Oh, That Is What It Is About
The subject is the worrisome, precedent-setting Assembly Bill 1381, which invests Mayor Villaraigosa of Los Angeles as the supreme, uncontested ruler of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Black lawmakers never were consulted before the bill was passed last week and went to Gov. Schwarzeneggers desk, complains Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally. You now know more than Sentinel readers were told. As a tower of legislative integrity, Mr. Dymally is closer to a doghouse than the Empire State Building in stature. This time, however, I am confident his concerns are valid, and they are not likely to be ameliorated as long as Mayor Villaraigosa retains one watt of power at City Hall. As you may know after 14 months in office, Mayor Villaraigosa, of Mexican heritage, is probably the most ethnically obsessed politician this side of the Mexican border. Behind Hispanics, black students are the second largest ethnic grouping in LAUSD. No one in Sacramento or Los Angels has uncovered one speck of upside for black students.
Was It a Hiccup or a Burke?
Interviewed by the Sentinel, County Supervisor-for-Life Yvonne Brathwaite Burke carried off her role nicely as a Beacon of Bologna. She learned long ago that the First Commandment of remaining in office is to avoid offering an opinion on any serious subject. Summoning all the sagacity required of a lifer, Ms. Burke, known to some as Ms. Braveheart, looks A.B. 1381 squarely in the eye. Shrewdly, she says, The question is whether this proposal is the answer to these problems (of rundown schools and bad teachers). How about that courage? Baby, you are paid to reach conclusions not to dumbly shrug your aging shoulders. Not all black legislators are worried about Mexican-centrist Mr. Villaraigosa seizing control. Karen Bass, the Assemblyperson for Culver City and environs, isnt. She points out that there are no blacks on the power-hollow 26-member Council of Mayors, but views that as merely a hiccup. Ms. Bass joined her fellow Democrats in voting to crown Mr. Villaraigosa the School God. Near the end of the story, Mr. Simmonds, the reporter, helpfully points out that Mr. Villaraigosa supported the bill that made him the School God. That is intrepid reporting.
Postscript
As a bonus for Sentinel readers who enjoy a good smile, Mr. Simmonds included in this issue, at no extra charge, a pedantic interview with a Korean gentleman who is suing Andy Young and Wal-Mart. Last month, you may recall, Mr. Young, 74 years old, the black former Mayor of Atlanta and the former United Nations Ambassador, committed one of his regularly scheduled gaffes. Employed by Wal-Mart to improve the organizations image, Mr. Young fooled em. Speaking in the black community, the diplomatic Mr. Young forgot that he was awake. He remarked that Jews, Koreans and Arabs who have operated stores in black neighborhoods have ripped off their black customers for years. They have foisted off stale bread, bad meat and wilted vegetables on unsuspecting black residents, Mr. Young charged. Mr. Simmonds interviewed Paul Park of the California Korean American Retailer Assn., who is suing Mr. Young and Wal-Mart for defamation. He is seeking $7.5 million. If the story is accurate, the reporter elicited two interesting responses. The hot-air lawsuit may go away, Mr. Park said, if Mr. Young apologizes. Since Mr. Simmonds writing is not quite straight-forward, it is hard to rely on the content for accuracy. He seemed to get Mr. Park to say that while Mr. Youngs accusation is spot-on, Mr. Youngs statement nevertheless defamed Korean grocers. This appears to contradict Mr. Parks comment about an apology. Good heavens. Now the baffled Mr. Simmonds has me confused. Maybe I defamed Wal-Mart.
