Lawyer's council dealings questioned

“I have not met with any attorneys at all on this”

A lawyer with a reputation for shady political dealings has been courting Carson City Council members as they seek to hire a new city attorney. via Daily Breeze

[Yabba Dabba Dooooooo]

City attorneys are supposed to advise City Councils how to uphold the law. There is a growing group of attorneys out there that are contributing to Council campaigns in order to get "hired" and receive payback. Then, they advise Councilmembers how to get around the law (usually in closed session). If this isn't illegal, it should be! Attorneys to watch out for: Leal, and any attorneys who have done business in cities where Councils have been recalled for corruption. Check the names of former/current attorneys in Maywood, Cudahy, Southgate, Lynwood, Bell, etc. Don't let this happen to Carson! There should be a public uprising at the next Council meeting.

[artie]

Wonder if there's another motive as well, like expanding the corrosive Marroquin empire into Carson from Bell/Cudahy?

[Dog Catcher]

This is some kind of political hit piece! An unnamed source? Then then the source provides confirmed quotes of many of the parties attacked? Hearsay! Then the first blog comment on this story provides a 1st had comment. Obviously either the source or someone out of the source's camp wrote that comment. Come on Yabba this story gave you so such fury? P l e a s e!:)~ All parties receiving black-eyes in this story are minorities. I'd wager my entire next check the source is not a minority. There is alot to be said about articles that appear against minority public figures and the source is unwilling to be named. I call them what they are; spineless, wimpy, cowards that never had the b_lls in school to stand up to a mouse! Cowabunga Yabba surf's up dude! Shame on you Daily Breeze for letting your writer to be used like a cheap desperate street walker!

[Dog Catcher]

Obviously the source is unnamed because if if his name was revealed this story would lose all credibility. The public would be patently furious!

[get smart]

No matter what Dog says, is this the same Sweeney tactics all over. First Elito, with ties to Fajardo and election cheating, then Gipson supported by the same people who gave us Sweeney and Rhonda Frank. Give me a break. Our city needs saving and now. Through the crooks out now. Lula says she met Leal and ended the conversation, yet at the council meeting she is the one that argued for a new attorney the most and tried to dis credit the mayor. By the way dog, what does someone in Murrieta know about Carson politics. We've had councilmembers go to prison since our city was incorporated 4o years ago. We need our councilwoman, Julie back Please.

[Uli]

If there is a Question of Councilman Mike Gipson's story of "Gipson met with Leal and Fierro at the Sizzler restaurant in Carson in mid-November" Why not just check the security tapes from Sizzler? They looked chummy to me.
Before Gibson was Elected to the council,-HE paid for a PIZZA party for the Union at the Civic Center to gain support.
Wait and see, This will ALL be covered up by July and the three banditos will find an escape goat to point a crooked finger at.
LIKE I DID to MA'A and "The Side Jobs"
CARSON-SAME OLD, SAME OLD!

[Rafael Fajardo]

I hope that this article will be read by all Carson city voters.I urged all voter to do the thing for the city...Rafa

[Dog Catcher]

What do I know.. I have only walked through Avalon Village for 7 years K-6 attend Catskill. I only attended the grand opening ceremonies of Scotsdale in the 60's. I've been attending Council meetings eversince the 1st council was elected. I walked the streets with many great Carson folks even the legendary Big John M. I walked everday for 3 years 7-9 from Carson to Wilm Jr High. I was at Carson High the day of the Northridge Earthquake and later observed the teacher strike that year as well. I lettered at Carson High! I stood in the fields behind Scottsdale with John Calas and Mr Watson before anything was built there. I've worked at many places in town including Domenicks as a kid. I know Carson pretty much as well as anyone there today and have many many friends. I played pool at Joey's billiards from the grand opening until they closed. I won the dance contest at the grand opening of Hudson Shoes if you know where that was? I am part of the oldest families Carson came from and we have multiplied many times over there as well. Bascially this is my hometown! I just happen to be visting a friend here in Murrieta today and the new DB blog addresses the comment from the originating signal if you have noticed. The real outsider here is the unnamed source who has never lived a minute in Carson and it should infuriate any Carson true resident that a political outsider that has sour grapes would be allowed to remain in hiding like a mouse and then sit back and watch chaos break out because of some hearsay the DB has been incompetent to print. Dont be fool and let outsider influence Carson. I have not problem it the source was credible and within the city family, but he is not! Moreover it is healthy to review any city service provider periodically to keep them on there toes. And if they can't get majority support there is a reason. Majority rules in this great country of ours, that's what democracy is all about! What is your qualifications?

[get smart]

Okay, you answered that question. Now, how do you know who the source is? You know when Sweeney and those guys got busted it was based on a source. I believe every word of it. Those three do-nothings all want power and money. Greed is what is hurting this city. By the way my kid used to win tournaments at Joey's. I have been in the Carson area for almost 70 years. I know the bums and those three are tied to all of them. Beginning with Kay Calas. John was a big racist. so don't brag about knowing him. He lost his first election bid and then ran again and won in 1970. Enough said.

[Carson for life]

Here we go again. Is he Sweeney, reincarnate? The arrogance of our council members is dumb founding. These back room dealings is what's driving our city to bankruptcy. The only thing I've seen the 3 stooges do, is waste a lot of our city's money. I had hoped Gipson would have won the assembly seat, only to rid him of his council seat. I'm tired of seeing Lula stall any type of redevelopment on the north end, then try to push for the Boys & Girls' Club to build their new facility there. Catering not to all the city residents, just to her immediate neighbors. And Santarina's ties to Dyn Lal, Carson High is still in shambles from his tenure as principle. These 3 council members need to be on the chopping block. They are not in it to serve us, only to serve themselves. Vote them out when their terms are up!

