Stuckey in Hiding
Last night on KCAL 9's "Ask the Mayor" segment, Mayor Villaraigosa was asked about the situation with Mr. Guerdon Stuckey, the General Manager of Animal Services. This question was obviously asked in reaction to this story in the Daily Breeze yesterday.Below is the audio from the KCAL 9 segment:
Additional coverage has been found in today's Daily Breeze with the unions reaction and in the Daily News they are quoting the following:
"It's a dogfight: He said today he's not quitting," said a high-ranking animal-control official who said he fears Villaraigosa has finally caved into what he called "ecoterrorists" who have targeted Stuckey and other department workers.And to think this all could have been prevented had the Mayor lived up to his original promise right out of the gate rather than the dog and pony show we have been treated to... We'll keep you posted if the eventual press conference ever gets held.
Posted by Anonymous @ 12/15/2005 08:13:00 AM
37 Comments:
If the story that Jimmy Blackman told Stuckey to resign or be fired is true then Antonio comes off looking like the pussy who catered to the animal terrorists. Weak, Weak, Weak. Amazing he doesn't cave in to the demands of the EAA but these doggie people!!!
Stuckey is African American and Antonio hasn't appointed too many that I can see so far. Does anyone know the count. Hahn appointed more blacks to his commissions. Does anyone else think that the blacks will be outraged if they oust Stuckey .
Why do the whites resort to such violence? Firebombing someone's apartment?? These are the people AV has to answer to? Simply sad.
AV has about six more months, maximum, before the media begins referring to him as the "embattled L.A. mayor."
Nobody, no matter how much "charisma" they may supposedly have, sets a new world record for broken political promises and backpeddling like this, and gets away with it for too long.
His campaign to be mayor was a house of cards, and the ground is beginning to shake.
You heard it here, first.
9:53
Good point, Albert.
So then AV should lose Cecil Murray's and Maxine Waters' support over dumping a high-level African American GM (in the tradition of Bernard Parks).
Wouldn't that be a bitch to play out, so early in the term.
Like the previous blog title said, Stucky... "that was then, this is now."
But we have some lovely parting gifts for you. When you leave, take as many "condemned" pets with you as you like. Oh, and don't let the doggie-door hit you in the backside on your way out.
Villaraigosa voted for Stuckey before he voted against him. When Hahn nominated Stuckey for the job, many of us spoke against the appointment at public hearings because the guy had zero experience in the field. Villaraigosa, as a City Council Member, heard the testimony and then voted to appoint him anyway. A month or two later, to win votes, Villaraigosa promised to fire the guy. Look for a big cash settlement going to Stuckey, paid for by you, courtesy of Mayor Ameriquest.
Walter, quit with the "us." YOU are not one of "us"! I, like my colleagues, respect the rights of all animals. You, like other politicians, pick and choose the kinds of animal rights issues you'll support.
Walter, you are a hippocrite!
Stuckey was fired because he was incompetent, period! He lied about his numbers, he didn't follow orders by the commission, he didn't keep his promises, he didn't follow up cases of extreme animal cruelty and neglect... I could go on and on. I went to those commission meetings and saw him law, not do as instructed time and time again.
Now there are hopes for a new guy on the horizon who sounds wonderful. We need a guy like Ed Boks. He has a positive track record. He cares. He knows how to turn things around.
The Mayor did the right thing. He didn't cave to terrorists. That's just how the media likes to spin it to create controversary and interest in their publication.
The Mayor promised to fire Stuckey BEFORE the extreme groups made their threats. The guy also did a horrible job. Why keep him? Now THAT would be a travesty.
Way go to, Antonio!
Antonio will blame Hahn again for this one. Its in all the media today and Antonio is quoted as saying he "promises to fired Stuckey." Now who else can the blame fall on? I say all the city council members who voted to confirm the appointment. If he didn't have the qualifications like its been noted why did they vote YES? I think there will be a backlash because if Antonio feels pressure from animal activists and caves in who's next to demand and get what they want?
