I will admit right up front that this story is SOMEWHAT SPECULATIVE, but as I now understand Orange County journalism (especially as practiced from about 500 miles away) THAT IS OK!
In my report earlier today, I noted that OC Register “Total Buzz” blogger Brian Joseph, whom I understand may also have some other responsibilities with the paper, had published a story about 24 hours ago raising the question of whether AD-69 candidate Julio Perez MIGHT BE LYING ABOUT BEING A RESIDENT OF HIS NEW DISTRICT, which Joseph reminded us is something that has gotten Richard Alarcon and Rod Wright in potential trouble with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Joseph’s basis for this political-race-changing claim? That a process server swore under penalty of perjury that tried to serve Perez papers for a lawsuit at Perez’s stated — nay, sworn! — residence and found not only that he was not there, but that some woman who lived there said that he didn’t!
Challenged as to why this was not an occasion for, um, “reporting,” Joseph disclaimed ANY RESPONSIBILITY for checking out the story: there were two opposing sworn statements, one from a leading political candidate and one from a hapless and unknown process server, and THAT WAS ALL HE NEEDED FOR THE STORY (which, incidentally, divulged that Perez was sued over some credit card debt from graduate school that he apparently couldn’t pay off due to family medical bills.)
Jacob’s story led to a FRENZY in the local media, with Michele Martinez advocate Art Pedroza flogging the story on two websites, GOP (and alleged Tom Daly) political operative Matt Cunningham going into overdrive flogging the story on Twitter, and even the labor-oriented “actual news” outlet Voice of OC printing much of Jacob’s story verbatim. Things looked bad for Perez! Someone was lying (probably, well, possibly), and with only two (OK, three) possibilities the chances (without any investigation or thinking-through-things) that it was him hovered at as much as 50%? HOW WOULD HIS CAMPAIGN SURVIVE?
And then something VERY UNUSUAL happened for the OC journalism scene: JOURNALISM!
Voice of OC Editor Norberto Santana Jr., perhaps a little put out at the possibility of being used as part of what might be a unfounded smear campaign, reported this afternoon that the publication sent a reporter TO THE ADDRESS IN QUESTION to talk to Perez directly. And HERE IS WHAT THEY FOUND!
Perez. Bills to Perez at that address. Other evidence that Perez lives there.
Is this all part of a nefarious plot to make Brian Joseph look like either a willing accomplice in character assassination OR a dingbat being played by some political pro? WE DON’T KNOW! Joseph has not yet replied to various comments suggesting that he fess up as to who handed him this “scoop” — and I won’t say scoop of what — so as to get damaging information about Perez into the world.
WE CANNOT BLAME BRIAN JOSEPH FOR THAT BECAUSE HE MAY HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY!
I will admit that I made the error myself of presuming that Joseph’s interested in the story may have derived from the prospect that Perez may be up in Sacramento with him by December and possibly giving him some stink-eye shipped directly from his employer’s district. But THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE!
It could be — hear me out on this one! — that the Register‘s Sacramento reporter has been quietly preparing a HUGE EXPOSE on the process service industry (which at least one Voice of OC commenter has alleged does not have the highest reputation for swearing truthfully under oath in all circumstances.) Perhaps his real target was not Julio Perez at all, but process server Raul Peraza, who swore an affidavit that may not be entirely true (unless he did encounter a former tenant still hanging around Perez’s house for the purpose of warding off process servers. Hey, IT COULD HAPPEN!)
One must wonder at this point, could PEREZ HIMSELF have been in cahoots with Joseph as part of a plan to catch Peraza in a sworn misstatement? Stranger things have happened! (Presumably. Well, possibly.)
We know that Joseph’s focus may have been on Peraza all along because he answered a question as to why he would go with the story right away without investigating it — say, by having someone go check out Perez’s long-planned-and-announced BBQ fundraiser at his house on Sunday — thusly:
As you’ll note, the story includes links to numerous source documents. You can judge for yourself whether I accurately reflected those documents. As for your suggestion that I wait until Sunday, I’m not sure why. Even if I had waited to see his fundraiser, the central issue regarding the discrepancy between Mr. Perez’s signed candidate declaration and the process server’s sworn declaration would have remained.
THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY! Someone was … DISCREPANT! Discrepancies can’t wait! (Or, at least, whoever fed Joseph the story didn’t want to wait!) It was a story either way: either Candidate Perez or Process Server Peraza had sworn to an untrue statement (if one overlooks that Peraza’s statement was largely hearsay.)
