« Pomona Crime Files | Home | Pomona Mayor Norma Torres v. Pomona Police Chief Joe Romero…Again? »
Soto Still a No Show?
By Publius | February 20, 2008
A reader points out that the Clerk of the Assembly publishes the Assembly Daily Journal. Each day of regular session includes an opening quorum call, followed by a list of members officially excused for illness. Apparently, Assemblymember Nell Soto (D-Pomona):
…has not attended a single session this year. In fact, she was out for medical illness on November 8th, 2007. The last time I could find where she was recorded as present for the quorum call appears to be September 11th, 2007. All of the sessions in between 9/11 and 11/8 appear to be pro forma sessions where no quorum or real business were conducted.
It’s sad for Ms. Soto, but who’s looking out for Pomona, Ontario, and the other cities and residents of her district all this time?
After running up $22,032 in per diem payments during her 136 days of medically-excused leave prior to all the news stories last July, how much is she racking up between now and the end of her term in November?
Remember, last year no one bothered to notify the public she represents that she was absent due to sickness (she’s in her eighties) until this blog reported it.
Last 5 posts in Main Page
- Feed Portantino's Election Reelection Campaign - July 23rd, 2008
- Alvarez Waterboarded! - July 23rd, 2008
- Morning Linkfest: 7 Reasons to Hate Corporations - July 23rd, 2008
- Even the Cost of Underwear Is Increasing - July 23rd, 2008
- Pasadena Has a New City Clerk - July 23rd, 2008
February 20th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
This is shocking. I am so glad you are bringing it to our attention. Shout it from the rooftops!
Pomona! Pomona! Wake up Pomona! (I will always secretly love Pomona)
February 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Yikes…did anyone check for a body or at least buzzards circling overhead? She could be dead.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
From the Daily Journal page it looks to my untrained eye like there have been 24 days of session so far this calendar year. Going back to the articles about last year they mentioned $163 per day (if I’m remembering right).
24 x 163 = about $4,000 in per diems for the first two months of the year. If she stays on leave for the rest of the session that’s about $22,000.
Does Pomona notice her absence?
February 21st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
[…] Speaking of light senior meals, where hell is Nell? […]
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Not really. Like most CEO positions, the person at the top primarily acts as a figurehead and direct voice for the public. The real work, especially in this post term limit era, is done by the staffers at the committees and on the legislator’s staff, who do all the bill reading and meeting with lobbyists and the occasional constituent.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
In fact, I like this example because it makes what calwatch says very, very clear.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 am
But of course, “figurehead” is a strong word. CEO’s make serious decisions-and so should representatives, at the end of the day.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Calwatch,
Staff don’t vote.
Without a vote, there’s no way to gather support.
Staff can get others to push and endorse “feel-good” measures, but when it comes down to getting anything real done for Pomona, staff are powerless.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:36 am
And she wants to run for re-election!?!?!?
February 24th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
True, BUT how many close votes have been in the legislature recently? Especially when you are in the majority party and professional courtesy, plus long standing relationships in the institution, allow for other legislators to do what is necessary.
I’m not defending this and I don’t think she should run for reelection if her health problems get worse. It seems like she must think that she can recover from her issues, and indeed when you’re recovering it is good to have a goal to return to because else you’ll just get all depressed and never come back.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:40 am
[…] calwatch True, BUT how many close votes have been in the legislature… […]