I just don't get why everywhere I go around town these days nobody has a kind word to say about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, not even insiders in his tight little world.
Am I the only one in L.A. who thinks he's a great guy who could still do great things -- if only he could remember who he is and where he came from and the values he once believed in?
Look at what the bloggers are saying A Strikeout for Villaraigosa at laist.com; and Villaraigosa Diddles While L.A. Burns at Mayor Sam just because he didn't show up at the first in his yellow emergency jacket until the 5 p.m. camera opportunity and then dashed off to Dodger Stadium to sit in owner's box so the network cameras could catch a glimpse of him.
I think that's very unfair. The man is everywhere, the ubiquitous mayor of this small town out in the desert somewhere that just happens to be on fire. Watch this video from last night and see how much he cares that you know what a great job the firefighters, cops and other city workers are doing. OK, so he forgot to mention the people who lost their homes and the thousands of ordinary people affected. Nobody's perfect.
Why he even answered the phone this morning when I called 311 to get some information about a story I'm doing. I recorded it just to prove he's the superman of City Hall av311.WMA.
And when the operators were too busy to answer my question he even provided me with music to bide away the minutes av311-2.WMA. After 10 minutes of musical interlude, I decided it wasn't worth waiting anymore but I'm sure he was busy handling 911 emergency calls that were far important.
Or maybe he was tied up on the phone calling contributors from coast to coast looking for money for his re-election campaign. You know the $2.2 million he's raised is only 15 times as much as his closest challenger.
And then there's his campaign for Measure R -- the half-cent sales tax to raise $40 billion to solve today's traffic congestion problems in 2030. He was supposed to raise $9 million and he's $8.9 million short with just a few weeks ago and he had to cancel the MTA's own $4 million campaign because everybody thought it was blatantly illegal.
The man's got troubles. He can only work 11 percent of the time as mayor because he's got to be everywhere all the time.
Give him a little slack. Odds are you're going to have to live with him for four more years -- unless, of course, he runs for governor or goes off to Washington.
Am I the only one in L.A. who thinks he's a great guy who could still do great things -- if only he could remember who he is and where he came from and the values he once believed in?
Look at what the bloggers are saying A Strikeout for Villaraigosa at laist.com; and Villaraigosa Diddles While L.A. Burns at Mayor Sam just because he didn't show up at the first in his yellow emergency jacket until the 5 p.m. camera opportunity and then dashed off to Dodger Stadium to sit in owner's box so the network cameras could catch a glimpse of him.
I think that's very unfair. The man is everywhere, the ubiquitous mayor of this small town out in the desert somewhere that just happens to be on fire. Watch this video from last night and see how much he cares that you know what a great job the firefighters, cops and other city workers are doing. OK, so he forgot to mention the people who lost their homes and the thousands of ordinary people affected. Nobody's perfect.
Why he even answered the phone this morning when I called 311 to get some information about a story I'm doing. I recorded it just to prove he's the superman of City Hall av311.WMA.
And when the operators were too busy to answer my question he even provided me with music to bide away the minutes av311-2.WMA. After 10 minutes of musical interlude, I decided it wasn't worth waiting anymore but I'm sure he was busy handling 911 emergency calls that were far important.
Or maybe he was tied up on the phone calling contributors from coast to coast looking for money for his re-election campaign. You know the $2.2 million he's raised is only 15 times as much as his closest challenger.
And then there's his campaign for Measure R -- the half-cent sales tax to raise $40 billion to solve today's traffic congestion problems in 2030. He was supposed to raise $9 million and he's $8.9 million short with just a few weeks ago and he had to cancel the MTA's own $4 million campaign because everybody thought it was blatantly illegal.
The man's got troubles. He can only work 11 percent of the time as mayor because he's got to be everywhere all the time.
Give him a little slack. Odds are you're going to have to live with him for four more years -- unless, of course, he runs for governor or goes off to Washington.
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.
You're in the very small minority, Ron. I can't tell if you are serious or not about Villar still being able to redeem himself, LOL! There was never any "there" there...to begin with! He is an empty suit - intellectually, ethically, and morally! Do you really think he is a 'great guy' who can to 'great things'? He has achieved what he set out to do...he has imported millions of illegal aliens and continues to maintain the 'sanctuary' policy of LA! Maybe he could have been a 'great guy' if he had chosen to run for Mayor of Mexico City, but he has forgotten that LA is part of the USA, not Mexico!
Everything with Villar is stage craft! And we taxpayers are paying dearly for it!!! He's using all of us to build up his resume and portfolio of hot air and photo ops.
Is it just coincidence that Villar is always ready for his close-up during prime time news...12:00, 5:00 and 11:00?! He makes me ill!
And Baca has to get in the act to praise Villar..."No one works harder...knowing you, you don't get any sleep"! That's right...Villar stays up all night worrying about fire victims and Metrolink victims!
I will never forget one of Villar's Press Conferences during the Metrolink tragedy. He was standing in front of the cameras (naturally) at one of the hospitals with some of the doctors. He droned on and on for an interminable amount of time - getting as much camera time as possible ... giving his boring, emotionless, canned speech thanking the LA County and City firefighters and cops and everyone in LA. But not one word about the victims or the great work the doctors, who were standing next to him, were doing!
Suddenly, one of the victim's relatives spoke out from the crowd - with incredible passion and emotion , and said he wanted to give thanks to the DOCTORS WHO WERE WORKING SO VALIENTLY TO SAVE LIVES! It was a gut-wrenching moment! At that point, one of the doctors stepped forward and spoke with such humility, passion and caring...it was a beautiful moment.
The cameras never went back to Villar again, who neglected to even mention the doctors standing next to him! A very telling moment, indeed!!!
Getting back to Porter Ranch, Villar must have used taxpayer money last night in order to be helicoptered back to Porter Ranch from Dodger Stadium and his evening with Stresand and Bratton! Yeah, he works soooo hard!
He must carry his little yellow, size one, Fireman's jacket and boots with him at all times. Can't leave home without them! You never know when a tragedy will occur...gotta be prepared for the lights, cameras, and action at all times.... just like the Boy Scouts.
I can only hope that by March of next year, the voters will get rid of the little man in the little yellow jacket and the little black fireman boots! We need a grown up mayor who will sit behind his desk in City Hall and actually do the work of the People...the AMERICAN people!
Whew! Ron for a second I thought you were serious! :)
Ron,I enjoy your blog, especially this one, and your SLAP efforts. I am wondering if a petition could be launched to remove the Mayor/City Council perks re free cars/free gas mileage,etc. Are their freebies in the Charter? Even eliminating some of their freebies might help. I doubt it would humble any of them, after all they are politicans, but if they had to deal with the same things we ordinary people do - like sitting in traffic , increased costs for services, etc. - a reality check couldn't hurt and getting them off the dole might help a little bit with the state of city's budget.
p.s.Do we know if Rocky's wife still driving city cars to conduct her personal business?