Landslide of apathy seizes LAUSD
In roughly similar percentages to Jose Huizar's trouncing of Nick Pacheco, the eastside cryptomaton rolled out another impressive but uninspiring victory yesterday, garnering 47% of the vote for a candidate who failed to impress any local media. To say the turnout was disappointing was an understatement: even with an unusually (suspiciously so?) high percentage of votes being cast by mail, voter turnout barely cracked 10%, with only six percent of all possible voters actually voting at a polling place.
(I wonder how low it would have gone had not the Mayor cleared the curbs for easy roll-up voting? Four percent? Two percent?)
Far more stunningly, the District itself on the same day voted to spend $172 million on a school that originally was pitched as half as much. The school is a damned-the-cost attempt for the District to raise its profile and catch up with other cosmopolitan school districts. It's also, as proposed, one of the ugliest campuses imaginable, an unharmonized tune-up bay of inelegant geometric shapes that more suggest auto parts than arts education. But that's the way the District is: more willing to spend money on fancy architecture than on fundamental classrooms, to play Santa Claus for contractors while it nickels and dimes its teachers and subs and students.
Take all these things in conjuction: the fact that Monica Garcia, even with the Mayor's backing and the blessings of the former LAUSD president, could not put away Chris Arellano, and that the candidates in aggregate could only barely muster 10% of the locals, and that newspaper endorsements ultimately counted for precious little. Add to this the fact that the new vanity school---which will at capacity host a number of students smaller than the number of students that many high schools are over their original capacities---with the new price tag passed the board overwhelmingly. It all demonstrates one primary axiom: that every decision made in our whole local political sphere is dependent first and foremost on the fact that most of the voters pay very little attention to local politics.
(I wonder how low it would have gone had not the Mayor cleared the curbs for easy roll-up voting? Four percent? Two percent?)
Far more stunningly, the District itself on the same day voted to spend $172 million on a school that originally was pitched as half as much. The school is a damned-the-cost attempt for the District to raise its profile and catch up with other cosmopolitan school districts. It's also, as proposed, one of the ugliest campuses imaginable, an unharmonized tune-up bay of inelegant geometric shapes that more suggest auto parts than arts education. But that's the way the District is: more willing to spend money on fancy architecture than on fundamental classrooms, to play Santa Claus for contractors while it nickels and dimes its teachers and subs and students.
Take all these things in conjuction: the fact that Monica Garcia, even with the Mayor's backing and the blessings of the former LAUSD president, could not put away Chris Arellano, and that the candidates in aggregate could only barely muster 10% of the locals, and that newspaper endorsements ultimately counted for precious little. Add to this the fact that the new vanity school---which will at capacity host a number of students smaller than the number of students that many high schools are over their original capacities---with the new price tag passed the board overwhelmingly. It all demonstrates one primary axiom: that every decision made in our whole local political sphere is dependent first and foremost on the fact that most of the voters pay very little attention to local politics.
Posted by Joseph Mailander @ 3/08/2006 06:45:00 AM
109 Comments:
Round 2 is the real race. Turn out will be much higher with all the state races. And, on good sources, you can bet UTLA will stick behind Chris.
Monica's only chance was to win it outright last night. She gave it a great try by providing all the information on Chris.
Still, when voters actually see her and hear her debating Chris, you'll see voters move toward Chris.
It's not over even though I heard that the fat lady was singing last night.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
That just 10% of the voters bothered to show up for this election is telling. Why did that happen? Is it because the choice of candidates was underwhelming? Is it because people have given up on democracy altogether? What do we do about this indifference?
Walter, this is Meldor, King of Saturn. Please return.
Turn out was low because (1) this was a special election; (2) there were less polling places; and (3) there was little media coverage.
The fact that people have not given up on democracy was clearly noted in your resounding defeat for mayor.
Naa-Nou-Naa-Nou.
Oh DEAR, fat jokes? Honey, may I suggest some liposuction on your brain?
But seriously, could you imagine any WORSE possible news for Chris Bianco and the UTLA than these results? Just a few more % points for Monica, and Chris and the UTLA's imbecilic scam would have quietly faded away into history.
But noooooooooooooo. Rather than take the hint and quit while the quittin was good, these hucksters apparently hoped that lies not heard are not lies, and they could pull this scam off on the voters. Now we can enjoy watching Chrissy and the Untidy Teachers try to wriggle out of the monster they created gracefully in the coming weeks [prediction/prophesy--Monica will be running unopposed].
Sadly for ChrissUTLA, they didnt take the hint that the worst would be to come if they continued this charade. Bad choice! Expect things to get juicy now. Expect as well a fabulous blow by blow as the Ghost of Divine (GoD) channeled by the inimitable pk continues to show those still walking blind through this mortal coil what REAL BLOGGING is all about!
http://a-z-on-christopher-bianco-arellano.blogspot.com
Joe, you out did yourself. That is the best written diatribe I've seen yet on this half-baked attempt at political commentary.
Next time I come to this site it'll be for more than the usual hard laugh at the pencil dick geeks with no actual political experience who somehow think we take seriously their "analysis" of the situation. I'm coming back next time for your thoughts. Good job!
Walter,
It is a tried and proven campaign tactic employed since way back when Art Snyder was in power. Keep the voters disinterested, do nothing to motivate them and only bring out the ones that you cater to. Snyder, Alatorre, Villaraigosa - if they motivate more voters, that means Parke has to do more work. Compare Westside CD's with CD 14, or 1 or 9 for that matter. While 12,000 votes will make you a viable candidate in the eastside, that will send yo packing in the westside. What do you need to win the the westside, 50,000 votes at least?
This apathy is not just a symptom, but a known campaign tactic to maintain the status quo in the eastside. Where is SWVREP? Aren't they responsible for bringing out the Latino vote? How much federal money have they received?
Welcome to machine politics in the eastside. What a shining example of democracy.
Lots of factors behind the dismal state of our schools and this lack of attention, but one especially stands out: our supposed newspaper of record. The mayor's biggest undertaking is behind this race, but it gets scant, late coverage. How the widow of a cartoonist stays in shape is a far more important subject for the Times.
What are they thinking? This is what -- that it's all about timing, and they will give this story its due in the runoff. There almost wasn't a runoff, but they no doubt are quite pleased with how they have played it. Second, they didn't break the Arellano story, so like their model (the NYT) they'll ignore it.
