Posted on 11/09/2005 10:19:17 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The head of the Mexican American Political Assn. on Tuesday called on Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to drop support of an ambassadorship for an owner of Ameriquest and urged him not to use the mortgage company's jet again.
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In a letter to the mayor, MAPA National President Nativo Lopez said his group was "taken aback" by an article in The Times on Tuesday that detailed Villaraigosa's use of the Ameriquest jet and his letter of support to the Senate for the nomination of Ameriquest principal owner Roland E. Arnall as ambassador to the Netherlands.
Lopez said his organization has accused Ameriquest of predatory lending practices in the Latino community.
He called on Villaraigosa to drop his support for Arnall's appointment as ambassador, support tough penalties against Ameriquest for unfair lending practices "and refuse any further entreats or favors" from the company.
"Anything less from a person of your stature and reputation would send a wrong message to the community in general, but especially from the community from whence you came," Lopez wrote.
The mayor is tapping his political officeholder account to reimburse Ameriquest $438 each for himself and an aide who went on the trip, saying the city's municipal code allows him to pay coach fare.
Kathay Feng of California Common Cause called on Villaraigosa to publicly disclose the full value of the flight.
A separate jet operator at Van Nuys Airport said her one-way fare to Detroit for a party of five costs more than $19,500.
"Clearly the mayor needs to disclose the full value," Feng said. "We should be concerned whenever an elected official receives a gift or travel support from a special interest."
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Villaraigosa's office issued a statement Tuesday that defended use of the private jet.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It sounds like he is not getting his share of the spoils. IIRC he is the #1 race hustler in Orange County. Reverend Jackson with a Spanish surname.
Forgive me for being off-topic, but does anyone know of a good lender that is NOT predatory regarding self-employed people?
Thx.
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