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charles 07/20/2010 6:24:00 AM
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE MAYOR VILLAR:"WHORE"
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joseph 07/09/2010 1:14:00 AM
Our mayor seems to think that theres nothing wrong with taking frre gifts or cheating on his wife,or protecting the rights of illegal law breakers,or lying or on and on ...Hes garbage folks plain and simple and the sooner you realize the sooner you wont be surprized by his actions
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John H 06/30/2010 9:33:00 AM
Tony Freebie la Raza has been doing this his whole life. He bloats his achievements (look for him in the California State Bar - he isn't listed, but claims to be a lawyer), brushes off his deceit (cheating on his family, using LAPD to cover for girlfriends, getting code three escorts to ball games,etc.) claims to represent the citizens of the City, but actually works for the citizens of Mexico. Since that country is rife with corruption and drug lords, one has to wonder if maybe Don Tony is "wetting his beak" a little himself. I sincerely hope he gets run out of office and we get true leadership in Los Angeles. We deserve better than this.
Oh, and his Mayor job is probably his lowest paying gig. Mayor "we clean your toilets!" Villa also gets about a quarter a million a year from that seat with MTA. This takes up at least 6 days of his valuable time each year to attend to. Look it up. He's a first class scoundrel.
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N Antonicello 06/29/2010 6:49:00 AM
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has become an entitled freeloader that compromises his character by seemingly attending as many sporting events as possible free-of-charge.
If the City of Los Angeles believes the mayor has a legitimate function at sporting events, than maybe the city should invest in a luxury box that could easily be donated to the city through private dollars.
Instead, Villaraigosa looks cheap at best and easily compromised at worst by these indiscretions. For a man who earns over $200,000 a year plus expenses can certainly afford to pay for his own tickets given the Mayor's extensive wardrobe which is far beyond his pay grade.
Had this been James Hahn, there would be calls for his resignation. Thankfully terms limits will end the Mayor's embarassing tenure in 2012.
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Sally 06/29/2010 1:32:00 AM
He is our mayor after all and I believe should go to all events or prominence around the city. I think all this nonsense about investigating this issue is a waste of time and money which should be used someplace more worthy, like schools, etc. etc.
GET OVER IT!!!!
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Keith 06/27/2010 12:39:00 PM
OK. He's a crook. But your attempt to compare his 5-year crime spree on some pro-rata basis with the California legislature over 18 months muddies the water. Are we to assume that the two houses as a hole report their gifts accurately? If not, what's the point of the comparison?
Otherwise, forge on. The game is afoot!
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Douglas 06/27/2010 8:34:00 AM
If the Mayor only spends 11% of his time on City issues, then he deserves an 89% pay cut. Instead of LA's biggest cheerleader, sounds like he's LA's biggest moocher. The man is a maggot. Is there any wonder downtown smells like urine?
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illegal mayor 06/27/2010 2:28:00 AM
i wish this was a federal crime, cause i los angles, he could get away with it with all the illegal immigrant city council support he has.
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Jill Stewart 06/26/2010 10:41:00 PM
This is News Editor Jill Stewart responding to Gift Horse:
Thanks for your valuable information. We have been learning much the same thing from tax experts.
Your comment is interesting that "However, if these gifts were quid pro quo's, then possibly a section 61 income issue could be set up. But that would require assistance in verifying the gifts were barters or worse. I think it would be more interesting to see how the mayor and Ameriquest accounted for the free corporate jet ride to the Rosa Parks funeral" ...
It is likely that the media will now revisit many of his more flamboyant corporate gifts and puzzling five-star travel such as the vast Copenhagen expedition whose details were reported by KTLA this week.
Thanks for weighing in!!
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Gift Horse 06/26/2010 10:20:00 AM
What is the IRS going to do,
First off they cannot disclose any tax enforcement activity unless it becomes a matter of public record. To make any public statement directly commenting on actions taken against the Mayor would be a Sec 1203 violation and the agent or official would be fired and or criminally prosecuted. Jill it isn't going to happen.
The question on income is whether the items are truly gifts? Or was there a barter exchange, quid pro quo. However much of the problems would attach to the giver of the gifts and any attempt to deduct the full market value of the items. If there was no quiet business meeting prior to or after the sporting event, then any ticket would be a gift, and only deductible to a max of $25. Otherwise with a meeting the tickets are T&E and would be deductible at 50% if they pass the ordinary and necessary test of section 162a.
