The Anti-DACA Trio of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees Trio of Andra Hoffman, Gabriel Buelna and State Senator Kevin Alexander Leon Staffer (by day) Steve Veres, VOTED to abstain (a NO vote) from a Resolution - in support of codifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Dreamers) into Federal Law. 

Does LACCD Trustee (and State Senator Kevin Alexander Leon Staffer) Steve Veres OPPOSE legalizing Dreamers or was playing Petty Politics ......., at their expense? 

** Blogger's Notes: There is nothing more bloggin entertaining than OUTING acts of political hypocrisy ........., especially when the two-face politicos are PUPPETS for the policy agenda of Unlawful Cubafornia State Senate President Kevin Alexander of Leon (K.A. Leon for short). Mere weeks after voting to award a mega Construction Bond Oversight Contract to the NOTORIOUS Pacific Services, the LACCD Board of Trustees Trio of Andra Hoffman, Gabriel Buelna and Steve "Pacifica Pervy Enabler" Veres ........, have AGAIN, achieve another hypocritical distinction. At last evening's LACCD Board of Trustees Meeting, the trio allegedly, played PETTY POLITICS in voting down (by choosing to abstain) a Resolution (authored by Trustees Scott Svonkin and Mike Fong), in support of codifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals into Federal Law. The Resolution needed four votes to pass, but with Trustee Ernest Moreno absent due to illness, the "ABSTAINING ACTIONS" of Trustees Hoffman, Buelna and Veres, delayed a show of support for legislation that would provide legalization for 15,000 LACCD DACA Students. The Political Irony in this vote .......,is THE FACT that the lone Board of Trustee LATINO Republican Ernest Moreno, would of likely been the DECIDING VOTE in support of the Resolution----Scott Johnson.

 Is recently-elected LACCD Trustee Gabriel Buelna a COCONUT in regards to the aspirations of DREAMERS served by his City Terrance-based Plaza Community Services Non-Profit? 

Will DREAMERS call LACCD Trustee Andra Hoffman a hypocritical White Liberal for abstaining from supporting a pro DACA Resolution?

Mayor Sam LACCD Exclusive, Part Two: Trustee Steve Veres (along with Board allies and State Senator K.A. Leon's) BOUGHT SILENCE on Pacifica Service's Past Inappropriate Employee Conduct?

In Part Two of our Mayor Sam LACCD Exclusive, we disclose how apparently, Pacifica Services BOUGHT THE SILENCE of NOW Board of Trustee Member Steve Veres in regards to its past BIGOTED, SEXIST and INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT while engage in alleged Contract Services with the Central Basin Water District.

How will LACCD Board of Trustee Member (and State Senator K.A. Leon Staffer) explain his BOUGHT SILENCE regarding past Pacific Services Bigoted Employee Conduct?

** Blogger's Notes: In 2014 while Unlawful Cubafornia State Senate Presiding Officer Kevin Alexander of Leon (or K.A. Leon for short) was strong-arming Special Interests and Democratic Establishment support for the unsuccessful CD-4 Campaign of Steve Veres, the Los Cerritos Community News was reporting the following; 

Top executives at Pacifica Services and officials within the Central Basin Municipal Water District (CB) exchanged thousands of highly racist emails during a three-year period that disparaged Muslims, Palestinians, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, Seniors, naked woman, obese people, liberals, immigrants, Wal-Mart shoppers, rednecks, gays and lesbians. 

As we noted yesterday in Part One of our Mayor Sam Exclusive regarding the GROWING LACCD Bond Oversight Contract Controversy, Pacific Services was, THEE major Special Interest Contributor to the FAILED Veres CD-4 Campaign .......... and four years later, the, NOW LACCD Board of Trustee Member (again) , is seeking (with Boss K.A. Leon's support) to "SILENTLY"  reciprocate the owed Political Favors.

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Mayor Sam Exclusive: Steve Veres (and K.A. Leon's) LACCD Bond Oversight Contract Putsch on behalf of Pacifica (and Jacob) Services

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, we disclose an attempted Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Construction Bond Oversight Contract "PUTSCH" by Trustee Steve Veres (with political backing via Boss State Senator Kevin Alexander of Leon) to benefit his (and Boss) MEGA donors at the NOTORIOUS (and FBI investigated) Pacifica Services.    

