Tensions rise at Montebello meeting
This just in from reporter Amanda Baumfeld:
![wmolinari[1].jpg](http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov/wmolinari%5B1%5D.jpg)
It seems as though the Montebello City Council is headed back to its old ways.
Mayor Bill Molinari and Councilwoman Rosie Vasquez where at each others throats during Wednesday night's meeting.
Vasquez ridiculed Molinari for not taking charge during a public comment portion of the meeting and for allowing the audience to make fun of her.
Bickering between the two continued all evening and heightened during a four hour heated discussion about Athens Service, a waste disposal company. The council on a 3-2 vote eventually granted Athens an exclusive right to all waste disposal in the city putting nearly 12 independent trash haulers out of business.
So, the city is basically allowing Athens to have a monopoly on waste disposal.
Molinari and Councilwoman Mary Anne Saucedo-Rodriguez both voted no saying they believe in the power of free enterprise and competition.
Vasquez also continuously yelled at the audience when they were cheering for one another and booing Athens employees. "I can not believe these are Montebello residents acting this way," she said.
I can. I grew up there :-)
This is the same thing we are faced with in Avocado Heights (unincorporated county). Supervisor Gloria Molina gave a contract to Ware Disposal without any vetting by the public impacted. Business as usual as improper as it is.
This is the same thing we are faced with in Avocado Heights (unincorporated county). Supervisor Gloria Molina gave a contract to Ware Disposal without any vetting by the public impacted. Business as usual as improper as it is.
FOLLOW THE MONEY. Trash companies are infamous and notorious for making generous "donations" to political campaigns. They all cry poverty when it comes to spending more money on better services but always seem to have great wads of it when it's time to bribe...(oh I'm sorry)...I mean persuade politicans to retain their services. FOLLOW...THE...MONEY.
It would be interesting to find out what elected officials got money donated into their political campaigns. Especially those that have Athens in their cities. Can the Tribune find out for us. They also ahve a 700 Form for gifts that they recieve. They files these forms evey 4 months.
DEAR TANIA AND JENNIFER IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNRAVEL CORRUPTION TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE WASTE HAULING INDUSTRY AND THEIR SEEDY INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. THIS IS AN AREA OVERLY RIPE FOR GOOD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING:
FOLLOW THE MONEY. Trash companies are infamous and notorious for making generous "donations" to political campaigns. They all cry poverty when it comes to spending more money on better services but always seem to have great wads of it when it's time to bribe...(oh I'm sorry)...I mean persuade politicans to impose their pricy and incompetent services upon the public. FOLLOW...THE...MONEY.
I could not agree more. If you really want to tell a sordid tale of political corruption and shady quid pro quos you should really dive into the trash business. I do not think it will take you like to find some evidence of malfeasance in this area.