LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Able-bodied Californians are using disabled placards — to park for free — and costing the city millions of dollars in revenue.

CBS2’s Investigative Reporter David Goldstein reveals that as many as one-fourth of drivers in the state are using disabled placards fraudulently.

Hidden cameras caught many active people — working out at an expensive health club in West Los Angeles — moments after they parked. With the disabled placards, they are allowed to park for free and never have to feed meters like everyone else using the facility.

There are nearly two-and-a-half million disabled placards in California – that’s one in every 10 drivers in the state.

To qualify for placards, drivers must have a medical professional certify they have substantial impaired mobility, lung or cardiovascular disease or severe vision problems, according to the DMV.

A hidden camera caught one woman place her placard in the rear view mirror of her Range Rover before taking a spin class – several days in a row.

According to DMV records, the woman has been disabled for over a decade.

“You’ve had the placard since 1999. Do you have a disability or are you just using it to park for free?” Goldstein asked.

“I obviously have a disability,” the woman said.

When asked to explain her disability, the woman responded, “There’s laws regarding privacy matters.”

An internationally-renowned fitness expert, Karen Voight, was also spotted using a disabled placard. She teaches a stretching class at the health club.

“You have a disability?” Goldstein asked.

“Well, my knee is unable to do a lot of things, and I was told by the doctor to be off of it as often as I can,” Voight responded.

“Even though you’re teaching a class here twice a week?” Goldstein said.

“But I don’t. What I teach is a rehab class,” she said.

The health club simply labels the class as “stretching.”

Young kids were also seen weight-lifting and playing basketball — their car uses a placard linked to a 77-year-old man.

Commander Vito Scataglia of the DMV said once the placards applications are signed by medical professionals, there is not much the DMV can do about stopping fraud. And once you get one of the placards, it is renewed for life.

“We legally cannot ask why she has a placard,” he said. “We cannot legally ask what her disability is.”

The city of Los Angeles issued 227 citations in 10 months of last year for misuse of disabled placards.

“It can be frustrating,” said Sgt. Kimmy Porter of the LA Department of Transportation. “It’s just easy access to parking. You know, you’re parked at a parking meter, you don’t have to pay. You can stay there for any length of time.”

And it’s more than city funds this misuse is affecting.

Nancy Becker Kennedy of Californians for Disability Rights said taking up spots is dangerous for her and other drivers who have disabilities.

“Shame on them. I mean if I’m parking two blocks away, and I get to the end of the curb and there’s no curb cut, and I have to go down a driveway into the street you know – how much money would you give for what my life is worth?”

LOS ANGELES (KNX 1070) — Months after Super Storm Sandy devastated parts of the New York tri-state area – causing lengthy power outages and forcing a major Manhattan medical center to evacuate patients – an examination of Southern California’s ability to weather such a natural disaster raises some disturbing questions.

A final report last month from the California Public Utilities Commission on the performance of Southern California Edison following the hurricane force windstorm here in 2011, took the power company to task for many failures, and a KNX1070 investigation shows that one of the key problems identified by the Commission has yet to be corrected by Edison.

“Their emergency planes were not up to date in certain ways, ” says Raymond Fugere, a Commission program and project supervisor, in an interview with KNX1070, ” their restoration time was inadequate.”

In particular, the Commission found many of Edison’s wood poles “were not strong enough to withstand the force of the wind,” either because of “inadequate design” or because they had too much communications equipment attached to them.

But, more than one year after the windstorm here, Edison is still evaluating the power pools.

“We have a comprehensive plan where we are going to be inspecting every single pole in our service territory and we will have a report out to the CPUC summer of 2013, ” says Edison spokesman Dan Chung in an interview. He says poles that need to be replaced will be.

While the state commission says it has a fairly good notion on how prepared Edison is in the event of a future natural disaster (better than before the 2011 windstorm, the commission claims), it is less certain about some other area power companies because of jurisdictional issues, KNX1070 has found.

“Their facilities (Los Angeles Water & Power and Pasadena Water & Power) come under the jurisdiction of the Commission for safety, but their emergency responses, unfortunately, don’t, so we don’t have as much knowledge of their systems,” Fugere tells KNX1070. (He does give high marks to San Diego Gas & Electric, saying it is “extremely well prepared.”)

Mobile Field Hospital Moved From SoCal Up North

In the event of a natural disaster–earthquake, fire or flood–other than the resilience of our power grid, our health care system is vital. And yet, budget cuts, KNX1070 has learned, has led to the removal of the only mobile field hospital warehoused in Southern California because the cost of the local warehouse was too expensive, official say.

In 2007, California taxpayers purchased three enormous mobile field hospitals to be used in the event of a natural , or man-made, disaster–especially in the event regular hospitals are unable to function (as was the case with some medical centers in the northeast after they lost power or were flooded following Super Storm Sandy).

Each mobile hospital can house up to 200 beds and are capable of providing acute care–they come complete with emergency and operating room suites as well as their own power generation and air systems.

Initially, the budget was $1.7 million a year, says Dr. Howard Backer, the director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority. That budget, he tells KNX1070, is now down to zero, forcing him to seek donations from private groups and local hospitals. So far, he says, no one has written a check.

In the long run, the entire program, he says, is now in jeopardy. In the short run, the only mobile field hospital that had been warehoused in Southern California has been moved to the Bay area. (There are two mobile field hospitals in the Bay area now and one in Sacramento).

While Dr. Backer says one of the mobile field hospitals could be shipped down south in an emergency, “the optimal arrangement would be to have one hospital based in Southern California, absolutely; but that adds to the costs.”

Most LA Residents Not Prepared For Emergency

In the event of a natural disaster, officials agree it is vital for families and individuals to have both emergency supplies of food and water, as well as an emergency communications plan on how to reach family and friends.

Yet a 2011 survey (the most recent) found that only 42.6 percent of households surveyed in Los Angeles County actually had a family emergency plan, says Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Public Health for Los Angeles County.

