Originally published 10 July 2000
in general release
This report confirms that Moskowitz has ripped off the
poor city of Hawaiian Gardens for $12 Million. We believe that it exposes
Moskowitz and his associates and places them in considerable jeopardy. We
expect the attorney general - Mr. Lockyer - and other law enforcement representatives
to act. We concur with the report's call for criminal investigations on local,
state, and federal levels. The idea that Moskowitz should receive a license
to run a casino is ludicrous. Moskowitz does not merit the publics trust.
This report is complex but what comes through is the long agonizing history
of deceptions and chicanery perpetrated by Moskowitz.
I
want to introduce members of the Hawaiian Gardens community, former city
officials, and also members of the Coalition for Justice in Hawaiian Gardens
and Jerusalem. First a word about who we are.
There are a number of
Hawaiian Gardens residents and former employees here today. They are the
victims of a reign of political and even violent terror that festers while
one man enriches himself. This report on his redevelopment activities in
Hawaiian Gardens puts his "charitable activity" in a new and dark light.
Moskowitz was using charitable bingo funds to pay for building his casino.
He was using the bingo funds to threaten and coerce the city. The Attorney
General is in charge of charitable trusts - as we know from the Quackenbush
matter - charitable trust matters are in complete disarray and cry-out for
immediate attention.
In a moment you will meet Walter McKinney the
former police chief; Kathy Navejas the former mayor; Nelson Oliva is the
former city manager; and Ralph Cesena another former mayor. All these people
held positions of authority and respect - they too were undermined and their
lives affected - by Moskowitzs attorney Beryl Weiner and hired henchman.
Their story must still be told. Their full vindication is beginning today.
The
disparate members of the Coalition for Justice in Hawaiian Gardens and Jerusalem
include members of the Jewish community especially hundreds of rabbis - from
all denominations; members of the Latino community both residents of Hawaiian
Gardens arid prominent political leaders; union activists, and clergy from
a number of denominations.
We in the Jewish community got involved
when we heard about Moskowitzs activities in Jerusalem. As we came to understand
the nature of how Moskowitz misused the Bingo we began to understand how
the people of Hawaiian Gardens were ripped off.
This report explains
the improper treatment of the city by developer Moskowitz. While this report
focuses on violations of law such as the use of public funds for developing
a casino; the misuse of a city's redevelopment powers to condemn and acquire
land; the violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); the
nefarious activities of an attorney Beryl Weiner acting to subvert the interests
of the City of Hawaiian Gardens while serving as both an attorney for the
Redevelopment Agency and the developer, Moskowitz. I urge you to read a long,
long list of findings from page 16 to 20 and the subsequent recommendations
on pages 20 and 21.
When Moskowitz got the 12 Million dollars for
his casino he wasnt just robbing a poor city. The city didnt just lose money.
It lost the life chances that $12 million could buy. Peoples lives were destroyed
because the kind of services and help they needed and it wasnt there. The
money was soaked up by Moskowitz. We call on Lockyer to quickly make Moskowitz
give back that money.
Our goal is to seek justice. The city should
have the active help of the Attorney Generals office to regain the millions
of dollars taken from the city. The law breaking detailed in this report
clearly shows that the Attorney General must reject Moskowitzs application
for a casino. Lockyer must immediately help the city get back the 12 Million
dollars which the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) reports says were
taken.
We have no doubt that the city can begin again with the help
of the legal and legislative arms of this state. We hope that the report
will bring justice to Hawaiian Gardens and indirectly to Jerusalem. Right
now the fate of two cities hangs in the balance. We urge the Attorney General
to act expeditiously!!
Our coalition will continue to monitor the
activities of the attorney general. We will continue to seek programs to
restore a civic and economic life for the residents of Hawaiian Gardens.
Today
at a place called Camp David three national leaders are seeking to make peace.
That peace will be advanced greatly by the state of California serving the
needs of its citizens and denying Moskowitz the fruits of his ill gotten
gain. We hope that: California taxpayers will no longer subsidize the destabilizing
efforts against peace that the Moskowitz foundations millions cause. We hope
that Lockyer will act to restore integrity to charitable activity in California
and to protect the residents of Hawaiian Gardens against unscrupulous individuals.
READ THE OTHER STATEMENTS FROM THE JLAC PRESS CONFERENCE
Rabbi
Haim Dov Beliak | Rabbis
Steven Jacobs and Jerry Goldstein | Walter
McKinney | Mina
K. Meyer | Sharon
Raphael |
