Recently in West Covina Category

After losing his seat Tuesday in the West Covina Unified School District school board race, George Fuller took defeat with grace and a sense of professionalism.

He lost to challenger Eileen Jimenez and incumbent Jessica Shewmaker.

"Ms. Shewmaker has done a good job and I assume she will continue to do so. I really do congratulate her for what she has done. I would like to say it has been a real pleasure to serve the community. I appreciate those who have supported me over the years. I look forward to serving the community in years to come and really appreciate that."

Fuller, upon reflection, felt his stance on a contract issue with San Jose Edison Academy may have been his stalling point. He took an unpopular stance, he said, which may have given fuel to Jimenez's campaign.

West Covina's gone and done it again.

For the second year in a row, the city has scheduled a council meeting on the night of an election -- last year it was the presidential election, this year, it's the local municipal election.

There's only one item on the agenda for Tuesday night, an update on a senior housing project.

Mayor Roger Hernandez told reporter Amanda Baumfeld he's been asking to discuss this before the council for months -- but he didn't want to do it on election night.

Hernandez said even though he is opposed to meetings on election night, he can't cancel the meeting without a majority of the council agreeing to it.

Councilman Mike Touhey said Hernandez can cancel the meeting, and accused him of setting a double standard.

Dana Sykes left me a message earlier this week informing their had been "numerous errors" on the campaign finance reports filed for the Concerned Citizens for a better West Covina.

Sykes is the treasurer for the group, which is supporting Measure D -- a controversial proposal to divide the city into five council districts

But Sykes is also the wife of Fred Sykes, who is running for City Council in the Nov. 3 election.

As a result, Dana Sykes said she hasn't been involved in the record-keeping for the Concerned Citizens group, and it recently came to her attention that there were errors on the reports filed Oct. 22. She blamed the mistakes on an assistant who didn't know the group had to file its expenditures ---- the heart of campaign finance reporting.

This news comes days after West Covina resident Lloyd Johnson sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office questioning the legality of three campaign mailers the group sent to residents supporting Measure D.

In Johnson's letter, he accused the Concerned Citizens for sending out the flyers but not reporting the postage and printing costs of the three mailer.

We haven't hadn't a chance to look for ourselves, but Sykes said she has filed amended forms with the West Covina City Clerk.

You know it's election time when the district attorney's office starts getting ethics complaints about campaign literature.

West Covina resident Lloyd Johnson sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Friday questioning the legality of three campaign mailers sent to residents about Measure D.

The measure -- which has been under debate for months -- proposes dividing the city into five council districts.

The mailers support the measure, and one features West Covina Mayor Roger Hernandez superimposed over a chalkboard.

In Johnson's letter, he accuses the Concerned Citizens for a better West Covina of sending out the flyers but not reporting the postage and printing costs of the three mailers in their Oct. 22 campaign finance reports.

Those reports show a total of $3620,18 in expenditures, including $2,575 for posters and $1045.18 for flyers.

"We ask the District Attorney's office for swift action with regards to this falsification and illegality in the current election," Johnson writes in the letter addressed to Dave Demerjian, head of the district attorney's Public Integrity division. "The residents have a right to know who is funding the Yes on Measure D campaign."

Johnson also takes issue with the committee's treasurer Dana Sykescq, who is West Covina Council candidate Fred Sykes' wife. Fred Sykes is largely behind the push for Measure D and council districts.

Dana Sykes said this is a political ploy by the opposition to Measure D.

"I was a member of the group prior to (my husband's bid for candidacy)," she said. "When it comes to doing the books, I really don't do the books, someone else does them because right now I am helping with my husband's campaign."

Johnson, a Vietnam veteran, said he is against Measure D, but that has nothing to do with his stance on the issue.

Demerjian could not be reached for comment Friday, but officials in his office confirmed they did receive a faxed letter about the issue.

Ever drive through a neighborhood and notice homes that are painted lime green, bright purple or even pastel pink?

In West Covina, Planning Commissioner Robert Sotelo is trying to stop residents from painting their houses with such bright colors.

Ben Baeder is working on a story about Sotelo's mission -- "I would not really like to have a pink house or a lime-green house next to me," Sotelo said.

Apparently, enforcing such a rule isn't easy. But that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

In Lauderhill, Fla., the city in 2003 forced the owner of a purple house to repaint the home with colors that complied with the city's guidelines.

