DiFi Town Hall: La Opinion Asked My Opinion

At the Dianne Feinstein Town Hall at the AME Church in West Adams, reporters for NPR and La Opinion approached.

I didn't have high hopes of getting anything printed in the Spanish language periodical, since their reporters have interviewed me in the past, but never followed up by printing anything that I had shared.

This time, I was pleasantly surprised!

Los constituyentes le piden cuentas a la senadora Feinstein

El republicano Arthur Schaper dijo no gustarle el trabajo que Feinstein ha hecho representando al Estado Dorado.

“Mi mayor preocupación es la inmigración ilegal y ella no está trabajando con este presidente. Ella está trabajando en contra del presidente”, dijo Schaper y señaló que Feinstein debe tomar en cuenta primero los problemas de los ciudadanos americanos.

“California está herida, tenemos veteranos sin ayuda, tenemos niños sin hogar, tenemos a los desamparados… Ella no toma pasos firmes, no ha hecho nada remarcable desde que tomó el lugar en el Senado en 1992”, aseveró.

El foro fue interrumpido en varias ocasiones por participantes molestos y quienes esperaban más respuestas de Feinstein; sin embargo, en ocasiones no la dejaban ni hablar.

Here's the translation:

Republican Arthur Schaper said he did not like the work Feinstein has done representing the Golden State.

"My biggest concern is illegal immigration and she is not working with this president. She is working against the president," Schaper said, noting that Feinstein must first take into account the needs of American citizens.

"California is hurting, we have veterans without help, we have homeless children, we have the homeless ... She does not take firm steps, she has not done anything remarkable since taking the place in the Senate in 1992," he said.

The forum was interrupted several times by annoying participants and who expected more answers from Feinstein; However, sometimes they would not let her talk.

I did shout out sometimes, and in some of those cases I actually agreed with her, specifically about Syria.

I mentioned to the reporter rumors that State Senate President Kevin de Leon was mulling a bid for US Senate, too. I also talked about my interest to speak for Donald Trump and stand up to the lies that the Democratic lawmakers and the progressive hordes taking over these town halls have been repeating about the President. I specifically mentioned the insane obsession with Russia.

My Comments to HP City Council, July 5th, 2016--Fire Macias!!

Good Evening Huntington Park City Council:

My name is Arthur Schaper, a member of We the People Rising, and a Proud American.

Let me list for you—and the city residents—the Top Ten Reasons why Karina Macias should be fired in 2017, and the rest of you should be tossed out with her.

(And it has nothing to do with Item #3, since Item #3 is about HP Tow)

·         You have given city contracts to friends and political allies.

·         You are voting for payments to city commissioners who are your family members, without recusing yourselves.

·         You have brought in marijuana dispensaries, despite the repeated opposition from residents in the city.

·         The crime rates are out of control in the city, and code enforcement is lacking in our communities.

·         You removed two citizens—myself and Dr. Robert Newman—for exercising our First Amendment rights.

·         Karina was already demoted from her VP position following her corrupt misuse of the city seal to promote her chosen candidates.

·         You have routinely refused to uphold the rule of law on your streets. Bicyclists cut through traffic, and drivers routinely ignore Stop Signs.

·         The city is facing a $350 million pension liability, and you have done nothing to address this waste of funds. In fact, your spending has only made it worse. There has been no comprehensive audit to correct this massive budget crisis.

·         You hastily attempted to cancel the HP Tow contract, even though you have all benefited from their political donations. The city has incurred another lawsuit because

·         You have raised city fees for sports and other activities.

·         You have cut funding from Fiesta Taxi and other transportation services for those in greatest need in your communities.

·         You have served as a wicked example to the youth in your city, who should have honorable role models to look up to.

·         You appointed two illegal aliens to city commissions, in flagrant violation of federal law.

·         You are promoting anti-life, anti-family agendas, from your award to an openly homosexual priest to your promotion of transgender activism, which is out of concert with Biblical values

·         You have repeatedly violated your oath of office every day that you walk into this city council chambers. Rampant perjury cannot go unpunished.

·         Many of you are carpet-baggers who did not live in the city before you’re an for office.

I said Ten reasons. I ended up listing Fifteen, er Sixteen. I think that the city residents the idea. And they will let you know how they feel at Election Time.

Thank you.

Cudahy Mayor Baru Sanchez Lied About the DA and We the People Rising

In a heated letter to La Opinion, Mayor Baru Sanchez of Cudahy claimed that the Los Angeles County DA's Public Integrity Division walked back their letter of rebuke for cutting off dissent, public comment, and criticism in city council meetings.

