Print In February the Huntington Park City Council met behind closed doors to discuss a seemingly routine item on their agenda — potential litigation the city was anticipating Everyone on the council was allowed to attend the meeting but one — then-Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo the 22-year-old was later seen on camera picking up her things from the dais and making a quiet exit On the agenda instead was an item to fill her seat the city had quietly launched an investigation to determine if she was a city resident and concluded she was not kicking her off the council — all without her knowledge Former Huntington Park Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo Schaben / Los Angeles Times) While residency requirements for municipal seats are common Huntington Park’s move to investigate one of its own council members “I’ve never heard of a city doing it that way There’s always someone complaining to the district attorney usually from an opponent,” said Steve Cooley who oversaw about a dozen residency cases during his time as Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor in response to a lawsuit filed by Castillo against the city a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing Huntington Park from filling the vacant seat Castillo’s removal from office has angered residents in this scandal-plagued city Amid the ongoing legal fight to regain her seat several current and former council members are embroiled in a corruption probe with the district attorney’s office over the alleged misuse of public funds On Feb. 26, D.A. investigators executed search warrants as part of “Operation Dirty Pond,” a probe into the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds allocated for a $24-million aquatic center that hasn’t been built. No one has been charged. The search warrants were executed at the homes of then-Mayor Karina Macias, Councilman Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez and City Manager Ricardo Reyes. Search warrants were also executed at the homes of two former council members, a contractor and a consultant. Altogether, the turmoil is making Huntington Park residents weary. “I feel sad, defrauded, angry and powerless,” said Maria Hernandez, 50, a longtime Huntington Park resident who attended the court hearing two weeks to support the former councilwoman. Castillo declined to be interviewed for this story, but her attorney, Albert Robles, said his client has been caring for her ailing parents while maintaining a full-time residence in Huntington Park, which he said is permitted under state and city election laws. He said Castillo’s removal was politically motivated. “Here, defendants not only acted as judge, jury and executioner, but to further highlight defendants’ self-directed unjust political power grab, [they] also conducted the investigation,” Castillo alleges in her suit. The city notified Castillo via letter she’d been investigated and removed from the council as a nonresident but did not allow her to attend the Feb. 18 closed-door meeting when the results of the probe were discussed, Robles said. He claimed it was retaliation for Castillo accusing the members of bullying and harassment in a formal complaint to the city in January. But Andrew Sarega, whom the city hired to oversee its investigation into Castillo, disputed those claims and said the probe into Castillo began months before she filed her grievance. He said a complaint was filed in August with the district attorney’s Public Integrity Division, which looks into criminal allegations made against public officials. According to an email obtained by The Times, the D.A.’s office declined to take the case, saying the matter was civil, not criminal. That put the case back in the lap of Huntington Park authorities, who looked at the city’s municipal code that says when a mayor or council member moves out of the city or leaves office, their seat “shall immediately become vacant.” “It doesn’t say you have to go to court, you don’t have to do X, Y and Z; that’s what the black letter law says,” Sarega said. “And so, based on the investigation and everything that had been discovered that seat was deemed vacant.” Scott Cummings, a UCLA law professor who teaches ethics, said although the council’s actions may not have been best practice, it appears legally sound. “It was her action that created the vacancy and the city council had no obligation to vote on anything necessarily because it’s an automatic trigger,” he said. “But it all boils down as to whether or not it’s true, and it does seem like a full investigation with transparency is in order.” Cooley, who created the D.A.’s Public Integrity Division that looks into potential wrongdoing by public officials, agreed with Cummings and said local and state prosecutors should take up these cases to combat the appearance of conflict. The city launched its investigation into Castillo in November, after the city manager heard multiple complaints alleging Castillo did not live in the city, Sarega said. The investigation included surveillance, court-approved GPS tracking, and search warrants at her Huntington Park apartment and parents’ home in South Gate. Investigators also interviewed five witnesses, including Castillo, according to Sarega. He said investigators tracked Castillo’s vehicle for a month in January and found that she had stayed at the Huntington Park apartment only once. Someone else was living there, but she had mail sent there too, Sarega said. The Times visited the former councilwoman’s apartment for several days in February with no one answering the door. Most neighbors in the area said they had not seen Castillo when shown photos of her. Robles, Castillo’s attorney, disputed the city’s allegations. In a declaration to support the restraining order against the city, Castillo wrote that she moved into the Huntington Park apartment near Saturn Avenue and Malabar Street after the owner of the house her family was renting planned to use it for their own family. “My neighbors across the street,” she wrote, “whom I have known most of my life and considered family, offered to allow me to stay in a room in their home, until I could afford my own apartment.” She wrote that her parents moved to South Gate, where she started visiting frequently because her mother’s health had worsened, requiring more visits to a physician and a specialist. She said that included overnight stays. Robles said regardless of which city his client lives in, she was never given due process guaranteed under California law. He worried that a ruling against his client could set precedent for cities across the state that may take similar actions when dealing with cases in which an elected official is being accused of not living in their city. “If you don’t think other cities are going to do it, you’re mistaken,” he said. Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards. World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map 2025) - Even a one-run comeback victory at Huntington Park should be celebrated for the St The Saints have one of the lowest winning percentages by any Minor League team in any ballpark over The Saints have one of the lowest winning percentages by any Minor League team in any ballpark over the last five years at Huntington Park at .292 They trailed 4-0 after three innings and came back to win 8-7 in 11 innings to win back-to-back games over the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park for the first time in the same season in franchise history The four-run comeback win was the largest comeback victory over the Clippers at Huntington Park With the game tied at six going into the 10th the teams traded runs with Mike Ford singling home the placed runner for the Saints and Milan Tolentino doubling home the placed runner for the Clippers with the placed runner Jair Camargo at third and two outs Ryan Fitzgerald laid down a bunt that was pushed passed the mound on the right side for an RBI infield single giving the Saints an 8-7 lead In the bottom of the inning Anthony Misiewicz did the job to secure the win He got Yordys Valdes to ground out to third Will Brennan flew out to third that moved the placed runner The cleanup hitter Jonathan Rodriguez ripped a 105 mph grounder to third but Armando Alvarez who started the game at second but moved to third after the ninth inning when Major League rehabber Royce Lewis departed fielded it cleanly and threw across to finish off the game Halpin led off with a double to right-center and with one out scored on a single to left-center by Brennan making it 1-0 Three more scored in the second for the Clippers Dom Nuñez led off with a double to right and moved to third on a single to right by Micah Pries With one out Christian Cairo walked to load the bases With two outs Valdes dropped a two-run single into right-center giving the Clippers a 3-0 lead With runners at the corners the Clippers pulled off a double steal with Cairo swiping home for a 4-0 lead After the first nine men were retired by Major League rehabber Slade Cicconi Fitzgerald led off the fourth with a double down the right field line With one out Jeferson Morales walked and Cicconi departed for reliever Tanner Burns Carson McCusker greeted him with an RBI single into left-center cutting the deficit to 4-1 After a groundout moved the runners to second and third Alvarez looped a two-run single into right-center getting the Saints to within 4-3 The teams traded solo homers in the fifth when Ford drove one over the right field wall for the Saints his fifth of the season and second in as many games A bizarre sixth inning saw the Saints take the lead only for the Clippers to tie it in the bottom of the inning With one out the Saints loaded the bases on a Patrick Winkel double and back-to-back walks to Anthony Prato and Fitzgerald Lewis then hit a fly ball that landed in front of center fielder Petey Halpin but Winkel went back to third thinking it would be caught Halpin came up throwing and got the force out at home Morales followed with an RBI single to short tying the game at five A walk to McCusker gave the Saints a 6-5 lead and gave McCusker the franchise record for most RBI by the end of April with 23 Major League rehabber Michael Tonkin came on for the Saints in the eighth Back-to-back bunt singles by Halpin and Valdes put runners at first and second With one out Rodriguez lined an RBI single into center tying the game at six Tonkin went 2.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out two games three and four of the seven-game series on Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park with game one beginning at 11:05 a.m Both games are scheduled for seven innings with game two beginning approximately 30-minutes at the conclusion of game one In game one the Saints send RHP Cory Lewis (1-1 9.00) to the mound against Clippers RHP Trenton Denholm (0-1 In game two the Saints send RHP Marco Raya (0-1 8.00) to the mound against Clippers LHP Will Dion (0-2 - The Shreveport Police Department responded to a shooting in the 8100 block of Pines Road SPD arrived to the Huntington Park neighborhood and located an 18-year-old victim with three gunshot wounds to the arm He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries SPD says there is no suspect information at this time and the investigation is ongoing Email notifications are only sent once a day Local breaking news delivered as it happens News headlines delivered at 7:00 am Monday - Friday News headlines delivered at Noon Monday - Friday News headlines delivered at 4:00 pm Monday - Friday Weather forecast delivered at 9:00 am daily Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The Huntington Park City Council has appointed a new member to the seat formerly held by Esmeralda Castillo. The move was made despite an ongoing legal battle with Castillo over her removal from the dais Civil Service Commissioner Nancy Martiz was appointed last Wednesday an appeals court issued a stay on a restraining order that prevented the council from filling the seat Meiers of the Los Angeles County Superior Court directly and unequivocally cautioned the City Council not to appoint a replacement and if they did so it would be ‘at their own peril,’” said Castillo’s attorney and despite multiple members of the public attempting to alert the City Council during public comment Castillo was kicked off the council in February after her colleagues determined that she did not reside within city limits. The decision upset many residents. Several current and former Huntington Park officials are embroiled in a public corruption scandal Castillo contends that she was removed illegally She says she had been caring for her ailing mother outside the city while maintaining a full-time residence in Huntington Park The council’s decision to remove her the way it did was unusual Castillo’s lawsuit alleges it was also politically-motivated The legal battle did not dissuade prospective council members from applying for the vacant seat Martiz was one of more than two dozen candidates who applied Martiz’s public service career “began with internships and work opportunities with the South Gate City Attorney’s Office (2006), the LA Mayor’s Office (2008), and the South Gate Police Department (2009-2010), where she supported the Family Violence Prevention & Education Program,” according to the city’s website She “has spent more than a decade in Human Resources Management and Employee Benefits currently leading national HR policy and programs at The Walt Disney Company—impacting hundreds of thousands of employees across the United States she was appointed to the Huntington Park Civil Service Commission where she served to ensure fair and equitable hiring practices for the city workforce.” Martiz holds a bachelor’s degree in government and American Studies from Smith College and a master’s in public administration and policy from California State University She earned a certificate in human resources management from UCLA in 2013 Read more about Martiz’s appointment at the Los Angeles Times Contact Job Board Terms of Use COVID-19 Resources. 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DOWNEY — A public corruption probe into the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds for an aquatic center in Huntington Park has reached Downey as investigators executed a search warrant at the residence of Huntington Park City Manager Ricardo Reyes Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J Hochman announced Tuesday that search warrants were carried out at 11 locations as part of “Operation Dirty Pond,” an investigation into the handling of public funds allocated for the aquatic center project at Salt Lake Park in Huntington Park focuses on allegations of financial mismanagement involving city officials and contractors Among the locations searched were Huntington Park City Hall Investigators also searched the residences of current and former Huntington Park city officials including Mayor Karina Macias and City Councilmember Eddie Martinez who serves as Huntington Park’s city manager he may have played in the alleged misuse of funds “My office is committed to ensuring that public officials uphold the highest standards of honesty “When concerns arise about the use of public funds or the actions of those in office it is our duty to investigate thoroughly and protect the public’s trust.” and other electronic devices as part of the probe The Bureau of Investigation searched the following locations: City of Huntington Park Public Works (City Yard located east of Salt Lake Park) Salt Lake Park (Proposed site for