I Didn't Watch The Speech
I probably should have watched it. I guess I should have spent a lot of time like other blogs previewing it. And then I should have spent a whole bunch of time to take it apart.But I just don't care. What's the point? Same old spin. Same old song and dance. Same old lies.
I asked a few folks to give me their thoughts; unknown to me at the time I asked, Joseph Mailander had already did the same and posted some great takes on it.
Joe himself was not impressed. Not that I expected him to be. He told me "I don't believe it. This speech takes for granted that nobody who might be watching actually follows local politics."
Zuma Dogg: "The only thing noteworthy is that there was nothing noteworthy. The only other thing worth mentioning, is that Villar admitted Million Trees L.A. is a failure. I was tired and cranky so maybe I didn't give it the focus...but I didn't really hear anything inspiring or representing a breakthrough."
Nina Royal, Publisher, North Valley Reporter: "The financial crunch was bound to happen because L.A. kept spending as though we had a bottomless well of money. Cuts should start at the top because the Mayor, the Council and all department leaders and commissions have failed to perform. They wouldn't survive in a private corporation, as Trump would say, you didn't get the job done, you're fired!"
Everyone else I asked: "Didn't see it yet. Is it online or is there a transcript?"
Wow. How significant.
Labels: joseph mailander, mayor antonio villaraigosa, zuma dogg
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 4/15/2008 05:00:00 AM
45 Comments:
In a culture where 80% of incoming college freshman can't point out Iraq on a map or globe and a comparable number of people don't seem to think there's any value in knowing where Iraq is, why should we be surprised that MS posters don't understand that local elected officials didn't cause the entire national real estate market to implode and thus create massive budget deficits at every level of government?!
We can "fire" as many local electeds as we choose next year and none of that is going to change. We'll subject the next wave of officials to just as much ignorant reaction and commentary and no one will be any better for any of it.
5:40 you are so full of shit. Real estate markets fluctuate. No one is blaming them for the slump. We're blaming them for spending money like it would always be there. Dip shit.
Villaraigosa has been taking public speaking lessons from Sergeant Schultz, Hogan's Heroes.
From Villaraigosa's speech, it's apparent that his management staff has been also learning from Schultz... I know nathing, I know nathing. (commenter 5:40 must be a Villaraigosa staffer)
Didn't the Mayor say something esoteric about having a dialogue around issues like Jamiel Shaw? It was in such cloaked language, I don't think he really said anything except, "let's not get too excited about deporting anyone, we're going to talk it out and everything will be hunky dory." Even his admittance of failure was a failure though. Re the trees, he should have said, "It was an unrealistic idea, plus we have no water to help a million trees grow, therefore I'm going to end the program and TRY to water the ones we already planted." The speech was BORING, his backdrop of cops was PHONY, and having the camera pan in on the sycophantic councilmembers was nauseating. Unfortunately (or fortunately), my girlfriend wanted to watch Dancing With the Stars, so Antonio got bumped....
PLEASE KEEP MONICA GARCIA AWAY FROM THE FRONT!!!
Catch phrases that added up to empty verbage of content.
No more BRIDGES means no more BRIDGES AUDIT??
Lackluster production.
From the "BOOK OF CLICHES"
The Book of Clichés lists phrases to say in times of trouble in a number of categories. It all started when I was in an unpleasant situation for a while, and found myself saying things like listed here, apparently in order to convince myself of something. I was not sure if it helped, but I realized that there are phrases for most of the painful situations. So I put some of them together and published them on my website.
Since The Book of Clichés first appeared on the internet in late 1996, it has grown into one of the classic cliché-sites and has won numerous internet awards.
Many people have contributed by sending me clichés. Thank you all. Look here for a list of contributors.
I am just physically unable to tolerate watching Tony V's mouth move.
It's the way his flashing white teeth move up and down - much like strobe lights can - they may cause me to get a migraine.
We can "fire" as many local electeds as we choose next year and none of that is going to change. We'll subject the next wave of officials to just as much ignorant reaction and commentary and no one will be any better for any of it.
April 15, 2008 5:40 AM
Brilliant! Of course nothing will change...unless we have re-districting and 4 year term limits for everyone! No more musical chairs in city council and Sacramento! No more career "Politicians"! We need a clean sweep!
