We want to thank everyone who signed the Courage Campaign petition and who rallied behind the "Meet Nori , California Closed Project".
An unprecedented 17,000 signatures were gathered in less than 36 hrs and delivered to our legislators and the "California Closed" video generated the same astounding numbers. Sadly all but one of our Democratic Leaders voted fairly unanimously to vote for the Republican Budget. The one small win for activists was the "no" vote on the oil drilling in Santa Barbara.
Democratic "Leaders" will need to take a hard look at this decision and explain why a democratic MAJORITY voted for this budget. It's not a budget they wrote nor was it one they believed in, nor was it a budget their constituents supported, yet still they voted "aye". Oddly, only a handful of Republicans voted for their own budget. Just enough to pass it. Hmmmm, we smell a strategy here. Maybe for 2010? Just one lone Democrat, Senator Gil Cedillo had the courage to say no. When you have a moment, please thank Senator Cedillo for standing strong for California, for you and for Nori.
A very special thanks to Laura Velkei and Marta Evry for sharing this very special with action with us. We hope they will do more and continue their path of Change for California. We were honored to have been even a small part of this extraordinary project.
You are your Government. Decisions are made by those who show up.
The Gang at LAG4O
Showing posts with label Local Politics and Empowerment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local Politics and Empowerment. Show all posts
July 24, 2009
June 21, 2009
Council 5 Winner Paul Koretz
The results have been finalized and Paul Koretz won the Council 5 Seat by 702 votes.
Although deeply disappointed in the results, we are so proud of the race that David Vahedi ran and hope that he will run again. The race was inspiring to many of us who worked on his campaign. Volunteers and Staff from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns came together as a team to bring forward a candidate we all believed in and still believe in. We did it without negative mailers or lies. We did it with less money and less name recognition. We did it with almost no party support and everyone should be incredibly proud of the work they did.
We hope Mr. Koretz is humbled by the slim margin win and makes it a point to reach out to the community and mend the fences that were broken as a result the negative and false attacks made on David. Politics as usual can no longer be the norm.
That said, we wish Mr. Koretz the best of luck of luck in this new and politically charged venture.
Although deeply disappointed in the results, we are so proud of the race that David Vahedi ran and hope that he will run again. The race was inspiring to many of us who worked on his campaign. Volunteers and Staff from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns came together as a team to bring forward a candidate we all believed in and still believe in. We did it without negative mailers or lies. We did it with less money and less name recognition. We did it with almost no party support and everyone should be incredibly proud of the work they did.
We hope Mr. Koretz is humbled by the slim margin win and makes it a point to reach out to the community and mend the fences that were broken as a result the negative and false attacks made on David. Politics as usual can no longer be the norm.
That said, we wish Mr. Koretz the best of luck of luck in this new and politically charged venture.
May 15, 2009
Council District 5 Debate - The Choice Seems Obvious - Part 1
Part 1 of the Council 5 debates between David Vahedi and Paul Koretz, Courtesy of NBC
Council District 5 Debates - The Choice Seems Obvious - Part 2
Part 2 of the Debate between David Vahedi and Paul Koretz
April 17, 2009
David Vahedi Council District 5
Please help us in supporting David for Council District 5.
Many fellow Obama supporters have joined the fight to make much needed changes to this District. He is a true community organizer and not just another career politician.
If you would like to meet David or just hear what he wants to do for LA, you can attend one of the events listed below:
UCLA Forum (KABC-TV)-
April 20th,
7:30-8:30pm
Grand Saloon at UCLA
Westwood HOA Forum-
April 28th,
6:30-9pm
St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church
10750 Ohio Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90024
California Country Club HOA Forum-
May 18th, 6:30-9:30pm
Beverly Hills Country Club
3084 Motor Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90064
-Daily News endorsed David saying, "Vahedi's pledge to focus on city infrastructure and cut the number of land-use rule variances to developers will be music to the ears of those concerned about overdevelopment - and a welcome change from the way City Hall currently throws out the rules for the well-connected. " Check out his website.
Many fellow Obama supporters have joined the fight to make much needed changes to this District. He is a true community organizer and not just another career politician.
If you would like to meet David or just hear what he wants to do for LA, you can attend one of the events listed below:
UCLA Forum (KABC-TV)-
April 20th,
7:30-8:30pm
Grand Saloon at UCLA
Westwood HOA Forum-
April 28th,
6:30-9pm
St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church
10750 Ohio Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90024
California Country Club HOA Forum-
May 18th, 6:30-9:30pm
Beverly Hills Country Club
3084 Motor Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90064
-Daily News endorsed David saying, "Vahedi's pledge to focus on city infrastructure and cut the number of land-use rule variances to developers will be music to the ears of those concerned about overdevelopment - and a welcome change from the way City Hall currently throws out the rules for the well-connected. " Check out his website.
Prop 1A - A Letter of Support from Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines????
Seriously??? Rainy day money??? This is a ploy to con voters into believing that there is some kind of rainy day slush fund that can be created. From where does this slush fund come you ask?
Capping spending. Capping spending for the State of California right now is like saying, "I won't pay any of the bills that require me to stay afloat. I won't pay my electric bill, my phone bill, my mortgage... that will balance my budget. No, that will just get your lights and your phone turned off and you kicked out of your home.
That's just plain crazy. There is NO DISCRETIONARY INCOME!
At the end of the day as much as we all hate the idea, California needs to raise taxes. Period. Obama told us we would need to make sacrifices. The Governator needs to stop being the Stubornator!