We harbor no ill-will, prior to getting the actual facts, towards Raul Peraza — but if he did the crime we feel safer knowing that Brian Joseph is ON THE CASE and WILL NOT BE STOPPED. (After all, it was a story either way, right?)
By the way: as I had opined earlier that the real point of the hit job (which Matt Cunningham has apparently been tweeting the hell out of for much of the day, but THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT HE FED THE STORY TO JOSEPH) was to call attention to Perez’s credit card debt. So, let’s quote a little from the Voice of OC article on that:
Perez said he left college with a credit card debt of about $20,000, which ballooned in recent years to $35,000 after someone he was close to suffered a medical condition that Perez said impacted family finances.
“When people talk about the need for affordable housing, having bad credit and struggling, I get it,” Perez said. “Here I am, with a masters and still struggling.”
Perez said he regrets his financial decisions but has not been dishonest about his debt problems.
“I haven’t made the most wise financial decisions, but you do what you can to move your family forward and survive.”
Will having gotten into debt in graduate school and having trouble repaying it due to a family member’s medical expenses make voters in the relatively impoverished 69th AD look down on Perez? Or are they more likely to see a sneaky attempt to get this story out there by accusing Perez of possible perjury as the more offensive act?
I would ask Joseph’s source for his or her thoughts on the matter, if I knew who it was.
Anyway, Perez’s fellow candidates Martinez, Barragan, Daly, and the other guy now have the opportunity to weigh in on — and condemn — this use of tactics, should they choose. My guess is that Martinez will (having gone through similar flak over her financial history) and that Barragan will (because he’s a nice and decent guy.)
Will Daly condemn this as well? Maybe we’ll see if we can ask one of his advisers.
UPDATE: Scott Lay’s Nooner (essential reading on Cali politics, by the way) reports:
“Yesterday, I linked to a story that alleged AD69 candidate Julio Perez didn’t live at the residence he claimed. While OC Register reporter Brian Joseph, who I respect, stands by the facts in his story, Voice of OC reports there is another side.”
Brian Joseph stands by the facts — as if the facts are the problem! Will he stand by the implications (and stand by this being journalistic “best practices”)
Greg,
Thanks for the hat tip, but Voice of OC is not a “labor oriented” outlet. We have proven countless times that we are journalists; honest brokers of the truth.
That said, we did check out the Register story and found that Perez did not lie about his residency.
You can read our story here: http://www.voiceofoc.org/politics/article_0a7e9ada-744b-11e1-86e4-0019bb2963f4.html
Adam, I don’t see a contradiction between Voice of OC being “labor oriented” and your being “journalists” and “honest brokers of the truth” — which I consider you to be. Most respected media outlets are “corporate oriented,” after all, yet lay claim to being both journalists and honest brokers. So “labor oriented” is not an insult coming from me, but if you don’t like being called that, that’s fine. Those who want to see your self-description, staff, and board can see it here.
I did report on your new story — in the very post to which you reply. That story was good, basic journalism. I think that reposting the Register story from yesterday was not good journalism and was far below the high standard I expect from your outfit.
“…Voice of OC is not a “labor oriented” outlet…”
Oh, stop it. The way you teamed up on the Anaheim hotel gig was a dead giveaway (BTW, labor was right on the issue – for the wrong reason).
You were also real quick to pass along the bogus report on Norby forwarded to you by the cop union in Fullerton.
To my knowledge Voice of OC(EA) has never done a serious investigation on a Democrat. If you have please correct me and let me know who it’s been.
Here’s a tip: how about a story on the 2.1 million wasted by Tom Daly to buy a worthless building at 433 Civic Center Drive.
Yeah they SHOULD look at that.
Wait, are you calling Daly a Democrat?
And them allegedly being in labor’s pocket doesn’t explain them laying off Daly, who is running AGAINST the labor candidate.
