Mayor Sam LA-32 NC Exclusive Continues: President Marleen Fonseca (formerly Caudillo) "Writ of Mandamus/Lawsuit" against the Board of Civil Service Commissioners

As our Mayor Sam Exclusive regarding the Ethical and Legal Dysfunction of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council continues, we disclose President Marleen Fonseca's (formerly Caudillo) "Writ of Mandamus/Lawsuit Filing" against the Board of Civil Service Commissioners for denying her "Demand for Reinstatement", after her Termination from LAPD Civilian Employment for MULTIPLE Alcohol-related Issues.

Cheers to my formerly CAUDILLO v. Board of Civil Service Commissioners Lawsuit

(Case No. BS146740).

** Blogger's Note: As our Mayor Sam Exclusive into the Ethical and Legal Dysfunction of the LA-32 Neighborhood Council continues, we suggest that LA-32 NC Stakeholders seriously ponder "who is really Marleen Fonseca (fomerly Caudillo)", considering the following from her Civil Service Commission Termination Hearing in October of 2013. 

The Department added that the chief of police had made it very clear that if an employee has a DUI arrest the Department will work with them to help overcome whatever the problem is. However, if a second offense occurs, he has stated, there is no room in the Department for that employee and they will be discharged. The Department cannot make special provision for outstanding employees or employees it likes who have received a second DUI. The policy must be uniform across the board. It was with regret that this employee was discharged, but it was the only avenue open to the Department.

Most people, when terminated for a alcohol/drug related offense (especially when given a second chance), would hopefully take the "First Step of Accountability" and engage the next eleven steps to the "Rebirth of Sobriety". But as we exclusively disclose here, Marleen Fonseca (formerly Caudillo) file a "Writ of Mandamus" against the actions of the Civil Service Commission in February, 2014, as part of her "Marleen CAUDILLO v. Board of Civil Service Commissioners Lawsuit in Superior Court (Case No. BS146740)".

The action taken mere weeks before the LA-32 NC Elections can only cause discerning observers to ponder whether her campaign for NC ......,and her desire to be President, are part of  a strategy regarding her lawsuit (along with her new EAA Union Position). Because lawsuits of this nature come before City Council for Final Resolution, its PARAMOUNT that President Fonseca (formerly Caudillo) disclose publicly the status of her Lawsuit .........., especially given the role of EAA (and its Labor Representative) in securing a major Campaign Contribution for CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar's Re-election----Scott Johnson in CD 14 

From the February 13, 2014 Meeting of the Civil Service Commission.

Now EAA Union Labor Representative Marleen Fonseca (lower left) with CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

EAA Union's Major Contribution to the Re-election Campaign of Councilman Jose Huizar.

Morning Briefs of the CD 14 Campaign Scene for Hump Day

As the candidates in the 2015 Edition of the CD 14 City Council Elections prepare for their last candidate forum/debate, event organizer The Eagle Rock Association (TERA) may want to be open and transparent regarding a recent "Contract" between the organization and the Office of Councilman Jose Huizar.

Is it fair to question the objectivity of Forum Organizer TERA considering ........, In the 2014 TERA State of the Town address, TERA president Bob Gotham started the meeting extolling the accomplishments of TERA. He mentioned that TERA provided $6000 towards the Take Back the Boulevard effort that resulted in the bike lanes on Colorado Boulevard.

So for what and why is TERA given a $5,600 contract? Repayment for support of Huizar's Colorado Blvd. Bike Lanes?

** For those who missed the last "Brass Claws Debate" at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA), former one time CD 14 City Council Candidate and Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Member Tony Butka, keyboards a descriptive missive on the proceedings at City Watch. To sum up his thoughts ......, For those of you who can’t read a whole article and just want to cut to the chase – Huizar should be very very worried about getting in a runoff with Gloria Molina!

A Neighborhood Council Disenfranchisement Alert!!

As the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners host a Special Meeting this evening at the El Sereno Seniors Center, to consider downsizing the LA-32 NC from 21 to 15 Members, "recent campaign issues" pertaining to the NC's current President Marleen Fonseca (formerly Terminated LAPD Civilian Employee "Marleen Caudillo") and her employer, the Enginners and Architects Association (the union for grieving DONE employees), merit investigating whether the attempted downsizing, is really a subjective undertaking. 

LA-32 NC President (and EAA Labor Rep) Marleen Fonseca (lower left) and fellow EAA members with its endorsed CD-14 Candidate, City Councilman Jose Huizar.

