Gardena Watch

Newly elected Gardena officials confirmed in final vote tally

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:40:00 +0000

The winners of Gardena's March 5 election were confirmed Thursday after a tally of all provisional and late vote-by-mail ballots. Mayor Paul Tanaka will retain his seat for a third term, and Councilwoman Tasha Cerda also will remain on the City Council. Former Mayor Terrence Terauchi won the seat vacated by Councilman Ron Ikejiri, who was termed out of office. Realtor Mina Semenza won the city clerk's position and J. Ingrid Tsukiyama will remain as city treasurer. The newly elected officials will be sworn in at a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19. - Sandy Mazza http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_22791686/newly-elected-gardena-officials-confirmed-final-vote-tally?source=email

Ballistic vests sold to Cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:49:00 +0000

Federal investigative records show that U.S. Customs Service agents learned in 2002 that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department used the City of Gardena to funnel hundreds of bullet-proof vests to Cambodian police. At the time, Undersheriff Paul Tanaka was a Gardena councilman; today, he serves as the city’s mayor. Federal authorities released the records to The Times under the Freedom of Information Act after making numerous redactions.See attached document. LA Times, March 7, 2013 http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/611889/ice-foia-response.pdf

"...Paul Tanaka said that he has no plans to run for Los Angeles County Sheriff...But then again, Tanaka also said repeatedly that he was not running for Mayor of Gardena.”

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:11:00 +0000

HE’S OUT Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, the #2 person in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department command structure, right under Sheriff Lee Baca, announced his resignation on Wednesday during the sheriff’s Executive Planning Committee. Department sources said that the announcement was stunningly unexpected, and was greeted by most in the room with genuine shock. A press release was hastily put out on Wed mid-afternoon. It began: Undersheriff Paul Tanaka today announced his retirement to the Sheriff and the Department’s executive staff. His retirement will be effective August 1, 2013…. The August 1 exit date was likely picked because it is shortly after the undersheriff’s 55th birthday in July. Fifty-five is the magic age for LA County employees who wish to get their full retirement. The undersheriff has been with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for 33 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHYS AND WHEREFORES Of course the real question is not so much when Mr. Tanaka is leaving, as it is why? It is hard to find a more polarizing figure in contemporary Los Angeles law enforcement than Paul Tanaka. Until recently, Tanaka has been viewed as a sort-of shadow sheriff, the person behind Sheriff Lee Baca whom many saw as holding the real power in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. WitnessLA’s Matt Fleischer first broke the news in December 2011 that the largely unknown Mr. Tanaka wielded a startling amount of control in the LASD, which—-with 18,000 employees—is the largest sheriff’s department in the world, and runs the nation’s largest jail system. Since our report Tanaka has come under scrutiny by the FBI for his part in what has been described as a culture of violence inside Men’s Central Jail, and he may also be the focus of a federal grand jury probe into allegations that LASD management ordered jails personnel to hide an FBI informant from his handlers by moving the man in secret from place to place inside the county jail system, using a string of phony names and false inmate ID numbers. Starting in early 2012, WitnessLA issued a series of additional reports on what was widely perceived inside the department as a system of patronage run by Mr. Tanaka, in which loyalty and, in many cases, cash donations to Tanaka’s political campaigns, were rewarded when it came to promotions—instead of merit. (NOTE: Along with being the LASD undersheriff, Tanaka is the mayor of the city of Gardena.) (See reports here, here and here.) In February, the reports caused Supervisor Gloria Molina to introduce a motion to prohibit county supervisors from asking for or accepting campaign contributions. As the year wore on, the Citizen’s Commission on Jail Violence—which included four federal judges and a chief of police—delved further into the undersheriff’s practices as they investigated the jail violence in general. In their final report, issued in September 2012, the commission stopped just short of ordering the sheriff to fire Tanaka and they critiqued what they saw as the undersheriff’s mismanagement and misconduct in the harhest of terms: “The troubling role of Undersheriff Tanaka cannot be ignored. Not only did he fail to identify and correct problems in the jails, he exacerbated them. The Commission learned about his ill-advised statements and decisions from a wide array of witnesses and sources. Over the course of several years, the Undersheriff encouraged deputies to push the legal boundaries of law enforcement activities and created an environment that discouraged accountability for misconduct. His repeated statements that deputies should work in an undefined “grey” area contributed to a perception by some deputies that they could use excessive force in the jails and that their aggressive behavior would not result in discipline” The 194-page report goes on in that vein, including a description of the “belief” among deputies regarding the undersheriff “that patronage and favoritism matter more than merit.” Shortly after the report was delivered, the sheriff forced into retirement many of those who who had some responsibility for the deputy-abuse-of-jail-inmates scandal—most notably Assistant Sheriff Marvin Cavanaugh, and Chief of Custody Operations. Dennis Burns—he seemed stubbornly disinclined to hold his second-in-command accountable, telling the Citizen’s Commission during his testimony last year, that he had no intention of getting rid of the undersheriff, that he was too crucial, particularly when it cames to balancing the department’s $2.5 billion budget. “Paul Tanaka is uniquely suited to be the undersheriff,” Baca said. “When you go through two recessions, you need a CPA.” Among his other skills, Tanaka is a certified public accountant. Nevertheless, in response to the commission’s allegations, the sheriff announced that the department had launched an internal affairs investigation into the undersheriff’s conduct. He also insisted that, from there on out, the undersheriff would mostly be the department’s CFO applying his magic to the budget, but would have no longer have any control over the jails or the patrol divisions, or the investigative bureaus like internal affairs. Yet, at the same time, as recently as late last October, Baca continued to defend Tanaka both in public and in private. As the year came to a close, however, Baca’s attitude reportedly took a measurable turn. Sources inside and close to the department tell us of “an uneasy rift” between Mr. Tanaka and the sheriff in the last few months, which became “very noticeable” before Christmas 2012. “I think that all the things began to add up for the sheriff,” said one source. “The talk of pay-to-play, the cigar club, the whole thing of working the grey, the way the federal investigations were handled, the problems in the jails, and all the rest.” Another source said that Baca was also upset when Tanaka, who had told the sheriff that he would not run for mayor of Gardena again, pulled out of the race late after registering–thus scaring off most other candidates, and causing his name to remain on the all-ready ballot. Then, although he professed non-interest, he allowed a surrogate fundraising and campaign in his behalf to be launched by the Gardena police, complete with a rash of Tanaka yard signs blooming on lawns all over the city. Tanaka was easily re-elected mayor of Gardena on Tuesday. His retirement was abruptly announced on Wednesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SO WHO LEFT WHOM? According to Sheriff’s department spokesman Steve Whitmore, the decision to leave was entirely Tanaka’s alone, and the sheriff himself only learned of the undersheriff’s retirement plans on Tuesday, the day before the announcement. Mr. Whitmore said that Mr. Tanaka has chosen to retire in order to spend more time with his family.“When I talked to him about it,” said Whitmore, “he pointed to a picture of his three-and-a-half year old son that sits behind his desk and told me, ‘That’s why!’ You have to remember, the undersheriff is 54, so he didn’t become a father until he was past 50.” The department “is losing a dedicated public servent,” said Whitmore. “He will be sorely missed. His departure leaves a big hole.” Whitmore said that the internal affairs investigation into allegations against Tanaka will continue, despite the undersheriff’s announcement. He also said that in Tanaka’s time remaining on the job he will shepherd the department’s budget to its completion date in June. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT EFFECT WILL TANAKA’S DEPARTURE HAVE? If Paul Tanaka’s resignation/retirement leaves a hole, as Steve Whitmore suggests, what does that newly-opened gap portend? Miriam Krinsky, the Jail’s Commission’s executive director, reiterated the “troubling reports” about Tanaka that the commission uncovered in the course of its investigations, and characterized the undersheriff’s exit as potentially positive for the department. “I certainly hope,” she said, “that the decision of the undersheriff provides the department with the opportunity to look for someone who can help create a new and positive culture in the jails.” Peter Eliasberg, the legal director of the Southern California ACLU, was also surprised and pleased by the news. “Any time you’re talking about changing the culture of a large organization, a big part is making sure that the right people are in charge and the wrong people aren’t. The change of one person like Tanaka isn’t a silver bullet, but I think it’s potentially quite significant. Both Krinsky and Eliasberg emphasized that much will depend on who replaces Paul Tanaka. According to Steve Whitmore, however, Sheriff Baca is “not considering any replacement” for the departing undersheriff, at least not for a while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POST SCRIPT It has long been actively rumored that much of Paul Tanaka’s management style has been aimed at gathering a base of power in order to succeed Lee Baca as sheriff of LA County. Last summer, in fact, former LASD Commander Robert Olmsted told me that Tanaka had unapologetically confided to him, a few years ago, that the reason he needed to ensure that the “right” people were in supervisory positions in the department, was so that those loyalists were in place when he, Tanaka, became sheriff. “He said Waldie (who was then the undersheriff) Cavanaugh and the Sheriff are all old, and that they would be retiring very soon, and he expected to hold the position after Sheriff Baca, ‘for the next fifteen years.’” Unbelievably, even with the ongoing storm of scandals, as recently as the past few months, the undersheriff was reportedly working behind the scenes to make sure “his” people were elected to crucial positions on the boards of the two LASD unions—ALADS and POPA—plus LA county’s law enforcement fraternal organizations like BPOA (Black Peace Officer’s Association of Los Angeles County) and HAPCOA (Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association). On Wednesday, however, Mr. Tanaka told Daily Breeze reporter Sandy Mazza that he has no plans to run for Los Angeles County Sheriff. But then again, Tanaka also said repeatedly that he was not running for Mayor of Gardena. Yet he has officially accepted the post for a third term. http://witnessla.com/category/lasd/

