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The Hahn Administration - Hull breached and taking on water
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2834 Reads
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Well, Jim Hahn, the mayor who wasn't there, had a pretty quiet week last week. Just take a look at his press releases:
Big week for cross-cultural pronouncements - let's see - celebrate Persian New Year, check; create a Filipino-American Vets memorial, check; support for the Armenians, check. Hmm.
Comprehensive report to address Los Angeles Traffic - that was an interesting exercise - more thoughts on this later. Other than that, though, it's pretty sleepy-looking - honored for literacy efforts (it happened three weeks ago), lofts in the Gas Company building can now be rented - well, not exactly something he did, but huzzah, I suppose, it happened on his watch.
Oh, wait, here it is. He's hemorrhaging top administrators - mostly his deputy mayors ...
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A quick skim of the L.A. Times shows Hahn losing special-projects deputy Troy Edwards in the midst of an L.A. County grand jury probe of alleged campaign improprieties in the three departments he oversaw;
Housing deputy Sarah Dusseault, who left to care for her baby - no fault there, I suppose.
But Joy Chen, his deputy for workforce development, didn't even rate a press release when her departure was announced the same day last week (leaving to consult for the L.A. Workforce Investment Board, the Times reports). This came the same day that Housing Authority Director Donald J. Smith publicly accelerated his retirement (health and personal issues), and a few weeks after the departure of parks/libraries/schools deputy Barbara Sandoval.
A great mayor is a spiritual leader as well as a solid administrator - someone who speaks well for the city to the world, binds its people together in times of conflict and celebrates its victories with them - while overseeing its efficient operation and booming growth. The city and its people shine with pride and prosperity.
A good mayor may not have all that much charisma and fire, but runs a hardworking, dedicated administration, manages the machinery of government, brings businesses into the city and fosters beneficial development and general harmony. Folks are happy to live there.
An adequate mayor at least manages the machinery, keeping the streets swept, the departments running smoothly, the restaurants clean, the coastal waters from getting too polluted. The grumbling, at least is kept to a minimum.
This mayor can't even keep his management team from crumbling beneath him. And while L.A. remains one of the world's and the nation's great cities, the cracks are showing in the little things like, oh, say, the movie industry's mass exodus to other countries where they can produce what is supposed to be the city's chief export product on the cheap.
So far, only state Sen. Richard Alarcon is publicly challenging Hahn for re-election, though ex-Chief Bernie Parks, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and city controller Laura Chick are angling for potential campaign bids, and Antonio Villaraigosa is spoiling for a rematch.
So, Jim Hahn has his father's name, some powerful party allies and a big fat war chest. But God help him if anyone chooses to run on their ability to do a better job.
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| Posted by: mack_reed on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 09:46 AM
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