Vernon is a city 5 miles (8.0 km) south of downtown Los Angeles, California. The population is 112 in the 2010 Census of 2010, the smallest of any city incorporated in the state (and the closest to downtown Los Angeles).
The city mainly consists of industrial areas and brokers themselves as "exclusive industries". Meatpacking plants and warehouses are common. In 2006, there was no park in the city.
Video Vernon, California
Status kota
Vernon has a history of political problems, and opposes disincentives after municipal corruption is found. Chairman of the California Assembly John A. PÃÆ' Â © rez has proposed a law, AB46, to separate cities with less than 150 inhabitants. Vernon is the only city that will be affected by the bill.
According to the editorial in the April 26, 2011 edition, Long Beach Press-Telegram's support for maintaining the status of Vernon City comes from two rare, strong alliances: the business community (including California, Los Angeles and Vernon Chambers of Commerce ) and the labor community (including the Los Angeles Federation of Labor and the Teamsters) joined together in the battle against Sacramento. Both groups acknowledged that Vernon needed a comprehensive political house cleaning, but both defended his right to live in the city. The bill was ratified in the Assembly on a bipartisan vote of 58-7.
In the last few weeks of the 2011 summer legislative session, a team of lawyers and lobbyists from Vernon tried desperately to kill a bill that would tear down the scandal-torn city when state Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) came to them with an offer creative and unconventional. De Leon, who had previously supported the dissolution of Vernon, said he would help to defeat the law if Vernon would set aside $ 60 million to fund community projects in small working-class towns that surround Vernon and also approve the proposed list of government reforms.
Vernon agreed with the offer, and de Leon continued to support groups opposed to being incorporated. The city officials in nearby Huntington Park, who stood to receive a grant from Vernon, also reversed their support for Vernon City. On August 29, the state Senate rejected the bill to dissolve Vernon.
The Vernon City Council unanimously passed the salary limit and other broad reforms on May 26, 2011, when a small suburb of Los Angeles struggled to eliminate the city.
The Associated Press reports that the board approves a modified package that deducts board members' salaries from $ 70,000 to $ 25,000 per year, but does not start until the end of their current term. Other officials, including the police chief, will also see salary cut, according to city spokesman Fred MacFarlane. The department's salary head is now limited to $ 267,000. Earlier, some city officials allegedly made more than $ 1 million to govern the city.
The council also granted an authority to reduce profits for officials, set up a township housing commission and chose to place a proposal on a city vote that would change the city's charter and limit the members of the council into two, five-year terms. The city has almost all the housing in the city and there is concern that its officials are the de facto landlords of the voters.
The city's reforms are partly in response to the bill and are designed "to block the legislature from enacting reforms from outside the city." Reforms bring Vernon's city farther towards a more open, transparent and inclusive governance structure, "MacFarlane said.. "The business community will have a role to play, as well as the workers' representatives, and they are the two key constituencies."
On August 2, 2011, former State Attorney General John Van de Kamp, hired by City to conduct an independent review of his policy, released a report that found "no significant errors" in Vernon's compliance with Political Reform, a conflict of interest. policies, Brown Law, and Public Records Act.
Disincentive legislation
In 2011, the Los Angeles District Attorney began to consider moving to the city. If this applies, Vernon will be the third place entered to be dissolved in the last forty years, after Cabazon in 1972 and Hornitos, in 1973.
In 2011, Member of the California State Council, John PÃÆ'Â © rez proposed a bill to the California legislative body that will discredit Vernon as a city. Corruption allegations accuse the State Assembly to approve the proposed law of PÃ © rez, AB46, to tear down cities with less than 150 inhabitants.
Unification will make the city of Vernon an unconnected area in Los Angeles County.
Gloria Molina, a member of the Los Angeles County Supervisory Board, who has endorsed the disagreeable Jefferson: this is "a company town disguised as a city." "The city has become a facade for some personal gain issues.The inhabitants are city employees or big corporations and consequently controlled." If the bill becomes law, Los Angeles County can and will definitely absorb Vernon.
"The problem here is about the lack of transparency and accountability in Vernon," said PÃÆ' Â © rez. "We can not tolerate a situation where a handful of individuals can use the whole city as their own personal territory."
