Mayoral candidates agree Hahn must go
The five mayoral candidates went vocal at the college. It was telling. Four were Alarcon, Hertzberg, Parks, and Villaraigosa. These four were “non-partisan” Democrats and by-products of the system who tried to distance themselves from Los Angeles administration status quo. The fifth was Moore – a real outsider, a partisan Republican, Yale-educated-attorney, and animal rights’ activist. Moore distanced himself not only from LA politics, but from everybody there.
You can watch and judge for yourself at http://www.mayorno.com/Debates.html.
My impression was the debate went to Moore followed by Parks. Moore led because his message is simple, straight forward, refreshingly devoid of rhetoric and circular logic. Most importantly, he doesn’t have, as far as we know, any ties with existing scandalous, corruptive, dysfunctional, retaliatory, and anti-business behavior allegedly fostered by this city’s existing oligarchy.
Parks is next because he is articulate, a demonstrated leader, able to survive and strike back from a Hahn hit, and he has demonstrated his efforts to differentiate himself as an insider and a change agent.
Consistent with news of Council members reporting tardy, Villaraigosa gets a demerit. Villaraigosa was late and spilled his drink.
To Alarcon, Hertzberg, and Villaraigosa, give us something more than being born here or being a resident of LA. It adds nothing. We all live here. The crooks, cons, druggies, murderers, politicians, and pundits live here, too. With all your hands-on leadership, experience, high-dollar endeavors, and time in Los Angeles politics, how did we get to be the pinnacle of “pay to play”?
School is a non-mayoral issue – it is not actionable. First because City Hall can’t keep itself out of hot water. As the adage goes, those that live in glass houses should not throw stones. And secondly, because adding government mismanagement to school district mismanagement rings like “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Although the focus on administration rather than educators is logical, making all schools private is not a reality. Breaking up the school district means the creation of a bunch of little fiefdoms, more administrations, more chaos, disorder, and dysfunction... Sound familiar?
Public schools are not even part of the Mayor’s jurisdiction, as far as I know. Recall Ma Bell. Where we used to get one phone bill, then we got three: local, long distance, and cell phones with contracts to manage. Each taxed separately, of course. Now some of are back to one, but three times as much.
Pollution, traffic, airports, harbor all took second place to the first priority question, “How are you going to fix City Hall?” All the candidates had one over-riding answer, Hahn and his tip jar are a problem. It’s undisputed. They must know. They are the experts.
Walter Moore reports his accomplishments as follows in his newsletter:
For those of you so inclined, candidates too, your comments are welcome.
You can watch and judge for yourself at http://www.mayorno.com/Debates.html.
My impression was the debate went to Moore followed by Parks. Moore led because his message is simple, straight forward, refreshingly devoid of rhetoric and circular logic. Most importantly, he doesn’t have, as far as we know, any ties with existing scandalous, corruptive, dysfunctional, retaliatory, and anti-business behavior allegedly fostered by this city’s existing oligarchy.
Parks is next because he is articulate, a demonstrated leader, able to survive and strike back from a Hahn hit, and he has demonstrated his efforts to differentiate himself as an insider and a change agent.
Consistent with news of Council members reporting tardy, Villaraigosa gets a demerit. Villaraigosa was late and spilled his drink.
To Alarcon, Hertzberg, and Villaraigosa, give us something more than being born here or being a resident of LA. It adds nothing. We all live here. The crooks, cons, druggies, murderers, politicians, and pundits live here, too. With all your hands-on leadership, experience, high-dollar endeavors, and time in Los Angeles politics, how did we get to be the pinnacle of “pay to play”?
School is a non-mayoral issue – it is not actionable. First because City Hall can’t keep itself out of hot water. As the adage goes, those that live in glass houses should not throw stones. And secondly, because adding government mismanagement to school district mismanagement rings like “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Although the focus on administration rather than educators is logical, making all schools private is not a reality. Breaking up the school district means the creation of a bunch of little fiefdoms, more administrations, more chaos, disorder, and dysfunction... Sound familiar?
Public schools are not even part of the Mayor’s jurisdiction, as far as I know. Recall Ma Bell. Where we used to get one phone bill, then we got three: local, long distance, and cell phones with contracts to manage. Each taxed separately, of course. Now some of are back to one, but three times as much.
