Is there, or is there not -- an FBI investigation into Los Angeles Housing Department? (Would I Bother To Post The Question, Otherwise?)

Interesting this hasn't been denied by those I mention it to. The only reply is, "Where did YOU hear it?" (I would have expected, "WHAT FBI investigation!?!?!" Not a "note comparing" session.)

FBI INVESTIGATION INTO LAHD, NOW?: The City of Los Angeles REFUSES to hurry up and settle the matter of DOWD/DOGG, et al vs City of Los Angeles regarding the 1st Amendment matters at Venice Beach.

And on October 21, 2010, a Federal Judge ruled in DOWD/DOGG's favor, so it was time for Mr. Dogg to come off self-imposed hiatus (as opposed to mandated ban) -- to announce the news of the triumphant victoriousness. 

AND, I figured the city would need some leverage in getting off their asses to settle with DOWD/DOGG.So, I notified Los Angeles City Council that, "Zuma Dogg was gonna be a pit bull in a china shop," while I was hanging around waiting for my check -- before I move to Agoura Hills. . 

So I hit the city with the hardest hit I could: CONFLICT OF INTEREST ALLEGATIONS WITHIN LOS ANGELES HOUSING DEPARTMENT (LAHD) -- WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON RENT ESCROW ACCOUNT PROGRAM (REAP). 

Now I hear LAHD Asst GM (in charge of REAP oversight) Roberto Aldape is being Mr. Kiss-Ass, Nice-Guy to everyone he used to be Mr. ASS-HOLE to. Maybe that's how you start to behave to the people you pissed off, if there is an FBI investigation into your department, and maybe even of YOU! 

SO A REMINDER...this all started back up in October 2010, when the city still failed to settle, so I started to expose LAHD conflict allegations. And now, what if you find out there is an FBI investigation into the entire matter.

A COINCIDENCE?

MORAL OF THE STORY: I TOLD YOU SO. But you don't leeeeeeeesssen. And once I have the check, you can't take back the investigation. AND I THINK I HAVE PROVEN OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS...I ALWAYS HAVE MORE AND END UP TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND MAN, is THIS next level uncomfortable. (That's why I haven't exposed it and "gone there" yet. BUT, I've worked my way up the ladder -- and I am not letting off the throttle until the city's check CLEARS.)

AND NOW, ZUMA DOGG IS ALSO LAPD CHIEF CHARLIE BECK'S NEWEST GADFLY. TIME TO SPILL OVER INTO HIS COMMISSIONER MEETINGS. L.A. CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (DEFENDANT) WORKS WITH LAPD ON THE VENICE BEACH ISSUE...AND I WAS VERY UNSATISFIED & DISENFRANCHISED (AND STILL NOT SETTLED WITH A CHECK) OVER THE WEEKEND. Tune in to TV 35 after the council meeting for the debut of Zuma Dogg at the LAPD Police Commission meeting.

" The '7 Deadly Sins' of REAP" - Article by Carol Knapp on NEW Website FOCUSING on Los Angeles Housing Department

NEW WEBSITE FOCUSING ON LA HOUSING DEPARTMENT WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON REAP (RENT ESCROW ACCOUNT PROGRAM)...http://FairHousingCoalition.com. (And YES, it's no accident the site has been created...and the person who created it is no stranger to ZD's blogging & TV 35 appearances. AND ALL OF THIS SINCE THE RETURN OF ZUMA DOGG.)

CAROL KNAPP HAS THE FIRST ARTICLE:

The "7 Deadly Sins" Of REAP

Nov 01, 2010

THE “7 DEADLY SINS” OF REAP

By Carol Knapp

On March 16, 2009 I experienced the sheer joy of filing lawsuit against the Los Angeles Housing Department’s REAP program (Landfield, et al v. L.A., Case No.: CV09-01798 – U.S. District Court – Central Division ).

Some background:

My very first introduction to the unparalleled corruption in the Los Angeles Housing Department was in 1987 when the Rent Escrow Account Program ordinance (“REAP”) was enacted. Since I had purchased my first piece of rental property only a couple of years earlier, I was blissfully ignorant of…and unprepared for…the outright abuse of property owners and destruction of property rights I was to witness for the next 23 years.

For those unfamiliar with REAP, it a program dreamed up by two ex-L.A. City Councilpersons… Zev Yaroslavsky and Gloria Molina…to allegedly “clean up the slums.” However, the only “cleaning up” REAP does is the financial kind on behalf of politicians and crony developers.

REAP was billed as a humanitarian effort to eliminate health and safety risks in “slum” apartment buildings. However, this alleged purpose has turned to be a thinly disguised excuse to swindle property from the “little guy or gal” to hand over to city-connected developers, as is spelled out in Landfield v. L.A.

Briefly, REAP and its partner in crime, RRP (Rent Reduction Program), allows the city to reduce the rent by as much as 50% if the tenant agrees to pay the (reduced) rent to the city instead of to the owner. And, as if this in itself isn’t bad enough, the LAHD bureaucrats don’t even abide by the federal and state Constitutions, laws or even their own policies and procedures in administering REAP.

READ MORE/FULL POST/SEE THE SITE

BARACK OBAMA & MERCEDES MARQUEZ: Does LA Housing Department CORRUPTION Over AFFORDABLE HOUSING Lead To The WHITE HOUSE?

Oh no...U.S. President Barack Obama is working SO HARD to try and not just restore the country's economy, but try to keep our cities and states from falling into a big DWP sinkhole.

So he probably wouldn't be to happy to find out the bang he is getting for his buck when it comes to the HUD money for affordable housing projects in the City of Los Angeles that HUD director Mercedes Marquez is handing over to the city.

We've read the reports on Federal Stimulus money being stuck in the pipeline and grossly bamboozled. And FBI investigations on money being handed out to developers for affordable housing projects, only to find the housing is never built. Also, purposefully driving up costs and flat out over-billing. (FBI investigation into ADI developers, who are also accused of giving bribes and campaign contributions to elected officials, may show the other problem of MASSIVE over-billing.)

So when homelessness seems to be visibly increasing on the streets of Los Angeles, keep in mind, the city's solution is like trying to capture water in a bucket, while the elected officials shoot holes in the bucket to reclaim the lost money...I mean water. 

But before the property scheduled for an "affordable housing" make-over makes it into the hands of the City's preferred developers and contractors...HOW DOES THE PROPERTY GO FROM THE LAWFUL HANDS OF THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNER...INTO THE HANDS OF THE CRA OR ONE OF THE REAP OUTREACH CONTRACTORS, HIRED BY THE CITY, WHO SOMEHOW END UP WITH THE PROPERTIES THEY WERE HIRED TO INSPECT?:

RENT ESCROW ACCOUNT PROGRAM (REAP)

The more you look into it, the more you will find that the City of Los Angeles' REAP program is the single biggest fraud and racketeering scheme in city history. And it is currently underway as this post is being typed.