In May 2011, Vernon officials said they wanted Chairman PÃ © la rez to provide a $ 200,000 deposit before they would begin to fulfill the public record request he proposed as part of his proposal to separate the city. The state Senate rejected the proposal on 29 August.
Maps Vernon, California
History
Vernon was the historic site where the Battle of La Mesa took place on January 9, 1847, when General Stephen W. Kearny again defeated General JosÃÆ'Â Ã… © MarÃÆ'a Flores which was strengthened the day after the Battle of Rio San Gabriel. Accepting defeat General Flores fled southeast to Sonora, while Major Pico headed north to the San Gabriel Mountains with a hundred Californios. This ended hostilities in Alta California during the Mexican-American war, 1846-1848. In the late 1800s, it was a stretch of unidentified grassland near the burgeoning downtown Los Angeles.
In 1905, Vernon was founded by breeders James J. and Thomas J. Furlong and John B. Leonis, a merchant. Vernon was established to promote industrial development along the railroads in the area. John Leonis, from Basque, came to Southern California in 1880 to work for his Uncle Miguel Leonis and then set up his own ranch in an unincorporated area southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Recognizing the importance of the three major railway lines operating in the area, he persuaded railroad executives to pursue a spur of the main line and incorporate three adjacent miles as the first "exclusive industrial" city in the Southwest of the United States. He named the new town after the dirt road, Vernon Avenue, crossed the center.
Leonis created a lucrative appeal, rented out properties to the city's founders, to baseball stadiums, 7,000-seat boxing arena and "world's longest bar", 100 feet long with thirty-seven bartenders. When the industrialists from the East Coast went to Vernon for the heavyweights, Leonis sold many of them to put their West Coast factories in his village. In the Owens-Illinois 1930s, and Alcoa had opened up there, bought subsidized electricity from a new utility, Vernon Light & amp; Power.
The Studebaker factory was built in 1938 and is located at 4530 Loma Vista Ave. It was the only West Coast factory for the company, producing 64 cars a day, and closed in 1956. Ten years later in 1966, the company was closed for lack of sales. Now is the location of St. Regis Paper.
When Leonis died in 1953, he left a reported $ 8 million estate plantation, including several parcels of land, to Leonis's grandson. Leonis Malburg first won the council seat in 1956 and was elected mayor in 1974. "Vernon has long been accused of allegations that it is a power run by a family that has held power over the city for generations."
In 1907, on land leased from Leonis, the city's founders marketed Vernon as "Sports City." Jack Doyle, an entrepreneur, opened the Vernon Avenue Arena, where the 20-round world championship race began in 1908. Shortly after, the Pacific Coast League built a baseball park. The Vernon Tigers won three successive league bundles. The Vernon Tigers, a small league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, played from 1909 to 1925.
Poxon China Company was founded by George Wade Poxon (b.1887, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England) and his wife Judith (nÃÆ' Â © e Furlong) who in 1913 married at St. Martha in Vernon. The Church was built by the Furlong family in 1913. George Wade Poxon, cousin George Albert Wade (then Colonel Sir George Albert Wade), is known as chairman of Wade Potteries Limited in England, which produces Wade Whimsies. George Wade (circa 1863 Tunstall, Staffordshire, father of George Albert Wade and uncle George Wade Poxon) has pottery in Burslem, Staffordshire, England. The Wade family has been associated with the earthenware industry for many years. George Wade Poxon is a member of the Royal Science Academy. At the age of 24, in 1911, he emigrated to the United States. The kiln is located on the Furlong farm.
Vernon Kilns was founded in July 1931 after Faye G. Bennison bought the Poxon China Company in Vernon, California. Poxon China Company has its headquarters on 52nd Street, now part of Los Angeles. Bennison continued to produce the Poxon line, using the Poxon form until an earthquake in 1933 forcing Bennison to develop a new and original form for the company. Two fires in the late 1940s almost brought the destruction of Vernon Potteries, Ltd., but Bennison decided to rebuild and the company continued to grow. The company was unable to compete when a flood of foreign imports hit American shelves and in 1958 Vernon Kilns sold all of its holdings to Metlox. Metlox continued to market some Vernon shapes and patterns under the Vernonware division until 1989. The company produces tableware, art pottery, sculptures, ashtrays and other popular items. All the products come from pottery, with clay from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and England. Glaze is developed from minerals mined in California, and many patterns, including all plaids, are hand painted.
