Controversy galore on Election Day for Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council
As the sun rises on what is expected to be a hot day in the "City of Angels", a "devil of controversy" is brewing in the already contentious Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council Elections, the first in three years for the community just northeast of downtown.
We here at Mayor Sam were e-mail a copy of this "alleged" memo written by Lincoln High School Career Advisor Vera Padilla, who also is a current member of the LHNC and is running for re-election with the so-call "Action Slate". (For the record, the e-mail stated that the "Action Team" slate was attached to this memo.)
If this document is true, then there are questions galore about the ethical behavior of Ms. Padiila. First, the usage of school letterhead would present a serious "Conflict of Interest" involving Lincoln High School and LAUSD. Second, if this was done on district time, then questions of sanctions and discipline need to be brought to the table for discussion on why Ms. Padilla is campaigning for re-election and soliciting votes from her fellow staff members, when she is getting paid to create "road maps" that guide students to colleges and careers?
This memo, if true, is just another incident of questionable ethical behavior from the current LHNC under the leadership of David Galaviz.
Earlier in the year, this body voted to support the controversial "Las Villas Project" on the corner of Broadway and Thomas (old Rose Eye Center location). Later on the same night that Councilman Ed Reyes announced the end of the "Las Villas Project", NC members proposed giving money to support a community event for Jenny Krusoe's "Legacy LA Project". Yet at no time did any of the USC employees or Violence Intervention Program staff member Eileen Sanchez recuse themselves from voting, and not cite that their respective employers have a vested interest in the successful completion of the "Legacy LA Project"
In addition, did Carolina Castillo, USC employee and KIPP Charter School Board Member recuse herself when funds were allocated for the Charter School?
Voters in Lincoln Heights will have the final say in this contentous election from 1:00-7:00 PM today in the Lincoln High School Auditorium, located at 3501 N. Broadway.
***Afternoon Update, On site observers report that students were given hall passes during late morning classes and taken to the auditorium to vote with "Action Slate" in hand. When Principal Molina was confronted with this charge, he responded that this was a "civics lesson"..........in Chicago Style Politics?***
Labels: David Galaviz, Eileen Sanchez, Jenny Krusoe, lausd, Legacy LA, Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council, Lincoln High School, Vera Padilla
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 6/12/2008 05:06:00 AM
63 Comments:
Slimey Vera has been exposed more than a few times here in the neighborhood.
This is the same Vera Padilla who had her mother and sisters as poll workers at the last LHNC election.
This is the same Vera Padilla that was thrown out of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association because of questionable financial improprieties.
This is the same Vera Padilla who always finds a way to "hire" her sisters at events she is involve with (and yes, the family always manages to get paid).
None of this should be news to anyone in Lincoln Heights. Vera has been "getting around" the neighborhood for years.
Maybe someone should contact the school principal to see where he is on this. It seems that if LHNC money is being diverted to the school, he would be in support of this illegal use of school stationery.
LAUSD may not be so forgiving.
Dumbasses - the memo doesn't say who to vote for; it only lists accomplishments of the council.
So the biggest hard-on in blog history continues.
So, where does she state to vote for her or a specific candidate?
Is it the same as putting a table in front of a church and signing people up? or making announcements in church? or feeding people then asking them to sign in, but instead of signing in, they are signing the anti-Las Villas petitions.
The number of people Pacheco the Pigeon has tried to fire is pretty big:
- Angela Ovalle (tried once)
- David Galaviz (tried once, will try again, please keep trying, because when you try he gets promoted)
- Vera Padilla (tried twice will try again)
- Joe Coria (tried once)
- Juana Lambert (LA Boys and Girls Club)
What a fine Catholic?
Vera has always been a problem in the neighborhood. Anyone notice how the budget committee always recommended to support LHS items but was rude to others asking for funds or didn't support them, or turned them away?
Hey 7:50 - No one was ever turned away. Name one that was.
The only potential problem was funding Catholic Churches - Little problem with Separation of Church and State.
Can't we all just get along? This isn't about life and death. What's wrong with all you people?
Obviously people don't know how finances in the neighborhood council work. Lincoln HS got much needed funding in addition to SO MANY other community groups. If chaos had continued with Pacheco and his cockroaches, not only would the community get ZERO funding but the city would've taken over unused funds. Those kids that the high school are from OUR community. That's what funds are for, to benefit our community.