Latino disses another up-and-coming Black man. I can see the headlines now.
If AV doesn't get blowback from this (discharges Black GM 6-months in, for "doing a bad job"), after what Hahn got hit with re: COP, then you KNOW it was all a bad, pretentious game by Black leaders before. They're nearly identical situations, except in this case, the one's calling for Stuckey's head are a bunch of rich, whiney Westsiders, mostly.
Black leaders should be even more pissed off, not less.
This has nothing to do with race. The stupidity of that statement is mind boggling.
This doesn't even have anything to do with the animal activists. It has everything to do with the performance and attitude of a General Manager. Period.
It just took Antonio longer to get it done because of the animal activists.
To those of you who are faulting the City Council for blindly voting for Stuckey without question because Hahn wanted them to -
Welcome to the world of local Los Angeles politics. Does it suck? You bet. But it is our world.
As councilman, Antonio also thought he should always vote with the councilmember rather than use his own judgement. Does that suck? Jesus Christ yes. However, that is the way he's chosen to do business.
The problem with that is that his business is really our business. The only thing to do is public outrage and I really don't think him firing a bad manager is the place to start. A campaign promise is a campaign promise and Antonio knew DAMN WELL that the promise he made to fire Stuckey was the right one.
The only people who will differ are hard core Hahn supporters, who are obviously instigating the ludicrous race element, which actually borders on funny.
I think the only reason Arnold didn't pardon Tookie was because he hates blacks. That's why they call him Swatsanigger.
It's not about blacks or terrorists! It's about a campaign promise. It's about an incompetent manager. Note that he just appointed a black man from south central to the animal services commission. Not that he promised to fire the manager before the terrorists told him to. So he should keep the incompetent guy just because he's black? Just to show that he doesn't cave to terrorists? What if terrorists said they'd smoke bomb your house if you breathed? Would you hold your breath until you die just to "show" them?
12:48
This has nothing to do with race. The stupidity of that statement is mind boggling.
>snip<
It has everything to do with the performance and attitude of a General Manager. Period.
Now, turn the clock back 3-4 years and it's Hahn and Parks, again. No difference, except to wait and see if Black leaders will react the same way.
Probably not, because police issue cut a lot closer to home that animal services, but then, someone is being hypocritical, aren't they?
fuck i'm glad i got out of L.A. when I did. It's all fucked up!
Who is comparing Parks to Stuckey?
Most in the black community don't even know who Stuckey is; Parks, on the other hand, is a household name - and that's BEFORE he was Councilman and Chief of Police.
The Mayor isn't "dissin'" African Americans by firing Stuckey. He's had too many other more prominent appointments to be worried about animal services.
Hahn had more blacks appointed to his commissions. How many Latinos and Blacks has Antonio appointed so far? AV said he would have a diversified city hall. I think more Latinos then blacks. AV could have saved us all the trouble if he didn't promise to get rid of Sutckey and now 8 months later wants to do it.
ALL Stuckey has to do, is appeal to Black leaders for support, and AV is in deep manure.
Who the hell knew who "Tookie" Williams was from 1980 to 2003?
I double dog dare the black leaders to try and make Stuckey a racial issue as opposed to an incompetence issue!
It's about time Antonio Villaraigosa "rolled up his sleeves" as he promised and starts keeping those promises.
I know for a fact that he will go ballistic on the black community for making this a black thang. It's so untrue and ridiculous that we shouldn't even be commenting on it.
Obviously someone is yanking our chains. They don't REALLY think it's racial. They're just bored and were hoping to generate traffic or something.
Same thing as Hahn and Parks. That had nothing to do with race. It had everything to do with the LAPD despising their boss. You cannot be a leader if your troops don't respect you.
By blacks making this a race issue, they continue to perpetuate racial strife.
Too bad that Stuckey didn't tell Jimmy Blackman to resign or be fired. That's what really needs to happen around here.
