Lazy Saturday: blogbits and open thread
Fifteen Minutes of Fame: After relatively unknown Azteca America running back Alicia Unger was handchecked out of bounds yesterday by Port Police defensive back Kevin McCloskey, she opened her own bizarre press event with:I think [the police] are violating our rights once again.
Violating your rights? Since when are police orders optional? Oh, of course—since MacArthur Park. Time to call Luis Carrillo!
Safer Streets: LAist notes that a new traffic signal has been installed on that notorious stretch of Hyperion near Trader Joe’s in Silverlake.
Caption Me: TJ Sullivan wants you to caption his cell-cam photo of Mayor Villaraigosa chatting on the phone in Westwood Village—but keep it clean, okay? Here’s my entry: Mayor Villaraigosa chats on the phone in Westwood Village.
Party Pooper: In light of recent news surrounding self-proclaimed pedophile Jack McClellan, Daily News columnist/blogger Bridget Johnson warns you not to take any chances with that “happy family” sticker on the back of your SUV.
Further bulletins as events warrant.
Labels: alicia unger, blogbits, mayor antonio villaraigosa
Posted by solomon @ 8/04/2007 02:43:00 PM
38 Comments:
Good description of that little Unger woman, runningback. Too bad she was playing in the wrong game.
Tell Janice Hahn and Bitter Bernie that they're barking up the wrong tree, leading a charge against the cops/ Port Police, instead of into why reporters (the old term newshounds is really more apt) are not required to follow laws, even regarding Homaland Security safety clearance, not to mention, why are they allowed to imperil the well- being of our public officials and cops by harassing/chasing them?
If a mob of average citizens were to charge the Mayor and provoke a confrontatin w/ the cops like that, we'd all be arrested for disorderly conduct, at a minimum.
Why does the press think it's exempt? Are they really so urgently important to the general public? What did they want to ask, anyway: for the umpeenth time, something AV already replied to: How he feels about the Salinas sentencing, etc.
Meanwhile ignoring the subject of the "news conference," the reason they were THEE at the port. They could have harassed him about Salinas right at City Hall. This puts the cabosh on any rumors that they serve any "public interest."
They jump into altercations in order to promote themselves as news "personalities." If you're too fugly to sleep with the Mayor, harass him and provoke the cops.
Is this spectacle going to continue until AV tells us whether he's going to marry Salinas, or dump her? That seems to be what the hounds want, but it could be months... How the hell can the guy even make a rational decision about that, under the circumstances?
Meanwhile, his staff tries in vain to continue with business as usual, but I blame the press and public who want tabloid trash talk instead of what's good for the city, for that.
And Fabian Nunez, who sold him out and US in Sacramento, by stealing the gas tax so vital to AV's agenda and the future of L A, all while the Mayor is in trouble over Nunez own former squeeze, operates on his merry sleazy way with no scrutiny at all.
All because sleazebag Nunez decides that this is a good time for him to ready a run for Mayor of our pueblo, and the public is too stupid to see that the guy who stiffed us on public transport, and sold out labor to the anti-labor Indian casinos who want to expand (were threatening to lobby against the extended term limits he wants), is NOT exactly a model of virtue.
He just had better timing: dumped Salinas into the Mayor's lap, went back to his wife, and got her a very cush #125K/yr. city-paid job, when she has no qualifications.
Hey, dumpy little Unger woman: why don't you take your tactics over Nunez' way, shine a light on something that really matters?
3:32, have you come across a link or press release re: the comments by Janice and Bernie? I searched this morning and couldn't find anything.
The Mexican press in L A, Texas and elsewhere has never pretended to be an objective source of news.
They have operated to influence opinion in favor of management, which in turn is beholden to their bosses in Mexico, the fat elite who have only contempt for the low-class illiterates they send up to America.
They don't want to provide decent wages, standards of living or education for the hordes in Mexico, knowing that if they get pushed up here, our white-man's liberal guilt complex will give them free education, hospital care, and even feed them (most of their schoolkids are on foodstamps or fed-subsidized lunches), and now the illegals are even demanding equal access to college scholarships and perks that middle- class whites can't often get.