We'll see what West Covina decides. Look for Baeder's story in this week's paper.

(FYI, the photo above isn't from West Covina ... just a purple house somewhere in the U.S. ... but you get the picture)

Looks like West Covina will be $1.1 million richer over the next two years thanks to Fire Department employees who agreed to defer their raises.

Ben Baeder reported earlier this week that the Fire Fighters Association's and Fire Management Association have opted against a 5-percent raise they were supposed to receive beginning in January to help with the city's budget deficit.

Now, they'll get half of that proposed raise in July 2011 and the other half in January 2012.

All Fire Department employees will also get 36 hours of vacation time.

The city's police union agreed to a similar deal in July, which saved West Covina $1.8 million.

West Covina was looking at a $10 million deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year, but the gap has narrowed due to concessions from employees and other cuts.

I've received a couple of calls from residents informing me of a community meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the West Covina ballot measure regarding districts.

West Covina Assitant City Clerk Sue Rush says this is not a town hall meeting sponsored by the city, and Fred Sykes, who has sponsored the measure, said he and his supporters are not hosting the meeting, either.

So who is it?

The meeting, according to the tips I got, will be at either the park or community center at Larke Ellen and Cameron in West Covina. Apparently, there are some fliers that were sent out. If anyone has the flier, send it to me at jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com

As Irwindale gears up for a meeting on Wednesday to follow-up a discussion about switching to the sheriff's department, the recommendation has sparked quite a debate about the Irwindale police department.

One area I will be exploring is the the advantages of having the sheriff's patrol your neighborhood versus a municipal police agency.

While there may be cost savings in contracting out with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, officials supporting municipal police agencies argue that cost savings may not be worth the loss of local control.

Open Forum: What are the advantages and disadvantages to a city having its own police department compared with contracting out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department?

Reporter Jennifer McLain will be following this today and will probably be posting more later, but she says the West Covina City Council managed to cut its estimated budget deficit for the next fiscal year from $9.5 million to about $5 million Tuesday night.

They were also able to salvage some programs.

West Covina City Council is meeting tonight. It is also having a special session meeting, where it is scheduled to talk about the following:

- Anticipated litigation by Sue Williams, public information officer

- Existing litigation by Community Development Director Chris Chung

- Conference with labor negotiations that includes talks with all West Covina labor unions, including WC Police Officers Association, WC Police Management Association, WC Firefighters' Association and Management Association

An editorial tackles Mayor Roger Hernandez's accusations that the City Council is engaged in a gift of public funds. The editorial conlcudes:

There is every possibility that there might be something to Hernandez's suspicions about too much money being paid for the property in question. Too much in the way of public funds are spent on redevelopment projects all the time, with little of the proper haggling and due diligence that goes on in the private sector when it's a person's or a business's hard-earned money in play.

So these are legitimate questions, ones that local politicians need to ask more often, in the public interest. And it's not news that the West Covina council is, sadly, a very dysfunctional family indeed, with no love lost between Hernandez and his colleagues.

But we deserve more from our politicians than the empty gesture that was Hernandez's stunt.

Speaking of dysfunctional family, some of the behavior seen at City Council meetings is seen among the West Covina commissioners. On Tuesday, the City Council is going to adopt a code of ethics for its commissioners, who have apparently been acting rudely toward city staff and among one another. Among the items on the code of ethics are to be polite to one another, not say comments that could be considered heresay and not direct staff.

So what's the answer for the West Covina City Council members and its commissioners? Here's a light hearted recommendation: Watch this video and hug it out.

A two-hour ground breaking and grant signing ceremony for the city of Industry Water Recycling project at the Big League Dreams was concluded with a pitching and batting duel between the vice chairwoman's of two state boards.

Frances Spivy-Weber, Vice Chair of the State Water Resources Board, stood a few feet away and tossed a wiffle ball to Board of Equalization Vice Chairwoman Judy Chu. Chu nailed it...the grounder went right back to the pitcher.

Umping the two-minute display of athletism was Tommy Davis, a former left-fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was all in good fun...

These folks were among the nearly 60 people who attended the ceremony honoring the work of Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipla Water District. Among the elected officials there was Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, West Covina Councilman Steve Herfert, Industry Mayor Dave Perez and at least a dozen elected water officials.

