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L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Wants a Six-Foot Security Wall Erected Around His Mansion

mayor getty house.jpg
Can we get a moat up in here, while we're at it?
Update: The mayor gets his wall.

Update: "Mayor Villaraigosa's Very Own Border Fence: Whatever Happened to 'Bridges Not Walls'?"

The mayor is afraid. Very afraid.

Much like the L.A. City Councilmembers, who quiver at the thought of potential Los Angeles Loughners with an eye on City Hall, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa believes he is in danger, and therefore needs a six-foot security wall erected around L.A.'s official mayoral residence in Windsor Square [Park La Brea News].

It's called the Getty House, and apparently, its stumpy rectangular bushes -- all manicured and Tudor-styled -- are not sufficient protection from the, er, elements of the surrounding neighborhood, described by Wikipedia as "small, historic and wealthy."

But no 'hood is small or wealthy enough to protect his royal highness. Much to the dismay of the Windsor Square Association, whose residents generally abide by the city's 42-inch yard-wall limit, Villaraigosa just applied for a six-footer:

On Feb. 2, the mayor's office submitted paperwork to receive a variance to city bylaws to build a security wall surrounding the Getty House in Windsor Square. ...

The newly developed plan is actually revised from the eight-and-a-half-foot wall that was originally bandied about a couple of months ago and rejected outright by the Windsor Square Association. The new proposal calls for a six-foot wall, still greater than the allotted 42 inches that is permitted.

John Welborne, the Windsor Square Association's VP for planning and land use, puts his disapproval smoothly to the News:

"I would note ... that virtually everyone in the City of Los Angeles who erects, or seeks to erect, an over-in-height fence or wall in the required, open, front yard setback area of a single-family residence says the reason is 'for security.' Should all of Los Angeles, including its historic residential neighborhoods, become a collection of walled compounds?"

Indeed, we're having trouble thinking of a single instance in which the mayor was subjected to some danger that the rest of Los Angeles hasn't been subjected to as well.

Oh right -- librarians and city workers with picket signs. Scary stuff, really: In April, the library folk went so far as to sit on the mayor's lawn, where they brought out the big guns -- BOOKS -- and read them aloud to children.

Nothing a blighty "F y'all" wall can't fix! And not just any wall: This one will have special "security features ... embedded in the construction," according to the News. Slightly more outrageous is the fact that the mayor currently has "around-the-clock security" patrolling his residence, and can thus pitch the wall as a taxpayer money-saver.

Stalk while you still can: Villaraigosa lives at 605 South Irving Boulevard. And no offense, mayor, but we think Lindsay Lohan could use it more.

[@simone_electra/swilson@laweekly.com]

My Voice Nation Help
449 comments
Vaughn
Vaughn

SAY HEY MAYOR    +! ^&&&^^%^%$## HIRE SOME ILLEGAL ALIENS FOR PROTECTION  THEIR VERY GOOD AT PROTECTING THEIR  ENABLERS

PostTosties
PostTosties

Tony Villar?After helping to thwart the vote of the American citizen in California in regard to Proposition 187this former MECHA Chicano now want protection at his residence?With special features no less! Who pays for this? The American taxpayer probably! The same people he screwed!

What is he afraid of ? Well thanks to Tony pendejo, half of Mexico as well as many illegals invaders from Latin America now illegally reside in a once beautiful Golden American City called Los Angeles! Multiplying like rats.What are you afraid of MECHA BOY? Aren't these the GENTE that love you?No American L.A. Mayor ever requested this before you COWARD.

Not a kool aid drinker
Not a kool aid drinker

Hey Tony...this isn't Mexico and we don't erect walls in our front yards to protect ourselves from those whom we serve.  Remember....you weren't annointed and you voluntarily chose to put yourself in this position. Perhaps it's time you stepped aside and allowed someone else to serve who doesn't fear his fellow citizens???

P.S.  What are you doing that makes you fearful???

backwardsthinker
backwardsthinker

I dont like the Mayors ideology, but let a political leader protect himself if need be.

Granny Andy
Granny Andy

On the Getty House Foundation website Tony says "This home is one of our city’s great treasures, made possible with the continued help of many generous supporters.It is a home that I am proud to share with the people of Los Angeles."

