The Oxnard Journal

OxJo:

I was saddened to hear of the death of Kathleen McQuillan.

I am co-founder and was the President of the Board of Directors of the Rainbow house when Kathleen first came to us as resident than became the Director, over 20 years ago.

I remember the struggles we had in acquiring the big house on Channel Island Blvd. and all the many hours of work making repairs so we could move from Ventura to Oxnard.

Now I hear that the City of Oxnard is trying to take it away from them.

You would think of all the wealthy ranchers in the area one of them could donate enough land to establish an equipment museum to honor their farm equipment and leave the Rainbow house alone.

If not for the sacrifice of dedicated women like Kathleen there would not be a place for hundreds of women to have a safe place to go for there recovery.

And maybe if some of the rich ranchers would open there eyes and look around they might find one of there wives, daughters or mother in need of such a place someday.

But maybe they can just put the in the museum. With deepest sympathy,

Bobby G. Milligan,
Lubbock Texas

Views from the Gold Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Honoring Oxnard's former Police Chief - Art Lopez

Former Police Chief Art Lopez says
Good-Bye to Oxnard and Bye-Bye to the Gang Injunction.

Mayor Holden asks the Chief if he remembered that $5.oo he loaned him back in 1998.

John Flynn reminds the crowd that he beat Mayor Lopez in the last election and that "No" he doesn't want to be the next Police Chief.

Saul Medina chills out.

Armando Lara

Harry Cortez and Armando Lopez

Mayor Tom and his balloons

Gary Gillig

---------------------------------------Read this Press Release about
Big League Dreams from League City Texas - Do We Really Want To Bring This Kind of a Mess to Oxnard?

An Open Letter to Oxnard - Regarding how the City
Does its Business........
____________________________

Dear Friends:

After reading the article in the Ventura Star about the Big League Dreams "surprise contract" I am reminded of these facts.

The California government codes and the Oxnard municipal codes do require that the City staff issue monthly financial reports including the amount received, the amount spent, and the balance in each type of fund. The codes also require that the City staff provide at each regular meeting the list of checks (warrants) that were issued since the last report. Interesting to note that other cities in Ventura County comply with these requirements.

During the two years I worked at the City I was repeatedly hindered by the City Manager from issuing the monthly financial reports to the City Council. The City staff had not provided the Council with those financial reports before I came to Oxnard, and the staff has not provided the Council with monthly financial reports since I was terminated.

At Federal trial the City Manager,
Ed Sotelo, said that the reason he was stopping me from issuing monthly financial reports was due to the "inappropriate language" that I used in my reports. But, when my attorney, Mr. Edward Lear, offered the court copies of every monthly financial report which I wrote during those two years the City changed its position and told the court that the City agreed that in fact I never used any "inappropriate language" in my financial reports. So why did the City Manager try to stop me from issuing those reports to the City Council?

Also under oath and when asked why he was not now issuing monthly financial reports to the Council in compliance with the City’s and State’s codes the then Finance Director, Stan Kleinman, said he had been told by the City Attorney that he did not need to prepare the report.

During the two years I worked at the City the City Manager would also not let me prepare the list of checks for Council’s review until I worked with the City Attorney to get his approval to present the list of checks to the City Council. Though I repeatedly requested approval to issue the list of checks that approval was never given to me.

So now it is interesting to note that had these reports been given to the City Council, the Council and the public would have seen the distribution of money to Big League Dreams and all this turmoil would not exist. It is of greater concern to now contemplate whether the intentional disregard for the State and City codes may be for other purposes.

Copies of statements made under oath by City Staff can be provided to you.

Respectfully,

Phillip S. Molina