Mayor Sam Exclusive: LAPD Police Commissioner's Connected Non-Profit New GRYD Contract Raises Serious Conflict of Interest Issues

 Los Angeles Police Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa's "Connected Non-Profit, El Centro del Pueblo" new Northeast LA Zone GRYD Prevention Contract ($800,000) raises serious Conflict of Interest Issues involving the role of CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo's staff role in the selection process.

LAPD Commissioner (and ardent Mayor Garcetti supporter) Sandra Figueroa-Villa, is all smiles over new Northeast LA GYRD Contract. 

** Blogger's Note: In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, we disclose potential, serious Conflict of Interest Issues involving the 2015/2016 Fiscal Year, Northeast LA Gang Reduction, Youth Development (GRYD) Prevention Contract ($800,000), awarded to the Echo Park "Connected Non-Profit, El Centro del Pueblo", which is directed by LAPD Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa. As previously reported here at Mayor Sam, protesting Cypress Park Stakeholders led by Art Pulido (who supported CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar for re-election), raised issues regarding El Centro del Pueblo's fitness to provide needed community services and the refusal of CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo to meet with them about the selection process for organizations operating in the historic Cypress Park Community Center. In reviewing the El Centro del Pueblo Website, its shows that current Councilman Cedillo District Director Conrado Terrazaz, is listed as "The President of the Board of Directors". Considering that El Centro del Pueblo beat out the Children's Hospital Group (which appealed the decision, but was denied) that previously held the contract, discerning observers can surmise that the Office of Councilman Cedillo played a decisive role in helping the ally of Mayor Eric Garcetti, secure the contract (especially when records show that Figueroa-Villa and Councilman Cedillo had dinner together). Below, we have posted the listings of the 2015/2016 Fiscal Year GRYD Prevention and Intervention Contracts as outlined in the Mayor Garcetti-controlled Department's Budget---Scott Johnson.   

 Cypress Park Stakeholders protest El Centro del Pueblo's selection as Services Provider at the historic Cypress Park Community Center.

The 2015/2016 FY GRYD Prevention Contracts.

Read more »

Curbside Briefs with the Mayor on Scene in Boyle Heights for Friday

Mayor Eric Garcetti takes his "Back to Basics Tour" curbside in CD 14's ( and a certain local councilman home turf) Boyle Heights Neighborhood.

Meet your Mayor curbside in CD 14. Photo from Mayor Garcetti Facebook Page.

 

Pardon us for our lateness this Friday AM, but in the interest in providing the most up to date blogging coverage, we bring you curb side on First Street in Boyle Heights, your Mayor Eric Garcetti, reinventing the basics of constituent outreach.

Somewhere in the great political rest home in the sky, the late CD 14 City Councilman Art Snyder must be smiling upon Mayor Eric Garcetti, for this splendid act of community outreach in his old political stronghold. In his day, the late Irish Politician set the standard for constituent services that have not been replicated since, but today, Mayor Garcetti brought back the Councilman Snyder spirit with this morning's curbside visit/ outreach event.

We would hope that Mayor Garcetti curbside outreach becomes a regular event and not a former Mayor Antonio Villar-like act of photo op symbolism. That said, we have a few local topics to share with Mayor Garcetti, as he stops curb side on his Back to Basis Tour.

** Its still all about DWP Reform: The LA Times discloses another damning report on the lack of accounting for $40 Million Dollars in DWP Ratepayer Money that went into the pockets of DWP Administrators and their IBEW Union Friends. The issues with this "connected non-profit", is indicative of the need of open and transparent oversight of the numerous connected community based organizations (CBOs), that rely on public money for their sustainability.   

** Preserving Green Space and Parkland: Just north on Soto Street from today's curbside event, community activists are fighting a "David vs. Goliath Battle" against the "University of Scandalous Conduct's" (USC) attempt to encroach on historic parkland to asphalt a paper street and widen Soto Street. Mayor Garcetti needs to pledge that no green space or parkland will be sacrifice for commercial development, and further, take pro-active measures to designate historic spaces (National Historic Status for Hazard Park, in honor of Educator Sal Castro), in the spirit of future preservation. 

