As the former President of the Mission Hills Neighborhood Council and local business owner I have witnessed the narcissistic behavior of Mr. Fuentes. Starting with his first day in office and trying to make a good first impression
Fuentes appeared at our Neighborhood Council meeting to tout his plans for CD7 reform and throw stones at his political predecessor Richard Alarcon. Fuentes started his rhetoric by stating he had no budget because Alarcon left his office broke. Well, the questions on transparency and open government soon showed a different side of Fuentes. When asked to provide and explain his budget and discretionary funds, phone calls and emails stopped abruptly. Promises to add staff throughout CD7 to better serve constituents never materialized. Hiring his own family members, i.e.: Yolanda Fuentes, and never calling back qualified applicants to fill positions he promised to fill, i.e.: equestrian deputy, to serve the community etc.
Fuentes reputation as a sell out to developers and nonprofit organizations is no secret either. Recent video footage of Fuentes at a local Neighborhood Council meeting demonstrated his abrupt attitude and tone when he called to instruct the Council President not to record or video his appearance in public forum. The recent eviction of the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council from their office is another demonstration of backhanded political tactics employed by Fuentes.
The landscape of the northeast San Fernando political party better known as “The Machine” has driven commerce and quality of life issues further into the negative with the cartel group consisting of Tony Cardenas, Alex Padilla, Raul Bocanegra, Nury Martinez, Robert Hertzberg, and Fuentes. With a mission bent on government subsidized housing, low income housing, and welfare. Helping veterans and local business develop, welfare to work programs are taking a backseat to an agenda focused on the next election and who can take the next open office.
Fuentes spent the first two years in CD7 blaming and disparaging his predecessor and taking every photo opportunity available to make false promises to his constituents. When Fuentes former State Assembly Chief of Staff, Raul Bocanegra, lost to political incumbent Patty Lopez the vindictive behavior towards people aligned with the Lopez campaign were completely alienated by Fuentes. To sum it up… Fuentes is a political bully that withheld information from his own City Council colleagues when he leased space to LA Housing (nonprofit organization). Fuentes told his colleagues that the office space occupied by the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council was vacant. Hmmm…. Sounds like a little white lie of sorts to silence the politically active and vocal Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council. It’s time for transparency and open government in the northeast San Fernando Valley and Fuentes needs to be replaced along with nepotistic staff and “The Machine”.
Brad Klimovitch CAMF/BIF
Managing Director
North Valley Anger Management Consultants
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