Third, they are supremely satisfied with themselves for running special mega-series features on school problems every few years -- even if nobody has time to read them and we just need better day-to-day coverage and analysis. They'll feel vindicated when they get their awards for their unread series (they write these for themselves and for their industry, not for us) -- and never mind that nobody voted in the school board election that they barely covered.
Finally, they no doubt feel they've got these marginal stories and issues covered by their new local columnists. Yeah, right.
Lying behind this pattern of smug complacency is that they really can't work up the interest. For the umpteenth time -- they really are out of touch. Same old Times, same old story.
Dear 8:34:
Your wit is as impressive as your command of the English language ("less polling places").
I realize that cynicism is really cool, but some people actually want to solve problems (e.g., schools with horrendous drop-out rates).
Nor is your "explanation" convincing. So what if it's a special election? Insofar as education is important not just to society generally, but to the parents in particular, 10% is ridiculous.
Ditto re your "less polling places" comment: it's not as though voters had to travel hundreds of miles to cast their votes.
As for media coverage, there was a series of articles over the course of weeks, if not months.
So tell us, Mr. Won't-Disclose-His-Name, what, if anything, can be done to get more people to care enough to show up for the election?
Joe, quit commenting on your own posts, like you did at 8:36 -- it's unseemly!
Wow, Walter you really showed that poster. What is wrong with the phase "less polling places"?
I say we enact a government program that says you have to vote or your property taxes get increased by 2%.
Dear 8:39 and 8:55:
Thank you for your sincere and thoughtful answers.
Dear 9:06:
The correct way to say it would be "fewer polling places," not "less polling places."
Also, LOL re "vote or pay."
Walter is properly a stickler for grammer now, having run and lost a hearty campaign on a "less is more" platform. "Fewer is more" would not have done the trick.
However, although "fewer polling places" is far preferable to "less," its still shoddy. Compared to what? Fewer than in Lubjana? Fewer than we would have liked? Fewer than in 2001 in this district?
I wonder how Monica Garcia would have done without Antonio and his gang? Does anyone really believe Jose could have won without all the campaigning Antonio did for him? You will see from now til June Antonio all over District 2. He hates to lose and Monica is his last chance to prove his point and put a puppet on the school board. Sadly, it will get ugly there will be more smears instead of focusing on the issues.
She would have done as well as Enrique Gasca. But these guys are pros. Enrique was put into the race to siphon votes from Arellano. Same stances, same look, same gay demeanor. Watch Enrique become chief of staff to Monica and watch him attempt to run the field in the run-off.
Alvina Parra got Field Director for Huizar, Enrique will get Chief of Staff to Monica. I guess El Sereno should now be known as the land of second fiddles. But then again, being next to Alhambra and South Pasadena, El Sereno was always the second and even third fiddle of the area.
Monica should hold her head up high and tell voters that she is willing to do anything to win -- including providing unflattering information on an opponent to the press.
We need someone who embraces the carpet bombing campaign approach to build alliances on the Board.
Thank you Monica for giving the terms "by any means necessary" a new meaning.
"including providing unflattering information on an opponent to the press."
My Dear, would you like some cheese with that WHINE???
Unflattering information? Yes, to Chris and his ham-fisted handlers at UTLA. The one small blessing of this disgrace is that the parents and kids of the district received ADVANCE NOTICE of this sorry-assed excuse for a candidate's ongoing history of lying and fraud. Suck it up, Louise, you got busted trying to pull a scam on this district. And Chris and his mentors should thank the goddess he still has a chance to bow out with the minimal damage that he hath wrought upon himself thus far, before...you know, the kind that comes with a knock on the door, badges, raincoats, and people saying, "um, could you come with us please..."
Can't imagine the rank and file teachers are happy about pissing almost $300 grand of their dues into this slezeball's already clogged toilet...
Walter
Low turnout. Less signs, less promotion, less campaigning, less motivation to vote.
Who benefits?
Many "other" voters who voted for Ana, Gasca, and Calanche will vote for either Chris or Monica.
The question is: Who will the "Legal Registered Voter" vote for?
Did your polling place ask for ID? Are you Illegal and voted yesterday? Federal Gov. has ignored this problem.
Pk Monica get over it.
Monica is in trouble. she should have won last night. she will have to continue to smear Chris and people will get tired of it and it will start to taint her own campaign. plus, people will soon see that Monica is the candidate of corruption as Antonio starts to get embroiled in the Fed investigation. add to that that three more months of campaigning will mean that the voters get a chance to get to know Chris and people who meet him like him. that was proven by the fact that he was getting all the endorsements and Monica was only getting the ones that Huizar and Antonio handed her. My predication for the runoff: Arellano 54%, Garcia 46%
VERY disappointing that our local "journalists" are only interested in printing dirt on Christopher Arellano, not in providing coverage of the election, analysis of the results, or insight into the issues.
8:34 U R A Typical Extreme left wing nut
SWVREP was not in my barrio. For Mayor AV cars were raffled. nada for other candidates.
Prejudice SWVREP
Yea, how much money did GOV give them. No one on my block knew of the special election...
Fishy..Monica..Fishy
10:59 AM
What smear campaign?
What investigation on MAV?
No investigation you making it up!
WHERE IS MONICA GARCIA'S TRUE RESIDENCE?
WHERE IS MONTEBELLO MONICA?
I think someone ought to look into whether Monica Garica satisfied the residency requirments to run for the School Board
The City's Ethics Web Page indicates she lives in Montebello:
06/30/05 Monica Garcia
(Consultant, Jose Huizar For Council)
Montebello, CA 90640-2642 Jose Huizar
Council Member - CD14
1277167 - Huizar for Council A - Monetary
(IND - Individual)
[Period: 01/01/05-06/30/05]
$500.00
I can't belive this can be true. In LA Times "A Review of City Bonuses is ordered" the story states that the city give out $117 MILLION IN BONUSES. Damn, no wonder we have a deficit. Isn't Chick's job to watch crap like this? Reporters there is a story of corruption here go after it. $117 MLLION is absurb.
The LA Times said this election would show what side of the issue of mayoral control people are on. Well, since Monica didn't win outright and even with the smear campaign at the last minute that has to have Antonio nervous. Voters NEED TO MAKE MONICA GARCIA TAKE A STAND ON THE MAYORAL TAKEOVER ISSUE. She side stepped it at every debate. She needs to come out and say which side she's on.
I wrote ? Mayoral Takeover on little white card @ forum.
My ? was not asked.
The LA Times said this election would show what side of the issue of mayoral control people are on.
