_____________________ ST. NORBERT CHURCH   RATES

Socialize

No on ABCUSD Bond Measure AA Campaign Committees Could Be in Violation of Campaign Laws

By Brian Hews

Hews Media Group-Community News has learned that the committees that opposed the ABCUSD Bond Measure AA possibly violated campaign finance reporting laws that could result in a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) investigation.

The FPPC enforces the provisions of the Political Reform Act. The act gives the FPPC the ability to investigate and prosecute violations of the PRA. A violation of the act may be prosecuted for a penalty and fines of up to $5,000 for each violation.

Back in early October, a Cerritos resident received a No on AA mailer and brought it into HMG-CN offices.

The next day, HMG-CN called Benjamin Ao of the United Homeowners Alliance who told HMG-CN that he had spent “over $4,000” on a mailer opposing measure AA.

The mailer contained several fabrications that were debunked by this newspaper.

HMG-CN called Ao and asked him about the mailer, which he stood behind.

But when asked if the committee had filed forms with the FPPC Ao responded, “no, and we have no money, I just put it on my credit card.”

The call was made two days after the mailer was brought into HMG-CN offices.

Ao’s statement to HMG-CN places the committee in violation of FPPC laws requiring campaign committees that receive over $1,000 in donations to report within 24 hours after receiving the money.

In 2012, the Legislature amended Section 82036 of the PRA to expand the period in which committees must file immediate disclosure reports. Effective January 1, 2013, the requirement for committees to file 24-hour contribution reports (Form 497) was extended from 16 days before an election to 90 days before an election.

Ao’s actions could also violate FPPC law requiring that the use of credit cards be used for campaign purposes only, no personal items can be charged on the card.

HMG-CN is investigating the two other committees that opposed Measure AA for similar violations.

[email protected]

twitter: @cerritosnews

 


Discover more from Los Cerritos Community News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

  • richard burlew says:

    Hews you would dig up dirt on the pope if it would save your paper you and your cronies lost move on!!!!!

  • George Medina says:

    Thank you for the excellent investigative reporting.

    Self serving individuals need to understand that if they violate the law consequences will result.

    The FPPC should move on aggressively to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

    Your paper does a great service the community.

  • Tim says:

    George, I have to agree (although I would describe
    Benjamin and the United-hos differently…perhaps as
    the United-nos…their senseless, selfish acts have
    cost our kids dearly…with no positive input…)

    Richard, whether it’s from the proponents or opponents,
    wrong is wrong, even if it is the Pope…

    Too bad the Gateway (guardian of Benjamin and United-hos)
    won’t step up and do the same.

    Hews, keep up the good work!

  • TomG says:

    Good to know, but this is small potatoes.

  • No No Mello Roos School Bonds says:

    How about fining the union leader, you yelled out Fascism, to all of the No on Double AA.

    How about Fining Trustee Maynard Law, for speaking on Yes on Double AA, when the trustees were not allowed to speak on the Measure, when it was in the hands of public vote.

  • No No Mello Roos School Bonds says:

    Too much in face for Cerritos Voters, all hitting their bank accounts. Any city will vote no.
    1. Double AA School Measure tax.
    2. Increase in Water Rates for next 7 yrs.
    3. Bed Occupancy Tax increase.
    4. Tax for Sheriff Departments.
    5. Failed promises to put Over Night Parking Issues to vote, for more then 40 yrs.
    6. Artesia Utility Tax.

    Voters reactions are going to be no, no, no on all accounts.

  • Tim says:

    4 of your 6 issues listed, are City of Cerritos problems…
    Perhaps you should contact your bedfellows Carol Chen,
    and other city cohorts, and discuss it with them…
    But if you send anything out in the mail, make sure it’s
    legal this time.

    (Whether it’s small potatoes or large fries, just ask Carol,
    she’ll probably order them both, and put on the Cerritos tab)

    As for the Artesia measure Y, your other bedfellow Artesia
    mayor Tony Lima, shot himself in the foot by taking down
    measures AA and Y together (according to voters I spoke
    with going door to door…)

    He took the students of ABC down as well.

  • Double AA says:

    AA Measure| More Info Surfaces|

    YES/AA Measure/ Trustees, have failed to mention info taken from public records.

