Mayor Sam Exclusive: Monica Rodriguez's Board of Public Work's "PAID, to Engage Potential Campaign Supporters Scheme" ......., raises SERIOUS Ethical Questions

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, a review of the Official Schedule belonging to former Board Of Public Works Vice-President Monica Rodriguez, reveals serious ETHICAL questions regarding whether she use her PAID position (and taxpayer resources) to ENGAGE future supporters and campaign staff, of her current CD 7 City Council Campaign.

Then Board of Public Works Vice-President Monica Rodriguez addressing, NOW potential supporters of her current CD-7 City Council Campaign.

** Blogger's Note: A week (and a day) after News Years, 2016, the City of Los Angeles Council District Seven (CD-7), was shaken by a Political Earthquake when then (now Lobbyist) City Councilman Felipe Fuentes announced that he would NOT seek re-election.

The abrupt announcement, follow by now Lobbyist Fuente's resignation in September, opened the political flood gates, unleashing a torrent of candidates, including a previous CD-7 Candidate Monica Rodriguez,  who's access to both private and TAXPAYER's resources, is the subject of a Mayor Sam Exclusive, regarding the alleged, ethically-challenged use of her former compensated, Board of Public Works Appointment (and resources) ........, in a "PAID to Engage (and seek) Supporters Scheme", benefitting her current CD-7 Campaign.

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CD-7 City Council Candidate Monica Rodriguez's CONTINUING Lack of Ethical Campaigning

Its apparent that repeat CD-7 City Council Candidate Monica Rodriguez has learn little about Ethical Campaigning, as alleged, multiple violations of Ethics Commission Rules regarding the use of City of Los Angeles Equipment and Official Seals, are made public via her Campaign Mailers.  

Use of City of Los Angeles Property and Official Seals is a Ethical Violation.

** Blogger's Notes: Please join in this bloggin flashback to a April 14, 2009 Ethics Commission Press Release pertaining in part, to a $9,045 Fine levied against a THEN, an alleged Republican/Business Democrat Female's unsuccessful Campaign against the infamous former CD7/2 City Councilman Richard AlarCON.

In a seventh case, the Commission levied a $9,045 fine against 2007 City Council candidate Monica Rodriguez and her committee, “Monica Rodriguez for City Council,” for 32 counts of soliciting or accepting contributions prior to filing a Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Receive Contributions in violation of Charter Section 470(c)(1), and for five counts of filing (did they mean "failing"?) to file copies of scripts or recordings related to recorded telephone calls made by her campaign in violation of LAMC Section 49.7.26(E). 

In 2017, the now "Fresh Face" of the infamous (and litigious) Northeast San Fernando Valley Democratic Machine (with endorsed approval of Mayor Eric Garcetti), is AGAIN the focus of allegations that her NOW, Establishment-anointed Campaign, is showcasing contempt for Ethics Rules that prohibit the use of city-owned property and official seals, in voter-outreach material.


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Mayor Sam Exclusive: Contributions from Bet Tzedek Associates raises Ethical Questions for City Attorney Candidate Mike Feuer

** Mayor Sam Exclusive: Do Bet Tzedek officials contributions to the Mike Feuer for City Attorney Campaign, violate Ethics Commission standards?

Mayor Villar to Assemblyman Mike Feuer. "Are you wearing Jack Weiss'es dubious campaign money dirty laundry"?

Please pause with us as we share in a “political Déjà vu moment” regarding a current and past Mayor Antonio Villar endorsed candidate for City Attorney.

Some background. Mayor Sam has uncover documentation that show legally-questionable campaign contributions from top officials of  City Attorney Candidate Assemblyman Mike Feuer pre-political career employer Bet Tzedek (The House of Justice).

Bet Tzedek, which was founded to provide free legal services to low income residents, has in recent years, received various city contracts to provided services in its coverage area and recently moved its main office from its original Fairfax location , to a larger office on Wilshire and Western.