This whole mess with Salinas shows that the whole Spanish media was shocked that its dirty little secret became public, and they had to actually pretend some ethics in journalism. If they weren't part of NBC Universal, but independent, we'd have probably seen even less accountability or openness in how and why they made their decisions.
The management at Telemundo knew and encouraged Salinas and the rest to operate as P R outlets for officials they considred favorable to their cause.
Now that they are finding AV an embarassment, they want someone who is more acceptable to the Mexican establishment, and not tied to wealthy white and Jewish money. Someone they can totally own. So now, they feel it's in their best interests to have slimy P R people/ actresses like Unger, fuel the fire under pretext of free speech. The Mexican elite have always known how to maniuplate us by using our higher ideals -- ideals they don't share, and which don't exist in Mexico.
A W 4:15: It's not official yet, keep looking...can't say more.
Thanks & will do.
3:39: don't forget that Nunez is also kissing butt to Arnold, who's a big supporter of expanding Indian gaming and tapping all that money. So he's sold out labor and the hotel workers union which gave him his start, in favor of Indians and -- he hopes -- the people who support Arnold, including whites.
They plead for "social justice" for Indians, who are anti-labor, and hence, anti- Mexican. Nunez is going to realize that by losing his Mexican base, he's in trouble. Especially with AV's supporters, and he still has pletny, furious at his back-stabbing. Things will get messy.
Please watch those 2 NBC video clips posted by Antonio Watch:
Antonio Watch said:
2:30, there are two clips. This one shows the activity leading up to the incident. This one only shows the chase and shove, …..
August 03, 2007 2:34 PM
http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=139022
http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=139092
Please pay special attention to the first 3 or 4 secons of the second video.
That is the smoking gun!
http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=139092
The police line was obviously formed just to delay the reporters from catching up with the departing mayor.
When the mayor had walked away far enough and that other walking reporters and cameramen probably couldn't catch the mayor, the police seemed to have given permission to the reporters to go forward then.
That is evidenced by another reporters saying "Let's go" and "Thanks" to the police in the first 3 or 4 seconds of the second video clip.
Both Alicia Unger, the reporter, and Kevin McCloskey, the port police, were right there. They must both have heard the same thing (that the reporters could move forward now).
The police were actually walking together with the reporters at this point. The police were not blocking the reporters.
It was when Alicia Unger started running, and that Kevin McCloskey might think that she could probably catch up with the major by running, that he shoved her to the container!
It is obvious that the police must have received order to shield the mayor from the reporters after the mayor spoke.
4:27, you're right - that is odd. Looks as though they were allowing the reporters to proceed, but not out of turn.
The Times did report that the sudden rush happened after the cops "broke ranks" from the virtual line they had formed against the reporters. There was NO intent to suddenly let them pass not to mention into a secured area, but the press, being as bloodthirsty as they are, seized the moment. All this shows is that the police movements were NOT as carefully planned as they could have been; they certainly had no way of knowing that by breaking ranks, the mob would surge ahead.
They seemed to think their job of protecting the Mayor was done. It is ludicrous to think or claim that the cops were giving permission for the mob to surge into the secure area and compromise the Mayor's security.
Other than unruly kids on a playground, what other mob would do such a thing? They behaved more like anti-establishment war protesters, than grown-ups or journalists.
The main regret of the cops must be that they ever broke ranks.
Please excuse my language.
Secured area my asxx !!!
It is the same general area where MAV gave the press conference to the reporters. How could it suddenly become a secured area for the reporters? The reporters didn't try to climb any fence.
The main regret of the cops must be that they ever broke ranks.
Nobody is blaming any cops here.
Please don't try to pit the cops and reporters against each other.
The blame is squarely on MAV and his office.
MAV was the highest ranking official at the scene (or off the scene) - Commander in Chief so to speak.
He was in sight.
If he didn't actually see it, he must have been reported the incident within a minute if not seconds, before driving off.
