County grand jury investigating claim of bribe demands by city leaders

By Alfred Lee, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/17/2008 06:05:38 PM PST

TEMPLE CITY - The county grand jury is investigating a developer's claim that city leaders demanded bribes in return for approving a long-delayed development project, sources said.

All five City Council members and the city manager testified before the grand jury on Monday, according to a City Hall source who requested anonymity.

Multiple sources said the grand jury is investigating allegations made by Randy Wang, the developer of the long-delayed Piazza mall project. Wang has accused Mayor Cathe Wilson and council members Judy Wong and David Capra of demanding cash payments and a condominium in return for cooperation on the project.

Wilson, Wong and Capra all have denied Wang's claims.

Along with Martin, Wilson, Wong and Capra, councilmen Fernando Vizcarra and Kenneth Gillanders also were questioned by the grand jury, sources said.

Gillanders said Wednesday that council members were prohibited from talking about their testimony.

"I can't discuss it. We're not allowed even to discuss it among ourselves," he said.

David Demerjian, head of the Public Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, has repeatedly declined to comment on whether there is an ongoing investigation into Wang's allegations.

Council members have expressed frustration that Wang continues to seek the city's cooperation on the Piazza project while at the same time accusing council members of soliciting bribes.
Advertisement
Quantcast

Wang raised the allegations as part of his counter-suit against the city, which sued the developer in April, claiming he failed to meet agreed-upon construction deadlines. The city's suit asks that the 4-acre property, at Las Tunas Drive and Rosemead Boulevard, should be returned to the city because of the delays.

In 2005, Wang and city officials agreed the Piazza at Temple City project would be completed by August 2009.

The project included 124,000 square feet of retail space, 52 new one-bedroom condominiums, food courts, restaurants and a banquet facility. But Wang recently scaled back the plans, scrapping the condo portion. The site remains empty, despite breaking ground twice since 2006.

Wang filed his cross-complaint against the city in September. In it, he alleges council members solicited bribes and deliberately impeded progress on his project.

In pre-trial documents, Wang said he was pressured to give $13,000 in unreported cash contributions to the campaigns of Wong and Capra and a third council candidate who lost in the March 2007 election.

He also charged that council members demanded a condominium and cash payments of $50,000 and $48,000 at various stages in the project's planning.

alfred.lee@sgvn.com

(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4496

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_11256792