Nury Martinez' Rumored Plan Is Riddled With Conflict, Corruption and Nepotism

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Last week, this column explained how LA City Council president Nury Martinez, City Attorney Mike Feuer, City Controller Ron Galperin and all but three other Councilmembers railroaded their peer Mark Ridley-Thomas into a suspension from his elected office that was accompanied by the suspension of his salary and health insurance even before he entered a plea to his recent 20-count federal corruption indictment.

In that piece, I provided examples of other high-ranking City officials who courted controversy with some even admitting to their misdeeds but were neither suspended nor had their salary and health insurance withheld.  

Add former Councilmember Richard Alarcon to that list.

A Councilmember in the 90s, Alarcon returned to the city's legislative body in 2007 to finish the term of Alex Padilla (who earlier succeeded him) and was re-elected to serve his final term in 2009 and stayed in that role until he termed-out in 2013.

As is now well-known, in 2010, Alarcon and his wife, Flora Montes De Oca Alarcon, were indicted on a slew of felony counts related to his not residing in his District as is required by law.  Her charges were for related fraud and perjury. The Alarcons were convicted on some of those charges, though the verdicts were eventually thrown out. The LA City Clerk's office confirmed for this column today that Alarcon was neither suspended from office during that multi-year escapade nor were his salary and benefits withheld.

In case you're keeping score:

Alarcon was neither suspended nor lost any income or health insurance despite 18 felony counts related to his work in the LA City Council office he held at the time.   

Ridley-Thomas, recently indicted on 20-federal felony counts related to his prior job, was suspended and his salary and health insurance are now withheld.

Hmmmph!

That leads us to this question: What's up with Martinez, Feuer, Galperin and the entire City Council (save for Mike Bonin, Curren Price and Marqueece Harris-Dawson) and their rush to judgment on Ridley-Thomas?

The answer is plenty and it reeks of corruption, conflict and nepotism.

Multiple sources within City Hall tell this column that Martinez is planning to appoint Ridley-Thomas's predecessor, Herb Wesson, as a "District Caretaker" while the Ridley-Thomas legal problems work their way through the system, which could take years or until a special election is held.

Herb Wesson

Photo Credit: Unknown

While Mr. Wesson may seem like a logical choice for the appointment, there are glaring conflicts of interest and too-close-for-comfort corruption ties.

1. Herb Wesson is now a lobbyist hawking his legislative chops to local governments as an advisor on, among other things, marijuana policy. Last December, he incorporated and registered Herb Wesson and Associates with the California Secretary of State, which may disqualify him from serving as CD10 Caretaker even if he hands-off control of his newly formed business.
2. While there is a battle over which Council District will oversee USC in the coming years, Herb Wesson's brother, Steve Wesson, is reportedly still employed at the school as USC Village Ombudsman presenting another potential conflict of interest.

But there appears to be more than just that going on here.  

Herb Wesson has spent much of 2021 licking his post-campaign-loss wounds by pleading for policy business from local governments and playing the poor card despite having raked-in millions of dollars in his prior government jobs, claiming "I'm just a small businessman trying to feed my family," though his children range in age from 39 years on-up. 

Deron Williams, Herb Wesson's former chief of staff, was in very close proximity to the activity in the federal indictment of former Councilmember Jose Huizar, who Wesson referred to as "my best friend."  While neither Wesson nor Williams stand indicted in that matter, their proximity to the corruption is a curious thing for Martinez to ignore, especially since she breathlessly ran to suspend Ridley-Thomas before he could even enter a plea.

So what's going on here?

Look to Martinez' Deputy Chief of Staff Alexis Marin-Wesson for clues.

Nury Martinez and Alexis Marin-Wesson

Photo Credit: LA Times

Her husband, Justin Wesson, is Herb Wesson's youngest son.  He served as City Council's "Floor Director" during his dad's time as its president. It was a job his father created for him though he mostly functioned as his father's chauffeur and valet. That is a curious choice for a driver given the son's 2012 DUI bust. According to Transparent California, Justin's 2019 salary and compensation, the last reported year available, totaled $141,350.48.   (Note: Justin also voted in scores of elections while registered at his parents' home address despite having a pregnant wife registered to vote in South Pasadena.  This was likely done to establish a fake "residency" to run to replace his dad.  The LA Times stopped pimping that idea after I first wrote about it.)

Funny how the Times' David Zahniser, Dakota Smith and Emily Alpert-Reyes never told you about that.

