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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18- NOVEMBER 24, 2024
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NO. 198
VOL. 13,
Another LA City Hall fundraiser sentenced on Huizar-related charge By City News Service
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former City Hall fundraiser was sentenced Friday to a year of home detention for arranging a $500,000 bribe for nowimprisoned ex-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar to “grease the wheels” for a proposed downtown condominium project. Justin Kim was the first of four defendants to plead guilty in the “pay-to-play” federal public corruption probe centering on Huizar and his associates. Kim was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service as part of his three-year probationary sentence. He pleaded guilty in June 2020 to a single count of federal program bribery and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Kim’s role in the bribery scheme began in 2016 when a labor group filed an appeal claiming a developer’s proposed project violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The developer contacted Kim in hopes of
Los Angeles City Hall. | Photo courtesy of Michael J Fromholz/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
gaining Huizar’s support. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Huizar and the developer negotiated a $500,000 payment, and in
early 2017, the developer gave Kim $400,000 in cash inside a paper bag to deliver to the council member. Kim kept some cash for himself
for acting as a go-between, then delivered the money to a staff member to pass along to Huizar, evidence showed. Prosecutors said the
developer later paid the other $100,000 when the appeal was resolved, but Kim kept the money for himself. Huizar is now serving
a 13-year prison sentence for accepting bribes from downtown developers and cheating on his taxes. He pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and tax evasion. Huizar, 56, represented the downtown area and was chairman of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, the powerful panel that reviews the city’s largest development projects. Evidence showed he monetized his position and leveraged his political clout for over $1.5 million in cash bribes, gambling chips, luxury trips, political contributions, prostitutes, extravagant meals, services, concerts and other gifts. Federal prosecutors said the probe exposed “significant and blatant corruption” at City Hall. Huizar’s co-defendant, former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan, was See Bribery Page 28
Pasadena voters approve Measure PL for retrofitting Central Library
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ver 72% of Pasadena voters approved funding for earthquake retrofit work on the Central Library, city officials announced Thursday. Measure PL’s funding is key to the city’s plan to reopen the historic library with planned improvements that aim to preserve the historic elements and while modernizing the building “to serve the community for the next century and beyond,” officials said. The enacted measure clears the way for $195 million in general obligation bonds that would cost an estimated $12 million annually, according to the city. That “equates to an average of $19.61
By Staff ranging from $12.58 to $28.90 over the years per $100,000 of the assessed valuation of a parcel over the 30-year term of the bond.” “Pasadena’s Central Library is a landmark and a lifeline for our community, offering educational, cultural, and historical value,” Mayor Victor Gordo said in a statement. “With Measure PL, we’re investing in its future and ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming place for generations to come. The voters’ overwhelming support for this measure is a powerful reflection of the community’s commitment to preserving and strengthening our librar-
A photo of the entrance to the Pasadena Central Library | Photo courtesy of the city of Pasadena
ies, which play an essential role in fostering learning, connection, and opportunity for all.”
The voter-approved funding keeps the project’s timeline for reopening the Central Library on track, officials said.
Bidding, construction documents and a decision on the contract award was expected to complete by summer 2025. Construction was projected to start following contract award with a duration of 30-36 months. The library’s estimated reopening will be sometime in 2028. “This is a significant step forward for the community,” District 3 Councilman Justin Jones said in a statement. Central Library connects us through access to knowledge, resources, and programs. Thanks to Measure PL, we’ll see it continue to serve Pasadena, providing opportu-
nities for growth and learning in a resilient, updated space.” Library Director Tim McDonald said in a statement, “We are grateful to our residents who appreciate the value, history, and opportunity that Central Library represents. Central Library is not just a building; it’s a hub of learning that provides free access to resources for all members of the community. We are committed to reopening this vital institution and protecting it for the next 100 years and beyond.” To learn more about the library retrofit and building repairs, visit cityofpasadena. net/library.