The Morning Scandalous Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Tuesday

Former "Scandalous Employees International Union" (SEIU) Local 6434 General Manager Tyrone Freeman, joins the likes of Martin Ludlow, Arnelle Grajeda, and the late Alejandro Stephens as "LA Poster Brothers and Sisters" of Union Corruption.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas favorite former SEIU General Manager Tyrone Freeman.

Happy bloggin Tuesday to everyone as we share tales of scandalous misconduct, this A.M., from the various branches of the Los Angeles Political Machine.

We start with a political friend of nervous LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, former SEIU Local 6434 General Manager Tyrone Freeman. "Brother Tyrone" was sentence yesterday to 33 months on the license plate assembly line (without union wages) in Federal Lockup for defrauding union coffers for his, family and crony's self enrichment. Yet, what went completely unreported in the "Old Gray Collectivist Hag on Spring Street" (LA Times) missive regarding the "Brother Tyrone" sentencing, was the aborted scheme to raise the dues of the poorest of union members he represented, to finance the LA County Board of Supervisor Campaign of Mark Ridley-Thomas against CD 8 City Councilman Bernard Parks. We ponder whether Freeman in his next 33 months in the Federal Pen, will sing a tune of campaign finance misdeeds, in return for less time?  

** Is anyone within the LAUSD Educational Establishment surprise that now School Board President Richard Vladovic, would be the subject of a Verbal and Sexual Harassment Complaint (which he denies for the record)? During his first campaign for the LAUSD District 7 Seat, we posted here stories of the self-proclaimed, "Dr. Death's" proclivities to be a verbal hot head during his Administrator employment with LAUSD and the Covina School District. Maybe that was why he barely beat admired Administrator Neal Kleiner by a 53-47% margin? It was, and Kleiner would of won if UTLA had fiscally supported him. 

** The "University of Scandalous Conduct" (USC) continues its repugnant corporate behavior with that latest expose that the "Four Year Community College on Figueroa" (** along with President Barack "H" Obama's Occidental College), underreported sexual assaults on their respective campuses. The fact that USC would not follow up and properly report sexual assaults, is not surprising, considering its aborted raping of sacred and historic green space at Hazard Park. 

** Port of Los Angeles Director Geraldine Knatz is the first former Mayor Antonio Villar hold-over Department Head to be sent out the door, as she is forced out, whoops, resigns as its first female Port Director. Jack Humphreville in a superb blog missive at "MSNBC CityWatch", lamented on the failed leadership at the Port of LA under Knatz and the urgent need for change as a widen Panama Canal (in 2014) threatens the port's standing within the Pacific Rim.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14       

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (left) with former SEIU 6434 Leader Tyrone Freeman (second from left).

Former SEIU 6434 Leader Tyrone Freeman's "legal day of reckoning" is near.

For current LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the news via Daily News Rick Orlov's "Monday Tipoff Column", that Freeman will most likely face a Federal Grand Jury Indictment this week, should cause him pause considering this past scheme ...........

Controversy surrounding a powerful Los Angeles labor leader threatened Thursday to alter the landscape beneath the county's hottest political race, which has been fueled by record amounts of union spending.Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors candidate Bernard C. Parks, who trailed in the June primary, challenged opponent Mark Ridley-Thomas to return more than $4.5 million raised on his behalf by a labor alliance that included beleaguered union leader Tyrone Freeman.Parks, a Los Angeles city councilman, also noted that county officials have accused Freeman's local of raising more than $5 million in illegitimate union dues from low-wage home healthcare workers, a charge that union attorneys have flatly denied.

We left a message with Supervisor Ridley-Thomas press person Lisa Richardson seeking comment.

Continuing with Orlov, the veteran City Hall beat writer reports that Andrea AlarCON will not carry on the family brand at City Hall. DONE staffer Grayce Liu has been picked by Mayor Antonio Villar to replace B.H. Kim as the General Manager of the Neighborhood Council oversight agency..

