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This is pretty funny. Councilman Jose Huizar and his staff have been keeping score on people and institutions in his district, grading them in writing on how well they support His Councilmanness and, more pointedly, the degree of their opposition to him. David Zahniser of the Times got on the story from Rudy Martinez, the former Huizar supporter who is challenging the incumbent's reelection in CD 14 in March. Martinez had a perfect source in Huizar's office — his mother.
The lists include politicians, school principals, church pastors, museum officials, high school cheer squad advisors, police officers and even presidents of local American Legion posts.Enthusiastic Huizar backers received a 3, the highest score, while ardent Huizar foes earned a minus 3, based on a seven-point ranking system outlined in the documents, copies of which were provided to The Times by Rudy Martinez, the councilman's opponent in the March 8 election. A second scoring system graded those same community leaders on political clout, with 5 being the best score.
Cynthia Ruiz, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's top political appointee on the Board of Public Works, received only a 2 out of 5 on her decision-making influence. So did Father Gregory Boyle, who has struggled to secure city support for his anti-gang programs at Homeboy Industries.
Even municipal buildings were assessed. One list gave Fire Station 55 on York Boulevard a 2 out of 5 in terms of political clout. Another ranked the Eagle Rock Public Library as a zero, which meant it was not on the radar politically, the list reads.
Huizar first told Zahniser that the list-making stopped several years ago, then changed his story when shown proof that the effort continued until at least 2009. "Every council office, I assume, works on building relationships with constituents," Huizar explained.