2023 - Year of the Water Rabbit: Working Towards Peace

(c) Japan Times

According to the Chinese calendar, last year was the Year of the Water Tiger. This is the Year of the Water Rabbit.

Last year, I wrote that "[T]igers cross water, because they're on the go. And I think, this will be a year of uncertain transition for everyone." My words came true.

Thank you for everyone who's believed in me and supported me in my life. Together, all of us have crossed over into the Promised Land. It's been a long and hard and gritty and painful journey. I want to remind us of history, because it's repeated.

Approximately 3,300 years ago, God blocked the Israelites from entering the Promise Land, because they were too afraid of the future. The spies gave false reports to Moses of how the land was full of fortified cities and giants; so, that the people could instead stay in the wilderness and settle for living in known poverty. The people rejected the prospects of an unknown future and wealth; instead, they were content with fantasies of the past and the comforts of the predictable.

Only Joshua and Caleb believed that the Promise Land could be taken. In short - one tribe, and only one tribe - the Tribe of Judah - stood in opposition against 11 other families and knew the truth and wanted to act on it. 

And what happened? Sadly, the Israelite community believed the lies and rejected God's promise to Israel. All of the spies, except Joshua and Caleb, were struck down with a plague and died. Judah was spared and honored and blessed.

I feel like history repeats itself. There's something to be said about knowing the truth, acting on that truth, and having faith that God will fight the battles we cannot. After all, it is written, "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." 

He is the same God, a God that does not change. He is the God that organized the Israeli slaves, and through their leader Moses, against all odds, and with only a wooden staff, defeated Pharaoh and his evil kingdom.

Hence, 2023, will now be about building the foundations of a new city.

The FBI Captures the City of Baldwin Park

Another reason I haven't been blogging as much, is because Baldwin Park's corruption has finally become exposed. The federal government has finally intervened. And the City's ugliness and greed and evil is now seen by the people.

The FBI captured a former council member, who in turn squealed on the rampant corruption, which was rotting this city and its people into destruction. The federal investigation has brought down other public officials from other cities and counties, as well as the city attorney here, and numerous administrators. It appears that the ring was primarily connected to corrupt, Hispanic-run cities.

(I predict next on the chopping blog will be Baldwin Park Council Woman, Monica Garcia and former Mayor Manuel Lozano.)

One person who has finally been brought down is the City Attorney, Robert Tafoya. Tafoya finally filed his resignation as city attorney in Baldwin Park and the West Valley Water District in November of 2022. We've been in conflict since March of 2014. That's almost 8 years.

I don't want to rehash all the misconduct he engaged in, because it's behind me. But some misconduct included the firing of my friend who worked for the City to get back at me; forging my signature block in a case; and filing a number of temporary restraining orders against me, based on lies. My opponent reveled in lying and balking at any laws designed to hold government accountable.

I won my share of battles against him and lost some too. Those losses upset me, especially because of the foul play employed to win. (And, I'd get so frustrated at the courts that they would permit so much illegal prolific and unrestrained misconduct.)

I'm grateful, however, to Tafoya, because he gave me the gift of the enemy. Walter Wink, late theologian on confronting evil political systems, describes the gift like this: "The gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects of ourselves that we cannot discover any other way than through our enemies. Our friends seldom tell us these things; they are our friends precisely because they are able to overlook or ignore this part of us."

The City of Baldwin Park Proves the Evil of Our Governments.

So, in the end, my character was refined by Tafoya's schemes and still has a way to go. Probably a few years ago, I would have been overjoyed that he resigned because of an FBI investigation, but now, it tastes so bittersweet.

I feel like I'm witnessing a tragedy, not a happy ending. Will the public get its money back to invest in future generations? Will the governance in the City change, or will they continue on their way to be corrupt? (Already, it appears like the latter.) Will people like Tafoya change?

So now, I'm grieved. I'm grieved to see how the State's checks and balances have failed to prevent or stop this misconduct earlier. This goes all the way up to the State Bar, the appellate courts, the superior courts, and the State Controller's Office. If one City in California goes rogue, the way Baldwin Park did, how can it be brought back into line, when these agencies are not enforcing the rules against it? 

Well; the State Controller could have done a better job in being more thorough with subpoenaing records and enforcing that subpoena. Although a number of citizens knew something was amiss, and we asked for records, the court in the end failed to enforce the public records act against the City. 

