The Los Angeles Times reports today that L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is very demanding of his staff to the point of being treated like a rock star.
"It's up to a swarm of harried aides to keep the boss hydrated and happy, primped and pampered, ensuring that he has clean hands and fresh breath (he gobbles Listerine strips by the pack)," the Times reports. "Villaraigosa is chauffeured around town by police in a black GMC Yukon. Two personal assistants, assigned to him in alternating shifts, tend to his needs, shadowing him from morning to night and keeping him in view at all times should he need anything."
The Times found all this out when it obtained a copy of a memo entitled, "Staffing the Mayor." These are the instructions in the memo that I particularly like: "Your job is to remain at all times within the mayor's line of sight. You should constantly adjust your position so the mayor can see you and call you over if need be."
You better not lose eye contact with the king or you'll be sweeping hallways at City Hall.
It's fools like this who bleed California's economy. I bet he feels he's providing a service by making these "pampering" jobs available...
I just read the full story in today's Bee. Near the end it mentioned that Gov. Schwarzeneggar has his aides keep the room temperature cool at all times wherever he goes. It seems that he doesn't like to sweat.
Has anyone noted the hypocrisy of asking Californians to raise our thermostats (which I have gladly done), while our Governor leads from the rear?