Mayor Now Wants Control of Airports
By Jennifer Solis
Citing poor grades on surveys of those traveling from Los Angeles airports, and a high number of those who have “dropped out” of flying altogether, a spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villagraigosa admitted today that there is a plan in the works for his taking over major control of LAX.
The mayor is seeking to establish a “Council of Mayors” of towns adjacent to the airport, which would be able to have control over the airport budget, and be able to select the airport manager, both now and in the future.
But the most controversial part of the proposal is the mayor taking direct control of one of the worst performing terminals, including all of the gates that service passengers in that terminal. No decision has been announced which of the gates would be taken over by Villaraigosa.
There was no immediate response from any of the seven airport commissioners, who were appointed by the mayor just over a year ago. According to the Los Angeles City Charter, the board is solely responsible for the formulation of airport policy.
“If he has to, the mayor is prepared to go to the legislature to get a bill passed,” the spokesperson announced. “Since everyone knows that Villaraigosa will be the next Democrat governor in 2010, he should have no problem lining up support for this bill.”
The mayor is planning to hold neighborhood meetings, to get input from the frequent flying public, but there are already several groups that are critical of the mayor sticking his nose into an area in which he has no expertise.
One of those opposed is a pilot of a major carrier, who complained, “Just because the mayor has flown in a plane, does not make him an expert in managing an airport.” Another critic warned that the mayor is simply grabbing power in order to control contracts for the millions of dollars recently earmarked for improving the airport infrastructure.
“That’s ridiculous,” replied the mayor’s spokesperson. “All he wants to do is fulfill his mandate from the people of L.A. The mayor believes that we shouldn’t have to wait many years to achieve needed changes. He wants to get this done now!”
Despite the fact that LAX has shown steady improvement in recent years, and is rated far ahead of other airports in California, the mayor is determined to show his leadership in as many areas as possible, and unlike his current attempt to take over control of Los Angeles public schools, he doesn’t have to worry about opposition from the PTA organizations and the teachers’ union.
Does any of the above sound familiar?
Citing poor grades on surveys of those traveling from Los Angeles airports, and a high number of those who have “dropped out” of flying altogether, a spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villagraigosa admitted today that there is a plan in the works for his taking over major control of LAX.
The mayor is seeking to establish a “Council of Mayors” of towns adjacent to the airport, which would be able to have control over the airport budget, and be able to select the airport manager, both now and in the future.
But the most controversial part of the proposal is the mayor taking direct control of one of the worst performing terminals, including all of the gates that service passengers in that terminal. No decision has been announced which of the gates would be taken over by Villaraigosa.
There was no immediate response from any of the seven airport commissioners, who were appointed by the mayor just over a year ago. According to the Los Angeles City Charter, the board is solely responsible for the formulation of airport policy.
“If he has to, the mayor is prepared to go to the legislature to get a bill passed,” the spokesperson announced. “Since everyone knows that Villaraigosa will be the next Democrat governor in 2010, he should have no problem lining up support for this bill.”
The mayor is planning to hold neighborhood meetings, to get input from the frequent flying public, but there are already several groups that are critical of the mayor sticking his nose into an area in which he has no expertise.
One of those opposed is a pilot of a major carrier, who complained, “Just because the mayor has flown in a plane, does not make him an expert in managing an airport.” Another critic warned that the mayor is simply grabbing power in order to control contracts for the millions of dollars recently earmarked for improving the airport infrastructure.
“That’s ridiculous,” replied the mayor’s spokesperson. “All he wants to do is fulfill his mandate from the people of L.A. The mayor believes that we shouldn’t have to wait many years to achieve needed changes. He wants to get this done now!”
Despite the fact that LAX has shown steady improvement in recent years, and is rated far ahead of other airports in California, the mayor is determined to show his leadership in as many areas as possible, and unlike his current attempt to take over control of Los Angeles public schools, he doesn’t have to worry about opposition from the PTA organizations and the teachers’ union.
Does any of the above sound familiar?
Posted by Anonymous @ 10/11/2006 06:15:00 PM
10 Comments:
Jennifer...your attempt at humor/spoofing falls short. In fact, instead of hitting a homerun, you struck out looking. And I'm not even a fan of AB 1831!
This would have made more sense on April 1st, since the Mayor already has more control over airports than he'd probably like.
WTF? The Airport?
Good evening Jennifer (removes hat and bows):
Jennifer luv, have you been up to your eyeballs in textbooks and lab coats? Put down the beeker and come sit over here by me (pats to spot on couch).
Have you taken a good look at the calendar? Or have you been having tea with the mesdames in the Blue Room? Methinks its the latter. That juggernaut bitch has already stood up and loudly declared "Do you know who I am?" We all know who it is, savvy?
Write us a good story, like what gets viewed on City Hall crackberrys that can't be viewed on City Hall desktops. Or whether or not Helfand will have a job when he returns. Or perhaps the strategy His Nibs will use to deal with the oncoming on-dits that are starting to stack up.
Jennifer darling, you are too winsome to be put upon the plank.
Why does it surprise anyone that Antonio now wants to control the Airport? Next to the LAUSD, Los Angeles World Airports is the next biggest entity as far as spending that the Mayor could control. One need only look at this Mayor's history to understand what he is about.
He attempted to force major state infrastructure bonds down the state legislatures throat with his friend Arnold...he failed.
He attempted to take over control of the billions of dollars being spent by LAUSD behind the backs of voters...he failed.
He has forced the city council to float a billion dollar bond initiative for his developer buddies...he will fail.
But the Mayor has had some successes. He got the city council to implement a 27% tax hike for refuse collection without letting the voters have a say.
He raised every fee a citizen might pay in L.A. without letting voters have a say.
He allocated $300 million of the city's reserve funds to his developer friends for their "low income housing" scam.
Anyone keeping track understands that the big developers are running the Mayor's office and have been since Riordan was Mayor. Even Tony's chief of staff Robin Kramer is a Riordan operative.
I thought she was rather funny! Btw, did you mean AB 1381?
The Mayor picks the Commissioners, and can fire them without cause. If that's not control, what is? Am I missing something here?
The funniest line was from Stve Lopez in one of his columns. He stated that next Antonio will want to control DMV.
The mayor already had total control over the airport, ASK TED STEIN.
this blog censor sucks.
I'll bet some privlidged bloggers don'f have to get official approval to post. TIME 7:74 AM--Time POSTED???
fuckshitgodammedhellasscrap...i'm so shocked please save me by getting a censor.
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