READ THIS NEW STORY to find out EXACTLY How and Why Los Angeles Non-Profits Are CORRUPT

Kevin DeLeon...you are as shady as you are a goofy, defeated, NON-ASSEMBLY SPEAKER - LOSER! (Remember I BUSTED your ass on your shady, closed door meeting on how to get as much of the "pot" as you can. Remember, "Huge pots of money are on the table." (As you schemed on how to get it in what you THOUGHT was a closed door meeting that you didn't know Zuma Dogg and Jose Aguilar were able to enter. (We knew ASSemblymembers are not allowed to have "closed door meetings in public auditoriums, douchewipe.)

The decades-old Casa del Mexicano in Boyle Heights may be facing closure, prompting calls for an investigation.

By EGP News Report - February 3, 2011

The home of a long-time institution that once offered English classes as well and other civic, social and Mexican cultural activities in Boyle Heights, may be auctioned off later this month after reportedly falling behind on loan payments, according to recently published media reports and community activists seeking an investigation into the non-profit’s financial dealings.

La Casa del Mexicano, located at 2900 Pedro Infante St. was established as a non-profit organization in 1931 under the supervision of the Mexican Consul General of Los Angeles and registered under the name Comité de Beneficencia Mexicana, Inc., according to state Senator Kevin De León’s office (22^nd District).

De León, who previously represented the 45^th Assembly District, became aware of the possible problems last November when a group of constituents informed him and his staff that the non-profit appeared to be conducting business under a non-existent board of directors and had allegedly obtained a bank loan on the property without legitimate authorization.

Last week, De Leon sent a letter to State Attorney General Kamala Harris urging her to investigate the status of the organization and to ensure compliance with the law.

As a non-profit entity for public benefit, La Casa del Mexicano receives taxpayer dollars to help it fulfill its obligations, Greg Hayes, communication director for De Leon, told EGP. The letter to Harris asks for assistance from her investigatory and prosecutorial department to look into the complaint and make sure the organization is abiding by the law, he added.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office has confirmed that the matter was brought to the supervisor’s attention as well. Her office has forwarded the complaint to County Consumer Affairs to be investigated, Roxane Marquez, Molina’s senior legislative press deputy told EGP on Tuesday.

Councilmember Jose Huizar, who represents the area, has also expressed concern over the non-profit. Huizar spokesperson, Rick Coca, said his boss sent a letter last December to the Secretary of State, who oversees non-profits operating in the state, to look into the matter.

Spanish-language daily La Opinion on Jan. 30 reported that husband and wife, Martha and Ruben Soriano, the directors of the non-profit, took out a $175,000 loan against the property in 2006. After failing to make payments, default notices were issued, and the property is in foreclosure.

The former mosque, built in 1904, has a real estate value of $930,000, and will be auctioned off with a starting bid of $250,000, La Opinion reported.

Javier Rodriguez, local long-time activist and director of the March 25^th Coalition, has been actively trying to get to the bottom of La Casa del Mexicano’s status. He has coordinated press conferences and sent out community and media alerts on the topic. In his most recent email, he indicates a court mandated injunction is needed in order to stop the auction.

“The $175,000 was an illegal transaction, since there was no board approval, due to the fact that on June 19, 2006, the date of the loan approval, there was no board of directors in place, nor any known general members,” he wrote.

FBI Questions Payment Made By Los Angeles City Councilman JOSE HUIZAR

BEYOND ROOF REPAIRS?: The FBI said it would not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation. But two ex-Huizar staffers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation, said they also discussed the councilman in separate interviews with federal agents.

The former Huizar aides said they were asked if they knew anything about Huizar's bank accounts. Both said they did not.

ANONYMOUS COMMENT FROM MAYOR SAM'S BLOG: "This is race is over, Huizar top staffers and closest supporters have been getting subpoenaed the last two days. He will be out of this race in a week to 10 days. "- February 01, 2011 11:12 AM [Hmmm. I guess we will see.]

Challenger Rudy Martinez says FBI asked him about Los Angeles Councilman Jose Huizar

Rudy Martinez says federal agents questioned him about payment for repairs to a rental house owned by Jose Huizar. A spokesman for Huizar denies that any investigation into the Los Angeles councilman is underway.

By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times

February 1, 2011

The acrimonious race between Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and onetime friend Rudy Martinez took an unusual turn Monday when the challenger said federal agents had questioned him about some of Huizar's private business dealings.

Martinez said FBI agents interviewed him roughly six months ago about various issues, including repairs that he arranged for Huizar in 2006 and 2007 at a rental house owned by the councilman and his wife.

Martinez, 44, said two agents met with him for two hours last summer in Glendale and asked about work he had coordinated at a Spanish-style house owned by the councilman in El Sereno. The work cost $10,330 and included painting, new carpet and plaster repairs, said Martinez, who has a real estate business in addition to a sushi restaurant in Eagle Rock.

Martinez said Huizar had not paid for the work at that time. Instead, Martinez wound up paying the various contractors. Then, just over a week ago and in the heat of the campaign, Martinez received a check for $8,980 from Huizar's wife, Richelle Rios.

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Covering L.A. City Hall Corruption - http://LACityNews.com (There's not enough free blog space to cover it all!)

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A spokesman for Huizar strongly denied that any federal investigation was underway involving the councilman and said the check from Huizar's wife arrived only recently because the amount due had been in dispute. Parke Skelton, a Huizar political consultant, said Martinez is "stirring up as much trouble for Jose as he possibly can" because his campaign is in trouble.

"No one is investigating Jose," he said.

The FBI said it would not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation. But two ex-Huizar staffers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation, said they also discussed the councilman in separate interviews with federal agents.

The former Huizar aides said they were asked if they knew anything about Huizar's bank accounts. Both said they did not.

The issue of home repairs has come up before in Huizar's Eastside district. In 1999, former Councilman Richard Alatorre resigned after federal prosecutors conducted an investigation into roof repairs at his Eagle Rock home. He pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion two years later for failing to report more than $40,000 in income.

