Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
MRT& McCain: Politics as Usual
As Senator John McCain's Campaign is flooding swing voters with "robocalls"(automated phone calls) smearing Senator Barack Obama's character, the campaign for Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is attempting to do the same thing to the reputation of Councilmember Bernard C. Parks.
Television ads paid for by corrupt former union boss Tyrone Freeman and his cronies are distorting Parks' record as a Police Chief and as a Councilmember.
The Obama Campaign says that McCain's tactics distract voters from the issues that matter. And, the Parks Campaign agrees.
The fact is that our opponent's negative ads don't provide any real answers to the issues we all hold close to our hearts and our pocketbooks: health care and the economy.
So, instead of joining in the mudslinging, here's what you can do: Come to Parks Campaign Headquarters at 3734 Crenshaw Boulevard and sign up to phone bank, walk a precinct or contribute funds.
Click here to Donate:
http://parksforsupervisor.com/GetInvolved/Donate/tabid/74/Default.aspx
Click here to Volunteer:
http://parksforsupervisor.com/GetInvolved/Volunteer/tabid/73/Default.aspx
That is one of the only ways your voice can be heard in the very important election for the Second District Seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
See you there!
Major Papers Back Barack & Bernard Ticket
Over the last week, the campaigns of Presidential hopeful, Senator Barack Obama, and Supervisorial candidate Councilmember Bernard C. Parks have been racking up the endorsements from Los Angeles County's major newspapers.
So far, the L.A. Times, L.A. Daily News, L.A. Daily Breeze, L.A. Sentinel and Long Beach Press-Telegram have all gone on record to support what's being called the "Barack and Bernard" ticket. This strong wave of support is a clear indication that Senator's message of hope and change and Parks' message of courage and leadership is resonating with L.A. County's opinion makers.
In many ways, the endorsements of the two candidates mirror each other. Look below to see what L.A. County's leading newspapers are saying about Senator Barack Obama and Councilmember Bernard C. Parks:
Healthcare
Daily News/Daily Breeze Family of Newspapers on Obama: "He(Obama) has a clear health care plan, similar to what California has been trying to create over the past two years"
Daily News/Daily BreezeFamily of Newspapers on Parks: "Parks favors new approaches for the county health care system and, in particular, returning King-Harbor Medical Center to a full-service hospital.
Budget & the Economy
Daily News/Daily Breeze Family of Newspapers on Obama: "His(Obama's) national economic policies pay homage to what this great state has already pioneered"
L.A. Times on Parks: "Parks has shown a steady hand chairing the City Council's budget committee, and would bring similar care to the much larger county government."
L.A. Times on Obama: "It is Obama's character and temperament that come to the fore. It is his steadiness. His maturity."
The 2008 Presidential and Supervisorial Election
Daily News/Daily Breeze Family of Newspapers on Obama: "...this election has become about hope and despair... when it comes down to the choice between the two top contenders and between hope and despair, there is one clear choice. Barack Obama is the one."
L.A. Times on Parks: "We are counting on Parks to resist the county's tendency toward mediocrity.. as a county supervisor, he(Parks) would be well positioned to correct those failures and make the government of the nation's most -populous county more effective and efficient."
Business & Labor
L.A. Times on Obama: "He(Obama) is a Democrat, leaning further left than right, but he has won the backing of some on Wall Street not because he's one of them but because they recognize his talent for extracting from a broad range of proposals a coherent and workable program."
Daily News/Daily Breeze Family of Newspapers on Parks: "Parks also draws support from businesses and the L.A. Chamber of Commerce. Parks would take a consistent and balanced view when dealing with labor-management issues."
Working with Others
L.A. Times on Obama: "He(Obama) is no lone rider. He is a consensus-builder, a leader."
Daily News/Daily Breeze Family of Newspapers on Parks: "Through his service as an elected leader, he(Parks) has worked in tandem with organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, National League of Cities and Southern California Association of Governments."
Candidate Qualifications
L.A. Times on Obama: "Obama has offered more competence than drama. Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature."
L.A. Times on Parks: "Parks has the ability and experience to make the most of the position. Parks has shown tough-mindedness and independence. The demands of the position will require the next supervisor to demonstrate intellectual, legal and political skills that transcend a right-left or business-labor approach."
