Ask the Mayor -- Private Jets
For those of you who missed the "Ask the Mayor" segment on KCAL 9 last evening, I have included an audio clip of a very interesting question regarding the use of an Ameriquest private jet. While I give the Mayor kudos for actually answering the question, I think you will all agree he left himself wide open for attack.
Point 1: I'll quote the Mayor: "I reimbursed for the amount that I am required to by law which is coach fare." -- In other words, I'll follow the technicalities of the law, but not the intent of it.
Point 2: The Mayor in regards to votes relating to Ameriquest: "I've never voted for anything, I've recused myself as a matter of fact. I've never voted for anything." -- Mark my words. People are going to scour your voting record to make sure this is the case. I hope your staff did their homework, for if there was a vote affecting Ameriquest, you've got a big headache.
Point 3: Quoting the Mayor again: "I removed his lobbyist despite the fact that he has been a campaign contributor and a long time friend and I'll do it again." -- Problem is, you replaced him because he was a lobbyist, not because he was a campaign contributor or long time friend.
Point 4: The Mayor on whether Ameriquest is guilty of predatory lending: "I know Roland Arnall very well, and I know Ameriquest. And you are right, some years ago I did work for them as a consultant, and because I have worked with them I know that they are not a predatory lenders, and I'm not afraid to say that with anyone in any debate, and I believe that to be true." -- Hopefully this is correct, because if it is proven other wise, you just tied yourself to their ship.
Posted by Anonymous @ 11/10/2005 07:51:00 AM
39 Comments:
I saw that segment last night. And he subtly alluded to the Governor in that segment, saying "The Governor uses a private jet","The Governor needs to get to places quickly"
With the ass-whooping Arnold got in this special election, Antonio has his sights on Sacramento.
Here's an idea, Frequent flyer programs with an Airline such as United or American and Southwest for those trips to Sacramento. Plus with a status symbol like Antonio Villaraigosa this would be just like having a private plane and he would see how important adding space for those ticket machines and waiting.
From the first time I set foot in this place till today, it is obvious politics is a sham. Politics was new to me and as a disillusioned entity of society on politics, alternative would be Marxism.
"Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes"
Confucius
This is not a mistake. He knew what he was doing. He has a lot of hubris. Going to that funeral was not business for the city. It was to hype up his exposure.
Although he may have known what he was doing, it was still a mistake.
When the Mayor stated Arnold uses private jets too, it became a farce comment.
Why? Because I want a Mayor who will not stoop low and copy crimes of others, but be beyond that criminal mentality.
Just because "Pedro" grabbed all the candy illegally doesn't mean you should do it too.
Villaraigosa wrote a letter recently supporting one of Ameriquest executives to be on board. The Mexican American Political Assoc. has come out against Antonio for using the jet. Antonio stated last night that he would use the jet again. I was shocked he said it. He also disagreed that Ameriquest was taking advantage of Latinos in their loans. Why then are so many suing Ameriquest if this is not true?
Arnold actually owns his own jet and pays for the fuel, so there is no cost to taxpayers, and since he is the owner, it isn't like the owner of the jet can now ask Arnold for favors, like Arnall can of antonio.
The comparison is apples and oranges.
LA Weekly, Robert Greene
The company is fending off probes into its lending practices while lobbying the mayor’s office on mortgage lending. Villaraigosa was once a paid consultant to the firm, which later donated to both of his mayoral campaigns and gave $100,000 to his inaugural-gala fund-raiser for after-school programs.....the mayor decided long ago to recuse himself from any official matter having to do with Ameriquest. But the recusal apparently does not apply to the mayor’s staff or commission appointees, and the controversy has raised enough scrutiny of a mayor who campaigned on setting a high ethical example that it may wipe out whatever goodwill he won from his address at Parks’ funeral.
ANTONIO REMOVED THAT LOBBYSIST BUT THEN APPOINTED HIM TO A COMMISSION. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THAT COMMISSION IS?
8:54 - I sorta' felt the same way until I realized that the whole foundation of politics (power or power to make decisions) breeds a competition to sway the majority. If you fail to compete effectively at this, you're just kicked out.
But this is how almost every organization or business works. Don't think Marxism would be any different. Our human nature seeks power and control.
9:05 - that funeral was City business. While you may not respect what this woman did for millions of people in this country and how she changed the course of our nation's history, the majority of other do. Paying honor to her at the end of her life was not only fitting, but deserving! He represented ALL Angelenos there.
Sorry you feel differently about Rosa Parks.
Don't drag Rosa into this. This post has nothing to do with her or her accomplishments. It has everything to do with how the Mayor handled the situation. PERIOD!
