Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer
The Daily Breeze is reporting officials in the City of Hawthorne have been lying to residents about its financial solvency. The finance department has burned through millions in reserves. The South Bay newspaper is clearly biased against the mayor and their reporting, especially considering the budget passed last summer on a 3-2 vote.
[adsenseyu2]
As finance director Ricky Manbahal discussed how his office lied to the council, and public, one cost saving measures introduced at the June 11, 2015, council meeting is to remove the city attorney and contract out the offices services, which is not a good idea.
This is a devastating blow to the THREE elected officials who voted in favor of passing the $62.5 million dollar budget.
Related article: Hawthorne closes $3 million gap, passes $62.5 million budget on split vote
The Daily Breeze continues to put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the city’s first Black mayor, yet the budget couldn’t have passed without the affirmative votes of Olivia Valentine and Angie Reyes-English. It’s critical to note all three are up for re-election.
This again shows the bias of the Daily Breeze against the mayor and its lack of objectivity by conveniently omitting his colleagues involvement in this ruse. If the editorial board is asking for the mayor and finance director to step down, 2 Urban Girls suggests adding Olivia Valentine and Angie Reyes-English to the list.
Olivia Valentine is a lawyer which questions her ethics and ability to maintain her law license while Angie Reyes-English remains on staff of LA City council member Curren D. Price Jr.
The city doesn’t have to wait for Mr. Manbahal to resign, interim city manager Arnold Shadbehr could simply fire him.
1 Comment
Hawthorne residents – if more informed via media etc –
would perhaps be less careless & apathetic.