Over the past four years, L.A. City gadfly, Zuma Dogg has spoken out on the issue of REAP corruption (conflict of interest allegations), literally hundreds of times as the REAP items appeared on the agenda at the L.A. City Council meeting.

And over the past month, more specifics of this corrupt racket have been detailed and exposed from within the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) in form of a memo sent to some L.A. City Councilmembers and to this blog.

Zuma Dogg took the information contained in the memo (which he had already heard all about, before) -- and did a little more investigation, that echoed what the LAHD staffers were saying about the fraud, waste and abuse (of staffers) in the department, and began to not only blog about it, but blast it on L.A. City's own cable channel (carried on every Time Warner cable TV in L.A. City).

The result: Hakha Mortezaie, Director of Enforcement, overseeing the REAP cases, WILL BE LEAVING THE LAHD, effective in NOVEMBER. (Which starts on Monday.) This is the person who wears a judge's robe at the REAP rent reduction appeal hearings, even though he is not a judge and the hearings are not really a court.

But, Hakha REALLY DOES ALSO WORK FOR one of the REAP outreach contractors hired by the city. And he really is an attorney for them. And they really do end up owning some of these properties they are going out to inspect, I am told. (So does the CRA, sometimes.)

Hakha Mortezaie is part of the Mercedes Marquez, Roberto Aldape (Eric Garcetti?) crew. Mercedes works at the White House in Washington, D.C., now. (So if there is any corruption happening, and some of it has been reported to be investigated by the FBI, then does the corruption LEAD to the White House? Or is it happening under the White House's nose, like kids tearing up the house with wild parties while the parents are away on vacation?)

HERE'S WHAT HAS BEEN ALLEGED TO BE HAPPENING (And the allegations are getting so loud, my ears are starting to feel the way they did the day after I saw The Who in concert.):

City hires outreach contractor to inspect mom and pop building owners, housing the kind of people who can't afford a (city hall connected developer's) million dollar luxury condo project.

But, the City of L.A. is a casino where your building is seen as chips that they are there to take from you, since THEY are the house. But they are playing with a marked deck. (The "marked deck" being conflicts of interest and sheer corruption.)

One conflict may be arising out of the fact that you have people like Roberto Aldape & Hakha Mortezaie who are not only the LAHD executives in charge of overseeing REAP; they are both associated with outreach contractors that they are hiring to inspect properties across the city for REAP. Both are attorneys, working for these outreach contractors.

So are they hiring and paying outreach contractors, of which they are listed as the contact people for, then suing property owners as attorneys, based on the information they gather as outreach contractors? (This scenario was described on the record during the July 21, 2010 L.A. City Council meeting.)

MASSIVE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS!!!

AND OH YEAH, Hakha Mortezaie is the guy who puts on a judge's robe as though the REAP rent reduction appeal hearings are actually a real court. Surprisingly, the court always rules to place your property INTO REAP, then it becomes ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to get off the list, get your money back -- and NOT lose the property.

Part of the problem as alleged by people telling their stories to LA City News; Hakha will not release the money tenants have paid into the city's Rent Escrow account, back to the owner...UNTIL THE SHOW THEY HAVE A ZERO OR NEGATIVE BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE!?!?! (I guess the point is you have to prove you spent all the money you have fixing the problems they keep tacking on. Of course, then people can't make the loan payments, and they lose the property.)

Sometimes the outreach contractors sue for it and ends up in their hands. Sometimes the CRA takes it over.

In one person's situation, as soon as they satisfied the city's requirements and were released from REAP (after suing, cause the ONLY way you will EVER be removed from REAP and get your money back IS IF YOU SUE...and even then you have to fight to get the money) -- THE COUNTY INSPECTORS SUDDENLY HAPPENED TO SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY, to start all the shakedowns and tack-ons, from the top with 135 violations.

I THINK THIS WHOLE SITUATION NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF THE FBI (FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS)

And Eric Garcetti said Zuma Dogg and Matt Dowd should go ahead and hire 12 attorneys for the FEDERAL civil lawsuit regarding 1st Amendment violations at Venice Beach against L.A. City-- because Eric says City Council budgets for the City Attorney's office to defend lawsuits against the city -- and that City Hall is used to DOWD/DOGG on TV 35, taking up time exposing fraud, waste and abuse.

THAT'S NOT THE POINT ERIC! WE KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS A BUDGET TO DEFEND LAWSUITS...THE POINT IS, YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BURN IT UP ON A LAWSUIT YOU CLEARLY LOST, WHILE TRUTANICH'S OFFICE IS STRETCHED THIN TO DEFEND OTHER MATTERS...THE CITY HAS A CHANCE OF WINNING! (DOH! Didn't they teach you that at Rhodes Scholar School?)

SUMMARY: After two weeks of blogging and blasting on TV about LAHD corruption allegations with the Rent Escrow Account Program, the person in charge of overseeing REAP enforcement IS LEAVING THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND TAKING A JOB OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. (Outside ZD's jurisdiction, though not far from it.) Also, Garcetti said, "Hire the attorneys" to Dowd/Dogg because, "Trutanich's office has a budget to defend against lawsuits and City Hall has gotten used to us." Hope this post is "no biggie", Eric.)

NEXT: Did LAHD use CITY OFFICE SPACE, SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT FOR VILLARAIGOSA'S MEASURE H? (Garcetti, was MEGA-PRO "H", too!)

Los Angeles City News "Week In Review" - Links to "Most Viewed" Posts for the Week (10.30.10) - LAHD Corruption Allegations STILL MOST VIEWED POST THIS WEEK!?!??!

Although posted on October 16th, ONCE AGAIN...the detailed post of conflict of interest allegations at the Los Angeles Housing Department is MOST VIEWED POST FOR THE WEEK, WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE IT WAS POSTED. Plus, the OTHER posts, still among most viewed posts at LA City News.com.It all adds up to the resignation of the REAP (Rent Escrow) Code Enforcement Inspector (shady!) to be announced soon. Just the start of a CLEAN SWEEP of CORRUPTION within the LAHD. And I'm glad to see some of the posts about Venice FEDERAL COURT ORDER made it to second most viewed. Even though it was in LA Times, LA Weekly and TV news sites...THE LAHD STORY STILL SEEMS TO BE BIGGER ACCORDING TO GOOGLE STATS!