** Overhaul the GRYD Department and reinvent Summer Night Lights: The blunt reality of the GRYD Program under during the fail two terms of Mayor Villar, was that it was a tool of paying off supporters of the Mayor and not an instrument of decreasing the proliferation of street gangs. The SNL Program after five years needs a reinvention from its current incarnation of being a "holding pen program" that fosters community segregation, and not trans-communal inner action.

In the weeks, months, and years ahead, we will surely share our thoughts with Mayor Garcetti, on his repeated visits back to CD 14. Yut again, we must credit the new Mayoral Officeholder for this teachable moment in Constituent Services, after all, it was not long ago that an alleged, dubious act of "curbside misconduct", took place on the same street.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 



Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political machine for Monday

We proudly bestow the moniker of "Villar Greuel" on the City Controller formerly known as the "Valley Greuel"

For the reigning opportunist of the 2013 Mayoral Campaign Wendy "Villar Greuel", being a former republican turned democratic opportunist, may not result in a July "mayoral designation".

Great Monday to all as so called objective political pundits opine on Saturday’s televised Mayoral Debate from Little Tokyo. Thus, let this subjective bloggin political observer start today cyber dialog by bestowing a new bloggin moniker on a former republican, turned auditing political opportunist City Controller Wendy "the formerly Valley Greuel"..

In the wake of her "groundbreaking endorsements" from the likes of Senator Barbara Boxer, Assembly Speaker John Perez, CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar and fundraisers hosted by the connected wind energy speculator Ari Swiller, we are honor to bestow the moniker of “Villar Greuel” on the formerly known “Valley Greuel”.

In Saturday’s debate, the newly bestowed “Villar Greuel”, showed that she shares the same opportunist proclivities as the former Tony Villar of City Terrace, by her attack on supposed “Radical Right-Wing Radio Host” and fellow mayoral candidate Kevin James.

The “Villar Greuel’s” planned attack on James may prove costly in more way than one. First, when your campaign consultant is none other than “Private Citizen/ Political Consultant" Johns Shallman, the cost of planning an attack on your debate opponent, is likely to be way above the market rate. Second, unlike other consultants who are true to their political beliefs, Shallman (or was it his wife?) is not above making seven-figures bank, from the likes of  I.E. group “ED Voice”, who had connections with the supposed “Radical Right Wing” Walton Family and the Tea Party.

The “Villar Greuel” should also remember that many in the San Fernando Valley’s CD 2 will remember her attempt to carpetbag Chris Essel into her former City Council seat. CD 2 constituents may also remember who appointed Chris Essel to the head of the defunct CRA LA. None other than the “Villar Greuel‘s” namesake and out-going Mayor Antonio Villar.

** The Downtown News Editor and "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie has his second installment of the "Super Fantastic Mayor's Race Quiz". We excerpt this quiz question.

4) Which event did not cause Wendy "the Villar Greuel" to send out an email to supporters asking for money? a) August 2012 arrived b) the end of the September 2012 filing period was 11 hours away c) a Super PAC was established on behalf of Republican candidate Kevin James d) USC played UCLA in football e) Wendy got a new puppy f) the 2013 mayoral election was exactly one year away g) the 2013 mayoral election was exactly 100 days away

** The Downtown News in its latest edition calls upon the City Clowncil Central Committee Strongman Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson, to apologize to former Mayor Richard Riordan for his disgusting behavior at a recent City Clowncil meeting, I"ll bet a 30 day suspension from City Council Public Comment, that "Mini Amin" replies NYET to the Downtown Weekly.

** What would a Monday be without the Daily News Rick Orlov's "Tipoff Column", where you can find out what side the various Los Angeles politicos will take, in regards to the proposed sale tax hike?

Questions regarding Mayor Antonio Villar's GRYD Program, awarding of sub contracts to politically connected non-profits.

Legacy LA employees Issac Caldera (left) and George Sarabia (right, **or is it "Jorge Villapudua"?) with Hollenback LAPD Sargent Marquez. 

