-
Antonio Villaraigosa, Calfornia Election 2010, Gavin Newsom, Jack O'Connell, Jerry Brown, John Garramendi, Phil Angelides, Steve Westly
Jack O’Connell Watch: California Governor in 2010? Part 2
The Sacramento Bee has picked up on Anthony York’s scoop on California Superinendent of Public Instruction’s Jack O’ Connell’s foray into 2010 Gubernatorial politics.
The story:
Reed Hastings, the founder and CEO of Netflix has deposited almost $ 1 million into an independent expenditure account to propel O’Connell into the Governor’s race in 2010.
O’Connell is termed out in 2010 after serving eight years as California’s school chief.
The quotes:
“Jack and Reed have a long history together,” said Mollie Culver, a political adviser to O’Connell. “A lot of Jack’s supporters have encouraged him to look at all of his options, including running for governor.”
Culver said fundraising is “always a major challenge, and it is very nice to have such friends encouraging him.”
The probable opposition:
- Jerry Brown – current California Attorney General, former Mayor of Oakland and former California Governor.
- Steve Westly – former California Controller who lost to Phil Angelides last year in the Democrat primary for Governor.
- Phil Angelides – former California Treasuerer and Democrat Party Chairman who lost to Arnold Schwarzengger last year in the general election.
- Gavin Newsom – current Mayor of San Francisco who admits to sleeping with his campaign manager’s wife and carrying on a sordid affair.
- Antonio Villaraigosa – current Mayor of Los Angeles who admits to an affair with Mirthala Salinas, a Telemundo political reporter and who is in the middle of a divorce.
- John Garramendi – current Lt. Governor of California who many Democrat activists describe as yesterday’s news.
The $992,220 in stock from Hastings would have to be spent independently of any organized campaign to elect O’Connell governor. O’Connell presently has a little less than $1 million of cash on hand with no debt in his own campaign account.
Will this be a serious candidacy?
Yes, until Jerry Brown enters the race and dries up ALL of the union money.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Jack O’Connell Watch: California Governor in 2010?
Jerry Brown Watch: California Governor in 2010?
Technorati Tags: Reed Hastings, Netflix, Jack O’Connell, Jerry Brown, Steve Westly, Phil Angelides, Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, John Garramendi
-
Antonio Villaraigosa, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Calfornia Election 2010, California, Gavin Newsom, Jack O'Connell, Jerry Brown, John Garramendi, Phil Angelides, Steve Poizner, Steve Westly
Jerry Brown Watch: California Governor in 2010?
Senator Feinstein meets with Mayor Jerry Brown of Oakland, California and Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, California.
Philip J. Trounstine, the former communications director for Gov. Gray Davis, hints at THE POSSIBLITY of the idea of a recycled Governor Moonbeam in 2010. Remember that Gray Davis is Brown’s former Gubernatorial Chief of Staff.
Brown, a former Governor in the 1970’s is immune from term limits and could seek two more terms as California’s Governor. If elected, Brown, would be 72 years old when taking office.
Remember that current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who replaced Governor Gray Davis when he was recalled is termed out and cannot by law run for re-election.
Let’s look at the race.
Can Attorney General Brown win the Democrat primary?
Possible
Who will be his opposition:
Steve Westly – former California Controller who lost to Phil Angelides last year in the Democrat primary for Governor.
Phil Angelides – former California Treasuerer and Democrat Party Chairman who lost to Arnold Schwarzengger last year in the general election.
Gavin Newsom – current Mayor of San Francisco who admits to sleeping with his campaign manager’s wife and carrying on a sordid affair.
Antonio Villaraigosa – current Mayor of Los Angeles who admits to an affair with Mirthala Salinas, a Telemundo political reporter and who is in the middle of a divorce.
John Garramendi – current Lt. Governor of California who many Democrat activists describe as yesterday’s news.
Jack O’Connell – current California Superintendent of Public Instruction who has limited statewide name recognition.
So, does former Governor
MoonbeamMoonbat have a shot with the Democrats?You bet
In the general election against moderate Republican Steve Poizner who is currently the California Insurance Commissioner, the race would be more difficult. Poizner has youth and the money to pound Brown on Rose Bird, the Death Penalty and other Brown oddities.
