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Letters
to the Editor
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input from LACP.org forum participants
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The
Mayor's "State of the City Address" and "End of an
era ..."
April
23rd
As I watched the news today, and the announcement of the Chief's resignation,
I could not help but reflect on how Los Angeles was 10 years ago,
during "an era" of seemingly extremely high crime, gang war and drive
by's, citizens' safety threaten on a daily basis, many residents feelings
of alienation from city governance and driving while black was a national
crime. Combining all of this thought with the Mayor's State of Los
Angeles and "the end of an era" caused me to wonder now if the Mayor's
State of the City speech should have concluded " ... and the return
of the same old Era?", especially, in light of the "old Daryl Gates"
crew raising it's ugly head again in pursue of a second chance at
becoming the "good old boy" latest Los Angeles Police Chief. Mistakes
forgotten are certain to repeat themselves time and time again until
we remember. Too bad ... innocent blood shed happens in wake of hard
heads and power seeking public officials who hurt the people who elected
them to SERVICE in the first place. Instead of recognizing that they
are nothing more than servants to the people, they become political
giants over night, making ill decisions, and keep right on going like
the "Ever Ready" battery, as though the wrong decisions they make
are so insignificant that they are somehow going to hit the correct
button and things return to normal. Such victims of circumstances
are sure to fall on their own "sword."
For the sake of innocent Los Angeles residents who trusted those they
elected to represent them fair and equitably, I hope and pray that
we are not headed towards another April 6, 1992. The LAPD Protective
League, the Police Commissioners and Mayor Hahn need to walk a tight
rope on this one and not try to be too cocky. "It ain't over until
the fat lady sings, and she has not arrived on the scene yet!" Also,
It would behoove the Mayor to be very careful in his choice of selection
for the next Police Chief. I know he does not want to see this city
go up in flames, not on his watch, anyways. It seems to me that he
has sacrificed too much too soon and has put the future of his legacy
as Mayor of Los Angeles upon the stake. This should be food for thought!
I am a 68-year-old African American woman, a 27-year resident of South
(central) Los Angeles, and 50-year veteran of California. I remain
an involved community activist, who voted for James Hahn, (I am sorry
to say), who helped to campaign very hard for his victory, against
the wishes of my City Councilman. In doing so, I am reminded that
we African Americans came up against some very powerful people in
our efforts to elect James Hahn Mayor and without spending any significant
funds made a significant contribution towards tipping the political
scale. A great disappointment... not just on the Barnard Parks issue
and the premature announcement of not endorsing him for a second term,
but the Mayor's whole demeanor during the process. Watching him reminded
me of a "puppet" on a string, and I thought, God, this cannot be the
man I worked so hard to elect!
I have watch this whole facade unfold and I believe that the conclusion
of the matter can either serve to polarize Los Angeles city further
or help to build strong allies to move Los Angeles forward as one
whole city. Which will it be? The ball is really in Mayor Hahn's hand,
and ironically enough, Barnard Parks and his coalition very intelligently
and wisely, handed it to him unexpectedly. I sure hope that the Mayor
and his coalition know how to play ball politically correct
and sanely intelligent. They have done nothing along those lines so
far, but who knows, maybe they are holding out on us! I will be waiting
and watching, just like I am also waiting and watching for George
W. to make the same move! However, if I were in Mayor James Hahn's
camp, I would INSIST that he go somewhere and SIT DOWN and practice
being a positive and effective leader of one of biggest cities in
the nation. But, I am not in his camp and I presuppose that doing
a sane thing has not entered into the Mayor's mind, nor into the minds
of his (puppet show) coalition.
Truly Concerned,
Elizabeth McClellan
Southeast Neighborhood Leadership Development Council, Co-Chairperson |
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