Without court enforcement, the public records act doesn't work. That's it. It's just a bunch of nice words on paper. A public agency can withhold those records, because it knows giving them away, will cause them to be criminally prosecuted. 

So; tell me. Why would they ever comply with such a rule without the enforcement of the courts?

And sadly, the State Bar appears to not prosecute players who have money. The State Bar has been so egregious in over prosecuting black attorneys and under prosecuting corrupt players, which ultimately just promotes more corruption in our legal system. Again; it's tragic.

The leadership in this State needs to change totally. Currently, people in power could have a history of financial problems and still be in positions of leadership. If people can't manage their own personal finances, they have no business managing the public's money. Hence, there needs to be checks and restrictions.

And character and integrity have to start becoming traits that qualify one for leadership, and the lack of having them, likewise must disqualify one from holding such government positions.

My Father Almost Died at ELIM Silvertown, Los Angeles; Nonetheless, Verdugo Hills Saved His Life.

In April of this year, I saw my father dying in front of my eyes. He started shaking violently in front of me. He whispered, "Paul." His eyes were rolling the back of his head. He wasn't conscious.

And immediately, in my mind's eye, a flurry of images and thoughts and voices came into my mind to lead me to the ultimate conclusion; Dad's going to die!

I could feel my mind going sifting through thoughts and facts and ideas. What's going on here? What's happening? Paul, you can do this. You can figure this out. 

But how? In front of me, was my dying father, and for the most part that was the only fact I had. I never attended medical school.

Dad can't talk to me. Dad can't tell me what's going on, right now. I thought - What is this?! What the Hell is going on here?! I don't know. I need to know.

Everyone is telling me it's high blood sugars, but that doesn't make sense. The doctors in the emergency room can't even explain the biochemistry of what's going on here logically. Something is totally wrong!

And still and peaceful voice inside said - You know enough to figure this out. Yes, but how?

The race started in my mind. And Death spoke to me and said, "Time is running out, Counselor. If you don't figure this out, your father dies." 

Flurry and flashes of facts, thoughts, research papers, and past memories started flooding into my mind's eye. There were a lot of dead ends and roadblocks in my thinking. And it came. The knowledge, as bright as light, came to me. I knew why my father was dying and what was actually going on.

I took my father out of Good Samaritan Hospital to the anger and shock and fury of the staff, even the chief officer, there. The Spirit of Death was in that room, and I could feel it. 

And after taking him out, which felt more like a prison break, I drove him to his regular hospital in Glendale. According to sources, Good Samaritan reported me to authorities, even though I did the right thing. The nursing home he was staying at, ELIM Silvertown, tried to trick me into signing a waiver to not sue them. The whole affair was disgusting and egregious.

The second hospital, Verdugo Hills, saved my father's life. From April even until now, I've been doing everything I could to rehabilitate my father. He's not fully 100%, but he's improved greatly, so much so, that I can say it's a miracle where he's at now and how far he's come.

I beat Death again, at least for now. I don't know how many more times I can keep going up against him and winning. Not easy.

The following Monday, I filed an elder abuse report with an agency and life changed forever.

Conflict at the Boxing Gym; Hope Springs Eternal

Well, in November of this year, a professional boxer at the gym punched me. He denied it. And in my absence, and without being able to tell my side of the story, a number of people believed in the lie. It sent the gym into mass conflict and turmoil. 

It reminded me of what Winston Churchill once said. "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

For me - it felt like a clash of two kingdoms. And in general, isn't this the historic battle of every city? It's the conflict between Babylon and Jerusalem or Rome (the new Babylon) and Jerusalem. I feel like they're are two forces that are always fighting for the hearts of men and women in the City. And although everyone has the same universal needs, these forces offer very different promises for the people.

The Book of Proverbs (also known as the Book of Wisdom), tells us that Lady Foolishness and Lady Wisdom walk through the city streets. Both look for people into the City to invite into their homes to eat and drink. One offers wisdom. The other offers to meet your deepest and darkest desires. Stolen food and water are sweeter - Lady Foolishness says.

Returning to the punch-story. Well, the good news was that there was no permanent damage from the punch. And as many of my wise advisors have told me - that's the most important thing.

More conflict ensued during the twilight days leading to New Years Day. And I realized that my pursuit of justice was also deeply and sadly affecting all the members of the community. I've tried to make peace, and I think it's been reciprocated. 