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
PARKS AND VOLUNTEERS REGISTER MORE THAN 400 ON DEADLINE DAY IN CRENSHAW AREA
LOS ANGELES (Oct 20) -- On voter registration deadline Oct 20, Councilman Bernard Parks and community volunteers registered more than 400 people from 18 to 97 years old to vote in the Crenshaw area during a final push before the midnight cutoff. Volunteers hit the streets at 5AM and worked to 10PM registering voters.
Also, Parks kicked off the morning at his campaign headquarters, 3734 Crenshaw Boulevard by clarifying myths about voter criteria -- including for former parolees and prisoners. He said, “It’s important to clarify the myths that have sometimes been created to keep people away from the polls,” said Parks. “There are only three circumstances that could legally prohibit people from voting.”
Parks also advised that voters who cannot find their names on the voter roster on election day November 4, 2008 when they show up to their respective polling places, can vote by provisional ballot. Also, he points out that people on probation can vote despite an all-to-common belief that they cannot. “It’s long been assumed that people who’ve been convicted of a crime cannot vote. That’s not necessarily so,” Parks said.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
"Magic" Johnson Lashes Out at Ridley-Thomas’ Negative Campaigning
In a video statement released today on parksforsupervisor.com, Laker Hall-of-Famer and illustrious entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson called out Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas for negative and untruthful campaigning against his opponent, Councilmember Bernard C. Parks.
The former Laker said, "You're going to get a lot of things said about Councilman Parks because the only way people feel that they can beat him is to talk bad about him. But, we as citizens of this great city of Los Angeles know better. We’re going to support Councilman Parks as Supervisor. And, we're not going to listen to Mark or anybody else talk bad about him. We know the type of man and the type of person and the job he has done as Chief Parks, as Councilmember Parks and the job he’s going to do as County Supervisor Parks."
The response comes after the Ridley-Thomas campaign and its supporters produced television ads and mailers containing derogatory comments about Parks' career at LAPD and on the L.A. City Council that were false and misleading.
Furthermore, Johnson's statements are supported by the fact that on February 14, 2002 Ridley-Thomas authored an L.A. Times opinion piece entitled: "Parks Proved His Leadership". In it, Ridley-Thomas goes out of his way to praise Parks' accomplishments as Chief-- even mentioning that Parks deserved another five-year term at the helm of the department. The Ridley-Thomas-authored opinion piece seems to be in direct conflict with the propaganda he and his campaign are spewing out.
Below are some other excerpts from the editorial written by Ridley-Thomas:
* "Parks has confronted the issues of objectionable police tactics and street crime head-on..."
* "... his (Parks') work ethic is unmatched and his competence unparalleled."
* "Without a doubt, Parks is a proven leader..."
* "Parks has continued to push forward to create a new and improved LAPD."
* "Parks has taken the difficult stance of remaining true to providing leadership for change."
Ridley-Thomas felt so strongly about Parks' leadership that he included the opinion piece in a campaign mailer he used to run for the State Assembly in 2002. In the mailer, he accuses the union that represents LAPD officers, the Police Protective League(PPL), of: "engaging in a vicious attack campaign to fire our Chief Bernard Parks". Ironically, in the Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor t.v. ads and mailers, he trumpets the PPL's endorsement of his campaign, while making the same attacks against Parks that the union did in 2002.
"It’s really something when Mark Ridley-Thomas in the beginning always had said that Councilman Parks was a wonderful Chief, as we all have said. Now he’s saying that he di dn’t do a good job. That doesn’t make sense to me. That tells you about the man who’s now trying to run against Councilman Parks. Can he(Ridley-Thomas) get the job done? No. He’s(Ridley-Thomas) shown that he can’t get the job done," Johnson said in the video statement, which is one of the rotating videos on the home page of parksforsupervisor.com, under the "Leadership" section.
This is just the latest flip-flop for the so-called Democrat Ridley-Thomas, who has tried to paint fellow Democrat Parks as a Republican but, meanwhile, has spent thousands of dollars purchasing space on Republican campaign slates, with the money going into the campaign of Republican Presidential hopeful, Senator John McCain. On the other hand, Parks has run an inclusive campaign, like Senator Barack Obama, welcoming Democrats, Republicans and members of other parties.
Johnson is just one of a long and growing list of Parks endorsers that includes retiring Second District Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, The L.A. Times, The L.A. Sentinel, The L.A. Daily News and the L.A. Daily Breeze.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Parks Cleans Up Ridley-Thomas' Marlton Square Mess!
The money became available when Hammond defaulted on his agreement with the city. And, after the City Council approved Parks' action Friday, he can move forward with the project, which will be in much better condition to draw a new developer.
