Robert Greene on City Hall
Robert Greene, the colorful reporter for the LA Weekly, has two great articles in this weeks edition.The first, "Groundless Logic - The mayor walks away with only scratches over Ameriquest turbulence" goes into the reasoning the Mayor is using behind his use of Ameriquest's private jet to attend the funeral services for Rosa Parks. He draws a similar conclusion to ours:
How do we know? Because the mayor said so. That will have to do, because according to counsel to the mayor Tom Saenz, there is no record, no register, no document to show that Villaraigosa has kept himself from making any decision as mayor that would involve Ameriquest.The second article entitled "The Let-It-Slide Commission - L.A.’s watchdogs pander rather than police" delves into the actions of the City's Ethics Commission actions against Jack Weiss. Some snips:
Saenz said no such matter has come before the mayor.
So what else has Villaraigosa recused himself from? What other companies or individuals are on the list of matters over which the mayor of the city of Los Angeles has declined to exercise his authority? Are they limited to matters that would present a real conflict of interest under law, or just an appearance of impropriety?
And if we’re not careful, Weiss’ victory could end up being exactly the message that comes out of that commission decision, because while $4,800 is no small chunk of change, it is considerably smaller than the $17,000 the commission’s staff thought Weiss ought to pay for breaking the law ($500 per violation), not to mention the $25,000 they went after when Weiss refused to settle in the first place.Good to see that the ethics in City Hall have changed...
The real message that should come out of the hearing is quite different, and quite depressing: the City Ethics Commission has nearly completed its transition from the gem of local campaign-finance regulatory agencies to a panel of political appointees beholden to the elected officials who appointed them and the people who make their living guiding and defending the politicians.
Posted by Anonymous @ 11/17/2005 07:29:00 AM
83 Comments:
C, F, or K?
Quit worrying about Villaraigosa or whomever. China is the one you should be worried about. China hates the US.
Chinese build a high-tech army within an army
BEIJING - Shi Jin wears a jean jacket, has razor-cropped hair, and seems gravely earnest. An officer in the People's Liberation Army, he was wooed from a Beijing vocational college three years ago by recruiters who talked up his technical aptitude - and his patriotism.
In the past decade, China has undergone two military high-tech reforms designed to give the country a modern fighting force. To sustain that progress, it must attract many more gung-ho young engineers like Shi, who spends most of his time working on an "informational" revolution that planners hope will one day allow them to "see" a battlefield with the same depth as the US military. "I will not do any direct fighting if there is a war, but I am contributing on the technical side," he says. "We are all needed in the new Army."
this is a non-story because there is obviously no project or city issue pending. if there was an issue, then definately there would be cause to question the decision.
greene asks the hypothetical - what else? what if? real journalistic scrutiny is not based on what ifs. anyone can "what if" til the end of time.
during the last administration, there was evidence that donors and backers were obtaining differential treatment in being awarded city contracts. that's a far cry from a plane ride.
You miss a more important story.
Why is John Robert Stevens not in jail? The EX DAVIS and VILLARIAGOSA AID is still out free and can harm children. Why is Villaraigosa not protesting to put this man in jail. If he is a real politician he must protest and put this criminal in jail!
John Robert Stevens
must be put in jail!
John Robert Stevens
must be put in jail!
John Robert Stevens
must be put in jail!
John Robert Stevens
must be put in jail!
John Robert Stevens
must be put in jail!
John Robert Stevens
you do the crime
you pay the price
no special treatment
WHAT?????? He is not a defendant? He should be put in jail that bastard criminal!
"...Attorney Raymond Boucher said he was "dumbfounded" when Stevens, who at first denied any sexual misconduct with children, admitted during a deposition to molesting Wes and Trent Evans, 13 and 10 respectively, in South Gate in the 1970s, when he was in his early 20s.
Stevens "is ashamed and would like to find a way to make it right," said Boucher, whose law firm represented Stevens in his deposition. Stevens is not a defendant in the suit but is expected to testify when the trial begins Dec. 5 in Los Angeles County Superior Court..."
10:11's I can tell you want this man in jail JRS. Ponder this for one minute: What secrets can this man divulge from these other politicians? Will the bird sing? Why is he protected heavily by his ex employers, is there more to this. Once the fat lady, in his case, molester sings, he will not shut up.