NEW & EXCLUSIVE: Here is the detailed script of al... Oct 16, 2010

Los Angeles Times: Judge blocks Venice boardwalk p... Oct 26, 2010

Los Angeles City News for Friday, October 29, 2010... Oct 28, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles Housing Department "Dir... Oct 29, 2010

NOTICE TO LOS ANGELES HOUSING DEPARTMENT on RESIGN... Oct 14, 2010

COMING TO LA CITY NEWS: Did LA Housing Dept use offices, equipment & supplies (money) as campaign outlet for mayor's elections interests.

LA Times 4pm UPDATE: More details emerge in $3-mil... Oct 29, 2010

LA Weekly Coverage of Zuma Dogg vs City of LA @ Ve... Oct 27, 2010

Link To RonKayeLA Article: "Wanted: A Thousand Cit... Oct 28, 2010

BREAKING NEWS!: FEDERAL JUDGE RULES IN DOWD/DOGG v... Oct 21, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles Housing Department "Director of Compliance & Code Enforcement" (OVER REAP) -- LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT AND LEAVING THE CITY!

[Pictured: This document says a lot to ZD. Mercedes Marquez & Hakha Mortezaie -- in charge of REAP Rent Adustments Appeal Hearing? ZD DOESN'T PLAY THAT! Hakha reports to ROBERTO ALDAPE. GET IT!]

For the past month, you have been reading on this blog about the conflict of interest and corruption allegation within the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). Of specific interest was the RENT ESCROW ACCOUNT PROGRAM (REAP). AND, what SEEMS to be the FACT, that once you are placed on REAP rent reduction program, you allegedly do not get your money back from the city and are not removed from the rent reduction program.

The conflict of interest allegations were discussed at a July 21, 2010 Los Angeles City Council meeting and the allegations were followed up over the past month by Zuma Dogg; after being sent a detailed memo from within the LAHD by workers who were scared to speak out about the corruption because upper management at LAHD is "vicious" as it was stated to ZD.

So between hardcore corruption allegations at LAHD, as described in the memo as being at the hands of Roberto Aldape which is hurting BOTH property owners AND tenants -- ALONG with the turmoil that has all but shut down the department in a hostile and "vicious" environment -- 

ZUMA DOGG felt moved to come off a long hiatus to NIP this activity (though no longer just a bud) -- and waves WERE felt within the department.

Yesterday, LA City News reported there was turmoil and a lot of scurrying at the TOP of LAHD, YESTERDAY -- AND TODAY, LA CITY NEWS has learned that HAKHA MORTEZAIE, Director of Compliance & Director of Enforcement -- WILL BE LEAVING THE OFFICE AND THE CITY TO TAKE A POSITION ELSEWHERE -- OUTSIDE THE CITY. (Who cares where...it's out of ZD's jurisdiction...but if you are REALLY curious...all you have to do is cross the street and you are IN the City he will be working for -- as of November. (NEXT WEEK?) Hakha was under Mercedes Marquez, who was forced out by a plaintiff with $40 million lawsuit against the city. The plaintiff agreed to drop the lawsuit if Marquez was ejected from LAHD. So she was shipped off to the White House to absorb the mess. Under Marquez is LAHD Asst GM Roberto Aldape, who has been the one blogged about regarding the REAP corruption allegations. And now Hakha, part of REAP compliance and enforcement UNDER ALDAPE -- IS BUGGIN' OUT OF THE CITY!

Maybe this has NOTHING to do with any of the blogging and comments on TV 35...but suddenly you have to person in charge of overseeing REAP and CODE ENFORCEMENT and COMPLIANCE -- leaving -- just as the heat is seriously turned up on the department...AND YOU KNOW THAT IT HAS.

ALSO: Just as LAHD Asst GM Roberto Aldape has HIS OWN REAP Outreach Contractor he is affiliated with (L.A. Housing Law Project, of which Aldape is listed as contact person -- along with his own private law practice) -- HAKHA MORTEZAIE (in charge of compliance and enforcement at REAP) has his own Outreach Contractor affiliation, LACLJ (LACLJ.org), of which he is listed as, "Executive Director." (And the conflict allegations are that outreach contractors are suing property owners after going out on inspection jobs for the city in their outreach contractor role.  (WONDER HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN PAID TO LACLJ?) Here he is at an LACLJ event (in the orange shirt):

From LACLJ.org: Maria Aguila is the Housing Outreach Coordinator. Maria works directly with tenants, landlords, and Los Angeles Housing Department inspectors to encourage the maintenance and repair of residential buildings. She also informs tenants of their rights at LACLJ’s Eastside Housing Rights Clinic. Maria has over 20 years of community outreach experience. Maria is fluent in Spanish.

So, YES...rack up another on for ZD when it comes to the POWER SHIFT AT CITY HALL AWAY FROM CITY HALL AND TOWARD ZUMA DOGG! Cause he also has City Attorney's Office & LAPD tied up over assessing the Federal Court Order AGAINST THEM filed by Dowd/Dogg.

AND, it should be noted to those concerned with the city's treasury that Eric Garcetti told Matt Dowd to go ahead and get attorneys (12 in total) because the city has already budgeted for attorneys to fight lawsuits -- and that council is USED to Dowd/Dogg in chambers during public comment as blasted on TV. 

AS U CAN SEE...the SAME arrogance that got them into this mess...is continuing, cause Eric Garcetti is simply too competitive and combative for the city's own good. Unfortunately, he IS a Rhodes Scholar, so perhaps he's good with numbers, but again...I am here to say, his personal, combative, vindictive nature is SERIOUSLY an issue you must consider before EVER VOTING to put HIM in charge of L.A. as mayor. 

AND IT'S TRUE...I guess council IS used to stuff like having the LAHD Director of Compliance & Operation Enforcement LEAVING THE CITY over ZD's blogging and TV 35 heat -- BEATING YOU IN FEDERAL COURT -- AND EXPOSING IT ON TV 35...AND THE COUNCIL PENSION/SALARY DOUBLE DIPS and everything else that will be HAMMERED upon City Hall.

Hey Antonio...did you hear what Garcetti just said to Dowd to keep your name in Zuma Dogg's mouth?

NOW STREAMING: New LA City News RADIO for 10.28.10 - Zuma Dogg Has CITY HALL Twisted in KNOTS as City Attorney's Office Busy ASSESSING Federal Defeat @ Venice Beach -- AND COMMOTION AT THE TOP OF LA HOUSING DEPARTMENT, TODAY! (GETTING EXPENSIVE IN BOTH LOST TIME & MONEY!)