Martinez said two FBI agents met with him in July and asked how he knew Huizar. Martinez said he told them that he had refinanced Huizar's home in Boyle Heights in 2006 and, about the same time, helped supervise repairs at Huizar's rental house on La Calandria Way.

"They asked if he ever paid for that work," Martinez said. "I said no. They asked if I ever sent invoices, and I said yes, I did."

Some of the repairs at that home were needed so an employee of then-newly elected school board member Monica Garcia could move in, Martinez said. Garcia herself showed up at one point to see how the house looked, he added.

"Despite my continuing concerns, I remain committed to resolving this dispute," Huizar wrote.

[He ALWAYS says that once he's busted.]

For more on the Story of Jose Huizar, see the Story of Annikan Skywalker. (A nice guy gets suckered into joining the dark side; quickly gets pushed into water over his head and way too deep by "The Local Higher Powers." -- and before you know it, he can't yank the helmet off, anymore.)

MORE L.A. WEEKLY COVERAGE of CONTROVERSY Surrounding Jose Huizar and his (mis)use of CLARTS Fund.

From: LAWeekly.com (1.11.11)

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar is in the middle of a politi-blog shitstorm set off by his unwillingness to disclose the spending history of a fund he oversees called CLARTS. It's a $1 million-per-year piggy bank designated to offset the downsides of the giant, foul-smelling Central Los Angeles Recycling & Transfer Station dump located in his district.

Citywatchers are accusing him of pumping hundreds of thousands of those dollars into projects that don't directly benefit the community. Many line items on the CLARTS report, which everyone finally located, say "Transfer to Council" or "Transfer to General City Purposes."

None of the charges are blatantly dishonorable, but a few really can't be argued into the category of physical neighborhood improvement to offset the garbage dump (Casa0101? Really?), and almost all transfers to the city's general fund can't be tracked much further than intent to go toward District 14 community amenities in the City Clerk records.

All the technical allocations are there in city paperwork, but the final hands into which the millions have fallen over the last couple years is completely unclear. The whole thing is vastly worsened by Huizar's inability to handle the criticism and his shady evasions of local press.

​Anyway, it's ironic that Huizar is begging the City Administrative Office for pothole and street-repair money when, by our calculations, the CLARTS fund appears to have tons of money left over. Huizar's put the cash toward Street Services, Public Works and CalTrans before, so why not now? And if it's not supposed to go toward road work in the first place, he's got a heap more explaining to do.

According to Tracie Morales, union spokeswoman for the Street Services workers, Huizar's motion today will "direct the Administrative Office to how we can allocate special funding in order to be able to provide crucial street services."

Robertson, head of Street Services, says there are plenty of funds -- just not enough employees on city contract to utilize them. However, he rules out the hiring of outside workers as an option.

"How do you do a contract with potholes?" he says. "It's something you just can't do. It needs to be managed in-house because it fluctuates so much."

L.A. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana -- the guy Huizar hopes will bolster the Street Services worker pool -- is unavailable to talk at the moment, but we'll keep you updated as per his response.

Meanwhile, Operation Pothole is still in full swing. To be honest, complaining about L.A.'s pothole wasteland and getting air on the really juicy ones have always been some of our favorite ways to pass the winter months. However, Garcetti's user-friendly Operation leaves us little choice but to shut our whiny traps and report the devils to 311.

"What's really disturbing is people will hit a pothole for weeks and not call it in," says Robertson. "Just pick up the phone."

Update: Those potholes couldn't have known what was comin' to them. Councilman Jose Huizar made the big announcement this morning: Street Services filled 16,100 potholes last weekend.

Of course, even a snazzy number like that isn't enough for these perfectionists. Huizar uses to opportunity to tell ABC7,

"We used to fill potholes within 48 hours. Now, we do it probably within two to three weeks," said Huizar. "Why is that? Because we put some of our street workers on furloughs. They take less days off and less potholes are getting filled."

In the article, he cites a $630 million pot of federal stimulus money that the L.A. City Council "received to create jobs" as a possible source for paying more Street Services personnel. And how 'bout that CLARTS fund, eh?

CLICK THIS LINK TO REFRESH PAGE TO TOP OF HTTP://LACITYNEWS.COM TO READ ALL OF TODAY'S BLOG POSTS. A RECORD NUMBER OF BLOG POSTS OVER PAST 72 HOURS. SEE STORY ON "LAUSD: Pipeline to Prison - EXCLUSIVE - including what's next for Jeremy Marks."

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP CONTROLLER WENDY GREUEL: Her Office Can't Even Run Computer Software for AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST Regarding (Jose Huizar's) CLARTS Fund (IS SHE COVERING UP THE SHADINESS?)

I guess they shouldn't have fired the internet technology (I.T.) department. Seems they don't even have the software working for a simple public records request. I wonder if the judge would buy this excuse. Probably...ONCE! So looks like Jan 21st, it is. WENDY GREUEL...even your SUPPORTERS will lose confidence in you when they see how INEFFICIENT your office is as controller. Most of your supporters want to get to the bottom of this CLARTS fund issue. ARE YOU THERE TO KEEP IT COVERED UP? Wendy...Wendy...Wendy. Remember in 2013...ZUMA DOGG for Mayor EXPOSES Shadiness, but looks like WENDY GREUEL for Mayor COVERS Shadiness. (Click to enlarge graphic)

MORE FROM MAYOR SAM'S BLOG: A computer software issue via the City Controller Office? Or was this a timely excuse on the orders of someone on the Third Floor of 200 Spring Street?

When anyone else but current City Controller Wendy Greuel is elected Mayor in 2013, will Greuel think back to her handling of CLARTSgate as one of the key mitigating factors in her fail quest to succeed Mayor Antonio Villar?

The above email is the latest twist in the CD 14 CLARTSgate controversy that now centers on the City Controller Wendy Greuel's office "lack of software infrastructure" which is the cause for delaying requested information on CLARTS fund expenditures.

In a press release from the Rudy Martinez Campaign, City Controller Official Donna Williams is noted reversing an earlier pledge to provide the requested information within thirty minutes. The key question here is whether Williams was ignorant of the Controller Office's antiquated software infrastructure, or was this an convenient excuse to delay disclosing potentially embarrassing information pertaining to Councilman Jose Huizar's handling of CLARTS Fund expenditures?