Think about it. Why would YOU protect a child molester from going to jail? What does he know?
Wes and Trent Evans are just the first of John Robert Stevens victims to come out. Wait and see, there will be more. The Evans brother's are victims and this man is not fit for society.
When did this become the child molester thread?
Oh well. . .
80 FAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ORGANIZATIONS
Let me help you anons. IF YMCA KNEW HE WAS A PEDOPHILE, SO DID DAVIS, VILLARAIGOSA, NUNEZ...IS STEVENS A GOOD CLEANUP GUY? WILL HE COVER UP FOR YOU AND YOU COVER UP FOR HIM?
LA TIMES
"Stevens' deposition is under a judge's protective order, but attorney Katherine K. Freberg, who represents the Evans brothers, attached portions of it to pretrial motions she filed in court. Her lawsuit contends that YMCA officials knew that Stevens was a pedophile.
"The YMCA promised to develop the bodies, minds and spirit of these boys. Instead they put them in the hands of a pedophile and in the process destroyed their souls," Freberg said."
Ok, you want traffic, hits? Robert Green ain't gonna do it. Important news will do it, John Robert Stevens. A child molester out free is not something to chuckle about, or sip tea from hearing about it. It is a crime.
LA TIMES
"According to the deposition, Stevens testified in April that he fondled and masturbated Wes Evans, then 13, during a YMCA-sponsored overnight "caravan trip" to the Sierra. At the time, Stevens was youth director of the Rio Vista YMCA in South Gate.
"Did you ever molest Wes Evans?" attorney Freberg asked Stevens.
"Yes," he replied.
Stevens also said he later fondled and masturbated Wes' younger brother, Trent, 10, in his apartment near Compton.
In their lawsuit, the Evans brothers also accused Stevens of raping and orally copulating them repeatedly between 1971 and 1974, when their family moved away. They said they were molested on YMCA-sponsored overnight trips and at weekend sleepovers in Stevens' later living quarters, a converted storage room on YMCA premises."
"...But another man is expected to testify at trial that he too was raped by Stevens and another male YMCA worker, whose name he cannot recall, Freberg said. The Times does not name alleged sexual abuse victims without their consent."
Welcome in the JRS blogging team.
9:54 a.m.,
Asking "what if?" is a an important question.
When I got trained by the FPPC they said repeatedly that the *appearance* of impropriety was enough to get you in trouble, and get you censured or fined.
In this sense, the bar is set pretty low for criteria to enable punishment of a politician for selling influence.
Critics of the mayor will be able to use this against him in a few months, depending upon how well his other efforts in the city go.
"Critics of the mayor" are called "haters" -- they're shouted down, and voted out.
Don't make me laugh.
This here is a political mo-chine, and AV's got hisself a CONVOY!
Appointee's firm has drawn scrutiny
Villaraigosa returns executive of company in troubled DWP project to the city's efficiency panel.
By David Zahniser
Copley News Service
A top executive with an engineering firm that is under scrutiny for rising costs at a Department of Water and Power cleanup project has been named to a city commission devoted to making government more efficient.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reappointed Jack Baylis, senior vice president of the global engineering firm CH2M Hill, to the 15-member Quality and Productivity Commission -- a panel assigned the task of making the city more effective and responsive.
Oh Shit I have to distract what about this story
Interesting post.
Soccer_Ball_on_the_710 said...
8:36 a.m.
(Repeated from 11/14 and previous to that)
AV has already cut the (private) deals to place his choice on the LAUSD board filling Jose's nearly-vacant-for-six-months-now seat.
Soccer_Ball_on_the_710 said...
"Lives in the part of CD1 that overlaps with LAUSD district 2"
"previous botched CM race"
"double-minority"
"ambulance chaser"
"no significant background in educational issues"
November 14, 2005 4:22 PM
November 17, 2005 11:15 AM
You must be living on another planet. Antonio only got 9% of a city with 3.8 million people. A lot of those who voted for him are now scratching their heads. Sure, the media loves him but you notice they don't do stories on what he's NOT doing? Reporters who cover Antonio are sick of him but their news directors want them to get the story cause everyone else will.