Remember the first election when Jimmy Blackman was the darling of the staffers?
When/why/how did he turn into such a dick? Bring back the old Jimmy. Who is giving you your orders now Jimmy? Because it sure as hell isn't that disconnected-from-the city boss of yours. The one who walked around smiling and saying he would be there for us if he became mayor, who now only cares about LAUSD and NOTHING else and has a shield of guards to get through if you want to speak to him. Is the work of Robin Kramer or something?
When is Antonio going to give up control of CD14? Where was Jose in his own district? Antonio has been more in CD14 now that he's mayor then when he was councilman.
...At 8 am Mayor Villaraigosa drops in at Mariachi Plaza at First and Boyle streets to mark the start of tunnel boring for the Eastside light rail extension.
The Black community deserves whatever av f_cking they receive.
Well Archie, 3:54 brought it up. I just expounded on it.
PR from Mayor's office
From: Joe.Ramallo@lacity.org
To: Joe.Ramallo@lacity.org
Subject: FW: MEDIA RELEASE: MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA APPOINTS NEW
GENERALMANAGER OF ANIMAL SERVICES DEPT.
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:37:40 -0800
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe RamalloDecember 15, 2005
(213) 978-0741 MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER
OF
CITY'S ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the appointment of Ed Boks
as Interim General Manager of the City of Los Angeles' Animal Services
Department. The Mayor made the appointment following the termination
of
department General Manager Guerdon Stuckey. "Ed Boks is a proven
leader
in his field and I am confident that he will bring strong leadership
to
the City's Animal Services Department," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "Ed
is
committed to my goals of making L.A. a more animal-friendly city,
increasing adoption and spay/neuter, reducing euthanasia of abandoned
and unwanted pets and forging strong public-private partnerships."
Boks brings 22 years of experience in the animal welfare and control
field to this position. He's also a retired pastor and a former
management development consultant.
A nationally-known advocate of humane animal control practices, Boks
comes to Los Angeles from New York City Animal Care and Control, where
he served as the director for two years. He recently resigned from
that
position after setting in motion a turnaround effort to upgrade animal
shelters, substantially increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter.
During
his tenure, New York City reduced euthanasia by approximately 20% and
increased pet adoptions by 30%.
Prior to working in New York, Boks led the Maricopa County Animal Care
and Control in and around Phoenix, Arizona, for five years. There he
took a system that was killing 62% of the nearly 60,000 animals it
took
in annually and reduced the number to less than half. He also
increased
pet adoptions by 33%.
"Ed Boks brings unique experience in applying progressive animal care
and control practices in the toughest arena possible - big city public
shelter systems - and making demonstrable progress in the right
direction," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "He has also shown an ability to
work effectively with public employees and humane activists alike.
Boks will assume the post of Interim General Manager of the Los
Angeles
Department of Animal Services effective January 3, 2006. Until then,
Regina Adams will serve as acting general manager of the department.
Ms. Adams has extensive experience with the Department's operations,
having previously served as Assistant General Manager. She is
currently
a senior manager within the City's Department of Recreation and Parks
and has served the city for 25 years.# # #
Viva Villaraigosa.
Up to the time that I read this blog, I had no idea that Stuckey was black. But, many have said that he was incompetent.
Isn't the latter the more important of the two? The animals certainly don't care what color he may be, so why do we?
The Mayor has a right to pick his General Managers by charter; if this guy can't cut it, The Mayor is doing the right thing. After all, if he screws up, the buck stops at the Mayor's desk.
So, how does he fire Julie Butcher?
(TIME MACHINE)
Viva HAHN.
Up to the time that I read this blog, I had no idea that PARKS was black. But, many have said that he was incompetent.
Isn't the latter the more important of the two? The CRIMINALS certainly don't care what color he may be, so why do we?
