In what is shaping up as the roughest and toughest election battle in the March 8 primary, Councilman Jose Huizar took a hit in La Opinion on Friday over turning over funds to the city that were intended for local community improvements.
Noting it took 10 months instead of the legally allowed 10 days to get the information under the California Public Records Act, the Spanish language daily reported (Google English translation) Huizar transferred “almost half of the $ 2.8 million he got from a special fund which, in theory, should be used exclusively on improvements for their community.” 
The money comes from the the CLARTS program because of a recycling center at Clement Junction and is supposes to be used to mitigate the impact of the transfer station and for other community benefits.
The Eastside community newspaper, the Voice, originally sought documents from Huizar’s office nearly a year ago but was stonewalled and the issue was taken up by the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council.
“We tried to get the information without success. We have asked the councilman in person,” said Jose Aguilar, president of the.Boyle Heights NC, who said the largely poor working class community has a long list of needs that could have been met with the money.
Huizar dismissed the questions raised in the LA Opinion article, saying: “I’ve always worked for transparency in government. This is part of the ‘dirty war’ election. They want to create controversy where none exists.”
Entrepreneur Rudy Martinez has put together the best-funded campaign against an incumbent in the March 8 primary to challenge Huizar, a long-time ally of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the City Council and in his previous role on the L.A. School Board.
Information leaked by the Huizar campaign has attempted to damage Martinez’ credibility over his role in opposing anti-tobacco legislation nearly 20 years ago and his possession several years ago of an LAPD badge.
The Eastside district == stretching from parts of downtown to Mount Washington and Eagle Rock – has a long history of fierce political fights dating back to the years Richard Alatorre represented the area and continuing through the election of Nick Pacheco who was defeated by Villaraigosa in 2003.
Huizar and Tom LaBonge, the feckless and often bewildered CD4 Councilman, are widely seen as the most vulnerable incumbents at a time when the city is slashing core public services and facing a deepening financial crisis.
LaBonge is being challenged by community activists Stephen Box and Tomas O’Grady who both have solid bases in a gerrymandered district that includes Los Feliz and Toluca Lake and parts of many other disconnected communities.
Both face deep questions about their effectiveness in dealing with local issues and their near-perfect records of support on citywide issues that have sparked intense controversies over planning, CRA projects and DWP policies.
Nowhere in the city are politics more contentious and personal than on the Eastside and the Huizar-Martinez race is certain to be marked by damaging revelations and mudslinging.
The mayor and city unions are lined up with Huizar while the activist community is rallying behind Martinez so the race is a test of whether the disenchantment and alienation so widely felt in the community will lead to an upset at the ballot box.
Full disclosure must be made on what those “community improvements” are!
If they include contracts with dance groups, street performers, art shows, taking cars to Mexico for auto shows or any other such idiocies, then this is just another tax payer boondoggle.
Some other councilmembers going back to when Wendy Greuel representated CD2 put special funds back into the General Fund to help out the budget deficit.
This sort of article which starts as usual with the subject assumed guilty and having bad intent gets us nowhere as far as a legitimate civic dialogue. And I think Sandy Sand has a point here – was this just a fund for the kinds of events that elsewhere you and other activists and gadflies deride as handouts to make the CM look good? Free PR for them?
Huizar’s been accused of more than his fair share in that regard, with all his Latino festivals like the superfluous El Grito (on top of Cinco de Mayo etc.) so this might actually be a good thing. IF you could ever admit such a thing exists when it comes to your usual targets. (Yes, you gave props to Jan Perry recently but how quickly you turn Krekorian – who always was just another efficient, clever, ambitious politician who catered to the loudest people in his distrist, the Sunland-Tujunga bunch in this case. Or that clown Zine you’re seeing is a two-face almost as bad as that unbelievably brazen Trutanich you turned into the people’s hero, no, into a biblical figure of truth, justice, and the American way, helping hoodwink the voters.)
You won’t admit it, but the Krekorians, Weiss’s and others who are openly ambitious but say what they mean and stick to it, not caving even if it’s unpopular (Krekorian and Weiss both being clever, well-spoken lawyers, Krekorian just more clever in courting his potential troublemakers, at least until he’s elected – but he never outright lied like “Clown Carmen”) at least have the skills, savvy and super-sharp staffs to get things done and hit the ground running. As soon as they don’t cater to YOU you turn on them!
All I want to know is why we have a City Attorney on the City’s payroll as the 9:15 a.m. commenter above who does no work except to be on blogs.
The revelation of the Huizar/CLARTS fund scandal will be his undoing. It is well known that he has been using CLARTS fund as hush money to pay off old staffers that have too much dirt on him.