I hope they indeed crunch the numbers. The leading candidate got 4.8% of all eligible voters. That's right:
--less than 1 in 20 eligible voters voted for Monica, endorsed by the Mayor and five Councilpeople, and inheiriting Jose Huizar's campaign apparatus;
--less than 1 in 45 eligible voters voted for Chris, endorsed by Garcetti, Goldberg, and the UTLA;
--less than 1 in 80 eligible voters voted for Ana, endorsed by the Times and the LA Weekly.
The people in District 2 have decided what side they're on regarding the Mayor's takeover of the LAUSD: they are overwhelmingly on the side of inertia and complete indifference.
What ties to Chinese espionage do these cocounsels have?
Ludlow's attorneys
John Vandevelde
Stephen Sadowsky
John Vandevelde was cocounsel for Katrina and Kam Leung...do you recall "Parlor Maid" case. Chinese spy who had affair with FBI agent.
"..."I pled guilty today because I want to put this all behind me and let the past be the past and move forward," she said.
Defense attorney Janet Levine said the outcome was "vindication for Katrina and Kam Leung."
Co-counsel John Vandevelde said, "It takes a strong individual with a strong family and resources to fight this kind of case. The government has incredible power, especially today."
Leung was paid a total of $1.7 million by the FBI for her information as an intelligence asset code-named "Parlor Maid." Both she and Smith were married during their affair and their respective spouses have stood by them..."
John Vandevelde
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney C.D. California, 1976-1980
In a written statement yesterday, Leung's attorneys, Janet Levine and John Vandevelde, said: "Although we may have to fight to the end because the FBI has tried to protect its own and shift blame for their mistakes to Katrina, an outsider, a Chinese American and a woman, we are confident that this case is much ado about nothing and Katrina Leung will be vindicated."
Leung is charged with copying national security documents and unauthorized possession of those documents. Her attorneys have said they plan to take advantage of limitations imposed on the government by national security concerns.
"We expect the government will have to make hard decisions about whether to publicly disclose 20 years worth of spying secrets in order to pursue an ill-advised prosecution," the defense team said in a statement last year.
Woman accused of taking papers from FBI lover makes plea deal
By Associated Press
Friday, December 16, 2005 - Updated: 05:30 PM EST
LOS ANGELES - A former FBI informant once suspected of being a Chinese double agent has agreed to plead guilty to lying to federal agents and to a tax charge, U.S. law enforcement officials said Friday.
Katrina Leung, a wealthy socialite from San Marino, Calif., was expected to enter a plea Friday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. She would serve no jail time under an agreement reached with federal prosecutors, one official told The Associated Press in Washington, D.C.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Leung’s lawyers, Janet Levine and John Vandevelde, confirmed there was an agreement but declined to specify the terms.
“There is an agreement that will resolve the case, that will finally and forever dismiss all charges that question her loyalty to this country and will settle all tax matters,” the attorneys said in a statement.
They added, “She looks forward to resuming her life and putting this horrible nightmare behind her.”
In January, U.S. District Judge Florence Marie Cooper dismissed all charges against Leung, rebuking federal prosecutors for deliberate misconduct in the case. However, the government was considering appealing Cooper’s action.
Leung’s lover, FBI agent James J. Smith, pleaded guilty to making false statements last year. Prosecutors in that case say Leung took classified documents from Smith’s briefcase.
Is this the same fool Stephen Sadowsky who is married to Maria Stratton, the federal public defender and former prosecutor?
As a parent with young kids in school, I am disgusted by UTLA.
If they are for someone, I am against them. They stink!!!
There you have it. The sold to the highest bidder legal team money can buy.
Why did Ludlow hire lawyer who's married to a Federal Prosecutor? Another an espionage counsel.
11:57 Monica, it's ok to let your feelings out.
"Popular power at popular prices."
Maria E. Stratton, received her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from the University of Southern California and her law degree in 1979 from Boalt Hall School of Law. After a two year clerkship for the Honorable Harry Pregerson at both the district and circuit court levels, Maria joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles where she represented indigent criminal defendants in federal court. In 1985, Maria joined Talcott, Lightfoot, Vandevelde, Woehrle and Sadowsky where she practiced civil and criminal litigation for eight years. Maria remained at the firm (two years as managing partner) until 1993 when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals appointed her Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California.
Maria has served as a member of the Federal Indigent Defense Panel for the Central District and on the Los Angeles Working Group of the Ninth Circuit Gender Bias Task Force. She has also acted as a consulting attorney for Public Counsel's Immigration Project and has served on the Boards of Governors of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and on the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is the recipient of the State Bar Commendation for Delivery of Pro Bono Services 1988?89 and the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services 1992. In June, 2001, Maria was named 2001 Defense Attorney of the Year by the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section. In 2003 she received the Morton Herbert Service Award from the Criminal Courts Bar Association in Los Angeles. She recently completed a three year term on the Ninth Circuit Capital Case Committee. She presently serves on the Ninth Circuit Capital Case Cost Oversight Committee and on the Defender Services Advisory Group Death Penalty Expert Panel. She is a member of the editorial advisory board for California Lawyer magazine and is an associate editor of Forum magazine.
Maria is married to former law school classmate, Stephen B. Sadowsky. They have three children, Elena, Jacob, and Lily.
A UTLA/Chris mannequin sez:
"will mean that the voters get a chance to get to know Chris and people who meet him like him."
Well yes, gertrude, this is no doubt true, as it was for many other psychopaths. That Ted Bundy was a REAL charmer!! Here's one description of Chri...uh Andrew Cunanan:
"Cunanan was described by all who knew him as a "social beast" -- a darkly handsome bespectacled individual that was well educated, intelligent, charming and extremely friendly."
Fact is, Sweetums, the voters HAVE been getting to know Chris Cu..uh, Arellano, and they are padlocking their doors and hiding their valuables...
TED BUNDY? OH PLEEEEZZZ KEEP ENTERTAINING US MONICA STAFF.
THIS IS VILLRAIGOSA POLITICAL MACHINE AT WORK.
TED BUNDY HAS NO PLACE...UNLESS U USE IT ON URSELF ANNON.
"Less is more" was not my slogan.
INTERESTING POST
"Anonymous said...
I think there are a few things people have missed on this story.
This was a coup against Martin who AV/Parke/Maria Elena junta could no longer control.
It is interesting that the US attorney on this case is Craig Missakian, a former client of Skelton side kick Eric Hacopian.
So we have a case of Hacopian former client getting rid of Martin, to open the door for Maria Elena.
Hacopian pay off on this, the political director position at the FED.
