It didn't take long for Aguirre and his allies to make their mark. The council declared Maywood a "sanctuary city," making it a lightning rod in the debate about illegal immigration and provoking fierce debates among the city's mostly Latino residents.
The city of Maywood in Los Angeles County declared itself a sanctuary zone for illegal aliens this year. Then it got rid of its drunk-driving checkpoints, because they were nabbing too many illegal aliens. Next, this 96 percent Latino city, almost half of whose adult population lacks a ninth-grade education, disbanded its police traffic division entirely, so that illegals wouldn't need to worry about having their cars towed for being unlicensed.
Maywood the latest subject of corruption investigations
The city has been hailed as a bastion of citizen-activism in a civically disengaged region. But now, the FBI and other agencies are looking into possible conflicts of interest and other misconduct.
By Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times
6:22 PM PDT, August 16, 2010
Maywood Councilman Felipe Aguirre sees his small working-class city as "the Santa Monica of the Southeast" — a place built on activism, a healthy distrust of the establishment and compassion for the less fortunate.
But these days, Maywood is gaining a decidedly less romantic image.
Earlier this year, officials announced that they were firing the city workforce and outsourcing most municipal functions to the neighboring city of Bell. Then, Bell's government imploded in a scandal over eye-popping salaries paid to the city manager and other senior officials.
Now, Maywood is under scrutiny from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies over two city deals with ties to Aguirre and his allies. Sources told The Times that investigators are also looking into deals apparently unrelated to Aguirre.
The Maywood probes are the latest in a string of public corruption investigations in southeast Los Angeles County that have resulted in indictments in South Gate, Lynwood and Vernon in recent years. The California attorney general's office and the L.A. County district attorney are now investigating Bell as well.
It's unclear exactly how many transactions the FBI is examining in Maywood. Several sources with knowledge of the probe said one of the deals involves a $95,000 federal grant that Aguirre and a business partner received from the city in 2007. They used it to refurbish the facade of a property where the business — a community advocacy group — is located. Aguirre's business received the grant despite concerns from the city's planning director over a possible conflict of interest.
David Mango, the planning director, said he immediately called the city attorney's office, which raised no objections.
In an interview, Aguirre said he regrets taking the money. He said he had concerns at the time but was never told he was ineligible for the money.
"It's there, it happened, and I can't take it back," he said. "Do I wish it happened? No. Should I have talked to someone else and gotten better advice? Probably. But it happened and I can't take it back and I can't say it didn't happen."
Aguirre's election in 2005 marked a shift in Maywood from a relatively conservative Latino-majority council to a more liberal one dominated by social activists. The old council had been criticized by many Maywood residents for supporting police activity that included aggressive parking and traffic enforcement that allegedly targeted illegal immigrants. They were also criticized for maintaining cozy ties to a towing company that lavished some public officials with meals and tickets to sporting events in Las Vegas.
It didn't take long for Aguirre and his allies to make their mark. The council declared Maywood a "sanctuary city," making it a lightning rod in the debate about illegal immigration and provoking fierce debates among the city's mostly Latino residents.
Over the next few years Aguirre and other council members, with the support of activist groups including Union de Vecinos, took on the Police Department, the Los Angeles Unified School District and a local water district.
"Our best defense, and our best situation, is the people being organized," Aguirre said. "This is a city that basically tries to strengthen the roots of community participation."
Outsiders noticed the increased public participation in Maywood — particularly in contrast to neighboring Bell. "Maywood is more volatile," said Assemblyman Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate). "But in Bell, people mistook stability for democracy and participation."
The question in Maywood is whether activism may have become a cover for improper spending.
In addition to investigating Aguirre's $95,000 grant, law enforcement officials have asked questions about a three-year, $360,000 contract for Union de Vecinos to run a lead abatement program. The officials familiar with the law enforcement inquiries spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subject publicly.
Interviews and records reviewed by The Times show that the group did not remove lead from any homes, although it did perform lead tests and conduct public education campaigns.
Former Maywood City Manager Paul Phillips said he cancelled the contract in late 2009 because he didn't think the city was getting its money's worth and was concerned about the group's ties to Aguirre and his allies.
"There were no efforts to do any remediation," Phillips said. "I just thought the dollar amounts were excessive."
Mango, the planning director, said he also had early concerns about Union de Vecinos. The group had not been submitting addresses of residences they had visited. The group told the city that confidentiality was needed to protect tenants from landlords. Aguirre said that after concerns were raised last year, the group began submitting addresses to the city attorney's office.
Mango said he thought the group did a good job with outreach efforts and that the city's agreement did not require actual lead abatement. But he said the group's ability to account for government money was inadequate early on: "Some of their early billings would not have passed muster if they were audited. They were pretty flimsy."
