Chavez in for Phaedra

The last we heard from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, executive director of the South Bay Labor Council and Working Partnerships, was on her way to Washington, D.C., to assist President-elect Barack Obama's transition team. That's when former S.J. Vice Mayor (and failed mayoral candidate) Cindy Chavez resurfaced in the political scene, stepping up to represent the labor camp on the 18th Floor of City Hall—as a temporary contractor. But Ellis-Lamkins has been virtually absent at City Hall since then, which has raised the question of whether she is stepping down for good—or already has. According to sources at the SBLC, Ellis-Lamkins is on "sabbatical." SBLC employees say she is often MIA at that office, showing up only for the occasional meeting. It's the same story at her other job. "When anyone asks, we say she is on sabbatical and we don't get into it," says one employee at Working Partnerships. City Hall staffers are also in the dark, only saying that they've heard she is doing "research," and will be back soon. Fly wonders if anyone has told Chavez, who is once again prowling the 18th Floor like she owns the place.

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