Dr. Fielding tells KNX 1070 that his department has learned lessons from Super Storm Sandy back east, as well as our own windstorms, wild fires and mudslides.

Talking Lampposts To The Rescue?

A Michigan lighting company thinks it has the answer to emergency preparedness–not only here in Southern California, but nationwide: Talking lampposts. Well, actually, “intelligent” street lights that can be equipped with sensors to detect everything from earthquakes to floods, and are equipped with internal speakers and signs that would allow police and fire officials to communicate directly to the public in times of emergency.

Ron Harwood, CEO of Intellistreets (Illuminating Concepts) , tells KNX1070 that his so-called “Intellistreets” system is already being tested in Michigan, as well as on a small section of boardwalk in New Jersey, where he says it survived the wrath of Hurricane Sandy.

Harwood says he is currently talking to some northern California communities about his smart lampposts, but has not yet had discussions with government officials here in Southern California, though he clearly would like to.

Some have raised privacy concerns about the lampposts, fearing they might clandestinely record peoples’ conversations or pipe them live back to police, but Harwood says such fears are unfounded because, he says, the lampposts are not equipped with technology that would allow them to self-start such two way communications.

In an emergency, however, they would allow a person to press a button that would open up a channel of communication with local authorities.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — CBS2 Investigative Reporter David Goldstein met a man who claims to sell the hottest tickets in town.

“It’s an ‘A’ list event. It’s an ‘A’ list event,” said the man. He first insisted Goldstein’s undercover producer would be mingling with the stars at producer Clive Davis’ GRAMMYs party.

The stars and host Clive Davis. “We’ll be in there with Clive Davis? Bumping elbows with Clive Davis?”

The man replied, “Exactly.”

Clive Davis has other ideas. “That’s just a fantasy,” he said, “That’s someone who’s trying to take your money.”

Goldstein responded to an ad on Craigslist, for tickets to tonight’s GRAMMYs.

He received a return email from Kevin Anderson with Dream Tickets Inc.

Their website says they sell tickets to VIP events and promise extraordinary access to big events.

Anderson insisted to Goldstein’s undercover producer that they “won’t have any problem.”

He told the producer he could get tickets for the exclusive gold section at the Staples Center … and more — like Clive Davis’ swanky, invite-only pre-GRAMMYs event. “You’re going to be on a list. I’m going to meet with the lady tonight or tomorrow and set it up. And I’m going to give her my guest list and let her know everybody that’s going to be there.”

The promise of getting into the party cost big bucks. $3,000 to be exact.

Anderson also claimed to have tickets to the Oscars and Governor’s Ball. “I can get you into the Governor’s Ball … no problem.”

According to the Academy, problem. A spokesperson tells Goldstein, “The Oscars and the Governors Ball are private, invitation-only events. Tickets are not available to the public.”

And the same thing goes for the GRAMMYs. Chief Business Development Officer Branden Chapman says tickets to the GRAMMYS are also invite-only.

The same thing goes for Davis’ pre-party. Says Chapman, “I find it very hard to believe. There’s basically two or three people that have control of the guest list. It’s a computerized check-in. As soon as one person checks in, the rest of the computers automatically known to void that individual off of any future check-in.”

Goldstein ultimately confronts Anderson. “I’m David Goldstein with CBS2 News. There are no tickets to Clive Davis’ party, are there?”

Anderson replies, “I don’t know.”

Goldstein demands, “What do you mean you don’t know? You just told this woman who works with us that you were going to get her into the Clive Davis party. What do you mean, you don’t know? Clive Davis’ people say they don’t sell tickets. It’s invitation only.”

Anderson says, “There’s invites and there’s people who can get them in.”

He claims he has “connections.” But Goldstein says, his website was created just last month. And the phone number is disconnected

Furthermore, his Dream Tickets Inc., isn’t incorporated in California — or anywhere else.

The cellphone number on his email is traced back to a man named Kenneth Cruz.

Goldstein asks, “Is your name Kevin Anderson or Kenneth Cruz?”

Anderson, or Cruz, didn’t answer but maintained he could deliver. “I got the right tickets, the right person and the right contacts to get you wherever you want to go.”

But Goldstein asks if “wherever” actually includes the Clive Davis party? Says Anderson (or Cruz?) “Whatever you think. Whatever you want to think.”

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — With a large hat covering his face – and the passage of time covering his secrets – former priest Joseph Pina wasn’t talking.

“Mr. Pina, did you tell LAUSD about your past?” asked CBS2 Investigative Reporter David Goldstein.

“I have no comment,” Pina replied.

“Did you think you had to tell LAUSD about your past?” Goldstein asked.

“No comment right now,” replied Pina.

Goldstein caught up with Pina just after the Archodiocese released his formerly secret files in which he admitted to a psychologist that he fell in love with a 13-year-old girl in the late 80s.

Pina said he touched the girl sexually, saying, “She dressed as Snow White and it triggered some memories for me….I had a crush on Snow White.”

“You admitted to having sexual relations with a young girl?” Goldstein asked.

“I have no comment,” Pina replied.

After he retired, Pina worked for LAUSD until he was laid off last year.

Public records show Pina lived in South Los Angeles for at least the last 10 years, his window looking out across the street at an LAUSD school.

Because he hasn’t been convicted and is not a registered sex offender, there’s nothing prohibiting Pina from living near a school.

Even so, parents are troubled.

“I have a daughter, cousins, nieces, other people’s children going to that school,” said one mom. “That’s ridiculous. They need to do something about that.”

Pina was investigated in 2002 for another alleged sex crime that happened in the church, but charges were never filed. Now these new allegations have Sheriff’s detectives opening a new case.

“We heard about this case only because one, the media coverage, and two, the records being released to the public. We were never notified by the Catholic church, the Archdiocese concerning the second victim,” said

The statute of limitations goes back to 1988, so Pina may be prosecuted depending on the exact date.