Vernon again became an exclusive industry circa 1919. Two giant storage warehouses opened and meat packing quickly became the city's main industry. Twenty-seven slaughterhouses finally lined up on Vernon Avenue from Soto Street to Downey Road until the late 1960s.
The 1940s and 50s added aerospace contractor Norris Industries, box and paper producers, drug companies such as Brunswig, and General Mills and Kal Kan food processors. Farmer packing giant Farmer John and Swift flourished.
In 1932, after a dispute with Southern California Edison regarding industrial tariffs for electricity, John Leonis sponsored the adoption action to certify the construction of the municipal power plant itself, which is still operating today, providing cities with very low utility rates.
Recent history
In an effort to modernize the city and prevent potential threats of disincentives in the future, for the first time in the history of Vernon city has opened the door for new residents of the general public. By 2015, Vernon's population has almost doubled with the opening of Vernon Village Park Apartments, which are largely reserved for the public, and not exclusively for those affiliated with Vernon's industry and city government, as is the case with most of the city. history. Consequently, this means that the democratic process at Vernon can no longer be a carefully managed internal affair used to safeguard the already influential individual in power, a very positive development in himself.
Facing a significant revenue shortage, by 2017 the city government of Vernon proposed 'Measure Q' to voters, which will generate additional revenue to finance the government through increasing taxes on electricity generated and sold by the city to the population and industry. Vernon residents rejected a tax increase of nine votes, with 23 votes not, and only 14 votes in favor of utility tax increases.
The Vernon City Council is comprised of five members, each elected for a five-year period in accordance with the city charter. Voters voted for one member of the City Council during the April city elections, which took place on the second Tuesday. Vernon is one of the cities opposing Senate Bill 415 in California, which prohibits the City Council, K-12 public schools, community colleges and special districts to hold stand-alone elections and consolidate with elections, state and federal, which is held on even-numbered years.
Selection year 2006
The city did not hold a competitive or meaningful election from 1980 to 2006. 'Los Angeles Democrat' said city officials virtually "vote for themselves by their peers"; Of the five members of the city council serving at the time, only one was elected by the electorate, the other four had been appointed to their positions by city officials.
Most cities with fewer than 90 voters are city employees or connected with city employees living in rented homes at a nominal cost. In 1979, a fireman attempted to run for mayor and was immediately expelled and told he could not run. In 2006 a group of outsiders tried to move to Vernon and run for office. The city tried to cancel their registration but was ordered to allow them to run and count the ballots. Almost no city clerk chose them. Leonis Malburg, mayor for fifty years, was convicted of fraudulent voting, conspiracy, and perjury in December 2009. In May 2011, former city administrator Bruce Malkenhorst, Sr., accepted a plea deal for misappropriating $ 60,000 in public funds.
In 2006, there was controversy over some people who moved to Vernon and ran for the city council. This marks the first time in more than two decades there is a competitive race for city council. In 2006, eight people transformed a 1950s office building into a five-room apartment (the building had previously been used as a tanning facility that turned sheepskin into pool bags), and three of them volunteered to run. The city responded by cutting off their forces and moving to evict them as illegal illegal occupants. The city of Vernon alleged that the men were part of a cruel takeover attempt by a convict named Albert T. Robles, who nearly bankrupted the nearest town of the South Gate as treasurer and Eduardo Olivo, a former Vernon lawyer who also worked with Albert T. Robles South Gate.
