BACKTALK-I’m writing in response to an editorial written by Mr. Brian Hews, editor of Hews Media Group. In his editorial Mr. Hews accuses me of a variety of abuses and criminal activities including running a “political empire on the taxpayer dime” during my employment as the interim public information officer for the City of Commerce.
Mr. Hews’ statements are completely without merit. Any meeting or appointment I've attended during City of Commerce business hours has been on days I was not scheduled to work or during time periods when I was on approved personal leave time in accordance with the City’s leave policy.
This fact was communicated to Mr. Hews via email, despite his effort to convince people otherwise through a carefully crafted statement that I had not returned their “calls.” HMG made exactly one attempt to contact me by phone at my place of employment. The call was returned by a staff member who asked the reporter repeatedly if he had questions related to official City business. The reporter stated that his inquiries were of a political nature. Based on the reporter’s statement, the reporter was told that the Public Information Office would not respond to any requests of a political nature. However, if the questions were related to official City business, the PIO would be happy to respond. The Public Information Office has received no further inquiries from HMG.
It appears there is intent to mislead the public. The truth is that I am a 24 year city employee, a labor leader and a long time community activist. I have been on the frontlines of the fight for honesty and transparency in Commerce government for more than a decade, always on my own time and my own dime. My candidacy for Central Basin Municipal Water District is my next step in insuring that the working families of Southeast Los Angeles will be better served.
I work with leaders and candidates from neighboring cities to help them elect honest officials who care about their communities and civic participation. Maywood Councilmember Felipe Aguirre incorrectly stated to HMG that I’m working on campaigns for Maywood elected officials Edward Varela and Eddie De La Riva. I have never met them and I have no affiliation with either of their campaigns.
In his article, Mr. Hews also accuses me of being a “Calderon minion.” I have never met nor am I affiliated in any way with Senator Ron Calderon or his brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon. I find it curious that Mr. Hews would refer to me as a “Calderon minion” in the same editorial in which he quotes Mr. Art Chacon, who took thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from both Calderon brothers. The Calderon’s campaign contributions to Mr. Chacon are a matter of public record.
An LA Times graphic, is an excellent resource to provide the public with an overview of the real corruption occurring at Central Basin. The focus of my candidacy is to ban political contributions from contractors and consultants that do business with Central Basin to stop this kind of abuse.
(Jason Gardea-Stinnett is a Commerce resident and a Candidate for Central Basin Municipal Water District Division III.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 78
Pub: Sept 27, 2013
