The mayor's gone fishin' and the sharks are in a feeding frenzy on taxpayers
While bigwigs from the LAUSD were toasting themselves with champagne after voting to gouge taxpayers again, the Daily News headline on a Kerry Cavanaught and Rick Orlov story captured the political moment: "It's silly season at City Hall." Here's the top of the story: There was the West Hollywood councilman chastising the Los Angeles police chief for "outing" celebrity Lindsay Lohan. There was the city councilwoman with a giant foam finger hailing a cab outside downtown's Disney Hall. And, thanks to another councilman (Tom LaBonge), it was officially Motley Crue Day in the city of Los Angeles. And that was all before noon Thursday.
Press catches up with month-old news: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa raised $1.6 million
OK, you knew that if you'd be paying attention here so what's interesting is that just a quarter of it came from out of state -- barely enough to cover the costs of his entourage as they traveled the world in style if the bookkeeping were honest. The Times actually admits for the first time that Walter Moore is challenging Villaraigosa and had raised more than $100,000 by June 30. Then, there's the billionaire doesn't need other people's money but is "seriously considering" a run for mayor. "I think it's more of a question of when, not if," said Caruso. "The question is: Is this the right time, or some time down the road?" And that's something every wannabe mayor ought to think about: If not now, when? Personally, I think anyone who's fed up with the way things are being run needs to jump in the race now to have any credibility when he leaves us for another gig in Sacramento or Washington.
Then, there's Jack Weiss for City Attorney ... heaven help us
Councilman Weiss, the city's least popular council member whose own staff tells people how much they hate his constituents, has raised an astonishing $1.1 million for his City Attorney race. The donors need to be tested for drugs -- or at least what they expect to get in return. But unlike the mayor, nobody's scared to take Weiss on. Environmental lawyer Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich -- backed by Bob Hertzberg and D.A. Steve Cooley -- raised roughly $440,000 and Deputy City Atty. Michael Amerian collected more than $183,000. This may be the only competitive citywide race and the Times gives it the last graph of the mayor's story and the Daily News little better, noting Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Greuel is alone in the City Controller race. While the race to succeed Weiss in the Fifth District is competitive, none of the six other council members facing re-election has any opponents who reported raising any money. Of course, all of them except Westsider Bill Rosendahl could be barred from running if Measure R is found unconstitutional by the appeals court this month.
While bigwigs from the LAUSD were toasting themselves with champagne after voting to gouge taxpayers again, the Daily News headline on a Kerry Cavanaught and Rick Orlov story captured the political moment: "It's silly season at City Hall." Here's the top of the story: There was the West Hollywood councilman chastising the Los Angeles police chief for "outing" celebrity Lindsay Lohan. There was the city councilwoman with a giant foam finger hailing a cab outside downtown's Disney Hall. And, thanks to another councilman (Tom LaBonge), it was officially Motley Crue Day in the city of Los Angeles. And that was all before noon Thursday.
Press catches up with month-old news: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa raised $1.6 million
OK, you knew that if you'd be paying attention here so what's interesting is that just a quarter of it came from out of state -- barely enough to cover the costs of his entourage as they traveled the world in style if the bookkeeping were honest. The Times actually admits for the first time that Walter Moore is challenging Villaraigosa and had raised more than $100,000 by June 30. Then, there's the billionaire doesn't need other people's money but is "seriously considering" a run for mayor. "I think it's more of a question of when, not if," said Caruso. "The question is: Is this the right time, or some time down the road?" And that's something every wannabe mayor ought to think about: If not now, when? Personally, I think anyone who's fed up with the way things are being run needs to jump in the race now to have any credibility when he leaves us for another gig in Sacramento or Washington.
Then, there's Jack Weiss for City Attorney ... heaven help us
Councilman Weiss, the city's least popular council member whose own staff tells people how much they hate his constituents, has raised an astonishing $1.1 million for his City Attorney race. The donors need to be tested for drugs -- or at least what they expect to get in return. But unlike the mayor, nobody's scared to take Weiss on. Environmental lawyer Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich -- backed by Bob Hertzberg and D.A. Steve Cooley -- raised roughly $440,000 and Deputy City Atty. Michael Amerian collected more than $183,000. This may be the only competitive citywide race and the Times gives it the last graph of the mayor's story and the Daily News little better, noting Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Greuel is alone in the City Controller race. While the race to succeed Weiss in the Fifth District is competitive, none of the six other council members facing re-election has any opponents who reported raising any money. Of course, all of them except Westsider Bill Rosendahl could be barred from running if Measure R is found unconstitutional by the appeals court this month.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
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