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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Talk About Money in Politics

Mayoral candidates Kevin James and Emanuel Pleitez have been excluded from a debate scheduled for this evening, hosted by the Community Coalition (whatever that is) in South Central.

Why? According to a press release from the Pleitez campaign, it is because both he and James
have not yet raised $1 million in campaign contributions.UPDATE: The Community Coalition has given no valid reason at all as to the exclusion of Pleitez and James, according to John Hill of the Pleitez campaign.


On the heels of the LA City Council a day before passing a proclamation bemoaning the Citizens United decision and big money in politics, this "community based organization" puts out the welcome mat for only those candidates who have raised millions in special interest funds.

The Community Coalition's Facebook page states that their mission is to "help transform the social and economic conditions in South LA that foster addiction, crime, violence and poverty by building a community institution that involves thousands in creating, influencing and changing public policy." A rational person might assume that mission should include having as wide reaching a discussion on community issues and how to solve problems touching our neighborhoods.

In considering the exclusion of James and Pleitez - who by the way is a former Obama administration official and a left of center progressive of Latino extraction who can't be easily dumped into the "angry Republican white guy"category they easily throw James into - one need only scratch the surface of The Community Coalition's funding by unions and other special interests and it's cozy relationships with the status-quo elected officials all responsible for LA's "decade of decline." 

Yes, it's silly season, folks! 

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5 Comments:

Anonymous James McCuen said:

The Housing Coalition also excluded these two candidates even though both of them met the bar of meeting matching funds which is part of the EXISTING ethics laws and campaign finance laws of the City.

In the case of the Housing Coalition both the Coalition and its members are non-profits and use public funds. It was up to either candidate to challenge this because they were the ones harmed.

January 31, 2013 6:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

And 5 weeks from now, Kevin James will be a tiny footnote in history as Garcetti and Greuel face off in the General.

January 31, 2013 10:53 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

10:53, You are correct in your analysis. It's a Garcetti/Greuel race. Kevin James is the new Walter Moore, which equals "dead in the water". In the end, it will be Mayor Wendy Greuel, for the win!

February 01, 2013 1:20 AM  

Anonymous Rita-of-Sunland said:

"Anonymous"= A Wendy staffer presenting themselves as a pro-Wendy crowd of 2(!!!)trying in VAIN to ignore the strength, truth and momentum demonstrated by KEVIN JAMES. Pretty funny.

February 02, 2013 12:54 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

That's right, Rita. You should see some of the stuff Wendy supporters try to post that we DON'T allow to publish. They think we're smart - but we are on to them. They don't realize people - and computers - talk.

February 04, 2013 12:53 PM  

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