Politics

Airport fight gets interesting *

With the first stage of approval expected today for Mayor Hahn's compromise LAX makeover, airport commissioner Miguel Contreras—whose more relevant day job is head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor—vowed that council members who vote no will have a hard time getting labor's endorsement in the upcoming city elections. On Tuesday, two members on the fence—Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel—took Contreras' side. Three of the main challengers to Hahn, including past Contreras confidante Antonio Villaraigosa and fellow councilman Bernard Parks, spoke out Tuesday against the mayor's plans for rebuilding LAX. Labor and the L.A. Chamber of Commerce are jointly pushing the plan, calling it a creator of jobs and a good thing for the region. Hahn is coming into this election with a lot more labor support than he had last time, when Villaraigosa got the benefit of his close ties to Contreras. Today Hahn's campaign reported another labor endorsement, from Laborers International Union of North America Local 777.

* Approved: 12-3 vote, says LATimes.com. A final vote is required in December.


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