Mayor Villaraigosa and the Truth about Cats and Dogs

If Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa fails to honor hisincidents of union violence against people and property
promise to fire Mr. Stuckey and to hire ain this country between 1991 and 2001, including those
compassionate and experienced General Managerrelated to bombings, shootings and near fatal injuries.
who can implement a no-kill plan and reform theRepublicans did not become pro-choice after doctors
department, he may find that the animal community iswho performed abortion operations were killed.
politically-speaking, more bite than barkAccording to the National Abortion Federation, there
The earth is starting to tremble in the Los Angeleshave been 13,256 "incidents" against abortion clinics or
animal community because Mayor Antonio Villaraigosadoctors since 1977, including seven murders, 17
has refused to honor his January 2005 campaignattempted murders, three kidnappings, and 41
promise to fire the General Manager of Los Angelesbombings. The pro-life movement remains firm in its
Animal Services Guerdon Stuckey, and this brokenbeliefs.
promise has drawn attention to a potential scandalDespite media hype that makes it seem scary, the
involving a loss of $1.1 million to the city over the nextALF's credo prohibits injury to humans and animals.
three years. Even fiscally responsible Angelenos whoThe ALF recently took credit for sending cabs, pizzas
don't care about cats and dogs can be officiallyand prostitutes to the home of an unsuspecting animal
outraged.services veterinarian. Although one may disapprove of
Animal advocates might have let the mayor out of thethese tactics, they resemble high school pranks more
doghouse on his pledge if Stuckey had reformed thethan crimes.
department, fostered relationships with the communityVillaraigosa's new "ALF policy" is good news for those
and saved animal lives. But according to an Octobercity employees who fear job termination. Anyone
27, 2005 L.A. CityBeat article, a poorly negotiatedwhose porch falls victim to a puff of smoke cannot be
contract by Stuckey for a spay-neuter van "may havefired. At-risk employees who fail to command the
robbed the city of half its needed spay-neuterattention of the ALF might be tempted to place a
services" and will endanger animal lives.suspicious package on their own doorstep.
Due to a shortage of van operating hours combinedThe City Council has become so concerned about the
with the high spay-neuter quota, anesthetized animalsALF and the L.A. protest group called the Animal
will have to be whipped on and off the operating tableDefense League that it has approved a plan which
at great risk to their health. The District Attorney hasprovides taxpayer dollars for surveillance equipment at
been asked to investigate.the private homes of animal services employees. With
Many animal community moderates--such as thehigh tech cameras, these workers can weed out
dignified and caring former L.A. Animal Commissionerdoor-to-door salesmen and pesky in-laws-again on the
Erika Brunson--who were originally unwilling to jump ontaxpayer's dime--under the pretense that the big bad
the clamorous "we want Stuckey fired" bandwagon,wolf, also known as the animal activist, might show up
are now steering their own wagons through thewith a feral cat flyer, order them a fake cab or protest
streets picking up angry passers-by, such as theon the sidewalk with a sign. Although city workers
fiscally responsible crowd.have a right to feel safe, this measure amounts to
The "Reasons to fire Stuckey Email Series" has beenanother questionable use of limited resources for a city
circulating for months. Reason number 61 warns thethat had 31,000 violent crimes last year.
Democratic mayor--who may hope to land in theThe mayor continues to react to the "ALF threat." He
Governor's office someday-that animal advocates willrecently removed Erika Brunson from the Los Angeles
begin cc'ing the California Republican Party with theirAnimal Commission and replaced her with surveillance
complaints. Villaraigosa could be one misstep awayexpert Glenn S. Brown. The Commission, which is
from tarnishing his dapper suit with controversies muchendorsed by the humane community, provides a
like those that haunted the Hahn administration.compassionate and intelligent voice for the powerless
The mayor says he has decided not to fire Stuckeyvictims of our public shelters: the animals The current
at this time because the Animal Liberation Frontcommissioners-except for Mr. Brown--may not be
(ALF)-a "direct action" animal rights group that has notexperts on installing cameras to detect fake pizza
injured a human or animal since its inception indeliveries, but they are experts on how to combat the
1972-recently planted a smoke bomb at Stuckey'sviolence perpetrated against the dogs, cats and other
apartment building, making him look like a victim. Heanimals that we have a responsibility to protect.
says he will not fire an employee who is beingIf Mayor Villaraigosa fails to honor his promise to fire
threatened or vandalized.Mr. Stuckey and to hire a compassionate and
It is understandable that the mayor would want toexperienced General Manager who can implement a
protect city workers. But in an attempt to be tough onno-kill plan and reform the department, he may find
crime, Villaraigosa is being weak on his convictions. Ifthat the animal community is politically-speaking, more
he truly believes Stuckey should be fired, why is hebite than bark. A decision to retain Stuckey is likely to
allowing himself to be controlled by the Los Angelesbecome a permanent smudge on Villaraigosa's finely
ALF?tailored lapel.
If Villaraigosa intends to be a strong leader, he must doThe animal community expects the mayor to do the
what he feels to be right, despite the acts of a few onright thing. But in case he doesn't, they have forwarded
the "fringe." Democratic leaders did not turn awaythis article to the Republican Party.
from unions, in spite of the fact that there were 2193