These people have no shame.
March 08, 2006 12:38 PM"
RECALL?
The word is that Krekorian just won SF Valley Young Democrats. The Frank negatives on his Pete Wilson connection are really getting around, kudos to dirty trickster Hacopian on that one. I suspect that Paul will sweep the Democratic Clubs in the area. As good as Phil G. is, it looks like it will be a pretty lonely campaign office for FQ.
What's going on guys? I leave for a few days of Presidential Holiday Rest, and this race turns into a contest between Phil Giarrizzo, Eric Hacopian, and a Monkey?
I don't know about you, but if my candidate just won the COPE endorsement I would probably post about that, rather than picking fights that nobody cares about.
But, of course, I don't take on clients who can't even get 9% of the vote in a city election. Must be tough to suggest that Glendale is a "base" for Qunitero.
And on the Quintero “base” story-line, those ’05 election results show something else interesting. If you take all the votes for Latino candidates, and all the votes for Armenian candidates, and add them up as a proxy for Latino and Armenian support, you find that the Armenians received THREE TIMES more votes than the Latinos. Now, this is a proxy measurement, please don’t get too riled up. However, it does say something about the size of the Latino and Armenian voter bases. It won’t be long before Quintero’s claim to a strong Glendale base is completely eroded, and his whole campaign will only have attacks on political consultants and monkeys to keep them busy.
Phil is right about one thing, which is Eric Hacopian is a first rate dirty tricks guy who hits below the belt. I got a first hand taste of his tactics when he was doing AV's race for the city council in 2003.
That being said, that does not change the fact that Quintero is damaged goods. Between his Pete Wilson appointement, voting himself city contracts and opposition to the driver license bill; he is pretty much dead on arrival for Democratic voters in this area.
The only real choice for progressive Democrats in the area is Scott Wildman. What he lacks in cash he makes up for in guts and hard work.
-- Posted on 2006-02-11 by Rob Ramos
Talk about spin...anyone who has the nerve to proudly sign their nonsense as Bobo the Monkey should run for office themselves.
I have to give Eric Hacopian credit, his dirty tricks are working with at least a few of the pundits. The rest of the real world is using his make believe "opp research" to line their bird and monkey cages.
The attacks on Frank are totally amateur
Talk about spin...anyone who has the nerve to sign their comments as Bobo the Monkey should run for office themselves.
I have to give Eric Hacopian credit, his “bush league opposition research” and dirty tricks are convincing a few of the bloggers. Or maybe Bobo et al are all just Eric’s pen names since somehow all the comments always seen to add up to a Krekorian victory. Too bad that the rest of the real world is using his make believe "opp research" to line the monkey cage.
LA TIMES RUNS SCREAMING FRONTPAGERS ON MONICA'S SMEAR CAMPAIGN AND THE ACTUAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE BURIED ON PAGE B3.
SHOWS YOU WHERE THEIR HEADS ARE AT.
Yup, and I betcha anything that KPCC 'Taco Shop Poet' Adolpho was grazing the snack table at Monica's victory party well into the night.
Never very impressed with Eric. Lots of talk, little delivery.
That's FUNNY though, that Afriat also represented the MOUNT HERMON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
That was the fake HOA that PARKE SKELTON and his wife organized for awhile to fight the development behind their home, right before Pacheco took office in 2003.
They lost, BIG time! But I hear they still blame Pacheco. The FIX was in LONG before he took office. The developer's parents were tight family friends of (then) MAYOR RIORDAN.
No way they weren't going to get their variances from Riordan appointed commissioners.
ANON POSTED
"the latest on the Martin scandal is that there are two new targets for the Feds investigation. The targets are none other than Parke Skelton and his evil side kick Eric Hacopian"
Isn't it ironic that the phone bank that Parke and Huizar claim Nick owned - which he never did -is now owned by Mario Solis - the person who conducted that sham poll putting Huizar 15 points up. The same equipment used for the "Marina Message" is the same equipment being used by Huizar to try and breath life back into his campaign. Mario is about the most unprincipled person in politics right now. Uneducated and unprincipled. Sounds like Antonio. Nick gave Mario a start in politics now he's mired in that cesspool known as Skelton's Black Septic Tank. What's that saying Mario - once you go black you never go back?
Parke has lots of nerve attacking Nick on "owning" a phone bank. What he does not tell people that he and "AV SPY Hacopian" owned a phone bank together to do all there dirty deeds.
The phone bank was used for the Caruso gutter campaign Hacopian ran in Glendale last year.
UPDATE – 1/19/06
This race continues to be a three-way contest, with political dynamics that are increasingly complex.
Wildman (http://www.wildman2006.com/) has brought on Richie Ross as his consultant, and is receiving help within Latino Caucus circles from Senator Alarcon, who has his own leadership aspirations when he gets to the Assembly. Quintero (http://quintero2006.com/) has hired Phil Giarrizzo, who is just coming off of a successful effort as the Field director for the Alliance for a Better California. Krekorian (http://www.paulkrekorian.com/) is sticking with local political consultant, Eric Hacopian, who has the most experience within the district and a long history with Parke Skelton’s SG&A firm.
Hacopian, Shallman, Griego, Taylor and Skelton. The subpoenas are on the way. Are you ready? You better have your stories straight, especially you Parke.
Sample deposition questions:
How many labor campaigns have you done Parke?
Do you have your tax records on the income received from these campaigns?
Do you have your employee records?
Will your employees be able to corraborate this testimony?
What role does Steve Barkan have in your operations?
During the 2003 campaign, did you ever meet with Tom Newberry?
Your ex-wife Allison Morgan, according to you, is one of the most prolific political fundraisers in the State, how much money has she raised from unions?
Did you or someone for your team ever tell a former candidate for county assessor that "you don't do white guys, just minorities women and gays?
Be careful how you answer Parke, other people are already talking.
Anonymous said...
If you want to know who is going down, you just need to look at who AV was meeting with in his office last night.
Skelton
Garcia
Hacopian
Huizar
Ludlow
I guess these guys will get to know each other pretty when convicted.
Joe Friday, here's your list:
Maria Elena Durazo
Tom Newberry
Parke Skelton
Steve Barkan
Marco Palma
Victor Griego
Sue Burnside
Jose Huizar
Cindy Montanez
Eric Hacopian
Some of these will cancel each other because the first to be offered plea bargains will rat the others out. Cindy and Jose are on the list biggest they made or are making the same mistake that Ludlow did - trusting the unions. But all these will get off once they nab the biggest fish,
Antonio Villaraigosa.
