Saturday, August 20, 2011

News: MR. WRONG SAYS THE RIGHT THING

by smf for 4LAKidsNews

20 August 2011

“I'm here to shine a light on a dark cloud hanging over California," Villaraigosa said during a speech to the Sacramento Press Club [on Tuesday]. "I'm here because I believe there's an opportunity for a grand bargain, but it's going to mean including broad stakeholders to acknowledge that we need to fund government. That we need to make government more efficient." http://bit.ly/pCKHxc

Article Tab: sacramento-angeles-lunche <<ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa laughs while taking questions from members of the Sacramento Press Club after speaking at their luncheon in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011.

Excuse me while the peanut gallery takes the obvious cheap shots, but:

  • Isn’t shining bright lights on he underside of clouds the Hollywood press agent’s way of attracting the masses to  a dubious event?
  • Is that Grand Bargain anything like Eli Broad’s Grand Avenue Plan? All plan and nothing more?
  • And did the editor forget to capitalize the “B” in “broad stakeholders”?

Of course Mayor Tony is right in challenging the Prop 13 sacred cow.

And he’s the absolute wrong spokesmodel  to do it!

At one time AV was The Man in Sacramento. Now he’s not even a joke – he’s a punchline (rimshot please) in search of a joke.

The AP story cited above  continues:

The Democratic mayor said he was willing to provide political cover to the governor and lawmakers by suggesting changes to Proposition 13, the 1978 ballot initiative that rolled back property taxes and capped their increases. A pillar of California's direct democracy, the initiative is seen as untouchable in the state because it so popular with the electorate.

This is cold war “duck-and-cover” he’s providing, using the school desk to shield us from one megaton at 5000 feet.

Yes, we need to split the rolls on Prop 13 so we can reappraise shopping malls and oil refineries and Van Nuys breweries bought-and-sold (often repeatedly) by multinationals …but taxed at 1978 rates.

But of course the doomsayers, tea partiers and the correctly-concerned say he’s out to get the duplex owners, family farmers and mom-and-pop store owners. And of course to tax widows and orphans while slaughtering puppies and kittens on the altar of Keynesian Economics in celebration of Lenin (or Lennon) and Marx. (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Karl – you choose.)

There are those who think that Howard Jarvis followed Moses down from Sinai with Prop 13 in hand. We all know better: Charlton Heston as Moses had  the Second Amendment in his script of The Ten Commandments (which is the authentic text of Exodus)  now safely stashed in the  Ark of the Covenant in that government warehouse at the end of “Raiders”.

(If I haven’t offended you in the sentence preceding I apologize; I thought I got everyone.)

Steven Greenhut rants in the OC Register:

Villaraigosa wants more of what doesn't work

SACRAMENTO – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's speech Tuesday at the Sacramento Press Club left many reporters wondering what the mayor is doing and what he is running for next. It seems odd for an L.A. mayor to fly to Sacramento, give a speech detailing a so-called "grand new vision" even as his city flails amid a budget mess caused by the oldest of reasons – government overspending. I'm left wondering about the future of a state where a serious contender for higher office would tout the ideas Villaraigosa espoused.

Greenhut continues on from his OC perch, blaming Villaraigosa for LA in general and LAUSD in particular – which, I guess – he bears an increasing responsibility for – even as his special piece of it underperforms the rest.

As my favorite Republican, J. Montgomery Burns of the Springfield Burns’ says: “Release the hounds!”

I guess all isn’t for-naught if right-wingers and tea partiers really think Tony is a serious contender for higher office. Just as long as progressives and the electorate  don’t.

Additional coverage:

Villaraigosa takes aim at Jerry Brown in Sacramento speech

Los Angeles Times - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came to Sacramento on Tuesday and called out Gov. Jerry Brown for “aiming low” and being unwilling to challenge Proposition 13. “Gov. Brown, I say we need to have the courage to test the voltage in some of these ...

LA Mayor Targets California Tax Law in 'Grand Bargain'

Bloomberg - James Nash, Christopher Palmeri - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks to workers gathered in front of Los Angeles City Hall for a labor rally seeking support of bills intended to create jobs on August 13, ...

Steve Lopez: Villaraigosa shows courage on Prop. 13. Where's Jerry Brown?

Los Angeles Times - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday in a Sacramento speech that it's time to test the voltage in some so-called third-rail issues, including Proposition 13. He did not, however, go as far as he might have –- precisely because it's a third-rail ...

Brown says he's not interested in Prop. 13 reforms

San Jose Mercury News - Gosia Wozniacki - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

AP FRESNO -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday turned down a challenge from the mayor of Los Angeles to reform Proposition 13, saying he would prefer to focus his attention on bringing financial stability to California. ...

Los Angeles Mayor Urges End to Tax Limits for Businesses

Wall Street Journal - Tamara Audi - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Calling California's law limiting property taxes "a corporate tax giveaway," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday he wanted businesses removed from the protections of the measure, known as Proposition 13. ...

Los Angeles Mayor Attacks Proposition 13 In Bid For More Revenue

Business Insider - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's call for a repeal of California's Proposition 13 (at least as it applies to businesses), the 1978 referendum which placed restrictions on property tax increases, prompted some quick investigation on my part. ...

Villaraigosa: Riding Prop. 13 resentment to Sacramento? [poll]

Los Angeles Times - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

That's a question we in The Times' Opinion Manufacturing Division have raised in the past about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's post-LA political ambitions. Anticipation of a 2010 Villaraigosa-Gavin Newsom contest got under way almost ...

LA mayor urges 'big solution' for Calif. finances

San Jose Mercury News - Judy Lin - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday challenged Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers to think boldly in repairing California's finances and pursue a "grand bargain" that would link property tax reforms to an overhaul of public pensions and ...