The revelation of the Huizar/CLARTS fund scandal will be his undoing. It is well known that he has been using CLARTS fund as hush money to pay off old staffers that have too much dirt on him.
THank you Carlos MOrales from the Voice who has been relentless trying to get at the truth. Huizar has spent millions on his buddies from Zacaretas and giving over $1 million to Mexico artists. He and the Failure of a Mayor who campaigned on 80 neighborhood watches in CD14 is an OUTRIGHT LIE. Huizar has started his personal attacks against Martinez instead of answering to his constituents his lack of a record on any accomplishments. The Festival on Broadway has cost the taxpayers every year over $150,000 waived in special event fees even though there are over 25 corporate sponsors. The LA taxpayers every year pay over $100,000 for event fee on the East Los Angeles parade which is in the County just because it starts in the City and has only 5 blocks before entering County lines. HE has to put his photo up everywhere cause no one knows who Huizar is. He started a TJ Farmer’s Market that is a joke and turned the district into a 3rd World Country with out of control illegal vendors he supports.
9:15 includes lots with the apparent intent to defend Jose, but the inclusion of Jack Weiss as somehow demonstrating a positive element was a big misstep. Ex-CM Weiss would not be the one I’d pick for anything good in City Government. For months of hearing the audio side of many city council meetings, I have to say that I could not recognize his voice since he never spoke much, aside from the day that a Beach Boy founder received a presentation from the Council.
Jack was on the PLUM committeee (chaired by Ed Reyes CD-1, with Jose Huizar CD14) that ignored the Medical Marijuana Dispensary matter, letting applications sit for nearly two years until getting urgent complaints from neighborhoods of more MMDs beginning to spout up.
The main resolution of the MMDs was done by the entire City Council, with CM Huizar’s motion to eliminate the “hardship exemption” being the catalyst to a few hundred more MMDs filing applications and many setting up shop.
(And the enforcement of the ordinance created by the Council to regulate MMDs was enjoined in court proceeding this month.)
And the CMs up for reelection are digging in for tha last 3 months until the March 8 election. In CD-14, it looks like celebrations work well to gain favor with the residents. I don’t think it’s a proper use of tax dollars compared to other needs in the city, but that’s not the issue with a CM running for reelection.
As an enabling function for such CMs, Tuesday’s Council Agenda listed lots of transfers for council districts to fund assorted improvements. Is there anyone so naive as to think that CMs in will step up their service in even numbered districts without a thought to the impact on their campaigning for reelection.
CM LaBonge on Tuesday, had some $100,000 transferred to his district (Agenda ITEM NO. (18)
10-0011-S37 -CD 4) to tend to “project..improvments” and the like. CMs tend to push harder for higher visibility right before elections when it pays off in votes.
CM Huizar has his own requests in on that agenda, too, and the timing here is not coincidental but very functional. “Prompt Constituent Response = votes”
What ever happened to “transparency” that’s been used by CMs almost as often in council meetings as “We thank you for your leadership,” that has become simply devoid of any real meaning. Too many platitudes and not any action, at least not action for the city’s benefit.
If the CLARTS fund is being handled properly, then WHY all the evasion and side-stepping of addressing and disclosing this? LA-32, the NC in El Sereno, similarly was led to believe a disclosure would be forthcoming in a meeting where CM Huizar was expected to attend. He did not and the reponse his chief of staff, Ana Cubas, was entirely useless, serving more to embed the idea among the many assorted attendees that there MUST be some problem here.
That phrase, “We don’t have that information,” heard too many times at that meeting from Ms. Cubas was simply disingenuous as well as insulting in terms of common sense.
Jose’s reiteration of the position at a later community meeting was interesting. Paraphrasing his respons, “All that’s been shown is all that we have, and ther rest can be found from other sources,” doesn’t help matters. It was an entirely surprising response when, on its face, that does not seem plausible.
My advice to CD-14 constituents, and any other CM seeking reelection, is that if you want ANY SERVICE done by the CM or City, call the field offices and make your requests NOW when votes are a commodity that are being implicitly bartered for. And then you can still vote for change in March anyway.
Time for a change.
9:15 includes lots with the apparent intent to defend Jose, but the inclusion of Jack Weiss as somehow demonstrating a positive element was a big misstep. Ex-CM Weiss would not be the one I’d pick for anything good in City Government. For months of hearing the audio side of many city council meetings, I have to say that I could not recognize his voice since he never spoke much, aside from the day that a Beach Boy founder received a presentation from the Council.
Jack was on the PLUM committeee (chaired by Ed Reyes CD-1, with Jose Huizar CD14) that ignored the Medical Marijuana Dispensary matter, letting applications sit for nearly two years until getting urgent complaints from neighborhoods of more MMDs beginning to spout up.