The 2013 mayoral candidates may want to opine how a politically connected non-profit like Legacy LA could be awarded contracts , when one of its employees has an alias that is unknown to most of the community, which he works with. Maybe the reason for the alias has to do with the follow "past episode"?.

It is Jorge Villapudua AKA: George Sarabia

Date of birth is May 2, 1970 Hispanic Male, height 70 inches, weight 160 pounds, black hair and brown eyes Arresed on March 1, 2008 by Los Angeles Police, Hollenbeck Division booking number 1197275.  Referred to LA Muni court, Division 83.  The charge is not listed.

But when you pay the "proper tribute" to Mayor Villar, then the community be damned when someone living a double life is paid to work with "youth at risk", in sensitive areas.

06/27/08 Maria Lourdes Calanche (Instructor, LA Community College District) Los Angeles, CA 90031 Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor 1305101 - Antonio R. Villaraigosa for Mayor 2009 A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual) [Period: 01/01/08-06/30/08] $1,000.00

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

To "Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz": Mayor Villar's Lack of Achievement is Offensive and potentially Deadly

With a little help from the likes of KABC Talk Show Host Doug McIntyre (above), Downtown News "Scribe of Wit" Jon Regardie, the brothers and sisters of SEIU 721 and some accidental reporting from the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street, Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz and her democratic minions got an education on the realities of life in Cuidad de Los Angeles under the reign of "visionary" Mayor Antonio Villar.

Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz 

The Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Florida Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz, ventured on to the Los Angeles Talk Radio Airways yesterday morning with KABC 790 A.M. host Doug Mcintyre. Congresswoman Blabbermouth-Schultz, thinking that she was on a NPR or Progressive Talk Station, was taken back when McIntyre stated the truths about Mayor Villar. This prompted the Blabbermouth Dem to drop the "Borderline Offensive" card on McIntyre which must of sounded familiar to the morning drive host. You can listen to the hilarious exchange on the Youtube below.   

The exchange between Congresswoman Blabbermouth-Schultz and McIntyre was the morning warm up act for a harsh day of political reality regarding the 11% Mayor. The likes of Julie Butcher, David Sanders, Teresa Sanchez and the brothers and sisters of SEIU 721 had some thoughts about the mayor's latest pronouncements on the upcoming 2012/2013 City Budget that should inspire constructive dialog.

No surprise here and the fact that the City Terrace native is fluent in double speak should come as no surprise for the trio of Butcher, Sanders and Sanchez, who are veterans of political battles with Mayor Villar going back to the SEIU 347 days.

Downtown News Editor and "Scribe of Wit" channels the mindset of Mayor Villar's hand-picked LAFD Fire Chief Brian "the Human Extinguisher" Cummings (I can think of at lease four people who lives were "extinguished" due to Cumming's crafted reorganization of resources). This from Regardie on the calculating of response times within LAFD.

“Numerical orchestrations are assembled by collaborating the synaptic endodontic inebriation system with an aneroid barometer wielded by ZigBuck, the vampire who lives in my garage. We then embody a neuropteran conflagration of the star-spangled verisimilitude and put it through a synchrotron that has been multiplied by the inverse proportion of the panoply of the Mobius Strip.

.... and the cost of lives?

 ...... and lastly from the Old Gray Hag on Spring Street the reality behind the crimes stats regarding Mayor Villar's Gang Reduction,Youth Development (GRYD) Program were made public in a report by the Urban Policy Institute. Of course the mayor became defensive with the findings of the report. But as Congresswoman Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz discovered yesterday, many in Los Angeles are questioning the realities (and ramifications) behind the vision (or lack of) of Mayor Antonio Villar.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

A Mayor Villar Photo Op to Promote Summer Nigh Lights and share more childhood tales

Mayor Antonio Villar, City Councilman Eric Garcetti, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Civil Rights Attorney Connie Rice  and many others were on hand at Ramona Garden Recreation Center to tout the reduce crime rates and gang violence in areas (** nothing was mentioned about the increase numbers of shooting victims at SNL venues in 2011) that hosted the "Connie Rice idea that Eric Garcetti build upon that Mayor Villar take credit for as Summer Night Lights". ** We should note that Mayor Villar revealed another childhood secret at the presser, more on that further down. All photo by Francisco Polk 

CD 13 City Councilman Eric Garcetti takes his time at the microphone. Among the standing in this photo is HACLA Resident Services Director Sanford Riggs who received $25,000+ in bonus money in 2010 and 2011  total To right of lady in black and white shirt. Noted in his absence was CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar who was close to the connected non-profit Legacy LA . 