On the bright side, Flap would enjoy the race because of:
Yeah, Flap, knows Brown is NOW married. But, I bet Linda comes out and sings a few sets for the AG – and how about the Eagles too?
Stay tuned……..
Technorati Tags: Jerry Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Westly, Phil Angelides, Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, John Garramendi, Jack O’Connell
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Telemundo Expected to Announce Results This Week
Graphic Courtesy of ERS News
Well, Flap was wrong and there were no Saturday announcements from NBC Universal nor have there been ANY leaks about the ethics investigation of Mirthala Salinas.However, the New York press has picked up on the story.
Anyone have a BEST guess as to when they will announce?
Is the Mayor still out of town visiting with his Princeton-bound son? And where has Mirthala been hiding?
Sightings, anyone? Luke? Mayor Sam?
The LA Times is ready but no NEW material since their piece on Universal’s development plan.
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Corina Villaraigosa Speaks About Commitment
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Telemundo Ethics Probe of Mirthala Salinas Completed
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Heckled at Transportation Meeting
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Scandal Plagued Mayor Allows Governor to Cut LA Rail Transit Funds
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivisionArnold Schwarzenegger
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Corina Villaraigosa Speaks About Commitment
Los Angeles Mayor-elect Antonio R. Villaraigosa sits with his wife Corina as they listen to speakers from different faiths at the Interfaith Prayer Service for the Inauguration of Villaraigosa at the Cathedral of Our lady Queen of Angeles, in this Friday, July 1, 2005 photo, in Los Angeles. Villaraigosa, who is in the midst of divorce proceedings with his wife, acknowledged Tuesday, July 3, 2007 that he is in a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter, Mirthala Salinas.
In her first public appearance since filing for divorce against Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Corina Villaraigosa speaks before “Girls Today, Women Tomorrow,” a mentoring group, at a downtown Los Angeles fundraiser.
The Quotes:
“Know that when you keep commitments to yourself, it’s easier to keep commitments to others.”
She said she thought about canceling the keynote address, but decided to go ahead with the speech because the cause is important to her.
“Due to very personal reasons, I have chosen to attend very few public events in the last few months,” she said.
The Video:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=7E3k_2lI3x4[/youtube]
In the meantime, the Mayor now seeing the Firecracker with Chiclets, Mirthala Salinas, was being heckled at an MTA board meeting.
John Walsh heckles Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarigosa at MTA meeting, July 26, 2007
This will NOT be an easy divorce for Mayor Villaraigosa.
City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa is interviewed by reporter Mirthala Salinas of Telemundo at Factor’s Famous Deli on May 19, 2005 in Los Angeles
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Telemundo Ethics Probe of Mirthala Salinas Completed
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Heckled at Transportation Meeting
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Scandal Plagued Mayor Allows Governor to Cut LA Rail Transit Funds
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivisionArnold Schwarzenegger
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Telemundo Ethics Probe of Mirthala Salinas Completed
Graphic Courtesy of ERS News
The Telemundo ethics investigation of the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Mirthala Salinas affair has been completed according to the Associated Press. A decision and an announcement is due soon – possibly next week.
Flap bets the announcement will be
madeleaked on Saturday morning/afternoon after the Sunday newspapers have been put to bed. (Over at Mayor Sam’s a commenter says that according to NBC”s Laurel Erickson Mayor Villar will be out of town this weekend with his son).Perfect timing, eh?
An ethics investigation has been completed and a decision is expected soon concerning a Spanish-language journalist who had an affair with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a person familiar with the probe said Thursday.
Mirthala Salinas was having the relationship with Villaraigosa when she announced the news of his separation from his wife of 20 years on local Telemundo station KVEA, Channel 52.
Executives at the Telemundo network and parent company NBC Universal were reviewing the findings of the three-week investigation, and a decision on the fate of Salinas and perhaps other station personnel was expected to be announced next week, according to the person, who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.
Did the Univision disclosure and the Los Angeles Time’s piece on Universal’s development plan hasten the decision?
Probably
But, unless someone leaks some of the negotiation documents, we may never know.
Or will we?
There have been more leaks in this story than a water bucket with holes in its bottom.
Villaraigosa and Salinas wait out a pause in filming on the north steps of the state Capitol. Salinas is now a news anchor on Telemundo 52, June 19, 2006 (now on leave).