CA local and state government is a kleptocracy! Villar squandered the largest property tax revenue in the history of LA...and left us with a huge deficit to boot! Our taxes have NEVER been higher, and we are paying the morons the highest salary in the country to spend all of their time devising new methods of taxation...
Fire the Gang of 15 downtown, and require an IQ test, BA degree, background check, and business resume from future candidates. We don't need to spend our taxpayer dollars for people like Jan Perry to have a private tutor on company time...to learn Spanish!
The speech was tightly-scripted, the delivery appeared to be highly- rehearsed. Result, though, could not mask the fact that this guy ain't no orator....
The booming real estate market for the last decade has just covered up underlying problems to control spesnding, like that the healthcare system has been going bust since then. Karen Sisson even said so, and Arnold could see it in 05 when he was refused a mandate to control spending. These problems became huge across the board when the illegals became a critical mass.
The Mayor did mention how L A has the smallest middle class in the country. Yet no one in office gets what that means: they've been replaced by masses of the poor who can't make up for the tax base.
On a national level, the spending on Iraq, becoming debtors to China, Singapore and Dubai has driven down the dollar and that's a factor too. Nationally the immigration problem isn't as significant, but here, they're 2/3 the schools, all kids, healthcare users. Illegals alone are 1/3 our criminals, there are many more legal immigrant criminals like LaEme. So Cal's collapse has been the most extreme and fast.
This comes as we're no longer a manufacturing country and can't use these uneducated masses.
Since all Antonio knows how to do is tax the hell out of us now is the time for Valley sessession. Go for it now. Antonio is a complete and utter failure as Mayor. People didn't even clap like they did last year. The puppets in the front row even looked bored. The poor cops on the stage made weird faces throughout as if they didn't want to be there and knew they were being used.
Excellent analysis, 8:48 a.m. !
I can't believe Villar actually had the chutzpah to say that LA has the smallest middle class in the Nation!!! Actually, I think he was BRAGGING! He was sending a not-so-subtle message to his amigos, Fox and Calderon..."MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"! The Gringos are gone!
I can't help but think that even Mexico is embarrassed about the first Mexican mayor of LA!
...Aides said Villaraigosa will formally announce plans to seek re-election this fall, but he already has launched a committee to begin fundraising. David Diaz, a former professor at California State University, Northridge, who now heads the Urban Studies Program at CSU Los Angeles, said Villaraigosa needs to continue focusing on details and concentrating on being mayor in the years ahead.
"If he does plan on running for governor, the best thing he could do is prove he is a good mayor," Diaz said. "That means not running all over the country and campaigning for other people, but sticking to the problems here."
"I think he needs a smaller agenda that he can deliver on," said Diaz. "In some ways, he's a victim of his own expectations. There is this sense that he runs from crisis to crisis and doesn't really solve them. He has to stick to one issue and deliver on it."
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD VOTE FOR THIS CLOWN AGAIN. THE CITY IS IN THE WORST SHAPE IN THE HISTORY OF LA WITH HIM AS MAYOR AND HE THINKS HE CAN GET ANOTHER TERM. HELLLL NOOOO
5:40 I think you have some valid points. What remedy do you suggest? Don't we have the best city officials that MONEY CAN BUY?
Are you saying that Real Estate is the culprit and cause for the city's deficit?
Is that the reason we keep bleeding the DWP for the General Fund until our infrasture is so weak that we are fined on a daily basis by the Feds for overflow into the ocean and this has been going on for years, before and during the real estate. boon. The money the city receives from the DWP should have been used to upgrade and repair our systems. Whose fault is that?
Whose fault is it that the developers run this town and the city never collects it's fair share monies and basically gives away the store?
Whose fault is it the the city claims they want to go "Green" but is very liberal with enforcement of laws on tree removal. Nor do they require developers to put in water conservation systems in new residential or commercial developments
Whose fault is it that the city rolls over at any mention of a lawsuit and many of their cases are contracted out to private attorneys?
Whose faul is it that LA was declared a sanctuary city for ILLEGALS and it is out of conrol and city officals don't want to deal with it?
Whose fault is it that LA has always had the least amount of cops for a city its' size, then raisesThen the next thing we hear is they want to use it for something else.
Whose fault is it that the bond issues passed, in I think it was 1985, to build the LAPD Mission Station disappeared and then they proceeded to pat themselves on the back for "finding" money to build the Mission Station approximatly
20 years later, at what cost increase?
Where does our money really go?
