Downtown Chris Essel's $500 Central City Association Breakfast
Essel was not a business executive in the true sense of the word, responsible for "government affairs" at Paramount Pictures her job was a lobbyist for her employers interest pursuing policies such as sending Hollywood's production jobs out of state. As a leader of the powerful Central City Association Essel lobbied for matters important to the dowtown developers and big business interests that are often at odds with what's right for the rest of the City. Among those issues included supporting the controversial state law SB1818, which takes away local decisionmaking authority on real estate development, and efforts by City Councilman Greig Smith to enact onerous financial reporting requirments on volunteers on the City's system of Neighborhood Councils.
Candidate Essel has sought to distance herself from Downtown and her previous positions on SB1818 and financial reporting yet not many folks are buying that song and dance. And if folks needed any more proof that you might be able to temporarily take the girl out of Bel Air and place her in a low-rent section of Studio City but that you can't take the Downtown out of the girl, they need only turn to the following plea for support for Essel sent by the Central City Association and inviation to a $500 breakfast.
Wonder what Essel's "coffee-mate" Phil Jennerjahn would say?
Dear CCA Member,
Below is an invitation to a fundraiser for Chris Essel, candidate for City Council, District Two. As you know, this is a critical race. There are big differences in the candidates -- Chris, a former CCA Chair, served as a senior executive at Paramount Pictures. She will bring maturity, balance, and an understanding of what makes businesses thrive to the City Council. We need a strong showing at this event! If you cannot attend, please consider sending a contribution as soon as possible. The General Election will be held on December 8th. Thank you for your support.
Best,
Carol Schatz
President & CEO
cschatz@ccala.org
Posted by Michael Higby @ 10/14/2009 02:00:00 AM
34 Comments:
Terrible for all involved. The thought of the CCA having their hands on yet another council person, from the Valley no less, makes me physically ill. Talk about no change. Those lobbyists are tied into all the wrong people. All of them would like it to be business as usual.
Downtown paying for Valley Council members is what makes me think that maybe it is time for another call for secession. Yet, there aren't enough strong candidates in the Valley and who wants business as usual there. Nobody can dispute that "Central City Association" is downtown interests, so I don't want to hear anybody whining that "those valley people just bitch about being taken over by downtown interests. They are so paranoid."
You all know what they say about people from the Valley who... well... voice their anger by pointing out the proven facts to support that supposed paranoia.
CD 2 has to vote for Krekorian or we are so screwed.
Don't forget secession won in the Valley. the rest of the city voted it down. You would think the City would've sat up at that point and started paying attention to this not so insignificant fact, but the morons who inhabit the westside elected thug boss, business as usual Antonio Villar who only responds to punches in the nose. so, yes its time for another go at secession.
Indeed there is no better time for secession.
However the leadership in the Valley sucks. Its either people who MIGHT be able to get something done or really nice well meaning people who are incompetent.
What would be best if the Valley split into 4-5 cities. Then that would engender the required civic pride. Most people in LA only care about their general area not the city or even the Valley as a whole.
CD2 brought it upon itself. CCA is doing what they are supposed to do. Buy politicians. More power to them!
I'll tell you exactly what I think, Michael Higby.
I haven't had my coffee date with Christine Essel yet, but I am certain that it will happen.
By comparision, my emails to Paul Krekorian earlier in the campaign were ignored. Take from that what you will.
Your boy Krekorian is in big trouble in this race, a race he was practically pre-selected to win. Essel is getting the voters from three of her rivals, and she will probably get a few more. If she gets Tamar Galatzan on her side, Paul can book his return flight to Sacramento.
Christine Essel hasn't even started raising money for round two yet.
She can be considered a "taxpayers hero" if she wins...saving taxpayers from paying the one million dollars it will cost to hold the special election to replace the selfish politician Paul Krekorian in the State Assembly.
Essel might have business groups like the Chamber and CCA but I'll take that over Krekorian and SEIU any day of the week and 2x on sunday
Phil I guess if you send a guy emails calling him a budget destroying socialist and a freedom hating liberal its not likely anyone is going to respond.