Go to http://LACityNews.com for new LA City News RADIO for Thursday Night 10.28.10 (9pm Update):

Zuma Dogg BLASTING Los Angeles City Hall as there appears to be a shift of power AWAY from City Hall and TOWARD Zuma Dogg as he not only unraveled their ENTIRE ILLEGAL VENICE BEACH LAW...WORD ON THE STREET IS TODAY, Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHAD) was experiencing a bunch of LOST TIME TODAY, as the head honchos at the top were in turmoil trying to figure out what to do NEXT, now that ZD has THAT department twisted in a knot. 

UNFORTUNATELY, L.A. City Hall had YEARS of WARNING from ZUMA DOGG and they thought they were smarter and better and could hide behind shady bullshit...SORRY...YOU KICKED THE WRONG SLEEPING DOGG...YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT THE POWER??? YOU THINK YOU'RE IN CONTROL??? YOU'VE THROWN EVERYTHING AT ME...AND LOOK HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT FOR YOU...BOTH IN MONEY, NOW...AND IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC PERCEPTION!!!

I HAVE BEEN CRUSHING YOU FOR YEARS...AND YOU WANT TO KEEP TAKING IT.

SO ROBERTO ALDAPE WILL BE STEPPING DOWN...THE EASY WAY...OR THE HARD WAY. DON'T FUCK AROUND ON THIS ONE...ASK AROUND ABOUT ZUMA DOGG. People say ALDAPE is vicious, and people in his department are scared to speak out. I don't work for no corrupt, connected THUG -- and I SPEAK OUT...so he's got a problem. BETTER STEP DOWN, TODAY! (PEOPLE ARE DOING SH*T TO GET YOU DISBARRED AND THROWN IN JAIL AS WE SPEAK, ROBERTO ALDAPE OF LOS ANGELES HOUSING DEPARTMENT. WILL ANY FBI INVESTIGATION INTO L.A. HOUSING CORRUPTION POINT DIRECTLY TO ROBERTO ALDAPE AND ANYONE STANDING NEXT TO HIM?)

Los Angeles City News Update for Tuesday, October 19, 2010

L.A. CITY NEWS

NOW STREAMING - New half hour LA CITY NEWS RADIO for Tuesday, October 19, 2010: 

* City Hall will ask voters to cut pensions of new police & fire hires on March ballot.

* LAHD (Los Angeles Housing Deptartment) CORRUPTION ALLEGATION UPDATE (while FBI investigates LA Housing Developer for bribes & illegal campaign contributions of elected officials. Villaraigosa took money in election that won him mayoral victory.

* LAUSD set to vote, "yes" on $320 million in construction money, on heels of audit report saying lack of accountability and excessively wasteful spending. (No shocker, there.) And although board is already aware that State will not be delivering on expected funds, school board still wants to continue as though BOOMTOWN economy. Money for salaries, supplies and programs to be used for "solar panels." (How many more kids are "solar panels" gonna help graduate?)

* 1st AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS @ L.A. City Hall during City Council Meetings: Just as Zuma Dogg & Matt Dowd return to Council chambers to expose more corruption, than ever, Friday's meeting was the WORST DISPLAY of FEDERAL PROTECTED SPEECH VIOLATIONS IN HISTORY OF ZUMA DOGG @ CITY HALL. (All while awaiting a ruling by Federal Judge that WILL NOT be going the City's way. They really need to be more careful. Dowd/Dogg (who filed the Federal lawsuit over City Council speech violations) only need so much money. Beyond that, we're just punishing you. (You're constituents WILL NOT be happy with the payout at critical budget times!)

* Delays in cost-cutting measures causing $63.7M budget deficit in L.A.: The city of Los Angeles opened up a $63.7 million budget deficit in the first quarter of this fiscal year — not because of a drop in revenues but because of delays in implementing cost-cutting measures such as layoffs, according to a report being released today. FULL POST - http://ow.ly/2VEul (Wendy & Eric wanna run for mayor? Insert "spit take.")

* LA TIMES: 26 child deaths from neglect & abuse under LA County Care. Zev Yaroslobsky. says, "Something has gone terribly haywire." ZEV, you SCHMUCK...YOU are THE SUPERVISOR! Full Story: http://ow.ly/2VEDa 

* LA CITY NEWS - TWEETS:

LA City News

• JANICE HAHN...I can now assure you, based on the email I just read...YOU WANNA KEEP A QUIET, LOW PROFILE off ZD's radar. TRUST ME & ZIP IT! 8 minutes ago
• JANICE HAHN not gonna like the email I just read about some SERIOUS SH*T you'd like to forget/ZD wishes he didn't hear. Wants to have lunch. 9 minutes ago
• HOLY SCHNIKIES: Google stats show a FRENZY of searches for "Roberto Aldape," "Zuma Dogg Blog" & "lacitynews." Hoh bhoy, did it hit the fan! 16 minutes ago
• SHOES TO FALL: Ticketgate scandal. Heard D.A.'s "Public Integrity Unit" is going over the evidence. Look for indictments to fall on L.A. mayor. 21 minutes ago
• BREAKING: LA TIMES owner Tribune Ready To Throw Randy Michaels Out. (How could you let FM Shock Programmer run Tribune?) http://ow.ly/2VAyS about 2 hours ago
• SCRIPT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: Los Angeles Housing Department Corruption Allegations. This post details it all. http://ow.ly/2Vz8d about 4 hours ago
• Pension Plan Proposal Seeks Cut Backs: Faced with soaring pension costs, city officials on Monday proposed asking ... http://bit.ly/9DxztU about 5 hours ago
• LACityNews.com isn't the ONLY blog that thinks L.A.City Hall is a sham and a scam of a municipal wrecking machine. RKLA - http://ow.ly/2Vy0W about 5 hours ago
• How come people that give you inside info to blast, only tell you someone is "connected guy" AFTER you blast it all over TV & internet. LOL! about 5 hours ago
• Sure have been a lot of Googling of "Roberto Aldape" this week. Still seeing referrals to http://LACityNews.com from a search of his name. about 6 hours ago
• I don't think I should blog or be going to city hall for TV 35 comments til I can maintain a balance of $20 a day, EVERYDAY.  about 8 hours ago
• ROBERTO ALDAPE POSTS: http://ow.ly/2UXOP, http://ow.ly/2UXLg, http://ow.ly/2UXNo, http://ow.ly/2UXNY, http://ow.ly/2UXLU, http://ow.ly/2UXMZ 1 day ago
• Thanks to everyone for checking into http://LACityNews.com, this week and this weekend. Elevated # of views, recently. KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! 1 day ago
• A CRIMINAL'S WORST NIGHTMARE: You spent MEGA-MILLIONS to take over City Hall & LAUSD, only to have targeted money stall in bust economy. LOL 1 day ago
• DAILY NEWS ARTICLE detailing how F*CKED UP LAUSD Is When It Comes To Continuing To SPEND, SPEND, SPEND -- AND OVERPA... http://ow.ly/19uYud 1 day ago
• YOU MAY WONDER why Greig Smith's name is listed among a 6-way tie for "Dumbest CM." ARE YOU KIDDING? HE WAS VOCALLY WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING! 1 day ago
• POLL RESULTS - DUMBEST LA CITY COUNCILMEMBER: A toss up between Hahn, Huizar, Reyes, LaBong, Smith or Zine. (DUMBEST, not shadiest!) 1 day ago
• LA CITY NEWS: A lot of content posted for one hungry dude. http://LACityNews.com. 1 day ago
• DAILY NEWS account on HOW SCREWED LAUSD IS: http://ow.ly/2UTIf (Spent money on an audit, but were about to move ahead w out reading it.) 1 day ago
• Los Angeles City News Update for Sunday, October 17, 2010 (Pt 2 - 3 PM Update) http://ow.ly/19uPos 1 day ago
• LAUSD Boardmember Steve Zimmer caused EMS paramedics to burst into board meeting, this week. EMS saw him on TV and thought he was in a coma. 1 day ago
• LAUSD's ZIMMER: I know job is stressful, but you gotta remove the Diprovan drip 1 hr before meeting. I don't think you took it out, at all. 1 day ago
• LAUSD COMA-MEMBER STEVE ZIMMER: I hope you were on a lot of medicated edibles at meeting. Did you SEE yourself on TV? You can barely speak. 1 day ago
• BIGGEST HEROES IN CITY GET TREATED WORST: Remember when LA budget cuts were FIRST DISCUSSED? FIRST thing City Hall brought up was FIRE DEPT! 1 day ago
• LA currently in negotiations w Fire Union. (City Hall HATES the Fire Dept because they have been outspoken on safety impacts of city cuts.) 1 day ago
• The fact that LA City couldn't even put together a "good" fake budget w/out NUTTY-UNREALISTIC projections, TELLS YOU HOW BAD IT REALLY IS! 1 day ago

