NEWS

Former Union Boss Sentenced For Scheme To Defraud Nonprofit

Los Angeles – Alejandro Stephens, the former president of Service Employees International Union Local 660, was sentenced Sept. 2 to four months in prison and three months of home confinement for his role in a scheme to defraud the Voter Improvement Project, a nonprofit, out of $52,000.

VIP was formed to participate in non-partisan voter outreach, education, and registration programs.

The scheme involved VIP entering into bogus consulting agreements with 66-year-old Stephens and several of his friends and family.

VIP would pay the phony consultants for work they never did. In many instances, the “consultants” had never even heard of VIP let alone done work for it. The phony consultants would, in turn, hand the money to Stephens.

Pursuant to a plea agreement with Sept. 24, 2009, Stephens pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. The latter tax evasion charge stemmed from his failure to report the $52,000 stolen from VIP on his 2004 federal income tax returns.

At sentencing, Stephens admitted for the first time that he had used the money taken from VIP for his 2004 SEIU Local 660 re-election campaign.

Board of Neighborhoods Commissioner Re-appointed

Los Angeles – The Los Angeles City Council voted 10-0 to approve the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s reappointment of Esther M. Cepeda-Hatch to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners for the new term ending June 30, 2015.

Cepeda-Hatch will fill the vacancy created by Diane L. Middleton.

Villaraigosa Appoints CRA Board Commissioner

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sept. 9, appointed Dwayne Gathers to the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles Board of Commissioners.

The board of seven commissioners, which oversees the CRA/LA, is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council. The board of commissioners oversees all CRA/LA projects and policies, directs its annual budget, and appoints an administrator to direct the staff of the CRA/LA.

Gathers is the president of Gathers Strategies, a business advisory firm specializing in business development and government relations. He recently served as Regional Manager for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, where he directed business attraction, expansion and retention efforts.

Gathers also has professional experience in international affairs and trade and business development.

“Dwayne’s background in business development and government relations is the perfect intersection of professional experiences for this position,” Villaraigosa said. “He will be a great addition to the efforts underway at the CRA to improve our neighborhoods and the livelihoods of all residents.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Assistance League Seeks New Members

The chapter house of The Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay is seeking new members for 2010 and 2011.

The Assistance League has programs for children such as the Operation School Bell that distributes new school uniforms to children, a dental clinic for children, an eye clinic, which distributes free glasses to children, and Operation Hug that distributes teddy bears to children in hospitals.

The league also provides monthly luncheons for visually impaired adults and clothing kits for women who have been traumatized.

New members are asked to participate in these programs and to help with our fundraising efforts.

Details: (310)-832-8355 and ask for Michele.

POLA to Present Downtown Harbor Project Design

A public meeting is scheduled, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 16, to view the latest design of the San Pedro Downtown Harbor Project at the Port of Los Angeles High School in San Pedro for community input. 

Past renderings featured design elements for the downtown Promenade and Water Cuts, Town Square and Plazas, Ralph J. Scott Fireboat Display and the future Downtown Harbor.

The plans are being developed as part of the San Pedro Waterfront Development Project approved last year by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission.

Details: www.lawaterfront.org
Venue: POLAHS
Location: 250 West 5th Street, San Pedro. 

Car Seat Safety Check

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol, is hosting a car seat safety event, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25, in San Pedro.

The event will provide hand-on training, education, and information on the proper use of children’s safety seats. Parents urged to get car seats checked for safety.

RSVP at (562) 495-2915
Venue: Target parking lot
Location: 1701 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro

Mala for a Cause

Inner Harmony is hosting its 3rd Annual Mala For a Cause on Sept. 26 at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro to complete rounds of Surya Namaskar or Yoga Sun Salutations).

This event is focused on raising funds for local charities. In the past, the group has contributed proceeds to local charities such as Rainbow Services, Harbor Animal Shelter and Findings Art Center.

Details: (310) 521-8804

Clean San Pedro

Clean San Pedro is hosting an across the town clean up in conjunction with Heal the Bay Beach Clean up, from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25 in San Pedro.

The group also is seeking opportunities to expand its message to local classrooms.

Details: (310) 832-4931; www.cleansanpedro.org

Dominguez Channel Cleanup

Join Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Carson Mayor Jim Dear, at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25, in observance of the California Coastal Cleanup Day at the Artesia Transit Center in Carson.

Details: (424) 772-6293 Venue: Artesia Transit Center
Location: 731 W. 182nd St., Carson