LA Times: FBI investigating former Building Inspector with current ties to Councilman Huizar associate

Blogger's note: Sometime back in a moment of internet wandering, we chance upon this item during some backtracking on past stories involving the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). Grande Vista Associates was one of the connected firms being investigated for alleged bid-rigging of HACLA contracts. Some five years later, the same Grande Vista Associates provide a soft landing for former long time Building and Safety Department Inspector Samuel In, who retires from the department after being exposed as part of the growing scandal and FBI investigation of the city agency. We past along our tip and the result is part of Los Angeles Times David Zahniser's latest missive on the growing FBI investigation of the Building and Safety Department and possible connections to various city public officials---Scott Johnson   

 Former Councilman Jose Huizar staffer and current controversial Grande Vista Associates Consultant Gustavo Valdivia, gives a position to recently resigned Building and Safety Inspector Samuel In. 

** From the Times:

A year later, In was listed in state records as chief executive officer of Grande Vista Associates, a consulting firm that had previously been linked to a scandal at the city's Housing Authority. A Times investigation in 2007 found that Victor Taracena, a construction manager for the authority, steered contracts to politically connected firms, including Grande Vista, without competitive bidding or after rigged contests.

One bidder told The Times that he tapped Gustavo Valdivia, a former aide to Councilman Jose Huizar who was Grande Vista's lead consultant, to help him compete for the work — and found out that Grande Vista had secretly submitted its own lower bid. The housing authority paid Grande Vista nearly $99,000 to prepare schematic drawings of restrooms, parking stalls and ramps and other areas

** Why Valdivia hired In:

In said he received no income from Grande Vista and got involved with the firm as a volunteer only to learn more about public outreach, one of the services the firm provides. In also said Valdivia asked him to be an officer.

"I'm a very simple person. If I can help people, I will help. It's all a positive thing for me," he said.. 

How many council districts get their own exclusive building inspector assigned to its domain?

** In's dubious past work in CD 10:

Korean landlord Kyong Ho Cho sued In, alleging breach of contract, saying he advised him to pay a company $15,000 to resolve his permitting problems with the housing department. Cho alleged he paid the money, but In never followed through. Cho's lawsuit also claimed that In told him he had a business partnership with the company that received the money, Max Construction.

Max Construction's lawyer, Michael Sinkov, told The Times last year that Cho's case was "totally meritless." Sinkov said In was dropped from the case after he agreed to pay a $10,000 settlement.

** Speculation from CD 10 via Mayor Sam Source: 

During recent Redistricting Commission hearing in Koreatown, an allegation of a monetary shakedown by associates of City Council President Herb Wesson was put into the record. The allegation involved a "Michael Bai" who was accused of "shaking down" community members for contributions. In addition, observers note that Building Inspector In, did most of his recent work exclusively in CD 10. Could it be possible that constituents in CD 10, are being expose to a well-organize shakedown machine, with friends in "high places in government"?

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14