Sorry, but Padilla was not "thrown out" of the Alumni Association. Like many groups, there are internal factions that work to gain the helmsmanship of the group, and so it happened there. That succeeding incarnation of the alumni association itself succumbed last year to, essentially, a membership election revolt to arrive at the present configuration.
I think that this is the more accurate summary for those not personally familiar with the whole picture. Leaders of any group find that they have to carry a disproportionate share of the burden if anything is going to be accomplished. Clearly, while many have no concept of this, the critics abound, as these posts confirm.
As for requesting funds from NC- lots of groups simply don't qualify because they are for-profit enterprises. Other entities requesting monies were not similarly eligible, or just denied on other bases like weighing comparative benefits to be yielded. Some were simply looking for funding without fully trying self-driven fundraising efforts first.
The complaints of dissidents leave out factual substance because it's more effective to leave things in the accusation stage when the election is already here.
Lots of negativity here. The Pacheco alternative still is hard to support, having the history of its staunch opposition to the establishment of “Las Memorias” memorial to AIDS victims in Lincoln Park. The homophobic coloration that their supporters showed in practicing denial, among other things, didn't suit their cause well, and I don't see any turnaround on the intolerance issue.
Note the location of today’s election- announced as the “Auditorium.” This was renamed “The Ethel Percy Andrus Theater” during a dedication ceremony on February 8, 2008, in honor of the past principal and founder of the AARP. (About that: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2008/2/8/lincoln_high_school_auditorium_to_bear.htm )
But it seems people have enough trouble just finding the “Auditorium” for the election now. Hint: Look for the hideously colored yellow building on campus, by the corner of Thomas St. and North Broadway. Color selection has been blamed on the outgoing principal, Molina. Shame, shame, shame.
A CD-14 LHS alum
The memo isn't on official LAUSD letterhead, which would have been a serious no-no. Seriously. But, it is on an inter-offfice memo which is only seen staff-wide at that particular school. Having said that, I still don't think it's appropriate to use school communication systems for a Neighborhood Council election. And really, stumping for "students 9 to 12" to come and vote? WTF?
At 12, my boy could barely figure out how to use the air machine at the gas station to blow up the flat tire on his bicycle; at 9 he was perfecting his belching of the alphabet, but he gets to vote at an NC election? That's just crazy.
9th to 12th grade for clarification.
Um, Valley Doll. That was a joke, right?
It's at a HIGH SCHOOL.
"9-12" refers to GRADES IN SCHOOL.
Not age in YEARS.
But, if your whelp takes after mum - judging from the comment - then I can understand why at GRADE 12, he might not be able to "figure out how to use the air machine at the gas station" or at GRADE 9 he "was perfecting his belching of the alphabet" (okay, for 9th grade that one actually makes some sense).
It's that "not far from the tree" thing, right?
There's a reason why Valley girls have that, um, like, you know, fer sure, reputation, duh!
That a lot of money to just one school, though.
That's a problem.
Why not spread it around - middle school, and there must be a couple elementary schools, private schools, charter, magnet, non-school youth organizations, sports clubs, YMCA, Boys Club. Even in a neighborhood like LH, with what 25,000 residents, there has to be dozens of other groups that should get some tiny sliver of the pie.
But, this also makes sense if there's been someone from the high school staff on the board all this time.
That's the secret game of most NCs. Groups affiliated with the board members get the bulk of the money, because they know it's there, and those same board members have no real reason to spread the word to the less fortunate - because that would mean just that much less for the board's special interests.
Remember, this is the same partisan, old-boy-network BS that these same activists scream at the big Council downtown for - then given a few bucks to spend themselves, they turn around and copycat - and just scratch each other's backs within the incestuous little inner circle.
An Inter-Office Memorandum would still be considered a legal school document whether it was for internal use or not. Unfortunately Ms. Padilla in her arrogance was making these copies available for the public by their placement in the school office.
Amazing how much money she and her LHS clique on the LHNC managed to push towards the school. Supplies like band uniforms, track hurdles, and other school related equipment should be the responsibility of LAUSD. Clearly the actions of those LHS-related folks on the LHNC were probably considered favorites by the school administration (free money has that effect).
Using the "community's funds" on a single school site is inherently unfair to others who do not have children in public school.
But then again, Ms. Padilla never believed the rules applied to her.
I'm guessing that for them to say $168,000 to "benefit" the community they're including every cent the NC spent - including food for board meetings, administrative expenses, etc.
If so, that's really pushing the envelope on the truth.