Remember what Flap handicaps:Mirthala will take a paid leave of absence for an undetermined period of time obtaining a cash settlement or regular salary. After the leave, she will be reassigned in the company but will not cover the Mayor, the City of Los Angeles or any of the other politicians with whom she has had a “personal relationship.”
Bet the farm……
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Heckled at Transportation Meeting
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Scandal Plagued Mayor Allows Governor to Cut LA Rail Transit Funds
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivisionArnold Schwarzenegger
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Heckled at Transportation Meeting
John Walsh heckles Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarigosa at MTA meeting, July 26, 2007
Eric Spillman scoops Luke Ford on something Villarigosa.
A heckler ripped into Mayor Villaraigosa at today’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority meeting, suggesting that he get therapy for his “sex addiction.”
It happened during the public comment period. A man named John Walsh, who attends most MTA meetings and is known as a gadfly, walked up to the podium and castigated the mayor for being an hour late.
Villaraigosa serves as the vice-chairman of the MTA board of directors. Walsh called him “the vice-chair, no pun intended.”
Then he called on the mayor to resign from his position as co-chair of the Hillary Clinton campaign.
The mayor did not respond, and he later left the meeting without talking to reporters.
Soon others besides gadflies will be asking hard questions of the Mayor.
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Scandal Plagued Mayor Allows Governor to Cut LA Rail Transit Funds
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivisionArnold Schwarzenegger
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Scandal Plagued Mayor Allows Governor to Cut LA Rail Transit Funds
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mrs. Villaraigosa, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the Mayor’s inauguration, July 1, 2005.
While Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is filling pot holes and opening Panda Express retaurants in Universal City, the Governor has cut Los Angeles rail transit funds by $336 million.
Bill Bradley over at LA Weekly has the poop.
With Antonio preoccupied by an affair, L.A. loses its rail funds. You can thank Mike Villines.
THE BIG CUTS IN LOS ANGELES public-transit funding by state lawmakers have a sudden impact on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who, in his current scandal-struck state, didn’t show up to lobby for his own program. The Legislature stepped into the power vacuum, slashing $336 million earmarked for Los Angeles and imperiling the long-promised Expo Line to the Westside.
The proposed state budget, now weeks past deadline, was approved by the state Assembly with the support of Villaraigosa’s ally and longtime friend Speaker Fabian Núñez of Los Angeles, and aims to take $1.3 billion in gas-tax revenue intended for transit to bail out the state’s general fund.
The loss is a clear setback for Villaraigosa, whose administration is hurtling forward in approving tens of thousands of new units of controversial, dense, high-rise housing in Los Angeles, to be serviced by a now-vanishing state transit budget.
So, the Expo Line rail line linking West LA and downtown Los Angeles is dead because of Telemundo political reporter and main squeeze of the Mayor, you ask?
Yes, sure looks like it.
While the Mayor is hiding out in Los Angeles and at news conferences praising the journalistic ethics of Mirthala, the Governor and GOP raid the funds.
Pretty pathetic that folks from the West Side will have to endure more traffic gridlock because the Mayor could not keep it in his pants.
Los Angles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Panda Express opening at Universal City Walk, JUly 25, 2007
Sooner or later some LA pol will have the “COJONES” to call the Mayor out on this lack of attention to the job.
Jimmy Hahn are you listening?
And NEVER let it be said that Arnold doesn’t know how to press an advantage.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa directs high school students during a clean-up project in the Chinatown section of Los Angeles Tuesday, July 10, 2007, as a kick-off event for a summer youth employment program.
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivisionArnold Schwarzenegger
-
Antonio Villaraigosa, California, Fabian Nunez, KNBC, Los Angeles, Mirthala Salinas, Telemundo, Univision
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: NBC Universal Development Surrounds Villaraigosa – Salinas Scandal
Mayor Villaraigosa was at Universal CityWalk Wednesday for the grand opening of the 1,000th Panda Inn restaurant.
Remember Flap stated weeks ago that the Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – NBC/Telemundo affair scandal disclosure was the tip of the iceberg.
Well, yesterday we find out that the Mayor has been fed questions for a supposed impromptu television interview program on Spanish language Telemundo competitor, Univision.
