LAist: A Strikeout for Villaraigosa

Mavrik

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:23:11 -0800

I just wonder how he got back and forth so fast. He obviously wasn't in a vehicle that could get him to the game that fast from the west valley, He must have used a city helicopter to get him down there and back which in my view is a waste of taxpayer funds and abuse of power.

lahipster

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:21:57 -0800

r Antonio Villaraigosa,do your job as mayor bring the federal dollars back home to la next year with the dems are back in the White house i repeat JERRY BROWN will be the next gov of california

Animals

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:44:14 -0800

Our Mayor does not care about LA. You know how he gets info about what's happening in LA? He reads articles that have his name in the title, only. That's all the news he cares about, literally. I heard this from his aide. While the Mayor is anywhere but LA, he leaves his lackies in charge of the City. That'd be fine if they knew what they were doing but they don't. Deputy Mayor Jimmy Blackman is in charge of relating info about Animal Services to the Mayor. Instead of telling him the truth that the Dept is in trouble, he says everything is fine. The truth couldn't be farther from the truth. Read this. http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/10/12/18544194.php Why is Blackman not telling the Mayor the truth about the Dept? (1) Blackman was in charge of doing a background check on Boks but didn't. He just believed his resume which is 95% untrue. Boks faked his resume. Blackman doesn't want to look like an idiot for not checking the guy out. Boks was fired from NY. Why would LA hire someone that NY didn't want? (2) Animal activists have been protesting Blackman's ex-wife's house.She's been hounding Blackman. Activists want Boks fired. To spite activists protesting at his house he is keeping Boks, even though he's doing a horrible job. Euthanasia is up 45% in the last month. Half of all animals entering the shelter will be killed. Negative article after negative article about Ed Boks and the Mayor does nothing. Over half of the employees signed a petition to get him fired. They were at Personnel Committee meeting for 3.5 hours last week to complain about it. This is crazy.

LA MapNerd

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:16:23 -0800

As someone who's spent a bit of time on the front lines of disaster response, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly praise Mayor Villaraigosa for attending the Dodger game instead of spending the day on the fire lines getting in the way of people whose jobs are hard enough enough without having to deal with some attention-whore politician trying to turn a busy work zone into a political photo-op. It's fine for the mayor to show up and get briefed on the situation, but once he's done that, he should get the hell out of the way. And that seems to be exactly what he did. So, good for you, Mayor Tony. Hope you enjoyed the game. (And, by the the way, that yellow jacket is a turnout coat, not a "flak jacket".)

iwritela

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:35:41 -0800

In the mayor's defense, there was nothing fun about Dodger Stadium last night.

sithandra

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:07:37 -0800

He should know better -- perception is everything in the minds of voters. As for Mayor Tony's Gubernatorial chances in 2010: Strike 1: Messy affair with an ex-Telemundo reporter who filed stories about Mayor Tony while they were dating. Strike 2: He doesn't spend enough time on city business ( see http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/09/villaraigosas_calendar_re.php ) Strike 3: Attending Dodger games while half the SF Valley hills are on fire. Dodgers, huh? Well that's three strikes, Mayor Tony, you're out!! I'm not even a GOP politico, but if I were, I'd use all three strikes against him if he jumps in the 2010 race. He's toast!

Hindinwood

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:02:08 -0800

"The fact that he has his lackeys post here to defend him is a good example of this bad judgement." Um...I'm not his "lackey", I just happen to disagree with the stance above. And how is people posting here an "example of his bad judgement"?? What are you talking about? I certaintly don't agree with everything the mayor does, and agree with a lot of the critisisms, but how is standing around the fire area and acting like he's contributing even helpful? It's disingenious. Not to sounds callous, but as someone pointed out above, these fires happen quite frequently in Southern California. That's not to say they shouldn't be taken seriously, but you don't have to shut down the whole city and glue your eyes to the TV either.

DAN ROMAN

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:59:23 -0800

His constituents are in shelters, their homes are on fire, firefighters and pilots risking life and limb. That's why he should not be hobnobbing with the glitterati (of which he considers himself to be). TV time is what counts! It's perception. He shows his bad judgement consistently. The fact that he has his lackeys post here to defend him is a good example of this bad judgement. Pass the popcorn and Dodger Dogs!!

Hindinwood

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:34:18 -0800

It was an important city event, he's the mayor of the city, ergo he was present. Give me a break, what good is it going to do for him to stand around staring at the fire and wringing his hands?

DAN ROMAN

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:13:50 -0800

LET THEM EAT CAKE. SINCERELY, MAYOR TONY

Manny

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:26:17 -0800

So what exactly was he supposed to be doing at home or the office? Im not pissed that he was at the game... Im pissed that Matt Stairs was at the game.

BlueFairlane

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:24:29 -0800

Too bad he left his violin at home.

Alexcantsee

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:07:41 -0800

It's not like the mayor can grab the hose and help firefighter's. There is so much he can do in his authority, he isn't a brush-fire expert, nor a emergency helicopter pilot. The experts and emergency services brief him on how to contain the fire, if something else extraordinarily happens I'm sure he would decide to leave the game. People, chill out. These fires have happened before and will happen in the future.

db

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:54:33 -0800

My sister was evacuated from the hills above Pacoima this morning at 5:30am and is spending the night at a relative's home, here in Burbank. My best friend is hoping the Porter Ranch fire won't consume his home in the West Valley tonight. And yes, firefighters are risking their own lives to protect the lives and property of them and others. I've got lots of reasons for disliking Mayor Tony, and I am sure he is actually running for a federal office and will leave L.A. as soon as possible. But bagging on Villaraigosa because he was at the Dodger's game tonight when, as even you point out, "He might not have been able to do anything from his home or office", comes off as vituperative for its own sake. This is just a straw man.

samkim

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:23:33 -0800

well dodgers stadium has a great view of the neighboring mountains. perhaps villaraigosa was trying to get a better view?

Andy Sternberg

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:03:19 -0800

The mayor was not announced. Matt Stairs, unfortunately, was. Just amazing how Mayor Tony could fit this into his 18 or 20 hour day of not-so-fun-looking press appearances in which he can't possibly express enough gratitude toward everyone else working their butts off, putting out fires. They didn't show Steve Perry during "Don't Stop Believin'" either. Double-fail.

paul

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:55:38 -0800

Nice try, but fail.