LA County Sheriff's second-in-command Paul Tanaka retires amidst federal probe over inmate abuse

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:05:00 +0000

Paul Tanaka, embattled second-in-command at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who’s been strongly criticized for his handling of L.A. County jails, announced Wednesday that he’ll be retiring from the department. Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Tanaka’s retirement was unrelated to the criticism over jail violence. "He said absolutely not. He said this had nothing to do with that," Whitmore said. “He said to me that it’s just time. Thirty-three years. It’s time for me to retire and turn my attention to my family and my three-and-a-half-year-old son.” As for Sheriff Lee Baca's thoughts on Tanaka's retirement, “The sheriff understands when people want to move on," Whitmore said. "He’s given over three decades to this department.” Whitmore said that Tanaka told him he wasn’t asked to leave by Baca, the Los Angeles Times reports. An independent blue ribbon commission last year said that Tanaka and Baca failed to stop the abuse of inmates by deputies inside L.A. County jails, and that Tanaka ignored or condoned violence inside the jails. The commission's report said that Tanaka “specifically derailed efforts to address excessive force,” particularly at downtown L.A.'s Men's Central Jail. The panel included former federal judges, a police chief and a jail expert. Attorney David Schindler testified that Tanaka “failed to uphold the values of the department” and encouraged deputies to operate in the “gray” areas between necessary and unnecessary use-of-force on inmates. Jail critics have repeatedly called on Tanaka to resign. Attorney Peter Eliasberg of the ACLU of Southern California said no matter what occasioned Tanaka to leave, it is a good thing for the department. "I think it's a very positive thing, if all that testimony is true, one hopes that the department will now function more on people doing their job well instead of being someone's buddy," Eliasberg said. Tanaka defended himself during hearings last year, saying he never knew about what the panel said was persistent jail violence — despite repeated reports of inmate abuse by deputies. The FBI opened an investigation that is ongoing. The jail custody chief traditionally reported to Tanaka, but Baca’s latest choice for the position reports directly to the sheriff rather than Tanaka. Tanaka’s been with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department since 1982, its first Japanese-American commander. He’s also served as mayor of Gardena, where he grew up; he was re-elected to a third term as mayor Tuesday night. A statement from the Sheriff's Department announcing Tanaka's retirement praised him for creating a High-Impact Community-Based Policing Program that reduced crime by implementing public trust, and problem-solving strategies. As a certified public accountant, Tanaka managed the Department’s $2.5 billion budget for the past nine years. Baca was known to be intensely loyal to Tanaka, often praising him for his help with the department’s budget problems. The announcement was made during a 2 p.m. Sheriff's staff meeting, according to Whitmore. Tanaka's retirement is effective Aug. 1. The sheriff plans to leave the position open for now, Whitmore said.