Of interest to LAUSD observers is the possible CD 6 candidacy of School Board Member Nury Martinez  If current CD 6 City Councilman Tony Cardenas is elected to Congress and Martinez seeks to replace him, the race to replace Martinez at LAUSD is sure to draw major UTLA resources , in the attempt to regain control of the Board of Education. Will Louie Pugliese seek one more time to get elected to a Board of Educators?

** We hear at Mayor Sam that a lawsuit may be filed within the next 24-48 hours which could have major political repercussions at City Hall. More on that later today.

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

Former SEIU 660 President Alejandro Stephens to serve four months in prison

"Former SEIU 660 President Alejandro Stephens contemplates jail time".

Four months, probably less with good behavior.

But for disgraced former SEIU Local 660 President Alejandro Stephens, the stigma of contributing to debunking the legacy of the late Los Angeles County Labor Federation Leader Miguel Contreras, will weigh on Stephens for life in the labor community.

Stephens enters jail today, having pleaded guilty to tax evasion and federal mail fraud. His plea was the byproduct of a 2004 scheme that funneled $52,000 from the Contreras created Voter Improvement Project (VIP), into campaign coffers, for his successful election as President of SEIU Local 660. Local 660 is the primary union for 50,000+ LA County workers.

While Stephens is the only person doing jail time, the likes of former girlfriend and California SEIU Leader Arnelle Grajeda ("A.G."), son Carlos Grajeda ("C.G.") and Contreras ("M.C."), were listed by federal investigators as "co-schemers. The feds also questioned former SEIU International Leader Andy Stern, on whether he provided Stephens with a "no show position", but no accusations or charges are pending.

For SEIU, the Stephens conviction is the latest embarrassment for the union in Los Angeles. Stephens and Grajeda join the likes of former SEIU 6434 Leader Tyrone Freeman, who looted union coffers and directed those monies to dubious non-profits with ties to family members. Freeman also attempted to raise the dues of some of his poorest members and directed them into financial resources for LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas campaign. Freeman was removed by SEIU and awaits any legal repercussions stemming from his various schemes. The excessive dues that were taken from his members, were made whole by the union.

But the biggest hit here, besides Stephens doing jail time, is to the legacy of the late Miguel Contreras. With the conviction of Stephens, which by the way, was an outgrowth of the Martin Ludlow/ SEIU 99 investigation and convictions and mixed it with the dubious political follies of Contreras disciples former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. the Contreras Legacy is forever tarnish.

The harsh reality is that political historians will look back upon the supposed golden era of the Labor Left in Los Angeles and see where destructive narcissus behavior, mixed with financial excesses in the labor-dominated halls of governments, led us to our looming day of financial reckoning.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

** Bloggers note: I served with Carlos Grajeda on the City of Commerce Part-Time Union Board which was part of the old SEIU Local 347, under the ethical and democratic leadership of then General Manager Julie Butcher. During my time as Treasurer and Secretary, many of us knew of the linkage of Stephens and the Grajedas. But none of us knew of the scheme which resulted in the legal proceedings, that are the premise for this post.

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on SEIU "Friend" Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, LAPD shakeup, Councilwoman Perry "Shakedown" (LOL!) of AEG and other News

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and County Labor Federation Head Maria Elena Durazo

County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas ex. "SEIU Brother" Tyrone Freeman

What does County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas have to hide, especially from Federal Investigators and the Los Angeles Times?

But first, a flashback moment.

Controversy surrounding a powerful Los Angeles labor leader threatened Thursday to alter the landscape beneath the county's hottest political race, which has been fueled by record amounts of union spending.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors candidate Bernard C. Parks, who trailed in the June primary, challenged opponent Mark Ridley-Thomas to return more than $4.5 million raised on his behalf by a labor alliance that included beleaguered union leader Tyrone Freeman.

Parks, a Los Angeles city councilman, also noted that county officials have accused Freeman's local of raising more than $5 million in illegitimate union dues from low-wage home healthcare workers, a charge that union attorneys have flatly denied.

