Selected Articles Regarding The City of Rosemead, California

See rosemead-info.4t.com, rosemead-info.4t.com/page2.html and rosemead-info.4t.com/page3.html for articles of interest regarding the City of Rosemead, California! Selected articles included below:

Former Rosemead mayor agrees to plead guilty to bribery

A former Rosemead city official now running for a state Assembly seat has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of soliciting and accepting more than $10,000 in bribes from a developer.

John Tran, a current El Monte Union High School District board member and former mayor and councilman in Rosemead, admitted shaking down a developer who was trying to build a mixed-use office and residential project in Rosemead while he was on the council, according to a federal plea agreement made public Friday.

Between 2005 and 2007, while project approvals were pending, Tran would periodically visit the unnamed developer, who eventually became a confidential informant in the federal investigation, and demand money, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

During that period, the developer gave Tran $10,000 in cash payments and a check for $3,200 made out to "cash," according to the plea agreement.

At one point, the contractor asked why Tran had done nothing in exchange for the bribes, and Tran said he had done "this" and pointed to a staff report and preliminary design approval that suggested the project was moving forward in the approval process.

After August 2007, the developer refused to give any more payments to Tran. In 2009, Tran was voted out of office and the project never received final approval.

Tran is running for the 49th Assembly District seat being vacated by termed-out Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park).

A biography on Tran's campaign website touts his achievements on the City Council and says that as a school board member he has worked to establish reforms focused on rooting out corruption in the school district.

In exchange for Tran's guilty plea, the U.S. attorney's office will not pursue additional charges of extortion and obstruction of justice.

Tran faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for the bribery charge.

Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2012
See latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/former-rosemead-mayor-agrees-to-plead-guilty-to-bribery.html


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Rosemead votes out Tran, Nunez

By Rebecca Kimitch, Staff Writer

ROSEMEAD - For decades the Rosemead City Council avoided major controversy. Officials kept roads paved, city services intact and the city out of the spotlight. And then along came Wal-mart. The arrival of the highly polemic mega-store caused an upheaval not often seen in Rosemead City Hall. It swept a dramatic change onto the council dais.

Four years have passed since then, and it seems voters have had enough of that dramatic change.

On Tuesday voters apparently rejected the path the city has been on by voting out Mayor John Tran and Councilman John Nunez.

Voters re-elected Margaret Clark and replaced Tran and Nunez with two of her allies: newcomers Steven Ly, an entrepreneur, and Sandra Armenta, a teacher, according to preliminary counts.

Approximately 400 provisional and mail-in ballots must still be counted. Tran trails by 111 votes.

If the preliminary results stick, Ly and Armenta will join 18-year incumbent Clark and 35-year incumbent Gary Taylor in a 4-1 majority against Councilwoman Polly Low, who still has two years on her term.

Low, Tran and Nunez recently voted into law planning change that allowed mixed-use, multi-story buildings along some the city's main streets.

The plan will probably be reversed.

Clark, for one, wants to get back the routine business of running a city.

"I hope we can be out of the headlines, I am a little tired of going to meetings and hearing `I read about you today,"' Clark said.

Just four years ago, Tran and Nunez ousted two incumbents and were the highest vote-getters in the election. The pair's campaigns were built on their objection to the building of a Wal-mart in the city.

For the first time in a long time, there were major disagreements on the council - especially about the Wal-mart, which was eventually built despite objections from Tran and Nunez.

Two years later, long-time incumbent Jay Imperial, who had been in office since 1978, was unseated by Tran's ally Polly Low.

Residents if a new era of Rosemead politics had begun.

Low, Tran and Nunez has a vision for a more vertical city that included high-rise condominiums, and walkable mixed-use paseos.

Clark and Taylor criticized the trio, saying the plan would massively increase population and clog the city's streets with too many residents.

Others saw the plan as a way to modernize the city's 1950s-era, low-slung development style.

"(Tran, Nunez and Low) made a real effort to be proactive and plan for the future, rather than just let things happen to Rosemead, as the council did before," said Planning Commissioner Todd Kunioka, who was appointed by the current majority.

"It may be a lesson for this election, if you just keep things quiet and don't do anything bad, Rosemead voters will send you back to office over and over again," Kunioka said.

Despite being elected as a slate, new members Ly and Armenta say they may not always agree with Clark and Taylor.

