A TGIF Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine

CD 14 City Council Candidate Gloria Molina takes a "NO stance" on the Charter Amendment 1 & 2 Election Change Scheme, disregarding the benefits to her if she defeats Incumbent Clowncilman Jose Huizar.

Laying out the priority of community benefit before self-interest.

Great Friday to all as we endeavor to note the copious amount of local political and campaign news breaking within "Ciudad de Los Angeles" (whoops!! In the xenophobic mindset of Northeast San Fernando Valley Democratic Machine Operative Rosemary Jenkins, failure to use proper English in describing our city, is disqualifying of respect, Que No?).

** From "Save our City Elections" ........, Gloria Molina urges L.A. voters to reject 2 deceptive charter amendments Gloria Molina, the longtime public servant and first Latina to win election to the California legislature, the L.A. City Council, and the L.A. Board of Supervisors, has announced her strong opposition to Charter Amendments 1 and 2. The measures are set to face Los Angeles voters in our March 3 city election.

"The charter amendments don't raise engagement in local elections. They reduce attention. They give insiders more time in office and special interests more power to pick winners and losers, not voters. 

"The charter amendments make public servants less accountable, not more so. Angelenos should not be fooled. Please join me in voting NO."

To read the recent article by former police chief and current Councilmember Bernard Parks citing dangers of the charter amendments, click HERE. 

To find out more about the 2 bad charter amendments facing L.A. voters and how you can help stop them, click HERE.

Voters should note that if the twin Charter Amendments win at the ballot box, the winners of the respective City Council Elections, are gifted with almost a six year term seat on the Horseshoe.

** LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is accepting the respective criticisms of Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Commission President Steve "Mini Riordan I" Soboroff, regarding the "Downtown LA Meet and Greet the Mexican Mafia Member Event". Commission President Soboroff and Mayor Garcetti, focus their queries on the LAPD resources utilized for this supposed private event. 

** "The Weekly Weedleaf of Record" takes a break from its Pot Coverage, as its great young writer Hillel Aron, channels back to his LA School Report days, in musing on the reasons for LAUSD School Board District Five Incumbent Bennett Kayser bailing out on two debates with Challengers Ref Rodriguez and Andrew Thomas. Its proper to note here that in the past, candidates have chosen not to partake in debates that our organized by a subjective entity.

** The following below is another update on the legal proceeding involving Activist Laura Lake's Lawsuit against now City Attorney Mike Feuer and his 2013 Campaign Consultant John Shallman. Please note that we do not take responsibility for the veracity of the content.

MIKE FEUER AND JOHN SHALLMAN PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SETTLE COMPLAINT FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and his controversial campaign strategist John Shallman will pay several hundred thousand dollars to resolve a complaint, filed by West. L.A. activist Laura Lake, for numerous campaign finance violations committed during the 2013 Los Angeles City Election. (Calif. Court of Appeals case #B251369).

This amount far exceeds amounts paid by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to resolve penalties leveled against him by the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Feuer and Shallman were accused of orchestrating a scheme to circumvent Los Angeles Municipal campaign finance rules by exceeding the spending cap requirement in order to receive approximately a half million dollars in taxpayer matching funds.

In addition, Feuer was accused of violating the law when he used funds from his State Assembly Campaign Committee to pay expenses incurred for his City Attorney Campaign Committee.

As one City Hall insider observed, “If L.A.’s top prosecutor can’t be trusted to follow the law, who can you trust?”

The big question on the minds of many L.A. voters is where will Feuer get the money to satisfy this obligation?

THE MIKE FEUER LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

 A STUDY IN “QUID PRO QUO”

As reported earlier, a review of the Feuer Legal Defense Fund (#1356553) showed attorney Gregory W. Smith and his wife Yuma gave Feuer’s Legal Defense Fund a $1,000 each in 2013. 

In June 2014, Feuer recommended to the L.A. City Council that the City use taxpayer funds to pay attorney Gregory W. Smith $1,471,584.70 in the case Peter J. Bakotich, et al v. City of Los Angeles, (Los Angeles Superior Court case # BC442344).  

To reciprocate, attorney Gregory W. Smith and his wife gave the Feuer Defense Fund another $2,000 on Nov 25, 2014.  One community activist commented, “This all smells like quid pro quo – one hand washing the other and deserves further investigation. How is this any different from former Los Angeles County Tax Assessor John Noguez or former State Senator Ron Calderon taking actions that enrich specific donors to their campaign committees?” Both former officeholders are currently under indictment.

        Feuer has also taken money from other individuals and entities who stand to gain financially from him.  He’s received contributions from the law firms of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard& Smith, and Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland, both which receive City money to do work for Feuer’s office.

Feuer also solicited contributions from L.A. City employees who work for him.  On December 30, 2014, he solicited a contribution from Alexander H. Ponder, who lists his occupation as “Director, IGR, City of L.A.”  A further investigation has shown Alexander H. Ponder is an employee in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.  In mid 2013, months after Feuer opened his Legal Defense Fund, Ponder received a spike in his income based on a Feuer request to the City Council.  

More troubling, Feuer has taken contributions from Jeff Greene, a well-known L.A. slumlord who’s been indicted by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office for numerous and rampant housing code violations.  

Feuer has loaned his legal defense fund $95,000. Every dollar received by the LDF, is one less dollar Feuer has to personally pay.  Obviously Mike & Gail Feuer benefit financially if others pay bills they would otherwise be obligated to pay.

Feuer’s wife, Gail Feuer, currently is a Judge Pro Tem on the California Court of Appeals.  She is in a position to rule on appeals filed by the law firms of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland, and Lewis, Brisbois.  Could their donations also be an attempt to influence her rulings?  You decide.

The State number for the Feuer Legal Defense Fund is 1356553. Its filings can be found through the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission web site.

A group of Los Angeles citizens, known as the “The California Watchdogs” have found these facts so troubling, they are taking their evidence to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit, and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Stay tuned.