L.A. Ethics Panel Levies $37,000 in Fines
And the big winner is......WACKO JACKO!!!!!!!!From the LA Times:
The biggest fine levied Thursday was $23,000, against Desert Roofing and two owners for reimbursing six people for political contributions they made to Jack Weiss' 2001 campaign for City Council and Kathleen Connell's unsuccessful run for mayor that year.
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The commission also approved a $4,800 fine against Weiss for failing to properly file with the panel copies of all 32 mass mailers he sent to voters in his hotly contested 2001 election.
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The report by Pelham will also suggest possible ways to tighten the rules. Commissioner Bill Boyarsky sought the review after The Times reported that Villaraigosa accepted a private jet ride to Detroit on Nov. 1 from Ameriquest at a time when the firm had a lobbyist working to influence the mayor's office.Villaraigosa agreed to reimburse Ameriquest $438 each — the commercial coach fare — for himself and an aide who traveled with him to the funeral of civil rights veteran Rosa Parks.
Posted by Anonymous @ 12/09/2005 08:51:00 AM
38 Comments:
Who were the two CM special election candidates who got dinged for mailers?
$37,000 in fines for and about candidates who all together probably raised 3.7 million (?)
No wonder nobody takes this shit seriously!
Why isn't the Ethics Commission going after Antonio and Parks for making a "gambling" bet on city time at a public meeting at last Friday's city council meeting? I'm sure there's some kind of ethics violations there.
10:42 - shut up!
Clever response,11:40.
They teach you that in the all-city LAUSD debating team?
12:38 - shut up!
2:31pm is an Antonio person. That's the only way they know how to respond.
Another ethic violation I believe is last Friday nite at Huizar's celebration 2 fire trucks with the ladders crossing each other with the American flag were in front of the theater so AV and Jose could walk in together. Gee, I wonder how much of our tax dollars was spent on those poor firemen who had to wait until that happened?
Good thing there are no fires in L.A.!
(Wait, I'll help the pro-AV poster. . . "SHUT UP, me!")
The Firefighters union purchased a firetruck long ago -- so they could use it in local parades and the such.
They also use it for political events.
Sorry mr anonymous blogger -- nice try, but no tax dollars were used.
:)
Did they purchase TWO trucks, Mr. anonymous apologist???
(Scroll back. . .)
UH OH (speaking of ETHICS). . . somebody Steve Hymon at the Times know that MRS. ALVIN (Parra) CHIPMUNK, may have a problem with her payoff for hubby's dirt dishing to benefit Huzar in the CD14 special election, UH OH!
DOH, not again (Alvin's NEVER getting off of that couch!)
CITY ETHICS COMMISSION
Los ANGELES, CA 90012
December 6, 2005
The Council of the City of Los Angeles
RE: APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS -
MS. NELLIE RIOS-PARRA
Honorable Members:
On November 14,2005, the Mayor transmitted to the City Clerk the appointment of Ms. Nellie
Rios-Parra to the Board of Library Commissioners. The City Ethics Commission received Ms. Rios-Parra's pre-confirmation Statement of Economic Interests on December 2, 2005, and following our review of that Statement, is providing this letter to the Council for your consideration as part ofthe confirmation process. A copy of this letter is also being provided to Ms. Rios-Parra at this time to assist her in avoiding any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in the course of her term as a City official
for the Board of Library Commissioners.
Ms. Rios-Parra reports on her Statement an income interest in the Youth Development Program.
Therefore, should any matter involving this interest come before the Board, Ms. Rios-Parra should seek the advice of the City Attorney before acting regarding whether she will be required to disqualify herself.
We are unable to assess if, or how frequently, Ms. Rios-Parra would be in a position of having to recuse herself. For your information, when a member of a Board or Commission is disqualified from acting on three or more agenda items in a year because of a conflict caused by the same interest, the City Ethics Commission is required by Section 707 of the City Charter to determine if the Commissioner has a significant and continuing conflict. If the City Ethics Commission so determines, it may order divestment of the interest causing conflict.
In addition, please be advised, however, that interests disclosed on CA Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests) are not the only interests that can give rise to a conflict of interest. As an example, in some cases certain business activities of the clients of board or commission members' employers or sources of income may require recusal by that board or commission member. Additionally, recusal may be required on matters under City Charter Section 222. That section provides that the City Attorney, upon request, provides a written opinion concerning the obligation of a City offcial or board to refrain from acting on a matter that may violate State law or where action may otherwise not be in the public
interest for the board or commission member to act in a particular matter, contract, sale or transaction. In the event that any matter comes before the Board that raises potential conflict of interest issues, we encourage the nominee to seek the advice ofthe City Attorney before acting.