Ramona Gardens SNL worker and all around good guy Jesse Monarrez-Ortiz speaks while mayor Villar bows his head and reflects back to the time when he was supposedly "jump" by some of "Hazards finest young men". The mayor took the time to reminisce about his younger days across the freeway and his adventures through the neighborhood.

Mayor Villar answers questions from Telemundo reporter. 

"The Hazard homies came at me from both sides. I thought about running, but I was born to raise hell. Que no"?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

This "person" is employed by Mayor Villaraigosa's GRYD Program's Legacy LA

Blogger Notes: This blogger chanced upon these disturbing videos of a current Mayor Villaraigosa's "Gang Reduction, Youth Development Contractor Legacy LA employee George Sarabia, who is a "gang interventionist".

Recently, Sarabia appeared with his Legacy LA Executive Director Lou Calanche as part of a KPCC Radio Program hosted by LA Time Columnist Patt Morrison on issues pertaining to Boyle Heights, which he was identified as a former Hazard Gang Member. 

But after the time of his KPPC Radio Boyle Heights Townhall Appearance, George "PayaBH" Sarabia uploaded these videos on to YouTube which should cause discussion on whether Mayor Villaraigosa's much lauded "GRYD Program" is really serving the public interest---Scott Johnson.. 

This video shows George Sarabia pushing minor into tree which then fell onto surface below.

Is this George Sarabia lighting fireworks that almost cause harm to bystanders?

Nice bike ride through Ramona Gardens, but one should question whether this bike ride was done while George Sarabia was on the Legacy LA payroll and answer for the lack of safety gear.

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

Scott Johnson in CD !4 

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

Feds look for the finances behind the patch.

Does the public have a right to view the background of those hire by the City of Los Angeles's GRYD Program?

In a ideal Mayor Antonio Villar political world, what would come first? Financial records of LAPD officers who work in gang suppression units, or background records on those hire by the numerous contractors and sub-contractors of Mayor Villar's GRYD Program?

One should pause to ponder this question in the light of the news out of Northeast LA regarding the disbanding of the LAPD's Northeast Division's gang unit. The story which was reported to this blogger last week, has gone viral on the web, with a link on the Drudge Report.

The breakup of the Northeast LA gang unit is an outgrowth of a new LAPD policy that requires officers who serve on gang units to submit personal financial records. This new policy is the collateral damage of the Rampart Scandal, and the United States Department of Justice findings, which initiated this policy in name of reform.

But while LAPD deals with new post Rampart policies, questions are being ask about the oversight of Mayor Villar's GRYD Program. Last week, Mayor Sam posted some information pertaining to the CD 14 "connected non-profit Legacy LA. The business card posted above is of one Legacy LA employee who may have "family ties" to its Executive Director Lou Calanche.

Since most of the contractors and sub-contractors operate under diverse employment rules, is it fair to ask that all groups that are contracted by the Mayor's GRYD Office, disclose financial records regarding their respective usage of GRYD money and their hiring practices? After all, there was some past dubious gang program called LA Bridges I and II, with their poster child of graft, Hector "No Guns" Marroquin.

OTHER NEWS:

** Question for the discerning CD 14 political observers, why was Councilman Jose Huizar absent from the horseshoe on Monday, when his council colleagues voted to join Mayor Antonio Villar in crafting an "legislated Alamo plan" for CRA/LA? Was he celebrating his fundraising efforts against challenger Rudy Martinez? Working with Wendy Greuel on the City Controller's computer issues regarding CLARTSgate? Or our his thoughts focus somewhere else on Spring Street?