Mayor Baru Sanchez

Here are his comments, loosely translated:

The recently published article on alleged violations of the Ralph M. Brown Act and called for public comment in the city of Cudahy is incorrect and incomplete. Although Attorney of Los Angeles County sent a letter with recommendations to the city of Cudahy, later reported to indicate that the letter's allegations may have been premature. Attorney for Los Angeles County never communicated with the city of Cudahy or prosecutor for review to determine the position of the city.

There are so many lies, where does one begin?

The Head Deputy Sean Hassett did indeed contact the city council in response to several violations of the Brown Act, complaints ranging from announcing last-minute special meetings to interrupting speakers during public comment.

It was outrageous!

The bigger lie was the argument that the "allegations may have been premature."

Contacts within the city were indeed concerned that the DA had backtracked on their reprimand for the corrupt ways of the city council. In my view, there was really nothing to worry about, since their repeated interruptions of the community in January and February meetings were videotaped and placed on YouTube for all to see!

There was no violation during public comments at meetings of the City Council, because any disruption that occurs during that stage where residents exercise their constitutional right to speak to your local government, the clock is stopped so as not to penalize whoever is speaking. The Brown Act does not penalize for interruptions during the stage of public expression. To all who come to express their comments are given enough time during their allotted time.

The letter to the district attorney did not question the interruptions if speakers deviate from the agenda topic. The truth is that they were repeatedly preventing people from criticizing the council, and they were intent on ensuring on holding meetings at inconvenient times so that no one would attend!

What the reporter does not indicate is that there are indeed some members of the public who have used this expression time to personally attack some councilors and thus disrupt the affairs of the city with the clear intention to completely stop the city government.

Lies! Lies! Lies! Residents in the city and activists who work with these residents do what the corruption, malfeasance, and lawlessness to cease. They want to see good governance, and will do everything in their power to make that happen.

For the record, the city councilmembers have no right

 However, this situation does not only happen in the City of Cudahy. One has only to see the personal attacks carried out against the Chairman of the Council of the City of Los Angeles or against members of the Police Commission of the City of Los Angeles. The fact is that members of the public abuse the system in an attempt to stop the city government completely.

The city council is abusing the system.

Regarding Los Angeles, Sanchez may be referring to the lawyer who wrote racially charged messages to one of the city councilmembers.

While we in the City of Cudahy respect the right of free expression and the right to petition your government, we are also aware that the government should work for all and the simple act to continue driving city business should not be interrupted by a group of fanatics who only seek to completely stop the function of local government.

Once again--fanatics? Really?! I blasted them for using such abusive language to describe residents and citizens from outside of the city who were merely petitioning their government for better leadership and wise decisions!

Sincerely,
Baru Sanchez, CPA [Still unemployed as an account, however]
Mayor, Cudahy

Premature Allegations?

So, is it true that the DA walked back their criticism of the city council for suppressing public comment?

I asked about this matter at the June 13th, 2016 city council meeting.

The city attorney, Rick Roybal-Olivarez, read the letter which they city had received from the DA's Public Integrity Head Deputy Sean Hassett.

The city attorney and the city clerk released this letter to me the next day.

Here is the text of the letter:

May 20, 2016

Honorable Council Members Cudahy City Council

City Council's Office

5220 Santa Ana Street Cudahy, CA 90802

Re: Alleged Brown Act Violations; P16-0250

Dear Honorable Council Members:

We have received a complaint alleging that one member of the city council has been interrupted, on more than one occasion, by other members of the city council, in an attempt to prevent that member from expressing his viewpoint on items contained on the agenda for the city council meeting. Specifically, this council member has been told to both limit his comments to "questions only," and to limit his time to two minutes.

We note that on each occasion, the city attorney interceded and allowed the council member to speak for three minutes, and correctly pointed out that all of the council members are allowed to express their opinions as to items on the agenda, or within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city, and need not limit their comments to "questions only." Accordingly, we find no violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, and write only to express our agreement with the city attorney's position. Additionally, we would to make it clear that we express no opinion as to the content of any council member's speech; we support the right of all of the council members to express their opinions publicly regarding agenda items or issues relevant to their community.

We thank you for your courtesy and your continued cooperation in these matters.

Very truly yours,

JACKIE Lacey

Sean Hassett, Assistant Head Deputy

This letter is dated May 20th, at least three months after the more severe letter rebuking the council for violating our First Amendment rights and the Brown Act.

This letter does not mention anyone from the public filing this complaint or being targeted for this complaint.