Aguirre said he recommended Union de Vecinos for the lead program because he considered them an "honest and transparent group" that had done a lot of work in the community.
Co-founder Elizabeth Blaney said Union de Vecinos had done lead outreach and education before. When she presented the proposal to Mango and council members on the redevelopment board, none of them voted against the contract or voiced opposition, she said.
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When Mexicans take over..... THE LA RAZA (THE RACE) OCCUPATION PLAN at MAYWOOD or like Maywood’s sister city, TIJUANA?
The city of Maywood in Los Angeles County declared itself a sanctuary zone for illegal aliens this year. Then it got rid of its drunk-driving checkpoints, because they were nabbing too many illegal aliens. Next, this 96 percent Latino city, almost half of whose adult population lacks a ninth-grade education, disbanded its police traffic division entirely, so that illegals wouldn't need to worry about having their cars towed for being unlicensed.
Have you ever heard of CALIFORNIA’S LA RAZA DEMS speaking out about the 30 billion Mexican drug invasion? OR THE EVER GROWING MEXICAN GANG INVASION?
What happens when the Mexicans invade. Beyond walls covered with graffiti, surge in crime, anchor babies, contempt for the American flag, language, and laws.... the place becomes a filthy Mexican ghetto.
The sad thing about this is there are communities being destroyed by Mexicans all over the 50 states. It’s not just the border states close to the Mexican drug routes.
1) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18881801/site/newsweek/
The city of Maywood in Los Angeles County declared itself a sanctuary zone for illegal aliens this year. Then it got rid of its drunk-driving checkpoints, because they were nabbing too many illegal aliens. Next, this 96 percent Latino city, almost half of whose adult population lacks a ninth-grade education, disbanded its police traffic division entirely, so that illegals wouldn't need to worry about having their cars towed for being unlicensed.
Maywood to lay off all city employees, dismantle Police Department
By Ruben Vives
10:30 AM PDT, June 22, 2010
The city of Maywood will lay off all city employees and begin contracting police services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department effective July 1, officials said.
In addition to contracting with the Sheriff's Department, the Maywood City Council voted unanimously Monday night to lay off an estimated 100 employees and contract with neighboring Bell, which will handle other city services such as finance, records management, parks and recreation, street maintenance and others. Maywood will be billed about $50,833 monthly, which officials said will save $164,375 annually.
"We will become 100% a contracted city," said Angela Spaccia, Maywood's interim city manager.
Deputies from the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station will begin patrolling the 1.2-square-mile city by the end of the month, said Capt. Bruce Fogarty of the Sheriff's Contract Law Enforcement Bureau. The annual cost of providing those services for the small city is estimated at $3.6 million, Fogarty said.
At a council meeting Monday night, city leaders said they were forced to dismantle the Police Department and lay off city workers because they lost insurance coverage as a result of excessive police claims filed against the department. They also blamed years of financial abuse and corruption from the previous council. "We're limited on our choices and limited on what we can do," Councilman Felipe Aguirre told the standing- room-only crowd.
Frustrated and enraged residents blame the council for the city's predicament, and for not following an insurance agency's recommendations, which council members had agreed to last August. The recommendations included hiring a permanent city manager.
Some suggested that city leaders should step down.
"You guys had the power to change it and you didn't," said City Treasurer Lizeth Sandoval, 28, who addressed the council as a resident. "You single-handedly destroyed the city."
Sandoval, a city employee, will be laid off as part of the cuts.
Local activists, who refer to themselves as "A Group for a Better Maywood," announced their intention to recall four of the council members: Felipe Aguirre, Edward Varela, Vice Mayor Veronica Guardado and Mayor Ana Rosa Rizo. The same group sought a similar recall in 2008 and failed.
MAYWOOD’S SISTER CITY, TIJUANA ON OUR BORDER.....
With crime rampant, political rivalry fuels armed feuds between city and state forces.
By Richard Marosi
Times Staff WriterJune 4, 2007
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IN LOS ANGELES, 47% OF ALL JOBS ARE HELD BY ILLEGALS USING STOLEN SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.
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California wants you! NO LEGAL NEED APPLY IN THESE SANCTUARY CITIES!
# Bell Gardens, CA
# City of Industry, CA
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# Davis CA
# Downey, CA
# Fresno, CA
# Los Angeles, CA
# Long Beach, CA
# Lynwood, CA
# Maywood, CA
# Montebello, CA
# National City, CA
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# Oakland, CA
# Paramount, CA
# Pico Rivera, CA
# Richmond, CA
# So. Gate, CA
# San Diego, CA
# Santa Cruz, CA
# San Francisco, CA
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# Sonoma County, CA
# Vernon, CA
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