WATCHDOG: Los Cerritos Community News Starts “Citizens for a Clean and Honest Government” Committee

In an ongoing effort to report on corruption within local city halls, school districts, college board of trustees, and other local government agencies, Los Cerritos Community Newspaper Publisher Brian Hews announced on Tuesday that he has started a new political action group called
Citizens for a Clean and Honest Government, and has formed a website to compliment the PAC called WhoAreTheShameless.com.

The committee has filed the legal documents with the California Secretary of State’s Office and last week was issued a legal campaign identification number in order to begin operation.

“Citizens for a Clean and Honest Government was created after an outpouring of support from readers who have applauded our work in uncovering corruption throughout Los Angeles County this past 18 months,” Hews said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Citizens for the Clean and Honest Government will be raising grassroots support from concerned voters and residents throughout Los Angeles County who are demanding more transparency at all levels of government,” Hews said. “Since Assessor John Noguez’ arrest (a story first revealed in LCCN in February), people have been calling us complaining and giving us leads about local government corruption, the PAC and website will facilitate transparency.”

The group has already published two hard hitting full-page newspaper ads against local Cerritos City Councilwoman Carol Chen during the past two weeks. Below is a copy of the first ad.

Chen created a firestorm of controversy in 2012 when she spearheaded a trip for elected officials to visit officials in the People’s Republic of China by using city taxpayer’s resources and funds.

Hews said that “this is a new breed of print media for government accountability in Los Angeles County. This has been sorely missed in Los Angeles, ever since Otis Chandler and the Chandler Family sold the Los Angeles Times.”

Last week, Hews and LCCN published the official appointment calendar of Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel that showed she conducted political business on the taxpayer’s dime in her current campaign for the Mayor of Los Angeles.

“We will be actively cross-marketing this in our newspaper and on our newspaper website, which receives over 70,000 unique visitors per month,” said Hews. “ We invite journalists to help us expose corruption, and in turn we will give those journalists exposure in our paper, it is a win-win for everyone, except corrupt politicians.”

Hews said he welcomes suggestions and support for the new committee; the website is at www.cleanandhonestgovernment.com or www.whoaretheshameless.com.

For more information, or to become a content contributor call (562) 407-3873.

Media Inquiries can also be made by calling (562) 407-3873.