Paul Tanaka, Sheriff's 2nd-In-Command & Once Head Of Troubled L.A. County Jails, Retires

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:54:00 +0000

Paul Tanaka, the controversial second-in-command at the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, heavily criticized for his oversight of a troubled jails system, is retiring, the department announced this afternoon. The undersheriff is also the mayor of Gardena and won a third term in yesterday's election despite announcing that he would not campaign for the job. Oversight for the jails was removed from Tanaka's job description last year, although he still has responsibility for the sheriff's budget: A statement from the department said his retirement would be effective Aug. 1. Reason given? None. Tanaka has been the focus of criticism over deputies' beatings of inmates inside the county jails system. One of the victims was a visitor, not an inmate, LA Weekly reported. A blue-ribbon Citizens' Commission on Jail Violence last year blamed Tanaka's oversight, or lack thereof, for some of the violence. There have been allegations of gang-like cliques of deputies who work in county lockups. Ultimately Sheriff Lee Baca took the heat for the problems, claiming he didn't know what was happening in his jails despite a decade's worth of reporting and criticism regarding the clashes. Tanaka was pulled away from jails oversight last year when Baca released an organizational chart showing that his longtime second-in-command had only the budget under his purview. In today's statement, Tanaka, who came to the department in 1982, is credited with creating the Asian Crimes Task Force directing the Gang Crimes Enforcement Program. [@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Paul Tanaka Steps Down as Undersherriff Day After Being Re-Elected as Mayor of Gardena

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:03:00 +0000

Paul Tanaka, the second in command at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who had come under criticism for problems that have plagued the agency, announced Wednesday that he is stepping down. Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Tanaka is retiring after 33 years with the department effective Aug. 1. Whitmore said Tanaka's move was not related to a federal probe into allegations of inmate brutality in the county's jail system. “I asked him that and he said no, it's just time,” Whitmore said. “The sheriff didn’t ask him to leave. This was done by his own volition." Last year, a blue-ribbon commission issued a searing critique of Baca, Tanaka and others, accusing them of fostering a culture in which deputies were permitted to beat and humiliate inmates, cover up misconduct and form aggressive deputy cliques in the Los Angeles County jails. Tanaka came under harsh criticism from investigators for helping to promote the corrosive culture that contributed to many of the jails' problems. Current and retired sheriff's officials have blamed Tanaka for some of the department's woes, saying that he openly fostered a climate in which deputies engaged in aggressive policing that violated the law and department policies. Sheriff's officials rejected that criticism, saying that Tanaka was a well-respected leader in the department.

Re-Name Street?

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:32:00 +0000

An article appeared in today's Daily Breeze which tells us that City Councilman Steve Bradford announced at the recent city council meeting that we should be re-naming 132nd Street after our President. This comment was made to the paper. I think it summed things up nicely:

"Mr.Bradford,I would like to see you and other council members helping and supporting the parents of all the children with special needs that are havinf their school taken away. LAUSD is closing Sellery School in Gardena, not one council member has come to the aid of the parents in trying to keep the school open. Do you think renaming a street of yet not proven president regardless of color, why fight for rights when you the black are the first to keep pointing it out is more important than keeping a special needs school for elementary age children ?"

Well said. During this time of one of the worst recessions in our collective memory, Bradford is once again slipping back on his soap box, proposing we spend money on a new sign on a new president who hasn't been in office more than 2 months. It's clear that this proposal by Bradford is another attempt to grab attention. It's election time again and that's what Stevie does. First it was Baggy Pants, then the plastic bags and and now changing the name of 132nd Street. Rachel and Dan have of course gone along with this charade. Can we have a change in City Councilmembers?

My dear councilmembers, there's a RECESSION going on. What are you doing about Sellery School?

Gardena street may be Obama namesake

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Daily Breeze 02/26/09

President Barack Obama could soon have more in common with Martin Van Buren than sharing the same residence.

One already has a street named after him in Gardena, and the other may soon be bestowed with the same honor.

Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford on Tuesday proposed naming a two-block stretch of 132nd Street after the 44th president.

Obama Way would run past an elementary school and a park, from Ardath to Western avenues, Bradford said.

"This is not a political issue. This is cultural, historical," Bradford said. "I believe in giving people their due while they're here. I've run it by people and they've said, `Yes, the Obama Way.' It's catchy to folks."

Bradford believes there is not enough recognition of blacks in the community. Naming a street after the first black president would be a start, he said.

"How much do you know about contributions African- Americans have made?" Bradford said. "They don't tell you about George Washington Carver in school, or that a black man invented the cell phone. There are plenty of African-Americans who should have things named after them. This is one that is easier for people."

Bradford has been a strong supporter of Obama. He was chosen as a 35th Congressional District delegate for Obama at the Democratic National Convention. At the request of Obama administration officials, he applied for a job with the new administration.

Mayor Paul Tanaka did not say whether he supported the name change, but directed city staff to study the recommendation and report back to the council within two months.

"This has to be done very thoroughly and thoughtfully," Tanaka said. "It's important we don't make a unilateral decision citing history or a historical occasion. I've asked the city manager to put together a responsible group of individuals from the city to write an objective feasibility study."

Tanaka said he wants to know what it would cost to change the name, and whether it would affect any businesses or homes on the street.

City Manager Mitch Lansdell said he will assemble a list of legal and procedural requirements to change the name in the next few days.

"We've done it before and there is a process of notification and hearings," Lansdell said. "The city doesn't currently have a policy on naming."

In recent years, the city has renamed parts of streets after Huatabampo, a Gardena sister city in Mexico, and Chuck Nader, a former councilman and business owner.

Bradford said there are no addresses on that section of 132nd Street, so it would have a small impact.

"Finding the street is the easy part," Bradford said. "Getting consensus with council members and staff to move forward - that's where the challenge will be. I don't think there's going to be too many residents or businesses who are going to be opposed."

Bradford may already have a majority of support on the City Council for the street name change.
Councilwoman Rachel Johnson and Councilman Dan Medina said they like the idea.

"Having a street named after a newly elected president who has broken a lot of ground seems appropriate," Medina said. "As long as it doesn't cost a lot."

If the recommendation is approved, Bradford said he would invite the Obama family to the street name dedication. But he thinks the president would probably not want the recognition.

"If it was up to him, he'd probably say: `I don't need anything named after me,"' Bradford said.

