The man who can save Lincoln Place, and himself in the process
By Jim
Smith
Memo to Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa:
Dear Brother
Antonio,
It’s been a long time since our union
days when we could sit down together and have a drink with friends while
discussing the issues of the day. But if we could do it today, I’d like to
steer the conversation to Lincoln Place, where tenants are fighting to save
their homes and 696 affordable garden apartments, and to the South Central
farmers, who are fighting to save L.A.’s largest urban farm and a source
of nutritious food for poor people.
Could we have a civil conversation? I
understand that you sometimes get angry when the evictees and the farmers demand
that you take action on their behalf. Well, politics is a funny
“business.” Lots of people have entered the arena with intentions of
doing what’s right for the poor and powerless only to be seduced by big
money and power.
Before you know it,
political officials who come from working class neighborhoods are wearing
sharkskin suits, living high on lobbyists’ bankrolls and being
“pragmatic” about issues that used to inspire them. Let’s just
hope, Antonio, that you can conquer this addicting demon, and return to being a
“peoples hero.” Everybody knows that you’ve got a touch of the
disease. Some of us saw it coming a few years ago when you tried to ace out your
boyhood chum, Gilbert Cedillo, and grab a state senate seat for which he had
been campaigning. I believe Gil endorsed Hahn in the last mayoral election. Too
bad.
Now the L.A. Times says
you’re playing footsie with the Terminator, because you want to succeed
Schwarzenegger as Governor in four years. Others say it’s the Vice
Presidency that you’re after. In either case, the Lincoln Place tenants
and the South Central farmers can’t do much for you. They certainly
won’t fatten your campaign treasury. Only AIMCO and other big corporations
and developers can do that for you. Another clue that you’re focusing on
higher office came during Mexican President Vicente Fox’s visit to L.A. in
May when you refused to even discuss immigration policy with him. Have we
already lost you to the political consultants for your next
campaign?
So what’s it gonna be,
Antonio? Do you want to be just another slick media star who will do almost
anything to move up the political ladder? Or do you want to do something
meaningful with your life and your position?
It just might be that the tenants and
the farmers could be your salvation. If you step in and push the city council to
declare eminent domain at Lincoln Place and at the Farm, and then help to raise
the money to pay for it, you’ll be hailed as a real “peoples
hero.”
Let me suggest a role
model. When he was elected mayor of Mexico City, Andrés Manuel López
Obrador, was confronted with even bigger problems than you are. Instead of
hob-nobbing with the rich, he ended corruption, put thousands to work with
public works projects, planned - and completed - extensions to the subway
system, and on top of it, instituted a monthly stipend of $65 U.S. for all
senior citizens. That’s enough to buy food, prescription drugs or pay the
rent in Mexico.
Did thumbing his nose
at the high rollers mean the end of López Obrador’s political career?
Just the opposite! He left office with an unheard of 83 percent favorable
rating, and is now running for President as the candidate of a third party. And,
he has a good chance of
winning!
Granted, this is not Mexico
(although it used to be). But we do have a lot in common with that country. Like
a similar economic stratification pyramid. And a population that is fed up with
business as usual, and is looking for someone, anyone, they can really trust. It
could be you, Antonio. And it can all start by doing the right thing for Lincoln
Place and the South Central
farmers.
What’s the downside?
Well, there would be no more free rides in Ameriquest’s private jet. But
the upside could be the beginning of unimagined popularity, and perhaps the
salvation of your immortal soul.
Your pal,
Jim
Posted: Thu - June 1, 2006 at 07:53 PM