MASSIVE Los Angeles City News Evening Update (10/14/10) - Time To Drag Villaraiogsa, Herb Wesson & Eric Garcetti into Roberto Aldape/LA Housing Dept Conflict (Corruption) Allegations

The clock is ticking on the opportunity for Los Angeles Housing Department Assistant General Manager Roberto Aldape to resign from his position. It's the close of the business day, and it has not been announced that he has "resigned," yet. And more and more information is being forwarded on additional "conflict" allegations. Like using city equipment & personnel (city money) on Villaraigosa's bogus ballot measures. But that's small stuff, compared to what else will be exposed on LIVE TV, during Friday's Los Angeles City Council meeting. The only way to keep it from being exposed LIVE on-the-air, is to have a magical announcement come out before the LA City News reporter leaves for City Hall in the morning. (Once the trip has started, even if the announcement is made, the public comment is still ON!) And it's time to speed things up since people's living conditions and livelihood  are at stake. SO IT'S TIME TO DRAG HOUSING CHAIR HERB WESSON & COUNCIL PRESIDENT (AND HOUSING CHAMP) ERIC GARCETTI INTO THE FOLD. (Why NOT? You don't think they're tied?) It's all JUST what City Hall needs as FBI is investigating LA Housing. Hope the reporter gets a last minute "furlough day." 

HERE IS LINK to ORIGINAL LAHD "Conflict of Interest" memo from Sept 27, 2010 that SKYROCKETED to "Most Viewed", today. http://ow.ly/2TQee

