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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Struggles in the public war over Trutanich's integrity

Yesterday, Laura Chick launched a very public salvo at Los Angeles's new City Attorney's personal integrity via Doug McIntyre's radio program.

During his campaign, Carmen Trutanich agreed to let the City Controller's office audit the City Attorney's office if he were elected. With Trutanich being in office for just over three weeks, Chick is already going all-out on the attack:

"The City Attorney lied, and is not a man of his word... he is a demagogue who will say anything to get elected, and then go back on his word... he stood next to me and lied to get my support."

Ron Kaye has transcripts and audio of the shots fired on his web site.

A lot of people find both this and Controller Wendy Greuel's claims that Trutanich is reneging on his promise somewhat perplexing. The City Attorney already has a statement out there insisting he will allow the audit. It's unclear exactly what game is afoot: the simple besmirching of Trutanich's reputation or has Trutanich's office already rebuffed attempts at an audit behind the scenes?

The jury remains out right now and will remain out until that particular skirmish ends. However, there is another struggle over Carmen Trutanich's integrity playing out every day on the streets of Los Angeles, in City Council chambers, and through blogs. A slightly less public struggle that is disturbing, primal, and oddly mesmerizing at the same time. Its basis lies simultaneously within the realm of societal and political failings. A lot of us here are witness to the drama, most not by choice. Ultimately, it just might be personified in a singular comment posted to Mayor Sam yesterday.

I was at the very first community meeting in which Carmen Trutanich was introduced as running for City Attorney. Coincidentally, this was at one of Ron's SLAP meetings and the guy taking Nuch around and showing him where the grassroots supporters gather was ... David Saltzberg, aka Zuma Dogg.

Nuch relied on David to show him the community, and later Nuch's campaign people made a lot of promises on Nuch's behalf to David regarding hiring him if Nuch won the election. David is a believer. He didn't need those promises to push for Nuch in interviews and on talk radio. He pushed Nuch because he believed. In that way, our friend David is very much an idealist. I recognize that trait, because I'm one too, and being an idealist means you are in for a lot of letdowns in this world.

Nuch won, and I voted for him. I had made up my mind to do so the very first day David introduced Nuch to us at SLAP. I very much liked the man I met before he had any real idea that he might win. I thought he had true integrity.

As David, Nuch's truest believer, falls deeper and deeper into serious personal crisis due to being homeless and unemployed, I am beginning to have equally serious doubts about Carmen Trutanich's integrity.

What's it gonna be, Carmen?

Is Laura Chick right about you?

Are you going to keep those campaign promises, especially the personal ones you made, or not?


It appears that the next move in both struggles belongs to Carmen Trutanich.

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26 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I want to know how come can't Zuma get a job and earn the honest dollar like the rest of us. He does good work in the community but all us activists have to earn money to feed ourselves! He always seems angry I would be too and I would find a job to get on my feet again.

July 23, 2009 1:17 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

You missed 1 more possibility petra- it could be a tempertantrum by two crazy women who aint getting what they want fast enough.

July 23, 2009 1:25 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This blog is all Zuma all the time and Higby fell off the face of the Earth.

July 23, 2009 1:49 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Yeah that's it, blame it on two "crazy chicks" who are hormonal, either PMS or menopausal, can't get laid enough because they're bitches and we all know throwing tantrums is the only way they can get attention.

Maybe they're jealous of a guy like Trutanich because he's been getting all that publicity, even if it's of the trainwreck variety, and they want some too. You know how women always need attention.

And then there are the conspiracy theories on the blogs, how they're on the take, it's pay-to-play, by AEG and even Doug McIntyre because of his connection to Wendy and her husband.

I'm GLAD they're getting hit with all this so that they see exactly what happens to anyone who doesn't buy his bullshit song and dance.

Why on earth would Chick want to lower herself to get into the trenches this way if she weren't totally sincere about being betrayed? You think she likes to roll around in the dirt, being raked over the coals by the hacks on rightwing talk radio who have turned her and Gruel into witches?

But since Doug and Chick have been supporters vital to his campaign, they're off very easy so far.

See what happens if they don't "come around" and start kissing his ass again, treating him above reproach or question. If they're not blind to his bluffing and bullying to camouflage his lack of class and intelligence. If they don't start "showing respect."

July 23, 2009 2:07 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Carmen has not gone back on his pledge to allow Wendy to audit his office. The Lawsuit was not limited to the Controller auditing the City Attorney's office but included all elected officials. Seems the only office which would not be audited would be the CONTROLLERS!

The judge ruled against Laura Chick and now she is crying foul because Nuch will not pull out of a winning case. He can still allow Wendy to audit his office and need not be bad mouthed by the Ex-Controller who refused to audit the Mayors Gang Programs for the past four years inspite of all the illegal behavior and arrest taking place with their boardmembers.

Just because you left the Glass House Laura, it is not wise to throw stones.

July 23, 2009 2:08 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

So in other words, the Zuma Pooch is screaming about the Carmen Trooch like a Crybaby Cooch?

July 23, 2009 2:22 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

2:22 LOL! Yes that about sums it up!

