I laugh? Because you have not shown evidence and makes some bloggers sound like whiners.
If Janet was driving, her punishment was meted out in advance.
She has had to listen to a lifetime of Jim Hahn speeches; that should get her a "get out of jail free" pass for the rest of her life.
Now, let's move on, please. This is worse than the CD 14 Pacheco Blogging Team.
I can guarantee if it was Hahn who lied about the 80 neigborhood WATHCES (not councils) big difference, you guys would be all over it. This lie aired on his tv campaign ads. Now if you don't see anything wrong with that, then you are turning a blind eye to accountability.
Congrats!
I'm sure she apologized for getting caught and not for the actual action.
TOLD YOU SHE WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR, Chief Faker.
NOW, she's apologized, for a scofflaw violation SHE didn't commit and EVERYONE on thiS blog has probably committed at one time or another ("I'm just dropping the DVD in the slot, officer!"). . . When will YOU tell the truth about the fake 80 Neighborhood watches you vouched for when our lying new mayor was trying to prove HE wasn't just running for mayor on the $300K the city overpaid him for NOT working as a CM?
Parking ticket vs. MAJOR embezzlement of a CM's salary -- I think your boy's dirtier than anyone out there. And, Chief Faker is an ACCESSORY AFTER THE "FLACK"
Hey 12:16 p.m.
That's at least three different posters bringing it up all over again.
Guess what?
Somebody DOES care. Tough shit for Villaraigosa. A lot of people do care if he lies consistently, especially now that the whole city is counting on him to be honest, for honest.
One second thought, TOUGH SHIT, for the city, if any of us needs ADV to be honest.
It ain't gonna happen.
You're right, BILL Mullholland...
There ARE no pictures of the 80 neighborhood watches AV maintained as the main thing he and his dozens of staff members accomplished in two years.
There never will be any pictures of them. They don't exist.
But the $300K price tag for AV's unearned salary from 2003-05 is only a drop in the bucket.
He had dozens of staff members who ALSO accomplished nothing in two years but to pump his mayoral prospects and take up space, while earning millions in collective salary.
(Is that "intelligent" enough discourse for you, or do you want to continue to suggest that people from Cd14 are stupid?)
Is this predominently a "little brown person" thing with you, too -- or are you just suggesting that all Eastsiders are stupid?? ...possibly because the schools Jose Huizar continues to oversee also continue to decline?
Hahn's scolding by the Western Center atty.`is pretty funny, coming from a spokesperson what hired a convicted felon, thief and a known pedophile a few months back as their chief fundraiser for programs for the "handicapped"
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8826939&postID=111852315189718446
2:04 - What you and your pals are proving is that YOU are stupid, and boring, buey.
MAV is a "little brown person" too, as you say, and most of us in CD14 who voted voted for him, and not with you and your friends, in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
Don't pretend that we agree with your boring and stupid obsession.
My guess is threatening statements. We've got some hotheads around here.
chief parker-I have concerns about the Janice Hahn photos a weapon of payback by the Villaraigosa group for her vote on the Sunshine Dump.
This was typical behavior at CD14 by Villaraigosa and staff.
Proof of your "proof" of 80 neighborhood watches under AV's absentee council term, Chief Faker, that's what we're looking for. The archives showed you lied about this at least a dozen times.
Until you show your collected "proof," anyone you claim is dishonest, abusive, or in any other way unworthy of public office is so much your ethical BETTER, and shows nothing more than hypocrisy on your part.
Period.
You supported a con-man who lied about his accomplishments to gain higher office, and then cackle about "nailing" an honest public servant for a mistake made by her staffer.
SUPREME HYPOCRISY!
You lie to cover up for AV's inability to accomplish anything in two years, and then make fun of an ACCOMPLISHED councilwoman's religion.
Easy to try a nail someone for not living up to the pinnacle of their own ethical code of conduct based on religion, when you have no ethics whatsoever, and only worship the lying fake ex-councilman Antonio from CD14.
Keep "nailing" those better than you, you little man/woman/child -- for minor infractions, and keep ignoring the major lies of your heroes.
You're seen for what you are.... a fake in every way.
Bullshit mulholland -- your said others post "intelligently," but not the people you were insulting.
That means you think they were "stupid" no matter how you spell Sick-o-phant.
Read you OWN words, first.
Antonio's lies about the neighborhood watches were expected. He had nothing to show for two years, and had as one of his top campaign people the most unethical lying bastard that ever wore the mantle of "consultant" -- Parke Skeleton, the man who assasinated Pacheco's reputation two years ago without a shred of proof, and made vile claims against community service non-profits in CD14, plus he still whispers these sick lies behind the scenes, even though his schemes have all been uncovered by all levels of authrity.
What gripes many of us out here is to have a piece of scum like Chief Parker, who went WAY over the top 2-3 months ago claiming he had proof of WAY more than 80 neighborhood watches existing in CD and that this PROVED AV did dosomething while a councilmember (and Parker PROMISED to post it before the mayoral election). To have someone like that still posting, pretending to be some lighthouse of truth and public honesty here... some kind of truthless, toothless, forked-tongued watchdog for the public, yet HE'S told bigger lies than anyone he's trying to nail now.
That takes the whole credibility of this blog off the tracks. It's one thing for anonymous yahoos to make claims and never show proof -- but to have a "celebrity" and moderator of the blog claim something AGAIN and again, and promise proof positive, be allowed to just act like it never happened, turn the page, walk away?
Let's face it, if it WAS anyone else posting that, Mayor Scam would censor it and than say "when you furnish proof, I'll let you post it."
Double-standard? Hell, yes. That's pure filth scum tactics, Chief Faker. YOU ought to be banished until you show proof of all those related lies.
Then to have other names here say "it doesn't matter, we don't care" -- more covering for a lying buddy.
It's a RICO-blog scam deal if ever there was one. Make note bloggers... believe NOTHING Chief Faker posts, ESPECIALLY about Villaraigosa and Huizar.
3:33 p.m.
"Most of CD14 voted for him."
Yes, because NO ONE, including the owners of this blog, have the BALLS to expose the lies (chief Paker even helps him lie).
People will KEEP voting for a "good" liar, until honest people expose the trail of lies.
START NOW, before it becomes something that harms us all. AV has already begun breaking campaign promises, weekly.
WHERE'S THE OUTCRY here. Even if the media points out his backtracking, it's ignored here.
More interest in where Janice Hahn parks, and who she prays to, than who and what Villaraigosa PREYS ON -- our trust, our hopes, our dreams, our future.
Talk all day about Janice Hahn, and whether she's thumbing her nose at the new mayor, while HE's thumbing his nose at all you "watchdogs" and laughing at you while you "bark" at someone who doesn't pose any threat to most of us.
AV's lies are the threat. Won't ANYONE start poking holes in them, or do we have to wait until ALL of his campaign promises are broken and the city is bankrupt and in worse gridlock, and ownded by more special interests than ever before?
I guess so!
(OH, and GOD forbid anyone run for council who's not on "HIS TEAM"... we sure wouldn't want ANYONE actually USING the damn check and balances that are supposed to exist in city government).
Wouldn't want someone's who's been the VICTIM of some of AV's most insidious lies close enough to expose the next 3-4 years worth. That would do us SO much harm to have a REAL watchdog in city council who know AV's truthless tricks.
Why is Hahn the rare exception to post on?
It's all a plan so Janice Hahn will look bad. Watch for this nonsense to appear in tommorow's LA Times.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Feuding Dampens Council Harmony
Recent bickering over waste dumping and the hiring of a new chief legislative analyst has created some strains among L.A. lawmakers.
By Steve Hymon
Times Staff Writer
August 12, 2005
A month ago, members of the Los Angeles City Council were talking about what a tight-knit group they were and how great things were ahead for the city.
But the panel has recently feuded over two big issues: hiring the next chief legislative analyst and whether the city should continue hauling trash to the Sunshine Canyon Landfill.
The arguing was especially intense on Wednesday, when the council met for more than three hours in closed session to discuss the next chief legislative analyst, before deciding not to hire either of the two finalists.
Council President Alex Padilla, who has been in charge of the search, became emotional and was near tears at one point, according to two city employees who spoke on condition of anonymity because closed sessions are not supposed to be discussed with the public.