So, we're all trying to move towards peace, hopefully. And regarding this boxer, I realize some of the mistakes I made, and I can still see good in him. So, I'm very hopeful.

Thoughts for Next Year: Strive to Make Peace.

The New Year brought me one Bible verse that hit home. It says, "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14, NKJV). For me, I've proven my points and had my victories in the past. Thus, this is the year to work towards peace

I end by saying, this is the Year of the Water Rabbit. I don't know much about rabbits or hares, though when I run in the hills I see plenty of them. They signify peace for certain. Are they in conflict with other animals? No. 

They're also fluffy and cute and happy. They're also very adaptable and prolific. They're fast and quick and can adapt to new environments. So; I think that's what we need to move towards - peace and adaptability and fast flow.

Happy New Year. Out with the old, and in with the new. I welcome the Year of 2023 - the Year of the Water Rabbit.

Merry Christmas!

 

I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas this year. I had a quiet Christmas with my immediate family, and it was peaceful and heart warming. I worked on Christmas Eve, and working on Christmas Eve didn't bother me as much as the work itself. The legal work, I have to say, wasn't very interesting. We're doing well in my family.

I wished a number of people a more heartfelt Merry Christmas by quoting from John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I mean the reason we have Christmas is because of Christ's birth, right? 

So, remember; Jesus loves you, and through the power of the cross, you can have a new life. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Manny Carrillo - Baldwin Park's Director of Parks and Recreation - Permits Accused Pedophile to Target Teenage Boys at the Boxing Gym

Manny Carrillo

Manny Carrillo, Director of Parks and Recreation, permits pedophile to groom children at the Baldwin Park Boxing Gym, despite warnings. A victim of the pedophile told me how when she was seven to ten, the pedophile sexually assaulted her. Despite repeated warnings, on Dec. 15, 2022 - Carrillo permitted  the pedophile to groom one of the minors at the boxing gym when the coaches were not looking. 

 

The accused pedophile ("pedophile") began his grooming activities several years ago. According to sources, he used to allegedly give the head boxing coach cash money years ago, when the current head boxing coach was low on cash and without a full time job. This then bought a relationship with the head boxing coach that would pay off now. It's customary in the City of Baldwin Park for city officials and employees to accept bribes.

Several months ago, the pedophile actively began talking to the head boxing coach for at least an hour - on the city's time on two separate occasions. The boxing coach should have been attending to the gym but neglected his duties at this time; instead, he was chatting with the pedophile.

Then, several days later, the pedophile purchased a gym membership. And with that, he started slowly leaving the gym area and creeping his way into the boxing area. I saw his pupils dilated, and he looked excited, as he started having new interaction with teenage boys. 

I told Carrillo there was enough probable cause to run a live scan on the pedophile to confirm his criminal history.

Instead of investigating the situation, Carrillo made a policy that minors under the age of 12 needed to evacuate the pedophiles space, when he came. A mother told me how upset she was, because this was the only time her child could come to the gym. Carrillo, thus, punished innocent children and parents to give the pedophile his preferences.

A competent director would have investigated. I told Carrillo this was not the correct solution and that an investigation needed to take place and that a live scan needed to be ran. Of course, Carrillo would rather give the pedophile his way and not do the commonsense thing.

 

I asked Carrillo what the written policy was for gym regarding convicted pedophiles. No response.

 

So on Dec. 15, 2022 - the pedophile came in around 6:30PM. He pretends to just use the gym area. But as soon as the coaches were not looking, he approached a teenage boy and started showing him what a great boxing coach the pedophile was. After I looked, the pedophile smiled at me (like he got away with a crime) and left.

 

According to criminal expert, James Gilligan, pedophiles need lifetime monitoring and treatment. Once the court orders treatment to stop - re-offense is inevitable.

 

This isn't a surprise. I've written up how Manny Carrillo is a money launderer and a child abuser. More can be read about Carrillo's corruption here.

 

Currently, the Department of Justice is investigating the City of Baldwin Park. It's very sad that I have to make this a public matter, but it's clear that the City is not doing enough to protect the children and citizens of this gym. Reform is required.

*The reference to pedophile is to "accused pedophile". A live scan needs to confirm the suspect's actual criminal history.

 

[Update: I saw Carrillo confronting the offender for an hour in a room. Although he hasn't been banned yet from the area, it appears the message was told to the accused pedophile that he wasn't permitted to be around children. (I later thanked Carrillo for taking my concerns about this matter seriously.)

