Fourth Update: Pasadena Star News (6/24 - 9:29 PM) "Lawmakers Distance Themselves From El Monte Transit Center Developers .." Looks like the elected enablers are scurrying from the USS Titan. And another Titan/El Monte project - The Pacific Place Expansion - is being scrutinized by the beset city.
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Third Update: Pasadena Star News (6/24 - 10:01 AM) "State Board of Equalization member Judy Chu, the Democratic nominee for the open 32nd congressional district seat, will return donations from two development company executives arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and forgery, according to her staff ..."
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Second Update: LA Times (6/23 - 11:13 PM) "A search warrant was served on Titan Group's offices, police said." Looks like this happened late today as part of the DA's request for more information.
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Update: (From the Pasadena Star News (6/23 - 1:15 PM) "The District Attorney's office sent back a case that accused developer James Leung and his business associate Jean Lang of fraud, embezzlement and forgery ... Leung, President and chief executive officer of Titan Group, and Titan executive Lang will be released from prison today, Distrct Attorney Spokeswoman Jane Robison said ... 'We've asked for further information on each suspect, and no charges will be filed today,' Robison said."-------------- ----------- ---------- -- - - -
"Developer John Leung, president of the Titan Group, said building dense housing is another key to accommodating growing populations and offering affordable housing. 'Growth is imminent,' he said. 'So we have to be looking at how we can grow better.' For example, Leung pointed out that the entire population of the United States could live in Texas if it were built to the same density as Paris, France. 'I don't think anybody could tell me Paris doesn't look good,' he said." - From the 2006 SGVTribune article, "Experts Examine Housing Crisis."------------------ ---------- ----- - - -
It now appears that a second individual has been arrested in the unfolding El Monte fraud case involving the president of The Titan Group, John Leung. This from today's Pasadena Star News:
"Police arrested a second person alleged to be part of a 'major fraud case' involving loan documents submitted by elected water director and developer John Leung, authorities said Monday ... Jean Lang, 51, an El Monte resident and business associate of Leung's, is being held in lieu of $ million bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynnwood ... Lang and Leung, 53, the president and chief executive officer of The Titan Group, each face felony counts of embezzlement, grand theft, burglary, and fraud, police said."
The possible denouement of the SCAG ballyhooed El Monte Transit Village project seems linked to $70 million in grant money. Here's how the PSN explains it:
"While authorities said the city is not a victim, officials nonetheless fear the impact the arrests will have on a long-planned $1 billion transit project in the city ... Titan Group is in exclusive talks with the city to build the El Monte Transit Village - a 65 acre residential and commercial complex planned for Santa Anita Avenue of the 10 freeway ... On Monday, uncertainty loomed over what will happen with $70 million worth of grant money that has been awarded to the project, and who in Titan - if anyone - will replace Leung should charges stick ... Portions of the grant money awarded to the city, its redevelopment agaency, and Titan will be revoked if it can't complete planning of the project by 2010."
The article goes on to say that Leung has been the key figure at Titan on the project, and that his trip to the pokey does present some serious challenges to both El Monte and the survival of the Transit Village. Having its dominant figure in the can would have the potential to crimp Titan's ability to move and groove in a meaningful developer kind of way. And even Sacramento wouldn't fork over any more cash to someone with a prison address. Or at least we'd hope.
Then our man Bart makes his print debut in this affair, stepping up with this statement:
"Bart Doyle, chief operating officer of the Titan Group, would not comment on how Leung's arrest will affect the Transit Village Project. 'Titan is not being sued, and Ms. Lang and Mr. Leung have retained their own criminal council,' Doyle said."
Of course, pointing out that Titan not being sued is important. A statement designed to limit speculation and protect the franchise, I suppose. Then again, the night is young. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Doyle can hold this shipwreck together and keep credit lines open.
A question that should be asked is this: If some of the $70 million in grant money ends up being forfeited because obligations are not met in time, will the impoverished El Monte be left holding the bag? This is a City currently facing an $8 million deficit, and was recently forced to lay off 17 cops, firing over 100 other employees as well.
Needless to say, The Tattler will continue to follow the developments in this case. Expect further updates as more information becomes available.
40 comments:
You can bet El Monte rues the day these birds flew into town.
That "Transit Village" is about to be the most expensive bus
station anywhere.
Ah jeez, what is with Doyle and Henderson - did they go to the same grifter class? Rule #12, when accused, or being the COO for the accused, say "It's not me!"
The "Billion Dollar Bus Station."
Only in California...
Greed has broken the ecomomy and greed has attacked our countrysides,cities and towns in the name of this or that;always for the benefit of you and me.Perhaps we will gain further insignt into the lawlessness which surrounds these issues by following closely upon the curious saga surrounding the "Transit Village"
El Monte should look at the bright side. Now the city might not have to build over 1800 high rise housing units and 561,000 square feet of retail. If the City of EL Monte looses money that is a shame but they have really avoided a bullet and should be greatful.