aquatic center) Residence of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan (Owners of JT Construction Group Residence of Efren Martinez (former Huntington Park City Official) Business Office of Unified Consulting Services Residence of Ricardo Reyes (current Huntington Park City Manager) Residence of Graciela Ortiz (former Huntington Park City Councilmember) Residence of Marilyn Sanabria (former Huntington Park City Councilmember) Residence of Karina Macias (current Huntington Park Mayor and City Councilmember) Residence of Eddie Martinez (current Huntington Park City Councilmember) The case is being handled by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and reviewed by the Public Integrity Division Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding the aquatic center project to contact Sgt Copyright © 2023 The Downey Patriot Newspaper They're serving lobster poutine this season at Fenway Park in Boston sashimi and seaweed salad are on the menu at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles the concession stands at Huntington Park are going old-school Midwest for the Clippers' 2025 season New items available at the ballpark include country-fried steak The Clippers play the first of 75 home games on April 1 against the St It's also the first of 12 Dime-A-Dog Night promotions this season For those without the patience for long lines and with a bit more change in their pockets Is there a theme to this year's new options "We're going to get people ready for the fair," said Kayla Newman which oversees operations at Huntington Park Hits from last season such as churro sundaes and oversized "tater kegs" are back Here's a preview of what's new around the ballpark for 2025 If you're looking for a more substantial meal at the game the country-fried (you might know it as chicken-fried) steak is a good option It's a piece of tenderized beef that's breaded and deep-fried and it comes topped with peppery white gravy and is served a side of steak fries It will be available at concession stands on the first- and third-base lines for $11.50 This patty melt has all the components of the classic: griddled burger caramelized onion and Swiss cheese on buttery toasted bread They come together as a huge step up from typical ballpark burgers You can get the patty melt in the Hall of Fame Bar on the second floor of the free-standing building beyond left field Sloppy joesThree sloppy joe sandwiches are served on buns that are bigger than a slider but not quite the size of a burger Sloppy joes come with tater tots and are available at ballpark concession stands for $8 Thick sliced bologna is grilled and served without adornment on a hamburger bun It's one of two low-cost options on non-Dime-A-Dog Nights Fried-bologna sandwiches are just $4 — cheaper even than full-cost hot dogs — and are available at stands along the first- and third-base lines Another $4 option at ballpark concession stands these corn dogs feature thicker franks than you get on a bun encased in a cornbread batter PierogiesEight deep-fried pierogies are a shareable snack sour cream and scallions to hit all the right notes: crispy Last year's bang bang shrimp was one of the tastiest bites at Clippers games is tossed with breaded and deep-fried cauliflower It'll be a hit with vegetarians and anyone seeking vegetables in what's normally meat-and-cheese territory Bang bang cauliflower is $16.50 and available in the Hall of Fame Bar served with slices of tomato and accompanied by steak fries fried shrimp is tossed with the same spicy bang bang sauce The bang bang shrimp po' boy is $16 and available in the Hall of Fame Bar Dining Reporter Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com or at @dispatchdining on the Instagram social platform Print In the eternal spinning wheel that’s political scandal in southeast L.A the ticker is now on Huntington Park — and it looks like it’ll be stuck there for a while Mayor Arturo Flores is battling a recall by opponents who claim on social media he’s a “reckless alcoholic” and abuses women while offering no evidence to back up the scurrilous claims His predecessor, Councilmember Karina Macias, woke up on Feb. 26 to the sound of L.A. County district attorney’s office investigators outside her apartment with a search warrant as part of Operation Dirty Pond That’s an investigation into a proposed $25-million aquatics center for Salt Lake Park that was first announced in 2019 but so far has nothing to show except half a football field and a fenced-off field of dirt and dying grass Also served were Councilmember Eddie Martinez two former council members and City Manager Ricardo Reyes and even Huntington Park City Hall which saw yellow caution tape block off the front entrance as investigators carried out evidence Is it any wonder that City Council meetings nowadays easily dissolve into even more municipal desmadre? Huntington Park residents confront City Council members over the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office probe into a $24-million aquatic center that has not been built Huntington Park was supposed to be different, a city where a new generation of politicians who helped to take out the previous baddies repeatedly reassured the public they would break the corruption cycle. That’s what they told me last year when I did a series on the history of Latino politics in Los Angeles Flores bragged that he wore Macias’ vote against him to succeed her as mayor “like a badge of honor because I definitely do not want [her] support,” which the audience reacted to with groans and mutters of “Oh A few weeks later, as Nancy Martiz was being sworn in to fill Castillo’s former seat Macias focused on her cellphone like someone waiting for an Uber ride “Your background is just corruption,” Rudy Cruz told the council at the April 7 meeting during the public comments section I asked him if he thought Flores’ ascension represented a fresh start for Huntington Park waiting like vultures for an animal to die,” Cruz replied An unfinished pool project in Salt Lake Park in Huntington Park County district attorney’s investigation in allegations of misuse of millions of dollars in public funds (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) I interviewed Flores and Macias at the site of their choice to size them up and decide who came off as truthful and who was full of it a self-admitted “peleonero” — a fighter — who’s serving his first full term showed up to Salt Lake Park in a Carhartt jacket embroidered with the city seal and his name calm and dressed in a modest black blouse and jeans picked a Mexican ice cream shop where she slowly enjoyed a scoop of rocky road inside a waffle cone “This is the Karina Macias legacy, you know?” the 36-year-old Flores told me as we walked around Salt Lake Park. People jogged around the fenced-off lot, which was once a skating park. “It’s a failed pool project riddled with inconsistencies, riddled with questionable acts and questions of legality and incompetence.” Both used “You know?” a lot in our conversations, like any typical Latino Angeleno. Both claim the “community” is behind them and welcomed any and all scrutiny. “I’m not panicking, you know what I’m saying?” the 36-year-old Flores boasted. “I’m cool like a cucumber.” “If you don’t have enemies, then you’re not pushing the buttons or trying to do good for the community,” Macias, 38, offered with a hint of pride. Photos posted on Facebook show police tape blocking the entrance to Huntington Park City Hall and a white van in the parking lot This isn’t her first brush with scandal. In 2017, the D.A. investigated and ultimately cleared her for raising money for an Efren Martinez Assembly campaign from companies that sought to do business with Huntington Park Macias presented me with a folder of documents that included