Dave Demerjian, head of the District Attorney's Public Integrity Division, said on Tuesday that it received a complaint filed on Friday by Mayor Roger Hernandez, who is alledging that West Covina City Council is gifting public funds. Hernandez himself voted for this development deal, but later tried to change his mind. He failed because there was no quorum. (Background here.)

Demerjian said the office is reviewing it, which is how all complaints all handled. He wouldn't say whether he thinks there is any meat to this complaint. Will follow up if the D.A. decides to prusue or dismiss it...

Mayor Roger Hernandez called a special meeting for tonight at 4 p.m. to reconsider the approval of an owner participation agreement with the West Covina Senior Villas for the development of an affordable senior housing project.

This is the property that was abandoned because the previous property owner who was building a bunch of condos said he can no longer afford it. The property now will be developed by Telacu, which is connected with Pacifici Development, owned by Hank Attina.

According to a story that ran on May 6:

On Tuesday, the West Covina Community Redevelopment Commission approved a deal that allows TELACU Industries, which specializes in building low-income housing, to purchase the property and to receive a subsidy from the city.

TELACU is buying the property for $3.5 million, and will be receiving an $8.6 million loan - which does not have to be paid if the developer continues providing low-income housing for the next 99 years - from the housing set-aside reserve fund from the city to cover the cost of the land and construction

Hernandez alleges that the council is gifting public funds to developer Attina because the city failed to appraise the land, a requirement by state law in any redevelopment deal. The city on May 5 approved the sale at $3.5 million, but Hernandez alleges that the property is only worth half that. He will attempt to stall the deal on Thursday, one day before the deal closes escrow.

We will see if any of this pans out later in the day.

The West Covina council meeting was cancelled last night due to a lack of quorom. It wasn't because the council members were busy attending local election parties, but it was because some were at the International Conference of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas, said Mayor Roger Hernandez, who did not attend the conference.*

Here's the schedule.

Just got confirmation from the West Covina City Clerk's office that the city was served with a lawsuit on behalf of Community Development Director Chris Chung, who alleges that Mayor Roger Hernandez subjected him to a hostile work enviornment. I'm going now to pick up the 66 page lawsuit.**

1:21 p.m. And I'm back. The lawsuit is NOT 66 pages...it's only 17**. Here is the preliminary story. FYI: He doesn't mention a dollar amount in the lawsuit. However, back when he made the claim with the city, he demanded $3 million.

West Covina employee sues city, Mayor

WEST COVINA -- A city employee claims Mayor Roger Hernandez harassed him since 2003 and the city didn't do anything to stop it, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Community Development Director Chris Chung.

In the 17-page complaint, which was served on the city May 5 and filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court March 10, Chung claims he was discriminated based on race, that the city failed to prevent harassment and that he suffered emotional distress, including insomnia.

Beginning around March 2003, "Chung, who is of Asian ancestry, has been the target of racially motivated harassment, intimidation, bullying, false accusations of incompetence, (and) insider dealing ... by Hernandez, who is Hispanic," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit details events that have occurred from 2003 to 2006 where Chung said he was subjected to a hostile work environment by Hernandez.

Hernandez did not return calls seeking comment.

Among them was an incidence that occurred on March 20, 2006, where Hernandez allegedly "stormed into" Chung's office and accused him of running a dysfunctional department.

"His tirade was laced with profanity (repeatedly using the "f" word to refer to Chung and his staff," the lawsuit states. "Hernandez made threatening gestures with his fists, kept waving and shaking his hand and fingers at Chung's face compelling Chung to retreat behind his desk for protection."

The lawsuit also states that Hernandez called Chung a liar, that Hernandez threatened to fire Chung and that Chung's reputation and standing in the community has suffered because of Hernandez's actions.

Hernandez did not return calls seeking comment.

City officials said they were anticipating the lawsuit. It follows a claim filed nearly two years ago in which Chung demands $3 million and job protection with the city of West Covina until retirement.

The lawsuit does not provide a figure in the amount of damages, including attorney's fees, Chung is seeking.

Chung did not return calls seeking comment.

West Covina City Council is meeting tonight. Among the items of interest are:

-- The staff finished its report about the ballot measure to divide the city into voting districts. The council will discuss the findings and file the report tonight. Among the many items addressed in the report are the fiscal impacts, effect on the city's general and specific plans and effect on land use.

-- The Community Development Commission, which is really just the City Counicl members, will vote tonight on partnering with TELACU on an affordbale senior housing project. TELACU is purchasing a 24-unit condo complex that has since been abandoned because the former company couldn't afford to finish it. West Covina will provide an $8.6 million loan to TELACU.

