Tony Villar's Summer Vacation paid for by.............

Lets start out our beautiful Sunday morning with a "political/financial word problem" that would make an LAUSD math teacher.....and board members proud (refer to Meruelo Maddox/Taylor Yard post).

"You are Mayor Antonio Ramon Villar, you want to take your son Tonito on a vacation before he goes off to Princeton, but with the ex. wife getting half of your $200,000+ salary and the cost of tuition for your kids education going up, what political friend will you call upon (and reward with city contracts) to pay for your quality time with Tonito??"

Multiple Choice Answers:

A. Billionaire Eli Broad

B. Billionaire Ron Burkle

C. Billionaire Keith Brackpool

D. Millionaire Jackie Autry

E. All of the Above

We now link to former Daily News Editor and S.L.A.P. founder Ron Kaye to get the answer and some great commentary on the Summer Vacation of the "Friend of the Rich and Famous, Antonio Ramon Villar".

From Ron Kaye.......

"Life is grand for Antonio Villaraigosa and money is the game, luxury is the payoff.

For truly ambitious politicians, the payoff is power and the glory. I know Antonio well enough to say I believe he could have been one of those who really changed L.A. for the better, or failed trying.

He offered himself as the punk from East L.A. with big dreams and high values, a guy who could stand up to gangs -- at least the gangs of special interests that feed off L.A.'s treasury, the developers, contractors and public employee unions. But he made his choice early on when he could have blocked the sweetheart contract negotiated under his predecessor's watch with the Department of Water and Power's all-powerful union.

Instead, he signed off on it.

And what's happened since has made his administration the most corrupt in modern LA. history. His charm and glibness, his easy way of smoothing over and obscuring the truth, his selling out the city's future to the highest bidder, his endless travel in search of self-importance and cash to fuel his campaigns for office, for higher taxes, for political advantage".

If one still drinks the "Kool-aid of Spin" crafted by the likes of Parke Skelton on the "Fatherless boy from the hills of City Terrace", then this excellent post by Ron Kaye is what you need to understand who is the true "Antonio Ramon Villar".