    #1)- 22% the statewide cities which had edu. Bonds ballot, failed to pass. Only 78% passed Edu. Bonds.

    #2)- Nearby Cypress USD, failed to pass edu. Bonds.

    #3)Hermosa Beach failed to pass edu. Bond, already had closed 2/3 campuses in order to balance the budget. ABC/ has shrunk in size, but failed to close campuses.

    #4)- Orange USD has never passed a school bond. Resid. cost per square foot is almost double compared to ABC cost per sq. ft. Residents seek bond free communities to invest in housing purchases.

    #5)- Sq. footage cost for residences in ABC district, between $125-$350 per square foot. Housing costs in Hermosa Beach, is over $1,000 per square foot.

    #6)- Villa Park, has the lowest tax rate of any city in Los Angeles/ Orange County, and has no school bonds. Yet, price per residential sq ft is >$750 Sq Ft.

    #7)-Hawaiian Gardens has the least amount of registered voters, compared to any other 14 cities in Los Angeles County which past Edu. bonds, and also has the highest amount of reciprocates of food stamps/welfare. Why should welfare money annual incomes, be used to support Edu. Bond?

    #8)- Trustees/ ABC campaigned and walked select precincts. Hawaiian Gardens, E. Long Beach, East Lakewood, S Norwalk, never had any trustees walk these communities.

    #9- Illegally mounted Yes/ No Signs for AA/ Measure, can be picked up from Code Enforcement in Artesia, Norwalk and Cerritos.

    #10)- ABC USD/ (in the 14 cities which passed Edu, Bonds ) Cerritos has sections of Over Night Parking Permits, which is form of birth control, as limits amount of cars per family. Properties are not being used to potential of family size, because of limitations for parking. Natural regression of family size, which shrinks schools.

    #11) – State has fined Edu. Bond vendors for overages to construction costs of increasing billing statements up to 23%. This could be duplicated again in this AA Meas.

    #12) –ABC has failed to maintain 1997 Improvements, per manufactures warranty; so now, some 1997 construction warranties are null/ voidable.

    #13) -Prop 13 was passed to freeze tax rates at the purchased value. Prop 218 was passed to insure all property owners vote on increase to property taxes. Double AA Measure sidestepped both propositions, had only special election on ballot, to bait registered voters only, in the district and not balloted 100% property owners in the district.

    #14)- ABCUSD has the least amount of registered voters ratios, in the 14 cities which passed Edu. Bonds. Many residents in the district and have families in the district, can never be registered voters, so are not polled on Edu. Bonds, but are expected to pay as we grow. AA/ Meas, was special target bond.

    #15) – Both Torrance/Downey passed Edu. Bonds, which were entirely drafted different compared to ABC. Both Torrance/Downey, residential cost per sq ft is 25-75% greater compared to ABC. Both Torrance/Downey have greater amount of newer homes/ $1M+ homes, compared to ABC.

    #16) Yes, Nwk-LMUSD passed Edu. Bonds. Tax rolls, show both cities housing stock w/ tax rolls starting from $8K-$15K, because the properties are older and were purchased far less compared to Cerritos homes. Their assess. will be far less compared to build-out sect. of Cerritos.

    #17)- From the 14 cities which passed Edu. Bonds, ABC has the lowest class room ratios per student, as those other 14 cities are over crowded.

    #18) Norwalk-E Lakewood-Haw Gardens has lowest annual incomes, compared to the other 14 cities, which passed Edu. Bonds.

    #19)- Double AA Measure literature was never mailed to all registered property owners in ABCUSD.

    #20)- ABC/ Trustees nor staff, never informed property owners, how much the bond indebtedness was, if property owner wanted to pay in full, inorder to not have the AA Meas. Bond recorded on to the property title. We were told of the amount per $100K, but not the total spread, with interest, commission, servicing of the bond money, etc.

    #21)- 14 SD which passed the Edu. Bond measures, all have higher % of MBA/PHD staffers, per student ratios, compared to ABCUSD.

    #22)- Many of the 14 SD which passed Edu. Bonds, have higher % rate of being accepted in to state universities, directly from graduating from high schools. What is this saying about our SD 5 High Schools, are universities over looking ABC because of money or GPA, or not qualifying for DMV Lic, or is Whitney over riding the other grads?