Open Thread for Monday: New Fire Chief
Following the resignation of embattled Los Angeles Fire Department Chief William Bamatre, the department has announced the appointment of an interim chief, Douglas L. Barry.Barry, a 31 year veteran of the department, will not apply for the permanent position but is the first African American to lead LAFD. Barry grew up in the South Bay and is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 12/04/2006 12:00:00 AM
54 Comments:
Mayor Sam,
I'm not sure if it was intentional, but the revered image posted atop this story is that of our Sister Jaime Foster, a Firefighter who died in the line of duty on August 14, 2004.
If there is a need for a more specific (or in this case, fitting) image to accompany your story, kindly let me know. I'll be pleased to send it to you ASAP.
Please keep up the great work on the blog!
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Antonio will be having his press conf. at the Southwest Fire station where all the firefighers are pissed at him and don't want to be seen near him. However, they've been ORDERED to be out there with him. See the comparison to Hilter??
Big fight between Rocky and Antonio. .....latimes.com Rocky Delgadillo has the resume and upbringing — Harvard undergraduate, Columbia Law School, tutelage at one of Los Angeles' most prestigious law firms — and in fact was first over the barrier, in 2001, when he became the first Latino of the modern era to win citywide office in Los Angeles.
Antonio Villaraigosa is the scrappier contender — a far more obscure legal education and an embarrassing record of failing the bar exam — but he leapfrogged the city attorney to become mayor in 2005 and has since left Delgadillo in his dust
Our Prayers to Jaime Foster.
Under surface, 2 rivals aren't smiling
Attention Mr. Jim Newman & Pat McGreevy
Will you consider going cold turkey with the ass kissing story?
The story reeks from abundance of brown nose, one sided opinions. How much "in the know" are you gett'n from MAV for writing trash?
jim.newton@latimes.com
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
Typical Trash Latimes
Only reason story was written was Delgadillo is a probable threat to MAV's Governorship candidacy.
Its called LA Slimes and they have lost tons of readers and can't even figure out who's managing the damn paper. I like Steve Hymon's column blasting Padilla's over the top goodbye of 2 hours. He points out that some residents who showed up to council meeting were not allowed to speak at public comment. I thought if speakers filled out public comment cards that made the agenda item special and they had to speak. Where's Zuma Dogg the expert on public comment on this one?
That is a beautiful picture of LAFD rookie Jaime Foster. God bless her and her family.
How about doing a follow-up on her story.
Report on the organization failure that at the time of Jaime's death in 2004 and before, the LAFD did not train new recruits/rookies about the mandatory safety policy requiring the use of the safety strap while riding on the tailboard when backing up. Read Laura Chick's audit that confirmed violating this important safety procedure had become the long-time common custom and practice within the ranks of the LAFD, and that the policy was not enforced organization wide. Another tragic legacy of Chief Bamattre.
Please leave the beautiful picture of Miss Foster up. It is the perfect symbol of the former fire chief's (chief Bamatree)administration, and probably the most catastrophic example of his many failures while in office. When chief Bamatree resigned in disgrace last week he said firefighter safety was his highest priority in training and response. Actions speak louder than words.
Was Viyaragosa a labor lawyer?
Comes down to the nitty gritty
Who is a patholigical liar
Villaraigosa?
Delgadillo?
You decide.
Did a search for mayors name
http://lawyers.findlaw.com/
No license found
Is he a labor lawyer or not?
10:35
He always claimed to be a labor lawyer. From day 1 at the People's College of Law. He even had a stint with Litt & Stormer. But he never passed the bar, thus never really a lawyer. Like Maria Elena Duraza and Gilbert Cedillo, Antonio fell back into his job after failing the bar. Some consolation prize, right - Secretary of the County Fed, a high rankning Senator and a Mayor. Only in Amerrrica!
Please let me know what you folks think about the photo. If its disrespectful to show it or if you think its a tribute to her as her death was an example of Bamatre's mismanagement.
10:41 Kids stay away from college, if you kiss ass the right way, you'll get ahead. MAV did it.
What strategies are planned for lausd takeover?
Is he the right guy?
Homeless man died last week in the hood and was victim to downtown clean up crew policies. Can you post his photo as tribute to his death and Villaraigosa's mismanagement?
Joseph Mailander is the bomb!
Can we play "Where's Waller, Randy Waller?"
Apologists are quick to argue that Latino supremacists are just a small fringe faction of the pro-illegal immigration movement (never mind that their ranks include former and current Hispanic politicians from L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to former California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cruz Bustamante).
Villaraigosa's anti-American credentials are impeccable: not only was he President of the Southern California ACLU, his mayoral campaign has been endorsed by John Kerry.
