September 2010 Archives
By Neil Nisperos and Wendy Leung
Staff Writers
Two of the eight current and former city officials arrested Tuesday in the city of Bell corruption investigation have ties to the cities of Chino and Rancho Cucamonga
The district attorney's office said several Bell officials were taken into custody, including Chino homeowner Luis Artiga, and ex-city manager Robert Rizzo, who had been an assistant city manager for the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
"This, needless to say, is corruption on steroids," District Attorney Steve Cooley said at a news conference in Los Angeles.
Artiga, one of several Bell council members who earned $96,000 for a part-time position, owns a home north of the 60 Freeway in Chino on Craw Avenue. According to the San Bernardino County Assessor's office, Artiga has owned the home since 2002.
"We're firmly behind my father and his innocence," said Artiga's son Jonathan on Tuesday. "We support him and we're firmly behind him and we received countless calls from not only friends but people from different states who say they are praying with us and they know he will be proven innocent. They know he's a good person."
Craw Avenue residents said Artiga and his family have not occupied the home for the past year, but when they did, they observed a number of expensive cars owned by Artiga including Porsches.
"We see hardly anybody living there, but this guy used to bring in expensive cars," said Craw Avenue resident Randy Miller, who lives across the street from Artiga's home. "He must have had his finger in the pot to buy those cars."
Another nearby Craw Avenue resident, Carmen Perez, said she did not know Artiga, but expressed disapproval over the allegations of political misconduct in Bell.
"This was bad you know, because you deposit your confidence in the people who run a city and they don't care about other people," she said. "They just care about themselves."
David Hong, who does yard work around the street and whose mother lives near the Artiga home on Craw said the Artiga's had kept to themselves.
"I'm surprised the city of Bell allowed this to go on," Hong said.
The district attorney, state attorney general and others have been conducting investigations of officials in the small working-class city since it was disclosed they were paying themselves huge salaries. Rizzo was making nearly $800,000 a year.
The investigations involve allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds and voter fraud in the city where one in six of the 40,000 residents live in poverty.
A message left at Rizzo's Huntington Beach home was not immediately returned.
Rizzo, who was discovered in July earning a salary twice that of President Barack Obama, got his start in municipal government in Rancho Cucamonga. He was hired as an administrative aide in 1980 and climbed the ranks to become assistant city manager in eight years.
Councilman Dennis Michael was a fire chief during Rizzo's tenure with the city.
"I never got close enough to him to have an opinion of him one way or another but I certainly have an opinion now," Michael said. "If they're found to be guilty, I hope they prosecute them to the fullest extent."
Rizzo, who was making nearly $800,000 a year, was booked on 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest. He was expected to be arraigned Wednesday, with officials seeking bail of $3.2 million.
Rizzo could face several years in prison if convicted, Cooley said. Messages left at Rizzo's home and with his attorney were not immediately returned.
Others taken into custody were former assistant city manager Angela Spaccia, Vice Mayor Teresa Jacobo, council members George Mirabal and Luis Artiga, and former council members George Cole and Victor Bello.
Requested bail amounts ranged from $377,500 for Spaccia to $130,000 for Cole, based on the amounts each was accused of misappropriating in the city where one in six people live in poverty.
Former Police Chief Randy Adams, who was also scrutinized in the salary scandal, was not arrested.
Cooley, who knew Adams when he was the police chief in Glendale, said Adams was paid $457,000 a year but there was no evidence he obtained that salary illegally.
"Being paid excessive salaries is not a crime," Cooley said. "Illegally obtaining those salaries is a crime."
Prosecutors allege the suspects misappropriated more than $5.5 million.
The complaint said Rizzo made $4.3 million by paying himself through different employment contracts that were not approved by the City Council, and that council members paid themselves a combined $1.25 million for what Cooley called "phantom meetings" of various city boards and agencies.
Rizzo also was accused of giving $1.9 million in loans to himself, Spaccia, Hernandez, Artiga and dozens of others, authorities said.
Cooley said his office had been investigating the officials since March -- four months before the public learned they were paying themselves huge salaries to run the city of 40,000 people.
"They used the taxes of the hardworking citizens of Bell as their own piggy bank, which they looted," the district attorney said.
He added that his investigators have pored over more than 60,000 pages of documents and more people could be charged.
