My 2 Cents: Richard Alarcon for City Council
For me, supporting Richard Alarcon for City Council comes easy. After watching a debate with all the candidates it became even easier. Considering the debate was co-sponsord by several Neighborhood Councils you would have thought they might have at least taken a crash course on the ride over. Only one candidate knew the issues facing Neighborhood Councils, and that was Richard Alarcon. Sure, I don't agree with the shenanigans that was Prop R which allowed Richard to run again, but he had nothing to do with that. I know Richard as the man who, as recently as a week ago, would tell me to my face what he thought even if he knew I wouldn't like what he was saying. That cut both ways. When I worked for him he would accept both advise and criticism. But what I admire most about Richard Alarcon is his stance towards Neighborhood Councils, and thus participatory democracy.
When I first met then Senator Alarcon, it was during the DWP rate hike battle. He was running for Mayor at the time and in a very short amount of time I came to know him as someone who, while astutely aware of political climates, genuinely cares about the people. Senator Alarcon later became the only State Senator to this day to have ever dedicated a full-time staff position to Neighborhood Councils. He deems Neighborhood Councilmembers as "elected officials" and shows them deference even when he disagrees with them.
After the Mayor's race I took allot of heat for Senator Alarcon's endorsement of now Mayor Villaraigosa and my continued support of Richard. The reason I supported him then, and do now is simple. At the end of the day you must ask yourself who is the best person for the job. I believe in my heart that person is Richard Alarcon.
I encourage all Neighborhood Councilmembers, and residents of CD 7 to join me in supporting Richard Alarcon for City Council. He is the best candidate for the District and will prove to be a strong ally in City Council for the Neighborhood Council System at a time when we need all the friends we can get.
Jim Alger
President - Northridge West NC
Vice Chair - Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils Congress
(Titles for identification purposes only)
Labels: proposition r
Posted by Jim Alger @ 2/26/2007 02:15:00 AM
31 Comments:
As much as I hate to admit it Jim, you are exactly right. Alarcon does jump from one job to the next for a paycheck but he does the job and would be best suited to return to LA City politics. He is anti-sunshine canyon in a real way not in a Greig Smith wink wink way, and truly supports NC's.
Yea, you called this one right but it does leave a sour taste in my mouth. I mean he just got elected Assemblymember after bullying Cindy out of there and now pushed her out of the City Council race.
With all due respect Jim isn't against DONE for neighborhood councils to endorse a candidate using the NC name? Other NC reps do it as private citizens and sometimes state they are also on a particular NC but are speaking for themselves not the NC.
Please Richard Alarcon cares nothing about the people and is merely jumping ship cause of $$$$$
Lastly, isn't it bias of you to endorse Richard when you worked for him? Of course he's the only one supporting NC so much, you were his employee who taught him well.
Oh yes, by all means, the most pressing issue this City confronts is . . . Neighborhood Councils?!!
To chose a candidate because he "understands" Neighborhood Councils makes about as much sense as choosing one because he understands the rules of Cricket.
Conspicuously absent from your endorsement is: any mention of what Alarcon has accomplished during his many years on the public payroll; any statement of his specific platform if elected to the City Council, again; any comparison of his positions to those of his opponents.
Sure, you're into Neighborhood Councils, and he says he's into them, too. That's super for both of you. But it doesn't do a damn bit of good regarding, say, the hundreds of murders that occur here each year, the flight of businesses out of the city, traffic, etc.
......When former Assemblywoman Cindy Montañez made like the good Democrat and dropped out of the race for City Council to make way for State Sen. Richard Alarcon, you just knew there would be some payoff (oops, wrong word — let's say consideration) down the road. She made things easier for Mayor Villaraigosa, the unions and others who sought to avoid a messy internecine fight in the Northeast Valley. One piece of her reward package has now become clear. Tucked away in yesterday's council referral file is Villaraigosa's nomination of Montañez, the former mayor of San Fernando, for the Los Angeles planning commission. Once confirmed she would fill out the term vacated by Andres Irlando, who resigned earlier this month. Of course that's officially an unpaid post, so many expect to see her also get a lucrative state commission or board post from the mayor's friends in Sacramento. (She already did: the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board pays $123,987 per year for one board meeting a month. Speaker Fabian Nuñez appointed her last month.)
8:27 am DONE has no authority to prohibit any NC member from endorsing a candidate for public office. Even so Jim DID post "Titles for identification purposes only" on his endorsement, even though that isn't required either. Electeds endorse candidates all the time and use their titles, NC's are no different. Or should the 1st ammendment not apply to them?
