It seems like only yesterday, not three weeks ago, that City Council President and wannabe mayor Eric Garcetti welcomed the protesters of Occupy L.A. to camp out on the City Hall grounds and “stay as long as you need to…”
It seems like only yesterday, not barely two
weeks ago, that Garcetti and his colleagues unanimously “resolved, with
the concurrence of the Mayor, that
by the adoption of this resolution, the
City of Los Angeles hereby stands in SUPPORT for the continuation of the
peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by
‘Occupy Los Angeles’ on the City Hall lawn … “
weeks ago, that Garcetti and his colleagues unanimously “resolved, with
the concurrence of the Mayor, that
by the adoption of this resolution, the
City of Los Angeles hereby stands in SUPPORT for the continuation of the
peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by
‘Occupy Los Angeles’ on the City Hall lawn … “
It seems like only yesterday, which it was,
that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the concurrence of the City Council, told
the protesters to get the hell off his lawn.The encampment,, the mayor said, “cannot
continue indefinitely … look, our lawn is dead, our sprinklers aren’t working . . . our trees are without water.”
that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the concurrence of the City Council, told
the protesters to get the hell off his lawn.The encampment,, the mayor said, “cannot
continue indefinitely … look, our lawn is dead, our sprinklers aren’t working . . . our trees are without water.”
You can appreciate Villaraigosa’s concern about killing the trees on the City Hall grounds what with his failure to come close to fulfilling his commitment to plant a million trees in L.A.
You can also understand — given his record of spending the city into near bankruptcy — that he has no concern about the half million to $1 million cost associated with the encampment on three sides of City Hall.
Certainly, as taxpaying residents of L.A., you can delight in the protesters being treated the same way you have been by City Hall, like little kids who are patted on the head and told to go away and mind your own business — as if the city’s business was solely the prerogative of developers, corporate fat cats and union bosses.
You might also take a lesson from how the Occupiers responded.
Instead of walking away grateful for a few crumbs from the table of power, they issued this statement saying they have not intention of leaving:
“We sincerely hope that a positive working relationship between city officials and the LAPD continues.
“As for a time
stamp on our departure, there is none. Regarding the perceived lack of focus: Our actions are governed by a
democratic process and we go through process to gain consensus. This can sometimes be lengthy, but we are determined that, as representatives of the 99%, all voices are heard and considered.”
stamp on our departure, there is none. Regarding the perceived lack of focus: Our actions are governed by a
democratic process and we go through process to gain consensus. This can sometimes be lengthy, but we are determined that, as representatives of the 99%, all voices are heard and considered.”