Getting back to Baldwin Park, here's an inscription from the monument:
This land was Mexican once,
was Indian always
and is,
And will be again.
Or how about this one:
It was better before they came.
I heard about this monument on my drive home yesterday (I think is was on KFI - John & Ken).
I've lived in California all my life and am sad to see what's happening here.
Great blog, I'll visit again
Villar and his Mexican mafia in City Council have plundered and pillaged this city and it's citizens! We have been robbed blind! He is anti-American and un-American and he will never be able to change his stripes!
He can rule supreme over HIS PEOPLE, but, believe me, he doesn't play in Peoria!!!! He will never be governor or anything else!
THE PHOTO IS A TRIBUTE !
MEMO TO THE "LA ANTONIA TIMES"
"PACHECO THEN, ROCKY NOW"
"The "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET" is back to it's old tricks of bashing the rivals of "HIS POLLONESS". The only surprise was that Scribe "LITTLE DOOKIE" Helfand didn't write this diaretic of a bash on the City Attorney. Even better would of been a "SPECIAL TO THE TIMES" byline by the "WHITE GUY FROM THE WEST SIDE".
THOUGHT TO PONDER, if Rocky is such a inept politico(Their are plenty of issues to question). Then where is the Times in regards to investigating "HIS POLLONESS" dealings with Miguel Contreres and Martin Ludlow? This is another example of the battles that are on going in the Hispanic political community between the Old guard moderates and the Mechita Liberals. Maybe the Times should report on that on going saga.
JAIME FOSTER R.I.P.
MEMO TO THE "LA ANTONIA TIMES"
"PACHECO THEN, ROCKY NOW"
"The "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET" is back to it's old tricks of bashing the rivals of "HIS POLLONESS". The only surprise was that Scribe "LITTLE DOOKIE" Helfand didn't write this diaretic of a bash on the City Attorney. Even better would of been a "SPECIAL TO THE TIMES" byline by the "WHITE GUY FROM THE WEST SIDE".
THOUGHT TO PONDER, if Rocky is such a inept politico(Their are plenty of issues to question). Then where is the Times in regards to investigating "HIS POLLONESS" dealings with Miguel Contreres and Martin Ludlow? This is another example of the battles that are on going in the Hispanic political community between the Old guard moderates and the Mechita Liberals. Maybe the Times should report on that on going saga.
JAIME FOSTER R.I.P.
Remember this saying
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE?
Well, Tony's a liar and his pants are on fire now...
How awful to tell the lies about his family and ruin lives. Lots of families go through divorce, and yes it hurts children, but it doesn't give him the right to tell all out lies about his life growing up and his father's life.
This is sick, and he is a sick person to do it.
Well, well, well - it seems as if the emperor has no clothes afterall. Sooner or later the truth will come out - it always does, just ask Bush. Tony the Liar is nothing more than a figment of Parke Skelton's imagination. The candidate he's always dreamed about since he started his political career. The making of the Latino Tom Bradley - longtime an L.A. Jewish elite "jihad" - judging from the way this team slashed and burned Antonio's opponents in their crusade of tarnishing opposition on unfounded and outright made up charges and allegations.
Parke took a dumbass little Mexican who was already undergoing therapy and made him into the poster child of inner city blight - "see America, iz true - si se puede!" Parke took every Latino stereotype, embellished them and turned them into nice glossy campaign mailers.
The single mother (Castro doesn't mention that those drunken binges with Natalia and Antonio Sr. were mutual drunken binges - just look at Natalia's cause of death), the high school drop out (Castro doesn't mention that Tony Villar was kicked out of Cathedral for dealing and smoking weed - there was never any fight with St. Francis High - in fact Tony's compadre Marco Palma graduated from this high school - some racist school, right?), the white Jewish teacher who comes to the rescue (the guy hardly remembers you Antonio! - but then again, the Chico and the Man concept was written by a Jewish writer, right?), and working since he was 7 - what a load of shit. If Tony was outside the Olympic auditorium it was becuase he was dealing , Castro, why no mention of that early 70's raid on Antonio's Boyle Heights apartment on Lanfranco Avenue? - the neighbors are still talking about it. And let's not even get started with June from the Venice Room - she still lives in South Pasadena and she still has that scar.
Sooner or later, the truth always gets you. Little consolation that will be for Hahn or Pacheco - but then again Parke, their is a day of atonement every year, right?
1) It began w/ Katz & what else did he embellish? Affordable housing Prop H was a Scam. Pimped as affordable housing and failed. Immediately, it was pimped as middle class working family investment. Mayor NEVER intended this to be affordable housing for needy. Katz was a mere example of AV lies & tip of the iceberg.