"Today we are done with the missteps of the past regarding the commercial parcels," Councilmember Parks said. "We are looking forward reviving this project and making it a state-of-the-art shopping center."
Originally, Johnson Development-- A development company owned by Los Angeles Lakers basketball great Earvin "Magic" Johnson-- was slated to develop the land, located at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Marlton Avenue. But, after Ridley-Thomas, Parks' predecessor on the City Council, had a falling out with Johnson, Ridley-Thomas pushed Johnson out and awarded the deal to Hammond at a
$10 million increase to the city. Johnson's three-year involvement and investment in the project was all for not. Since then, the project has languished-- becoming an eyesore for the community.
Johnson officially endorsed Parks at the dilapitated Marlton Square site saying, "Unfortunately, Parks' predecessor, Mark Ridley-Thomas gave this project to a developer who couldn't deliever. Hopefully, with Parks' leadership a brighter future for the project lies ahead."
Though the city has acknowledged that Hammond has been removed from the commercial portion of the project, he still has some standing with the residential development portion. Hammond is currently involved in litigation surrounding fraud and conflict-of-interest allegations.
MRT Has Lots to Say About MTA But, What About Tyrone?
But, the Senator’s plot backfired when it was revealed by Parks’ City Hall Office that the Councilmember was never close to violating the law. In a letter dated July 1, 2008 from the California Fair Political Practices Commission(FPPC) to a person connected to Ridley-Thomas’ campaign, General Counsel Scott Hallabrin wrote, “The information you provided is insufficient to establish a violation of the Act(Political Reform Act). Campaign contributions are not an economic interest under Section 87103(c) and would not pose a conflict of interest for an elected official.”
The fact that Ridley-Thomas knew that the complaint was considered flimsy by the FPPC and still decided to echo th is accusation is puzzling to say the least.
“It appears that Senator Ridley-Thomas is adding libel along to the other offenses that he and his buddy, Tyrone Freeman are reportedly piling up,” said Bernard C. Parks, Jr. who serves as Parks’ Chief of Staff. But, it seems that a libel charge is the last thing the Senator should be worrying about.
There are criminal investigations surrounding Ridley-Thomas confidant Freeman, whose spending practices are being probed by the United States Congress and Labor Department. Recently, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Compton City Attorney is currently investigating a property sale in that city to a housing corporation founded by Freeman.
Freeman and Ridley-Thomas have a long-term friendship and have especially been tied at the hip since the Senator launched his campaign in October of last year. It’s alleged that in the same month, Freeman started making millions of dollars of unauthorized deductions from the wages of the members of the Personal Assistance Services Council(PASC). PASC represents homecare workers, who just like the other union members who’ve reportedly fallen victim to Freeman, are among the poorest of the poor.
Just weeks ago, Ridley-Thomas attended an event that paid tribute to Freeman-- even as he faces possible time behind bars.
As Ridley-Thomas has tried to change the subject, he has not proposed any significant improvements that would enhance the quality of life for the residents of the=2 0Second District, and he was the ïnvisible man" during the state budget discussions which eventually led to his colleagues cutting $129 million in county services. Meanwhile, Councilmember Parks has been outspoken on his efforts regarding the creation of a County Surgeon General, the investigation of the ‘Grim Sleeper’ serial killer and our city and county’s graffiti abatement programs.
It also appears unlikely that the Senator will comment on the issues surrounding Freeman because he is apart of the union effort that has now dumped more than $7 million of its members’ dues into the Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor Campaign.
Parks aims for L.A. County Supervisor in the Second supervisoral Seat By Johnny M. Pecayo
LOS ANGELES , CA -- Bernard C. Parks who is serving his second term as
Los Angeles City Councilmember for the Eighth Council District, is
seeking an elective post for the Second Supervisorial Seat on November 4th.
David Ryu, a deputy at the Supervisor's Office, Second District,
facilitated the meeting in collaboration with host committee members
comprising of David Yim, Richard Kim, Eugene Hwang, Ji Lee, Peter Jung
Ekwan Rhow.
Among the Asian American leaders who attended to give Parks full
support, were: Billa Imada, charlie Woo, Dr. Mike Hong, Ralph Ahn, Joel
Jacinto, Susan Dilkes, charles Kin, Craig Ishii, Mariko Kahn, Dennis
Arguelles, Tiger Kang, Vaka Faletu, Larry Lue, Dean Matsubayashi, Erina
Kwon, Adrienne Cedro-Hament, Mike Hernandez, James Kim, and Johnny
Pecayo, chairman of the Filipino American Leadership Council (FALCON)
Public Relations, a nationwide organization with over 50 different
organizations as members.