The Mayor has a right to pick his General Managers by charter; if this guy PARKS can't cut it, The Mayor is doing the right thing. After all, if he screws up, the buck stops at the Mayor's desk.
(See how that works. If you can't say both, or neither, you're a hypocrite.)
Nobody's talking race except for the typical racists who frequent this board. Any excuse to spew anger and prejudice about "the blacks" and try to stir up something where there is nothing. Please continue to say the nonsense you all are so afraid to speak in public but so emboldened to type anonymously on the web so people like me can remain aware of that, yes, the racist still walk among us.
It is kind of scary knowing there are so many racists amongst us.
To the former poster, I can say both; I am no hypocrite. Two bad managers and I'm SORRY they were black. That had no impact on my decision back then for Parks or now for Stuckey.
I admit I didn't know Stuckey was black either. I knew Parks was of course, but NEVER thought Hahn wanted to dump him because he was black.
Painting someone raising a legitimate issue in our complex society as a "racist" every time they point out the obvious racial overtones is a simplistic, naive approach to life.
I'm sure Jim Hahn never thought for a minute he was risking losing a major support base, just by firing an incompetent manager (who "happened" to be Black).
No one just "happens" to be Black, in politics, or most other places. And the fact that you empty headed yahoos are posting, "I didn't even know he was"is immaterial. A Black politician's Black support base knows he's Black, and that's ALL that matters for it to be considered a factor.
Grow up neophytes. Politics is never purely a meritocracy....
To the last poster. Hahn knew what he was losing. He knew full well that he would lose the black vote. He had meetings with several black officials before firing Parks. His Deputy Mayor for the community was too busy being a kiss ass and could not tell Hahn he was messing up.
Hahn banked on his appointment of prominent black folk to commissions to back him up and quell any disparaging talk. That did not work.
Stuckey is competent and black. AV is just caving in to pressure from animal rights activists who know where he lives. He's afraid of getting picketed. How sad, AV just doesn't get it. How many more black folk will he oust? How many black folk will he appoint to commissions? We'll see.
Congratulation Antonio for giving in to those animal rights terrorists. Since when is the fire bombing of a Dpeartment General Manager rewarded?! What's next, Zarqawi to replace Chief Bratton?
Wait, Antonio voted to approve Stuckey when he was a councilman then he fires him after promising the Animal Liberation Front that he would! Wow, he actually keeps a campaign promise. But why didn't he keep all those other promises he made as councilman and mayor. Oh that's right, because he made all those other broken promises to people of color. The mostly white and Jewish animal terrorists obvioulsy have Antonio's ear - even to the point that one of the few minority department heads in this city is fired - despite improvement in his department - and then he is replaced by a white man! Way to show your colors Antonio - or lack thereof. What a pussy coconut!
Nice try at race-baiting, dude.
You guys are hilarious! No one in the black community knows Stuckey, let alone gives a sh*t about the position - GM of Animal Services.
Look, when he was approved, there was nothing tangible to say he couldn't do the job. AV even gave him additional time to prove himself once he took office. He didn't work out, now he gets replaced. End of story. Buh-bye.
Everyone note that the interim GM is a black woman. It doesn't look like he fired stuckey because he's black if he then hires a black woman. He's also going after the "terrorists" so it doesn't look like he caved to terrorists. Perhaps he just fired stuckey because he was doing a bad job? Why else would he have promised to remove him along with all other candidates except Hahn who appointed him? Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct one
Everytime someone comes on here posting logic, it ruins it for the rest of us who are race baiting, AV bashing, Hahn bashing, CD 14 bashing, name calling, etc.
God.
Nobody probably even knew that the interim was black much less a WOMAN. Now you've gone and spoiled our fun.
From the city that elected a Mexican, we call him a racist for firing a bad manager.
Oh well. She'll be gone soon so the new WHITE GM can take over.
I say keep the bad managers if they're black no matter what!! No matter what. In fact, all bad managers should get to stay if they're minorities.
Yeah!
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