Steve Lopez: Is Carmen Trutanich L.A.'s Mubarak? [Updated]

Nuch, are you kidding?

There's a lot I like about Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, a Pedro longshoreman in a suit. As a columnist, how can you not like a city official who calls you up and asks you to get high and drive a police cruiser in an experiment?

I also liked when he threatened to prosecute city officials and lock up a City Council member in a scrum over the enforcement of advertising restrictions.

But in threatening to lock up dozens of protesters involved in various demonstrations, giving them up to a year of jail time, Trutanich looks like the bully his critics have long accused him of being.

The protesters didn't get permits, so the demonstrations were illegal?

Oh, give me a break, Nuch. In this disengaged, apathetic society, we need more protests, not fewer.

[Updated at 8:35 a.m.: And Nuch, if you want to see the positive powers of protest, turn on the TV and watch what's going on in Egypt.]

Trutanich has been complaining about his staff being shrunk by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and this is how he wants to use his precious resources?

Nuch said the protests had cost the city thousands of dollars in police response.

But it'll cost many, many more thousands to prosecute and jail the protesters, won't it?

If you're not already racing over to the city attorney's office to protest, let me know what you think.

-- Steve Lopez

Photo: From left, Hamid Khan, Alma Soto, Chloe Osmer and Garrick Ruiz were among those arrested during protests last year at the Metropolitan Detention Center, background, against Arizona's immigration law. Under a new policy of the Los Angeles city attorney, they face the possibility of jail time. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Nimby Doo]

We should just outlaw protests completely. Who cares about unfair legislation? All I care about is getting where I want to go as quickly as possible. If I can maintain my sheeple status I'm much happier. It's all about me and my family and nothing else.

If we outlaw protests completely Mr Trut won't have to worry about this either and he can go back to high-fiving baby killers.

[anotherwhiteguyinLA]

Thanks Steve for pointing how ridiculous Trutanich is being in prosecuting protesters. Wasting valuable city resources trying to lock up people who are fighting for worthy causes sends the absolute wrong message. These folks --fighting against the insane Arizona law SB1070 or fighting for the Dream Act for hardworking immigrant students -- are following the nonviolent example of Martin Luther King and others before them. Nuch, I think there are some slumlords in this city "inconveniencing" Angelenos who are breaking basic tenant laws so you might consider using your precious resources going after them rather than some activists who blocked traffic.

[Marissa Nuncio]

Civil disobedience has a vital place in people’s struggle in the U.S. and across the world against civil, human and economic rights violations. Carmen Trutanich’s prosecution of dozens of LA residents who peacefully protested in this spirit shamefully ignores this important history. Trutanich is not working in the public’s interest but rather attempting to intimidate protestors and quell dissent at a time when it is most necessary. Trutanich, we demand that you drop the charges!

[Gaucho420]

Carmen Trutanich is world class idiot who seeks to impose his will on anyone...Pot dispensaries, billboards he doesn't like, whatever he beleives is wrong, he goes out of his way to lock up.

Draconian indeed and no place in the 21st century for Carmen.

[Beast]

Arresting protesters without a permit is now equal to being oppressed by a dictator for 3 decades? Really? Wow.

This is why your newspaper is full of FAIL. Filled with unbelievable FAIL, between you and Hacktor Crowbar.

I actually liked that movie done about you Steve, but you went 100 steps backward with this, seriously.

[Beast]

Great job Steve, you lost the already pathetically small following you had.

You lost more credibility than you ever had with an article like this.

[Ankur Patel]

Protesting in a way that is acceptable to those powers you are protesting against is in effect, ineffective.

Our laws are written in a way that not even the people writing them understand their implications. Our laws are written by the corporatocracy for the corporatocracy and enforced by the corporatocracy...

It is our duty to disobey unjust laws.

[Elizabethdawn]

I am appalled that so many people commenting are more concerned about their individual time than the collective need to live in a free and democratic society. I implore my fellow citizens to not be so nearsighted in the struggle for justice. The powers that oppress rely on individualism and personal comfort in times of contentiousness. If we truly believe in giving voice to all then we should be standing up for the right to protest. People's lives and dignity are at stake - at times, the only recourse is civil disobedience.

[Paulina Gonzalez]

Carmen Trutanich has called us "professional protesters" who are being paid for our actions and says this justifies his decision to prosecute and seek a sentence of to a year in jail. This is ridiculous. We are not paid protesters, we followed our conscious to stand for what is right and just. If we go to jail, it will not stop political protest it will make people more determined!

[thealaskan]

Clearly Mr. L- you are ambivalent w.r.t. the Nuch.

So am I.

On the one hand a crusader.

On the other hand-- just like the that historic krewe- a fighter hunting for the biggest bag of gelt?

One of his campaign claims to fame is environmentalist.

Like going after the bankrupt remains of an oil recycler in Compton?

Sounds great until you size up that he and now his former firm is trying to nail nearly every small business who ever did an oil change in LA.

Lat's forget the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, The Marines at El Toro and a few cities who can afford lawyers to say buzz off.

