Los Angelenos dispute Dem officials' rationales for economically crippling lockdown

African-Americans and progressive-women among protesters sharing insight regarding Democrat officials' paralyzing economy beyond early May.

Los Angelenos at City Hall protest disproportionate lockdown extended by Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. officials

May Day Protests To ‘Reopen America’ Take Place In Huntington Beach, Downtown L.A. CBS-L.A. 2 May '20

On May Day, which is also known as International Workers Day, when workers usually take to the streets for a higher minimum wage and benefits, demonstrators are demanding that stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of coronavirus be lifted so people can get back to work. An organization called We Have Rights is in downtown Los Angeles and Huntington Beach, where beaches were closed by order of Gov. Gavin Newsom after large crowds descended last weekend.

In downtown Los Angeles, protesters from the same movement called for a walking protest and to gridlock the streets in and around Los Angeles City Hall.

“We can take other precautions,” said Eric Rodriquez, who joined the protest downtown. “But to shut it down? It’s a little too extreme.”

One of the main issues for the protestors was the loss of jobs since nonessential businesses were forced to close.  “We’re especially concerned for the people who have been plunged into poverty, including undocumented people who don’t qualify for unemployment,” said protestor Angela McArdle.

The demonstration downtown sparked a small counter protest of people calling for “humanity first.” They were against calls to lift stay-at-home orders and said that to do so would be a “callous disregard for public safety and human life.”

 'Personal-damage of govt Dems slowing reopening L.A. outweighs flu risk'- says addictions counseling manager:

Political artist, Sabo, depicts Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom
as a South Park abusive policeman at L.A. City Hall protest

Outside L.A. City Hall, tele-medical provider, Jim Kamanski, (who runs a substance addiction rehab called http://AlCure.Me/) challenges Democrat state officials, like Calif Gov Gavin Newsom, who in daily TV appearances,  professing benevolence, but comes up short
with regard to restoring freedom of movement, restoring business, shopping, lost wages, and jobs. Mr. Kaminski is concerned that the social damage Democrat leaders created (under the banner of health and safety) to harm the Republican White House's re-election image, now exceeds the mortality rate of the flu. He says it's up to citizens to demand that it be rectified.

Mr. Kaminski's sign states that the extended lockdown is causing unemployment, financial crisis, mental health problems, depression, family problems, child abuse, spousal abuse, homelessness, alcoholism, drug-overdoses, and suicides which will harm people, society, and the country for many months after actual freedoms are restored. Government officials and lapdog liberal media must be challenged and held accountable.

Lucid sign posted on bus-shelter outside of Los Angeles City Hall

African-American bodyguard declares pride to "#walkaway from the plantation." Why Democrat extended lockdown may be intended to impair the finances of white voters, too.

Steven Davis (@MagaMuscles) obliges a photo seeker, while Cong. Candidate
@Errol Webber (Congressional candidate) deciphers the politics of the lockdown

At the Re-Open California Rally at L.A. City Hall, church-going bodyguard, Steven Davis, reveals why he believes that Democrat politicians, such as Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Nancy Pelosi, and Mayor Eric Garcetti (among other Democrat officials around the country) prolonged business closures and forced personal lockdowns - including early termination of schools.

Black Republicans call to Re-Open Calif for work: We Have Rights! Steven Davis and Errol Weber at L.A. City Hall

At We Have Rights! demonstration at L.A. City Hall on May Day, Steven Davis of Victorville calls to Re-Open California to work. Congressional candidate, Errol Weber joins him to discuss how he believes that Democrat politicians exploit minorities - and they guilt whites into permitting it.

  
Progressive ladies teach: How "My body, my choice!" applies to gov't vs YOU - under and after CoVid pretense

Progressive women from West Los Angeles explain their objections to Gov. Newsom's state-control of their freedom of movement, forced apparel, and most of all, mandatory vaccinations.

Democrat California officials immobilize 40 million residents and most of economy for 4-weeks to limit Chinese Virus

Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom alerts National Guard to deploy; warns of potential to enforce martial law.

Los Angeles joins the entire San Francisco Bay Area and major metropolitan areas like Sacramento — the seat of California’s government and Newsom’s current home — in confining residents to their homes for all but essential tasks.

In readying the National Guard for action, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office emphasized that it’s for duties routinely performed during natural disasters and other emergencies. But Newsom grimly added that “we have the ability to do martial law... if we feel the necessity.” (Photo: KTVU - TV)

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti with Kathryn Barger
Photo: Damian Dovarganes /AP/Shutterstock

At a 5 p.m. press conference Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced a “stay at home” order for Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles starting at 11:59 p.m. Thursday for one month (which may be extended prior to April 19, 2020). 

