| Southeast Cities Forming Coalition Using Internet Technology To Keep A Watchful Eye On Local Politicians November 30, 2004, Editor, WatchOurCity.com Huntington Park, CA - WatchOurCity.com has partnered with LynwoodWatch and SaveCommerce.org, two civic watch sites that are part of a growing coalition of internet-based civic watchdog sites focusing on cities in the Southeast portion of Los Angeles County. The principal goal of this growing coalition is to inform voters about the actions of elected officials and their use of public funds. The sites present information in a non-partisan manner based on public documents. A new segment of this site "Watch Your City" links to LynwoodWatch and Savecommerce.org and will be linking to other watch sites being formed. LynwoodWatch went online barely two months ago, in October, reporting on city of Lynwood's elected officials. A sampling of the reports posted: - Councilman Fernando Pedroza allegedly used public funds for private viewing of programs with pornographic content for two years in a row. - City Clerk Andrea Hooper was fined $14,500, and ex-councilman Armando Rea was fined $30,000 by the State's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for alleged campaign statement filing irregularities. - Council members reportedly spent a combined $34,906.36 in public funds on travel expenses in a recent four month period with Fernando Pedroza and Leticia Vasquez spending the most. SaveCommerce.org has been reporting since August of 2004. The Los Angeles Times reported on the site's watchdog efforts in the City of Commerce in early September. Lynwood is reportedly under corruption probes by the FBI and the District Attorney's office of Los Angeles County. Paul Richards, ex-Lynwood mayor, was recently arrested by Federal authorities for alleged corruption. Coincidentally, the cities of Huntington Park and City of Commerce share the same city attorney: Francisco Leal. Lynwood's city attorney, Arnoldo Beltran, was a former law partner of Francisco Leal. |
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