Los Cerritos Community News Investigation Results in Assessor Noguez Subpoena By Randy Economy and Brian Hews randy@cerritosnews.net
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os Angeles County Assessor John R. Noguez has been subpoenaed to appear in a Downtown Los Angeles courtroom on April 16 regarding a case involving one of his biggest campaign contributors-Encino businessman Ramin Salari-Los Cerritos Community Newspa-
per has learned exclusively. Noguez was served with the subpoena late Thursday at his office located inside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Los Angeles at the behest of San Diego attorney Jason Saccuzzo of the law firm Vivoli Saccuzzo, LLP. The case revolves around Salari and his Nevada based company, Assessment Appeals, LLC., and a Los Angeles couple Robert and Hersel Neman who contracted
with his company in 2010 regarding the reassessment of properties located at the 800 block of Harvard Avenue, as well as the 3400 block of West Eighth Street, both in Los Angeles. Saccuzzo is representing the Nemans. Salari is seeking damages for a “failure to make payment” on a commission for obtaining an “alleged reduction” of property taxes as allowed under a voter passed imitative known as Proposition 8.
In a demurrer filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on October 18, Saccuzzo argued that since Salari did not possess any kind of advanced degree, such as a CPA license or a Doctorate of Jurisprudence, that he was not qualified to argue cases in front of the Assessor Appeals Board. One day earlier, on October 17, 2011, Salari sent an email to Noguez alerting the
[See NOGUEZ SUBPOENA page 12]
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Ground Broken on Next Phase of I-5 Freeway at Alondra Blvd. Bridge HAWAIIAN GARDENS By Randy Economy randy@cerritosnews.net
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he second of six segments in the massive reconstruction of the I-5 South Corridor Improvement Project kicked off officially on Monday morning with a groundbreaking ceremony that was attended by scores of elected officials with shovels in hand. Flocked by officials from the California Department of Transportation, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Supervisor Don Knabe, and many others gathered to commence the beginning of a $110 million project that they claim will Rick Land, Acting Chief Deputy Director, Caltrans; Rick Backlund, Associate Division Administra“significantly improve congestion and en- tor, Federal Highway Administration; Richard Katz, Board Chair, Southern California Regional Railroad Authority, Metrolink; Diane DuBois, 2nd VP, Board of Directors, Metro & Vice Mayor, hance safety on a heavily traveled corridor.” City of Lakewood; Antonio Villaraigosa, Board Chair, Metro & Mayor, City of Los Angeles; Don “Caltrans is making a solid investment in Knabe, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 4; Michael Mendez, Chair, I-5 Consorthis region’s transportation system that will tium Cities Joint Powers Authority, & Mayor, City of Norwalk; Mike Miles, District 7 Director, reduce traffic congestion on this corridor and Caltarns (LA and Ventura Counties); Steve De Ruse, Councilmember, City of La Mirada; Richard provide jobs,” said Caltrans Acting Director Moore, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Santa Fe Springs; Gene Daniels, 1st VP, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, & Vice Mayor, City of Paramount. Malcolm Dougherty. The I-5 Widening/Alondra Boulevard Bridge Project, the second of six segments in financing, including $72.2 million from shifts,” said Miles. Last fall, Caltrans began the first of six construction as part of the I-5 South Corridor Proposition 1B (Prop 1B) California’s 2006 I-5 corridor improvement projects totaling transportation bond; $27.2 million from state Improvement Projects, will add one carpool $1.6 billion from the Los Angeles/Orange transportation funds; $9.1 million from lane and one general purpose lane in each County line to the San Gabriel River FreeMetro’s Proposition C and Measure R; and direction from North Fork Coyote Creek to way (Interstate 605). On average, more than $830,000 from the FHWA. Marquardt Avenue, a distance of nearly one 220,000 vehicles travel this section of the I-5 "California voters approved Prop 1B to mile. The project also includes reconstructSouth Corridor daily. reduce traffic congestion and improve moing two bridges at Alondra Boulevard and The $380 million Carmenita Road InNorth Fork Coyote Creek to accommodate a bility,” said Metro Board Chair Villaraigowider freeway, redesigning ramp structures, sa. “We fought to ensure that Los Angeles terchange Project includes widening for and realigning Firestone Boulevard and County received its fair share of funds based carpool and general purpose lanes within a one-mile segment from Alondra Boulevard on population and traffic delays.” Freeway Drive frontage roads. At the event, Caltrans District 7 Direc- to Shoemaker Avenue, a new 10-lane CarCaltrans federal, regional and local transportation partners for the I-5 South Corri- tor Mike Miles and Metrolink Board Chair menita Bridge concrete structure, plus ramp dor Projects include Metro and the Federal Richard Katz announced collaboration be- and frontage road improvements. “Upon completion of all six segments, Highway Administration (FHWA), with the tween the agencies to provide traffic impact support of the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint mitigation during the estimated five-year motorists will benefit with more freeway caPowers Authority and the Gateway Cities construction period for I-5 South Corridor pacity, decreased congestion and travel times and better access to regional and commuter Improvement Projects. Council of Governments. “Our goal is to encourage and promote transit lines and carpool lanes,” said Art LeThe I-5 Alondra Boulevard Bridge segdocTODAY_AD10X3:Layout 1 6/14/11 10:58 PM Page 1 ment is funded by federal, state, and local lasting commuter transportation mode ahy, Metro Chief Executive Officer.
N e e d to S e e a
UNION PRESIDENT ARRESTED ON MOLESTATION CHARGES By Randy Economy
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red Licon, the president of the Hawaiian Garden Employees Union, AFSCME Local 3426, was arrested Tuesday morning on child molestation charges, Los Cerritos Community Newspaper has learned. Licon, 45, was arrested by the Major Crimes Unit at 8:00 a.m. on March 20 by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit and was taken into custody. He was booked at 10:52 a.m. and released Wednesday after posting a $250,000 bond. Licon is due in Bellflower Superior Court on April 20th for formal arraignment, according to arrest records from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Licon's Attorney Jeff Kent, said that the alleged victim is the daughter of his daughter’s boyfriend and confirmed that she is four years of age. “Mr. Licon is anxious to prove his innocence as to this allegation, and is horrified to even be suspected of such a hideous crime,” Kent told LCCN Thursday afternoon. Licon is an Artesia High School graduate and works as a code enforcement officer. Hawaiian Gardens spokesman Juan Garza from the consulting firm of Englander, Knabe and Allen said that “the City is aware that one of its employees has been arrested for alleged crimes which took place off-duty.” “The City is assessing the situation and will take appropriate administrative action. However, the City is not at liberty to publicly discuss personnel matters or information relating to an active criminal investigation,” the statement said.
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