ATHENS SUES CITY TO STOP THE VOTE

Just this afternoon, Athens filed a lawsuit against the city to prevent the people from voting on the Referendum.

We hope to have a copy by tomorrow, so check back.

As you know, Rosie Vasquez signed the Athens contract last week. Vasquez spit in the face of 6,323 residents who said "Stop the Backroom Deal," and gave Athens an excuse to file their lawsuit.

Way to go Rosie…you're always looking out for your city and residents…NOT!

ROSIE WATCH: DAY 13 –Berserk @ Fall Festival

Vasquez DSC_5785-1
Originally uploaded by Stop Athens

Rosie Vasquez made herself into another public spectacle, today at the Fall Festival.

Angry over residents exercising their First Amendment right to Free Speech by passing out flyers, Rosie grabbed the microphone away from performers ON STAGE in front of Jimmy's Restaurant, and yelled at the public that they should ignore the "propaganda" being passed out.

On lookers were stunned at the unprofessional, harried, fanatical manner in which their council woman behaved at the public event.

Several "boos" arose from the crowd as Vasquez tried to persuade them to ignore the flyers being circulated by Referendum proponents.

The flyer in question simply told the story about Athens $18 Million Dollar lawsuit brought by the AQMD over numerous, on-going, violations and inviting the community to attend the Oct 8th council meeting to force the council to put the Referendum on the ballot.

Vasquez is a hypocrite.

Rosie was harassed by police, elected officials, and other opponents to the 2006 fire initiative and the 2007 recalls of Lopez-Reid, Bagwell and Sicama. She yelled at the top of her lungs that the harassers were infringing on her "constitutional rights."

We guess that what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander in Rosie's book.

Vasquez Responds to Flyer

Rosie Vasquez is fast becoming the spokesperson for Athens.

She sent out an automated phone call today, trying to respond to the MontebelloWatch newsletter sent Saturday.

In the call, she defends the Athens contract as necessary and positive for Montebello.

As we keep saying, "COMPARED TO WHAT?" Without an open, competitive bidding process it is impossible to justify the deal as anything other than a payback to Athens for campaign contributions (and whatever isn't publicly disclosed).

FLYER HITS TOWN; VASQUEZ IN PANIC

A double-sided flyer (see Sept. 24th posts) appeard on every doorstep in Montebello this morning.

Looks like Rosie Vasquez is more than nervous. After the Sept. 24th Council Meeting, she placed calls to her former supporters wanting to tell them her reasons for supporting the Athens deal.

The few people who took the call ended up telling her off. Seems she was trying to convince them she was looking out for the city...they didn't buy it.

The self proclaimed "recall expert" may herself fall victim to the same..."those that live by the sword, die by the sword" goes an old saying.

MONTEBELLO WATCH #1

Montebello Watch #1 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Vasquez Needs Help Justifying Her Actions

At the Sept. 22 council meeting, Rosie Vasquez asked City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman to explain why SHE signed the Athens Contract.

Once again, Rosie shows her ignorance. She signed the contract, she's accountable for her actions (and inactions), and she's the one who should explain her reasons for signing the Athens Contract to Montebello (especially the 6,232 voters who signed the petition)

Vasquez Signs Athens Contract

Leaves City Vulnerable to Lawsuit

September 24, 2008

MONTEBELLO – Residents are furious over Vice-Mayor Rosie Vasquez's move to sign the Athens contract, ignoring a Referendum suspending council actions.

Mayor Molinari raised serious questions regarding contractual violations, inaccuracies, and overcharges regarding the Athens agreement, holding off signing until the issues were resolved and the Referendum goes to a vote.

According to public documents, Athens contributed $7,600 to Vasquez, leading some to ask why she placed Athens concerns over her constituents as well as what her real motivations are.

Vasquez's actions potentially leave Montebello in legal jeopardy. Athens attorney has already threatened a lawsuit in a harshly worded letter to City Clerk Bob King, telling him he must "reject the Petition and refrain from submitting it to the City Council…"

The Referendum petition, signed by 6,323 residents, forces the Council to either overturn their decision or put the issue on the ballot. State Election Code section 9237 says that 10% of registered voters signing a Referendum petition immediately suspends the Council's actions. Nearly 3 times more signatures than needed to qualify a Referendum were submitted on August 20th, twenty-five days before Vasquez signed the contract.

Sources inside City Hall claim that Vasquez secretly removed the Athens contract from city hall earlier this month, signed it on Sunday, September 14th and dropped it off at the Clerk's office the following Monday.

Refusing to speak directly to the media, Vasquez faxed a statement prepared by Athens.

As a result of the backroom deal giving Athens Disposal a 15 year, non-competitive, exclusive contract and the more than $21,000 in contributions taken collectively by Vasquez, Urteaga and Salazar, a complaint was filed with the District Attorney's office.

A showdown is expected at the October 8th City Council meeting when the Referendum and Athens issue come back to the council.

At that time, City Clerk Bob King is expected to certify the Referendum and the council can overturn their previous decision.

Local Businessman Broguiere Calls it Like He Sees It

Whittier Daily News
Letter to the Editor
Your View
Contract is a quacker
September 12, 2008

Contract is a quacker

Well gee whiz! Athens Services has threatened to sue Montebello if they don't get their way. The American way is to vote, so why is it that Athens does not want this to happen?

If it's so darn good for Montebello, why is it that Athens can't figure out that instead of paying attorneys a ton of money fighting the will of the people for an election, just let the election happen.

I was there the night this contract was approved by three council members. I found it very odd that during the hearing Athens' Dennis Chiappeta renegotiated the multimillion dollar contract during his rebuttal time on the issue.

It seems that 25 people spoke against it and another three spoke for it, counting Chiappeta himself. During Chiappeta's second time up to rebut opposing comments, the contract was redone between Chiappeta and Council member Robert Urteaga. Also, the contract was voted for approval by council members Kathy Salazar and Rosie Vasquez and, of course, the great negotiator himself, Robert Urteaga.

Now that is unheard of.

This contract prohibits 13 other trash haulers from doing business in Montebello after 2016. Free enterprise at work - or can we say monopoly? When a monopoly occurs, we all know it will cost you more in the long run.

I also find it strange that in the last 45 years, the Athens contract has never gone out for competitive bidding, while bids for almost everything at City Hall are a normal occurrence.

You know I almost forgot to mention that Athens has contributed $4,000 in the past 6 months to Robert Urteaga; $7,600 to Rosie Vasquez from 2005 to 2008; and a whopping $12,500 to Kathy Salazar from 2005 to 2008. There's no way that I am saying what you may be thinking.

I remember a friend telling me that if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's a duck.

Ray Broguiere
Montebello