2)It's hearsay. Ramon Villar, said this, said that. Same token with Villar Sr.'s Son (AV's stepbrother) he said this, said that. A situation confronts us. We are lied to and to who's benefit would this be? Obviously AV hate for his father glorified his revenge via campaign propaganda? He tarnished a deceased human being, unable to defend himself publicly. He continued to humiliate him, AV is vengeful. Who cares if Ramon Villar backed AV. I don't believe Ramon. He is another liar.
3)Villaraigos was called Tony. Yes, he did exaggerate to make a disturbing and false point. It helped with the votes.
4)Here we go again, AV exaggerated to the point of no return.
Sick man.
BTW, who is AV this morning?
Antoine Villeaux
Good for the new Fire Chief - D.Barry.
Keep the picture. It honors Jaime.
D. Barry Big Wow.
The Final Hours of Miguel Contreras
http://www.laweekly.com/general/features/the-final-hours-of-miguel-contreras/14873/
Suit By Ex-Union Head Against Workers Dismissed
Humphries Allegedly Funneled Money To Former City Councilman Martin Ludlow’s Campaign
(CBS) LOS ANGELES A judge dismissed for a second time a lawsuit by former union leader Janett Humphries, who alleged she lost her job and suffered emotional distress because of statements made by two co-workers.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mel Red Recana issued his five-page ruling last Wednesday, but it was not available until Wednesday.
What????
A trial, beginning July 28 before Judge Mel Red Recana, ended with a jury agreeeing with the plaintiff. Linus Lee, 43, on his claims of "retaliation", "wrongful termination", "breach of implied contract" and "breach of covenant of good faith" and awarding him $1,359,262 in punitive damages. The verdict was unanimous after a little more than a day of deliberations.
ROCKY FROM HARVARD RECANA FROM HARVARD. THE JUDGE IS INCOMPETENT?
WHAT DOES VILLAR'S STAFF HAVE TO SAY ABOUT DE JUDGE?
WHO'S BOB FOSTER?
ANTONOVICH & RECANA, WHAT DO DEY HAV IN COMMUN?
It is a relief to have a new fire chief. Will he be successful? Let's hope so. The fire chief resigning under a cloud of scandal and evidence of non-performance has brought enormous discredit to the the L.A.F.D. The picture of Jaime belongs up as the appointment of chief Berry is a victory for her too.
Mayor Sam, Keep the photo up, if it doesn't offend our Fire Department. They [the LAFD] continue to serve our city heroically in spite of all the perceived mismanagement at the upper echelon of the department.
I have complete faith that they shall continue to serve our city in that capacity.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen (waves across room to Captain Barry):
Did I see Ms. Sotelo standing behind the mayor and daring to crack a smile at the press conference? Or was it someone else?
Sots, I have a question for you. How many lawyers are there in City Hall? The total figure, please. All of those who either didn't pass the bar, didn't take it or are working as lobbyists. 20? 30? 189?
Speaking of the bar, someone on the 4th floor has been looking rather harried this morning. Methinks a second party just might drive a first party to drink, savvy?
speak english
idont comprendo
"Speaking of the bar, someone on the 4th floor has been looking rather harried this morning. Methinks a second party just might drive a first party to drink, savvy?"
omg. I just read the story on Ms. Foster. there's so many things wrong with how and why she died, and so thank you for highlighting her case. first of all-why's a rookie allowed to do overtime shifts? why is it a 5 unit attendance of a small house fire? that doesn't make sense. why is it necessary to have that many units and a rookie on overtime?. She should be alive today, and management need to take responsibility for that death. enthusiasm can never make up for skill or experience, and I'll never understand why an innocent woman needs to die like that.
the latest dog food case highlights the need for psychology based assessments of applicants to the LAFD. certain personality types are unsuited to the rigors and subsequent down-time (which is where the boredom and pranks generate), which is the life of a fireman.
if Mr Humprey wants you to take the image down, he should just say straight out-'plz take it down'. just like they should have said straight out to Ms Foster-"No overtime yet, ur just a beginner"
I see this same thing at Venice, someone calls in for a medical emergency, and all these giant fire fighting units roll up. I guess they're bored and any excuse is a good one to roll the big truck right? wrong.
Secondly: I attacked rocky first on Friday at Van Nuys on Ch 35, now it looks like the LA Times have taken up my topic: rocky del got to go. click my name to see the Friday comment.
I should note that our late Jaime Foster and I aren't related. I regret the unintentional oversight.
What happened to Jaime Foster should never be forgotten and the full story should be told. But the LAFD leaves out critical details when telling the story.
Thanks for the photo. Now you do a story.
