Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued the first veto of his administration Monday, striking down the City Council's approval of a lawsuit settlement that would pay $2.7 million to an African American firefighter who contended that he was a victim of racial harassment.
The case involved Tennie Pierce, who sued the city after discovering that dog food had been mixed into a spaghetti dinner served him by fellow firefighters. But the settlement's size, which was the largest in Fire Department history, triggered a swell of negative public reaction that deepened when a website posted photographs of Pierce engaged in hazing pranks.
The mayor's veto sent a rebuke to the council, which had voted 11 to 1 for the settlement earlier this month, and to City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, who recommended the deal although some of his deputies knew from lawsuit testimony that Pierce had appeared in photos of Fire Department hazing.
Several council members said the city attorney did not show any photos to them before the settlement vote.
Delgadillo could not be reached for comment, but an aide said city lawyers had shared what they knew with the council.
Villaraigosa said he wanted the council to reconsider its decision in light of the photographs. Along with his veto, the mayor unveiled what he described as an anti-hazing policy for firefighters and other city employees that would toughen the city's approach to misconduct. The Fire Department, however, already has a "zero tolerance" hazing policy.
"Like every Angeleno, I am deeply troubled by the [discrimination] allegations raised here," Villaraigosa said.
"However, new information has come to light.... Given the magnitude of the recommended settlement, taxpayers have a right to demand a reconsideration with the full benefit of all the facts."
When some photos surfaced last week, the council rejected a motion to reconsider the settlement, with six of its 15 members favoring that approach; under City Charter rules, 10 were needed to take the matter up again.
But two members said Monday that they expected the council to comply with the mayor's wishes.
"If anyone attempts to override the mayor's veto, that will send a very sad message about defending the taxpayer's money," said City Councilman Dennis Zine, who cast the lone vote against the settlement.
Council members Wendy Greuel and Jack Weiss, who voted for the deal, said they wanted to revisit the issue in light of the Pierce photos.