Does he only want to share with certain invited, guests.

I doubt that he even lives there. Sounds like it really is a museum. Of course, like the Lincoln bed, I'm sure the girls love it.

Think
Think

i am shocked by the ignorance permeating these comments. liberals and conservatives are the same. it is the two party system run by corporate interests that gives us the appearance of democracy, but a fascist oligarchy is at its roots.

Big Mike
Big Mike

i wonder what this guy is so "afraid of" hes the mayor unless he is corrupt or hes not doing his job correctly he should have nothing to worry about nor does he need a 6 ft fence.

Brett
Brett

How arrogant. Chances are we'll elect a taller mayor next time, so shouldn't the wall be seven feet tall?

Pat Kittle
Pat Kittle

Surprise surprise!

Our "sin fronteras" mayor wants a border wall.

:-)

Bottomsarriba
Bottomsarriba

This is ridiculous at best. If the mayor is afraid to live in the city that all his constituents live in he needs another job. There should be no special precedents set for one person over another. Certainly the taxpayers do not need to pay for his wall, either. This is a first rate example of people in the political arena spending money that doesn't need to be spent. It certainly does not benefit the taxpaying body as a whole (or any part thereof.) Who is paying for his security ?

Aznooz
Aznooz

That won't work, someone will just build a seven-foot ladder. WHAT A JOKE!

flirishpm
flirishpm

By the way, this is the same "mayor" that advocated for an open border with Mexico and deemed it "racist" that we don't allow the parasites to migrate across the border at will and sign up for all of the freebies given away to them. No border fence but he wants a "fence" or wall around the mayor's residence. The irony here is beyond insane.

flirishpm
flirishpm

It doesn't surprise me that politicians are getting worried about an all out revolt from the great unwashed proletariat and want to build "walls" around themselves. With the way things are going, we may well yet see people rise up and violently revolt against the ruling class after years of squandering the wealth that they confiscate from us. I'm not advocating it but you can empathize with it.

Onmayday25
Onmayday25

I wonder if he is afraid of illegal immigrants.

Anevin
Anevin

You California Libs response to a border wall is 20 foot wall 21 foot ladder, if you are worried about "security" start by enforcing ALL laws.

gommygoomy
gommygoomy

This is just too rich. He wants a Security Fence. To keep people OUT.Does he want a Security Fence on the Border? Does he want ARIZONA to keep people out? What about Israel's Fence? What does he think about that?The Liberals never disappoint. Their ARROGANCE is only outdone by their HIPOCRACY.They despise COAL and OIL. Yet, they own Huge Mansions (plural) that use 10 times the Electricity as you or me. They have the BIG SUV's, and the Fancy Cars, with the BIG Engines. They take their Private Jets, if where they're going, is more than 10 miles away. They don't drive the "SMART CARS". They want US to, but, then again, we're not "SPECIAL". They have nothing but love, for the UNIONS. You can see them on the Picket Lines, sometimes. Hey, look! There's Sean Penn. There's Danny Glover. There's Ed Asner. Yet, they Film their productions in CANADA, whenever possible. Why? To avoid paying UNION SCALE, silly.Ask Nancy Pelosi if her VINEYARDS use UNION LABOUR. Ask her if her RESTAURANT uses UNION LABOUR. And, maybe we should do a NANNY check?And you'll NEVER find THEIR KIDS, in a Public School. No, No. That's crazy talk.They all love the Environment, and Renewable Energy. They all love GREEN Technology. As long as they don't have to see it. They still want it. Just in YOUR neighborhood, or on YOUR street. They love WINDMILLS. Just don't think about putting one within 50 MILES of their living room window. Right, Robert Kennedy? I'd say: Right, Teddy? But the Fat Drunk is DEAD (FINALLY) and buried in Arlington, where he has NO BUSINESS BEING!Let's put a SOLAR FARM out in the Desert. What? Diane Feinstein says no? How about an INCINERATOR, so we can get rid of the Landfills? Ask Robert Redford if we can line the Peaks of the Rocky Mountains with WINDMILLS, to catch the Santa Anna Winds? Ask Alan Alda if we should be tapping the Energy Potential of the Ocean Tides, on the California Coast? Ask one of the Libtard Bleach Blond tweens (that we're all supposed to listen to) if we should be exploiting the Geothermal Energy at YELLOWSTONE. Ask that SLOB Ex New Mexico Governor, the Fat Mexican with the perpetual Burrito Stain on his tie - Richardson - if we can set up MASSIVE SOLAR FARMS in the State.These people are the Ultimate NIMBYS. "Not In My Back Yard".And, now, apparently, according to Mayor More Important Than You and Me, they don't want us in their FRONT YARD, either.WHY does anyone Vote Democrat?According to a recent Study: 20% of all Americans suffer from a MENTAL DISORDER.According to GALLUP: 20% of Americans identify themselves as LIBERAL.In 2008, Barack Hussein Obama received votes from 20% of the Population.PROVING, once and for all, that LIBERALISM is a MENTAL DISORDER.But, we already knew that, didn't we?

