L.A. Mayoral Debate Gets Personal
City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilman Eric Garcetti faced off in a mayoral debate on Monday evening at USC's Health Sciences Campus.
Both candidates agreed on the need for more efficient public transit, extending Measure R's sales tax increases, and more business-friendly tax policies.
However, they heatedly disagreed on one another's ethical decisions, especially as they related to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
In 2012, the City Council voted to approve an 11 percent rate hike despite LADWP's employees already receiving significantly higher wages than average utility workers.
Garcetti picked apart Greuel's relationship with the union that represents the LADWP, which has funded more than $3 million dollars toward her campaign. He suggested the funding has threatened her ability and desire to act independently from the union's interests.
When asked about her stance on whether Los Angeles LADWP labor costs should be cut, Greuel instead took the chance to make a return jab at her opponent.
"I don't know if I'm amused or scared that Mr. Garcetti has been hypocritical about this issue," Greuel responded. "He's questioned my integrity. He should be the last person to question my integrity, when he has had 13 ethics violations."
The question was asked several more times before Greuel indicated her support for the reduction of LADWP's labor costs.
Garcetti, too, agreed on the reduction, although he also commented, "Attacks like you just heard are the signal of a desperate candidate."