Click here for complete agenda.

Food pantry at the San Gabriel Unified School District will be evicted to make way for a fitness center, Amanda Baumfeld reports.

Of the 10 local San Gabriel Valley cities that are members of the National League of Cities, only Claremont, Duarte and Baldwin Park participate in the organization's free prescription drug discount plan. Read more.

No West Covina employee, including those in public safety, will be immune from job losses. Read more.

Local travel agencies are reporting a slowdown in trips to Mexico because of fears from the swine flu. Read more.

Azusa library staff tosses out 600 books. Read more.

Candidates for the 32nd Congressional seat keep trucking along, even though Judy Chu and Gil Cedillo appear to have gotten a lot of media attention over the past few weeks.

Covina resident and former Covina Councilman Dave Truax, who is running for the 32nd Congressional seat, is hosting a meet and greet "dessert reception" from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the home of Steve and Donna Cayson, 1524 E. Algrove Street in Covina.

Tonight, candidate Teresa Hernandez, a West Covina native, will have an event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the South El Monte restaurant, Cielito Lindo, 1612 N. Santa Anita Ave. Among those in attendance will be Sen. Bob Huff, Covina Mayor Walt Allen and Rosemead Mayor Margaret Clark.

Here's this week's installment of Leftovers from City Hall column:

Leftovers from City Hall: Local politicians show interest in 2010 Assembly race

The June 2010 primaries are still far out, but a few local pols have already thrown their names in as potential candidates for the 57th Assembly District race.

La Puente Mayor Louie Lujan, West Covina Mayor Roger Hernandez and West Covina Councilman Steve Herfert have all filed statements of an intent to run for the seat, according to documents filed with the California Secretary of State.

Assemblyman Ed Hernandez - who lives in West Covina and has an optometry office in La Puente - currently holds the seat.

Herfert and Roger Hernandez could not be reached for comment Friday.

Lujan said he decided to file the intent after supporters and colleagues around him encouraged him to run.

"I'm interested but I haven't made my mind up yet," Lujan said, adding that if Ed Hernandez were to run again, Lujan would drop his bid.

"I thoroughly enjoy public service," he said. "If I have the opportunity to serve the public on a different level, I'd be honored to do so."

Baldwin Park mayor's name cleared

Mayor Manuel Lozano is off the hook on a 2007 all expense-paid trip he took to China - at least for now.

The District Attorney's office has concluded its probe and found that Lozano did not have to report his trip on his statement of economic interests because the Chinese government paid for it - not a local businessman like Council critic Greg Tuttle alleged.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is still doing its own investigation.
Tuttle isn't too happy about the DA's decision, and criticized them for relying only on witness statements for proof.

"The DA dropped the ball ... Unless I do everything except file the charges and put them in the courtroom, then they don't want to mess with it," he said.

Lozano called Tuttle a "congenital liar" and said he's consulting with attorneys about suing Tuttle for defamation of character.

"He has a major axe to grind," Lozano said. "Tuttle will go on any little thing and he runs with it ... He needs to know he will be held accountable."

Lozano also said he knew all along the Chinese government foot the bill - even though Lozano said in previous interviews that a Rowland Heights bank paid for the trip.

"I guess I just didn't explain myself," he said.

Tuttle said he has no hidden agenda, his complaint was all about Lozano's travel to China and nothing more.

Pleitez staffer offends West Covina council

A campaign staffer for Emanuel Pleitez got a bit of a tongue lashing from West Covina council members last week after he used an emotional discussion about potential employee layoffs as a campaign pitch for Pleitez, who is running for the 32nd Congressional seat.

JC Stiassni spoke on behalf of Pleitez during the public comment portion of a meeting, following the testimony of employees who were upset over a proposal by Mayor Roger Hernandez to protect only public safety employees from layoffs.

That's where Stiassni came in with a story about Emanuel's own plights growing up. Councilman Mike Touhey wasn't amused. He lambasted the staffer for wasting public comment time, and said it was insensitive for Stiassni to use that time to campaign.

Pleitez's Press Secretary Emily Dulcan said speaking at public meetings is a campaign strategy. But in hindsight, she said, it probably wasn't the best timing.

"I want to express my apologies for the insensitivity that may have been portrayed," Duncan said. "In no way did we mean to offend the participants."