I have more questions that need answers but I don't have any more time to waste.
No, I didn't watch Villarbarbosa's speech. I could rightly give two shits about anything that comes out of that man's mouth.
I decided instead to watch something more closely based in reality than that photo op: we popped in a dvd of "enchanted" for the girl to watch. way more real.
xoxo
This shows how ignorant and stupid these organizations are. These are the same idiots who had the illegals carry Mexican flags last year. They dont' want LAPD to deport illegal gang bangers. MORONS!!!
...Immigrant rights-groups assail proposed changes in Special Order 40...Several immigrant rights groups Monday decried proposed changes in Special Order 40 to target illegal immigrants in criminal gangs, saying any move to change the rule in such a way would single out minorities and weaken civil liberties.
Members of the Mexican American Political Association, Labor Community Strategy Center and Hermandad Mexicana said the long-standing rule has been effective in encouraging immigrants to report crimes, and existing laws are sufficient to deal with criminals.
Get that cd 14 whore out of office send his criminal pimps back to mexico and take that weezhar, and that sleezar Maria Del angel with them. These illegals are shooting at our police they want to go home to their families after work just like you do. everyday they show up to protect the citizens and more and more end up just trying to stay alive. I ask you black gangs to step back and let the police do their jobs don't give them anything extra to deal with these illegals are a hand full.
I hate to mention this topic because I know what always happens, but ... Hopefully this thread is moderated.
Cat and dog euthanasia in the city animal shelters is up 13% over 2006 when Villaraigosa hired his buddy Ed Boks. This guy was supposed to be nokill but now he's morekill. Comparing first quarter 2006 to same in 2008.
Cat and dog intake is up by 20% over 2006. We're now back to almost 2003 intake levels. Intake had been going down for over a decade and now it's up. Some may be due to foreclosure market but the rest is due to programs instituted by the current Director.
Last year Ed Boks refused to take in the animals most likely to be euthanized, i.e. kittens and feral cats. These animals are also the most likely to procreate. Now their babies are pouring into the shelter along with the parents.
Boks did increase adoptions but decreasing intake through spay and neuter and decreasing euthanasia are the main goals. No one can adopt their way out of this problem.
Did the Mayor improve anything during his first three years? I can't believe I voted for him.
I have to say that I'm shocked, Higby:
1. You run a blog called "The HOME of LA Politics"
2. You don't watch the Mayor's state of the city, REGARDLESS of your apathy.
3. You pay more attention to Neil Patrick Harris comments about Britney Spears.
Talk about someone needing to be fired! Look in the mirror, bro.
I just said on another thread that I don't mind profanity at all but I hate name calling.
Here is a perfect example of what I meant.
6:23 AM - Why couldn't you have posted your fucking post without starting by saying the poster is full of shit and ending by calling them a dip shit. Don't you have other words to express yourself? You're anonymous and so was the poster you were responding to, so name-calling is so unnecessary.
That speech was about Villaraigosa moving money. That's all he's doing. No great plan or vision. And was I the only one who thought "Aint no Mountain High Enough song was the lamest thing to end the speech with. People in the audience were actually laughing when it started playing. Where's Huggy Bear when we need him. Anyone running for Mayor would beat this clown we now have.
Nina Sez ""The financial crunch was bound to happen because L.A. kept spending as though we had a bottomless well of money."
But It is a bottomless well of money. It always have been. 25,000 city employees not including fire and police and some 700 will be let go! City employee pay and retirement are sucking the life out of this city. That is the sole reason we are having a budget problems. We could easily do without 60% of them. and we get stuck for more trash fees. Damn them to hell!!
8:42-
I think that your qualifications for city council are wrong.
They should have term limits. 2 terms max or they should have to be able to get more than 70% of the vote to get a third term in case there is one we really like.
These jobs are overpaid, without a doubt. They should have forced pay cuts, whether it's in this crisis or not.
They are supposed to be average citizens though. Public servants there to do what the constituents want them to do.
Pull out the money that they need to raise to win. For example, nobody who is running for one of the 15 seats should be allowed to raise more than $5000. Then the only way they could get name recognition is by knocking on the doors of the residents in their districts, which is how they should be getting votes anyway. Not because they had more fliers, or bigger billboards, or commercials on television.
They don't need BA's, background checks or IQ tests. It's a popularity contest and they should be elected based on who will do the best job for the people who voted for them and live next door to them.