Gardena businesses to be remodeled

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Thirteen shops near Western Avenue and 162nd Street will receive city-sponsored facade remodeling as part of the city's plan to spruce up run-down areas on major streets.

The Daily Breeze
Thirteen Gardena businesses near Western Avenue and 162nd Street will receive city-sponsored facade remodeling as part of the city's ongoing plan to spruce up run-down areas on its major streets.

The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to spend about $131,615 of federal community development block grant funds to repaint, stucco and replace signs at a chiropractor's office at 1743 W. 162 nd St., and a retail strip at 16120-16142 S. Western Ave.

Design guidelines for businesses along Western and Rosecrans avenues and Crenshaw Boulevard were developed by an architectural team at USC's Center for Economic Development.

Each business owner will contribute $1,000 to the remodeling project, which is expected to take about two months to complete.

Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up

In the midst of the holiday rush this one got buried and has just resurfaced. Some of the readers' comments in The Breeze were too good to pass up:

"You are completely correct. Steve Bradford, once arrested for attempting to run over a police officer with his personal vehicle, is a horrible representative of the people in Gardena. His only concern is for his supporters and doesn't care about the south half of the city! His only goal is to get as much recognition for himself as he can. He is NOT who I would want representing me."

"It is so wonderful that Gardena City Council has solved all their other problems and has time to deal with this horrible travesty! This scourge of our nation!!! I think they ought to start their own canpaign geared towards dumb and wasteful proposals called "Pull Your Head Out!" LOL"

"mr bradford should give up his city council seat.....cant we find something a little more productive to do for the city of gardena..PLEASE "

The Price of a Council Seat

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:51:00 +0000

It's not a big secret that Steve Bradford has ambitions to move on to the Assembly. If he wins, who will likely be appointed to his Council seat? My crystal ball indicates the succession of power to the Bradford Mini-Me, Shannon Lawrence. Why? The SEIU, more money than you can shake a stick at and the good ole boy connection.

From Inglewood Today:

Assemblyman Curren D. Price (D-51) announced his bid for a seat in California State Senate District 26 recently— the same seat vacated last week when Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas took office on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. A Special election to fill the senate seat will be held in March.

The former Inglewood City Councilmember was elected to the California Assembly in 2006. He has already received an endorsement from one of the most powerful labor organizations around—the SEIU (Services Employees International Union).

The announcement was made Monday by Jeanine Meyer Rodriguez, spokesperson for the SEIU State Council. "I am particularly gratified and encouraged that the leadership of the SEIU recognizes that we share the same goals and commitment to improve the lives of working families.

I will work hard to assure them that their confidence in me is well-placed," said Price. The SEIU endorsement of Price is particularly significant; as this powerful union’s active support for Ridley-Thomas is widely credited for his lop-sided victory over Los Angeles City Councilman and former Police Chief, Bernard Parks. SEIU California State Council has more than 700,000 members in California , and is the largest and fastest growing union in the United States , with over 2 million members nationwide.

SEIU represents workers in healthcare, longterm care, public services (both state workers and local), and building services."

The Contra Costa Times stated "If Price is wins on March 24, a special election would be held to replace him in the Assembly. Gardena Councilman Steve Bradford, who lost the Democratic primary to Price by about 100 votes in 2006, is considered a contender to replace him."

Gardena "Honors"

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:43:00 +0000

The Daily Breeze compiled a list of the top 10 stories of 2008. Gardena made it to the list, regrettably.

The South Bay's Top 10 stories of 2008
By Josh Grossberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/27/2008 11:13:49 PM PST

From a marathon presidential election to a faltering economy, 2008 proved to be a year rife with important news. Here is an excerpt. For the rest of the story, go to The Daily Breeze.

FALL FROM GRACE

Former Gardena City Councilman Oscar Medrano was arrested March 13 on charges of child molestation, two days after he resigned from the council, citing health reasons.

Prosecutors filed 12 felony counts against the jewelry store owner, arguing that he forced a girl to engage in sexual acts beginning when she was 9 years old until she was 15.

Medrano initially pleaded not guilty, and his attorney argued that the girl made up the allegations.

But on June 27, he pleaded no contest to one count of committing lewd and lascivious acts on a minor and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14.

The 47-year-old was sentenced to eight years in state prison.

Got Money? You Too Can Be a Gardena Councilmember

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:44:00 +0000

I feel like I woke up from a really bad hangover and can't believe where I ended up. Did Medina really win? Someone pinch me!

It's no doubt that King Dear, with his dirty backdoor antics had a lot to do with electing an unqualified candidate, but there are other factors--lots of money and King Dear's connections.

Steve Bradford's Mini-Me, Shannon Lawrence, who has little to no history in this community, also had all the connections that Bradford could bring--the unions, Ridley-Thomas and lots of money, all delivered on a silver platter.

It's too bad that money and access are still what get a candidate elected.

The race is on--again. Individuals are pulling papers for two open Councilmember positions, Mayor, City Clerk and City Treasurer. Got money? You too can be a councilmember in this town. No experience, community involvement or integrity needed.

Pipe Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:57:00 +0000

Gardena Councilmember Candidate, Shannon Lawrence, who was endorsed by the SEIU (the largest union in California) which was mired in recent scandal, also received a campaign contribution of $1000 from Dakota Communications. Rick Taylor, of Dakota Communications, represents WesPac Energy Group.

In April of 2007 this art icle appeared in The Daily Breeze.

"On Tuesday, company spokesman Rick Taylor told the Daily Breeze the company already had PUC common-carrier status ("The reality is that we're a common carrier and we can do eminent domain to get access to the center or side of a street."), and moments later after he was confronted with PUC records showing only an application has been filed, denied that he ever said it."Do you have a quote of me saying that?" he said. "I never said that. ... We don't expect any problems. There's no question in my mind that they will give us common-carrier status. ... I think there's a misunderstanding."In its application to the PUC, obtained by the Daily Breeze, WesPac states that it anticipates "no protests to the application will be filed and that no evidentiary hearings are necessary."

"Gardena has put up the most resistance to the pipeline project coming through the city, Taylor said. City officials and residents who oppose the project say it will hurt the city, and offer no benefit.The jet-fuel pipeline would not only provide no benefit to the city of Gardena, but it also would disrupt the daily business of an elementary school, a convalescent hospital and residential areas along Rosecrans between Vermont and Crenshaw, where the construction is proposed to take place in 2008, said Gardena City Manager Mitch Lansdell."

