Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

 Meet the "Lil Tony" in me if you dare.

Mayor Villar, Pat McOsker and the LAFD Rank and File are not going to silence themselves.

Now the City Council knows the obvious.

If anyone has learned anything about the former "Tony Villar of City Terrace" in six-plus years as Mayor Antonoio Villaraigosa, don't "present contrary political witness" to the political facade refined daily by the  Mayor's image/ media team.

For United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) President Pat McOsker, this means that someone from the mayor's staff hinted strongly to mute his attacks on Mayor Villar's Fire Chief Brian Cumming's crafted (and much-maligned) response times stats to 911 calls.

Pat McOsker, like his brothers Tim, Mike and John, know well what its like to be on the receiving end of a "Team Villar" attack after years of association with the Hahn Family. Many local political observers including myself,  feel that the LAFD "brownouts" and follow-up service cut backs originated from the bad blood between Team Villar towards the McOskers.

... and judging from the mess that Mayor Villar has mired Los Angeles in for six-plus years, the McOskers can feel proud about their past endeavors. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

 United Firefighters of Los Angeles (UFLAC) President Pat McOsker and fellow firefighters.

Mayor Antonio Villar.

There is nothing better for Los Angeles bloggin discourse than a "little political dust up" between Mayor Antonio Villar and former Mayor James Hahn associates, "The McOsker Brothers".

Witness Mayor Villar and LAFD Chief Brian Cumming's "defend the response times" press conference yesterday and the mayor's reaction to the proximity of UFLAC President Pat McOsker at the back of the presser, among the scribes.

As the "Brother McOsker" know, there is nothing like a vindictive Villar to contend with in local politics, especially when your most recent UFLAC memo crafted by its President Pat McOsker, reflects badly upon a mayor craving the national political spotlight (and cabinet appointment in a second President Obama Administration)....... and the reaction from Mayor Villar via the Daily News.

Villaraigosa called McOsker's criticisms outrageous, adding, "It is a reflection of the lack of leadership up in that union. It's the same guy who put out posters saying they were going to die (because of the cuts)." 

Mr Mayor, you may want want to review this emotional testimony of Luis Gonzalez before pointing fingers at UFLAC leadership in the future.

** The City Clowncil Central Committee is back in session today as we near the start of the 48 hour countdown to a Friday meeting that may see a final vote on Redistricting 2012.

** 46th Assembly District Candidate Adrin Nazarian has picked up the endorsement of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA). We are still waiting word on the fate of candidate Laurette Healey.

** City Councilman Bernard Parks had this retort to a Betty Pleasant musing from last week.

Betty Pleasant explains the whole black thing

In another column pushing Mark Ridley-Thomas over Bernard Parks in the Supervisor race, the Wave's Soulvine columnist tells some recent South L.A. history from when Mayor Jim Hahn dropped Parks as LAPD chief: "Even though I had serious problems with Parks as police chief, I was incensed by what all those white people were doing to him and I used the bully pulpit of my paper to help whip up rage against those people, to circle the wagons against those people who were bringing down a Black man. Our support for Parks had nothing to do with his being chief, and everything to do with his being Black. Yes, the instinct to close ranks racially does come to the fore, and to quote my grandpapa again, 'sometime it be like that.'" Pleasant was then city editor of the Sentinel. The Wave  

. 

Betty being a bit hypocritical?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

UFLAC and Pat McOsker endorse Joe Buscaino for CD 15

 Joe Buscaino Campaign's brilliant counter-endorsement by UFLAC and its President Pat McOsker. 

Pat McOsker and UFLAC picked their moment to stick it to Mayor Antonio Villar and his CD 15 Candidate Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Thus, crashing the LA County Labor Federation Endorsement momentum for Furutani in CD 15.

After getting dished by Mayor Antonio Villar over cutbacks to firefighters and resources, the rank and file of UFLAC and their leader Pat McOsker inflicted a timely and potentially lethal counter blow to Mayor Villar's chosen candidate in CD 15 Assemblyman Warren Furutani, by endorsing LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino for the CD 15 Special Election Runoff. Thus, countering the County Labor Federation endorsement of Furutani last evening, statement follows.

