Showcasing potential "Waste, Fraud and Abuse" in CD 14 CLARTS Fund Allocations

In honor of Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel" Eagle Rock "Meet and Greet' with CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar, we bring  you this bloggin teachable moment in identifying potential "Waste, Fraud and Abuse", in the latest Central Los Angeles Refuge Transfer Station (CLARTS) Amenities Fund allocation request. 

Would the current City Controller and Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel" care to comment about the vagueness of the Motion pertaining to the latest CLARTS Fund allocation request?

** Blogger's note: As supporters, associates and staffers of CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar and Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Villar Greuel" coalesce this afternoon for their "Meet and Greet" enabling at the home of Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council President Michael Nogueira, we bring your attention to a questionable CLARTS fund allocation Motion and provide background on the possible usage of this fiscal request. Further, we provide documentation that cast a troubling light on possible illegal past fiscal abuses by associates of the group LA Vioce PICO/ Legacy LA. We would invite CD 14 Boyle Heights Field Office Director Jennifer Martinez, along with representatives of LA Voice PICO, Legacy LA, HACLA and the City Controller's Office to respond to our missive. We should state that this post is an exercise in asking detail questions about the specific usage of the proposed allocation and demanding answers to the alleged questionable past actions of the associates of the organizations and agencies involved---Scott Johnson.

Late last week a Mayor Sam reader brought our attention to this upcoming Wednesday City Council Motion by CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar to allocate $17,000 dollars from the CD 14 CLARTS Fund to LA Voice PICO, a Catholic Church affiliated, progressive practitioner of liberation theology organization.

MOTION The Central Los Angeles Recycling and Transfer Station (CLARTS) Community Amenities Trust Fund provides funding for community amenities within Council District 14.LA Voice PICO works to promote policies that strengthen families and improve quality of life in communities.This effort is of special benefit for the residents of the City and for CD 14 and deserves financial assistance from the City.Sufficient funds are available in the CLARTS Community Amenities Trust Fund for this purpose.I THEREFORE MOVE that $17,000 in the Central Los Angeles Recycling and Transfer Station (CLARTS) Community Amenities Trust Fund No. 47S, Department 14, be utilized to fund any aspect of the activities of LA Voice PICO to promote policies that strengthen families and improve quality of life in communities. I FURTHER MOVE that the City Clerk be directed to prepare the necessary document(s) with, and/or payment(s) to LA Voice PICOa, or any other agency or organization, as appropriate, in the above amount, for the above purpose, subject to the approval of the City Attorney, if needed; and that the Council member of the District be authorized to execute any such documents on behalf of the City. I FURTHER MOVE that the City Clerk be authorized to make any technical corrections or clarifications to the above instructions in order to effectuate the intent of this Motion.

On Friday, this blogger was made aware of a 6:30 PM meeting of the Santa Teresita Chapter of LA Voice PICO which the main item of discussion was the future of Ramona Gardens Saturday Farmers Market. According to a source who was in attendance, CD 14 Boyle Heights Field Office Director Jennifer Martinez stated that LA Vioce PICO and Legacy LA would take over the operation from the current person who is permitted to operate the weekly event Toni Juarez. Further, it was alleged that CD 14 staff was working on a business plan with LA Voice PICO/ Legacy LA in regards to the operation of the Farmers Market


We are ascertaining whether officials of HACLA (which own the property) or the RG Resident Advisory Council, were in attendance at this meeting. But regardless, there is documentation that associates of the Santa Teresita LA Voice PICO and Legacy LA, acted in a questionable manner when it came to promote policies (by allowing more beer and wine outlets) that strengthen families and improve (ethical) quality of life in communities. Thus meriting review whether the Santa Teresita Chapter can be accountable for any portions of the $17,000 allocation.

In the past, we have noted that current associates of the Santa Teresita LA Voice PICO and Legacy LA, worked with local political officials (including CD 14 Councilman Huizar), is supporting 7 Eleven's efforts to increase beer and and wine sales outlets in CD 1 and CD 14 sensitive communities. You can see their testimony on these two videos below.

Legacy LA, Santa Teresita LA Voice PICO and Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Board Member (at the time) Lilianna Martinez speaks in support of 7-Eleven with Hollenbeck Police Advisory Board Co-Chairperson Margo Amador translating at 26:45 mark on video above.

Legacy LA benefited from the former RAC members Liliana Martinez, Martha Gonzalez and Alma Ortega testimony on behalf of 7 Eleven as seen on the video above and below (at the 21:30 minute mark).       

When the trio of Martinez, Gonzalez and Ortega were not shilling for 7-Eleven, they were crafting letters of apology to HACLA officials for writing checks to themselves from the proceeds of money from a movie shoot in the community. But more telling is the response (in spanish) to a request from HACLA for more documentation regarding allocation of public funds (these documents were obtain under a California Public Records Act request).

 The cover letter with some of the requested documents (pages with copies of the cancel checks were missing from the two statements below), send by former RG RAC board member Martha Gonzalez from a Legacy LA fax machine.

 Note, no copies of the cancel checks for the highlighted expenditures below.

  Again note, no copy of cancel checks that identify the recipient of the expenditures highlighted below. Were the ex board members that include current Legacy LA and Santa Teresita LA Voice PICO associates Martha Gonzalez, Liliana Martinez and Alma Ortega, writing checks to themselves with documented minutes  and approval?

Thus, it should not be a stretch for a City Controller to request an immediate audit of the past RG RAC fiscal records base upon the documents disclosed above. 

More important, a city councilman who is entrusted with allocating public discretionary funds, should have an open and transparent process and procedure in place that insures full accounting on how allocated funds are expended. After all, openness and transparency, would mitigate claims that the CLARTS Fund is a source of benefiting self and associated political cronies.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14