Dirty Democracy
Lies and distortion on the campaign trail
Big surprise. It wasn’t until last week’s debate between Bernard Parks and Mark Ridley-Thomas was all over that some interesting chatter finally started emanating from the Westside Jewish Community Center. The two candidates running to replace the moribund, ineffective Second District County Supervisor Yvonne Burke politely sparred, with the future of King-Harbor Medical Center provoking the angriest exchange. But it was still a sleep-inducing session and the tone mild enough not to disturb three people dozing near me. Parks accused Ridley-Thomas of siding with the evil forces that closed the hospital last year. Ridley-Thomas demanded an apology, Parks refused, and that was that – until after the debate.
As the two men gathered with their supporters and media in front of the auditorium, Parks’ campaign consultant, John Shallman, approached the circle of reporters surrounding Ridley-Thomas, and began reading from a 2004 L.A. Times article that he called up on his Blackberry.
Shallman: “The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Monday unexpectedly moved to shut down the trauma unit …”
Ridley-Thomas: “Trauma center. That’s not the hospital, John.”
Shallman: “immediately drawing the ire of ...”
Ridley-Thomas: “John, listen.”
Shallman: “… Ridley-Thomas applauded the board’s latest actions …”
Ridley-Thomas: “The trauma center is not the hospital.”
Shallman: “Do you stand by your statement?”
Ridley-Thomas: “You need to correct your candidate who incorrectly asserted that I was in favor of shutting down the hospital. There’s a difference between a trauma center and a hospital. He would probably do well to know that. Would you admit that you’re incorrect?”
Shallman: “I’m not running for office. I just want to make sure we’re accurate when we get the mailer out.”
County supervisors closed the trauma center in 2004 and hoped that by ridding themselves of the hospital’s most troubled unit, the rest of the joint could be saved; last year, after failing numerous state and federal inspections, the entire hospital closed.
And what about ending the secret government? Is either candidate up to firing County Counsel Raymond Fortner, whose bad advice leads county supervisors into closed session when they should be out in front of the public?
L.A. Sniper asked Ridley-Thomas if he could pull the trigger on Fortner. Ridley-Thomas said his first target would
be acting Registrar of Voters Dean Logan because of the presidential primary ballot snafu. “He practically disenfranchised 50,000 voters. I want to get that guy first because our voting rights are very important to protect.”
When asked if Fortner was in his sights, Parks, who knows the conservative ways of the County Counsel’s Office as a member of the governing boards of the Metropolitan Transportation and Expo Line authorities, said: “I’m not talking about firing anyone. But in dealing with the county counsel on the Expo Line and the MTA, they have a different view of the Brown Act than the city attorney. They view more things that can be brought into closed session. The city attorney in Los Angeles has more of a sensitivity to put more things out in view of the general public.”
So what would he do if his colleagues want to sneak into a closed session and talk about King-Harbor?
“When there are things in closed session that you don’t agree with, you stand up and say, ‘This is something the public should know about.’ You have to have the leadership and the skill and the courage to stand up among your peers and say, ‘We’re doing something that is not appropriate.’”
Bernard, good thing you’ve already been endorsed by the incumbent.
Wait til 2010
With $4 gas and crawling traffic, a half-cent sales tax increase to pay for transportation projects countywide once sounded like it might have a fighting chance with voters this November. But
Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s legislation that would allow the tax increase to slip onto the books with 55 percent rather than two-thirds of the electorate behind it is stalled in Sacramento. It’s unlikely to be taken up until next year, and then it will still need to be approved by voters in all 52 counties. Hate to be a naysayer, but unless there’s an all-out campaign by people and interest groups who can’t stand each other, we won’t see a successful measure on the ballot for another two years. One reason: Yvonne Burke’s $80 million boondoggle to install unnecessary turnstiles at subway stations will be seized by the anti-tax crowd as the latest evidence of a derelict and wasteful Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
End of Freeways
Let’s torch the cars of all the backward thinkers upset about having to pay to drive in the No. 1 lane. Gripe about congestion pricing all you want, and even claim that you’re really advocating for poor people who can’t afford the $8 rush-hour tax, but get over it. Every freeway will be a toll road in Southern California within 20 years. Until then, at least acknowledge the facts: Carpoolers of every income bracket will get to ride free and the carpool lanes won’t be as crowded as they are now. The minimum number of people in a car will increase to three under the one-year demonstration project on the 210, between Pasadena and the 605, and on the 10, between the 605 and downtown. And there will be an entire fleet of 60 new express buses using the lanes for those smart enough to sell their cars. Now, shut up and think.
Send insults and ammo to BigAl@lasniper.com
Published: 04/30/2008
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Ridley-Thomas advocated for the temporary closure of the trauma center, a place that many believed was the dysfunctional and was endangering the lives the residents of South Los Angeles. Ridley-Thomas admitted to wanting the trauma center closed fixed and reopened.
You missed the other half of the debate, Parks did not answer or address the issue of the LAPD consent decree. Parks blamed the City Council, the City Attorney and the Police Officers. Maybe Parks needs to take responsibility and admit he was to blame as the Chief.
Typical Parks blamed all his failures on others and took credit for the items he knows nothing about, namely Neighborhood Councils and community empowerment.