Concentrated Power in Tiny City of Industry

21 October 2009 - 2:00pm

With only 100 voters and a mayor with strong financial ties to the city, Industry, CA is "disturbingly insular," says the LA Times. And with a proposed $800 million stadium in the works, Industry's concentrated power is called into question.

Last week, the Pasadena Star-News broke the story that the new stadium proposed for the City of Industry was bypassing CEQA. Now, the Los Angeles Times takes a look at the city's unusual concentration of family power and influence.

"Everyone who does business in the city of Industry is required to sign up with Mayor David Perez's company.

For years, a firm partly owned by the mayor has held an exclusive, multimillion-dollar franchise to pick up trash from the warehouses, manufacturing plants and other commercial enterprises packed into this oddly configured, avidly pro-business San Gabriel Valley city."

Source: LA Times, October 20, 2009
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If hundreds of people in your community raised reasonable concerns about a planning program you developed, how would you respond? Perhaps you might call a community meeting, or ask community elected officials to reach out to community leaders.