Complaint Review: City of Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park Code Enforcement Abuse. Code Enforcement is being used as a scam by the City of Baldwin Park. Code Enforcement Officers are writing citations in order to fill city coffers. The City of Baldwin Park is in financial ruin. Therefore, the City of Baldwin Park is attempting various methods to scam the public. Scams include but are not limited to the following:

1. Tow Scandal - Excessive Towing and Impounding (Generating millions each year in a small city with a population of just 79,000) (Forced police to impound as many vehicles as possible) (Threatened to cut police if revenue was not generated)

2. Excessive Permit Requirements

3. Excessive Cost of Permit Fees (City Hall charging thousands of dollars while neighboring cities charge significantly less)

4. Overly restrictive sign ordinances

5. Code Enforcement  Abuse  (Citing unlawfully, pushing and shoving into private property, charging exorbitant fees, falsely acting as police, documented collection of bribes by Baldwin Park Code Enforcement Officers)

6. Business License fee gouging. (Charging 3-6 times the price of a business license which would normally cost only $45-$50)

7. Fee Discrimination (Charging Asians and Latinos higher fees for business licenses and permits. This is the Citys way to steal from Latinos and Asians since they tend to be new arrivals to the United States and unaware of actual costs)
(Code Enforcement also does not impose the same unlawful requirements against "friends" of the City/City Council)

Friends of Council include City Hall contractors and other parties that have an interest in City Hall. These parties also tend to bribe local officials for favorable contracts.

8. Political Retaliation (City Officials send Code Enforcement, Inspectors, and attempt to send State Agencies to residents, businesses, and property owners who attempt to resist the will of Council Members/City Hall of Baldwin Park)

9. Illegal Activity in Baldwin Park Misuse of Public Funds (Public Funds provided by the State of California are regularly funneled into other accounts. These funds are regulated by the State of California, however, the City of Baldwin Park illegally uses these funds to fill its coffers)

The City Council Members believed to be responsible for the corruption include:

1. Manuel Lozano Mayor of Baldwin Park
2. Marlen Garcia Council Member of Baldwin Park
3. Monica Garcia Council Member of Baldwin Park

City Employees believed to be involved:

1. Salvador Lopez Assistant Planner
2. Marc Castagnola Redevelopment Manager
3. Melecio Picazo Redevelopment

City Code Enforcement believed to be involved:

1. Marie Gallo Code Enforcement
2. George Rodrigues Code Enforcement
3. All Code Enforcement Officers carry out the bidding of the City Council

Additional reports will be created for each individual involved in City Hall corruption in Baldwin Park.