Tony,
Here are some of the many Voice of OC investigations on Democrats:
Councilwoman’s (Lorri Galloway) Votes Involve Donors to Her Charity: http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_north/article_1df0521a-679f-11e1-a9c7-0019bb2963f4.html
Larry Agran’s Tax Headache: http://www.voiceofoc.org/blogs/on_the_beat_adam_elmahrek/article_96a74196-a581-11df-a914-001cc4c002e0.html
Santa Ana Mayor Has Some Taxing Issues: http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_central/article_e747cf26-6d1c-11e1-8d20-0019bb2963f4.html
What Are Plans B And C For the Great Park?: http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_south/article_b534ce12-85af-11e0-aaf4-001cc4c03286.html
It’s Not Just Health Benefits — Pulido Is Double-Dipping on Cars Too: http://www.voiceofoc.org/blogs/article_860f9b4e-b166-11df-a637-001cc4c002e0.html
Another Questionable Business Relationship for Santa Ana Mayor: http://www.voiceofoc.org/oc_central/article_be4ca68c-803c-11e0-a62e-001cc4c002e0.html
Hotel Subsidy Deal Causes Split Among Local Labor Leaders: http://www.voiceofoc.org/countywide/county_government/article_93b77daa-5658-11e1-8031-001871e3ce6c.html
The Case of the Missing Irvine Slate Mailer Statement: http://www.voiceofoc.org/blogs/article_afe23c66-d735-11df-a58c-001cc4c03286.html
Any questions?
I must have missed the story on the “Daughter Of Santa Ana” Nadia Davis Lockyer and all the risk and shame that brings to California.
Brian Joseph knows exactly what his editors at the Register want – vicious, calculated attacks on unions.
I would guess that Brian is also pretty damn jealous of Jennifer Muir and Kimberly Edds, both of whom went from being Register employees to working for the big bad unions.
Isn’t Brian pretty enough? Isn’t he talented enough to get a better job with better benefits?
No, he just has to go on being a loyal little bootlicker with a crappy paycheck from a joke of a daily rag.
Brian looks like a good looking guy, though the hat and the Van Dyke I laid onto him are worth his considering.
Anyway, he’s Sacramento-based, isn’t he? He’d presumably work up there if he had to leave.
Damn Voice guys got there first – I hear that Adam has a car! but that’s exactly what I was gonna do anyway.
Now. Do the Reg editors print this mooncalf of a story in the print edition, which is where it will really hurt Julio, or do they show some standards and pull it? And at the very least, is (or has already) Brian Joseph appended the VOC reportage to his story?
No correction in Total Buzz that I’ve seen.
My guess is that they print the misleading mooncalf story despite the VoOC investigation and give us plenty to toss at them. I’d love to be wrong about it.
Daly and Martinez will have to condemn this, of course. That will be the big move if the Register does print it. It probably ends up helping Julio, given that Daly (thanks to Jerbal) will be seen as the hidden hand behind it — absent a convincing condemnation of it.
You know what? Why wasn’t this story given to Andy Galvin? He’s IN SA. He would have checked the place, and wouldn’t have let himself be lied to. Oh. Did I just answer my own question?
Really……He lives in Santa Ana??????
To me it seems like the real story is that a candidate for office, who wants to manage millions of dollars of our money, can’t even keep his own petty finances in control. That’s an automatic disqualifier for my vote.
I somehow doubt that Julio had your vote anyway, eh?
Welcome to the world that many of us with student loan debt live in, Anoner. It’s hard out there — heck, even Mitt Romney has had his companies declare BK several times, and he wanted Detroit to do it too.
So, assuming (given your logic) that you also don’t want the one who declared bankruptcy or the one who wasted $2 million of public funds on a white elephant building, will be you voting for Paco Barragan or for Jose (“not Dr.) Moreno?
I agree that his debt is a big item. I don’t think it was a student loan like Greg indicates…although debt accumulated while a student.
The thing that bugs me more about him having the debt is letting it get to a level that the courts are involved. Almost every client that I have been working with are able to work debt payment schedules out with the CC companies. They don’t want to sue over it. Heck, most will even settle the debt for 50%-60% of face value- not always doable for a large amount with everyone’s financial situation.
Work it out with the creditor. Put as much money as possible into repayment. Get it paid off as soon as possible. Usually, the courts are one of the last steps taken after a few years of non-payment. It is one thing to grapple with the payments, it is another to let it go to court.
His story though may actually resonate with the residents, unfortunately. They may be able to relate with his unwise financial decisions.
I didn’t say that his was student loan debt; I’m saying that many people who went after higher degrees are heavily burdened with debt as a result. Hence “welcome to the world of …” to the person who sneers at people who ain’t rich having trouble with their “petty finances.”
