Mayor Lopez's Travel Expenses

Okay, let me see if I understand this correctly! Orange Cove is one of the POOREST cities in California, yet according to an article published in the Los Angeles Times
"Lopez's penchant to travel the world-China, Mexico, and elsewhere- in the name of official business-over the past five years has cost the city nearly $174,000" (Salladay). The author also notes that Lopez's expenses were higher than Governor Schwarzenegger's FOREIGN TRAVEL EXPENSES! That's a lot of freaking oranges.

In an article from July, the Bee reported that Lopez — mayor of one of the state's poorest cities with a high unemployment rate and gang problems — had received dozens of extra travel "allowances" worth $300 each for attending meetings. One was just 10 miles away. The city didn't require receipts to justify travel expenses until May.And, according to Eldon Thompson "Lopez has spent tens of thousand$ on TRAVEL from 2005-2009. Primarily to Sacto, Southern CA (Paul Rodgriguez + LA area politicos), day trips and overnighters throughout CA for the Ca Latino Water Coaliton, and much more".

Some of Mayor Lopez's expenditures (primarily funded by the tax paying citizens of Orange Cove):

[$] LOPEZ - Morton's The Steakhouse (Washington D.C.)-$80.03 for dinner for one (that includes a $7.00 baked potato)

[$] LOPEZ - The Watergate Hotel -$35.54 for two bottles of Evian Water (these are about two bucks each in a convenience store)

[$] LOPEZ - Morton's The Steakhouse (L.A.)-$79.01 for dinner for one (with same old $7.00 baked potato)

[$] LOPEZ - Wilshire Grand Hotel -$26.92 for breakfast for one (includes Quaker Oats for $7.00)

[$] LOPEZ - Bashear Chevron mini-mart -$3.16 for a bottle of water and a Hostess Ding-Dong

[$] LOPEZ - Esquire Grill -$89.46 for dinner for TWO (Lopez and Rodriguez – it is written on the receipt).. further research indicates that Rodriguez was paid a $60/day meal allowance, BUT Lopez pays for dinner, Rodriguez keeps his ca$h and Lopez charges the taxpayers for the meal (aka –“Double Dipping”)-- an aggressive/thoughtful investigator may call that fraud and misuse of public fund$.

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Someone has some esplaining to dooo!

(Information obtained via Eldon Thompson "Government Accountability". topix board)