Morning Briefs and Outtakes for Monday

"The Albert Robleses of Southeast Los Angeles"

The last time I saw these two "Albert Robleses" was in Downtown LA's United States District Court.

Albert T. Robles (top photo) had been found guilty of multiple counts of corruption in the City of South Gate and was awaiting sentencing, meanwhile his defense attorney was Albert Robles (lower photo), former candidate for District Attorney, was attempting to get his client off with some dubious, verbal legal nonsense that drew a quick retort from the presiding judge.

Albert T. Robles was sentence to ten years in prison and Albert Robles went on to run for District Attorney, it is this campaign and the use of "robocalls" that has "Little Albert Robles" (nickname from those in the know in Southeast LA), under investigation for not disclosing who paid for the calls.

One would of thought that with the conviction of Albert T. Robles, that the "Robles Machine" would fade away, but to the contrary, the machine has been entrusted to the likes of "Little Albert" and others (Angel Gonzalez, Chacons, Pedroza, and others) in Southeast LA who were taught by the likes of Lou Moret and Richard Alatorre.

The machine shows its face in the form of political mailers that make outlandish charges from fictional campaign committes, with paid street walkers from "Victory Outreach" handing out campaign material and the use of absentee ballots to get out the vote.

Somebody might want to ask Montebello City Councilman Robert Urteaga how he feels about the Chacons and their tactics, at this time ??

Other News:

** Nick Patsaouras and Doug Epplehart are highlighted today in Daily News Rick Orlov "Tipoff Column. Patsaouras wants to create an office of "ratepayer advocate" to oversee the DWP. Epplehart wants to cut in half the salaries of the Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller and City Council.

Thumbs up on both, but let Corina get her half from Tony first.

** Those low rent paying merchants at El Pueblo have responded to the audit from the City Controller Office and lets guess who is patting himself on the back for his leadership on this issue ?? Hint, huevos for you, if invited.

** A no-brainer from the Editorial Board at the "Daily Moldy Green Sheet" about the need for the City of Los Angeles to revamp its business taxes.

** Rumors are circulating on the streets about fraud in the Mayor's Gang Prevention and Intervention Program, what do you expect when you are paying $6,000 to "Summer Night Lights Advocates" and awarding contracts to those who contribute to re-election campaigns ??

Your thoughts......

Observations on June 12 Neighborhood Council Elections from someone who voted.....in each one!!

Doug Epperhart, member of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council is the definition of "dedication".

In his quest to ascertain the changes in the N.C. election process with the City Clerk running the Elections. Epperhart works his way from south to north. His full article "Everything but Hanging Chads" at "City Watch" can be read in full by linking here. Official results now avalible by linking here.

Excerpts below on each of the eight election sites.

First stop, Northwest San Pedro, 1:18 p.m.—I wrote down that I shopped in the area as the “factual basis” for being a stakeholder. No problem, no questions. I got to vote in all categories. One candidate for each office and no write-ins, making it very easy to choose—and I picked all the winners!

Next up, Wilmington, 2:10 p.m.—Three poll workers, one voter; the service was excellent. I asked if they had been given any criteria to determine whether people like me actually are stakeholders and what “factual basis” means. I was told they weren’t at liberty to talk about it.

Boyle Heights, 3:10 p.m.—I crossed paths with DONE general manager BongHwan Kim who stopped just long enough to say, “hi.” This is the first place I saw someone on the corner handing out campaign literature. This is also the first place I saw more than one other voter. Staff said there had a been a “steady flow” since the polls opened. I got to vote only for “at-large” candidates, but almost every office offered more than one name.

Lincoln Heights, 3:40 p.m.—The polling place was the lobby of Lincoln High’s auditorium. Lots and lots of students voting. The only place I was asked for an I.D. I got the entire 16-page ballot. Lots of competition in this election. The students all seemed to have a slate flyer. Tests are easy when you can use a cheat sheet. (Thanks to Vera Padilla, but back to Doug)

Greater Echo Park Elysian, 4:15 p.m.—I parked in front of the banner urging me to “Vote for Ida Talalla!” Poll workers told me it was O.K. because it was more than 100 feet from the entrance. Contested races in this election for everything except treasurer. Why doesn’t anybody ever want to be the treasurer?

Downtown Los Angeles, 4:47 p.m.—I saw Russ Brown out front of the Los Angeles Theater, where the voting was taking place. He said there were lines around the block during the first two hours and merchants complained customers couldn’t get in to their stores. No lines, but it was still busy when I got there.

Central Alameda, 5:45 p.m.—Candidate statements were front and center here. You couldn’t miss them. No lines, practically no voters. The ballot contained lots of blank spaces because hardly anybody signed up to run. There was a long list of write-ins, though. I was the first “affirmation” voter at this council, which seemed to greatly amuse the poll workers.

......and lastly,

CANNDU, 6:15 p.m.—So far, so good. I breezed through the process. I usually claimed stakeholder status based on spending money in a council’s area. Only at Greater Echo Park Elysian ask where specifically I had shopped and that only because they were trying to figure which district’s ballot to give me.

I was grilled at CANNDU. Where did I spend money? What was the address? After a lot of back and forth, we settled on buying gas at a station down the street ($4.43 a gallon, by far the cheapest price I’d seen all day).

Your thoughts appreciated.