 

After the confrontation, at night, in the parking lot, the accused was waiting for me ten feet from my car. He started screaming at me that I needed to watch my back. He also screamed how I could even think of attempting to reporting him to the FBI for kidnapping his son. I began recording him with my cell phone. And he screamed his name and said he had equal rights as me.

 

An anonymous caller called the police on my behalf. Whoever that was, thank you. It made me feel safer.

 

I have filed a police report against the offender regarding the criminal threats, which will be submitted to the district attorney's office.]

On Being as Wise as a Serpent, Innocent as a Dove

 

White Dove / Getty Images

Copyright: martinmystere

People have asked me how I figure problems out. So, I want to write on an overlooked command: Practice innocence. (This piece draws from the Bible and my understanding of God; so, if that's not your cup of tea, you can stop reading here.)

When I was a child, my uncle told me this verse. I clearly didn't understand the importance of it, until recently. Matthew 10:14-16 states, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (ESV). 

Perhaps in every civilization that I know of, people are interested in attaining wisdom. The story that comes to mind is of the Norse mythology of Odin - the Chief of all gods. When his kingdom is rotting and in decline, he realizes that he doesn't have enough wisdom to solve the problems destroying and perplexing him and his empire.

So, he visits a pool of water called Mimir's Well. The water spirits promise him wisdom, if he rips his eye out and throws it into the pool. Odin agrees. It's a trade required and the price has to be paid. He gouges out his eye and sacrifices to the spirits of Mimir. Odin drinks from the water and obtains the precious wisdom he seeks out. (Too bad for him, it doesn't prevent his daughter from destroying his kingdom, in the apocalyptic event called Ragnarok, when she burns down Valhalla.) 

I want to highlight two points in this story. Obviously, the Norse are valuing wisdom by esteeming Odin's sacrifice. They believed that Odin did the right thing to sacrifice his eye. The Norse are also stressing that one should not hesitate to sacrifice something valuable in pursuit of wisdom. Two, Odin had to lose his external sight to gain insight.

The Jewish people place equal value on the obtaining of wisdom. Solomon tells us in his Proverbs - "Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you could want is equal to it. With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life, and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor." (Pro. 3:14-16). 

So important was wisdom, that the Queen of Sheeba took the grueling trek with her wealth to visit King Solomon to ask the questions confounding her. The Scripture says that "When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed." (1 Kings 10:5-6).

So - why am I telling you this pagan Norse myth, and adding in Proverbs, and Solomon, when explicating how to be as wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove? Because, seeking knowledge and wisdom, as far as I've studied, has been universally declared as necessary and a noble quest for all those who seek it. And, I don't think I need to stress to my readers or others that seeking wisdom is necessary in order to accomplish the mission in front of you. It's important for the pagans, the gentiles, the Jewish, the Christians, and all other peoples.

It's the second part of Jesus' words that needs emphasis. But be "innocent as doves." 

As far as I've studied, only the Christian god adds that in fighting off evil, who are symbolized as wolves, you also need to be innocent. It's only the Christian god that makes clear - wisdom alone is not sufficient.

The more experience I gain, I realize it's only half the battle to have the wisdom of a snake, and to strike and bite with venom - a venom that can destroy. In other words, it's not really praiseworthy to behave this way.

The reason is because executing the serpent's strike limits a person and makes her no better than the enemy. Remember; snakes are limited in their sight. And becoming like a snake will also limit one's sight. Snakes are almost blind, and although they have an extraordinary sense of the environment through other receptors, they still lack external vision.

Nietzsche sums the risk best, when he said, "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

So; how does a trait like innocence, enhance sight and wisdom? I can imagine Odin, the chief and warrior king of the gods, scoffing at such an illogical, and seemingly passive concept. 

But Jesus states it so clearly in his beatitudes, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8). 

I think we shouldn't miss the point. Seeing as God sees is powerful. Seeing like God, will also give you divine insight to accurately behold the problem as God sees it. And as a natural consequence, a God-like solution should also follow. So, being innocent is more valuable than it appears on the surface. (That's not to say, I haven't fallen into the temptation of retaliation too.)

From experience, I tell you this. One of the challenges in practicing purity, is that when you understand the way of the evil enemy, the temptation materializes in front of you to use his or her venomous tactics that you've just learned or learned previously. The temptation is now always there. Perhaps - that's why it was better that Adam and Eve never ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, because once you learn of that evil - it's with you forever.