They also need to give up some of that officeholder account money and send it back to the general fund.
Watched 10-15 minutes of the late-night rerun of the speech and just couldn't go on. He was going on about how with the budget cuts that those left behind would just learn to get more done and provide better service.
PLEASE! STOP! Even the city employees in the audience looked like he'd just told them the biggest lie they'd ever heard.
I know the liberal democrats go nuts when anyone suggests there's a less capable politician in America today then George Bush. Hey. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor is by far dumber and less polished in public speaking than Bush. AV has just learned to smile through his stumbling so that people get all warm and cuddly while they're not hearing anything new. And, he's accomlished nothing -- as mayor of councilmember.
And as far as "wartime" records, the only "surge" that's working in the streets of L.A. is AGAINST us, BY the terrorist gangbangers.
You are so wrong.
Antonio Villaraigosa will be our next mayor. Get used to it.
1:34
That's an interesting prediction.
Who's our mayor now, by the way?
Getting "used to it" isn't really the problem. The problem is we have gotten "used to" having mayors who can't finish a project, keep the streets safe, or deliver on promises. We're so stinkin' used to it the majority don't bother to vote anymore, because they know nothing's going to change.
And the result is we keep electing under-achievers and over-liars.
What you really mean is "be happy about it."
Sorry, ain't never gonna be happy about getting screwed by the new guy the same way as the old guy (all the while being charged more for the "pleasure").
Here's the spin from inside. The full text is also online (although not at the link that says "State of the City" address -- of course!):
www.lacity.org/mayor/myrspeeches/mayormyrspeeches280952161_04142008.pdf
--------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2008
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA DELIVERS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
As the centerpiece of his third budget, Mayor Villaraigosa unveils his plan to consolidate gang reduction and youth services in his office under Reverend Jeff Carr and fully fund 1,000 new police officers
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivered his third State of the City address today, detailing his comprehensive reorganization of how the City delivers gang reduction and youth services to provide clear lines of oversight, accountability and performance measures.
The Mayor’s budget will also fully fund his commitment to put 1,000 new police officers on Los Angeles streets by 2010.
Mayor Villaraigosa’s comprehensive reorganization will consolidate the City's leading gang prevention and intervention programs into the Mayor’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office.
This consolidated approach will target gang reduction services in the City’s most violent neighborhoods through Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones (GRYD zones) created by Mayor Villaraigosa last year. Since their creation, a concentration of policing efforts has resulted in reducing gang crime in the zones by more than double the City
average.
The Mayor’s plan also calls for an expansion in the number of GRYD zones from 8 to 12 and increases the funding for services in these zone by nearly 60 percent, complementing his historic investment in the Los Angeles Police Department.
The plan will invest $1.5 million in prevention and intervention spending in each gang reduction zone and proposes the creation of a citywide Gang Crisis Response team – similar to the Gang Victim Services model in Orange County – which will provide a full range of services and support to victims and survivors of gang violence.
Mayor Villaraigosa’s State of the City address also outlined his administration’s efforts over the last three years to lay a foundation for a more prosperous future for the City of Los Angeles.
Taking office 33 months ago, Mayor Villaraigosa charted an ambitious course pledging to grow the police force to a historic 10,000 officers, confront the crisis in our public schools, work to make LA the greenest city, relieve traffic gridlock and champion a growth in jobs, businesses and affordable housing.
With foundations laid and progress made to confront each one of these critical challenges, Mayor Villaraigosa declared the state of Los Angeles is stronger today – and growing stronger.
Attached is an outline of the Villaraigosa Administration initiatives, along with the full text of the Mayor’s State of the City address.
# # #
Contact: Janelle Erickson, Matt Szabo and Jazmin Ortega
(213) 978-0741
He is talking about charging the actual cost of trash collection. Then only charge me for the one can every two week i put out, not the four per week my neighbor does.
As an employee and constituent of the City of Los Angeles I am appalled by the ARV’s scare tactic comments regarding our current financial situation followed by his gang reduction master plan which ultimately means more City spending. The need for police officers is apparent, as well as the need for essential services such as street and trash services, but really, is there a need to keep parks open until midnight? Staffing recreation centers into the late night hours will no doubt cause the centers to be a gathering place for thugs rather than a safe haven for kids on the straight and narrow. (Any “good” kids you know hanging out in the parks after dark?).