L.A. CITY NEWS

LA City News

• YES, time to drag HERB WESSON and ERIC GARCETTI into the LA Housing Dept Corruption Allegation fold. (Why? You don't think they're tied?) 12 minutes ago
• ALL THIS HOOPLA over LA Housing Dept Asst GM is JUST what Villaraigosa, Wesson & Garcetti need with FBI investigating housing projects! 13 minutes ago
• FUTURE HEADLINE IN LA TIMES: "Today, amidst public allegations of conflict of interest; and several million dollars unaccounted for..." 18 minutes ago
• LANow: Does band that blocked 101 freeway deserve hard time or slap on the wrist? http://lat.ms/chazli (HARD TIME! SERIOUS safety issue!) 20 minutes ago
• When you hand out trophies to SOME students who achieve well on a test, you demoralize the rest of students. THE ACHIEVEMENT is the reward! 21 minutes ago
• RT @LANow: Your commute: Live L.A. traffic conditions. (Let me guess...speedy, smooth and problem free @ 65 MPH. OH, not April Fool's, yet?) 26 minutes ago
• Barack Obama: New site shows real effects of the steps @TheDemocrats have taken to rebuild our economy. (No, the STREETS show REAL EFFECT.) 28 minutes ago
• Schwarzenegger Tweets About Gov's Race: Gov. Schwarzenegger finally weighing in... (Who cares what someone people don't support has to say?) 29 minutes ago
• Villaraigosa: @ South LA's Figueroa Elementary to present trophies to students who rocked state CST math exam! (REST can feel like LOSERS!) 30 minutes ago
• Can tell by amount of traffic being driven to http://LACityNews.com by Google search for "Roberto Aldalpe" today, story HIT INSIDERS, TODAY. 35 minutes ago
• RT @villaraigosa: My reaction to the recent, tragic suicides by gay teens.(Let's guess. You're happy and support it. SHAMELESS pandering.) 41 minutes ago
• HEY @VILLARAIGOSA, What would the indictment be for City Official @ LA Housing Dept who used City equipment & time ($) on YOUR ballot Prop? 52 minutes ago
• THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGLES will be held accountable for the MASSIVE CORRUPTION @ LA Housing Dept. HIS GUY! More Friday on LIVE CITY TV! PAIN! 56 minutes ago
• WORD MUST BE GETTING OUT: Getting referrals from Google search for "Rober7to Aldape" today. And TOP POST is "Conflict Memo" from Sept 27th. about an hour ago
• Villaraigosa: "I was humbled & honored to be present at opening of..." (Always with honor he's humbled to be somewhere, NOT 4 ACHIEVEMENTS.) about an hour ago
• If LA Times were reporting Housing Dept CORRUPTION, blogs/radio would be ALL OVER story. So we have to get Times to print his resignation. about an hour ago
• THE PEOPLE OF LA HOUSING DEPT have sent a VERY CLEAR message: ROBERTO ALDAPE STEPS DOWN. Just a matter of how much blog damage till he does. about an hour ago
• LA council members say they need the DWP to give jobs to their displaced workers. http://bit.ly/cBzgCQ (Thought DEPT was to provide W&P?) about 2 hours ago
• ROBERTO ALDAPE of Los Angeles Housing Department should know that people are filing complaint with CA Bar Association. RESIGN! about 2 hours ago
• TIL NOW, the name of LA Housing Asst. GM has been withheld from BLASTING on TV 35. If he doesn't resign TODAY, name will BLAST on TV Friday. about 2 hours ago
• RT @LANow: L.A. teachers union to discuss lawsuit settlement next week http://lat.ms/dAkhZm about 3 hours ago
• L.A. City Mayor & Council should be applying more pressure to LA Housing Dept Asst GM ROBERTO ALDAPE to RESIGN, NOW! SCREWS BEING TIGHTENED! about 3 hours ago
• Due to L.A. City News' ZERO TOLERANCE policy on city corruption, and ROBERTO ALDAPE still has not resigned, WE WILL BE UPPING ANTE TODAY! about 3 hours ago
• L.A. CITY NEWS has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for municipal corruption and is calling for IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION of L.A. Housing Asst GM. HURRY! about 3 hours ago
• Will Los Angeles get its own version of Jon Stewart's rally? (SEE THIS INSPIRING POST!) http://ow.ly/19s4BZ about 3 hours ago
• If City Hall won't issue a permit to the "Restore Insanity" group that wants to hold a rally, they should just have it at L.A. City Hall! about 4 hours ago
• The White House assures L.A. residents they are very aware of the traffic problems that ensued last time Obama visited. Taking measures. about 4 hours ago
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• latimes: Dow fell 2 points, or 0.01%, to 11,095. S&P 500 fell 4, or 0.4%, to 1,174. Nasdaq fell 6, or 0.2%, to 2,435. http://lat.ms/9KlAjf about 4 hours ago
• NO QUESTION momentum is building on new http://LACityNews.com online resource. Google stats show traffic building by the hour! Sorry shady. about 4 hours ago
• LA TIMES: Will LA get it's own version of Jon Stewart's rally? City already trying to prevent. SEE THIS STORY! INSPIRING! http://ow.ly/2TFSW about 5 hours ago
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• RACKETEERING LAWSUIT IN MAKING over new LA City "coin & card" parking meters: When you add money for more time, it CLEARS EXISTING balance! about 5 hours ago
• RT @CNBCbrk: Florida Judge Rules 20 States Can Proceed with Lawsuit Seeking To Block Obama Healthcare Reform #obama #healthcare about 6 hours ago
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• Couple who dumped RV waste in Venice street get probation (NO JAIL TIME) because Trutanich reached too far asking for 3 MONTH JAIL sentence. about 6 hours ago
• RT @KFIAM640: LA is clashing with the DWP over the utility's pension problem. http://bit.ly/cBzgCQ about 6 hours ago
• TOP REFERRAL LINK TO http://LACityNews.com: Google search for "Roberto Aldape." (Asst GM of LA Housing Dept as BLASTED by ZD on TV & blog.) about 6 hours ago
• HOW YOU KNOW AN IMPACT IS BEING MADE: According to Google stats, a lot of people are typing "Roberto Aldalpe" then clicking LACityNews link. about 6 hours ago
• HUIZAR WILL LOSE: This time, City is MUCH worse off; challenger is MUCH more popular with as much money as Huizar & Mayor's machine is weak. about 6 hours ago
• HE WON'T WIN: Jose Huizar WILL LOSE re-election. His shady election team ain't what it used to be & popular challenger has too much money. about 7 hours ago
• THE PROBLEM WITH TRUTANICH: He seems to like to be an over-reaching bully beyond what most judges are comfortable with. TOO HOT HEADED. about 7 hours ago
• RT @villaraigosa: New coin & card meters generated an extra $230,000 in revenue for LA in September alone! (BECAUSE THEY ARE SCAM DEVICES!) about 7 hours ago
• It's EASY for LOCAL radio talk show hosts to fall into trap of rehashing what NATIONAL CABLE TV show cover, TOSSING AWAY LOCAL ADVANTAGE. about 12 hours ago
• It's EASY for LOCAL radio talk show hosts to fall into trap of rehashing what NATIONAL CABLE TV show cover. THEY TOSS AWAY LOCAL ADVANTAGE. about 12 hours ago
• When KABC morning show comes on @ 5a, after ALL national shows since 12noon, previous day, start w LOCAL talk. Not NATIONAL CABLE TV recap. about 12 hours ago
• People in OTHER 14 districts: When JANICE HAHN hijacks meeting w her mouth (talking about HERSELF) keeps YOUR CM/staff from getting to work. about 13 hours ago
• NOT JUST TRYING TO POKE FUN: But Janice Hahn's RUNAWAY MOUTH actually is an issue of waste & inefficiency grinding city business to a halt. about 13 hours ago
• RT @cnni: Rapper talks man down from hotel roof http://bit.ly/aSdQnN (Do you mean he "rapped" him off roof top?) about 13 hours ago
• Still a combative podium relationship: But City Attorney Dion DID go (a little) out of his way to ask how LACityNews.com reporter was doing. about 13 hours ago
• LACityNews.com: Because market research showed people wanted a DRUDGE REPORT style site for NEWS about LA CITY; and the URL was available. about 13 hours ago
• Christine O'Donnell Faced Off in Senate Debate: She was "enchanting." Crowd was "spellbound." Reminded crowd to "cast" spell, I mean vote. about 13 hours ago
• CNN: 'Underwear bomber' to represent self http://bit.ly/d5KPWw (Remember to wear "briefs," not boxers. (As in "legal" briefs...RIM SHOT!) about 14 hours ago
• NYTIMES Politics. Linda McMahon lags among women voters; many put off by wrestling biz. (Voters SHOULD be MORE "put off" by political biz.) about 14 hours ago
• DOES HE EVER SHOW UP?: Confused & frustrated Councilman Greig Smith (not even seeking re-election) seen on side of milk carton as "missing." about 14 hours ago
• MESSAGE TO MERCEDES MARQUEZ: Fix the mess you created with your Asst GM hire at LA Housing Dept and find somewhere else for him, ASAP! about 14 hours ago
• NO SURPRISE posts on otherwise UNCOVERED issue of LA Housing Department CORRUPTION @ http://LACityNews.com are MOST VIEWED posts, per stats. 

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To: U.S. President Barack Obama, Word on the street is SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS are UN-ACCOUNTED for in L.A. Housing Department Account (It Doesn't Add Up!)