Self-control is absolutely necessary. To give into this temptation, and return evil for evil, will make one like the enemy - and create the same blind spot that snakes indeed have. This will handicap the strategist and ultimately limit one from achieving the quest at hand.

How does one obtain innocents? It's two steps. 

The first one is to admit you and I cannot do it alone. The source of goodness, wisdom, and purity has to fill and guide one. For this reason King David wrote in the Psalms - "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalms 51).

The second step is given in the New Testament with a letter Apostle Paul wrote. He said - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23).

As the late minister Derek Prince points out in his one of his talks, trees need to be cultivated for good fruit to be produced. Cultivation requires work, such as tilling, fertilizing, pruning, watering, nurturing, patience, and waiting for the season of harvest. It takes work, sometimes a lot of work.

Hopefully, this helps. It's an article long overdue.

LA Times Reports on How Baldwin Park Council Members Solicited $250,000 Cash in Paper Bags; Reform Required to Put Corruption in Check.

The LA Times reported on how Baldwin Park city officials asked for $250,000 in cash bribes to be put in paper bags to approve marijuana licenses. Regarding Baldwin Park, here's what the Times says:

Baldwin Park leaders saw cannabis as a financial boon for their struggling community in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley.

But from the start, pot licensing stirred allegations of corruption.

One of the licenses approved by Baldwin Park gave the exclusive right to distribute cannabis in the city to a local business, Rukli Inc. The city required other licensed weed businesses to use Rukli as their sole distributor. The arrangement prompted another cannabis business to file a lawsuit accusing Rukli of engaging in a conspiracy to secure an illegal monopoly and racketeering, including bribery and kickbacks. Rukli denied wrongdoing. The lawsuit was eventually dropped after Rukli pulled out of its exclusive deal.

Before the end of Rukli’s exclusive arrangement, a Baldwin Park police lieutenant visited the firm’s distribution center to make sure it was complying with the city’s requirements for securing the property. Lt. Chris Kuberry told The Times one of the firm’s partners mentioned paying $250,000 in cash to city officials.

Kuberry said that the comment was “certainly suspicious” and that he had heard the FBI was investigating possible corruption in the city. But he didn’t inquire further, file a report or contact the FBI. He said his department of about 50 officers was rife with complaints of retaliation and he feared for his job if he raised any questions.

 “To be honest, [it was] out of self-preservation,” said Kuberry, who retired shortly after.

In a lawsuit the city brought against its former police chief, Kuberry said in a sworn declaration that pot operators complained to him about “questionable business practices which included paying as much as $250,000 cash in a brown paper bag to city officials.” His declaration did not name the firms or their owners, but Kuberry told The Times he was referring to Rukli.

Scott Russo, an attorney for one of Rukli’s partners at the time, said the company never paid a bribe. He declined to comment on whether any city officials solicited bribes, citing an ongoing federal investigation.

“There’s a process [the FBI] would appreciate I respect,” he said.

A source who is cooperating with the FBI told The Times he was present when Ricardo Pacheco, then a member of the Baldwin Park City Council, asked that Rukli pay him $250,000 in cash to ensure the city would approve a license for the firm. . . . [And you can read the rest on the Times].

The Times argues that legalizing marijuana "unleashed corruption in California." I don't know if it unleashed corruption as it just ramped up what was already there.

50% of California cities declined to open their cities up for marijuana businesses. An analysis should be done as to the demographics and average income of residents as to which cities engaged with marijuana and which ones didn't.

Also, if you haven't noticed, corruption appears rife in Californian government. Not only does the Times article point to a number of politicians that solicited bribes for cannabis licenses, but the Times just reported on a pay-to-play scheme with a USC Dean and a current LA City Council Member.

The question is, how come are checks and balances are not working? Why is that only the federal government, and not the Sheriff, or other local law enforcement agencies pop these cities? 

Long time readers of my blog will know that I've often had to take Baldwin Park to court for open records. But the City then lies to the court and says - "We gave out everything." Or, "We don't have anymore records." And then the judge just believes them. In short - the public records act doesn't work. If it did, would our residents and citizens be cheated this much by our politicians?

As I've been saying over and over again, our law needs reform, so that it's easier for citizen journalists to investigate and hold accountable these politicians. Are current checks and balances are failing.

Baldwin Park City Council Wants Tax Hike to Pay for Their Salaries, Which is 400% of Other Cities.