(San Pedro) -- LAPD officer and L.A. City Council District 15 candidate Joe Buscaino was endorsed today by the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC), IAFF Local 112, and by the organization’s current president, and former primary opponent, Pat McOsker. “I am honored to be endorsed by Pat and his fellow firefighters,” said Buscaino.  “As a police officer, it means a great deal to me to have the support of the men and women who serve and protect the people of Los Angeles.” Buscaino continued, "The McOsker family has deep ties to and is well respected throughout Council District 15. I am proud to have earned this important endorsement." “Joe Buscaino is a proven public servant and an excellent candidate for the working men and women of Council District 15,” said McOsker, President of UFLAC.  “We are proud to support Joe for the run-off election.” Following the UFLAC endorsement, McOsker chose to personally endorse Buscaino as well.  Buscaino has also been endorsed by former opponents Gordon Teuber and Jayme Wilson. 

Buscaino, in an interview with Mayor Sam, had pledged that any possible cuts to LAPD and LAFD would be off the table if he were elected to City Hall. That resonated with PPL and now UFLAC.

Your thoughts ..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the battles within the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

 CD 10 City Councilman and possible future Council President Herb Wesson

Councilman Wesson staffer and Redistricting Commission Executive Director Andrew Westall.

Great Monday to all as a soggy desert weekend gives way to a sunny week in the City of Los Angeles

Some time last spring, CD 10 City Councilman Herb Wesson was the subject of an interview with "The City Maven's" Alice Walton, They discussed Wesson's thinly-veiled desire to replace Councilman Eric Garcetti as City Council President and his thoughts on redistricting, plus the role his senior deputy Andrew Westall would play in the process as Walton reported.

In Wesson’s corner is Andrew Westall, his senior deputy and a man considered to be an expert on the subject, having participated in the 2002 redistricting process.“I do think that having Andrew Westall will be an asset,” Wesson. “What I want to see is once (commissioners) get started and then they begin to get feedback from the people, because I have to see what the folks want and then try to deliver.” 

Some months later, we are getting peeks behind Councilman Weeson's true motives for having Westall installed as the Redistricting Commission's Executive Director, as noted by Jack Humphreville's latest missive on the City Council's "case of the slows" on dealing with the DWP Ratepayer Advocate.

While the City Council has not had time to draft and enact the necessary ordinances for the Ratepayers Advocate, they certainly have had time to devote to back room politics regarding the desire of Herb Wesson (of Harold & Belle’s fame) to be the next President of the City Council and the inappropriate, strong arm tactics of his staffer, Andrew Westall, who, as the Executive Director of the City’s Redistricting Commission, is trading redistricting favors for votes for Herb from other Members of the City Council.

.... and the sun shines on reality at 200 Spring Street.
Other news after the jump.

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Morning Briefs on the "Shaken" Los Angeles Political Machine in CD 15 for Wednesday

 The former CD 15 Councilwoman Janice Hahn "Halo" above the head of top vote getter Joe Buscaino

 First time political candidate Joe Buscaino shakes up City Hall with his first place performance last night. After wards, Congresswoman and former CD 15 City Councilwoman Janice Hahn abandon the sunken "U.S.I.S. Pat McOsker" and made an appearance at Buscaino's Campaign Party and stated to the San Pedro native, “You’re going to go all the way,”  Buscaino's Campaign Consultant Eric Hogenson deserves major credit for this initial outcome, mixing inclusive new media mediums with old fashion grass roots outreach. But lets not forget that character counts in CD 15 with a home grown candidate such as Joe Buscaino. . 

Assemblyman Warren Furutani proved with his second place performance that there are still voters out in CD 15 that will support the status quo and swallow the Mayor Antonio Villar meme. Yet Furutani will need all the labor support that Villar and LA County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo can "arm-twist" for him. Plus, photos like above don't help the cause of Furutani when going head to head with the home grown candidate.

Sometime last night after the CD 15 polls closed, the "Union, Special Interest Ship (U.S.I.S.) Pat McOsker" sank beneath the political waters of CD 15. With $300,000+ of IBEW and SEIU 721 dues money, this political dreadnought should of had more than enough resources to sell the CD 15 electorate on the blue collar, working man virtues of Pat McOsker. But mix a temperamental, non-persona like McOsker with a archaic campaign machine that had no use for new media, then the result should not had been hard to predict..Especially, when your campaign consultant is John Shallman who ..............

resorted to recycling old campaign material, that resulted in his latest sinking of the chosen candidate of the City Hall elites.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

John Shallman's Chris Essel CD 2 "Titanic Mailer" rises again in CD 15 for Pat McOsker

Will Pat McOsker' Campaign Consultant John Shallman regurgitated "Titanic Mailer" have a different affect on the CD 15 electorate? You would expect $90,924.43 in campaign payments to buy some creativity in campaign mailers. But Hey, if your internal poll numbers show that your latest candidate is sinking fast, then why not use the Titanic piece again to pad your ending balance? 

