I am sharing this with all of you because it is not just an attack on Carson Connected and me, but because it is Carson Connected today and it could be you and your neighbor tomorrow.
I've lived in Carson since 1960, I grew up and went to school in Carson and I love and care about the people and this city.
I started Carson Connected to inform Carson residents about issues that affect our lives. But, when our city officials have the arrogancy to attend town hall meetings and hear the over whelming wishes of the residents only to vote against them, to publish an article with a photo that offended a large segment of our residents, to insult people that come up to speak before them. Than to use the city attorney office whose pay comes from our tax dollars to try and intimidate and deprive me of my First Amendment Right the Freedom of Speech and you from the truth is going too far.
On April 2, 2018 I received an email with the subject as "
Libelous Publication/CEASE AND DESIST
" from the City of Carson's Law office of Aleshire & Wynder, LLP signed by the City of Carson's Attorney Sunny Soltani. Below I detail the false statements made by the city attorney in her/council's attempt to bully me out of my First Amendment right the right of Freedom of Speech.
"You are hereby ... demanded by the unanimous Carson Council to within 48 hours of receipt of this letter to CEASE AND DESIST any further libelous publication and remove any previous libelous publications posted on the Carson Connected website, any subsidiary or connected sites,or any other website or web page that you maintain."
City Attorney Sunny Soltani references California Civil Codes and case files to support the Cease and Desist all of which are referring to false statements. The statements City Attorney Sunny Soltani is referring to are true and correct. Below are examples.
"You are alleging that the Council has twice violated the law. This is not true and your persistent assertions indicate a fundamental and willful disregard for the law on your part."
Telling the truth is not a willful disregard for the law! Look at the court documents below from the hearing District Attorney of the Los Angeles County v. Albert Robles you will see Albert Robles' willful disregard for the law. You will see how Albert Robles much like Sunny Soltani in the Cease and Desist I received has omitted, manipulated, and misrepresented the facts. You will see how city resources (taxpayers money) is being utilized to assist Albert Robles in continuing to hold two incompatible elected offices.
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Tentative Ruling filed February 27_ 2018
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Final Ruling Filed April 18_ 2018
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The final ruling of the judge on April 18, 2018 is as follows: "The Complaint for quo warranto is granted." The judge did not grant Robles' request for a stay of the judgment against him removing him from office pending appeal. "Robles is removed from the office of WRD director... Judgment is set for May 29, 2018 at 1:30 pm."
For 5 years Albert Robles has refused to abide by the law, when he accepted the position as council by law he needed to resign the WRD seat. For 5 years, Albert Robles has robbed the City of Carson even in the case of an emergency its right to place a moratorium on oil drilling, conducted the illegal appointments of people to elected positions, conducted illegal council meetings (see below District Attorney letter regarding June 12, 2015 illegal council meeting and a
ppointment
of elections clerk), and going against the wishes of the people every step of the way.
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Link to District Attorney letter regarding June 12, 2015 illegal council meeting
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June 12, 2015 Council Meeting
"The proceedings which lead to the selection of Councilman Hilton to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for the City of Carson were legally permissible and valid Council actions... This provision does not establish requirements, conditions, qualifications, or any other substantive obligation for the selection of the mayor pro tempore, but simply sets the date for making such a selection."
The one thing the ordinance does call for is the date and they did not abide by it. As such, they did not follow the Carson Municipal code.
"It is generally recognized that a council may abolish, suspend, modify, or waive its own rules."
This statement would be true if city council followed state law and city ordinances. There is a process and based on that process the appointment of Jawane Hilton as Mayor Pro Tempore violated the Carson Municipal code.
On January 23, 2018, Carson city council voted to changed the date of selection of Mayor Pro Tempore to be the second regular council meeting in January of each year. On that date, Carson municipal code called for the Mayor Pro Tempore to be selected the second regular council meeting in March of each even numbered year. That same night in January two months prior to when the municipal code calls for the selection, council selected Jawane Hilton as Mayor Pro Tempore.
The second reading took place on February 20th, and on March 8, 2018, the ordinance went into effect, more than a month after they made the selection. Based on the new ordinance a new Mayor Pro Tempore is not to be selected until the second meeting in January 2019.
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Link to complete ordinance
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"The proceedings which lead to the appointment of Mr. Hilton to the City Council for the City of Carson were also legally permissible and valid Council actions."
Incorrect in the letter from the district attorney's office regarding the appointment of Jawane Hilton to the vacant council seat clearly states the appointment was not legal.
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Link to District Attorneys letter regarding the illegal appointment of Jawane Hilton |
Video Highlights from June 16, 2018 Council Meeting
Various Speakers
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Charles Davis
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Jim Dear
Albert Robles does not live in Carson
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"This letter, and the legal precedents cited herein, are further notice to you that the City Council's appointments of Mayor Pro Tempore/Councilman Hilton were legally permissible and valid exercises of the Council's authority."
Neither the first appointment of Jawane Hilton as councilmember nor the selection of Jawane Hilton as Mayor Pro Tempore followed the order of city or state law.
First appointment of Jawane Hilton
As determined by the District Attorney's office the first appointment was not legal. However, because he stepped down prior to the District Attorney's determination and stepping down is what the law requires no further action was required.
It was months after the determination of the District Attorney's office that a complaint was sent in because it seemed the illegal appointment was to defraud the State of California and the residents of Carson. Council did not have the votes to appoint Jawane Hilton by the deadline; the state would have forced a special election, giving the people of Carson the power to elect their choice. Instead, they appointed Jawane Hilton someone who has voted against the residents wishes and has aligned himself with Albert Robles a man who time and time again has shown a willful disregard for the law.
June 2, 2015 Municipal Election Timeline
Not only was the appointment illegal but everything about the June 2, 2015 Municipal Election has problems hopefully Justice Department has taken up the case.
June 2, 2015
The City of Carson held a Special Municipal Election.
June 12, 2015
City council held illegally council meeting and voted to replace Jim Dear
as election clerk with Charles Davis.
June 13, 2015
Jim Dear entered city hall, took sole possession of the live ballots, and changed the combination to the vault.
City council in turn had the locks at city hall changed, once again breaking the chain of command on our live ballots.
June 16, 2015
City Council acknowledged Jim Dear as the elections clerk.
June 20, 2015
City council illegally appointed Jawane Hilton what seemed to be to avoid the state forcing them to hold a special election for the seat left vacant by Albert Robles when he was appointed mayor.
June 25, 2015
Deadline to appoint for seat left vacant by Albert Robles.
July 14, 2015
The election was certified; Jawane Hilton was announced winner by 18 votes.
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Below is the email Carson City Attorney and Council is trying to stop.