We cannot allow Republicans who talk with glee about the failure of California behind closed doors to continue to hold us hostage.
Read Villines' letter below:
April 17, 2009
(Forward by Kevin Yamamura)
Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines made his case for Proposition 1A in a letter sent Friday to members of the California Republican Party executive committee ahead of its weekend endorsement meeting.
Villines reminds Republicans that he "came up through the conservative ranks of our party." His argument is essentially that Republicans shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. While Proposition 1A has its flaws, he writes that the reality is that "liberals" control the Legislature and that "we have to fight to make important gains where gains can be made."
But as Flash Report editor and CRP vice chairman Jon Fleischman notes, a vote against Proposition 1A is "a virtual certainty."
Villines' letter follows after the jump:
April 17, 2009
Dear Fellow Republican,
As you probably know, I came up through the conservative ranks of our party, and I spent many weekends walking precincts for Republicans who, like me, believe that our party is the best hope for the American taxpayer.
And, now more than ever, Republicans need to stand firm on protecting taxpayers - which includes ending once and for all the spending binge that Sacramento has been on for the past decade. The fact is that the lessons over the past decade have taught us that we must attack the spending problem at its source. Going budget-to-budget in a piecemeal fashion has only resulted in more spending and debt.
Instead, we need wholesale changes that will provide a permanent solution to stop the spending madness and force our government to finally live within its means. Only then will taxpayers be truly protected, which is why many conservatives are joining me in supporting Proposition 1A.
Now, I know that we'll debate this issue at the upcoming Republican Party Executive Committee meeting. And I know that there are some Republicans who are unhappy because the passage of Proposition 1A also consummates the recently enacted budget deal that included temporary tax increases. The reality is that the liberals already have enough votes to continue their dominance in Sacramento, which means that Republicans cannot achieve a 100% victory. Instead, we have to fight to make important gains where gains can be made.
Proposition 1A represents a significant victory for taxpayers at a time when our state needs it most. Proposition 1A ties the hands of legislative liberals, and it forces our budget into a fixed formula and a hard spending cap. That means, for the first time in decades, that liberals will have to make tough spending choices and cut their pet projects.
It also means the taxpayers will no longer be treated like a giant ATM machine. Consider this fact: if we had Prop 1A in place today, our state would not be $31 billion in the red. Instead, our state would have a much more manageable $5.4 billion budget gap. That means that during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, Proposition 1A would have ensured that our budget gap was manageable. That's the proof that Proposition 1A protects taxpayers.
Here's the bottom line: without Proposition 1A, taxpayers will continue to be subjected to the spending whims of the liberal majority, and based on past history, that means more debt&hellipand higher taxes. While some of my fellow conservatives decry that the solution is not perfect, we also need to remember that our ability to influence the process is not absolute.
Proposition 1A represents wholesale changes in our state's spending habits. And, believe me, in this tough economy, we can no longer afford the tax-and-spend mentality in Sacramento that has driven businesses from our state.
I hope you will join me in supporting Proposition 1A. Please take the time to understand this issue and consider the options - especially the consequences - if we don't pass a spending cap and if there's no change in Sacramento.
Proposition 1A gives taxpayers the protection we need. As Republicans, we need to grasp this opportunity to deliver real change.
Sincerely,
Mike VillinesAssemblyman 29th District
_____________________________________
We need to fight for our state and that means calling the representatives who are holding back real solutions and holding them accountable.
Be the Change!
Capping spending. Capping spending for the State of California right now is like saying, "I won't pay any of the bills that require me to stay afloat. I won't pay my electric bill, my phone bill, my mortgage... that will balance my budget. No, that will just get your lights and your phone turned off and you kicked out of your home.
That's just plain crazy. There is NO DISCRETIONARY INCOME!
At the end of the day as much as we all hate the idea, California needs to raise taxes. Period. Obama told us we would need to make sacrifices. The Governator needs to stop being the Stubornator!
We cannot allow Republicans who talk with glee about the failure of California behind closed doors to continue to hold us hostage.
Read Villines' letter below:
April 17, 2009
(Forward by Kevin Yamamura)
Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines made his case for Proposition 1A in a letter sent Friday to members of the California Republican Party executive committee ahead of its weekend endorsement meeting.
Villines reminds Republicans that he "came up through the conservative ranks of our party." His argument is essentially that Republicans shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. While Proposition 1A has its flaws, he writes that the reality is that "liberals" control the Legislature and that "we have to fight to make important gains where gains can be made."
But as Flash Report editor and CRP vice chairman Jon Fleischman notes, a vote against Proposition 1A is "a virtual certainty."
Villines' letter follows after the jump:
April 17, 2009
Dear Fellow Republican,
As you probably know, I came up through the conservative ranks of our party, and I spent many weekends walking precincts for Republicans who, like me, believe that our party is the best hope for the American taxpayer.
And, now more than ever, Republicans need to stand firm on protecting taxpayers - which includes ending once and for all the spending binge that Sacramento has been on for the past decade. The fact is that the lessons over the past decade have taught us that we must attack the spending problem at its source. Going budget-to-budget in a piecemeal fashion has only resulted in more spending and debt.
Instead, we need wholesale changes that will provide a permanent solution to stop the spending madness and force our government to finally live within its means. Only then will taxpayers be truly protected, which is why many conservatives are joining me in supporting Proposition 1A.
