New bosses same as the old bosses
Re “Taking L.A. in a New Direction,” Sept. 20
Developer Richard Meruelo and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may be changing the direction of Los Angeles, but they are certainly not taking it in a new direction. According to The Times, Meruelo gives money to gubernatorial candidate and state Treasurer Phil Angelides, who sits on the California Public Employees’ Retirement System board. Angelides then steers the CalPERS money, contributed in part by Los Angeles Unified School District employees, to Meruelo, who uses that money to buy land the district is trying to buy. The L.A. school board uses eminent domain in an attempt to procure the land. So Meruelo gives Villaraigosa $197,311 and Villaraigosa tries to wrest control of the district from the board. Meanwhile, Meruelo demolishes downtown buildings and is given kudos for being such a visionary.
No new direction here; just the same corruption, cronyism and greed.
DANIEL BAKER
Los Angeles
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