 Would you hire a campaign consultant to regurgitate losing negative hit pieces? Will Pat McOsker's political aspirations survive the sinking of the "U.S.I.S. Pat McOsker" tomorrow?

The "Original Titanic Mailer". Can you find fail CD 2 City Council Candidate Chris Essel, the "Valley Greuel" supporter, Frank Sheftel, Phil Jennerjahn and John Shallman, on the lifeboat as the "Empty Vessel called Chris Essel", sinks into the CD 2 political waters?  

 In the original, Cd 2 City Councilman Paul Krekorian and LAUSD School Board Member Tamar Galatzan go for a duo kayak ride while their supposed ships sink. But then, both just won re-election.

In the McOsker paid-for regurgitation, Assemblyman Warren Furutani gets his own kayak as his former ships ..... and McOsker's sink into the CD 15 waters. The question for CD 15 voters is will the latest Furutani's CD 15 ship survive long enough to make the runoff tomorrow? Then meet its January "day of judgment"?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Joe Buscaino responds to Pat McOsker Attack Mailer regarding Republican Voter Registration

 Lets get to the premise of CD 15 City Council Candidate Pat McOsker's "Secret Mailer Hit Piece" on fellow candidate Joe Buscaino, yes, Joe Buscaino was once a Republican.and once again, Buscaino take ownership of the issue. In today's profile in the Daily Breeze, Buscaino explains his change of party registration from Republican to Democrat.

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Does Pat McOsker have a "Carpetbagging Issue" in CD 15?

 What is factually wrong with this paragraph from Diane Chapman's McOsker Story at City Watch? Despite a rough and tumble start, McCosker (City Watch needs a spoll-checker!) who works at Station 101 in San Pedro on 25th Street, took a leave of absence from his leadership job at the United Firefighters after several firefighters complained that his campaign was a conflict-of-interest with his post. 

Poor animal in need of rest after transporting Pat McOsker's "IBEW and  SEIU IE Laden Carpetbag" from Redondo Beach to San Pedro, in search of political riches.

If a runoff for the vacant CD15 City Council seat were to materialize between LAFD Firefighters Union Leader (on leave) Pat McOsker and LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino, could the definitive question whether to chose one over the other, could come down to "why did you leave San Pedro Pat?" And judging from their respective campaign websites, advantage goes to Buscaino.

Lets state for the record, that the McOsker Family has long distinguish ties to the San Pedro Community with two generations serving the city as LAFD firefighters, but as Diane Chapman's piece in City Watch notes, the issue of residency is one that may haunt McOsker's quest to become CD 15's councilperson;

Like two other candidates, one issue haunting McOsker is that he had to return to the district to run. He moved with his wife, Carla, from Redondo Beach to the Vue apartments downtown San Pedro. Svorinich  and candidate Gordon Teuber, a former Hahn aide, moved from the Palos Verdes Peninsula back to San Pedro.  To run, candidates have to live in the council district which serves Wilmington, San Pedro, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway as well as Watts. 

This fact runs counter to the home grown campaign of Buscaino who still calls San Pedro home and has no plans to move anytime soon. Also working in advantage to Buscaino are those "uninterrupted community ties" that are illustrated superbly by Buscaino Campaign's first class website. Meanwhile. "Team McOsker's" webpage has no use for Facebook, Twitter or YouTube and is full of predictable union and political  endorsements.

But rest assure as McOsker  added, that he “missed San Pedro everyday of his life” and wouldn’t have moved to Redondo, but his wife’s family also had lived for years in the beach city and “I had to respect that.”

....... and the likes of my "brothers and sisters" of an extended city union family, wanted me to return home to serve their respective Special Interests.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14      

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

SEIU 721 President Bob Schoonover (behind right shoulder of Pat McOsker) delivers coveted endorsement for his union brother.

