Multiple candidates aiming to get into top two in March balloting
by Brian Leubitz
While the value of newspaper endorsements has surely waned, in a municipal election where many of the candidates are finding difficulties distinguishing themselves from each other, the LA Times endorsement could grab a few votes. And this round, City Councilman Eric Garcetti gets that nod:
As council president, [Garcetti] worked behind the scenes to awaken his colleagues to the depth of the city’s financial crisis and to take action they did not want to take, imposing layoffs and requiring those remaining in the workforce to shoulder more of the burden of their medical and pension benefits. At times when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa should have been on hand to close difficult negotiations, the task was left to Garcetti, and he came through. …
Voters at first embraced Villaraigosa because they saw in him the power to inspire. Garcetti has that too, but in a different, quieter fashion, and he backs it up with experience in City Hall, a share of troublesome mistakes and 12 years of achievement. If he avoids a tendency to be glib when he should motivate, and if he avoids the tendency to allow his finesse to give way to a desire to be all things to all people, he could be just what Los Angeles needs. At this time, out of this field, he’s the best choice for mayor.(LA Times)
Polls have been all over the place in the race, but for now, it looks like Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel are in the best positions to grab one of the two spots in the May general election. But Councilwoman Jan Perry, Republican talk show host Kevin James, and perhaps a few others, are within striking distance depending on what the turnout and field programs look like over the last few weeks.
Some choice comments.
bear some responsibility for the city’s current fiscal problems, which were dramatically worsened when the council negotiated employee contracts that were unaffordable, leading to a budget too far out of balance, and leading, in turn, to deep cuts in services.
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r the most part, he has performed well. As council president, he worked behind the scenes to awaken his colleagues to the depth of the city’s financial crisis and to take action they did not want to take, imposing layoffs and requiring those remaining in the workforce to shoulder more of the burden of their medical and pension benefits.
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Or in other words, the city is being bankrupt by big benefits to government employees and union goons, and we should vote for this guy because he is going to cut those benefits, not establish confiscatory taxes.
Geez, why does all this sound familiar?
The city of LA ,according to both you and me, is in financial trouble because public employees have salaries and benefits that are unaffordable.
The LA Times, a left-leaning, if not liberal newspaper says these benefits must be cut. So says Garcetti, another Democrat.
And that’s ok. This situation is likely prevalent also in other cities in California, and other statements.
But when Republican governors try to do the same thing to crack down on public employee compensation, they are evil 1’ers backed by the Koch Bros?