The problem many latinos and african americans face is obtaining loans. Many don't have the credit standing that would enable them to get lower interest loans. One option is to simply turn down lower income people and those with low credit scores. That, however, would disproportionately exclude many people of color from obtaining loans - who happen to be disproportionately lower income.
When someone says that our mayor didn't need to attend Rosa Parks' funeral, it has everything to do with her!
It was a sad occasion,
LA Weekly
The company is fending off probes into its lending practices while lobbying the mayor's office on mortgage lending. Villaraigosa was once a paid consultant to the firm, which later donated to both of his mayoral campaigns and gave $100,000 to his inaugural-gala fund-raiser for after-school programs.
Villaraigosa's lawyer, Tom Saenz, said the cost would be reimbursed from a political account - in other words, from other contributors. He also said the mayor took the flight because the invitation was "last minute." True, said Edwards, who noted that invitations to most funerals are last-minute matters.
Saenz added that the mayor decided long ago to recuse himself from any official matter having to do with Ameriquest. But the recusal apparently does not apply to the mayor's staff or commission appointees, and the controversy has raised enough scrutiny of a mayor who campaigned on setting a high ethical example that it may wipe out whatever goodwill he won from his address at Parks' funeral.
9:05 - that funeral was City business. While you may not respect what this woman did for millions of people in this country and how she changed the course of our nation's history, the majority of other do. Paying honor to her at the end of her life was not only fitting, but deserving! He represented ALL Angelenos there.
Oh. My. God.
Flying a lobbyist's Lear jet across the country to honor a woman who was sent to the back of the bus!
Are you going to continue to sit with Rosa?
Are you going to continue to walk with Cesar?
Or are you going to start jetting with Eli?
Get business class booked next time, Robin.
Going to Parks' funeral was a neccessary thing for the Mayor. But taking that private jet funded by Ameriquest was bad.
Eli Broad (who campaigned for Hahn in 2005) has a Private Jet to offer, why couldn't he ask him.
And that statement yesturday that "That person was removed and it wasn't reported in the papers is Bullshit, because all of the PRess LOVE Villaraigosa.
I agree that if Antonio was invited he should have gone. However, there are many business men who need to travel last minute. A simple phone call to any airlines would have gotten Antonio a seat. Its B.S. and insults our intelligence to believe Ameriquest was THE ONLY RIDE AVAILABLE. Is it coincidental that this is the company that donated to his campaign? Glad to see the media not brushing this scandal under the rug and continue to go after the truth.
Here's an idea, Frequent flyer programs with an Airline such as United or American and Southwest for those trips to Sacramento. Plus with a status symbol like Antonio Villaraigosa this would be just like having a private plane.
Plus it can save taxpayers money on these last minute ventures because it ensures a cap on things like this
I think we all respect Rosas Parks and what she did. But, didn't she have a funeral service in the Los Angeles area? To summarily say that he was there merely to represent angelenos is misguided. It does not take much to read between the lines to see that the underlying reason for the appearance was to gain some national exposure.
First AME Church October 28, 2005
This casts some big doubt on Antonio's decision making process. And serves up even more red MEAT to the CD14 Dum Dums when Antonio doesn't need to give them anymore than they have now.
Absolutely Antonio needed to honor Rosa Parks. This is not about her. However, he did not need to go to Detroit to do so. There were numerous memorial services held all over the country. Antonio could have attended one here in LA, even hosted one at City Hall or the Staples Center.
He did not need to use an entire day of his term to do this.
His reasoning - and you can not dispute this - in going was that he wanted to be seen. He wanted to be on the same stage as Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, et al and be on CNN, Fox News, etc. It is clear he has bigger goals than being Mayor. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but it is true.
Had Antonio not gone, he would have missed that opportunity. But it would not have sunk his national career. Two or four or eight years from now if he is running for Senate or VP or President people will not remember he wasn't able to make it to Detroit.
However, this decision was reckless in that Antonio was willing to gamble getting some national airtime in exchange for risking a major brouhaha. One, that he left the city and was transparentally mugging for the cameras (more than enough red MEAT for the dum dums). But two, in order to get his moment of fame (taking the private jet), he had to commit an ethically questionable act which has now opened him up to even further criticism and scrutiny than the dum dums could muster on their own.
All in all, a bad decision on Antonio's part.
Is this symbolic of his decision making process? We need to know.
Mayor Sam,
In light of what you just posted.
