Internal Records Show White House Invitation To Mayor Garcia Was For <i>Cinco de Mayo</i> Social Event, Not To Discuss Ending Veterans Homelessness

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Internal Records Show White House Invitation To Mayor Garcia Was For Cinco de Mayo Social Event, Not To Discuss Ending Veterans Homelessness

Garcia did seek to arrange personal meetings with Labor Sec'y and HUD Sec'y, was told they were unavailable for personal meetings but might attend Cinco de Mayo event; Mayor meets HUD Sec'y at Cinco de Mayo event, also met with White House Dir. for Inter-Gov'tal Affairs

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(May 19, 2015) -- Internal City Hall communications obtained by LBREPORT.com under the CA Public Records Act show that Mayor Robert Garcia wasn't invited to the White House to discuss ending veteran homelessness but to attend a Cinco de Mayo social event (described by TheHill.com as a "party" and by the White House as a "reception.") The event was attended by multiple Latino-surnamed officials, who met and mingled and at one point President Obama entered the room, delivered brief podium photo/video-op remarks and exited.

Mayor Garcia's office did try to use the DC trip to try and arrange personal meetings with President Obama's Labor Secretary and HUD Secretary, was told both were unavailable for personal meetings but might attend the Cinco de Mayo event. HUD's Secretary and Mayor Garcia did meet at the Cinco de Mayo event, and the Mayor was able to schedule a personal meeting with the White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

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On May 5, Mayor Garcia was absent [along with all other Councilmembers except Daryl Supernaw] at the City's annual memorial ceremony to honor police and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Shortly after the event, the Mayor's office issued a release (echoed on the City's e-notify system, social media and in Garcia mass emails) that didn't mention the Cinco de Mayo social event and told the public that Garcia was [Mayor's office release headline] "at White House today at invitation of President Obama" and would "also update administration on [the] City’s progress on President's initiative to end veteran homelessness."

[Garcia office release text] Mayor Garcia is in Washington, DC today at the invitation of the President for a reception tonight at the White House with mayors, members of Congress, and cabinet secretaries. He is also meeting with White House officials to discuss the President's initiative to end veteran homelessness, which Mayor Garcia has committed to accomplishing this year in Long Beach.
"I am honored to represent Long Beach at the White House as a guest of the President," said Garcia. "I am also eager to update the administration on our progress to end veteran homelessness in our city by the end of the year."
Last week, the Mayor announced his commitment to the President's national goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2016. New Orleans was the first city in the country to end veteran homelessness earlier this year.
Garcia returns to Long Beach tomorrow afternoon and will not attend tonight's council meeting. He spoke to newly elected Councilmember Daryl Supernaw today and shared his good wishes and congratulations.

Internal City emails show that on April 9, the White House Social Office invited Mayor Garcia [and a guest of his choice] to attend a [White House email subject line] "Cinco de Mayo Celebration." On April 20, Mayor Garcia's Executive Administrator accepted the invitation [and his designated guest was Mayoral office Senior Advisor Sharon Weissman.]

On May 4, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, Mark Taylor, informed Mayor Garcia by email that "was able to schedule just as requested -- as close to event as possible" a meeting with Jerry Abramson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director Intergovernmental Affairs, at 4 p.m. but neither HUD Secretary Castro nor Labor Secretary Perez would be available for personal meetings but they might attend the Cinco de Mayo event. Mr. Taylor's email indicated that Dept. of Labor staff had briefed the Secretary [unclear which Secretary; we preseme Perez] "to connect with you" and added that Secretary Perez "is traveling but is trying to make it back in time for [the] event."

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Garcia did see HUD Secy Castro at the Cinco de Mayo event, Tweeting a photo of the two of them together.

The Mayor's office provided no other pertinent documents in response to our public records request.

Tonight's (May 19) City Council agenda includes an item listed on the "consent calendar" (not scheduled for separate discussion unless requested by a Councilmember or member of the public prior to the meeting) in which Mayor Garcia tells the Council:

On May 4, 2015, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with White House officials to discuss the President's initiative to end veteran homelessness, which Long Beach has adopted, as well as issues related to the Port and international trade. I also attended a White House reception at the request of the President.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.

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Independently captured news video (see Reuters raw [pool] video below) shows the high point of the Cinco de Mayo "reception." The group of invited Latino officials were used as cheering props as President Obama entered the room, spoke at a podium for roughly five minutes [source: White House transcript, visible here], criticized the now-Republican-majority Congress for failing to enact immigration law changes the President wants, defended his Executive Order immigation actions which at least one federal court has suspended, and then left. To view the video, click below.