Most likely, Councilman Jack Guerrero submitted this complaint, since the other members of the council have routinely interrupted and belittled him.

We the People Rising

In summary, the DA's office did not walk back anything about their repeated violations of the Brown Act against the Public!

No wonder Baru Sanchez had nothing to pass onto the La Opinion reporter! What a telling outcome, too, that I received the letter after requesting it, but the press did not! Isn't that a violation of state law?!

He was pretending to talk about us, but really it was another matter entirely.

Check out my final comments to the city attorney before Cudahy's closed session on June 13th here.

Cudahy Desperation: Mayor Sanchez Lies About "Fanatic" Constituents

The Spanish-speaking Newsmedia in La Opinion and Univision have finally exposed the four Cudahy Corruptitos for the repeated suppression of public comment, along with their abuse of public funds, mismanagement of public resources, and outright disdain for their constituents.

Mayor Sanchez attempted to downplay the damning letter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Public Integrity Division.

First, he claimed that the DA's rebuke was actually premature, and that the office had released a retraction of some sort.

Nothing has been forthcoming from the Cudahy City Council at this time.

In fact, the reporter who exposed the city council's abuses pressed them on this matter.

Here is Mayor Baru Sanchez' letter and the reporter's response

(I have rendered the original article--published in Spanish--into English through a translation engine)

May 22, La Opinión published an article by our reporter Araceli Martínez Ortega regarding the operation of the city of Cudahy.

Consequently, the mayor of this city sent a letter to the editor, published below together with the response of the reporter.

RE: Denounce Cudahy for violating the right of expression of its residents

Dear Editor:

The recently published article on alleged violations of the Ralph M. Brown Act and public comment in the city of Cudahy is incorrect and incomplete. Although  the Attorney of Los Angeles County sent a letter with recommendations to the city of Cudahy, later reported to indicate that the letter may have been premature allegations. Attorney Los Angeles County he never communicated with the city of Cudahy or prosecutor for review to determine the position of the city.

This is a total lie. The DA's office received several complaints from residents in the city as well as local participants criticizing the city council for the sanctuary city policy.

There was no violation during public comments at meetings of the City Council, because any disruption that occurs during that stage where residents exercise their constitutional right to speak to your local government, the clock is stopped so as not to penalize whoever is speaking. The Brown Act does not penalize for interruptions during the stage of public expression. To all who come to express their comments are given enough time during their allotted time.

I submitted a video showing the city attorney repeatedly interrupting  me and other members of the audience demanding reasons why the city was passing another ordinance to change the location of the city council meetings. Sanchez forgets to mention that the council tried to call a number of special meetings at inopportune times of the day. Residents in the city have strongly suggested that the corrupt city council engages in these shady maneuvers to diminish public participation.

What the reporter does not indicate is that there are indeed some members of the public who have used this expression time to personally attack some councilors and thus disrupt the affairs of the city with the clear intention to completely stop the city government. However, this situation does not only happen in the City of Cudahy. One has only to see the personal attacks carried out against the President of the Council of the City of Los Angeles or against members of the Police Commission of the City of Los Angeles. The fact is that members of the public abuse the system in an attempt to stop the city government completely.

Members of the city council forget to mention that they rigidly cut down the times and periods for public comment. They also neglect to acknowledge their poor decision making, the lack of transparency, the budget deficits and the looming bankruptcy threatening the city.

Sanchez also forgets to tell the report about the routine abuses they levy against Councilman Jack Guerrero. 

While we in the City of Cudahy respect the right of free expression and the right to petition your government, we are also aware that the role of government should work for all and the simple act to continue driving city business should not be interrupted by a group of fanatics who only seek to completely stop the function of local government.

"Fanatics".

That is the term Baru Sanchez uses to describe the residents, the voters, the taxpayers in the city of Cudahy.

Wow!

Sincerely,

Baru Sanchez, CPA

Mayor, City of Cudahy

The report of the story, Araceli Ortega:

Dear mayor of Cudahy:

We would be grateful if you could send copies of official letters of the Attorney of Los Angeles County that said the Brown Act violations were made based on premature accusations.

I can give Ms, Ortega the answer to this request. There are none.

Baru Sanchez, sworn in as mayor

"Reducing times joints Council has gradually given to allow end issues of the agenda: In the written report either version of neighbors like you in responding to the criticism, saying included and not to prolong the joints until dawn. "

"We respect the right of expression but asked to do so with respect and without shouting."