Now, I know that we'll debate this issue at the upcoming Republican Party Executive Committee meeting. And I know that there are some Republicans who are unhappy because the passage of Proposition 1A also consummates the recently enacted budget deal that included temporary tax increases. The reality is that the liberals already have enough votes to continue their dominance in Sacramento, which means that Republicans cannot achieve a 100% victory. Instead, we have to fight to make important gains where gains can be made.
Proposition 1A represents a significant victory for taxpayers at a time when our state needs it most. Proposition 1A ties the hands of legislative liberals, and it forces our budget into a fixed formula and a hard spending cap. That means, for the first time in decades, that liberals will have to make tough spending choices and cut their pet projects.
It also means the taxpayers will no longer be treated like a giant ATM machine. Consider this fact: if we had Prop 1A in place today, our state would not be $31 billion in the red. Instead, our state would have a much more manageable $5.4 billion budget gap. That means that during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, Proposition 1A would have ensured that our budget gap was manageable. That's the proof that Proposition 1A protects taxpayers.
Here's the bottom line: without Proposition 1A, taxpayers will continue to be subjected to the spending whims of the liberal majority, and based on past history, that means more debt&hellipand higher taxes. While some of my fellow conservatives decry that the solution is not perfect, we also need to remember that our ability to influence the process is not absolute.
Proposition 1A represents wholesale changes in our state's spending habits. And, believe me, in this tough economy, we can no longer afford the tax-and-spend mentality in Sacramento that has driven businesses from our state.
I hope you will join me in supporting Proposition 1A. Please take the time to understand this issue and consider the options - especially the consequences - if we don't pass a spending cap and if there's no change in Sacramento.
Proposition 1A gives taxpayers the protection we need. As Republicans, we need to grasp this opportunity to deliver real change.
Sincerely,
Mike VillinesAssemblyman 29th District
_____________________________________
We need to fight for our state and that means calling the representatives who are holding back real solutions and holding them accountable.
Be the Change!
February 25, 2009
Los Angeles, March 3rd Election - Full List of Candidate and Measure Endorsements
March 3rd-Local
Elections
Below are LAG4O's Endosements for LA's Local Election. Our picks coincide with the LA County Democratic Party with exception of 4 Seats (City Attorney, Mayor, Council 5, School Board Seat 6.
RED denotes folks for who we want to give special support
CANDIDATES (*Incumbent)
Azusa City Council
Paul Naccachian
Beverly Hills City Council
Barry Brucker*
Linda Briskman*
William Brien
Calabasas City Council
Mary Sue Maurer*
Carson City Mayor
Jim Dear*
Carson City Council
No Endorsement
Cerritos City Council
Chris Fuentes
Mark Pulido
Claremont City Council
Larry Schroeder
Commerce City Council
No Endorsement
Covina City Council
Rosie Fabian
Tom Palmari
Gardena City Clerk
Donesia Gause
Gardena City Council
Steve Bradford*
Glendora City Council
Kristin Parisi
Los Angeles City Mayor
No Endorsement (See Commentary on The LAG4O Blog)
Los Angeles City Attorney
Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich (See LA Times Article on our Blog)
Los Angeles City Controller
Wendy Greuel
Los Angeles City Council
Dist. 1 Ed Reyes*
Dist. 5 David Vahedi
Dist. 9 Jan Perry*
Dist. 11 Bill Rosendahl*
Dist. 13 Eric Garcetti*
Dist. 15 Janice Hahn*
Los Angeles Community College District
Seat 2 Angela Reddock*
Seat 4 Kelly Candaele*
Seat 6 Greg Akili
Seat 7 Miguel Santiago*
Los Angeles Unified School District
Dist. 2 Monica Garcia*
Dist. 4 Steve Zimmer
Dist. 6 Nury Martinez
Monterey Park City Council
David Lau*
Sharon Martinez*
Paramount City Council
Jaime Guerrero
Pasadena City Council
Dist. 5 Victor Gordo*
Dist. 7 Terry E. Tornek
Pasadena Unified School District
Dist. 3 Terri Darr
Dist. 5 Ramon Miramontes
Dist. 7 Ed Honowitz*
Redondo Beach City Attorney
Tory Erickson
Redondo Beach City Council
Dist. 2 Diane Cagle
Redondo Beach Unified School District
Drew Gamet*
Todd Loewenstein*
Rosemead City Council
Henry Lo
John Nunez*
John Tran*
San Gabriel City Council
Kevin Sawkins*
Signal Hill City Council
Mike Noll*
Edward Villanueva
Ellen Ward*
South Gate City Treasurer
Belen Bernal
West Hollywood City Council
John Duran*
Jeffrey Prang*
BALLOT MEASURES
City of Bellflower
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Beverly Hills
Measure P - NO - Utility Tax Measure
City of Cudahy
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Carson
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Gardena
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Glendora
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of La Habra Heights
Measure G – YES – Extend the Gann Limit Amendment for 4 Years
City of La Mirada
Measure A - NO - Transient Occupancy Tax
City of Los Angeles
Charter Amendment A – YES – Fire Department Independent Assessor
Charter Amendment B – NO – (See LA Times Article on the LAG4O Blog) Solar Energy and Job Creation Program
Charter Amendment C – YES – Disabled Children Survivor Benefit of the Fire and Police Pension Plan
Charter Amendment D – YES – Survivor Benefit Purchase Program for Retirees of the Fire and Police Pension Plan
Charter Amendment E – NO – Economic Incentives for Business Development
City of Redondo Beach
Measure A – YES – Utility Tax Measure
City of San Gabriel
Measure to Eliminate Elected City Clerk and Elected City Treasurer – NO
Elections
Below are LAG4O's Endosements for LA's Local Election. Our picks coincide with the LA County Democratic Party with exception of 4 Seats (City Attorney, Mayor, Council 5, School Board Seat 6.