The honeymoon is over. Thank god for good reporters like Patrick McGreevy, Steve Hymon and Richard Fausset of LA Times. They are the new breed who aren't afraid to print the facts on stories. Wasn't it Patrick who broke the story on the Ameriquest Jet? YES IT WAS
Who is the ambulance chaser?
My dog is the only one I know and he smells rotten and corrupt.
Mayor appointees like Mike Hernandez who was busted by a video camera buying cocaine during lunch time and getting prostitutes. Richard Alatorre who also had a cocaine problem and was caught taking money he shouldn't have. Alvin Parra another El Sereno crook who ruined his wife's position all documented in LA Times. Paul Hernandez (aka Urkel) who is an arrogant moron who acts as if he always wants to be anywhere else except doing his job. Lisa Sarno (aka Cabbage Patch) another ruthless field staffer who hated working with the community. Dora Garcia (aka. Dora the Explorer) a wannabe field staffer. Wouldn't know how to answer a simple question if her life depended on it. Jimmy Blackman (aka Samari) how he got his job is everyone's guess. He should take lessons from Parks Jr. who is respected and an all around nice guy.
I see it this way...If Alvin is appointed to the LAUSD seat (he has no valid qualifications for this seat) it will look bad. I support Villaraigosa, Huizar, but I cannot support Alvin. The smear campaign he was involved with can tarnish some of our Mayor's image and our councilperson. Bad move. It will clearly look as payback. If so, the respect and following will not happen for LAUSD. Credibility is important for LAUSD right now, don't mess it up so easily.
Anyone keeping score how many times 11:24 has been posted here, pretty much word for word (I've seen it 5-6 times already)?
It's not Alvin's "turn" (at least that's what Master AV keeps telling "Igor" Parra. . . probably never.
Interesting reporters like McGreevy and Robert Greene are reporting the facts. Antonio looks really bad because he opened his big mouth throughout the campaign slamming Hahn and stating "he would clean up city hall," mke commission appointees sign letters, have higher ethics. Well we are coming to find out that was all B.S. He's appointed friends and family on commissions. The arrogance he has with Ameriquest is further reason not to trust him and what he's done that is yet to come out. Keep reporting guys.
4 million peeps in L.A. and AV can't find appointees who haven't already screwed up, or are on the record for having screwed the city (or are under suspicion for it).
You need to get out more, Antonio. How about thinking OUTSIDE the (campaign donation) box?
You should have spent more time in CD14 when you was getting paid to! That district is now grossly UNDER-represented in AV appointments vs. other districts.
OR, is this because half the people in the district going through LAUSD are dropping out, and end up too STUPID to even serve on a commission?
Get right on that, too, AV, okay?
Maybe when you take over the schools?
I don't remember Hahn getting nailed so quickly for so many suspect appointments etc. AV's getting an early start, "cleaning up" city hall.
Or is he just plain "cleaning up?"
Mr. Mayor was cleaning city hall and was out of BORAX, he used the other cleanser, some cheap stuff.
Why don't you just come out and say who's gettn' LAUSD seat!
Politics are a disgrace in Los Angeles. Republicans are selfish, Democrats are corrupt.
A new Marxist party opening up in 90033 Boyle Heights. Coming Soon!
11:24 - this might be hard for you, but you need to understand that there aren't 3.8 million voters. Not everyone who lives in LA can vote. That's basic civics.
About 1/3 are under 18. Tens of thousands of others aren't even registered. Of the ones who voted, AV received nearly 2/3 of their support. The only votes that count in a democracy are the ones that are cast.
Difference is that the Hahn Admin worked on a quid pro quo basis. We saw the correlation between donations and contracts. That's hardly the case here and there's not an iota of evidence to suggest it. Unless you can present something you'll continue to be nothing more than an obnoxious loud-mouth.
iota this -!-
Lie Of The Day
"Chinese people enjoy all forms of democracy and freedom under law, including freedom of religion and belief," a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, Liu Jianchao, said.
THE TRUTH:
China routinely jails Christians for openly practicing their faith, forcing thousands to worship underground. China jailed citizens who had the nerve to print bibles just a few weeks before Pres. Bush's visit to Asia!
