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Thursday, August 27, 2009

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.
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.....................................

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27 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Rod spoot,
My thought is not on this subject, but why the blog AGAIN failed to let us Cd2ers know about the candidate gathering last night?

It happened a week ago. It happened again last night.

What is the purpose of having a blog as "the home of LA politics" if you don't tell us these basic things in advance of them happening. Some of us may have gone if we had known. What's the point of the blog if you're not on top of these things?

I'd like to hear what Higby says about this.

August 27, 2009 9:54 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Talk about ugly!

Robin Kramer is not only ugly on the outside, she is 100x uglier on the inside.

August 27, 2009 10:03 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Robin's name has been floated around for months for various high-powered, highly paid jobs so seems she's been thinking about it for some time. Why Carr indeed, instead of one of the other more community focused mayors, or an administrative whiz? Clearly Antonio wants to make some statement about gang issues being at the fore of his agenda. Nice guy, Carr, but he just recently figured out the lay of the land.

August 27, 2009 10:10 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Considering our mayor's nature, maybe he just wants to have the "Reverend" Carr handy and nearby -- for those critical and quick, last-minute confessions.

"Forgive me CoS and Gang Czar 'Father' Carr. I just sinned, and I'm about to go and do it AGAIN (just as soon as she says YES)"

August 27, 2009 11:03 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

She is off to run Essel's campaign day to day. The word is they have been looking to shake up her campaign team and this is the first step in doing so.

August 27, 2009 11:09 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What about Jimmy Blackman,Dan Grunfeld, Tom Saenz???

What gives?

August 27, 2009 12:14 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The word from AV's office is that she is off to Chris campaign.

August 27, 2009 12:18 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Poor Chief is being put in a rough position and has to say something nice. So the Village Idiot who is a failure at the gang problem, South LA has had over 20 shootings in one week gets promoted. Its the Peter Principle like a lot of the politicans. You can't do shit but have a nice appearance like you know what you're doing so they promote you to get rid of you. This city is going down the toliet quickly. Word is the Mexican Mafia is taking over LA politics and with this appointment sure looks like it.

August 27, 2009 12:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

At the press conference today Antonio gave credit for the reduction in gang-related crime to Carr, including Summer Night Lights and the gun buyback program, says he shows the "creative thinking we need." Carr and Janice Hahn high- fiving over it. Are they kidding?

With Bratton leaving and being told it could be the end of the year before a new chief can complete the selection process, he's clearly trying to get another figurehead for the gang issue. Fine idea in concept, but Carr?

August 27, 2009 12:34 PM  

Blogger Joseph Mailander said:

Good for you for spotting it and stepping out of the dull politics of CD2.

The westside Republican Lites who Villaraigosa co-opted for his first term have completely failed him. Now a lame duck, but with an outrageously weak Republican City Attorney elected to spite him, he's going to try to force a truly progressive agenda down the City's throats. Some of it I like and some of it I don't (please, morons, lose affordable housing, which even New York knows is a sham by now).

The LA Times could have made him do whatever they wanted, and brought an adult voice into these discussions, but their editorial editors are too stupid, too gutless, and too easily gamed. Looks like four years of Blade Runner politicking to me.

August 27, 2009 12:35 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

This comes as a shock...sure it in't another ZD wild goose chase?

August 27, 2009 12:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Robin, who is a practicing Jew, would be a little put off by your description as "Mother Superior".

But, Robin in an adult in world where children or child-like behavior often occurs. She's kept a lid on it for over four years and deserves a break. Truth is, she's the best thing that ever happened to Villaraigosa.

August 27, 2009 1:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Robin looks like Michael McCue in drag!

August 27, 2009 2:20 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Dumb ass reporters aren't putting the facts out there like Rick Orlov who normally is pretty good. How the hell can the Summer Night Lights program be successful with South LA has had more homicides and shootings that there was a press conf. just two days ago? That doesn't sound like the Mayor's program is working. The Village Idiot Carr knew nothing about the gang problem and LAPD copers hated his ass showing up to crime scenes pretending he was somebody. Let the cops do their job and go play in city hall idiot.

August 27, 2009 2:26 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

1:33

Would you maybe prefer "Jewish grandmother" to Mother Superior?

Remember it was the Virgin Mary, also a practicing Jew, who was the very FIRST "Mother Superior."

(It's not like there's no precedent).

August 27, 2009 3:29 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The person in line to replace Robin on the long run is Eric Hacopian.

His pay off for dumping Krekorian's campaign.