RED denotes folks for who we want to give special support
CANDIDATES (*Incumbent)
Azusa City Council
Paul Naccachian
Beverly Hills City Council
Barry Brucker*
Linda Briskman*
William Brien
Calabasas City Council
Mary Sue Maurer*
Carson City Mayor
Jim Dear*
Carson City Council
No Endorsement
Cerritos City Council
Chris Fuentes
Mark Pulido
Claremont City Council
Larry Schroeder
Commerce City Council
No Endorsement
Covina City Council
Rosie Fabian
Tom Palmari
Gardena City Clerk
Donesia Gause
Gardena City Council
Steve Bradford*
Glendora City Council
Kristin Parisi
Los Angeles City Mayor
No Endorsement (See Commentary on The LAG4O Blog)
Los Angeles City Attorney
Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich (See LA Times Article on our Blog)
Los Angeles City Controller
Wendy Greuel
Los Angeles City Council
Dist. 1 Ed Reyes*
Dist. 5 David Vahedi
Dist. 9 Jan Perry*
Dist. 11 Bill Rosendahl*
Dist. 13 Eric Garcetti*
Dist. 15 Janice Hahn*
Los Angeles Community College District
Seat 2 Angela Reddock*
Seat 4 Kelly Candaele*
Seat 6 Greg Akili
Seat 7 Miguel Santiago*
Los Angeles Unified School District
Dist. 2 Monica Garcia*
Dist. 4 Steve Zimmer
Dist. 6 Nury Martinez
Monterey Park City Council
David Lau*
Sharon Martinez*
Paramount City Council
Jaime Guerrero
Pasadena City Council
Dist. 5 Victor Gordo*
Dist. 7 Terry E. Tornek
Pasadena Unified School District
Dist. 3 Terri Darr
Dist. 5 Ramon Miramontes
Dist. 7 Ed Honowitz*
Redondo Beach City Attorney
Tory Erickson
Redondo Beach City Council
Dist. 2 Diane Cagle
Redondo Beach Unified School District
Drew Gamet*
Todd Loewenstein*
Rosemead City Council
Henry Lo
John Nunez*
John Tran*
San Gabriel City Council
Kevin Sawkins*
Signal Hill City Council
Mike Noll*
Edward Villanueva
Ellen Ward*
South Gate City Treasurer
Belen Bernal
West Hollywood City Council
John Duran*
Jeffrey Prang*
BALLOT MEASURES
City of Bellflower
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Beverly Hills
Measure P - NO - Utility Tax Measure
City of Cudahy
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Carson
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Gardena
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of Glendora
Utility Tax Measure – YES
City of La Habra Heights
Measure G – YES – Extend the Gann Limit Amendment for 4 Years
City of La Mirada
Measure A - NO - Transient Occupancy Tax
City of Los Angeles
Charter Amendment A – YES – Fire Department Independent Assessor
Charter Amendment B – NO – (See LA Times Article on the LAG4O Blog) Solar Energy and Job Creation Program
Charter Amendment C – YES – Disabled Children Survivor Benefit of the Fire and Police Pension Plan
Charter Amendment D – YES – Survivor Benefit Purchase Program for Retirees of the Fire and Police Pension Plan
Charter Amendment E – NO – Economic Incentives for Business Development
City of Redondo Beach
Measure A – YES – Utility Tax Measure
City of San Gabriel
Measure to Eliminate Elected City Clerk and Elected City Treasurer – NO
February 20, 2009
Help Catch The Lawn Sign Thief - Lesson in Grassroots Democracy: David Vahedi Council District 5
Lawn sign stealing on a City Council Race????
$1,600 worth of lawn signs have been stolen over the last couple of weeks from supporters of David Vahedi. Residents became increasingly frustrated as the signs they put up quickly disappeared from their lawns.
Some enterprising activists decided to push back catching the thief on video!
Help us identify the culprit! Email info@lagrassroots4obama.com if you recognize the thief.
$1,600 worth of lawn signs have been stolen over the last couple of weeks from supporters of David Vahedi. Residents became increasingly frustrated as the signs they put up quickly disappeared from their lawns.
Some enterprising activists decided to push back catching the thief on video!
Help us identify the culprit! Email info@lagrassroots4obama.com if you recognize the thief.
February 16, 2009
Villaraigosa, the All About Me Mayor, Is Still 11 Percent There
This artcle seems to articulate the sentiment and confirms the suspicions of most Anglenos these days...
LA Weekly
By Patrick Range McDonald
published: January 01, 2009
For months, many average citizens and members of the press wondered if Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was turning out to be mostly talk. He frequently held staged press conferences devoid of news, launched, with great flourish, initiatives that went nowhere and flew off to places like Chicago and New York to raise money for his own re-election. Several of his touted projects — including planting one million trees, dramatically slashing congestion with synchronized lights, identifying the Top 10 Worst Gangs, turning Pico and Olympic boulevards into one-way streets, making L.A. the greenest U.S. city, turning around the schools, or hiring 1,000 more police — had backfired, come up short or just vanished.
