Every 12 years Los Angeles County voters get to choose a new Supervisor. Under the racially complaint redistricting rules District 2 is the "black" seat. Although the district is vigorously trending Latino.
There are two competitors for a job most politicians believe is better than Congress. An LA Supervisor has 2,000,000 constituents, a huge staff, multiple offices, an easy commute, great salary, amazing benefits, a giant personal slush fund and best tickets to the Hollywood Bowl. Plus the 5 regents control billions and billions of tax dollars.
Former LAPD Chief and current LA City Council Bernard Parks is resisting efforts by controversial state senator Mark Ridley-Thomas for the seat.
The differences between them are stark. Chief Parks is primarily for vigorous law enforcement, skeptical of endless government union demands and pro business. And yet he has the enthusiastic support of a large coalition extending from Congressman Maxine Waters to Supervisor Mike Antonovich.
On the other hand Mark Ridley-Thomas is trouble. He is the union’s guy. He is a racist. And he is permanently angry against America. He is a hateful person.
Over the weekend the LA Times reported that the Unions have extorted 2.5 million from their members for Ridley-Thomas. Parks is out raising Ridley-Thomas the old fashion way person to 
person, limited at $1000 each. The Unions demand full control over LA County’s budget. The Unions has raised SIX times the money Ridley-Thomas has raised. Of course, the Unions are using this money for an "independent" committee.
Now the real question does the business community stand tall and talk on the Unions?
Let’s see what’s a stake.
1. With the economic downturn, all government budgets are bleeding red. With total Union control, the County will accelerate into wanton spending, at the same time pilfering the productive classes out of LA.
2. The " Cost Of Doing Business" survey published by the Kosmont-Rose Institute shows the the LA City is the second most expensive city for business. The County is not far behind. Urban expert, Joel Kotkin believes that the only productive engines for growth, the middle and small businesses, will be squeezed out unless there is immediate tax and regulatory relief.
3. Although many of the major corporations have left LA County, the efforts promoting new businesses by legal immigrants are growing rapidly.
4. If the stifling politics of Union controlled Ridley-Thomas, the Board of Supervisors will have three militant liberals, handing Angelenos future to avaricious government Unions.
5. LA County has already the largest concentration of illegal harder-to-employee immigrants, a school system that cannot graduate 50% of its students and well organized gangs that vastly outnumber the police. Ridley-Thomas would accelerate the deterioration of the quality of life, encourage the growing exodus of middle class families, creating a huge gap between a few rich west side liberals and millions of people who cannot get good job, unless they belong to the government Union. In other words a South American government.
With business leaders like Carol Schatz, president of the Central City Assn, a downtown business "advocacy" group, helping Parks, he’s in for real trouble. Schatz told the Times when responding the 2.5 millions that " i don’t think any special interest should attempt to control an election". Hey, Carol this ain’t bean-ball. I hope she would find supporting a pro-business candidate might inspire her Association to get "specially interested" in saving their businesses.
Will the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, business leaders, Eli Broad, developers "man up" to the Union challenge?
This is a 12 year race. The consequences will be felt at least until 2020.
As Lenin reminded his followers : the capitalists will sell you the rope to hang themselves with. Let’s hope that not true today.
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