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for Gary and Maggie... but will we disagree? Yes," Ly said.

Low, too, would not predict whether she would fall on the losing side of a lot of 4-1 votes.

"I really don't know, because I don't know Steven Ly and Sandra... What is their vision of the city? Do they really want things to be back to 30 years ago like Maggie does? From the forum we had, it wasn't very clear," Low said.

All the victors said they would prioritize bringing harmony back to the city and the council.

"The first thing we need to be working on is getting the city united," Armenta said. "The message I got during the campaign was people wanted unity to come back to Rosemead."

When asked what the council will prioritize beyond this, Clark was slow to respond.

"I'll look at each project that comes before us individually," she said. "The council sets policy... We hire people to implement our visions. I will hire people that have vision, that have the expertise and we will look at what they are recommending, but I am not a micromanager."

"My vision is to keep Rosemead a bedroom community, with places to shop and eat and enjoy," she added.

Unless the council is very aggressive, any effort to attract restaurant chains may be fruitless in this economy, according to Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies.

"The question is if there are any businesses that want to be attracted, at this point," Stern said.

Ly, who is 23, said he'll bring plenty of youthful zeal to the council.

"I represent a generation who finished school and wanted to come back to the city we left," said the 23-year-old UCLA graduate.

While at UCLA in LA's west side, Ly saw "a different world, some of it nice, like CPK and Trader Joe's, some if it not so nice, like traffic and density."

He hopes to bring the good, while avoiding the bad.

"It's all about creating balance," he said.

Pasadena Star News, March 5, 2009

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City Manager Chi could be on the outs in Rosemead

By Rebecca Kimitch, Staff Writer

ROSEMEAD - The newly elected City Council already appears poised to replace City Manager Oliver Chi in one of its first actions after being sworn in two weeks ago.

The council agenda for a special meeting tonight includes a closed-session discussion with legal counsel about the city manager appointment. It is followed by a public discussion of whether to approve a contract for an interim city manager.

The agenda item reads: "It is anticipated that following the closed session the City Council may wish to consider approval of a contract for interim City Manager Services."

Chi and city council members did not return calls or did not want to comment on the council agenda.

Chi has served as city manager since August 2007 and was interim city manager for several months before that, replacing fired City Manager Andrew Lazzaretto.

At the time he was appointed to the position, Chi was 27, one of the youngest city managers in Rosemead history and one of only a handful of city managers in the West under 30.

The appointment came after a new city council majority took over in 2007, with former mayor John Tran at the helm. Tran lost in his re-election bid last month.

Tran's replacement as mayor, Margaret Clark, and long-time councilman Gary Taylor both opposed Chi's appointment at the time, citing his age and lack of experience. Tran and Councilman John Nu ez lost re-election bids in March and were replaced by Steven Ly and Sandra Armenta, both Clark allies.

Previous to becoming city manager, Chi was Rosemead deputy city manager for about a year and assistant to the city manager in Claremont for nearly two years. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from UCLA and a master's degree from USC in public administration in 2005.

Under his contract, Chi earned an annual salary of approximately $178,000.

Since the election, city attorney duties in Rosemead also have changed hands. City Attorney Bonifacio Garcia stepped down. He said in his resignation letter he was resigning "out of respect for the election process."

Whittier Daily News, April 7, 2009

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Bills almost double city legal budget

By Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer

ROSEMEAD - The city attorney has so far charged the city nearly double the amount budgeted for legal fees.

Bonifacio Garcia and his law firm, Garcia, Calderon and Ruiz, have charged $276,000 for legal services from July through mid-March. The city's budget for the entire year is $162,000.

"It is just too high, and there is no excuse for it as far as I am concerned," Councilman Gary Taylor said. "His fees will have to be discussed at the budget review."

Garcia did not return calls for comment.

The City Council will discuss the 2008-09 budget at its June 10 meeting, City Manager Oliver Chi said. Staff will propose more than doubling the city attorney's budget, increasing it to $364,000, Chi said.

As the city prepares for next year's budget, some council members are concerned over the high fees that have trailed Garcia.

"I'm wondering whether they are charging us for their research," said Councilwoman Margaret Clark. "This is just outrageous because we are not facing very many lawsuits."

In addition to the $15,000 a month retainer fee and nearly $31,000 worth of work on two lawsuits, Garcia has charged the city nearly $10,000 in two months to examine alleged misconduct by Clark and Taylor.