August 27, 2009 4:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Essel's campaign does not need Robin Kramer.

If you talk to CD2 folks will tell you that Essel is running the best campaign in that race.

August 27, 2009 4:13 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The Times story says that the deputy mayor for public safety and homeland security spot is still open, and who that person is, is key to attracting a good chief of police. Especially as like Joe M says the City Attorney is a very weak and inexperienced, elected only to spite the mayor.

But that person has to report to Carr, who is himself a photo op hound unlike Robin Kramer. (For good reason, if you look at her picture, but being fugly doesn't stop the rest of them on the Council from showing their mugs every chance they get.)

If it's a strong personality and Carr tries to overshadow him on everything, it could be trouble. If it's not a strong personality, and with Smith now head of public safety, there's really a big vacuum making the new Chief's job even tougher. IF Carr is smart he'll stay out of his own way and let the "grown ups" do their jobs.

August 27, 2009 5:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

the midget mayor is an idiot. the people that are the most loyal to him and the ones that actually get shit done get fucked. robin got forced out and now they bring in the village idiot carr along with skinny jeans from clinton world. what a joke. Tom Saenz left and I predict that Jimmy Blackman leaves next. they all deserve better than this moron. sin verguenza!!!!

August 27, 2009 5:11 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

4:13

Which "folks" is that?

I get "best" can be a relative term.

August 27, 2009 5:25 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Any campaign could use Robin Kramer. She is the essence of organization and leadership.

She can put anything in a better place than she found it.

I have known her for over thirty years and worked with her in lots of places, and she is the tops.

No one will be able to do it quite as well as she did.

If she helps Chris Essel, Essel will smoke Krekorian.

The others in that race are spinning their wheels.

August 27, 2009 7:56 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

This comes as a shock...sure it in't another ZD wild goose chase?

The only wild goose chase is when I blogged that Kramer would be leaving the office after Villar was sworn in for the second term. Did I just take a wild guess based on instinct, or was this already know for a while and was told to ZD because he has the relations with people, even his opponents who seem to like to confide in him.

So no, no Wild Goose chase, just ONE MORE on a LOOOOOOONG laundry list of "News Before It Happens" by your friendly, neighborhood Zuma Dogg.

AND OH YES, this IS going to be a fun era! I wonder if Richard will be leaving the office along with Robin or if he stays with Carr, too. My guess is he'll still be in charge calling the shots.

August 27, 2009 8:04 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

7:56 PM. You are a moron.Obviously an outdated one having known Kramer for 30yrs. Kramer is the most overrated bureaucrat who has ever walked thru City Hall.Thus the lackluster administrations of the buffoon Riordan and Lothario Villaraigosa.Let`s not talk of Alattore .That`s the reason she is not working for Broad. He would not put up with b.s. He is too smart to accept mediocrity at best.

August 27, 2009 9:41 PM  

Blogger mary whoopee said:

Jeff Carr is just another puppet in the mayor's toy box of limp-ass, ineffectual, innocuous yes-men (or yes-dykes) who,if anything, work against finding solutions to L.A.'s not-so unique problems. As our supposed-"Gang Tzar" Carr has achieved NOTHING in the way of reducing gang crime and gang activity. And we all know Villar loves THAT cuz he's a gang member himself. This town is run by the Mexican mafia, plain and simple. They have infiltrated our once-great city so they can undermine American culture and destroy the American way of life. Time to wake up, hippie leftists! And fuck "diversity."

August 28, 2009 2:43 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It's a good thing to bring in some new blood. 30 years is LONG ENOUGH already.

I left L.A. when Rierdon was mayor.

I would have stayed if it was Villaraigosa.

L.A. is the most beautiful melting pot in the nation. It's too bad the schmucks out of O.C. have stepped their filthy feet into it.

August 28, 2009 12:55 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

"Her?" I could have sworn that was a picture of Harold Ramis.

August 30, 2009 3:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I had the misfortune of working with Robin Kramer when she was Riordan's chief and I have never found her to be either effective or pleasant. She is arrogant, sarcastic and unethical and, as far as I'm concerned, she got what she deserved. During her tenure with Riordan, she was thick as thieves (pun intended) with the criminal Bruce Karatz, currently facing 415 years in prison if convicted of stock fraud. The two of them pushed through unnecessary "programs" that helped no one but themselves, laughing together at how easy it was for the two of them to completely run city hall. She started her career with Alatorre...need I say more?

September 10, 2009 12:15 PM  

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