Will Trustee Steve Veres and (K.A. Leon) turn the LACCD into an Education Version of the Central Basin Water District ..........., with the help of Pacifica (and Jacob) Services?

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Its Time for a Mayor Sam Bloggin Reset ..........

With no apologies to a certain "Ex Blameless (HAHA!) Wife of Bill Clinton Presidential Candidate", the Mayor Sam Blog commences a BLOGGIN RESET, that expands our political musings beyond our normal 200 Spring Street-centered coverage ............, without ABSOLUTELY any pre-conditions.   

We are Hitting The Bloggin Reset Button .........., with ABSOLUTELY no accommodations to the Local, State and National Political Establishments (of BOTH Parties).

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HOT Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

The Mayor Sam Blog presents a "Bloggin Then and Now Moment" featuring former Failure Mayor Antonio Villar-(then Raigosa) Mayoral Deputy Jim Bickhart, who's "Snake Pliskin Persona" was the cause for an "Unpaid Fall from Grace", has resurface in a PAID Political Staff Position ........., with surprising Policy Responsibilities.

Former Failure Mayor Villar-(then Raigosa) Deputy Jim Bickhart exerting his OVERSIGHT of Animal Services in 2007.

** Blogger's Notes: Great Monday to all as we present a "Bloggin Then and Now Moment" featuring VETERAN City Hall Staffer/Political Crony Jim Bickhart. Once upon a political time (back in the Failure Mayor Antonio Villar-then Raigosa Era), a THEN Deputy Mayor Bickhart, was observe exercising his "Oversight" of the much-malign Animal Services Department.  

One could surmise during his "Episodes of Oversight", that Bickhart was engaging his "Inner Snake Pliskin Persona", which allegedly, had opinions that were contrary to the Official Policies of his Boss Tony (regarding Overnight RV Parking Zones in Venice) ........, as excerpted below.

“We got what we wanted on the RVs and campers. Who do we go after next? We can’t stop until this place is all cleansed. Wash away the scum. ALL of it.” “Who cares? Villa-la-grossa is just as big a coward as Rosendahl. Maybe the Stakeholders are right – if these folks won’t leave, we should get someone to come around with a semi, load the homeless scum into it like stinking sardines and drive them out to the Mojave. Dump ‘em there in the dead of night blindfolded and drive away. Period. End of story.” “Next time one of those wussies heckles you, just pop ‘em one. No. They protect scum, they should be treated like scum. It doesn’t matter if they make money sucking on the government tit or if there Wolfgang frigging *#!%$!. Time is running short.”

 ......., and needless to say  Birkhart PAID a short term cost for his "Inner Snake Pliskin Thoughts". But years later (in 2017), Birkhart's Pliskin Homeless Commentary has apparently been FORGIVEN as the longtime servant of the City Hall Establishment, has a NEW GIG ..........., with some surprising responsibilities.

From CD-5 Paul Koretz's Staff Bios ..........,  Jim (or Snake?) consults on a variety of policy and legislative matters, including housing, homelessness, land use, airports, infrastructure, environment and animal welfare, amongst others. Additionally he provides support in the area of communications

Its apparent that being a Crony Enabler has REDEEMING benefits.                                                     

The STILL Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez to Washingtion D.C. Burro (with Carpetbag) is on Standby.

** The transition from "Assembly Somebody to Congressional Nobody" is sadly nearing for STILL Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez as his MUCH-LAUDED victory over the "Big Red Morrison Machine" .........., nears its MUCH-RIDICULED end as the vacillating Congressman-elected five week delay in seeking to support Governor Moonbeam II's "Cap and Trade Extension", has apparently come to NAUGHT. 

Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustee Member Gabriel Buelna.

** Does, NEW LACCD Board of Trustee Member Gabriel Buelna have an EL PLAN  ............, to returned the reformed Educational Entity into its former DOCUMENTED (via the LA Times), "Cronyism over Merit Contracting Proclivities"? Supporters of Pro Active Reforms at LACCD might want to take a Cyber Moment to Google "Gabriel Buelna, Gustavo Valdivia" ..........., then Google "Gustavo Valdivia, Samuel In, Mayor Sam" .........., next Google "Gustavo Valdivia, Grande Vista Associates, HACLA, LA Times"  ......... and ponder whether Trustee Buelna can be TRUSTED to continue the needed reforms----Scott Johnson.

