No surprise, the IBEW which stands to profit handsomely from the Measure B charter reform and DWP solar energy monopoly fraud and is its author and main financial backer gave the maximum to the campaigns of Jack Weiss and Wendy Greuel.
Nor is it a surprise that the remarkably ineffectual sleepwalker Weiss has raised $1 million almost entirely from lawyers who stand to reap millions from the City Attorney Office’s dependence on outside attorneys and even more from settlements and lawsuits against the city.
The payback on $1,000 contributions would make even Bernie Madoff is his heyday drool.
In contrast to Weiss, his best-funded challenge for City Attorney, Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich has half as much money to run on but only gotten a smattering of money from lawyers. More money came from law enforcement interests and those who don’t stand to cash in monetarily from having a friend in high places.
Greuel, too, counts a lot of lawyers among the contributors to her $700,000 war chest for her campaign to succeed City Controller Laura who earned a reputation as the people’s watchdog, not the political machine’s lapdog.
The special interests that count or have counted on Greuel to deliver the goods with a wink and a nod to their excesses include a lot of people and companies in property development. People like the Westfield shopping center interests and those involved in the NBC-Universal massive development project, even new City Planning Commission member Sean Burton and his wife among others that are part of the well-connect empire of Henry Cisneros.
Both Weiss and Greuel also collect healthy sums from the consultants, contractors and others who live off City Hall’s sweetheart deals. Even lobbyists’ spouses are helping them out since the lobbyists themselves are barred from contributing thanks to the Measure R fraud two years ago that wrapped giving council members a third term about phony ethics reforms.
You won’t know any of this reading the four paragraphs on the campaign statements filed Monday reading the Daily News or the Times which had a somewhat longer story. In both cases, all that interested them was the horse race for how much money the campaigns have raised.
But the truth of what kind of government you’ll get is in the details of who they solicited money from and owe favors to. That’s where the devils are and I urge you to click on the links to Weiss and Greuel in the first paragraph and report back to me if you spot some devils I missed.
Nuch has lots and lots of attorneys contributing, in fact they’re by far the biggest category, making up roughly half by my quick review, with the second-biggest group seeming to be developers. There are so many who decline to state they could be relatives and family members. So Ron’s characterization of who’s contributing to him vs. his opponents Weiss (and Amerian) are clearly false. Maybe these groups just have the most money in general?
Nuch claiming he’s an environmental attorney is just false, too — his firm takes on clients who are fighting environmental restrictions, from what I’ve read. He’s also known as representing the NRA, whether he accepts that characterization or not — the Brady Gun Legislation group (whatever they’re called exactly) which recently “strongly endorsed” Weiss makes that point about Nuch. Weiss is also endorsed by United Firefighters/ LA, which has a contribution listed here as well. As for Wendy, I note she has the endorsement of Marlene Canter/ School Board Member, and a diverse group. Nick has only raised $32,000 according to the papers. (Where’s the link to his forms, Ron?)
I don’t know how much contributions raised make a determining difference, anyway. I honestly can’t believe that someone donating a few hundred bucks or even the maximum $1000 would actually feel entitled to benefit to the tune of many times that in preferential business — but if so, that would apply equally to all contributors to anyone so it would cancel out.
Well, the political machine is posting comments on your blog Ron. You should be flattered. The person who posted at 11:15 am is either delusional or spinning when he/she cannot imagine that campaign contributions make a difference in policy making at the City. My dear, they make every difference in the world!
What you can’t tell from these forms, of course, is who is bundling contributions. But I bet those in the know can guess. Maybe even a couple of the politically active “homemakers,” who just happen to be married to lobbyists, are holding events.
If you’re running citywide, you’re not asking folks representing special interests to just make individual contributions, but to make commitments to raise a lot.
Weiss is captive to special interests. Does anybody really think he’s going to enforce the regulations on billboards? Gang injunctions? Rules on limiting outside counsel?
Elect this guy, and the city is in real trouble.
The real issue is who will make the best City Attorney…..someone who is deeply entrenched in the muck of the current city machine who is sure to continue with the corrupt status quo? or someone with past prosecutorial experience and is not part of the slimey mess at City hall.
All you have to do is looks at Mr. Weiss’ record of no shows at city council meetings, non-responsiveness to constituants and no-action on important issues like public safety and you see what you will get if he is able to buy the City Attorney election.
That is why independent law enforcement groups and prosecutors are stepping up and supporting Nuch for City Attorney.
And before the Weiss hack accuses me of being in Nuch’s employ, I am one of the many law enforcement officers who supports changes for city hall government….I don’t work for Nuch…..but think the City Attorney’s office is a good place to start with the needed change
I live in the city of Los Angeles and work in law enforcement for LA City. I want a City Attorney who can handle the problems that we, the citizens of LA face every day. Vandalism,billboards and gang issues. Trutanich is the person for the job. Trutanich has the backing of real people, not developers and other special interest groups.
I hope the citizens of LA step up and make Trutanich our City Attorney.
How interesting that Henry Cisneros’ development company is receiving pension funds (money of hard working city employees) to benefit his real estate development company (that sells homes and takes advantage of poor uneducated immigrants w/sub prime loans) and that his son in law Sean Burton Cisneros the president of Henry Cisneros’ real estate development company is the president of such company. PAY TO PLAY??? CONFLICT OF INTEREST???? ETHIC VIOLATION???? Perhaps an investigation would make sense.
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