FEBRUARY 15, 2013
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VOL. 2, NO. 7
CERRITOS Owes Campaign Cash to Convicted Political Figures SALES TAX REVENUE INCREASES DIRTY WATER: Central Basin Directors Vasquez, Roybal
By Randy Economy and Brian Hews
randy@cerritosnews.net publisher@cerritosnews.net
R
ecently elected Central Water District Board Directors Leticia Vasquez and James Roybal ran on a campaign of “cleaning up the corruption” at the besieged public agency that serves millions of residents throughout South East Los Angeles county. They pounded their respective opponents, incumbents Rudy Montalvo and Ed Vasquez in campaign materials that painted the two as having cozy relationships with “cohorts and partners in crime.” What Vasquez and Roybal didn’t tell voters, exposed last week in LCCN, is that the two people overseeing and directing their campaigns have convictions for political crimes in the past. Former felon Ricardo “Rick” Mayer, and political consultant Angel Gonzalez, who donated huge sums of money, were the two key figures responsible for getting
Courtesy Photos Central Basin Municipal Water District candidates Leticia Vasquezand and James Roybal. Vasquez and Roybal elected. And both Roybal and Vasquez now owe the two a lot of money. An examination by LCCN of the California Form 460 Form F, which documents Accrued Expenses and Unpaid Bills, show that both Vasquez and Roybal owe the two convicted figures more than $40,000. Vasquez told state officials
Tesoro to Take Over ARCO Offices in La Palma New tenant will bring in much needed revenue. By Rico Dizon
T
he City of La Palma may yet regain its huge loss in sales tax revenues brought about by the pull out of BP/ARCO's fuel sales group in the third quarter of last year that precariously put the City almost to the brink of fiscal emergency. After the infamous oil rig debacle in the Gulf of Mexico four years ago, BP (British Petroleum) had to sell its refinery in the City of Carson and its ARCO retail network in the Southwest. The buyer is the Tesoro Companies, Inc. who most recently ex-
pressed willingness to bring back its ARCO sales and marketing operations to the same location in La Palma –a seven-story building at Centerpointe Drive and Valley View Boulevard and very close to 91 Freeway. The La Palma City Council meeting on Feb. 5 approved the recommendation by Community Development Director Douglas Dumhart to adopt a resolution approving an Operating Covenant with Tesoro. In his report, Dumhart said Tesoro has negotiated a lease agreement with TA Realty Fund for 22,491 gross sq. at 6 Centerpointe Dr. The space comprises the en-
See BP/ARCO page 7
that she still owes Gonzalez at least $18,399 for campaign signs and mailing costs, more than eight months after being elected last June. Roybal owes $22,878 to Mayer in expenses. Los Cerritos Community Newspaper has been told by several sources that both Mayer and Gonzalez could be rewarded for
their connections with Vasquez and Roybal by being granted consulting contracts that could bring in hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. Since taking office on January 7th, 2013, in less than one month, Roybal and Vasquez joined ranks with long-time Director Bob Apodaca and created a new “voting bloc majority” at Central Basin. Within one week of being sworn into office, the three fired Chief Operating Officer Chuck Fuentes, along with Assistant to General Manager Ron Beilke and Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman. They also ordered all contracts to be reviewed. The three also changed the Administrative Code and removed President Art Chacon from overseeing the Board just barely one week after he was seated for the position. Roybal is now serving as president of the five-member board. The three also immediately removed CBMWD Director and
See DIRTY WATER page 7
ARTESIA CITY COUNCIL HONORS LIFE OF MARIA VELADOR
The Artesia City Council presented a Certificate of Recognition to the family of Maria Velador, who recently passed away. Velador was a bus driver with the Old Timer’s Foundation, and her service to the seniors was recognized post mortem. The meeting was also adjourned in her memory. Photo by Andrew Perry.
T
he City of Cerritos’ sales tax revenue increased by 12.3 percent for the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter in 2011, according to a recent report by HdL Companies. HdL Companies also reported that taxable sales for all of Los Angeles County increased by 5.8 percent, and sales tax revenues for the Southern California region as a whole rose by 6.7 percent. HdL Companies attributed Cerritos’ double-digit sales revenue tax increase to the Cerritos Auto Square’s continued strong sales and leasing activity for new vehicles. Retail spending on women’s and family apparel, sporting goods and on items purchased at department stores in Cerritos also increased. Higher sales at restaurants in Cerritos were also cited as contributing to the increase in revenue. A larger allocation from the countywide use tax pool also contributed to the increase. Danny McKenna, the owner of McKenna Volkswagen Cerritos, moved his dealership to Cerritos in 2009 and recently added 2,033 square feet to the showroom area. He also invested in remodeling the building and upgrading the landscaping. McKenna said: “Cerritos gets it. The City of Cerritos works to make the Cerritos Auto Square better and stronger. It’s a joy to work with the City Council and staff. I’m really proud to be an owner in the Cerritos Auto Square.” The HdL Companies forecast continued robust sales of new autos for the next few quarters as consumers replace older, less fuel efficient models and take advantage of record low interest rates.
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