You still haven't responded to my question about Essel's support for corporate socialism like the CRA, tax-increment financing, government subsidies of developers, SB1818.
You do know that a major cause of the budget mess we are in is directly attributable to the CRA's diversion of tax funds from police, fire, streets, welfare, etc. to developer subsidies?
Isn't it nice that we've removed most of the noise from the blog? Anyway if Essel is trying to create a non-downtown image, this doesn't do it.
Wrong, Higby.
The major cause of our financial crisis here in LA is the excessive pensions and demands from groups like the SEIU (who are backing Krekorian - surprise, surprise!!) who feel that average and ordinary government employees deserve to be compensated like Fortune 500 CEO's.
Recent mathematical models have shown that over 50%(!) of the future budget will be going to pay people who no longer work for the City.
This practice has to stop.
Krekorian won't do that. He is in bed with the SEIU.
Krekorian will not make it. He's the Mayors candidate and his record in Sacto will not help him.
It IS the right time for secession, Higby.
OH, and the "South is gonna rise again" - too (save those Confederate dollars)!
P.S. Yeah, now that you've removed most of the "noise" from the blog it's "nice" -- just basically you and Jennerjahn swapping comments before an audience of (the same) two.
VERY impressive! If only media like the Times could survive JUST selling subcriptions to people that already agree with their editorial stands. Think of how uncluttered their mail "in" box would be.
Higby Phil must not be a Republican if he supports the CRA and giveaways to developers. Does Phil know by the way that Chris is married? So his coffee date will be coffee only and no cream.
Anyone but Essel. She's already showing she can be bought and then to not think anything of it from the downtowners $$$$. Can we all say DEVELOPMENT DEALS!! The valley can once more time show their power and put Paul in. On another note the Police Political League is getting hammered all over town because of the lame ass contract for their officers. Who the hell would say YEs to this nothing piece of crap? Already officers are pissed and saying call in the TEAMSTERS. They would have handed those losers on council their heads on a platter. Dumb Police Political Union bought the council members and found out their money was crap to them.
LOL 1059!
I gather Phil doesn't know how to make a move even IF Chris Essel was single.
But I sure bet that his keyboard is sticky!
10:54, you must be joking. The mayor's candidate is Chris Essel. The mayor sought a candidate to go up against Tamar. That's how Essel was recruited. Sort of like following the same playbook as Wendy Greuel. And that's why the Wendy Greuel endorsement. Wendy's been in the mayor's pocket for the last two years. And to Jennerjerk, why not jump on "selfish" Wendy for creating the need and cost for this special election?? And votes from three of Essel's rivals?? Ha! Ha! The likes of Essavi, Zuma Dogg and Augusto Bisani?? You're not really serious, are you?? Add them up and you don't have a thimble full of votes.
The assembly has a 13% approval. That's about the % of the vote Paul will get. It's gonna be an ugly race. but Chris is going to get the support of ALL the other candidates. That's enough to tip the scales in her favor. She has 3 already. Paul has 0.
We are doomed either way. On December 8th, CD2 can choose its poison.
Neither Essel nor Krekorian has what it takes to push back against the unions or downtown.
I, for one, will probably not bother casting a vote on the 8th. If there is a write in option, I will choose to do that instead.
I am looking forward to the race in less than two years. By then, the city will be bankrupt or operating on just one cilynder. Maybe then people will be motivated to make a wholesale change.
As if anyone needed this smoking gun to know that E$$el is bought and paid.
People can taut CCA and Chamber endorsements if they wish, but I don't recall them ever knocking on doors and making calls for candidates, you know, the stuff that wins elections. It's about this time when the real grassroots candidate separates from the faker.
Hatfield said it best: choose your poison, bitches.
Thanks, Michael, for the vote of no-confidence about valley leadership.