If circumstances arise that do require the nominee to recuse herself from acting on any matter, the enclosed Recusal Notification Form should be used by the nominee to notify the City Ethics Commission for purposes of Charter section 707, as well as the Mayor's Office pursuant to Executive Directive 2005- 1.
For your additional information, as a part of its review process, the City Ethics Commission also regularly requests and verifies that nominees to boards and commissions are registered electors within the City of Los Angeles. We have received a completed Residence Verification Form whereby the nominee affirms that she is registered to vote in the City of Los Angeles.
This staff report will be scheduled for formal review by the City Ethics Commission at its next meeting pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 49.5.7. If the Commission's formal review results in a different conclusion at that time, our offce will notify the City Council.
Sincerely,
LeeAnn M. Pelham
Executive Director
cc: Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigòsa
Ms. Nellie Rios-Parra
37,000 aint sh** compared to the 80,000 Alex Padilla was fined a couple of yrs ago. He's still the champ for officeholder violations.
p/s is it true he's going to lose one of his endorsements?
Wacko Jacko should run against Zev.
Can you explain this in plain English
Yours truly....
LAUSD grad
They have 3 trucks.
from mr blogger apologists.
you guys are really are grasping at straws.
Your full of shit. First you say:
"they bought A truck..." (meaning ONE)
Then someone points out that they were using TWO, so you change your story to THREE!
FUL of SHITE! The stuff that fuels every Villaraigosa campaign; PURE METHANE!
Is the city council firing MS. NELLIE RIOS-PARRA?
The letter confused me.
One thing you have to say for AV, he's pays his debts ON TIME.
Alvin Parra SLIMES Pacheco with anonymous packets of lies right before the NOVEMBER 8 special election.
AV nominates MRS. Parra to an L.A. commission seat NOVEMBER 9, the NEXT damn day.
He just wanted to wait and make sure he wouldn't need the CHIPMUNK's special SLIME services for a runoff.
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
MAYOR
November 9, 2005
Honorable Members of the City Council
c/o City Clerk
Room 395, City Hall
Honorable Members:
Subject to your confirmation, I have today appointed Ms. Nellie Rios-Parra to the Board
of Library Commissioners for the term ending June 30, 2006. Ms. Rios-Parra will fill the
vacancy created by Susan Key, whom I removed on November 9, 2005.
I certify that in my opinion Ms. Rios-Parra is especially qualified by reason of training
and experience for the work that will devolve upon her, and that I make the appointment
solely in the interest of the City.
Very truly yours,
Antonio R. Villaraigosa
ARV:ls
Attachment
Ethics Commission is "concerned" Nellie may be TOO encumbered by her other interests to act on behalf of the commission in an ethical and conflict-free manner.
She has MONEY interests that could get in the way and she might have to SIT out too many votes.
Heck, AV don't care... even if she's "kicked" he "paid" ALVIN back for the pro-Huizar slime, JUST by nominating...
AV: GEE sorry Alvin, JUST like the City council wouldn't "let" me SAVE ELEPHANT HILL, they may not "let" me save Nellie's appointment.
Sorry, poopsie. Check back when I need some help getting dirt out on the SCHOOL BOARD candidates I don't like.
Nellie receives money from what Yough group?
Money interests???? Is she some millionaire in El Sereno
Well, you're right on the money with that one...he sure did pay up! What happens next is out of his hands...Too bad Alvino
It's a win win situation for AV.
Lose Win and Lose again for Alvin
Hey Anono: December 09, 2005 10:04 PM
Call the firefighter's union.
look it up dumbass.
no campaign shiite here.
Council agenda for Tuesday.
ITEM NO. (9) 05-2453
ARTS, PARKS, HEALTH AND AGING COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the appointment of Ms. Nellie Rios- Parra to the Board of Library Commissioners.
So many people are really disappointed in Huizar cause he hired Alvin Parra to be the director of field operations for CD14. It goes to guilt by association and what does it say about Jose's character of hiring a crook, snake, and over all bad seed??? Alvin, better not go into Boyle Heights cause you'll get slammed big time.
Homer Simpson continues his life in politics ... Go Alvin, Go Alvin ...
Go Read and post on today's open thread.