NCs citywide spend anywhere from 20 to 70 percent of their %50,000 a year on things having mostly to do with running the board and its meetings. By some real spin definition, that could be indirectly benefitting Lincoln Heights - because they have a functioning NC, but that really spinning it too much.
This is why NCs SHOULD NOT be allowed to give money to non-profits, schools, etc. way too much potential for abuse and inequities.
If you want money for community projects, join the Rotary Club. Or get the Council or School Board to fund them properly.
NCs should have their budgets cut to the point that they can only afford to send newsletters, have a website, have a secretary and maybe some gas money to go to Clowncil meetings.
The rest of this insanity has to stop now.
It might be useful to step back from the treees to see the forest.
Consider what other neighborhood councils have spent their funds on if you are judging this one. The ease of getting a comparative list might be an obstacle, but the NC's direct funds to what they think is worthwhile and eligible for public money.
As another comment: LAUSD spends money on things that they don't even know about. Things in the modernization phase were done that didn't need to be done, and the ones who don't lose are the companies doing the work since no one keeps an eye on the work on-site to the extent they can control the work like a homeowner watching the work being done to his/her house.
If more were done, LAUSD might get more bang for the buck. Instead they just get banged, and the taxpayers, in turn.
Shame on you Vera!
You ought to know better. Especially the way things are going with LAUSD and everyone is in an "ethics" mode - what happened to you?
You didn't need to put yourself in such a questionable situation..after all, you don't need to bring out the vote for your slate because it is a done deal - the election is at LHS!
Seems like I would keep a low profile because it sure smells of conflict of interest on your part and some of the others that are on the slate with you.
I can't imagine Molina would have approved this, if so, he is accountable too!
You cease to surprise me!
Principal Molina is the ultimate loser principal. That's why he is at Lincoln and tolerates people like Vera on his staff.
Who allowed the school to painted lemonade yellow?
Who allowed a historical mural on the Cafeteria to be painted over?
Who is allowing the AARP to move the Senior Plaques to another part of the school?
Who has allowed the school to continue it's slide into oblivion?
Yes, chances are Principal Molina is in on the fix: from the accepting of free LHNC funds to gladly opening up his doors to yet another $ham of an election. Besides, who else would tolerate a "Career Advisor" like Vera? I wonder about her advice to kids: "Don't be an imbecile, get a job where you do not have to produce like mine!"
Thanks for the clarification, Spot. I'm still a little cloudy headed from yesterday. :) xoxo
10:17 oh for pete's sake, lighten up Frances.
I only saw the "students 9-12" and as I am HOPPED UP ON BENADRYL (allergies from hell) I mis-read it as an age window. I'll retract the age reference. Even so, 9th graders voting on NC issues? That's still ridiculous.
And by the way, The Fresh Prince of Porter Ranch has honed his tire filling skills, shortly after he turned twelve. As for the nut not falling far from the tree: it's true. He's just like me. He's a big goof like me. Ways he's not like me: He's a Youth Chess Champion, City Championship Golf player and is poised to become a doctor (his goal since he was 10), a heart surgeon, to be more precise. So you'd better be nice to him. He may be your doctor someday, that is, if you even have a heart...
xoxo
One can guess that this will be the last NC election at Lincoln High School.
Lighten up?
That's about as light as it gets around here Valley Dull-one.
If you can't take the blast furnace, better go back to blogging in "girlie" sites and comparing Strawberry Shortcake collectables, before you have another Emily Latella moment.
"What's all this I hear about the Supreme Court passing a DEAF penalty. Don't deaf people have enough trouble already? Huh, what? It's not 'deaf'? OHHHHH. Neverrr mind!"
12:10 p.m.
I cause someone their job once.
I also cause myself shaving this morning.
And last Xmas I left cookies out for Santa Cause.
I used to watch Bill Causeby on TV, too.
But I had to stop cause it was my bedtime.
And, then I learned to drive motorcause in high school.
Sometimes I hear crows on the telephone poles saying "cause, cause".
And, I like to volunteer time to charities making cause for them on the phone, to raise money.
Of cause, that's just how I roll (sorry if this is too subtle, Red Snot). Maybe Higby can explain it to you.
Try again,
Exploitation of children with this type of scam should cost someone their job.
AUDIT, AUDIT, AUDIT!!!
Lets see what Hugo’s group can do... His stupid wife wanted the council to use checks for petty cash!
HELLLLO scary marry its called petty cash for a reason!
Father Mario, Hugo Pacheco and Sister Reina should throw in the towel now. Sore losers.
Hugo Pacheco did get father Mario relocated hahahaha!.
Someone needs to file a "PUBLIC DOCUMENT REQUEST" for all e-mails and documents between the parties involve in this charade.
For the johnny-come-lately complainer:
1. Mr. Molina is retiring next week and probably couldn't care less about what anyone thinks about anything.
2. The pukey yellow was his call, maybe in hopes that kids would be able to find the school easier and not ditch or drop out.
3. The senior Plaques were taken out in December from an ordered sequence and then replaced into new concrete more widely spread in the same place (not sure why), in a random order. Visit the place to vote today and see for yourself. Since AARP gave $100,000.00 for the aud renovations, who's going to deny them this change?
4. The school is still academically challenged, but it has not yet arrived at oblivion (ironic note: one definition of oblivion is "Official overlooking of offenses; amnesty."- maybe it IS heading there) For now, look for LHS at 3501 N. Broadway.
"Don't be an imbecile" is always good advice. Wasn't that what Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela used to say in his PSA bits?
Lisen we need a plajur card to let everyone know who ju talk about.
I going to post guan very very soon.
For instanse.
Erica Gallo is
La Pata
Big Bomba
La Turkey
La Albondiga
La Moo Moo
(Guey & Vestido)
Monica Garcia
(Tween)
Free Willey
La Longas ... Not a complete list jus sample.
Shirley Vera wud be
Shurley Verga
Slimey Vera Not a complete list jus sample
and so on and so on so this not complete list I post real soon.
Stay tune Looney Tunes!
El Frito Bandito
Arriba... Arriba
I like Howard Stern's father's angry rant at him better: "Don't be an idiot, you moron!"
el frito bandito
your back
keep them comming man I like them.
I here ERICA "Moo Moo" GALLO. Maybe tu Hawaiian.
Mucho butt hurt... otra vez!
Frun now on I ju sombra.
Ju wake up sleeping giant. I kan handle ju.
EL FRITO BANDITO
ARRIBA... ARRIBA
I'd be interesting in some live blogging/comment as to how the election itself is going, ie in terms of turnout vs past elections and so forth..
Has the City Clerk's actual mailing the 2nd election bulletin to specific addresses done anything to increase turnout? Any of the NCs with elections today from Region 1 are welcome to answer this...
I'm in an NC whose election is a bit later on in the process and I'm curious as to how things are going today...
The whole NC system is going to go down in a RICO/Racketeering lawsuit filed in Superior Court. Because that's all it is, is a corrupt racket.
EVERYONE READING THIS NEEDS TO SHOW UP AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND START PUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN ON THE RECORD DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE ENJOYED SITTING BACK AND WATCHING ZD SHOW UP TO EVERY MEETING SHOULD BOOGIE DOWN TO VAN NUYS OR SKID ROW CITY HALLS AND START LETTING THE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ALL THE RICO VIOLATIONS AND RACKETEERING GOING ON IN THIS CITY AND NOW IN THE NC SYSTEM!
I'M PISSED OFF AS F*CK AT WHAT I AM WITNESSING WITH THE NC SYSTEM, NON-PROFITS AND CITY SERVICES.
Man, you guys are better than the yellow journalists I read about in history class.
I just voted in the LHNC election, and the place was packed!
If this sort of insane controversy can be generated over a measly $50,000 annual budget and a bi-monthly commitment for committee members - imagine how engaged this whole community will be in the next general election if you guys cover it!
It would be nice if you did a little bit of real reporting (by contacting the people you are slandering), but this is a blog and I am guessing that nobody really makes much money off of this site anyway.
Zuma - you weren't even at the Lincoln Heights NC? Where were you?
Where was that Red Spot - Since he is running for both Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council?
How did he divide his time?
Hey Zuma Dogg at 5:51 PM
Why don't you name the nonprofits and go talk to their directors instead of being a HUGE COWARD, hiding behind glasses, a dirty cap, and a lame alias.
You are good at talking for 2 minutes and blogging for a bit, but terrible at actual work.
Da Frito Bandito seys dat Zuma Perro iz otay n his book.
Zuma score me some homes.
Arriba... Arriba
Wha hapend too dat Hugo Panoche. Me 1-der wat 2 doo, naw dat E-lect-ion dis ova.
