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SLO agrees to pay homeless attorney fees

March 6, 2013

Homelss22-300x225The San Luis Obispo City Council voted 3-1 not to appeal a judge’s ruling awarding legal fees to two attorneys who worked on behalf of the homeless.

Councilman Dan Carpenter wanted to appeal San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall’s $133,880 fee judgment. In the end, the city council directed the city manager to pay the judgment plus daily interest.

In January, the council voted 4-1 not to appeal Crandall’s ruling on the legal fees and to instead offer the amount in full to attorneys Saro Rizzo and Stew Jenkins as long as they agree to then hand half over to San Luis Obispo Community Action Partnership. Jenkins and Rizzo rejected that offer and said they are pleased the council has elected not to appeal.

“We are glad that the majority of council members saw the wisdom in resolving the matter without expending further tax payer money on litigation,” Jenkins said. “Naturally, we hope that the city will find more reasonable ways to free churches, synagogues, Islamic centers, businesses and individuals to directly help people who have no place to live.”

 


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Kudos to the council on this one and kudos to the attorneys who refused to bow to CAPSLO. These guys deserve to be paid for the service they provided.


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…..and it’s dumb to dislike a comment just because it gives some credit to lawyers. Sorry for being so

uncontrarianlike.


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No one has commented about how valorous this council is in making this decision. Perhaps the fact that too many people were watching these developments played a role in their valor. YES I am being sarcastic.


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If half you yahoos had a clue what you were talking about it would be a miracle!


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In January, the council voted 4-1 not to appeal Crandall’s ruling on the legal fees and to instead offer the amount in full to attorneys Saro Rizzo and Stew Jenkins as long as they agree to then hand half over to San Luis Obispo Community Action Partnership.

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As I said in a previous post, what self important, pompous losers to try and dictate to the winners what the winners should do with their winnings.


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So who exactly is responsible for paying ALL of the legal fees and related expenses associated with this fiscal disaster? and


Is this entire matter really over or is the City of SLO still vulnerable for additional lawsuits for failure to comply with a superior court judge’s order to post the required sign and respect the provisions of the U.S. Constitution?


This entire matter exposes a lack of local leadership and a lack of understanding of federal constitutional law. Sorry citizens of San Luis Obispo because these recent actions will require the “city” to raise local fees to proportionally to cover the requires settlement ammounts, IN FULL!


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I with Cindy on this one. I am just amazed any Judge would demand sending $$ through CAPSLO. Why would he risk his good name to support an org that is known to have questionable tactics?


BTW, where is word of SSI investigating Lisa Niesen/Family Ties for hoarding Andersons’ $, to the point he has lost his benefits? Him losing his benefits because of their mis-handling of his funds is HUGE!!! I am a payee for a disabled man. Every penny is documented and accounted for. I signed a form that held me legally responsible, with the knowledge that any misappropriation will result in criminal charges!! Why in the world has Lisa gotten away with her antics? I am just waiting to see she has been arrested. I am dismayed over how anyone can willingly take advantage of the disabled or mentally ill.


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The difference is that Dee Torres had an illicit affair with SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill, and is now engaged to him. She has worked him up one side and down the other, to benefit herself, by enlisting his aid and influence in getting funding for CAPSLO and other agencies in which she has an interest.


Had you been involved in an illicit affair with Adam Hill, you would not have to worry about committing fraud against those who need the help of a homeless services organization. Adam Hill would take care of it for you.


Heck, if you were lucky he might even have one of his campaign goons put up a Facebook page in your defense.


You know the old saying…”It is not who you know but who you blow.” That is certainly the truth in this case.


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LAH says:”I am just amazed any Judge would demand sending $$ through CAPSLO. ”


Judge? No that was SLO City Council.


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This is all fine, and maybe even a little bit dandy; but what does it get? So both the plaintiff and the defendant get legal fees paid by the SLO City and County. Who benefits from this, except the lawyers providing legal services? Well, my guess is that CAPSLO and Family Ties will benefit from this – since more accusations will be made by one side and more denials will be made by the other side – with absolutely nothing real and tangible happening. Just keep the back-and-forth, she-said, they-said, he didn’t-say etc, etc. going along until the whole thing sorta, kinda fades away and life goes on.


If there is anyone that believes this is not exactly the tactic being used by CAPSLO and Family Ties, then I have sympathy for you. Unless, and or until, there is a full, open investigation and audit made by a total and complete outside body (God only knows how you might find one!), then the perpetrators have absolutely nothing to fear. Yes, they may have their names taken in vain in CCN, yes they may be a itsy-bit embarrassed; but they know how to take that and keep on trucking. Still get the exorbant salaries and benefits, still get raises each and every year, still get to play God with the homeless, still get to thumb their collective noses at the citizens of this county.


So who looses? The homeless – whose real situation will not change. The citizens – who will still pay for this and get nothing.


If the SLO city council really wanted to show some gumption, then they would immediately cut off all financial assistance to CAPSLO and Family Ties and require a complete, open to the public, investigation of the entire situation before even considering any monetary assistance. And the BOS would do the same thing -but this will never happen.


Welcome to City/County Government 101. All high school students should be required to study things like this to really understand civics and how things really get done.


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There is somewhat of a winner in this fiasco. At least CAPSLO/City County cannot harass homeless in their vehicles. CAPSLO can still punish the homeless by not allowing them services at Prado Day Care if the continue to camp on “their” street, ride their bicycle or walk in the area.


I remember when this community’s volunteers, the City, churches, Chamber of Commerce and local businesses circled the wagons many years ago to build this Prado Day Care Center for the homeless, not for CAPSLO, to get the homeless out of Mission Plaza. I remember the Old Mission Church donating the use of their hall to local churches for feeding the homeless and standing firm to not stop as requested by the City, Chamber of Commerce and many businesses until there was an alternative permanent place for tending to the homeless needs. I remember when this community was strong, honest, devoted and transparent in helping the homeless


I remember the successful daily operation of Prado Day Care Center. Then, I remember CAPSLO taking over the Prado Day Care Center. Then I remember Dee Torres taking over the Homeless Services Operations for CAPSLO. Then I remember all the rules, regulations, changes and abuses taking place at Prado Day Care Center. Then I remember the harassment and abuse of the homeless in their vehicles by CAPSLO. Then I remember Jenkins and Rizzo challenging CAPSLO and the City of SLO. Then I remember the Court proceedings and Jenkins and Rizzo winning for the homeless rights. Then I remember the legal settlement by the Court and the City Council voting to have Jenkins and Rizzo donate half of that settlement back to CAPSLO. I remember it all!


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QUOTING PASO_CITIZEN: ” Unless, and or until, there is a full, open investigation and audit made by a total and complete outside body (God only knows how you might find one!)…”


I believe an IRS forensic audit and/or a State Controller’s forensec audit and/or a SSA forensic audit would do the trick.


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LOL, LOL, LOL, Can you imagine these turkeys sticking to their guns in light of the CAPSLO scandal.


Cripe the whole story would have gone national overnight and the SLOCC sure don’t want that although it will eventually happen anyway.


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Good. Maybe Stew Jenkins’ legal fees can be paid by SLO City and County, as well. As long as one side of a dispute gets its legal representation without personal financial cost, and the other does not, there can be no justice.


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