In September, L.A. Weekly delved into claims that the mayor was indeed busy — but not with a mayor’s core duties of improving city government or a city’s quality of life. He has claimed, to national and global news outlets, that he puts in strenuous 16-hour days in deep commitment to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and local TV news operations accepted that claim by Villaraigosa with little question.
The Weekly acquired copies of the mayor’s personal daily schedule covering a roughly 10-week period. We unearthed a jarringly different story: Villaraigosa spends just 11 percent of his time on city business — a fact that shocked many and turned L.A. Weekly’s cover story, “The All About Me Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa’s Frenetic Self-promotion Leaves Little time for His Job,” into one of 2008’s most popular stories, picked up by media outlets globally.
That must have smarted, because on December 26 Villaraigosa lashed out at us in a Los Angeles Daily News story by Rick Orlov, criticizing L.A. Weekly for relying on his “public calendar” in which, Villaraigosa insisted to Orlov, much of his mayoral elbow work was not revealed.
Does this mean Villaraigosa keeps two books — one showing that he barely does any real work, as we reported to his chagrin in September, and one showing that he does plenty of real city business? Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo responds to us that the mayor “misspoke” to Orlov and the Daily News. Szabo says we have the real, accurate, full mayoral schedule. There is no other.
And what of Villaraigosa's additional claim to Orlov that the Weekly erroneously reported he has failed to conduct the basic work of a mayor — we showed that he holds almost no policy meetings or department head meetings or other activities that make up the core duties of an involved mayor — because, as Villaraigosa told the Daily News, he conducts official city business "privately," and the Weekly was not provided those private examples?
Again, Szabo says, the mayor "misspoke." There are no other examples of the mayor conducting actual city business, he does not have any "private examples" to burnish his workday, and the mayor's private calendar, published online by the Weekly in September (see a pdf of it here) is accurate.
Our assessment of his roughly 10 weeks of work, much of which we independently confirmed and nailed down in 15-minute intervals, revealed a mayoralty unlike anything Los Angeles has seen in the modern era.
His schedule reveals that Villaraigosa uses the Office of the Mayor as a promotional and public-relations operation, with extremely little time given to policy considerations, meeting with department heads or otherwise focusing on core municipal problems. On the rare occasions when Villaraigosa focused on policy or the deep problems within many city departments, he often met with
He flew around the nation and world, held one photo op after another, and even sat down in the mayoral mansion, Getty House, so that Madame Tussauds could replicate his head for a wax statue — soon to be displayed on Hollywood Boulevard. Our sidebar, “How Villaraigosa Spends His 16-Hour Days,” broke down the facts, showing that he spends about 34 percent of his purported 16-hour day traveling out of town, and about 24 percent on what the Weekly finally dubbed “gap time” — time soaked up racing around L.A. to appear at photo ops, banquets, ceremonies, interviews and other PR activities.
Readers expressed outrage. Now, op eds and editorials in other Los Angeles newspapers frequently mention that Villaraigosa spends 11 percent of his time on city business or that he is running a mostly PR operation. He has continued a steady pace of non-news press conferences, ceremonials, luncheons, political fund-raising and out-of-town travel. He faces no serious challengers in the March municipal-election primary, but a job in the Obama administration appears increasingly unlikely, as Obama chooses such local leaders as Congresswoman Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Lisa Sutley and Congressman Xavier Becerra (who declined Obama’s offer). Villaraigosa is considering a run for governor in 2010, and would abandon his post as mayor if he won. But polls suggest that the mayor who spends so little time on city business has scant hope of beating California Attorney General Jerry Brown, or U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, if Feinstein were to run.
From “The All About Me Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa’s Frenetic Self-Promotion Leaves Little Time for His Job” by Patrick Range McDonald
Together, then, the mayor spent 804 hours, or 89 percent of his work schedule, on ceremonial/PR, travel, blacked-out activities, gap time, fund-raising, personal issues and undisclosed “security” issues. On direct city business — such as signing legislation and meeting with city-department heads — his schedule shows the mayor spent 11 percent of his time.
“The mayor flies around the world like he’s on a reality TV show,” says a former California Democratic congressional staffer.
LA Weekly
By Patrick Range McDonald
published: January 01, 2009
For months, many average citizens and members of the press wondered if Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was turning out to be mostly talk. He frequently held staged press conferences devoid of news, launched, with great flourish, initiatives that went nowhere and flew off to places like Chicago and New York to raise money for his own re-election. Several of his touted projects — including planting one million trees, dramatically slashing congestion with synchronized lights, identifying the Top 10 Worst Gangs, turning Pico and Olympic boulevards into one-way streets, making L.A. the greenest U.S. city, turning around the schools, or hiring 1,000 more police — had backfired, come up short or just vanished.
In September, L.A. Weekly delved into claims that the mayor was indeed busy — but not with a mayor’s core duties of improving city government or a city’s quality of life. He has claimed, to national and global news outlets, that he puts in strenuous 16-hour days in deep commitment to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and local TV news operations accepted that claim by Villaraigosa with little question.
The Weekly acquired copies of the mayor’s personal daily schedule covering a roughly 10-week period. We unearthed a jarringly different story: Villaraigosa spends just 11 percent of his time on city business — a fact that shocked many and turned L.A. Weekly’s cover story, “The All About Me Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa’s Frenetic Self-promotion Leaves Little time for His Job,” into one of 2008’s most popular stories, picked up by media outlets globally.
That must have smarted, because on December 26 Villaraigosa lashed out at us in a Los Angeles Daily News story by Rick Orlov, criticizing L.A. Weekly for relying on his “public calendar” in which, Villaraigosa insisted to Orlov, much of his mayoral elbow work was not revealed.