HOT Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

The Downtown LA's Biltmore Hotel was the location again for the 58th Edition of the Los Angeles Press Club's Southern California Journalism Awards which recognized our Bloggin Radio Friend, former KRLA 870 AM Talk Show Host Randy Economy (and a certain ex Motor Cop, turned CD 3 City Councilman Dennis Zine) for their "Behind the Mic Exploits".

** BREAKING NEWS MONDAY!! Green Dot Charter School Founder Steve Barr announces his Mayoral Campaign Challenge against Mayor Eric Gar-SOFT-ee ............., and former LA County Deputy Sheriff Paul Tanaka gets Five Years in Federal Prison.

The former KRLA 870 AM Talk Show tandem Randy Economy (with signature Eye Patch) and an ex CD-3 City Councilman named Dennis.

** The Downtown LA Biltmore Hotel was the location again for this year's 58th Annual LA Press Club's Southern California Journalism Awards, with numerous Old School Print/Visual/Radio Scribes and Commentators, plus a new guard of Cyber Media Bloggers on hand, as awards for various categories were dispensed. We are glad to report that our Bloggin Radio Friend Randy Economy, formerly of KRLA 870 AM was a Third Place Recipient in the "Personality Profile/Interview Category", for his comedic interview with Republican US Senate Candidate Duf Sundheim.   

Stonewall Young Democrat Ari Ruiz (on right) to former Failure Mayor Antonio (now) Villargovea: Will you embrace my future campaign for Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees?

Former East Los Angeles College President, now LACCD Board of Trustee Member Ernest Moreno. 

** The latest rumor originating from the Northeast LA Political Chatter Network is that Stonewall Young Democrat President (and El Sereno resident) Ari Ruiz is pondering a campaign against Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustee Member Ernest Moreno .......,LOL ,LOL, ,LOL, LOL!! Please pardon the outburst of cyber laughter, but we recall the last time Ruiz ran for the LA-32 Neighborhood Council in 2014 ........., and the results? Hint. not good.

HACLA's Rose Hill Courts Meeting on Wednesday.

** Simple question, why is HACLA seeking Millions in Public Money to rehabilitate the Rose Hill Courts ......, then turn over the Management of the longtime entity to Related California? To be continued.

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

Mayor Sam Exclusive: LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez Refuses to Disclose Appointment Calendars

In a Mayor Sam Exclusive, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez refuses to disclose his Appointment Calendars, in response to a California Public Records Act Request. 

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez.

** Blogger's Note: In response to a tip, the Mayor Sam Blog initiated a California Public Records Act Request to the Los Angeles Community College District, seeking the Appointment Calendar of its Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez ........, and the reply from LACCD Legal Counsel (in simplistic terms)? "The Los Angeles Community College District will not be disclosing the Chancellor’s appointment/meeting calendars". Surely, we would love to give the LACCD Administration the benefit of the doubt, that their response was not predicated in keeping private, meetings, gatherings, junkets to far-off locales, that were not related to the official duties of the Chancellor. Further, we would think that the Chancellor of the largest Community College District in the nation, would be well-verse in the knowledge, that Openness and Transparency, should be a paramount priority for a Higher Education entity, that has been the recent focus of extensive news coverage regarding the misuse of public funds. That said, we would like to share a "Bloggin Teachable Moment" with the newly-appointed Chancellor regarding the role of local media in ensuring that highly-compensated public officials, are dedicating their "time on the clock", to assigned duties. We would advise Chancellor Rodriguez to review the following signature missives from now KRLA 870 AM Talk Show Host (and former Los Cerritos News Investigative Reporter) Randy Economy, regarding the "Official Calendar" of former Los Angeles City Controller and Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel ........, and the Investigative Missive Classic of former LA Weekly Reporter Patrick Range McDonald, that documented how former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dedicated a mere 10% of his work time, to official duties. BTW Chancellor Rodriguez, both missives were derided from documents obtained via the California Public Records Act. Thus, in the public interest, the Legal Counsel of LACCD ......, Chancellor Rodriguez may want to reconsider their response. Below we post the response from LACCD Legal Counsel ---Scott Johnson.

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Former City of San Fernando Politico, Senator De Leon Staffer and current LACCD Trustee Steve Veres declares for CD 4

From the "Political Novellas" of the City of San Fernando, with a state pay check as a staffer to State Senator Kevin De Leon and moonlighting as a Los Angeles Community College District Board Of Trustee Member, Steve Veres want to be the next CD 4 City Councilman in 2015.