When folks asked me in March and May who I voted in the City Election. I proudly said "Hahn, because though Villaraigosa has the Chrisma and apperance of Leadership, Hahn makes better judgment calls and makes better decisions that doesn't place the ENTIRE city in jeopardy (ie Chief bratton, City Economy and Urban Development in South LA,Mid Wilshire and Hollywood, Writing and Fighting for Proposition 1A to stop Sacramento from raping LA taxpayers).
11:37 and 11:44
This was just a viewing of the body, there was no service there.
How will ADV travel to Nick Pacheco's funeral?
And when is the funeral? It's been two days since his death...
Oh please Archie Bunker, Hahn was the Pay for Play Mayor. What's the difference at this point?
Don't blame me, I voted for Hertzberg.
Mayor Sam 12:48,
Oh please, like Villaraigosa doesn't have major contributors on key Commissions like Pay-for-play Hahn?
Antonio proved my point by doing this. ONE, he's so arrogant he knew full well this was not right and did it anyway. TWO he must have some lame asses surrounding him to allow him to do this, a bunch of yes people. THREE its all about Antonio.
Now, if Antonio had any brains the smart thing to do and still get all the media attention he so desperately craves was to host a very large memorial service for Rosa Parks and organize all the black ministers and their congregations and yes, Mayor Sam Staples would have been ideal place for the blacks of South LA.
The comment about Nick Pacheco's death is totally inappropriate.
Why throw salt in the wounds of a caring, sensitive man of the utmost integrity?
No one in L.A. politics deserves to even be in the same room with Nick.
He is the only one who used his power to raise money for the poor.
He is the only one who talks about his own record instead of trashing his opponents.
And anyone who knows him understands how humble and selfless he is.
Leave him alone. Nick will be back, and put you all to shame -- especially traitors like Xavier Becerra.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
please remove my post about Lloyd. i logged on to trash the First-class is not enough Mayor, and saw that last idiotic comment about Pacheco, and couldn't resist with an inappropriate remark.
Back to Nick
Who cares about his ethics...
Mrs. Pacheco is still a hotie !!
please remove my post about Lloyd. i logged on to trash the First-class is not enough Mayor, and saw that last idiotic comment about Pacheco, and couldn't resist with an inappropriate remark.
Get a blogger ID and you can remove your own posts---it's a cool feature of Blogger.com.
I like hearing what people are thinking, but it's time for some of you to graduate to adulthood and start standing by what you say. We do it, you can too. Or if you need to be anonymous, talk about that---we need to hear what's going on in City Hall. Otherwise, stand by your own name and you'll find you have a lot more to say, rather than a lot less...
Tony Villar really needs to get over himself. He's not the freaking President, and he's not nearly as charismatic as people are making him out to be. One of the 25 greatest leaders in America??? If that's the case, we're even more screwed than I thought. Last I checked, as mayor Tony V. hasn't done all that much besides prance around from event to event to look good in front of the cameras, pondering his next move while his posse of admirers and yes men make him feel like a million bucks.
At least with Hahn, we KNEW the guy wasn't doing anything besides watering his lawn in San Pedro. Villar's illusion of energy is giving Angelinos false hope -- someone with seemingly as much "leadership ability" and "coalition-building skills" ought to be doing great things. This is even more true given Villar's insane approval ratings and unprecedented political capital. But "Photo Op Tony," as I like to call him, is too busy getting his name in the paper for all the wrong reasons.
Wake up, LA. Demand real leadership from Tony Villar.
LA TIMES today, the trash fee that the Mayor ,Cynthia Ruiz and Jose Huizar support was raised.
Again they say they support it and the Mayor said we need more revenue. So, 400 hundred a month for trash collection. CD 14 people voted for this!! Huizar will do any thing Antonio wants. They must have been brain dead when they voted for this, Next Huizar will charage us to pick up all the sofas in Boyle Heights streets and alleys.
Correction, 400 a year, Most people in the district can not afford that.
Thank you for your point of view, Commissioner Gynthia Ruiz. With the salary you make, due to the job Antonio gave you,
you can afford it.
Senor Villar is just a pig with earings.
I watched a few seconds his phony tribute to Rosa Parks and had to run for the barf bag.
He is classless and clueless..1.4 high school gpa, expelled from Notre Dame High, gang banger, cheated on wife...children out of wedlock...anti-American Mechista , etc. etc....
Most people are sick of seeing his face plastered everywhere (even on the back of busses)He can't change his spots no matter how hard he tries. He will always be the little chicano gang banger from East LA.
He is quickly wearing out his welcome by exposing his phony shallowness every time he shoves his face in a camera. Keep it up, Tony....pretty soon the whole world will know what you are!
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