Source: "L.A. Mayor Says He’ll Deputize City Bureaucrats to Enforce “Stay at Home” Order" by Jennifer Van Laar in Red State March 20, 2020

Subject only to the exceptions outlined in this Paragraph and Paragraph 5 below:

1) All persons living within the City of Los Angeles are hereby ordered to remain in their homes.  
2) All businesses within the City of Los Angeles are ordered to cease operations that require in-person attendance by workers at a workplace.  
3) All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a residence are prohibited
4) All travel, including, without limitation, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit is prohibited.
5) Failure to comply with this Order shall constitute a misdemeanor subject to fines and imprisonment.
Subject to this list of exceptions.


Just minutes after their press conference ended, California Gov. Gavin Newsom held his own press conference from Sacramento and ordered all Californians to stay home, and all businesses to close (with exceptions for workers in federally-defined critical infrastructure sectors).

Garcetti soon afterwards appeared on CNN's Cuomo Prime Time: 

Chris Cuomo (then) asked how his order would be enforced. Will it be enforced? Garcetti referenced a question he was asked at the press conference that was along the lines of, “Is this an if you see something, say something situation?” 

Garcetti then said:

Yes. But don’t call a cop. Go and tell somebody they shouldn’t be doing that. Then if there are cases where people are blatantly violating this order, yeah, we’ll visit them.

Would that be a visit or a “visit”?  Garcetti continued his explanation, and shared how he would find the personnel to enforce his order.

You know, people are getting guns. They’re going crazy. I’m saying crime is actually way down and generosity is way up. This is different than a riot or a public safety emergency; this is a public health emergency, and we have to remember that it’s on all of us to do this.

But we’re certainly going to deputize many city employees to walk those streets, to drive around. If we see any folks that are still open, we’ll just pay them a visit and let them know that this is something they have to comply with and it’s for their own health. 
In the very rare cases where somebody doesn’t comply, of course we can enforce that.

Aside from the fact that it’s a terrible and expensive idea to deputize the city’s bureaucrats, who understand that corruption is the ticket up the corporate ladder, and task them with “walking the streets” (heh) and driving around looking for “violators” to harass, Garcetti’s assertion that these drastic measures are needed to blunt a deadly public health crisis because “all human lives are precious” is a massive hypocritical slap in the face to the families of more than 1,000 homeless people who died on the streets of Los Angeles last year.

Noting the exceptions for healthcare facilities and workers, those USPS, Amazon and Postnotes delivery drivers, pharmacies, telecommunications workers, grocery stores, food banks, some schools, services for those with lesser financial resources, banks, outdoor farmer’s markets and gas stations, among others, the LA City and LA County order will see restaurants remaining open on skeleton staff but only available for pick up. People will be able to travel on L.A.’s usually crowded roads to care “for children, elder adults, family, friends and people with disabilities,” the order says.

Gov. Gavin Newsom shuts down Californians for at least four weeks

Just minutes after their press conference ended, California Gov. Gavin Newsom held his own press conference from Sacramento and ordered all (nearly 40 million) Californians to stay home, and all businesses to close (with exceptions for workers in federally-defined critical infrastructure sectors).

Newsom orders all 40M Californians to stay home in nation's strictest state lockdown by Jeremy White in Politico,  3/19/20

Days after he instructed the California National Guard to go on alert, Newsom said Thursday he would deploy about 500 guard personnel to help with humanitarian work and food distribution.
In recent days, Newsom, mayors and health officials across the state have clamped down on social gatherings as reported coronavirus cases and deaths have steadily increased.

Conservative L.A. mayoral candidate, Kevin James, looks beyond mayoral run-off between Eric Garcetti & Wendy Greuel

In January, I asked the only Republican candidate in L.A.'s mayoral primary, Kevin James, how would a Republican, anti-big-government candidate fare in a largely Democrat city.



In the March 5th primary, Mr. James came in 3rd place- 50% behind Eric Garcetti and 45% behind Wendy Greuel.  As only the top 2 finishers progressed into today's run-off election, I asked Mr. James (who has endorsed Mr. Garcetti in the race) about what he expects for his future in view of a new L.A. city administration.

Los Angeles mayoral candidates debate-excerpts help voters cut through negative advertising

Los Angelenos will go to the polls on May 21 to elect a new mayor, city controller, city attorney, and to vote on propositions for medical marijuana regulation and campaign finance reform. See the League of Women Voters Smart L.A. Voter Guide.


