Mayor Villaraigosa's Chief of Staff Robin Kramer to Resign this Morning

" Three Decades of Service to Los Angeles Leaders"

Ron Kaye is reporting that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Chief of Staff Robin Kramer will announce her resignation this morning at a 10:30AM Press Conference.

According to Kaye, Kramer will be replaced by the "General Secretary of Gang Intervention" Rev. Jeff Carr.

Kramer, who has worked the hallways of City Hall for three decades on the behalf of Councilman Richard Alatorre, Mayor Richard Riordan and others, is the latest high profile departure at City Hall. She joins the likes of LAPD Chief Bill Bratton, LAFD Chief Douglas Berry and Mayoral Legal Council Thomas Saenz, who have tendered their resignations in the past couple of months since Mayor Villaraigosa won his second term.

The big question here is why the selection of Rev. Jeff Carr to replace Kramer as Chief of Staff ??

In the past few weeks, local papers, bloggers and community members have question the awarding of contracts, the work performance of GRYD sub contractors, and the general direction of the Mayor's efforts to combat the gang problem in the City of Los Angeles.

Further, is Carr the right person to re focus the Mayor's 90+ staffers on second term goals ??

** The Daily News Veteran Political Writer Rick Orlov, has this observation about Jeff Carr.

Insiders say Carr will likely have a more demanding style than Kramer, who is widely respected and well-liked among City Council members and has been considered a major influence in helping the mayor get his policy initiatives approved.

** The Los Angeles Times adds this regarding Mayor Villaraigosa's staff shake up.

The mayor is also expected to bring on Jay Carson, the spokesman for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid. Two years ago, the New York Observer portrayed Carson as "Hillary's hard-hitting hipster," a political operative in skinny jeans who hung out at Spy bar in New York.

Although the exact duties are still unclear, one possibility is that Carr would be the mayor's chief of staff and Carson would be chief deputy mayor. In that scenario, Carson would look at the mayor's big-picture agenda while Carr would handle day-to-day management.

** Mayor Villaraigosa makes it official. Jeff Carr is new Chief of Staff, Jay Carson is new Deputy Chief of Staff. Thought to ponder, will Carson become the "voice and face" that spins Mayor Villaraigosa's second term objectives ?? Where does the hiring of Carson leave Matt Szabo ??

** LAPD Chief Bill Bratton has this comment about the promotion of Jeff Carr to the Chief of Staff position.

“While Robin Kramer's departure leaves a big void in the Mayor's staffing, Reverend Jeff Carr's appointment to fill that void is an outstanding choice,” said Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton. “His selection clearly demonstrates the Mayor's continued commitment to public safety, and further elevates public safety as an even higher priority.”

** Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Dan Grunfeld is also leaving according to the LA Times.

** LA Weekly's Editor Jill Stewart has this observation.

Rumors swirled after the mayor returned from his vacation to Iceland and his paid-for-by-others vaycay to South Africa, that some top city employees were mortified when Villaraigosa insisted on chatting at length about his sightseeing, yet showed little interest in the massive policy problems awaiting him: City Hall is sinking into a desperate budget crunch and pitched debates rage over who is to blame for approving the $1.4 million to $4 million in taxpayer money spent on the Michael Jackson funeral.

Now, the likable and sharp Mother Superior is leaving?

** Link here to Mayor's Office "rambling press release" as posted by the "WWG".

Your thoughts.....................................