To act as if you know what is in Richard Alarcon's mind makes you a better person than I because I certainly can't ascribe motives to his running for City Council other than it does seem to be where he logically belongs.
He openly states his rationale for endorsing Alarcon and you seem to actually concur, cheap shot aside.
Your last paragraph "Of course he's the only one supporting NC so much, you were his employee who taught him well" makes Jim's point that if NC's are your issue, Alarcon is your man.
In an old crime show on TV a woman witnessed a robbery. It was later discovered that she was a prostitute and that this would be used to attack her credibility on the stand. "I've always wondered" the cop said, "why just because a woman is a prostitute that means she has bad eyesight."
Perhaps Jim has a bias, but he also happens to be right on this one.
Walter you miss the entire point of the NC system, and you always have.
Alarcon openly promotes allowing NC's to make decisions thereby letting them decide what is best for their communities. Everything you list is covered under that because if you listen to the PEOPLE and not the LOBBYISTS positive change can be had.
And knoc off this "on the public payroll BS mr "I donated $100,000 to my campaign because I believe in it" but didn't spend one dime of it. People don't run for public office and put up with the likes of you attacking them constantly no matter what they do for the money.
Someone like Richard Alarcon could make quite a bit more and work a whole lot less in the private sector.
Issues? Alarcon is the ONLY local politician who ever closed a landfill... Lopez Canyon. He has consistantly faught to close Sunshine and Bradley... oh wait I forgot Walter, you don't give a crap about our clean air or the health of our chidren.
You just like pointing at things and saying they're broken.
Moore is right on this one. What has Alacron accomplished etc. And what are his views on SO 40? Yup, that $170K + taxpayer-funded salary is lookin' pretty good..
Alarcon has done so much for the economy. Just think of what his perennial running has done for components in the business community: the mailer printers, the ads that air on television stations, the phone banks provided by the telephone companies, the caterers and the rental businesses. Just think what money is dropped into the economy each time he runs. Is anything coming up in 2008 or 2009 that he can change his mind and run for that will boost the economy again?
OK, I support Alarcon but that was some funny shit 9:26 am
LOL re "the whole point of the NC system." Yeah, I think I know the whole point of it -- which is why I point out how trivial it is in the big scheme of things.
Subsequent commenters hit the nail on the head.
As for the $100K, go back and look at the press coverage I got before and after. Money is the only thing that gets you mentioned by the local media -- because they want you to spend it advertising with them!
Think I'm kidding? Then where is the coverage for Mr. Pugliese? And if NC's are supposedly the cure for special interests, then why the hell aren't they backing Pugliese, or fielding any other candidates? Answer: because NC's are a filter to absorb and deflect politically active people away from the Clowncil.
I know of some NC members who were scolded by DONE during the mayoral campaign for using their neighborhood councils to endorse their candidate. People think because an NC rep endorses a candidate the entire NC board is also supporting that candidate which is not the case. Richard hasn't done anything for his district. Of course if you can make almost $80,000 more in another job go for it if you don't have the integrity, committment or dedication to your constituents and that's what Richard is showing the people he represents.
Jim, don't be such a whore. YOu can sellout for more than 2 cents - eventhough your're not worth much more.
Alger,
As someone who railed against Prop R and as an NC leader here in downtown i am saddened and slightly disgusted by your endorsement.
Silverlake NC Leader
This is good news. If Alger's endorsement can deliver all 79 of the neighborhood council followers that voted in their last NC election, Alarcon should come in about the same place he did in the Mayor's race - maybe even one step higher.
Shout with me, you remember - ALL-ARE-CONE, ALL-ARE-CONE, ALL-ARE-CONE!
Come on, someday, anybody? Where's that unused "Not Prop R" spirit?
Most puppets who support Alarconned are simply afraid of losing their special pet projects. Alarcon is just as fake as the color of his hair and mustach.
Let's review: California assembly members and senators "earn" (I use this word loosely) $110,880 a year. LA City Council members "earn" $171,648.
If Alacron wins a CC seat he gets over $60K raise. Gee, I wonder what the motivation may be. And if he can "earn" more money in the private sector (which for has-been politicians means using insider contacts so wealthy clients can suck more from the public trough), then by all means GO! We need new blood anyway. This state has been so terribly mismanaged by the current pols, we can't do much worse.
Monica Rodriguez got the daily news. She got the LA Times last week. Alarcon is not the most popular guy around CD7 these days after all the attack mail. This looks like the only May runoff in the City right now!
Mayor Sam's website endorsing Alarcon? Geez... at least Alarcon should donate some funds to Mayor Sam so Zuma can raise hell in the field before getting an endorsement.
Alarcon closed Lopez by himself? Yeah ...just like Al Gore invented the internet.