In an email blast released by Yey Coronel-Alcid, she wrote: "This
event is more than just a fundraising event for Councilmember Parks in
his bid for the Second Supervisoral District. It is an important
opportunity to gather the different sectors of the API community to
stand together and be heard as one huge voice and be seen as one body --
a political force to be reckoned with. Let us all be part of the
momentum to prove that we can stand on a united front."
Councilmember Parks area of responsibility covers one of the most
densely populated areas in South Los Angeles, representing over 250,000
people.
When interviewed by the MANILA-U.S. TIMES, Councilmember Parks said
that with a bigger budget in the Supervisoral post, "I will be able to
serve my constituents better."
During his first year in office he was appointed Chair of the Budget
and Finance Committee and to the Coliseum Commission where he has led
the charge to return a National Football League team to the Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum.
Currently, Councilmember Parks sits on the Public Safety Committee,
where he is committed to improving community safety for the constituents
in South Los Angeles. It is Parks’ belief that public safety involves
preventing, reducing or containing the social and environmental factors
that negatively impact people's right to live without fear of crime.
In addition, Parks sits on the Claims Board, Ad - Hoc Stadium
Committee, Transportation Committee, Board of Referred Powers and the
Transportation Committee where he serves as Vice Chair.
Following the 2005 Mayoral election, he was appointed to the
Metropolitan Transportation Board of Commissioners by Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa.
As Councilmember, Parks has implemented many programs to enrich the
South Los Angeles area including the Prevention Intervention and
Education (PIE) program at Crenshaw High School. The PIE program works
to bridge the gap between black and brown students through various
school assemblies and noteworthy speakers. Parks has also created an
annual Youth Jobs and Career Fair where at least 20 youths were
interviewed for jobs during its first year.
On the Council floor, Parks has been extremely successful in delivering
legislation that benefits his constituents in the 8th district,
including the temporary closure of the cul-de-sac at 84th Place and
Flower Street. The cul-de-sac was a breeding ground for illegal
activity and was located in a residential area specifically impacting
families with small children. In addition, Councilmember Parks
spearheaded the effort that ensured that a portion of the gasoline sales
tax revenues owed to the city were explicitly used to improve the
quality of life for motorists by directing $800,000 to pave five miles
of dirt alleys and $200,000 to construct 90 to 100 additional approved,
but unfunded speed humps. Parks also created a city-wide ordinance that
imposed regulations on the issuance of permits that included the
following businesses: automobile sales, auto repair shops, junk yards,
and recycling materials and processing facilities.
Following Southern Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2006, Parks led the
effort in helping evacuees find long-term housing. As the FEMA voucher
deadline drew near, Parks worked with the City's Housing Department and
local landlords to construct a Rent Stabilization Ordinance. This
Ordinance allowed L.A. landlords to temporarily charge reduced rent or
offer other rent concessions to eligible persons displaced by the
hurricanes.
Before being elected to the Los Angeles City Council, Parks spent 38
years as a police officer. Beginning his career with the police
department at a time when patrol cars were just recently integrated, he
rose through the ranks of one of the nation’s largest municipal law
enforcement agencies to become Chief of Police in 1997.
As Police Chief, Parks implemented some of the most rigorous police
reforms ever proposed in the history of the police department, including
the institution of an Officer Accountability Policy. Parks also made it
easier for the community to file complaints against problem officers by
streamlining the Citizen Complaint System. Under Chief Parks the City of
Los Angeles saw homicides fall by 45 percent, rape assault drop by
nearly 20 percent and robbery decline by over 45 percent.
In his more than 40 years as a public servant, Parks has remained
closely tied to his community. Aside from patrolling L.A.’s street as
a young officer, Parks dedicated many volunteer years to youth
activities in the district. He coached Baldwin Hills Youth Football for
10 years and mentored the likes of National Football League
Hall-of-Famer Warren Moon and many other kids who grew to become
successful community and business leaders. During his Hall-of-Fame
induction speech, Moon described Parks as “a guy who instilled values
in me at a very young age, showed me discipline and taught me hard work
and dedication”. Parks and his wife, Bobbie, are involved in numerous
community groups, such as: the Challengers Boys & Girls Club, the Los
Angeles Urban League and the Brotherhood Crusade. He is also a life-time
member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). Recognized as a longtime voice for minority communities, in
2006 Parks’ footprints were added to the International Civil Rights
Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.