But he’s not talking.

“The police are now looking into this. Are you concerned about that?” he was asked.

“I have no comment,” Pina replied. “Excuse me, have a good day. Thank you.”

David Goldstein, CBS2 News

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com)  — A David Goldstein investigation reveals that more than 13,000 boxes of perfectly fine Girl Scout cookies were trashed — rather than donated.

Goldstein has video of a tractor trashing the cookies before they were sent to a landfill.

“Listen,” he says, “as a worker gleefully cheers it on.”

Says the worker, “Goodbye, Girl Scout cookies!”

The video was taken last May. But sources tell Goldstein this practice has been going on for years — these cookies were leftovers.

The cookies were well within their expiration date. They still had shelf life.

Why are they destroyed instead of donated?

Pastor Cathy Purden of the Rock of the Valley Church in Van Nuys says, “That’s something those children could have had, cookies.”

The congregation prays for food. They feed 50-60 people once a week using food donations. Pastor Purden says she would have gladly accepted the cookies. “You stop and think about how many little children would be excited if you gave them a box of Girl Scout cookies. I would be excited. I buy them.”

Goldstein traced the trashed cookies to the San Gorgonio Council of the Girl Scouts in Redlands.

He asks Chuck MacKinnon of San Gorgonio Girl Scouts, “You didn’t know the cookies were being destroyed”?

MacKinnon says, “We didn’t know that was the way they were being disposed of, no.”

Goldstein asks, “What goes through your mind when you see all these cookies (being thrown away?)”

MacKinnon says, “To look at it, it’s a waste of food.”

He says it’s their supplier, ABC Bakery, that destroyed the cookies. He explains the Scouts ordered too many boxes but are allowed to only return one percent of the unsold cookies back to the bakery without paying for them.

Eleven-hundred cases trashed, 13,200 boxes in all.

Goldstein says, “Aren’t you just passing the buck to the bakery? And laying the blame on the bakery? It was your council that over ordered?”

MacKinnon replies, “No, I don’t see it that way. But if that’s the way someone wants to take a look at it.”

Goldstein shoots back. “Couldn’t you have purchased those 1100 cases — and donated them?”

Admits MacKinnon, “We certainly could have.”

Goldstein made several attempts to get a response from Richmond, Virginia-based ABC Bakery but they refused comment. They referred Goldstein to Girl Scout headquarters in New York.

A spokesperson says there is no national policy on what to do with unsold cookies saying “it’s a shame” what happened in Riverside.

Sadly, food is wasted all the time.

Goldstein showed the cookie-trashing video to Bruce Rankin of the Westside Food Bank.

Obviously he hates to see food wasted. “We would have gladly accepted the cookies and they would probably disappear as fast as any product we have in here,” says Rankin.

MacKinnon tells Goldstein that after seeing the cookie trashing, things will change. “Is it the Girl Scout way? No. Did it happen? Yes. Will it happen again? No.”

He says they will stop ordering more cookies than they sell.

San Gorgonio also wants to make it clear they often donate unsold cookies — more than 100,000 boxes last year alone.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Investigative reporter David Goldstein caught a high-ranking employee of LA County Fire allegedly drinking on the job.

Goldstein’s hidden cameras captured Vic Mesrobian, an assistant chief of County Fire’s information management department, drive off in a county fire vehicle and drink beer while on duty during lunch.

His formal title, Information Technology Manager, is a civilian position that pays $124,421.48 a year in taxpayer money.

Goldstein confronted Mesrobian, who’s been with LA County Fire for 29 years.

“Is that what taxpayers are paying you to do? Go drinking on the job?” Goldstein asked.

In addition to the six-figure salary, Mesrobian gets to drive a county car – with a seal on the door. The car, which is equipped with emergency radios inside, has “Fire” clearly marked on the bumper.

Goldstein spotted Mesrobian pull into the parking lot of Luminarias Restaurant in Monterey Park.

He got out, walked inside and had lunch with two women.

Goldstein watched the waiter deliver beer bottles, which appeared to be Modelo. He saw Mesrobian pour the beer into a glass and sip from a straw.

“He could have been drinking a Michelada – a mixture of Mexican beer and tomato juice,” Goldstein reported.

The waiter took the empty bottles away and Goldstein spotted yet another round being ordered. In fact, he watched as Mesrobian reportedly drank for more than an hour.

Mesrobian then paid the bill and the three departed. Goldstein followed as Mesrobian, who was smoking a cigarette, walked to his county car.

Mesrobian drove less than a mile and headed up the road to County Fire headquarters. Goldstein confronted him once he turned into a maintenance yard and parked.

“You had two beers didn’t you? And then you’re driving the county car? Is that the responsible thing to do?”

Mesrobian didn’t reply. He walked inside the building and then returned – to get behind the wheel again.

Goldstein questioned him again.

“Is it responsible to drive? You’re driving again, man? You just had two beers. Is that the responsible thing?”

Again, Mesrobian didn’t reply.

“What do you say to taxpayers who are paying your salary? And you’re going out and doing this at lunch?” Goldstein probed further.

He drove his car into the garage and Goldstein followed. “You don’t want to talk about it?”

“I have nothing to say. That’s it,” Mesrobian said.

“Why not? Why don’t you explain what you were doing and why you were drinking on the job?” Goldstein responded.

He thought about the question – long and hard. But he still had no explanation.

“I have nothing to say,” Mesrobian said.

According to LA County Fire policy, no employee shall consume alcohol while on duty.

“Drinking and driving. Drinking on the job, of course [is not allowed]. It’s written in our manuals. So anything like that, we’d need to see the evidence and we would handle the matter internally, of course,” LA County Fire Captain Thomas Richards said.

“The evidence could be found in what you’ve just seen in our hidden camera video,” Goldstein reported.

County Fire says Mesrobian is now under investigation.

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Exes are posting nude photos of women online in what has been dubbed “revenge porn.”

CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein said a certain website, which he chose not to identify, is the hotspot for ex-husbands, ex-lovers or ex-boyfriends to anonymously send in the naked pictures of their former significant others.

“Vicki,” a 28-year-old Riverside nursing student and single mom, said she found naked pictures of herself, along with her phone number, on the website. She later discovered her former boyfriend was the culprit.

“It’s horrible. It’s disgusting. It’s sad,” she said. “It makes me feel like somebody could possibly stalk me, somebody could possibly hurt me, somebody could possibly rape me, murder me. So I live in fear.”

Vicki told Goldstein, “My family could see these pictures. I have a 4-year-old son, and this could damage him, as well.”

Craig Britton, a 28-year-old from Colorado Springs, owns the “revenge porn” site.

He told CBS2’s sister station in Denver that he had no regrets about giving people a place to display revealing pictures of women.

“We’re not doing anything to hurt them. We’re not trying to hurt them. We’re not out for revenge or any sort of malicious thing. We don’t want these people to hurt. We just want entertainment. We want the money, so yeah, if it comes down to it, that’s what we’re after. We’re out to make a buck,” he said.

Vicki said Britton should “burn in hell.”

“He probably knows that people hate him because I do. I hate him,” she said.

Vicki said she blames Britton—more than her ex-boyfriend—for her photos ending up online.

“If there’s no avenue, how’s my ex-boyfriend going to post any pictures?” she said.

Goldstein said if women want their pictures taken off of the website, it can be arranged with what’s known as the “Takedown Hammer.”

The catch? It costs $250.

“I don’t think anyone should have to pay any money to get their unwanted pictures removed,” said Vicki.

According to federal statutes, however, it’s perfectly legal.

Charlotte Laws of Woodland Hills said topless pictures of her daughter were posted online.

“The problem with ‘revenge porn’ is that it’s basically not a criminal act,” she said.

Laws said she’s now become an advocate against “revenge porn.”

“It’s not the victim’s fault. So many people want to blame the victim just like, 20, 30 years ago, they liked to blame the rape victim. No, that’s not it. We need to change the law so these victims are not further victimized,” she said.

Several states are looking into some way to prevent pictures from ending up online without permission.

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A suspect has been identified in what Long Beach police are calling an apparent “domestic violence” murder.

Kevin Adonis Forrest, 41, was arrested at the 6500 block of Falcon Avenue, where the body of a woman was found.

The LBPD has not released details on just how the woman may have died, but did confirm that they responded to a disturbance call  around 7:20 p.m. and found her inside the residence, where she was pronounced dead.

Forrest was booked for murder and is currently being held at the Long Beach Jail on $1,000,000 bail.

A witness reported that the death was inside a home with a “For Sale” sign in front.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is currently in the process of identifying the victim and determining her cause of death.

A spokesperson for the Long Beach Police Department reported that the investigation is still ongoing.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — We found a Caltrans employee spending hours at a private school that he owns – at the very same time he’s supposed to be earning your taxpayer money.

Another Caltrans employee is giving an estimate for a construction company that he owns while taking home a paycheck from the state.

We caught them both and wanted to know if they’re moonlighting on taxpayer money.

Gamal Tawfik works the day shift for Caltrans in Downey as a senior transportation engineer. He made more than $100,000 in taxpayer money last year.

But we discovered Tawfik is also executive director of the new Montessori School in La Puente, which he owns with his wife.

On March 14, we saw him arrive at the school at 11:16 in the morning. He had left the Caltrans office in Downey about a half hour earlier and drove 15 miles to the school in this red truck rented by Caltrans. That’s right, taxpayers are not only paying his salary, but gas and transportation.

Tawfik spent about two hours and ten minutes at the school. We then followed him as he went back to Caltrans after a more-than-three-hour break.

About a week later on March 20, we saw him arrive at his Downey office shortly before 10 a.m. He left about three hours later. We followed him to a strip mall around the corner from his Caltrans office. He parked the truck around the back. With our hidden cameras, we watched to see where he was going.

We don’t know what went on behind closed doors. The sign outside says “massage”. A spokesman for the Downey Police Department says vice officers have conducted three prostitution stings at the day spa – the most recent one last year.

We saw Tawfik leave about an hour later. He got back into his taxpayer-funded truck and again drove to his school, where our undercover producer met with him. First he said he and his wife were there often.

“We are here just to, kind of, you know, every other day,” he said.

“Oh, you come here every other day?” the producer asked.

Then he backtracked.

“Sometimes weeks go by and I am not here,” he said.

“Why should taxpayers pay for you to go to your own school?” Goldstein asked.

A few weeks later, we caught up with Tawfik.

“Presumably while you’re earning taxpayer money, you’re over at the school. Why is that?” Goldstein asked.

“Sir, you’re so desperate for a story. I have nothing to do with it, please,” Tawfik responded.

“But you’re driving a Caltrans-rented truck while you’re over at your own school?” Goldstein questioned.

“No, I am not,” Tawfik said.

He denied taking the truck, which we clearly caught him doing. Caltrans says it can only be used for government business. But we saw Tawfik using the taxpayer-funded truck to drop his daughter off at school, go shopping at T.J.Maxx, Lowe’s, The Salvation Army, and, of course, going to and from that day spa.

“Were you getting a massage on taxpayer money? Were you getting an erotic massage on taxpayer money?” Goldstein asked.

“Are you so desperate for a story?” Tawfik said.

“Sir, I can show you the video,” Goldstein replied.

He didn’t want to see it. Later, his attorney wrote us saying Tawfik was “seeking massage therapy for a low back condition.” And as far as the school, he said Mr. Tawfik and his wife own the school, but he has never worked there, nor has he received any salary or compensation. He has neither a second job, nor is he engaged in any form of “moonlighting.”

We also found Amir Kazemi. He’s a transportation engineer for Caltrans in San Bernardino and made almost $90,000 last year, but he also owns a construction company in Redlands.

