Two separate investigations into controversial matters relating to National City Councilman Jerry Cano will be headed by a California-based law firm.
On April 30, the city of National City retained the services of the Lozano Smith law firm to investigate whether Cano used his position as an elected official to receive preferential treatment in avoiding fines and penalties for building code violations.
Additionally, the firm will conduct a second investigation into a claim of inappropriate touching made by Cano against his colleague, Councilwoman Mona Rios.
According to the contract, the cost for both investigations is not to exceed $25,000 for a total of no more than $50,000. Attorneys will perform work at a rate of $225 per hour with paralegal services of $135 per hour.
City Attorney Angil Morris-Jones confirmed Monday that both investigations have already started, though, she did not know how many days they were into the investigations.
Morris-Jones said she did not impose a deadline for the investigations to be done.
Lozano Smith has offices in Bakersfield, Fresno Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and Walnut Creek.
Morris-Jones said she hired the Lozano Smith law firm because of their expertise in law.
“I’m familiar with the fact that all of the attorneys from this firm are either city attorneys or public attorneys so they understand the field, they understand what issues exist,” she said.
On April 17, the National City City Council voted 3-1 to give the city attorney authority to hire an independent investigator to determine if Cano violated state law by using his elected position to influence a governmental decision in which he had a financial interest investigate the two claims regarding Cano.
Rios had called for an investigation April 3 to determine if the councilman violated California Government Code 87100.
The Star-News reported on March 15 that Cano had five years’ worth of building code violations for non-permitted work at his Mary Lane home.
Despite being sent several Notices of Violation, the councilman was never issued fines or penalties. Instead, the city issued him a Recordation of Notice of Code Violations, a legal document that limits a property owner’s ability to sell, refinance or construct anything until the code violations are corrected.
In addition, the council also agreed to have the same outside investigator simultaneously investigate Cano’s claim that Rios inappropriately touched him during a photo opportunity on the April 3 meeting.
Rios has always maintained that Cano’s sexual harassment claim was made in retaliation of her calling for the investigation into Cano during the same meeting.
typical NC instead of facing the real problems
1) prostitution
2) corruption
3) gangs
4) small police force
5) vacant building along Main Street
6) horrible reputation
7) big time developers unwilling build
8) vandalism
9) zero nightlife
10) homeless
We spend our money and resources on a supervisor who may have coped a feel .