Run quick, take this list over to Parke. Funny thing is Friday, I'm starting to think Parke is interested in just the facts anymore.
Joe Friday if you were in the know like many of these anon posters you would have found out that a lot of reporters read these so called "lame" posts because people who post herea are a lot closer than you think. If you don't like Mayor Sam go elsewhere.
DID ULYSSESS SANCHEZ FORMER AV FIELD STAFFER THEN FIELD STAFFER FOR HUIZAR AND NOW A DIRECTOR FOR EASTSIDE AREA NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS GET PROMOTED TO CITY HALL JUST LAST MONTH BECAUSE ANTONIO WANTED TO KEEP HIM QUIET??? A SLAP IN THE FACE TO BOYLE HEIGHTS WHO HATE ULYSSESS. FATSO SANCHEZ PARADED AROUND WITH HUIZAR DURING HIS CAMPAIGN
From the ongoing investigation:
Marco Palma threatens a sitting SEIU Local 99 Board member and advices him "Not to ask too many questions."
Marco Palma is a longtime Antonio operative, who had the title of campaign manager but really was too high to manage his assembly campaign. He is also Antonio's compadre.
Aldo Palma, Marco's son and Antonio's godson, is one of those on the list given to SEIU by Martin Ludlow.
Word is that Aldo was getting paid to work Ludlow's campaign but there is proof that he never worked this campaign in District 10, but instead worked the campaign in District 14 - the one his godfather was running in.
These two 2003 campaigns are about to be connected because of Martin's talking and a paper record. Essentially, labor was running two campaigns with the same stolen funds.
Parke's subpoena is already prepared, soon to be followed by a subpoena for Antonio. Loose lips sink ships and dumb fucks give damaging tips. Parke, you should have muzzled Ludlow a long time ago. Wonder why Maria Elena isn't the Secretary Treasurer yet? Just look into what's being said in this investigation - it will lead back to Andy Stern and the international SEIU, right after Antonio goes down.
Is the real target of this probe the MTA? Antonio moved quickly to name himself Chair of this operation, why? Martin is also being investigated for faciliting an MTA contract for a buddy. Didn't Antonio do the same thing? He directed a contract to Ron Martinez, Gloria Molina's husband - this after he sabotaged another bidder's process.
Screw the union money, the MTA is where the real crimes were committed. How can Ludlow fuck up so bad? Don't you guys have any attorney friends? At least those that passed the bar.
"Though no one has yet been hired, Pacheco indicated he intends to hire Eric Hacopian (of EDH and associates), a veteran of many successful races in the Fourteenth District and the area. Hacopian’s firm ran Antonio Villaraigosa’s field campaign in their 2003 race, and worked on several other notable races, including Congressman Adam Schiff’s. Robert Urteaga, who served as Robert Hertzberg’s Eastside Political Director for his mayoral campaign, will serve as day-to-day Campaign Manager."
Let's review
Eric Hacopian- Finnanical ties to Meruelo exposed.
Parke is cashing in on his relationships. How much money do you think Ludlow is going to move to him. He owns a once public street, isn't that cashing in?
Wesson’s campaign was chaired by fellow former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, Ludlow once worked on Wesson’s staff.
Parke Skelton and Steve Barkan, the consultants who piloted Villaraigosa to victory in the mayor’s race.
Lets review again:
John Shallman, was Huizar's campaign manager
Also, "Shallman, who also manages former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg's campaign for mayor, said he saw no problem in Huizar's support from the building industry. The Los Angeles Unified School District has launched a $14-billion school construction program to relieve overcrowding."
But, Shallman said, money is still trickling in. "There's nothing more gratifying," he said, "than for Jose to walk into a school and have a teacher or parent give him a $25 check."
Damn,
Why is AV going so far out and pissing so many people off on this race. Believe me, Monica is no prizehorse.
Better for him to have conserved his capital for the takeover itself. No?
The word is that Mike Garcia and Eric Hacopian just turned state's evidence and will testify against Parke, AV and the rest of the crew.
Add Phil Giarizzo to the list of political consultants that was formerly mentioned. This investigation has just gone statewide. It seems as if someone else spilled the beans. After Phil sabotaged Nick's campaign in 2003 - after Lloyd passed on - he got more labor contracts than any other consultant in California. The first call he got after Nick was defeated was from Miguel Contreras. I guess Hacopian was looking to cash in the same way. But the brains behind this whole corrupt operation was Parke Skelton.
"Is this the same Marco Palma that disrupted the Hahn Press Events? "
None other than the Tasmanian Devil himself. He was trying to replicate an event where La Colectiva workers disrupted a Vilaraigosa/Cisneros press conference in Boyle Heights. But he wasn't very succesful.
If you remember this Hahn event, Palma was trying to disrupt it because Hahn "insinuated" that Antonio was a drug dealer/user. remember that crack pipe commercial? So what does Parke do? He sends Antonio's drug supplier to this failed protest. What morons!
But Gloria Porkolina - as you put it - is tied to this mess. The Feds are investigating Ludlow for illegal MTA contracts. That's what started this whole mess. Well Antonio illegally funneled several MTA contracts to Ron Martinez, Gloria's husband. He'll be in the headlines soon.
Some strategists say the Angelides tactic is wise, given his broad establishment support — including backing by Boxer and Sen. Dianne Parke Skelton, a Democratic consultant not working on the campaign, said Angelides should "wear the presumptive nominee sheen as long as he can."
Okay you right wingers, ready to flip your lid? You know what that Martinez "consulting" contract was for? It was to oversee affirmative action compliance - to make sure enough minorities were hired for MTA projects. Ron Martinez's copnay "PeopleWorks" has been getting behind the scenes contracts for nearly two decades now. And guess what, there is still no subway in East L.A..
Later in the decade, Mike Hernandez was able to get Martinez a contract for the city program "Bridges" - despite PeopleWorks placing third among three bidders. Mike, Ron and Antonio were all - and probably still are - snorting buddies. Thaty's why Ron ended up in California, he was escaping a cocaine rap in Arizona where he got busted.
Mayors,
You missed a good article this weekend on Ramona High School in East L.A. and the fight against MTA. The story in the LA Times highlights the plight of this girls only continuation school against the powerful MTA.
The real story behind this is Gloria Molina's vindictiveness. The original plans for the East L.A. Light Rail extension called for a stop at Lorena and 1st, the location of the El Mercadito, an East L.A. landmark with over 50,000 weekend visitors. The owner of this Mexican Mall supposedly is not an ally of Gloria, although the owner insists he never has had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Molina. But he got some help from Alatorre and Pacheco and in Gloria's eyes he is now the enemy.