A. Alejandra, D. Damian, M. Garcia, P. Hernandez (from left to right) 

Baldwin Park City Council wants to raise its sales tax from 9.5% to 10.25%, hoping to bring in another $6 million in revenue, at a time when gas and food prices are skyrocketing with its proposed Measure Baldwin Park. Clearly, the City Council and Administrators want to take more of our money to keep up their outrageous salaries and continue with their corruption.

For instance, the City Council and Mayor make $41,295.37. That's for 2 meetings a month. Imagine making $3,441 for working four hours a month! In Alhambra, the City Council makes $11,000.30. The per capita income in Alhambra is $32,589. 

So the people in Baldwin Park make 37% less than Alhambra, and the City Council make 400% more. In short, this is what you call corruption.

Let's look at the following table for 2020 salary comparisons of Baldwin Park and Alhambra.

	Baldwin Park	Alhambra
City Council and Mayor	$41,295.37	$11,000.30
City Manager (Shannon Yauchzee)	$443,459.30	$365,532.35
Finance Director (Hong Fang aka Rose Tam aka Hong Tam)	$321,361.90	$237,871.99
Parks and Recreation Director (Manny Carrillo)	$286,143.24	$211,926.42
Chief of Police (Robert Lopez)	$267,597.90	$378,817.73

Besides the Chief of Police, everyone should be seeing a pattern that Baldwin Park pays outrageous and corrupt salaries to its City Council and administrators. I want to repeat: Why does the Mayor and City Council get paid $1,600 to attend one meeting? They attend two meetings a month, which makes their salaries come out to $41,295.

 The City Council has been putting out propaganda, stating that the tax increase is to beautify the City. But this is far from the truth. The $6 million will be co-mingled with the general fund, which will be used to pay the outrageous salaries of the council and administrators, which right now cannot be sustained. Don't forget that these salaries will be paid out for the lifetime of these people through their pensions.

Also, the City has been engaged a number of lawsuits, because of the corrupt acts that it's been engaged in. This has ranged from unlawful firing of staff to withholding public records. The legal fees have been astronomical, especially for its City Attorney, Robert Tafoya, who is currently being investigated by the FBI. The City Council refuses to fire him, even though he's been a cause of a number of these lawsuits.

But take for instance Lili Hadsell's lawsuit, in which a judgment of over $9 million was levied against the City. Once again, this was the corrupt decision of previous council members; City Attorney, Robert Tafoya; and the former Chief of Police - Michael Taylor.

The current Chief of Police, Robert Lopez, overspent an estimated $1 million. He ordered 15 patrol cars, when there's only 5 patrol officers at a time. Who was enriched by this money?

On top of all this, because of the corrupt practices of the Council and administrators, 5,000 people have left, decreasing the revenue stream of the City.

The solution to fix Baldwin Park's problem is transparency, the cutting of these outrageous salaries and pensions, and honest and fair conduct practices that stop causing lawsuits. Instead, the City Council lies to us. For example, they say that if they don't raise the tax, LA County will. I investigated with a number of Californian tax agencies and LA County. This isn't true.

I'm proposing that the City may even have to file bankruptcy to mitigate it's unsustainable pension liabilities.

Sadly - we have greedy and incompetent people in power in Baldwin Park. We're already suffering enough with rising gas and food prices. The last thing we need is to lose money to these people; so that they live the high life of working 4 hours a month, off our hard work. So vote "NO!" on Measure Baldwin Park at the ballot to the raising of the sales tax. And tell the City Council and administrator that the corruption has to stop.

Former Baldwin Park Police Chief, Michael Taylor, Resigns Only After Five Months in Public Office

Disgraced Police Chief - Michael Taylor

On May 28, 2022 - former Baldwin Park Police Chief, Michael Taylor, resigned as a board member of West Valley Water District, only five months into his new term of being reelected. In November of 2021, another board member, Kyle Crowther also suddenly resigned. On May 19, 2022 - Shamindra “Rickey” Manbahal, also resigned as district general manager. The sudden resignations follows the same pattern as the City of Bell - where the council members and administrators resigned after the LA Times exposed how public servants were stealing millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Those close to Taylor have stated that Taylor has not been seen in months following his resignation. I suspect that Taylor's entered a plea deal with the FBI, which required him to resign from public office. The Department of Justice said it would not comment on whether this is true. 

Taylor has sold his home in Rancho Cucamonga. Sources state he now Rogers, Arkansas. The potential street address is 1122 W Cypress St.

