The reporter, Adam Nagourny, interviewed and quoted Maria Elena Durazo, the executive secretary treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, A.F.L.-C.I.O.:
“In the last year, I think he’s settled down to become much more thoughtful,” she said. “The ideas that he’s pushing forward, he’s really been focused on them. Maybe he learned some stuff from the first few years.”
The reporter also interviewed Villaraigosa, noting, "The mayor was, as usual, dapperly attired but looked fatigued, with lines on his face that were not there seven years ago."
Hey, New York Times, instead of just writing a puff piece where you ask Villaraigosa and his union supporters what kind of job he's done, perhaps you'd like to pick up the phone and talk to the loyal opposition about his record. You know, like, say, someone who ran against him for Mayor? Just a friendly suggestion.
You told your readers he was "dapperly attired." Okay, I suppose that's important to. . . someone? (P.S. The phrase "dapperly attired" is redundant, isn't it?)
You did say he was fined for accepting free tickets. But you omitted to mention that local and state ethics agencies imposed tens of thousands of dollars in fines against him for accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of tickets from corporations to which he directed millions of tax dollars in subsidies. Those tickets, moreover, let him get free and favorable publicity during an election year. Doesn't that seem like something your readers should know?
How about mentioning the fact that, under his "leadership," he increased spending tremendously, thus subjecting the city to a perpetual deficit? How about the selective tax breaks for mutual funds rather than businesses where people work with their hands and make things?
How about mentioning the hundreds of millions of dollars of "welfare for the rich" he has doled out? Corruption at the Housing Department? Don't you think your readers would like to know about that?
In the word of Charlie Brown, "sigh." Naive simpleton that I am, I just expected something better from the New York Times.
I have lines on my face that weren't there seven years ago...DUH!
ReplyDeleteand you forgot to mention his long work hours.
I especially liked the comment from LACITYWORKERS.COM that was included in the NYT piece. Out of all the hispanic politicians that Obama had to choose from, he picks a proven failure.
ReplyDeleteI hope Obama's advisers change course before it's too late. I think Hilda Solis would have been a better choice. This appears to be an effort to throw Villaraigosa a political lifeline, but may prove to be too late. Villaraigosa has a genius for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Grooming him for a run at governor.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about Villar that so impresses people that don't live in Los Angeles? I'm counting the days till when he is gone as Mayor. If Obama wants him in Washington he can have him. It probably means that some other Public Employees Union puppet will be put in as mayor, but at least LA will be rid of Villar.
ReplyDeleteMr Adam Nagourny, of course the unions could care less of what a failed mayor Antonio has been to the public. But to them, he's their 'cash-cow' for salary increases, even in a reccession.
ReplyDeleteAre you a tough enough reporter to interview Villaraigosa's former mayoral opponent, Walter Moore?