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Residents Express ‘Outrage’ Over Barrows, Chen, Ray Decision on Planning Commissioner Yokoyama

Former Cerritos City Planning Commissioner Frank Aurelio Yokoyama.  Randy Economy Photo

Former Cerritos City Planning Commissioner Frank Aurelio Yokoyama. Randy Economy Photo

By Brian Hews

The decision by Cerritos Mayor Bruce Barrows, and City Councilmembers Carol Chen and George Ray to deny a city planning commissioner’s reappointment has sparked a huge outcry from readers of Los Cerritos Community Newspaper during the past week.

Frank Yokoyama, a local real estate executive, was a recent candidate in the March 5th Cerritos City Council election, and finished in third place behind winners Chen and Ray. His campaign was heavily backed by current Vice Mayor Mark Pulido.

During a meeting of the city council earlier this month, Yokoyama was publicly denied another two-year term on the influential planning board after a strong public rebuke was given by Barrows, Chen and Ray.  The trio cited a past action against Yokoyama by the California State Bar Association in 2012 for his denial for another two-year term.

Since the heated meeting which saw Pulido leave quietly in protest, LCCN has been inundated with more than 100 letters, notes and comments from Cerritos residents about the removal.  An article about the situation at www.loscerritosnews.net generated more than 6,000 reader views during a one week period from as far away as London, China, Washington DC and South America.

An overwhelming majority of the comments are in support of keeping Yokoyama, and some of most well-known and respected members of the community have weighed in on the controversy.

Below is a sampling of the comments received by LCCN:

Chit Yokoyama, the mother of Frank, weighed in with a comment to LCCN: “I am very sad and cannot believe that Carol (Chen) cannot even remember that when she was first running for City Council me and my husband (Tom Yokoyama) supported her by letting her come to our office. We introduced her to our agents and got their votes. Now that she is on top of the world she cannot even think back how she got where she is now.”

“A big slap to the Filipino Community, they punished him because of jealousy and envy. Frank has two degrees that includes Law from Harvard. What did Carol Chen and Bruce Barrows finish? Because George Ray was carried by Carol, he will just say “Yes Ma’am”. I lost my respect already and sorry to say that,” said Pete Benzon, a longtime resident of Cerritos via Facebook.

“Stupid politics,” said Norman Caprio. “There’s always a selfish ulterior motive in the hunt for power. I’ve known Frank since he was 12. We grew up together. My parents bought their home from his parents back in the 70’s. Frank Aurelio Yokoyama’s integrity is clean as a whistle,” Caprio stressed.

“This is very sad. I know in Norwalk, Planning Commissioners serve at the will and pleasure of the councilmember who appointed them. Yes the whole council votes, but that is a formality. While I don’t agree with Mark’s (Pulido) style from time to time I would have to say that I feel he and Frank were railroaded,” said Scott Collins a current member of the Norwalk Planning Commission.

Melette Lampino said in her comments that it was “an abuse of power shown by three Council members! Unbelievable! Keep your head up, Frank! We, who believe in you Frank and Mark, were stabbed by this Council action!”

Stan Klecha labeled the action as “Mad-dog politics. Revenge. George Ray now becomes the third party to abuse the power. Good old politics. Bruce Barrows is the leader; the public voted him in again, blame the public, not the message.”

Lydia K. from Cerritos said in her letter to LCCN that, “I too find it amazing that new Cerritos Councilman George Ray reappointed most of former Council Jim Edwards’ commissioner retreads. He did add two new ones, a former city employee Becky Lingad, (manager of finance) to the Planning Commission and Dan Padelford an Artesia resident, to the Economic Development Commission. ARTESIA? HUH!! What the?? Come on George, surely there is one resident in our city of 45,000 plus who would qualify for this commission position. Have you ever heard of any other city around here appointing a Cerritos resident any of their Commissions? I haven’t. “GOOD OLD GEORGE,” retreads and out-of-towners, how exciting!!”

George Medina, a resident of Cerritos since the late 1960’s strongly agreed with reader Carpio’s appraisal of the decision to deny Yokoyama another two years on the Planning Commission by stating: “I agree with Norman Carpio about stupidity and warn the Citizens of Cerritos, that, what comes after stupidity is CORRUPTION.  Just look at the City of Bell. It started with stupidity and ended up with corruption.”

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  • McMahon, J. says:

    Friday, April 19, 2013.

    RE: Nixing Frank………

    Purely Cerritos or parachute Filipino slate issues, as the race card is crying out for a future debated city agenda item over Mark’s colleague Frank. Why don’t the Filipino and Democrats petition council to have the debate put on future agenda?