The funny thing is I am a self-proclaimed bleeding heart. I wish LA was a City that could gather together as a community to keep our youth and our streets safe, but that is not the case. I can’t justify this kind of spending when I am privy to all the ways the City wastes money on a daily basis. The waste is not just in the amount of Blackberrys or City owned vehicles being used for personal use, the waste comes in the form of useless meetings and staff “retreats” (which the Mayor’s staff participate in), inefficient dissemination of information sent via email and followed by hard copies sent via the City’s mail service.
The waste is evident in the time spent on unfounded employee grievances that actually reach the level of Assistant/General Manager…. this one is especially annoying. Trust me when I say I love being unionized and having civil service protection, but I am also an employee with a work ethic, so in my 12+ years with the City, I have never filed a grievance. I find it quite amusing that ARV said they were going to reexamine the City structure and hold Departments accountable with performance measures. Really? And what will the penalty/consequence be for not meeting performance expectations? Is the Mayor going to do away with a Department in its entirety if it’s not meeting his “goals”? Bottom line is City government is what it is; no hour long speech is going to shed light or make change. Tony likes hearing himself speak especially in front of staged photo ops. C’est la vie, I get a paycheck every other Wednesday regardless of the “State of the City”.
Someone eloquently mentioned:
"And as far as "wartime" records, the only "surge" that's working in the streets of L.A. is AGAINST us, BY the terrorist gangbangers."
In the time of Moses and the wrath of God was upon the land, the chosen people marked their houses with lamb's blood. I wonder how the cholo apologists and gang violence naysayers will mark their abodes. It may behoove one to know. In the spirit of the new PC mode i'll leave it at that..
Heard Antonio's poll numbers are in the craper these days. Everyone is criticizing the horrible state our city is in because of him. He makes Mayor Hahn look like a genius in his adminstration compared to Antonio's.
Ok we all know Homeboy is a corrupt org. and will apply for some of the money. Homebou doesn't have ONE intervention/prevention guy on staff. There's a lot of other orgs. who don't have a clue about gangs and get money because they're friends with Antonio. Sad David Z is too afraid to audit or go after the corruption in that agency. Maybe the LA Weekly or someone with guts will do a story of all these corrupt orgs.
....Today April 15, 2008, the Mayor's Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development is issuing a request for Proposals (RFP) for the implementation of gang prevention services in six (6) designated Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Zones in the City of Los Angeles. Over a 12 month period, a total of $3 million at $500,000 per GRYD zone will be available for distribution through this RFP, subject to the availability of funding from the City of Los Angeles and various state and federal grants
The Mayor wants to raise our taxes AGAIn and the morons on city council are still spending millions on Special Event Waivers. All the idiots on council have special event waivers in the thousands.
The quickest and surest way for gang control and prevention is
D-E-P-O-R-T-A-T-I-O-N for A-L-L
I-L-L-E-G-A-L V-I-C-T-I-M-I-Z-E-R-S
It's not difficult to do....and it's cost effective. It is our city's duty and is owed to the good citizens of Los Angeles. We should settle for nothing less!
However, unfortunately, we have a gutless government who only cares is about pandering for votes from special interest groups. Their children are most likely in private schools and they don't have to go home to area's that are under siege by gangs every day! It appears that they don't care because they continued to chat amongst themselves, as well others, incessently during a council, meeting while Mr. Shaw, Jamiel's father, was pooring his heart out at the podium asking for change.
But, that is no surprised. They do that at every council meeting. They ignore their consituents, who take time out of their day to trek to city hall in order to speak before them, only to have most of the councilmembers leave their seats and engage in private conversations as they tune out the speakers. The tip off is when the vote is announced and they are not even in their seats. So, that tells us that back door politics are still in play and decisions were already pre-determined.
They should take lessons in decorum and professionalism from the Burbank and Glendale City Council members, who respect their consituents by listening to them intently during their meetings. You won't see a ton lobbiest or unidentifiable people hanging out in the background by their seats to whom their attention is given. As a matter of fact, most Neighborhood Council meetings are more respectful to their community members than L.A. City councilmembers. L.A. City Council meetings are a disgrace.
Don't take my word for it, or believe what you see on the city channel, because the cameras only forcus on the speaker and not the background. Go in person, you will be appalled and angry too.
(after re-reading my post, I hesitate to post, but...)