Does this mean Villaraigosa keeps two books — one showing that he barely does any real work, as we reported to his chagrin in September, and one showing that he does plenty of real city business? Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo responds to us that the mayor “misspoke” to Orlov and the Daily News. Szabo says we have the real, accurate, full mayoral schedule. There is no other.
And what of Villaraigosa's additional claim to Orlov that the Weekly erroneously reported he has failed to conduct the basic work of a mayor — we showed that he holds almost no policy meetings or department head meetings or other activities that make up the core duties of an involved mayor — because, as Villaraigosa told the Daily News, he conducts official city business "privately," and the Weekly was not provided those private examples?
Again, Szabo says, the mayor "misspoke." There are no other examples of the mayor conducting actual city business, he does not have any "private examples" to burnish his workday, and the mayor's private calendar, published online by the Weekly in September (see a pdf of it here) is accurate.
Our assessment of his roughly 10 weeks of work, much of which we independently confirmed and nailed down in 15-minute intervals, revealed a mayoralty unlike anything Los Angeles has seen in the modern era.
His schedule reveals that Villaraigosa uses the Office of the Mayor as a promotional and public-relations operation, with extremely little time given to policy considerations, meeting with department heads or otherwise focusing on core municipal problems. On the rare occasions when Villaraigosa focused on policy or the deep problems within many city departments, he often met with
He flew around the nation and world, held one photo op after another, and even sat down in the mayoral mansion, Getty House, so that Madame Tussauds could replicate his head for a wax statue — soon to be displayed on Hollywood Boulevard. Our sidebar, “How Villaraigosa Spends His 16-Hour Days,” broke down the facts, showing that he spends about 34 percent of his purported 16-hour day traveling out of town, and about 24 percent on what the Weekly finally dubbed “gap time” — time soaked up racing around L.A. to appear at photo ops, banquets, ceremonies, interviews and other PR activities.
Readers expressed outrage. Now, op eds and editorials in other Los Angeles newspapers frequently mention that Villaraigosa spends 11 percent of his time on city business or that he is running a mostly PR operation. He has continued a steady pace of non-news press conferences, ceremonials, luncheons, political fund-raising and out-of-town travel. He faces no serious challengers in the March municipal-election primary, but a job in the Obama administration appears increasingly unlikely, as Obama chooses such local leaders as Congresswoman Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Lisa Sutley and Congressman Xavier Becerra (who declined Obama’s offer). Villaraigosa is considering a run for governor in 2010, and would abandon his post as mayor if he won. But polls suggest that the mayor who spends so little time on city business has scant hope of beating California Attorney General Jerry Brown, or U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, if Feinstein were to run.
From “The All About Me Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa’s Frenetic Self-Promotion Leaves Little Time for His Job” by Patrick Range McDonald
Together, then, the mayor spent 804 hours, or 89 percent of his work schedule, on ceremonial/PR, travel, blacked-out activities, gap time, fund-raising, personal issues and undisclosed “security” issues. On direct city business — such as signing legislation and meeting with city-department heads — his schedule shows the mayor spent 11 percent of his time.
“The mayor flies around the world like he’s on a reality TV show,” says a former California Democratic congressional staffer.
February 15, 2009
Mayor or No Mayor
Politics as usual? It appears so.
The Mayoral race once again is surrounded by drama, frustration and a sense that once again nothing will change.
With a generous C+ score by the city reporter's office, the mayor recently came out to say he will not commit to staying the Mayor if re-elected. Why? He has clearly set his sights on a bigger and shinier office...Governor. He is even unwilling to debate the other Candidates, despite requests from constituents to do so.
So exactly why should we re-elect Villaraigosa?
Take a moment to read some of the responses posed by the LA Times from ALL the candidates and make an informed decision.
The Mayoral race once again is surrounded by drama, frustration and a sense that once again nothing will change.
With a generous C+ score by the city reporter's office, the mayor recently came out to say he will not commit to staying the Mayor if re-elected. Why? He has clearly set his sights on a bigger and shinier office...Governor. He is even unwilling to debate the other Candidates, despite requests from constituents to do so.
So exactly why should we re-elect Villaraigosa?
Take a moment to read some of the responses posed by the LA Times from ALL the candidates and make an informed decision.
February 10, 2009
White House: California to gain 396,000 jobs under stimulus planfrom
Sacramento Bee -- Capitol Alert by Micaela Massimino
By Rob Hotakainen
WASHINGTON --- A lot of numbers are flying around in Washington these days as reporters, lobbyists and everyone else tries to figure out what the gigantic $789 billion stimulus plan will mean for individual states.
The White House announced its final estimates today: California will gain 396,000 jobs, the most in the nation. Overall, the nation stands to create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, the White House said.
Republicans are casting doubt on the numbers, noting some discrepancies.
The state of Wyoming, for example, is set to receive 8,000 jobs as a result of the stimulus, while the state's congressional district will get 6,100 jobs.
There's only one problem: There's just one congressional district in the state.
No one has yet figured out how much money individual states will receive under the stimulus bill. Or if they have, they've yet to share the information. Details are coming out slowly after House and Senate conferees struck a compromise on Wednesday.
In the meantime, everyone's talking about those jobs. Expect members of Congress to be doing the same when they visit their home districts in the coming weeks.
