For several days prior to October 26, and throughout much of the day of the 27th, the TV and radio media had been reporting that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was going to have a press conference where he would announce who the three finalists are for the position of Los Angeles Chief of Police.
Chief Bratton, who some would label as a double dipping (New York City, Los Angeles) government employee drawing down big bucks, is leaving to make really big bucks in the private sector. In spite of multiple cases of police abuse and overzealous tactics at crowd control during his tenure, the general perception is that Bratton has done a good job and his departure is a real loss to the residents of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Commission has been overseeing recruitment for Bratton’s replacement. According to a story in The Los Angeles Times the Commission met with 13 applicants, all but 2 of them were from the top ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department.
So, about 5 PM on Tuesday, October 27 the Mayor had his press conference. Standing next to him was Mr. John Mack, long-term President of the Los Angeles Police Commission and well known African American civil rights activist. The Mayor explained the recruitment process, stating that he had been given the names of the three top candidates. He said they are the “cream of the crop”; any one of them could step into the job and do an excellent job. Then, the announcement.
Three white guys! All middle-age men – no women, no apparent minorities. I felt like I had just witnessed a new version of Back to the Future. Could this be THE Antonio Villaraigosa making such an announcement? Then, the next day I read in the Los Angeles Times that one of the 3 has a father who is Basque and is thus identified as Hispanic on the LA Police Department roster. So, if you buy this as being credentials to a Hispanic designation, it is really two middle-age white guys and a middle-age Basque Hispanic. All middle-age, no women, and all insiders.
We have recently had reports that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has softened his stance on so called illegal immigrants having sanctuary here, reportedly as Newsom maneuvers to become more appealing to “main stream voters” because he wants to be our next Governor. Perhaps we have just seen an Antonio Villaraigosa performance with the same goal in mind – though the candidate with Basque ancestry may or may not meet the community’s expectations of being Hispanic in Los Angeles. The next race for the Democratic Party candidate for Governor is clearly on.
Whatever happened to the “best” candidate regardless of race, color, sex, or religion? Maybe, just maybe, there is no conspiracy and those really are the best candidates. I’m just sayin…
This is the most ignorant post I’ve seen on the many web sites on this issue. You should have done your homework first knowing about the candidates that were chosen. Two of the candidates have done more for Latino communities then any other Latino command staff and they are white. Come to Los Angeles and ask minorities Latinos and Blacks about these candidates and they will tell you how much they like and respect these guys. So stay out of Los Angeles issues because this dosen’t affect Orange County
Keep the illegals safe. This should be priority number one. Why only white guys? What have white guys ever done for this country?
Maybe Santa Ana should bring over some Mexican candidates? See how that works for them. I hear the cops in Mexico, are just the bees knee’s:)
Lets just speed up that train rack, that is Los Angeles!.
I say give Los Angeles back to Mexico, and Santa Ana too. Build a wall around the cities and have a good bye party!.
then we get on with our lives, without the distraction of wasters and fools!
@ Robert:
Lighten up dude…this is a blog.
Los Angeles is a big equal opportunity player. It looks like the LA mayor temporarily pulled his head out of his @ss and is considering candidates based on their qualifications. This is unheard of.
And if you happen to live in LA or in LA county Robert, why are you hanging out at an Orange County blog? No one wants to hear your LA bullsh*t, get the f*ck out of here.