Padilla said he could speak of the meeting only in generalities and that the two finalists would remain contenders for the job but that the council wanted to consider other people. Two weeks earlier, a third, popular candidate, Phyllis Currie, chief of the Pasadena Water and Power department and longtime Los Angeles city employee, withdrew her candidacy.
Padilla acknowledged becoming emotional at the meeting, but did not explain why. "I don't know what to tell you, but I can tell you that it wasn't about anybody in particular," he said.
"There are 13 of us around the horseshoe, and sometimes it's easy to reach consensus, sometimes there are 13 different opinions," he said. "All that has happened in council recently is a perfect storm of issues where consensus isn't quickly reached but will be reached."
Councilman Bill Rosendahl seemed energized by the Wednesday meeting.
"As a dynamic, it doesn't get any better than what happened," he said. "I'm telling you it was a beautiful expression of democracy. It was very enlightening and allowed me to bond with my colleagues. I feel I have a better relationship with each of them than before I went in there."
The council also was involved in a fierce debate over whether to extend its contract to haul trash to the Sunshine Canyon Landfill above Granada Hills after July 1, 2006.
Greig Smith and Ed Reyes argued over whose district is dumping on whose; Janice Hahn denied allegations she was trying to create a garbage crisis to embarrass the new mayor; and Rosendahl found himself in hot water with Smith over his vote.
Reyes, who represents northeast Los Angeles, including Highland Park and parts of downtown, said poorer areas of the city often get treated worse than wealthier neighborhoods.
"I think the ugliness of differences based on class is rearing its ugly head," he said. "We're at an interesting place because the strain of term limits is affecting everybody's priorities about what's important politically versus what's good for the city and future generations."
Rosendahl, at a meeting a week ago, asked city staff about a plan to reduce the trash taken to Sunshine Canyon by 2009 — pointedly asking whether the plan would be binding on the council that would be in office in 2009. He was told that it wasn't.
Rosendahl voted to extend the contract.
Later, Rosendahl found himself in Padilla's office with Smith and Tony Cardenas for a meeting that by Monday was part of the City Hall rumor mill.
Rosendahl defended his questions. "Before I vote on an issue, I want to know what the issue is. I simply asked what does this mean — is this going to be binding?"
Smith defended calling for a meeting with Rosendahl. The landfill sits above Smith's district, in the northwest San Fernando Valley.
Smith said the purpose of the meeting was to clarify Rosendahl's position on the landfill, because he had expressed opposition to it in July.
Also, Smith wanted to see if Rosendahl was committed to serving on Smith's committee that is charged with finding alternative ways to deal with the city's trash.
"I asked him whether he's flip-flopping on this and what the problem is," Smith said.
There were varying degrees of opinion among council members Thursday as to how the council was getting along. Cardenas, for example, noted that none of his colleagues had thrown furniture and that he had seen far more intense battles while in the state Assembly.
"The council needs to come together for the good of the city," said Jack Weiss, a council member from the Westside. "Sixty percent of the city united behind Mayor Villaraigosa, and he recently took a tough position on Sunshine Canyon for the good of the city. Council members can learn a thing or two from that."
"One criticism I have of the council is that we don't deal with the city like a farmer," Councilman Tom LaBonge said. "He takes care and maintains his fields so they're healthy for many years. Sometimes we have such a reaction" to the moment that "we don't look at the long-range."
Chief Parker makes it sound as if nothing that Antonio Blatantly LIED about the 80 neighborhood watches and used this lie in his tv campaign ads. AV also LIED about having the rank and file support him by having FAKE cops in his TV ads. Officers hate Antonio because he's an embarrassement for what they stand for. He's a gangster mayor with a police record, aligns himself with drug dealers and crooks.
Agreed poster this website went after Janice Hahn because ANTONIO is behind the scenes controlling these weak men.
To all you CD 14 Neighborhood Watch posters, SHUT THE FUCK UP because you're boring the crap out of me. By the way, your tone against AV makes me wonder whether you should seek medical help. Otherwise, take a shot of Patron and go to sleep.
See you at the Mt. Washington debate tonight.
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