Council Members Criticize the Mayor
One must answer the letter to the editor from Ronald J. Legault (Times, Jan. 19).
The comments are misleading and unfair, and by publicly airing our internal squabbles, tarnish the image of our city.
A clarifying response is very much in order to the points raised in the letter.
First, Mayor Moses was provided city funds to attend a League of Cities Conference during May 10-13, 1988, in San Francisco. Instead, he chose to use the money to pay for hotel accommodations in the Lee Vining area where he was distributing political posters for a state senatorial candidate.
He arrived at the two-day conference a day late, missing much of the conference. Aside from an embarrassment to the city, the mayor missed an opportunity to share common problems and goals with other mayors and council members.
Mayor Moses has often departed early from various commission meetings, depriving Azusa of participation. The meetings are valuable workshops shared by representatives of many cities and agencies where common problems and goals are discussed. It was felt that appointing another member of the City Council to a sanitation commission, would more aptly represent our city. However, at a later date, the city attorney informed us only that the mayor could serve on certain commissions and the council reinstated the mayor.
Mayor Moses’ (Canyon City) Ghost Town has never met the requirements of either the city’s zoning code nor the Los Angeles County building code.
It has been reported that Moses sold his Ghost Town property and that a zone change is being sought. It is zoned general commercial. Given the fact that there are few places remaining available for single-family home development, it was felt by some council members that a rezoning of the entire area at the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon could provide Azusa with some sorely needed single-family homes.
Only after repeated requests by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and complaints from others who had to clear their own properties, the Fire Department insisted the mayor clear a hillside fire hazard stemming from a serious weed abatement problem at his residence. The mayor was merely asked to do the same as all other property owners in town.
Azusa’s sister city, Zacatecas, Mexico, often exchanges gifts with our city through our representative, the mayor. Recently, a council member inquired about the gifts’ whereabouts, only to be told by Mayor Moses that the gifts were his and not the city’s. Further, he refused to give the council an accounting of the gifts.
Lastly, one has to agree with the author’s conclusion. What petty politics will next interfere with the business of the city?
TONY NARANJO, mayor pro tem
JENNIE AVILA, council member
HARRY STEMRICH, council member
BRUCE LATTA, council member
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