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.)