To: U.S. President Barack Obama

Fr: The People of Los Angeles

Re: Several Millions of Un-Accounted Dollars from L.A. Housing Department Account

Dt: 10/11/10

Mr. President,

Perhaps you should have Mercedes Marquez call over to her Asst GM appointment in the Los Angeles Housing Department and see if he can find the SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS that no one can seem to account for.

Only two things can be happening:

1) The money is not being collected for whatever reason. And it is not the Asst GM's money to decided not to collect. It is the People of Los Angeles' money, and they want it collected. 

2) It is being pilfered and racketeered. (The People of Los Angeles don't want that either.)

This LOUD allegation is in addition to "Conflict of Interest" allegations as relating to Ms. Marquez's Asst GM appointment, as well. (Allegation being he is also an outreach contractor AND attorney, using info gathered in role as a city outreach contractor; to then take the information and use it to create lawsuits against property owners.)

It's all unraveling on this blog (see postings below) -- and before the People of Los Angeles on LIVE TV, during the televised council meetings.

HOPEFULLY, you can have Mercedes put in a call to the Housing Department to see what this is all about. Because this issue hurts both renters AND landlords and demonstrates the type of firmly entrenched corruption that has flourished under your 30-10 Transpo-pal, Antonio Villaraiogsa. (He's making you look bad, Barack.) 

Concerned Citizen

Los Angeles, CA

http://LACityNews.com

City Council Discusses Los Angeles Housing Department CORRUPTION Allegation, called, "Fairly Serious As Relating To The Conflict," by Councilman Parks

By now, hopefully, you have seen the video of Zuma Dogg delivering public comment on Friday (10/8/10) regarding "Conflict of Interest" allegations relating to the L.A. Housing Department's REAP (Rent Escrow Account Program).

The comment was based on a memo sent to Zuma Dogg by L.A. Housing Dept employees who are frustrated by what is going on in the department. HERE IS THE LINK to the memo detailing L.A. Housing Dept CORRUPTION allegations as "put on the public record" by ZD before Council on Friday

SUMMARY: Allegedly, the Asst GM of L.A. Housing Department is also one of the outreach contractors awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars and is also a private attorney using info gathered as outreach contractor to sue property owners. (One person...three roles and a massive scam, as alleged.)

NOTABLY: In this video from the July 21, 2010 council meeting to discuss these allegations, council was confused as to what they were voting for. Although it was Wesson's motion, Paul Krekorian stopped the train, asking for "reconsideration," which allowed all the slower, but corrupt, councilmembers to change their vote to the "shady" side, defeating Park's corruption-busting amendment. (Krekorian sure did want these contracts under conflict allegation investigations to be pushed through!)

Watch the video embedded in this post from the council meeting, then the one of Zuma Dogg from Friday (following up on this). MORE TO COME. I know there are other issues in the city like DWP and CRA. But this is low-hanging fruit that is a MAJOR corruption scam -- and will take down a bunch of corrupt people.

DID MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA APPOINT THE ASST GM (ROBERTO A.) WHO IS ALLEGED TO BE PULLING ALL OF THIS OFF, AS DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL? THIS GOES DEEP AND IS ONLY THE FIRST LAYER OF THIS ROTTEN, STINKING ONION. COUNCIL IS SCARED ABOUT THIS ONE!

UP NEXT: I know there is whoopty-doo corruption in the Mayberry-sized cities surrounding Los Angeles City, but a constituent challenging Dennis Zine in the next City Controller election, Zuma Dogg, keeps going over the Rent Escrow Account Program balance sheet...and keeps coming up TWO MILLION DOLLARS SHORT!?!?! (Dennis wouldn't know: He can't count past ten, without taking off his shoes.)

(IS $2 MILLION "MISSING" FROM THE ACCOUNT, AS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THIS BLOG FOR A FEW MONTHS, NOW?)

(Maybe one of these fist pounding, LA Times re-reading, hot-air blowing, AM radio talk show hosts can utter a peep over this? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL INDICTMENTS ARE REPORTED IN L.A. TIMES, AFTER THE FACT, AS THE OTHER 99.9% OF THE TIME?)

L.A. City Council Discusses Housing Dept Corruption Allegations (Pt 2)

Los Angeles Housing Department CONFLICT OF INTEREST with RENT ESCROW CONTRACTORS Discussed at Today's L.A. City Council Meeting (HERE IS THE MEMO THAT WAS DISCSSED!)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 5, 2010 UPDATE: At today's Los Angeles City Council meeting, a group of concerned constituents, who saw this memo posted on this blog, showed up to further expose the conflict of interest allegations at the L.A. Housing Department regarding the REAP (Rent Escrow) outreach contractors. The matter was address by Council during the July 21, 2010 council meeting. The City Attorney was supposed to have a report ready on the matter. But they announced their homework was not ready (they hadn't started the report). Perhaps, because all resources are allocated toward billboard enforcement, instead of the conflict at the Housing Department that the city will lose many, many, many millions of dollars in upcoming lawsuits.

HERE IS A FULL REPRINT OF THIS MEMO AS ADDRESSED DURING TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING BY A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS. 


(It should also be mentioned, that it has been brought to the attention of the L.A. City News staff that there is about $2 million in unaccounted for (LOST/MISSING/DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE) DOLLARS! (And, constituents in Eric Garcetti's district are starting to become squeaky wheels regarding the "Hotel California" aspect of trying to get your money out of RENT ESCROW. (The money check in, but can never leave.) IS THERE A RACKET GOING ON BETWEEN THE OUTREACH CONTRACTORS & TENANTS TO FILE COMPLAINTS AGAINST LANDLORDS IN CD 13 ERIC GARCETTI'S DISTRICT TO KEEP THE MONEY IN THE CITY'S ACCOUNT, AND NO BEING RETURNED TO IT'S RIGHTFUL OWNERS - (THE PROPERTY OWNERS). Perhaps a Grand Jury investigation will be getting to the bottom of these matters.


LETTER FROM (ALLEGEDLY) FRUSTRATED L.A. HOUSING DEPT STAFF ON RENT ESCROW CONFLICT OF INTEREST as addressed by Council, currently awaiting a (delayed) report from the City Attorney's office:

Dear Sir,

We are a group of Housing Department employees who are too intimidated to disclose our identities, yet are troubled enough to address some of the recent conflict of interest allegations pertaining to the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP).

We would like to thank you for speaking up during the July 21st Council meeting and bringing to light the fact that the Housing Department’s REAP contractors are under a cloud of serious conflict of interest allegations (July 21, 2010 Council Session, Item  #37).