The affable and upward conscious, now CD 4 City Council Candidate Steve Veres.

 

** Blogger's note: The Campaign to replace CD 4 City Councilman ( and Marshall Gridiron Star) Tom LaBonge, grew by one today as LACCD Trustee and State Senator Kevin De Leon Office Director Steve Veres declared his candidacy with the Press Release below. Veres, as the smile indicates is an affable and seasoned political player. Upon his current boss State Senator Kevin De Leon's election to his previous Assembly seat, the insider joke in the CD 14 portion of the Assembly District, was that the Assembly District Office supervised by Veres, provided better constituent services that the three CD 14 Field Offices combine. That said, Veres will face the same political rhetoric the San Diego native Senortor De Leon had to endure, being a political carpetbagger. Then, surely, his City of San Fernando links, especially to the recent political novella, starring former City of San Fernando Politicos Maribel "Sancha" De La Torre and Mario "Tonto" Hernandez, are only a couple of You Tube videos away below. As a side note, we wonder how potential CD 4 Candidate, Assemblyman Mike "Lil Porno Mikey" Gatto, feels about Senator De Leon's staffer jumping in on his turf? Stay tune!!---Scott Johnson.









Videos from the 2009 City of San Fernando Recall Victory Party. Who would be Recalled four years later?

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

September 9, 2013

 

Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348

Shallman Communications (NOT SHALLMAN STEVE!!)

STEVE VERES ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL  

Elected Member of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees Announces Candidacy in the Race for L.A.’s 4^th Council Seat

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Bloggin Happy Hour Musings on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

 Another Happy Hour Drink via Tony

Great Happy Hour Musings on the LA Political Machine for Thursday. Join us as we tip the glass and enlighten you on these political items that may find their way into someone's decaff morning coffee in the A.M. ; ) --- Scott Johnson.

BREAKING NEWS!! Shooting at SNL location at Highland Park Recreation Center, ** Update: one teenage female wounded 

Mayor Sam has received phone calls regarding two shooting within 45 minutes in Highland Park, including one at the Highland Park Recreation Center. The first shooting took place at 4;00 P.M. near Franklin High School. The second shooting happen 45 minutes later at Highland Park Recreation Center when two females were shot at by an unknown gunman. There are no reports of injuries at this time. ** The Highland Park Patch is reporting that one female teenager was wounded at the shooting near the Rec. Center.

According to Highland Park Senior Lead Officer Mark Allen, two female teenagers were sitting near the Highland Park Recreation Center (6150 Piedmont Ave.) when they were approached by two suspects who opened fire on the girls at around 4:40 p.m.One of the teenagers was wounded and rushed to hospital by LAFD paramedics, Allen said, adding that no further details were available about the incident.   

Los Angeles City Controller and 2013 Mayoral Candidate Wendy "The Valley Greuel".

Damn!  that publicity-chasing, shallow-auditing, mayoral office seeking Valley Greuel is at it again.

All you need to know about The Valley Greuel latest publicity-chasing , blonde finds out lately audit of a local political controversy is this paragraph from the LA Times missive on her latest media attention exercise.

Many of the findings mirrored those in an August 2011 report by State Controller John Chiang, which cited "possible malfeasance" in the district's selection of an inspector general, an office set up to police allegations of waste and mismanagement in the construction program. That report led the district's board of trustees to call on Greuel to review the process. 

By far, the best deconstruction of the Valley Greuel's latest publicity exercise is done by Ron Kaye.

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

Bloggin Noontime Munchies on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Friday

Two well-known politicos enjoying some lunch time King Tacos.

Great TGIF Lunch Hour to all as we near the end of another work week and cruise into the weekend. Here are some tasty lunch time bloggin political missives to ward away the post noontime political brain drain.

CD 9 City Council Candidate David Roberts

Downtown News Editor and Scribe of Wit Jon Regardie has the exclusive on the latest candidate seeking to replace City Councilwoman Jan Perry. David Roberts who was Councilwoman Pery's appointee to the 2012 City Redistricting Commission, has taken out papers to join the likes of Assemblyman Mike Davis, former CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar Chief of Staff Ana Cubas and LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hata in seeking to replace the termed out, now Mayoral Candidate Perry.