It should be noted that Friday was an interesting day behind the perimeter of the horseshoe at 200 Spring Street. City Hall observers have noted some animated discussions and frantic movements taking place beyond the public reach but details are wanting at this time. Which is the same want of details that fuels the growing scandal that is CLARTSgate.

- Scott Johnson in CD 14

New L.A. City News Update & Radio Show @ http://LACityNews.com (for Friday 10/29/10) Problems for LA Housing Dept over Asst GM Roberto Aldape (Turmoil at TOP of Department, yesterday, to continue into today...)

LINK to - Los Angeles City News for Friday, October 29, 2010 - Top Honchos at LAHD Evaluating What To Do About Asst GM ROBERTO ALDAPE, LA Ctiy Attorney's Office Busy Assessing FEDERAL DEFEAT Over Venice Law and NEW POWER SHIFT @ L.A. City Hall...

GOOD MORNING: New LA City News RADIO of Zuma Dogg PUMMELING L.A. City Hall into DUST! (Now Streaming)

• WHY CONTROLLER WENDY GREUEL CAN NEVER BE MAYOR: Her response to $20 billion in SHADY LAUSD spending, "they appear to be on the right path." 18 minutes ago
• THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE IN LA: They wait until it's printed in LA Times to care about something. TOO LATE, THEN! SUE IN COURT! ONLY WAY! 27 minutes ago

THOSE ARE FIRST TWO OF MASSIVE TWITTER UPDATE at http://LACityNews.com.

LACityNews.com: News for Thursday, 10.21.10 - Excerpts from EXPLOSIVE Memo on CURRENT L.A. City Lawsuit (Which WIll Allegedly Bring Down City Hall) Sent To Zuma Dogg --- AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER...He don't wanna see it!

Oh no...the problem with being back on LA City TV 35 as extreme gadfly, is the extreme info comes out of the marble city hall woodwork, into our email inbox. The stuff on LAHD corruption was BAD & UNCOMFORTABLE enough. 

BUT THIS NEW MEMO THAT JUST CAME IN...is WAAAAAAAAAAY more than any single individual concerned citizen should be blasting. AND...the problem is...we all know I can't keep my mouth shut or keep from blogging it. (WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT THEY KNOW.) So here are a few tweets to warm it up and see where it goes from here. I could DELVE and get the documents, and all that...but seriously...it's, "you don't wanna go there," stuff. Well see how cranky I get these next few days. It would be A DISASTER BEYOND ANYTHING CITY HALL HAS HAD TO ENDURE -- AND IT WOULD BE MORE THAN ZD WOULD BE COMFORTABLE TO ENDURE AS THE ONE SAYING IT. 

And it has nothing to do with the Asst GM of LAHD, but until THAT issue is taken care of...IT'S ALL LEVERAGE TOWARD THE GOAL! 

FOLLOW UP TO LOPEZ CANYON LANDFILL TRUST FUND TRANSFER FOR NEXT YEAR'S (2011) FIREWORKS DISPLAY IN CD 7 BY INDICTED CM, WHO IS EXPECTED TO STEP DOWN BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S 4th of JULY, 2011: When indicted City Councilman wanted to transfer trust fund money to "Fourth of July at Hansen Dam Inc.," is that CM's CRONY/COUSIN?

L.A. CITY NEWS

LA City News

• Next 4 tweets below are excerpts from SCARY explosive memo on current lawsuit that ZD is scared to talk about beyond the 4 tweets below. less than a minute ago

SEE IT ALL AT HERE at LACityNews.com.

MASSIVE Los Angeles City News Evening Update (10/14/10) - Time To Drag Villaraiogsa, Herb Wesson & Eric Garcetti into Roberto Aldape LA Housing Dept Conflict (Corruption) Allegations

MASSIVE Los Angeles City News Evening Update (10/14/10) - Time To Drag Villaraiogsa, Herb Wesson & Eric Garcetti into Roberto Aldape/LA Housing Dept Conflict (Corruption) Allegations

The clock is ticking on the opportunity for Los Angeles Housing Department Assistant General Manager Roberto Aldape to resign from his position. It's the close of the business day, and it has not been announced that he has "resigned," yet. And more and more information is being forwarded on additional "conflict" allegations. Like using city equipment & personnel (city money) on Villaraigosa's bogus ballot measures. But that's small stuff, compared to what else will be exposed on LIVE TV, during Friday's Los Angeles City Council meeting. The only way to keep it from being exposed LIVE on-the-air, is to have a magical announcement come out before the LA City News reporter leaves for City Hall in the morning. (Once the trip has started, even if the announcement is made, the public comment is still ON!) And it's time to speed things up since people's living conditions and livelihood  are at stake. SO IT'S TIME TO DRAG HOUSING CHAIR HERB WESSON & COUNCIL PRESIDENT (AND HOUSING CHAMP) ERIC GARCETTI INTO THE FOLD. (Why NOT? You don't think they're tied?) It's all JUST what City Hall needs as FBI is investigating LA Housing. Hope the reporter gets a last minute "furlough day."

L.A. CITY NEWS:

Click here for FULL POST OF TODAY'S ITEMS @ http://LACityNews.com.

Shame on Loser Like Nick-Velasquez and Ben-Austin Who Want a Free Ride on Your L.A. City Taxpayer Dollars (during this economic hardship)

We all know the kind of clown-ass knuckleheads that have cost the city millions and millions of dollars through their lazy, dumb and inept actions under City Attorney Rocky Delgadilldo's term that is fortunately coming to an end on July 1st.

But as City Attorney-elect Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich, who won the city attorney's election this month in an overwhelming 11% vote of confidence against the Villaraigosa-endorsed and highly supported candidate, the new city attorney is being saddled with a bunch of shameless and cowardly pussies who refuse to move on and are having L.A. Times put out stories on their "tenure" stating how now matter how much of a bunch of lazy, inable fuck-ups they are, they get to stay. (Remember that international terrorist in "Lethal Weapon" with Mel Gibson who kept repeating,"Diplomatic Immuuuuuuuuuunity!" That's what these pussies are doing.