anAmericanMom
anAmericanMom

Yes this is a really good poster for not giving mass Amnesty.. from the man who spends half his time in MEXICO he wants a wall around the LA digs..

Spksk
Spksk

Well, how about that, the man who believes a border fence is ineffectual, would now like one around his home. I say it should be an "open property" policy when it comes to the residence of our lead city official.

Thurston Howell the Third
Thurston Howell the Third

Who voted for this nit - wit? You people in LA.....

If your Mayor Hose-A wants a security wall, then build it out of large STYROFOAM BLOCKS. It'll be CHEAPER THAN A REAL WALL and will give that bird brain the ILLUSION OF SECURITY. Just like he's the ILLUSION OF A MAYOR.

Libertarian
Libertarian

What kind of elected officials can you expect from voters educated in our substandard schools? The are the ones who elected Davis, Arnold, Brown (twice), a city council of primarily self-serving twits, a nutty super-right legislature, spend-spend-spend county supervisors, and a jury of them found OJ not guilty. I'm surprised the didn't elect OJ to high office. It will NOT get better under the present public officials both progressive Democrats and spendthrift Republicans."ON WISCONSIN"

David_Barron
David_Barron

Absolutely Not Antonio ! Besides, you declared that Los Angeles is the safest it's been since the 1950's. Better yet, why don't you go live in CD14...your old neighborhood....where apparently six-foot walls might already exist? Afterall, didn't you just grant $550,000 of our tax-dollars to your "anti-gang" program over in Boyle Heights? With that kind of money, security should be tops! Or another suggestion; recruit 200 of your "anti-gang" staffers that are 6 foot tall, and line them shoulder to shoulder around the propery. Thats one way to avoid a variance or a building permit. And, I'm sure you know how costly and time consuming it is trying for a variance? And, then there's that chance you might forefit that $7K fee if your denied that variance. That fee is coming out of your pocket, isn't it?As an LA city council candidate for CD6 I stand with the Windsor Square Association objection. Mr Antonio, you've only confirmed what I've been advocating as a candidate. Abolish your "anti-gang" program and re-direct those multi-million dollars to hiring 2000 police officers who can really bring safety to our communties, and suppress that "danger" your feelingcandidate david barron for LAcitycouncilw.barron4cc.com

suzi305
suzi305

Out! Out! Damn favela!!!

ONTIME
ONTIME

Maybe he's afraid of his ex wife......and her brothers.

Billwickens
Billwickens

Protestors cross the line when they protest on private property. Frankly anyone anywhere should be able to put up any kind of fence they wish...obviously wilson writes as a provacateur and has no respect for those who are the writer's betters.

Knowsbettah
Knowsbettah

Maybe the Mayor can come over and live in Arizona near the border for a while. Then we can talk about fences and walls.....SLIMEBALL!!

Billwickens
Billwickens

any property owner should be able to do whatever they wish with their property...CCRs are becoming ridiculously anti freedom. Neighborhood associations are ridiculous and should be disbanded...our country was based on individual freedoms not socialistic collectivism.

anonymous
anonymous

Do you even read the hundreds of comments ahead of you. The Mayor does not own this property. It was donated by the oil billionaire Getty-thus Getty House- to the City of LA, which was generally used for a few official functions, till this idiot Mayor moved in and made it his permanent residence. He is a tenant & will have to vacate this place in less than two years. Meanwhile, this idiot who is just a tenant and has no rights over this property wants to put this wall which affects the whole neighborhood consisting of mostly 2 million + homes. The man has no property rights over a property he does not own. The citizens of LA own it & they provide half a million dollars a month to keep this idiot there. Don't confuse private rights over a squatter's rights, which you will agree are none.

suzi305
suzi305

Um, isn't this what the elite do in Rio or Sao Paolo; build fortifications against the street urchins that they suck tax money from??