You were absolutely correct in your observation that some REAP contractors may have abused their roles and turned their LAHD contracts into a revolving business by playing on both sides of the proverbial fence.

As we understand, during the July 21st session the LAHD and the City Attorney’s Office were tasked with investigating the aforementioned conflict of interest allegations and submitting a report to the City Council on their findings.

We would like to inform you, however, that as far as REAP is concerned, there exists an appearance of impropriety within the Housing Department itself. As things stand now, the LAHD is not in a position to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, and it should be precluded from investigating its REAP outreach contractors. It is an open secret that some member(s) of the LAHD executive team have a private and personal interest in this matter that may influence the objective exercise of their official duties. This, at the very least, smacks of blatant conflict of interest.

Specifically, the LAHD Assistant General Manager in charge of overseeing REAP, Roberto H. Aldape, was previously employed by and had a business relationship with one of the outreach contractors in question – the Los Angeles Housing Law Project.

To place the subject matter in a broader context, Roberto H. Aldape was hired by the LAHD in late 2006, having neither led large organizational units nor having worked in the public sector in his prior employment history. His appointment is yet another of a series of questionable and arbitrary actions that over the years the LAHD has become infamous for. Stated another way, the LAHD hired one of its contractors’ representatives (if not the contractor’s principal agent) and placed him in charge of overseeing the same contractor.

Mr. Aldape is a fervent adherent of the kiss-up-kick-down school of management, and his foul mouthed, bullying management style demands not merely obedience but also obeisance. He mercilessly and relentlessly goes after all those who dare to contradict him or question his tactics and management style. As time passed, somehow his interim AGM position was eased into a permanent one. Also noteworthy is the fact that nowadays the LAHD has four AGMs, whereas in the past it had only two or three.

The person directly in charge of REAP, Compliance Division Director Roya Babazadeh, is not about to challenge or express opinions contrary to Mr. Aldape’s. Suffice it to mention that Ms. Babazadeh’s appointment to her current position was not without controversy itself: she was promoted over more qualified and experienced female and minority candidates, and her promotion was in direct violation of class-specific preconditions and requirements.

Assistant General Manager Roberto H. Aldape’s relationship with one of the REAP outreach contractors, the Los Angeles Housing Law Project, is of such opaqueness that it definitely should raise a red flag. In the past decade or so the Los Angeles Housing Law Project has been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in City contracts, yet one may never find out how many side lawsuits this contractor has initiated from information gained through REAP outreach contacts.

Curiously, in various documents and websites, Mr. Aldape’s law office and the Los Angeles Housing Law Project had been listed under the same address.

For example, in the City of Los Angeles Compliance List For Equal Benefits Ordinance database, the Law Offices of Roberto H. Aldape and the Los Angeles Housing Law Project share the same address: 1125 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (EXHIBIT 1 and EXHIBIT 2).

In addition, various websites also convey the same information: the Law Offices of Roberto H. Aldape and the Los Angeles Housing Law Project had the same address and conducted their business from the same physical location (EXHIBIT 3 and EXHIBIT 4).

Mr. Aldape’s relationship with the Los Angeles Housing Law Project is a murky one at best and raises numerous ethical questions: What exactly was his relationship with the Los Angeles Housing Law Project that he was allowed to operate his own law practice from the same address?

Were the Law Offices of Roberto H. Aldape and the Los Angeles Housing Law Project actually the same entity and different in name only?

Did the Law Offices of Roberto H. Aldape at one point in time morph into the Los Angeles Housing Law Project, or was it the other way around?

Were these two business names used interchangeably, depending on convenience and expediency?

Did Mr. Aldape conduct a separate law practice while simultaneously working with the Los Angeles Housing Law Project? If so, how many of his private practice cases originated from the Los Angeles Housing Law Project?

Another potential red flag arises from the fact that the name of the Los Angeles Housing Law Project cannot be found in the California Attorney General’s database listing of nonprofit organizations. Interestingly enough, among the five REAP outreach contractors, the Los Angeles Housing Law Project is the only one that is not listed in this database.

All nonprofit groups are under strict registration and annual reporting requirements, and as a nonprofit corporation, the Los Angeles Housing Law Project cannot be exempted from such rules.

It remains to be seen whether this is an omission by the California Attorney General’s Office or the Los Angeles Housing Law Project. If a nonprofit corporation fails to register, the nonprofit is in violation of the California Nonprofit Integrity Act.

A failure to register would also violate the City of Los Angeles contract provisions, where a “good standing with any regulatory agencies” is one of the requirements.

It is unquestionable that, at the very least, Mr. Aldape has had a pivotal business relationship with the Los Angeles Housing Law Project.

The idea that somehow he could be impartial enough to oversee an objective and fair investigation of the Los Angeles Housing Law Project is laughable, if not outright illegal. Should Mr. Aldape nominally recuse himself from this investigation, it would be equally questionable to assume that any of his subordinates would be brave enough to come up with evidence potentially incriminating the Los Angeles Housing Law Project.

Needless to say, those brave and ethical enough to do so would incur Mr. Aldape’s full wrath and fury, while having no place to hide.

After the expiration of the current REAP contracts, a new RFP will go out inviting submission of proposals for outreach services. The Los Angeles Housing Law Project will undoubtedly be one of the bidding contractors. Again, it would strain credulity to assume that anyone inside the LAHD could be in a position to objectively evaluate the proposals and act contrary to Mr. Aldape’s interests.

The Law Offices of Roberto H. Aldape/Los Angeles Housing Law Project arrangement has been a winning one for Roberto H. Aldape. He has managed to parley this curious business deal into a high-paying government job, thus completing the circle fully and gaming the system in its entirety.

The losers in all these, however, have been the taxpayers of Los Angeles and the employees of the LAHD. The former have been kept in the dark and are clueless about the machinations taking place inside LAHD; the latter, while mostly aware of these shenanigans, are too cowed and helpless to do anything about them.

The overwhelming majority of the LAHD employees conduct themselves in an ethical manner day after day, yet over the years this department has been marred by allegations of impropriety and conflict.

And almost without exception, high ranking members of the LAHD have been the source of these transgressions. Time and again, the LAHD has proven that it is not capable of self-policing, and that its internal control mechanisms do not work.

An investigation of the Rent Escrow Account Program is long overdue. The program desperately needs bright sunlight to be shone on its numerous dark corners. We hope the City Council will take the lead on this matter.

[Will try to post the PDF attachment of Exhibits 1-4, documenting how Mr. "Two Hats" has been using both addresses as referenced above. But you can clearly see both addresses being used in the Exhibits.]

http://HeatPolitics.com