Painters Local DC 36 Political Director Robert Smith refutes ACORN Claim in CD 2 Special Election

Last Sunday, we notice this interesting comment.

Anonymous said...

ACORN is working for Chris Essel in CD2. They are apparently being paid by the Painters Union according to one of their walkers.

November 22, 2009 8:32 PM

At the time we reported that this was only speculation, others had commented that "street walkers" for the Chris Essel campaign, in red shirts, were going door to door, in search of votes. Whether they were ACORN members, that was not definitively confirm.

But what was "fact check" was this financial contribution in support of Chris Essel, via the Ethics Commission Website .

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Washington, DC 20006 (Independent Expenditure) Support Christine Essel City Council Member - District 02 Chris Essel for City Council 2009 - General (1321633) [Election: 12/08/09] 11/19/09 11/18/09GOTV Activities to include phone banks and ** door-to-door mobilization TELSC-1 $58,078.00

So the question is this, who is being paid to go "door to door" by the Painters Union? Could it be United Farm Workers? Communist Party Members? Socialist Worker Party? But not ACORN right?

Then on Wednesday, we get this response from one "Robert Smith" of Painters DC 36.

Anonymous said...

Red Spot the PAINTERS UNIONS IE program has not started to walk yet phone calls only We will be walking GOTV 150 200 members no ACORN FOLK will be involved please get the facts right Robert Smith Painters DC 36

November 27, 2009 5:45 PM

Who is Robert Smith? we found this, which may highlight why they are invested with Mayor Villaraigosa's "vessel of choice" in the CD 2 Special Election.

District Council 36 is part of a coalition which includes Building & Construction Trade Unions, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the UCLA Labor Center, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and faith-based community groups with an endorsement from 120 ministers,who have been working for more than two years to create an historic policy in the City of Los Angeles. Under the landmark Construction Careers and Project Stabilization Policy projects, whether public or private, receiving subsidies, tax credits or direct monies from the Community Redevelopment Agency/ LA will be required to comply with the new Project Labor Agreement. Among the components of the PLA is a requirement that developers and contractors hire workers through union-run hiring halls.

Robert Smith, Political Director of DC 36 (one can see picture of Smith shaking hands with an "certain Mayor"), said the two-year process brought labor, business, and community groups together.“The benefits of this policy will be tremendous for all parties involved, especially for the youth in our communities who will have an opportunity for training and a career they can be proud of.”

Then there is the amount of money involve with this deal.

The Project Labor Agreement will cover $15 billion of upcoming work through the Community Redevelopment Agency/LA, with similar agreements expected shortly with the Los Angeles Board of Public Works and the Los Angeles Harbor Commission.

As we noted last week, one can Google "International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and ACORN" and find numerous examples of collaborations between the two organizations.

So why would Robert Smith post his comment on a thread where there is no mention of ACORN? Maybe because its true and this fact would reinforce the past links of ACORN and Mayor Villaraigosa?

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

BTW, if anyone can verify ACORN members working for Chris Essel, please send a e-mail to redspotincd14@yahoo.com.