UPDATED: Council districts, sewer fees and anti-Roger
West Covina City Council is meeting tomorrow. Among the topics on the agenda:
1. The city is considering raising sewer fees 63 cents a month per household, which could generate $200,000. The money could only be used for sewer maintenance and operation.
As public works director Shannon Yauchzee said, 63 cents "isn't bad."
2. The council will give direction on Tuesday regarding the Fred Sykes and Co. proposal to divide the city into voting districts. The county recently OK'd the signatures signed on a petition. There are enough signatures to qualify for a general election, but they failed to meet their goal to get enough signatures for a special election.
3. Good news for street paving: The council will vote on $1.3 million worth of street improvement projects.
4. Councilman Steve Herfert has requested that the council discuss Mayor Roger Hernandez's request to be quoted in all city issued publications.
It doesn't matter who the mayor is, it can be Roger or Steve or Sheri or any one of them, the mayor should be quoted in city issued publications. The mayor is the face and the voice of the city in the public domain.
Employees at the Rowland Unified School District left after Hernandez was elected to the School Board because during his Senior year in High School he was expelled for slapping his girlfriend in the face. He was actually sent from Nogales to Rowland because of this action.
When elected to the Board, he threatened the former Superintendent at Rowland Unified School District
When elected to The West Covina City Council he refused to resign from the Roland Board. It took Senator Gloria Romero’s state legislative action to get him to understand you can’t hold two offices at the same time.
As a Councilmember he voted to give Mr. Alhassen 3.5 million taxpayer dollars. Within six months he was investigated by the DA for purchasing an SUV from Mr. Alhassen for almost nothing. He claimed he was a good businessman. Within a few months he traded in the car at a value greater than what he purchased it. Subsequently he has been seen at the Alhassen dealership weekly and is always asking for City legal fees regarding the Alhassen lawsuit, now worth over 7 million dollars to the City. Hernandez wants his buddy Alhassen to get a special deal.
With regards to the DA investigation, he accused Councilmember Touhey of turning him into the DA. It was later revealed that the person who turned him in was actually a person who loaned him money for his campaign and Hernandez refuse to pay him.
For the first time in the history of West Covina. A Councilman – Mr. Hernandez tuitition was paid for by the City of West Covina residents. How did this $10,000+ expense benefit the residents?
In 2006, Mr. Hernandez was investigated for Hostile work issues related to West Covina City employees. In the report by private investigator Ed McErlain, he found that Mr. Hernandez was guilty of inappropriate conduct by a preponderance of evidence. Nine City employees came forward to state incidences where Mr. Hernandez intimidated them. The City Council censored Mr. Herandez for his actions.
In 2007 police were called to Mr. Hernandez house after screams from a woman. He resisted arrest and was uncooperative with police. The police questioned a woman at the house and she stated they were arguing. Subsequently Mr. Hernandez blamed Councilmember Touhey for calling the police. This was later proven untrue by a Sheriff Department investigation. Then after his election was in doubt, he charge the West Covina Police Department with falsifying the report. He later, after the election, admitted he was made up the charges.
In October of 2008 Mr. Hernandez Campaign Manager plead guilty of election fraud. She registered at Hernandez house in West Covina when she lived in LA. Hernandez is also under investigation
Two West Covina employees have filed claims against the City of West Covina for Mr. Hernandez actions. These lawsuits could cost the City more than 6 million dollars. The City Council must now defend Mr. Hernandez or settle with the employees.
Give it up. You people should worry about having police in the streets and firefighters/paramedics in their station houses. That mayor is the symbolic leader of the city. Let the guy get quoted. Who cares? Worry about the important stuff first. But then this council has always had a problem with that.
There are always issues the city talks about. If you don't like it, then don't get involved. Quotes in the paper should be from the person that was at the so called event. How could a person that doesn't attend and event have something to say?
And why is Hernandez always so concerned about himself? Oh yeah, anti Hernandez.. oh brother...
I have watched the City Council for years. Some hated each other, but there was never the issues we have today. There is one constant - Roger Hernandez. He tries to bully everyone, but runs away crying when someone stands up to him.
You look at his time in Roland - controversy. His time in West Covina - controversy. Until Roger showed up with Gil Cedillo I was going to vote for Gil. If that is the type of person One-Bill Gill has as supporters, go Judy Chu.
So the rumors are true! Roger Hernandez has been seen buddy buddy with Gil Cedillo.
What a slime ball politician. Both of them.
The rumor being that politicians are often friendly with each other? Whoa, stop the presses!
Cedillo chooses his friends and those that respond in a friendly way, like Roger Hernandez have bad judgment and no back bone.