The main resolution of the MMDs was done by the entire City Council, with CM Huizar’s motion to eliminate the “hardship exemption” being the catalyst to a few hundred more MMDs filing applications and many setting up shop.
(And the enforcement of the ordinance created by the Council to regulate MMDs was enjoined in court proceeding this month.)
And the CMs up for reelection are digging in for tha last 3 months until the March 8 election. In CD-14, it looks like celebrations work well to gain favor with the residents. I don’t think it’s a proper use of tax dollars compared to other needs in the city, but that’s not the issue with a CM running for reelection.
As an enabling function for such CMs, Tuesday’s Council Agenda listed lots of transfers for council districts to fund assorted improvements. Is there anyone so naive as to think that CMs in will step up their service in even numbered districts without a thought to the impact on their campaigning for reelection.
CM LaBonge on Tuesday, had some $100,000 transferred to his district (Agenda ITEM NO. (18)
10-0011-S37 -CD 4) to tend to “project..improvments” and the like. CMs tend to push harder for higher visibility right before elections when it pays off in votes.
CM Huizar has his own requests in on that agenda, too, and the timing here is not coincidental but very functional. “Prompt Constituent Response = votes”
What ever happened to “transparency” that’s been used by CMs almost as often in council meetings as “We thank you for your leadership,” that has become simply devoid of any real meaning. Too many platitudes and not any action, at least not action for the city’s benefit.
If the CLARTS fund is being handled properly, then WHY all the evasion and side-stepping of addressing and disclosing this? LA-32, the NC in El Sereno, similarly was led to believe a disclosure would be forthcoming in a meeting where CM Huizar was expected to attend. He did not and the reponse his chief of staff, Ana Cubas, was entirely useless, serving more to embed the idea among the many assorted attendees that there MUST be some problem here.
That phrase, “We don’t have that information,” heard too many times at that meeting from Ms. Cubas was simply disingenuous as well as insulting in terms of common sense.
Jose’s reiteration of the position at a later community meeting was interesting. Paraphrasing his respons, “All that’s been shown is all that we have, and ther rest can be found from other sources,” doesn’t help matters. It was an entirely surprising response when, on its face, that does not seem plausible.
My advice to CD-14 constituents, and any other CM seeking reelection, is that if you want ANY SERVICE done by the CM or City, call the field offices and make your requests NOW when votes are a commodity that are being implicitly bartered for. And then you can still vote for change in March anyway.
Time for a change.
Eagle Rock, not to get into any other points, and you are an avowed foe of Weiss so what would be the point – but I for one, appreciate the fact he isn’t one to gas on and on! I’d take that over someone like Janice Hahn any day! She jabbers on and on, always bangs her button and complains about running out of time, on anything, in order to openly play to the audience and play for applause. She pretends it’s because she wants to listen, even pitting herself against other councilmembers who she posits as not being willing to put in the time – but it’s really about HER. (Today Krekorian called her out on putting him on the spot by rushing it up on the day’s schedule before he and his colleagues had a chance to study the LAWA matter. Her wanting them to ask questions ad nauseum, he pointed out, was no substitute.)
How many of these councilpeople DO YOU want to hear gas on, anyway? Cardenas and Alarcon the way they call even staff on the carpet, like Cardenas did to the guy from LAWA today? Tom La Bonge, and his prescient insights? Would you like Denny P Z-man Zine to opine at length about how he feels he’s qualified to become Controller because he’s a former street cop, what have you? Even Garcetti, with his polished, clever patter delivered with breakneck speed. (You have to give him credit for having figured out how he can’t be interrupted on talk shows by talking too fast). Weiss seemed like someone who worked quickly and efficiently. That presentation to one of the Beach Boys was a rare one for him – unlike, say, again Hahn or La Bonge. Isn’t it a common complaint that they generally drag on too long on Friday mornings, making the public there for specific agenda items, wait?
But I grant you, unfortunately, the ones who do use their time in council to advance their own views on everything, and talk too much, do seem to benefit and I think Weiss would have done himself a service by learning to waste more time.
12:56 PM is Jack Weiss.