That was then, this is today from LA Times Investigative Reporter Paul Pringle.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has declined to release any records of communications between his office and a longtime associate who has been employed by corporations that do millions of dollars of business with the county and a rail project that Ridley-Thomas helps oversee.

Ridley-Thomas similarly rejected Times requests for any e-mails, memos and letters involving the companies that hired the associate, Cynthia McClain-Hill, earlier this year.

The Times has reported that federal authorities have questioned people about Ridley-Thomas' ties to McClain-Hill and her employment with a joint venture managed by Flatiron Construction, which is building the $862-million, taxpayer-funded Expo Line light rail train. McClain-Hill, a lawyer who owns a lobbyist firm and has contributed thousands of dollars to Ridley-Thomas' campaigns, also works for Unisys Corp., which provides computer services to the county. Under the California Public Records Act, The Times sought more than nine months of records, including copies of the supervisor's appointment calendar and telephone bills.

The Feds are looking at Supervisor Ridley-Thomas? Wonder why?

The federal queries grew out of a U.S. Labor Department and FBI investigation into alleged corruption within the Service Employees International Union, a key financial backer of Ridley-Thomas' election campaign last year, people familiar with the probe say.

Could it be that someone with former SEIU ties is "singing" to the Feds? Plus, it is no secret that Supervisor Ridley-Thomas has close ties to SEIU and their "associates" as noted by veteran practitioner of "outcome-based, agenda journalism", former LA Times scribe and current LA Observed contributer Bill Boyarsky.

The Project Acorn event was at the headquarters of Local 721 of the Service Employees Union. It hadn�t started so I walked around the Virgil Avenue neighborhood, a few miles west of downtown. It�s a neighborhood of apartments, probably affordable for working families (if they double up) but they will be out of range if building ever resumes. At the union hall, I ran into Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, and interviewed him on the closed Martin Luther King Jr. hospital for a story I plan to do for LA Observed on his race with Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks. Then I introduced both Mama Hill and a short video about her and about how she faced foreclosure.

Too bad that Boyarsky was fixated on the outcome of his agenda missive, thus missing the chance to get to the bottom of now Supervisor Ridley-Thomas dubious ties to SEIU, but then this is from the noted denier of "Raineygate".

OTHER NEWS:

** Less than one week from being sworn in as former Chief Bill Bratton's "designated heir" in the role of City of Los Angeles "Top Cop", Chief Charlie Beck announces a shake up of his command staff.

From the Los Angeles Times.

Beck, who was confirmed as chief by the City Council last Tuesday, promoted Deputy Chief Michel Moore to become one of the LAPD's three assistant chiefs and assigned him to a newly created post in charge of Special Services, according to an announcement released Monday.

In his new post, Moore will oversee an array of specialized operations that, until now, have been run separately, including the agency's Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the elite Metropolitan Division and the Detective Bureau.

To make room for Moore, Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who for several years has been the second-highest-ranking person in the department, dropped one rank to deputy chief and will take on a new position as chief of detectives.

Link to the takes on Chief Beck's shakeup from Ron Kaye and the Daily News.

** With apologies to the Bob "Big Hug" Hertzberg, Governor Arnold "Kennedy Republican" Schwartzenegger has chosen fellow moderate/RINO republican State Senator Abel Maldonado, to replace now Congressman John Garamendi as Lt. Governor, Maldonado must be confirm by both the Assembly and State Senate.

** Hold your laughs please, Councilwoman Jan Perry said Monday she is talking to officials at Anschutz Entertainment Group about reimbursing at least some of the $3.2 million in taxpayer money spent on the "non- permitted" AEG/ Michael Jackson memorial. Now LOL!!

** Talk about stimulating your political appetite. The City Council will resume talks Tuesday on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance that would let dispensaries sell pot to qualified patients -- even though the city attorney and district attorney insist such transactions would be illegal.