Here's the Url for the speech text,
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2008/0414/20080414_083220_mayor's%20speech.pdf
I've seen no detailed comments from bloggers!!! Someone's got to do the dirty work. Here are some outtakes, with my comments in bold.
You know, we sometimes lose sight of the fact: That mostly what our men and
women in uniform do, is they help our society's most vulnerable.
They spend their days – and their nights – on the streets and in neighborhoods
where many Angelenos will never set foot, solving problems for families, on
doorsteps, and on street corners, in the parks and in the projects, in the darkest
corners of the most violent parts of Los Angeles. They mediate. They officiate.
They help strangers who are stuck.
We really need Batman
Angelenos, may the lives of these two men serve as more than an example of
service, but as a challenge to each and every one of us to give more of
ourselves.
Together we have much work to do.
Honoring the men shouldn't include a challenge. Their valor stands on it's own. Don't preach.
We summoned the call. It was time for Angelenos come together, to start thinking
big again and facing up to our biggest problems. We said we couldn't afford to
fear failure. We promised not to succumb to the easy temptation to “manage”
expectations and carefully calibrate our goals. We said we'd raise the roof. We
said we'd go in with gusto where others had fallen short. We said we'd swing for
the fences even if it meant occasionally looking ugly at the plate!
Who came up with these screwball metaphors? Just say it!!! Ya don't got much to show for yourself, or much that you'll "admit to".
We said we'd grow the police force to more than 10,000 strong even though
previous mayors and councils failed to sustain the journey through tough times.
Just lower your standards... high school graduates, lower physical strength qualifications, etc. Truthfully, that is happening
We said as a matter of urgent necessity we'd confront the crisis in our schools
even though we lacked the keys to the classroom or any formal levers of power.
The amount of money spent on schools is staggering. What a failure. Parents are averting the crisis in LAUSD schools by leaving in droves.
We said we'd work to make Los Angeles the cleanest and greenest big city in
America notwithstanding the size of the challenge or the audacity of the goal.
Now we've, once again, advanced to one of the most polluted cities in America
We said we'd wage a tireless campaign against traffic – even if it meant pushing
that mythic boulder up the proverbial hillside – and we said we'd fight for
investment in a mass-transit system worthy of a world-class city.
A terrible idea. You've poured multimillions of dollars into subway systems that relatively few people use, or will use. This is a boondoggle, mostly for "show and tell"
We said we'd champion the growth of good jobs, quality businesses, and
affordable housing in a City whose central challenge is reflected in fact that we
have the nation's smallest middle class.
You've been quite successful in chasing away a middle class and good business opportunities by your Santuary City policies and it's associated drain and blight on the city. Thank you very much
Angelenos, in these thirty-three months we may not have realized all of our
dreams…
But if I've learned one thing from a life of struggle, it’s that the only real progress
comes in striving.
HaHa... One step forward, twelve steps back.
We are a safer City. We are a safer City today because we are more than
halfway to our goal of putting 1,000 new cops on the street! By the end of the
year, our police force will reach its greatest numbers in the history of the City of
Los Angeles.
And Angelenos, it is no coincidence that since 2005, we've led a 23 percent drop
in homicides and 15 percent reduction in crime. Thanks to Chief Bill Bratton and
the men and women of the LAPD, LA is the safest it has been since the 1950s.
Nobody believes your "safer city" crap (well maybe so, if you live in Bel Aire)!!!Who remembers this extent of random violence in L.A., 3, 4, or 5 years past.
And we've laid the foundation for greater educational opportunity in Los Angeles.
After two years of reluctance, recalcitrance, and active resistance, reform is on
the move in the Los Angeles Unified School District! We now have a progressive
majority on the School Board. We now have a nationally-renowned educator,
Ray Cortines, leading instruction at the District – and serving as a direct human
bridge with the City.
Another miracle worker!!! Can't wait. Oh, that guy. We've heard this name before. He'll say, "LAUSD needs more money and we'll really show you something."
Our Partnership Schools are going to be like the first seeds. We intend to show
results and expand the franchise every single year. By the time we’re done, our
Partnership will be blooming – and booming – on a scale that offers a meaningful
alternative to every kid in Los Angeles!
Oh my. We've got a snake oil salesman
We're proving it is possible to light a city with green power. In January we broke
ground on what will be the largest city-owned wind farm in the United States of
America, and we are on track to reach our goal of 20 percent renewables by
2010.