Found at Laura Ingraham website.
Bathroom talk. Villaraigosa planned 2 move homeless 2 Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park and South Central Los Angeles. Gives room to redevelop billion dollar condos and Bourgeois to live in, without a homeless person in the way of an overpriced condo. Jose H....thanks for the win. I understand. Mayor developed consensus and a dumping ground. He doesn't give a shit about you CD14's and S. Centrals, he gives a shit about him and his Tonto.
BREAKING NEWS!
BREAKING NEWS!
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!!
ALVIN PARRA HAS WON NEXT LAUSD BOARD POSITION.
YOU HEARD IT HERE!
"The only votes that count in a democracy are the ones that are cast."
All the more reason to keep them illiterate, apolitical and illegal, right LAUSD?
Fuck the democrats! Let's see how they deal with Stevens. I bet he will be protected.
12:26
"Difference is that the Hahn Admin worked on a quid pro quo basis."
That's your analysis... where's the proof, where are the charges -- and the "guilty" findings that support them, the fines and the jail terms.
Unless YOU can present factual answers to questions like that (and show me Jimmy's picture behind bars), YOU'LL continue to be nothing more than an obnoxious, partisan, pre-judging, gossip-mongering, loud-mouth.
Funny thing is, the more AV and his compadres scream about how dirty everything was BEFORE -- so we NEED them to clean up -- the less people actually swing for any real past crimes.
Funny that!
Face is L.A. - you got TOOK. There never was an infestation in the house, and the new exterminator that was going to wipe it all out only knew where the dead roaches were lying feet up because he planted them there to sell you his "services."
Alvin? Are you kidding? How could this backstabbing moron get such an important seat?
The kids are screwed for sure.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought Global (and Modular) Diversified Industries had given money to Villaraigosa's business partners and friends.
You go Greene...
"...Garcetti threw in that no evidence was presented that anyone ever goes to the commission office to look at the mailers. This one bugged me especially, having just spent two hours at the commission office going over the mail in the recent City Council race. But Garcetti (a former candidate, remember, successful and otherwise, for district attorney) apparently wanted some proof that people go up to the ethics office and check those things out.
As if it’s not already intimidating enough just to get into City Hall, have your driver’s license recorded, tell an armed guard where you’re going, and wear a scarlet-letter-type sticker to warn the club that there’s an Outsider in their midst. Now you want the public to register when they look at the documents the commission holds for public view?"
Heres a little "quid pro" to stick up your "quo". . .
The week after the "chipmunk" himself cops to helping with an unmarked, un-registered, un-ethical slime campaign against the guy AV does NOT want to see in the CD14 chair, comes the PAYOLA, in the form of a COMMISION seat for ALVIN'S WIFE!
"NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Communications from the Mayor relative to the following appointments:
CD 14 05-2453 Ms. Nellie Rios-PARRA to the Board of Library Commissioners for the term ending June 30, 2006, to fill the vacancy created by the removal of Ms. Susan Key."
Argue all day what was and wasn't LEGAL, ETHICAL, or just plain STUPID... but the payoff is there, nonetheless.
DOH! Keep it up, ALVIN, that's only a short-term appointment. Maybe with a few more STIPENDS like that for your dirty work -- SOMEDAY the "missus" will finally forgive you for the LAUSD race screwwww-up.
(Don't plan on ever becoming "made" though, DUDe. You should be glad you're not at the bottom of the harbor wearing cement Homer Simpson house slippers).
That is as transparent as you can get. Villaraigosa why did you agree to the slime. You are better than this, this is clear payback.
Those who are coming out to support Antonio should face the facts. Antonio is the one who was claiming he would be ethical and clean city hall. Yet, he's appointed family and friends, wives of endorsers, and every week now there's something in the papers on what he's done wrong. You Antonio lovers are in denial.
Antonio's appointments have been uniformly excellent. Diverse and well qualified. Many quite creative and bringin important new perspectives to City Hall. Of course some of them supported Villaraigosa in the Mayor's race, some contributed and some volunteered. However, the substantial majority of his appointments were not involved in the campaign in anyway.
