Councilman Gregory Salcido shows $17,680 cash on hand.
Salcido 460 pre election filing 2011-09-24
Councilwoman Barbara Contreras Rapisarda has $3,298.07 after spending $12,209.17.
Rapisarda 460 pre election filing 2011-09-24
New law widens state audit powers
5 OctSteve Scauzillo. Whittier Daily News Whittier, Calif.: Oct 4, 2011.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Tuesday a bill that will expand the powers of the state auditor to examine the books of counties, cities and special districts “at high risk” for fraud, waste or mismanagement.
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, is one of several pieces of legislation inspired by the corruption scandal in the city of Bell.
The law gives State Auditor Elaine M. Howle the authority to propose financial and performance audits of cities, water districts and other districts that might fly under the radar or don’t attract the attention of the local district attorney. The audits must first be approved by the Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee, which Lara chairs.
The new law gives public watchdogs a powerful ally if they suspect fraud or wasteful taxpayer or ratepayer spending, Lara said.
“Through this measure we are creating accountability and ensuring that taxpayers are not left holding the bag,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Lara cited State Controller John Chiang’s findings of questionable spending and potential fraud inside Montebello City Hall as a reason why more oversight and transparency is needed in local government.
And some local retail water agencies and cities pushed for the legislation as a tool to perform management audits of the Central Basin Municipal Water District, which they say has not been prudent with spending and has wasted ratepayer funds.
The Central Basin Water Association includes 44 water suppliers – including Pico Water District, La Habra Heights County Water District, California-American Water Co., Golden State Water Co., San Gabriel Valley Water Co., Suburban Water Systems and cities of Downey, Lynwood, Maywood, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South Gate, Vernon and Whittier.
It has been trying to get the Legislature to perform an audit of the Central Basin Water District since 2009.
They say Central Basin is spending way too much money on public relations, lawyers’ fees and unnecessary capital projects, and passing the costs on to them and their customers.
Central Basin, a wholesale district that helps deliver water to 24 cities in southeast Los Angeles County, denies the accusations.
“I think that is really great,” said James Glancy, director of water resources for the city of Lakewood and vice president of the Central Basin Water Association, after hearing the news of Brown’s signature. He said the association will step up its efforts to ask the state for a full management audit of Central Basin.
“We’ll look forward to working with the state Bureau of Audits,” Glancy said.
Central Basin officials say the agency supports the legislation and its goal of increasing transparency in special districts and municipal governments.
Lara held a town hall meeting Tuesday night in Bell with managers of Golden State Water, who blamed large increases in Bell-area customer water bills in part on Central Basin’s pass-through fees and charges, said Julia Juarez, Lara’s aide.
Golden State Water Co. serves 256,000 customers in Southern California with local offices in Arcadia and San Dimas.
Rapisarda Takes Big Bucks from Notorious Montebello Developer and Trash Contractor
3 OctBarbara Contreras Rapisarda proves she’s a candidate that can be bought. She’s been on the council less than 2 years, but is now part of the corruption at city hall.
According to her own campaign filings, Rapisarda took $7,500 from outside Special Interests who have major contracts with Pico Rivera.
| Attina Company | $1,500 | Developer Hank Attina’s company. Tied to off-the-book accounts in Montebello and close friend of Pico Rivera/Montebello/West Covina/Bell Gardens City Attorney Arnold Glasman |
| Michale Takashi | $1,000 | Hank Attina restaurant employee (Tequila Jack’s) |
| CalMet Services | $2,500 | BCR voted to renew their exclusive contract, no bid process for the best price |
View BCR’s Campaign Statements here.
Hank Attina
Hank Attina, notorious developer in Pico Rivera, West Covina, Montebello and South Gate regularly fiances candidates in cities he has projects. He operates businesses under Attina Company, Wild Coyote, and Tequila Jack’s.
$433,972 Under Paid to City by CalMet Services
1 SepPico Rivera audited our trash company for 2004, 2005, and 2006.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE FULL AUDIT REPORT
What they found was $433,972 went unreported in receipts from CalMet. That means they took over $433 Thousand Dollars that belong to the city.
Yet, Councilwoman Rapisarda and Councilman Salcido both renewed their contract.
Former Irwindale Official Sentenced for Misappropriating Public Funds
9 AugFormer Irwindale Official Sentenced
for Misappropriating Public Funds
August 9, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
Shiara Dávila, Assistant PIO
(213) 974-3525
LOS ANGELES – A retired Irwindale city manager today paid a total of $20,000 in restitution, fines and penalties for using city money to attend Broadway plays and Yankees and Mets baseball games on trips to New York that had nothing to do with city business.
Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar de Longoria sentenced Steve Blancarte, 56, to pay $5,303 in restitution and an additional $14,700 in fines and penalties, which he did today. As a result, the judge said his case was completed and dismissed the remaining four counts of misappropriation of public funds against him.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Schwartz with the Public Integrity Division said that because of his guilty plea in July to one count of misappropriation of public funds, he will be barred for life from holding elective office in California.
Blancarte was one of four Irwindale city officials charged last October.