On June 30, California Foreign Secretary Bruce McPherson asked the city to count votes and declared its support to the state to take over responsibility for carrying out city elections. During the trial it was alleged that the three prospective newcomers had a direct relationship with Albert T. Robles. Alejandro Lopez is the first cousin, David Johnson, Jr., is the brother-in-law of business partner, Don A. Huff is linked through Eduardo Olivo. In March 2006, Judge David P. Yaffe ruled that the city could not prohibit legally registered voters living within its boundaries to run for the city council. Cities should be instructed to allow the election to continue. The election was held under a court order on April 11, 2006. But city officials, Bruce Malkenhorst, Jr., refused to count ballots until a legal dispute was resolved and temporarily ordered the ballots to be sealed. In August 2006, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz decided that new arrivals received free leases and jobs before applying to vote and that they were involved in a scheme designed by Albert T. Robles and Eduardo Olivo to "steal" elections, but such actions are not illegal. On October 16, 2006, it was announced that city officials were ready to count votes from the contested April 11 election. Officials failed to prove their claim of voter fraud. A judge gave Vernon the motion to count the votes.
The challengers are defeated by landslides.
Allegations of corruption
On 15 November 2006, an investigation into allegations of public corruption in Vernon resulted in allegations filed against the city's mayor, Leonis Malburg, as well as his wife, his son, and a former city administrator. The Los Angeles District Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation in April 2005 on allegations that the former city administrator, Bruce Malkenhorst, Sr., has abused public funds for personal use.
Their investigation revealed evidence of voter fraud on the part of the ruling family, which, strictly speaking, tried to alienate the new population. Leonis Malburg, who has been a mayor for 50 years, claims he lives in Vernon's small apartment on the 2800 block of Leonis Boulevard (named after his grandfather, also a mayor), when in fact he lives in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. His wife and son also claimed to live in Vernon, voted in Vernon's election despite evidence suggesting they also lived in Hancock Park. Claims against Malburg include voter fraud, assisting ineligible voters, fake registration, and perjury.
Malkenhorst Sr. charged with 18 counts of "misappropriation of public funds" for reportedly taking $ 60,000 in city money for personal use. His salary from the city was $ 600,000. Malkenhorst still collects his pension of $ 499,674.84. In 2010, Malkenhorst received a reported $ 510,000 annual retirement, plus health benefits, as a former city administrator, and was the number one of 9,191 California government retired workers who received the highest pension of more than $ 100,000 from CalPERS. Malkenhorst retired in 2005.
Campaign corruption and disincentives
"With the long-running political woes, Vernon faces corruption allegations similar to those in nearby cities like Bell Town.Although Vernon and Bell share borders in Southeast Los Angeles County, they are a very different city Bell is the working class, most immigrant cities with 38,000 inhabitants Vernon has fewer than 100 inhabitants and is largely a business and industrial center. "Vernon City employees rivaled the city of Bell.
Allegations of corruption
Extend legal action against excessive salaries and pensions in two southeastern cities of Los Angeles County, (then) Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has given testimony from the city of Vernon. Subpoena Brown sought testimony under oath from Vernon officials about compensation and retirement benefits for six highly paid city officials, one of whom received over $ 1.6 million in a year for the city.
According to media reports and other sources, Eric T. Fresch paid $ 1.65 million in 2008. In 2009, O'Callaghan paid $ 785,000, Burnett, $ 570,000, and Harrison, $ 800,000. Malkenhorst, Jr. paid $ 290,000 in 2008. Malkenhorst, Sr., who is also accused of misuse of public funds, retired in 2005, and as a former employee, still receives the highest retirement in the state of California. Malkenhorst, Sr. have been convicted of fraud and are being investigated for several other allegations. Malkenhorst pleaded guilty in May 2011 to illegally using public money to pay for personal belongings. The prosecutor said that from 2000 to 2005, he was unlawfully substituted for personal expenses including meals, playing golf, massages, personal trainers and home security systems. He received a three-year probation and was fined $ 35,000, including fines. He was ordered to pay $ 60,000 in damages. He was fined $ 10,000 in addition to other penalties. A total fine of $ 105,000 would not be a problem for Malkenhurst who continues to receive the highest public pension in California: $ 509,664. "The law states that retirement is revoked if an elected official is convicted of a crime, but not in the case of an employee," said Brad Pacheco, a spokesman for CalPERS. Malkenhorst "will continue to receive his pension in accordance with the law."