Our Friend at SCAG
SCAG COMPASS
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
In Winter 2006, SCAG awarded the City
of El Monte a Demonstration Project grant
to assist with economic development
strategies and visualization services to
supplement efforts already underway for
the local General Plan update and the El
Monte Transit Village Specific Plan.
The report will be completed in mid 2008.
If anyone wants to know more about the El Monte Transit Village please copy and paste the following link. You will find many similarities with the DSP and familiar names.
http://www.compassblueprint.org/files/htai_elmonte.pdf
Thanks for the link, Fed Up.
Bart was the architect of this "Transit Village" (ant-colony for the masses).
He was the architect for Sierra Madre's abonimation.....the DSP.
Fortunately, our informed citizens (thanks to Zimmerman, Watts and Dunn and SMRRD) stopped them with Measure V.
A lady who works in the El Monte area as a teacher called me yesterday and was just heartsick over what happened in El Monte. She lives in Sierra Madre and of course was fighting the No on V people. She had spoken to several parents of students in the El Monte area, and they were very upset about what Bart Doyle's Titan group was doing to their city. Sadly, they had no one to help them fight.
Great link Fed Up. Especially interesting, the sections lifted from the textbook of Psych the Town some Sierra Madre residents might recognize:
"Up-front community outreach is
critical.
The Transit Village developers have found that
engaging the community at the start of the
process has been a key to ensuring that the
project has lasting public support.
THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
PROCESS
The Titan Group, together with the City of El
Monte, undertook a multifaceted community
outreach process in order to ensure that their
vision for the development corresponded to
that of the local residents. One of the key
pieces of this process was ensuring that local
decision-makers, residents, focus groups, and
Staff were comfortable with the intensities of
development that were proposed in the
Transit Village.
Among the many steps outlined in Figure 6,
the Titan Group sought out examples of well-
designed projects throughout the Los Angeles
region and used these local examples as
visuals to help the community understand
what development at different densities
looked like. Rather than having the
community guess at how a 35-unit/acre
project differed from a 60-unit/acre project,
the Titan Group showed examples of these
projects fit in the context of similar older
suburban communities. They additionally
used both newer and older buildings as
examples to show how buildings of the same
density looked over time."
It's amazing! The same names keep popping up who are behind this. You wonder how Doyle could have represented all these business interests, pushed legislation for his clients and was able to not be accused of conflict of interest as mayor of Sierra Madre? Where is the D.A.? DUH
That's what they pay people like Bart Doyle and Karma Bell for, to promote big development.
It is awful enough they do it to poor El Monte...but to try to promote this in tiny Sierra Madre is just wrong. Thank God we stopped them here.
9:19!
He got away with it, because his "puppets" were dancing to the BIA/CAR's tune. Bart was the man behind the curtain. These idiot dirts follow him like he was a "great leader". What bs!
John Buchanan, Enid Joffe, Rob Stockley, Tonja Torres, responsible for the horrible One Carter development, were pushing.
9:20, Thank God we stopped them is correct.
It just goes to show you how corrupt these people are
9:26,
I think it shows how foolish they (the dirts) are.
How can decent and intellegent people fall for the pitch of Bart Doyle?
I hope some of you dirts read these links and then honestly ask yourself if these people had the good and welfare of the people of Sierra Madre as their priority.
I've posted many times that Sir Eric prints the facts and the truth, unlike our other media sources in town.
This bus station with condos attached was obviously a crown jewel for SCAG and its minions. This has got to be quite a blow to them. I suspect the EMTV was to serve as an example of what could be done with the concept. That is now probably down in flames.
I believe this to be an object lesson to all of us. When you elect politicians whose bread and butter derives from selling out the community they were elected to protect there is conflict. So, in 2010, vet every candidate! Is any of their income dependent on interests that are at odds with Sierra Madre? SoCalGas? SoCalEdison? Bankers? BIA Lawyers? Downtown Business people? Local contractors and construction companies? It doesn't mean we can't elect them to do business for us but make sure OUR business comes first. Oh, and keep an eye on them, too.
mariewindrose:
That is EXCELLENT advice, friend, and you can count on us doing just that.
I know Sir Eric will support ONLY candidates who put OUR BUSINESS FIRST!
Thank you for your post!
And, I should add, are they part of the Montecito Development group? Do they have money invested in the Howie's debacle? Are they local realtors with an eye to zoning changes to upgrade their investments? Have they recently joined the Kiwanees and Iguanaz? Are they on the board of the Chamber of Commerce? How many checked boxes should it take to disqualify a candidate? Let's get real about who we nominate and not have any more surprises like fly boy!
MWR
I think Sir Eric and his research team will carefully "vet" anyone who wishes to be on our city council.
marierose, Amen.
Anybody who shows up in town now claiming to be the best friend Sierra Madre ever had is going to get the bum's rush no matter what he/she says. Whatever trust there might have been in the past being long gone now.
this should tell ya that s c a g is very bad
for california cities.
anyone know if this leung guy or titan had
anything to do with all the over development
in arcadia?
Pasta: Do you know the citizenship status and country of origin of John Leung?
