The Huntington Park, CA City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman is a figurehead for controversy.
The reporting I have located on this guy is deeply disturbing. Why would any city council hire this guy?
From April 2011, during Glasman's tenure with Montebello, CA:
Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, who signed off on the deal originally and then led the
recent investigation into the account's origins.
affect his decision-making as a public official.
a councilman)," Attina said last month. "If I'm doing something legal
why should I care a friend of mine looks at it? I'm not benefiting from it, and
he's not benefiting from me."
an off-books $1 million bank account tied to his friend and former client,
developer Hank Attina.
$1-million Union Bank account discovered in February. Funds in the account were
wired in November 2000 as a city subsidy to Attina, a developer who was
building a restaurant at Montebello Town Square, according to bank records.
used for Attina's project until the bank provided documentation.
to the bottom of that account," he said. "Friendships aside I have an
ethical, legal obligation to my client. My client's interests will always come
first."
While this mired controversy gained traction and attention in the local press, Glasman acted homely and welcoming with one of his municipal clients in Napa Valley:
but he lives in Southern California, hundreds of miles from Yountville and wine
country.
anywhere near Napa County, might surprise some people, but according to
Alvarez-Glasman, the arrangement is actually common.
Alvarez-Glasman said. “They contract with a law firm. It gives them a great
opportunity to meet their legal needs.
Alvarez-Glasman & Colvin. Besides private sector clients, the legal firm
also represents five other cities in Southern California: Pomona, Montebello,
West Covina, Bell Gardens and Pico Rivera.
Not anymore. More info to follow.
One statement from his interview deserves more scrutiny:
misconceptions about your job?
believe you make policy. As the lawyers, we don’t make the policy. You carry
out your clients’ wishes and your clients define the policy for the town.
![]("https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3125/2332318876_d88105ca62_b.jpg") |
| Huntington Park, CA City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman |
would end at Monday’s meeting, but the council will vote Tuesday to bring him
on a special counsel while it wraps up some of the cases he has worked on for
years, according to Councilman Mike Spence.
but it is my understanding that the new city attorney is going to evaluate all
the cases and where it makes sense for Glasman to wrap it up, I think that’s
what the plan is,” Spence said.
Perhaps his questionable relationship with one of the Montebello city council members hurt his chances with West Covina.
In other strange human resources shuffle, the Central West Basin Municipal Water District hired Glasman back, even though they had fired him before:
Controversial attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, who was fired more than a year ago as the lawyer for Central Basin Municipal Water District, was rehired Thursday on a 3-1 vote of the board of directors as its interim attorney.
Say what? More controversy ensued three months later:
Central Basin Municipal Water District’s hiring of attorney Arnold
Alvarez-Glasman as legal counsel to the district, according to documents
obtained by this news organization.
of interest due to his representation of two district board members and a
former employee who has a complaint and lawsuit pending against the district.
Alvarez-Glasman was a violation of the Brown Act, and that Alvarez-Glasman has
overbilled the district in the past.
Ouch!
Final Reflections
Glasman has been under fire for conflicts of interest, has been fired and rehired,and now represents a corrupt city in Southeastern Los Angeles County, where the city council decided to appoint two illegals to city commissions, and he has tacitly supported this violation of federal and state law, as well as municipal codes, and the Brown Act.
It's time for every city in LA County and throughout the state of California to tell Arnold Alvarez-Glasman: "You're Fired!"