The City of Los Angeles needs to get serious about many things, no more so than in the city attorney's office. This guy Delgadillo (who is running for Calfironia Attorney General now, LOL!) basically ran the office like an un-disciplined, completely disfunctonal latch-key kid left unattened.

The only thing Rocky DID do well, is roll over and hand out the million dollar outside contracts to whoever contributed to his fund.

But again, this is no time for Delgadillo-style shennanigans from his puppet-players he tenured in so they could keep things covered up for him once he left office. And they get to sit on their ass and clean the city attorney's office like janitor on their big salaries for the rest of their life.

But you see, Nick and Ben, the city has some serious business to attend to and this isn't the Ringling Brothers and Barmun and Bailey Circus and the city can't afford to carry you dead weight. It takes actual mindful and intelligent people who are not there use the city's general fund as their own personal target to pilfer.

HEY TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF LOS ANGELES...BEN AUSTIN WANT YOU TO KEEP PAYING FOR HIM TO SIT ON HIS ASS THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PREVENTING AN ACTUAL USEFUL STAFF MEMBER FROM DOING ACTUAL WORK.

HERE'S THE RESULT OF HOW THINGS WENT DOWN WHEN BEN AUSIN WAS IN CHARGE OF ROB REINER'S EDUCATION EFFORT:

October 31, 2006 SACRAMENTO: After receiving a briefing from State Auditor Elaine Howle, Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) said today that the California Children and Families Commission (First Five Commission) failed to comply with and intentionally circumvented state contracting laws, and made inappropriate payments to its vendors. The audit, made at the bipartisan request of Senator Cox and Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles) documented questionable and inappropriate payments to political operatives of actor-turned-political activist Rob Reiner, and violations of state law and policies.

"The title of this audit says it all: poor contracting practices resulted in questionable and inappropriate payments to contractors, and violations of state law and policies," Senator Cox said. "First Five intentionally tried to circumvent contracting laws. It made inappropriate payments to vendors who were Rob Reiner's political operatives. Taxpayers rightfully should be outraged at a state commission that has no oversight, no accountability, and no remorse. The First Five Commission has run amok,...I'VE HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT THIS CLOWN BEN AUSTIN AND THE CRAP HE HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH...

AND DUMB-SPOKESPERSON, BITCH VELASQUEZ...YOU'RE NEXT you shameless, no-dignity, cowarldly pussy.

I AM GOING TO MENTION YOUR NAME EVERY DAY ON TV 35 DURING THE COUNCIL MEETINGS FROM NOW ON, LOSERS! Get used to the name recognition. There's a lot to keep covered up, and these two are here to keep it covered. I am here to uncover them.

HEY ELI BROAD...HEY STEVE BARR...HEY BILL GATES....HEY BILL CLINTON...Can't you give Ben a job so he can get off the backs of taxpayers and the City of Los Angeles can try to function as a credible attorney's office instead of political operative headquarters?

I think Steve Barr and Eli are part of the problem, here. And I need to start blogging about them more, too. And when I think of Eli Broad, I think of the SAME EXACT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE WETHERLY PENSION SCANDAL!!! DOESN'T MR. BROAD TRAVEL IN THE SAME BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL CIRCLES....YES! Have him pay for Ben!

Los Angeles City Councilmember Admits, "I had pressure from inside City Hall to stay out of the (City Attorney) race."

KNBC 4 NEWS: Janice, one of the things that we have been asked all along, and we saw this happening was that there WAS pressure, and I am going to ask you both, how MUCH pressure was there for you to stay out of this race for City Attorney knowing that one of your colleagues who sits right across from you in the horse shoe at city hall was running for City Attorney?


Janice looks at CM Dennis Zine who is standing there and points to him and says, "Go to him first."

So Dennis says, "I never had any pressure..." And goes into reasons he supported Nuch over Weiss.

When Janice was asked, she at first rambled and filibustered on how her brother was City Attorney for 16 years so I think I know a 'little bit' about what it takes to be a good city attorney...blah, blah, blah..."

But like Zuma Dogg and Leonard Shapiro, the KNBC 4 News reporter was confused with the answer, and tripped Janice up and got her to cave, by "pressuring" her, by repeating the question. SHE CAVED!

Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn said, "Sure, I mean we always are pressured, I had pressure from inside City Hall to stay out of the race."

I wonder who that "inside City Hall" pressure came and what that pressure was in the form of? Maybe it was the person who takes her order at the coffee shop, or maybe it's the guy who empties out the recycle bins?

I know people do not like when Bratton makes political endorsements. I think "pressure" from City Hall insiders is just as bad, and even worse, because you are preventing the other side (endorsing) from doing what YOUR side (Bratton) is doing (endorsing).

ANYWAY, who cares what pressure Villar's sinking ship puts on people...I think even Councilmembers like Janice Hahn may almost be ready to hint of being able to take a stand against Loseraigosa. And finally, I am glad to hear that Janice endorsed and supported Nuch.

Even though I attended every City Council meeting over the past year, during the course of the entire primary election, and run-off election and listen to all the talk radio shows all the time, I HAD NO IDEA?!?! NOW I know how Nuch pulled this off! And way to take a stand and stand up against the mayor the way Dennis did. (And you know what Janice, hate to throw this in, but Zuma Dogg took some risk as well, by challenging the council president and city attorney when they tried to cut me off when disucssing the matter, myself. BUT I STOOD UP!!! THEY COULD HAVE BANNED ME FOR THE DAY...Seriously, when I saw Janice in the lobby of the Universal Hilton, I ran into the party and told some people, "You won't believe who is in the lobby...Janice Hahn!" (I thought she was just there as a coincidence for some other reason.) YIKES! My bad! Anyway, glad Janice supported Nuch, and took a stand against pressure by showing up to the VICTORY PARTY.

HIGH LEVERAGE Memo From Zuma's Wetherly Captial INSIDER!

