Frank Girardot: Book about Industry falls short of expectations

Frank, I appreciate your writing, and I cannot find fault with your opinion. Valle's book is available with a couple of clicks at Amazon, and a Governmenrt agent (mailman) will bring a copy to your door.

I wonder if your feeling that the book falls short is because of your management's sponsorship of this job fair for Ed Roski, Jr. at the Pan Pacific which was formerly The Industry Hills Shearton. The stadium is being pushed by Roski, who also owns the hotel.

Since your publisher has a vested interest in the stadium project, would it be fair to say that you are more likely to publish PR handouts rather than actual investgative reporting with verified sources?

I attended the bill signing, and while I agree that the protest group was "scraggly" the union leaders and politicians have evedently let their subscription to GQ expire as well.

Please continue with your crime scene blog, and intelligent reporting. Keep in mind that even with the departure of the Staffords, not much has changed in the way the city does business.

Does it not seem odd to you that just 60 voters can throw 150 million dollars at a project that will benefit one man, and city money also bought the land? Now why is convicted felon ex-senator Frank Hill drawing $5000. a month from the city to advise on stadium matters? Thank's Frank.

Valle would could have improved the literary content of the book by perforating the pages at four inch intervals. Using a better grade of paper might have produced a better consistancy to use as toilet paper.

Valle is a typical former LA Times reporter. That is why he is a FORMER Times reporter teaching a meaningless subject. That is also one reason the LA times is in the toilet.

Frank Girardot
IS WRONG AGAIN !

I got this book...read it...fell asleep a few times...and didn't get a whole lot from it. I wish I can get my money back.

We are shock to read your comment. This book listed facts after facts, scandals after scandals. It is eye opening for many of us to learn the dirty laundry of this corrupt and abnormal city. Which planet do you live on? We admire the courage of the Pulitzer prize winner, the writer of this book. Because this book, many of the recent unfair political events start making sense now.

A Well Documented Book wrote:

We are shock to read your comment. This book listed facts after facts, scandals after scandals. It is eye opening for many of us to learn the dirty laundry of this corrupt and abnormal city. Which planet do you live on? We admire the courage of the Pulitzer prize winner, the writer of this book. Because this book, many of the recent unfair political events start making sense now.

Do not be shocked. You are one of the prejudiced people he was referring too. We don't massacre people in the Capitol mall when they ask for democarcy either, like they do where you came from.

The only city with a more shady history is Vernon.

Apparently "Don't be Stupd" is too stupid for a comeback after he was shut down by Carlos. Most of the naysayers and haters are sulking in their urban slums.

Look at page139 first paragraph
"...Los Angeles district attorney John Van de Camp also said a few words at the event, further cementing their relationship to the city and the Industry Manufacturers Council's generous members"

This raises the question on who suggested Van de Camp as the fair mediator in the Industry/ Citizens discussions.

jim flournoy wrote:

Look at page139 first paragraph
"...Los Angeles district attorney John Van de Camp also said a few words at the event, further cementing their relationship to the city and the Industry Manufacturers Council's generous members"
This raises the question on who suggested Van de Camp as the fair mediator in the Industry/ Citizens discussions.

I believe it was Senate President pro Tem Steinberg.

I believe that if we look through history we find that many who find themselves on the losing end of an argument turn to conspiracy theories to assuage their bitterness. Conservatives see a Manchurian candidate in Obama. Democrats saw a vast right wing conspiracy. Hitler saw the Jews. Confederates had their 'Lost Cause'.

And now the anti-stadium forces will seize on any and every passage to demonstrate that indeed they were right and they were simply overwhelmed by a conspiracy. Simple minds are easily swayed by such thoughts and you are doing your part to progress hatred and fear. Meanwhile folks like Bjerke get a pass for their blatant bigotry and Ellis gets a pass for her fear mongering.

It appears that Van De Camp may have been suggested to Steinberg and Romero.
Does this book fall short of expectations?

Did Steinberg and Romero know of the Industry-Van de Kamp connection?

Pg 145
"...while he was investigating Industry's special election, the Industry Manufactues Council was making a "big contribution" to the reelection campaign of his boss, district attorney John Van de Kamp"

What statements did Van de Kamp make to the press?
What did he relate to Steinberg and Romero which they repeated to the press?

In Reply to "jim flournoy":

"It appears that Van De Camp may have been suggested to Steinberg and Romero."

Appears? And you base this on?

"...while he was investigating Industry's special election, the Industry Manufactues Council was making a "big contribution" to the reelection campaign of his boss, district attorney John Van de Kamp"

"What statements did Van de Kamp make to the press?"

When?

"What did he relate to Steinberg and Romero which they repeated to the press?"

Are you speculating here? Seeing some connection? And you base this on?

Jim Flournoy,

Are you saying that Joaquin Lim exceeds your expectations? Now are you saying Van de Kamp has an integrity problem? Not too bright Jim because you know this not correct. He was a good DA and had impeccable credentials.

Jim,

What ever happened to the big Brown Act complaint in Pomona? Did the judge agree with you?

