Los Padrinos to fold Dec. 30, director says

How sad. You guys did a real good job. I wonder how long it will take, now, to have it removed.

"The city's got its head in its underwear," Alonso said.

You just noticed?

I KNEW it! What sort of a sicko does this to a group needed to change our city? Chaz Kelly, I hope you don't count on keeping your seat long. I hope you have to pay every cent back to the city that you had spent on that retarded project! NO WONDER Los Padrinos can't keep up with the taggers! You've got them busy taking care of your favorite restaurant! This story will be posted all over the Internet by nightfall. WHAT A RIPOFF!

For all these people that don't know what they are talking about, if they would get involved in the neighborhood associations and get involved with the city and not just put their slanders on the blog, they would know the truth. Has anyone ever thought that Los Padrinos may have been running their business in an inappropriate fashion, thereby, being put on notice to shape up or ship out? On the other side of the coin, have any of you concerned citizens gone out there and helped to clean up the graffiti and paint walls or boarded up houses, do you know what it takes to tackle this kind of job? Have you checked with surrounding cities to see what it takes and what it costs for them to keep graffiti at minimum?

Another Concerned Citizen:
You're just trying to distract us from the issue. It's not working. I am VERY involved in the community and I know what the problem with the graffiti is: Operation Phoenix has upset the city so much that gangs are forming that were never even here because of the agitation in the community. If you'd get out of your car and walk the streets of Berdoo once in a while, you'd know that.

Thank you Councilmember Kelley. Good riddance Mr. Alonzo!

Okay, so Chaz Kelly says it's not that Los Padrinos ticked him off and we're just supposed to take him at his word that his personal problems with Los Padrinos didn't come into play? What was he doing spending city money on his personal stuff, anyways? Why did he not excuse himself when it came time to discuss this matter? He lead the charging attack on Los Padrinos. He's just the mayor's pet weasel... Nasty little giggle-monster!
I KNEW he'd respond to our calling him on things. He thinks it's good maintenance, but it shows guilt. If he were so good at maintaining the people, he should've never done what he did.
I'll tell you another story about him and Los Padrinos. Consider for a moment the fragility of the Los Padrinos kids who are told that they can leave the world of gangs and drugs if they choose to just stand up and take their places in society. They are told that nobody is better than them just because of where they come from or the color of their skin. They are built up by being paid for their work and the positive interaction between important people in the community and themselves.
Los Padrinos were working at the races one day. They were promised hamburgers for lunch and when it came time for them to get their burgers, Chaz Kelly acted like he didn't owe them anything. So, what's that all about? "I'm white and important and you're not so I don't have to give what was promised to you!" type of attitude? No wonder the local troubled teens color on the walls out here. They have no other outlets with someone like Chaz Kelly on the city council.
I asked Chaz Kelly about some white collar crime issues I saw in City Hall and said that I feel that the RICO Act would apply. He replied that the RICO Act could only be applied to mobsters and other low-lifes. Apparently, he feels that people in office are immune from criminal or civil prosecution. REALLY, Mr. Kelly? You think you're SOOOOOO important?
Bottom line: Chaz Kelly had a personal problem with Los Padrinos and lead a charge against them at a city council meeting. He wasted a LOT of the city's money on a bunk project that he was told wouldn't thrive. If he doesn't blame Los Padrinos, then he's accepting the fact that he should've listened to them? GOOD! Then pay the money you wasted back to the city! Or are you too important, Mr. Kelly?

I think we have gotten away from the fact that there are two sides to every story and unless we know both sides, we shouldn't be so opinionated to take just one side. We have to remember that somewhere in between lies the truth. We need to make sure that we have all the facts before making accusations. By the way, I think Chas Kelley is one of better council persons, he's a model example.

What I don't understand is why Mr. Kelly and City didn't put the grafitti abatement contract out to bid. Instead of hiring more City employees, Mr. Kelly and the City could have made a Request for Proposal while continuing to contract with Los Padrinos. In the first place, what we need to do is catch the people who are doing the grafitti. Now, all of a sudden, after 16 years, Mr. Kelly now has a problem with the work being done by Los Padrinos. RealIy Mr. Kelly, that doesn't pass the smell test. I am not too sure what the trees have to do with any of this, but where there is smoke there is fire.

Another Concerned Citizen:

"2 sides?" Sometimes there ISN'T another side to the story. He already responded and verified that he wasted city money and I personally watched him lead the charge against Los Padrinos. I was THERE. He is by far one of the WORST examples of a councilmember. He's stuck up and ignorant. He has no morals and he thinks he's better than everybody else. He also thinks he's above the law. NOT HAPPENING!