What Nepotism?

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has suspended the city’s firefighter recruitment program.

He became concerned about nepotism and mismanagement. Apparently certain emails show special recruitment workshops were organized for relatives of department insiders.

How shocking that the Fire Department would want to show special favor to relatives and friends.

Just to refresh our memories here’s a short list of people in our city government.

Gil Garcetti served as Los Angeles County’s 40th District Attorney for two terms, from 1992 until November 7, 2000. He happens to be the father of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

Charlie Beck is our Chief of Police. Beck’s sister Megan was a detective. His wife, Cindy, was a narcotics K9 handler. Two of Beck’s children, Brandi and Martin, are LAPD officers, as is his son-in-law. He also owned a horse which was donated to LAPD.

Kenneth “Kenny” Hahn was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for forty years. Hahn served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1947 to 1952 His brother, Gordon Hahn, replaced him on the Los Angeles City Council, while another, John, was assistant county clerk. Kenneth Hahn’s son, James Hahn, was Los Angeles city attorney from 1985 to 2001 and served as mayor from 2001 to 2005. James Hahn is now a judge on theLos Angeles County Superior Court. Janice Hahn, daughter of Kenneth, sat on the Los Angeles City Council, representing San Pedro and Wilmington. She is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Kenneth’s nephew, Dale Hahn, was a Superior Court judge (in San Mateo County) and retired in 2004.

Richard Anthony Alarcon was a Los Angeles City Council member. He served in the California State Senate and, for approximately three months, in the California State Assembly. Alarcon’s wife, Flora Montes de Oca Alarcon worked for him and frequently used city council employees to babysit. They are currently facing charges for not living in the district he was voted to represent.

L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson’s son Justin serves as his father’s legislative deputy.

Paul Koretz is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the Fifth Council District. He was previously a member of the California State Assembly and the West Hollywood City Council. He was re-elected this year to his second term as councilman. Hisis daughter Rachel works on his staff. Mayor Eric Garcetti recently hired Koretz’s wife, Gail, to work for him. “I don’t think there will be any conflict,” Koretz said of his spouse’s new job. “What she is doing is representing the city [with] the county and other cities in L.A. County, so it’s all outside the City of Los Angeles stuff. I don’t think we’ll be crossing paths.”

What Nepotism? The Fire Department must be stopped from using nepotism and favoritism – or maybe not.