LOS ANGELES – Five felony charges were filed Wednesday against Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, who’s accused of illegally receiving more than $60,000 a year from local consultants and failing to publicly disclose the income on economic disclosure statements.
Ledford — who was elected to his 13th two-year term as Palmdale’s mayor last November — appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday, but his arraignment on one count each of conspiracy to commit a crime and conflict of interest and three counts of perjury by declaration was postponed until July 26.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Hanasono set the 63-year-old Ledford’s bail at $75,000.
“As everybody knows in the United States of America, even politicians … are entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Ledford’s attorney, Anthony Falangetti, told reporters outside court. “At this point no evidence has been presented. All we have is accusations and those accusations have been filed in court, that’s all we know. So … we will find out the truth over time as evidence is taken, but until that time my client, of course, is presumed innocent.”
Ledford’s attorney said his client has “dutifully served the city,” telling reporters that Palmdale has seen “positive growth, a number of things that have benefited the city, including the subject matter of the charges, the AERO Institute.”
“My client has consistently been above board with his involvement both in that and in other projects with the city,” Falangetti said.
Also charged along with Ledford are Kimberly Anne Shaw, 61, of Yorba Linda, and Susan Burgess Miller, 68, of Las Vegas, who are facing one count each of conspiracy, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. It was unclear when Shaw and Miller would be arraigned.
Shaw has been a consultant for the city of Palmdale for the past two decades, and with Miller’s assistance operates the AERO Institute, which gets more than $2 million annually from NASA and has paid a $1 annual lease to Palmdale since 2004, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint alleges that the defendants utilized various shell companies to pay Ledford about $5,200 a month.
Miller, doing business as Complex Culture Change Consulting, hired Ledford in August 2009 as a consultant at or around the same time the AERO Institute began paying CCCC nearly all of its monthly income, the criminal complaint alleges.
AERO Institute paid Miller’s consulting firm more than $13,000 a month over a four-year period, and the company, in turn, paid Ledford the $5,200 monthly sum, though he did not perform any substantive work for AERO Institute during that time period, the District Attorney’s Office alleges.
The criminal complaint alleges that Ledford “willfully made or influenced a contract in which he knew he had an indirect financial interest” when he voted in favor of a seven-year contract between the city of Palmdale and Shaw, but that he “failed to disclose that he was indirectly receiving substantial income from AERO Institute, a company controlled by defendant Kimberly Shaw.”
Ledford is also accused of “knowingly, intentionally and deliberately” failing to disclose on economic disclosure statements in 2015, 2016 and 2017 “that he had received substantial income the preceding year from AERO Institute, a business with which the city of Palmdale had a contract for rent and other services.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office received a citizen’s letter of complaint in July 2013, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted as charged, Ledford could face up to four years and eight months in state prison and Shaw and Miller could each face up to four years behind bars, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Russell Moore of the Public Integrity Division is prosecuting the case, which remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.
Previous related stories:
Palmdale mayor addresses District Attorney investigation
Council member calls on Palmdale mayor to take leave of absence
Investigators search home, office of Palmdale mayor
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bitch says
Personally I am pissed! I have been struggling to go back to work finally got a job and the employer wants to put off the job until they see what happens with the Mayor situation! Also I am upset because as a resident of Palmdale my home has been broken into by political friends of this man—- very good friends who are business owners and they have tormented me for 4 years now to get me to move! I need an out of the area attorney to stop the harassment. They violate my home on a daily basis. Cut my under garments, destroy my personal property and they harass me in public. It has made me feel like killing myself. Now my job is delayed- I don’t know what to do- Kill myself? What do you evil haters think? Yes….. I cant wait for my family to sue you all when I am gone!
Soccer Dad says
Looks like Ledford’s accuser’s employer is in trouble.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-gov-brown-breaks-up-state-tax-agency-1498593946-htmlstory.html
JPB says
When Drew Mercy and Rex Parris are leading a moral crusade for anything, you know it’s laughable. All the inside deals, deceptive hit mailers, lies, favoritism, and good old boy hijinx are worthy of a good investigative journalist piece.
T.J. says
Drew mercy is an effing snake! Would love to see him taken out of relevance when the Democrats sweep this area once and for all.
Toolman says
When you have Democrats in bed with Parris, you can rest assured that people like Drew Mercy and his ilk will be around for a long time doing Rex’s bidding.
JPB says
Snakes serve useful purposes. They eat rodents that carry disease such as Lyme’s Disease. They serve as a food source for larger predators such as hawks, owls, herons, and carnivorous mammals such as bobcats. They are important in the balance of nature.
