What if Zev or Rick or Laura had
found the courage to take on Antonio?
I wonder if any of them or any of
the other potential mayoral candidates with name recognition and access to
money has given a second thought to what might have happened if they had
challenged the supposedly unbeatable Antonio.
Unplanted trees, unfilled potholes,
unfulfilled promises, soaring rates, fees and taxes, politics over policy,
personality without progress, 1.000 digital billboards, over-development without
planning, worsening traffic congestion and the fatal blow: A $1 billion and
rising budget deficit that will lead to even higher rates, fees and taxes and
fewer services.
If my friends Zuma Dogg and David
Hernandez and company can get 40 percent of the vote against the unbeatable
Antonio, a candidate with substantial backing surely could have forced a runoff
against mayor who doesn't want the job, who sees it as a stepping stone to high
office in Sacramento or Washington.
But we don't have to cry over missed
opportunities.
Defeating Measure B will change the
whole City Hall political dynamic. It will let the timid members of the City
Council know that the people who live, work and do business in LA have come
together into a political force to be reckoned with.
And that is truly what has happened.
Community groups of every type, political organizations, labor unions and
business groups have formed a coalition of the underserved and sent City Hall a
message that change is coming, that our officials will be held accountable for
their actions.
We will come out of this election
and demand transparency, full public participation, the public interest over
special interest, policies that enhance our quality of life instead of
destroying it.
That's why we must stop Jack Weiss
from winning the City Attorney's race and elect Nick Patsaouras over Wendy
Greuel in the Controller's race.
We can't afford people in these
important watchdog offices whose record in public office shows they have gone
along in order to get along, serving themselves at the expense of the people.
Turnout will be as low as 10 percent
of registered voters so every vote truly will matter.
It's up to you to save LA. Get out
and vote.
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.
Remember you endorsed Antonio when you were at the Daily News. Very gullible.
Just voted, #62 and I voted against City Hall.
There is NOTHING wrong with having a change of heart. Ron, thank you!
Why is it if someone re-evaluates their position based on new data they are criticized?
This is what LEARNING is all about. You learn from your mistakes and correct them in the future.
There is little doubt that the power structure at City Hall is a mistake. Checks and balances have all but disappeared and the few that are left will be trashed if Weiss/Greuel get in.
We have seen nationally what happens when political allies control key posts that are supposed to be independent.
Weiss will be nothing more or less than AVs Alberto Gonzales, rubber stamping anything.
Some might say the case against Greuel is slightly weaker, but her actions on Prop. B prove that the case against her is just as strong.
So, let's not criticize Ron for learning. If only everyone was so willing to learn and act, we would be far better off.
The endorsement four years ago was based on Antonio's potential.
The opposition today is based on his squandering of that potential.
There's no inconsistency.
What is going on? If we lose, we still will win because we know we put fear in those people.
They are working harder to win in this election
than they have in years.
It would be fun to know how many precincts have to be counted tonight. Also how many absentee ballots were submitted. Anybody know the answers?
ANYBODY BUT WEISS!!!!
ANYBODY BUT WEISS!!!!
ANYBODY BUT WEISS!!!!
City of L.A Registered Voters: 1,596,165
CD 1 Registered Voters: 60,784
Absentee Ballots: 2,267
CD 3 Registered Voters: 126, 373
Absentee Ballots: 8,139
CD 5 Registered Voters: 167,668
Absentee Ballots: 10,844
CD 7 Registered Voters: 74,512
Absentee Voters: 2,867
CD 9 Registered Voters: 70,102
Absentee Ballots: 2,008
CD 11 Registered Voters: 158,252
Absentee Ballots: 8,829
CD 13 Registered Voters: 80,605
Absentee Ballots: 3,011
CD 15 Registered Voters: 99,553
Absentee Ballots: 4,204
It’s likely the incumbents targeted these constituents, absentee ballot voters, with their colorful mailers where challengers were at a disadvantage because lack of funds.
I just read the early returns. According to the LA Times as of 1:00 am Measure B is passing.
I'm ashamed that my party adopted such a poorly written, incomplete, and biased piece of paper. I did call the local Dems and left a message complaining about that. No one called me back.
Calling for Rick Caruso! He could have kicked
Villarwhoever's butt if he would have run! Such a same.
AV's election shows the stupidity of Angelenos
who drank his koolaid. Don't give up on Measure B yet. I think the No's will overtake the Yes.
Measure B LOST!
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
PRIMARY NOMINATING & CONSOLIDATED ELECTIONS
ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS (UNOFFICIAL)
MARCH 3, 2009
Final Bulletin
1:46:34 AM
CHARTER AMENDMENT AND ORDINANCE PROPOSITION B - SOLAR ENERGY AND JOB CREATION PROGRAM
YES 109,183
49.70
NO 110,505
50.30