In September 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that the investigation followed a newspaper report that the city's current administrator Donal O'Callaghan received $ 243,898 in consulting payments until June 2010, through Tara Energy, Inc., a company run by his wife, Kimberly McBride. The payout is in addition to O'Callaghan's $ 380,000 annual salary for a total of over half a million dollars. He was accused of corruption for his role in getting a city job for his wife. O'Callaghan was charged by a Los Angeles jury for three counts of conflict of interest crimes and misuse of public funds. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of conflict of interest crimes involving contracts and one of the crimes of public officials.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Eric T. Fresch, a former Vernon city administrator, who now works as a legal consultant, has passed the $ 1 million mark over the past four years. He was paid nearly $ 1.65 million in salaries and hourly bills in 2008, when he served as city administrator and deputy city prosecutor. The others in Vernon received $ 570,000 to $ 800,000 in 2009. Former City Attorney Jeffrey A. Harrison earned $ 800,000 in 2009 and Director of the City/Financial Treasurer Roirdan Burnett earned $ 570,000. In 2008, Harrison was paid $ 1.04 million.
In 2010, Malburg, a former mayor for fifty years, was ordered to pay more than $ 500,000 after being found guilty of fraud. The prosecution claimed he was living in Vernon but actually owned a home in the wealthy Hancock Park area of ​​Los Angeles. Leonis Malburg and his wife, Dominica, were convicted of voter fraud and other allegations.
State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) proposed a bill that would release a pension from a public official convicted of misusing public funds. The bill, SB115, was killed in a state Senate committee this month, with two Republicans voting for it and three Democrats fighting. The bill provoked the anger of several employee groups, including AFL-CIO, the California Professional Fire Brigade and the California State Employee Association. These groups and parliamentarians who voted against the bill argued that "it discriminates public employees relative to private employees and says such legislation would actually harm an innocent and family couple of convicted officers who would lose their financial security. " Strickland said he was "shocked" that the bill was killed. "State law affects judges and elected officials, but not people like Rizzo," he said. "The argument about family is a weak argument that can be applied to any person convicted of crime.The family is always affected when you talk about criminals."
Industry
Consisting almost entirely from warehouses and factories, the city's main industries are food service manufacturing, metalworking, and glass and plastic making equipment. Housing is owned by the city and some of its inhabitants are employed within the city limits. There are approximately 46,000 direct and 54,000 indirect workers most of the workers employed by businesses in Vernon City. Food companies in Vernon include Bon Appetit Bakery, Papa Cantella's Sausages Company, Core-Mark, F. GaviÃÆ' Â ± a & amp; Sons Inc, Goldberg and Solovy Foods, Farmer John Meat Packing, J & amp; J Snack Foods, Overhill Farms, American Pacific Fish Company, Red Chamber Co., Simply Fresh Fruit, and TapatÃÆ'o Foods. Clothing companies in Vernon include 7 for All Mankind, BCBG Max Azria, Lucky Brand Jeans, and True Religion. The city also houses the factories, smelters and metal companies that work. Vernon has a $ 4.5 billion private company salary.
Vernon is primarily industrial, with very few residents, and also has several single city services. Vernon is one of 42 jurisdictions in the United States with a Class 1 firefighting department and one of four cities in California with its own health department, specializing in industry issues. It has a strong police force, city-owned housing for city employees, and light and energy departments at rates that, once, are up to 40% lower than Southern California Edison and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's. This service is designed for industry. Electricity and water tariffs are now the highest in the state due to the size of the new city council that tries to almost entirely fund Vernon from utilities paid by industrial customers. As a result, many businesses are leaving Vernon for areas with more reasonable utilities. City employees and their families are the majority of the housing sector and they hold voting power. In 1989 Vernon formed a rebuilding agency, which has since invested millions of dollars to develop property within the city in order to successfully attract and retain business.
In 2008, Vernon was named "The Most Busy City of Business" for Cities with less than 50,000 residents by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Company. Vernon generates $ 250 million in revenue stream annually, mostly from city-owned utilities.
Lead contamination from the Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon has affected residents in the surrounding community. In March 2015, the facility was permanently closed by California regulators due to long-standing arsenic, lead leaks and emissions expected to require extensive cleaning efforts.