Drew, Marv, Hofbauer, Bishop, Mahli, and the rest of them serve their own purposes and masters. They do what they are told to make the small, but wealthy, power brokers like Rex, Visco, and Gilley more money at the expense of the Valley’s residents.
Hopeful says
Maybe the new publishers of the local paper will look into the situation with the Board of Equalization. They tend not to disturb the goings on in Lancaster. That’s why the no bid contracts and insider deals continue. No one does a thing to stop it.
Question Lancaster Authority says
They would have a field day going through all the stuff going on in Lancaster. Who owned the Fairgrounds property? How much did the city pay for infrastructure for Lancaster Baptist Church? Why was tax money used to put a culvert on property owned by Gilley and Visco? How much money was lost on Ecolution? How much money did a Lancaster Planning Commissioner make on the sale of property to the Walmart developer before he voted to change the zoning from residential to commercial? Why are employees of the mayor’s law firm chosen as deputy mayors? How much did the Section 8 lawsuit cost taxpayers on account of the mayor’s actions? Why was housing money used for the Avenue L/Sierra Highway overpass? How did the mayor get away with purchasing a building in a redevelopment area? Why is the city spending tax dollars on LEAPS when the services of an LASD helicopter are already part of our contract? How much did the prayer lawsuit cost the taxpayers? Did the city have to pay David Abber after his altercation with the mayor? How much money did the city give Scott Erhlich?
LancastersFault says
When ever something bad happens lets just blame Lancaster and Trump.
Ray Ray says
You are correct. You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the crap they are responsible for. Like suing Palmdale every chance they get, pumping money into Palmdale’s elections, telling lies about the power plant, wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky, trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism, sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’, destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms, destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart, suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident, suing Starwood back to Kansas, dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status, ringing up huge redevelopment debt, claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink, wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM, supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners, fighting a resident in a local gym, and so on.
Ray Ray says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the crap they are responsible for. Like suing Palmdale every chance they get, pumping money into Palmdale’s elections, telling lies about the power plant, wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky, trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism, sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’, destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms, destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart, suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident, suing Starwood back to Kansas, dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status, ringing up huge redevelopment debt, claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink, wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM, supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners, fighting a resident in a local gym, and so on.
Rayray says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just what they are responsible for.
Like suing Palmdale every chance they get, pumping money into Palmdale’s elections, telling lies about the power plant, wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky, trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism, sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’, destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms, destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart, suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident, suing Starwood back to Kansas, dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status, ringing up huge redevelopment debt, claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink, wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM, supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners, fighting a resident in a local gym, and so on.
William says
Yes. Yes. Let’s do that.
Thank you for your suggestion.
And, you can stand guard and defend and protect both of them.
Son of the Anti Rex says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the things they are responsible for.
Like suing Palmdale every chance they get…
Pumping money into Palmdale’s elections to elect pro-Lancaster candidates…
Telling lies about the power plant…
Wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky…
Trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism…
Sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’…
Destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms…
Destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart…
Suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident…
Suing Starwood back to Kansas…
Dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status…
Ringing up huge redevelopment debt…
Claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink…
Wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM…
Supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners…
Cronyism at all levels…
Fighting a resident in a local gym…
And so on. That you can blame on Rex and Lancaster.
William says
Hey, LancastersFault
trump told a LIE every day for the first 40 days of his presidency.
That’s your guy. They haven’t counted wrecks’s lies yet.
Shane Falco says
What does Trump or Lancaster have to do with Ledford getting kickbacks for AERO and not disclosing the payments?
Tim Scott says
Keep your pie hole filled with Santa Clarita Donnell.
Fane Shalco says
Do you have proof? The DA would love to see it. (Go back to your daddy and he will tell you how to respond).
William says
Oh, Falco
I suspect that in your distorted view of the real world, you have already convicted Mayor Ledford while, at the same time, being blissfully unconcerned about trump and wrecks and the amount of damage they have done and will continue to do.
Why are you like that……y’know,,,,, simple?
Vic says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the things they are responsible for.
Like suing Palmdale every chance they get…
Pumping money into Palmdale’s elections to elect pro-Lancaster candidates…
Telling lies about the power plant…
Wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky…
Trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism…
Sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’…
Destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms…
Destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart
Suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident…
Suing Starwood back to Kansas…
Dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status…
Ringing up huge redevelopment debt…
Claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink…
Wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM…
Supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners…
Cronyism at all levels…
Fighting a resident in a local gym…
And so on. That you can blame on Rex and Lancaster.