He didn't think off stopping and facing the situation?
Hit and Run?
Channel 9 or 11 reported last night that the embezzle Janic Hahn has asked for a full investigation. Yeah right didn't Janice assault a security officer at the Century Plaza during a protest? Yes she did. I love how the cops do their job and they're the ones in trouble. That little spanish reporter who kept the the MAJOR because her language the pronounce the y as a j. Even after the port officer simply put up his arm she ran into the container she still was aggressive insisting to go talk with him. And that whuss of a man Eric Spillman telling the port police aren't we allowed to speak to the mayor. Did you all see Antonio in front of a bunch of gang bangers at city hall today? Yup, his kind of people. Antonio had the nerve to answer Laura Erickson's question how many times does a sinner get forgivness. What a fucking moron!! To make it seem as if Antonio is doing his job he put out a press release saying he will bus the poor kids from Miguel Contreas school to Griffth Park and Glassell park cause the pool at the school is closed. IDIOT!!!! OPEN THE DAMN POOL LAME ASS
4:16
Good points. The corrupt, shameless, hypocritical Mexican elite will never reform as long as they can send their peasants to the US.
One of these days Hahn is going to hurt herself straddling the fence the way she does. And is she single and the men she dates, are they single?
5:47: Again, sigh...The Contreras pool is deep all around, no shallow end as required for public pools, especially those with kids. That was designed only for older school kids, and for training in competitive swimming. NO WAY should a bunch of illiterate throngs and taco street vendors who can't swim be allowed to cram in there; even the adults can't swim, and have no common sense when it comes to water safety.
Plus, some kids who go to the school worry gangs would trash the place, and it's brand-new, built at our expense.
The Beverly Hills high school pool is only open to adults and camps under limited circumstances, which is why it's been pristine for over 60 years. There is NO right for the unwashed hordes to get their baths in city pools NOT designed for them.
I'm p o'd, though, that the Mayor caved at all: they should have taken the bus to the other pools, no need for special buses we're paying for. And allowing kids 7 and over to travel and swim away from home without an adult accompanying them, is unprecedented in my experience at public OR private pools, a huge liability waiting to happen.
Maybe the Unger woman can send some kids to pretend to drown, call a press conference with her as star, and sue the city. Or, if lifeguards tell the little buggers to follow rules, they'll rush them and create an altercation and sue.
Maybe these are some questions that legitimate reporters may want to confront MAV with that don’t involve his affair with Salinas but does deal with his primary campaign objective, clean and open government;
1. What are you doing in light of the fact that one of your appointed commissioners overseeing the LA City Convention Center has been indicted on RICO charges? Wasn’t one of your main platforms during your election campaign was to stop purported “pay to play” actions by city commissioners?
2. Why did your attorney insist on a private review of ethics charges against you? Didn’t you campaign on open government? Didn’t you state several times that you had reviewed your campaign funding during your last mayoral run? How did these charges escape you? Do you think it’s fair that your fines be reduced so dramatically? Isn’t that setting precedence for future fine reductions when people are found guilty of campaign fraud?
3. Recent reports have indicated that the Housing Authority has recently funneled several contracts to frequent campaign contributors in East Los Angeles using fraudulent bids to portray fair and legally required competition. How could this happen in light of your stated strong resolve to stop “pay to play” practices? Are you planning to take any action?
4. Why haven’t you complied with the request to review your electronic messages? Isn’t one of your main priorities as Mayor is to commit to “open” government? Have you changed your mind in the last two years about this commitment?
5. The city controller has decided to hire a registered lobbyist, and one of your recent former employees, to consult with her on auditing priorities. Isn’t that in conflict with your commitment to keep lobbyists out of City Hall operations? Do you support her actions? Would you take similar measures?
6. Didn’t you state that a major advantage of your candidacy was your openness to the press? Why is it that you are now so closely protected from the press by armed police during press conferences? Is it true that all questions to you must be reviewed by you and your PR staff days in advance? Would you please provide us a copy of that policy?