Current President and CEO Sandor Samuels (the former chief legal counsel for the defunct controversial Countrywide Mortgage Company), upon taking over the top position held in the past by Assemblyman Feuer, stated a desire to expand services for the aged. That goal recently bear fruit via this city services contract from the Department of Aging for $398,000, which was signed by Samuels on August 11, 2011. Since the initial contact was signed, it has been amended twice, increasing the funding to its current level of $865,290, that was signed off on by the CEO on June, 12, 2012.

For all, for profit and non-profit entities , the Ethics Commission recently amended guidelines that govern political contributions by those seeking city contracts, in spirit of preserving the integrity of the competitive bidding/ selection process, as excerpted below.

(12) (A) The following persons shall not make a campaign contribution to any elected City official, candidate for elected City office, or City committee controlled by an elected City official or candidate:(I) A person who bids on or submits a proposal or other response to a contract solicitation that has an anticipated value of at least $100,000 and requires approval by the City Council;(ii) Subcontractors that are expected to receive at least $100,000 as a result of performing a portion of the contract obligations of a person defined in sub paragraph (i); and(iii) Principals of persons defined in sub paragraphs (i) and (ii).(8) The following persons shall not make a campaign contribution to the Mayor, the City Attorney, the Controller, a City Council member, a candidate for any of those elected City offices, or a City committee controlled by a person who holds or seeks any of those elected City offices:(i) A person who bids on or submits a proposal or other response to a contract solicitation that has an anticipated value of at least $100,000 and requires approval by the elected City office that is held or sought by the person to whom the contribution would be given;(ii) Subcontractors that are expected to receive at least $100,000 as a result of performing a portion of the contract obligations of a person defined in sub paragraph (i); and(iii) Principals of persons defined in sub paragraphs (i) and (ii).

(E) The prohibitions in paragraphs (A) and (8) shall apply from the time the bid or proposal is submitted until the contract is signed, the bid or proposal is withdrawn by the bidder or proposer, or the City rejects all proposals for the contract, whichever is earlier. The prohibitions shall continue for 12 months after the contract is signed for the successful bidder or proposer, its principals, its subcontractors of at least $100,000, and the principals of those subcontractors.(F) For purposes of this subdivision, a principal of a person who is a bidder, proposer, or subcontractor means the person's board chair, president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, or the functional equivalent of those positions; any individual who holds an ownership interest in the person of 20 percent or more; and any individual authorized by the bid or proposal to represent the person before the City.

Simply, officials for Bet Tzedek, who’s organizational titles matched the positions outlined by the Ethics Commission, are prohibited from donating to candidates for the offices noted above, which would include City Attorney, during the time period outlined.

But as we disclose below CEO Samuels, along with Chairperson Gary Roberts, Chairperson Holly J. Fujie, Chair Emeritus Luis Lainer along with President’s Council Members Jay Wintrob, John Schulman and Jerome Coben, all have made donations to Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s City Attorney Campaign within the supposed donation blackout period. Thus, raising serious questions whether Ethics Commission protocols were usurp nefariously.

09/28/11	Sandor Samuels   (President, Bet Tzedek Legal Services) Encino, CA 91316	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$500.00 [Election: 03/05/13]
12/08/11	Sandor Samuels   (President, Bet Tzedek Legal Services) Encino, CA 91316	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$250.00 [Election: 03/05/13]

11/30/11	Gary D. Roberts   (Attorney, Fox Entertainment) Los Angeles, CA 90067	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$500.00 [Election: 03/05/13]
06/01/12	Gary D. Roberts   (Attorney, News America (Fox Group)) Los Angeles, CA 90067	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/12 to 06/30/12]	$800.00 [Election: 03/05/13]

10/05/11

Holly Fujie   (Attorney, Buchalter et al) Los Angeles, CA 90064

Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013

A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]

$1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/13]

10/11/11	Luis Lainer   (Real Estate Mgmt., Lainer Development Inc.) Los Angeles, CA 90077	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/13]
04/10/12	Luis Lainer   (Real Estate Mgmt., Lainer Development Inc.) Los Angeles, CA 90077	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/12 to 06/30/12]	$300.00 [Election: 03/05/13

