Monthly Archives: May 2008

Nunez feels attacked because he’s Mexican

Posted on by
4
9377-Fabian Nunez.jpg

Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez believes that his attacks on his spending were racially motivated, the Sac Bee reports.

“Everyone’s done it like this,” Nez said of previous legislative leaders. “The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner.

“Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands.”

Nez’s spending included more than $47,000 in plane fare, more than $5,000 at a wine cellar in France, and more than $2,500 for “office expenses” at Vuitton, the Los Angeles Times reported last October

He’s a “disgrace”

Posted on by
1

9376-alvarez.jpg

Three Valleys Municipal Water District Director Brian Bowcock called district Board Member Xavier Alvarez a “disgrace” at the board’s Wednesday meeting and asked him to resign, Daily Bulletin reporter Will Bigham reports today.

You’ll recall Alvarez pleaded guilty to falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor, which has touched off furor in the community and among local veterans.

As promised, Bowcock ripped Alvarez a new one and even called for recall campaign to remove Alvarez from his seat.

Alvarez’ defense: “I said it,” Alvarez said. “I regret it – the way that I said it.”

Arcadia’s own ‘dynamic personality’ dies

Posted on by
Reply

A former Arcadia councilman died on Sunday, Kevin Felt reports.

ARCADIA – Four-time Arcadia Mayor Charles Gilb, who helped changed the face of the city by spearheading several key civic projects, has died, his family announced.

Gilb died Sunday at his Arcadia home from malignant melanoma. He was 83.

He had served on the City Council for 16 years, beginning in 1974.

“In Arcadia’s history there have been two dynamic personalities: one was Charles Gilb and the other was Lucky Baldwin,” said City Councilman Roger Chandler.

Water official asked to step down

Posted on by
1

This just in from Will Bigham:

Alvarez asked to resign
Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/21/2008 02:11:14 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – A local water representative called for the resignation this morning of director Xavier Alvarez, who has pleaded guilty to falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor.

At a meeting this morning of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, Director Brian Bowcock called Alvarez a “disgrace,” read from a lengthy list of Alvarez’s lies and urged Alvarez to have the “decency to resign your position.”

“You are a disgrace to the district, a disgrace to south Pomona and a disgrace to the Latino people of the community,” said Bowcock, who represents La Verne and Claremont. “But most of all, you have disgraced and embarrassed the servicemen and women of our country.”

No censure for Ernie

Posted on by
10

 

i-9a8c1b18f4c3b1b555cfe48b436b52d0-mgutierrez[1].jpg

I just got these notes from reporter Brian Day, who went to the El Monte City Council meeting last night.

Word on the street was Mayor Ernest Gutierrez was going to be censured for alleged misappropriate behavior at a city-sponsored fund-raiser a few weeks ago.

Well, the censure didn’t happen, but the following comments were made:

Councilwoman Patricia Wallach:

Regarding the item listed under her name regarding the city’s Cinco de Mayo fund-raiser/dance, at which the mayor allegedly made some sort of offensive remarks, she said, “I wanted to put this on the agenda so that the community would not think that we are sweeping things under the rug. Normally we don’t comment on things like that that are done in public comments. We do ask staff to look in to the matter, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Wallach then asked the City Manager, Mr. Mussenden, when the council would receive a report on the incident.

Mussenden said, “We’re evaluating the event and asking questions of people who attended the fund-raiser and dance, and we will be reporting back to you.”

He added that the report will hopefully be presented at the next council meeting. “That item will be in closed session,” he said.

Awwwwwwwwwwww.

Councilwoman Ishigaki was the only other council person to chime in, saying she had researched rules and norms regarding censure, “Which is what I think people want us to do,” she said.

The rules and norms drafted by an ad-hoc committee in 2006 state, she said, “The city council should not impose censure on any of its members for the exercise of his or her 1st Amendment rights, no matter how distasteful the expression was to the city council, to the public, or to the city… However, nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the city council from collectively condemning and expressing strong disapproval or criticism of such remarks.”

“I wasn’t there, and of course I’d never approve of this,” Ishigaki said. “The norms and procedures protect any elected official… on 1st Amendment rights. I think we need to spend more time on El Monte burning, with sewer assessment and trash issues and budget problems and employee problems. I think that’s what we were elected to do.”

I think I’m going to have to start attending city functions waaaaay more often.

Alvarez could be out

Posted on by
1

Will Bigham reports that Three Valley’s Director Xavier Alvarez’s days could be numbered on the water board.

Brian Bowcock said Alvarez’s false claim that he won the Medal of Honor has embarrassed the district and bogged down staff members who continuously field calls and receive e-mails from people outraged over Alvarez’s lies.

Bowcock said he will urge Alvarez to resign after reading a three- page list of what he says are Alvarez’s lies at this morning’s board meeting.

Bye, bye Ford

Posted on by
Reply

Looks like Foothill Ford in La Verne is the newest victim in Ford Motor Corp.’s downsizing plan.

I confirmed just a little while ago the dealership will shut down on the 31st.
That means about $100,000 yearly loss to the city. The dealership is one of La Verne’s top 10 sales tax generators.

The next door Hyundai dealership that just moved in from Glendora a few months ago isn’t going anywhere I’m told.

In fact, Hyundai will be expanding out when Ford leaves — making it the last standing dealership in La Verne.

Still no word on what city officials will be doing to fill the void, but Mayor Jon Blickenstaff tells me he would just like to see a successful business there.

Wouldn’t we all.

Same drama, different genre

Posted on by
Reply

Gosh, this scenario out of Montebello Unified School District sounds oddly familiar…..

By Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/19/2008 10:09:13 PM PDT

MONTEBELLO – Parents are outraged that the Laguna Nueva School principal is leaving.

Joe Hernandez will be retiring this year. He has been with the Montebello Unified School District for 19 years.

Robert Henke, district spokesman, said Hernandez submitted retirement forms and his request was approved by the board on April 3.

But some parents say the decision is politically motivated and that the principal was forced to choose between early retirement or being demoted to teacher.

“(Hernandez) not playing politics with the board,” said parent Sandra Gonz lez. “They (school board) need someone who will push the traditional calendar.”

More than 150 parents and students attended last week’s school board meeting demanding the board reverse its decision. According to parents, a petition was given to the board asking that Hernandez remain principal.

Hernandez declined to comment on his situation Monday but did say he will be retiring.