Antonio Villaraigosa did not open the Contreras pool, but he definitely got the message, engaged in some fast footwork and announced today that……
….every day from tomorrow until September 3, vans will pick up kids (and accompanying adults) twice a day from the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex and shuttle them over to the Glassell Park pool or the Griffith Park Pool.
Okay, that works. A good compromise, actually.
See, Mr. Mayor, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Seriously, we cheer and applaud this move. Sometimes its the seemingly little things that let us know you’re paying attention to something other than…. well, you know.
Bottom line: we asked Antonio to be a hero. And, this time, while everyone else threw up their collective hands and said it was too hard, it cost too much money, the liability was too great, it couldn’t be accomplished that quickly….. he found a practical way to come through for the children of Los Angeles.
And he did it by the weekend—just like the community kids and their parents hoped he would.
Bravo.
I noticed that his notice was in both English and Spanish. Is that common in your area?
I’m worried about the carbon footprint that results from these vans. I can see the next headline: “Mayor Causes Global Warming with Pool Shuttle.”
Did they get their lockers and steal some lifeguards from Pokey’s town?
YAAAY, Mayor Villaraigosa! And, to the extent that Witness LA helped move this to resolution, YAAAY, Celeste! Good job!
Woody, you really do live on the moon. Everything is always also in Spanish. In fact, part of the alleged problem with the May 1st Melee was that orders to disperse were given in English, and the pro-illegal-immigration supporters there didn’t “understand.” Whatever.
I’m sure the pushy little Mexican reporter who created a scene with the cops today at the Port understood English and body language, too: that the port was a secure area, and as with airports, unauthorized personnel were not allowed in.
Not to mention, they didn’t want to talk about the new trucks (your comment about reducing Global Warming is a propos here, Woody), which are a start in helping the area residents who breathe noxious air. Oh no, all that pushing and shoving and screaming was to get something he already gave yesterday: his reaction to the Salinas punishment.
The mainstream media are no better than the parasite paparazzi these days. They looked ready to tear the Mayor apart. Celeste, give the Mayor a break, already; it was Brewer and LAUSD’s past decision to build a pool not suited for small children, reasons discussed earlier. I’m glad he wasn’t pressured into opening an unsuitable pool, but found a compromise.
Did I sound critical of the mayor? Actually, believe it or not, that wasn’t my intention. I think he did a good thing. He solved the problem quite well, and in a timely fashion.
Maybe my snark-o-meter needs adjustment. (It happens sometimes.)
And, yeah, having watched the video of the reporters I think they were waa-a-a-a-y over the top.
********
Okay, I added a line to clarify.
Celeste, it just sounded like you were blaming the Mayor here and earlier post for coming up with obstacles to the neighbors using the pool. And I guess I’m a little generally perturbed that Brewer gets too little attn. for his own ineptitude.
Celeste, when I got to the end of your post, I realized that you were applauding the mayor…except for his “little distraction.”
Maggie, you’re kidding me! Everyone in Los Angeles doesn’t understand English? They should. A friend was rear-ended up the street by a Mexican, who argued with the investigating policeman for fifteen minutes that he didn’t understand English, which was enough time for the policeman to know that he did. I think the problem is that illegals understand English fine from everyone except the police. Do you think that they’re pretending?
Anyway, I still think that the mayor should open fire hydrants and pass out Super Soakers in other parts of the city.
You know, Maggie, I think you were right. You inspired me to go in an make the statement stronger and more affirmative. I think sometimes as commentators its easy to get stuck in an arch tone. As for Brewer, I think don’t think there’s any problem about me not slamming the district enough, I just don’t always do it by name. But I appreciate that you keep reminding me about some of the specifics and personalities.
Thanks for your response, Celeste. By the way, some blogs I’ve visited are unhappy that we taxpayers now have to pay to bus these people to and from public pools twice a day, not to mention the liability issues. Any kids over 7 are allowed to take the bus and use the pool facilities without an adult accompanying them, which seems odd. At my pool, kids under 14 need a parent at least on the premises unless they’re in a camp. (It’s not a city pool.) And the LAT reporter who was turned away with two kids, said each kid have to have an adult; I don’t know the min. ages. Sounds like the Mayor’s office caved to public pressure without having solved all the underlying issues.
What’s with the suit going belly-flop into the pool? Sillier than the fat man falls in pool facefirst, held up by float.
Is this becoming a trend, or something?
The only reason the Mayor solved the Pool issue pronto – is to take away from his continued support of having his LAPD guys push and knock down the media reporters. I think this time it was a spanish station Azecta news reporter. If only she was hot like Salinas, the mayor would have given her a “one on one” exclusive. Maybe even a naked one.
We have a Mayor that had an affair with a Telemundo reporter and handed her special “one on one” breaking news coverage. You know, this is the same special treatment that is being practiced in his political career. I dont think the City of LA knew what type of guy this Viagragosa was really all about.
Whatever happened to just being an all around good guy Mayor role model representing the City of Los Angeles. A guy with a stable family, no political knee pad therapy connections (with people like Gloria Molina), and minimal controversies. Whatever happened to just picking up the morning paper and hearing all about the good things the Mayor is doing or done to improve our daily LA lives? LA is now worst than a good Italian political sex scandal. No wonder Bill Clinton loves our City Mayor……..Can someone say “Welome to The Players Club.”
Poplock, what does your post have anything to do with the issue at hand? Obviously, you don’t like Villaraigosa, but at least discuss the pool issue instead of his affair. That is what this blog is about, isn’t it?
Oh, and I’m glad the Mayor found some compromise even though I am disagreement with the additional carbon emissions. I think giving the local children a place to go and something to do this summer is wonderful and will help keep them out of trouble. Not to mention they’ll actually be able to exercise, which will be so beneficial to their health and well-being.