The White House has put out estimates of how many jobs will be created or saved in each of California's 53 congressional districts. See the numbers on the flip:
California Total: 396,000
Congressional District 1: 8,000
Congressional District 2: 8,100
Congressional District 3: 8,900
Congressional District 4: 8,800
Congressional District 5: 7,800
Congressional District 6: 7,600
Congressional District 7: 7,500
Congressional District 8: 7,900
Congressional District 9: 7,300
Congressional District 10: 8,100
Congressional District 11: 8,700
Congressional District 12: 7,700
Congressional District 13: 7,900
Congressional District 14: 7,500
Congressional District 15: 7,800
Congressional District 16: 7,900
Congressional District 17: 7,500
Congressional District 18: 8,000
Congressional District 19: 8,400
Congressional District 20: 7,800
Congressional District 21: 8,300
Congressional District 22: 8,900
Congressional District 23: 7,600
Congressional District 24: 7,800
Congressional District 25: 8,900
Congressional District 26: 8,100
Congressional District 27: 7,900
Congressional District 28: 7,500
Congressional District 29: 7,700
Congressional District 30: 7,800
Congressional District 31: 7,600
Congressional District 32: 7,300
Congressional District 33: 7,700
Congressional District 34: 7,300
Congressional District 35: 7,300
Congressional District 36: 7,900
Congressional District 37: 7,400
Congressional District 38: 7,400
Congressional District 39: 7,600
Congressional District 40: 7,600
Congressional District 41: 8,700
Congressional District 42: 8,200
Congressional District 43: 8,200
Congressional District 44: 9,800
Congressional District 45: 9,300
Congressional District 46: 7,500
Congressional District 47: 6,900
Congressional District 48: 8,500
Congressional District 49: 8,600
Congressional District 50: 8,000
Congressional District 51: 7,800
Congressional District 52: 7,600
Congressional District 53: 8,000
By Rob Hotakainen
WASHINGTON --- A lot of numbers are flying around in Washington these days as reporters, lobbyists and everyone else tries to figure out what the gigantic $789 billion stimulus plan will mean for individual states.
The White House announced its final estimates today: California will gain 396,000 jobs, the most in the nation. Overall, the nation stands to create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, the White House said.
Republicans are casting doubt on the numbers, noting some discrepancies.
The state of Wyoming, for example, is set to receive 8,000 jobs as a result of the stimulus, while the state's congressional district will get 6,100 jobs.
There's only one problem: There's just one congressional district in the state.
No one has yet figured out how much money individual states will receive under the stimulus bill. Or if they have, they've yet to share the information. Details are coming out slowly after House and Senate conferees struck a compromise on Wednesday.
In the meantime, everyone's talking about those jobs. Expect members of Congress to be doing the same when they visit their home districts in the coming weeks.
The White House has put out estimates of how many jobs will be created or saved in each of California's 53 congressional districts. See the numbers on the flip:
California Total: 396,000
Congressional District 1: 8,000
Congressional District 2: 8,100
Congressional District 3: 8,900
Congressional District 4: 8,800
Congressional District 5: 7,800
Congressional District 6: 7,600
Congressional District 7: 7,500
Congressional District 8: 7,900
Congressional District 9: 7,300
Congressional District 10: 8,100
Congressional District 11: 8,700
Congressional District 12: 7,700
Congressional District 13: 7,900
Congressional District 14: 7,500
Congressional District 15: 7,800
Congressional District 16: 7,900
Congressional District 17: 7,500
Congressional District 18: 8,000
Congressional District 19: 8,400
Congressional District 20: 7,800
Congressional District 21: 8,300
Congressional District 22: 8,900
Congressional District 23: 7,600
Congressional District 24: 7,800
Congressional District 25: 8,900
Congressional District 26: 8,100
Congressional District 27: 7,900
Congressional District 28: 7,500
Congressional District 29: 7,700
Congressional District 30: 7,800
Congressional District 31: 7,600
Congressional District 32: 7,300
Congressional District 33: 7,700
Congressional District 34: 7,300
Congressional District 35: 7,300
Congressional District 36: 7,900
Congressional District 37: 7,400
Congressional District 38: 7,400
Congressional District 39: 7,600
Congressional District 40: 7,600
Congressional District 41: 8,700
Congressional District 42: 8,200
Congressional District 43: 8,200
Congressional District 44: 9,800
Congressional District 45: 9,300
Congressional District 46: 7,500
Congressional District 47: 6,900
Congressional District 48: 8,500
Congressional District 49: 8,600
Congressional District 50: 8,000
Congressional District 51: 7,800
Congressional District 52: 7,600
Congressional District 53: 8,000
February 9, 2009
Take the California State Budget Challenge!
February 2, 2009
Union heads Battle over which side keeps the healthcare workers
Bay Area health union seeks vote on membership
The National Union of Healthcare Workers asks state officials to conduct elections at 64 facilities where it says a majority want to join.
By Evelyn Larrubia
February 3, 2009
California's labor battle over who will represent tens of thousands of hospital workers will apparently be determined in voting booths at dozens of hospitals and nursing homes around the state.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers, formed last week by the ousted leaders of United Healthcare Workers West, on Monday asked state officials to conduct elections at 64 healthcare facilities where it says a majority of employees currently represented by Oakland-based UHW want to join the new group.
"Now that a majority of my co-workers has signed a petition to be represented by NUHW, we hope . . . UHW will walk away and leave us alone," said Shayne Silva, a psychiatric technician and shop steward at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, at a teleconference.
