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Cerritos Mayor Barrows, Council-persons Carol Chen and George Ray’s Double Standard on Frank Yokoyama

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

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

 

Publisher’s Corner
By Brian Hews

When Mayor Barrows, Councilwoman Carol Chen and Councilman George Ray voted to remove Frank Yokoyama from his Planning Commissioner seat, all three cited Mr. Yokoyama’s State Bar of California transgression as published in this paper two months ago.

Yokoyama was suspended by the California State Bar from practicing law after he was cited for several violations on January 7, 2012 by Judge Richard A. Platel of the California State Bar Court. Yokoyama told State Bar officials that he “was in compliance with the MCLE requirements,” when in fact he had not complied with any MCLE courses within the compliance period.”

Contrary to what Barrows and Chen said at a public Council meeting, Yokoyama took the test, paid a fine and was reinstated by the State Bar.
“This (the suspension) is the reason we are not reaffirming the appointment of Mr. Frank Yokoyama,” said Councilwoman Carol Chen.

But, a closer inspection of Cerritos commissioners shows a clear double-standard existing on the Cerritos Council between Barrows, Chen, and Ray.
Cyndi Yen Chen, a Pulido appointee was fined $79,000 in 2004 by the Federal Maritime Commission for transporting toxic chemicals. It was alleged that Zen Continental unlawfully collected forwarder compensation on shipments booked on behalf of its related NVOCC, Sunway, and failed to seek prior Commission approval of changes in the licensees’ organization and qualifying individuals.

Ms. Chen compromised with the Commission, and paid the fine. With this type of resolution, Chen avoided going to court and facing possible prosecution.

Sound familiar?

Just like Frank Yokoyama, Ms. Chen is a commissioner and ran for council.

Just like Frank Yokoyama, Ms. Chen was found culpable (on a much larger scale), and fixed the situation through a compromise.

Just like Frank Yokoyama, Ms. Chen was removed from her position as commissioner.

No she was not, double standard. One now must seriously question the motive behind the removal of Frank Yokoyama.

Call it for what it is.

The case and fine against Cyndi Yen Chen, click here.


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  • John Transue says:

    I guess it could have been worse. Frank could have accosted a citizen outside council chambers and still retained his position. Oh right! That has already happened. Good to see Mayor Barrows continues to uphold the high standards for holding public office in Cerritos.

  • McMahon, J. says:

    Friday, May 03, 2013.

    State Bar and other Licensing –Insurance Departments and other agencies, are useless layers or quasi bureaucrats, which act as an attack dog, during campaigns, in order to make certain candidate shine during the elections. Many acquitations are fraught with innuendo and conjecture and pushed, pushed as free advertising, for future rising political candidates, to ponder votes such as State Attorney or Depart. of Insurances, etc. Boy have we seen this played out in the recent Depart of Insurance, Elected Corona- OC Sheriff, San Ofre Nuc. Facilities and the federal fallout from Loan Modification chaos by USA Banks.

    Former Mayor/ councilperson Diane Needham was state censored and was appointed by (R) Carol Chen as planner and no Tar and Feathering to her.

    Due diligence was not practiced by CCC in public for this decision and poss lies to prevent a Democratic from gaining a (R) majority council seat.

    Mayor Battery Barrows flat out and lied during the 4/ 2013, CCC. hearing; stating Frank was not an active attorney, when Frank was an active Attorney at Law during this hearing! Frank has been an attorney, poss. just not a Lic. Attorney at law, which is Franks business and not a pre-requisite for the appointee.

    This is a concern to all residents and not just the circle around Frank. All residents should tell our seated CCC, this type of back door investigative choosing appointees, has to be done in public.

    http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/05/03/cerritos-mayor-barrows-council-persons-carol-chen-and-george-rays-double-standard-on-frank-yokoyama/

  • Mike Johnson says:

    Thank you Mr. Hews, you are so RIGHT-ON. The whacky trio,Barrows, Chen & Ray have got to be the poorest excuse for council members in California. They refuse to reappoint Frank Yokoyama and look the other way on Commissioner Cindi Yen Chen?? This action is disturbing. It’s time the residents take a good look at who we have elected.
    Do we need to take recall action?
    What happened to all that sage advice from wise old George Ray. Very disappointing, sorry I voted for him. He jumped right into Barrows back pocket along with Carol Chen.
    Keep the facts coming Mr. Hews and Mr,Economy you two and the LCCN are doing a great job.

