Grievance

NC RULES, STANDARDS & BEST PRACTICES

Meeting Rules #2: NC's must have transparent operations & adopt fair and open procedures for the conduct of business.

Finance Rules #3: The Dept's funding policies require all NC's to comply with rules & regulations promulgated by the Dept and other relevant City depts.

Inclusive & Reflective of the Community Rule #1: NC's must reflect the diverse interests within the area & is inclusive & open to all community stakeholders.

Ethics Commission per L.A. Municipal Code Sec. 49.5.1 et seq
Sec. 49.5.4-Protection of Employees Against Retaliation for Reporting Fraud, Waste or Misuse of Office
Sec. 49.5.5-Misuse of City Position or Resources
Sec. 49.5.11-Lobbying Activities of Current and Former City Officials

I did not commit any egregious violations of the WLASNC Bylaws Article V, Section 508 and 509 that would justify or necessitate my "censure and removal from the WLASNC Board" at the Wednesday, March 7, 2018 WLASNC 'special' board meeting.
The WLASNC was warned that all censure and removal proceedings are subject to the advice and review of the City Attorney and was advised to table any final action pending a review by the City Attorney. 
I was not:
1) Provided the clear and unambiguous rule showing the prohibited conduct.
2) I was not notified of the above rule.
3) Provided the specific finding by the board demonstrating the violation.

However, the board proceeded with a vote for removal.  After the removal, it became clear that my removal was necessary for the board to move forward on specific board items--1) taking over the successful Clean Streets LA program that I oversaw as the Public Works Liaison to benefit a previous board member; 2) taking over the successful 2018 Sawtelle Japantown Celebration that I voluntarily conceived, organized and implemented as a Sawtelle Japantown community advocate in partnership with the greater Japanese community, a prominent local elementary school and community businesses; and 3) moving the board meetings back to the ADA non-compliant former 1st FL meeting room at 1645 Corinth Ave thinking that with my removal an existing ADA accommodation request from August 2015 to the WLASNC board no longer applied.

I filed a grievance with the WLASNC on March 13, 2018 with a subsequent date correction on March 14, 2018.  The WLASNC has not acknowledged receipt nor did it attempt to address the grievance at the March 28, 2018 WLASNC regular board meeting.  All board members were included in the e-mail, as were—Darren Martinez, Semee Park, Jasmine Elbarbary, Grayce Liu and Mike Feuer.

1) NC BYLAW -  Article V, Section 508 & 509: I was given no written notice of the clear & unambiguous rule that I  violated. No written report was provided of a specific finding by the board that justified or necessitated my removal. The board violated procedure by overriding a review of the case by the City Attorney.

2) PLAN FOR THE CITYWIDE SYSTEM OF NC's
NC Code of Conduct Policy #2014-2(1) :Required of NC's under Article II, Sec 3 of the Plan for a Citywide System of NCs; By unjustly and unlawfully censuring and removing the board member on March 7, 2018, the WLASNC chose not to be diverse, inclusive & open to all stakeholders. At the March 7, 2018 WLASNC special meeting, board members failed to conduct themselves with a proper regard for the rights & welfare of other board members & stakeholders as expected by BONC. 

3)  BONC POLICY - NC RULES, STANDARDS & BEST PRACTICES
Meetings Rule #2: On March 7, 2018, the WLASNC was not transparent in their operations & did not adopt fair and open procedures for the conduct of business.  No written report of a specific finding was provided by the WLASNC on March 7, 2018.  The WLASNC was advised to table the item and any final action until reviewed by the City Attorney.

4) BONC POLICY – NC RULES, STANDARDS & BEST PRACTICES
Finance Rule #3: The Dept's funding policies require all NC's to comply with rules & regulations promulgated by the Dept and other relevant City depts. The March 7, 2018 censure & removal was possible retaliation for reporting probable Payroll fraud committed by a City Employee and probable misuse of funds.

5) BONC POLICY – NC RULES, STANDARDS & BEST PRACTICES
Inclusive & Reflective of the Community Rule #1: NC's must reflect the diverse interests within the area & is inclusive & open to all community stakeholders. With the unjust and unlawful censure and removal of the board member on March 7, 2018, the NC did not reflect the diverse interests within the area and demonstrated it is not inclusive & open to all community stakeholders.

6) DEPT POLICY - Ethics Commission per L.A. Municipal Code Sec. 49.5.1 et seq
Sec. 49.5.4-Protection of Employees Against Retaliation for Reporting Fraud, Waste or Misuse of Office: The March 7, 2018 censure and removal was probable retaliation for reporting probable Payroll fraud by a City employee and possible misuse of office by a board member of an exclusive arrangement benefiting the operation of a private business.

7)  DEPT POLICY - Ethics Commission per L.A. Municipal Code Sec. 49.5.1 et seq
Sec. 49.5.5-Misuse of City Position or Resources: The March 7, 2018 censure and removal of the board member may have been probable retaliation for reporting probable misuse of resources in violation of finance regulations.

8) DEPT POLICY -  Ethics Commission per L.A. Municipal Code Sec. 49.5.1 et seq
Sec. 49.5.11-Lobbying Activities of Current and Former City Officials: The March 7, 2018 censure and removal of the board member may have been probable retaliation for reporting board bias in a probable misuse of funds to favor of a prior board member.

OTHER RULES & REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO NC's:
WLASNC Policies & Procedures #2 CIVILITY: BOD and committee members are expected to work compatibly, harmoniously and respectively with other BOD members...The WLANC will conduct all WLANC business in a civil, professional and respectful manner...Displays of personal animosity or personal attacks against other BOD members are prohibited.  I was personally verbally attacked with animosity by a former board member and other board and committee members in violation of Policies & Procedures. No written report was provided of specific findings that justified or necessitated the unlawful and unjust removal of the board member.

2.  I am requesting immediate reinstatement on the WLASNC Board--and also seek a formal public apology from the WLASNC posted on the WLASNC sites to return my family's good name and reputation that was impugned and defamed during the March 7, 2018 WLASNC special meeting by numerous board members, one former board member and one committee member.

6. For violating the WLASNC Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures for unlawful censure & removal and the egregious lies, animosity and personal attacks at the March 7, 2018 meeting.

7.  For violating the WLASNC Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures for unlawful censure & removal and the egregious lies, animosity and personal attacks at the March 7, 2018 meeting.

8. Jamie Keeton, Jay Handal, Eric Nakamura, Ron Migdal, Desa Philadelphia, Jennifer Gavina, Danila Torro, Arman Ghorbani, Zana Glisovic, and Jean Shigematsu deserve to be suspended for violating the WLASNC Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures for unlawful censure & removal and the egregious lies, animosity and personal attacks at the March 7, 2018 meeting.

9. For violating the WLASNC Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures for unlawful censure & removal and the egregious lies, animosity and personal attacks at the March 7, 2018 meeting. The WLASNC should be de-certified.

OTHER RULES & REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO NC's:
WLASNC Policies & Procedures #2 CIVILITY: BOD and committee members are expected to work compatibly, harmoniously and respectively with other BOD members...The WLANC will conduct all WLANC business in a civil, professional and respectful manner...Displays of personal animosity or personal attacks against other BOD members are prohibited.  I was personally verbally attacked with animosity by a former board member and other board and committee members in violation of Policies & Procedures. No written report was provided of specific findings.