Matt Down you're a moron. Don't post about things you haven't a clue about. You don't know how the fire department responds to calls. Your post is wrong. Get a life, get a job, be a man and stop whinning. Firefighters are demoralized and now they're out there fighting fires trying to save lives and homes and people are still bitching and posting negative stuff about them. Its like John & Ken said you don't have a clue what its like inside a firehouse with men who bond as brothers.
I don't support Rocky cause I think he and ANtonio, city council all embarrassed this city. However, Rocky does support gang injunctions and our midget mayor loves the gang bangers cause he was once one.
Do we really need all these firefgihters? The answer is an obvious NO. its a relic from the past when fires could destroy whole cities. they should shut down at least 1/2 the fire stations in LA City. the canyons and mountains are doifferent, but LAFD is terribly overstaffed and ovefunded. But, they are politically popular, have a strong union, so no one questions whether they are needed.
To 3:47pm.
You are crazy.
Enough said.
Yea 3:47 is craaazy
Crazy like Crazy Gideons
Crazy like Gomer Pile
Crazy like Homer Simpson
Crazy like Mighty Midget
hey 3.37 guess what, when I worked Venice with my city permit!!! I saw thousands of these so called emergencies, and plenty of other times when these guys roll round in these giant trucks, and there wa'nt no fire. I've seen it plenty so thanks for highlighting me once again. its always a pleasure, lol,
and my new song is dedicated to you. click my name to hear it again
Maybe the new chief will inspire leadership. Everyone is ignoring the real problem that is causing the turmoil in the department; quotas, and how chief bamattre abused his position to hire and promote to increase diversity. That earned him the distrust and disloyalty of everyone in the end. Until a chief stands up to do what is right in that area, these problems will only worsen.
Dowd, I have very little patience with armchair firefighters such as yourself. Have you even considered the possibility that these calls were false alarms?
Sometimes however, it makes more sense to call in the big trucks so that an assessment of the situation can be made. It doesn't make much sense to run the paramedics ragged all over town.
What was Weiss Ass or should I say Kiss Ass doing with Antonio at the press conf. in the South? His district is in Pacific Palisades. If he thinks he's going to win City Attorney, he should think again. Thanks to KFI people now know what an idiot and stupid comments he's made on the Pierce case. If there's anything a woman hates more its a weak ass man.
After chief Barry's year is over, one of the deputy chiefs - Andy Fox or Mario Rueda, or God forbid, Emile Mack - hopefully won't take his place. Spare the troops from more abuse. These men are despised by the firefighters.
Although I like the picture of Jaime Foster because it is a tribute, I must defer to Brian Humphrey. If he thinks it should be taken down, I say do it. If he agrees that most of us consider it a tribute and says it can stay, then do that.
I'm just grateful that Mr. Humphrey is reading the blog!
Give Mayor Sam his orders, Mr. Humphrey!
Why take the picture down? It is an honor to the L.A.F.D. and to Jaime Foster. She represents diversity on the fire dept. and so does the new chief? I see the point. Leave it on. Who is Mr. Humphrey and why would anyone care that he reads this blog?
A portrait of Jamie Foster should be in every chiefs office and every captains office to remind them to train their people right and to do their jobs! This was a waste of a young woman's life! Lafd training cannot be trusted. Who is next?
We'll never know the full story of Jaime's death. What we do know is that it could and should have been prevented by enforcing the safety regulation. Shame on you lafd.
Mayor Sam et al:
Thanks for your notes and comments.
Please know that I was not making a request, but merely identifying and offering some photos that may have been more specific to the thread's title: "New Fire Chief"... (as opposed to the current Fire Chief or some other but potentially related topic).
With people at the time scrambling for actual photos of Chief Barry, I thought Mayor Sam *might* have wished to consider were these... or possibly one of the many others we maintain in our archive.
Jaime Foster should be rightfully and respectfully remembered by us all, and Mayor Sam is encouraged to post as he pleases. In fact, I hope he will someday post an apolitical thread devoted to the men and women of the LAFD and LAPD who have paid the ultimate price in putting the needs of others ahead of their own.
In summation...
My sole reason for offering the comment atop this thread was to make Mayor Sam and others aware that the seemingly generic image - possibly grabbed from a Google search, was not an LAFD stock photo, but indeed the smiling face of a promising young Firefighter who died in the line of duty.
There was no sinister intent or attempt at spin, I was just trying to be helpful.
Again, please keep up the great work on the blog!
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
LAFD Blog: www.lafd.org/blog
A lawsuit involving the tragic and unnecessary death of rookie Jaime Foster is looming right around the corner. New management is called for in the LAFD, not just a new fire chief.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home