In remarks to Regardie, Roberts stated ........

“I have a passion and a connection to South Los Angeles that goes back 20 years,” Roberts said. “I know I can capitalize on the progress made in the last 10 to 12 years by Jan Perry to bring more revitalization and job opportunities and a renewed sense of neighborhood pride and identification.”

Roberts, who's work to protect the Downtown sections of CD 9, fell victim to behind close doors dealings, can be seen in this video of a Redistricting Commission hearing in Koreatown.

** OTHER BRIEFS: 

** Most of the establishment media was fixated on last night's Art Walk theatrics between Occupy LA protesters and LAPD which resulted in twenty arrests and injuries to four LAPD officers. While this labor/liberal dominated City Council continues to tolerate this "messy exercise in democracy", law-abiding neighborhood councils (for most part) are being force to use $5,000 of their yearly allocation to pay for their own elections. Can you say misplace priorities?

** Former City of San Fernando Mayor and current State Senator Kevin De Leon Staffer Steve Veres has been named President of the Los Angeles Community College District's Board of Trustees. Trustee Tina Parks was named Vice-President.

** The Friends of the Southwest Museum's Second Annual Soda Tasting Fundraiser is coming soon .......

We will have more Southwest Museum news on Monday.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14  

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

Great overcast Thursday morning and special thanks to the DWP for eight hours of energy savings last evening due to a ten minute wind event. As electronic gadgets recharge, here are some quick briefs for the morning.

** HACLA is hitting the road!! In the spirit of bring HACLA's leadership to the masses (and continue in its quest to rehabilitate its image) the HACLA Board of Commissioners will hold its first of many future meetings at one of its properties. The lucky first meeting will commence at 10 A.M. within the Ramona Gardens Housing Project this morning. 

** City Councilpersons Jan Perry and Bernard Parks must be shaking their heads in amazement at the actions of their fellow council members in changing the mayor-recommended boundaries of the seven districts that constitute LAUSD. 

** Looking more likely that Los Angeles County Accessor John Noguez will fall short of half term status as the raids and investigations continue into his alleged "property tax cuts for donations scheme".  

** Were waiting for our phone call from a background source on the latest scandal to hit the LACCD. This time the location is Trade Tech College and its President who is under scrutiny for his handling of the school foundation's finances.

Infant Assemblyman Mike Gatto in crisis.

Lastly, we want to reassure, or a judge better yet, wants the likes of Infant Assemblyman Mike Gatto and other Democratic Sacramento Office-holders , that the evil State Controller John Chiang will not dock their nourishment/ salary funds for not doing their legislative chores. For "Infant Mikey" this means that he will be spared the horror of telling his two year old sibling, whoops daughter about his current state of financial being. Thus, Infant Mikey can once again enjoy the life and the spoils of being an "Infant Assemblyman".

Enjoy the Infant Assemblyman lifestyle Mikey!

Your Thoughts.............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mid-Day Briefs on the Crumbling Los Angeles Political Machine for Monday

 Gabriel blow your horn on the Los Angeles Political Machine. As we enter the last year of the Mayor Antonio Villar's "Reign of Corruption", the walls are crumbling on the dirty dealings of the associates of the Villar Machine.

 LACCD Inspector General Christine "The Hotness" Marez.

Former Mayor Tom Bradley administration official Art Gastelum (gray hair in center) and his Gateway Science and Engineering firm, get generous column inches of attention from the Los Angeles Times as the expose of questionable financial dealings within the LACCD Capital Building Programs continues. But strangely absence from the LA Times latest missive on the antics of Gastelum's Gateway Firm are any mention of former five year Gateway employee and now LACCD Inspector General Christine "The Hotness" Marez (BTW, a friend tells me that Marez was creative with her "hotness" during her time at LAUSD). Were just speculating here but those in the know on the LACCD scandal wonder if Gastelum's former employee has turn on her former boss considering the controversy surrounding Marez's fitness to serve as LACCD Inspector General.

** The City Council out of no where filed evictions proceedings against the operators of the Los Angeles Theater Center as the Downtown News reports. The Latino Theater Company and the Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture have been feuding partners since winning the controversial contract to run the facility in 2003. We should note that former Los Angeles Pension Board Member Montezuma Eaparza is the Executive Board Chairperson of the Los Angeles Theater Center and the likes of Michael Delijani, Maria Elena Durazo and Art Gastelum serve on the General Board.

