The last we heard from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, executive director of the South Bay Labor Council and Working Partnerships, was on her way to Washington, D.C., to assist President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team. That’s when former SJ vice-mayor (and failed mayoral candidate) Cindy Chavez resurfaced in the political scene, stepping up to represent the labor camp on the 18th Floor of City Hall—as a temporary contractor. But Ellis-Lamkins has been virtually absent at City Hall since then, which has raised the questions of whether she is stepping down for good—or already has. According to sources at the SBLC, Ellis-Lamkins is on “sabbatical.” SBLC employees say she is often MIA at that office, showing up only for the occasional meeting. It’s the same story at her other job. “When anyone asks, we say she is on sabbatical and we don’t get into it,” says one employee at Working Partnerships. City Hall staffers are also in the dark, only saying that they’ve heard she is doing “research,” and will be back soon. Fly wonders if anyone has told Chavez, who is once again prowling the 18th Floor like she owns the place.
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Cindy Chavez has extensive knowledge in this area, in politics, and is a great community census builder. I think she’ll do an excellent job in whatever profession she chooses to work in. I wish her much success and luck!
Sounds like the Chavenista’s are still a little defensive. So much for learning anything from their mistakes.
“Chavez, who is once again prowling the 18th Floor like she owns the place.”
Hey Fly,
Do you have ANY evidence that Cindy has even been on the 18th floor in the last 12 months? If she is meeting on the floor, it has to be recorded on a Councilmember’s public calendar. Who has she been meeting with? When?
#2—she is a failed mayoral candidate.
#6
We all know she lost a race for Mayor. She has also won two races for city council. Maybe he should have added (Successful council candidate).
The point is that it was completely irrelevent to the topic to mention anything about the Mayor’s race and was used as a way to take a swipe at her.
“(and failed mayoral candidate)”
Way to frame it Fly. The anti-Labor, Anti-Chavez bias your paper displayed during the mayoral campaign made itself very visible in this post.
What a difference in political styles. On the one hand we have a mayor striving to create ‘Sunshine Laws’ to improve visibility into city Government.
On the other hand, we have a quasi-public institution who will not comment on whether or not their Executive Director is actually employed with the organization.
Night and Day, so to speak.
Im with Kathleen on this one. I think SJ is a better place with Cindy Chavez in a place of leadership. Lemme give two probably unexpected examples:
1) I used to live in her district. One morning I saw firetruck lights outside my window. Turns out it was nothing big, my neighbor had some electrical thing, and called the firefighters just in case. But when I looked outside, Cindy was outside the building, watching, and making sure everything was ok. She could have just drove by, but she stopped, got out the car, and made sure everything was cool before she left.
2) I have a friend who used to do a labor internship with me years ago, when Cindy was at the Labor Council. Later, he had some mental health issues, and became homeless and got on drugs. He’s a big guy that can cast a sort of intimidating figure if you don’t know him. One time, during the last election, he accidentally strolled into like a town hall that Cindy was at on the westside. Cindy talked to him (even though we as interns barely had contact with staff during our internship), and gave him a ride back downtown where he was meeting a friend. She didn’t have to do that, scored no political points for doing so, but it meant alot to him, and me.
Those moments—when no cameras are on, or reporters around, and people still show qualities of consideration and caring—are the true indicators of leadership.
Raj,
You forgot another Cindy “Superhero” Chavez incident as recalled by Jill Cody that became a key piece of Chavez’s campaign for Mayor:
…I heard glass breaking (The Rep’s windows were being destroyed by people throwing iron garbage cans through them). Below my window, I saw a woman step out of a parked car. It took a few seconds and then I realized that it was Cindy Chavez who had just stepped out of an unmarked police car. I saw her walk towards this huge, unruly crowd. She did not have a team of police with her. She just walked out into the parking lot and approached people to try to start gaining control. It was one of the bravest things I’d had ever see anyone do…
You can read the full story at http://www.sanjoseinside.com/sji/blog/entries/the_price_of_everything1/
#8, I’m glad you found comfort know a councilmember was outside of a home that had emergency responders. I would hope it was only to console the occupant, and not taking control of the situation.
No, #7, it was an accurate statement of her record.