Around Town: The Manny Ramirez Metaphor

What do Ford, GM and La Cañada Flintridge City Council members have in common? They all want their “fair share” of the federal stimulus package.

What does any of this have to do with Manny Ramirez? It’s in the subtext.

True, the Dodgers offered Manny too much money in a down economy.

True, Manny should have taken the deal.

But in this season of trillion dollar bailouts, why can’t the La Cañada Flintridge City Council forgo the $1 million repaving of city streets and donate the money to the Los Angeles Dodgers? advertisement


The time has come for the La Cañada Flintridge-Dodger Bailout.

These are tough times. Many of us are facing unprecedented economic struggles.

I did not ask the City Council for help when Mervyn’s went under.

I remained silent (sort of) when Talbots closed down their Talbot’s Kids Stores.

and when the Wall Street Journal laid off their Law Blogger

and when those guys from the bailed out bank partied in Hollywood

But I shall remain silent no more.

Many of you were shocked to learn that the La Cañada Flintridge City Council hired a lobbyist to ensure our “fair share” of the federal stimulus package.

It seemed a tad self-centered and La Cañada is not a self-centered town.

We are generous and sensible.

Don’t ask what the federal government can do for you, ask what the federal government can do for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It is time for us, the taxpaying baseball fans, to tell our elected officials that our town would benefit from a La Cañada Flintridge-Dodger Bailout, funded by the federal stimulus package.

Look, there’s only about 20,000 residents in La Cañada Flintridge. Dodger Stadium holds 56,000 fans. We can all go. Together.

Our City Council should negotiate with the Dodger organization. We could cut a deal on the tickets.

Case in point: hot dogs. Instead of charging $40 for the right pavilion tickets that have the unlimited free hot dogs, the La Cañada Flintridge-Dodger Bailout would allow the Dodgers to designate a 91011 section with free hot dogs, but not the drinks. We’re not greedy. That way, the Dodgers could make a profit on the beer, and we who live in La Cañada Flintridge would feel like we got something of value, besides watching Andrew Jones sit on the bench.

Oh, he’s gone? Sorry, I forgot.

Back to Manny. I adore Bill Plashke, but the Dodgers need Manny and Manny needs the Dodgers. I don’t care about Manny’s Past History. Or if his agent is more tone-deaf to the economy than the Octomom.

The important thing is folks like us, the taxpayers. Also, free hot dogs and cheap tickets for what used to be America’s most popular sport back in the days before steroids, embryo transfers and stimulus plans.

Take me out to the ball game!


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ANITA SUSAN BRENNER is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident. E-mail her at anitasusan.brenner@yahoo.com.

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