What? You don't think dogs like rock 'n roll?
As most of you know by know, Antonio offered DWP GM David Nahai a blindfold and cigarette last week and pointed him toward the firing squad.
But before anyone starts playing taps, Ron revealed Sunday that rather than shooting Nahai and putting him a body bag, the executioners - also known as the mayoral-appointed DWP Commission - plan to hand him a bag of money as a kiss goodbye.
That's the way it works in The City of Angels.
"No hard feelings, David. You screwed up Measure B, raised rates, stubbornly stuck to a plan to lace the desert with high-voltage wires, over-watered your own massive lawn, failed to control the PR crisis of daily water main breaks and - most importantly -- pissed off DWP union boss Brian D'Arcy, but we wish you well and would love you to be a consultant."
Hey, he's owed the money. Remember who appointed him in the first place. Although he wore great ties, he neither had the experience nor the temperament to run the DWP, without doubt the most screwed up, problem-plagued department in the city.
But instead of finding new blood to run the DWP, Antonio has chosen some of the oldest blood among his inner circle - former DWP GM David Freeman, who's been killing time as a deputy mayor for environmental affairs waiting for the opening he's coveted since Dick Riordan canned him.
"Meet the new boss; same as the old boss ..."
Freeman, 83, who began working in the power industry in 1949 as an engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority and has held a series of high-level utility jobs in the subsequent decades, ran the DWP from 1997-2001.
It wasn't pretty. Riordan hates the guy. (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/02/local/me-10703).
In case anybody forgets, Freeman, who has a love affair with the local media, flaunted LA's abundance of power -- when other parts of the state were dark. He hired Fleishman-Hillard for $5 million a year so he could work with his pal, former Deputy Mayor Steve Sugerman -- then had the firm funnel nearly half the money to one of his chief deputies who wasted it on an unsuccessful green power program, which eventually drew Laura Chick's ire.
And don't think for a second these department heads are independent. The mayor's office, and D'Arcy call the shots, when it comes to the DWP. (Just ask Nahai.) Remember, Freeman was the author - the author! - of Measure B and campaigned for the off-the-wall, union-driven plan alongside Nahai and D'Arcy.
The cowboy hat and corn pone shtick can be charming, but Freeman's not the guy they want. They want somebody who can fool the people all the time, not make a fool of himself most of the time.
As most of you know by know, Antonio offered DWP GM David Nahai a blindfold and cigarette last week and pointed him toward the firing squad.
But before anyone starts playing taps, Ron revealed Sunday that rather than shooting Nahai and putting him a body bag, the executioners - also known as the mayoral-appointed DWP Commission - plan to hand him a bag of money as a kiss goodbye.
That's the way it works in The City of Angels.
"No hard feelings, David. You screwed up Measure B, raised rates, stubbornly stuck to a plan to lace the desert with high-voltage wires, over-watered your own massive lawn, failed to control the PR crisis of daily water main breaks and - most importantly -- pissed off DWP union boss Brian D'Arcy, but we wish you well and would love you to be a consultant."
Hey, he's owed the money. Remember who appointed him in the first place. Although he wore great ties, he neither had the experience nor the temperament to run the DWP, without doubt the most screwed up, problem-plagued department in the city.
But instead of finding new blood to run the DWP, Antonio has chosen some of the oldest blood among his inner circle - former DWP GM David Freeman, who's been killing time as a deputy mayor for environmental affairs waiting for the opening he's coveted since Dick Riordan canned him.
"Meet the new boss; same as the old boss ..."
Freeman, 83, who began working in the power industry in 1949 as an engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority and has held a series of high-level utility jobs in the subsequent decades, ran the DWP from 1997-2001.
It wasn't pretty. Riordan hates the guy. (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/02/local/me-10703).
In case anybody forgets, Freeman, who has a love affair with the local media, flaunted LA's abundance of power -- when other parts of the state were dark. He hired Fleishman-Hillard for $5 million a year so he could work with his pal, former Deputy Mayor Steve Sugerman -- then had the firm funnel nearly half the money to one of his chief deputies who wasted it on an unsuccessful green power program, which eventually drew Laura Chick's ire.