When reading this 2 page document [see below] note the date, October 23^rd, 2001, as well as the next date mentioned, October 8^th, 2001.

Click to enlarge documents

October 8^th, 2001 was the first board meeting of the Wetherly Capital Group that I attended and where I received a copy of that most incriminating “voter fraud” document detailing the connection between Richard Dick Ziman’s Wetherly Capital Group with extraordinarily close ties to former Democratic California Gray Davis, and William Simon, the son of the billionaire former Secretary of the Treasury, who was the Republican candidate for Governor in the upcoming November 2002 Gubernatorial elections.

I arrived some 15 minutes late for October 8^th “strategy meeting” which was held in the office next to the Chairman of the Board of the Wetherly Capital Group.

Not only was Dick Ziman in attendance, but he was at the same time the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Arden Realty, the largest Real Estate Investment Trust [REIT] trading on the New York Stock Exchange [Symbol ARI] that was sold a few years back to General Electric.

MORE TO COME FROM ZUMA DOGG ON LA DAILY BLOG

The Problem With Mayor Villaraigosa and CM Jose Huizars' Plans for LA Legacy (Aka: Complete Violation!)

(Pictured: Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar likes to look the other way on a lot of things.)

Mayor Sam's blog has been covering the LA Legacy(shady non-profit) story, but since the City is so hell bent on weighing in with their opinions during everyone's public comment at City Hall, Zuma Dogg will be making an added effort to weigh in more often on things too that I haven't been covering yet.

A lot of emails about things like Griffith Park, Autry/Southwest Museum, LA Legacy, Huizar's $15,000 ethics fine, Wyvenwood promises that must be kept (no matter what), VILLARAIGOSA'S "AFFORDABLE HOUSING" NOVEMBER BALLOT BAMBOOZLE, Grand Ave Project (already a botched, defeated and illegal boondoggle), Prop 1C money ("Emergency Housing and Shelter Money For Battered Women, Kids, Elderly, Veterans and Disabled" that was awarded to the Grand Avenue Project that is already highly subsidize) -- and every thing else piled up in my email inbox (ZumaDogg@Mayor09.com) that I have been slacking off on.

BUT NOW A COUPLE FOLKS PISSED ME OFF (LaBong, O'Connell, Garcetti, Greuel, et al), SO THAT'S WHAT WILL BE FUELING ZD'S NEXT ROUND OF BLOG POSTS. (I bet the 15 City Council members wish the City Attorney's office would have just STAYED ON HIS ASS, INSTEAD OF WAVING IT IN MY FACE!)

SO NOW...AN LA DAILY BLOG FIRST:

The Problem With LA Legacy
by Zuma Dogg

The problem with LA Legacy is the same problem as everything else that is going down under Mayor Antonio Doucharaigosa and Lost Angeles Shitty Council: They take a good idea, conceptually, and dirty it all up by turning it into a shady, corrupt, racket (rackerteering) and ends up running rough-shout over the community without proper vetting, input or abiding to the law.

This time, the project is LA Legacy. I guess it is some non-profit that wants to build some facilities and provide a bunch of wonderful services for kids and the community and it's gonna save the world, let's just say for the sake of this argument.

So again, it's not the project, but the process.

They want to build this LA Legacy project at Hazard Park where Zuma Dogg first met Douchtonio for that phony Million Trees L.A. kick-off press conference/bullsh*t-fest. So it's the park near USC that USC is trying to takeover themselves.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK, NOT A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY IN LOS ANGELES MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA'S PERSONAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TO DO WITH IT WHAT HE WILL.

So first of all, you cannot even legally turn public park space over to a non-profit group like this based on the desires of Mayor Villar's and his partner in crime CM Jose Huizar's special interests. LA LEGACY IS GETTING A "FREE" LONG TERM LEASE ON A PIECE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY!?!? (Did YOU say "yes" to this?)

Secondly, the project was all planned out with the schematics and description posted on their website, way before anyone from the public had a chance to have the opportunity to take in all the information and have the proper community meetings and public hearings it would take to put a project like this through, even if the City was doing it on a legally compliant piece of property (Aka: Not using public park space to allow ONE operator to set up shop.)

Thirdly, ONLY ONE PLAN WAS CREATED AND LOOKED AT. Usually on a project such as this, you would have multiple parties assigned with the task of coming up with the idea for the best use of this space and designing the plan and presenting it to the City.

In this case, NO DICE! Only one idea was considered: Villaraigosa and Huizar's plan for this POLITICALLY CONNECTED NON-PROFIT PROJECT!

And speaking of "politically conncected", Zuma Dogg hopes LA Legacy's Founder Jenny Krusoe isn't working in cahoots (racketeering) with the City of Los Angeles along with the Autry Family and the Southwest Museum/Griffith Park plans (against Community wishes).

It seems like you could have these two causes uniting (Krusoe and Autry) to scratch each other's back and try to blow these two rackets past the pueblos.

SO AS LONG AS PEOPLE KEEP THEIR ASS OUT OF MY FACE, YOU MAY HEAR ME START TALKING ABOUT THE LA LEGACY PROJECT ON CITY TV 35 AND TRYING TO RAISE MORE COMMUNITY AND MEDIA AWARENESS:

Cause I'm here to tell you, this whole Autry/Griffith Park/LA Legacy stuff is the biggest bamboozle in town, and I think this LA Legacy Project will be taking the cake when it comes to corrupt rackets of bamboozlement! LA LEGACY IS ONE OF THOSE NON-PROFIT DEALS ZD IS CONCERNED ABOUT.

SEE ALSO: LA TIMES, DAILY NEWS AND OTHER MEDIA COVERAGE OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER JOSE HUIZAR'S $15,000 ETHICS VIOLATION. WHAT? AN LA CITY COUNCILMEMBER GETS AN "ETHICS VIOLATION?" I thought they were so upstanding! Oh man...there's probably not even really an easter bunny, either. And I bet Hannah Montana is a fake blond.

