America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Johnson said, "Los Angeles has fifteen districts, with fifteen council members, Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, Central District, and council members of the Southern Region. Their performance has always been inferior to those in the Western Region, which is backed by Hollywood after all, and money can solve anything there. If I tried to solve problems with money in the Southern Region or even posed to suppress those people, the gang leaders would definitely have someone shoot me in the back!"

What about the council members?

Even if one is a major decision-maker in Zone 1, getting into a car accident, being shot in the head, shot 27 times in the back, dying by suicide, or being fired and becoming bankrupt and homeless due to online public opinion issues among council members, aren't there many?

Los Angeles has been quite restrained. You haven't seen the council members in neighboring Mexico and the border city, where they have to replace people every so often.

It's all about the backers deciding whom they think does well to move up. But backers also have to see if council members are provided with meals, and the survival environment is very delicate.

Laid-off council members are worse off than dogs, but incumbent council members have great power and still deserve some respect.

"My Hanberger Foundation currently lacks an advisor from Zone 5, would Mr. Jackson be interested?" Allen Zhang asked with a slight smile, extending an invitation, "Don't worry, this job is very relaxed, you only need to clock in and sit around in your free time, there's not much tedious work to handle."

Johnson pondered for a moment and then gladly agreed, "If it's just about holding a position to help you handle some ordinary documents, I'd certainly be happy to. Where is the workplace? Perhaps, when I'm on vacation or off work, I'll have time to stop by for some extra hours. It would be best if it involved legal matters; you should know I've self-studied law. If there's something I can't handle, maybe other colleagues in the club would be willing to help you out."

He didn't make full promises. The specifics of what could be accomplished would still depend on how much the General Sect Leader is willing to spend.

"It's just ordinary work. The workplace is located in the xx Business Street Building." Allen Zhang assured.

Both parties happily struck a hidden deal.

Laughing and joking, exchanging toasts, Cooper stood by pouring drinks for the two, feeling insignificant and unable to get a word in.

After half a bottle of Moutai, the General Sect Leader already seemed unable to hold his liquor. Johnson, too, was flushed red, looking like a rowdy young rogue, and began to speak incoherently, groping the female waitress next to him.

Seeing the conversation take an increasingly off-track turn, Cooper quickly suggested that they go back to rest and continue another day.

After the conversation ended, Allen Zhang and Johnson shook hands and parted. Cooper was responsible for driving the General Sect Leader back.

Before leaving, Johnson also said, "I heard from Cooper that, besides your Estate Ranch, you seem to have no permanent residence in the city. Coincidentally, Cooper recently acquired an apartment building from a friend of his, located in a bustling community in Zone 5. If you don't mind, you could settle there first."

He handed the keys over to Cooper, asking Cooper to drive Allen Zhang there.

Allen Zhang waved his hand, bade Johnson goodbye, and Cooper drove the General Sect Leader to the nearby apartment.

This place was just as Johnson mentioned, not exactly a great community, even somewhat old and run-down.

After all, compared to the Western and Eastern regions, the Southern Region was an economically underdeveloped and poor area; otherwise, it wouldn't have been designated as a hobo camp.

The apartment here was relatively mediocre, with a price of about two hundred thousand US dollars.

Allen Zhang looked at the community, contemplating the council member's intentions.

Cooper parked the car on the roadside, ready to assist the General Sect Leader to alight, but Allen Zhang got out by himself, acting as if nothing was amiss.

"You're not drunk?" Cooper was surprised.

"Just half a bottle of Moutai, and I can hold my liquor well, just don't particularly like drinking,"

Allen Zhang chuckled, "I don't really like the style of this apartment. Knowing full well that I'm not short of money, did the council member send you to bring me here because he wants me to give him an apartment?"

"The council member certainly didn't mean that," Cooper immediately said.

"It's strange, the annual salary of a Los Angeles city council member is around one hundred eighty thousand dollars, which would be a high-end middle-class income. But why did I hear that he is still taking out a mortgage to buy a house?" Allen Zhang asked, "What are the Green Word Shelter's funds used for?"

Faced with this critical question, Cooper hesitated momentarily but then explained, "Actually, the funds on the books aren't just the council member's own, there are also charity investment sums from other friends, which are channeled through the Green Word Shelter. With a cash flow of a million US dollars, the council member only makes a profit of twenty to thirty thousand US dollars. The house prices in Los Angeles are so high that even with several years of extra income, it's difficult to buy a well-furnished apartment in a prosperous area, let alone two apartments. Now, the water company's director is also encountering difficulties and can't support the council member."

In order for the council member to pass a bill, besides internal Senate voting, any action requires consulting public opinion and obtaining public voting approval.

Doesn't buying votes cost money?

Doesn't handing out eggs, milk, and welfare to citizens cost money?

Where does the money come from?

It's still the council members running around finding backers for their investments.

"I handle most of the council member's project funds. I've calculated that he only has enough capital to pay for three more installments of the property mortgage."