LA Weekly Article: This Just In: Voters Snookered
This Just In: Voters Snookered
One day after approval of so-called Big Reform measure, lobbyists remain in power at City Hall
By DAVID ZAHNISER
November 8, 2006
The folks pushing Proposition R, the measure that rolled back term limits in Los Angeles, pulled off an especially crafty one-two punch. First they cruised to victory on Tuesday, overcoming some of the worst political buzz to dominate City Hall since the waning days of former Mayor James Hahn. Then they went one more step — breaking a campaign promise less than 24 hours after the election.
The campaign promised on at least six occasions to lock lobbyists out of municipal decision making, using images of mousetraps, a nightclub bouncer and even a medieval castle with a moat to show just how impenetrable City Hall would become.
Yet mysteriously, no one bothered to tell the city’s lobbyists. And so, the morning after the election, nearly a dozen were working the City Council chamber, hovering especially intently during the debate over plans for a “living wage” at hotels near Los Angeles International Airport. Not only did those lobbyists press their case with the council, but — cashing in on a more direct plea to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — they managed to delay a vote on the controversial proposal.
Entire Article:
http://www.laweekly.com/news/z-files/this-just-in-voters-snookered/14976/
One day after approval of so-called Big Reform measure, lobbyists remain in power at City Hall
By DAVID ZAHNISER
November 8, 2006
The folks pushing Proposition R, the measure that rolled back term limits in Los Angeles, pulled off an especially crafty one-two punch. First they cruised to victory on Tuesday, overcoming some of the worst political buzz to dominate City Hall since the waning days of former Mayor James Hahn. Then they went one more step — breaking a campaign promise less than 24 hours after the election.
The campaign promised on at least six occasions to lock lobbyists out of municipal decision making, using images of mousetraps, a nightclub bouncer and even a medieval castle with a moat to show just how impenetrable City Hall would become.
Yet mysteriously, no one bothered to tell the city’s lobbyists. And so, the morning after the election, nearly a dozen were working the City Council chamber, hovering especially intently during the debate over plans for a “living wage” at hotels near Los Angeles International Airport. Not only did those lobbyists press their case with the council, but — cashing in on a more direct plea to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — they managed to delay a vote on the controversial proposal.
Entire Article:
http://www.laweekly.com/news/z-files/this-just-in-voters-snookered/14976/
Labels: proposition r
Posted by Zuma Dogg @ 11/09/2006 07:16:00 PM
2 Comments:
David Z man is the best reporter in LA. He does amazing stories and reports all the facts. Without him we wouldn't know the truth about what is really going on in this city with our corrupt politicans. Why can't the other lazy ass LA reporters take lessons from his reporting? We have too many that are just groupies and afraid to report the truth. Good Going David
ZD, did you really think any part of Proposition R was in any way about ethics and lobbyists? Of course, you didn't!
We all know it is about four more years - it is about money - it is about power - nothing else.
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