Homer Simpson is too good to be compared to Alvin
I heard AV is getting rid of Jimmy Blackman and will hire Alvin Parras.
Huizaraigosa the pot calling the kettle black ! "Mimi Me" puts out those hit pieces on Nick Pacheco about "SLEAZE".
Ethics Commission is sleeping on investigation of Parra and Huizaraigosa for those illegal slime brochures from Parra.
Ethics commission is a joke.
ETHICS, HYMON, SOMEONE... please note!
The "HOMER SIMPSON" of L.A. politics just got HIS PAYOFF, for campaign sleaze, too. . .*
And we're supposed to believe this is a NEW day in CD14, when AV's toadies are already filling up the field offices. . .???
Mt. Washington Local Issues Meeting
Wednesday, December 14th. 7:00pm
Carlin G Smith Recreation Center,
AGENDA:
7:00 PM, Sign In, Call to Order
7:05 PM: Comments from stakeholders on non-agenda items.
7:15 PM: *Introduction and remarks from Alvin Parra, newly appointed Field Director, Council District 14.
That's what's known as "PATRONAGE" 12:49 p.m
See the technical definition below -- it's one of the earmarks of a corrupt government, you get me elected, and I give you a big job.
I (Huizar) "reward" you (Parra) for sliming my opponent, campaign contributions and holding $50K-$100K fundraisers me AND AV -- even if you're being a lousy realtor and a bad newspaper publisher (who screws up your wife's LAUSD board race), also means you have NO qualifications to run field offices or staff.
Parra couldn't even get elected president of his own NC, when he forced a recall of the last one... THEY passed him over for someone LESS sleazy.
Definition: PATRONAGE
In politics, patronage is defined as the practice by holders of political office of appointing their followers or fellow party members to positions. For example, those could be high-level posts such as ambassadorships, or lower-level civil service posts. Even blue-collar jobs on the government payroll may be sought after. Such overt political patronage is seen as a tool for rewarding and enforcing loyalty; loyalty is the criterion for selecting a person rather than more meritocratic considerations. The selection process, if not the competence of the person, is then, naturally seen as questionable. There is a fine line dividing this from rewarding supporters corruptly with government contracts.
Patronage can consequently be seen as one of the possible major deficiencies of a system of excess bureaucracy, defined as a system with a weak bureaucratic structure, the availability of large public resources to the Patron, and that these public resources be easily divisible in order to target specific groups and individuals.
NEPOTISM and CRONYISM are more specific types of patronage.
How can we get Ethics to look into this matter with Alvin holding a public interest's office and his personal vendettas during campaign? The legalities.
Who do we write letters to?
Should we contact the FBI for political corruption?
Was he paid money for this?
2:11 p.m.
Someone paid a bundle... that multi-sheet shit was distributed ALL over CD14, not just in El Sereno, near Parra's home,
The copying along would have cost thousands.
Who's the source? This would have been like Pacheco appointing Torres to staff in 2003 if he had won.
You KNOW people would have been filing charges on THAT!
Repeating. . . wWho were the two CM special election candidates who got dinged for mailers?
The Times story didn't list them, and there's no release on the Ethics site.
If this is supposed to be some kind of punishment, it needs to include the public disclosure aspect of it.
8:30 Name them.
Bunch of Hot air!
9:35
That was the QUESTION, moron, CAN'T YOU READ... the Times said "two were fined" but did not NAME them.
The previous poster was asking WHO WERE THEY. Why didn't the Times or ETHICS NAME THEM.
December 9, 2005 -- latimes.com
L.A. Ethics Panel Levies $37,000 in Fines
Council candidates and backers are punished for campaign finance law violations since 2001.
By Patrick McGreevy, Times Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Ethics Commission levied $37,450 in fines Thursday against City Council members, candidates and their supporters for violating campaign finance laws in elections during the last four years. December 9, 2005
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Also, small fines were levied against two unsuccessful candidates for City Council who failed to file mailers with the panel.
Commissioner Sean Treglia questioned why so many candidates were not filing mailers and ad scripts with the panel, which provides the public a central location for keeping track of campaign material.
Deena Ghaly, the commission's chief of enforcement, said it was impossible to determine whether the failure to file is part of a strategy to deprive competing candidates of information or it was, as most candidates say, inadvertent.
The commission also agreed Thursday to have its executive director, LeeAnn Pelham, report at a future meeting on the laws regulating how elected officials can accept the use of private jets from corporations doing business in the city.
Yes yes yes AV. PLEASE fire Blackman and hire Alvin!
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