ZumaTimes.com

NEW -- The History of Zuma Dogg on Internet (Videos): I came across a good search for videos. It has more Zuma Dogg videos posted than I care to have out there. It's fun to scroll through for memories! (Sorted with most recent on top.) CLICK HERE FOR HISTORY OF ZD ON VIDEO!

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Suffers From "Scarface Syndrome"

Zuma Dogg is always warning young people, "Beware the Scarface lesson." All the young homies like to pattern theyselves off the first part of the movie (the rise), while ignoring the second half (the downfall).

Now let's apply the "Scarface Syndrome" to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:

Zuma Dogg's biggest complaint over the past two years has been "fraud, waste and abuse" (corruption) because this is the biggest thing you have control of. (You can't control the price of oil, but you can control fraud, waste and abuse if you want to.)

And ZD will even go as far to say, that you are always going to have intentional and un-intentional waste happening at City Hall no matter who has been mayor in the past. And not just in Los Angeles, but everywhere.

I compare it to tipping the door man at a hot club you need to get into; or paying a ticket scalper when you need great tickets for a client. So if you need to "tip" your City Hall mayor or councilmember to get things done and cut through the bureaucracy -- that's one thing.

But my complaint has been that Antonio is waaaaaaaaaaay overboard in the "shady/corruption" department. He is waaaaaaaaay too comfortable in his own perceived bubble of protection that he feels he is living in.

But I think his behavior and actions are putting himself and others at risk. Everyone is used to a certain level of "palm greasing" to get something done...but Villaraigosa is running around like Scarface at the end of the movie...waaaaaaaaaay too comfortable in his power. A feeling of being "un-touchable."

Maybe the mayor should go back and watch the second half of the movie. Cause I think he is waaaay too sloppy and with Clinton not making it to the White House, maybe some of those protections won't be there. And perhaps some investigations may catch up with him.

He's messing up big time. People around him know it. But it's like any dirty secret. You have to keep covering up, and covering up...and you have to move mountains to keep them covered up...and it all comes at a price...And ego and arrogance ends up taking you down. Too bad the damage has already been done. And we can only hope he is taken down before he spirals even further into a geometric rate of corruption.

It's a lot of pressure to live with...the constant fear that the investigation is breathing down your neck. You end up living your life like O.J.; constantly trying to keep your story all sorted out.

NO MORE SCARFACE MAYOR!!!

TAKE BACK THE CITY!!!

MAYOR09.com!!!

DWP Rate Increase Hangs In The Balance Pending Surplus Rate Transfer Lawsuit Results

Trevor Grimm shows up at DWP NC Press conference. News is announced of the rate Prop 218 illegal water surplus transfer fees from DWP into City Hall's general fund.

They are using Prop 218 as the litigation tool. (The $60 million surplus rate transfer is a violation of of the Proposition.)

City Council was put on notice of this pending lawsuit (on the record) during the March 25, 2008 Council meeting regarding the DWP rate increase.

The lawsuit is being conducted by the Apartment Owners Association regarding these money transfers, stating the rate increases must be postponed until the results of the lawsuit.

Zuma Times inside sources say that Councilmembers want to wait and see the results of the lawsuit, because it the City loses -- and DWP gets to keep the $60 million (they have set aside in case they LOSE, and have to pay $60 million in surplus rate money to the City of Los Angeles).

I guess certain Councilmembers are feeling that if the big reason they are claiming they need to increase DWP rates by 20% over the next year or two is because of this lawsuit...well if they don't have to pay the $60 million after all...I'm sure David Nahai will be wishing Susana never hooked him up with the job.

Nahai's gonna throw a bigger Rainman fit than a ten year old girl who was just told by her parents that she can't go to the Hannah Montana concert because they changed their mind. (LOL!)

ZumaTimes.com

LA Times Confirms News About Villaraigosa's Cousin (John Perez) That Zuma Times/LA Daily Blog Broke Yesterday (Talk About Yesterday's Newspaper)

Aw man...how come the LA Times is always at least a day, if not a week behind Zuma Times. (They get paid to do their job...I don't! I should be following them, not leading them, those LAzy losers. I don't think there's a single fact in the article that wasn't already blogged here.)

From LAzy Times:

--------------------
Potential rival to mayor's cousin gets city appointment

NOTE: But if you have already read previous Zuma Times coverage over past two weeks there is no need to even look at this article from LAzy Times.
--------------------

Ricardo Lara is named to the Planning Commission days after he dropped out of the race for an Assembly seat coveted by Villaraigosa relative John Perez.

By David Zahniser
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

March 21 2008, 8:20 AM PDT

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has picked an aide to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to serve on the city Planning Commission, less than a week after the aide dropped out of a legislative campaign in which he would have been running against the mayor's cousin.

LA DAILY BLOG BREAKS THE NEWS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YESTERDAY
(I know this is a blog, but LAzy Times or Daily Snooze didn't break it on their websites, either.)

And does anyone know why Mayor Villaraigosa replaced Sabrina Kay (with Perez) in the first place? Why was Sabrina replaced, in the first place? Hmmm. Anyone hear anything? (ZumaDogg@gmail.com) Hey Antonio...muscling out candidate ain't very democratic, y'all. But what do YOU care about democracy? (Viva Villaraigosa!)

Thought of the Day: An alcoholic doesn't leave the bar, until the bartender cuts them off. A gambler doesn't walk away from the table until the dealer takes all their chips. And corrupt politicians don't stop their obsession until they are removed from office (one way or the other).

ZumaTimes.com
News before it happens!

SacBee: Political Circles Are Buzzing That More Candidates May Drop Out Of Assembly Race For Nunez' Seat (Villariagosa's Cousin Getting The Push)

Wonder if the comment -- "Political circles are buzzing that Lara, too, was dropping out" -- was based on LA Daily Blog's story? (Someone emailed me this story with the comment highlighted making note that they felt so.)

From SacBee

Field thins for Núñez Assembly seat

What was billed as a three-way surrogate struggle for the Assembly between Latino political powerhouses has thinned to two candidates, as a top aide to Sen. Gil Cedillo is dropping out of the race.

That leaves John Perez, the cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Ricardo Lara, the district director for Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez as the remaining politically connected candidates for the Assembly seat, which Núñez must vacate this year due to term limits.