Hey, but a dad has got to do what a dad has got to do to get their lay-about kids salaries they could never dream of earning in the private sector, right Mr. Wesson and Mr. Ridley-Thomas?

They are birds of a feather.

If you recall, Justin and Alexis were forced to reimburse the LAPD thousands of dollars for misusing the agency for private security at their 2018 wedding. (This was a story that Wesson's office allegedly fed to Zahniser immediately after I inquired about it in order to get a "softer" report. Zahniser allegedly misled his readers by not disclosing that.)

Now, with rumors that Papa Wesson's consulting business is flailing, he and his son are reportedly eyeing their old government salaries that would land them roughly $400,000 combined each year that Ridley-Thomas remains suspended or until a special election is held.  

That's Martinez' likely motivation: enriching her third-in-command, and pseudo younger sister, Alexis by re-employing Justin vis-a-vis appointing his dad Herb Wesson, who implies that his adult children rely on him for income even in their middle ages.

That and the fact that Martinez continuously struggles as Council president, unable (or unwilling) to explain how she is fixing the city's considerable ills while continually censoring the public from complaining and keeping them out of meetings despite vax mandates.  She would readily welcome Papa Wesson's counsel.  It's a win-win for the politicians, but not one that is in the public's best interest assuming Wesson is even eligible for the appointment.  

There is also Ms. Marin-Wesson's mother-in-law, Fabian Wesson, who remains mired in controversy, having falsified her academic qualifications to land a $250,000 job replacing a Ph.D. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, or AQMD.  Her predecessor, who is also a professor at UCLA, was succeeded by Mrs. Wesson because, as an AQMD spokesperson told me, she "thought she graduated" with a bachelor's degree, except she did not.

In any other job outside of nepotistic LA politics, you get fired for lying about your qualifications.  But not in the dumping ground of political patronage, the AQMD.

By the way, LA City Councilmember Joe Buscaino, a member of the AQMD Governing Board, has dodged this column's questions about Fabian's false quals, so his claims of being a crime-fighter "eager to slap the cuffs" on guys like Englander and Huizar ring completely hollow.  More on that in an upcoming column.

So Nury Martinez' largesse toward Herb Wesson, who endorsed her to succeed him as Council president, is loaded with the same toxic sludge that led to Englander's conviction, Huizar's and others' indictments and whatever comes next.

What a surprise.

So why did Martinez, Feuer and Galperin allegedly conspire to oust Ridley-Thomas before he could even enter a plea?

Simple. Martinez wanted Ridley-Thomas out.  Feuer, who is likely to get creamed in his campaign for Mayor by leading candidate Karen Bass, reportedly okayed the railroading of Ridley-Thomas to curry favor with the Councilmembers whose endorsements he will need to even be competitive.

The same goes for Galperin in his hotly contested campaign to become an LA County Supervisor as key endorsements needed in that race quickly dry up. 

So at LA City Hall, the corruption, conflicts and nepotism are business as usual, at least until the next shoes, plural, drop.

Nury Martinez, her Chief of Staff Ackley Padilla and Alexis Marin-Wesson did not respond to a request to field unscreened questions.  Mark Ridley-Thomas is believed to be shopping for attorneys to fight the suspension.

Get the popcorn.

(Daniel Guss, MBA, was runner-up for the 2020 Los Angeles Press Club journalism award for Best Online Political Commentary and has contributed to CityWatch, KFI AM-640, iHeartMedia, 790-KABC, Cumulus Media, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal, Pasadena Star-News, Los Angeles Downtown News, and the Los Angeles Times in its Sports, Opinion and Entertainment sections and Sunday Magazine, and other publishers. Tell your friends to follow him on The Twitters @TheGussReport)

The Week Before Election Day Morning Briefs for Tuesday

With a week before the 2018 California Primary, Gubernatorial Candidate Antonio Villargovea (and other Dummycrats) get TROLLED by President Donald J. Trump for exploiting ex President Barack "H" Obama Era detained Immigrant Children Photos, to motivate voter turnout ........, as a new poll shows the ex. Failure Mayor, trailing both Republicans. 