  • J. Marshall says:

    “Contrary to what Barrows and Chen said at a public Council meeting, Yokoyama took the test, paid a fine and was reinstated by the State Bar.”

    Not quite. The state bar issued a stayed suspension for Mr. Yokoyama which is still pending. The “test” you are referring to is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam. Since this test is only offered three times a year and results from the first exam have not yet been released, no one, not even Mr. Yokoyama himself, knows whether he has satisfied this requirement yet.

    So contrary to what you said above, Mr. Yokoyama hasn’t been reinstated. He is on probation, and if he doesn’t comply with this, and several other requirements yet to come, he will lose his license for one year.

    As a result, your assessment of this story is about as accurate as Mr. Yokoyama’s CLE record keeping.

  • Cerritos resident says:

    I agree with all of J. Marshall’s comments. It appears that LCCN has completely failed to understand the gravity of Yokoyama’s offense and discipline from the State Bar. The order from the court explicitly states that by reporting that he was in compliance with his MCLE requirements when he was really wasn’t, Yokoyama “committed an act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty and corruption….” He is on probation for one year, had his license suspended for 30 days, has to attend the State Bar Ethics school and pass its exam, and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam again.

    Would you trust or hire an attorney that has the gall to lie to the State Bar? He only started complying after he got caught. Not the type of person we want serving in Cerritos.

  • Progress Through Intimidation says:

    What was done to Frank Yokoyama is plain and simple, intimidation.

    If Barrows and Chen really felt what Yokoyama did was improper why didn’t they do something earlier?

    Why did they embarrass him and fellow Councilman Mark Pulido? My answer, intimidation, to WARN anyone else who steps out of line and doesn’t want to play in their sick and twisted world.

    Yokoyama has been outspoken on a few key issues that the “axis of intimidation” doesn’t appreciate. Take for instance, the Good Will store. One has to imagine Yokoyama’s support pissed off the “axis”

    During the council race, Yokoyama called Chen out, as well as the entire city council, for the high number of burglaries in the city. Again, one has to imagine this too must have pissed off the “axis of intimidation.”

    City Council Candidate Yokoyama and Councilman Pulido are willing to listen to city employees and the their union. No raise, for city employees, in how many years? No raise for staff while in the meantime Barrows and Chen are traveling to where and spending how much city money on high priced hotels and dinners? Again, one has to imagine this too must have pissed off the “axis of intimidation.

    Unions are taboo to some. The pay and the benefits for regular city employees, the enemy. After all, why else does Cerritos employee so many part-timers? The “axis of intimidation” it would seem count on screwing city employees to suck the city treasury to fund their travels and lifetime benefits. Yokoyama it seems had a political heart, for his community, that got in the way.

    Does anyone else find it interesting that Democratic Majority Cerritos is being intimidated by the Minority Republicans?

    Cerritos revised motto should read,
    “Progress Through Intimidation”
    “A City with Double Standards”

    This newspaper it seems was also targeted for merely reporting a council member’s (Bruce Barrows) possible criminal misconduct and investigation and now Frank Yokoyama was caught in the cross hairs (and Pulido by association).

    Who’s next?

  • William says:

    Apparently, Chen, Barrows and Ray were right, Yokoyama does have serious problems. Subsequent to this article being published, Yokoyama has incurred another suspension of his law license. Since LCCN has been remiss in reporting this significant matter it relies upon us the people to set the record straight. Apparently, the agenda of the Hews organization have a political agenda rather than a desire for the truth to be told. Shame on you. http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/169912

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