    Read all of the -42- comments posted in LCCN following link about Frank, mostly Filipino protest:
    http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/04/11/cerritos-city-council-nixes-reappointment-of-planning-commissioner-frank-yokoyama/

    Both the (D) Mark and (D) Cho have failed all of the Democratic Party in the city. Sit back and drink-slurp (R) Republican $$$ Manure Tea, over and over.

    Why didn’t the democratic elected speak out against (R) Battery Barrows –vs.- (Gray and Barlevy) allegations over battery. Both Mark and Cho sat on the dais and did nothing to promote Censorship against Battery Barrows and drafted nothing in to the PROTOCOL MANUAL, to prohibit this type of physical bullying! Mark didn’t even vote on the Protocol, but cowardly left the chambers!

    For Mark, you censored your lifelong community Leader, Trustee (D) Cecy Groom, during her censorship, as this achieved footage will abort you from any further political elections. Mark 9 appointees, closed binder, only 4 females and no universal racial- age friendly appointees. Chickens have come home to roost for both Mark and Frank, as now the hen house has to drink more (R) $$$$ manure tea!!!!!!!!

    Both Mark and Joe need to read the bio resume for the Democratic Party, as is a party based on fair and balance Civil Rites for all races, genders and so forth; …… stop trying to play only the bruised Filipino Slate citywide.

    ► ► ►April 19, 2013, closing date for the Citywide Pride Contest. 160 dominees | 15, 000 Homes | 40,000 Cer Residents. Wonder how many are inclusive of the Filipino community. Almost lowest number of entries in the history of the Celebrated Contest…………

    http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/04/19/residents-express-outrage-over-barrows-chen-ray-decision-on-planning-commissioner-yokoyama/

  • Ding Dong says:

    Attributing Mr. Yokoyama’s removal from the Planning Commission to racism is intellectually shallow. The outcry over the Council’s decision is a complete overreaction. It is not unwarranted to feel or express disapproval, however, it is both immature and baseless to accuse the Council members of being racist. Not everything has to do with race. Viewing life through a racial lense is debilitating. Let’s rise above this decision, dust ourselves off and move on. I’m sure this is what Mr. Yokoyama himself is doing. Especially if he feels he is worthy of being elected to Council in two years.

  • McMahon, J. says:

    Friday, April 19, 2013.

    Reply: Joe Ilao

    Think your confused.

    • Cindy Yen Chen, ran for CCC, lost; and on many commissions. Guilty of Federal Crimes. Never disclosed. No one bounced her of.

    • Grace Hu- Mayor and appointed commissioner, after flea bargaining for fraud and lost her RE Lic. Never Disclosed. No one bounced her of.

    • Diana Needham- , ran for CCC, lost; and on many commissions. Guilty of State Censoring Crimes. Never disclosed. No one bounced her of.

    • Kappes-, ran for CCC, won. Guilty of Real Estate issues and had his lic. revoked for slumlord. Never disclosed. No one bounced of.

    • Battery Barrows, committed battery assault charges by DA Office, not disclosed, No one bounced him of.

    • Councilperson B, ran for CCC and not disclosed allegations of his educational employment.

    Most of the elected become power hogs and have various issues which are not disclosed.

    Most of the elected become power hogs and have various issues which are not disclosed. Pitiful, all of the above have full PPO Medical Insurance till the day the die and if the remarry, their new spouse has full PPO Ins till they day the die. All paid for my Cerritos. Many of these are implants in to the city, state or country. Yet we are still too broke to trim trees and repair necessary Public Works Projects.

  • Karma says:

    McMahon, J makes a good point. Mark Pulido did nothing to help the resident that Bruce Barrows battered. The resident dropped the charges and the DA still insisted on charging Bruce Barrows informally.

    Mark Pulido (then ABC school board member) also did nothing to help the principle who was unjustly fired and now ABC is being sued.

    Maybe this is Karma for Mark Pulido?

    Ding Dong is also right. This has nothing to do with race. Put the race card away. 1/2 Japanese Yokoyama chose to use his Filipino middle name (Aurelio) to pander to the Filipino vote.

    George Ray and Carl Chen elected Bruce Barrows Mayor even while Barrows has his legal issue with the DA and the informal hearing. For them to turn away Frank Yokoyama for a lesser evil is purely political.

    Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.

    Mark Pulido’s only saving grace on this issue will be to nominate another individual who will speak out for Cerritos and tick off the the three clowns leading the circus at city hall. Problem is Mark Pulido is too self absorbed seeking his next political office to give a damn about Cerritos.

    First Christ Fuentes now Frank Yokoyama Cerritos politics refuses to be exposed by from the inside.