a timeline of the Salt Lake Park aquatic center complete with all the council votes in its favor including a 2023 motion that gave Huntington Park’s city manager the authority to execute all contracts associated with the project “The mayor decided just to make something out of nothing because he’s known about the project since the time that he started,” Macias said matter-of-factly as we walked down Pacific Avenue and she handed me her business card Huntington Park Councilmember Karina Macias stands in front of one of many storefronts open for business in downtown Huntington Park on April 25 Macias is also the former mayor of Huntington Park (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Flores handed me no documents but something perhaps more powerful: a confessional After working in L.A. County politics for a decade, including serving as a body man for Antonio Villaraigosa during his failed gubernatorial campaign “I’m not going to say there wasn’t a political ambition there,” he admitted He helped on the successful 2020 City Council campaigns for Eddie Martinez, Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria; the latter two also saw their residences searched as part of Operation Dirty Pond Flores said they and Macias initially sold him on the Salt Lake Park pool project I thought it was a beautiful thing,” he said Latinos need this.’ Why can’t we have nice things in our communities They told him that criticism by watchdogs were just “los haters.” But Flores said his perspective changed once he was appointed to the City Council in 2022 and he went to City Hall during a rainstorm “The staff had 30-gallon trash cans filled up with water I went to the city manager’s office and I said The subsequent fire hose of allegations he unleashed during our hourlong chat seemed haphazard compared to Macias’ measured responses Humblebrags by Flores like “Every time that they’ve tried to maneuver against me they’re met with an insurmountable reaction because I’ve already anticipated that that’s their tactics” sounded like the words of someone asking to be hoisted by their proverbial petard But Macias did herself no favors when she insisted Efren Martinez had “zero involvement with” the Salt Lake Park pool project One of the clients he listed on campaign disclosure forms for his failed 2020 Assembly race was the construction company whose owners saw their residence searched for Operation Dirty Pond as well Flores and Macias were both pleasant unless the subject was each other They struck me as earnest about improving Huntington Park and confident they’re innocent of what opponents claim about them De La Torre praised both of them for their “dedication” to better Huntington Park, and urged they let Operation Dirty Pond investigators do their job. But in a wearied tone, he told me “in SELA, sometimes it isn’t about someone getting rid of corruption and cleaning up the city.” (SELA is the nickname for southeast L.A. County.) “Sometimes, it’s two different factions, both as shady as the other,” he said. “And the swings are not from corruption to good government; they’re from one type of corruption to the other.” Print The Huntington Park City Council has chosen a local civil service commissioner to replace former Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo whose seat was declared vacant after a probe determined she was not living in the city Wednesday’s appointment comes several days after a California appeals court issued a stay on a Los Angeles Superior Court judge’s restraining order that had prevented the city from filling the seat Castillo requested the restraining order as part of a civil lawsuit she filed against the city in February, in which she claims she was illegally removed from office. Her attorney, Albert Robles, said he was not surprised about the appointment — and claimed the city was violating his client’s due process rights. “Judge Barbara A. Meiers of the Los Angeles County Superior Court directly and unequivocally cautioned the City Council not to appoint a replacement and if they did so, it would be ‘at their own peril,’” he said in a written statement. “Yet despite this judicial warning, and despite multiple members of the public attempting to alert the City Council during public comment, they proceeded in known defiance.” Huntington Park officials said they’re committed to due process and transparency They also say they respect Castillo’s right to seek judicial review of the council’s decision it is important to clarify that the council’s action to declare the seat vacant was taken in accordance with longstanding state and municipal laws which require elected officials to live in the city while serving in public office,” the statement read “This determination followed public complaints and an independent investigation conducted by the Huntington Park Police Department The investigation — based on documentation and witness statements — substantiated that the former councilmember no longer resides in the [city].” Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores said the city was upholding its laws and the interests of its citizens “Any attempt to discredit this legal process is an attack on our democratic institutions and we must not stand for it,” he said Former Huntington Park City Councilwoman Esmeralda Castillo Schaben / Los Angeles Times) At least 29 candidates sought to fill the vacant seat The council’s eventual pick was Nancy Martiz a member of the Huntington Park Civil Service Commission that advises the city on equitable hiring practices Her biography posted on the city’s website says she “brings a strong community foundation and over 15 years of public and private sector experience to the Council.” graduated from South Gate High School in 2004 and holds a double bachelor’s degree in government and American studies from Smith College She also earned a master’s degree in public administration and policy from Cal State Long Beach and has worked for the South Gate city attorney’s office and Los Angeles mayor’s office Martiz could not immediately be reached for comment Her appointment is the latest wrinkle in the ongoing legal dispute over Castillo’s controversial removal from office on Feb when the results of the city’s residency investigation were revealed to civic leaders in a closed-door meeting The council subsequently declared her seat vacant on Feb County district attorney’s office executed search warrants at the homes of then-Mayor Karina Macias Councilman Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez and City Manager Ricardo Reyes Search warrants were also executed at the homes of two former council members The warrants were part of what’s been dubbed Operation Dirty Pond, a probe into the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds allocated for a $24-million aquatic center that hasn’t been built. No one has been charged. Photos posted on Facebook show police tape blocking the entrance to Huntington Park City Hall and a white van in the parking lot. Robles said Castillo’s removal was not only unlawful but politically motivated, because she had filed a formal complaint with the city against three council members and the city manager. “Here, defendants not only acted as judge, jury and executioner, but to further highlight defendants’ self-directed unjust political power grab, [they] also conducted the investigation,” Castillo alleged in her suit. Andrew Sarega, the attorney who was hired to oversee the city’s inquiry, said Huntington Park police investigators looked into Castillo’s residency months before she filed her grievance. He said a complaint was also filed in August with the L.A. County district attorney’s office, which declined to take the case after it determined the issue was a civil matter, not a criminal one, according to an email