Mayor Will Have to Report "Free" Vacation
12:30 PM July 13, 2009
Mayor Villaraigosa's spokesman Matt Szabo refuses to comment on the mayor's (and his girlfriend's) recent vacation, reportedly a 9-day trip to Africa.
But IF it was paid for by an outside group, Villaraigosa will likely have to report it to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, according to rules furnished by the city's Ethics Commission.
The L.A. Times has reported that a Washington-based organization called the Academy of Achievement bankrolled the mayor's travel to South Africa last week. By the way, as I reported last week, this is a group that gets funding from Philip Anschutz, of AEG fame. Anschutz is listed as a patron on the organization's website.
By the way, this same group paid for a trip the mayor took last year, providing him with $4371.97 in travel-related expenses.
According to the mayor's most recent California Form 700 (required by the state of certain officeholders to report gifts that include travel), Villaraigosa received reimbursement for 7 trips last year from various groups, including Princeton University and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.
You can see his most recent filing here:
Download Villaraigosa Annual 2009
A summary of the rules for officeholders on disclosure of gifts, etc., provided by L.A.'s Ethics Commission is below:
Posted by Eric Spillman | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)
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IMPEACH. THE MAJORITY IN L.A. IS MEXICAN. WHICH HE IS AND THEY DONT VOTE THERE BECAUSE MOSTLY ARE ILLEGAL OR UNEDUCATED DUE TO THE DEMO-RAT TEACHERS. THE ONES WHO DID VOTE ONLY VOTED FOR HIM BECAUSE OF RACE. JUST LIKE THE OBUMMER VOTERS.CHECK OUT THE VOTING TURN OUT RESULTS. HE WAS HANDED THE JOB BECAUSE NO ELSE RAN.
Posted by: REVOLT 2010 | August 13, 2009 at 01:12 PM
bobby, did we once work together? LOL
In all seriousness, the projected bill was $4million, but people respected AEG and the Jackson family's request for those without a ticket to stay out of the area. Hence, less money was spent on patrolmen/women etc. Eventually the true cost amounted to $1million.
Posted by: jozielee | August 02, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Who is watching the taxpayers money?Villaraigosa!!! The Jackson funeral cost $1 or $4million.Is there $3million missing,where is it?Where is the city of L.A.'s accountant?Villaraigosa pocket!!!It's no wonder the city is in debt,look who's running it.Nobody,the mayor is out of town,with his girlfriend.We need anew mayor.
Posted by: bobby | July 22, 2009 at 07:14 AM
Larry,I would agree,the mayor needs to be thrown out of office.How do we start this process? This weasel is a complete jerk! Taxpayers, let's get the ball rolling,and get this BOZO out of office.PLEASE!!!
Posted by: slim | July 16, 2009 at 06:14 PM
So who does the mayor work for, the people of the city of Los Angeles or Philip Anschutz of AEG? How can he say in one breath that it's okay to spend millions on a memorial and then layoff city employees and close city services? The mayor needs to be removed from office ASAP before he does anymore damage to this city.
Posted by: Larry | July 15, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Eric,
Thanks for bringing this to light -- Ken & John were discussing it on the radio yesterday, saying it is reported on your blog! Other than that, I have not heard this being widely publicized, and it definitley should be -- I hope to hear more public outrage about L.A.'s slimy "photo-op" Mayor and demands for change!!! By the way, my husband and I used to enjoy Lu Parker on KTLA, but we have lost all respect for her -- what was she thinking??? Thought she was smarter than that -- guess we were wrong.
Posted by: Debbie | July 15, 2009 at 09:30 AM
What is most tragic about the whole Jacko/Mayo fiasco is that the Mayor is pushing layoff's and furlows to all city workers while he enjoys elaborate trips to Africa and other vacation spots while forcing L.A. to host a MEMORIAL (not a funeral) of the King of Pedophiles at the tax payers expense. If you force Mayor DipShit (Tony Villaraigosa) to pay for anything see what a fit he will pitch. He went to Sacramento crying and pitching a fit to get the State to release Funds; and for what? So he could spend it all on Jacko? What a lame Mayor L.A. is stuck with! He is pwnd by AEG; he is a SLAVE to them. Maybe we should change his name to Kuta Kente?!?
Posted by: TimeStealr | July 15, 2009 at 08:46 AM
THe mayor is ridiculous! How do we get this guy out of office?He is spending money the city does not have on a funeral.
Posted by: denny | July 14, 2009 at 05:21 PM
the mayors trip was paid for by Academy of Achivement,who gets funding from Phillip F Anschutz AEG;owner of Staples Center.Michael Jackson; funeral was at Staples Center tax payers payed for $4million. What is wrong with this picture?
Posted by: slim | July 14, 2009 at 05:16 PM
maybe Lu Parker can do a story on this? LMAO !!!! seriously, how could she schtoop Tony Villar - BARF !!!!
Posted by: Bubble | July 14, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Hey, so long as I'm ( a taxpayer) not paying for his trips- then keep on keepin' on Mr. Mayor!
Posted by: Melanie | July 14, 2009 at 01:52 PM
How wonderful for the mayor to take a free trip to Africa with his girlfriend.He should have taken Michael Jackson with him; so we would not have to pay for his funeral.He should stay in Africa,he has the brain of a chimp or should I say CHUMP.What is he thinking??? concern taxpayer
Posted by: slim | July 14, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Looks like slick Mayor Tony V. is lining up work for his post-mayoral career; it's all in the networking, isn't it?
Posted by: Idaho | July 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
"There are days when Villaraigosa's actions make me long for Richard Riordan. At least he was here most of the time."
AND HE STILL HAD TIME TO SERVE BREAKFAST DOWNTOWN AT THE PANTRY!
Posted by: I'm Just Sayin' | July 13, 2009 at 07:51 PM
There are days when Villaraigosa's actions make me long for Richard Riordan. At least he was here most of the time.
Posted by: Lauren | July 13, 2009 at 04:35 PM