Randy says
Lancaster is not to blame for everything. But when the Lancaster mayor and Lancaster planning commissioner stick their nose in, they deserve the blame. Don’t forget that Raymond Lee Jennings, Randy Floyd, and Esmeralda Jorge all walked free after charges from the Lancaster mayor. Ledford will be the fourth. Maybe then the DA will wake up and realize what Lancaster is all about.
Ron says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the things they are responsible for.
Like suing Palmdale every chance they get…
Pumping money into Palmdale’s elections to elect pro-Lancaster candidates…
Telling lies about the power plant…
Wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky…
Trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism…
Sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’…
Destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms…
Destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart
Suing two American Legion Posts for a baseball game incident…
Suing Starwood back to Kansas…
Dragging down Lancaster’s bond rating to junk bond status…
Ringing up huge redevelopment debt…
Claiming that 67 homeless people a day are being sent to Lancaster from LA on Metrolink…
Wasting tax payer money of failed ideas like Ecolution and Traction SealTM…
Supporting homophobic and anti-Semetic commissioners…
Cronyism at all levels…
Fighting a resident in a local gym…
And so on. That you can blame on Rex and Lancaster.
Palmdale Voter says
When you add it all up, you have quite the mess in Lancaster. Why Bishop and Hofbauer want to emulate that is beyond reason.
I guess that’s what you get when you elect people more interested in their personal gains than the good of the community.
Ron says
You can’t blame Rex and Lancaster for everything. Just the things they are responsible for.
Like suing Palmdale every chance they get…
Pumping money into Palmdale’s elections to elect pro-Lancaster candidates…
Telling lies about the power plant…
Wasting taxpayers money on inside projects like the Eye in the Sky…
Trying to sneak in Chinese birth tourism…
Sending out racist hit mailers that called an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’…
Destroying Antelope Acres by annexing and putting in solar farms…
Destroying Quartz Hill by rezoning residential land to put in a Super Walmart.
And so on. That you can blame on Rex and Lancaster.
Turd Ferguson says
You can blame Lancaster for wasting tax dollars on LEAPS.You can blame Lancaster for wasting tax dollars on LEAPS.We spend $90,000.00 per month on that piece of junk.We spend $90,000.00 per month on that piece of junk.To do what?To do what?Make money for Visco?Make money for Visco?It is not a crime fighting sentinel in the sky.It is not a crime fighting sentinel in the sky.It is a boondoggle.It is a boondoggle.It cost the tax payer $10,800,000.00.It cost the tax payer $10,800,000.00.We do not need LEAPS.We do not need LEAPS.We need Sherriffs.We need Sherriffs.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.Yes to Sherriffs.Yes to Sherriffs.More boots on the ground.More boots on the ground.
Bob says
Investigators must just shake their heads reading this bs
Justice for All says
Let’s hope they are looking into Rex’s track record on accusing innocent people.
Donald J. says
The comments here show why this, if it ever goes to trial (unlikely), it can’t be tried in the AV.
Too many partisans on both sides.
Like someone else said, Ledford could stand in the middle of Palmdale Boulevard and shoot someone dead, and wouldn’t lose any supporters.
Here Comes Da Judge says
The trial cannot be held in the AV because Rex controls many judges.He can get you off charges if he wants to. Or he can put you away, like he did to Raymond Lee Jennings, despite Jennings’s innocence.
Reg says
I thought this was a Palmdale issue? Why’s Lancaster mentioned in every comment? Just curious.
Laughing says
Because several people believe Rex and his cronies are making a move to take over Palmdale and have setup the events that lead to this investigation. Courts normally need proof, but just the court date alone can unhinge the city enough to get Ledford out and allow more controlling interests from the Rex machine to get into office.
See it all makes sense now…
Soccer Dad says
Rex and his cronies are moving to take over Palmdale. Who do you think worked with the Da in this? Are you clueless?
Austin Bishop is the moronic spokeshole and Steve Hofblower is waiting in the wings for his promised Mayorship.
It’s bad enough that the AV has one corrupt and near bankrupt city. Why drag Palmdale down? Do Bishop and Hofbloer realize that they are in Palmdale’s council and not Lancaster’s?
SMH.
Stick says
Hoffblower would do anything to be mayor. Wait until Rexie and the boys toss him to the curb when they’re done using him. Bishop is to dim to realize what’s going on.