The City Council will consider amending the fifth draft (in how many flippin years!?) of the proposed ordinance submitted by the city attorney. Among the three dozen amendments proposed to the measure are:

-- only 70 collectives would be allowed citywide, or one medical marijuana facility per 57,000 residents, each chosen via a blind random drawing; link here for the rest.

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

$3.1 Million in union cash for Ridley-Thomas

Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt chosen candidate for the 2nd District Board of Superviser Mark Ridley-Thomas is raking in the cash from various unions.

from the LA Times blog "LA Now"

A union committee reported gathering $3.1 million in the last two months to help state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas win the 2nd District seat being vacated by county Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke.

With the Nov. 4 election only weeks away, the independent expenditure committee has amassed a total of $7.1 million to help Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) defeat Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks.

Wonder how much is SEIU's contribution to this fund?? Something for Tyrone Freeman to tell the D.A. in his pending corruption case.

BTW, good luck to the Dodgers against the Phillies.

Assorted Unionize Ass Clowns for the months of August and September

Memo to SEIU International Leader Andy Stern, can we get sponsorship for our prestigious award??

After all for the last couple of months the exploits of your union leadership and the resulting exploitation of members dues, have rekindle the investigated journalistic creed at the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" and up our hits here at Mayor Sam.

But most important for a city in need of democratic reforms, your leaders follies may help release organize labor's "strangle hold" on City Hall and County Government.

"Brother Andy", your principle that "bigger is better", that being in your restructuring of SEIU locals into "super locals" has brought you these returns locally.

*Tyrone Freeman of SEIU 6434 diverted dues money to non-profits run by family members.

**Arnelle Grajeda, Leader of "Super Local 721" is placed on admin. leave due to questions about money given to "sancho".

***Julie Butcher, former General Manager of SEIU 347 and now in charge of LA and Orange County Cities under 721, renews attempt to take over EAA membership, which could have national implications in the area of inter-union relations.

But there is one person not pictured here who's political aspirations in the short term could be the first to suffer in this growing scandal. Wonder who Mark???

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.

Parks takes it to Ridley-Thomas regarding Freeman/SEIU 6434 Controversy

Bernard Parks can take advise.

After last weekends attempt to curtail First Amendment expression by the Shaw Family, we advise you to go "pro-active" in response to the Leimert Park Incident and the Tyrone Freeman/SEIU 6434 Controversy.

.......and you have.

From today's Los Angeles Times,

Controversy surrounding a powerful Los Angeles labor leader threatened Thursday to alter the landscape beneath the county's hottest political race, which has been fueled by record amounts of union spending.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors candidate Bernard C. Parks, who trailed in the June primary, challenged opponent Mark Ridley-Thomas to return more than $4.5 million raised on his behalf by a labor alliance that included beleaguered union leader Tyrone Freeman.

Parks, a Los Angeles city councilman, also noted that county officials have accused Freeman's local of raising more than $5 million in illegitimate union dues from low-wage home healthcare workers, a charge that union attorneys have flatly denied.

"Mr. Ridley-Thomas, how do you feel about benefiting from the money of people who are hovering just above the poverty line?" Parks said. "Give the money back to the people who need it most."

Sounds familiar??

"Thousands of working poor are having their meager pay checks "taxed" to fill the coffers of your challenger Mark Ridley-Thomas and family members bank accounts, according to dissidents within the local and SEIU. And it doesn't help the cause of Freeman when the "Old Gray Hag On Spring Street" resorts to the concept of "investigated reporting" (remember their Rampart reporting??) to fill column inches".

Now how about bashing Ridley-Thomas supporter Chief Bratton regarding that incident in Leimert Park??

Remember, "this is your time".................

Tyrone Freeman steps aside as President of SEIU 6434

Was it the excessive hike in the dues of the working poor that make up the rank and file of his local? It could of been those allocation of dues money to dubious ventures by family members. Or simply, it was that cigar party.

But once the Los Angeles Times went on the "investigated path" with their reporting it was only time before Tyrone Freeman had to make this choice, thus his decision to step aside as President of SEIU's largest California Local pending resolution of various investigations.

