10 JULY 27, 2012
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SHOOTING THE MESSENGER Continued from page 1
calculated and orchestrated (with the council) political payback scheme to intentionally inflict financial damage on LCCN. The reason, Shoot the Messenger: LCCN writing about his battery charge (P.C. 242) against Jay Gray, a story Barrows called a complete lie but one we all now know is true. Following is a chronological order of the meeting with timestamps in parentheses. You can view the meeting online at the city’s website and judge for yourself. Barrows talked about $16 million in expenses (at 1:06:40) and suddenly began talking about the $250,000 city print advertising budget (which is .0025% of the overall budget). He talked about “how it is duplicated, how there is no evidence of benefits to the city”. One high-ranking staffer at the meeting told LCCN, “that came out of left field we did not know where he (Bar (Barrows) was coming from.” Barrows then pointed to Pulido and said “…Mark this is to address your Sky Knight issue…. I would like to have the council eliminate the city print advertising from the budget.” At (1:08:05) Barrows said if you (Council) do not vote to eliminate the city’s print advertising budget, I will not vote for Sky Knight, his direct quote, “ if we do that (cut advertising) I will vote to restore funding for Sky Night because that is where the money should come from.” Next to speak was Councilwomen Chen (1:14:35). Chen spoke for eight minutes about how Cerritos staff did a great job of streamlining the budget, and needing to find new revenue streams. At 1:22: 11, like Barrows and Pulido, she abruptly started talking about the .0025 % advertising budget and how we should “cut print advertising and move to online sources.” After Chen finished, Pulido talked about $2.5 million employees cost and (at 1:25:15) again abruptly asked about the print advertising budget and “thanked Cho and Barrows for bringing up the print advertising cut to cover Sky Knight.” Pulido asked (at 1:29:00) what the impact of the print advertising cut would be on the CCPA ticket sales. CCPA Executive Director Dianne Cheney (at 1:32:42) said, “we used to get 60-70% of our ticket sales from the first two brochures, but that has changed substantially. People are buying tickets closer to the event date. We also get advanced coverage in newspapers with previews and interviews, that helps too”. Pulido thanked Ms. Cheney (at 1:39:25) and inexplicably said, “….it sounds like the brochure is the main vehicle for ticket sales, all additional advertising is a bonus.” This is minutes af after Ms. Cheney told Pulido that brochure sales have dropped “significantly”. Selective hearing on Pulido’s part. Pulido went on to say “I would rather support the pleasure of my colleagues and restore Sky Knight…like to make the motion to reinstate the budget…if it comes specifically from print advertising I am favorable to that”. Barrows again chimed in and for the
second time (at 1:42:05) said, “ if we don’t do it (cut the print advertising budget) I won’t vote to reinstate Sky Knight. Pulido then (at 1:44:34) made a motion, “…to restore $220,000 to fund Sky Knight with $220,000 coming out of city advertising funds inclusive of the CCPA”. Barrows is heard correcting Mark to “make sure it was from city advertising”. Pulido went on, “I am open to cut advertising dollars to restore Sky Knight”. Immediately after that Mayor Edwards (who never debated the topic but voted yes anyway) brought the motion to the floor. Barrows did not let Edwards get the word second out before he seconded it, and the council voted 5-0. This is shameless political payback of the worst kind, trying to stamp out freedom of the press. The $220,000 is .0025% of the budget; yet the entire council singled out that part of the budget, debated it for 20 minutes (out of 90 minutes), and voted to specifically cut city print advertising. Even if it hurt ticket sales of the CCPA. Barrows, the obvious ringleader, said three times that I will not pass the budget unless we cut the city print advertising budget, that is verbatim. So loyal LCCN readers, here is a councilperson who committed battery on a resident, who called this paper a liar (when it was true), who then orchestrated a payback scheme to injure the paper financially, and proceeded to hold the budget hostage until the entire council voted to “cut print advertising” (in his own words). Councilman Cho commented at the meeting “why are we talking about such small items when we have bigger things to talk about.” Wonder indeed.
ACTIVATE H.G.
