Weiss Campaign Has Lost The Media

Saturday, May 15, 2009

As the days to the election dwindle down in the single digits, the press has been ablaze with reports of Jack Weiss-related misconduct, deception and negativity.

Today's LA Times carries two interesting articles:

David Zahniser digs deeper into Jack Weiss's illegal fundraiser in "Former L.A. pension board member may have broken ethics law."

Maeve Reston debunks some of the lies in Jack Weiss's ads in "Analyzing the facts in city attorney's race ads."

Earlier in the week, Sherri Okamoto's article in the Metropolitan News Enterprise "Zine Joins Attorneys’ Call for Investigation of Weiss’ Campaign Fundraising" discussed calls for an investigation into Jack Weiss's illegal fundraising.

The LA Weekly's article; "Bill Bratton's Endorsement Spectacle" is sharply critical of Chief Bratton's 'no-brainer' endorsement' of Jack Weiss and the unsavory nature of the Weiss-Villaraigosa machine.

Perhaps "Article of the Week" award should go to Roger Grace at the Metropolitan News Enterprise for: "Jack Weiss’s Campaign Approach Is Affront to the Legal Profession."


If "Article of the Week" goes to the Metropolitan News Enterprise, the Emmy goes to FOX 11 News reporter John Schwada.

Amid John Schwada's reportage of shenanigans with various Los Angeles pensions board appointees and advisors, Jack Weiss's got an unexpected visit from Schwada.


Weiss looked completely like a deer in the headlights when confronted by poor choices with his fundraising activities. The significant part of the story is Weiss's initial flat out lie when he tries to pretend that this was the first time he was made aware of the matter. Please CLICK HERE to see Jack Weiss trying to fool us on broadcast television.

I have just learned that the Sunday LA Times will carry an Editorial that will be sharply critical of Jack Weiss and may go as far as to call him "unfit" for the position of City Attorney.

What does all this mean?

There are voters who only know Jack Weiss because his name has been around Los Angeles politics for 8 years. This week's media attention will make them realize that they recognize the name "Weiss" for the same reason that they recognize the name "Blagojevich."

Averill 'Ace' Smith, Jack Weiss's strategist and architect of the dirtiest of campaigns, might now be ruing what he believed was Jack Weiss's strongest asset; "name recognition." The problem for Smith and Jack Weiss is that name recognition is a double edged sword.

The Weiss name has only been recognizable in this critical week because of his alleged involvement in illegal fundraising. That, in turn, has revealed his appalling record of arrogance, disregard for residents, affinity with special interests, and absences from City Hall.

The importance of getting out to vote and getting others to do the same has never been more important in our city's history. If you want to save Los Angeles from the clutches of someone who is in my opinion a morally corrupt politician, then share this week's news with as many of your friends, family and co-workers as possible.

They don't have to take my word for it, they don't have to take your word for it, just tell them to use the linked media reports above and form their own opinions.

Those who have truly known Jack Weiss because of his disservice to the community that elected him, as opposed to his service to the 'community' that pays him, will only breathe a sigh of relief when the last vote is counted and Weiss's political career is over.

Weiss Fundraiser Violates Ethics Laws - What a surprise

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A shocking revelation in the LA Times shows that on Monday, while the Trutanich campaign held a fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, the Beverly Hills elite were toasting Jack Weiss at an illegal fundraiser.

The illegal fundraiser was co-hosted by one of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's pension board appointees; Kelly Candaele, pictured below.


City Ethics Commission laws prohibit city employees from political activity of this sort. Mr. Candaele resigned as soon as the cat got out of the bag, but apparently the Ethics Commission will investigate and take whatever action is appropriate.

Weiss, a self-proclaimed legal expert on everything, will doubtless claim "no knowledge" of either Mr. Candele or that he was a City employee - Weiss's denials are very predicable. Weiss, of course, is no stranger to Ethics Violations, many of which were the subject of a KNBC investigative report "Laundered Elections."

The $20,000 or so raised at the illegal fundraiser will be returned according to Weiss's campaign spokeshole Ace Smith, who issued a written statement "Jack Weiss believes that his campaign must be held to the highest standards." The statement was written, one assumes, because Smith could not keep a straight face during a face to face interview.

Weiss has many wealthy friends and supporters. He is a member of the "westside elite," born into luxury and living in a $3M Bel Air mansion with his trust fund heiress wife and two (presumably) privately educated children. Weiss lives far above most Los Angelenos, literally and metaphorically. Small wonder then, that Weiss has not a clue about the concerns of the vast majority of Los Angelenos, and it's no surprise that he's not above dirty back-room dealings to "get things done."

Los Angeles voters simply cannot afford to allow the perpetrator of such a disgracefully flagrant violation of campaign finance laws to serve as the chief law enforcement officer of Los Angeles.

This time Weiss was been caught before the election and in time to prevent illegal campaign contributions from bloating his hate-filled negative campaign. Previously, Weiss's wrongdoing took years to come to light, by which time the damage was irreparable.

Los Angelenos truly owe a vote of thanks to Carmen Trutanich for focusing attention of Jack Weiss's prior misconduct, and a second and third vote of thanks to LA Times reporters David Zahniser and Phil Willon for breaking this story.

Kelly Candaele's website can be viewed by clicking HERE. Mr. Candaele describes himself as Kelly Candaele "a writer, filmmaker, teacher and elected official in Los Angeles." No doubt the reference to the "elected official" will be removed in due course.

But M. Candaele was not the only person hosting the illegal fundraiser with close ties to City Hall. The LA Times also reported that "Two other hosts of Weiss' fundraiser hold positions with Wetherly Capital, a company that has promoted investing opportunities to two city pension boards, including the one on which Candaele served. Wetherly, known in industry circles as a "placement agent," has become a subject of interest in recent weeks for investigators looking into allegations of kickbacks at the New York state pension fund."

Weiss has long been suspected of overly close relationships with billboard operators, contractors and developers who benefit from their "friendly" relationship with the embattled wealthy westside elitist councilmember for Council District 5.

Weiss will attend another fundraiser April 30, hosted by developer Rick Caruso who currently has a high-density development before the City Planning Committee. Weiss has not recused himself from voting on that development, and can apparently see no conflict of interest.

The Weiss campaign has been becoming increasingly desperate as the election nears and Weiss faces the prospect of a forced departure from politics, perhaps to "spend more time with his family?"

Ethics like those of Jack Weiss are truly the substance of used toilet water. Please vote for an end to this affront to decency and honesty.

Click HERE to read the full report in LA TImes.

The Los Angeles Times

Well, news of my candidacy reached the Los Angeles Times today ...


In a 20 minute interview I tried my best to explain my position on;

The threat that the growth of gangs in Los Angeles means in terms of what Los Angelenos should expect in fighting crime from their next City Attorney, and

How alternatives to jail for low risk convicts could be used to make sure gang members serve their full sentences, and

How it should not be necessary for the City Attorney's Office to have spent $35M on hiring private attorney's to handle "special cases" when the 500 plus deputy city attorneys who work for the Office should be able to do the job, and

How training and cross assignments with other agencies will improve morale and performance in the Office, and

How Jack Weiss' ridiculous plan to cut police services on the Westside is a formula for disaster,

Click here for what they reported.

In all fairness, Maeve Reston, the LA Times reporter who interviewed me was thorough and meticulous. I suspect the problem lies with an editor...