From today's LA Times.

The head of California's largest union local has stepped aside in the wake of Times reports that the organization and a related charity paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to firms owned by his wife and mother-in-law.Tyrone Freeman, president of a Service Employees International Union chapter in Los Angeles, said in a written statement late Wednesday that he was taking a leave of absence and that the local would be placed in a temporary trusteeship.

"In order to ensure that any investigation of the allegations is fair and free from any question of interference or influence, I am taking a leave of absence effective immediately for the duration of the investigation," the statement said. "I believe these steps will allow our union to continue to serve the best interests of our membership during this time.

"The statement was released by the Washington, D.C., office of SEIU President Andy Stern, who nurtured Freeman's career as the 160,000-member local grew dramatically in recent years, largely through consolidations.

"These allegations are of serious concern to all of us and we support Mr. Freeman's decision to put the best interests of the members first," Stern spokeswoman Michelle Ringuette said in an e-mail.

Judging from the numerous and insightful comments posted here, this investigation will have the attention of both, in house and outside observers of the union community.

Bernard Parks, "this is your time"

Memo to the campaign of "Bernard Parks for Supervisor".

Rarely does an candidate for political office get "two hanging curve balls" of community issues to hit in the ballgame that is your contest for the 2nd District Board of Supervisor Seat against Mark Ridley-Thomas.

First, American citizens in your council district are being harassed by a politicize LAPD, for simply petitioning City Hall to let the voters decide the faith of a law, "Jamiel's Law", that would protect American citizens from crimes committed by illegal alien gang members.

Just think of all the free T.V. time you could of reap by showing up at Leimert Park, minutes after yesterdays "exercise in First Amendment bashing",to denounce Chief Bratton and Mayor Villaraigosa for inserting politics into the selective enforcement of city codes.

What a chance to take out those long-festering bitter feelings by bashing that arrogant, pompous north easterner who wasted no time in rubbing his endorsement of Mark Ridley-Thomas into your bruised ego, and is asking for someone 's Social Security number a violation of Special Order 40?? That opens the hypocrite angle to attack Bratton.

Second, there is a "Tsunami" of an controversy brewing within the fiefdom of Tyrone Freedom's SEIU 6434 family empire.

Thousands of working poor are having their meager pay checks "taxed" to fill the coffers of your challenger Mark Ridley-Thomas and family members bank accounts, according to dissidents within the local and SEIU. And it doesn't help the cause of Freeman when the "Old Gray Hag On Spring Street" resorts to the concept of "investigated reporting" (remember their Rampart reporting??) to fill column inches.

This your chance to stand up for the right of workers (mostly latino BTW) who had no say in how their dues money were being allocated. Also don't forget about exploiting that certain "Republican Slate Mailer"?? that could highlight Ridley-Thomas's true feelings for workers rights.

Bernie, with the Daily News reporting today that your campaign is reaching "Dysfunctional Mass" now is the time to hit these two issues out of the political ball park, take that Chamber money and run past home plate in November into the 2nd District seat.

***Props and Credit to Zuma Dogg for his great photo of the "Bitter One"***

Standing up (*and rigging elections?) for Tyrone Freeman

Cliche Alert!!

****Sunday morning update****

By Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 10:41 PM PDT, August 16, 2008

The election of a Los Angeles union leader under fire for his labor group's spending practices is the subject of a government review that could force a new vote because of complaints that the contest was unfair to challengers.

The U.S. Labor Department is investigating allegations that Tyrone Freeman's union local made it nearly impossible for candidates not on his slate to qualify for the ballot, according to people familiar with the probe.

"Figures Don’t Lie, People Lie on Figures" an Op-ed by Charisse Bremond-Weaver, President and CEO of the Brotherhood Crusade

Many who commented here on the LA Times investigated report on the financial dealing of SEIU 6434 President Tyrone Freeman will take exception to this Op-ed in the Los Angeles Sentinel.

