L.A. WATCH: MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA MEETS THE CHEAP SEATS AT DODGER STADIUM, INVESTIGATION OF HIS GIFT-TAKING STILL UNDERWAY...

Yup, the mayor usually sits behind the plate but not this time. He's been scrutinized lately, and is under investigation as a matter of fact, for accepting gifts beyond the parameters of what's allowed. As the mayor of L.A., Villaraigosa is not allowed to accept more than $420 worth of gifts in one year from a single source. Oopsie! Laker box and courtside seats at Staples, and Dodgers Stadium behind-the-plate love, are just the tip of this freebie iceberg.


Though this would usually fall under the guise of his city ambassador and master of ceremonies duties, his office didn't keep the best records. Unh, huh. Now, he's now under the microscope as they audit his past activities. But, wait, isn't that what the mayor of L.A. is supposed to do? Schmooze with the A-listers, sit among the stars? It is L.A. afterall. I guess folks just aren't used to a slick "Hollywood" mayor given the history of mayordom. Jim Hahn anyone? But this is a new era. Hell, look at our governor. The Terminator.

But even good ol' Arnold is the traditional family man at the end of the day. But, not our mayor. He used that image to get votes but Villaraigosa shook that family man image not long after coming into office. An affair with a TV reporter, followed by divorce from his longtime wife, and then another TV reporter. These antics plus his high profile lifestyle equals a troubled city-- and that we are. Hellppp!! You see how our Hollywood governor did us! But he says this is not the case: "He's the city ambassador, and even at a game, he's on the job.  Don't worry, the mayor said. He can't be influenced by freebies from rich and powerful friends."

And, that's the problem. These friends are in high places are getting all kinds of tax breaks from the city. Any connection? Not sure but it may not be fair to count tickets to ceremonial events as gifts either. Despite how he feels, he's took on a reporter's challenge to sit in the "regular folk, $12" seats aka the nosebleeds. People recognized him and question his seat choice, he was also mobbed by fans wanting handshakes, autographs and pics with their mayor from the time he arrived. If that's not work, what is?

If it weren't for a little thing called the law, and his office's shoddy incomplete records on the matter, he would be in his ceremonial seat and celebrated for it. But those things exist and he has to be accountable. Right? Maybe he should work on changing things so that they work-- for all of us. #ourtwocents

[L.A. Times]