** Blogger's Notes: Ahhhh ........., did a certain California Gubernatorial Candidate (and others) get T-R-O-L-L-E-D by President Donald J. Trump? Lets consider the true facts. First, the City Terrace Native feigns a "Speechless (Twitter) Moment (kinda like his numerous Caught Cheating Episodes)", in regards to the photo which allegedly showed, "the first glimpse of immigrant children at holding facility". Second, upon learning that the photo tweeted was in actuality, from 2014 (ahhh, was the guy who would not give Tony a Cabinet Position, President then?), Team Villargovea deleted the fact-challenged Twitter Post ............, and replaced it with another factually-challenged #WhereAreTheChildren Post, based upon a 1-28-16 New York Times Missive, which claimed that Immigration Officials placed Immigrant Children with Human Traffickers. Facts stated, we ask the Roosevelt High School Graduate a simple question .............., who was President on the date of the Old Gray Lady Story? Ahhhhhh. Meanwhile, the latest Gubernatorial Campaign Poll shows a Red Wave overtaking Tony.  

From the Twitter Account of President Donald J. Trump: Democrats mistakenly tweet 2014 pictures from Obama’s term showing children from the Border in steel cages. They thought it was recent pictures in order to make us look bad, but backfires. Dems must agree to Wall and new Border Protection for good of country...Bipartisan Bill!

** We have a former CD 7/2 City Councilman Richard Alarcon cyber-sighting, with a brief commentary regarding embattled Northeast San Fernando Valley Congressman Tony Cardenas ....., and those who would seek to replace him.

Former CD 7/2 City Councilman Richard Alarcon and Daughter Andrea.

** The recent Homophobic Rantings of an Orange County Political Dinosaur Congressman Dana Rohrabacher were challenged by our bloggin Radio/Journalist Friend Randy Economy who posted the following ....... "Wanted to make sure that EVERY MEMBER of the LOG CABIN REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT here in AMERICA can see EXACTLY what Dana Rohrabacher thinks about US. Stop promoting this homophobic member of Congress.... STOP IT DANA...this is NOT ACCEPTABLE in 2018" ......., and we here at Mayor Sam stand with Randy-----Scott Johnson.

Randy Economy and former CD-3 City Councilman (and Radio Co-Host) Dennis Zine.

  A Political Dinosaur in need of Replacement on Election Day.

Details of Tujunga Golf Course Developer Lawsuit Emerge

Idyllic day at Verdugo Hills Golf Course, Photo by Joseph Mailander

Our friend Joseph Mailander visited Sunland-Tujunga Friday, did some digging and unearthed some details on the lawsuit that Snowball West Investments, owners of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course in Tujunga, has filed against the City of Los Angeles over it's designation of a small piece of the property as a "historic landmark."

You may remember that last fall, Alarcon presented to the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council a strategy to block development of 229 homes on the site, by declaring the property, which was used during World War II as a detention camp for Japanese-Americans and others, a "historic landmark."

This was at the height of Alarcon's campaign for the State Assembly; a race he later lost.

At some point during the process for historic designation, the stated intent of the effort changed; not to block development, but to provide some historic mitigation to the Japanese community, and acquire some sort of recognition and memorial at the site.  As Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council board member Krystee Clark told the Glendale News-Press, "Well, it's not really about the golf course," she said. "It's about making sure the area is preserved in a way that satisfies the Japanese American community."

The following is courtesy of Joseph Mailander:

The suit that the owners of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course have brought against the City of Los Angeles is mostly pointed at Alarcon's actions in his final days as a Council Member. 

It notes how Alarcon introduced the motion to designate the site as a Japanese monument on October 12, 2012..."25 days before the General Election and without notice to Snowball."
It references an LA Times report noting that Alarcon had hoped to "save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course from residential development by adding it to the list of historic and cultural monuments"--something Alarcon's office and others were denying when they found later that this might constitute deprivation of due process. 

It alleges that Alarcon refused to talk about the designation with Snowball. [BTW, it notes how the community within the development is to be privately gated.] It claims that Alarcon in bringing the motion to Council on June 21, surprised the developer, because the PLUM Committee had asked for a working Committee to work on a solution 60 days subsequent to June 11, 2013--but brought the matter before Council before his term ended, a scant ten days later. 

It alleges that in Alarcon's "rush to prevent, delay, and impact" the Project, "no research was conducted, no reports or maps were consulted, and no findings were made to determine the boundaries of the detention station or exactly where the use was previously located on the property. It alleges the box drawn around the oaks was "nearly arbitrary." 

It suggests Alarcon's motivation was originally to please voters in running for his Assembly race, which he did not win. 

It requests a jury trial and names the sum of $20 million as compensatory damages.