Geography
Vernon is located on 34Ã, Â ° 0? 4? N 118Ã, Â ° 12? 40? W (34.001213, -118.210979). The postal code of Vernon is 90058
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​5.2 m² (13.5 km 2 ). 5.0 m² (12.9 km 2 ) of soil and 0.2 m² (0.5 km 2 ) of it (3.57%) is water.
Demographics
2010
The US Census 2010 reported that Vernon had a population of 112. The population density was 21.7 people per square mile (8.4/km²). Racial makeup from Vernon is 99 (88.4%) White (51.8% Non-Hispanic White), 4 (3.6%) African American, 0 (0%) Native American, 2 (1.8%) Asia, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 7 (6%) of other races, and 0 (0%) of two or more races. Hispanic or Latin from any race is 48 people (42.9%).
The Census reported that 112 people (100% of the population) live in households, 0 (0%) live in unembienced groups, and 0 (0%) are institutionalized.
There are 28 households, of which 10 (36%) have children under the age of 18 living in them, 13 (46%) are married couples living together, 3 (11%) have female households without husband now, 6 (21%) have a householder male in the absence of a wife. There are 1 (9%) unmarried partnerships of the opposite sex, and 0 (0%) couples or same-sex married couples. 5 households (18%) consist of individuals and 2 (7%) have a person who lives alone aged 65 years or older. The average household size is 4. There are 22 families (79% of all households); the average family size is 4.
The population was spread with 21 people (19%) under the age of 18, 11 people (10%) aged 18 to 24, 36 people (32%) aged 25 to 44, 30 people (27%) aged 45 to 64, and 14 person (13%) aged 65 years or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 women, there are 96.5 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 97.8 men.
There are 29 units of houses with an average density of 5,6 per square mile (2,2/km²), of which 4 (14%) are occupied owners, and 24 (86%) are occupied by tenants. The homeowner's vacancy rate is 0%; Rental vacancy rate is 4%. 10 people (9% of the population) live in residential units occupied by owners and 102 persons (91%) live in rented housing units.
According to the 2010 US Census, Vernon has an average household income of $ 32,188, with 20.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2000
The average income for households in the city is $ 62,000, and the average income for families is $ 62,575. Men have an average income of $ 46,250 versus $ 33,750 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 17,812. None of the population and no families are below the poverty line.
Many of Vernon's 112 residents are city employees. Many live in housing owned by municipalities. In 2006 some 44,000 people working in Vernon lived outside Vernon every day.
Latin Communities These are ten cities or neighborhoods in Los Angeles County with the largest percentage of Latin population, according to the 2000 census:
Government and infrastructure
Region, state, and federal
In the California State Legislature, Vernon is in the 33rd Senate District, represented by Democrat Ricardo Lara, and in the 53rd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Miguel Santiago.
In the United States House of Representatives, Vernon is in California's 40th congress district, represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard.
Law enforcement services are provided by the Vernon Police Department. Fire Protection is provided by Vernon Fire Department.
Post Office United States Post Office Vernon is located at 5121 Hampton Street.
Church
- Community Church Fellowship L.A. (Southern Baptist Convention)
- Holy Angels Parish of The Deaf (Roman Catholic)
- St. John Bosco Catholic Church
Education
Vernon is in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Nearby public schools are:
- Vernon City Elementary School (within city limits)
- Holmes Ave Elementary School
- George Washington Carver Secondary School
- Gage Secondary School
- Huntington Park High School
Famous people
- Beulah Woodard (1895-1955), sculptor
- Jimmy Murphy (1894-1924), race car driver and 1922 Indianapolis 500 champion.
See also
- New Rome, Ohio, a small, corruption-ridden community.
- 38th Street Gang
References
Further reading
- Becerra, Hector (February 12, 2006). "Vernon Shoo-Ins Shoo Outsiders". Los Angeles Times. pp.Ã, A1
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"In the small Vernon, A Surge in the Voters". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 2006 - "South Pasadena Is Tired of Vernon's Politics". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2006.
- The Economist, 23-29 February 2008 pages 83-84
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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