** Blogger's Note: During a time when various candidates for Public Office are seeking to empower voters, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) will be holding a Special Meeting this evening in El Sereno to consider a proposal by "Disempowerment LA" to downsize the LA-32 NC from 21 to 15 members. At its last meeting, BONC voted to delay taken a position pending further review and scheduling to promote more community input. What are the reasons for "Disempowerment LA" wanting to take this drastic action? Department GM Grayce Liu cites past quorum issues, but when ask to provide documented background ......., none exists. Further, when a Board Member sought documentation on why the LA-32 NC was placed on Exhaustive Efforts, via a California Public Records Act Request, NONE of the documents given stated an issues with quorum. The real reason for this drastic action is simple, its all about Councilman Huizar's need for control. Last Spring, CD 14 staff was heavily involve in recruiting candidates for the NC and allocating "resources" to those who could supply voters. Thus, the result was the selection of a Huizar-friendly NC ......., and now, the next step is down-sizing to preserve that majority. ** But not before disclosing some inconvenience truths ---Scott Johnson.

EAA's $12,000 Campaign Contribution to CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Some background on former Alhambra resident, turned LA-32 President Marleen Fonseca (formerly Terminated LAPD Civilian Employee Marleen Caudillo).

** From her October 10, 2013 Civil Service Termination Hearing:

The Department added that the chief of police had made it very clear that if an employee has a DUI arrest the Department will work with them to help overcome whatever the problem is. However, if a second offense occurs, he has stated, there is no room in the Department for that employee and they will be discharged. The Department cannot make special provision for outstanding employees or employees it likes who have received a second DUI. The policy must be uniform across the board. It was with regret that this employee was discharged, but it was the only avenue open to the Department.

** From the Minutes of a February 13, 2014 Civil Service Commission Meeting:
8. WRIT OF MANDAMUS Make a matter of record the filing in Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Los Angeles a Writ of Mandamus in the matters of:
Marleen CAUDILLO v. Board of Civil Service Commissioners
(Case No. BS146740). File No. 53332
COMMISSION ACTION: MADE A MATTER OF RECORD

Judging from the documentation above, the potential disenfranchisement of the LA-32 NC has more to do with personal and political favors, than dealing with none-existent "quorum issues".

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

 

A Bloggin Farewell to an Alledged, Grieving (now Ex) DONE NEA name "Lisette"

As the Department of Neighborhood Council (DONE) and the Union representing its employees, Engineers & Architects Association (EAA), agree on a Grievance Settlement that allows "Council for Councils Volunteers (C4C)" to mentor NC's, the alleged lead NEA grievant, Lisette Covarrubias, leaves DONE today (Friday) for a new job at Metro. 

You too, can be a highly-compensated Empower LA Neighborhood Empowerment Advocate (NEA) (such as now former employee Lisette Covarrubias) and enjoy quality leisure time at assigned NC Meetings (especially if your duties DO NOT INCLUDE filing meeting reports).

** Blogger's Note: The following bloggin Friday "Bad News Dump (NAUGHT!)" merits a musical jingle ......., we hate to see you go, we hate to see you go, but what the heck you waiting for, we hate to see you go (NAUGHT!). Pardon the camp song flashback, but with the news that "Disempowerment LA NEA" Lisette Covarrubias, who was the alleged Department NEA that testify on behalf of the Grievance, filed against Council for Councils (C4C) having a role in mentoring Neighborhood Councils with issues, has accepted a new job with Metro (MTA) after today, then many NC Advocates will surely want to sing along. The Settlement between DONE and the Union representing the department grievants (EAA), is a major victory for C4C ......, and DONE GM Grayce Liu. GM Liu (especially with Covarrubias departure) can now hopefully get some fiscal help from Mayor Eric Garcetti in filling vacant positions within the department. Hopefully, the new agreement with C4C will provide the training ground for volunteers to prove themselves worthy of filling the vacant paid positions, while growing a cadre of volunteer action teams that can step in to mentor NCs with issues (like the current incarnation of the LA-32 NC), without subjective, political attachments ......., as exercised by now former "Disempowerment LA NEA Lisette Covarrubias"---Scott Johnson.    

How can Empower LA justify placing a Neighborhood Council on "Exhaustive Efforts" (as in the case of LA-32), if the NEA assigned to monitor its functioning (Lisette Covarrubias), is not require to file reports on its meetings, as noted in the California Public Records Act Response above? 

Who do I like ......, or dislike (mostly males) on this NC?

Page 1 from the Grievance Settlement between the City of LA/DONE/Council for Councils (winners) and certain employees of the department/EAA/and allegedly Lisette Covarrubias (losers). ** You can read the rest of the Settlement below.

Read more »

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Wednesday

He sleeps while the Valley stinks.