obtained by The Times. Huntington Park authorities say they launched their investigation into Castillo in November, after the city manager received complaints alleging she was not living in the city. Huntington Park residents confront City Council members over the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office probe into a $24-million aquatic center that has not been built. The investigation included surveillance, court-approved GPS tracking and search warrants at Castillo’s Huntington Park apartment and her parents’ home in South Gate. Investigators also interviewed five witnesses, including Castillo, according to Sarega. He said investigators tracked Castillo’s vehicle for a month in January and found that she had only stayed at the Huntington Park apartment once. Someone else was living there, but Castillo had mail sent there, too, Sarega said. Robles said his client had been caring for her ailing parents while maintaining a full-time residence in Huntington Park, which he said is permitted under state and city election laws. Meiers, the Superior Court judge, issued a restraining order against the city on April 4 — prompting officials to file an appeal. California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal granted the stay this week, just days before the city’s 60-day deadline to fill the seat and avoid what would have been a costly special election. Print The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is investigating the alleged misuse of millions of dollars meant for construction of a $24-million aquatic center in Huntington Park which has not been built.Angry residents are calling on City Council members to resign Add Huntington Park to the list of southeast Los Angeles County cities rocked by political corruption allegations 2025An earlier version of this story said three council members were served with recall papers the city attorney tendered his resignation and the mayor tried to end the meeting by threatening to walk out — all to a chorus of snarky comments and jeers of irate residents One woman was escorted out by a pair of police officers for yelling and speaking out of turn one of two city leaders not under investigation alleged that a recall effort against him was being spearheaded by the consultant whose home and offices were recently searched by the district attorney along with those of a contractor and three current and former council members “I will go to war for my community,” Flores said “Let’s focus on investigating the failed pool project let’s focus on tracing back the millions of unaccounted money and restoring the faith and trust of local government for the people.” Witnessing the night’s event was 26-year-old Emmanuel Carreras Ruedas who sat in the back of the council chambers Ruedas was not a resident of the city; he lives in Cudahy but like many young people in the southeast region he said he was fed up with the political corruption that has long stymied the economic growth of some working-class cities The southeast region is made up of about 26 cities and neighborhoods nestled between Los Angeles and Orange counties Because they serve as an entryway to both counties they’re also referred to as the Gateway Cities It is these same towns that for decades have been rocked by political scandals so much so that lawmakers often refer to the small area as the “corridor of corruption.” Scandals in one town, Vernon, were so epic that they became the inspiration for a season of HBO’s “True Detective.” The investigation into the town’s alleged misuse of public funds came as city leaders were facing heat and legal questions over the removal of former Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo who they claimed was not living in the city Los Cerritos Community News first reported on her removal A copy of a warrant reviewed by The Times shows that investigators are looking into allegations of bribery The warrant also names Efren Martinez under the “case name.” Martinez, who owns Unified Consulting Services, is the same consultant whose home and offices were among those searched by investigators last week, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office. Martinez, who has run for state Assembly office several times but lost, could not be reached for comment by phone or through his firm’s website. It’s not the first time Martinez has caused controversy in the city. A Times investigation found that as a political consultant, Mayor Karina Macias helped raise money for Martinez when he planned to run for state Assembly in 2016. But he never ran. The district attorney inquired about Macias’ political consulting work but did not pursue charges against her. Macias has maintained she has never done anything wrong. In a statement to residents Friday, Macias said city staff were working diligently with authorities to ensure they were receiving all the information related to the aquatic center project at Salt Lake Park, which includes an Olympic size pool and a synthetic football field. Macias said environmental issues have contributed to long delays and put the blame on a “small group of individuals not wanting to see it completed.” She accused the media of spreading misinformation and said the city had completed construction of its football field in 2021. “For over three years, there have been countless meetings, testing, site surveys, remediation and environmental planning between our city, state and county agencies, including Janice Hahn’s Office,” Macias’ statement read. “Throughout this ridiculously long process our city manager and staff have been working diligently doing all of the required testing, remediation and planning alongside these environmental agencies.” But sitting next to her, Councilmember Jonathan Sanabria, who is also not under investigation, said the football field was a tiny part of the overall project. It was Sanabria who got into a heated argument with the town’s city attorney, Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman, before he submitted his resignation, prompting residents to applaud. One by one, people addressed the council members, calling on them to step down from office. “It’s embarrassing what you guys brought to our city,” said Vicente Carrera, a longtime resident. “You guys don’t belong here, you guys belong in jail.” Some younger residents showed up to speak on behalf of their parents who they say were afraid to speak out. Some expressed frustration that again elected officials were putting themselves ahead of residents, especially at a time the Trump administration was carrying out mass deportations. Germain Rodriguez, 30, a resident, said seeing the current state of the park made him upset about how city officials have handled the project. “It’s so sad to see that there was all this potential there and instead of using it to its full potential you guys prefer to leave a big lot of dirt there,” Rodriguez said. “We could have done a lot with that space.” After hearing the speakers, Ruedas, the Cudahy resident, addressed the council. He spoke of how he witnessed the scandals unfold in his town and in nearby Bell. He said they made him want to go to college so that he could return and give back to the community. But the scandals were a reminder of the challenges he and other residents face. “We are represented by people who don’t seem to care about anything but themselves,” he said. “It’s a tale as old as time, and frankly, I’m just tired of this broken record.” As he talked, he noticed Sanabria smiling and called him out on it. “I’m happy,” Sanabria said, clarifying later in the meeting that he was happy to see authorities try to bring things to light and hold people accountable for wrongdoing. But before that clarification, Ruedas felt offended. “If you’re happy this is happening, that’s really sad too,” he told the councilman. “I’m not happy that this is happening. These are my communities, this is people’s money. People are scared to go outside because of ICE raids. Please consider what is happening out here, consider stepping down, consider making room for others.” 