Most of the arrests went smoothly, though police briefly used a battering ram at the home of Hernandez before he responded and opened the door. The door was not knocked down.
The suspects were booked into county facilities and will be kept away from other inmates for their protection, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
The arrests were the latest twist in a scandal that emerged in July with the disclosure that Rizzo was paid almost twice the salary of President Barack Obama.
It also was revealed that Adams was making $150,000 more than the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, and Spaccia was paid $376,288. Four of the five City Council members paid themselves nearly $100,000 a year for their part-time service.
Rizzo, Adams and Spaccia resigned and the council members reduced their salaries to about $8,000 following the disclosures and angry public reaction.
The four council members are currently the target of a recall.
Bell's interim chief administrative officer Pedro Carrillo said the arrests marked a sad day for the city.
"It is clear that Rizzo and Spaccia were at the root of the cancer that has afflicted the city," he said.
Last week, Attorney General Jerry Brown sued eight current and former officials of Bell, accusing them of defrauding taxpayers by granting themselves salaries he said were far higher than warranted for the jobs they were doing.
Artiga was not named in the lawsuit but Adams was.
Earlier this month Bell officials confirmed the city was also the target of a racial profiling investigation by the federal government for allegedly targeting young Hispanic drivers for traffic stops to raise revenue.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
Chino council candidates say donation practice unfair
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
CHINO -- Some City Council candidates have made a campaign issue out of the way $50,000 of city money is being used by council members for community service donations.
Each of the city's five council members are annually allocated $10,000 from the city budget to use at their discretion to help support various community groups and events, such as the Little League, booster clubs or nonprofits.
But some candidates say the donation amounts to a form of electioneering and self-promotion at the expense of taxpayers. The name of a council member is regularly attached to a donation, either in a publication where they are thanked or at special events where they are thanked by organizers.
Because the money is from taxpayers, the names of council members shouldn't be attached to a discretionary fund donation, critics say.
"This is intended to promote them on an annual basis to always keep their names on residents' minds, and they're viewed as generous people to the community, yet they don't show up to school board meetings, graduations or the first day of school," candidate Lee McGroarty said. "They use taxpayer dollars to enhance their image."
Fellow council candidate Pat McArdle shared McGroarty's view.
"It's wrong for them to attach their names to the money," McArdle said. "I've heard council people talking about the fact that they have donated money, but they haven't. They've designated city money to go somewhere, but it's an attitude where they think it's their money that they're contributing."
McArdle said he didn't have a problem with where the money was going to.
"One of the organizations I belong to, Kiwanis, gets its fair share," he said. "I have a problem with the fact that they want to be recognized for their individual contributions where it's not their money."
Mayor Dennis Yates said he recommended several years ago to divide the $50,000 discretionary fund between each council member for use in supporting the community as a way of presenting the money as "transparent" and public. Council members will always be criticized for any donation and the discretionary fund practice was not electioneering, he said.
Yates said he recently donated money to the Don Lugo High School boosters and to help fund Chino Centennial celebrations.
"I think this is a perception perceived by candidates running for the city Council," he said. "We always get criticized. You can't win."
Councilwoman Eunice Ulloa said the use of the $10,000 discretionary fund started several years ago at a time when she had been off of the council for seven months during an unsuccessful bid for a county supervisor seat.
Ulloa said the use of the funds is not electioneering, although she could see where attaching one's name to a donation could lead to the perception. She regularly donates a portion of her discretionary fund to the Chino Junior Fair.
"I do agree that one thing we have all done is we have allowed our names to be associated with the donations from the council," Ulloa said.
"I agree that maybe you shouldn't say it was from you, but instead we should call it the city of Chino's money. It's a pot of money council members are allowed to earmark for organizations at large, but it doesn't go for personal benefit. I can see where we shouldn't have used our names in the past."
But council hopeful Ken True said it may be time for the council members to stop attaching their names to the donations.
"It's not their money, it's the citizen's money, and it's the citizens who should let the council people know where they want the money to go," True said.
McArdle, McGroarty, True and Ulloa as well as Councilman Earl Elrod are running for two seats on the council in the Nov. 2 election.
Elrod declined to comment on this issue.
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-483-9356
The Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting 3 Candidates Forums to help the businesses and residents of the Chino Valley in selecting City Council members and School Board members this November 2. The first forum will be held on Thursday, September 23 for the offices of City Council for the City of Chino Hills. The forum will start at 6:00 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m. It will be held at the Chino Hills City Hall, Council Chambers.