Earlier this year, the council recommended that Taylor be investigated by the grand jury for allegedly releasing confidential information in public, and Clark is being referred to the Fair Political Practices Commission for sending mailers that allegedly had misinformation.

"It is unfortunate to have these additional costs to the city," Councilwoman Polly Low said. "But (Garcia) is willing to reduce the costs to the city."

In April, the city reduced the amount budgeted per month to $20,000 from $30,000. The action came after the City Council tried to curb costs by putting a maximum on his fees, which reached as high as $58,000 in November.

The cap does does not include "extraordinary circumstances" such as litigation, court proceedings or investigations.

"If you look at it, it is higher because of situations that we have had to deal with," Low said. "If it weren't for all the additional items, then the costs would be much lower."

Since Garcia was hired nearly one year ago, he has charged $395,000 for his services.

"In my opinion, (the cap) hasn't done anything to control the costs," Taylor said. "There are three council members that don't see anything wrong with what he does."

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, June 3, 2008


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Sorry, is that an apology?

APOLOGIES from politicians are becoming as commonplace as celebrities checking into rehab.

It seems as if the public apology is now a kind of rite of passage for a mayor, council member, state legislator or governor. With few exceptions, being caught in a scandal and saying you're sorry is no longer the death knell for a public career. On the contrary, it can be a career booster.

Bill Clinton, after being exposed as a liar when he told Americans he "did not have sexual relations with that woman," continued to be popular both in and out of public office. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, after admitting to cheating on his wife with a Los Angeles TV anchorwoman, didn't miss a beat. He's still atop the largest city in California and could easily wind up head honcho of the state of California someday.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "groping problem" never cost him the election. If it cost him a few nights sleeping on the couch that would surprise us.

Don't get us wrong. There's nothing wrong with the act of contrition, saying the words "I am sorry," nor the response, forgiveness. But that process only works to the fullest when the apology is clear, specific and heartfelt.

All things that the recent apology Rosemead Councilman John Nunez offered up to city employees were not.

Nunez was accused of sexually harassing a former city employee. As a result, he was sued by city finance worker Valerie Mazone for what she said was inappropriate talk and touching that went on at City Hall for two years. That lawsuit was settled by the city for $330,000 earlier this year.

Earlier this month, Nunez drew up an apology letter that he had placed inside Rosemead city employee paychecks in which he addressed his name being "associated with allegations of harassment against an employee of the City of Rosemead" but in which he never admitted guilt. It's hard to be sorry for something if you never admit it happened, only that you were "associated" with it.

In the letter, Nunez said he was sorry for his conduct that "has resulted in hurt feelings and disappointment for some people in Rosemead."

As if that's not wishy-washy, look at what Nunez went on to say. Not even saying he was the one who harassed Mazone, he excused this kind of behavior by pawning it off as being "affectionate" and "of the `old school."' There's something off-kilter about a council member saying he can't help but hug and pat employees on the back because he was raised to be a friendly person. This shows a lack of self-discipline and self-control. Not everyone in a workplace wants to be hugged or touched. Nunez, who is an adult, should realize that.

In fact, if he can't practice the qualities that come with leadership, then he should resign from office.

It sure looks like his intent is the opposite, despite what many Rosemead residents want. We agree with Rosemead Councilwoman Margaret Clark that the letter appears to be "an election ploy" designed to prepare Nunez for his re-election bid in March 2009.

If so, the letter stunt goes along with the adage that says there is no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to politicians. We would think Rosemead residents are proving that maxim wrong.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, May 21, 2008

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Rosemead councilman apologizes for his "old-school" ways

Rosemead city employees received a little extra something in their May 8 paycheck. A letter of apology. Saying he was sorry if his manners might have offended, Councilman John Nunez wrote the one-page letter in response to a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a female city employee, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. The lawsuit, which was settled earlier this year, accused him of inappropriate touching and crude comments, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

"Those of you who know me also know that I'm an affectionate person of the 'old-school,'" Nunez wrote. "As many of you know, when I see friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, I often give them a warm hug, a pat on the back, or make what I consider to be a friendly comment."

Some of Nunez' political opponents said the letter is not an apology, including fellow council member Margaret Clark, who has called for his resignation.

"This letter does not apologize for anything, it just says that he was a touchy-feely guy."

-- Jesus Sanchez

Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2008


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