July 23, 2009 2:38 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

ZD isn't crying he's gathering signatures. Get a life stalker.

July 23, 2009 2:58 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Tru broke his promise to allow audits of ALL elected officials offices. Chick didn't just want to audit his office. She wanted the right to audit any and all of them. If Tru drops the lawsuit, the city controller won't be able to audit all offices.

Of course Tru wants his office audited. Then he can blame any problems on his predecessor.

There are tons of activists out there. We find a way to make money to support ourselves and our activism. Why does Zuma cry about being homeless? He expects someone to pay him to be an activist. He thinks he's doing us all a favor talking about the known corruption in this city. We already know about it and talk about it. Zuma is not offering solutions or trying to solve the problems. He's just whining. Get a real job or start a nonprofit to raise money.

I find it hard to believe that Tru would offer Zuma a job. He could never pass the background check. Plus, he first befriends politicians then attacks them when they don't give him everything he wants. And, he's a total embarrassment. I wouldn't even hire him to mow my lawn.

July 23, 2009 3:25 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

"There are tons of activists out there. We find a way to make money to support ourselves and our activism."

With dishonest settlements?

July 23, 2009 3:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

In that case Tru shouldn't have used Zuma. If he has such a low regard for him and doesn't want to be associated with him any more -- but he DID need Zuma, showed at his little karaoke events and was happy to mug for the cameras with him.

This is about Tru's integrity not Zuma's, who's been "out there" for anyone to assess for some time. He couldn't hide who is if he tried.

July 23, 2009 4:02 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

4:02 - your last paragraph cuts straight to the heart of the matter.

Thank you.

July 23, 2009 4:08 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Nuch is closing in on some dirty shit and gossip is he's making a lot of people very nervous. Laura Chick N Shit can't stay away from the limelight. She's a bitch who didn't do her job. Why is Wendy going after all that business tax money Chick failed to collect? Chick remember signed off on a $4 million Fleishman Hillard check then later said she didn't know who it was for. Remember the back room, sneaky meeting she had at her house with her staffers for mayor candidates against Hahn. She's a dirty, closet lesbo who hates anyone getting attention. Don't be fooled cause Antonio has lots of people attacking Nuch for good reason. He's going to nail corrupt assholes who were in bed with AEG. I can hardly wait

July 23, 2009 7:21 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This is all about City insiders on the AEG gravy train trying to take out Trutanich as a contender for Mayor in 2013. Laura Chick is part of the cabal.

It should be clear Trutanich agreed to an audit and still does. Armchair critics need to do their homework before they jump to conclusions like that ignorant bigmouth, Chick. The court is deciding whether Trutanich MUST agree to an audit, or whether it's OPTIONAL. So far, the court says it's optional. Getting an answer to this question is important for City government. It's a long way from a refusal to submit to audit.

Chick clearly lost the court case and now is trying foist her attorney's fees bill on the taxpayers.

Maybe Chick is feeling the heat Trutanich is putting on LA officials for the Michael Jackson giveaway. Note Chick's AEG connection--she was on their gravy train like many others in City Hall:

02/24/06 AEG AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES
LOS ANGELES, CA 90015 LAURA N. CHICK
Controller
931164 - CONTROLLER LAURA CHICK OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE A - Monetary Contribution Received
(OTH - Other)
[Period: 01/01/06-03/31/06]
$1,000.00
11/14/07 AEG AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES
LOS ANGELES, CA 90015 LAURA N. CHICK
Controller
931164 - CONTROLLER LAURA CHICK OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE A - Monetary Contribution Received
(OTH - Other)
[Period: 10/01/07-12/31/07]
$1,000.00

It's time to put an end to the corruption. Don't be surprised if other sweaty-brow supporters of the Mayor and Laura Chick whom AEG has subsidized accuse Trutanich of being a "liar" and the like. The more noise they make, the more Trutanich will prosecute.

July 23, 2009 8:26 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

"In that case Tru shouldn't have used Zuma."

He DIDN'T use me, cause you can't. He just got lucky, then I guess that ZD felt the way he did and did something about it in a very public way. I didn't ask for anything. But I can tell you one thing, the WORST thing you can do is offer a homeless guy, in bad, bad shape in the 100 degree heat who is in BIG trouble and not follow through. So FUCK YOU AGAIN, 1:17PM, you'll end up pissing me off and I'll end up going BIGGER with my bitterness and you'll wish kept your mouth shut!

July 23, 2009 10:05 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Laura Chick is not just a liar, she's a bad liar.

This morning, on Doug McIntyre's show, she called Trutanich a "liar and a demagogue" because he was going back on his word to "dismiss" the lawsuit in return for Chick's support. That's the deal Chick claims Trutanich is going back on; dismissal for support.

But I've looked for some evidence of what the "deal" was, and I've found it. Chick, on April 15, 2009, stood outside City Hall and said she was supporting Trutanich because of his "his position on allowing wide latitude to the controller in auditing programs."

That's what Rick Orlov reported in the Daily Breeze, or is he a liar as well? I mean, he is a man and we all know Chick's "feelings" when it comes to men.