And today the Los Angeles Times exposes the interwoven web of the Mayor, Mirthala, and a massive NBC/Universal Development Project over which the Mayor has government purview.
Finally, an investigative story by the Los Angeles Times on this scandal.
Ok, here we go…….
Affair, NBC project cross paths
A $3-billion Universal City development is getting new scrutiny as Telemundo officials undertake a review of the mayor’s girlfriend
The extramarital affair between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and a newscaster for Telemundo has created a new set of complications for the broadcaster’s corporate parent, NBC Universal — and possibly the mayor himself.
Even as its Spanish-language subsidiary is poised to decide the future of Mirthala Salinas, the now-suspended reporter who embarked on a romantic relationship with Villaraigosa while she reported on him, NBC Universal is proceeding with a massive $3-billion development plan that city officials must ultimately approve.
Although Telemundo executives hold the key to the career of Salinas, now the subject of an internal investigation into whether she compromised the company’s journalistic mission, Villaraigosa holds his own considerable power over NBC Universal. The entertainment conglomerate will very likely need Villaraigosa’s help to navigate the city’s approval process as it spends the next year pushing its Universal City Vision Plan, a concept the mayor embraced seven months ago.
Remember Telemundo Channel 52 political reporter Mirthala Salinas, the Mayor’s girl friend, has been on paid leave since July 5 due to an ethics investigation. Remember Mirthala announced the Mayor’s divorce “on air” while she knew that she was the “other woman” involved in the break-up.
Also, Salinas had been involved with other politicians ( City Council President and now California State Senator Alex Padilla and Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez) while a political reporter.
The Mayor on Monday stated that he had not been contacted by NBC Universal in the investigation.
Also, for background, NBC Universal and specifically KNBC television has fired an employee, reporter, Kyung Lah, when it was discovered she was having an affair in the workplace. And who was the station general manager at the time?
Paula Madison
Manuel Abud VP/GM KVEA-TV/Telemundo & Paula Madison former
General Manager KNBC-TV Los AngelesFrom Eric Longabardi
Sources inside NBC/Universal confirm to ERSNews that Paula Madison, former General Manager of KNBC-TV and now head of diversity for NBC/Universal had the authority and was in fact the person who was responsible for removing Salinas from the political reporting beat due to her personal relationship with the Mayor. ERSNews sought direct comment from Ms. Madison about her role in the case, but was referred to NBC/Telemundo spokesman Victor Franco, who declined comment, saying only that the internal investigation of the matter was nearing completion and they withhold any comment until it was complete. Asked by ERSNew.com when that would be, spokesman Franco would only say “soonâ€.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has expressed support for NBC Universal’s plans, which call for a hotel, homes and offices.
So, now, we understand the delay by NBC Universal in disposing of Mirthala Salinas. They are damned if they fire her and they are damned if they keep her. But, whatever they do, this scandal is not over.
Why?
Because of the massive Universal City Vision Plan which the Mayor supports, local residents oppose and which other politicians including Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge consider too large.
“The councilman is opposed to the project as proposed,” said Renee Weitzer, chief of staff to LaBonge, who is out of the country and could not be reached. “We feel it’s too dense. It’s too big, and the site is too small.”
Flap smells a Los Angeles County Grand Jury investigation here and an emergence of other politicians to rival Villaraigosa for the Mayorship in two years. How do you spell former Mayor Jimmy Hahn?
Mayor Villar better hope Mirthala Salinas keeps some sort of work.
He may need HER support in the future.
Previous:Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivision
-
Antonio Villaraigosa, California, Hillary Clinton, Los Angeles, Mirthala Salinas, President 2008, Telemundo
Hillary Clinton Watch: Feinstein Endorsement Interrupted By Questions About Mayor Villaraigosa – Mirthala Salinas Affair
*****Update*****
7:20 PM
Eric Longabardi is now on KFI Los Angeles 640 AM Radio and he has stated that employees of Univision have sent him the e-mails in this piece. Give it a listen.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco)
In a conference call today with reporters California’s Senior Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein’;s endorsement of Hillary Clinton did not quite go as planned. In fact, it was dogged by questions about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, his divorce and his girl friend Telemundo political reporter Mirthala Salinas.