Michael Taylor's been a controversial and corrupt figure in the City of Baldwin Park. Taylor was problematic even as a captain, and several times former Chief, Lili Hadsell had attempted to fire him.

While as Captain, former employees stated that Taylor would work 20 hours a week, while earning about $250,000 a year. Taylor often went  home early to drink at bars and would show up drunk the next day. Taylor was known to be a notorious alcoholic.

Nonetheless, after new council was elected, Taylor plotted to overthrow Lili Hadsell as chief. Taylor succeeded by scheming with Pacheco. Hadsell was fired. The new council appointed him as the new police chief. Council Member Pacheco and Chief Taylor developed a close working relationship, in working together to take as many bribes and taxpayer money as possible by abusing their government authority.

Kyle Crowther, potential son of Taylor

Taylor's most notable scandal was accepting kickbacks for approving marijuana license in Baldwin Park. Imagine a police chief funding his own public office with drug money. After Taylor received this drug money, he laundered that money through a political action committee (PAC), which funded his campaign for a board seat in the West Valley Water District. This was known as TaylorGate.

On September 21, 2016 - the Council fired Taylor without cause. as police chief. Mayor Lozano informally commented that Taylor wasn't pro-Mexican enough.

After winning his board seat, Taylor needed to put in corrupt people that would enable the stealing of public water agency funds. So Taylor fired the human resources manager, finance director, and general counsel, shattering the lives of those who formerly held those positions. And instead, he put in his own finance director; human resource manager; Robert Tafoya (Baldwin Park's City Attorney); and Ricardo Pacheco (Baldwin Park's Council Member).

Shamindra “Rickey” Manbahal

A year later, around December 15, 2017 - Pacheco needed to rehire Taylor as chief. Taylor requested Tafoya draft him an employee contract that stated that as chief of police, he could only be fired if Taylor committed a felony. It appears Pacheco needed Taylor to be in charge of cannabis licensing, so that the cash kickbacks could keep coming. Taylor, in return,was chief again, this time with a bullet proof contract and an even more extraordinary pay.

During Taylor's tenure at West Valley and Baldwin Park - a number of corruption cases began to surface. For instance, the new HR Director and her wife pleads guilty to felony tax evasion. The State Controller's audit finds rampant corruption in West Valley - for example contractors were overcharging the district (presumably also giving kickbacks with that overcharge), and public officials and administrators were buying hotels, cigars, and steak dinners of a public credit card. West Valley's former manager

The General Manager Taylor hired, Manbahal, admitted to stealing money from the City of Hawthorne. He gave himself a $25,000 secret "loan" (which he presumably didn't have to pay back), and kept cooking the books for the City Council. (Rose Tam, the finance director of Baldwin Park, appears to be doing the same in the City.)

And although the years of stealing public funds went on, the beginning of the end finally came for the disgraced police chief, when a sting was set up for Council Member Ricardo Pacheco. Pacheco requested $37,900 in cash to be put in brown paper bags. An informant marked the cash. And feds busted Pacheco. Pacheco agreed to be an informant. Pacheco also agreed to plead guilty to corruption charges. As part of the condition of pleading guilty, Pacheco had to resign from public office. Pacheco's been snitching on Taylor, ever since.

Taylor's sudden resignation from public office follows the same pattern as Pacheco's, indicating that he may have already pled guilty in exchange for a more lenient sentence.

Personally, Taylor is one of the most evil persons I've ever met. Recent sources have confirmed that it was Taylor, who fired the former head boxing coach, who complained that it was wrong to give him a forty cent an hour raise after 20 years. (Contrast that with all the money Taylor's been stealing.) Allegedly, Taylor also ordered the officers to arrest and strip search me for booing a public official. Then, when that didn't work, Taylor allegedly ordered Tafoya to file a restraining order against me, which also failed. Also, Taylor has been accused of pedophilia.

Taylor's arrest makes the corruption scheme clearer. For years, activists and citizens believed that Tafoya was the mastermind behind all the outrageous corruption in Baldwin Park and West Valley. Only recently has one source told the Legal Lens that it was actually Michael Taylor who was teaching everyone how to steal as much as possible and get away with it. (Well, at least Taylor thought he could get away with it.)

8 years later, since Taylor started his looting of public funds, he's finally been popped. Martin Luther King Jr. was right - "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Sometimes, it's very long.

The Real Michael Taylor