07-01-10,
Barry Allen Responds to Dick Seeley’s Comments
on Vanguardians and the City of
Dick I noted on Hal Weber’s website that
you were concerned about our Board
members. I have done profiles on them
and some of our volunteers in issues of Vanguard. We have posted formation documents and
required financial detail on our web site which is presently down for
refurbishment. We refuse to name
advisors as they are not policy makers and they fear retaliation and
retribution from some on the Council who can be very vindictive when they feel
threatened by their exposure.
Recently certain Council members have
supported one individual who circulated a letter about Eva LaRue who had a case
on appeal. The individual sent a copy of
Ms LaRue’s public portfolio with remarks that were certainly not flattering. This individual threatened a former
Vanguardians Board Member accusing him of things that the
individual caused. The individual
filed for a restraining order which the individual did not prosecute for
reasons, I assume, that the individuals case could not be proved and the
individual would have had to pay the defendants fees and costs. This very same person is welcomed to speak
during oral communications on a subject which is not within the purview of the
City Council, something that the City Attorney hasn’t spoken to as it benefits
Management to make light of those few people that are willing to speak out on
the financial issues which the Council has embroiled the community in.
You will also note that Council member
Quintero did not respond to the financial issues I brought up as he could not
bring himself to admit that I was correct.
Then, along the same line, the Council
has no jurisdiction over an entity that is empowered by the Internal Revenue
Service to operate as a 501(c)(3). Vanguardians has not been an applicant for or
has not received any funding from the City of
We have chosen to wait for the proper
venue to respond to allegations of improprieties as there is a lone Mayor who
is not willing to bang the gavel and say that the content of a person’s speech
is not within the jurisdiction of the Council nor what the Ralph M Brown Act
intended.
I suggest you keep an eye on the news
media and continue to read and trust Vanguard. I do thank you for asking the questions you
did.
Barry Allen -- Executive Director
Vanguardians -- 501(c)3
Publisher of Vanguard News Service
www.vanguardians.org -- 818 243 1502
POB 11202