** The now mere citizen "Kennedy Republican", just found time to write a letter of apology to the family of Luis Santos, who the former governor did not care to notify that he was "making a political consideration" in reducing the sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of Fabian. Lets hope that the Santos family files a "Victim Rights Lawsuit" against California over the actions of the "Kennedy Republican".

** The shooting of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Mohamed Ahmed, is the latest high-profile incident that highlights the pitfalls of the dumping of parolees due to the state's budget crisis. Our prayers go out to the deputy and his family.

** Memo to former Lt. Governor Candidate Janice Hahn Campaign Manager Michael Trujillo. Ron Kaye highlights why it was good that Councilwoman Janice Hahn, did not become California's Lt. Governor. Give Janice "some campaign scratch" and she off screwing up some needed work at the Port of Los Angeles.

** Former CD 14 Candidate Tony Butka takes the time to remind us that Councilman Huizar and his clowncil colleagues had some $40 million dollars in discretionary funds, stashed away in accounts that City Controller Wendy Greuel's "lack of Excel software", inhibits constituents from accessing. Butka summerizes his thoughts by asking that Councilman Huizar come clean on CLARTSgate and create an transparent process for community groups to request funding without political pre-conditions.

** Lastly, CD 14 City Council Candidate Rudy Martinez took the proactive approach to return $6,000 in campaign contributions from former City Councilman Nick Pacheco and employees of his law firm. Supporters of Councilman Huizar and his "political Papi" Mayor Villar might remember the 31 ethics violations that "Team Villar" was charged with for actions during the 2003 CD 14 Council Election. More recently, Councilman Jose Huizar paid $15,000 in ethics fines after being caught snooping on former LAUSD School Board Member David Tokofsky. Thus, we commend Martinez for his prompt action on this issue and not resorting to asking others to pay for his ethical misdeeds, like Huizzy?

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Summer Night Lights no more for teenager Miguel "Silent" Machuca

Miguel "Silent" Machuca, dead at the age of 15

The call came at 9;42 PM from my friend Arturo, as I was talking to Former World Champion Boxer Joey Olivo.

Olivo had been contracted by the Soledad Enrichment Action Gang Prevention and Intervention Program (SEA), to conduct boxing clinics as part of the Summer Night Lights Program at Ramona Gardens Recreation Center. We were revisiting childhood memories and discussing Olivo's post boxing life away from the ring, when the call came...........

Arturo had received a call from a mutual friend about a shooting, just northeast of Lincoln Park. Two were shot, they had possible ties to the Ramona Gardens. Nearby gang intervention workers confirm the report of the shooting but the identifications were unknown..........

Sunday dawns and the residents of Ramona Gardens awaken to walls spray painted with the tribute to another young man fallen, "Silent RIP" and other painted tributes are glowing in the early morning sun. The rays of the sun highlight the fact that another "youngster" will join hundreds of other Hazard homies who life's ended much too young. But while being memorialize by his moniker "Silent", fifteen year old Miguel Machuca became the 183rd murder victim within Los Angeles County in 2010. From Christine Pelisek at the LA Weekly.

A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in Lincoln Heights August 28. Miguel Machuca was struck in his upper torso. A stray bullet hit an 11-year-old girl in the back. According to police, Miguel Machuca and another male were on bicycles when they were confronted by two other males around 7:30 p.m. Saturday near North Broadway and North Mission Road. Machuca was shot even though he gave up his bicycle.

As Sunday progresses, Silent's homies gather by the Ramona Gardens Recreation Center, for the traditional car wash fundraiser. Rumors fly about what exactly transpire near the Broadway and Mission Rd. intersection. Who and what if you knew, and if your lips are loose, are a combination one does not want in this crowd. A young girl stands in the street with the donation box as Silent's fellow youngsters wash cars in his honor.

As Silent lays within the cold, sterile vaults of the County Morgue, dozens of his homies and other members of the extended Hazard Family, gather for the ritual consumption of beer and other excesses which will go unmentioned. If these young men were in uniform and fighting for their country, then this scene would be easier to understand. But for one who grew up in the same hood but never stray into gangster lifestyle, this spectacle never loses its repugnant taste. As Silent's family mourns the loss of Miguel, other's take time to partake from the donation box to indulge or attempt to "dip away" the pains of past deaths.