The jet fuel pipeline has been the subject of much discussion in Gardena, especially in the North end. During the forums held for the city councilmember candidates, Shannon Lawrence said that he was against the pipeline. The question is then, why would he accept a $1000 campaign contribution from Dakota Communications? This is the company that represents WesPac.

Lawrence, defeated by Medina, said in his campaign slogans he would bring change to Gardena. It looks like his plans for change could have included dreams of a jet fuel pipeline running through the same neighborhood his supporters live in.

The Don Dear Dynasty, Chapter 4

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:23:00 +0000

For those of you who just did an eenie meenie miny moe at the polling place, or are just plain sadistic, I'd like to tell you a story. Sit back and relax in my virtual time machine. There once was a King (aka Don Dear) who ruled as Mayor of Gardenadom. His reign lasted 9 seasons of the locust (i.e. 9 terms). When he departed the city for other villages to pillage (i.e. Carson) he made sure to leave his legacy for us--near Bankruptcy--until our current city manager (okay, I'll call him the Prince in this little story) saved our city.

Now along the way, the King gathered his army. "Men, join my forces. I will promise you great power and riches and casinos with bright lights to eat breakfast at. The lords of the casinos will contribute large sums of money to your political campaigns. Merchants in the village take care of you (wink wink, nod nod). I will show you how to trick the little people into thinking that you care about this city while you're really just thinking of your own personal agendas and lining your pocketbooks." So Steve Bradford, Terry Terauchi and Oscar Medrano followed on the march to Gardenadom's council chambers and ruled according to the King's plans. Eventually the men tired of the King and branched off on their own (with their own spinoff candidates like Shannon Lawrence). While eating breakfast at one of the bright shiny casinos he spied a new candidate--Dan Medina. He had all the right stuff. He didn't finish what he started, claimed to be something he wasn't and lacked the wherewithall to fill the position. "He's PERFECT!" claimed the King...to be continued.

Election endorsements

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Election endorsements

The Daily Breeze
Article Launched: 11/01/2008 10:00:00 PM PDT

Here are the Daily Breeze's ballot recommendations:

President: Barack Obama.

State measures

Proposition 1A (High-speed rail): No. This is no time to borrow $10 billion on a costly and questionable project.

Proposition 2 (Treatment of farm animals): No, because the main effect would be to shift poultry sales to other states.

Proposition 3 (Children's hospitals): Yes. This is a terrible time to take on more state debt, but it's for a worthy cause.

Proposition 4 (Abortion notification): Yes, for the same reason a nurse has to notify parents before giving a teenage girl an aspirin.

Proposition 5 (Treatment for drug offenders): No, because it is much too lenient in dealing with serious felons.

Proposition 6 (Spending on crime programs): No, because it is too inflexible and much too costly.

Proposition 7 (Clean energy): No, because, as the Sierra Club and others say, it is so vague as to be counterproductive.

Proposition 8 (Bans same-sex marriage): No, because the state is better off not redefining the moral issues related to marriage.

Proposition 9 (Crime victims): No, because it is too costly and redundant.

Proposition 10 (Alternative fuels): No, because it is so self-dealing for some supporters that it would do more harm than good.

Proposition 11 (Redistricting): Yes, it may make just a small difference in breaking politicians' hold on their own re-elections,
but at least it is an improvement.

Proposition 12 (Veterans' mortgages) Yes, this decades-old program has never cost taxpayers a cent.

Local measures

Proposition A (City of Los Angeles parcel tax to fund gang-prevention programs): No, the city must prove the effectiveness of programs administered by the Mayor's Office before asking property owners for more money.

Proposition B (City of Los Angeles update of rules on low-rent housing): Yes, this would remove impediments to obtaining funding from the state and federal government.

Measure J ($3.5 billion bond measure for Los Angeles Community College District): Yes, the district's campuses need more upgrades to expand enrollment and enhance health and safety.

Measure M (El Segundo's $14 million bond measure to improve and repair the high school auditorium and athletic fields): Yes, this measure would not increase current school bond taxation rates, and the repairs are justified.

Measure Q ($7 billion to upgrade aging Los Angeles Unified School District campuses throughout the region): Yes, the maximum school bond tax rate won't rise, and there will be an increased emphasis on smaller learning centers.

Measure R (Half-cent sales tax increase to expand mass transit system countywide and improve highways and roads): Yes, the plan includes help for South Bay commuters by extending the Green Line further south and also to Los Angeles International Airport.

Measure U (Reduces utility users' tax in unincorporated areas from 5 percent to 4.5percent and applies it to new communications technologies): Yes, updated language will ensure that users of all technologies will be treated fairly.

Measure V (Maintains the rate of Hawthorne's communication users' tax at 5percent but updates language to reflect technological advances): Yes, the update will help protect the tax from legal challenges.

Measure Y ($265 million bond measure to upgrade academic facilities in the Torrance Unified School District and improve school safety): Yes, this is probably the school district's final attempt to avoid campus closures.

Measure Z ($90 million Torrance bond measure to improve physical education and athletic facilities, as well as rebuild science labs and music and art classrooms): Yes, the bond would fund facilities that would benefit the entire community.

Measure BB ($67 million school bond measure to replace deteriorating academic facilities at

Manhattan Beach's Mira Costa High School): Yes, the bond would fund needed improvements without increasing current tax rates.

Measure CV ($98 million school bond measure to upgrade Centinela Valley high school campuses): No, a divided school board put this measure on the ballot. It's premature considering the district's financial problems and the Wiseburn School District's secession plans.

Measure DD (Initiative to subject certain land-use changes in Redondo Beach to popular votes): No, it threatens revitalization efforts and runs contrary to representative democracy.

Measure EE (Redondo City Council's alternative to Measure DD): Yes, it offers voters a say over rezoning involving open space, increased building heights in the coastal zone and specified residential changes.

Judicial

Office 72: Hilleri Grossman Merritt, a highly rated criminal trial prosecutor.

Office 82: Thomas Rubinson, a deputy district attorney serving on the Hardcore Gang Division, rated well-qualified by the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Office 84: Pat Connolly, a Long Beach gang prosecutor.

Office 94: Michael O'Gara, a criminal prosecutor rated well-qualified by the bar.