Arturo Chavez, the district director for Cedillo, said in an interview that he was withdrawing because “we don’t need that kind of dissension within the community.”

“There’s a lot of folks involved in this particular race, a lot of family and friends and it would have been pretty divisive,” said Chavez..

Political circles are buzzing that Lara, too, was dropping out.

But Núñez, speaking after an education press conference on Wednesday morning, denied that, saying, “Huh? He hasn’t left anything."

Neither Lara nor Sanchez has responded to phone calls or e-mails (since being contacted).

The speaker said the key to the race would be the endorsement of the powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, to which both he and Villaraigosa are closely allied.

“We’re friends and at the end of the day we’d like to be together, if we could,” said Núñez of himself, Cedillo and Villaraigosa. “We’re going to sit with everybody after the labor fed endorsement and see who gets that endorsement. I think the person who gets that endorsement probably has best shot at winning and I think we need to figure out where you go from there. “

Perez is a former member of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, which he recently left to launch his Assembly bid. His is also Villaraigosa’s first cousin.

Latino leaders in Los Angeles have tried to avoid open political warfare between factions before, often with benefits down the line for those who put their ambitions temporarily on hold. [But you can't trust Villaraigosa like you used to.)

In early 2007, three Latinos were eying a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, including newly elected Assemblyman Richard Alarcon, former Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez and Felipe Fuentes, who served as chief of staff to Sen. Alex Padilla when he served on the city council.

Ultimately, though, the field thinned to one, with only Alarcon remaining in the race in what amounted to a waltz into the council. Fuentes then ran for the Assembly seat Alarcon vacated. And Montanez received two plum appointments, a seat on the Los Angeles Planning Commission made by the mayor, and a seat on the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, made by the speaker. The latter job pays an annual $128,109 salary, according to the Sacramento Bee state workers’ database.

Full SacBee article (these were excerpts)

Previous story about Villaraigosa muscling out other candidates in favor of his cousin John Perez that may have caused the political buzz. (Sure hope not!)

ZumaTimes.com

Zuma Dogg on "Special Event Fee Waivers" In The Face of LA City Budget EMERGENCY!

Here's a comment I posted in the comment section of Mayor Sam's blog post about "Special Event Fee Waivers" in the face of the City's "belt-tightening" measure. (LOL...they actually call it "belt-tightening." (How about calling the rebuilding of New Orleans, "community enhancements?")

The City keeps talking about "belt tightening" measures. (That's actually what it is called on the agenda.) When the real problem is stuff like these fee waivers -- and even more so all the non-profits that City Council and the Mayor funnel money into. All in the name of kids, and elderly, or the poor.

HERE'S THE REASON WHY THE CITY IS FACING SERVICE CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD:

1) City is given Federal and State funds to provide services. (Also tax breaks and subsidies are provided to developers in exchange for public benefits.)

2) Elected officials (Mayor and City Council) funnel the money into their crony non-profits where there is no accountability or transparency -- and the public doesn't get the actual services the money is supposed to be used for; or the project can't be completed.

3) Elected officials come back and ask for more money to complete the project or provide added services.

4) The mayor blames it on Blackberry use.

DON'T BE BAMBOOZLED...California politics is about one thing and one thing only...there is Federal and State money -- and tax breaks and subsidies being handed out.

And there will always be vultures fighting for their chunk of flesh.

To become an elected official is to basically say to your conscious, "There's money being handed out -- and SOMEONE is going to grab it...may as well be me. Cause if it isn't me, it will be someone else.

And the powers that be, already in charge of the shady distribution of these public funds and public trust (the people controlling the funneling of this money into non-transparent/no accountability "cahoots racket" non-profits won't pull the switch for a politician and back them for office, if they aren't "on the team" in the first place.

For example...in the Assembly race for Nunez's seat...Villar's cousin John Perez is the person anointed to keep the non-profit ball rolling. (So I can guarantee you he will not be pushing for audits into non-profit spending.)

SUMMARY: Don't be fooled by the warm and fuzzy photo opportunities and helpful sounding non-profits...

If you are an elected official in Los Angeles...that means you are the one anointed to funnel the Federal and State money into your backer's non-profit.

HOW MANY NON-PROFITS ARE ACTUALLY RUN BY CITY COUNCILMEMBER PAID HIGH-LEVEL STAFF!?!?

Good luck on the belt-tightening.

HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU ANTONIO & CITY COUNCIL...Just like the party is over on the subprime bonanza lending...and the party is over on the aggressive/risky lending that fueled profits while it lasted...

no more room to funnel your chunk of change off the top, anymore.

So stop screwing around with this Blackberry bullsh*t. You're walking around like the Emperor's New Clothes. You're not fooling anyone -- and everyone is on to you. (Otherwise, how would I know all of this.) Don't worry that Zuma Dogg knows this. Worry about the people who told the people who told me.

(Didn't I blab about a D.A. investigation into the Housing Dept before it was public info? I was told to please stop talking about it, cause I was allowing the corrupt politicians to cover their tracks.)

Now you have to hike the trash collection fees cause you're like heroine addicts hooked on shady money.

ZumaTimes.com

LA Residents Ask Los Angeles City Council to RESPECT THE CHARTER Regarding DWP Rate Increases

Subject: Respect the Charter
March 11, 2008

Respect the Charter

You would have thought that Antonio Villaraigosa, of all people, would respect the City Charter. But unfortunately, the Mayor, along with DWP, is pressuring the City Council Members to approve the Power Reliability pass thru and the multi year Rate Increase without the benefit of the Charter mandated IEA Survey.

According to the City Charter, this strategic Survey was due in October, in time for the Mayor, City Council, Controller, DWP and the public to reap the benefits of this $1 million survey by independent utility experts ahead of any proposed rate increases.

There are many questions that will be addressed by this Survey that cannot be answered by glib comments in a large public forum. Real analysis based on good information is a must, especially when we are dealing with such large amounts of money.