2025: An earlier version of this story said three council members were served with recall papers Print Back in 2019 plans were announced with much fanfare for an aquatics center with an Olympic-size pool for residents of the working-class city of Huntington Park Officials hailed it as a major improvement “The aquatic programs will allow the community to unite for play The community swimming programs will create a stronger relationship with the community and recruitment into higher education opportunities,” the city said in its announcement the center has still not been built and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is now investigating where the millions allocated for the project went Huntington Park City Hall and the homes of current and former City Council members were searched Wednesday as part of a corruption investigation County district attorney’s office announced paperwork and records were seized as part of the investigation The warrants were served at the homes of Mayor Karina Macias Councilmember Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez and former members Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria Huntington Park City Manager Ricardo Reyes was served with a warrant Macias and other council members could not immediately be reached for comment Photos posted on Facebook show police tape blocking the entrance to Huntington Park City Hall and a white van in the parking lot The district attorney said numerous items were seized from each location including public records cellphones and other forms of electronic equipment Prosecutors said the warrants stem from an ongoing investigation that began in November 2022 Investigators have been looking into alleged misuse of millions of dollars allocated for the center The city allocated more than $20 million to the project and has spent about $14 million even though nothing has been constructed yet Police visit Huntington Park City Hall on Wednesday amid a corruption probe (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) A copy of a warrant reviewed by The Times suggests that investigators are looking into allegations of bribery The warrant also suggests that the investigation is centered around Efren Martinez It’s not the first time Huntington Park officials have found themselves entangled in controversy with Martinez In 2017, the district attorney’s office launched an inquiry focused on Macias who as a political consultant helped raise money for Martinez’s 2016 state Assembly campaign Macias said she had raised about $25,000 for Martinez and was paid nearly $6,800 in commission for her efforts according to campaign records and financial disclosures came from companies that sought to do business with the city It was later discovered that the City Council had appointed Martinez to the Planning Commission while Macias was fundraising for his campaign committee The position included a $75 monthly stipend and prosecutors did not pursue charges against her The city made headlines again in 2021 when current and former employees accused city leaders of retaliation over questionable contracts they had awarded. At least one employee, a budget analyst, was arrested on suspicion of breach of confidential records. In a claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, the employee said she was downloading financial records amid rumors of an FBI investigation and to avoid being implicated in any possible wrongdoing. At least five other finance department employees were placed on leave after the arrest. In a lawsuit filed the year before, four current or former city employees alleged they were the victims of retaliation for opposing improper discounts on city fees and trying to uphold internal financial controls. Among them was Catalina Peraza, a finance assistant who was laid off in 2020 after she refused to grant an 80% discount, worth $800, on opening a water account for the campaign headquarters of then-Assembly candidate Martinez, according to the lawsuit. Another former employee alleged she was reprimanded and laid off after reporting that a cannabis dispensary connected to Martinez was operating without a license. Martinez, who ran for Assembly again last year and lost, could not immediately be reached for comment. As part of the investigation announced Wednesday, law enforcement officers served search warrants at Martinez’s home and the office of his consulting firm, Unified Consulting Services. Search warrants were also served at the homes and offices of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan, owners of JT Construction Group Inc., the contractor selected to build the aquatic center in Huntington Park. The company did not respond to a request for comment. A Huntington Park city employee, who could not be identified because they were not allowed to speak about the investigation, said that about $9 million was paid to the construction firm and that the city was trying to determine how the money was spent. So far, the source said, the city has accounted for only $3 million. Hochman said in his statement, “I want to commend our dedicated prosecutors and investigators for their diligent work on this complex case. Their unwavering commitment to justice ensures that no one — regardless of their position or title — is above the law.” Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report. HANDLING AGENCIES: South Gate PD / LASD / CHP Menu Listen Watch The Altons Perform in Huntington Park Following last week’s release of their debut album for Daptone Records Southeast LA’s psych-soul outfit performs the Heartache in Room 14 single “Del cielo te cuido.” With 232 pages and an expanded 12″ by 12″ format our biggest print issue yet celebrates the people and Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records the sophomore album from the endearing Brighton duo is a jolt of punk-rock beauty The NYC-based project’s second album delights in its confident sense of chaos with vocalist Cole Haden knowing full well there’s no way we’re going to avert our gaze for a single moment Channeling Ziggy Stardust’s glam transcendence Will Toledo resurrects the album as a grandiose narrative vehicle while marking his valiant stride into the rock canon Last Friday, Southeast LA’s The Altons released their sophomore LP, Heartache in Room 14 and just a bit of their punk roots with a vintage production sheen The revivalism of these genres felt like a perfect fit for Daptone Records with whom the collective inked a deal prior to the new record’s release Before they set out on the initial leg of their US tour in support of the project this week the quintet set up on a patio in the city of Huntington Park in LA county to give us a “Neighborhoods” rendition of the album track “Del cielo te cuido” (which translates to “I’ll take care of you from heaven”) The muted yet still sauntering version features harmonies from Bryan Ponce and Adrianna Flores backed by electric guitar Check out the performance below, and find our review of the new record here. You can also grab tickets for all upcoming shows here The Columbus Clippers open their season tomorrow in Toledo then head home to Huntington Park on Tuesday and new GM and Club President Tyler Parsons joined Phil and Katie on Good Day Columbus By: 8:00 am on March 8 Permits specify a construction cost of $125,000 which yields a (surprisingly low) average cost of around $21 per interior square foot Credit: Loney Engineering & Consulting via the City of Philadelphia The building’s exterior will be rather prosaic clad in alternating