Anyone else who did business with "Leach Oil" ( bad nom de entrpise no doubt) is being sucked into a suit that only a lawyer (like Nuch?) could love.

REV973 LLC v Mouren-Laurens Federal Docket 98-10960

An oil company sells the racks and trucks to Leach and builds a fence but leaves the pipes.

Leach collects the used oil.

Leach goes broke.

The S & L lender goes broke.

Some speculators buy the paper for pennies on the dollar from the Feds and hire Nuch.

Let the law suits begin.

In the meantime, small businesses through out LA are sucked in for a shake down overseen by Nuch's old firm, a federal master and a few other hangers on for doing trade with an EPA licensed and bonded company.

Not enough government Bond for the likes of "cradle to grave" Nuch.

Gee whiz-- he's as working class as a mugger.

If he's honest-- gawd help anyone who crosses him.

P.S. -- next oil change? Use a false name or you maybe next.

When you next talk to Nuch-- ask where he get's his oil changed so we can all be safe from vexing litigants.

[Bob]

Look, if you're going to protest realize there are consequences to you actions. I defend the right for people to protest. But also realize there are consequences to your actions. That shouldn’t be a deterrent. Man-up and remember the protest of yesteryear. We didn’t protest and then cry when we arrested or put in jail. Part of the public protest was to be put on trail. It’s what we wanted to make a political statement and extend our message. It was part of the process.

[kuruc]

lopez, i'm protesting your dumbness!

[Gail]

People are making valid points and I wouldn't like being stuck in traffic because of protesters either. However you feel about this issue, the principle of free speech is what we need to keep in mind and you never know when you'll want to exercise your 1st Amendment rights (I attended many protests/marches when I was a lot younger, going back to the late 1960s). Putting them in jail for a year is absurd, since the punishment is greater than the crime. Many criminals are put in jail for less time after committing much more serious crimes than this. Aren't the jails already overcrowded? Plenty of criminals are released before their release dates because there's no place to put them (including Lindsay Lohan). I don't live in L.A. but hope I don't get put in jail if I were to ever protest there.

[Randy]

Steve I usually agree with you on everything but Nuch is cool. He is tough, stands up to the freaks that get elected in LA and lets people know the law. Go Nuch!

[Monique]

Trutanich is out of step with Los Angeles. We are a society where freedom of speech is welcomed and respected, even if we don't like the message. Trutanich has no sense of proportion, something he's demonstrated several times in the past. This latest piece of bullying is typical of his "my way or the highway" attitude. I will be voting for the highway for mr. Trutanich.

[eMan]

Trutanavich is one of those out of control public employees, that thinks the people work for HIM !!!

He has a personal agenda, and the will of the people, and the law won't get in his way... A vile, disgusting man, with no respect for the people of L.A.

[glenn grab]

Look, I think these protesters are completely misguided, but Trutanich's vindictive prosecution is out of line...He's letting his political beliefs over-ride his common sense by overcharging the demonstrators...these people are not felons, now matter how much Carmen(and I) may disagree with them....C'mon Carmen, lighten up!!!..

[FREE L.A.]

Thank you Steve for pointing out this important article. While our city faces mass cuts to public services, which are causing harm to tens of thousands of working families in Los Angeles, the city attorney has the authority to spend hundreds of thousands on prosecuting people for standing up for justice under their first amendment rights to protest. There cause was to call out the mass criminalization of communities of color in Los Angeles, Arizona and all over the U.S. They are fighting for the rights of people to live free of oppression and stop the ethnic cleansing of poor people and people of color by incarceration, deportation, massive poverty, failing education, and state violence.
They are fighting for the same reason of those who fought in the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's who fought to end dehumanization of people of color by segregation, public lynchings, and poverty. And back then they were house wives, union workers, students, and movement leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all participated in civil disobedience actions which were done WITH OUT a permit. And though at the time many people saw them as "criminals" and saw them as an "inconvenience" by putting their bodies on the line and marching in the streets, history has shown they were right. We look at them now as civil rights leaders, who fought for justice and human rights.
So before people begin to condemn these actions, please look at our history and those who fought for freedom and justice in the U.S. by disobeying unjust laws like Henry David Thoreu, Rosa Parks, or Dr. King and hundreds of students who sat at "white only" lunch counters and participated on freedom rides.
Would you called them criminals? Would you have hated if they inconvenienced you? Would you have stood on the side of the KKK and try to stop them?
Protect Civil Rights, Defend Human Rights.

[Uncle Rukus]

Shoulda just sicked the dogs on them or turned on the water hoses. Woulda been much cheaper.

[Really, a year?]

Anyone who knows American history knows that civil disobedience has been a crucial part of making us as free as we are. They should also know that most advocates of civil disobedience from Thoreau to MLK have said that protesters must accept the government's imposed consequences for their actions. The issue here is what the consequences should be? A year in jail is totally ridiculous!!! Think of the impact a year in jail will have on their lives and their families. Think of how much a year in jail for a dozen or twenty people will cost! Forget the thousands the police response cost, now we're talking over a million dollars with no benefit to public safety! Give 'em jaywalking tickets, let them pay their fine, and send 'em home.