Sunland-Tujunga Launches Food Truck Fest; Spurs Local Debate; Area Restauranteur Comes Out Swinging in Defense of the Event

Joselito's Mexican Food

Recently, the issue of food trucks, one that often stirs strong emotions on both sides of the fence in the City of Angels, has made it's most recent venue that of the idyllic foothill community of Sunland-Tujunga.

About a month ago, leaders from the local chamber of commerce organized and launched a weekly Wednesday night food truck fest that from all appearances seems to have taken off like wildfire. The number of trucks participating has quickly doubled and participant estimates are nearing 5000 diners or more.

Despite the popularity with the local rank and file, a portion of the business community and other activists have had a near visceral reaction to the event, sparking weeks of wars on local Facebook pages. Newly re-assigned City Councilman Richard Alarcon, at a "meet and greet" even held on Tuesday evening has pledged to review the issue as it is Alarcon's fear the food trucks are "dividing the community." A more reasoned position may be that the food trucks are dividing the Facebook community, but we digress...

Read more »

Zorro Marxist Gives City Dollars to Nuch and Some Tarzana Druggies

Carmen the Clown: How did he rate
some dough from AlarcCON?

On a unanimous vote, your Los Angeles City Council took $100,000 for mitigation of the Lopez Canyon Landfill in the North Valley, money set aside to help folks in the North Valley communities, and gave it to a drug treatment center in CD3 and to Carmen Trutanich to stop folks from smoking. Dig deep folks, there are connected non-profits involved in all of this.







ITEM NO. (12)

12-0697 CD 7 MOTION (ALARCON - BUSCAINO) relative to funding from the Lopez Canyon Landfill Community Amenities Trust Fund to implement allocations to serve Lake View Terrace and Pacoima residents.

Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:

1. TRANSFER $100,000 from the Lopez Canyon Landfill Community Amenities Trust Fund No. 531/14, Account No. L32 to the Sanitation Fund No. 100/82, Account No. 3040 (Contractual Services) in order to implement the following allocations to the following agencies to serve Lake View Terrace and Pacoima residents for the stated purposes:

a. Tarzana Treatment Centers, $90,000 for project support
b. Los Angeles City Attorney Tobacco Enforcement Program, $10,000 for project support

2. DIRECT the Bureau of Sanitation to prepare the necessary document(s) with, and/or payment(s) to the above organizations, in the above listed amounts, from the above source, and for the above purposes, subject to the approval of the City Attorney as to form, if needed, and AUTHORIZE the Councilmember of the Seventh District to execute any such document on behalf of the City.

3. AUTHORIZE the Bureau of Sanitation to make any technical corrections or clarification as necessary to the above instructions in order to effectuate the intent of this Motion.

Caption this ......................

Mr. and Mrs Richard "Zorro Marxist" AlarCON's Booking Photo via C.J. Lin

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Machine for Friday

The laugh was short for "re-indicted" CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard AlarCON.

Hola on this pre Cinco de Mayo TGIF, but before we move on to the likes of AlarCON and other topics, we like your answer to this LAUSD-like multiple choice question . "What was the origin of our annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo"? A.) A creation of Dos Equis's "Most Interesting Man in the World". B.) Some battle the French lost on the Plains of Puebla in the early 1860's  C.) Collaboration of former CD 14 City Councilman Art Snyder and Mission Distributors to promote Mexican heritage at Lincoln Park D.) The date of the Mexican-American version of Woodstock at Lincoln Park with the likes of Carlos Santana, Tierra, War, El Chicano, Tower of Power and Los Lobos performing. (** before the homies started throwing blows) E.) All of the above.

Back to the CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard AlarCON, roaming the cyber pages of Facebook last evening, we came across numerous discussions on the dismissal, then re-indictment of the long time public servant. But one intriguing angle on the dismissal of charges against AlarCON centers around the judge Kathleen Kennedy and a possible CD 14 connection. We are being very sensitive in not putting out information that is not based on fact, but we did take time yesterday to discuss some possible background with the District Attorney Office of Public Integrity, more later if warranted. But one can bet another Councilman Huizar California Public Records Act violation that Judge Kennedy will have nothing to do with the second AlarCON Trial.

** Well, well it is nice to know that a "125+ year Old Gray Hag on Spring Street" can still attract a sugar daddy and a rich elitist one at that. It seems that the "Overlord of the Elite Los Angeles Insider Community" Eli Broad wants to squire and buy the former "fishwrap of record".

** Quick Higby, get me the bloggin defib paddles!! The "Aunt Esther" of South LA Journalism and the admirer of "Little Short Guy" City Clowncil Central Committee Chairperson Herb "Mini Amin" Wesson Betty Pleasant has some commentary on LAPD treatment of the elderly and surprise, no mention of CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks.

