The Los Angeles Times discussed new campaign ads that criticize each candidate's failure to protect the city. However, Villarigosa has some ads that are positive rather than negative, while Hahn released an ad in which a mother of a dead toddler criticized Villarigosa for not voting on a bill that would keep child abusers in jail longer.
posted by GroupC @ 10:43 AM
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The Los Angeles Times said Villarigosa and other city council members are calling for a probe into the business dealings of Hahn's Harbor Commissioner President Nicholas Tonsich's law firm. They said theat the fact that Tonsich's firm has recieved $1.25 million in no-bid contracts from the Alameda Corridor and Transpotrtation Authority. They said it's another example of corruption that needs to be changed.
posted by GroupC @ 10:57 AM
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The Los Angeles Times did a poll and discovered that, although he is still trailing Villrigosa, Hahn is gaining favor among voters. He has improved his standing with the black community but still hasn't gained enough favor to beat Villarigosa in the polls. Only 24 percent of voters think the city should remain on the same path because Hahns policies have made it better, while 67 percent want to see a change of pace.
They also discussed...again...the ad Villarigosa put out against Hahn criticizing his integrity. Articles about this ad are really starting to get old.
The Los Angeles Daily News said the voting procedures fot the runoff election will change slightly. The candidates and the secretary of state will be allowed to monitor the ballot counting procedure due to criticizm over how the March 8 ballot couting was handled.
They also reported that the candidates are now arguing over potholes and education. Villarigosa says he wants to deal more aggeresively with "quality of life issues" and having peole fill potholes quickly and effectively will help the city while Hahn defended his position on hte pothole hotline and its efficiency.
posted by GroupC @ 12:17 PM
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The Los Angeles Times criticized the candidates for doing little the past week to educate voters. They said the recent campaigning and accusation flinging doesn't help voters understand where they stand on the issues or what they actually plan to do.
This is starting to look like a presidential election: a lot of accusations and little action.
posted by GroupC @ 12:30 PM
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The Los Angeles Times put out a cute set of articles about the histories of each candidate during their high school years and their youth titles Early Childhoods, Different Paths, Same Goal. It also did a feature on how the mayors for the past mayors have had personal failings for the past 40 years. It was like a review of the mayors of the past, where they were from and what they did for the city (or didn't do).
Both candidates are agressively campaigning during the last week before voting.
posted by GroupC @ 12:24 PM
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Los Angeles Times: The L.A. City Council voted on a new presctpition drug discount program proposed by Villarigosa. They say this is a major political accomplishment for him that could have a positive effect on his campaign. The program is based on an East Coast plan that offers discounts to area residents.
There was also an analysis on how true to their word the candidates have been. They point out that although Villarigosa says education is a key issue he wants to address he "has skipped 46% of the meetings of the council's Education and Neighborhoods Committee since he was appointed to the panel in 2003" and while Hahn says he wants to fix traffic problems "he has missed 36% of the meetings of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Executive Management and Audit Committee since Jan. 1, 2003." They basically say that if they can't even show up for meetings, people question how effective and active they'll be in doing the job.
The LA Daily News talked again about the campaign contribution stuff but also said Hahn wanted to put the likeness of a crime victim on a mural near Los Angeles Valley College, and Villaraigosa wnt to Good Samaritan Hospital to talk about his prescription program.
posted by GroupC @ 12:36 PM
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The Los Angeles Times talked about Hahn's new ad against Villarigosa, which cites the probe into the campaign contributions from Florida. He accuses Villarigosa of doing special favors for Florida contributors.
Another article discusses the contributions by a private family of $103,000 to Villarigosa's campaign. Richard Murelo used to support Hahn, but his recent change of heart has come under fire and people are questioning Murelo's business dealings. Villarigosa says he wants to focus on education but Murelo recently bought land where the LA Unified School District wanted to build a high school. Villarigosa said he knew nothing about the purchase. Hahn suggested foul play, that Murelo may have alterior motives in donating to Villarigosa's campaign.
The hiring of POLA gardeners is another issue that people are trying to connect to Hahn. The high cost of hiring people to pull weeds is a concern and many thing that there is a conneciton between Hahns ties to the Service Employees International Union, who the workers would be protected by, who are also large supporters of Hahn. Hahn's campaign says there is no tie., he is not alowing the hiring of workers in order to get more money.
The LA Daily News also discussed the recent Hahn ad.
posted by GroupC @ 11:38 AM
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