It’s a joy to see.
Alex Bastian, “Special Advisor” to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, announced via LinkedIn Wednesday that he was moving on.
I have an announcement! After 12 years of public service at the Los Angeles and San Francisco district attorney offices, I am excited to announce that the Hotel Council of San Francisco has appointed me as President and CEO. The Hotel Council represents both the tourism and hospitality industries, which have been severely affected by the pandemic. This is a pivotal time in history and I am so happy to be a part of the Hotel Council. Being a San Francisco native, I am well aware of all the wonderful things the city has to offer. It is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It will be a top tourist destination again, I am certain.
Gascon’s consigliere has jumped ship just a year and three months after he started the job.
Alex Bastian was an assistant district attorney and deputy head of staff at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. He died in March 2021. Bastian ran when George Gascon, the Los Angeles County District attorney, called.
Bastian arrived in Los Angeles with great fanfare and bravado. He immediately created a new communication method to manage the Los Angeles press corps. This also irritated veteran correspondents.
Steve Gregory, a KFI correspondent, was not impressed.
Yesterday at Gascon’s 100 Days in Office online conference, Gregory made it clear that all media inquiries were being filtered through Gascon’s newest member of his executive team, Alex Bastian.
Gregory was interviewed by KFI’s John & Ken Show about his unconventional approach to handling press inquiries. Now, correspondents must send Bastian a text message with any questions. Bastian will either allow them to be asked or ignore them.
Gregory guessed that they would teach us L.A. journalists how to use media.
Bastian’s communication techniques were as successful as Gascon’s special directives. Bastian spent the majority of the year trying (and failing) to answer questions about the woeful Woke D.A. policies. Bastian might have realized that he is losing his PR battle after the Recall George Gascon organizers reached their unverified signature goal before the July 6 deadline.
Misinformation and gaslighting are still very common.
As Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar reported, Bastian tried to explain why at the parole hearing of Manson murderer Bruce Davis there was no DDA present to speak on behalf of the families.
Alex Bastian, Gascon’s spokesman said that the official policy was to “continue providing a victim advocate to support family member” who chooses to attend parole hearings, even though the DA’s office supports the grant of parole. Bastian, what good is that? The victim advocate cannot testify or present evidence. Martley disagrees with Bastian’s assertion and claims she wasn’t informed about the victim’s advocate.
Bastian also spoke to Yahoo News:
“The prosecutor’s role ends at sentencing. There has been a tug-of-war between equity and public safety. The DA believes that you can have both.
Bastian tried to also explain Gascon’s questionable association with BLM activists, Jorge Gonzalez (their attorney), that could have been behind Gascon dropping the train-wrecking charges against those activists.
Bastian’s departure after 10 years of close collaboration with Gascon is no surprise. Gascon has been on thin ice ever since Hannah Tubbs. RedState has reported extensively on the tone-deaf reactions to that gross error. This includes the deaths of the El Monte Police officers who were murdered by a repeat felon, who was paroled due to Gascon’s directives.
Gascon’s policies also suggest his office may pay for the funeral of the cop killer. When he took office, he issued a policy stating his office would pay the funeral expenses of people killed by police, “regardless of the state of the investigation or charging decision.” @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/ZLcXpI4ivX
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 16, 2022
Bastian will not be returning to any district attorney’s offices. It makes sense that Bastian wants to move from law enforcement to sales, and promotion, after the recall of Chesa Bodin in San Francisco and Gascon under the Guillotine. It’s probably easier to cheer on San Francisco’s return than to defend and support a leader who is fast approaching being removed.