She moved the MTA stop from this location, two blocks up to the Ramona School site. Her buddy Frank Villalobos of Barrio Planners got paid twice for drafting the plans for this line - first with the Mercado stop and then the $23 million dollar Ramona Stop addendum. Not bad for a simple trip to Kinko's. Oh and Ron Martinez, Gloria's husband, is on Villalobos' payroll.
Gloria had Sachi Hamai of the Health Department raid El Mercadito 40 times in 2003. Gloria has turned the L.A. County health inspectors into her own little gestapo. This while Community Health Foundation - a $40 million a year community/county clinic operation - was filing for bankruptcy protection. Oh yeah, Ron Martinez was also on this organization's payroll. El Mercado businesses had been able to organize serious opposition to the Ramona Plan - but the MTA board didn't care.
It's all there Mayor Sam, the original plans for this Light Rail extension, the contractors, the donors, Gloria's recent purchase of beach front property in Ventura County and the El Monte apartments, the list goes on and on.
This school needs help, where is Huizar?
Let's start talking about the content of the attack ads and not how they got there. If I recall correctly, those ads highlighted Tony's weak voting record on crime in Saramento. And they also pointed out the whole Vignali affair, the drug kingpin who was pardoned and then Tony later lied about not being involved eventhough he personally sent a letter to the president. What the ads didn't point out is Tony's exensive relationship with Vignali and the person who introduced him to this drug dealer, Ron Martinez, Gloria Molina's husband and Tony's best man at his wedding.
Regarding the transportation stuff, where was Tony ten years ago. Since 1992 Tony has served as Gloria Molina's alternate on the MTA Board. But his only role has been to slide contracts over to Ron Martinez through Frank Villalobos and Barrio Planners. The Honorable Congressman Edward Roybal was able to secure over a billion dollars in federal money to build an East L.A. subway. It took him 30 years of congressional seniority to get this through. It was to be his crowning achievement. Yet, after 15 years, there still isn't a subway in East L.A.. But well connected contractors and their consultants - Ron Martinez - have gotten very wealthy. But my sources tell me a federal investigation is under way since this is federal money and since Cooley won't go after a Supervisor's husband - he knows what happened to Lee Baca's budget when he bucked the Board of Supervisors.
The question you have to ask yourself MEAT is what's worse, the way the Tony attack ads got out or whether their content is true or not. Tony can't deny these attacks, or for that matter the Ricardo Torres' attack pieces. And he never will deny them because then he will have comitted the ultimate sin for a politician, being caught with a bold face lie. Remember, Clinton wasn't impeached for his escapades in the oval office but for lying. Tony can lie to his constituents but he can't lie about his character.
Catching the Attention of a Power Broker
Working in causes far and wide beyond the union--including the American Civil Liberties Union--Villaraigosa inevitably caught the attention of Eastside power broker Gloria Molina, whose husband, Ron Martinez, was a friend from Villaraigosa's days at the EEOC.
The county supervisor appointed Villaraigosa to his first political post, on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, in 1991. He was a rare voice on that panel, speaking on behalf of bus riders' rights.
In 1993, however, he became a subject of media scrutiny when Molina's husband was awarded a $193,000 contract after Villaraigosa voted against granting the contract to two competing firms. He and Molina both said no laws had been broken, and there was no subsequent investigation.
"I'm sorry if it looks bad," Villaraigosa told The Times when the story broke. "I never meant to do anything bad."
The incident did little to slow his rapid ascent. A year later, he ran for an open Eastside seat in the Assembly. With Molina's backing, he took on the candidate supported by state Sen. Richard Polanco.
Power Broker
Gloria Molina’s Political
Hand Stretches from L.A. to D.C.
Molina is married to businessman Ron Martínez, who she says tries to stay out of her political life. The couple has a daughter, (x)
While Molina says the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gives her the opportunity to both create laws and run things, few people—including Torres—expect her to remain there much longer, even if she doesn’t run for mayor.
“She’s not the kind of person who’ll stay there forever,” he says. “Who knows? She may be the first woman governor of California.”
FLORIDA RON TIN TIN TIN
In May 2005, our Worker Rights Coordinator Ron Martinez resigned to pursue new career opportunities. Our Committee
hired on an interim basis an experienced lawyer and community service expert who’d participated in our training, and was
involved in our collaborative activities with the Florida International University’s School of Law. Kevin Sloat prepared a
comprehensive review of the WRI program
cut and paste
mucho hablan pero dicen nada
Ludlow's deal is to testify against Janett--she's the only one who's pled not guilty.
Like most politicians, Gloria Molina is a wreck of a human being. Long ago she forgot that her job is to serve, not to be served. Unfortunately for the ignorant peasants subject to her fiefdom, her constituents, the repugnant layers of fat she sports so shamelessly are more than insulation for her black soul; they are symbolic of her political fortitude.
DUH. LUDLOW WILL TESTIFY AGAINST JANNETT. (BIG DEAL)
TO "IN THE KNOW"
IS THIS THE ONLY INVESTIGATION PENDING?
YOU KNOW SO MUCH AND I TALK TOO MUCH. ENGLIGHTEN ME.
Juvi Hall violence escalated. What will Molina do?
HILLARY AND BILL MAD? DISAGREED WITH VIGNALI CASE?
VILLARAIGOSA, BACA... SIGNED, PENNED LETTERS FOR VIGNALI'S RELEASE
""Yesterday, I became aware of press inquiries that Hugh Rodham received a contingency fee in connection with a pardon application by Glenn Braswell and a fee for work on the Carlos Vignali commutation application," Clinton said in a statement. "Neither Hillary nor I had any knowledge of such payments. We are deeply disturbed by these reports, and insisted that Hugh return any monies involved."
The pardon was controversial because there are indications that it was a consequence of Carlos' father Horacio Vignali's monetary contributions to politicians such as Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Hertzberg and Xavier Becerra, who in turn petitioned Clinton for Carlos Vignali's release. However, Clinton's pardon was ostensibly motivated by the harsh minimum sentencing for drug related offences as part of the War on Drugs, but it seems that Carlos Vignali was a relatively big offender who was probably less deserving of a pardon than many other convicted persons who are not as well connected [1]. Vignali's father possesses large holdings of commercial real estate in Downtown Los Angeles, and Vignali today is active in his father's real estate businesses.
