Gabrielino’s Screamin’ Eagles Speech Team Advances to Nationals, See P.17 arcadiaweekly.com
Thursday, May 21, 2015 - May 27, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Spring Home-Buying Season Off to Strong Start in April, A.A.R. Reports P.14
local news
“Remembering Our Veterans” Events in the SGV P.13
Former No. 2 of LASD Charged With Obstructing Federal Investigation Into Misconduct at County Jails
Paul Tanaka, who was the second in command of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and William Thomas Carey, who oversaw internal criminal investigations at the LASD, have been indicted on obstruction of justice charges for allegedly directing efforts to quash a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights violations by sheriff’s deputies at two downtown jail complexes. A federal grand jury May 13 returned a five-count indictment against Tanaka and Carey, who allegedly participated in a broad conspiracy to obstruct the investigation, a scheme that started when the Sheriff’s Department learned that an inmate at the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) was an FBI informant. Tanaka and Carey alleg-
edly directed, oversaw, and participated in a conspiracy that last year resulted in the conviction of seven other former LASD deputies. The obstruction of justice case was announced at a news conference by Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Yonekura and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Bowdich. Tanaka and Carey, both 56, are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, and each is named in one count of obstruction of justice. Carey is charged with two counts of making false declarations for perjuring himself last year during the trials of co-conspirators. SEE PG. 18
Paul Tanaka, left was Baca’s Undersheriff and William Thomas Carey oversaw internal criminal investigations.Both men and others have been implicated in one of the worst jail civil rights violations in LASD history. – Photos Courtesy LASD
local news
Embezzlement Allegations Prompt Azusa Officials to Oversee Little League Fundraiser P.12
Volume 19, No. 21
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Lee Baca left his post in January 2014 amidst the federal investigation and the findings of a special commission on jail violence that cited a “failure of leadership” over the jails. While Baca has not been charged with any crime, he did personally “hand pick” Paul Tanaka for the number two position--which leads critics of Baca to believe there is more to this story. – Photo by Terry Miller
Arcadia City Attorney Responds to Criticism of Council’s Nonpublic Decisions by joe taglieri
The Arcadia city attorney on Tuesday rebutted critics who denounced the City Council’s decisions to shelve a zoning code update and exclude the Highlands neighborhood from forthcoming historical preservation policies.
“I’d like to address some erroneous conclusions and opinions which I found in a newspaper article [May 15],” City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said at the request of Mayor Gary Kovacic. “In particular the article in my SEE PG. 14
business
Business Profile: knot too shabby P.19
City Attorney Stephen Deitsch, to the right of Councilmember John Wou says defends council and said “exceeded the requirements of the Brown Act…” – Photo by Terry Miller
Horse Race Revenue for Capital Improvements Down Millions Per Year in Arcadia The City of Arcadia’s budget was presented by Hue C. Quach, Administrative Services Director Officer for the City of Arcadia, at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Government Affairs Forum on May 7. One point Quach made was that the Capital Improvement Fund gets its revenue stream from the racetrack, with one-third of one-percent of all bets placed at the racetrack going to this fund. But that revenue for capital projects has severely declined over the past three decades from a high value of nearly $4.5 million in the 1980s to about a half-a-million dollars per year now, despite the addition of a spring season of racing. This is due to so many bets being placed off-track and on electronic devices as opposed to being place at the track betting windows. Another point is that nearly half the City’s overall $103 million budget is not open for decisions by the City Council or others since this is all money that can only be
SEE PG. 14