The Service Employees International Union last week removed the leaders of UHW after they refused to sign over 65,000 of their members to a new local that will be formed to represent home health aides across California. SEIU President Andy Stern installed two of his executive vice presidents, Dave Regan and Eliseo Medina as trustees.
"This is absolute irresponsibility and recklessness, and we are going to fight them every step of the way," Regan said.
Stern and Sal Rosselli, who until last week was president of UHW, have been in an ugly public dispute over organizing and negotiation tactics that has been unfolding over months.
Stern has said he wants to consolidate local unions into larger, stronger groups that have more sway with employers and politicians. But Rosselli accused Stern of a power grab, saying he sought to replace locally elected union officials with loyal appointees.
Rosselli, who calls the 5-day-old group "New UHW," said he had not intended to file for recognition so quickly, but was concerned that UHW was pushing to close contracts with employers to keep out the new union. Workers under contract cannot be wooed away until it expires. He said the petitions effectively end bargaining between the employers and UHW-SEIU.
"We're notifying these employers to prevent them from closing contracts," Rosselli said. "SEIU no longer represents the workers. They're no longer authorized to bargain for these workers, because they don't have majority support."
Regan disagreed. He said the petitions do not have any effect on contract negotiations, which he said continue on their normal course. He scoffed at NUHW's contention that he should recognize their representation and abandon work sites where a majority had signed NUHW cards.
"If Sal Rosselli believes we are going to stand back and watch his rump organization weaken the members of UHW, he is beyond mistaken," Regan said.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers asks state officials to conduct elections at 64 facilities where it says a majority want to join.
By Evelyn Larrubia
February 3, 2009
California's labor battle over who will represent tens of thousands of hospital workers will apparently be determined in voting booths at dozens of hospitals and nursing homes around the state.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers, formed last week by the ousted leaders of United Healthcare Workers West, on Monday asked state officials to conduct elections at 64 healthcare facilities where it says a majority of employees currently represented by Oakland-based UHW want to join the new group.
"Now that a majority of my co-workers has signed a petition to be represented by NUHW, we hope . . . UHW will walk away and leave us alone," said Shayne Silva, a psychiatric technician and shop steward at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, at a teleconference.
The Service Employees International Union last week removed the leaders of UHW after they refused to sign over 65,000 of their members to a new local that will be formed to represent home health aides across California. SEIU President Andy Stern installed two of his executive vice presidents, Dave Regan and Eliseo Medina as trustees.
"This is absolute irresponsibility and recklessness, and we are going to fight them every step of the way," Regan said.
Stern and Sal Rosselli, who until last week was president of UHW, have been in an ugly public dispute over organizing and negotiation tactics that has been unfolding over months.
Stern has said he wants to consolidate local unions into larger, stronger groups that have more sway with employers and politicians. But Rosselli accused Stern of a power grab, saying he sought to replace locally elected union officials with loyal appointees.
Rosselli, who calls the 5-day-old group "New UHW," said he had not intended to file for recognition so quickly, but was concerned that UHW was pushing to close contracts with employers to keep out the new union. Workers under contract cannot be wooed away until it expires. He said the petitions effectively end bargaining between the employers and UHW-SEIU.
"We're notifying these employers to prevent them from closing contracts," Rosselli said. "SEIU no longer represents the workers. They're no longer authorized to bargain for these workers, because they don't have majority support."
Regan disagreed. He said the petitions do not have any effect on contract negotiations, which he said continue on their normal course. He scoffed at NUHW's contention that he should recognize their representation and abandon work sites where a majority had signed NUHW cards.
"If Sal Rosselli believes we are going to stand back and watch his rump organization weaken the members of UHW, he is beyond mistaken," Regan said.
Curren Price gets backing for SD 26 Special Election March 24th
Steinberg backs Price in SD 26 from Sacramento Bee -- Capitol Alert by Shane Goldmacher
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Curren Price for state Senate on Monday.
"Curren Price has the experience and leadership California needs," Steinberg said in a prepared statement. "He is a tireless and effective advocate for better education, access to healthcare and safer communities."
Price, D-Inglewood, is running to replace former Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November. Price is campaigning against Assemblyman Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles, in the March 24 special election.
"You cannot have a more significant endorsement for state Senate than to have the backing and support of the leader of the upper house of the Legislature," Price said in a prepared statement.
That's probably an overstatement, especially in a Los Angeles-area district where next-to-nobody knows Steinberg. But the endorsement is a significant signal to the Third House donors in Sacramento of where the pro tem's allegiances lie.
Price also has the backing of Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Service Employees International Union State Council.
Davis touts the backing of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Curren Price for state Senate on Monday.
"Curren Price has the experience and leadership California needs," Steinberg said in a prepared statement. "He is a tireless and effective advocate for better education, access to healthcare and safer communities."
Price, D-Inglewood, is running to replace former Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November. Price is campaigning against Assemblyman Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles, in the March 24 special election.
"You cannot have a more significant endorsement for state Senate than to have the backing and support of the leader of the upper house of the Legislature," Price said in a prepared statement.
That's probably an overstatement, especially in a Los Angeles-area district where next-to-nobody knows Steinberg. But the endorsement is a significant signal to the Third House donors in Sacramento of where the pro tem's allegiances lie.
Price also has the backing of Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Service Employees International Union State Council.
Davis touts the backing of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.
February 1, 2009
2009 Annual Budget Summit & Empowerment Congress
This was an incredibly informative and inspiring event and something all should commit to attending at least once. We will post the links with all the details from the summit shortly.
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