Between 2001 and 2005, Blancarte joined Councilman Mark Breceda, 51; finance director Abe De Dios, 66; and former councilwoman Rosemary Ramirez, 49, on trips to New York. Prosecutors allege that during each trip to discuss the city’s bond rating, the officials bought tickets to Broadway shows and sporting events that had nothing to do with city business.
Blancarte attended plays including “Wicked,” “The Producers,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Mamma Mia,” along with Yankees and Mets games, Schwartz said.
Breceda, De Dios and Ramirez return to court on Sept. 27 for motions in the case.
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New candidates file for school, water board in Pico Rivera
6 AugAnonymous. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. West Covina, Calif.: Aug 5, 2011.
PICO RIVERA — Two new candidates have filed for Pico Rivera offices and another person has taken out nomination papers to run for City Council.
Teacher Susan Weinman Thursday became the fourth candidate to file one of two seats on the El Rancho Unified School District Board of Education.
Weinman joins incumbents Delia Alvidrez and Vincent Chavez and challenger Alfred Renteria, a parent/local businessman on the ballot.The Pico Water Board has its second candidate. Carol F. Pierce, a retired court reporter also filed Thursday for one of two seats.Challenger Henrietta Correa Salazar also has filed.
Rosaisela Martin Del Campo earlier this week took out nominating papers for City Council.
Incumbents Bob Archuleta, Barbara C. Rapisarda and Gregory Salcido and potential challengers Victor Gonzalez, Raul Riesgo and Brent A. Tercero also have been issued papers.
Deadline to file is 5 p.m. Aug. 12 for school and water board candidates. If an incumbent doesn’t run, it will be extended until 5 p.m. Aug. 17.
School and water board candidates must go to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder”s Office, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk.Candidates for Pico Rivera city council must go to their respective city clerk’s office at their city hall. The deadline there will be 5:30 p.m., the time city hall closes.
Gregory Salcido Campaign Statements
1 Aug
Councilman Gregory Salcido
Gregory Salcido Campaign Statements
Barbara Contreras Rapisarda Campaign Statements
1 Aug
Barbara Contreras Rapisarda
Barbara Contreras Rapisarda Campaign Statements
Pico Rivera Man Charged with Murder
26 JulPico Rivera Man
Charged with Murder
July 26, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
Shiara Dávila, Assistant PIO
(213) 974-3525
WHITTIER — A Pico Rivera man was charged today with the murder of a 19-year-old man whose body was found in a shallow grave in the suspect’s backyard, the District Attorney’s office announced.
Robert Charles Redd, 51 (dob 1-18-60), is scheduled to be arraigned after 1:30 p.m. at Whittier Superior Court, Department 1. He was charged in case VA120863 with one count of murder with the special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun, said Deputy District Attorney Rosabella Reyes. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Redd allegedly shot Joseph Rubalcava once in the head on or about July 18 and buried his body in the backyard of Redd’s residence in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road. The victim’s family went searching for the missing man two days later and called authorities when they discovered the grave.
If convicted, Redd is facing 25 years to life in prison.
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© 1994-2011 Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. All Rights Reserved.
Pico Rivera mayor: City’s payment of golf fees ‘allowable’
24 JulSandra T Molina. Whittier Daily News Whittier, Calif.: Jul 23, 2011.
PICO RIVERA – Mayor David Armenta makes no apologies for hitting the links, with the city picking up the tab, while attending conferences.
As he sees it, it’s part of the job.
In a recent television interview with FOX LA reporter John Schwada, Armenta was asked why the $150 registration fee at the Independent Cities Association Winter Seminar did not come out of his own pocket?
“It’s allowable,” he said. “That’s part of the job (as a councilman) that I’m allowed.”
Armenta was interviewed as he came off the greens at Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort.
The conference had seminars on public safety and managing stress.
Armenta disagreed with the reporter labeling the golf trip as a “perk.”
“It’s not a perk; it’s an ordinance,” he said. “I’d rather be home.”
In 2009, the City Council unanimously eliminated self-imposed limits on travel expenses for elected officials.
While the state governs travel for elected officials with requirements on reporting, transparency and economic travel and lodging, the City Council took it a step further.
In 2007, officials adopted additional limitations on things like the number of trips a council member can take in a year and golf fees to curb alleged abuses and save thousands of dollars annually.
Travel expenses include lodging, mileage and meals.
Armenta estimated he makes about three trips annually representing the city.
“I attend these events to learn things to help the city,” he said.
Armenta said he does this information-gathering while playing rounds of golf.
In fact, Armenta said he discovered a possible saving for constituents during the Rancho Bernardo trip.
In a conversation with an employee from Otto Environmental Systems, a business in the solid waste industry, he heard information on a trash bin lease program.
“It could be cheaper for people to go through them rather than their regular trash hauler,” Armenta said.
Councilman Gustavo Camacho said he has an issue with Armenta or any of his colleagues playing golf on the the taxpayers’ dime.
“I don’t believe in it, and I don’t do it,” he said.
Camacho said networking can be done by simply attending the seminar or conference.
“That should be enough,” he said.
Pico Rivera Insider 