Letters to Editor
Reeves & Congresswoman
Former Long Beach City Councilwoman Laura Richardson is being investigated by a House of Representatives ethics committee. They are demanding all communication records from the congresswoman’s office and personal life for a determined time period including cell phone records, etc.
The long list of accusations includes special treatment that resulted in a foreclosure sale being reversed by the lender after her property was sold at auction. The investor who legally purchased the aforementioned property had to be paid off for his grievances and costs by the lender. Try that at your bank and see what happens.
During this 2008 foreclosure episode, Ms. Richardson told the media there was no foreclosure and if there was, she had no knowledge of it. As a former senior loan officer, I can tell you that it takes over three months to complete a foreclosure and it is virtually impossible to avoid certified mailings and physical postings on the property itself. The media knew she was lying. It’s public record anyone could have looked up.
I remember when she resigned her council seat in Long Beach to run for the state legislature. It was reported that the city car and gas card she was issued for part time “council business only,” had recorded well over 33,000 miles in one year. Now, anyone with any sense will recognize that this automobile and gas card became Richardson’s primary and only mode of transportation, relieving the expense of procuring her own personal transportation. Other council members document a fraction of mileage on their cars. Thank you, taxpayers of Long Beach.
In simple terms, this is called stealing. Did the city prosecutor file charges or demand repayment? Not that I’m aware of, and I Googled every combination to see if there was ever any action. If this happened in the private sector, Richardson would have been fired and sued for damages. If Reeves can reply with proof otherwise, I welcome it and will stand corrected.
Folks, this is your money. We have to remember these incidents when city prosecutors like Tom Reeves ignore documented abuses among his own peers, then want to run for higher office, claiming to be on your side.
The mindset that public funds don’t belong to anyone in particular, so it’s okay to spend freely, without accountability, is wrong. It’s not about the amount of money in question. It’s about principles and ethics these politicians swear to uphold when elected.
Robert Van der Upwich
Long Beach
Dec. 21, 2009
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