Over a year ago, I stated that any candidate capable of awakening just a slice of the 80% of registered voters who do not bother to cast ballots in city elections could rule Los Angeles.
I still believe that, but the pool has grown to 84%.
Where will it end…and where did the four percentage points go? Maybe they took Texas Governor Perry’s invitation to heart.
Based on the results for the mayor’s race, I wouldn’t blame them if they did.
There were some good results: Proposition A went down by 10 points, Galperin looks positioned to send Zine into another stage of retirement and Trutanich will have the fight of his life, although I am not thrilled by the thought of being served by a city attorney with no courtroom experience and a resume from Sacramento.
With the city’s financial health on the line, it is discouraging to see the two finalists for mayor were co-culprits in the fiscal demise of our town. There were viable choices, but the 16% are obviously wedded to the inside elite.
I am convinced it will take far greater degradation in service before there is a meaningful change in players at City Hall.
It would be easy for me to ignore the upcoming runoff between Garcetti and Greuel, but I won’t. There is still something at stake. That something is a chance one of these two candidates will see the light and take the bold action to control compensation and benefits costs – the overwhelmingly largest chunk of the budget, and the fastest growing piece.
Both Greuel and Garcetti courted support from the public unions, but at least Garcetti wasn’t willing to sell his soul outright as the Department of Wendy Power did. In theory, that should mean he can look the other way when union leaders insist on even better deals. It may also mean he could ask for rollbacks as the deficit grows.
Let’s put it this way. Garcetti could rise to the occasion; Greuel will not. She will hide under the “table” so often mentioned in her campaign statements.
It is very important that followers of Perry, James and Pleitez look within their hearts and realize that Greuel is nothing more than a Valley version of Villaraigosa. They need to resist the temptation to sit on their hands. They need to support Garcetti. Besides, do you really want the runoff to be determined by 10% of the registered voters?
Paul Hatfield
Suzanne Lauer
Good post Paul.
Well said Paul, thanks again.
While I always enjoy reading these comments, it feels to me that a great deal of what is written about Wendy Greuel and her “relationship” with the DWP is assumption. And why are you thinking Garcetti is better for us? He too took that meeting, and without knowing what took place behind those closed doors, you are assuming the worse in your attacks of Wendy (without any real proof). Mr Garcetti also agreed to meet with them so its not as if he wasn’t looking for an support as well. Yes, yes I understand the easy assumption is she gave more, but there is no evidence of that and she speaks out loudly that she will be a Mayor for all of LA and not in anyone’s pocket! Why do you assume differently? The bottom line, for either of these candidates is they are going to have to act on budget reform! That’s the long and short of it. So while you may have your own preference here, it seems very unfair to me to write so much on assumption and not much else.
Keep on writing!
Hi, John. I always appreciate comments, especially from people who take an active part in local affairs, such as yourself.
I agree with a couple of your points. Garcetti wanted the same endorsements, too. However, he did not pass muster with the unions. He has the better potential to act independently. You don’t take support from the three most powerful public unions in the city without strings. Is that an assumption? Yes, but it is a very safe assumption; a very reasonable assumption. Greuel will not be as motivated to pursue the degree of compensation reform (essentially, budget reform, since comp and benefits represents the lion’s share) necessary to put the city on the right track. I don’t expect Garcetti will turn things around, either. He will, however, have more independence than Greuel will.
Thanks again for the comment…and keep reading!