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  

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

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

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  

Laura Chick Screws Our Everyday Heroes

Firefighters and Paramedics are dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line every day for average citizens. That's why it's a good idea they be paid properly and timely. And its a good when for some reason they are not - that when the City Controller promises to set things straight by a certain date that it be done.

Well you guessed it City Controller Laura Chick has failed to live up to an agreement she made in April of this year with the city's firefighters that retroactive pay would be issued in August. Guess what? It's September and checks yet. Chick is now saying the checks won't be ready until October or November.

"I am a Firefighter that works hard and I expect to get paid for what I do. Why are you holding our Retro Checks hostage? I have a family to feed and take care just like you. It is unfair that we are made to wait on something that is owed to us."
Anonymous LAFD Firefighter

When you're a big bucks city official who gets most of their expenses covered by the taxpayers perhaps a delay in your check is no big deal. But to working class public servants like firefighters and paramedics every dollar counts when you have to meet a mortgage, pay for your kid's braces, pay huge automobile expenses because the City's socialist policies make it difficult for you to afford a home in your own city and force you to live five to ten suburbs over.

It's also a bigger kick in the shins when the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City supported Laura Chick in her last campaign. Now of course they feel like Laura used them like an old hooker.

We suggest that if you support our firefighters and paramedics you do as the UFLAC requests and send an email of outrage to Laura Chick at laura.chick@lacity.org. I am sure with the appropriate amount of pressure Ms. Chick can come to Jesus on this issue.