The union that represents the Engineers and Architects who work for the city, traditionally one of the more responsible and least greedy of LA's public employee unions, is the first such to make a deal with the City to share in expenses for their health care. The move will allow the City to effect millions in much needed savings and put pressure on the rest of the unions to step up to the plate.

Looks like the once storied Sunset Junction Festival was FUBAR. Employees of businesses along the route were forced to pay the entry fee to get through the barricades and to work, the event owes the city a quarter of mil for services and a massive amount of trash was left behind. Suffice it to say everyone involved is pissed.

Read more »

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

LA County Supervisors have raised taxes again.  Property owners will be required to cough up another $50 million per year to fund the County's beleaguered hospital system.  Supervisor Mike Antonovich cast the lone dissenting vote.

Media Alert: If you thought the City using law enforcement resources to hassle the Shaw Family August 17th at Leimert Park was an abuse of power by the City, check back here on the blog at about 9:00 a.m. for a story about how a City agency has threatened community activists with police action for speaking their minds.

The scandal around deposed union leader Tyrone Freeman has fired up the battle between the SEIU and the EAA which represents the City's engineers and architects.  EAA has begun running radio commercials calling on LA's elected leaders to begin an investigation of the controversial SEIU. With labor divided and potentially in hot water, does this open the door for a candidate with means to enter the race and challenge a wounded Mayor Villaraigosa?


A Mexican national who allegedly massacred 19 people in Tijuana ten years ago has been found living in East Los Angeles. Jesus Ruben Moncada was arrested while taking out his garbage by ICE agents and handed over to 500 Mexican federal agents at the border Friday.

We usually ignore local blog crank Don Quixote, however I had to note his comment on our post about potential John McCain running mate Bobby Jindal.  Quixote who often posts comments on other blogs calling me a racist posted a bigoted comment about Jindal's Indian heritage. Good to see Don being consistent.

If you didn't have a chance to visit the blog over the weekend, here are some stories you may want to catch up on:

• A Pick for McCain
• A "Q and A" with "Madam Mayor Jan Perry",....at least for next week
• Hillary reacts to Biden's selection as Obama's V.P.
• Just In - Griffith Arsonist Apprehended
• A Volunteer's Story of Today's Jaimiel's Law Rally at Leimert Park

And finally, apparently actress Denise Richards' Hidden Hills neighbors weren't big on her shooting a reality show at her home.  So now, the 5600 square foot, five bedroom home is listed for sale at $4.25 million, about $100,000 than she paid for it.

The "facade of house cleaning" at SEIU 6434??

More from the Los Angeles Times today on the Tyrone Freeman/SEIU 6434 controversy.

The Service Employees International Union on Friday removed all elected officers of its biggest California local amid an inquiry into the financial practices of the labor group and a related charity, including payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars to firms owned by its president's relatives.

Friday's action follows an announcement earlier this week that the president of the Los Angeles local, Tyrone Freeman, would step aside while the union's national office investigated expenditures disclosed by The Times.

In placing the 160,000-worker local in trusteeship, the union formally relieved Freeman, the local's secretary-treasurer, Amanda Figueroa, and its 55 board members of their posts.

The trustee appointed to take over the local's operations is John Ronches, who has been based in the union's Washington, D.C., headquarters. Ronches, who could not be reached Friday, is an assistant to SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and is a 30-year veteran of the union.

....and now allegations of retaliation,

SEIU spokeswoman Michelle Ringuette said the union "is going to be looking very closely" into allegations this week that the local leadership retaliated against some staff members when they refused to sign a letter in support of Freeman.

A small number of staffers were transferred to positions far from their homes, and about 10 had their union cellphone service terminated after balking at signing the letter, according to three workers who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal.

"SEIU vs. EAA", the battle renews......

From the Daily News,

A turf battle between two Los Angeles city employee unions hit the airwaves Thursday, as one group began running radio ads asking the mayor and City Council to investigate its rival.

The Engineers & Architects Association and Service Employees International Union have fought over members before, with SEIU launching an unsuccessful drive in 2002 to decertify EAA and represent its 8,000 workers.

This latest fight comes as SEIU is under fire for alleged financial mismanagement in a local chapter representing home-care workers. The chapter's president, Tyrone Freeman, has stepped down pending an investigation into charges that he funneled union money to firms owned by family and friends.

EAA has pounced on that, and in radio ads has charged that SEIU is a corrupt organization.
"SEIU reaps millions of dollars in dues from its membership, much of this money indirectly paid by taxpayers, and puts this money at play in the political arena," the ads said.

The ads also urge residents to call Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to demand an investigation of the union.