** A Mayor Villar appointee to the North Valley Planning Commission Victor Simpson has attracted the ire of City Councilman Tony Cardenas for operating two sidewalk recycling centers without the proper permits. as the Daily News reports, Cardenas finds Simpson's actions ..... well galling. For Cardenas, the violations are particularly galling given Sampson's longtime position on the area planning commission, a group tasked with development decisions. The Coldwell Banker executive, who owns numerous commercial sites in Sun Valley, was first appointed to the commission by former Mayor Richard Riordan in 2000. 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14

LACCD Trustee Scott Svonkin subject of police report after confrontation

Stay upwind from LACCD Board of Trustee Member Scott Svonkin when he speaks. Graphic via LA Weekly.

Newly elected LACCD Board of Trustee Member Scott Svonkin's uber-bullying ways are making news again with the filing of a police report on Svonkin after a confrontation with a candidate for the San Gabriel Board of Education. Read the story after the jump.

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LACCD says goodbye to Art Gastelum and FTR International over Shoddy and Fraudulent work at Mission College

Art Gastelum's political friends can help only so much when the smell of corruption becomes too toxic

With a looming criminal investigation on the horizon, the LACCD Board of Trustees unexpectedly took action to terminate the contracts of Irvine based construction company FTR international and the politically connected construction management firm Gateway Science and Engineering, which is owned by Art Gastelum.

For months since the LA Times series of exposes on the massive problems within the $5.6 Billion dollars LACCD Construction Program, the issues surrounding the construction of the Allied Health Building at Mission College, has been the poster child for what happens when you mixed political connections and construction. 

But as LACCD moves to disassociate itself from toxic political smell of Art Gastelum, the connected contractor is not going out quietly as noted by the times.Gastelum strongly criticized Marez's role in the recommendation to terminate his contract, saying she was "running around wild trying to protect her job.".

Marez is the same Christine Marez who worked for Gastelum and was hired by LACCD as its Inspector General, overseeing the construction program.

One can smell major CYA here and we should add this from the Van de Kamp Coalition as posted in the comment section of the times story.

Can Christine Marez be trusted with the records confiscated today?  Can District headquarters personnel be trusted with access to these confiscated records?  Is there a risk the Marez's real job is to sanitize the record before someone shows the connection between wrongful acts by LACCD Board members or LACCD Central Office administrators?  The Van de Kamps Coalition has seen thus far, only Inspector General reports where contrators are revealed as acting unlawfully and LACCD staff are shown as being ethical.  Are all of the IG's reports going to sanitize the personal involvement of Board members and high administrators?

Stay tuned but do not hold your breath.

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14   .

Morning Briefs on "Auditing" the Los Angeles Political Machine for Wednesday

Not a good week for the "Valley Greuel of Auditing".

The "Right to Audit" is all the rave this morning within the thinning newsprint columns of the Los Angeles Times. First Governor Jerry "Moonbeam II" Brown signed legislation that gives the State Auditor broader powers to investigate misuse of taxpayers funds in counties, cities and special districts. Second, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors joined with the "Valley Greuel of Auditing", in offering to audit the books of the Coliseum Commission, this of course was met with a quick press dispatch from the Valley Greuel, in the spirit of cooperation (as long as you don't interlope in my press coverage). Third, the Van de Kamp Coalition, who is not a great fan of the "Valley Greuel's" LACCD intervention, won a big victory as the District Attorney announced an inquiry into irregularities regarding the hiring of a former Art Gastelum employee Christine Marez as its Inspector General of its $5.7 Billion Dollars Construction Project.

   ....... and when investigators get to the root of all these financial controversies, they will find the "Valley Greuel's" contribution to bring resolution to these issues, can be found in the box above, as in the words of Valley Blogger Paul Hatfield, "Greuel's Audit Scorecard is wrapping paper on an empty gift box".

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14 

Art Gastelum at the center of latest LACCD contracts irregularities expose

Gateway Science & Engineering Owner Art Gastelum in center of photo.

"There is no rule that says you cannot revisit the score if you can save money,"

Gastelum's quote from Los Angeles Times story on latest contract irregularities at LACCD

....... or perception of saving Art? That is the premise behind the latest LA Times story on the on-going investigation into contract irregularities (ie bid-rigging) at the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) massive capital improvement program (Prop J).