Mitchell
Mitchell

Or Mexico city. As it is, we are well on our way to favelas and compounds.

zanzikat
zanzikat

Security? Maybe if he would allow his law enforcement to identify AND report illegal aliens, who are probably at least 30% of the people they interact with each day, and didn't keep a sanctuary city, and didn't pussyfoot with so many persons of questionable repute, he wouldn't need a security fence.

tea luver
tea luver

NO! NO! NO!We should not allow the fence to be built, and while we're at it we should not be giving him a free (at taxpayer expense) house to live in.

Guest
Guest

The posterboy for MEChA, who salutes his Mexican flag hanging in his office is concerned about the recklessneass and lawlessness he and his La Raza criminals have created. Their massive, unopposed invasion of millions upon millions of illegal aliens into California has all but turned the state into a third world cesspool.

His bosses in Mexico have been eager to saturate the US with millions of illegal aliens. Currently the majority of the illegals are overflowing into the Southwest states of CA, AZ, NM, CO, TX, UT and NV. The Mexicans call these seven states Aztlan, which is the territory ceded to the US by Mexico after the war as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848, which they expect to control once again. The overall plan, however, is to create a colossal Mexican population in the US and achieve total Mexican population superiority (especially with 14th Amendment fraud), answerable only to La Raza and Mexico City.

Tony Villar (his real name), just as all Californians must erect barriers. It is nearly out-of-control. It is becoming Mexico by population and the de facto welfare state of Mexico.

1. $19 to $39 billion is spent on welfare for illegal aliens each year in California.Welfare for illegals in the sanctuary city of Los Angeles is nearly $4 billion per year.

2. $7.2 billion per year is spent on assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school beakfasts, lunches, and now dinners for illegal aliens.

3. $6.5 billion per year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.

4. $34 billion dollars per year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally - and they cannot speak a word of English.

5. $35 billion dollars per year is spent for education for the American-born fraud-children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies (America haters). 1 in 4 births in Los Angeles are by Mexicans that crossed our borders for scam birthing - followed by 18 years of welfare. 1 in 10 for the rest of the country.

6. $7 million dollars per day is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. In California alone $3 billion dollars is spent to maintain illegals, many of whom are still operating their gang and drug operations.

7. Thirty-three percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.

8. Over $149 billion dollars per year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers.

9. $300 to $400 billion dollars per year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal alien tsunami.

10. The hordes of illegal aliens make a huge additional crime problem in the U.S. In sanctuary County of Los Angeles, over 1,200 murders are committed by Mexican illegal aliens. They cost the county nearly one million dollars each to prosecute. Over 90% of all warrants for homicide is for a Mexican illegal alien. Of Los Angeles’ Top 200 Most Wanted, 182 are Mexican illegal aliens. More than 3,500 Californians have been murdered by illegal aliens who have fled back to Mexico to avoid prosecution and extradition. The rate for the multiple arrests of illegal aliens is staggering.

11. During 2005, more than 10 million illegal aliens crossed into the US. Millions of pounds of drugs also crossed, and more than 400 million tons of trash and human waste was left in our national border parks.

12. The National Policy Institute estimates that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion, or an average cost of $41 to $46 billion annually over just a five year period.

13. In 2006, illegal aliens sent home $45 billion dollars in remittances back to Mexico. Banks such as NCLR donors Wells Fargo and Bank of America, both offer services through the Mexican Consulate for illegal aliens. They, through sister programs of the National Council of La Raza also approved hundreds of millions of doallars in mortgages to illegals with stolen I.Ds.

14. Over one and a half million sex crimes have been committed by illegal aliens.

Illegal aliens do vote, even it is a violation of federal law, specifically Honor States where ID cards are not required, and states that are tolerant with absentee ballots. Countless states like the “Sanctuary State of California,” where there is a continuous, massive ingress of illegal aliens eager to take advantage of welfare programs as encouraged by the never-ending supply of previous generation law breakers.