** In the spirit of openness and friendship, we would like make CD 14's "Princeton Graduate Dear Charro" Councilman Jose Huizar aware of this Saturday Class at the University of South Central on Ethics and Transparency in Government. Just think of the opportunities to regaling the politicos from cities of Walnut, Montebello, West Hollywood on your educational exploits at Princeton (and how you almost got away with having the taxpayers pay for your reunion) and selflessly offer yourself as a teachable moment on how to stonewall on California Public Records Act. Plus, you can bring along the latest duo in political outreach, Samuel In and Gustavo Valdivia to "role play" various scenarios regarding ethics in contracting and inspections within public government.          

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

A Councilman Richard AlarCON Press Release on Proposed Redistricting

Who's your City Council Sugar Daddy now Sunland-Tujunga?

Councilmember Alarcón Releases Statement Regarding Draft City Council District Maps

(Los Angeles, CA) – The Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission yesterday released draft maps for new council district lines in the City of Los Angeles.  Councilmember Richard Alarcón, who has represented the Northeast San Fernando Valley for nearly 20 years, released the following statement reacting to the proposed new lines:

Statement of Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcón

“In a City with rapidly changing demographics like Los Angeles, part of the reality that Councilmembers are faced with is that district lines must change every ten years.  Every Councilmember builds a relationship with the community they serve, and it is hard to lose part of the area you have represented.  If the draft lines proposed by the Commission are approved, I would no longer have the opportunity to represent a portion of North Hills and Panorama City that it has been my honor to serve as a Councilmember.

“While I would be very sorry to no longer represent parts of these communities, I welcome the opportunity to work with people in Sunland-Tujunga if that is how the final lines are drawn.  I am very familiar with the Sunland-Tujunga area, having grown up next door in Sun Valley and having heard stories from my father about how he would swim at the Sunland Park ‘Plunge’ as a boy.  My father’s upholstery business also had a lot of clients in the Sunland-Tujunga community, including former Councilmember Howard Finn and his wife Anne.  Sunland-Tujunga’s unique geographic setting creates a distinct community with true community spirit that I admire.

“Sunland-Tujunga has always played an important role in the City’s redistricting process and the community has previously been grouped with Pacoima, Lake View Terrace and other parts of the current Seventh Council District.  I remember when the Sunland-Tujunga community was wary of the 1986 redistricting process, which drew Hollywood Councilmember Joel Wachs into a new district that included Sunland-Tujunga.  Joel did a great job representing Sunland-Tujunga on the City Council and, if given the opportunity to serve this area as well, it would be my goal to be as appreciated by the community as Councilmember Wachs was.”

- # # # -

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Newly elected CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino and potential CD 13 City Council Candidate and current Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo.

** Mid-Day Update: Szabo talks up CD 13 potential run with LA Times David Zahniser.

Hola and great Thursday morning from Cuidad de Los Angeles, where we chance upon those searching for "greener councilmatic pastures" when a certain "Failure Mayor" leaves hundreds of their fellow staffers  unemployed in 2013. One of the more high profile job seekers in 2013 would be former blogger turned Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo. Somehow, someway Szabo has survived two terms within Team Villar while others such as former Chief of Staff Jeff Carr peel away the tire tread from being thrown under the bus (by Matt). But facing a loss of pay and long term linkage to a "Failure Mayor", it seems that Szabo went "rouge" and is serious about becoming "City Councilman Matt Szabo of CD 13 in 2013". Maybe thats why he was so readily amenable to have his photo taken with the "Average Joe Buscaino" at his victory celebration on Tuesday evening. One can envision some "Pay Pal love for the Average Szabo for CD 13" in the near future.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto at CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino's Victory Party.

Lucky for this blogger that Assemblyman Mike Gatto did not go the "Cease and Desist Route" on taking his photo Tuesday evening in San Pedro. But for some lobbyists in Sacramento, they may cease from riding with Gatto via limo, to any future San Francisco Giant games because the Silver Lake native pulled a "So Cal" and  lefted the game early in the limo, leaving the lobbyists to find their way back to Sacramento.

We under stand that CD 2/7 City Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon and wife spent some time in a courtroom Wednesday as the trail over his supposed false residency crawls onwards. But as AlarCON seeks to rejoin the State Assembly, this blogger was told sometime back that Michael "MEAT" Trujillo would be managing his campaign.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14