Office 154: Michael Jessic, a gang prosecutor noted also for his community work against gang violence, is rated well-qualified by the bar.

South Bay candidates

Second District Supervisor: Bernard Parks.

Water Replenishment District, Division 2: Robert Katherman.

Water Replenishment District, Division 5: Linda Unruh Fuentes.

West Basin Water District, Division 3:
Desi Alvarez.

West Basin Water District, Division 5:
Don Dear.

Gardena City Council special election:
Mina Semenza.

Beach Cities Health Care District Vanessa Poster, Marie Corr and Brian Parker.

Semenza for council

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:37:00 +0000

From The Daily Breeze, October 28, 2008

Gardena voters on Tuesday will choose from four well-matched candidates to fill the seat of Oscar Medrano, the former city councilman who was found guilty of child molestation earlier this year.

All four have qualifications and backgrounds that make for a difficult choice. Tasha Cerda, president of the Hollypark Homeowners Association, has worked as a community activist on a number of issues affecting the city, including a campaign against a jet-fuel pipeline.

Shannon Lawrence is a city planning commissioner and a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office. And Dan Medina, spokesman for Normandie Casino, has a long list of community experience with service groups.

Our nod, however, goes to Mina Semenza. She stresses her independence and her ability to work constructively with other council members. A 44-year resident of the city, Semenza has worked for a Fortune 500 company and owned her own business. She is currently president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley and is a former Planning Commission member.

In her campaign, she emphasizes the need for revitalization, especially along blighted parts of Rosecrans Avenue, and making pro-active efforts to bring popular stores and restaurants to the city. Her record in business and nonprofit groups should provide a balanced view on how the city should move forward.

The city's current leadership has finalized a workable repayment plan for a $26million municipal debt stemming from the failures of a city-owned insurance company and the first-time homebuyers program. The city is now moving ahead on infrastructure improvements.

We think Mina Semenza, who is running a traditional grass-roots campaign, would keep the city on track.

She has our endorsement.

Are You Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:37:00 +0000

There are less than 7 days left until this election season is over. I think I speak for most of you when I say I'm tired of all the ads and robocalls and want it all to end soon. But while we're in the home stretch, little suprises keep popping up.

A campaign mailer got into the hands of this blogger yesterday. It was shoved in a friend's mailbox, which is against United States Postal Service rules. A minor detail.

This mailer for Gardena Councilmember tells me that "The Choice is Clear. Only One Candidate is Ready." Then it blasts all his opponents with "Not Ready" stamped across their accomplishments that don't measure up to Shannon Lawrence's, apparently stellar qualifications.
Steve Bradford, incumbent City Councilman, is quoted, "For years we have invested in Gardena Youth...now one of our best and brightest is ready to serve." So I'm thinking, is the Youth serving us with insults? Where are your manners, Shannon?

Then there is mention of Shannon understanding the power of coalition building. Why, of course. Coalition building. But look closely and you'll find an interesting tale that unravels to find layer after layer of political wheeler-dealers and ties to a union that is getting less than favorable news lately. Bradford and the Ridley-Thomas camp have set him up with some primo endorsements and campaign contributions with major ties to the SIEU--the largest union in the state of California. In an August 2008 Los Angeles Times article, it was reported that "A congressional committee has opened an inquiry into a financial scandal enveloping the Service Employees International Union's biggest California local because of six-figure payments made to firms owned by relatives of its president."

Another recent article in the LA Times in October 2008 states, "For every $1 raised by Ridley-Thomas, those unions have raised nearly $9 for a separate campaign on his behalf, according to fundraising reports."

I've heard of helping to open doors but this "best and brightest" doesn't look like he even put his hand on the doorknob to open it. Bradford and Ridley-Thomas helped open the doors and the unions have forked over the money. Less than a handful of Lawrence's endorsements come from Gardena residents. Who is this Youth serving? The SIEU? The United Food and Commercial Workers? I thought this campaign was for serving the City of Gardena's residents.

So Gardena, are you ready?

FORT (Friends of Ridley-Thomas)

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Look closely, Gardena voters. Gardena City Council candidate, Shannon Lawrence, is endorsed heavily by unions, including the SIEU, and Ridley-Thomas, mentioned in this article. He is also backed by incumbents Steven Bradford and Rachel Johnson.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY ELECTION
Unions' campaign fund for Ridley-Thomas raises fears about special interests
'Independent expenditures' outside the candidates' control could play an increasing role in city and county elections, some officials believe.
By David Zahniser October 26, 2008

Three years ago, campaign finance experts watched with alarm as one-fifth of the money raised on behalf of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa came from "independent expenditures," special interests with no limits on how much they could collect and spend.The numbers were even more jaw-dropping for Villaraigosa's opponent, then-Mayor James K. Hahn. Although he lost his bid for a second term, Hahn saw one-third of his financial backing, or $2 million, come from such groups.

But those amounts look tame compared to the $8.5 million amassed so far this year by an array of labor unions seeking to elect state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas to the county Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4. For every $1 raised by Ridley-Thomas, those unions have raised nearly $9 for a separate campaign on his behalf, according to fundraising reports.The change has not gone unnoticed by other city and county politicians, who fear the supervisorial election will establish a new precedent, inspiring real estate developers, billboard companies, employee unions and other special interests to pursue a similar strategy in future campaigns."It's out-and-out buying an election," said Supervisor Gloria Molina, who has endorsed Ridley-Thomas' opponent, City Council member Bernard Parks.

"If the special interests see this as being successful, there's no telling how far it will go, and it will be much easier for candidates to submit to special interests instead of going out, working hard and raising [their own] money," she said.Molina predicted that she would be the next target of a union independent expenditure campaign when she comes up for reelection in 2010.

Meanwhile, one veteran Los Angeles lobbyist marveled at the sheer size of the union campaign, calling it "off-the-charts extraordinary.""Other than governor, I don't know that there are statewide candidates that spend that much," said lobbyist Steve Afriat.Ridley-Thomas said Parks and his supporters are simply upset that they failed to secure the backing of the county's powerful Federation of Labor, known for its ability to win elections. And he defended the current campaign arrangement, saying he is following all laws that apply to outside campaign groups."It's appropriate. It's fair. It's legal," he said.

"And the only reason they're criticizing it is because they don't have this level of support."The Alliance for a Stronger Community, a union coalition, has raised the vast majority of independent expenditures for Ridley-Thomas, whose own campaign must adhere to the city's rules limiting donations to no more than $1,000 per contributor per election cycle.