William says
I was at the last Palmdale council meeting and, sure enough, Hofbauer was putting his 2 cents in constantly as though he was in charge.
Without knowing that much about the backstory that’s posted here over and over, I thought he was in campaign mode already.
He represents my district and I’m looking at what I can do to make sure that he’s defeated next election.
The problem I see here in Palmdale, is that things seem to be working very well for many citizens. I never hear my Palmdale friends and neighbors complain about city services or Mayor Ledford and so it’s easy for them to not pay much attention and take good city governance for granted.
I guess my job is now to give them something to think about and having Palmdale-adjacent and wrecks pulling strings in our local government is a good place to start.
Not everyone reads the Valley Press or the AV Times, so I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Gladys says
Bingo
Sach says
Lancaster Planning Commissioner DUI Drew Mercy filed the complaint. Lancaster Mayor R. Rex I Live in a Beach Mansion in Laguna Parris has been on the news weighing in since day one.
Are you new to the Antelope Valley?
William says
Is Mercy doing this as some sort of payback for Parris handling his DUI case? If Mercy was so cencerned about politicians not going into politics to make money, why we he silent when Parris made his purchase of his new office in a redevelopment zone which was a violation of state law? Why has he not spoken up against no bid contacts like LEAPS which is owned by political contributor and advisor Frank Visco? Where was he when Lancaster Planning Commissioner James Vose sold residential land to Walmart developers and then voted as a commissioner to rexone the land to commercial?
It appears that he has selective moral indignation, a common condition in Lancaster.
Tim Scott says
Because Lancaster is broke due to their city government pumping all their money into the pockets of the mayor and his cronies, and their solution is to institute a revenue sharing plan with Palmdale. Since Palmdale has no particular reason to use their revenues to bail out Lancaster, and even if they did it seems likely that this would just direct Palmdale’s revenue into the same bottomless greed well that has consumed Lancaster’s revenue Palmdale has refused to participate in this revenue sharing.
Rather than take no for an answer the crony boys in Lancaster have set about taking over the city government in Palmdale. In the last election two of the five city council seats were taken by new members who Wrecks Parris considers to be “cooperative,” which is a polite way of saying their campaigns were funded by Lancaster and they are bought and paid for. But two votes doesn’t sell Palmdale down the river. They need a third.
The mayor is that third. No matter whether they can make a case or not this will be sufficient to prevent Ledford’s re-election next year. It is unlikely that any candidate can run successfully against the kind of spending Lancaster’s Fern Street Mafia will put behind their man, so that will be that.
As far as I can tell the only recourse we have is to get the existing council to very quickly enact an “all revenue sharing plans must be approved by the voters” amendment to the city charter. That way even when Wrecks gets his bought and paid for council we can protect ourselves.
Shane Falco says
I wouldn’t count out Ledford staying in office and being re-elected even after he’s convicted, Tim.
Marion Barry and his supporters blamed the FBI, blamed outsiders trying to take over the city, blamed everybody but the mayor and there are plenty of people in palmdale like yourself who will look everywhere but at the criminal for breaking the law.
You and others can talk about Rex, drew, lancaster, conspiracy against palmdale and Ledford, and make all kinds of accusations against Parris but at the end of the day, you can’t admit that the mayor YOU’RE defending is doing the very for which you accuse others.
I’m amused at all this irony.
Tim Scott says
I’m not defending Ledford. I honestly don’t care one way or another about his personal business since Palmdale has an excellent city government. If Wrecks and the Fern Street Mafia had lined their pockets WITHOUT ruining Lancaster in the process I wouldn’t particularly care about them either.
Meanwhile, why don’t you shut your Santa Clarita sucking pie hole?
Tim Scott says
I wouldn’t complain about Wrecks and the Fern Street Mafia lining their pockets if they hadn’t ruined Lancaster in the process. Just like I frankly don’t care one way or another about Ledford’s finances since under his stewardship Palmdale has prospered and continues to do so.
The irony you are amused at is in your imagination.
William says
Would that Foolco was speechless.
When his time comes, they’ll have to bury his tongue a 1,000 miles from the rest of him, just as a precaution.
Most everything said about wrecks and co. is true. He has said and done outrageous and unprofessional things as long as he’s been mayor.
I suspect that when the state bar added an ethics/professionalism clause to their oath a few years ago, it was because of wrecks parris.
Steve says
That is the scenario on s nutshell. Thank you Tim Scott. I hope the residents of Palmdale wake up to what is happening to them.
Steven says
^ in a nutshell
Ed says
Isn’t it interesting that two of the people behind this are Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and Lancaster Planning Commissioner Drew Mercy?