And don't think for a second these department heads are independent. The mayor's office, and D'Arcy call the shots, when it comes to the DWP. (Just ask Nahai.) Remember, Freeman was the author - the author! - of Measure B and campaigned for the off-the-wall, union-driven plan alongside Nahai and D'Arcy.
The cowboy hat and corn pone shtick can be charming, but Freeman's not the guy they want. They want somebody who can fool the people all the time, not make a fool of himself most of the time.
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.
That shtick wasn't charming when GW put on the affectation, then either.
It is not their money. It is their MO in this agency. Dole out ratepayers money and when you run out ,raise the rates.
Bruno: But before anyone starts playing taps, Ron revealed Sunday that rather than shooting Nahai and putting him a body bag, the executioners - also known as the mayoral-appointed DWP Commission - plan to hand him a bag of money as a kiss goodbye.
In a nutshell, what your saying, Bruno, is that once again the rate paying tax payers are getting screwed WITHOUT being kissed.
GRRRRRR!
Your friend,
G. Shepherd
Bruno: But before anyone starts playing taps, Ron revealed Sunday that rather than shooting Nahai and putting him a body bag, the executioners - also known as the mayoral-appointed DWP Commission - plan to hand him a bag of money as a kiss goodbye.
In a nutshell, what your saying, Bruno, is that once again the rate paying tax payers are getting screwed WITHOUT being kissed.
GRRRRRR!
Your friend,
G. Shepherd
Bruno: But before anyone starts playing taps, Ron revealed Sunday that rather than shooting Nahai and putting him a body bag, the executioners - also known as the mayoral-appointed DWP Commission - plan to hand him a bag of money as a kiss goodbye.
In a nutshell, what your saying, Bruno, is that once again the rate paying tax payers are getting screwed WITHOUT being kissed.
GRRRRRR!
Your friend,
G. Shepherd
Nahai 'resigned' from his $326k a year job on Friday, October 2, 2009.
On Saturday afternoon, October 3, 2009, at 4:24pm, Nahai was seen driving a City car (Black Nissan Altima Hybrid) to a Starbucks in Bel Air where he stopped and waited while his wife picked up a cup of coffee.
Why was Nahai still using a City car after he resigned?
Why was Nahai using a City car for personal business?
Why do we continue to allow elected and appointed officials to abuse the privilege of office without holding them accountable?
Alpert, as reported in the Times, is contracting himself as to whose idea was to give Nahai the sweetheart deal. Don`t you think this contradiction is alarming? Who is pulling the strings? Who is in charge? Definitely not the Commission!
OMG! The President of the DWP Commission lying... Can you believe that?
I agree with October 6, 2009 2:44 AM. It's a mayoral deflection move. The same pay outs have occurred in the past without a commission vote.
Perhaps future GM contracts should include an agreement to be available (at a nominal hourly consult fee*) for consultation for two months following his/her inevitable termination. But, then they would have to think up a new pay out that would be a bit more difficult to justify.
*How much do you wanna bet they won't call him for his institutional knowledge?
"TAKE IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL"
Ron: If the Board ignores the public today about H. David Nahai, "Take it to the Council"
Shine the Bright Light of Publicity on the Politicians and tell them to take Jurisdiction over the DWP Board on this one!
Just look at today's DWP agenda, Item 3(a):
"Charter Section 245 empowers the City Council to assert jurisdiction over actions of all boards and commissions of the City government. As a result, this Board's actions will not be final today, but will only become final as provided by Charter Section 245."
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001675.jsp
6:05 AM:
Unless Nahai is just finishing his existing contract without doing any work.
Then the boad doesn't have to vote to give him a "new" contract to finish his term.
But if he is exempt, can't they stop paying him from the day he resigns?
Bruno wrote: "The mayor's office, and D'Arcy call the shots, when it comes to the DWP. (Just ask Nahai.) "
That's what the deal's about, assurances that Nahai will not answer that question.
How much do you wanna bet he will never be consulted?
I agree with October 6 @ 2:44am. This is the mayor's doing and the commission is there as a deflection. Next thing you know, they'll hire Fleishman-Hillard. They gotta start fundraising for the mayor's Senate run.