If entertainment much is dependent upon the recording of the aspects of section 274d substantiation and their documentation in timely records.
Just like the mayor recently "found" the records for city hall, the income tax verification could also be "found" suddenly. But generally a gift is a gift and the tax issues accrue to the giver not the receiver.
However, if these gifts were quid pro quo's, then possibly a section 61 income issue could be set up. But that would require assistance in verifying the gifts were barters or worse.
I think it would be more interesting to see how the mayor and Ameriquest accounted for the free corporate jet ride to the Rosa Parks funeral. On channel 9's Ask the Mayor segment, the Mayor at the time came up with a novel, but not allowable treatment for the plane ride, that was necessitated by his rendezvous with his Anchor babe girlfriend when he was cheating on his wife. Most likely Ameriquest should not have deducted the cost of the flight and crew wages given that the mayor was not declaring the proper amount of income via Ameriquest 1099.
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Sinecure 06/26/2010 12:38:00 AM
Chuckus Ruckus wrote "Please keep us posted on what the IRS says!".
Good point. Tony must have forgotten that these tickets are treated as income in the eyes of the IRS and he will be liable for taxes and penalties. Doesn't this guy have anyone in his inner circle that is willing to tell him to think twice about his actions. Or does he think he's so omnipotent that he doesn't have to answer to anyone?
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Iben 06/25/2010 11:43:00 PM
Racist Scum ... Don;t let the door hit you on the way out "Toni"
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Tina Rocha 06/25/2010 8:06:00 PM
Goodbye Mr. Villaraigosa. You knew the rules and you chose to defy them. Why would that be? Entitlement perhaps? But of course. See ya in the private sector Tony....because I'm quite sure you're out....
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ronnie b 06/25/2010 12:39:00 PM
this guy sucks! i cant stand his cheesy smile! he cant talk without saying "uh, uh, uh". the lakers win, there he is. why does he have to be there? he didnt work hard for that. he needs to go. can someone set up a march in LA in support of the arizona law? we need to show him and this country that california and LA are sick of illegal immigrants!! please somebody set up a march for this. how do we do it?
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Ryan 06/25/2010 10:47:00 AM
It's time to oust this clown. Are we seriously stuck with him until 2013?
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Anonymous2 06/25/2010 10:34:00 AM
Villaraigosa's Five-Year Failure
Villaraigosa's foundation benefits from LAUSD failure, but his LAUSD takeover attempt was a failure, unconstitutional; his charter schools have not performed well.
Villaraigosa refused money for Michael Jackson's memorial - with the city going bankrupt.
Villaraigosa refused money for the Hollywood Sign Property.
L.A. City Council and Villaraigosa rejected Super graphic signs in Hollywood -- but accepted them from City Center - across from Staples Center. No explanation provided, but a federal suit has prevented the city from removing many of the signs.
Villaraigosa establishes romantic relationships with journalists who are covering the mayor's office; an unethical conflict, ruins a career, and his marriage.
Villaraigosa asked citizens to pay 30% rate increase to DWP; based on cooked numbers. What did Villaraigosa get for this?
Villaraigosa asked the City Council to accept DWP shakedown, without the numbers to back them up
Villaraigosa accepted gifts from companies doing business with MTA - a conflict
Villaraigosa voted against Playa Vista, but it opened with many environmental problems, and increasing deaths and injuries linked to methane and other toxic gases
Villaraigosa says nothign when Staples Center opens with scores of fire hazzards; no objection from the Mayor.
Villaraigosa lead the L.A. City council to boycott Arizona without talking to its Governor, or even considering the illegal immigrant crime invasion in Arizona. Polls indicate 98% of LA's voters disagree with the boycott, making Villaraigosa's efforts unrepresentative, and potentially a threat to the city economy.
Villaraigosa's Economy -- I was unable to identify anybody on the mayor's staff working on job creation, business development or corporate relations. Apparently, a deputy mayor for job creation was put in recently.
Doesn't the city charter have some provisions about conflicts of interests, dereliction, malfeasance of duty? Shouldn't the major newspapers at least start polling voters on the question - Should the mayor resign?
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Anonymous 06/25/2010 10:02:00 AM
I am happy that at least the LA Weekly has an editorial policy that is pro-citizen. Now, it is time for citizens to be pro-democracy, anti-corruption and responsible voters. I don't care if he comes up with records and pathetic excuses for taking gifts. We must now do what the situation calls for.