For those who called for an investigation of Freeman's dealings, they will likely shake their heads in reading this sad Op-ed denial which highlights the "ethical myopia" that afflicts some who call themselves leaders in the African-American community.

Excerpts:

"In reading the article entitled “Leader’s Kin get Union Business,” I became quite incensed. However, the provocation of my irritation was not that which the author intended. Instead, I was gravely disappointed because the writer, Paul Pringle, employed an under-handed, but effective strategy of intentionally misleading the reader in order to create a perception of impropriety. I will support this assertion in the text that follows, but let me be clear, I am formally accusing Mr. Pringle of employing this tactic. In contrast, if you read the article carefully, Mr. Pringle never accuses Mr. Tyrone Freeman or the Union of wrong-doing, nor claims that the practices discussed are immoral, illegal, or unethical. The article is simply written for the purpose of leading the reader to make such a conclusion. Ironically, as I will demonstrate in this response, the practices that were magnified in the article are not only justified but typical and in many cases, necessary". (Raising dues on the "working poor" to benefit family members is "necessary"??)

"Perhaps the centerpiece of Mr. Pringle’s article was his blatant attempt to unjustifiably discredit the union’s selection of service providers based on family involvement. For years, we have fought to eliminate the practice of unethical nepotism and to this day we question such practices. It fascinates me that Mr. Pringle would write this article when we have a US President that facilitated an extremely large sole-source contract to a company that is intimately associated with the Vice President and this act virtually went unnoticed." ( I think we are talking about the Freeman family??)

"It is a privilege to report for a respected and time-honored media outlet such as the Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately, Mr. Pringle dishonored the newspaper and his profession by writing this article in such an irresponsible and unfair manner. We were warned that there would come a time when people will think that is good is bad and what is bad is good. It is my sincere hope that Mr. Pringle’s readers are intelligent enough to discern his deceptive presentation and refuse to allow this to be that time."(good is bad, bad is good??).

Reality is that for some, the onerous dues increase was missing from their last pay checks, those numbers don't lie.....

"Show me the dues Tyrone!!"

Workers, labor and county officials are calling for an investigation into the allegations of questionable usage of union funds by SEIU 6434 President Tyrone Freeman.

"This is very serious," County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, whose 1990s legislation allowed the union to organize home-care workers here, said of the financial transactions disclosed by The Times.

The LA Times has addition comments in today's edition , including a call for Freeman's removal as President, pending completion of an investigation of dues allocations to organizations associated with family members of Freeman.

Patricia L. McGinnis, executive director of the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, said the union president, Tyrone Freeman, should be removed from office until any government probe of the union's spending is complete.

"I don't see how these expenditures can be justified," she said. "It's shocking."

On the original post regarding the Times investigated report, we received these comments.

The grand jury investigation is about an alleged illegal raise of dues to try to restore the union's coffers.They gave $4,000,000 to Mark Ridley Thomas by way of an Independant Expenditure in the primary election and when he didn't win outright, they need another $4,000,000 to back him in the general election in November. This is all on the backs of his membership that cannot afford $35.00 each month dues to contribute to a candidate.The allegations are that the raise in dues is illegal; the investigation is ongoing.(P.S. Where is the sleuth Zuma Dogg? Out begging for sheckels, I guess, cause he missed this one.)

Stay tuned...

August 09, 2008 4:33 PM


I worked for the Homecare Workers Union for a little less then a year and during my short time there I witnessed and experienced many unethical and possible illegal activities. The last straw for me was when all non hourly employees (that was everyone but about a dozen outreach workers at the non profit training center) from the union and the Training Center were told they would be required to work 7 days a week, 10 hours a day for a month leading up to an important election. And all employees were required to work for the campaign of candidates the union was supporting. Non profits are NOT allowed to endorse candidates, so asking employees of the training center, a non profit, were illegal. When I left, I did call the state and federal office that supervise non profits to report this violation.
August 10, 2008 2:16 PM


I am paying for dental insurance. I never signed up. Also my dues went from $8 to $30.66 in July. Why?? I never signed on as a member.
August 11, 2008 8:15 PM

And this to be objective.

