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Saturday, February 24, 2007

LAUSD Election: A Pricey Puppet Show

The L.A. Times reports that a lawsuit for fraud involving public funds was filed against Villaraigosa puppet candidate Johnathan Williams months ago, but, pursuant to state law regarding such cases, was sealed until now.

Please read the article yourself and form your own opinion. However, based on my quick pre-coffee reading, it doesn't look like fraud at all to me. It looks like, in setting up a school, the founders decided the best way to maximize state funds was to sell to the LAUSD -- rather than donate -- land that had been donated to them. That doesn't trouble me, especially if all proceeds went to the stated purpose, namely, building and operating a school.

Now, what DOES trouble me is the part where the school borrowed money and is behind on its payments. That strikes me as fiscal mismanagement, and is not something you want in a person on a board managing a $7 billion budget. THAT should be the real story.

Also, FYI, Williams never responded to my question about his position on A.B. 1381. You should therefore assume that, if elected, he would vote to dismiss or "settle" the lawsuit in which the Superior Court has ruled that Villaraigosa's partial takeover of the schools would be unconstitutional.

Want some corroborating evidence? How about the fact that the Mayor and his cronies have poured over $1 million into the campaigns of candidates Williams and Galatazan? Click here for details.

The incumbents, moreover, are just as beholden to big money. The UTLA contributed $450,000 to LaMotte's campaign.

Why do you suppose people make huge donations to these candidates' campaigns. Do you think it's because they care about the children? Or do you think it's because they want control over $7 billion of your money?

I, for one, am starting to think Measure L may not be such a bad idea. When you've got out-of-state individuals (from the Wal-Mart family) giving $100,000 to a campaign for a school board position, something is very, very wrong.

And if I lived in the right district, I would vote for Pugliese. Unlike Villaraigosa's puppet, he's qualified for the job. Unlike the incumbent, he cannot be blamed for the current mess. And ulike both of them, he's not beholden to special interests. For what it's worth, consider him endorsed by yours truly. (Hopefully, that will result in a net increase of votes for you Mr. Pugliese, but don't count on it.)

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Duffy must feel like an ass-hole for buying A.V. bull-shit. I hope his union membership recall that idoit.

February 24, 2007 2:19 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

City Attorney Dion o'CONnell tells ZD as he is speaking on LAUSD elections, "The speaker is speaking on something outside City jursidiction."

Exactly Dion! Ya hear that Antonio, your OWN City Attorney agrees with the rest of the world.

Drop the botch scheme and get back to running the City. (Or get started, actually.)

February 24, 2007 3:28 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

the only qualified caqndidate for school board is Jon Louritzen. He is not owned by anyone, he has an outstanding background, he is accessable, he is willing to work with the mayor or anyone who can come up with a good (for all kids) collaborative prolgram. Tamar is a lawyer- period. Louis is a likeable sort of guy but not really have a vision. LET'S NOT FORGET --ALL THIS INTEREST IS ABOUT THE LARGEST PUBLIC BUILDING PROJECT IN CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY..
THE SCHOOLS ARE IMPROVING SLOWLY, WHICH IS AMAZING WHEN SO MANY PARENTS ARE M.I.A., THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT THE ANSWER UNLESS THIS CITY WANTS A TWO TIER PUBLIC ED SYSTEM.

February 24, 2007 10:19 PM  

Blogger Walter Moore said:

Pugliese is qualified.

He was a teacher, and now trains teachers at CSU.

February 25, 2007 10:42 PM  

Blogger Walter Moore said:

The reason the schools don't improve is the only parents who send their kids there are the ones who can't afford private school or don't care.

I would be very interested to see a calculation of how many students would disappear if we deported all illegal aliens. Assuming every two illegal aliens produces x kids, and there are y illegal aliens, solve for z, the number of kids here produced by illegal aliens...

February 25, 2007 10:44 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

My daughter is exceptionally intelligent and has always been a high achiever academically. Because we are white Americans, I cannot get her into a decent high school. Magnets are an integration program- I thought affirmative action was illegal?- and the better schools have no openings. Magnets have transportation- so illegals get transportation and not Americans? The LAUSD would like to lower standards so even illegals can do well- what about them destroying the education of high-achieving white American students? There would be plenty of room if the illegals were not allowed to rob American children of an education. Many many families choose private and have to spend exhorbitant amounts because the public schools are being unfair. It's like I have to move to another state for my daughter to go to a good school- just like illegals coming to LA for the same reason. It's no wonder the middle class has fled, there is no hope for Americans in LAUSD- or even LA anymore.

March 11, 2008 12:43 PM  

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