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versing the “staggering” problem of obesity among Hawaiian Gardens children. Dr. Sieu said “Activate Hawaiian Gardens” would be launched during the 2012-13 school year.” For more information on the program contact Alexander Khananashvil at 562-303110 or AK@tri-cityrmc.ora. In other business the school bard approved an agreement with John Wesley County Hospital Institute, Inc. to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of $350,000. The district’s portion of the grant will be $250,000. The grant, if approved, the District will use its share of the grant to renovate and expand the Fedde International Academy’s Community Resource Center, adding three examination rooms, a waiting room, nurses station, lab and two offices for mental health counselors. Upon completion JWCH will provide primary pediatric care to members of the community. The Grant is part of the Health/Behavioral Health Center funded by the Mental Health Services Act. The Board also approved a request to submit an application for the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s and a Small Community Transformation Grant in the amount of $1.3 million. Purpose of the Grant is to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases through a variety of community based policies, programs and interventions to promote healthier lifestyles. These include tobacco-free living, active living and healthy eating, quality clinical and preventative services, social and emotional wellness, and healthy and safe physical environment.
FOUNTAIN PLAZA CENTER
Continued from page 1
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community leaders to reverse the problem of obesity among Hawaiian Gardens' children. Jay Geer, Tri City representative, told the Board that one-third of all U.S. adults and 17 percent of children are obese. In Hawaiian Gardens, he said the child obesity rate is 32.9 percent and climbing. “Obesity is now classified as a public health medical emergency in every community in the country,” he stated. “”The health effects of obesity can bring on premature death, diabetes, heart disease and overall health problems generation after generation.” Geer noted the city has expanded exercise programs, improved on-site diet choices and encouraged more activity among children and youth. He also applauded ABC’s partnership with many national and local programs to address children obesity. However, he said no single effort works alone. Schools, home, community, childcare and health care delivery systems all need to integrate into a comprehensive continuum of care to achieve success. “Single solutions are ineffective.” “There is a necessity to organize special educational programs for preschool and kindergarten kids. Special pilot programs with Aloha, Hawaiian, Melbourne, Furgeson and/ or preschools, churches and afternoon programs will be formulated with the goal of re-
for the construction portion of the project is $300,000. Funding for this portion of the project has been earmarked from a reimbursement of maintenance and servicing the City recently received as part of the Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions of 1992 and 1996. In other business the council approved a recommendation from Community and Safety Services discounting Green Fees for veterans on Veteran’s Day, Sept. 11, at Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course. The issue was brought forth by a resident who became aware of a similar program offered at golf courses operated by the Los Angeles County Recreation Services Superintendent Sherre Titus said the Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously voted for the discount. Currently the fee for residents is $10.50, non-residents pay $12.50. The proposed Discount Rate for residents will be $5.25 and for non-residents $6.25. The Council also concurred with the League of California Cities in support of SB 1987 prohibiting junk dealers and recyclers from possessing manhole covers, backflow devices and fire hydrants with-
out written certification from the owner of the material. The bill would relieve junk dealers recyclers from the responsibility of determining whether or not any of the three items in question are stolen since the items would no longer be eligible for recycling without proper certification. Failure to comply with this provision is a criminal fine of up to $3,000. Staff was instructed to write a letter in support of the bill to Assembly Appropriation Committee, Senator Emerson who introduced the bill, and our representatives in the Assembly and Senate.
PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION Continued from page 1
006-003 which had a roll value of $1.230, 648,353. It was reduced to $775,565,000, a decline of 36%. The same property had a 2002 Roll Value of $1,219,140,634 and it was reduced down again to $994,168,046, a decline of 18%. It was slashed a third time in the summer of 2011 from $1,091,314,986 to $112,024,675 , an astounding decline of 89%. “The Assessor’s Office and the Assessment Appeals Board heard the cases argued by Ayoob and had six months to appeal the ruling but decided not to,” one source told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper on the condition of anonymity. Ayoob refused comment to LCCN on Wednesday. LCCN Publisher Brian Hews also contacted Ayoob via email to get his comments on the over $1 billon reduction in assessed value, but the request went unanswered. LCCN can also confirm that two of Noguez top lieutenants Mark McNeil, exChief of Major Appraisals and his supervisor Eric Haagenson directed the reduction under Noguez. Noguez is out on a paid leave of absence, and McNeil and Haagenson have been suspended from their taxpayer paid jobs recently. Ayoob, a native of Southern California, joined the firm of Ajalat, Polley, Ayoob & Matarese in 1981. He became a partner in the firm in 1985. On his company website he touts that he “represents many of the world’s largest companies including Wal-Mart and Exxon Mobil.” Ayoob also boasts that he “recently resolved a property tax matter resulting in what we believe is the largest property tax refund in Los Angeles County history.” Ayoob and his partners are located in Glendale and lists an influential list of clients ranging from BP/AMOCO, EXXON Mobil, the Los Angeles Times, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, to the Walt Disney Company and Warner Brothers Studio.
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