In return for having the ability to raise unlimited amounts, independent committees are legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidates they support.Independent expenditures came into being in the mid-1970s, after Congress passed a law placing a $1,000 limit on campaign contributions.

In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the limits on individuals and groups spending independently on behalf of candidates, saying they violated donors' constitutionally protected right to free speech.The first significant independent expenditures appeared in 1980, when the National Conservative Political Action Committee and the Fund for a Conservative Majority spent more than $10 million on behalf of President Reagan.

Five years later, the Supreme Court ruled again, saying that any effort to limit spending by such groups would violate the 1st Amendment.In Los Angeles, such groups began to play a significant role in 2001, when term limits created 10 competitive city government races.At the top of the ticket, labor threw its weight behind Villaraigosa, and Indian gaming interests financed some of the nastiest attacks of the campaign on behalf of Hahn.

Two years later, independent expenditure groups contributed $1 for every $1 raised by the City Council campaign of Martin Ludlow, a union activist. Ludlow won the seat but left in 2005 to run the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. While serving in that role, he was convicted on charges that he illegally took union contributions while running for council that exceeded the spending limits. In most city races, independent expenditures essentially ran a secondary campaign, one that represented a fraction of the efforts by a candidate.

This year's county contest reverses that equation, with independent expenditures dominating the race and Ridley-Thomas' campaign looking like a bit player.

So far this year, the labor coalition has used its largesse to hire researchers, send campaign mailers, erect campaign signs, purchase full-page newspaper ads, reserve radio advertising time and develop 30-second television spots in English and Spanish for Ridley-Thomas, none of which can be coordinated by the candidate.The overwhelming effort means that Ridley-Thomas has been able to avoid some of the expenses that candidates typically face.

For example, many who run for office in South Los Angeles, including Parks, place at least a few advertisements in the Los Angeles Sentinel, the region's most prominent black-owned newspaper.

Last spring, two union groups bought at least 11 full-page ads promoting Ridley-Thomas as part of their independent expenditure. Ridley-Thomas did not purchase any.

Service Employees International Union Local 721, the biggest donor to the union initiative, called a news conference Friday at which Ridley-Thomas was expected to discuss county hospital funding. Only union officials attended, not Ridley-Thomas.

"Mark doesn't even have to show up," Parks said. "Mark could take a vacation and the [union] campaign would keep running."

Ridley-Thomas, in turn, accused Parks of "bashing" unions. And he pointed out that he has not faulted Parks for benefiting from three other independent expenditure committees, which are primarily backed by real estate interests.

Those groups raised nearly $450,000 during the period ending Oct. 18, according to campaign reports.With such a financial mismatch, Parks has spent much of his time calling donors, $1,000 at a time.

Even if he increased those efforts, the county election law bars him from spending more than $1.4 million in the runoff, a fraction of the union effort.Parks warned that if Ridley-Thomas is elected, the county Federation of Labor would use the same strategy to install two more pliant county supervisors by 2012.Arnella Sims, a board member with SEIU Local 721, said she could not predict whether her union would wage another massive campaign.

But Afriat, the lobbyist, said warnings about a tidal wave of independent expenditures strike him as overblown.

"The unions don't have to do that at City Hall because they already control what happens there," he said.

"And I think the business community, which said they would step up for Parks, is demonstrating that they are not capable of doing it the way the unions are doing it.

"Labor unions do not have a monopoly on huge independent expenditures.

In this year's June legislative primary, state Senate candidate Rod Wright benefited from at least $990,000 spent on his behalf by the Alliance for California's Tomorrow, a business group bankrolled by healthcare companies, casinos and other entities.

That independent expenditure group hired campaign consultants, secured billboard space and placed ads for Wright in newspapers stretching from Inglewood to Long Beach.Wright's own campaign organization spent just $330,000.Officials with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission fear the huge money spent in the supervisorial race will lead to louder demands from elected officials that the city roll back its fundraising limits on individual candidates.

The only thing that could stem the tide of independent expenditures -- frequently called I.E.s by political professionals -- is a successful lawsuit before the high court, said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Government Studies, a Los Angeles group that tracks campaign finance laws.

"Until it reaches a point where the court says it's gone too far and is corrupting the system -- and I think it does -- there will be unlimited I.E.s," he said.Zahniser is a Times staff writer.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Jean-Paul Renaud contributed to this report.

City Official Arrested

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:55:00 +0000

This is an oldie but worth posting for our archives.

By Daniel Hernandez
October 14, 2002 in print edition B-3

A Gardena city councilman is facing possible assault charges for allegedly hitting a Hawthorne police officer with his car at the scene of a traffic accident in a busy South Bay intersection.
Gardena City Councilman Steven C. Bradford was released Saturday after posting $50,000 bail for his arrest that morning.

Bradford had no comment when reached by phone Sunday. But his attorney, Winston K. McKesson, said the councilman was only trying to help out at the crash scene and blamed officers for any miscommunication.

According to police, the councilman disobeyed traffic officers’ orders to stop as he drove away from a gas station near the scene of a two-car collision at El Segundo and Crenshaw boulevards, an intersection that divides Hawthorne and Gardena.

When Bradford’s car inched forward in a stop-and-go movement, Officer Vince Arias signaled for him to stop, police said. Instead, Bradford yelled through his closed windows as he moved forward, eventually hitting Arias in his left leg and knocking him down, Hawthorne police Lt. John Beerling said.

Beerling said Bradford then “got out of the car and became verbally uncooperative and semi-combative.”

Arias tried to place Bradford in handcuffs, but he resisted, police said. When another officer approached Bradford and threatened to use pepper spray on him, he complied, police said.
Arias did not require medical attention.

Bradford was taken to the Hawthorne police station, where he was booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon on an officer and resisting arrest.

“All he was trying to do was tender service,” McKesson said.

The accident involved a car that had rear-ended another, sparking a fire on one of the vehicles. Police said no serious injuries were reported.

Bradford, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, has served on the Gardena City Council for five years. He was first elected to the council in 1997, making him the city’s first black elected council member.

