Where Do Cortes and Garcia Get Income?

From the Readers:

How does Ms. Cortes support herself?Why would she work for a realty firm she would have a potential conflict of interest?
I have known she has been unable to sell any property.
I understand from others her work experience was largely as a legal secretary. With her limited governement experience with state legislative office's and PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) contribution of 15 years get her a retirement?

From the Readers:

LeaAnn works a a govt. consultant...any conflicts. Sanbag contracts etc.
Confidentially yours.

From the Readers:

What kind of business, especially a real estate broker, keeps a sales person employed that produces no income for the business? Other than the vote for the Dodson property sale and issuance of the checks by the city for a piece of property that went into closed session with the council at a $750,000 value and came out of closed session with a $2,900,000 done deal sale. At that time Councilman Hilkey was visibly and vocally mad, stating that the city bought a property it did not need and paid too much for. Carlstrom negotiated for the Dodson's and Tom Schwab for the city. Less we forget Tom Schwab was the house guest of the Dodson's when he was without lodging after his divorce. That was a crime against the taxpayers of Grand Terrace and the State. It was fraud and conspiracy to Defraud.

Carlstrom now has a relative living in the Dodson's house, receives a monthly check for "managing" the property and there are vouchers on record totaling in the thousands of dollars for maintenance and up keep of the property. I would surmise the city has all the receipts for material purchased. Odd how city workers maintain the other vacant RDA properties, but Carlstrom gets money from the city for this one property. How many other properties does the city now rent out that Carlstrom manages. Something smells here, you think?

Carlstrom,Schwab and Cortes need to be investigated for any and all RDA property deals. Carlstrom has, with the aid of Tom Schwab, sold property to the RDA he could not get market value from. This was nothing more than a "good old boy" political favor just like the Dodson deal.

Then there is the Public Employees Retirement System scam. The Council was a member of P.E.R.S. and it was discontinued for some time. Steve Berry re-instated it and gave Council members Garica and Cortes each a fifteen year credit. This had to cost the taxpayers thousands upon thousands of dollars. Without a doubt it was a vote buying bribe. Did not Cortes abstain from the vote to remove Berry from the consideration list for City Manager. She was also one of the louder defenders of Berry.

While we are on the subject of bribes, LeeAnn Garcia took contributions from Jacobson and his wife (straw contribution from Mrs. Jacobson because of the contribution amount law) and even after being challenged from the podium that it was nothing less than bribery, voted for the Jacobson project.

Councilwoman Cortes is a home owner in Grand Terrace and the owner of a condominium in Colton. She must be very good at budgeting if her only income is from her serving on the Council.

Councilwoman Cortes should make public her State and Federal income tax filings. Isn't there phone numbers one may call to inform the State and Federal Governments of possible tax filing irregularities.

Here is my question. Does anyone believe that the City list on the monthly vouchers everything they spend our money on?

First Answer:

Not all payments made by the City are Disclosed or Detailed. Payroll is not for example. Receipts to special funds are not reported nor are the detailed expenditures. Property sale or disposal is not detailed and publicly accounted for. In addition the Arrowhead Credit Union Account or Credit Card costs and Petty Cash Fund is never detailed as to what was purchased where and by whom. This is just the beginning of what is not disclosed. Special Accounts may be set up within the city's banking and not be presented to the Council for Review and Approval. Yep, there is reason to question the accounting practices in the city.

Second Answer:

The City Council's purchase of a Electric Sign to tell citizens the same thing that is put on their door step by the Grand Terrace City News and the Blue Mt. Outlook suggests that they assume either the GT Citizen doesn't read either of these publications or they are inviting outside travelers to the events, that were posted on the wood sign boards effectively to begin with.

SO even when you see where the money is going their lack of prudence and wisdom is shocking enough.

Third Answer:

Council Member Bea Cortes is compensated by Terra Loma. She is included in their weekly advertising, she receives phone service and desk space in their office. This has value and is compensation past apparently what she is providing Terra Loma in income. So what Terra Loma is paid by the City does benefit Bea Cortes.

Just because you do not receive a paycheck from, but do allow your face or name to be used by a firm does not mean that you are financially attached to it then. Not when they provide a desk and opportunity to use their office. Does she pay Terra Loma for the services she receives while she does not sell homes?