On April 3, we watched him leave the Caltrans office in his own truck shortly after 10:30, then drive 30 minutes to Victorville and meet with our undercover producer.

“I appreciate you taking the time. I hope you weren’t too busy,” the producer said.

“No, no,” Kazemi said.

She had called for an estimate.

“We can do everything you want. It’s up to you what you like,” Kazemi said.

All totaled, he was away from his state job for just over two hours.

When Goldstein caught up with Kazemi, he denied being on the taxpayer’s dime.

“You are earning taxpayer money and you work for your own company?” Goldstein asked. “You’re moonlighting on taxpayer time?”

“No,” Kazemi replied.

“What do you mean ‘no?’” Goldstein asked.

He later sent Goldstein what he claims to be his time sheet. It shows that on that day he took an hour of annual leave – vacation time – to meet with us. The second hour, he said, was his lunch break.

But on April 4, we saw him leave the Caltrans office again for more than two hours and return with bales of hay, which he later admitted to Goldstein was not Caltrans-related.

His time sheet for that day shows he was supposed to be earning his taxpayer money all day.

We also found Caltrans employees who moonlight as realtors or own their own consulting company.

“If you’re on Caltrans time, you need to be doing Caltrans business,” Caltrans Deputy Director Will Shuck said.

Shuck says working a second job is fine, but not while you’re working for the state.

“The idea is you’re working for the taxpayers. You owe the taxpayers a days work if you’re going to charge then for a day’s pay,” he said.

But that’s not what we found with some Caltrans employees.

“You are supposed to be working for Caltrans, who collects taxpayer money. You’re moonlighting on taxpayer money, aren’t you?” Goldstein asked.

But may not be working a full day for the taxpayer.

— David Goldstein, CBS2 News

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — City, county and federal agencies, along with some elected officials, are getting a free ride through new toll lanes on the 10 and 110 freeways in Los Angeles, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

The database from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority showed the thousands of times government vehicles didn’t have a FasTrak transponder and didn’t pay the toll fees.

Goldstein specifically uncovered 3,948 overdue toll violations on the freeways, which added up to nearly $50,000 in tolls and fines in just the first few months the FasTrak lanes have been in operation.

The only vehicles exempt from paying tolls are emergency vehicles going to and from an actual emergency, along with the California Highway Patrol, buses and Caltrans.

Last week, video showed Councilman Jose Huizar getting into his city-issued, taxpayer-funded Toyota Highlander.

Pictures later showed the vehicle blowing through the electronic toll on the 110 Freeway.

Goldstein reported Huizar drove through the lanes three times in February and March and should have paid more than $80 for his overdue violations.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. I have never seen this, I don’t recall anything,” Huizar said.

The councilman claimed it wasn’t him in the SUV, although his office didn’t say who was driving.

“My car is used by multiple people. I am not the only one assigned to the vehicle,” said Huizar.

Goldstein said the vehicle was also assigned to Councilman Tom LaBonge, who had four violations in November 2012.

LaBonge owed just under $12 since there was a grace period in the first 60 days of FasTrak.

LaBonge initially said he didn’t know anything about his violations and wasn’t sure the tolls were even in operation at the time.

“I don’t know if it’s a violation. I want to see what it was,” he said.

After LaBonge was convinced he was caught, he wrote a personal check.

“This is to reimburse the GSD. It’s not a lot of dough, but this makes it,” he said.

Goldstein found one FasTrak violation to the car assigned to Councilman Ed Reyes, and another to Council President Herb Wesson.

Wesson said he never got a notice about the toll violation.

“You think city officials have the responsibility to pay tolls like everyone else?” asked Goldstein.

“Yeah, but I don’t know how well of an outreach program they have. I am not blaming them. I am the one who I believe was driving,” said Wesson.

Goldstein said thousands of records showed vehicles from LAX, the mayor’s office, the University of California system and the state had unpaid violations.

The city of Los Angeles and LAX later took care of their outstanding violations after Goldstein started asking questions.

Stephanie Wiggins of the MTA said everyone is required to pay the toll fees.

“We give no special treatment to elected officials,” she said.

However, there’s a catch.

For private vehicles that don’t pay, the Department of Motor Vehicles can put a hold on the registration when it comes up for renewal.

The DMV can’t do that with government plates.

“We sent out the violation notices and we work with those agencies to ensure they have a process to distributing it or disbursing those violation notices to the employees and ask them to pay the violation notices,” Wiggins said.

She added, “(If they don’t), the only other recourse would be to take them to collections.”

The MTA, however, wasn’t planning on doing that.

LOS ANGELES (CBS2) — While your children ride LAUSD buses, we obtained the most recent reports, finding fuel leaks, steering violations that could endanger students, and bad brakes.

A violation was issued in March last year for bus 3929, the same bus John Bess’ daughter rides every day. And he had no way of knowing.

“The only thing is, I can’t do a brake check. You know what I mean? I can’t go under the bus for the two or three seconds that I get my daughter off the bus,” Bess told CBS2.

The reports come from the California Highway Patrol, which inspects school buses every 13 months in terminals.

Even though the district is aware ahead of time, and can get every vehicle ready for inspectors, we found 51 buses that were ordered out of service, taken off the streets because of mechanical problems.

That’s about an average of four every month, or 1 in 25 of the district’s 1,300 bus fleet.

“And what does it mean when you pull a bus out of service?” Goldstein asked a CHP officer.

“If we pull it out of service, it means there is some issue with the bus that does not make it safe at that moment for the children to be on board,” he said.

We found issues such as worn tire tread and cracked brackets. One bus had a fuel leak at the fuel tank, while another had fuel leaking from the filer.

Bus safety expert Robert Berkstresser says that could be a big problem.

“It depends on the type of fuel being used: diesel versus gas. If it’s gas, it’s more flammable,” Berkstresser said.

Inspectors also found several buses with steering issues, while others had bad brakes.