[LEON GUERRERO]

Rafael Fajardo (brother of former Mayor Pete Fajardo? Hahaha!) has neither credibility nor moral ascendancy to make accusing affirmations on an article with an "unamed" source. All of the statements written by Maddaus cannot stand even a preliminary investigation because it is all inuendos and hearsay. As far as this guy RAFA, maybe he should consult his brother who was indicted and convicted of corruption first about solid evidence and probable cause before he makes any dumbfounded suggestions to Carson Voters.

[get smart]

Leon, I tend to agree with you on Maddus' writing. But, since he is biased towards the Elito, Mike and Lula side I have to believe him. I also know that he wouldn't write something if he didn't have a good source. Mike and the back room deals have to go. I know that the three stooges supporters have been screaming about backroom deals for years when there actually weren't any. Now we know this is a backroom deal. Gipson says Count me In and then receives thousands of dollars in donations. Then says wait til after the election before I will vote on it. He has a tendency to leave the room or not be present when a vote that he believes might negatively affect him occurs. Just like when they tried to kill the city's 40th anniversary committee. Because he left the dias that vote failed 2-2. then Lula tells staff that the committee is no longer operation as structured. She also failed to seat a very well respected community leader, who by the way is black. The three stooges have to go.

[No Bias]

Gene Maddaus is ALWAYS biased because he SUPPORTS Gipson, Santarina and Davis-Holmes. This time he went after them, and more importantly after this apparent criminal lobbyist.

This sort of appointment would have gone on unnoticed by the average Carson voter without this article. We would have a new City Attorney and have no idea why this firm was selected. Its obvious this guy Leal has screwed up in many cities: Commerce, Lynwood, Maywood...

Thank you, Gene Maddaus. This information, at the very least, will keep our government "honest" and "transparent."

And the calls of racism by earlier commenters is completely uncalled for. This reporter has consistently backed this majority, and now when he goes against them he is racist??? I dont think this has anything to do with race, and everything to do with dirty politics.

[Carson Make A Change]

What is so amazing to me is that Mike Gipson, Lula Holmes and Elito Santarina have just picked up where Sweeney left off with corruption.
The voters in Carson need to get out and voted the evil three out of office.
Holmes, Gipson and Santarina have a hidden agenda and it does not include doing the right thing for the City of Carson. They prove this by their behavior at each City Council Meetings.
They voted against building a Girls & Boys Club on the North side of Carson. However, they found it necessary to Elito motioned and Gipson 2nd the motion and of course Holmes did not object to the motion to build a Veteran Museum in the City of Carson. Harold Williams question the importance of building the museum at a time when the City's fund are limited. A Veteran Museum would be a great ideal if there were social services being provided for Veteran in Carson. What is a museum going to do to help improve the quality of life for Veteran? Veteran needs help with housing, mental health and etc.
The Veteran Museum is Elito's ideal and of course the other two mindless individuals agree with him.
I am looking forward to the FBI conducts an investigation of the three idiots and justice is served.
Citizens of Carson it is time to make a change get rid of the Three Devils before these individuals bankrupt the City.

[Carson Not Again]

I have lived in Carson for approximately 26 years and I tried of inapt City Officials in Carson.
The Carson City Council should not be allowed to replace the City Attorney until the community is given just cause for the action.
Elito, Holmes and Gipson have no regards for tax payers in Carson. These three individuals have brought nothing but disgrace to the City. It appears that they have no conscience .
Where is Robert Leslie and his posse protesting against Santarina, Holmes and Gipson conduct?

[KarSon Calif Resident]

SWEETY AND HIS GIRL FRIEND FRANKIE, SURE STARTED SINGING DIFERENT TUNES ONCE THE GOOD OLD CARSON SHERIFFS CAME AFTER THEM..WHAT DOES THE SIGN FOR CARSON SAY?? SOMETHING ABOUT "FUTURE UNLIMITED"??..FOR WHO??.SCAMMERS AND CROOKS??.IVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF CARSON OVER 50+ YEARS, BUT WHEN I PASS BY THE THE CITY HALL, I WONDER WHOS NEXT TO END UP PICTURED IN THE DAILY BREEZE "WEARING HANDCUFFS"..

[Good old Carson]

Who do you think approved that $250,000.00 for that old lady to fix up her home for free !!!!
Mike Gipson, Lula Holmes and Elito Santarina

[KarSon Calif Resident]

CARSON SHERIFFS ARE GOOD AT PATROLLING THE NEIGHBORHOODS KEEPING THE THUGS IN CARSON IN CHECK, "BUT", THEY SHOULD HAVE A DETECTIVE STATIONED "ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CITY HALL" TO KEEP WATCH ON THE "BIG TIME CROOKS"..

[Lynwood Watch Dog]

Good job on the story. This Leal character and his former partner Arnoldo Beltran have financed dozens of recalls in southeast cities, Lynwood being the most recent. They were unsuccessfull in getting a majority in Lynwood recently but were able to get 4 councilmembers recalled. Once they get hired they bilk the cities of millions.

[Recall Mike Gipson]

Recall Councilman Mike Gipson

Keep your eye out for the official petition