financial backers of Proposition R

SO now we learn that the financial backers of Proposition R - L.A. City Council members' deceitful plan to keep themselves in office for four more years - are some of the most deep-pocketed special interests in City Hall. Is anyone surprised?

Who did you think would be paying for this? The Boy Scouts? The Sisters of Charity? The March of Dimes?

Um, no.

Try companies run by AEG, Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz's entertainment behemoth, which is benefiting from the council's $300 million subsidy for a hotel by its downtown l.a.live project.

Other contributors include the city's police and firefighter unions, whose contracts require council approval. Also on the list are some of the lawyers and contractors who make big bucks doing business with the city of Los Angeles.

For them, backing R is an investment. In exchange for a few grand, the special interests get to keep their wholly owned council members around for four more years - a favor for which the pols will no doubt be grateful, and which could prove to be worth millions later.

This racket is just one more reason to vote no on Proposition Proposition R on Nov. 7 - as if we needed one.  

LA Daily News 10-09-06