Black and whites drive by to monitor what is all too familiar to the veterans of LAPD. A supposed "intervention worker", who may at one time been part of the crowd in past deaths, work the audience to keep the peace. Some as they consume alcohol or numb their grief in ways left best unstated, think about the past homies who gave their life's for the hood. Some just don't care and take advantage of the free booze and other enticements, but hey, "I can party with my carnal".

In the days ahead, fliers will be posted in the neighborhood announcing the Wake and Burial details. While Miguel's family grieves and plans for his last viewing, Silent's clique will continue to mourn and plan actions to avenge their homie, as taught to them by the previous "OG's".

When the time comes to bid farewell to Miguel/Silent, his two families will gather to say goodbye son/ so long carnal. They will travel together to the burial spot of choice, where his family will display their anguish and the clique will stand together as one. As a parting gift, once in the ground, Silent's clique may pour beer on his final resting place as a tribute to their teenage friend.

Once the services are done, life will return to its usual circular pattern. Police will find witnesses lacking or non-existent. High school students at Lincoln will spend their on-campus time, pondering more thoughts of surviving the latest gang war between Hazard and Lincoln Heights, than the tools that can provide them with the ticket out of this turf war. But as in all past gang killings, some peace will return, at least until the next murder.

In time, people will forget about the shooting on August 28, 2010. A young girl will grow older with the physical and mental scars of her chance encounter with a gang bullet. The grieving of Miguel's family will become muted from us in time, but real to his family for the rest of their living days. The walls that bare Silent's tributes will be painted over, but the rage within his clique, will lead to more senseless trauma. After all, someone must pay for Silent's death.

....... and we all wonder when this senseless slaughter of young life's will ever end.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on Oversight of Gang Programs, Pot, Ron Kaye's Endorsement in CD 2 and other News

"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his homeboys"

Why would Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa be so dismissive of the findings of City Councilman Tony Cardenas's Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development?

As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the committee stated that "the city of Los Angeles should create a standalone department of gang prevention and intervention instead of relying on the mayor's office to oversee anti-gang programs as it does now, according to a report released Monday".

Citing the need for greater financial oversight and improved collaboration between the city, law enforcement, courts, schools and social service agencies, the report called for a comprehensive change in the way the city addresses the root causes of gang violence. The Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development has been reviewing city gang initiatives for roughly four years.

The response from the Mayor's office was swift and defiant.

"The graduate students who wrote the report deserve an 'A' for effort, but at a time when we're working to deliver services more efficiently, creating a new government bureaucracy is driving the wrong way on a one-way street," said Matt Szabo, deputy chief of staff to Villaraigosa.

Szabo should get an "A" for spin with this response. But here is the real reason why the Mayor wanted to have direct oversight of the allocation of gang funding.

06/27/08 Maria Lourdes Calanche (Instructor, LA Community College District) Los Angeles, CA 90031 Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor 1305101 - Antonio R. Villaraigosa for Mayor 2009 A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual) [Period: 01/01/08-06/30/08] $1,000.00

Its all about money!! Or should we say the franchise fees?

We have posted here numerous times about the dubious dealings of the latest "connected non-profit" Legacy LA and their connections to close associates of Mayor Villaraigosa. (Dalila Sotelo, Lou Calanche, Jenny Krusoe, David Galaviz, Raul Estrada just to name a few).

Recently we reported this about Legacy LA and GRYD oversight of their "sub-contract".

A source has stated that Legacy LA is endanger of losing their Gang Reduction, Youth Development or "GRYD" contract due to "double counting". Legacy LA, as part of their GRYD contract, is require to work with 25 gang members and 25 youths who are potential gang members. But it seems that Legacy LA is trying to count the 25 potential gang members again as "gang members" on their reports to GRYD. Further community members are questioning whether the two intervention specialists, "George" and "Renee" are actually in the field doing their work.

