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Gotcha! NBC Catches Villaraigosa Illegally Using Water
Although he tells the denizens of Los Angeles to cut down on their water use or face fines and higher bills, Mayor Villaraigosa's city-owned mansion has had its lawn watered during illegal hours several times, NBC's Joel Grover found in a month long investigation.
When approached by Grover, Villaraigosa said he would look into it. Sprinkler use is only legal on Mondays and Thursdays before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. NBC shows footage of sprinklers in use on days not allowed under the law.
The Getty House in Windsor Square is the official residence for any Los Angeles mayor who chooses to live there. Whether Villaraigosa has been staying there or at his personal Mount Washington home in recent days, this is just bad symbolism. Inquiring minds also wonder who's going to take the heat behind close doors for this one.
The NBC report also comes before a major announcement of some sort from Villaraigosa about water conservation and energy savings. At 10 a.m. today, he'll announce "two record-setting achievements."
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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