OP/ED: Paging Los Angeles D.A. Jackie Lacey…Inmates Running the Asylum at Central Basin Water

[l-r] Director Vasquez, newly installed Vice President James Roybal and President Bob Apodaca.

By HMG-CN Publisher Brian Hews

I was at the meeting last Wednesday at Central Basin where the “Roybal Three”(I am going to call them the Three Bozos now) namely James “Teacher Jail” Roybal, Leticia “Qui Tam” Vasquez, and Bob “Tag Team” Apodaca basically said to their constituents that we don’t care about you, we don’t care about the agency or its employees, all we care about is money and power,  if anyone gets in our way we will throw your life into chaos, if we can’t get that, we will close the agency down.

That got me thinking.

A partial definition of a psychopath: a remorseless mind, indifference to others’ rights, and not caring about ethical behavior or laws.

Sound familiar?

General Manager Toney Perez certainly knows, he got in their way and the Three Bozos put him through the grinder for months before “suspending” him.

Central Basin Board President Phil Hawkins knows, he was removed as President at the same meeting.

Director Art Chacon knows, removed as President only days after “Teacher Jail” Roybal and “Qui Tam” Vasquez  took office.

Ron Beilke and Chuck Fuentes know, dismissed after exposing the $2.7 million slush fund.

The lady that was just awarded $670,000 due to Apodaca’s sexual harassment knows.

The list goes on.

But there is more evidence of the inmates running the asylum.

Three weeks ago, then-President Hawkins asked for a financial “what if” scenario if they fired Perez.

I know the Three Bozos read the memo, at least Qui Tam Vasquez did, she waved the story published online on the HMG-CN website about the memo at another meeting.

So how, after reading the memo, could they even contemplate firing Perez?

A remorseless mind, indifference to others’ rights, and not caring about ethical behavior or laws.

Because of the Three Bozo’s actions, this is what will happen to CB according to Perez:

CB’s insurance will be cancelled, increasing premiums substantially.

CB’s credit will be downgraded, costing $14-$15 million. A payment of this magnitude would completely eliminate the District’s current reserves.

50% staff turnover will occur due to loss of morale.

Severe impact on water supply allocation and long-term purchases, thus hurting water sales of CB, its lifeblood.

Perez will most likely sue, with the agency facing an expensive retaliation lawsuit exceeding $2-million.

The District’s reputation will be damaged and the Supervisors will act to take it over.

A remorseless mind, indifference to others’ rights, and not caring about ethical behavior or laws.

Wiki outlines the traits of a psychopath:

1. Glib and superficial charm A psychopath will put on what professionals refer to as a “mask” of sanity that is likeable and pleasant.
2. Grandiose self-perception. Psychopaths will often believe they are smarter or more powerful than they actually are.
3. Pathological lying. A psychopath will tell all sorts of lies; little white lies as well as huge stories intended to mislead.
4. Level of manipulation. All psychopaths are identified as cunning and able to get people to do things they might not normally do.
5. Look for any feelings of guilt. An absence of any guilt or remorse is a sign of psychopathy.
6. Look for a lack of empathy. Psychopaths are callous and have no way of relating other people.
7. Take a look at the person’s lifestyle. Psychopaths are often parasitic, meaning they live off other people.
8. Look at whether the person is impulsive or irresponsible. Both those characteristics are evidence of psychopathy.
9. Consider whether the person can accept responsibility. A psychopath will never admit to being wrong or owning up to mistakes and errors in judgment.
10. Pay extreme attention to the person’s treatment towards others. Psychopaths are generally prone to belittle, humiliate, mistreat, mock and even attack physically people who normally would bring no benefits.

Traits: Charming, I am better than you, lying, manipulating, no guilt, no empathy, living off others, irresponsible, treats others badly.

Evidence: Teacher Jail, sexual harassment, firing a perfectly competent GM and risking closure of the very agency you were elected to represent?

Sound familiar?

The question is, where is Los Angeles D.A. Jackie Lacey?

There is most certainly a Brown Act violation when it comes to the Perez “violation” list. How can one person think of 100 violations? Not enough to investigate?

Perez came aboard April 2013, 17 months have passed. That is almost six violations per month, why bring them up now, why did the Three Bozos wait? An employee, a GM no less, is committing 1 “violation” per week and you turn your head?

Roybal’s Teacher Jail violations, as documented by HMG-CN, not enough to investigate?

Roybal earned over $20K while in jail, a violation of LAUSD policy.

Leaking an FBI subpoena,  not enough to investigate?

That subpoena “somehow” showed up in the hands of Lorraine Cervantes who blasted Hawkins at a MWD Board meeting. Cervantes no longer shows up at CB meeting as she did several times before HMG-CN’s revelation of forged subpoenas.

The list goes on.

Please Ms. Lacey, do everyone a favor and start an investigation before someone else’s life gets ruined.