In California, Americans are fighting off insolvency. Senior Citizens have become second class citizens.

Massive illegal immigration from Mexico is another area where the true racist and misogynist tendencies of Liberals/Leftists appear. They have turned a blind eye to human trafficking, rape trees, as well as other extremely harmful aspects of illegal immigration, not only to our own economy, but to the people coming here illegally themselves.

Instead, they are currently more concerned with demonizing states such as Arizona, and it’s new illegal immigration law than they are concerned with protecting the rights of American citizens. They’ve also proven that they care only about the race of people coming here illegally (theirs).

To the left, they aren’t human beings as opposed to a condition; they are merely political pawns and cheap labor. What’s a little enslavement and forced prostitution if it gets them cheap labor, and more bodies at the ballot box?

But this is what happens when you get entirely too much more than you asked for. Right Tony?

zippetydodah
zippetydodah

If he doesn't "feel" safe, then let him purchase another home with the amount of security he "feels" is necessary. WITH HIS OWN MONEY... Not at the tax payer expense. Since when does a mayor require a home at another's expense? A governor or the president, but NOT a mayor.

Government the cause of most poverty.

Albert Barlow
Albert Barlow

He has illegal aliens cutting the lawn. I have seen it with my own eyes and talked to them.

Piggly
Piggly

I guess he wants to hide his harem while being served by a bunch of illegals.

Wncchester
Wncchester

"Important" liberals always feel various laws should apply to the "little people", not them. Thus Hisshona thinks HE should have a protective wall, but not others. Ditto that HE shoud have as many SUVs as he wishes but not the "little people" And he no doubt feels HE should have firearms or others with firearms around him for protection from angry "little people", but not so for the little people who may need to defend themselves from the welfare and druggies with a strong sense of entitlement to the possessions of others as they have been taught by liberals.

Such "liberals' make me gag.

Nacho69
Nacho69

I'm on the side of this ignorant, incompetent, ethnocentric racist---as long as he keeps his rear end inside the walls!

Dandapani
Dandapani

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Obama_Is_Satan
Obama_Is_Satan

If they want to build a fence, why not do it at the border?

Wtm3
Wtm3

May be he should get a solid wll 25 feet tall and then fill it with water.

Theodore Baar
Theodore Baar

This one will have special "security features ... embedded in the construction,"

Would these features include, but not be limited to, razor wire, vertical and horizontal claymore coverage, toe popper mines and anti-personnel microwave devices?

miker5
miker5

Separate the rulers from the hordes just like in a third-world banana republic. Congratulations, liberals, on transforming California. The reason so many of you are fleeing California for Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Montana is to escape the policies you've implemented in California. But you still haven't learned anything and are bringing the same policies that trashed CA to your new homes. Do us all a favor and move to Iran. Take Barry with you.

Truth
Truth

I suppose Villaraigosa wants cash strapped California Town to pay for this six foot security fence. Perhaps he should move his family into a private house that can accommodate his so called "need for security" and use the Getty Mansion to generate tourist $$$; then people won't be so PO-ed for his mismanagement; spending them into the poor house, and there won't be a need for a special fence. Really, if they wanted in, they would already be there. spend! spend! spend!

Andrew M
Andrew M

NOPE.... Negative on the "moat" idea Mr. Mayor. You don't have enough water in L.A. for that and it would take the approval of Northern Californians to take it from the Hetch-Hetchy reservoir. So there!

Get yourself a couple of AR-15's and protect..... oh....wait..... California has banned the idea of protecting yourself.... ok ok .. start over here..... Get yourself a sling-shot and some rocks and when they start climbing over the wall, let 'em have it!

Or better yet.... if you can't stand the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen! hahahaha

Mark
Mark

Well I guess he doesn't like the craphole he actively helped create. Too friggin' bad.

ameriapp
ameriapp

If we just had a much smaller government, all of this turmoil and political bickering would be on a much smaller scale too! Imagine that! We would have a whole lot more time and energy to focus on advancing our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness!

richard
richard

Shouldn't he try a virtual fence first?

arkivx
arkivx

Can we get a wall on the border instead?

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