The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable again hosted a City Attorney Candidates Forum at the Lucie Florence Coffeehouse in Leimert Park. The difference this time, was that Jack Weiss had to attend.
Previously Weiss dodged debates hoping to avoid awkward questions not about his relationship with property developers who funneled illegal campaign contributions to him, but a slew of other issues that led to the recall effort in 2007.
Today, however, Weiss cannot dodge the debates and he has to face a real opponent; Carmen Trutanich. Saturday morning's debate was typical of the previous two debates between Trutanich and Weiss; Weiss refuses to answer questions and instead asks Carmen Trutanich to "tell us your client list."
The South Los Angeles audience, however, see through the Weiss facade when both candidates are asked a really straightforward question "Tell us something about your background?" a question seemingly designed to gauge how candidates relate to issues that effect the regular folks of Los Angeles.
Trutanich answered that he was the son of immigrant parents, he worked at the tuna canning factory in San Pedro where his father worked to pay his way through further education. In other words, he comes from an obviously working class background. Weiss declined to answer the question. Weiss, of course, is the paradigm of privilege. Born into wealth on the fashionable westside of Los Angeles, Weiss not only benefited from wealthy professional parents, but also from his marriage to a trust fund heiress. Weiss certainly cannot afford his $3M Bel Air home on even a City Councilmember's salary, so it was hardly surprising that Weiss chose to dodge the question.
Click here to read the Los Angeles Times report on Saturday's debate, and credit for the photo reproduced here goes to Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times.So far, the Weiss campaign have tried to pack the audience with young, loud supporters. I do not encourage anyone to be disruptive or discourteous, however, I do believe that if there is a strong presence of people who are more interested in hearing candidates answer questions than simply listening to evasive political platitudes, the rowdy element will be kept at bay.
I therefore urge you all to make the effort to attend as many of the debates as possible.
Here are the details of remaining debates scheduled to take place before the May 19, General Election:
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
Doors open at 5:30pm for the 6:30pm debate at the Westside Jewish Community Center at 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles 90036 (about 4 blocks east of Fairfax).
To attend, one must send a request for no more than 2 tickets for to: info@lalcv.org
Be sure to give the names of the two attendees. For more information Click Here.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
6:30 PM Reception for 7:00 PM Debate and Audience Q&A
111 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tickets $20, call 213.628.8141 or
www.townhall-la.org/programs/register/1282.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Neighborhood Councils of the Westside
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Skirball Center - Magnin Auditorium
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
More Info/Tickets: 430tix@gmail.com or call (310) 427-7166
1 comment:
Jack Weiss was really wanted to avoid the question about his elitist background. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and has not got the faintest idea of what us 'ordinary' people have to endure. That's why he made such a crappy councilmember. Jack Weiss is a clown! Vote Trutanich - go to www.tru09.com
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