This is not what you do in a fiscal crisis, tightening year. I call it mis-management
With the leadership of our Port Commission, we're standing up to the shippers
and the big box stores with a plan to cut pollution at the Port by 45 percent in five
years. Kids in South LA shouldn't have choke with asthma just to add a few
pennies to the profit margin!
It may happen. It may not. Don't count your chickens before they hatch
We've brought recycling to 200,000 apartments. We've increased the City's
reliance on the use of clean, alternative fuels. And next month, we will unveil a
comprehensive plan to double the City's use of recycled water and save 16 billion
gallons a year.
Plastic recycling = Good. It took this long to get me to applause. Oh, too soon. Here comes "toilet to tap" drinking water
But Angelenos, I'd be the first to admit: We haven't exactly reached our goal of
planting a million trees.
You MORON!!! Why don't you scrap this million tree business. Forget it, all ready. There's more important things needed in this city.
We kept our promise. We won $150 million from the state to complete the
comprehensive synchronization of LA's traffic lights. When this high-tech system
is completed by 2010, commuters will enjoy an average of 12 to 15 percent faster
travel times. Not only that, we'll cut carbon emissions by an estimated 912,000
metric tons a year.
Oh, cut the crap. The traffic-light system is all tied into/with a citywide survillience, video/data fiber system that's being federally mandated, generally speaking. Does anyone believe that the $150million upgrade was granted to save us "10 minutes" of commute time to work?
My upcoming budget will protect pothole repair and expand street resurfacing to
725 miles.
Yes, your administration fills potholes. Kudos to you.
Our budget fully funds new left-turn signals, which can reduce accidents by up to
66 percent, and we're going to install 100 new left-turn signals by the end of
June. Our faster Corridors Program is maximizing the flow on 19 priority
thoroughfares around the City. We launched Operation Bottleneck Relief to
unlock gridlock at our busiest intersections. Our efforts have saved drivers a
combined 244,000 hours. We're installing state-of-the-art "Park & Pay" meters,
which allow drivers to pay with their debit cards and their cell phones. We have a
plan to cut congestion with diagonal crosswalks.
Applause
And we are committed to
fighting traffic even when it's controversial. With the brave leadership of
Councilmember Jack Weiss, we are moving aggressively forward with our plan to
reduce gridlock on Pico and Olympic Boulevards.
Is this some type of "stop-gap" measure? Is this the pseudo-freeway plan, changing boulevards into one-way, transit routes? Looking ahead, will you do the same to parallel the 405? The 91? Also, no mention of Wilshire Blvd???
Everything is going be on the table – including new local revenue options and
private investment in the public good. This month, I’ll ask the MTA Board to seek
proposals to privately fund, build and operate an expanded transit system in Los
Angeles.
Ok, "subway to the sea", rail, expand transit... OK, we get it. If you first don't succeed, try, try again.
And we must also consider enhancing public investment locally. To do so, we
will take our case to the people.
Ooops, more taxes (I mean fees)
We have laid the foundation on jobs and housing.
Despite the national recession, the fundamentals of the LA economy remain
sound, and economists are forecasting clearer skies for LA than for the region,
the state, or the nation at large. But we can't afford to sit back. With rising
unemployment and a mounting foreclosure crisis, we are doing everything we
can to jump-start job creation.
Are you kidding? L.A. will acquire an ever increasing and growing number of third world immigrants, with their welfare needs. The city will always be bogged down with that burden, given it's current policy. For the most part, the "quality" workforce will move out of L.A. (to adjacent cities or states), leaving L.A. with the underclass and the rich, withing their walled-in enclaves.
The first two years of this administration were the best two years in City history
for new construction. And let me tell you: Even with the economic downturn,
2008 isn't far behind. If we stay on pace, this year will represent the third best
year in the history of Los Angeles. All told, that's 110,000 jobs.
A recount of your Developer legacy. Your B.S. Department has granted Developers enormous financial benefits/profits, uncounted subsity reduction and uncollected fees. Development has been rampant and disasterous in some cases, loosing low rent housing to condo development. Huge neighborhood outcries of "quality of life" degradation have been ignored. IMO, we don't like what you've done to Los Angeles.
Our downtown is enjoying a dramatic rebirth. For the first time in City history, we
are designing LA's future based on principles of smart planning.
