Mayor's Airport Pick Questioned
Rick Orlov in the Daily News reports that the City Attorney's office has cleared Mayor Villaraigosa's appointment of Valeria Velasco to the Airport Commission, following concerns that her anti-expansion views would be a "conflict of interest." Mayor Frank reported earlier last month on the Velasco appointment.Velasco previsouly served as President of ARSAC (Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Crowding) that advocates against further expansion of LAX and to divert new traffic to regional airports such as the city owned Ontraio Airport, an expanded Palmdale Airport and others. Mayor Sam adovacted this several months ago (and yes it was me Michael not anyone else writing as Mayor Sam).
We've had people who represent all kinds of interests from unions to developers on the commission. Why is that any less of a conflict of interest than citizen activists who have grave concerns about expanding LAX any more than it is now? Even if you don't agree with it, Velasco and her group have put together a sound counter point to airport expansion, a plan that even our Mayor has opposed.
The main concern has been a lawsuit ARSAC has pursued against the city. In issues that address this suit, Velasco will have to recuse herself. This is common practice.
According the the story, the chairperson of the City Council's Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Tony Cardenas, requested the City Attorney position. Even though the City Attorney has cleared Velasco, according to Cardenas' Chief of Staff Jose Cornejo, there are still concerns about Velasco's appointment.
Councilman Cardenas was right on another airport issue when he opposed Charter Amendment A, which could have led to the LAPD taking over security from the Airport Police. We urge him to reconsider the Mayor's appointment of Velasco and add her point of view to the Airport Commission.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 9/03/2005 06:01:00 PM
5 Comments:
No one really cares that much about AV's picks, until they screw up. July 1 as a coronation; he's Emperor AV now. No real accountability, and no criticism gets taken seriously.
Come on guys, Tony is playing 'bad cop' with AV. Alex Padilla plays 'good cop,' so TC goes the opposite; however, the reasons here are different. TC thinks by giving AV a "hard time" this will somehow lead to an endorsement for AP's Senate Race. They must figure AV will surely give in to them if they apply just enough pressure.
Dead wrong my friend.
I am of the opinion that Antonio will not endorse in the primary.
If he does, I'm betting it is for Cindy.
But then, what do I know? I'm a dead Lobbyist.
Tony has as much a chance of blocking Val's confirmation as does Mayor Sam, not this mayor Sam the blogger but the really dead former mayor.
Mayor Frank nailed this one when he reported on it before, saying that, unless we get some community activists on these commissions to defend the communities, the same old "duck s..t" will continue.
How is it a "conflict of interest" (one of the most abused phrases in the English language) for someone to stand up for their community? If ARSAC wins the lawsuit, no one in ARSAC will get one dime. The only redress in a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit is a new EIR.
As you correctly point out, developers, industry people and labor have been represented on the commissions forever. Can anyone say Ted Stein? Leland Wong? Nick Tonsich?
Now MAV tries to appont a community activist and they all scream "conflict of interest"? Come on!
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