TODAY: "Karen Bass's former deputy changes plea in federal court. But also, a City Hall drag show and other magnificence" by Daniel Guss
All aboard the crazy train, motherfuckers... Choo-choo! Choo-choo! Chugga-chugga, Chugga-chugga, Chugga-chugga...
Today at 1:30pm, Brian K. Williams, the former Deputy Mayor of Public Safety for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, will have a change of plea hearing in the gleaming, immaculate federal courthouse across the street from crumbling, fetid LA City Hall, his former place of employment.
The hearing pertains to Williams’ recent admission of falsifying a bomb threat at City Hall.
While the hearing will be technical in nature, it is monumental in terms of the comprehensive failure of Bass in virtually every respect as mayor of one of the most visible cities in the world.
But should U.S. District Judge André Birotte, Jr recuse himself from the sentencing portion of the case?
Birotte’s impressive career trajectory includes substantial time with the LAPD, the original investigating agency in the Williams matter. Most notably, he served as its Inspector General from 2003-2010, after three years as its Assistant IG prior to that. While there is no evidence of misconduct of any sort by Birotte during his career, the LAPD’s IG unit, like its Internal Affairs department, is saturated in dishonesty.
In matters where there is even the perception of potential bias, a judge should recuse himself or herself. Williams’ role as Bass’s Deputy Mayor of Public Safety — which includes direct oversight of the LAPD — carries that perception.
A Birotte recusal from Williams’ sentencing would not be unique and, in fact, would add much needed transparency and integrity to a case coming from the most corrupt City Hall in America.
The public may watch the Williams hearing online, but should pay heed that recording, copying, photographing and rebroadcasting Court proceedings is prohibited by federal law.
In other LA political matters of note, all aboard the Crazy Train!
Indicted LA City Councilmember Curren Price had a status conference hearing this morning on his 10-count criminal indictment. He is still on the public payroll and continues to vote on agenda items.
Bass keeps dragging her feet on humane laws. The story by Kacey Montoya and Marc Sternfield of KTLA.
Speaking of dragging, LA City Council is having a drag show and other magnificence this morning before getting to its agenda or allowing the Marqueece Harris-Dawson-censored public a single minute to speak on any of it.
Mandatory Disclaimer: All living beings should be treated with fairness, regardless of how many legs one has, and so on, and so forth. But the truth is, Karen Bass has failed to protect every category of vulnerable being in the city by assigning her pals rather than the best qualified, despite one immense failure after another.
Lest anyone wonder why Los Angeles, Southern California and much of the entire state is in such disarray, allow this to marinate so that when the LA Times and other political influencers make endorsements in the future, you can look-back on their outcomes.
(Daniel Guss, MBA, won the LA Press Club’s “Online Journalist of the Year” and “Best Activism Journalism” awards in June ‘23. In June ‘24, he won its “Best Commentary, Non-Political” award. He has contributed to the Daily Mail, CityWatchLA, KFI AM-640, iHeartMedia, 790-KABC, Cumulus Media, KCRW 89.9 FM, KRLA 870 AM, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal, Pasadena Star-News, Los Angeles Downtown News and the Los Angeles Times in its sports, opinion, entertainment and Sunday Magazine sections among other publishers.)