The illegal Jack Weiss fundraiser that keeps on giving......

That, in terms of political headaches and possible violation of ethics laws as Los Angeles Times Scribe David Zahniser reports in today's latest story on "Pensiongate 09".

A pension board appointee of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may have violated city law by accepting a campaign donation from a Los Angeles businessman whose client sought a $10-million investment from the board.

Kelly Candaele, who served until three weeks ago on the board of the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System, received $1,000 on Dec. 2 from Dan Weinstein, managing director of Wetherly Capital Group. That firm pitches investments to city and state pension boards.

Lets follow along and highlight the "insiders" and key "players" in "Pensiongate 09".

Candaele voted to invest in a Wetherly client twice last year. Months later, he took a contribution from Weinstein for his campaign for reelection to the Los Angeles Community College District board.

Stephen Kaufman (did this guy let someone's "cousin" sleep on his couch to establish residency for a certain Assembly race ??), Candaele's attorney, described Candaele as an ethical public servant who was unaware he had voted on a Wetherly client before taking the contribution.

"He makes it a point to familiarize himself with the laws governing his conduct as a public official," Kaufman said.

Highlighting the players in "Pensiongate 09", continues....

Villaraigosa ask Candaele to resign from the city's seven-member pension board three weeks ago, after The Times inquired about a fundraiser that Candaele held for Councilman Jack Weiss' campaign for city attorney. Under city law, commissioners are barred from hosting campaign fundraisers for city candidates.

Candaele co-hosted the Weiss event with Weinstein and Richard Ziman, an advisor to Wetherly Capital at the time. In recent weeks, Ziman ended his affiliation with Wetherly, a company spokesman said.

As a community college board member, Candaele held his own reelection fundraiser on Dec. 2, receiving $1,000 from Weinstein and $1,500 from Ziman. The event featured such hosts as Villaraigosa, State Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) and Councilwoman Wendy Greuel.

Weinstein's firm has been a subject of interest over the last two months for New York Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo, who has been investigating allegations of kickbacks in the New York pension fund.

On Tuesday, former Wetherly employee Julio Ramirez Jr., a San Marino resident, pleaded guilty to securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with Cuomo.

And what did Candaele do for "supplemential income" ??

Weinstein also confirmed that he serves on the board of a nonprofit group, More Than Shelter, (what another Legacy LA ??) which has paid Candaele to create tribute videos about honorees for its annual awards dinner.

Weinstein said Candaele, who works in video production, did the job at his own cost and did not make any money from the banquets, the most recent of which was held Thursday.In addition to his educational duties, Candaele has worked for the Democratic Party's State Central Committee.

He received nearly $20,000 over the last year from the committee for video production work, according to interviews and campaign records.

Your thoughts.......

Judy Chu, what depths will you fall for Villar ??

Did someone forget that citizen bloggers have a nose for corruption ??

What is more amazing that someone who was part of the elitist, journalistic culture at the "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET", would join the common folk in the "bloggin masses", and give up future "puff pieces" on an city official, is a telling sign on the level of corruption that is associated with "TEAM VILLAR".

State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu, who is locked in an "bash fest" with State Senator Gil Cedillo and political upstart Emanuel Pleitez, for the San Gabriel Valley Congressional Seat, vacated by now Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, has now become part of the growing Pension Fund Scandal.

That is because she let "TEAM VILLAR" set the table for this fundraiser held at the wife's house of the "Wetherly Group" associate, Richard Ziman (which is his house also).

Lord knows that Richard did his best to stay out of site at this last-ditch effort to supply Chu with the cash to counter Cedillo and Pleitez.

But according to the "WWG's" sources, Richard was never too far away from Dapnna's "honey do's requests".

Which may now include Dapnna's request to "white-wash" Richard's connection to the Wetherly Group, maybe asking for too much, too late, at this stage.

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

Credit to LAObserved for the above image.

Wetherly Group's Weinstein engaging in "spining the connection" of Julio Ramirez

Memo to Wetherly Capital's Dan Weinstein.

Were you forced against your own volition to stage this illegal fundraiser for Jack Weiss ??

I bring this up because you seek to use that mentality in describing your relationship with former employee Julio Ramirez, who pleaded guilty to criminal securities fraud as part of a probe of alleged pay-to-play corruption at a New York state government pension fund.

These comments in today's LA Times story on the latest pertaining to this growing scandal, can be describe as spin at best, and cause some to wonder whether the likes of Ace Smith and Parke Skelton, are providing some "Spin Damage Control", (at a fine price).

Neither Ramirez nor his attorney responded to requests for comment. In a statement, Wetherly founder Dan Weinstein described Ramirez as a former part-time employee who had "dragged the firm into this controversy."

Weinstein also voiced dismay that his firm was mentioned by Cuomo, saying Wetherly has been cooperating with regulators for many months. The reference to Wetherly "as a party to these transactions has unfairly done grave damage to the reputation and integrity that Wetherly has legitimately earned over the course of many years," he said.

One would hope that the same spirit of cooperation will exhibited by you when the investigation into your role in the illegal fundraiser gets underway.

......and this call for an investigation.

COUNCILMAN ZINE DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO JACK WEISS’ RECENT ILLEGAL FUNDRAISING CONDUCT

Councilman Zine alongside many LA residents demand for an investigation into Jack Weiss’ illegal fundraising conduct.

Who:Dennis Zine, Los Angeles City Councilman
Kevin James, Radio Show Host and CD 5 Resident
David Berger, DDA, Former City Attorney Candidate, CD5 Resident
Many LA Residents

Where: City Hall – South Lawn (Steps) 200 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012

When: Wednesday May 13, 2009
2:00 pm

......and for Jack Weiss, these numbers, and their ties to the growing Pension Scandal, don't lie.

Wetherly Capital Los Angeles, CA 90025 Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY A - Monetary Contribution Received (OTH - Other)[Period:01/01/08-06/30/08]$1,000.00[Election:03/03/09]
06/05/08

Anne Weinstein (Housewife) Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY
A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)
[Period:
01/01/08-06/30/08]
$1,000.00
[Election:
03/03/09]

04/06/09

Anne Weinstein (Housewife) Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1316235 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY 2009 GENERAL
A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)
[Period:
04/05/09-05/02/09]
$500.00

06/27/07
Elliott Broidy (Investor, Broidy Capital Mgmt.) Los Angeles, CA 90067
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1296355 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY
A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)
[Period:
01/01/07-06/30/07]
$1,000.00
[Election:
04/07/09]
03/30/09

Elliott Broidy (Investor, Broidy Capital Mgmt.) Los Angeles, CA 90067
Jack S. Weiss City Attorney 1316235 - JACK WEISS FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY 2009 GENERAL
A - Monetary Contribution Received (IND - Individual)
[Period:
01/01/09-04/04/09]
$1,000

Your thoughts........