11/30/11

Jay S. Wintrob   (Financial Services, SunAmerican Financial Group) Santa Monica, CA 90402

Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013

A - Monetary Contribution Received  (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]

$1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/13

09/28/11	John A. Schulman   (Attorney, USC) Los Angeles, CA 90049	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/13]
06/28/12	John A. Schulman   (Attorney, MSK) Los Angeles, CA 90049	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/12 to 06/30/12]	$300.00 [Election: 03/05/13

09/21/11	Jerome L. Coben   (Consultant, Zeughauser Group) Los Angeles, CA 90005	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/11 to 12/31/11]	$1,000.00 [Election: 03/05/13]
06/29/12	Jerome L. Coben   (Retired, N.A.) Los Angeles, CA 90005	Mike Feuer  City Attorney 1341335 - Mike Feuer For City Attorney 2013	A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)  [Period: 01/01/12 to 06/30/12]	$300.00 [Election: 03/05/13]

In total, at least 19 Bet Tzedek associates, including those named above, have donated a collective sum of roughly $18,950 (estimate on the low end) to the campaign of Ben Tzedek’s former executive director (as noted on the pictured documents posted after the jump).. Add that total with the fact that the formerly exclusive provider of no cost legal advise to the disadvantage, has expanded their work with the help of city contracts, is sure to provide political fodder for intuitive political observers (** or maybe an Ethics Commission investigation?).

Mayor Villaraigosa noted in his last week‘s endorsement of  Bet Tzedek‘s former E.D. turned career political office seeker, that he would be the right man of integrity to run a city attorney office reduce by his imposed budget cuts. Yet, at this moment, Feuer is treading towards being the 2013 version of the Jack Weiss Campaign, that saw its donors become subjects of fines and Grand Jury indictments.

How is that for a political déjà vu moment?

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

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Monday

LA's politicians are finding that getting free tickets to premier events around town can wind up being expensive.  After Mayor Villaraigosa was slapped with $42,000 in ethics violations fines, Council Members, Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar, Herb Wesson and Tony Cardenas all got slapped by the Ethics Commission for scamming tickets to the Oscars, Grammys, etc.  In an interesting twist, those who gave the tickets were fined as well.

The City Reapportionment Commission will be getting to work soon on redrawing Council district maps in Los Angeles.  Every interest group from ethnic politics organizations to those who shill for business plan to get in on the act.  The NAACP and MALDEF will surely wish to see that Districts are drawn to ensure the election of as many minorities to the Council as possible; trade group VICA wants to see that no more than one Council district overlaps the San Fernando Valley and the rest of the City.

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Mid-Day Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Scene for Tuesday

Will Governor Moonbeam II take out CRA's in California?

Will Chris Essel's CRA/LA survive the wrath of Bitter Jerry?

If Governor Moonbeam II needs any help in finding the office of CRA/LA in his quest to liquidate the functions of CRA's statewide, many in the local political bloggersphere are waiting and willing to point the way.

"WWG 2", known to the thinning ranks of graying readers of the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street as Bill Boyarsky, pens "right on Jerry"! Ron Kaye, formerly the editor of the Daily Valley Moldy Green Sheet, says "Abolish the CRA" Cary Brazeman, penning his thoughts at the "blogging cyber commune of neighborhood council activists" City Watch, calls it "Time for a New Way". Can we call this a bloggin consensus?

For this blogger, CRA's Adelante Eastside and its Biotech Corridor Project area, has provided a education on the brute force of mis-guided government. In 1999, without any notice to community members and park activists, Hazard Park was place within the Adelante Biotech Corridor Project Area. The CRA employee who I discussed this finding with, stated that the park was included due to "criminal blight". But the likes of longtime Hazard Park Activist Alex Man have stated for decades that Hazard Park, has been targeted by USC and LA County for hospital expansion. Thus, it was no surprise that the likes of USC's City Hall Lobbyist David Galaviz was a member of the CRA Adelante Advisory Board

With the powers granted CRA's across America by the repugnant Kelo Decision of the United States Supreme Court in 2005, the likes of CRA/LA had a new way of taking decades long homes of many and giving them to the connected developers like USC (one should see the former home sites on Playground St next to Hazard Park) . Thus, if Governor Moonbeam II can put a stop to this egregious practice of taking private property and selling it in return for campaign contributions (the LA way). Then lets point Jerry in the direction of CRA/LA.

