CANCELLATION A RESULT OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN HEWS MEDIA GROUP PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
By Brian Hews and Brian Hews
The questioning of information contained in public records obtained by Hews Media Group-Community News have stopped the award of two questionable contracts, valued at over $315,000, between the Central Basin Municipal Water District, former California State Senator Richard Polanco, and a Sacramento based political-lobbying firm.
In the documents, Polanco’s firm, Tre Es Consultants, as well as the Sacramento based Political Solutions, LLC, were both being recommended by CBMWD officials to be given the ‘State Legislative Advocacy Services Contract’ at a meeting of the board of directors at the Commerce based agency.
The contracts stated that Polanco’s was to be the ‘lead consultant representing both firms.’
District officials have been shopping for politically connected consultants in Sacramento during the past few months ever since they cut ties with ex-California State Assemblyman Tom Calderon who collected what is believed to be more than $1 million in taxpayer funds over the past several years.
Calderon is believed to one of the central figures in a massive criminal probe by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a complex bid rigging scheme.
Polanco served as a member of both the California State Assembly and California State Senate for more than two decades representing a wide swath of municipalities spread out around the Eastside.
In May 2013, CBMWD Board of Directors authorized General Manager Anthony J. Perez to negotiate and enter into one-year agreements with Political Solutions, LLC and Tres Es Consulting “for the provision of State Legislative Advocacy Services.”
Polanco and Tami Miller, a high powered political lobbyist and advisor would have both banked $158,400 if the contracts would have been approved.
District officials also had the name of Richard Polanco as being the lead consultant to be representing both firms, but according to CBMWD spokesman Richard Legaspi, Polanco name was “incorrectly inserted as being the consultant” on both projects. “Mr. Polanco has no affiliation with Politicial Strategies, his name on both contract proposals was in error,” Legaspi said of the oversight.
Both firms were slated to help the water agency to interface with Governor Jerry Brown, and other statewide constitutional officers, as well as other California Agencies, Commissions and Departments. and to “assist in preparing the District’s Board of Directors, General Manager and designated staff.
Calls into Political Strategies, Inc. in Sacramento were not returned.
Central Basin Municipal Water District is currently the subject of at least two massive criminal probes by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Recently, the offices of California State Senator Ronald Calderon had his office in Sacramento raided by FBI agents.
Former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, the brother of Senator Ronald Calderon, had previously been granted more than $1 million in consulting contracts with Central Basin Municipal Water District over a several year span.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Does your investigation only relate to the things in Long Beach or in the South Bay, Carson, Hawthorne, Inglewood, beach areas, etc.?
Thank you,
Paul Corneal
AIPER Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, WavePath Navigation, Wall-Climbing, Quad-Motor, 150 mins Runtime for Inground Pools up to 1,600 sq.ft, ZT6002 (Renewed)
$399.99 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
TurboTax Home & Business 2024 Tax Software, Federal & State Tax Return [PC/MAC (MacOS Ventura 13 or Sonoma 14 is required for TurboTax Desktop 2024) Download
$129.99 (as of May 7, 2025 06:29 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Saker Twister Arm Trainer, 40-100lb Adjustable Chest Workout Equipment, Arm Trainer, Twister Arm Trainer, Portable Power Twister Bar, Detachable Design Fitness Anywhere
$36.99 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
CAROTE Cast Iron Dutch Oven Pot with Lid, Enameled Dutch Oven for Bread Baking, Dual Handles, Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Pot, 5QT, Red
(as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display, Batteries Included, Weighs up to 11 pounds, Black and Stainless Steel
$10.49 (as of May 7, 2025 06:29 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Meta Quest 3S 128GB Renewed — Dive into Mixed Reality — Unreal Experiences — All-in-One Headset
$269.99 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Hzevn 2Pack 100W USB C Wall Charger Block,3-Port (65w+20W+18w) Super Fast Charging Power Adapter,Multi USB C Charging Hub Plug Cube for MacBook,iPad Pro, Galaxy S25, iPhone 16/15 and More-Black
$17.99 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
BETHEGIFT Funny Card for Mom from Daughter, Son, Kids on Mothers Day - Heartfelt Message to Mother, Perfect for Birthday, Mother's Day, Humorous Mom Greeting Cards, Premium Quality
$9.95 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Compact Binoculars for Adults and Kids, HD Mini Portable Outdoor Binoculars Children, Pocket Lightweight Folding for Bird Watching, Hunting, Concert, Theater, Opera, Traveling, Tourism, Shows
$9.99 (as of May 7, 2025 06:29 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Seagate (Recertified Exos X 28TB Internal Hard Drive HDD - 3.5 in CMR SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512MB Cache, 2.5M MTBF (ST28000NM000C), Renewed
$349.99 (as of May 6, 2025 17:25 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)