What is the impact on the Rate Payers of the Power Rate Increases? While described by DWP as ”fairly modest,” a “$1.60 a month,” rates are going up 20% over the two year period. Base rates are up over 15%. Pass thru rates are up over 40%. Modest?

Why have the June 5, 2007 projected Energy Cost Adjustment Factor revenues increased 80%, or $550 million, over the December 9, 2006 projections? Was this rate of increase anticipated when the City Council approved this “pass thru?”

Power System profits were $70 million over budget in the first quarter? What impact will this have on the need for the multi year Rate Increase and the Power Reliability pass thru??

What is the status of the many money saving recommendations of the Huron Consulting Group? Work force management? Project management? Shared Services? Customer Service? Information Technology? Others?

What is the impact of the Rate Restructuring Plan on single family residences? An additional 2 to 4% a year?

While DWP is clamoring for the immediate approval of the “desperately needed” Rate Increase, why did DWP recently agree to fund the Mayor’s $270 million Solar Initiative? And why is there talk of using some of DWP’s $600 million unrestricted cash to help balance the City’s budget?

How do DWP compensation levels compare to City workers and other regional utility workers, especially since DWP is considered the gold standard?

Respect the Charter. Do not rush hed into a major decision without good information and analysis. Respect the 1,400,000 electric and 640,000 water customers. And respect the 80% of the certified DWP MOU Neighborhood Councils which support the completion of the IEA Survey before action is taken.

BLOGGER'S COMMENT: At the time this was written the Metropolitan pass throughs were not included.

We were right. The Mayor plans to incorporate the DWP Rate Increase into his budget!!!!

Who says Nahai is truthful? The increase would be used for the City, not infrastructure. The bond ratings would not be affected up or down with/out the rate increases. Their indebtedness already on the books in unfunded pensions, health benefits, etc. would and do. The lack of increase is not the culprit. What kind of a legacy is Nahai leaving for the next General Manager and Community?

DWP is paying for all of Villaraigosas plans for green power and alternative resources. How much will be left for infrastructure?

CLICK HERE FOR RECENT LA DAILY BLOG STORIES.

Villaraigosa DWP Rate Increase Memo To LA City Council (Expect 11% Increase In '08...Plus Another 7% in '09)

Pictured: Chief DWP Money Waster David Nahai, The Corruption King, and Someone Who Could Easily Beat Villaraigosa in the next election

Here's a copy of the memo Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Viagraosa sent to Los Angeles City Council requesting a little ol' DWP rate increase. (see link below)

The rate increase for power is slated for May 1, 2008.

BUT, there is NO MENTION of the ADDITIONAL RATE INCREASES to follow on July 1, 2008 AND July 1, 2009 -- plus quarterly pass through increases.

Wait until people figure out that their electric bill is going up 11% in 2008 alone -- with another 7% increase in 2009.

Zuma Dogg hears that the water and power rate increases go to the Budget committee on March 17th -- and then to LA City Council for rubber stamping on March 19th.

Meanwhile, DWP continues to waste money on purpose as thought they are paid commission on dollars wasted, according to a DWP whistleblower lawsuit set for trial April 15, 2008. (Ain't gonna be pretty when the fraud, waste and abuse hits the fan.) Click here for related LA Daily Blog stories on DWP waste in the face of more rate hikes.

Villaraigosa DWP Memo To Los Angeles City Council

HEY LA TIMES & DAILY NEWS...How about a little coverage on the shadiest game in town?

zumadogg@gmail.com

DWP Lawsuit Preview: Line Item 36 & 185 (See Empire Contract)

You've read exclusively on LA Daily Blog about the lawsuit against DWP that a judge refused to allow a settlement over, so that it can be heard, publicly, by a jury...

One of the big issues that is going to come out regarding the massive fraud, waste and abuse alleged in this lawsuit is over "line item 36" and line item 185".

As a way of circumventing the contract process, when DWP needs to make a purchase and doesn't want to have to stick to contract requirements...just stick it on line item 185. (Also Item 36 on another contract/See Empire.)

185 and 36 are for miscellaneous expenses, but are supposed to be limited in expense and miscellaneousness. However, these miscellaneous lines on the expense sheet are being used for massive purchases that are supposed to go through a contract process.

That's how you drive up the price of fraud, waste and abuse in the price of your DWP utilities.

LAURA CHICK IS WELL AWARE OF THIS BUT REFUSES TO AUDIT.
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL CONTINUES TO GIVE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM THE HELEN KELLER TREATMENT.

WHY WON'T LAURA CHICK OR LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE MASSIVE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT IN THIS LAWSUIT???

All the while they are asking for rate hikes?

Some of you may not be sure what I am talking about. Just wanted to post this little message about "Line Item 36 and 185" so the powers that be know that Zuma Dogg has that story and the dogg is out of the bag. More to come. DO SOMETHING! And, WOW...Laura Chick must have nothing to worry about, which is why she does nothing. Maybe if she DID do something...then she would have something to worry about. And that's the problem!

CLICK HERE For Previous DWP Fraud/Lawsuit stories on LA Daily Blog.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Chance To Speak With Congressman Xavier Becerra About Investigation Into Las Villas Block Grant Money

Some people in X-man's district want to speak with him about a Congressional investigation into the HUD block grant money (administered by the CRA) as being used for the Las Villas Liquor Arcade in violation of LA City ordinance banning the sale of alcohol within 500 feet of schools and churches.

Just to let you all know, Congressman Xavier Becerra has been invited by the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC) to speak about the topic: "All Politics are Local" and to take your questions.

You are all cordially invited to attend this event (which includes a free brunch!), and in which candidates for the ERNC will speak as well.

It will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Dahlia Heights Elementary School
5063 Floristan Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90041

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS IMPORTANT EVENT!!

Hope to see you there,

Meredith Brown
Secretary, ERNC
For more info, call 323-578-8100

CD 14 Watch said...Even the Neighborhood Council Land Use Groups know that there are many restrictions to many types of business around a school. For example no dirty books in book stores or newspaper vending machines, or no alcohol within 500 feet of schools or churches, etc. These are ABC rules, not just City of LA rules. File a complaint with ABC. Its easy, its online and anonymous.