Let me know when he appoints his fundraiser Deputy Mayor in charge of the Port, airport and DWP.
What do you have to say about two that are suing the city of LA? How much is that going to cost us? Answer why he appointed one of the few commissioners Public works, Cynthia Ruiz who makes $108,000 and is the godmother of his kid? How about Ameriquest who donated $100,000 to his inagural and you don't think they want something in return? Get real!!!
3:55 p.m.
Hmmm, who's right, you or the Times.
They reported a while back that MOST of the appointees were contributors.
Who you gonna believe, a partisan AV-lover -- or everyone else.
*NEWSFLASH*
Major Blow to Alex Padilla: The president failed to garner the support and endorsement of LA City & County Fire Departments.
3:55 What crock of shit are you feeding us.
Get real!
12:52 No one that I know confirmed what you said. Are you bull shittn' me?
3:55
How many of Hahn's commmission appointments had already been called into question, pulled back, been replaced, embarrassed the mayor, been checked out for very obvious conflicts of interest (suing the city?) etc. within the first 6 months of his term?
We're just getting started.
You may go to polo matches with these people and have adjoining season seats for opera season at the Dorothy Chandler, and think they're all just "swell" people. . . but for the rest of us dumpster-divers, many already smell funnier that yesterday's "catch."
It would be nice if you would start naming 4:36.
Someone will always be smarter. Their house will be bigger. They will drive a better car. Their children will do better in school. And their partners will fix more things around the house. So let it go and love you and your circumstances. Think about it. The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart. And the most highly favored woman on
your job may be unable to have children. The richest woman you know - she's got the car, the house, the clothes - might be heartbreakingly lonely. So, love you. Love who you are right now. Tell yourself, "I am too blessed to be stressed." Be blessed ladies and pass this on to encourage another woman. "To the world you might be one person, but to
one person you just might be the world." Send this to wonderful strong women you know. I did. Possibilities and miracles are one and the same
The "double minority, ambulance chaser, botched CD race" etc., is obviously Fumio (Robert) Nakahiro. But I have no idea if he is running for Huizar's seat.
Zen blogging at its finest.
That reminds me, how are the Lakers doing this year?
Hare Kushner!
So reading Greene:
"How do we know? Because the mayor said so. That will have to do, because according to counsel to the mayor Tom Saenz, there is no record, no register, no document to show that Villaraigosa. . . "
And THAT's where you lost me. Until the "Ameriquest" name popped in there, I would have sworn someone had FINALLY started digging into the 80 FAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ORGANIZATIONS scam.
Public Works appointee Cynthia Ruiz is a rehab counselor. She is really qualified isn't she? Where's the press on this one. A job for a family member with a salary of $108 thousand per yr. Tell us her qualifications? The largest Public Works Dept. in the nation. Hey Robert Green Investigate this instead of the "what if's and If only's".
And when will Robert Steven's be arrested? And why isn't the LA TImes crying out for that?
Oh maybe Robert Steven's will replace Huizar? Yeah that's right, put the pedophile in charge of the kids. Yeah that's perfect.
5:15 Never heard of this guy, where is he from?
6:50
Robert Stevens will go to jail if there are major protests. So far, politicians are covering up pretty good for him. Well, with Cynthia, she's Villar's comadre, so nothing will come of this investigation.
For the "in the know" people. Do all Villar appointees have BA degrees or higher?
The person who is appointed to the school board seat will not be Alvin or Monica "Cookie Monster" Garcia. Alvin's problems are legion and include more than his attempt to extort money from Riordan/Broad in his wife's failed attempt to unseat Takofsky. He's just not taken seriously by most people.
Monica's problem is more serious than her size. She's neither articulate or particularly sharp. Jose was known to have the weakest staff at the District and it's doubtful anyone would want to put the person at the top of the staff to head a district that has serious problems.
AV will probably appoint someone who is more moderate than either of these two as well as someone that has distinguished himself/herself. Expect AV to take a page from the Riodan/Broad playbook.
Your leader has spoken.
I'd just like to see someone on the Board who has had a real job and not been some political or policy lackey for a politician.
For the insiders: Why do candidates have to give copies of mailers to the Ethics Commission prior to mailing?
