L.A. City News · @lacitynews
22nd Feb 2011 from Twitlonger
"PENSION FRAUD" NOTES: Here are stories I will be reading and tying together for upcoming blog post on http://LACityNews.com. Hi, Gloria!:
Barrio Planners, Inc. is a private for profit corporation, the only way they can be audited is by them volunteering their books or through a federal investigation by the FBI and an assigned Deputy Attorney General - just like the ones prosecuting Albert Robles from South Gate. Usually somebody in the organization will sing to get immunity, and that is where most of the illicit acitivities are brought out to the open - this is exactly what is happening in the Robles case. If there is enough suspicion - not even evidence - a Deputy AG can obtain a federal search warrant and confiscate any and all material from Barrio Planners offices. Since Gloria Molina and her husband are involved Cooley won't dare take such action. But then again he doesn't need to since we are talking about federal money. As such, any investigation falls directly under the AG's office.
Investigators usually try and tie in either large donations or large purchases. Gloria and Ron have been busy buying up beach front property in Ventura County and snatching up apartment buildings in the San Gabriel Valley, funny since Ron's business - PeopleWorks recently went under. And SVREP has never had the kind of money that would facilitate the raffle of a brand new car.
Just some more connections between Barrio Planners and Molina's office. Alma Martinez old college roomate works for Barrio Planners and is married to Frank Villalobos brother; Gloria's Health Deputy, Martha Molina - no relation, has a sister working for Barrio Planners; and Gloria's husband has long been on Barrio lanners payroll - even if it is off the books - with the kind of money he's made, it shouldn't be hard to track down. BTW, Ron Martinez was Tony's best man at his wedding. It's all in the family, typical East L.A. politics.
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How D.A.'s Office Failed to Follow Up on Graft Allegations
An influential L.A. lobbyist's name surfaced in accounts of bribery and other illegality, but leads were dismissed. He denies any wrongdoing.
Los Angeles Times
October 23, 2003
Asked for comment, Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley acknowledged that his subordinates might have mishandled the leads on Gastelum. "I think your scenario indicates maybe a ball was dropped, but I would never suggest, I would have no sense, it was done for the wrong reasons," he said.
"If you're asking why we don't run out and try to interview the husband of a member of the Board of Supervisors (Ron Martinez) or an airport commissioner ... well, maybe that's part of the answer right there," said Scott Goodwin, another prosecutor on the case.
There's is much more to this Florida story than meets the eye. Wait and see how reporters will savage Tony tomorrow in front of Kerry. Because of Cooley's selective investigation, perhaps a Federal Attorney General needs to get involved - a good chunk of airport is federal.
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Big legal fight shaping up over Vernon
Posted: 02/20/2011 07:49:09 PM PST
Updated: 02/20/2011 07:52:58 PM PST
It is the newest full employment act for Los Angeles lawyers, lobbyists and consultants.
AB 46 by Assembly Speaker John Perez would, in effect, end Vernon as an independent city.
With hearings coming soon, Vernon has been lawyering up, as they say, to fight the proposal.
Perez introduced the measure last year, seeking to disincorporate Vernon, which has been the subject of numerous investigations over allegations of improprieties.
Vernon is an industrial enclave with 95 residents - many of whom are said to have received preferential rental rates and other inducements.
Now, Perez said, the city is seeking to improve its image to head off the legislation and has been fighting proposals from the city of Los Angeles, which is looking at trying a "friendly" annexation of the city.
Perez aides say that Vernon has had more than 34 law firms work for it since 2002 - more than the number of households in the city.
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Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, who has made no secret of his desire to serve on the City Council if there is an opening, has hired Greuel's communication director to serve as his chief of staff.
Ben Golombek, who worked for Greuel when she was on the City Council and moved over to the Controller's office with her, leaves in two weeks to become Fuentes' deputy chief of staff in Sacramento.
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Supervisors back constitutional amendment that would restrict who can live in Vernon
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/supervisors-back-restrictions-on-who-can-live-in-vernon.html
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UN-MAGIC JOHNSON:
http://www.ballerstatus.com/2011/02/09/magic-johnson-yucaipa-companies-invest-in-vibe-magazine/
Vibe Holdings, the company behind Vibe magazine, announced Wednesday (February 9) Magic Johnson and business magnate Ron Burkle's The Yucaipa Companies have made a substantial investment.
Both Johnson and Yucaipa join the company's existing owner, InterMedia Partners, which also consists of Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine and the iconic "Soul Train" TV show.
(Wonder how THAT investment went?)
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PENSION FRAUD BLUEPRINT MAP OF CONNECT THE DOTS - : Yucaipa-Companies
http://www.muckety.com/Yucaipa-Companies/5002213.muckety
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Marcos A. Rodriguez
Mr. Rodriguez founded Palladium Equity Partners in 1997 and serves as managing partner.
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FRED BUENROSTRO
Jan 28, 2003 - The New America Alliance also played an active role in pushing for the recent appointment of Fred R. Buenrostro Jr. to head the California pension ... Hollywood producer Moctesuma Esparza, whose movie credits include "Selena" and " Gettysburg"; and Texas oilman and 2002 Democratic ...
From A Quiet Force for Diversity; Group Lobbies on Behalf of Hispanics in High … - Related web pages
pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access ...
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MOCTESUMA ESPARZA APPOINTED BY VILLARAIGOSA TO LAHSA
Moctesuma Esparza - LAHSA - Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Moctesuma Esparza was appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa to the Los Angeles ... Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Esparza has not forgotten his ...
www.lahsa.org/commissioners_MoctesumaEsparza.asp
Palladium Equity Partners | Operating Executives
Moctesuma Esparza. Mr. Esparza is the chairman and chief executive .... (when it was a Palladium Equity Partners portfolio business), eJets, Gobabies, ...
www.palladiumequity.com/executives.asp
THESE ARE THE LINKS I PULLED TO READ THROUGH AND TIE TOGETHER INTO UPCOMING POSTS AT http://LACityNews.com