“Those are two critical items that are for sure going to put your bus out of service: the steering components and brakes,” Berkstresser said.

Keep in mind, prior to these inspections, children were on board every bus.

“The question remains, ‘Well, how many days did it run in this fashion before the CHP carrier found it?’” Berkstresser said.

The buses were repaired immediately and put back on the streets. We found bus number 6308, one that was taken out of service because of a fuel leak last September, shuttling students to Reseda High School.

And bus number 3940, another with a fuel leak found in March of last year, picking up students at Plummer Elementary School in the north valley.

The LAUSD says the buses are safe — not only inspected by the CHP, but also their own mechanics every 45 days. The district issued the following statement:

“Parents can be assured that the safety of students, including the safe school bus transportation of students, is a priority at LAUSD and every precaution is taken to ensure that school buses are safely inspected and maintained.”

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is under fire for producing a controversial video depicting the Asian community—all with taxpayer money, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

The video, shot at the Japanese Garden at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, showed a non-Asian man dressed as a geisha girl who talked with a mock Japanese accent.

“The Japanese water park is a beautiful, beautiful site, with blooming, blooming lotus and water lilies,” the actor said.

The short was apparently meant to teach viewers about recycled water, which is what they use at the Japanese Garden.

Greg Kimura, the head of the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles, was outraged by the film.

“It’s just awful…it’s absolutely offensive. I find it personally offensive and in poor taste. It’s embarrassing, it’s embarrassing to even watch it,” he said.

Kimura continued, “It brings back all the worst stereotypes. The accents, the whiteface. I’m embarrassed for everybody who is involved in this. If there’s a remedy to this, it would be something like an apology and taking it down immediately.”

The video is part of a program called L.A. CityWorks, which airs on the city-owned Channel 35.

They also have a YouTube channel where Goldstein found more than a dozen other unusual videos, with stories like the “History of Trash” and “L.A. CityWorks Rap.”

The Department of Public Works funds the projects, spending about $48,000 a year in taxpayer dollars.

In the “L.A. CityWorks Rap” video, however, they used African American actors.

Guy Aoki with Media Action Network for Asian Americans, an organization that advocates for Asians in Hollywood, said that’s a double standard.

“They don’t have the same actor, for instance, putting on makeup trying to pretend to be a black person. There is a certain kind of taboo where, ‘Oh no, we can’t do a blackface, but it’s okay to pretend to be Asian,” he said.

Goldstein said after he brought it to the city’s attention, the video was taken down from YouTube.

Cora Jackson-Fossett, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works, admitted it was in bad taste.

“We apologize profusely that we missed the mark totally. We made a mistake. We’re extremely sorry. It was an attempt at humor that failed,” she said.

City officials said all future videos will be extensively reviewed.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Some Asian Americans expressed their outrage over a taxpayer-funded video mocking the Asian community at the city’s Board of Public Works meeting on Monday.

Last week, CBS2’s investigative reporter David Goldstein uncovered the controversial film produced by the Department of Public Works, which showed a non-Asian man dressed as a geisha girl who spoke with a phony Japanese accent.

The short, shot at the Japanese Garden at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, was apparently meant to teach viewers about recycled water.

The video was made as part of L.A. CityWorks, a program on YouTube and on the city-owned Channel 35.

Resident Sean Yee summed up the video in a few words.

“It’s racist. Period,” he told Goldstein.

Yee added, “When I found out it was through the city, I think I wanted to gag. It was disgusting, especially for Los Angeles.”

Mark Masaoka of the Asian Pacific Policy Council said it was definitely a racist video.

“It played and reinforced very demeaning racial stereotypes for Japanese Americans,” he said.

The Public Works board issued an apology, with Commissioner Warren Furutani, who is Asian American, going a step further.

“This is racist. This is a problem. I appreciate you coming down here and talking about the issue. We’re going to take care of it and deal with it,” he said.

When asked if that apology was enough, Yee said, “Gimme a break. Gimme a (expletive) break. No, it’s too clean.”

City officials told Goldstein they were re-evaluating the entire CityWorks campaign.

They’re also looking into disciplinary actions for those involved with the video.

RELATED STORY:

City Of LA Department Of Public Works Under Fire For Producing Controversial Video Mocking Asians

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Police continue to search for leads as friends and family held a vigil Monday for a Cal State Fullerton student who has been missing for 11 days.

More than 100 people attended a vigil for 36-year-old Maribel Manriquez Ramos at Santa Ana’s Calvary Church on Monday night. The CSU Fullerton student and former veteran, who served two tours of duty in Iraq and spent a year in Korea, was a criminal justice major set to graduate in a few days.

“She fought for us, her family, her country,” one speaker told the crowd gathered.

Ramos reportedly had a strong support network of family and friends and a church community in Santa Ana.

“It’s been 11 days, we don’t have any leads and I’m just extremely worried,” said her sister, Lucy Gonzalez.

She was first reported missing May 3. Friends and family said she missed professional and personal commitments which was out of character. They also said she would never have left without her car or dog.

The Orange Police Department calls her disappearance “suspicious.”

An undercover detective was present at the vigil Monday though police would not comment further. Authorities do not have any leads at present.

Ramos’s roommate, KC Joy, attended the vigil at a distance.

“It’s very uncomfortable, but I want to be here,” he said.

Joy told KCAL9′s Stacey Butler that the police have contacted him 2 to 3 times a day since her disappearance and seized his cell phone and computer. Joy said he voluntarily submitted DNA and was photographed by the police.

According to Joy, authorities have searched the apartment that he and Ramos shared five times. They have also reportedly brought a forensic team and police dogs to the residence.

Ramos was last seen Thursday, May 2 around 8:30 p.m., said officials.

Her family is encouraging people to visit the website and Facebook page created to help with the search.

