Re “A Formula for Peace: Take Furlough Days and Pay Reductions”
I have run into Janet Chabola more than a few times at the School Board meetings. Each time she was accompanied by her teacher son and athletic director husband.
Once I asked the athletic director why was he here? “Protecting my interests,” I declare I heard him say, and he was not smiling.
Had a conversation once with Mrs. Chabola at her family’s business, the Tower Insurance Agency. Mentioned where the City Council dba the Redevelopment Agency had newly discovered $430 million (don’t know if this was in addition to the $22 million that they had admitted to). Rumor had it that it was found in one of the overstuffed chairs in Council Chambers.
Anyway, that nearly half billion cash disappeared in about the time it takes to say “thefrontpageonline.com”
Now it is clear why the School Board wanted to have its meetings there. Kept the District Superintendent up over past midnight to ask for the privilege. http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-8045/KeepinganEyeonOurDollarsasTheyAreWheeledAway
Back to our conversation.
I said it was a shame the City Council dba the Redevelopment Agency C had all that money to disperse to the well connected and did not give the povert- laden School District not one dime.
Mrs. Chabola assured me that the Redevelopment Agency has given the District $2 million annually for some time. I thought, okay end of that story.
Always said, if you want the history of the Culver City District, the Chabolas are resource. I was in discussions with Mr. Chabola more than a few times during the last School Board campaign.
Anyway, I started to wonder if this $2 million was the source of the non-relationship between the City Council dba the Redevelopment Agency and the School District. More than once I have mentioned that the deep pockets Redevelopment Agency should give a handout to destitute School District.
At one Redevelopment Agency meeting (when the City Council was trying to slickly give away $4 million with a two-day notice (Friday for a Monday meeting) to a developer to help fund what started as a private venture with public property.
http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-7923/TheBigSting4043Irving
I was told by a City Councilmen that the money’s use is restricted by “lies” and “must” be given away without much benefit to the taxpayers or lose it back to the state.
Just wondering. Do the selected officials pay taxes on the “kickbacks”? Didn’t Al Capone get it for income tax evasion? Okay, you attorneys, help us out here.
Since we are on attorneys, can someone please tell me what type of attorney is Andrew Weissman of the City Council?
I recently found out that Scott Zeidman is a “labor” attorney, Steve Gourley is a “real estate” attorney and I already knew from the campaign that Kathy Paspalis is an “environmental” attorney.
One attorney who stands out to me is Zeidman, a “labor” attorney, and the sidekick of attorney Gourley, http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-9109/TeammatesWillPeelOffinOppositeDirections, a party to party to the Teachers Union lawsuit for “unfair business practices.” (Must be “labor,” as in giving birth).
http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-8612/TeachersUnionClaimsVictoryinGourleyFlap
Is Zeidman the one who boasted of writing the Patti Jaffe contract that prohibited her from applying for the Superintendent’s position for one year, only to be overturned by the attorney-led majority (including himself) Board?
I think he wrote the $20,000 Super “Search” agreement, too (looked over by Gourley), which was open-ended until a “Super” was found. “Super Search Aborted” after three finalists were chosen (Jaffe included). Almost gave one Board member a coronary.
Since things happen in threes, guess who must have written the Chambers’ rental contract between the cash scrapped ($½/billion) City Council dba the Redevelopment Agency and the insolvent District? With a basic rate and overuse penalty of $50 to $100 per hour after 10 p.m., it depends upon whom you ask.
Do not ask Zeidman.
All he knows is that he wasn’t going to waste money whatever the charge (to finish a meeting where the BOARD was unprepared to conclude anyway) because it was too much and he was mindful of the taxpayers’ money.
http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-9126/RentalAgreementHaltsBoardMeetingBeforetheCutsVote
Before you scratch your head (hints), City Council’s “real estate” (thought it belonged to the city of Culver City? — psych!) wait do not jump the gun, bigger environment, okay go for it. Not that it matters anyway. Most attorneys are not that smart.
Family Chabolas and I witnessed the Board meeting where the state Board of Education hit up the District for a bill of over $200,000.
Never was explained how a District that claims it was operating in the red could owe a tax to the state. How much does the District’s CPA charge?
I believe David Mielke, the Teachers Union president, was there also. We exchanged pleasantries, but it was getting late, so I think he left.
Anyway the Board hired outside counsel (lawyers’ fees, a meagre $10,000. Ten thousand dollars to communicate with the state since none of the three Board attorneys could decipher the legalese. It was recommended by the District CPA at this meeting that the District settle for $29,000, and it had to respond to the state’s offer in (5) days.
Attorney Paspalis stated that it was “unfair practice” with such short notice.
Attorney Gourley wanted to show them the wrath of Culver City (must have been a flashback to the City Council days. Heck, their outside counsel “fees” are at least $3 million annually) with a lawsuit $10,000 to $20,000 more in legal fees. Okay Mr. District CPA, are you keeping track? That’s thirty thousand dollars to fight a $29,000 state settlement, which you cannot win anyway. Hmmmm!
Prof. Seiver reminded them that this matter had been discussed previously, by reading the minutes of the October 2010 meeting.
Prof. was able to persuade attorney Zeidman and attorney Paspalis to accept the settlement. I believe Karlo Silbiger went along this time.
Was it this meeting where Karlo discovered a questionable $5 a month expense? Hey, that stuff adds up. That’s $60 a year. Found out it was for the Rotary membership. I know them. They sponsor the annual eye examination with the mobile truck at all of the District’s elementary schools. Assisted with many of those exams.
I will write about the $2 million that the Redevelopment Agency gives to the School District, but that is another story for another day. Here is a story to share with you.
http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-9089/CitizensandSelectedOfficialsWanttheOtherSidetoStayIgnorant
This to all the District employees, teachers and classified. I do not claim to be a genius, just a simple dude, blessed with uncommon sense.
http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-8566/IAmDifferentfromtheNormalCulverCityResident
1. Talk about cuts away from the kids. Is there such a thing?
2. If you take a pay cut (call it what you want), get assurance with all the increases in — health insurance premium (15 percent), child’s college tuition (10 percent), gas prices (15 percent), food prices (20 percent), property tax ($87parcel tax EE), utility, cable and more — that the various companies take notice you are employed by the insolvent Culver City School District and the almost half-billion dollar giveaway by the Redevelopment Agency’s Selfish, Ignorant, Greedy and Stupid politicians.
Mr. Abrams may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
