Criminal Investigation into Lompoc Housing On the Way

A few significant facts that Nick had included in previous articles but neglected to mention here - Joni Gray, 4th District Supervisor (includes Lompoc) running for re-election, was forced to recuse herself from any further discussions regarding LHCDC last year due to her "conflicts of interest". As County Assessor Geis discovered, Joni's husband was paid as LHCDC's attorney and her assistant, Sue Warnstrom, was LHCDC's 2010 President & VP prior to that. Warnstrom unexpectedly retired late in June without explanation and had "no comment" when contacted regarding her retirement! Gray also declined to comment and referred questions to Warnstrom.

This fiasco has gone on for years too long. Belatedly, Lompoc City Council hired Urban Futures to review and provide a report on the "pedigree" of all loans granted to LHCDC by the city. The city estimated this would take approximately 30 days once a consultant was hired. Urban Futures’ report was expected in June. Instead an update was provided at a council meeting May 15th - as reported in the Lompoc Record on May 17th "Steven Dukett, of Urban Futures, Inc., which was contracted by the city to revue the documents, said a report will likely be finished by early July. " As is the case with just about everything relating to LHCDC, Lompoc residents are still on hold waiting to hear anything more on that.

During Oral Communications at that Council Meeting, Carol Benham, requested grants - which do not have to be repaid - be included and why that is important. Grants were not included in the original request to Urban Futures.

Carol is a local reporter who has published numerous articles re LHCDC over the past 18 month. Councilman Bob Lingl announced LHCDC was the topic in his invite to his recent meet-up with the public, “Coffee with Bob”. Carol attended and requesting her comments, Bob said, "Carol Benham is our LHCDC expert”.

Carol's request & explanation to the City Council: (normally limited to 5 minutes she requested and was granted more time - this is indeed very complicated, convoluted & outrageous to say the least!). VERY WORTH THE WATCH!!
http://www1.cityoflompoc.com/councilv...

To read Carol's personal story on how she came to be involved, her articles among Nick Welsh’s and others including in the Lompoc Record today, the Grand Jury report and more significant details (not inclusive, i.e., not all LHCDC properties are linked on the map here): http://lhcdcinfo.com/index.html

If you agree with 457 others (and growing) the DA needs to get involved, please sign the petition linked there & post to your FB pages too!! EVERY taxpayer in Lompoc and SB County should be demanding this …and sooner rather than later!

To go directly to the petition::
http://signon.org/sign/district