The problem is not with the police doing their job. The problem is with the Mayor failing to do what he said he would do.
4:27 PM
Thanks for the play-by-play, but isn't it rather obvious that the police would be ordered to corral the press and keep them at bay? Does anyone think they thought that up on their own and just acted independently?
It is funny to watch though, all that press who would never touch Villar in a negative way are suddenly being shunned and are going for blood! Big Love, you need to be careful swimming with sharks, they can turn on you real quick and I hope they catch you in time for dinner!
I know. I know. People who complain about the Mayor are “losers” and “ugly”. They are also jealous because Villar is a winner and sooooo good looking and sexy. Who cares about whether he does his job as Mayor or not? He is going to be Governor and maybe even President so he shouldn’t waste too much time here. He needs to be in Miami, San Antonio, or D.C. He’s sooooo dreamy. Everybody loves him, except this stupid blog. Who cares about his habits, his education, or his lack of accomplishment? Did you know that when he was Speaker his major accomplishment was to allow breastfeeding in public? That’s soooo cool.
Look, you losers need to shut up and get in line soon, because he’s going somewhere fast. Don’t think so? Look what happened to Lil’ Bush? He has his own TV show too, just like Tony on Telemundo. I’m part of the political elite of Los Angeles. I know reporters and developers and union people and everything and I know they think just like me. We don’t care about whether he actually performs on the job as long as he performs on the “speaker circuit”, you know what I mean?
So you losers just need to shut up! You’re not helping anyone, that’s our job and we get paid well at the non-profits and as consultants. We run Los Angeles, not you! Trujillo got over $100 per vote, how about you? You guys are racists, homeless, stinky, ugly, dumb, and gutless.
Give up already, I’m already late for my Clinton fundraiser! See you there Ace, or, I guess you’ll just see and hear me on those monitors and bugs you like to use. Tootles!
You think everyone who thinks the AV- haters are slime necessary endorse him? Not so, but slime is slime, as the reporters and that Unger woman showed. There has been a general decline into the toilet recently with the WAY in which this issue has been covered, ignoring facts and anything of relevance to our city in the public's and reporters' quest for blood.
The whole chase has become insane, literally.
California Penal Code 148 which provides that everyone must obey the lawful order of a police officer has no exeception for press, ugly or not.
If she's smart, she'll clam up and forget it, otherwise, she'll be charged as a defense manuever.
She was wrong, and she will pay the price for being ugly.
"Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing Officer
148. (a) (1) Every person who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer, peace officer, or an emergency medical technician, as defined in Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797) of the Health and Safety Code, in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment, when no other punishment is prescribed, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment."
Good Call, OWK....
9:29 PM
AND she can barely speak english intelligibly ... that means we all know where SHE needs to go!
Villar as guv and maybe prez. Thanks for the laugh!!
Middle America and taxpaying citizens will never accept this mediocre (at best), ethnocentric, philandering clown.
Doesn't Federal First Amendement law under the constitution say that the press has the right to assemble and gather for press and photography?
If the mayor want's to hide from the press and voters, have him hide in private places.
He should read Sun Tzu to realize he should have used it as an opportunity to run some effective communication patterns on the media.
Ugly Unger speaks no English, but she rehearsed one line, over and over, as is clear from how she ran right up to McCloskey without losing a beat;
"Why did you push me, why, why, why?"
Apart from the fact that she and the entire lot of bloodthirsty wolves are obliged to obey the law, like someone else detailed on this blog, the Mexican Media is NOT "journalism" but political theatre.
Oh, no, the idiot speaks! This blog was becoming almost rational, until a certain ugly head in cap and sunglasses emerged to squash reason into the ground and scream about Sun Tzu, as he does about other populists he can't understand.
HELP, Mayor Sam, HELP!!!!
The Port incident shows that some L.A. official may now prefer to have the Soviet, or communist Cuba style "news" conference. Just an one way communique, nothing other than the dictator's propaganda, avoiding or disallowing any reporter questions.