If you have seen Ramos or know of her whereabouts, you’re asked to call the Orange Police Department or Detective Joey Ramirez at (714) 936-4501.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  In the wake of the deadly Bay area limo accident that killed five women, CBS2′s David Goldstein investigates local limo companies operating without valid licenses.

It’s wedding and prom season.  Goldstein investigates why local limo companies — with pulled licenses — are still transporting passengers.

With a hidden camera, we went shopping for a limo. “It’s for a wedding,” said his undercover producer.

Goldstein found companies whose licenses have been suspended — or revoked — and they’re still soliciting business and not hiding a thing.

Reports Goldstein, “We went searching for companies on the internet.” He saw a slick website for Millenium Limousine Services.

The company touts itself as “One of the premiere limousine companies in the world.” Their fleet? “Unquestionably the best in Los Angeles.”

What they didn’t tell you, is that their license was revoked on April 24th of this year, according to the PUC, the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates limo companies.

We obtained their Safety Compliance Report from the CHP from December of last year — which rated them “Unsatisfactory.” It was the company’s fourth consecutive “Unsatisfactory” rating. Because of that, the CHP recommended the suspension.

We met with Asatur Galadjian — who goes by the name of Steve. He and his wife own Millenium.

We took a tour of his party bus, one of two of his vehicles that flunked the CHP safety inspection. The bus rents for $225 an hour, plus a mandatory $45 an hour in tips.

Galadjian says, “My PUC is not active. It will be active this week.”

He told our undercover producer that his PUC permit wasn’t active and until it was, he said he couldn’t book the bus. “Hopefully it will be activated by Monday,” he said.

But Steve didn’t say his license was revoked. He also didn’t tell her that the LA City Attorney has filed misdemeanor charges against him and his wife for — among other things — failing to maintain proper records.

Goldstein introduced himself. “I’m David Goldstein, CBS2 News.”

But “Steve” denied it. “No, I have not been charged yet,” said Galadjian.

When Goldstein insisted he had, Galadjian said, “No, I haven’t.”

He also claimed he can solicit business while his license is revoked.

Goldstein asks if the PUC told him he could conduct business while his license was revoked. “Yes,” he replied.

But Mark Lambert, the City Attorney handling the case says he can’t. “They can’t solicit business. They can’t advertise as a limo service and not display a number that’s been expired, revoked or issued to them.”

Steve told Goldstein he’s going to get his license back soon. He showed him new paperwork. “Let’s go back in the front, so I can shove this paper in your face,” said Galadjian.

The company is not returning as Millenium. Just today, in fact, Galadjian was issued a new PUC permit under the name Fox Limos.

He got a new CHP inspection last month — and he got a conditional rating of “Approval.” It’s all perfectly legal.

We also met with Jacob, a driver with another limo service — this time a big ten-seater stretch.

“Hi, are you Jacob? Nice to meet you.”

Jacob drives for A2A Limos. Goldstein found them on Craigslist. Their website says they’re “The best limo service in LA.”

Unfortunately, according to the PUC they don’t have a license.

The website is registered to a man who also owns Rent A Limo USA. Their license was suspended because of no insurance.

He’s asked if it’s safe to operate. “Of course.”

Jacob said it was safe but didn’t have much to say to Goldstein.

Jacob is told “there’s no PUC license number on the back.” He replies, “It’s coming, I guess.” Jacob asks if he can call his boss.

The limo is not licensed. Goldstein says, “There’s no license plate. Where’s your guy?”

Jacob’s boss called and didn’t have answers. Goldstein asks him about a license and “hello, hello?” The boss hung up.

These are just two of hundreds of limo companies we found on the PUC website that have had their licenses suspended or revoked. There’s no telling how many may still be in business under other names.

The PUC says they try to enforce the regulations but refused to provide someone to do an on-camera interview.

They suggest checking on their website to look up limo licenses — before you are taken for a ride. Click here for that link.

–David Goldstein, CBS2 News

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Taxpayers are footing the bill for a top Los Angeles County official’s more than 600-mile round-trip commute to and from his Northern California home, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

LA County Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers, who makes $255,000 a year, has headed the largest probation department in the nation for the past 17 months.

Goldstein said every Friday, Powers leaves his Downey office before noon, gets in his $40,000 taxpayer-funded SUV and drives to his family’s house in the San Joaquin Valley.

Powers didn’t return to work until mid-morning on Mondays.

“If I can get out because I don’t have appointments…yes…I try to get out on Fridays early. It’s not a secret,” said Powers.

In one year, the official has put more than 46,000 miles on his vehicle.

Goldstein obtained Powers’ county gas credit card statements, which showed he spent more than $5,400 of taxpayer money on fuel since January 2012.

The documents, however, didn’t show the locations of the gas stations because of “security concerns.”

“How many of these gas stations are driving to and from your residence up north? We don’t know that,” Goldstein asked Powers.

“It’s about a 600-mile round-trip. I make that trip once a week. That is my commute, essentially,” said Powers.

Goldstein reported that for just $50 a month, Powers is allowed to use the SUV for business or personal use—even transporting his golf clubs.

Bob Stern, a government ethics expert, said while commuting is not against the rules, it should be.

“But when you’re traveling 300 miles with a county car, you probably should be reimbursing the county for those 600-mile round-trips he’s making,” said Stern.

One county official told Goldstein he had no problem with Powers’ drive home as long as he’s doing a good job.

During the weekdays, Powers lives out of a hotel in Southern California, which is also covered by taxpayers.

Goldstein found nearly $23,000 worth of room charges.

In Powers’ contract, he’s entitled to up to $25,000 in relocation expenses.

Powers wouldn’t say if he had plans to move, but said he’ll pay the hotel bills out of his own pocket when he reaches the limit.

He told Goldstein he makes no apologies for any of his actions.

“I can’t speak to what the taxpayer feels is appropriate or not appropriate. I can only respond to…I’m not violating any county policy,” said Powers.