Bernard C. Parks received his Bachelor of Science degree from
Pepperdine University and his Master’s in Public Administration from
the University of Southern California (USC). He and Bobbie have been
married for 40 years and are the proud parents of four children:
Felicia, Michelle, Trudy and Bernard, Jr. The 8th Council District
includes the communities of Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park , West
Adams, Jefferson Park , Chesterfield Square and other areas of South Los
Angeles.
His candidacy is gaining more and more support from political and
business leaders, among them is Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who officially
endorses him and vouches for his leadership and integrity as "the man
who is the right time, at the right place, and the right candidate for
the Second Supervisoral Seat."
Mark Ridley-"Republican?"
The slates, which the Ridley-Thomas campaign purchased for thousands of dollarts, promote anti-rent control measures and “Continuing the Republican Revolution” with messages from late former President Ronald Reagan, presidential candidate Senator John McCain and former California Governor Pete Wilson– all Republicans.
During a debate that aired on KPFK(90.7 FM) radio station Sunday, October 5th at 1 P.M., Senator Ridley-Thomas at first denied his affiliation with the “Republican Revolution” until Parks provided the documents that left no doubt. Once cornered, Ridley-Thomas showed off his super hero-like ability to ignore the issue.
When asked by the Times about his candidate’s role in the “Republican Revolution”, Ridley-Thomas Campaign mouthpiece Fred MacFarlane clumsily stated, "Well, I think, you know, we can appeal to Republican voters as the best choice for all the people in the 2nd District, notwithstanding any revolution."
Well said, Fred.
While Councilmember Parks embraces his support from members of both parties, it is ironic that the Ridley-Thomas campaign is sending out mixed messages about its candidate all while directly funding the presidential campaign of John McCain, the rival of the man Ridley-Thomas claims to support: Senator Barack Obama.
“This is just the latest about face pulled by the Ridley-Thomas campaign,”said Parks campaign spokesperson Jeannae Rouzan. “Ridley-Thomas has switched sides on everything from his support of Parks’ LAPD career to his support of Senator Gloria Romero’s bill on police disclosure to his new found love for the Los Angeles Police Protective League.”
In 2002, Ridley-Thomas penned an L.A. Times opinion piece entitled: "Parks Proved His Leadership". In it, Ridley-Thomas goes out of his way to praise Parks' accomplishments as Chief-- even mentioning that Parks deserved another five-year term at the helm of the department. The Ridley-Thomas-authored editorial seems to be in direct conflict with his sudden criticisms of Parks’ LAPD career.
Below are some other excerpts from the opinion piec e written by Ridley-Thomas:
* "Parks has confronted the issues of objectionable police tactics and street crime head-on..."
* "... his (Parks') work ethic is unmatched and his competence unparalleled."
* "Without a doubt, Parks is a proven leader..."
* "Parks has continued to push forward to create a new and improved LAPD."
* "Parks has taken the difficult stance of remaining true to providing leadership for change."
In fact, Ridley-Thomas felt so strongly about Parks' leadership that he included the opinion piece in a campaign mailer he used to run for the State Assembly. In the mailer, he accuses the union that represents LAPD officers, the Police Protective League(PPL), of: “historically resenting reform" and “engaging in a vicious attack campaign to fire our Chief Bernard Parks". Ironically, in Ridley-Thomas' mailers for his race for Supervisor, he trumpets the PPL's endorsement of his campaign, while making the same attacks against Parks that the union did in 2002.
More recently, Ridley-Thomas signed on to a bill authored by Senator Romero that, if approved, would increase media access to disciplinary hearings and records involving LAPD officers. However, after receiving the endorsement from the PPL and the Association for L.A. Deputy Sheriffs(ALADS), his name mysteriously vanished from the legislation.
“It’s no coincidence,” Rouzan said. “Mark merely changed his vote in exchange for the endorsements. That’s how backroom deals work. And, if you’ve been reading the paper lately he and his labor boss buddies at SEIU are masters of the backroom deal.”
CORRUPTION "ALIVE AND WELL" IN LOCAL UNION
Here are some articles that outline the corruption in the local union that has caused Tyronne Freeman to resign. The articles connect the dots leading to my opponet; Mark Ridley Thomas.
SEIU removes all officers of local chapter amid financial inquiry
SEIU spending scandal spreads to Michigan
Unions set to buy Supervisor seat this November