Villaraigosa's Revisit of Prop 13

NBC Bay Area (blog) - Larry Gerston - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

Politically speaking, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put himself in the gun barrel sights of millions of Californians this week when he called for an overhaul of California's Proposition 13. The infamous 1978 ballot initiative reduced property ...

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa calls for overhaul of "corporate giveaway" in ...

San Francisco Chronicle (blog) - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in a much-anticipated speech to the Sacramento Press Club today, urged progressives to "stand up to the idealogues" of the Tea Party and called for massive overhaul of state tax system -- including Prop. ...

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: End Prop. 13 for businesses to fund education

Los Angeles Daily News - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is calling for changes in the way California's Proposition 13 treats property owned by businesses with an eye toward increasing tax revenue to support education. (File photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) LOS ...

City, federal leaders tout LA neighborhood recovery program

89.3 KPCC - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

TV news crews and photographers trailed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as he toured a newly refurbished two-bedroom home at 66th Street and Menlo Avenue not far from the 110 Freeway. The city of LA recently renovated the house under the mayor's ...

Villaraigosa against waiving environmental rules for NFL stadium

Los Angeles Times - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa expressed skepticism Tuesday that the Legislature would give a proposed NFL stadium downtown an exemption from environmental lawsuits. "I don't think they are going to do that, and I don't think they should," Villaraigosa ...

Villaraigosa calls for changes to Proposition 13

Bellingham Herald - Kevin Yamamura - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Antonio Villaraigosa may be considering a statewide run for office, but he didn't seem particularly concerned Tuesday about controversial tax positions coming back to haunt him. The Los Angeles mayor told the Sacramento Press Club that California ...

Villaraigosa calls Proposition 13 a corporate tax giveaway

abc7.com - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa grabbed that rail and called for a major overhaul. He calls Prop. 13 a corporate tax giveaway. Villaraigosa went to the Sacramento Press Club to make a politically risky pitch to take commercial-property ...

LA Mayor Makes the Case for a Referendum on the Senate Lines

Fox and Hounds Daily (blog) - Tom Del Beccaro - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

That certainly can be applied to politics and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proved that this week. On the very same day that a referendum was filed to preserve balance in the California State Senate and prevent tax increases, the Mayor asked ...

Mayor Villaraigosa puts Proposition 13 on the table

89.3 KPCC - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa embraced the third rail issue of Proposition 13. Prop. 13 was introduced in 1978, with the original intention to serve as tax protection for homeowners. However, due to loopholes and exceptions, ...

LA Mayor Challenges Sacramento to Take On Prop. 13 Reform To Increase ...

California Newswire - Valerie Gotten - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

/California Newswire/ — With California facing a deficit of one million college degree holders in 2025, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivered a speech to the Sacramento Press Club on Tuesday about the need to invest in California's education ...

Villaraigosa presses revenues, questions Prop. 13

Politico (blog) - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has emerged as something of a spokesman for the wing of the Democratic Party that's unapologetic about wanting to secure the government's finance by taxing the wealthy and finding other revenue sources. ...

Villaraigosa Speech Got the Big Stuff Right

NBC Los Angeles (blog) - Joe Mathews - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Press reports of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's speech in Sacramento on Tuesday have focused on its pieces, especially his challenge to Gov. Jerry Brown to court political danger and take on politically untouchable issues such as the ...

More, More, More

Investor's Business Daily - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Given his track record, Antonio Villaraigosa hardly seems the one to give advice on how to get California moving again. His city, where he's been chief executive for six years, has been a drag on the state. Its jobless rate (13.9% in 2010) puts it at ...

The Democratic Divide: Action vs. Inaction, Small vs. Big

Fox and Hounds Daily (blog) - Joe Mathews - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's speech in Sacramento already has political tongues wagging. Reporters wonder if the mayor reading a statewide run. Dan Walters asks if he is preparing to challenge Gov. Jerry Brown from the left. Does this represent some ...

Villaraigosa Dismembers Prop 13 in his “Grand Bargain”

Fox and Hounds Daily (blog) - Joel Fox - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the Sacramento Press Club yesterday offering a "grand bargain" of revenue increases and tax cuts to fix the fiscal condition of the state but the core of the plan dealt with significant ...

Villaraigosa's Whistle Stop

Fox and Hounds Daily (blog) - Katy Grimes - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Offering up what appeared to be a campaign speech, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the Sacramento Press Club today, repeatedly blasting the Tea Party and Republicans, and even went after California's Proposition 13 with ...

How Much Does it Cost to be Mayor of Los Angeles?

KCET (blog) - Jessica Levinson - ‎Aug 18, 2011‎

In May of 2013, it will be time to say goodbye to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is termed out, and a warm hello to the next chief executive of the City of Angeles. But just how much does it cost to become mayor of Los Angeles? ...

Villaraigosa calls for overhaul of Proposition 13

Sacramento Bee (blog) - Dan Walters - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

In what could be an initial foray into statewide politics, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Tuesday for a renewal of progressive politics in California in the nation, including an overhaul of the state's iconic limit on property taxes, ...Los Angeles Mayor Calls For Overhaul Of Proposition 13

Capital Public Radio News - Marianne Russ - ‎Aug 16, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is calling for an overhaul to a California law that's often seen as untouchable: Proposition 13, which limits property taxes. By Marianne Russ Villaraigosa: "So to governor Brown, I say, you need to have the ...

Los Angeles Mayor Urges 'Big Solution' for CA Finances

PublicCEO.com - ‎Aug 17, 2011‎

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has offered political cover to Governor Brown and other state lawmakers, as he offered to spearhead a compromise that would reform Proposition 13 while overhauling public pensions and funding for K-12 schools. ...

No comments: