Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Wednesday
Feds look for the finances behind the patch.
Does the public have a right to view the background of those hire by the City of Los Angeles's GRYD Program?In a ideal Mayor Antonio Villar political world, what would come first? Financial records of LAPD officers who work in gang suppression units, or background records on those hire by the numerous contractors and sub-contractors of Mayor Villar's GRYD Program?
One should pause to ponder this question in the light of the news out of Northeast LA regarding the disbanding of the LAPD's Northeast Division's gang unit. The story which was reported to this blogger last week, has gone viral on the web, with a link on the Drudge Report.
The breakup of the Northeast LA gang unit is an outgrowth of a new LAPD policy that requires officers who serve on gang units to submit personal financial records. This new policy is the collateral damage of the Rampart Scandal, and the United States Department of Justice findings, which initiated this policy in name of reform.
But while LAPD deals with new post Rampart policies, questions are being ask about the oversight of Mayor Villar's GRYD Program. Last week, Mayor Sam posted some information pertaining to the CD 14 "connected non-profit Legacy LA. The business card posted above is of one Legacy LA employee who may have "family ties" to its Executive Director Lou Calanche.
Since most of the contractors and sub-contractors operate under diverse employment rules, is it fair to ask that all groups that are contracted by the Mayor's GRYD Office, disclose financial records regarding their respective usage of GRYD money and their hiring practices? After all, there was some past dubious gang program called LA Bridges I and II, with their poster child of graft, Hector "No Guns" Marroquin.
OTHER NEWS:
** Question for the discerning CD 14 political observers, why was Councilman Jose Huizar absent from the horseshoe on Monday, when his council colleagues voted to join Mayor Antonio Villar in crafting an "legislated Alamo plan" for CRA/LA? Was he celebrating his fundraising efforts against challenger Rudy Martinez? Working with Wendy Greuel on the City Controller's computer issues regarding CLARTSgate? Or our his thoughts focus somewhere else on Spring Street?
** The now mere citizen "Kennedy Republican", just found time to write a letter of apology to the family of Luis Santos, who the former governor did not care to notify that he was "making a political consideration" in reducing the sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of Fabian. Lets hope that the Santos family files a "Victim Rights Lawsuit" against California over the actions of the "Kennedy Republican".
** The shooting of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Mohamed Ahmed, is the latest high-profile incident that highlights the pitfalls of the dumping of parolees due to the state's budget crisis. Our prayers go out to the deputy and his family.
** Memo to former Lt. Governor Candidate Janice Hahn Campaign Manager Michael Trujillo. Ron Kaye highlights why it was good that Councilwoman Janice Hahn, did not become California's Lt. Governor. Give Janice "some campaign scratch" and she off screwing up some needed work at the Port of Los Angeles.
** Former CD 14 Candidate Tony Butka takes the time to remind us that Councilman Huizar and his clowncil colleagues had some $40 million dollars in discretionary funds, stashed away in accounts that City Controller Wendy Greuel's "lack of Excel software", inhibits constituents from accessing. Butka summerizes his thoughts by asking that Councilman Huizar come clean on CLARTSgate and create an transparent process for community groups to request funding without political pre-conditions.
** Lastly, CD 14 City Council Candidate Rudy Martinez took the proactive approach to return $6,000 in campaign contributions from former City Councilman Nick Pacheco and employees of his law firm. Supporters of Councilman Huizar and his "political Papi" Mayor Villar might remember the 31 ethics violations that "Team Villar" was charged with for actions during the 2003 CD 14 Council Election. More recently, Councilman Jose Huizar paid $15,000 in ethics fines after being caught snooping on former LAUSD School Board Member David Tokofsky. Thus, we commend Martinez for his prompt action on this issue and not resorting to asking others to pay for his ethical misdeeds, like Huizzy?
Your thoughts..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14
Labels: "COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN AS JOSE HUIZAR", fabian nunez, Governor "Kennedy Republican", GRYD, janice hahn, lapd
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 1/12/2011 10:39:00 AM
36 Comments:
Are you kidding Red Spot? Rudy has 4 criminal violations, and one friend named Tricky Nicky. So, please leave Huizzy alone and go walk your hood for votes while you drink a Coors light in a brown bag. I am changing your name as of today to "The only white dude from the projects for Rudy."
According to a staffer in Huizar's office the reason they have been stonewalling the CLARTS information release is because a good chunk of those funds ended up in Francine's personal account.
They will make sure that NOTHING is released until after March 8th.
I thought the brown bag was part of the GRYD equipment bag.
To "Retire LAUSD Classified Emplyee",
I took a "four iron" to your comments.
Thus, we commend Martinez for his prompt action on this issue.
PU-leeze. The RUDY spinners in FULL force HERE! (And, in FULL denial.) This is more EVIDENCE the man is NOT cut out for the job.
Who, with ANY knowledge of how local elections work or how a candidate can very easily trip over his own, er "equipment" would even bother to ACCEPT a whole mess of max.-limit checks from ONE firm, especially when that firm is run by someone whose nickname in CD-14 is "Tricky Nicky" and who lost his last three elections primarily because his opponents capitalized on the many violations and near-violations he was charged with while in office.
"Um, you honor, we accepted a blood-stained length of rope from the BOSTON STRANGLER, three months ago, but many weeks after REPORTING the receipt to the City, we 'VOLUNTARILY' returned it to him JUST in case it was used to commit murder. Now, we'd like a pat on the head for figuring it out SECONDS before you caught us and launched an investigation."
It was someone, here ("ME!") who pointed out months ago when the last report was released that that was a PURE bonehead move to take those checks, and that they were purely in the Jimmy Hahn (a PACHECO croonie) and Fleishman-Hillard mold.
No doubt Hacopian's hall monitor here, Reed Sput, passed that along and they SUDDENLY got smart in the rules of campaign funding. Were they THAT desperate to make it look like they had out-raised Huizar (A LIE - because most was a "loan" from the candidate), or is this just Rudy Rich's campaign team's FIRST TIME AT THE DANCE. MMaybe they have ALWAYS been that clueless.
Soooooorry... TOO DAMN DUMBED to ever become a "Clowncil" member.
Red Scott has to keep putting new re-hashed threads up because he's getting his shorts handed to him by non-CLARTS-heads each time on the others.
HEY, we don't need PARKE or TRUJILLO to trash your nit-wit and no-wisdom.
Any rational, thinking layperson can do that.
(His "briefs" are like local L.A. weather on a slow news day, when its drizzling outside "UPDATE ON THE LATEST 'STORMWATCH' - at 11:00" (the update is, it's not here, it's only gonna bring 1/4 inch, and most of you won't even feel it).
NEXT UPDATE IN 30 MINUTES.
"CLARTS-STOOOOOOORM WATCH 2011!" Don't miss the "lestest".
Why was some reporter and camera guy ask Councilman Huizar about Francine and his wife today at City Hall?
Is the GOP the party of the big tent?
The sole black Republican Party district chairman in Arizona resigned from his post in the wake of Saturday's shooting, citing threats from the Tea Party faction and concerns for his family's safety, The Arizona Republic first reported.
"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," he said. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."
Miller, 43, told HuffPost he decided to resign after his wife expressed concern for their safety.
The attacks also took on a racial hue. One critic referred to him derogatorily as "McCain's boy," Miller said. Other language was even less ambiguous. At an event in Havasu, Ariz., Miller said, someone called out, "There's Anthony, get a rope."
Red Spot,
What do you think of Phil Jennerjahn throwing yet another City Council candidate under the bus?
http://thejennerjahnreport.blogspot.com/2011/01/call-911-stephen-box-is-killing-his.html
Scott, you're all wrong about Huizar.
Besides, he is dominant on the money front. I hate to see you spinning your wheels only to be disappointed in the end.
Don't becomen a guy like Jennerjahn who is always on the losing side. Rudy would be no better than Jose.
Do you get the feeling that Sarah Palin of saying anything that doesn't inflame and play to people's anger?
I'm still waiting for her first positive idea.
2.55 A lot of innocent people are sitting on death row because of people like you.
4:03 p.m.
Scott won't be disappointed.
Without Huizar to "kick around" for another 4-8 years, he'd be lost.
There's just not that much "Gatto" gouging to do here, and people are a lot less interested in that, anyway.
It's all a game, you know. Three months from now, after riling us all up into "competing" camps and sounding all kinds of false alarms with the press, re-elected Councilmember Huizar and recently appointed City Commissioner Rudy Martinez will be seen cutting ribbons together, slapping each other's backs, and making lunch appointments together through their "people."
To Retired LAUSD,
Without a registered name at blogspot, it is impossible to authenticate your identity.
2:17
Your right on, the CLARTS fund info is being held up because the funds where being funneled into Huizar and Franicine's personal accounts.
The two of them are crooked as the day is long.
The fact that Martinez had to return $6,000 in contributions to employees of his only political ally, Nick Pacheco due to an ethics investigation means in actuality, the wholly underwhelming $7,200 Martinez was able to raise this quarter is reduced by $6,000, making his support a laughable $1,200 to Huizar's $113,000.
Campaign fundraising is about more than money, it's about showing you have some kind of a base of support. Clearly, Huizar's base is at least ten times greater than this yahoo house flipper's, who has "raised" the majority of what IS in his coffers through loans to himself from himself - also not a good sign.
Finally, the fact that the stink of corruption started before Martinez's name was even on a ballot is truly sad.
The acceptance of those "contributions" from Pacheco and his staff was such a rookie mistake. Can you imagine the runaround Martinez would get from seasoned vets on the council on every single issue? We don't have time for this when the city is in such dire straights.
Thank goodness Huizar is so far ahead, it's not even rally a race at this point.
5:01 p.m.
You don't know spit. And I can't imagine why you're picking on 2:55. His post had nothing to do with death row.
But since you threw your ignorance in the ring, let's club it to "death."
Despite all the wailing and hand-wringing over "innocent" people being put to death, or being cleared by new science like DNA testing etc., and JUST escaping -- there has never been a case in U.S. history in which someone on death row was innocent and was actually fried.
Period.
It just "plays" well in the tear-jerker movies, and makes the liberals wet their pants at the possibility.
It's mythology.
5:46
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Jimmy Hahn's gonna be indicted ANY day now.
Pfaaaah! Same BS, different names.
If I don't like 'em or don't like what they spend money on, or they snub me, or they give money to some community group that wouldn't let me be on their board...
"THEY'RE CROOKS!" Waaaah!
Hell, there's probably more people posting anonymously on this blog that belong in jail than there are "actual" criminals in City government.
Tony Butka again??
What a CRYbaby. This is the guy who ran one of the most dysfunctional neighborhood councils in the City, spent money without telling stakeholders, seldom posted agendas more than a day before and when they did - didn't really spell out what was going to be spent or discussed, hid behind "technical" difficulties for 16-18 months as to why their website couldn't display minutes, so that people would know what the hell they DID do... months after the money had been spent.
So he's beefing about REAL elected officials - elected by thousands of Angelenos, not two dozen Glasell Parkers like his group was - spending amenities funds?
At least I can go to City Hall and beef about their expenditures. No one at Glassel even know when his NC was meeting.
What f*cking right does he have to whine?
NOW he's beefing about Bradley-Bradley, but when they were both first elected, they were on the same "slate" -- Butka and his wife practically got Bradley elected all by themselves.
I see that Wendy Gruel is claiming that the retrieval of basic financial data about the expenditure of funds from CLARTS requires "special programming". This is a provision under the Public Records law that allows a public agency to present the requester with a BILL for the cost of special programming needed to extract the records requested.
Now. Ask yourself.
Why would it take "special programming" to produce financial data of the City? Answer: It does not.
This is a blatant attempt to delay production of produceable public documents past the election.
If Martinez is smart, he would get a good attorney and immediately sue and go in for an urgent order for Gruel to cough up the information.
And perhaps Steve Cooley should get off his ass and investigate whether Gruel is violating the Records law by stonewalling.
7:31 It would appear you "don't know spit" Todd Willingham was executed and in all likelihood was innocent. 17 condemned people sat on death row before being released because dna evidence proved their innocence.
Some people, you may be one, love to rush to judgment and, because of a bias, condemn people who may be innocent.
When the facts come out on the CLARTS fund Huizar is as good as finished.
Him and Francine would be lucky not be wearing orange jump suits when all is said and done.
8:23 p.m.
Spin, haters, spin.
Work yourself in a fine lather, and then get your wannabe candidate side-tracked into legal contortions and mumbo-jumbo.
That's how you take yourself out of the race.
Keep your eyes OFF the prize and focus on trying to humiliate and maybe punish an opponent.
Huizar's hacks must be loving the desperation and despondency.
May even be time to make a psychotic rambling YouTube video, so you'll be "remembered" after you self-destruct.
Bottom line? The CD14 election is already over. No change but the loss of a small fortune by a man conned by his handlers.
10:37 Great analysis.
10:37
What a fool you are.
Huizar is finished in more ways than one.
The other side has lulled you to sleep.
It's the calm before the storm. The other side is far craftier than you give them credit for.
Huizar was behind the initiative for election reform that really was about increasing council members to three terms. Strike One.
He voted to triple my trash pickup fees,supposedly to pay for more police. Strike Two.
The Disappearance of the Clarts Fund money. Strike Three.
He's out of the game. At least Rudy hasn't screwed us yet
10:33
Francine is accustomed to orange jump suits. Martinez just has to find out who her father is and he takes Ramona Gardens hands down.
OMG Parke Skelton spinners in the house. Go ahead keep attacking Red Spot for putting out what's going on. Its all over the internet and national websites that Wendy Greuesome not doing her job and going after CLARTS FUND $$$. Even the LA Weekly did another story and is asking where is $1.5 MILLION transferred to General Fund. The LAPD Gang disclosure story is NOT giving out the whole truth. If the gang officers sign the disclosure form its not just for them to be audited its anyone connected with them including in laws, uncles, step kids, grandparents etc. LAPD screwed their gang officers and threw them under the bus. The media needs to investigate the truth about the LAPD gang officers and how Beck lied to them.
Great idea doing audits and back grounds on anyone receiving gang money. CD14 and Tony Cardenas and Mayor are all moving targeted gang money to friends. Feds won't be happy knowing the money given for credible gang programs are being abused. Communities in Schools Cardenas area had ex gangster Mario Corona arrested for felony. Gangsters never change their spots. HOmeboy biggest loser refusing not to tell where their money is spent and if they gave money for political campaigns. Now thats a story.
No wonder why nothing is getting done our of the Controller's office.Wendy is never in her office. No wonder why its posted all over the internet she's failed the people of Los Angeles not auditing and finding out where $1.5 million from Huizar's CLARTS money went.
Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel on "L.A. Environmental Priorities and a Time of Fiscal Limitations."
Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM, La Kretz Hall
Peter Tilden Morning Show - TalkRadio 790 KABC-AM - Wendy Greuel Has YOUR Back.
I HOPE PETER TILDEN ASKS HOW SHE HAS OUR BACK WHEN SHE'S NOT DOING HER JOB
9:24
Homeboy - "refusing not to tell....." or refusing to tell? Can you give me more details, please?
10:08
"and in all likelihood was innocent."
Glad to know you're so sure of your FACTS!
I'd like to permanently excuse you from jury duty, as someone who can't tell a "fact" from liberal wet dreams.
FOUND GUILTY BY A JURY OF HIS PEERS.
Now, that is a "fact" ---- no "maybe", "possibly" etc.
11:56
It's the calm before the storm. The other side is far craftier than you give them credit for.
Yes, oh yes.
"Crafty" enough to have gotten caught up in another "Tricky Nicky" Pacheco campaign funding sleeze trick, and even before the ballot was printed.
"Crafty" enough to have only raise $7,000 in three months (that's all of 14 - $500 max. contributions. Lets see 14 new supporters every three months?
I think Rudy M. may be "supported" enough to win that council seat about the same time Huizar starts collecting social security.
THEN having to return it, giving the Huizar people their best NEWS turn so far.
Damn, that's crafty.
Keep "lulling" -- the voters may be too sleepy to go to the poles.
I FELL BADLY FOR PEOPLE IN CD 14 BUT THEY DO HAVE A CHOICE THEY CAN VOTE HUIZAR OUT. SAME IS TRUE FOR GREUEL. WE NEED REAL TRANSPARENCY NOT PEOPLE WHO PLAY MIND GAMES.
BASICALLY RON KAYE SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH HIS HALF OFF CAMPAIGN WHICH WOULD HAVE OUTED THESE CANDIDATES AND THERE SINCERITY. IF THE OPPOSING CANDIDATE VOWED TO WORK FOR LESS THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM A WEDGE TO WIN. RON THOUGHT HE COULD CREATE A MOVEMENT WITH CLEAN SWEEP BUT IT TAKES A MINIMUM 2 YEARS TO CREATE YOUR BRAND BECOME CREDIBLE AND GAIN SUPPORT. THE HALF OFF THAT I VOTED AND SUPPORTED WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THAT TRACTION. IT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THIS RACE CITY WIDE NONE OF THESE INCUMBENTS WILL DO THAT KIND OF CUT.
12:20
Let's wait and see what the special panel convened to look into the real possibility of his innocence says first.
You clearly admit that innocent people sit on death row. According to the highest judge in Texas it's a "dead" certainty that innocent people have been "fried".
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