LA Times Discovers CD 2's "Lettergate"
" Is this letter stolen property?"Leave it to CD 2 Candidate Chris Essel's Campaign Consultant John Shallman to get his "newpaper of choice" help in promoting "Lettergate".
With just two weeks before the Dec. 8 runoff election, accusations are flying between the two candidates vying to replace former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel in the 2nd District, which stretches from Sherman Oaks and Studio City to Sunland-Tujunga.
Last week, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian sent a mailer depicting his opponent, former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, as the “consummate downtown political insider” and trying to link her to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who had a weak showing in the San Fernando Valley in his March re-election campaign.
Krekorian’s brochure included a 2000 letter sent on official stationary by then-Assembly Speaker Villaraigosa expressing gratitude to Essel for hosting a meet-and-greet at her home. The mailer claimed the letter thanked Essel “for launching his mayoral campaign with a fundraiser.”
But Essel’s campaign said the event had nothing to do with Villaraigosa’s mayoral campaign and no money was raised for him at the event. A Villaraigosa spokeswoman confirmed those statements.
So far so good, for the Times in its role as the Essel's Campaign PR organ. But it gets better.
On Monday, Essel’s campaign sent a news release to reporters with a provocative subject line in all caps: “Burglary charge in city council special election.” Aides included a police report filed by Essel on Friday at the North Hollywood station and a letter she sent to L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley asking him to investigate where Krekorian’s campaign got the letter, which she said was a personal note that was “mine only to possess and or release.” [That assertion is debatable since the document was sent by a public official on State Assembly letterhead]. Opps something about public documents being well......., public documents.
Krekorian's Campaign Consultant Eric Hacopian responds.
Krekorian’s campaign said a person -- whom the campaign would not identify -- brought the letter to the campaign office. His campaign consultant Eric Hacopian called the burglary allegation “another silly attempt” by Essel’s campaign to change the subject.
“Her hypocritical claims are laughable,” Hacopian said in a statement. “What's more, in directing the North Hollywood police to look into this frivolous matter to pursue her own political interests, she is wasting valuable police resources at a time when we can ill-afford to misuse public funds.”
But Shallman said “Until they show they had a public records request to get it [the letter] they are in possession of stolen property.”
All of this over a public document?
** KABC Channel 7 report on "Lettergate".
Your thoughts........................
Labels: cd2 special election runoff, Chris Essel, Eric Hacopian, john shallman, paul krekorian
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 11/23/2009 05:23:00 PM
56 Comments:
The one who looks like the biggest idiot, cryloser is phil jennerdoodle.
Speaking of which, HEY PHIL, WHEN YOU ARE GONNA UPDATE US ON HOW MANY "RECALL ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA" SIGNATURES?
YOU ONLY NEED 240,000 GOOD ONES.
YOU TOLD US YOU'D UPDATE US IN OCT.
IT'S NOW ALMOST DEC.
YOU CAN'T LIE TO US IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. THAT'S FOR THE WINNERS OF THE CONGRESS JOBS. YOU, SIR, HAVE ONLY PROVEN THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO LOSE.
HOW MANY SIGNATURES PHIL?
HOW MANY?
HOW
MANY
FOOL?
I find this really laughable-- The police report shows that Essel filed lists her occupation as "City Council Member." Say what???? A little premature assumption there, wouldn't you say, unless she is so certain that she's bought this election.
also, I read elsewhere her letter to the DA which claims that this flyer was sent to only republicans- I beg to differ. We received a copy and we're registered Democrats.
I'm smelling some real desperation here.
Clearly, the address on the letter freaks out Chris E$$elhole and Antonio Viagrasosa.
If it didn't, they wouldn't be flipping out about it.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
The WORST thing she could have done was make an issue of it. It just draws attn to the fact that she is Antonio's girl, and that she lives WAY outside of CD2.
Game Over.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Unfortunately, this is not the dirtiest thing Paul Krekorian will do to try to win this City council seat.