Villaraigosa's petitioning Clinton for Vignali's release was used against him successfully by James K. Hahn as an issue in the 2001 Los Angeles mayoral election. Hahn attempted to use the issue again in the 2005 mayoral election against both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg in the primaries, and against Villaraigosa in the runoff, but was unable to use this issue for political gain again and lost the election
WIKIPEDIA
Why didn't the press report that even though Antonio, Mahony, Baca, Molina and the rest of those idiots wrote letters to free a convicted drug dealer Vignali who is white, they left 18 BLACKS IN JAIL. Vignali was the big gun and the 18 blacks were just runners but they are still in jail doing time for much less then what Vignali did.
I doubt if the blacks would have voted for Antonio if that FACT WAS PUT OUT THERE. Why didn't the newspapers report that?
Another pardon that stinks
Clinton pardoned a well-connected cocaine kingpin -- while letting countless low-level, mostly black and Latino, dealers rot in prison.
It was more than luck or Clinton compassion that sprung Vignali after he had served six years. His rich daddy, an Argentinian immigrant named Horacio Vignali, dumped tens of thousands of dollars into the campaign coffers of some of California's top politicians. Two of them -- the former speaker of the California assembly, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Rep. Xavier Becerra -- are leading contenders in Los Angeles' upcoming mayoral election.
While Clinton is being pressed to explain the suspect pardon of convicted tax evader and commodities broker Marc Rich, California's top politicians should also be pressed to tell why they lobbied so hard for Vignali's release -- and whether they would do the same for those who don't contribute big money to their campaigns.
WHO DOES VILLARAIGOSA DO FAVORS FOR?
Hugh Rodham indulged his taste for fancy cuisine and expensive cigars by working with his treasonous brother-in-law Bill Clinton to win pardons for drug dealers, Puerto Rican terrorists, spies for Red China, and all sorts of other criminal, anti-American trash
Carlos Vignali comes from one of California's wealthiest and most prominent Mexican families. He wanted to be a "rapper" and so developed close ties to violent black and Mexican street gangs. Vignali and 30 black gang members were caught planning to distribute over 800 pounds of crack cocaine. He and the 30 blacks were imprisoned after pleading guilty to the crack cocaine distribution charges.
Notice the cruel and evil culture that spawns black and Hispanic street gangs, and black and Hispanic rap "musicians." These beasts wanted to distribute over 800 pounds of murderous poison to their fellow young blacks and Hispanics to addict them and to forever destroy their lives. Over 800 pounds of almost pure crack cocaine is enough to addict and destroy the lives of many thousands of young people. Addiction to crack cocaine is so powerful that even when crack addicts enter treatment, only about 10% are able to remain drug-free for five years after completing treatment.
The new mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, has spent a lifetime defending murderous black and Hispanic street gangs
As a former leader of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in southern California, Villaraigosa has defended the "rights" of drug-dealing, cop-killing street gangs while condemning the police and law enforcement agencies.
Villaraigosa also favors open borders with Mexico and considers illegal aliens to be a persecuted minority worthy of legal protection.
Villaraigosa joins forces with then Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo to celebrate the left-wing "legislation from the bench" overthrow of Proposition 189 - In August 1999, Villaraigosa (c.) went with his family to Mexico City to praise Zedillo (l.) as the most influential foreign advocate of Proposition 189's overthrow
Villaraigosa and the ACLU also supported the "rights" of child molesters. The ACLU favors the abolition of all laws against child molesting, and considers adult rape of little children and even infants to be a constitutionally protected "right."
Following his landslide victory, the Bolshevik media is already promoting Villaraigosa to run for Governor of California and eventually the Presidency of the United States after a few "successful" years as Mayor. ("Success" will be defined by the Bolshevik media, of course.)
ok, YOU zombies....I just got my friggin post up....check owt pk and the REAL election analysis....http://a-z-on-christopher-bianco-arellano.blogspot.com
People are taking stupid old post and reposting... what the f?
Here's my candidate for stupid post of the day by anon 9:54 a.m. "Enrique was put into the race to siphon votes from Arellano." With a scant 12 percent? Not a lot of siphoning there. It still puts Monica Garcia 16 percent ahead. Just the facts...
Ok a lot of this is old news but today's news is the VIGNALI HAS BOUGHT TONS OF PROPERTY in downtown LA. The Feds should investigate that.
Does anyone else find it too conincidential that Antonio becomes Mayor and all of a sudden Vignali gets to buy all this property.
Very sneaky of Antonio. He puts all this energy into South Central Farmers and yet his people don't want to comment. WHY? What are they hiding? You know damn well AV wants everyone to know the stuff he's doing but this is a first I've never heard of this.
LAWEEKLY.COM
Behind the scenes, the mayor’s administration has been scrambling to negotiate a deal that would allow a third party to buy the property from developer Ralph Horowitz. A likely deal would involve paying Horowitz $50,000 a month for the option to buy his land, while negotiations for a sale continue.
Trust for Public Land area director Larry Kaplan said the nonprofit organization has already come up with $11 million to purchase the garden, and is optimistic that it can gather the remaining $5 million to $7 million — depending on the final purchase price.
Eric Hacopian is a quality guy.
I've only heard negatives regarding Hacopian from the lowest of the low.
That's not sneaky, if the Mayor really is helping out the Farmers buy the land it's just good negotiation. It's smart to make sure the person your negotiating with doesn't know exactly what your top price is just as I wouldn't expect Horowitz to call the LA Times and tell them he would sell for as little as whatever price he would sell for. That's what negotiation is. If Mayor V is able to help save the farm I give him credit. If the farm is saved it really shows how successful the farmers, despite a spineless city council and city attorney that sided with a developer over green space, have been.
Any guesses out there about CA's next move.
Who's doing all the reposting? Somebody has too much time on their hands. Granted, some of these are excellent post - because I posted the originals - but they don't need reposting. How about some original thoughts?
Mayor Sam, you are lagging. How about a thread on this:
"Reiner's First 5 Commission to Be Audited"
What does Trujillo say about this?
Just like Ludlow's case, this is also a pandora's box and Meathead has no clue. Gloria Molina's husband got contracts from here as did Maria Veloz's PR firm. Formerly known as Maria Ochoa, she was Gloria's and Lucille Roybal's Chief of Staff in Sacramento while they were in the Assembly.
This audit will be very interesting.
Why hasn't Christopher Arellano withdrawn from the District 2 LAUSD school board race?
As an American he has every right not to Madwhatever.