A reporter asked Clinton whether she was concerned about the recent scandal following Villaraigosa’s divorce and his admission of a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter, and whether she’d spoken with him.
Feinstein angrily interjected.
“I’m surprised at you for that question. My goodness, Hillary is running for president of the United States she doesn’t need to get into this,” Feinstein snapped.
“I echo my friend Dianne’s comments, but let me say that I have spoken with the mayor,” Clinton said.
“I also am well aware that he is the mayor of our second-largest city, and I think that his work on behalf of many of the issues that I care about is very significant so I will continue to welcome his support.”
Of course, Hillary will “welcome” his support. But, it is Flap’s guess that Mayor Villar and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (who earlier this year admitted to an affair with the wife of his campaign manager) will have little to do with the campaign and appear very sparingly with the Senator from New York.
By the way, Hillary, when you talked to the Mayor did you tell him that you commiserate with Corinna?
Or what?
And……..
And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.
Previous:Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivision
-
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?
*****Update*****
KFI’s Eric Leonard has picked up on the story and have the e-mails as well. The story is being broadcast on the 3 PM news.
The Mayor denied in an interview Wednesday that he was fed specific questions and answers written out ahead of time.
E-mails obtained by KFI NEWS reveal news producers at KMEX channel 34 pre-arranged interview questions with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office for a regular in-studio segment called, “Villaraigosa A Su Lado” (rough translation: “Villaraigosa on your side.”).
The interview — which is presented as a spontaneous exchange between news anchors and the mayor — aired regularly before news of the mayor’s affair with KVEA reporter Mirthala Salinas became public.
“From time to time I think a number of you [reporters] will give the general thrust of a question,” Villaraigosa explained Wednesday.
But what about specific questions and answers written out ahead of time?
“No,” the mayor said.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praises Telemundo reporter and girl friend Mirthala Salinas at a news conference in the mid-city area Monday, July 23, 2007.
Eric Longabardi has a blockbuster of a post about which Flap alluded yesterday.
Actually, Eric Leonard of KFI mentioned the FLAP first. And what is the FLAP, you ask?
ERSNews has exclusively obtained e-mails documenting that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was receiving written questions in advance, sometimes days in advance, before television interviews that were conducted on the Univision Los Angeles based television station KMEX-TV34. The questions were then asked during on-air interviews conducted by the stations in-studio anchors for a segment known as “Villaraigosa a su lado”, which translates from Spanish as “Villaraigosa on your side”.
The so-called broadcast “interviews” were conducted regularly on Wednesdays each week in 2006 and through mid-2007.
A breach of journalistic ethics?
You betcha……..
Even USC Journalism Professor Joe Saltzman (whose Mass Communications class at USC Flap often sat in) called the Univision conduct: “very very poor judgment.”
On Monday, the Mayor at a new conference on traffic praised his girl friend and Telemundo political reporter (even though she on numerous occasions dated politicians with whom she covered as a reporter and announced “on air” the Mayor’s divorce while she was the “other woman.”):
“I continue to have the utmost respect and confidence in the journalistic abilities and the high ethical standards of Mirthala Salinas,†the mayor said.
“I can tell you that I believe that if this investigation addresses all of the issues here, including the fact that she made it absolutely clear the extent of the relationship that we have, that I expect she’ll be vindicated.â€
Birds of a feather – flock together.
The questions sent to the Mayor were represented to the public as impromptu-unscripted questions. ERSNews had uncovered they were anything but that. The topics ran the gamut of issues concerning Villaraigosa’s job as LA’s mayor.
ERSNews has learned that the questions were provided to the Mayor in advance via a direct link. That link was the Mayor’s Deputy press secretary Diana Rubio. Rubio was working directly with the Executive Producer of Univision and others at KMEX, including at the time the station’s Vice President of News. Other news staff was well aware of the communications and the intertwined relationship the station had developed with the Mayor’s office. According to sources familiar with the situation, the mayor’s office exerted extensive influence and sway in insuring the Mayor was not put in any light other than a favorable one, something Univision accommodated routinely.
Eric has the e-mail evidence:
Now, how will Univision respond?
And will this story affect NBC/Telemundo’s decision on Mirthala Salinas – that is due at anytime?
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, TelemundoUnivision