Mayor's Office Chickens Out from Walter Moore Phone Tax Radio Debate

Walter Moore reports that he was "un-invited" from a scheduled public radio debate on the phone tax mesaure, Proposition S, at the request of the Mayor's office.

According to Moore radio station KPCC was told representatives of the Mayor's office would not appear on a debate over the measure if Moore were to appear presenting the con side of the argument - even though Walter is the designated opponent in the official City sample ballot!

Their alternate choice? Our own Joseph Mailander, who recently published his own anti-Prop S take in the local fishwrap of record.

What is the Mayor's team afraid of? That Walter would clean their clock? Indeed he would. But so will Joe.

Its also interesting to note that a number of Neighborhood Councils have invited Walter to present his views on Proposition S had recently canceled his appearance at the last minute. Did they receive back room pressure from the Mayor's office? Correction: It was scheduled proponents of Proposition S who cancelled THEIR appearances ostensibly upon hearing of Moore's scheduled appearance. Moore was however allowed to make his presenation and in the cases where the Council in question took a vote on Proposition S, they all voted to oppose the tax measure. Still a number of Neighborhood Councils have endorsed a NO vote on Proposition S including the Northridge West Neighborhood Council, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, the Reseda Neighborhood Council and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. During many of Walter's appearances at such meetings, City staffers would stand up and speak and say "I'm not allowed to campaign for or against Proposition S," following which they would begin to campaign for Measure S.

I saw exactly this myself at the Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council when a representative of the Mayor's office did the very same thing.

Update: I had requested my own Neighborhood Council agendize discussion of Proposition S at it's last meeting and was essentially denied such without securing participation of someone from the Mayor's office to speak in favor of it. Still, a number of Council board members did express their personal opposition to Proposition S and this came from several people who rarely agree with one another on anything.

When you have a Mayor who puts a mis-leading tax increase measure on the ballot, one that will tax your landline, text messages, internet service, etc., runs dishonest television commercials featuring the Chief of Police, illegally uses city staffers to campaign for the measure and then chickens out on a debate, you realize how sad things have become in Los Angeles.

Vote No on Proposition S!