The L.A. Times characterizes the race: A long, expensive (and distinctive) race nears the finish line

Tuesday's election will put either the first woman or the first, elected Jewish leader in the mayor's office. But a more dubious distinction is possible: the lowest turnout for an open mayoral seat. 

DemoCast Media excerpted from Ben Welsh & Michael Finnegan's L.A. Times article:

In a city with more than 2 million eligible voters, roughly 400,000 may cast ballots in this Tuesday's election.  More than 2 million people can vote for mayor of Los Angeles. But if history is a reliable guide, as many as 1.6 million of them will skip Tuesday's election.

Both mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel have been engaged in negative advertising campaigns.  Watch and judge the candidates, excerpted from this group public debate filmed before the March primary by DemoCast at Congregation Beth Jacob in Beverly Hills.


The polls will be open from 7am to 8pm.  To find your local polling place, click here.

Politicos join journalists to pay tribute to retiring cable-communicator and L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl at L.A. Press Club

Several of the candidates in this Tuesday's election were among the politicos who turned out at the L.A. Press Club on Thursday, 16 May to "Roast and Toast" the retiring Councilman Bill Rosendahl.  Mr. Rosendahl, a former cable executive and host, is credited with revitalizing the Club several years ago.  Organizer, Diana Ljungaeus, president of the Press Club, said, "We are forever grateful to Bill Rosendahl for kick-starting us (the Press Club) again." 


Councilman Dennis Zine extolled Bill Rosendahl for his public service and commented on how his struggle with spinal cancer has galvanized his fellow councilmembers.




Outgoing City Controller and Mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel roasted and toasted Councilman Rosendahl in this poignant speech.



Former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan called Mr. Rosendahl, "the conscience of the City Council." 



KNBC-TV journalist and anchorman called Mr. Rosendahl, "Oone of the most committed and one of the most passionate people - he really represents the people of the Westside- and the people of the Westside connect with him."




Councilman Tom LaBonge referenced one of his appearances on Bill Rosendahl's long-running, public-affairs program on public-access cable TV.



Former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Republican mayoral candidate in this election, Kevin James, spoke of their commonalities as homosexuals, civil-servants, and media hosts. Mr. James hosted a civic-activist, talk-radio show on 870KRLA.



Watch the full evening's Roast and Toast, including closing remarks from the honoree himself on his philosophies at this stage in his life. Mr. Rosendahl comments on what he feels are antiquated drug-laws affecting health and society.



Mr. Rosendahl told the gathered audience, "I know I'm only passing through this earth. I have said this since the beginning of my sensibilities about life and death. But you can't take anything with you, anyhow. . . . We're all in a hotel room, folks, and we check in, and we do check out."

Although mayoral candidate, Councilman Garcetti was not present, you can see him here in one of the mayoral debates which candidate Wendy Greuel had been kidding about.


Filmed in January by DemoCast in Beverly Hills.

L.A. mayoral candidates debate at temple- original video; Kevin James professes greater objectivity

The five leading Los Angeles mayoral candidates appeared at a "debate" organized by Civic Care at Cong. Beth Jacob in Beverly Hills on Thursday, 3 January.  Civic Care is an organization which educates Jewish voters in the greater L.A. community.

Councilman Eric Garcetti, Controller Wendy Greuel, former assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin James, executive Emanuel Pleitez, and Councilwoman Jan Perry each answered questions presented by David Suissa of the Jewish Journal about their positions on individual issues- and how they are better suited to serve Los Angeles as mayor.

Candidates at 1/3/13 L.A. mayoral debate (l-r) Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Kevin James, Emanuel Pleitez, Jan Perry

Reporter, Hillel Aron, clarifies in L.A. Weekly:  Kevin James' Mayoral Dreams Get Legs: 

"Two finalists will emerge in the March 5 primary from among the four leading candidates, and the math says those two must win at least 25 percent of the vote to shut out the rest of the big field and get on the ballot for the May runoff. Yet only about 20 percent of registered voters in L.A. are Republican. Even if James got most of them, he wouldn't get all. He needs lots of independents and Democrats — a very difficult thing for a newbie to pull off.



But James is moving up in the world, from no shot to dark horse. While his standout debating style has been leaving the politically experienced but often deadly dull top candidates Perry, Garcetti and Greuel in the dust, mayoral debates — ignored by most voters — don't elect anyone. ...

As 2013 begins, James faces a new problem with the media: Journalists will focus on where the top mayoral fundraisers get their fat campaign war chests. Already, media have reported that Greuel and Garcetti are beholden, moneywise, to city government employee unions who wield outsized influence on the City Council's positions."