In addition, the GRYD rep for the area "Eduardo" was recently terminated from his position with the city, Eduardo also was the on-site coordinator at Ramona Gardens Recreation Center, for the Mayor Villaraigosa's "Summer Night Lights" program.

According to a source close to the organization, Legacy LA did indeed lose their contract only to see it quickly reinstated by the Mayor's office. The employee "Renee", who was an close associate of Jenny Krusoe has lefted the organization, as has Jenny Krusoe. Further, some close to the Summer Night Lights program at Ramona Gardens have stated that "Eduardo" was terminated for his lack of supervision, in regards to the staff structure at Ramona Gardens.

It is clear in our reporting on Legacy LA, that politics played a major role in the creation of this organization (former Mayor staffer and now CRA employee Carlos Alvarado and Jenny Krusoe were the original front people) and one can surmise that Legacy LA was created solely for being a repository for future gang funding and thus, payouts in jobs to their associates.

Maybe that is why Matt Szabo was so "over the top" with his retort to Councilman Cardenas's committee report, after all, protecting the franchise fees to Mayor Villaraigosa is of paramount concern.

View the links below for e-mail documents obtain under the Public Records Act which highlight the political collusion behind the creation of Legacy LA.

Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 1
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 2
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 3
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 4
Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 5

Creation of a "Connected Non-Profit", Part 6

OTHER NEWS:

** Former Daily News Editor now blogger Ron Kaye, has posted his endorsement for Paul Krekorian in the CD 2 Special Election for City Council.

The city is at a crossroads.

We have seen how ordinary citizens could defeat the machine on Measure B in March, how it could pull together and elect Carmen Trutanich as City Attorney in May. So let's hand the mayor and the machine a third straight defeat in December by elected Paul Krekorian in CD2.

** Councilman Greig Smith and Dennis Zine, aka, "The Spring Street RINOS" have announced their endorsement of Chris Essel for the CD 2 City Council seat.

** Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilman Huizar and others associated with Aramark Turkey Giveaway fiasco at the Convention Center, might want to make nice to those hundreds of people who were denied their Turkeys. Chants of "WE WANT TURKEYS!!, WE WANT TURKEYS!!", mixed with images of "connected associates" of various public officials, driving off with turkeys without providing the require vouchers, is going to create a backlash.

** Speaking of turkeys, Mayor Villaraigosa and the City Council will get a financial reality check today.

The Los Angeles City Council today will get what is expected to be a sober briefing on the city's financial condition, a day after L.A.'s credit rating was downgraded. The city’s credit was downgraded by Fitch Ratings on $2.94 billion in debt, meaning that borrowing money will become more expensive for Los Angeles as it grapples with a $98-million current-year budget shortfall and faces the prospect of graver fiscal woes in the years ahead.

** This city continues to go to pot with Councilman Ed Reyes leading the way.

Dispensaries in Los Angeles could continue to accept cash for medical marijuana under a provision approved by the City Council on Tuesday, after it adopted language carefully crafted to maneuver past the city attorney's adamant position that state law bars the sale of the drug.

This from Councilman Ed "density" Reyes,

Several members harshly criticized the city attorney's office. Councilman Ed Reyes, who oversaw the effort to write an ordinance, accused the office of pressing "a political point of view that has nothing to do with objective advice."

** The LA Weekly chronicles how Los Angeles went to pot in an extensive must read by Patrick Range McDonald and Christine Pelisek, here is a passage on Eagle Rock residents interaction with their attentive councilperson.

Michael Larsen sought out Reyes, who had bottled up the regulations for years, never sending a plan to the City Council for a vote. When Larsen finally wangled a meeting with Reyes, he found himself facing a few city employees — and four marijuana activists, including Don Duncan.

“It was clearly lopsided,” Larsen says. After that, Larsen tried for three months to reach his council representative, Huizar, a former school board member who Larsen assumed would be on top of things. But Huizar — who has a personal staff of 26 people — ducked all of Larsen’s calls.

