Last night at the regular meeting of the Pico Water District, Rick Mercado announced his resignation from his appointment (by Beilke) with the Pico Rivera Planning Commission, effective Thursday, January 16, 2008.
On the date of Rick Mercado’s installation to the position of Pico Water District Boardmember, PRCTIP adamantly challenged his position as a potential conflict of interest. Since Mercado was sitting on the Planning Commission, he would be voting on new developments that would use water from the Pico Water District. Mercado would then be put in the position of voting on issues for those same developments which would constitute a conflict of interest.
PRCTIP’s alleged potential for this conflict of interest was confirmed by (in Mercado’s words) the “Attorney General” and that confirmation was the impetus for him to tender his resignation from the Pico Rivera Planning Commission.
The remaining question is – If the Planning Commission is a more prestigious appointment, why didn’t Mercado resign from the Pico Water District? Right now only Beilke and Napolitano know for sure, but we will be watching this very closely.
BTW – Could it be possible that Pat Carillo will be Beilke’s new appointment to the Pico Rivera Planning Commission as a precursor to Beilke running her for City Council?
The article – http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_8015863 failed to mention that PRCTIP protested the conflict of interest at the meeting where Mercado was sworn into office, in November. Ciampa was not even present at that meeting as someone from his office filled in for him. So, actually, it was PRCTIP that first raised the issue about the conflict of interest, a fact conveniently omitted from the story. Nevertheless, the truth prevailed and now Beilke and his crony Archuleta now have to find a “yes” man (or woman) to replace Mercado, preferably one with the same habits.
I can’t believe that the 60% raise in fees will offset the “525%” increase in cost to the “WQPP” The WQPP is not a licensed water distributor like the Central Municipal Water Basin and the Water Replenishment District.
And what about the $24 million dollar bond from the early 90′s? Should that money have been used for the “infrastructure repairs”?
How coincidental that the Water Bond is due in 2018 and the fee increases also stop in 2018?
More on that later……….