Pollution, traffic, airports, harbor all took second place to the first priority question, “How are you going to fix City Hall?” All the candidates had one over-riding answer, Hahn and his tip jar are a problem. It’s undisputed. They must know. They are the experts.
Walter Moore reports his accomplishments as follows in his newsletter:
GOOD NEWS! You can see yours truly, Walter Moore, go head-to-head against Alarcon, Hertzberg, Parks and Villaraigosa in the first real mayoral debate by visiting http://www.mayorno.com/Debates.html. Hey, with all this rain, I'm thinking you can have lunch at your computer and enjoy the show.
Thanks to Hal Netkin, and independent supporter who has
his own website regarding the election http://www.blogger.com/app/www.MayorNo.com),
those of you who weren't able to attend in person can see it on your computer. Hal, the Paul Revere of our century, took a camcorder to the debate, taped the whole thing, and then posted it at his website. The picture quality isn't what you'd call HDTV, but you can hear for yourself who said what. And while you're at it, think how amazing this is. Thanks to the internet, technology, and especially to Hal Netkin, we can enable any voter in this city -- or anywhere in the world, for that matter -- to see this debate for free, WITHOUT having to convince NBC Channel 4 or any other station to broadcast it. That is history in
the making, friends. Internet video isn't just for porn anymore.
And, FYI, I'm now over 70% in KABC 790's poll. We have the winning message, people; we just have to spread the word and show up.
Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. It means a lot to me, and we ARE going to win this and fix our city.
Cordially,
Walter Moore
L.A.'s Next Mayor
http://www.blogger.com/app/www.Mayor4U.com
Mayor4U Committee, P.O. Box 45705, L.A. CA 90045
For those of you so inclined, candidates too, your comments are welcome.
posted by The Gadfly at 1:38 PM
2 Comments:
Los Angeles Daily News
Candidates, minus Hahn, focus on Valley concerns
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - VALLEY GLEN -- The needs of the San Fernando Valley took center stage in a debate Wednesday among candidates seeking to be the next Los Angeles mayor in the March 8 election.
Although Mayor James Hahn did not attend, he became the subject of criticism for the direction of the city by those seeking to replace him.
Councilmen Bernard Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa, along with state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and attorney Walter Moore participated in the event sponsored by the Associated Students of Los Angeles Valley College.
Other sponsors included the Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council and the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
Alarcon and Hertzberg stressed their ties to the Valley as they told the audience they would be able to change attitudes at City Hall.
"How do you reach out to your home?" Alarcon asked. "I was born in the Valley. I live in the Valley. My concerns are the Valley."
Alarcon said he would bring an understanding of the Valley's needs and desires if he is elected mayor.
Likewise, Hertzberg, who lives in Sherman Oaks, said making sure the Valley got its share of city services and attention would be a priority.
"That's what I did when I represented the Valley in the state Legislature," Hertzberg said. "I made sure the Valley was taken care of."
The other candidates said they would try to change the attitude of City Hall under Hahn -- who has been working to rebuild Valley ties damaged during the bitter 2002 secession election.
"I would not be saying we are out there or over here," Parks said. "We are all part of the same city."
Villaraigosa, who arrived late, said his concern is with the style of leadership given the city.
"We have big problems facing this city, whether it's illegal immigration, the homeless or transportation," Villaraigosa said. "What this city needs is a leader, someone who will roll up his sleeves and bring this city together, to provide the leadership a great city needs and deserves."
Parks said he was offering himself as a nonpolitician to change the direction of the city.
"I gave 40 years of my life to public service," said Parks, who was police chief until Hahn opposed his reappointment to a second five-year term in 2002. "Los Angeles is stuck in a quagmire. I want to offer myself to provide the leadership and restore integrity to the city."
Moore, who has been campaigning as the self-described sole Republican in the nonpartisan race, urged the crowd to press organizers of future debates to allow him to participate.
If elected, Moore said, he would seek to end all business taxes and the city's rent control program as well as seeking to crack down on illegal immigrants living and working in the city.
Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov@dailynews.com
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