Working to rid themselves of a long-standing headache, leaders of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission have cut a deal to remove the parks department's controversial general manager, Jackie Tatum, but at a cost to taxpayers.
In a vote this week, the commission approved a $200,000 consulting contract for Tatum, who has given long service to the city and has a large network of private sector contacts, but whose management of the commission has come under fire from Mayor Richard Riordan and a number of City Council members.
