Blumenfield appointment is plain old nepotism

noun: nepotism
1. the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs.

synonyms:

favoritism, preferential treatment, the old boy network, looking after one's own, bias, partiality, partisanship

Well, we scooped everyone yesterday on the Blumenfield appointment and no one even bothered to give us the hat tip, even though we shared.  Gotta love our media friends.

nah - we still luv ya anyway.

Meanwhile Mrs. Blumenfield's non-profit friends - including the Mayor's wife - are on the defensive. They should be, because this appointment is self-indulgent and embarrassing.

Nothing personal to Mrs. Blumenfield, but:

1. She is the wife of a sitting Councilmember which is definitely a conflict of interest, and 


2. She comes from the world of non-profits and will return to that world when she is done. No non-profit administrator in their right mind would ever even potentially cross a politician who may fund them in the future. So she's a guaranteed Yes Man.

As one of our commenters pointed out, with all of the high level professional talent among parks friend and supporters in this huge town, the Mayor's wife's friend is his choice.  Can you say "nepotism"?

How embarrassing for Los Angeles. And sad for what's left of our parks. It doesn't matter if it's been done before. Nepotism is nepotism.



Reverse hat tips (no hard feelings):

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2014/01/06/15540/mayor-appoints-councilman-s-wife-to-board-of-recre/

http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20140106/la-mayor-eric-garcetti-names-councilman-bob-blumenfields-wife-kafi-to-panel