Be prepared for much, much worse from him.
Phil the fear monger strikes again!
Look at the police report !!!!
Under occupation Essel has "City Council Member" This is classy, so she has been promised the job so much that she puts city council member 2 weeks before the election.
LOL
Is there something not illegal about filing a fake police report? and providing fake information?
So lets see it is a 9 year old letter, and she clams she kept it? was it framed next to the pic of you and AV? She would have moved it from her house that she still has lots of furniture and things in to her single studio Apartment? dont you need all the space you can in a studio Apartment? So why would she move a 9 year old letter? Essel needs to go to Jail for filing a fake police report!!!!!
So either:
A letter from AV meant so much to someone that has been a Government relations Rep for 100 years, that she moves a 9 year old letter with her
or
she filed a fake police report!!!
a waste of paper.
http://ronkayela.com/essel-police%20report.pdf
occupation: City Council Member
And the story is? Are you kidding me.
It is not a crime to lie on a police report. It will only be a crime if she testifies in a court of law.
Essel answer this question: Did you take that letter with you to the new address? Are you positive of that?
If so Why? it (AV) is not that important for you is it?
If not you lied to the police
If your not sure you have lied to the police.
Give us answers
I had the letter framed and it was sitting on my fireplace1 I know I has it with me, now it is STOLEN. I have had it framed blowen up to poster size and on my wall.
"Unfortunately, this is not the dirtiest thing Paul Krekorian will do to try to win this City council seat."
Phil: ACORN is walking for Essel, trust me the dirty stuff will come from them on behalf of Essel.
Bad move on Essel's part. This only highlights Krekorian's charge. That charge will stick with and resonate with voters more than whether or not the letter was acquired legally. No one is denying that the letter is authentic.
Essel is an idiot, she is just keeping the story going as it was about to die.
Ace is orchestrated this made up story from behind the scenes.
John Shallman is doing a lot of crying; for the side that has all the money and endorsements in this race.
Krekorian campaign is way too good to be beat by the likes of John Shallman.
If the LAPD spend two minutes looking into this, the new chief should be fired.
Nothing but a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Is ACORN really working for Essel?
What's the next charge.
Krekorian sank the Titanic?
This story has nothing to do with Chris or Paul.
It is cooked up by AV's people to be used against each other.
Two weeks before an election, and this what the Essel campaign wants to talk about?
What about water rates, side walks and city services?
Are they serious? who cares if any of this is true or not.
Name me one CD2 resident that cares about this story?
At last we learn: between the two, Essel would be the bigger disgrace.
Shallman vs Hacopian
King Kong vs Godzilla
6:38
The homeless looking walkers in the red shirts are all over the place in CD2.
Who else could they be?
How many "Recall Antonio" signatures do you have Phil, now that we know you're reading this.
You can't seem to avoid the question.
You made this "your" project and said you were up to gathering the 240,000 signatures.
You said you'd need 2400 volunteers to get 1000 sigs each.
How many vols do you have?
How many sigs do you have?
Do you have any self respect left?
Just because you have an opinion Phil doesn't make you smart. Even an idiot can have an opinion and you obviously do have one. Idiot.
REd Spot we need a thread. We now have another corrupt police chief in Beck. He's promoting all his loser friends and taking calls from Bratton on what to do. He's demoted a popular Assistant Chief McDonnell who is liked citywide.
You don't screw up what's been working for years but Beck being the idiot he is doing just that.
You know its bad when an idiot like Smith says, "“I looked at the names that he is putting together, and I think it’s a very strong team, and I fully support what’s he’s done," said Smith, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee. "Every chief has the ability to form his own inner circle."
The point is not where the letter came from but the content. Essel claims no persoanl relationship with the Mayor. A big fat lie. She claims to not be an insider. Another big fat lie. Then why did she host a "meet & greet" for then Assemblymember Villaragoisa with other politicos in attendance? Essel's a lobbyist, bought and paid for by special interest money. VOTERS BEWARE!! Essel will not protect our communities, quite the opposite, she will screw us, just like the Mayor and the City Council. Stand up and be counted. Vote against these special interest groups and their attempt to buy this council seat. VOTE PAUL KREKORIAN.
