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103  6 Triangulating the Throne A captive always ends up being a captive of somebody else’s words. —Ariel Dorfman, Heading South, Looking North: A Bilingual Journey According to Industry businessman Robert K. King, a wholesale dealer in rare and expensive hardwoods, admission to Jim Stafford’s world hinged on how King chose to answer a question. In a series of interviews he gave after Jim’s 1983 indictment on bid-rigging and kickback charges, King offered his tale of seduction and disgrace, beginning in 1968, a few years before Industry’s redevelopment projects formally got off the ground, when the lumber dealer first explored the idea of relocating his business to Industry.1 The episode offers an intimate look at the way in which Industry’s officials served their railroad clientele and how one developer, Majestic Realty, formed its triangular relationship with the city and railroads. King’s story also gives us a close view of the political culture in which Jim’s bid-rigging, kickback, and money-laundering conspiracy flourished. King discussed his relocation proposal with Ron Moyer, who worked in the Southern Pacific’s real estate division. Moyer suggested that he first clear the way with city officials. Moyer arranged for King to lunch with city manager Bob Rope at the swanky California Country Club, where Stafford and Rope continued to hold court even after redevelopment money had financed a new palace of city government. On the day of the meeting, Moyer picked up King at his place of business in the City of Commerce, a municipality that had been modeled on Industry’s single-use plan.2 At the country club, Moyer introduced King 104 city of industry to Rope, who, according to King, carried himself as if he were Jim’s equal. A big chair at the end of the bar had been elevated onto a throne-like platform; and there Rope sat, large and boisterous, presiding over three telephones: one red, one white, one black. As King recalled, “The red phone [was] Rope’s hotline to Sacramento. The white phone [got] him to his office in city hall, and the black line [was] for outside calls.”3 Moyer said, “Bob, I’d like you to meet Bob King.” Rope’s reply, King said, was something like “Sit down, dumb shit. What do you want to drink?” King felt unnerved by the manager’s gruffness and the collection of bank presidents, high-ranking county fire and sheriff’s officials, and judges who witnessed his humiliation But King persevered. “So now it’s time for me to talk to the Almighty,” he said. “I’d like to move to the City of Industry, Mr. Rope.” “‘What kind of business are you in?’“ Rope asked. After King explained, Rope said, “Yes, Bob, yes,” signaling that he might be willing to consider the request. Then the manager said that King would have to buy property along Nelson Avenue, a gritty stretch along the Southern Pacific’s main line. Industry’s planners had reserved the avenue for businesses similar to his. King, however, told Rope that he had his eye on the commercially zoned property on Gale Avenue, which paralleled the Pomona Freeway. Easy freeway access and exploding suburban growth would ensure big returns if he were lucky enough to get a piece of Gale Avenue. Although Rope’s arrogance had offended him, King resolved to settle for buying the Nelson Avenue parcel, if that was to be his only choice, but not before speaking his mind to Moyer: “Who the hell does he think he is, sitting on a throne!”4 King recalled that Moyer told him, “Bob, relax. That’s the way it is in the City of Industry. What did you spend today?” “I didn’t spend anything,” King answered. “I had five drinks and I had lunch.” “That’s right,” said Moyer. “You don’t have to pay here. He pays. You don’t have to spend a nickel, and he’s not trying to buy you.”5 Although King did not admit it to Moyer then, his encounter with Rope had thrilled him. Something about both the California Country Club and Rope (whom he later described as a dear friend) had intrigued him: “I said, ‘Screw it, I’m going to the City of Industry.’” A year later, Moyer arranged another country-club meeting between King and Rope. According to King, Rope said, “We have a little parcel...

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