Neighborhood councils are useless when they endorse professional politicians. Useless like term limits for politicians who just go on to the next office instead of going back to what they did before being in office.
Dear Richard and your followers,
Just think, if you pull this off, you will have to resign your Assembly seat and a special election will be called at taxpayers expense. The time frame for your resignation is I believe 30 days.
Just after that deadline, Prop R goes in front of the judge, April 11th.
Now that David Hernandez has secured the support of a National Org. to fund the legal expenses, prop R and your extra term will go away.
So even if you win on March 6th, you will be left with only the remainder of your last term.
Was it really worth it?
12:43, not "selling out" at all. The fact is out of all the candidates running, if Neighborhood Councils and community participation are your issues, then Richard Alarcon is your candidate plain and simple.
Now for 12:47 in Silver Lake, I also opposed Prop R but the bottom line is that Neighborhood Councils did virtually NOTHING to educate the public or assist the anti Prop R campaign in any meaningfull way. However, even the opponents of Prop R had a montra of "we don't oppose extending terms," well then what is your problem? Janice Hahn gets an extra term thanks to Prop R, should she be thrown out even though she is our best friend in City Council because she supported one decision we didn't agree with? And if so, how does it help the Neighborhood Council System if we lose the few friends we have in the City Council?
Use your head folks. If you want to attack Richard for his various campaigns, that is a fair criticism. But to call him corrupt, or accuse him of holding motives you could have no way of knowing is just cheap political hackery. At the end of the day, out of all the candidates running he is the largest supporter of NC's and has some close ties with the Mayor which can only help all of us involved in Neighborhood Councils.
If speaking the truth is "selling out" then I guess sold out. But a LEADER gives his opinion not because it is popular, but because it is the right thing to do. Shooting yourself in the foot to make a political statement does nothing to help the system in the long run.
I may not approve of the path Richard Alarcon has found in his return to City Hall, but I am glad he has chosen to teavel it... for all of us.
Jim, this statement from you is hypocritical
"I may not approve of the path Richard Alarcon has found in his return to City Hall."
HELLOOOO this is the problem. People are pissed that Richard just like a couple of others are not serving their full term they were voted in first. It shows lack of committment to the people. And many neighborhood councils who opposed Prop R did a good job without money. Why do you think over 226,000 people VOTED NO? That's a hell of a lot of people. Janice Hahn should be thrown out of council because she's an idiot just like Greusome. They are an embarrassment as women who put forth motions just to get publicity.
Alger is looking for another job on Alarcon's staff. He is a sellout.
Alarcon gave him a job and a title, even if it was only for a few months, and he milked it for all it was worth during his various campaigns.
Now he paying his old boss back.
Alarcon is just changing clown troops and lapdog Alger just can not wait to help Alarcon with his new clown face.
Boy I love when people talk out of their rear as if they know which way is up.
5:54 pm: Umm thanks but no thanks, I already have a job and it pays much better than a city gig. (Although I love how the instant someone decided getting a paycheck for their work is a good idea you dimwits all them a sellout)
As for NC's getting 226,000 votes... c'mon! Noone supports NC's more than myself but be real. 226,000 people would vote no on virtually ANYTHING on the ballot. You can't have no campaign whatsoever and claim credit for a 400% return rate.
As for Richard switching jobs, if the voters of his district are that terribly concerned about it, it will be reflected in the voting booth. I have said this 100 times, so lets go for 101, I support Richard because he is the best candidate for the job he is SEEKING. Period.
I won't support someone who doesn't have a clue about community participation just to make a point.
At least we now know who the mole is Jim. As if you're doing it for the community. Glad that Monica Rodriguez should be able to hold on for victory and you'll be a pariah.
Mayor sam didn't endorse richard only ALGER did
Jim Alger has a job?
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Jim, having known you for many years and sat in countless strategy meetings with you, I think I understand where you are coming from in your "support" for Alarcon.
Like him, you are a political animal, in the game for the game's own sake.
It seems clear to me that you must be benefitting, either openly or behind the scenes, from your support of Alarcon. He knows how to reward his supporters. If there were no benefit in it for your own career, I don't believe you would support a corrupt weasel like Alarcon. You are a better person than he is. I wouldn't mind having you as my councilmember. I would kick and scream and pitch fits and mount an immediate recall campaign if I had the misfortune to live in Alarcon's district. (Oh wait, I guess I'd have to wait until he is actually elected...)
Jim, I know it is useless to say to someone as fixated on achieving success in politics as you are, but I gotta say it anyway:
What does it benefit a man to gain the whole world, at the price of his own soul?
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