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The federal grand jury investigating the city commissions wants to talk today with its first commissioner, James Acevedo, a Valley-based political consultant appointed by Mayor Hahn. Acevedo directed the first election campaigns, and was the political mentor, of city council president Alex Padilla and councilman Tony Cardenas. The three of them broke with other Latino Democrats in 2001 to support Jim Hahn for mayor over Antonio Villaraigosa. Shortly after Hahn won, he named Acevedo to the port commission. Since he lacked port experience or expertise in the world of international trade, I assume that Acevedo was put on the commission to raise political money and to make personal connections. But I guess the grand jury will figure out if that's true. I wrote a story about Acevedo for Los Angeles magazine in 2002.
Hahn's policy analyst for the port, Wendy Wang, also was subpoenaed. Stories are in today's Times and Breeze.