The second one will be for the Chino Valley Unified School Board and that one is scheduled for Thursday, September 30 and will be held at the Chino Hills City Hall, Council Chambers. The forum be start at 6:00 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m.
The third and final forum will be held on Thursday, October 6 for the City of Chino City Council race. This one will be held at the Chino City Hall, Council Chambers starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
CHINO - Some Chino City Council candidates have made a campaign issue out of the way $50,000 of city money is used for community service donations from councilmembers.
Each of the five Chino councilmembers are annually allocated $10,000 from the city budget to use at their discretion to help support various community groups and events, such as Little League, booster clubs, or nonprofits.
Continue reading Chino council candidates say donation practice unfair.
Data from the California Department of Education:
The Chino Valley Literacy Program is seeking English-speaking adults who need help with reading.
If you know of a family member, friend, or co-worker who can utilize free, confidential tutoring in reading, refer them to Anita Villalobos at the Chino Branch Library at 909-465-5280 or Anne Fine at the Chino Hills Library at 909-590-5380.
Adult learners are matched with volunteer tutors and meet once a week in the library for individualized tutoring.
The program has provided literacy services to the community for 24 years.
As a component of the San Bernardino County Library Literacy Program, the program provides free, one-on-one tutoring services and materials to library patrons, community members and their families in a non-threatening and confidential environment in order to equip them with life-long learning skills.
Chino and Chino Hills will host two meetings for the public to review and comment on each city's Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The meetings:
6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Neighborhood Activity Center at 5201 D St., Chino.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Chino Hills City Hall at 14000 Civic Center Drive.
The cities have been seeking public input regarding the plans.
To qualify for federal disaster mitigation funds, legislation requires that local governments adopt and update a hazard mitigation plan. With the ultimate goal of eliminating or reducing long-term risk to life and property, the plan must identify hazards, risks and vulnerabilities while also identifying and prioritizing mitigation actions.
The city of Chino will be celebrated today at Chino Day at the L.A. County Fair
Volunteers, humanitarians, students, neighbors as well as community organizations working will be honored.
Chino Day festivities include a parade featuring civic organizations and school bands. A presentation in Building 4 will honor Thomas Mac and Sandra Elrod, Chino's Community Heroes for 2010, Thomas Mac and Sandra Elrod.
Junior Hero Thomas Mac will be honored for being a top student as well as having a commitment to community service. The Chino High School graduate served as the president of the school's Key Club as well as the National Honor Society. Through his work with these two groups, Thomas showed high levels of initiative, dedication and responsibility.
Adult Hero Sandra Elrod has been involved with the Chino Community Center Corporation, Mayoral Ball committee and the city's Centennial Celebration committee.
Chino residents, friends, family and supporters can join their community celebration for just $5 before 5 p.m. with a coupon or voucher available on the community page at lacountyfair.com.
Coupons are also available at the Chino Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and other community locations.
Each year, the fair honors Community Heroes from 18 area cities.
For information, visit lacountyfair.com.
Chino American Legion Post No. 299 will host bingo games at 1 p.m Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Legion hall at 13759 Central Ave. in Chino.
A fee will be charged to play bingo.
Snacks, sodas and water will be sold.
Proceeds will benefit veterans.
The event is open to the public.
For more information, call 909-628-2080.
A community blood drive by LifeStream will be Sept. 18 take place Saturday at Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom, 13920 City Center Drive, in Chino Hills.
The blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. is in conjunction with the "All We Need is Blood" K-Earth 101 blood drive.
Donors will receive a special edition K-Earth 101 T-shirt and, upon request, are entered into a drawing to win two tickets to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on Oct. 2 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine.
Donors will also receive a coupon for a complimentary hot dog combo or sausage combo, courtesy of Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom, while supplies last.
Prospective donors should be free of infections or illness, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not be at risk for AIDS or hepatitis.
For more information: 800-TRYGIVING.
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
CHINO--The California Institution for Men has reopened the dorm yard it closed last year after inmates violently destroyed the housing unit in a riot last year, with a grand opening ceremony scheduled for Oct. 6.
