City Council Fumbled for a Way Out and Found It

Kevin James was well prepared, almost rehearsed during his defense today when the City Council voted on his appointment to the Board of Public Works. In case you missed it, Kevin James was confirmed on an 11-0 vote with only Felipe Fuentes abstaining from voting. Councilmembers Joe Busicaino and Mitch O'Farrell were conspicuously absent today during the proceedings.

You could tell by the look on the councilmembers faces that they had spent all morning on the phone with Eric Garcetti and his staff. Even though they grilled Kevin James, you could clearly tell they were trying to lead James to give them an out. Which he did. Even Amy Wakeland, Eric Garcetti's wife and co-mayor was there to shepherd the sheep, and I don't mean the DPW commission candidates, I mean the City Council.

Photo Credit: Alice Walton, KPCC

There are some great breakdown pieces by Los Angeles's fantastic political beat reporters:

Seema Mehta at the Los Angeles Times.

Alice Walton at KPCC.

Kevin Roderick at LA Observed.

Rick Orlov at The Daily News.

Kevin James Shoots from the Hip

In his first Q&A with Councilmember Krekorian, Kevin James gave his mantra during his radio years, which is what I believe we will come to expect from a Kevin James led Public Works Commission:



One phrase that was originally stated by Councilmember Mike Bonin:



And echoed by Councilmember Herb Wesson:



However, someone hasn't gotten the memo that the election is over.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has several Andrew Jacksonian instances of exacting retribution against those that campaigned against them.

If you don't believe me look in The Daily News where Mayor Garcetti has shut out the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the Central City Association:

Noticeably absent from Monday's meeting were the city's three biggest business groups who traditionally have wielded the most power at City Hall: the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Central City Association. All three groups backed Garcetti's rival, Wendy Greuel, in the mayor's race.

Garcetti said he would eventually bring those groups back to City Hall, but it's time to "rethink their role in the city." (The Daily News, July1, 2013)

If you’re still having doubts, according to the Los Angeles Downtown News, nearly a month after the election had ended, Mayor Garcetti still hadn’t talked to Maria Elena Durazo, one of the labor leaders of Los Angeles:

In the May 21 mayor’s race, the city’s biggest labor organization came up short when it backed Wendy Greuel, who lost to Eric Garcetti. Three weeks later, the organization’s leader and the mayor-elect have yet to speak.

That is what Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said Tuesday afternoon in her first major address following the union’s backing of Greuel. In addition to endorsing her, the County Fed spent heavily on her behalf.

“I have not spoken to [Garcetti] personally myself, but I am positive we will find a way to work with each other based on our issues,” said Durazo during an event at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel hosted by the organization Town Hall-Los Angeles. “It’s not the first time, as somebody wrote in an article, that our labor-endorsed candidate didn’t win for mayor, and we figured it out before.” (Los Angeles Downtown News, June12, 2013)

If you STILL don’t believe me, read this City Watch article on his staff and relations to everyone.

I’m now going to leave you with a teaser for our next post. Since the fallacious argument of the election being over was tossed in front of me, my next Kevin James piece is going to be about something that took place after the election. As a teaser, his testimony during his confirmation that is below is very topical:

Live Tweeting Kevin James Confirmation

I will be live tweeting Kevin James's confirmation hearing. You can follow me @mrcharles2014 on twitter.

You can also follow the live feed of the City Council meeting at:

http://lacity.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

Judgement Time

Since I launched this blog 48 hours ago, began sending e-mails 96 hours ago and letters in the mail 2 weeks ago, I have spoken with:

2 reporters

5 chiefs of staff

7 communications directors

and 1 city councilmember

While I won’t divulge the names, some of them have been through e-mail, through a direct message, but most have called me.

I’ve come to believe this; if you’re a councilmember, ask your staff what they think of Kevin James. If you’re a staff member, ask your councilmember what they think of Kevin James. If everyone communicates, you shouldn’t be too surprised to find out that a majority of the councilmembers will feel they should vote no on Kevin James's appointment to the Department of Public Works.

The question is, who will speak up first? The overarching conclusion is everyone is willing to step up to the plate, but most councilmembers are on deck or in the hole. Most councilmembers are afraid to swing for the fences, but in reality, someone needs to get a base hit to start a rally.

If you are still having doubts, just remember what Kevin James has said that I’ve uncovered.

Maybe you’re repulsed by him mocking women.

Maybe courage will come to you if you decide to stand for Dolores Huerta.

Maybe you find having a birther sympathizer reprehensible.

Perhaps standing up for the African American community is what floats your boat.