AV had plenty reason to drop out. Lying Vignali 800 cocaine mta contracts dwp contracts vignali buying up property in downtown soon as av became mav
Antonio Villaraigosa said Wednesday he will exercise his right to become board chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority when he is sworn in as mayor of Los Angeles on July 1, and will use the post to tackle transit issues throughout Southern California.
Becoming MTA board chairman will give Villaraigosa a strong say in setting the agenda for the agency, which has a budget of nearly $3 billion.
The mayor appoints three other members to the 13-person board.
As chairman, Villaraigosa also can appoint board members to committees that decide how to award contracts and which projects to pursue
“Whenever a politician deals in cash, that tends to be a red flag,” Missakian added
laweekly.com
What is ironic is how union brothers don't seem to be steamed by ludlows actions. If you stole from my hard earned money, i would be pissed off. Why are the union members not reacting or are they?
AV camp cries wolf on Arellano, but forgives a culprit Ludlow.
If arellano was on av's team it would have been "forgive him he was young he's a changed man"
http://www.laweekly.com/news/12864/pocket-of-trouble/
What the F? Villaraigosa is named as a witness? No dios mio no@@@@
"Humphries, on the other hand, entered a not-guilty plea and set the stage for a potentially protracted court battle over the case. One day before the indictments were handed down, Humphries filed a lawsuit and signaled plans to call multiple City Hall players as witnesses, including Villaraigosa. Attorney Nick Pacheco went on to argue that Humphries, his client, was simply a figurehead in the union, not a power player green-lighting illegal campaign fund-raising."
Rob Reiner's "meathead" is in deep shit. Or is it "meatloaf"
Reiner Commission Investigation Authorized By Legislature
March 8th, 2006
California’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee this afternoon authorized a state investigation of the Rob Reiner created and led California Children and Families Commission by the California State Auditor. Bowing to the inevitable, the movie director/initiative promoter today sent a letter to committee members supporting the audit, which passed on a motion by committee chair Nicole Parra with no dissenting votes. However, it is still unclear when the state audit will begin.
http://www.newwestnotes.com/
Austin, a one-time aide in the Clinton White House who came West to be Dick Riordan’s Deputy L.A. Mayor for communications before segueing to the Southland Republicans’ favorite Democrat, L.A. City Attorney and ex-Riordan era LA Deputy Mayor Rocky Delgadillo, and finally to the side of movie director/initiative promoter and would-be Governor Rob Reiner, had quite a lucrative run in California’s state government.
As revealed here yesterday, he is out as campaign manager for Reiner’s universal preschool initiative on the June ballot, Proposition 82. Although I knew it was true, incidentally, it was not easy to confirm from the Reiner campaign. Austin was not available at the headquarters and the receptionist clammed up about his whereabouts and status. Reiner PR consultant Nathan James, perhaps acting as he though he were dealing with a movie project, attempted to dance around the question until confronted with the “Clooney/Ocean’s 11” question: “In or out?”
Out. Though Austin still works with the troubled initiative campaign. Since he is no longer campaign manager, however, he is not immediately prey to pesky questions about the Reiner agency’s controversial spending practices and his own role therein.
According to the records of the immensely funded California Children and Families Commission, Austin made over $500,000 from the state in only a few years. As a consultant.
Again, according to internal “First Five Commission” documents, Austin was not a state employee nor did he have a contract during his highly lucrative tenure with the California Children and Families Commission. As a consultant, he was able to take down outside private income. This will be looked into.
What were his duties at Reiner’s First Five Commission, you may ask, such that he was more valuable than Governors Gray Davis and Pete Wilson?
Well, according to internal commission documents, “Ben’s role was to coordinate communications between the various entities involved in First 5 California’s public education campaigns.”
“This included working with our media team (Editor’s Note: That would be GMMB, headed by ex-Clinton media consultant Frank Greer, the media consulting firm for Rob Reiner’s private political campaigns), the Chair of the Commission (that would be Rob Reiner), and multiple County commissions on issues such as the transition to the “First 5” brand, the implementation of universal health care programs, and the roll out of our universal preschool programs.” (The latter is also known as Proposition 82, now appearing on the June California ballot.)
And about the suddenly former Proposition 82 campaign manager’s rate of income from the state. “His pay was commensurate with his previous rate of pay as a deputy mayor of Los Angeles.”
Actually, according to press accounts of the time, it is not. It was much higher in his state role, compensated at a rate higher than that of the Governor of California, in which he coordinated things for Rob Reiner.
http://www.newwestnotes.com/
http://www.laweekly.com/news/12861/unions-choice-nearly-flunks/
BACKERS OF ARELLANO remained suspicious, saying Duffy obtained the background information from two sources with close ties to the mayor — California Teachers Association representative Don Attore, who served on Villaraigosa’s transition team, and UTLA attorney Jesus Quiñonez, a longtime personal friend of Villaraigosa who works for UTLA’s law firm, Geffner and Bush. Quiñonez is also a mayoral appointee to the board of the Metropolitan Water District, where Villaraigosa recently tried without success to install former Assemblyman Richard Katz as that agency’s CEO.
Hours before UTLA’s meeting on Arellano, Attore and Quiñonez conferred with the union’s leadership, presenting them the package on Arellano’s candidacy and criminal background. The California Teachers Association, which had sent Arellano a $50,000 check, had already decided to pull its money. UTLA activists, on the other hand, were deeply skeptical about the union’s ties to Geffner and Bush, now that the mayor was seeking passage of a municipal takeover.
First 5 Audit:
The republican Fog Machine has tricked the good folks on this blog.
Nothing will come of the audit, Reiner will win his ballot initiative Prop 82.
The Dum-Dums will once again look dumb, and the powers that be, well, they'll still be laughing at you guys everyday.
(ha, ha)
Here you go madprofesh or whatever. Agreed that Ludlow is now a felon and Antonio supports that. Great role model loser Mayor
In an odd way, Arellano’s personal storyline bore eerie resemblances to the biography of the current mayor. Like Villaraigosa, Arellano was a onetime dropout who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at UCLA. Like Villaraigosa, Arellano had a brush with the law in his mid-20s, only to rebound a decade later as an organizer with UTLA
theres no way that arellano will make it without the UTLA money- he only raised 15 on his own.
when will they meet to decide if they will continue to back him- if they dont he should really consider dropping out- la gorda team will have a field day with him...
relive AV's first shot and how hahn crushed him - practically placing his picture next to gangsters tagging. fortunately AV had previous political and future aspirations- arellano hummmm
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