Lets start by telling the truth about this times article.

This is about Sal Rosselli President of UHW, his business and lifetime partner Adam Reeves and Paul Pringle trying to hold onto power.

Lets see if we got this right.

*Adam Reeves - Sals' Partner, owns a business called "Its in the Bag" Graphics Design company in SF. Worked with the LA Times for 13 Years developed the LA Times Graphic Design Department. Currently has the LA Times as a client.

*Paul Pringle - had relationship with Adam Reeves prior to Adam leaving to SF to develop his company and also helped Adam secure contract with LA Times.

*Sal Rosselli, President of SEIU UHW - Adam Reeves long time partner. Owns home with Adam in SF where they have the "Its in the bag" company listed as the mailing address. Adams company has been investigated by the IRS for not paying taxes. The house used as the companies mailing address has been used as a front for loans for the company and then transferred back to Rosselli many times, just to avoid paying taxes.

This whole article has been mis-leading so bad it makes me sick. This paul pringle person did the whole article based off an angry former employee. Its unbelievable this reporter still works for the LA Times and the editors should also be ashamed of themselves for letting a story like this out especially when a WAR has broken out between Russia and Georgia. Very distasteful and insulting to our Russian and Georgian citizens.

This story is not about Tyrone Freeman and his spending, its about another attack on an African American Leader about to become the largest labor leader in CA and probrobly the world.

August 12, 2008 8:25 AM

Judging from these comments, this investigation cannot get started fast enough.............

SEIU 6434 Tyrone Freeman shares the dues......with family members

Martin Ludlow SEIU 99 meet Tyrone Freeman SEIU 6434.

For the last few weeks, the poor that make up the large majority of unionize home care workers, have ponder the monumential increases in their dues to SEIU 6434.

Some have even started an phone campaign to repeal the 300%+ increases proposed by General Manager Tyrone Freeman.

Now, thanks to an investigated story in today's Los Angeles Times, they can grasps at what their dues money get for them, err, family members of Tyrone Freeman.

Those dissidents should note these expenditures of union dues as noted in the Times Investigated Story.

* Payments to the company owned by Freeman's wife were among the local's largest single expenses last year. Payments by the charity, the Homecare Workers Training Center, to his mother-in-law's firm represented more than 10% of the nonprofit's total annual expenditures.

* A housing corporation that Freeman helped found as a nonprofit has not been granted the IRS tax-exempt status it sought and was suspended from doing business in California. It also has claimed on its website to have a "strong relationship" with the prominent California Community Foundation, which says it has no such relationship.

* The union spent at least $123,000 more on the fund-raising tournament at the Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad than it received in reimbursements, according to Labor Department filings and interviews. Freeman said the event made money for the charity. The union's expenditures included $100,000 in payments to entities associated with former professional football star Eric Dickerson, which have been suspended from doing business in California. The payments were listed as donations to nonprofits, not as fund-raising expenses.

*The local's nearly $10,000 tab at the Grand Havana Room, a cigar lounge known for its celebrity clientele and invitation-only memberships, was for "lodging," according to the union's annual financial report. A Grand Havana spokeswoman said the club does not provide accommodations. Freeman declined to characterize the expenditure, and after The Times inquired about it, he said he had refunded it.

Freeman's local has grown dramatically in recent years, largely because of a consolidation campaign spearheaded by Andy Stern, president of the 2-million-member SEIU. The local is SEIU's biggest California chapter, the second biggest in the nation -- and it is bigger than many international unions. Freeman also represents 30,000 workers as president of an affiliate, California United Homecare Workers.

Stern, among the most influential labor leaders in America, has denounced excessive pay and perks for union officials.

He and his spokesman would not answer questions about Freeman, who ranks among the country's better-paid local labor chiefs, receiving $213,000 in salary and other compensation in 2007.

Can one say County Grand Jury Investigation and National Labor Board Complaint???