** Despite the "polling influence tactics" of CD 15 City Council Candidate Warren Furutani's Campaign Consultant Parke Skelton, opponent Pat McOsker who recently received the coveted SEIU 721 endorsement, has posted the first Independent Expenditure (IE) of the Cd 15 Special Election Campaign. "Working Californians for Pat McOsker" ante up $44,000 in this first of what should be many IE's in this race.

** In the newly reconstituted 51st Assembly District which incorporates most of Northeast LA and unincorporated East LA, candidate Jimmy Gomez has picked up the endorsement of City Council President Eric Garcetti. This endorsement on top of his almost 2 to 1 lead in fundraising has him looking like the "establishment candidate" in the race to replace Assemblyman Gil Cedillo in 2012.

** Meanwhile in the San Fernando Valley newly constituted 30th Congressional District, ethnic and gender pandering is underway between Brad Sherman and Howard Berman. Sherman was in the audience at the 5th Annual Stonewall Democrats "HERO Awards". Berman recently played host to a group of Armenian-Americans. Can we call this "pandering tick for tat"? But as noted in the LGBT/POV post, Sherman's Campaign Consultant Parke Skelton has commission yet another poll for this client, that shows Sherman leading Berman 51% to 24%. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Los Angeles Politics HotSheet for Thursday

The wheels coming off the bus is a term that seems to have been used quite a lot lately, but it's probably an apt one to describe the campaign of UFLAC President Pat McOsker for CD15. Here in our pages we've chronicled (as well as other blogs) McOsker's apparent foul temper and even fouler mouth. Those qualities generally do not endear one to others and that appears to be the case here.  McOsker has failed to gain the endorsement of his own union and may face a vote asking him to step down as head of the union next week.
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Los Angeles Politics for Tuesday

Lots of fun stuff in the race to succeed now Congresswoman Janice Hahn in her vacated CD15 seat. The latest is an unconfirmed report posted by one of our readers that the firefighters union executive board split 3-3 on an endorsement of their President, Pat McOsker, for the Council seat. With the panel deadlocked, McOsker claimed the right the cast the deciding vote. If true, this would be a shocking display of hubris by a wannabe elected official.



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United Firefighters Pat McOsker's "response" to internal union critics

UFLAC President with SEIU 721 President Bob Schoonover. McOsker has received the endorsement of Brian D'Arcy's IBEW Union.

With what promises to be a contentious endorsement conclave at 0900 on Wednesday, UFLAC President Pat McOsker responded to the "small faction of detractors" within the rank and file that have question McOsker's union leadership and fitness for endorsement in the upcoming CD 15 Special Election.We cut and paste some excerpts from McOsker's "attacks on me musings" below for your review.

Regarding those who question him continuing as union president while campaigning for CD 15:

Interestingly, these naysayers are not making the same allegations about a sitting member of the State Assembly who is running in this election.  Neither are they in the cases of the active Police Officer or the political consultant also running.  The fact is that it is extremely rare in American political life for someone to "step down" from their position and turn their back on all other commitments in order to run for elected office.  If that became the expectation, it would be unfair to normal, working people who are willing to serve.  All who would be left to vote for would be millionaires and incumbents.

Who are McOsker's detractors and what are their motives?:

Unfortunately, before we have even had the chance to discuss this issue as a membership, a small faction within our Union has launched an effort to kill the best chance we've had in nearly 25 years to send a firefighter to City Hall.  I am disappointed but not surprised since these are the same "brothers" who collaborated not so long ago with unfriendly City Hall politicians to torpedo your contract, and who worked hard against us when we nearly had the votes to end brownouts.

Will McOsker continue as president of UFLAC?:

No matter what else happens, I will keep my commitment to this membership by staying "on the job" and working hard on your behalf, just like I always have.  That will be the case whether it's to the end of my term here at UFLAC or my swearing in on the City Council.

Why all the internal drama in UFLAC Pat?:

I know from the painful lessons of the past few years that this effort by the former "Recall Committee" is really only about me.  It is "Chapter 5" in an expensive saga which began with the failed recall, and continued with the filing of false charges against me, a series of by-laws elections, and the last contest for president.  This latest attack is a crude attempt to damage my candidacy for City Council, and would do so at the expense of LAFD firefighters and their families.

We will check in again Wednesday..

