Is the Mayor Living in Her Office?

Posted by Alex in Politics on December 23, 2008 at 2:50 am


Blanca Figueroa, the mayor of South El Monte, California, is one hardworking woman. In fact, you can often find her working in her office till the wee hours. Figueroa said that a mayor’s work is never done, but her fellow council members think that she’s actually living in her office!

"The mayor has been living at City Hall for the last eight months," said City Councilman Hector Delgado, who added of her office, "Does it look like a professional office or does it look like somebody’s bedroom?"

Delgado has been leading an effort to limit the amount of time Figueroa can spend at the office. He says he has surveillance video that shows Figueroa there at night, kicking back, cooking dinner and watching Mexican soap operas.

Kate Linthicum of The Los Angeles Times has the story: Link – via Super Punch

Photo: Nancy Pastor / LA Times


Previous post
this post? Please Email this               
Next post

Tags: , , ,


FUN PRODUCTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP:


COMMENT

15 comments to "Is the Mayor Living in Her Office?"

  1. Evilbeagle
    December 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 am

    When I was a kid, my dad had one of his offices in El Monte so I find this particularly amusing because of that. However, it's also a bit sad.

  2. L.C.
    December 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 am

    At least shes going to work, which is more than a lot of people can say...who cares that shes there all the time?

  3. Craig
    December 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am

    As long as she's a good mayor, why would anyone have a problem with that? She's always on the job.

  4. The Other Parker
    December 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am

    I guess it all comes down to the size of the office and how tidy she keeps it. If it still functions as a professional workspace, what's the problem? It's actually very economical. I would hope, of course, that she doesn't have a real home and family that she's neglecting if she's living out of her office now.

  5. Scooter
    December 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 am

    It's better than the mayor of KC, who is refusing to work in his office because they won't let his wife in. So he's doing all the mayors duties out of his own home.

  6. camusapprentice
    December 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am

    I would have a problem with that because I think it should remain a human right to own a living space away from work.

    If this mayor is LIVING in her office this means one of 2 things:

    1)she is such a screw up as a mayor, and her budget is SOOOOOOO off balance that she had to remove herself from the payroll to help keep her city from going bankrupt.

    or

    2) she is so flipping insane that she doesnt WANT her own living space.

    Im sorry, its just inappropriate. You might have a nice face that can get votes, but are you mentally capable of being the mayor of a city?

    My guess for her is no.

  7. zoey melf
    December 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    I agree that it doesn't matter. The true question is whether or not she is fulfilling her duty as mayor.

    I do wonder if Councilman Hector Delgado is spending his time wisely, though. Did he use city funds to videotape the mayor?? Isn't there something better he could be doing with his time??

  8. camusapprentice
    December 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    zoey...

    Counsilman Hector Delagado is responsible for internal affairs. Yes thats an efficient use of time, maybe because he heard that people are uncomfortable because they feel like they are walking into a bedroom, not a mayors office?

    You cant rent out a store in a strip mall and live there. You cant get elected as mayor and just live in the office. Them's the facts. If a mayor is illegally living in her office, id hope a counsil person is there to document and report it!

  9. Skipweasel
    December 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    I'll go with the "If she's doing a good job, why worry" set.

  10. Evilbeagle
    December 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    I agree that if she's doing her job well, it doesn't matter. It does strike me as being a bit sad, though. Seems sort of messed up to live out of one's office. I know I wouldn't want to.

  11. Edward
    December 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    Since we are voting, I support the "Don't live in the office" side for quite a few reasons. Here is one you might not have thought about. If the city does not enforce zoning codes on the mayor, they might not be able to enforce them on anyone else.

  12. graffiksguru1
    December 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    Vote: Should NOT live in her office. Unless its totally hidden, and you couldn't tell she slept there (and she actually has to work at night).
    It doesn't evoke a professional atmosphere at all, and would make me think she got evicted/couldn't afford to pay rent, which is obviously something I wouldn't want in a Mayor.

  13. The El Bee En
    December 24th, 2008 at 8:16 am

    El Monte, CA has the El Monte bus station where the MTA and Foothill Transit buses arrive/depart from...South El Monte has...I have no idea!

  14. liphttam1
    December 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    So she dosn't go to work, she gets up and works! :)

  15. Hog Beatty
    January 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    I lived in my office for about 7 months last year because I spent all of my money in the service of my addictions and could not afford rent.


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. Comments aren't censored, but those that are abusive or off-topic may be edited or deleted.


Stay updated on the comments with Comment RSS