BASTA Denounces Continued Relationship
with Oldtimers’ Foundation
It is time to wipe the slate clean of the Rizzo regime
BASTA calls for unanimous vote against contracting with Oldtimers
BASTA leadership calls a recommendation, by Bell City staff and an Ad-Hoc committee, to continue contracting with the Oldtimers’ Foundation for transportation services, “A slap in the face to every Bell resident that fought the Rizzo regime, George Cole and the Bell 8,” said BASTA spokesperson Denisse Rodarte . She added, “the current council is more than aware of the connection between the Old Timer's Foundation and Disgraced (and now Indicted) George Cole.
BASTA demands a 5-0 vote of City Council at this Wednesday council meeting (4/18/12 @ 7pm) to strike down the recommendation.
“To many people in our community the Oldtimers’ Foundation is synonymous with the Rizzo Regime’s way of doing business-- contracting to cronies without any accountability to the people. Allowing them to continue to contract with our city is simply unacceptable,” added Rodarte.
The Oldtimers’ Foundation and their Dial-a-Ride contract with the City of Bell came under scrutiny because they had received an inflated, no-bid contract for transportation services when their Executive Director George Cole served on the Bell City Council.
“The way this current contract is being awarded is NO different than the way Rizzo did things. They have circumvented the RFP process with this recommendation. There were no bids for a mixed use contract, and this resolution makes it so that ONLY the Oldtimers’ could qualify for this mixed use contract,” said BASTA representative Marcos Oliva. Additionally, BASTA activists expressed concerns over The Oldtimers’ use of City of Bell used vehicles to service contracts in other cities while only compensating Bell for maintenance costs.
“The whole history of the Oldtimers’ Foundation and the City of Bell is beyond shady. We want every one of our councilmembers to know that they were elected to advance reforms NOT to continue to do business with symbols of the Rizzo regime. They will be held accountable for their vote,” concluded Oliva.