** Related UFLAC Pat McOsker news via Daily News Rick Orlov "Monday Tipoff Column

** Firefighter-created "patmcoskerforcouncil.com" has its take on McOsker's response. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Open Letter to Joseph

Joseph Mailander, at the Street Hassle blog, has been all over some major issues in Los Angeles, including the meltdown in City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's office and the profanity laced alleged rants of potential CD15 candidate Pat McOsker. This was a good run after Mailander spent a week or two with bizarre screeds about politics in Sunland-Tujunga, in my view, fueled by his personal animosity towards local activist and MayorSam blogger, Joe Barrett.

Mailander must have needed a Sunland-Tujunga "hit," because while all the other blogs are all over Nuch, under his "Mulholland Terrace" pen name, Mailander has a cow about the use of video cameras to ensure transparency at public meetings.

After the jump, I try to reach Joseph.
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Does nepotism reign under the leadership of Pat McOsker at UFLAC?

Letter (link to view clear document) from UFLAC union leadership defending the hiring of Pat McOsker's brother Mike as its business rep.

Give the McOsker Brothers credit for standing by one another in life and employment. The above is a letter to United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) rank and file, defending the hiring of its former "First Vice-President Mike McOsker" as its business rep. McOsker on top of his pension receives some $80,000+ a year for this position.

In the race to replace Janice Hahn in CD 15, Pat McOsker and five others have pulled papers so far (Rudy Svorinich will soon make this six) and guess who is listed as Pat McOsker's "camapign treasurer"? Brother Mike.

And speaking of Mike McOsker, we bring you another "Mikeism" via the McOsker's favorite blog "patmcoskerforcouncil.com".

Mike McOsker on July 19, 2011 at 11:11 pm said:

You got a name, hero?…or are you just another anonymous tough guy “telling it like it is”? C’mon, man. You get paid to go into burning buildings. Don’t be afraid to use your daddy’s name. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Friday Free for All

I'm back.  Yet another visit to the Pacific Northwest with the added opportunity to avoid YAWNmageddon.

Free Matt Dowd!

Now that Janice Hahn is going to Congress, the fight begins for her seat with yet another special election. While I don't have a horse in this race, it appears that firefighter union head Pat McOsker is quickly becoming the bloggers' favorite to be the whipping boy of this race.  McOsker, part of a politically connected family equally known for it's salty and surly aggressiveness as for it's dominance on the LA political scene, is already showing a need for anger management therapy.  Street Hassle reports that McOsker gave an expletive laden retort to questions as to his ability to simultaneously helm the union and run for Council. In the meantime, anonymous detractors of McOkser have started a blog and apparently endured the wrath of McOsker's brother, Mike.

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Will LAFD Rank and File stand behind Union Head Pat McOsker's bid for CD 15?

Firefighters Union President Pat McOsker at City Hall podium.

** Evening Update: Here is the link to patmcoskerforcouncil.com and beware, this is not a "Pro-McOsker" website.

What if you are a high profile union president running for public office and your own "brothers and sisters" are questioning recent actions? That is the predicament United Firefighters of Los Angeles President Pat McOsker faces in his pursuit of the CD 15 Council Office.

Internal observers of all things LAFD took notice as McOsker announced his first "high-profile endorsement" which was the California Nurses Association and not McOsker's United Firefighters.

Some background, United Firefighters have called a "special 30-minute meeting" for July 27 (www. uflac.com) to interview the declared candidates for CD 15. Considering that there are six candidates at this moment, how do you properly interview potential endorses and what role does current President McOsker have in this process?

Further, there are those within the union rank and file who question how a "candidate McOsker" can continue functioning as union president.This in light of the fact that the union is engage in negotiating a contract with a mayor who has endorsed Assemblyman Warren Furutani and is a well-known political combatant of the McOskers. Some firefighters are so disgruntled that they have gone as far to hijack the "@PatMcOsker twitter address and the "patmcoskerforcouncil.com" web url.

If McOsker is able to move beyond his own rank and file concerns and garner their endorsement, his ability to use the union's vast monetary resources may cause some ethical dilemmas. Speculation is that McOsker may seek to transfer a lump sum amount of Firefighter PAC money to the Los Angeles County Labor Federation in the hope that organization endorses him and the cash makes his way back to support his campaign as an "I.E." But the last I check County Labor Federation Leader Maria Elena Durazo was still a close friend of Mayor Antonio Villar and Assemblyman Warren Furutani had stout union credentials which could get him the coveted endorsement. Thus, McOsker's gamble may go up in political smoke.