You don`t get a plum appointment such as in the Airport Commission, unless you have a personal relationship with the Mayor. To claim otherwise is a FAT lie.
6:43 p.m. you must be naive. Essel is going to talk about water rates ? Don`t forget the thug D`Arcy has poured so far $500,000 into her campaign, money that comes from our water bills.
I was driving down Ventura Blvd and saw Phil Jennerjahn in a pink leisure suit and cowboy hat and Frank Sheftel in spandex, a Frankie Goes to Hollywood t-shirt and Wal-Mart baseball cap. They were hanging up Chris Essel signs.
TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!
9:42PM - Essel's got Hang 'Em High plastering CD2 with yard signs on Stop Signs, Traffic Lights, Freeway On/Off Ramps, and any chain link fence that's available. Most folks won't even know Krekorian is in the election.
Someone should file a complaint.
Smart move by Essel team.
anon 6:01
Really? You have the DA letter AND the mailer? How'd you get the DA letter?
Name and address please. Let's see if you are really a Dem. Because if Krekorian sent that mailer to Democrats then they really are idiots.
Remember the $250k for Weiss from the Democratic Party?
Apparently this boneheaded mailer by Krekorian pissed off enough Dem Party leaders that they pulled the plug on a big IE they planned for Paul.
Pretty stupid guys. Why piss off your own party by pretending to be a Republican?
Krekorian's team may be classier than Shallman's (not a high barre in any case), may not want to clutter neighborhoods with ugly signs - like they also did for Trutanich, bolted them ILLEGALLY to Stop and other city signs.
People should take pictures - each one is a big FINE for tampering with public property AND in the case of Stop signs, endangering public safety. Trutanich never paid for his numerous violations - neighbors tried to rip some down but couldn't, the bolts were attached to Steel beams onto the Stop Signs!
However Weiss's campaign having no signs was probably a mistake and Paul's should have some at least in people's yards: yes he's got the name ID but many people pay no attention to local politics and the last minute bombardments do make a difference, they believe the flashy lies and mailers and tv ads - what Shallman is banking on again.
Our recent elections have been skewed by the tiny % that is VERY active and a vast majority that vote based on the last flashy sign or ad they saw.
Shallman has taken local politics to the lowest common denominator and it may not be a wise idea to keep to the high ground when there isn't any.
"Krekorian’s campaign said a person -- whom the campaign would not identify -- brought the letter to the campaign office."
Refusing to identify where you got a stolen letter?
Can you imagine what real investigative reporters would do with that?
They'd never stop asking the question and he'd be buried for aiding and abetting a criminal.
Shallman is up late again.
Has the ACORN Essel connection been confirmed?
11:27, what are you talking about?
Trutanich paid for a lot of mailers on Democratic party slates - I got one with RFK on the cover, and tiny print inside said something about it not being an official Dem party mailer. He was the ONLY non-Dem on it though, intentionally confusing.
HOWEVER they made a big stink about Weiss's campaign doing the same, on some MOSTLY Republican mailer - when these aren't official party mailings and say so even if in small print, everyone does it.
But I've never seen so many Republicans on a Democratic mailer as Trutanich was, and then HIS campaign screamed all over the place about Weiss on one mailer. IF the Dem party really is dumb enough to pull an IE over this, which I doubt, they're more naive than they should be. I think 11:27 is blowing more smoke out of Shallman's very nervous behind.
What could be illegal about a letter written on official state assembly letterhead, anyway? That was 9 years ago, today with new media any such letter would be out there instantly everywhere, you have to be careful what you put in writing. Shallman is the first to go around trying to swipe letters and copies of invites!
Let's see, a democrat attacking a democrat for associating with democrats--but ONLY to republicans.
