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Ear to the Ground

Proof That L.A. Is Better Than New York

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Posted on Oct 12, 2011
Neon Tommy / Didi Beck (CC-BY-SA)

Whereas protesters occupying Wall Street depend on a McDonald’s to relieve themselves, their counterparts in Los Angeles have port-a-potties. Whereas New York’s billionaire mayor and pepper-spraying police appear to have sided with the 1 percent, the L.A. City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to support the Occupy LA protesters camped outside City Hall.

Now the measure, which resolves that “the City of Los Angeles hereby stands in SUPPORT for the continuation of the peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by ‘Occupy Los Angeles,’ ” heads to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office. He isn’t a billionaire, but he has worked for the United Teachers of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Of course we’re only joking that L.A. is “better than New York” (come winter we may revisit the issue), but right now it is a model of how a city can embrace a cause that affects all of us—or at least 99 percent of us.

However, the protesters aren’t letting the city off with merely making a statement of support. The council punted on a measure that would force the city to divest from naughty banks. That measure will continue to draw strength from the hundreds camped outside the building.  —PZS

KCET:

“This country is going to hell in a hand basket,” said Council member Paul Koretz, who represents tony areas like Bel Air and Holmby Hills. “These are things worthy of protest and I thank them for speaking out and moving the debate forward.”

Other than general statements of support, City Council members did not debate the merits of Occupy LA’s goals or the main crux of the resolution, which supports “the continuation of the peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights” of the protestors, hundreds of them who are camping outside city hall (and vow to through December). Rather, the council focused on the other part of the resolution: logistics of hearing a responsible banking measure that was introduced over a year ago by Council member Richard Alarcon.

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By david, October 13, 2011 at 10:55 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

LA politicians aren’t corrupt. They’re just incompetent and unable to drive real
change. As for NYC starting things…start what? The financial mess we’re in? It’s all
about money in NYC, nothing more. There’s no way to prettify that.

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By GJCforprez, October 13, 2011 at 7:09 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Both are shitholes. But LA is deeper and smells a lot worse. Want proof New York is (slightly) better? New York starts things. LA just prettifies them and pats itself on the back for being progressive. Truthdiggers are pretty gullible if they think LA pols would stand for the number of protestors in NYC for as long a time.

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johnnyfarout's avatar

By johnnyfarout, October 13, 2011 at 8:05 am Link to this comment

I’m not sure of Nuevo Yorke’s statistics, but when I lived in LA 10 years ago, it was said that 48% of the population lives below the federal poverty line. That if the Feds say there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the USA, that all 12 million must live in LA! Which gives lie to that statistic…we all think there are 24 million illegales, all of whom use Western Union and that new bunch of pre-paid swipe cards that are put out by the banks. Millions and millions of dollars in fees are going to banks daily in this desperado underground culture of working poverty and hiding and lying and hoping the federales are kept one step behind. I wonder how much money is never picked back up after the victims are repatriated by the ICE men in their round up fevers to crush the peoples of Aztlan. This is the big fear animating the WhiteBoy Militias. What if La Raza awakes and the guns stop going to Mexico (another reason for Operation Fast and Furious…keep the guns moving!) and instead stay here in the hands of sombrero’d desperados like in the Olde West movies, and that awakening comes on the heels of collapsing Financial Capitalism scurrying to beef up all the military, even with pitiless mercenaries, if the laws, or mutinies, get in the way of blasting freedom holes into human beings, by tax paid ignoramuses toting guns after their un-educations in ding dong high schools which jumble history into a boring no man’s land of conquista slogans and boot licking historias? See the skies of America filling with the thunderbirds of droning death the CIA has so far reserved for our Muslim brothers throwing off their evil corrupt overlords! Like during Viet Nam: everyone is asking, are the wars coming home along all the roads, at long last, to Rome??!! Chinganamente!

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By Leefeller, October 13, 2011 at 7:12 am Link to this comment

Yeah, patronizing those protesters is disgusting, they should be pepper sprayed and carted off to that famous LA jail so it can be called the protest of hard knocks.

Let them eat cake and defaecate on the lawn!

Every cause has its opportunists who would subvert things in their favor, lets hope this one is very different?

Corruption seems to be at all levels, but the protests are aimed at the Feds from what I understand, but can cover all aspects of society.  Far as I can tell this is a social movement, not political.

Get the money out!

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By jayman, October 13, 2011 at 3:56 am Link to this comment

Robespierre115, I do live in LA, when I am not overseas working. When I return home after 5-6 months, I have to clear the house with a 12ga before I can let the wife and kids in.

I can’t think of two better cities to represent this movement, and it is a tough call who is better suited for the honor. This is hilarious - you couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried.

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By Robespierre115, October 13, 2011 at 2:00 am Link to this comment

Encouraging…unless you happen to live in LA. Villaraigosa is a total suit who is best known for his opportunism. The last thing the protesters should do is be comforted by the “city” supporting them. Here in LA everyone knows the politicians are just as corrupt as anything coming out of Chicago and New York. This is a city (and state) completely run like a banana republic where everything is charged for, the oligarchs live in excessive luxury while everyone else desperately gets by. Our politicians simply throw us a few bones to calm the crowds, but trust me, this is just a series of moves by the Villaraigosa government to secure votes and present a cynical, double-sided stance Obama style.

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