OTHER NEWS:

** The latest batch of financial reports for the March 2011 LA Municipal Elections, are online at the City Ethics Commission Website.

** Assemblyman Gil Cedillo crusades on the behalf of the undocumented, continues with his California version of the Dream Act.

** Will Governor Moonbeam II get any republican support for his plans to raise taxes for the next five years?

** Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez can't break those bad political habits regarding gifts. This time to prison officials.

** Shout out to Michael Trujillo, guess who finally took the Lt. Governor's "Oath of Office"?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Breaking News from the Ethics Commission on CD-2 and 2005 Mayoral Race

"The political act of carpetbagging is not only claiming residency within political boundries but also how much outside money you pack within your carpetbags".

The latest monetary reports from the respective CD-2 candidates were due yesterday and here are the numbers as of this afternoon.

Chris Essel: $198,299.69, Cash on hand $76,869.68

Paul Krekorian: $96,891, Cash on hand $77,305.68

Tamar Galatzan : $46,151, Cash on hand $44,590.56

The other seven candidates combine for less than $10,000. Here some notes on the contributions to the "Big Three".

Chris Essel, special interest money galore from downtown and entertainment sources.

Paul Krekorian, has tapped into the monetary resources of the Armenian Community, unions, and Sacramento politicos.

Tamar Galatzan, gave her campaign a $25,000 loan, plus donations from women in education.

Conventional wisdom would dictate that the candidates with the most money, wins on election day. But if one looks at the level of expenditures in the Essel Campaign and compares it to the level of "positive buzz" or lack of, then one can surmise that the candidate who gets out the "troops", will be in the runoff.

Ethics Commission to file complaint against Ten Unions Pacs in 2005 Mayoral Race.

From Ethics Commission Press Release,

Probable cause exists to believe that Plumbers Local No. 78 PAC violated City law by accepting nine contributions in the 2005 Primary municipal election in excess of the $500 limit established by the Los Angeles City Charter, according to a public Accusation issued today by Los Angeles City Ethics Commission Executive Director, LeeAnn Pelham. The Accusation charges that Plumbers Local No. 78 PAC, a non-candidate controlled committee that raised funds and made an independent expenditure to oppose then mayoral candidate Robert Hertzberg during the City’s 2005 Primary, violated Charter Section 470(c)(5) and LAMC Section 49.7.24 by accepting contributions in excess of allowable limits. In addition, the Accusation charges nine other committees with making contributions to Plumbers Local No. 78 PAC in excess of limits established in Charter Section 470(c)(5).

Question is whether they were working for then Mayor James Hahn or current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ??

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

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Friday

What is the City of Los Angeles doing with some of it's Federal stimulus money? Buying up houses, refurbising them and renting them or selling them.  Since when did the City of LA become a real estate developer and property management company? This is so not a function of government and yet another sign of Obama's creeping socialism.  The City of LA can't pave streets, run a zoo, keep water rates down or anything else succesful.  The better move would be to lower taxes and encourage investment so private individuals could buy homes and provide affordable housing.  As it is high taxes and strict regulations make only high value housing profitable.  Who's behind this? Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Congresswoman Maxine Water.  We all know how Maxine deals; so expect lots of fraud, waste and abuse here.

Speaking of Villaraigosa and shadiness (the two do go hand in hand; hope the Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom people are writing all this down) two major contributors to his 2005 Mayoral campaign have been ordered to pay a significant fine.  Sean Anderson and Richard Manhire, owners of Miami-based Travel Traders, agreed $108,000 in  fines as part of a settlement with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission where they admitted to laundering campaign contributions for the Mayor.  Travel Traders had been seeking major contracts to run concessions at LAX, had dinner with the Mayor and the next day the pair began making contributions to Villaraigosa.