Frito Bandito
Arriba. . .Arriba
Bandito - Keep it up You Rock!!!!!!!
Zuma:
Blogging Rule #1: Only crazy people type all in CAPS.
10:19
And your point is, what?
Zuma has been 51/50 since he started making noise in the city. He's one more pair of handcuffs away from his (next) 72-hour hold.
So looks like Hugo Pacheco and his little whores lost the whole slate! We'll see how long Robert Vega and the gum stuck to the bottom of his show who are stuck with the rest of Action Slate last. HAHAHAHA! This is a great farewell gift from Father Mario.
Those in line by 7 got to vote. Ask the city clerk workers who were given those instructions by the onsite manager. If you arrived after 7, you were sent home. Ask the couple at 7:15pm who were turned away at the exit. The same exit where that fat dude in yellow who got bumped by Galaviz after the bald-eagle Galaviz started shouting at some candidate inside in line to get her ballot. He accused her of electioneering and the city workers had to shut them up.
Let's see. If you get sent to a bigger wealthier parish, is that a demotion or a promotion. The Archdiocese didn't even return Galaviz's phone calls when he was calling the Archdiocesan Media Relations and the Priest Personnel Offices trying to get Fr. Mario silenced over Las Villas.
Scoreboard!!!
I heard-ed that they didn't return his calls because they were busy dealing with the whole molester priest issue.
Las Villas - the future home of office space - WOOOOO HOOOO!!!!
So, what were the election results? Inquiring minds want to know.
Speaking of Eastside Crooks, where was good ole Art Pulido?
Robert Vega, get a life and go back to your junkyard, dig a hole and lie in it. Oh wait! All of you keep digging that hole deeper and deeper...
By the way, I was inside casting my vote and did hear that Felicitas lady electioneering AND that fat guy purposely bumped Galaviz. I saw it. I was standing right next to the fat dude and it was obviously intentional.
I saw it to - the chubster was lucky Galaviz didn't even feel it.
I saw it too - the chubster was lucky Galaviz didn't even feel it.
I saw that big man. I can't believe I saw him get violent and bump the current president. I saw him laugh after. I almost went to the officials and reported him but he was so big and I'm so petite I was afraid he'd throw me across the room.
"Throw me across the room"! The bump or as others call it "the unintentional hug" was outside on the landing before the stairs. There is no "room" outside. I could have sworn the fat guy in yellow was Erika Wideload Gallo dressed as a man but it couln't be her since she was busy lending her pink phone to good old baldy boy Galaviz who has to cry to the archdiocese to silence Fr. Mario and then gets upset when no one returns his calls. And please spare us the tough guy act as if Galaviz was going to start a fight with a fat guy for an accidental bump after Galaviz's shouting match with a petite woman. Yeah that makes sense. And, it's not really electioneering if disabled, elderly, or non-English speaking folks needed help with the colored half-sheets stapled together ballot that any Jr High student council could have come up with a better design.
Ok. So there are 7 Sub-Areas in the LHNC. But everyone and their dogs can vote for all the sub-area reps. Wouldn't that be like the whole city voting for each city council contest. How about we end that insanity and have 7 polling places one in each subarea with only the residents/stakeholders of that area voting for their own reps alongside the NC-wide offices. This way, let's say for example, Lincoln Heights Tutorial Project students can't overturn the will of the Brewery residents and impose their will on them.
But why is the Brewery it's own subarea. They are the only residents in their over-bloated mainly industrial subarea. The Park Hill apartments aren't their own subarea. We need more proportional redistricting also. One person one vote. Has Ramona Gardens or the William Mead Housing projects joined any NC.
in response to the below point, Pacheco should have fired or tried to get rid of Juana Lambert. She does a disservice to the quality staple, The Boys and Girls Club.
The number of people Pacheco the Pigeon has tried to fire is pretty big:
- Angela Ovalle (tried once)
- David Galaviz (tried once, will try again, please keep trying, because when you try he gets promoted)
- Vera Padilla (tried twice will try again)
- Joe Coria (tried once)
- Juana Lambert (LA Boys and Girls Club)
What a fine Catholic?
I agree. Does anyone know if that evil woman, Juana Lambert, is still in charge over at the LA B&G club? It would be a travesty of justice if she is.
It is insane but that witch is stil in charge of those great kids over in East Los Angeles/ Lincoln Heights. She is terrible and I also worked for her and it angers me every day that nobody removes her from her position of "Power".
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