What you can't forget is SCAG is just convenient messenger boys, there so that the real creators of this crap, Sacramento, can keep their powder dry. It's how little City elected officials can please the big boys and maybe some fine day find a place in the bureaucracy that is destroying this state. People are voting with their feet, and heading to other states.
According to Police Chief Tom Armstrong of El Monte John Leung
Armstrong said Leung's bail was originally set at $20,000. But investigators sought a bail enhancement because Leung is considered a flight risk.
"I frankly am not sure if he is still a citizen of China or not, but certainly he travels frequently and my understanding is (the enhancement is) due to being a flight risk," Armstrong said.
See what El Monte is saying
http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov/
Click on comments EL Monte developer arrested on felony counts
SGV water official arrested for $1 million worth of fraud
By Jennifer McLain on June 22, 2009 5:36 PM |
Elected water board member John Leung is still behind bars on charges that include forgery and fraud in excess of $1 million.
He is being held on a $1 million bail.
Leung has served on the San Gabreil Valley Municipal Water District since 1992
Anyone remember Bart Doyle getting up and pitching for the deal on Grandview with the MWD pipe? It was the last time I ever saw him at City Council podium.
That was the vote that Joe Mosca first betrayed his supporters with, went along with John Buchanan and Enid Joffe, voting against it was Kurt Zimmerman and Don Watts.
Plenty of people spoke in favor of this "water pipe for emergencies only", when in fact is was to aid the development of Stonehouse. Only two residents got up and pleaded with the council not to pass it......they were preservationists Linda Thornton and our current Mayor, MaryAnn MacGillivray.
Do you think Thornton and MacGillivray knew something? Damn right they did. Why the hell didn't Joe, John and Enid listen? Oh yeah, they were working on behalf of Bart Doyle's interests.
Absolutely disgusting.
See the update I just posted. Either the charges aren't sticking or John has a good lawyer. He is being let out of jail and no charges are being filed, at least for today.
Curiouser and curiouser.
LAX anyone?
Maybe he could catch an express bus from the transit village..
..the most pathetic part of all of this is that only a very few of us read and post on this wonderful website. I sat at Beantown today for 3 hours reading a book and having coffee waiting for my auto repair and many, many people picked up Susan's paper. Few people in town REALLY know the truth about what is and has happened. We need a newspaper that tells the truth. We need Sir Eric to publicize this and get it out. There are too many twisted facts and the GENERAL PUBLIC does not know. The huge connection between Joe's massive deception and turncoat lie about the water, and only 2 women who KNEW is way toooo indictive of the lack of knowledge and apathy in this town. People need to know about the dirts and need to KNOW THE TRUTH. SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH. MANY PEOPLE THINK PEOPLE THAT NICE COULD NOT BE EVIL.
SUSAN GETS AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT SPEAK UP AND SHE IS SUPPORTED BY THE DIRTS.......AND IGNORANT FOLLOWERS!!
CC TONITE. How many people will be there???
Let's start a circulation fund
I've been waiting to see Bart implicated in this but given that he's the man behind the curtain, I just wonder if it isn't he who ratted out his colleagues. That would be about right for him.
But I have trouble imagining him admitting that he is the fabulous CEO of the fabulous Titan Group (doesn't that sound a bit grandiose?) and he didn't know what was going on? I also noticed his comment, Nobody is suing us. Well, that tells you what's going on in his mind. He's worried about liability for his own negligence. Or worse, having to return the money.
I was pleased to see that Leung was from the Water Board. That is where Bart met him. Bart did plenty of cozying up to the water boards--Sierra Madre has storage at Metropolitan Water District that it cannot get to. It needed the pipeline, not just for trading water with Arcadia, but because that link would have allowed access to the Metropolitan Water Distrcit storage that Sierra Madre has. John Leung and Bart Doyle did not meet through a personals ad. They've been at it for awhile. Birds of a feather, and all that jazz.
As for Community Outreach, that's called public relations and Sierra Madre Redevelopment paid $45000 to a PR organization to promote the DSP. That was a tried and true strategy.
Let's see what happens next. Truth is stranger than fiction and I just have a feeling . . .
p.s. As for publishing the Tattler. I suggest you figure out how to print a hundred copies on plain which paper--with or without the comments and leave a few at the coffee places and liquor stores around town. You'd be amazed how cheap that would be and how successful.
I'm jes' sayin . . .
I agree Dr S. If all of us printed up just 10 without the comments every day and sent them on to friends, neighbors and acquaintances, as well as leave a few at the various coffee places and liquor stores it would be cheap and very effective.
That latest PSN link is very interesting. Betty Chu is running against Judy Chu, and Ms. Chu says that Ms. Chu should not have been voting regarding the Titan Backed El Monte Transit Village. That would be Betty zinging Judy.
Sounds like somebody is getting Chu'd out.
The voting public will have to choose between Chus.
Innocent until proven guilty--that's the American way.
There are many that want to keep El Monte as underdeveloped as it always has been.
Is this a "movida?"
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