Rather than stick their noses in another city, why don’t these two work on issues in their own city.
In case they need a working list, here is one.
1. Improve Lancaster’s junk bond status. Junk bonds are not good. Lowering the massive redevelopment debt would help.
2. Lower the crime rate. We spend $90,000 a month on LEAPS and it has had essentially zero effect. We know that your political contributor Frank Visco owns it, but he can make money other ways.
3. Ditch Traction Seal and really fix the roads. Traction Seal works well on newer pavement, but we have a lot of older, bad roads. A lot of older, bad roads.
4. Lower our electricity prices. We know the city is making money on Lancaster Choice. Instead of skimming off the top, pass that along to our residents
5. Select a location for the 10 story Buddha. That should keep you occupied for a while.
6. Actively work on bringing new businesses to Lancaster. We are tired of having to drive to Palmdale for just about everything. Although since we have been doing it so long, we are used to it.
7. Provide training in good manners for the mayor and council. People who come to our council meetings and speak out in disagreement with the mayor are treated rudely. That is not good for our image.
8. Fix the BLVD. It is a mess trying to park and get out of your car there. Thank goodness it is only really packed for the Halloween event. If it were packed all the time there would be many accidents.
9. Recruit more diversity on commissions. It does not look good, nor is it good, to have the mayor’s employees or the vice mayor’s son sitting in positions of power.
10. Change our election date to match the presidential elections. We will get a better turnout. Elections should be in November, not April.
11. Pay attention to East Lancaster. It is like the Forbidden Zone on Planet of the Apes. All the attention is on the BLVD. Lots of people live in East Lancaster, They are ignored.
12. Bring in district elections. One of the reasons that East Lancaster is ignored is because all our council are West Lancaster affluent Republicans. We have no Latino representation in a city with a substantial Latino population. Districts will help bring new ideas and blood to our stagnant council.
13. Fix the panhandling situation on the BLVD.
That ought to keep you busy and focused our our city, not theirs.
Shane Falco says
Has anybody explained the definition of libel to Tim Scott in terms that even a handyman can understand?
Tim Scott says
Foolco, you’re arrogance is pretty funny. Tell me, do you have a PhD in holding a hose, or did you get in the fire department through nepotism?
Randy says
Tim Scott, he’ll get back to you when his master tells him what to say next. What are they paying these days for blog patrol?
Not related to Don and Mike says
Foolco isn’t good enough at it to get paid. He’s just a tired old fireman from an entire family who have made their way in the world through pure nepotism. But somewhere along the line his family connected with the crony club in Lancaster…through the fairgrounds…so he’s got a soft spot for Wrecks.
William says
Is Falco still working or is he on disability? Seems to have a lot of time on his hands to whine and complain and whine some more.
Not related to Don and Mike says
He’s retired and sucking up pension courtesy of the taxpayers.
William says
Did he go on disability before retiring like some do?
Would hypocrisy like that on his part surprise anyone here?
He just doesn’t sound like a happy, well-adjusted person at all. Something’s fishy about our Shane Falco.
According to him, he’s well off yet spends too much time whining about Palmdale. What? Does Palmdale owe him money?
Wonder what his ‘friends’ say when he’s not around. “Whew!” They’re probably so tired of him.
Fooled us once, Shane on him. And, then whatever W said.
Will says
Tim,
We all know its nepotism. That’s how they all get in. And what’s baffling is how they immediately assume a superiority complex and think they’re “better” than the rest of us because they “work” for a living and buy overpriced junk and pay to live in overpriced, over-mortgaged tract homes in an overrated town with a bunch of other fake, soulless, spiteful people who also benefited from the same nepotism they did.
Tim Scott says
I’d be happy to meet Foolco somewhere. But he never accepts my invitations.
Karen says
Leave him alone! Steve Falco it’s ok I like you. Thank you for serving the life saving family of firefighters. God bless you.
Tim Scott says
Another family member chiming in? Or are you just another pen name for his brother Mike?
Fool4Foolco says
Mom? Is that you?
AV supporter says
I do not feel bad for him if ordinary human being commits a crime go to jail right away at least he’s not in jail right now he did a crime now it’s time for him to do his time now they need to open an investigation on Lancaster mayor
God is Good says
The END is Coming…
Rev 22:11-12
Thank you, Jesus!
May God’s will be done.
Soccer Mom says
Does Hofbauer forget he was on council when some of these contracts were approved. If I am not mistaken he approved contracts with these firms along with the Mayor. Now lets look at Parris’ connecion to the Eye in the Sky contract. Maybe this needs to be investigated by the DA.