VERNON (CBSLA.com) — Public hearings will begin Thursday morning to see if a recycling plant in Vernon should be allowed to re-open after tests showed it may have released dangerous levels of lead and arsenic into the air and groundwater.

The state Department of Toxic Substances last month issued an emergency order against the Exide Technologies plant on 2700 South Indiana Street, citing air and ground pollution violations.

Officials warned the 110,000 residents living in Boyle Heights, Maywood and Huntington Park they may have been exposed to dangerous levels of the chemicals, which could pose a relatively high cancer risk.

Many more who drive or work in the area could have been affected as well, according to the report.

KCAL9′s Dave Bryan reports the LA City Council this week passed a resolution asking the city attorney to look into a possible lawsuit against the Exide plant, demanding answers as to why it was allowed to operate for years on only a temporary permit.

“We need to know why it was allowed to operate for over 31 years under an interim permit… It is just unacceptable,” Councilman Jose Huizar said.

Exide operates in 80 countries and is one of the world’s biggest producers, distributors and recyclers of lead-acid batteries.

The facility has been the target of complaints for years, according to elected officials.

Earlier this year, a video released by the Department of Toxic Substances showed a damaged discharge pipeline at the facility reportedly pumping arsenic-filled water directly into the ground. Lead is also a byproduct of the melting process used in recycling car batteries, but the hazardous products are supposed to be safely removed and recycled before they show up in the air and water.

In March, officials with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) said that Exide Technologies may have exposed local residents to harmful emissions from the battery disposal.

After executives were ordered to shut the facility down, Exide filed a motion for a temporary stay of the suspension order.

In a statement issued at the time, the company said it is committed to working with the community toward promoting a healthy environment.

“Exide welcomes the opportunity to present to the citizens the work that it has undertaken at its Vernon plant to meet required regulatory standards,” a spokesperson said.

Thursday morning’s hearing is scheduled to take place at the Huntington Park Community Center.

Additional meetings are scheduled next month.

A hearing for Exide’s temporary stay of suspension order is set for June 3. A judge is expected to issue a recommendation to the Toxic Substances Control Department at that time.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — West Los Angeles residents said they’re outraged that streetlights in their neighborhood have been switched on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Patricia Sobel, 82, said she found out about the “wasted electricity” about a month ago on her daily two-mile walk.

“I guess I’m a concerned citizen, and I think of the waste of taxpayer dollars and terrible waste of energy,” she said.

Sobel told CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein she came up with a cheeky new phrase about the situation.

“Onage…as opposed to outage. Onage. I think I coined a new word,” she said.

Goldstein discovered 224 streetlights that were left on during the day in an area bordered by Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, Beverly Glen to the east, Pico Boulevard to the south and Overland to the west.

A week ago, Sobel’s neighbor, “Roz,” also noticed something strange with the lights on her block.

“They have been off at night and on during the day,” she said. “I’m upset because it’s a waste of electricity. I went to solar power to save electricity, and I’m seeing this waste go on. Especially when the city needs to use money in different ways. I don’t understand why the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power can’t take this and fix it.”

For both women, it’s not just the wasted taxpayer money that bothered them, but the wasted time they spent reporting it to DWP and the city.

Sobel said she called DWP and didn’t get anywhere. She said she finally visited her local DWP office, where a manager told her to call her councilman.

“I hear about rate raises, I hear about salary increases, and you go to address a problem and they couldn’t be less interested. This woman couldn’t care less,” she said. “Obviously she wasn’t going to do anything and that really infuriated me.”

A DWP spokesperson told Goldstein the lights can only be on or off because a circuit blew out due to a windstorm last month. The company decided to intentionally leave the streetlights on instead of having it dark at night.

The so-called “onage” won’t be fixed for at least another two weeks.

“I think it’s a terrible waste of electricity,” said Roz.

DWP said they would not be charging the city while the lights were malfunctioning.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Customers are ultimately paying the price for lawsuits against some Los Angeles-area restaurants, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

In the past six months, artist Raphael Delgado has had his attorney write letters to 20 restaurants, including California Pizza Kitchen, Maria’s Italian Kitchen and Big Daddy’s Fire Grill, in which he claims he’s documented violations of Proposition 65, which requires businesses to warn residents about possible exposures to chemicals.

Goldstein reported that Delgado is following the letter of the law, which states that “any individual acting in the public interest may enforce Prop. 65 by filing a lawsuit against a business.”

In January, the owner of Big Daddy’s, Dennis Constanzo, said he was threatened with legal action for supposedly not posting warning signs.

“(Delgado) indicated he wanted to settle the matter. And that is what it’s all about,” he said.

Three restaurants have settled with Delgado, paying penalties and legal fees that added up to more than $15,000, according to the California Attorney General’s website. Those costs could end up being passed on to customers in the form of higher food prices.

Constanzo claims his warning signs were always up, but said restaurant owners shouldn’t have to pay, regardless.

“The question I would say is how was he harmed? There is no harm to Mr. Delgado. He is using the system to his advantage. It is legal extortion,” said Constanzo.

When confronted by Goldstein, Delgado claimed he isn’t making any money and quickly called his attorney, Miguel Custodio.

Custodio, who has written 67 threatening letters to restaurants on behalf of just five clients, admitted he’s known Delgado since high school and they even had a business together, but said the Prop. 65 violations are valid.

Asked how Delgado found 20 restaurants in violation of Prop. 65, Custodio said, “You know, he goes to eat out just like, I think, anybody else does and he finds that these establishments don’t have these notices.”

State Assemblyman Mike Gatto, of Burbank, said the lawsuits have led to higher food costs and restaurants are being forced to leave California.

He’s authored a bill that would give restaurants a 14-day grace period to correct any problems.

“If the goal of Prop. 65 was to make sure that warning signs were put up in businesses, then let’s give businesses two weeks or so to put up a warning sign without facing very, very punitive lawsuits,” said Gatto.

Gatto’s proposed legislation is making its way through the state Senate and should be on the governor’s desk in a few weeks.