So Larsen came up with a little subterfuge of his own: He and another neighbor found out where Huizar was going to be appearing in public, and in April, “we ambushed him — at an Easter event. We walked up to him with a paper showing all the medical marijuana dispensaries in our community. We said, ‘What are you doing about it?’ He feigned shock.” More recently, Huizar’s office “asked me to please find out what is going on with them. I am happy to do it, to keep the thing moving. But it is just crazy, that it’s our responsibility to be on top of this stuff.”

Some will say that is the normal Huizar reaction to all issues.

Your thoughts and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

LA Bridges reincarnated as GRYD ??

"Gang Programs, Invitation to Fraud and Graft then, and now ??"

LA Bridges here again ?? Maybe ex. City Controller Laura Chick can be brought back to audit,(something she never did as controller regarding LA Bridges), the latest incarnation of gang prevention and intervention programing known as the "Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development".

The Los Angeles Times, to their credit, exposes the problems with the agency "Unity T.W.O."
and those include the following according to the Times.

......Officials called in Unity T.W.O., a high-profile South L.A. intervention agency and City Hall contractor that has received more than $350,000 in public money this year and considerably more in the previous five years.

Unity T.W.O. never showed up -- and yet, days later, it submitted a standard form to City Hall reporting that it had responded as promised and spoken with gang members in an effort to reduce the tension, according to sources close to the city's gang-reduction efforts.

The discrepancy was the latest, and perhaps last, stumble for Unity T.W.O. According to documents obtained by The Times, including financial reports and e-mails between Unity T.W.O. and City Hall, the agency has left gang-reduction supervisors, city officials and nonprofit executives frustrated with its operation. The documents paint a portrait of a troubled, overwhelmed agency -- of overdrawn bank accounts, blown deadlines and missed payrolls.

More problems.......

In May, two staff members in the mayor's Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development (GRYD) submitted sexual harassment claims against Unity T.W.O. employees -- "unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate remarks and continued harassment even after our staff asked them to stop," according to one document. Unity T.W.O. workers were ordered to stay away from GRYD's female staffers.

Enough is enough........, even for the Rev. Jeff Carr, "General Secretary of Gang Intervention" (He does not like being called the "Czar", goes against his political train of thought).

By June, executives at Soledad Enrichment Action, which hired Unity T.W.O. as a subcontractor in the Newton area, were having difficulty even making contact with Fletcher and other Unity T.W.O. workers and resorted to sending a letter asserting that "we have no record that substantiates that any services have been or are being provided by your agency." City officials also were raising questions about Unity T.W.O.'s decision to "delegate" responsibilities to yet another intervention organization."OK.

What exactly does he do then?" e-mailed the Rev. Jeff Carr, GRYD's director, referring to Fletcher. "Still don't know," replied Jorge Reyes, a GRYD supervisor.

Fletcher seemed stymied by the bureaucracy's confusing demands."We want to comply. We will happily comply. But please help us do so," he wrote to Carr and Villaraigosa on June 26.

Word on the "Street" is that Unity T.W.O. is not the only sub-contractor who has problems with being forthright when it comes to documenting their work. E-mails are making the rounds about "sub-contractors" who are "double-dipping" on the city dime.

Then there is the question of transparency in the hiring process when it comes to the GRYD.

Lets use the latest "connected non-profit" Legacy LA as an example.

Posted in the "comments" were the job titles for Legacy employees.

Current "Legacy LA" Employees,

Jenny Krusoe"Director of Development"

Maria Lou Calanche"Exective Director"

Monique Moncayo"Director of Youth Outreach"

George Sarabia"GRYD Program Coordinator"

What oversite did the GRYD have in the selection and hiring process ? Were job fliers past out in the communities ? Where is the openness and transparency in who gets hire ?

But the last sentence in this paragraph gives us the sad truth.

"There has to be rules. If there aren't rules, people will abuse this thing, and I think the city is making an honest effort to do something to stem the violence," said Ted Baker, a case manager with a group that works closely with Unity T.W.O. in South L.A. "But you still have to have real contacts on the street level. There is no other way to break that cycle. I just don't know. The politics here run pretty deep."

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