The latest centers on changes to bidding scores and the nefarious interactions that were the root cause. But as the Van de Kamp Coalition points out, how can LACCD and the public interest be served if the contracted Inspector General Christine Marez, has her own conflict of interest issue as noted in the comment section of the Times story?

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LACCD order by judge to undertake Supplemental EIR for Van De Kamp Campus

Supplemental EIR in order for Van De Kamp Campus

** Blogger notes: The Van De Kamp Coalition with superb legal counsel provided by Mt. Washington's Dan Wright, has forge a reopening for community participation with the court ruling that forces the Los Angeles Community College District to undertake a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, on the affects of a Mayor Villar connected Charter School not operating without proper environmental review. This almost guarantees that the full force of angry Northeast LA activists will have their chance to denounce LACCD and Mayor Villar's duplicity in denying residents their wish for a Los Angeles City College satellite campus within their community. Van De Kamp Coalition Press Release can be viewed after the jump---Scott Johnson.    

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Van De Kamps Coalition Protest on LACCD Audit schedule for tomorrow's Board of Trustees Meeting

Blogger notes: Once upon a time, an elected "board of trustees' promise to bring community college opportunities to Northeast Los Angeles by remaking the historic Van De Kamp Bakery site into a 21st Century Community College Satellite Campus. But the final product turned out to be a half-baked scheme that misappropriated bond money to benefit the LACCD Administration and its political allies. The community -created Van De Kamps Coalition is calling upon citizens to attend the Special Meeting called for by LACCD Trustee Miguel Santiago to discuss the findings of California Controller John Chiang's audit of the controversial LACCD Construction Program---Scott Johnson

Taxpayers Urged To Protest Continuing Refusal of LACCD to

Open Van de Kamps Satellite College: 

August 17, 2011 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. LACCD Headquarters 

770 Wilshire Blvd. (at Flower St.)

Board  Review  of  State  Controller  Chiang’s  Audit:  6:30  p.m .

Link here to read press release from the Van De Kamps Coalition

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14.

Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine for Thursday

This is the new face of CRA LA that hypes partnerships with community based organizations such as the LA Conservation Corps. Even Eli Broad's Museum Parking Garage could use some greenery around its exterior. One should note that Mayor Villar's buddy Ari Swiller is a LA Conservation Corps Board Member

CRA LA LIVES!!

The rumors of CRA LA's demises has been greatly exaggerated to the tune of $96.5 million dollars.

$96.5million dollars was the cost of the tribute to California Governor Moonbeam II thus, keeping open the City of Los Angeles agency responsible for doughing out the corporate welfare to the likes of Eli Broad, USC, AEG, and a little choo choo on Broadway. After all, once you pay your "initiation fees" (ie. campaign contributions), your corporation, development firm or university is eligible for the services provided by CRA LA fine cast of political appointees/staffers that include the likes of Steve Valenzuela, Dalita Sotelo and former CD 2 City Council Candidate turned CRA LA CEO Chris Essel. ** In typical CRA LA fashion, the governing board of directors have called a "Special Meeting"  for tomorrow at its Garland Building Headquarters at 9:30 AM to formally approve the "tribute payment schedule" to Governor Moonbeam II.

 Former Los Angeles Community College District Trustee and current Assemblyman Warren Furutani with "twin" City Councilman Paul Koretz.

Question for CD 15 City Council Candidate Warren Furutani, care to comment on the audit of the LACCD Campus Construction Program? Some of the numbers, $140 million in questionable spending and $28 million sunk into projects that were later abandon because of poor planning according to the LA Times.Want to bet a private street permit on Oak Hill that the likes of John Shallman and the Svorinich Campaign will make your oversite of the LACCD Construction Program (and LAUSD) a campaign issue in the CD 15 Special election?

These are the current list of potential candidates to replace Janice Hahn via the Ethics Commission.

Justin Brimmer		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Joe Buscaino		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Mervin L. Evans		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Robert Farrell		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Warren T. Furutani		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
David Greene		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
James T. Law		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Pat McOsker		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Kenneth Melendez		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Kambiz Mostofi		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Frank Pereyda		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
DeWayne Stark		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Rudy Jr. Svorinich		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Gordon Teuber		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00
Jayme Wilson		$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	NOT FILED	$0.00	$0.00

Your Thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14