Tip time
Phew, it's Friday, which is also our busiest day in the newsroom. And that means that blog posts typically run low because we are chasing down stories and preparing the paper for the weekend.
So we are counting on you to keep the blog lively:
What questions do you want asked about your cities or your elected officials?
BALDWIN PARK CITY
I keep hearing Anthony Benjarano got fired from metro link position and the reason was misuse of public funds. Would like to know if true that Benjarano has a DUI on his record from the past would make interesting news.
I have seen the documents that Monica Garcia purchased a condo while on the planning commission which is in the valley [woodland hills] area. To my knowledge she has to live in the city for both council position and planning commissioner. The address she uses is moms house and the residents that live there have stated she doesn't live their.
This one is good while Marlen Garcia was on the planning commission she and her parents reaped benefits from a house they bought knowing it was going to be eminent domain. This was because of Marlen working on the planing commission at that time. Both Marlen and her parents got enough money to put down for two different houses.
The mayor Lozano buys a house from his friend for 1/2 of market value and why would the mayor then get another separate loan later that was on his 700 form for close to the amount of the difference of the house purchase. Could his DUI attorney friend be trying to save on capital gains taxes?
Has anyone looked into the sweet deal the NEW interim for la puente will receive when he starts this month
I have seen the documents that Monica Garcia purchased a condo while on the planning commission which is in the valley [woodland hills] area. To my knowledge she has to live in the city for both council position and planning commissioner. The address she uses is moms house and the residents that live there have stated she doesn't live their.
THIS IS TRUE and a clear violation of state law.
Roger Hernandez Subject is the subject of another Probe. His involvement with Durkee and Associates is under scrutiny.
The Los Angeles County grand jury is investigating whether two prominent San Fernando Valley politicians were involved in improperly making political donations through a political committee that are tied to Hernandez and Alhassen.
The Citizens for Dependable and Reliable Leadership, created in 2002 by accountant Kindee Durkee of Durkee and Associates, is the subject of the inquiry by the District Attorney's Office's Public Integrity Division issued subpoenas for witnesses to appear before the grand jury.
Hernandez is being looked into for his involvement in a conflict of interest with Durkee & Associates.
If Monica Garcia does not live in the city. She is definately in deep violation. This information should be turned over to the D.A., Cooley immediately. The City Clerk should do her job and look into it.
Monica "lives" in the city. The definition of "lives" is the question.
She surely owns a home in LA because she used to work for Villaraigosa. When she chose to run in BP, she needed a house and therefore is using her mom's address.
Ever wonder why she does not post her bio on the city website? Her political connections stretch to Los Angeles.
Whatever happened into the BP Chamber of Commerce financial investigation? Talk about suspicious actions. We have an Executive Director that alienates the City Council and sides with a political group (CARA) for his own agenda against the developement. This same Executive Director puts in his own people in the board of directors to manipulate votes so no action is taken on the audit. He and his Lover accountant in the Chamber empty the coffers unchecked and bring nothing to the Chamber. Something very wrong is happening within the Chamber and nothing is being done! Why?
First off there was never going to be an investigation only a fiscal year report to send to the LA. county recorder and to be approved by the directors. This report was done and as for the council and Marlen they were told you take care of your business and the chamber will handle their own business. The chamber is not part of the city council and never will be this is a separately run business for honest/licensed business and for the residents of Baldwin Park. As for the alienation of the council that was done by Marlen when she was told you don't run the chamber and quit trying to put your illegal people in the chamber yes illegal stolen identities and non licensed people. The council was trying thru Marlen to load the chamber with people she could control to push the BISNO plan thru the chamber who is suppose to stay out of politics all together. The president and the director have had meetings with the chief,mayor and city manager to get things back on track and explain the chamber wants to work with the city but not be controlled by it. The CARA group is a paid member as is BISNO group so what? It just turns out most of the pro bisno business groups are not licensed business, owe state taxes and their owners are using stolen identities that is not the chambers fault or CARA'S fault. The claim the accountant is the lover of the executive director why don't you show the chamber members the proof so they can deal with it just like they dealt with the illegal business owners in the ambassadors group and non productive directors just throwing this out on the inter-net shows this must be a recently removed chamber person trying to stir up problems or this could be a member who is trying to be a new director who has more issues in his past that I'm sure he doesn't want brought out like forced to resign his position due to harassment charges, was sanctioned by the board and much more. I suggest he stay where he is in the society area and don't throw his intimidating attitude anywhere near the directors area. The chamber has had a very difficult time getting rid of the problem cases, with just a few more to deal with. The chamber is now on the up swing with more new legal business members and residents without being political and being controlled by the city we can actually say we are for the citizens of the community with no strings attached.
I read the Monica Garcia deal of not living in Baldwin Park and to ask the city clerk to do her job was very funny. The city clerk knows she doesn't live in the city and the city clerk also by intimidation of the council failed to let the recall papers go thru. When we have elected officials afraid to do their job because of retaliation of other elected officials they should not be in office. If they can't do their job right then get out and let someone with dignity and backbone do the job they were elected to do or could the city clerk have just as much dirt on her as the council has?
Cal. Govt. Code requires city council members, city clerks, and city treasurers to be residents of the city and registered voters of the city.
Huntington Park council member, Linda Guevara, was convicted in 2002 by the D.A's office for not living in
the city while holding elected office.
SOMEONE SHOULD FAX IN A COMPLAINT TO THE DA!
Anonymous you came to your theory because Councilmember Monica Garcia used to work for the Mayor of LA so that proves she lives there. An employee doesn't have to live in the city they work in. Are you just stupid or with Hillbillie Tuttle and his village idiots. Also Village idiots its not the City Clerks responsibilty to check and investigate where someone lives. They are to check the voter rolls at the LA County Recorder if that person is registered at that address listed on their forms they filed.
The Baldwin Park Council has four well educated individuals that are successful and a unemployed village idiot Ricardo Pachueco. The LA County has along history of chueco politicans Baldwin Parks very own Councilmember Ricardo Pachueco, West Covina Councilmember Roger Hernandez, there friend former South Gate Councilmember and current state prison inmate Albert Robles who taught them all, School Board member Felipe Aredano Garvey School District and last but not least Former Councilmember South El Monte Raul Pardo
Let's get things straight about the four council idiots you call highly educated.
1. Anthony the drunk did go to college but his employment record sucks as does his common sense mentality to keep employed and off the public streets while drinking. I believe he is still trying to work out of his house.
2. Lazano what higher education did the mayor have besides 101 security guard training for his job in lynwood what a pillar for the community.
3. Marlen I don't believe she did any extensive education to be a bully that was natural for her and to learn how to suck money from the redevelopment projects to get a deposit on her house that came natural to.
4. Monica the developer paid for college grad who is a college grad of what we don't know is only a go to girl to push projects through for her boss great use of an education. I want to grow up to be a bought politician and go nowhere and live in the valley.
We now come to the city clerk it is her duty if she knows personally that Monica doesn't live in the city and she is committing a felony by knowingly letting it continue and Monica was not registered to vote at her listed address in BP. It's to bad the village people are getting a lot smarter than the council ever thought possible these council idiots aren't even a challenge they are blatantly stupid and don't cover their trail of screw ups.