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/oct/14/local/me-gardena14

Mirror, Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:50:00 +0000

Well Gardena, in less than a few weeks the councilmember position vacated by Medrano will be filled. Who will it be? The four running mates have appeared at forums in Hollypark and at the Nakaoka Center. Fliers have been circulated. But to quote the great Yogi Berra, it's deja vu all over again. It concerns this blogger that the ex-Mayor othewise known as Don Dear, who brought us quasi-bankruptcy is again pimping a candidate who has already flipped on an important issue--redevelopment. Was Dan Medina pandering to the Hollypark residents when he said that redevelopment was what we needed? In North Gardena, the folks there have often complained, and rightly so, that the Rosecrans Corridor is blighted, and there are no good stores and restaurants. Was he just telling them what they wanted to hear? Was anyone paying attention at the Nakaoka Center when this candidate told us that that he was against redevelopment? Is that what folks on this end of town wanted to hear?

The ex-Mayor, thankfully whose following has declined, also brought us the councilmember who vacated the position suddenly when he was imprisoned and indicted on charges that, well, we won't get into here. I suppose this proves that old politicians never die--their legacies live on.

Gardena City Council to consider new fees

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:56:00 +0000

From staff reports
Article Launched: 08/11/2008 01:59:08 AM PDT

The Gardena City Council will vote on whether to increase the residential trash rate and will set a fee for tobacco retailer permits at its Tuesday meeting.

The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1700 W. 162 nd Street.

The council approved a tobacco retailer permit that is set to take effect on Aug. 21.

It requires businesses that sell tobacco products to get annual city permits to pay for increased police enforcement of businesses selling cigarettes to minors. The council will consider a resolution to set the permit fee at $167 and renewal fee at $120.

The council will also consider an appeal from the city's residential trash hauler, Phoenix Waste and Recycling Services, to increase its rate above the contracted amount.

The trash hauler wants the city to set the fee at $21.05 per month per unit from the current rate of $15.39. The council denied the hauler's request for a rate increase in June.

Last year, the council suspended a $35,000 payment from the trash company to help curb losses the hauler said it has incurred.

Take Out the Papers and the Trash

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:32:00 +0000

Gardena has had a love affair with Waste Management. Read through some of the old postings in this blog and you'll understand what I mean. The end result was that Gardena property owners were delivered higher rates on trash collection. Council members Bradford and Medrano led the shady deals and were even caught in the act with representatives from the waste management companies at their favorite locale, Cherrystones, reported in The Daily Breeze some time ago.

Bradford continues to take out the papers and the trash--I was going to say not in the literal sense but actually, Ron Ikejiri did pull papers to run for city council and then trashed them. It doesn't take a mastermind to surmise that Bradford was the "brain" of these hijinks and convinced Ikejiri to pull papers to appear as though he was running for City Council. The strategy worked to an extent--Art Kaskanian dropped out. Left in the race are Tasha Cerda, Mina Semenza, Dan Medina and Shannon Lawrence.

The Daily Breeze ran an article, "Gardena council candidates won't face incumbent," this morning and failed to address the fact that Kaskanian dropped out. I realize the Breeze isn't the New York Times as far as its investigative reporting goes, but my rose-colored glasses broke years ago. You don't need x-ray vision to see straight through the special treatment Bradford gets with the Breeze. I wouldn't be surprised if he bullied them into reporting his version of the truth because that is oh-so-Bradford.

Here's the real story: Sitting council members spread the rumor that they would run. Ikejiri pulled papers. Ikejiri didn't file because he never intended to file. Their hope was that certain candidates would drop out. Bradford would have a for-sure seat waiting for his candidate.

Gotta run. I need to throw out today's copy of The Daily Breeze in the recycling bin.

Gardena council candidates won't face incumbent

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:30:00 +0000

By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/08/2008 11:53:05 PM PDT

Candidates for a Gardena City Council seat in the November special election are breathing easier, as a sitting councilman who pulled nomination papers did not file them by the Friday deadline.

Four people filed papers to be on the ballot for the seat vacated by former Councilman Oscar Medrano, who relinquished his post in March, two days before he was arrested and subsequently charged with 12 counts of child molestation. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges on June 27 and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.

The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Medrano's term, which expires in 2011.

Councilman Ron Ikejiri pulled papers last month, saying that he believed Councilman Steve Bradford was going to run in the race. Both are up for election in March 2009 and, if they had won a seat in November, could have run for mayor next year without risking their council posts.
Neither councilman filed papers, however.

Three of the candidates have run for council seats before, and there is one newcomer - Shannon Lawrence - who is backed by Bradford and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson.

Tasha Cerda, Dan Medina and Mina Semenza have been on the ballot in previous years. Medina came in third behind Medrano for two seats last year.

Medina, 61, is a spokesman for the Normandie Casino and a longtime member of several service clubs, including the Elks, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary, and a youth sports coach.

"I'm confident in my credentials and my pro-civic activity I've been doing since 1980," Medina said. "I've been doing volunteer work since before some of the campaigners were born."

Cerda, a 36-year-old insurance agent, is president of the Holly Park Homeowners Association and a resident advocate. She is a former chairwoman of the volunteer Rent Mediation Board, and has led community protests against the expansion of Purche Avenue Elementary School, the opening of a Numero Uno Market that wasn't complying with city codes and a jet-fuel pipeline through the city.

"I have stood firm against irresponsible development, kept the residents alert to the presence of sexual predators, and continually stood firm against negligent property owners," Cerda said in a written statement. "I enjoy being an advocate."

Lawrence, 30, is a policy analyst in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office with a background as a union organizer. He is also a member of the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission.

"I've been knocking on doors for the last few weeks, and one of the responses I've been getting is that they've been waiting for me to run," Lawrence said. "I think people will vote on who they think is the most qualified for the seat and, from what I'm hearing, that person is me."

Semenza, 64, is a Realtor, a former planning and environmental quality commissioner, and is president of the YWCA of Gardena Valley.

"I work every day promoting home ownership in our city," Semenza said. "I feel like I want to make a difference."

Snakes in the Valley

noreply@blogger.com (stringycheese) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Anonymous said...

If it slithers like a snake, and it looks like a snake...Gardena City Council members think this is a sly maneuver to fool its citizens but we know better. They do a really bad job at covering up their slimy tracks to hold on to power and take advantage of all the behind the scene deal-making. Who do they think they're fooling? The Daily Breeze only touches the surface of the real story.

July 28, 2008 7:51 PM