So, the 'deal' was WIDE LATITUDE not dismissal. And WIDE LATITUDE means allowing the controller to audit his office.

Trutanich has not changed his position on allowing the controller to audit his office - he welcomes it. So, how does that become a lie?

Chick's letter in today's Daily News does not even mention the word "dismissal." Now it's some vague "campaign promise" and Chick interestingly does not repeat the words "liar" or "demagogue." Maybe that's because Chick now has another attorney (who she also won't pay) and that attorney has said, "You cannot call Trutanich a liar."

That's because Chick's a liar and a demagogue. Now that she's got her $200k job in Sacramento as the Inspector General of Obama's bailout money, she has done nothing newsworthy, and so instead she's grandstanding and trying to get out of paying her legal fees.

For once we've got a City Attorney who is shaking things up in City Hall, and he's really hurting the Mayor's pride. So the attack dogs come out.

But don't worry, Trutanich will win at the end of the day, and liars and demagogues like Chick and the Mayor will have to find other taxpayer jobs to bleed the state dry.

July 23, 2009 10:15 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

1:17pm, Don't worry about that. Worry about why people who make promises do not keep them. Then I wouldn't have to find a job to get on my feet. I would be working at the one people told me they would give me.

July 23, 2009 11:11 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Why aren't the damn reporters printing who all the Los Angeles politicians are who took money from AEG. Doesn't it speak volumes that Zine is THE ONLY ONE SPEAKING OUT FOR TAXPAYERS. Now, I don't like Zine but why aren't the rest of those assholes saying anything? When the majority of your constituents are crying foul over the AEG mess and NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER EXCEPT ZINE is yelling and getting hit hard in chambers for it, you have to wonder what are they hiding. Trutanich is the David and Goliath at best. People are cheering him on to go after the truth. The politicians who have ruined our city are biting their nails hoping he doesn't and are diverting attention by the negative publicity

July 24, 2009 7:42 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

10:20 on the Essavi thread belongs here but I won't repost that person's comments. However I also read zuma's blog and heard the show and talk about how nuch is planning to run for mayor already and hoping to discredit Wendy Gruel who's one of the likely candidates. But he and his fans are in some sort of denial, believing all this publicity has been working to his benefit not showing how he uses and throws people away and IS a liar who says anything to get what he wants but it's just words he never meant.

And underneath all this is the fact that this guy hasn't done a single thing yet, nor before he got elected when it was all about his being a positive agent of change, just plans and no record.

So he's got nothing but the hope he can start tearing Wendy down from the start and not giving her the audit power that could make her a formidable foe. While saying anything to her face to make her think he's her friend.

July 24, 2009 10:42 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The only promise that Trutanich has kept was giving a job to the out of work attorney who acted as his driver and errand boy for the last year. I wonder how many more qualified attorneys were denied a job at the City Attorney’s Office? As it happens, the driver that Trutanich hired as a deputy city attorney was a friend of Trutanich's son.

Sounds like more of the same in government.

During the election, Trutanich promised to be a different type of politician.

However, his tru colors are starting to emerge(and my guess will only get worse). In less than 3 weeks, he has threatened city volunteers because they refused to grant a two week extension to rule on the billboard case, backed out of a promise he made to Laura Chick related to transparency in government and dished Zuma Dogg.

All of us that know him would expect nothing less. His ego is so big it is really scary.

July 24, 2009 5:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Nooch was wrong to promise Zuma a job and more wrong not to hire him. Zuma would be fantastic cleaning up city corruption. But if Nooch were really serious about cleaning up, he would not have the 5150 loonie spinning here. What promises did he make her?

July 24, 2009 5:36 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

AEG and its puppets in city government ARE GOING DOWN BIG TIME!!

Nuch is onto something, and everyone downtown is nervous.

Fasten your seatbelts, folks!

July 24, 2009 10:32 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Nuch is already backpeddling on the criminal aspect. Heard him on Kevin James.

July 25, 2009 9:19 AM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

This comment has been removed by the author.

July 25, 2009 11:19 AM  

Anonymous g said:

I THINK LAURA CHICK WAS PREMATURE IN HER COMMENTS TOWARDS NUCH AFTERALL THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST HER. NUCH IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE DECISION BUT THE COURTS MADE THIS RULING. BUT IT CAN BE OVERTURNED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT OR BY A CHANGE TO THE CITY CHARTER AS VOTERED AND APPROVED BY THE VOTERS ALL THIS MUST HAPPEN TO CLEAN HOUSE AND PUT THE FACTS ON THE TABLE FOR ALL ANGELENOS TO SEE.

July 25, 2009 11:48 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Nuch dissed Zuma Dogg?

What could he have been thinking?

He is in for it now, as Zuma pulls together all his powerful clique of supporters; Jennerjahn, Hunt, Higby,Dowd, lets see, I think I have run out of heavyweights.

Nuch, your end is near...you have aroused the wrath of David Saltsburg, aka, David Elliott, aka Zuma Dogg.

Resign now, before it is too late.

July 28, 2009 7:30 AM  

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