Bitter Bernie continues his resentful hatred towards the LAPD, the agency he once led and was fired from, now wanting the City Council to decide when officers can blow the siren and speed in the pursuit of fighting crime.  Do we really want the Clowncil members making these decisions or the trained professionals who make up the LAPD?

LA Times reporters don't understand why they will be soon out of job.  The market is changing and if they don't change with it; there will be no more LA Times.  The reporters - standing on journalistic "principles" - are up in arms that the Times ran an ad on the front page for an NBC show. It was a creative effort at a time when both newspapers and advertisers have to be creative (sorry guys Macy's ad on the back page don't pay the bills anymore).  But hey it's better to be broke right?

Here's one where we have to give credit to Walter Moore.  All of a sudden now there's a ruckus about the Clowncil and Mayor's $1 million calligraphy budget.  Uh, Wacko pointed that out long ago, way before he got all hung up on sanctuary city Kentucy Fried Chickens.  Does it take a recession to finally illuminate fraud, waste and abuse? I guess so.

And finally someone at Curbed LA must have taken one of our April Fools' stories seriously.  No, Eric Garcetti has not announced he's running for Governor.  At least not yet.

The "COUNCILMAN LAST SEEN RESEARCHING AS JOSE HUIZAR" faces more Ethics Fines.

Maybe the "Southwest Society" did or would help to pay for this.

By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 7:56 AM PDT, August 12, 2008 (link here for the full story)

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission is scheduled to vote today on whether to issue nearly $15,000 in fines against Councilman Jose Huizar, after investigators determined that he improperly used a fundraising committee to conduct political research on former school board member David Tokofsky.

Huizar has already created two legal defense funds, which allow him to collect private contributions to pay the fines.

Under a proposed settlement with the commission, Huizar would pay $9,318 stemming from his decision in 2006 and 2007 to use his so-called office-holder account to pay the firm Varoga and Rice to perform research on Tokofsky, who was weighing a fourth run for the school board at the time.

Office-holder committees are designed to help city politicians communicate with or otherwise serve their constituents. Under the city's ethics law, such committees are prohibited from spending money on consulting, research and polling in the 12 months leading up to an office holder's election. Huizar was initially elected to the council in a special election in 2005 and was reelected in 2007.

Huizar attorney Stephen Kaufman (what do Kaufman and Villar cousin John Perez have in common??) said his client had accepted full responsibility for committing "administrative errors" and has already collected the contributions needed to pay the fines.(wonder who will get the favors for donating??)

This quote from Tokofsky is hilarious.

"There's a lot of creepiness to this," Tokofsky said. "A lot of people think when they give money to the office-holder account it will help the local Boys and Girls Club, so I'm sort of shocked at what the office-holder account ended up doing."

Let me guess that the revolving door for staffers coming and going will need lubrication in the very near future......

****One person who made it through the door is Huizar's former Planning Director Jessica Wethington McLean who is now the Executive Director of Huizar's "Bringing Back Broadway Initative".

She was profiled in Saturday's "Downtown News", where she engages in some one on one Q & A on her plans.

Open Thread for Sunday

Former journo and Westside White Guy accomplice Bill Boyarsky pens an op-ed in the Fishwrap of Record about his now expired term on the City of LA's Ethics Commission. Boyarsky, who was appointed by City Controller Laura Chick upon his application for the job finds his service on the panel whose job is to clean up politics, a failure.

"I left City Hall frustrated, irritated and saddened -- and most of all, humbled by a culture impervious to change. "Free at last," I said when my colleagues asked me if I had some final words at my last meeting June 10."
Bill Boyarsky

Boyarsky says the panel is hamstrung by a City Attorney ruling (one he finds to be in error) that the state's Brown Act prevents Commissioners from speaking with City Councilmembers or from speaking out on ethics related issues. As well Boyarsky found that any reforms to the system the Commission proposed had to be approved by a City Council who had no interest in reforming the system and buried their recommendations in committee.

Free from his public service, the question for Boyarsky is what's next? Perhaps he would like to join fellow former scribe turned populist leader Ron Kaye in bringing a bag of trash to City Hall on July 14th.