The Coachella Valley Number ‘One’ Desert Local Newspaper
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STAR W E E K L Y
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Desert Hot Springs, CA
Contact In The Desert going on now, see page 5
PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, June 3, 2016 Vol. 9 No. 45
Givin’ It Back
Twenty-two high school students each Awarded $1,000 scholarships by California Desert Association of Realtors By Desert Star Staff The California Desert Association of REALTORS has awarded a total of $22,000 in academic scholarships to 22 high school seniors from public Coachella Valley High Schools at its recent (May 19) Annual Scholarship Breakfast. And for the first time, some scholarship winners were planning to further their education at area trade schools or educational academies rather than attend four year universities, according to
Emily DiSimone, Scholarship Committee chair. “Our thought is that we need to help kids here in the desert who aren’t necessarily going to leave the valley for a four-year university,” she said. “We want to help them to find a career and contribute to our community.” The students were honored along with parents and friends among 75 REALTORS and real estate associate members at the Griffin Ranch development in La Quinta. “This is showing what
REALTORS really do, investing in our community, not just in our business but in our future and our legacy,” said John Gronewold, CDAR executive director. For more than three decades, CDAR has rewarded bright, inspiring young people who want to further their education.” The students, selected from the Scholarship Committee from hundreds of well qualified applicants are: Amistad High School
Where’s the money?
– Ivan Amador Horizon High School – Gabriela Jaramillo La Quinta High School – Marco Mujica and Briana Becerra Indio High School – Glenda Garcia and Hayley Porras Cathedral City High School – Maria Ramirez and Magdalena Jaramillo Palm Springs High School – John Hunter (Hunter did not attend, excused) and Denae Esteban Desert Hot Springs High
School – Carol Abranjan and Karla Ocampo Arizmendi Shadow Hills High School – Yazaira Gonzalez and Gabriella Reyes Palm Desert High School – Jacqueline Gonzalez and Daniella Perez Coachella Valley High School – Maria Hernandez and Marisela Becerra Desert Mirage High School – Jessica Alvarado and Sergio Molinar Continues on Page 5
After fifteen years finally an indictment
By Pamela Price Judith Bingham, a Beaumont, Calif. resident and business owner contacted Alan Horwitz, Cathedral City real estate, business and tax attorney several years ago regarding unorthodox business practices in Beaumont and its apparent inability to account for funds from their Mello Roos property owners. The bottom line for Beaumont’s Mello Roos property taxpayers was simple; how and where did their $43 million go? Did Beaumont’s city
officials betray the public trust? In question were seven past city officials; prior City Manager Alan Kapanica, Chief of Police Frank Coe, Jr., Planning Director, Ernest Alois Egger, Joseph Alf, City Attorney, William Aylward. Finance Director and Deepak Morgan, City Attorney. After fifteen years mastering the art of obfuscation, these seven suspects were arrested and now facing felony charges; involving embezzlement by a public official, conspiracy
and misappropriation of funds. Collectively, they devised methods of diverting taxpayer funds from Mello Roos Bonds into their own pockets. By definition, Mello Roos Bonds were created to pay for property infrastructure improvements and services. To date, date $43 million designated for these purposes were never used for the purpose intended. After fifteen years of asking Continues on Page 2
Alan Horwitz Cathedral City Real Estate, Business and Tax Attorney.