Or maybe it’s his anti-immigrant stance that really grinds your gears.

To summarize, what are the repercussions for you as a councilmember for voting no?

Maybe this will happen to you and these mailers will come out against you:

(Los Angeles Ethics Commission)

He will send mailers endorsing your opponent. But ask Nury Martinez what happens when you have the truth on your side. This is about standing up for all Angelenos, but Kevin James in particular has thrown his barbs at our minority community.

Or maybe you’re worried about local Republican Party running against you. The sad reality is, every councilmember is in a safe Democratic seat. So there is nothing to fear.

Montanez had egg on her face and it also landed on Garcetti. Garcetti is batting .000 in terms of his endorsed candidates winning their races. There is nothing for any councilmember to fear except losing your constituents’ respect.

Even if you vote for Kevin James today, this blog will continue to tomorrow. I am confident what I have found so far is only the tip of the iceberg. Don’t regret when I find something truly heinous.

Eric Garcetti has already embarrassed himself and Angelenos by making this appointment. Don’t get egg on your face as well.

Kevin James Says Obama Hates America, Does this Mean Eric Garcetti Hates L.A.?

Kevin James has long had an axe to grind against President Obama. He has said some incredibly insensitive things towards the African American community when the president was considering whom to place on the Supreme Court bench in the stead of Justice Souter. He has also questioned the president’s patriotism with baseless accusations, calling them the “hate America first crowd.”

Daffy Duck to the Supreme Court

Kevin James outlandishly suggested that the president should appoint Daffy Duck to the Supreme Court to replace outgoing Justice Souter because Daffy fits all of the minority criteria, chief among them; he’s a black duck.

“I am convinced that President Obama’s choice is obvious. ‘Daffy Duck’ should replace Justice Souter.

                        […]

1. We have never had a duck sit on the Supreme Court. I am sure that our nation has a history of insensitivity toward “duck rights.”

2. Daffy is a black duck. Therefore, Daffy’s selection will satisfy those calling on the President to select a minority.

3. Daffy could be a gender neutral duck. While I recognize that we have assumed for more than a generation that Daffy is male, the name ‘Daffy’ could be short for “Daphne”, and although Daffy almost always appears without clothing, I don’t know of anyone that can actually prove Daffy is male. This only adds to the satisfaction of those calling on the President to choose a minority.

4. Daffy is a disabled duck. Daffy has a severe speech impediment. Although Daffy’s lisp could become fodder for the late-night talk show circuit and “Saturday Night Live” when Daffy asks important questions of high-profile attorneys during Court hearings and has back-and-forth debate with those lawyers, it will certainly be worth any potential embarrassment as Daffy’s selection will satisfy President Obama’s goal stated on Friday that he wants a Justice “with ‘empathy’ for ‘people’s hopes and struggles.’” (Town Hall, May 4, 2009)

During the height of the campaign season, Kevin James opened his mouth after the Democratic National Convention in Denver. He believed, strongly enough to give it credence, the right wing rhetoric that was being circulated that Obama wasn’t a patriot.

I’m quoting Obama, “I’ve got news for you John McCain,” Obama said, defying anyone to challenge his patriotism. “We all put our country first.” Oh really? Do you think that that is going to stop us from challenging your patriotism? When you have demonstrated year in and year out that you have warmed up to the hate America first crowd?

(Kevin James Show, August 28, 2008, Hour 2 Segment 2)

Hmm, this is sounding very familiar again, where have we heard this before?

Rush Limbaugh:       Yeah, well, you know who really invented the Internet? It was the military. It was a DOD project, and Obama hates that. But, folks, look. Here he is repeating it: Roads and bridges. The roads and bridges came after what was necessary, or what made the roads and bridges necessary. They came after that. I'll tell you what. I think it can now be said, without equivocation -- without equivocation -- that this man hates this country. He is trying -- Barack Obama is trying -- to dismantle, brick by brick, the American dream. (Rush Limbaugh Show, July 16, 2012)

Oh yeah, seems like Kevin James is once again in an echo chamber with Rush Limbaugh so he can be Mini-Me to his Dr. Evil.

And Sean Hannity:

And Donald Trump. Sarah Palin. Michele Bachmann:

Why does Eric Garcetti stand behind someone who gave credence to the Barack Obama is unpatriotic nonsense that swept the nation?

Wasn’t the mayor the campaign chair for California for the President? Didn’t he go to Iowa in the snow to campaign for the President?

When Barack Obama was elected to office, he didn’t put anyone in his cabinet that thought he might not be patriotic or born in this country. So why is Eric Garcetti?

Kevin James. Wrong for Los Angeles.