Yesterday on Walnut cable TV, Lim questioned Chatten-Brown about the future of all of this. She said it was likely that a stadium would be built. She admitted it is ALL OVER. Is she part of the conspiracy too?

Majestic writes
"I believe it was Senate President pro Tem Steinberg. "

Ok that's public Who suggested van de camp to Steinberg and Romero?

Flournoy asked
"Did Steinberg and Romero know of the Industry-Van de Kamp connection?

so the question is
"Did Steinberg know about van de camp's past or did he not vet van de camp?

Either way it appears that Steinberg had a major lapse.

I would agree "appears" as Steinberg would have been very young when the "contributions" from Industry group took place to have first hand knowledge of van de camp.

Book Review wrote:

Jim,
What ever happened to the big Brown Act complaint in Pomona? Did the judge agree with you?
Yesterday on Walnut cable TV, Lim questioned Chatten-Brown about the future of all of this. She said it was likely that a stadium would be built. She admitted it is ALL OVER. Is she part of the conspiracy too?

Wrong, sorry! I was at the Council meeting, and JCB did not say "...it is ALL OVER" [must be your block letters]. In fact, she said that "...it is not a done deal..." and it will take Roski to get finanicing, buy a team, and that construction may start in two years or so. This doesn't like a done deal to me...

Book Excerpts

Someone above mentions that Steinberg would have been too young- In College and Gloria even looks younger.

So who was around?
Superivsor Pete Schabaraum p139

p145 continued

"Robert King, the (Industry manufactures) council president at the time, said he witnessed Van De kamp accept the first of a series of contributions in June 199 at a luncheon the council had organized in his honor at the California Country Club.
Speaking to the FBI in 1983 King said that a handful of council directors, including himself, had announced on tht occsion that they would support Van de amp's reeelection bid with a combined contribution of 5,000 dollars.
They planned to hand the check to William Martin, Van de Kamp's field deputy and one of Ed junior's real estate invetment partners."

Yes the very same Ed, junior

Book Review- off topic
I'm not a member of that group but I understand that various pleadings are in progress.

Jim Flournoy wrote:

Book Excerpts
Someone above mentions that Steinberg would have been too young- In College and Gloria even looks younger.
So who was around?
Superivsor Pete Schabaraum p139
p145 continued
"Robert King, the (Industry manufactures) council president at the time, said he witnessed Van De kamp accept the first of a series of contributions in June 199 at a luncheon the council had organized in his honor at the California Country Club.
Speaking to the FBI in 1983 King said that a handful of council directors, including himself, had announced on tht occsion that they would support Van de amp's reeelection bid with a combined contribution of 5,000 dollars.
They planned to hand the check to William Martin, Van de Kamp's field deputy and one of Ed junior's real estate invetment partners."
Yes the very same Ed, junior
Book Review- off topic
I'm not a member of that group but I understand that various pleadings are in progress.

Jim,
God Bless you for trying. Most of these geezers are dead or living out their days in Palm Desert. The point that Giradot made was the City rose from the ashes. You cannot paint the people today with a broad brush. It is true, they gave Frank Hill a job. In the days of Shabarum there were no FPPC rules. People just gave money at Chamber meetings or walked it into City Hall. That was thirty years ago.

BTW, JCP did not say not a done deal. Lim did. She said the stadium was very likely going to be built. No matter which way Lim spins it. He lost. Watch channel 56 reruns to refresh your failing memory.

As to the Brown Act: On the remote chance that the judge says to re do the action. now that the stadium deal has been signed by the governor, all the COI has to do is re-approve it. Nothing more. There are no enviromental challenes permitted.

Lawyers are really ripping off McCourt, Ovitz, Eisner, Disney or who ever is paying the bills on the "Citizen" lawsuits.

Jim Flournoy wrote:

Book Excerpts
Someone above mentions that Steinberg would have been too young- In College and Gloria even looks younger.
So who was around?
Superivsor Pete Schabaraum p139
p145 continued
"Robert King, the (Industry manufactures) council president at the time, said he witnessed Van De kamp accept the first of a series of contributions in June 199 at a luncheon the council had organized in his honor at the California Country Club.
Speaking to the FBI in 1983 King said that a handful of council directors, including himself, had announced on tht occsion that they would support Van de amp's reeelection bid with a combined contribution of 5,000 dollars.
They planned to hand the check to William Martin, Van de Kamp's field deputy and one of Ed junior's real estate invetment partners."
Yes the very same Ed, junior
Book Review- off topic
I'm not a member of that group but I understand that various pleadings are in progress.

1983 to 2009 is How many years? And your point is?

DB Cooper wrote:

<quoted text>

Lawyers are really ripping off McCourt, Ovitz, Eisner, Disney or who ever is paying the bills on the "Citizen" lawsuits.

Talk about geezers, The first three are retired and the fourth has no skin in the game.

Must be the Chi-Coms paying the bills. They want to move the Government from Beijing to the San Gabriel Valley. That is the only way to get the government closer to the people.