Reception Center West at CIM has been redubbed "CIM West," with contractors having finished refurbishing about half of the area's eight dormitories. The housing area is expected to be completely refurbished at the end of the month, said Lt. Mark Hargrove, CIM spokesman, at a total cost of $6 million. As of this week, 461 inmates have been moved into CIM West.
The new dorms feature fire-retardent structures, sprinkler systems, and sturdier fixtures that can't be broken off into impromptu weapons as they were during the riot.
Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation decided that the newly refurbished dorms, which had been rendered uninhabitable by the riot, would no longer house higher risk reception center inmates.
At maximum capacity, the prison is expected to house about 960 lower security risk inmates who have been already been processed through a reception center, where incoming prisoners are evaluated for appropriate housing and rehabiliation.
A state report into the 2009 riot said officials in Sacramento had, prior to the riot, failed to address the "dangerous incompatibility" of higher-security-risk reception center inmates being housed in large, wooden dormitories, according to the report. These inmates are generally confined in cells, rather than an open dormitory setting as they were during the riot. More than
200 inmates were injured during the 2009 riot.
The new population would include inmates with life sentences and inmates who may have dropped out of a gang and need additional security, Hargrove said. Rehabilitative programming and training classes are planned to be made available for the new dorm residents, Hargrove said. Hargrove said a general population of inmates makes for a more stable environment.
The reopening of CIM's dormitories coincides with the closure of adult reception center housing operation last month at the nearby Heman G. Stark. Stark closed earlier this year, while it began to house displaced CIM reception center inmates after the 2009 CIM riot.
"They did remove all the inmates out of Stark and that's when we also began to house at CIM West," Hargrove said.
Despite no longer housing reception center inmates at the dorms at CIM West, Hargrove said some of the former adult Stark reception center inmates who have been endorsed by prison staff as low risk level 1 or level 2 have been placed at the new West dorms. Other reception center inmates at Stark were moved to other institutions throughout the state prison system.
"We identified inmates for West that fit the criteria for that housing and they were classified as endorsed," Hargrove said. "They could have come out of any of our state reception centers. They weren't specifically from Stark, although some Stark inmates were endorsed. Many of the Stark inmates have been shipped and rehoused at other institutions."
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
CHINO--Chino Valley Unified boardmembers decided Thursday to open applications for candidates interested in filling a recently vacated board seat.
Interested candidates may start applying to the Chino Valley Unified School District beginning on Tuesday next week. Applications will be held open for two weeks until Oct. 5.
A selection will be provided to San Bernardino County prior to a 60-day deadline to fill the empty seat, which was set for Nov. 5, three days after the election.
Facing a projected $30 million budget deficit, the board on Thursday unanimously decided to reject holding a special election at an estimated cost of about $460,000.
"As we have done in the past we cannot and we don't have that budget to do an election," said boardmember James Na prior to his appointment recommendation. "That's my personal view and I would support the appointment process."
The board's appointment decision comes six weeks prior to the Nov. 2 election to fill two other empty board seats. Current boardmembers, Charles Dickey and Sylvia Orozco, up for reelection this year, are among the nine election candidates.
Candidate John Pruitt, who was previously on the schoolboard several years ago, said the board should have decided to open the appointment process to candidates only.
"If they appoint someone who is not running before the election, I think that shortchanges the seven candidates who dedicated their time and effort to run for schoolboard," Pruitt said.
Filling the three board seats soon comes at a time when the school board faces tough decisions as it faces its large deficit.
Superintendent Wayne Joseph said new cuts will have to be made, and boardmembers will have to consider cuts in every single area, including personnel.
Boardmembers said they expect to cut about $10 million to $15 million in the next year and the same amount for 2012-2013.
"I think that when you're looking at $30 million dollars, no program, nothing is safe in the school district," Joseph said.
Former boardmember Michael Calta resigned from his seat last week ater he announced in July he and his family would be moving to Texas. Calta's second term was set to expire in 2012.
Individuals interested in applying for the vacancy must submit an application by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 to the district office, 5130 Riverside Drive, Chino.
Application forms are available at the District Service Center, Superintendent's Office or on the Chino Valley Unified School District website at www.chino.k12.ca.us.
Election 2010 schoolboard candidates may apply for the appointment process, and if one of them is appointed and also wins the election, that boardmember may choose between the election's four-year seat or Calta's former two-year seat, said Julie Gobin, district spokeswoman.
This situation would cause the district to begin the application process again, Gobin said.
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-483-9356
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