Does Paul think we're stupid?
Hey Red Spot...
Is it true that Mike Trujillo was the little kid chasing the pigeons in the opening credits to Chico and the Man?
Regardless of who your choice candidate is, isn't it fun to watch them keep a distance from the mayor?
'Sort of like McCain with Bush.
It's also fun to watch each of them try to appear less liberal.
Chris Essel has officially reached the coveted Cryloser status which is ironic considering she's endorsed by the inventor of the term.
12:07, sorry to tell you but just because a letter is written on official state assembly letterhead doesn't make it legal to take.
As a CD5 resident, we tried to get Jack Weiss to release all sorts of public documents. In fact, we marched down to his office to demand all documents related to his Casden Development deals and his laundered contributions.
We were told by lawyers we had to file a public records act request.
That's the only legal way to obtain public documents. Even though Weiss refused, it never occurred to us to break into Weiss's office to get it.
Can you imagine if we suddenly produced the documents we requested from Weiss without him turning them over to us? There would definitely have been an investigation.
That may or may not have been the way Krekorian got this letter. But refusing to identify how they got it or who gave it to them doesn't fly.
C'mon. Does anyone really believe that Chris Essel took this letter to her "so called" residence in Studio City and that it was then stolen? Why on earth would she have it there since she still maintains a residence outside of CD2? Just another political ploy by the Essel campaign to change the debate from the real issue. She's been caught in a lie about her realtionship with the Mayor. It's as simple as that.
Can you imagine if we suddenly produced the documents we requested from Weiss without him turning them over to us?
I can imagine! Some actual discussion about who's beholden to who might have taken place, instead of both campaigns trying to spin the local media out of their shorts every day. PS, Weiss wouldn't have fared as badly in such a discussion as the Long Beach Republican.
Bull shit non story.
She's in relations with the mayor....REALLY, more like Krekorian is, otherwise how would he get the letter! Hello people, he is using the MAYOR'S CONSULTANTS!
11:17 I never said I have the DA letter perhaps you should read slowly and carefully before you jump all over people
Oh my crimeny!!!All you need is to make a public records request and the letter is yours...for goodness sakes, it could've been anyone in the last 8 years in the city or state, etc. there was no need to steal. i'm sure someone on the krekorian team was smart enough to go to public records. Chris is just pissed that she got outed to the tie that is most condemning in Sunland, Studio City, and Sherman Oaks. p.s Chris, real electeds don't cry...
Friendly advise to Red Spot and Higby:
It is sad to see what has become of you. You have been taken in by the lies of biggest gangster in LA politics, Eric Hacopian.
Let me give you some background about his record.
1994- Him and Adam Schiff where involved in a scheme to steal an State Senate contest in Burbank.
2003- Under AV orders he worked to destroy the non profit group, Mothers of East LA.
2004- Worked as Rich Caruso thug in his big Glendale project.
2005- Worked to destroy Nick Pacheco's campaign from the inside.
2006- Caught up in the Richard Murello scandal.
2009- Worked his black opps magic in defeating Gil Cedillo's campaign by running Emanuel Pleitas campaign.
Is this the man you want to be working with?
For once this attempt to spin the Slimes partly backfired because the story was by Maeve Reston not the Trutanich fanatical editorialist-in-disguise David Zahniser. So she wrote how this is a big deal because Essel doesn't want to be tainted by the mayor because of his poor showing "against a field of mostly unknowns." OUCH. He must not be thanking his girl E$$el for making the story all about how unpopular HE is, how he's the kiss of death.
3:43
You post the same thing all the time.
Variety please.
3:43, compared to Shallman Hacopian sounds like Mary Poppins. And you bring up working for Caruso as being "a thug?" You CRAZY? The only real thug is Shallman's creation Nooch.
All I know is that I live in Tujunga and I am getting about 5 pieces of mail from Essel a day! Someone who claims not to be backed by big business, sure has a lot of money to blow.
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