The Occasional News Briefing
A Hilton gets an associate into trouble, and other items of note...
- Richard Leeson, the California Lottery's broadcasting director who is accused of taking kickbacks of frequent-stay points from the Glendale Hilton by placing "The Big Spin" contestants at the hotel when they're in town for the show taping, has been fired and is under investigation for allegedly signing an unauthorized contract, according to the Times.
As I reported last month, the union UNITE HERE, which is trying to orgainize the Hilton workers, tipped-off the state Lottery about Leeson's alleged activity.
- Burbank Unified School District senior facilities director Craig Jellison has been accused of sexual harassment by an administrative secretary who is currently on leave for emotional distress. Danielle Baez is suing the district, alleging Jellison repeatedly sent her sexually explicit e-mails and that he sexually assaulted her in the district's facilities building in late July 2006, locking her in his office and making unwanted advances. Jellison recently received a pay cut and title change, and district Superintendent Greg Bowman said the two "had no association," as far as he knows. Leader
- Lots of attention for Montrose and North Glendale at last night's City Council meeting -- Councilman John Drayman and supporters pressed the city to purchase the former Rockhaven Sanitarium property to turn it into a library. According to the News Press, Rockhaven, once known as the "Screen Actor's Sanitarium" was built in 1922 and was home to actress Frances Farmer, and to Marilyn Monroe's mother.
The 3.5 acre property is currently owned by Ararat Home, which operates retirememt and convalescent homes for elderly Armenian Americans in Mission Hills and Eagle Rock. The group wanted to develop it into another facility, but has now put it on sale.