What is truly unfortunate is there are great activists in each district that should have filed to run against the morons and losers called “council members” now. However, they knew what lied ahead and Huizar the “little man syndrome” corrupt loving Mexico idiot started early out of the gate attacking Martinez. Its backfiring though cause people know he’s trying to deflect from his lack of a record of accomplishments. He’s done nothing in CD14 but spend millions on his croonies, his campaign promise was to AUDIT all the corrupt non profits and hasn’t done it, get rid of the illegal vendors, hasn’t done it, accepts campaign donations from businesses like the Deljani Family in downtown LA then names a street corner after them. Huizar has so much corrupt developer business going on its only a matter of time the media jumps on it. If the LA Slimes wants to pic up their paper distribution, I suggest they get off their asses and stop playing the pr spin for the Failure of a Mayor and go after the corrupt stories on the incumbents like Huizar
“In theory…”…Can we say “Class Struggle”…”Weasel Hood” is taking from the poor to give to his cronies…Wake up East L.A./El Sereno!..These politicos have been manipulating an economic system that funnels monetary surpluses toward their own pockets…I guess Huizar felt we could sacrifice a bit more, and transfer the “excess” loot to the City coffers…Ladies and Gents, what we are witnessing here, is how an economic system allows these protectors of capitalism (i.e., managers, administrators, councilmember, mayors) to hoodwink their constituents, and rob them of their humanity. We have only one choice, vote the bums out!
Mr Martinez,
Glad to have met your acquaintance. I referred some new friends of mine who reside in CD14 over to your website.
Thank you for your commitment to your community and to our City of Los Angeles.
I’m david barron a City employee who has strong opposing views of the way this (mayor) and City Council are steering this City to near bankruptcy, causing homeowners to fall into foreclosure, personal bankruptcy, and causing tenants to be evicted from their apartments because of loss of employment.
However, there are probably at least 15 council members and a (mayor) who will be assured a very Merry Christmas with their families.
A CD6 resident
Friendly advice to anyone seeking public records: Look up a sample Request for Public Records Request (Govt Code 6250). Under this type of request, the City can be taken to court for not responding in a timely manner.
The question wasn’t answered WHERE the CLARTS money went to. You state Huizar transferred over $2million. Huizar also has the worse record of employee turnover. In two years something like 9 employees or more left. How can we get the council offices AUDITED? I know Wendy Greuesome and Trutanich were fighting over that issue but the people of this city are entitled to know how their tax payer money is being spent. Can we file a Public Records document for that? Or better yet get State Controller John Chiang to audit the entire CITY
The law is 10 days to get public records? I have been trying for more than a year to get some records from Councilmember Ed Reyes office.
I sure would like to know why Reyes gave the Catholic church a letter “encouraging” them to take legal action against me. The church lost. Reyes has egg all over his face.
I am still waiting for those records.
Huizar and Cardenas are, statistically speaking, the most vulernable incumbents: each won his last election by the narrowest of margins, namely, 2,096 and 1,178 votes, respectively.
I predict LaBonge will be re-elected. Bad as he is, his challengers are just too “out there” for the average voter.
Hey Huizar! What are you going to do about all the vehicles that run the red left arrow signal at the Valley Grade Separation Bridge (VGSB)? The other day I saw two semi-trucks, and five cars run the red left arrow light turning Southeast. My neighbor witnessed the same phenomenon on a different occasion where two cars almost collided. Not to mention all the traffic accidents that have already occurred at this juncture…I guess if our political representatives are allowed to break laws, then it’s OK for drivers to do the same….Huizar…I am definitely voting for the other candidate!
The most hilarious thing a councilmember has done in office? Huizar puts stickers on the toys at his giveaways to let everyone know where they came from because he’s not known in the district. Even with a sticker with his name and info no one still knows who the hell he is. Martinez should have his campaign staff go through all the special event waivers in CD14 to find out the millions over the years Huizar has been in office that have been waived to friends and because political campaign donations
To 10:01 a.m., our police department is too busy making money giving the easy tickets. Easy to clock someone 10 miles above the speed limit with a radar gun, or not stopping long enough at a stop sign with an undisputable ticket. Meanwhile, most of us are nearly getting killed with serious offences that should be ticketed. This is one of the main reasons, I’m against increased police budget. They are either making aan easy living with traffic tickets or undertakers after muders.
I heard there was another accident today at Deadman’s Curve in El Sereno. Huizar fix the S-Curve! Every single councilmember of CD14 over the years has failed to mitigate this road hazard. You fix the S-Curve, you get my vote!
5:47pm Did it ever dawn on your lame brain that when ever people are ticketed whether for jay walking on the sign that says “Don’t Walk” or for blowing threw red lights, having check points all over the city for DUI,the police are trying to save lives? Ask a police officer how it feels when they roll up on a call and view a kid who was hit by a driver and is lying there dead. I went to a meeting and people stated they’ve seen more more pedistrians getting hit, people getting killed by drunk drivers, and more pedistrians crossing in the middle of the street almost getting slammed. I got a ticket for speeding and I will say from then on I’ve slowed down. Its a deterent to make people slow down and take the laws of the road seriously.