But no reporters in this country, English or Spanish speaking, would entertain such an idea.
...omg, have you missed the entire Bush Administration?
Definitely hard to pick sides on this fight. The press are bloodsuckers and I know a few I definitely would like to punch out. Why can't I punch out a reporter who writes a bad story about my wife? Don't think I can get away with it without doing some time. ... This episode shows the true side of the mayor and his posse. The mayor goes nowhere "including Phoenix" without a huge posse. The mayor likes to intimidate his adversaries and abuse his power. This is more evidence. I hope the media will now take a few shots to get even. I guess I'll just have to watch this heavyweight fight for the entertainment. The mayor will get away with it because the people behind Villaraigosa are also behind the media. Man, it would be great to see a battle between the mayor and the media. Who would win? Rocky must be partying hard tonight!
Why didn't I see this sooner?
Ugly little Unger woman, with her ugly heavy black hair, and baldy Zuma (no wonder he's in love with Zine), attacking whitey. FIND YOUR BLISS.
Hey, folks, reminder that Fabian is a "protege" of Antonio, that they are fellow travelers, both driven by unlimited AMBITION, with success to be achieved at virtually any cost. And that Antonio has "mentored" his buddy through the various steps in Fabian's career. Sure seems like we have birds of a feather here....
Antonio is no Rudy Guiliani. He has become the joke of the nation. Hey reporter who loves him so much why aren't you asking the hard ball questions? Mattszabo who needs to get fired because he doesn't know media crisis techniques is making things worst. Ask these questions:
Mayor what do you think of the corruption of the Housing Authority in your old district?
Mayor what do you think about Laura Chick's report filled with lies and inaccuracies on Playa Vista?
Mayor what do you think about parolees being hired to train pit bulls at the academy in South LA?
Mayor why did you hire a gang zar who doesn't know the city or for that matter where the gang problems are in LA?
Mayor what are doing about traffic since you didn't go to Sacramento and fight for LA's share of money and because of that they lost out millions?
Mayor what are you doing to get the federal gov't to give LA its share of Homeland Security money that they again decreased yet LA is #1 Al Queada target because of LAX?
I think the fact that the "press" are finally going after corrupt, lying politicians is FABULOUS! The more aggressive they get, the better! It is long overdue and far, far better than pandering to them and playing their game and allowing them to hide their corruption and lies. Politicians SHOULD fear exposure.
The only problem with this specific situation is that it has been attempted to place blame unfairly on the cops. That woman reporter and the others knew the police were ordered to hold them back. She decides to make a run for a gate to gain access, then gets pushed out of the way by one of the cops, in THAT instance she has nothing to complain about, the cop was doing his job.
I don't even blame her for making an aggressive attempt to get at her story, but stop blaming the cops who were only doing what they were told to do! Blame the order-givers, not the order-followers.
"Caption Me: TJ Sullivan wants you to caption his cell-cam photo of Mayor Villaraigosa chatting on the phone in Westwood Village—but keep it clean, okay? Here’s my entry: Mayor Villaraigosa chats on the phone in Westwood Village."
Too much trouble to caption it over there. How about:
"Mirthie, Fabian's got 2:00? Okay, book me in at 2:30"
3:59 a.m.: Fabian USED to be a protege of Antonio, but now he wants to run for his job as Mayor, screwing him big-time. Started with stealing the gas tax which he knew Antonio was counting on to continue mass transit programs, central to his agenda. See all the detailed posts, PREVIOUS two threads.
That's why Antonio didn't go to state for one thing -- figured his bud was there saving his ass, not kicking him on it.
1:07 PM
Don't you just love it when the scum turns on each other to back stab and devour?!?!?
Ha Ha Ha! As the ship sinks, the rats will really be scurrying and biting!
A cop pushing a tiny female does not look good in TV.
But, if you can not stand the heat than get out of the kitchen and find a new job.
The Mayor can be an idiot here and there. However, he will survive and those enjoying his blunders are just dreaming if they think his career is over.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home