vertical bands of brick and sheer panels on the street-facing facade The rear exterior will be treated in an even plainer so any new construction activity in the neighborhood is a welcome sign The Erie Station on the Broad Street subway line, which anchors a retail district at the junction of Broad Street and Germantown Avenue is situated within a six-minute walk to the southwest of 1235 West Butler Street is situated within a nine-minute walk to the northeast Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ADVERTISEMENT Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC Young and inexperienced bicyclists can learn bike skills to safely ride in their neighborhoods ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball opened the new Bicycle Traffic Garden on the repurposed basketball court at Huntington Park in Columbia. Ball was joined by Department of Recreation & Parks Director Nick Mooneyhan and advocates from the bike community for today’s official ribbon cutting. Photos of the event can be found here some of the things that come to people’s minds are path interconnectivity and a place to live that does not require a car to get everywhere – but rather Biking offers numerous benefits that positively impact our health In a world where time and resources are precious efficient and sustainable mode of transportation the colorful and interactive traffic garden teaches new riders to follow directional signs and encourage proper etiquette when riding A first-of-its-kind in Howard County parks the Department hopes to find additional locations in the future for similar bike-riding experiences and wants to remind visitors that a bicycle helmet is required Transforming an old basketball court that was no longer in use into Howard County’s first Bicycle Traffic Garden not only promotes sustainability but also creates a dynamic and inclusive space for everyone It’s a testament to the positive impact that can be achieved when we reimagine existing resources through collaborations Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced this one connected to the community of Huntington Park targeting 11 officials targeted in "Operation Dirty Pond," centered on a multi-million corruption scheme and the residences of current and former City Council members were searched Wednesday as part of a three-year investigation into a multi-million corruption scheme County district attorney’s office announced.A series of coordinated raids were executed at the homes of Mayor Karina Macias along with Councilmember Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez the sister of a current council member.  as was the city’s Public Works Department and records as part of the case that began in November 2022 Nathan Hochman calls the "potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds," which were allocated for the construction of an aquatic center at Salt Lake Park Huntington Park is in south central Los Angeles.“My office is committed to ensuring that public officials uphold the highest standards of honesty and transparency,” District Attorney Hochman said “When concerns arise about the use of public funds or the actions of those in office it is our duty to investigate thoroughly and protect the public’s trust." Never Miss a Beat! Subscribe to Los Angeles Magazine’s The Daily Brief for daily updates delivered straight to your inbox. Join below or by clicking here the actress followed her doctor's advice to take a lifetime risk assessment test — which prompted further testing “this is a hostile and political act by Amazon.” Firearms and Explosives warned of a controlled burn along the Temescal Ridge Trail between Skull Rock and Green Peak starting Tuesday Giuffre took her own life in Australia at 41 LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio has come up with his own solution to the relative lack of fast reliable internet service in his neighborhood: He uses a T-mobile hotspot at his home “It’s just myself and I don't require a lot of bandwidth but I imagine that families don't have that option,” he said Flores says he was forced to do that because it was the most affordable option and Google Fiber doesn’t operate in the low-income area Families who want more bandwidth say they have to pay around $70 to $120 for what is often unreliable Which is why the city has decided to step into the broadband market itself Huntington Park applied for — and has just won — a $25 million state grant to build its own municipal service in south east Los Angeles County “What we're highlighting is that the private sector has failed in an area — that obviously requires public intervention,” Flores said The money comes from the state’s $2 billion last-mile grant fund The term “last-mile” refers to the final leg in a broadband network that physically connects peoples’ homes to the internet Resident Marisol Coronado says she saw what happened to her son during remote learning in the pandemic when he struggled with poor internet service “I witnessed how difficult it was for my son to stay connected to his classes… he would get nervous and that would make me nervous,” she said “And that’s when I realized that it’s necessary to have a connection that’s fast and reliable.” Coronado works as a parent leader with the group Alliance for Better Community She spoke at a news conference Wednesday with city officials to celebrate the grant win and to encourage leaders to keep community members in the loop as they plan to launch the service Huntington Park will have two years to complete the project once it gets a green light from the California Public Utilities Commission to start building won a combined $96 million out of a total $105 million that’s been allocated for Los Angeles County A coalition called the Gateway Cities Council of Governments won a $46 million grant and a nonprofit in Crenshaw will receive $25 million Mayor Karina Macias said she looks forward to partnering with other city leaders on the southeast side of L.A Huntington Park is part of the Gateway Cities coalition but submitted a separate application for funding “This is an opportunity for the city of Huntington Park to be a leader with other SELA communities to close the digital divide,” she said “Because connectivity is everything these days Huntington Park will use the grant money on infrastructure and to hire personnel for the project Vice Mayor Arturo Flores says the city may need to allocate additional funds and look for other funding sources to successfully launch its new service but the city has committed to offering affordable rates for at least the first ten years “What we want to do is deliver a higher quality of broadband either at lower or the same price points [as the private sector],” he said The project will bring about 50 miles of high-speed fiber to the area and will leverage the state’s middle-mile backbone network that is expected to run through Huntington Park though construction plans are still being finalized The California Public Utilities Commission has allocated about $1.2 billion in last-mile funding across the state this year The remaining $800 million in funds will be distributed on a rolling basis through 2026 president and CEO of the California Community Foundation said residents are going to have to continue to pressure local and state officials so the money gets fully implemented and reaches the most vulnerable people it required a lot of advocacy and persistence,” he said “But really in some ways the work is just beginning.” HUNTINGTON PARK — Eleven months after it was heavily damaged by an early morning fire Los Angeles County Fire Station 164 in Huntington Park reopened Friday The fire burned through the two-story building in the 6000 block of Santa Fe Avenue around 4 a.m The fire was contained about 20 minutes later but not before causing major