This is quite true. You've allowed Developers huge financial incentives and tax breaks to build. Downtown has been modernized and re-vitalized, at the expense of other areas of L.A. (such as the Valley) and of the existing poor, Downtown residents. Many homeless have been disbursed out of Downtown to other parts of the city, where they have no facilities to care for them. Yes, that is your biggest accomplishment, the rebirth of Downtown, big payoffs to the rich, big loss of tax revenue, and misery to the homeless who are now begging on another street other than Grand Ave.
That's about it. But, the rest of the speech is about gangs. Yes, you're going to tax us, take fees away from our districts, and put the moneys into gang territories. I'd rather call it "the inner-city". Yes, as you say we will have to sacrifice.
JMO, yes do it. Give the poor kids mentoring, playgrounds open till late at night, secure areas, etc. Save as many kids as possible by showing them/teaching them. Many of the kids are poor, with single, young moms. They need the help.
Saving the kids will be the only reason to applause. But, that won't be your success. It'll be ours. It's my sacrifice, my donation to the "inner-city" kids. You won't feel the sacrifice. I will.
So lets see: We had five or more years of huge property tax windfalls and we didn't put one penny of it in the bank for a rainy day. So now that real estate is in the crapper, we are going to lay off 750 hard working, middle class city employees so that we can fund more gang programs for kids whose parents don't give a damn. This makes no sense. What can the mayor be thinking. He says he'll consolidate some departments and commissions but doesn't even mention stuff like commission on disablilites because he's too scared of Mitch P to utter a word. It's time for aging, women, children youth and families, disablity and Aids Project LA to come under one umbrella. That would help our budget.
Yawn. More name-calling. Whining about Messicans. Whining about illegals. Whining about gringos leaving town (still can't come to grips with the changin' times so they run away). Whining about dogs and cats (as if anybody cares). Whining about oratory style (as if it kept the guy from being elected to three different offices already). Whining about everything, but contributing doodly-squat to our understanding of anything. What a cauldron of enlightenment.
Zuma, Mailander, Hoff...they're all looking like geniuses.
1. If we only knew the REAL numbers, I'll bet we are more like $600-800 million in the hole. If not, we'll be there next year!
2. Somebody call ICE and have Tony Villar deported!
3. You are all FIRED, TRUMP FOR MAYOR!!!
darn, I missed it. Villar outlined his score card for tax payers? can some one tell me what he said he has done with that affordable housing fund? Yes, the one he "DOUBLED" after Hahn left office? How many units of affordable housing has Villar brought to this city???
No, I'm not going to get used to it 1:34pm, I'll make sure that many of us gets enough chutzpas to get a new mayor.
By the way, Angelenos would be shocked to find out the sources of the fund!
What continent is Iraq on?
what the heck did 6:13 post and hey mayor you hypocrite weren't you deleting posts that are "too long" last week? a tenth the length of this.
do you realize what assholes you blogging geniuses are to the rest of us? or don't you think we can find the old posts? dum dum.
I see Fabian Nunez the Sacramento tumor showed up. How appropriate.
If Villar/Raigosa is going to keep saying that the trash pick up charges are why "fees" have to keep going up, then why not get private trash service like surrounding cities do and be done with the burden.
It was nice when trash pickup was included with all the taxes collected, but now any service that is city-performed appears to be out of control. Let private enterprise handle it- These services have become outrageously expensive and mismanaged or they are lying about the costs- or both.
And a pay cut for all these guys should be in order for their inability to stay within budget, control expenses and try applying accountability, starting with their own staff.
In CD-14. Ouch.
Well, I did it the old-fashioned way; I video-taped the mayor's speech 2 and a half times, cuz each time I watched/taped it I just couldn't believe what I was hearing, although it was oh-so predictable, and I'd forget to turn off the taping command. Naturally, they keep running the damn thing on ch. 35. ad infinitum. Did you all catch that fool attempting to sing "The Star Spangled Banner?" They should re-name it the "The Star MANGLED Banner" after THAT lame attempt. Now the mayor's back in DC, probably hoping to patronize his favorite hookers and kiss up to that idiot Pope who's got some nerve criticizing our immigration policy. So what's gonna happen w/ Tony's "gang intervention academy?" What's he gonna call it-- "Li'l UCLA?"
good point 7:35 PM, they should look for other services that can be privatized to save money. Many city departments are so poorly run, going to the private sector would free up more dollars.
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