One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Group Launches Effort to Recall Mayor, Vote Out Top Officials
15 of the 17 officials "Recall City Hall" calls the "Spring Street Gang"
15 of the 17 officials "Recall City Hall" calls the "Spring Street Gang"
Citing a "total abuse of the position," a group of former candidates and local activists have launched an effort to recall Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, according to KNX1070.
The "Recall City Hall" movement includes among its supporters onetime candidates for the job Walter Moore, Phil Jennerjahn, and David Hernandez, as well as former City Council candidate Augusto Bisani.
Hernandez claims that "Villaraigosa failed to heed warnings years ago that the national recession would have a crippling effect on the city," and believes that if people want change, they are going to have to be active about demanding it from their elected officials.
While some may dismiss a recall campaign, Hernandez is quick to point out the surprising momentum the recall of Gray Davis had, and its ultimate success. In order to get a recall of Mayor Villaraigosa on the ballot, though, they will need to amass at least 243,000 supporters' signatures in 120 days. They are setting up a way to ease mobilization of their supporters by online portals to petitions that people can print out and send in to their headquarters for inclusion.
Beyond the push to recall the Mayor, the Recall City Hall effort is also based on demanding larger-scale reform. Hailing the current slate of elected top-level city officials as the "Spring Street Gang," the group is urging Angelenos to withdraw their support of these politicians by not giving them money or votes. In fact, they want yo to vote for the other guy: "Support anyone who runs against them for office."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