Your thoughts..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14     

Former Councilman Rudy Svorinich seeks return to the Horseshoe at City Hall

 

Blogger notes: With the soon to be Congresswoman Janice Hahn heading off Washington D.C.  in near time, the stampede is on to replace her within the horseshoe at 200 North Spring Street. The Los Angeles Times reports that in addition to Firefighter Union President Pat McOsker and Assemblyman Warren Furutani, former CD 15 City Councilman Rudy Svorinich is seeking to represent the South LA council district once again. Svorinich's press release is cut and pasted below for your review. Any of the other candidates is welcome to submit pertinent material via email at redspotincd14@yahoo.com--Scott Johnson

San Pedro - Former 15^th District Councilman Rudy Svorinich, Jr. has announced that he will be a candidate to replace his successor, Councilwoman and Congresswoman-elect Janice K. Hahn on the Los Angeles City Council. Now that Hahn has become successful in her bid for the United States Congress, she will more than likely  vacate the council seat in the next few days. Her last council term would have expired on July 1, 2013. Once Hahn makes her resignation official, the City Council will then declare the seat vacant and schedule a special election for the remainder of her term sometime later in the Fall or early next Winter.  

Svorinich, 51, served two terms as Councilman from 1993 to 2001 when he retired due to the two-term limit that was passed by Los Angeles City voters in April 1993.  In 2009, Los Angeles voters extended the term to three. Prior to being elected in 1993, Svorinich was a small business owner in Wilmington, CA. Since 2001, he has been the president of the Svorinich Companies, Inc., a government affairs and political consulting firm based in San Pedro. He is a registered public advocate for both the city and county of Los Angeles.

During his first term in office, Svorinich fought for - and received - an un-precedented $1.2 billion in additional public facilities, programs and resources for the communities of San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Watts without tax or fee increase to local residents or business owners.

Svorinich, a 45-year San Pedro resident, has remained active in many local civic and fraternal organizations. He attended local public schools, is a San Pedro High School graduate and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a major in management fromCalifornia State University Dominguez Hills. 

He and his wife, Deann, have been married for twenty years and have two children, Gregory, 15, and Danielle 12. Both children attend local parochial schools. Svorinich's roots run deep in the Harbor Area to where his family immigrated from what is now present day Croatia in 1920. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Multi-Alarm "Political Fire" Ignited by Mayor and Firefighters Union

"Is this Firefighters Union mailer offensive ??"

Antonio Villaraigosa vs. a McOsker redux ??

This time it is Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vs. Pat McOsker, President of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, as both are the respective front persons in a contentious contract battle.

Both men are engage in a duel reminisces of some of the Villaraigosa vs. McOskers battles (Pat brother Tim was Mayor Hahn's Chief of Staff), during the 2005 Mayoral Campaign. This time the antagonists are fanning the flames of a "contract conflagration" that threatens a new workplace agreement for the city's firefighters.

McOsker enlisted an sharp, angry retort today from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over the above mailer which was sent to selected households. As the Los Angeles Times reports this evening, "Those kinds of tactics are absolutely unacceptable. They do a disservice to the people . . . who died in Metrolink," Villaraigosa said. "They do a disservice to the brave men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department who risked their lives."

McOsker gave this detailed response to the Mayor's comments.

"Our fliers are entirely accurate," he said.

McOsker said Villaraigosa did not raise any objections when Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills used a similar image from the crash to lobby for the approval of a new patient wing (** BTW, guess who was the attorney for Providence Hospital ?? Tim McOsker.). Villaraigosa countered that, unlike the hospital piece, the union mailer used a picture with "body parts strewn on the ground.

"That comment apparently was a reference to a red-stained sheet in the photograph that, according to the mayor's office, covered the body of a Metrolink engineer who died. The mayor's office magnified that image by about 400% and handed out copies to the media Friday.

Hours later, Councilwoman Janice Hahn said she did not know that a tiny white rectangle in the photograph was a body until Villaraigosa brought it up. Hahn, who has criticized the Fire Department cuts, said she saw nothing outrageous in the mailer. "What's outrageous is that we as a city cannot . . . keep the level of services from our Fire Department that the public expects," she said.

If these contract negotiations are any indication, then one can make the observation that political skirmishes such as this, will be common place in Mayor Villaraigosa's second term. And some past antagonists may resume their political dueling.

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