damage to the facility County Supervisor Janice Hahn said at the time she went to the station to survey the damage firefighters were sleeping moments before the fire broke out She said a good Samaritan rang the station's doorbell to alert the firefighters before the flames worsened "Our firefighters couldn't reach their turnout gear so many of them fought the fire in T-shirts and flip-flops until a nearby station could respond," Hahn said fire crews have been working out of a temporary facility for nearly a year Hahn introduced a motion that was approved by the Board of Supervisors expediting a $16 million rebuilding and renovation of the station "I don't think in my wildest dreams did I believe we would be back here celebrating the reopening of this station in just 11 months," Hahn said in a statement Friday "It's a testament to the dedication and attention of our county employees who worked hard to bring Station 164 back The brave firefighters at Station 164 have been through a lot this past year but their commitment to serving these communities never faltered We could not be more grateful for their continued dedication to the people of LA County." "I am proud to welcome our firefighters back to their fire station Hochman announced today the execution of search warrants at 11 locations in connection with an ongoing investigation into potential public corruption in Huntington Park dubbed “Operation Dirty Pond,” is focused on the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in public funds meant for the construction of an aquatic center at Salt Lake Park This operation marks a significant development in the investigation as the District Attorney’s office seeks to uncover any fraudulent activity involving public officials and contractors The search warrants executed today target multiple locations and the Salt Lake Park site where the proposed aquatic center is to be built Among the individuals under scrutiny are several current and former city officials Former city councilmembers like Graciela Ortiz and Marilyn Sanabria are also implicated The items taken are crucial for understanding the financial operations behind the alleged misuse of public funds as well as any misconduct by public officials involved in the project The investigation is expected to provide clarity on the details of how the funds allocated for the aquatic center were used with a focus on whether any funds were diverted for personal gain or misappropriated District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized his office's commitment to ensuring public officials act with honesty “I want to commend our dedicated prosecutors and investigators for their diligent work on this complex case Their unwavering commitment to justice ensures that no one — regardless of their position or title — is above the law.” This strong stance on holding public officials accountable reflects the District Attorney’s office’s dedication to rooting out corruption in the local government The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation is urging anyone with relevant information to come forward can be contacted at 213-257-2511 for tips related to the ongoing probe The involvement of the public in these investigations is essential Community members who have any information about the construction of the aquatic center or who may have encountered suspicious activities related to the project are encouraged to reach out This investigation into public corruption highlights the importance of maintaining public integrity within local government The involvement of the Public Integrity Division of the District Attorney's Office further underscores the severity of the allegations This division is specifically tasked with handling corruption cases ensuring that public funds are spent properly and that public officials remain trustworthy more details about the actions of Huntington Park officials will come to light and it will be crucial to see whether further charges are filed or if the funds allocated for the aquatic center were misused in any way “Operation Dirty Pond” serves as a reminder that no one—not even high-ranking government officials—is above the law when it comes to public corruption With search warrants executed and crucial evidence seized the District Attorney’s office is committed to uncovering the truth and holding any wrongdoers accountable the public’s trust and the integrity of local government are at stake The Huntington Park corruption probe is expected to have significant ramifications for the city’s governance and the way public projects are managed Call to Action: If you have any information related to the aquatic center project or the ongoing investigation into public corruption in Huntington Park Opened in 2009 with a seating capacity of 10,100, Huntington Park in Columbus has been voted one of the 10 best minor league ballparks in the United States, checking in at No. 8 in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards The top three finishers were Modern Woodmen Park (Davenport Huntington Park is a 200,000 square foot facility with two full bars It plays host to Columbus Clippers home games. The Clippers have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians since 2009. Prior to that, the Clippers were partnered with the New York Yankees The Clippers 2025 season starts March 28 with a road game against the Toledo Mudhens That will also be the first night the Clippers observe their celebrated Dime-A-Dog Night promotion The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel USA TODAY 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories 10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks The backstory: The investigation in the southeast L.A city began in November 2022 and focuses on potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds allocated for construction of an aquatic center at Salt Lake Park according to a statement from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office called the investigation "Operation Dirty Pond." Targets: Investigators served warrants at 11 locations including the homes of Mayor Karina Macias and former councilmembers Marilyn Sanabria and Graciela Ortiz investigators served warrants at the home of Edvin Tsaturyan and Sona Vardikyan (owners of JT Construction Group Inc.) in Glendale; the business office of Unified Consulting Services LLC in Huntington Park; and the home of former city official Efren Martinez including public records maintained by the city of Huntington Park cellphones and various forms of electronic equipment Hochman's comment: “I want to commend our dedicated prosecutors and investigators for their diligent work on this complex case Their unwavering commitment to justice ensures that no one — regardless of their position or title — is above the law,” Hochman said in a statement — A fire at the Huntington Park Apartments on St Paul Street displaced two people on Friday afternoon The apartment complex is located near Roberto Clemente School Number Eight Firefighters quickly responded and managed to contain the blaze to a corner apartment on the lower floor News10NBC has reached out to the Rochester Fire Department for more information on the cause of the fire but has not yet received a response Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Richard Reingold at rreingold@whec.com or 585-546-1701 2025 at 7:46 AM UTCLaw enforcement officers raided the Huntington Park City Hall and the homes of local leaders Wednesday morning The warrants were served by investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office as part of a sweeping corruption probe to investigate the potential misuse of millions of dollars in public funds Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/huntington-park-city-hall-mayors-home-raided-by-authorities/