As for secession, forget about it. The only way the the valley can try to break away again is to go through the same voting requirements, i.e., the entire city has to vote on it. However, that requirement can be changed. But it takes an assemblymember or senate member to write the necessary legislation to change the law to favor the valley's right for cityhood. Now, the likelihood of that happening is very remote. I think we all know why too.
By the way, Chris Essel is not the favorite out here among valley leadership no matter her endorsements. She doesn't fool us one bit.
Higby is right about the leadership in the Valley. You have the old fools that hang out at Galpin Motors eating lemon cookies. You have people like David Hernandez who never succeeds (but at least is a good Republican). The only people who have "won" something are people fighting against something like Home Depot.
There isn't a single bright person out there advocating something new.
Try smaller cities for example Atlanta. Or Even Vegas has some smart leaders.
Old Fool Hatfield should write in Zooma.
WTF??? They're giving this asshole the money and not one idiot council member tried to stop it. Who the hell is in charge of this city? The Police Politicial League SURRENDERED THEIR COPS TO the politicians and couldn't get them shit not even a small increase and fold to the morons in city hall but David Nahai is going to make $82,000 doing nothing.
...Under the three-month contract, Nahai can earn a maximum of $82,000 to “provide consulting services and provide knowledge transfer relating to issues that arose during his tenure as chief executive officer and general manager
255, I'm not an old fool, just less of a fool than you.
Paul H
Old Fool Hatfield IS the new Zuma Dogg now that Zuma has retired.
City council lied when they said the increase in trash fees were going for new police officers. Now they want to put a hiring freeze on new police officers and a freeze on promotions.
Bratton left just in time. Boy, was he smart.
Forget calling neighborhood councils 'volunteers' , and ooh lets not scare them away .
Oh my goodness. they're trying to run the community, I say.. if you can't show me what your financial interests are, then you got too much to hide, and can't be truly representative, because you have too much to hide.
I agree with Greig Smith.
you want to play with the big boys, then declare your interests.
Financial disclosure needs to be mandatory to flush out the shady.
Hey stupid ass Paul Hatfield, how about a write in vote of Adoph Hitler?? Would you vote then? What a sad commentary that you will abdicate your vote and let less than 12% of the voters decide. Shame on you and your ilk. Get over yourself.
833- exercising my right to not choose. A low turnout in the runoff will speak volumes about the lack of support in the community for these two.
A write-in would be a better option. If it is allowed, I will pick one of the eight.
Sorry you feel compelled to buy into PK or CE. Ignorance must be bliss for you.
Paul H
Carol Schatz is filthy mouthpiece for the greedy downtown businesses. They whine about any regulation because it cuts into their obscene profits and the expense of workers.
Chris was certainly NOT recruited by the mayor to run against Tamar. The mayor hasn't endorsed and I guarantee you he won't go against the Democratic party and endorse Essel over Krekorian. He won't endorse either or them. If he were to endorse, I would bet money that it would be Krekorian. If he does endorse Essel for any reason, it will only be because he thinks she's going to win based on the money.
For the rest of the city CD 2, don't let Chris Essel get in there.
Nobody wants to have her vote against the community over and over again. Like she did with SB 1818, she will vote with those who paid for her campaign, not those who voted for her.
Michael, you need to monitor the posts. I noticed no other site that is credible allows some of the stuff you just release. A lot of sites have a decorum of no cussing or personal attacks. Keep to the thread or delete them. This web site came up at a big meeting and a lot of the people from the old days refuse to come here anymore because of the sleaziness it has become. I will admit I was one of those dumb people posting negative stuff but learned the hard way it wasn't very nice.
Higby I can tell you who 2:20 is because she sent me a message about you saying the same thing and I was at the same meeting.
I am sure you could care less whether a not a bunch of professional wackos who spend their lives in meetings think of this blog right?
Secret: They STILL read even when they say they don't to see if anyone mentions them. Just like Zuma Dogg.
Everyone in downtown knows that the Mayor is backing Essel. He won't come out publicly but he's made calls on her behalf. So get your head out of the sand or where ever you've stuck it and get real. She is the Mayors choice and she will WIN.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home