I hope Greene will write an article about the Council President coup that is under way. The 4th floor buzz has Wendy, Eric and Janice laying a trap for Alex and Tony. Power politics at its best!
7:53
Are you serious?
Big O for School Board. Oh yeah baby!
9:39:
A bigger buzz than Alex NOT getting endorsed by LA City & County Fire Dept?
There's blood in the water, maybe that's why the coup is on the way.
10:28:
In LA TIMES this morning:
"The biggest donor was Mark Handel, president of MWH Development Corp, who provided $3,750 in food for the event. Handel hopes to build homes on the Verdugo Golf Course in Tujunga, and has other projects planned in Pacoima and Sylmar, according to the company website."
Add that your padilla fruitcake.
5:15 p.m.
Why "double minority?"
Gay? Handicapped? Republican? Ethical? (that's a minority in L.A. govt.)
This what happens to politicians who forget who their friends really are...Alex, Eric and Ed your dealing with people who are not your friends. They let you think you were in the inner circle, but you're not...they let you think all was forgiven, but it's not...
All the promises made to you--forget them. You will be left to hang out to dry...do you feel the love baby?
It's not personal, it's politics.
It's not about you, it's all about him...So pucker up and take it up the @^%$. This guy will lie straight to your face and stab you right in the heart.
You have allowed a monster to be created, it's up to you to take him out!
Move over Robert Greene-
First the LAUSD. Second the Board of Supervisors.
I didn't know Antonio was the Savior! An immaculate conception! That's what it was.
Take the spotlight off of him and put it out on everyone else. Make alot of huff and puff about how everyone else isn't doing their job.
Give a lot of speeches all over the city, especially where you don't represent. (Because you'll need their votes for your next election.) Talk about your vision and what should be done. Then it will look like your doing your job. And it will seem like you've connected with the voters. But do nothing, solve nothing.
That's Antonio for you...
C'mon, Monica G. for school board. Please.
Let's think outside the box folks and not go with these aides that can't find real jobs.
I thought someone said Corina Villaraigosa for th LAUSD board seat. AT least she's been a teacher for 20 years. If Antonio thought he would have a say in the empty seat after his comments yesteray I think he's lost that battle. In LA Times, MAYOR BLASTS SCHOOL BOARD.
First the LAUSD, next the County Board of Supervisors...than the Governor. I mean the unions didn't spend all that money to cripple Arnold for nothing...or for anyone else for that matter.
You're missing the story Robert. Maybe a reporter will some real balls will pick it up.
7:50 : I think AV has even more juice to pick the person to serve on the Board precisely because he wants to take it over. If I were a board member, I'd like all the accoutability for this horrible district to rest with the mayor.
Let's face it, the District is a mess and will never make dramatic improvements to kids' test scores. Running for higher office from the Board and suceeding is rare precisely because the District has very little good news to report. However, if you can blame the mayor for the problems, you have some cover.
Let's start with a mayoral take-over followed by breaking up the district. Hopefully, UTLA will decide to be part of the solution instead using its tried and true approach to obstructing all efforts at reform.
Yeah Corrina, that's a great idea. She teaches in Montebello School district and sends their children to private schools. She'll be a perfect choice. Plus, with Antonio letting Loyola High School (a private catholic school where their son goes to school) float a bond for their new science building he proves he's the education mayor. She'll be able to see if there is any money for more private schools or even churches and mosques, temples with schools to give money to or tell Antonio about so he can float bonds for them too.
This could be good for everyone.
P.S. For their daughter how about a bond for Immaculate Heart or Mary-mount?
I think the Board would welcome Monica Garcia. Monica is a mental midget and so the Board knows they could control her. The only losers would be District 2.
WHY should anyone EVEN be discussing "appointment" when there's 3-1/2 years left on the LAUSD district board term?
That would be criminal.
Big O has it in the bag. No one can beat him.
Big O has it in the bag alright...donuts, hamburgers, tacos and burritos...that's the only bag he has.
Who in the hell is big o. is he fat or something?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
You know what? I don't think anyone cares who AV's secret lover is or IF there is one.
Get used to that idea. You can go to your church and pray for him or something, but posting about it is a real yawner. Sorry.
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