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Cellus 06/25/2010 9:15:00 AM
In this day and age of the new media and so many ways of tripping up, how could any politician not know that this kind of behavior is just not serving the people who put him or her in office.What arrogance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Kieran Bergin 06/25/2010 8:01:00 AM
Excellent piece of investigative reporting. Up to the standards I've come to expect from Jill Stewart. Keep 'em coming!
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Woody McBreairty 06/25/2010 7:14:00 AM
I know this article is meant to shock but it doesn't. Villaraigosa is an obvious media freak, he should have his own reality show so he could smile his toothy smile & direct his royal wave to his fans. No wonder the city of Los Angeles is such a mess. I often wonder if political offices automatically attract potentially corrupt mentalities and freeloaders and ego maniacs. I personally know of a publically elected official whose behavior I consider sociopathic, will fight to the death to have it their way, public servant be damned! I think these scary political types are becoming more and more exposed for who they really are and won't find that their reelection to office to be such a sure thing as used to be.
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Jonathan 06/25/2010 6:23:00 AM
filth. I hope people understand how this sort of behavior necessitates a dereliction of duty to the citizens who NEED help from the city govrnment...
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cv 06/25/2010 3:20:00 AM
More than 100,000 you or i could not even get the prime seats he has access to.
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Chuckus Ruckus 06/25/2010 2:37:00 AM
Please keep us posted on what the IRS says!
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Jean 06/25/2010 1:50:00 AM
I am so disheartened by this abuse of a government office. I truly believe this gross violation of ethics by the mayor must be addressed and penalty levied.
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bwunderlick 06/25/2010 1:43:00 AM
The Mayor's fanciful and arrogant "legal" justification for receiving bribes is disgusting. How exactly is LA enhanced, even in the most far-flung abstract marketing sense, by his presence at the American Idol finale? I'm ashamed for having ever been a supporter of his. He probably won't be punished in any meaningful way other than his political career being over.
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Jill Stewart 06/24/2010 10:37:00 PM
Hi Commenters, this is Jill Stewart, LA Weekly News Editor. In answer to the great question from Brett at 7:47 AM, we are now looking into what the IRS is going to do about this, if anything. Thanks for the great idea, however!
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David 06/24/2010 10:14:00 PM
Just one other thing to think about, doesn't the Mayor travel with personal security? I.E. On-duty LAPD Officers.
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Brett 06/24/2010 7:47:00 PM
Wouldn't the receipt of such gifts also have to be reported to the IRS? And if he hasn't duly reported such gifts, shouldn't he be prosecuted by the Federal government?
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Chris 06/24/2010 7:32:00 PM
This guy is as crooked as the day is long. It's obvious what he's doing...selling the city for free tickets. No wonder we're in the financial toilet! As he's laying off city workers by the hundreds, or even thousands, and closing our libraries, he's sitting courtside at Lakers' games. While our laid-off city workers are starving, he's eating caviar. "Let them eat cake!" The DA should subpoena his police drivers and find out just what this fool is up to. They won't lie for his crooked ass, and can report on all the flim-flamming he's doing over his city phone while driving from photo-op to photo-op. This guy SUCKS!
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Dairenn Lombard 06/24/2010 5:14:00 AM
If even 10% of this is true, the Mayor is a crook, and belongs in jail.
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Walter Moore 06/24/2010 4:33:00 AM
What makes Villaraigosa's receipt of the tickets -- and failure to disclose same -- particularly troubling is the benefits the donors have received at taxpayer expenses.
How many millions of dollars of subsidies, tax breaks and sweetheart deals has AEG received from City Hall? And for what? Just so Villaraigosa can sit in the owners' suite at Lakers' games?
Consider another example: You and I, as taxpayers, have subsidized, and are now subsidizing again, a special shuttle to take the Dodgers' customers to the stadium. Why? Why should you and I be taxed to provide special treatment for the McCourts? Is it so Villaraigosa can get his picture taken with Manny?
All these tickets are the functional equivalent of money. Handing an elected official $100,000 worth of tickets is the equivalent of handing him $100,000 in cash. This is a serious violation of ethics laws designed to protect the public from crooked politicians.
Villaraigosa's concealment of the tickets, moreover, makes one wonder: What else is he hiding?