I even asked him to send me in writing the statements you want to be included in the second part of the story but were not received

The reporter wanted to provide both sides of the story, but the Cudahy Corruptitos do not have another side. They are the ones lying, they are the ones abusing their local authority, attacking residents, ignoring federal law, and abusing public funds.

They need to go. Period.

Cudahy's next city council meeting is June 13th, 2016.

More residents of the city are furious with their perverse lack of leadership, their incessant pandering to private vendors and the Democratic political machine at the expense of the residents.

"Fanatics?" Really?!

Ustedes son mentirosos!

You are liars!

Remarks to Cudahy City Council--May 27th, 2016

Good afternoon, Cudahy City Council.                                                    

My name is Arthur Schaper, a member of We the People Rising.

I would like to speak on Item 5C:

Creation of a Public Relations and Community Outreach Ad Hoc Committee (page 23) Presented by City Manager Recommendation

I do agree that this city council needs to improve public relations and outreach. 

If you want to improve public relations with the community, I would first advise attending all regularly scheduled meetings, and stop setting meetings during times when citizens cannot attend. It is truly shameful that the four boys on the city council cannot own their poor decisions

The two reports from La Opinion plus the expose from Univision have exposed a city council of four miscreant boys, and only one man--Jack Guerrero. The Cudahy Corruptitos have routinely violated the Brown Act, suppressed public comment, and continued to spent taxpayer dollars with heedless abandon. From five minutes to three minutes, and now only two?

They have done what their political bosses told them. Why not do what is best for the residents?

They have gone along with the illiberal lunacy or the Democratic Party machine.

Why not respect the needs of every citizen, not just political cronies?

If you want to improve public outreach to the community, do the right things:

1.                  Stop suppressing public comment; restoring proper time allotments

2.                  Conduct all business in the open

3.                  Spend tax dollars prudently and frugally

4.                  Follow all federal and state laws

5.                  Reduce local sports and event fees

6.                  Issue a letter of apology to the young ballet dancers

7.                  Restore the Club de Oro services

8.                  End costly contracts with outside vendors, including the wasteful magazine

9.                  Restore reasonable salaries for city positions

10.              Treat all citizens with respect

11.              End the destructive and counterproductive "sanctuary city" policy

Restore Cudahy. 

Open Government, Open City!

Thank you

Arthur Schaper

We the People Rising

Cudahy Council 5-23-16 Meeting Cancelled--Why?

May 23, 2016.

The Cudahy City Council was supposed to hold their second meeting for the month.

Yet after three stories (two in La Opinion, one on Univision) exposing the abuse, incompetence, and corruption of Los Cuatro Corruptitos (Garcia, Hernandez, Markovich, and newly-installed Mayor Sanchez), perhaps the Four Little Boys did not want to face the angry, irate residents of Cudahy.

The letter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney has now gone fully public.

For some of the comments, check out the excerpts below:

Then:

And finally:

From January 2016 until today, We the People Rising have battered the city council for their perverse sanctuary city policy, their waste of tax dollars, the fiscal mismanagement, the cronyism, and the outright disregard for the rule of law, especially the First Amendment.

One key part of this pattern of repression? The city council would call last-minute special sessions, oftentimes during inconvenient times of the day, when most residents are working. What were they thinking? Their sole interest has been to prevent the public from attending, commenting, and criticizing the city council for their bad decisions.

One more time, the Cudahy council calls it quits, and within hours of the meeting. One has to ask--are such cancellations even remotely legal?

Residents greeted and welcomed our presence that evening and afterwards. They have helped us in our protests against the lawless Huntington Park City Council, too..

One Congressional candidate, Chris Castillo, has assisted our efforts, too.

Following the outpouring of support, and growing courage and consensus of the community to take on the Cudahy Corruptitos, I reached out to Spanish  media a few months prior, and finally the work of We the People Rising and We the People of Cudahy is paying off.

The men and women of the city, on the forefront fighting the corruption, have gone public many times to stop this nonsense.

We the People of Cudahy

Now the four Corruptitos are facing the music.

Who would have thought that they Cudahy corruption would come to the surface so quickly?

The same perversions are eating away at the Huntington Park body politick, and yet the work of cleaning up local government in these areas till take more time than expected.

Still, the activists of Cudahy should be proud of the work which they have accomplished.

A few sources indicated to me that three of the city councilmembers were completely ill about coming into city council.

Jack Guerrero, the only honest
city councilman in Cudahy

Some of the most alarming remarks from the local press focus on the stringent efforts of the council to limit public comment and prevent people from speaking out.

Now the residents are taking to the streets of their city  and demanding a change.