Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

Introducing a new Mayor Sam Feature: "Outttakes from the Jurisprudence File of a Private Citizen/ Political Consultant", John Shallman.

Hola and great Monday morning to all in Ciudad de Los Angeles!

There would be no better way to begin our morning brief than with a “Private Citizen/ Political Consultant” John Shallman “Jurisprudence Outtake” from the Pulitzer Prize nominated Los Cerritos Community Newspaper via its investigated reporters Randy Economy and Brian Hews.

They report exclusively that City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has file a 200+ page motion that outlines further allegations of fiscal fraud originating from Shallman‘s consulting work in Trutanich‘s fail bid for District Attorney.

We excerpt the following below.

The motions allege that Shallman “grossly mismanaged and squandered campaign funds, and otherwise engaged in questionable and unethical practices.One of the instances cited in the motions alleges that Shallman hired Patricia Duchene of RED Mailing to print and mail campaign advertisements to 254,000 voters, charging $146,160.72.  The suit contends that if Shallman had done the mailings “in house” the cost would have been significantly less. The checks written to Duchene by Shallman total $164,344.21, while the Duchene invoice is for only $146,160.72.In addition to RED, the attorneys have documentation that shows checks written by Shallman to vendors for payment of services with Shallman asking for reimbursement later. Some of those reimbursements did not match the original check. “Usually you submit a check request to the campaign, and the campaign writes the check,” said one local CPA, “this is not good business practice and lends itself to abuse.”Shallman is the chief political consultant to current Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel who is embroiled in a heated four-way race for Mayor of Los Angeles with former Federal Prosecutor Kevin James and Los Angeles City Council Members Jan Perry and Eric Garcetti.

Its safe to say that “Jurisprudence Outtakes via a Private Citizen/ Political Consultant“, will be a regular feature of mayor Sam in the weeks ahead , with diligent attention being paid by a certain “Barrister Cowan“, a given.

** The consulting prowess of the “Private Citizen/ Campaign Consultant for Wendy “The Villar Greuel” was the subject of generous story budgeting from the Old Gray Collective Hag on Spring Street (LA Times moniker). The resulting trifecta of coverage was a godsend to the Kevin James Campaign as the Times reported on the “Greuel, Noguez Connection”, the high number of Mayor Villar associates supporting The Villar Greuel Campaign and uber liberal feminist Senator Barbara Boxer’s endorsement of the Villar Greuel.

** For those discerning observers of LAUSD, a gauge on the success (or lack of) of  Mayor Antonio Villar’s “Partnership for Education”, can be ascertain via this story on Roosevelt High School by Gloria Castillo in the Eastern Group Publications. Hint, not all is well within Mayor Villar/ School Board President Monica Garcia’s supposed stronghold.

** Change is coming to the Horseshoe in City Hall come July and it may not bid well for fiscal sanity, as a mad rush of termed out Sacramento politicos, are seeking a public sector pay raise.

** We want to offer our condolences to the family of longtime political operative/lobbyist William “Bill” Orozco who passed away in his sleep last week. He was 63 years old.

Your thoughts …………..
Scott Johnson in CD 14