BobM says
yes I’m sure council was aware of the back door dealings.
Tom says
I always had a funny feeling about him, and i guess i was right. If you really sit back and think Palmdale really isn’t any better or offer more too locals than Lancaster. They both have bad areas and shopping is about the same. Now if palmdale looked anything like Santa Clarita then i could see why you would brag, but there is really no difference other than area codes. If politicians were smart they would work together too make both cities great we have so much land between the two there is no reason why we cant have a major airport, stadium or something that brings big bucks in.
Stu says
Lancaster is run by a network of good old boy insiders that create situations that make huge sums of money for themselves at the expense of the citizens.
Look at how Palmdale is laid out as compared to Lancaster. Lancaster has no sense of organization. Palmdale has actual centers on both sides of town. Lancaster builds where people like Visco, Gilley, Parris, and the rest of them own land.
If Palmdale is taken over by the Lancaster group it will become another mess like Lancaster.
Jeni says
I agree!
William says
Tom, you can’t possibly be that blind.
Palmdale has higher property values, less crime, more desirable businesses, better credit rating, closer to Los Angeles for commuters, the mountains, the lake, and no wrecks parris. Also, much better city government.
parris actually bragged that 70% of the shoppers at the Antelope Valley Mall are from his city even as you say shopping is about the same.
Palmdale-adjacent is that place you can barely see when you come over the rise on the 14 with the Antelope Valley spread out before you. Yeah, it way out there in the dust.
Why should Palmdale help make Palmdale-adjacent great when its own elected officials don’t want to or can’t. It’s like trump is mayor of that city. All bs all the time.
As for Stu saying it has no organization, it’s so true. It’s as though everything just fell out of the sky and landed here, there and everywhere. Then, there are all the tired, old half-empty shopping centers whose anchor supermarkets have been long gone.
I wonder what happened to you that you can’t tell the difference.
Palmdale Native says
#ImwithPalmdale! Hang in there Ledford!
Thom says
The Lancaster Political Machine’s plan is now fully operational. Rex, Drew, and Marv, along with their puppets Hofbauer and Bishop, got what they wanted with the charges.
With Palmdale surging far ahead of Lancaster under Ledford, something had to be done. First they tried to win at the polls. When that failed, they turned to lawsuits and forced districts where they could install puppet councilmen Bishop and Hofbauer. This latest move is an attempt to remove Ledford once and for all and complete the plan.
The only problem with the plan is that this is America, and not Lancaster. In America, the presumption of innocent until proven guilty is the foundation of our legal system. It is not a matter of what Rex and Drew think.
The truth is that Rex’s track record with the DA is not good. He tried to pin the O’keefe murder on Raymond Lee Jennings. Jennings spent 10 years in jail thanks to Rex, but in the end, the charges were dropped. Rex used the DA to charge Randy Floyd and Esmerelda Jorge of the AVTA with crimes, but those charges were dropped too. What did happen was that these three people were destroyed by Rex. That is what they are trying to do to Ledford and Palmdale.
Innocent until proven guilty. Maybe Rex doesn’t think that way, but our legal system works that way.
Sam Adams says
Yeah, thats what we need…..Like a shiesty business man who was born into a fortune isn’t the same cloth as your “politician”. In fact, I’d argue that Trump is more crooked and has screwed more people than any politician under the guise of doing business….WTF is wrong with you people who blindly support an idiot who has put our national security in jeopardy with his “business” dealings with Russia and other possible foes? Aren’t you conservatives supposed to be “All American”? How can you continue to support a dude who continues to embarras the country with his stupid rantings, baseless claims and juvenile excerpts? Not to mention he seems particularly concerned with “asking” or “hoping” people who can expose his Russian bromance keep quiet….Republican or Democrat, its just embarrassing for the US to have this turd as the face of our country….
T-Rex says
Is Rex gonna defend him?
ANNON says
If you ask me…. many of the workers for they city are way overpaid… Another Bell Gardens?
Soccer Mom says
Look at the State Controller report for City of Palmdale salaries. Not even close to City of Bell. Educate yourself.
A Boy Named Sue says
If you ask me, ambulance chasing trial lawyers are way overpaid. They make money by suing businesses, cities, school districts, American Legion posts, and just about anyone who has money.
Always right says
Typical politician!!! We need more Trumps in governent
dlphillips says
Dear Always Right (Always GOP),
Your political acumen is exceeded only by your inability to use spellcheck.