Ask yourself this, why would a Silicon Valley philanthropist position herself as the primary funder of the Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recall campaign?
Who is the philanthropist?
It’s none other than Nicole Shanahan the failed former vice-president candidate and running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She poured millions of dollars of her own money into a failed independent run for the Presidency of the United States only to drop out and eventually supported and endorsed current President Donald Trump.
This fact alone should draw suspicion as below the surface this recall effort seems to be driven largely by those who don’t live in Los Angeles and appear to be driven by sinister motives to attack anything that doesn’t fit Maga ideology, commonly known as “Make America Great Again”.
What is more dubious is that Ms. Shanahan is listed as the primary funder in the first serious recall effort against Mayor Bass has failed to give any public comments as to why she is funding this effort which leads me to believe that something is more dubious at play. Shanahan, along with strong, right-wing, Republican ties are hell-bent on spreading MAGA Propaganda into local elected bodies.
Need any further proof?
Well not only is the recall being largely funded by Nicole Shanahan, a former Democrat but the principal officers listed with the campaign are lifelong Republicans who have very limited ties and or association with the City of Los Angeles.
For example, in the Karen Bass recall committee’s filing, lists Kelly Lawler as treasurer, Lawler, a registered Republican, who runs a Merced County firm that supports Republican and Independent candidates nationwide.
In addition, in subsequent filings filed with the state ethics committee, Sahil Nadwani a real estate agent who is a well-known Republican political operative, is listed as a donor to the Republican Party is listed as the organization’s principal Chief Operating Officer and like Nicole Shanahan when asked about the recall effort refused to answer any questions.
I mean if we look at it on the surface based on the facts I’ve stated above this isn’t a legitimate recall but is more akin to being a hostile takeover of a local government by a Silicon Valley billionaire that more than likely couldn’t identify or comprehend the daily challenges of living in Los Angeles.
Is Karen Bass perfect?
Absolutely not, but this recall effort should be funded and fueled by Los Angeles residents and stakeholders and not by outsiders motivated by obtaining power by destroying local democracy.
Let’s be real, if we’re holding elected officials accountable, shouldn’t there be widespread calls for accountability across the board?
Why aren’t we talking about the accountability of elected officials from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors?
Why aren’t the powers that be calling for the resignation or recall of Los Angeles County Board member Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena where the Eaton fires destroyed homes and took lives of a predominantly black community?
I guess accountability is selective.
Also for those who often criticize Mayor Bass regarding her handling of the homeless crisis, a problem that has exasperated itself over three decades and counting, where was the call for accountability of her predecessor former Mayor Eric Garcetti who had no tangible plan to tackle homelessness.
For those critics who criticize Mayor Bass for being in Ghana at the beginning of the devastating Los Angeles fires, whether you like it or not it was former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley who sent firefighters home at the start of the fire even though the conditions and the dangers and potential devastation, including the potential loss of life, should have prompted her to do otherwise.
If accountability is what most “Angelenos” are looking for, shouldn’t accountability be the standard held across the board because anything short of that can only be viewed as ‘politics as usual’.
This recall effort, if we’re being honest, represents the fractured state of our democracy where politics has become a hollow chamber of hyperbolic rhetoric and performative art as opposed to electing public servants who serve for the will of the people.
Let’s be real, the optics alone and those working behind the scenes should be viewed as illegitimate and Mayor Bass, sparing no punches, should paint any so-called legitimate effort to recall her just that.
The fact of the matter is Los Angeles is complex and those who are plotting her demise could do much more harm than good as Bass would be rightfully emboldened to call this recall a right-wing attempt to seize power by the Republican Party.
Let’s keep it real, although it makes a compelling case for a change of leadership, former Bass opponent and real estate developer Rick Caruso has made no secret of his desire to be mayor and has used the mayor’s handling of the fire as a rallying call for change but I’m not convinced he’s the answer.
The fact of the matter is this so-called anger about Bass’ handling of these fires compels a City with over 46% Latino population to vote for a real estate developer who may be considered too friendly and eager to work with the Donald Trump Administration.
In fact if nothing else, one should ask why Elon Musk, a billionaire himself, who poured millions of dollars into President Trump’s campaign, has actively pushed for the recall of Mayor Bass and for Rick Caruso to succeed her.
In closing, as the old saying goes “all that glitters ain’t gold” and it appears that the effort to recall Karen Bass isn’t solely based on a lack of faith in her leadership but other sinister motives that center around the color of her skin.
Marvin McCoy is a longtime Inglewood resident and can be reached via email here.