But on to you: do you rule out the possibility that his financial decisions may have been perfectly reasonable until his family was hit with unexpected medical costs? He has plenty of company there as well. I suppose I needn’t ask; you do apparently rule it out, though I’m not sure why.
The amazing thing to me is that people who slam people over five figures worth of debt — you may be an exception here and I hope you are — still defend the financial industry that gambled with debt literally a billion times that amount, in aggregate, and lost out not for a good reason like a relative’s illness but simply because they were rapaciously avaricious and presumed (rightly) that the rest of us would have to bail them out.
It’s almost shocking to see this criticism given our recent global history.
Apologies on misinterpreting your comment on student loans…I was jumping to the conclusion that since you were commenting on his debt situation and said “Welcome to the world that many of us with student loan debt live in…” that you were implying it was student loan debt. Not an unreasonable conclusion in my opinion, but mistake nonetheless and for that please accept my apology.
Julio indicated that he personally felt that he hasn’t “made the most wise financial decisions…” so I did not think I had to jump to whether his decisions were reasonable or not. He did not think they were wise and regrets his financial decisions (presuming that he was referring to his accumulated debt while in school since that is what the quote and journalist’s comment was in context of) and I believe him. I did not rule out the reasonableness but by his quote, he sent us down the road that he, the one with the most knowledge of the situation, did not think that he has always made the most wise decisions. Hopefully that makes sense.
As I said, the thing that distresses me the most is that the CC company felt a need to take legal action. This shows that he or the CC company was not cooperating. From my experience, maybe yours is different, CC companies are generally quite reasonable on payment terms as long as the borrower is making best efforts. Yes, they will cut off the ability to borrow more from them and will destroy your credit score, but they generally don’t like to go to court over this amount. Maybe your experience is different, but that is my experience.
I think I see a soapbox…might as well step on it-
I believe that I have expressed this a few times, but I don’t mind repeating. In general, I am debt adverse at the personal/family level. I am a believer of saving up for what you want and then paying cash for most all items non-real estate. Right wrong or neutral- that is my belief. Many others do not share that belief. It is a sound financial decision that is not necessarily good for the economy but good for an individual family. Our economy wants us to borrow and buy things now that we end up paying for much more down the road. There are WAY TOO MANY youths who come out of college with CC debt that was simply not a wise use of their credit and are financially illiterate. These are our future and current leaders. I hope and desire for financially sound leaders so that they can get or keep (depending on your viewpoint) this country on the right economic road.
Yes, “stuff” happens. “Murphy” has a way of coming around when it is least desired but he will come. We all need to prepare for it. If our future leaders learn about short term emergency funds, long term emergency funds, compounding interest, time value of money, debt impact on cash flow, insurance, risk-reward, etc…then we would be much better off. It is amazing how a student can go through 13 years of education through high school, 4 years at undergraduate school, and not have a grasp on basic financial concepts. It is a shame that we do not teach our kids about these things in school. It may be even a greater shame that some of the best financial minds are not “qualified” to even teach a public high school class on these items according to the education licensing system.
My family and I have been blessed more than we deserve. I am super grateful for that. Financial security is a long journey, but one that is hampered by debt. I also hope and desire for others to be financially sound. I don’t like to see people straddled with debt. Debt’s confines go much beyond pure finances as it is emotionally draining and destroys relationships. I would much rather see all of make wise financial decisions from the start and not get into debt. If they do get into debt, I would like them to make very difficult decisions NOW and pay the debt off quickly and with an intentional plan. Their life will be much more fulfilling in the long run.
I am not alone in these thoughts: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu
With regards to the banks, I was not in favor of the decision. I understand why it was done, but don’t agree with it.
Thanks for the good comment. The fault in communication was mine, though I hope I’ve sufficiently explained what I was thinking at the time.
Other than the Voice of OC(EA) claiming he lives there, where is the proof?
NO LICENSE
NO SCE BILL
Neighbors DO NOT KNOW WHO HE IS????
Why doesn’t this guy stand up, or does he enjoy the FREE publicity? Either way, he comes across as weak. He is extremely poor spoken. I have had two opportunities to hear him and in both cases he seemed sheepish and scared.
Note to Noberto: I don’t give a shit about his upbringing and trailer parks. I want a progressive leader who is able to make decisions. Not a sheep. As for the Voice of OC(EA) I laugh at the idea that it is not a labor backed outlet. COME ON. Let’s see a hard hitting pension story published.
Anyone who disputes this is a LIAR. You know it and I know it.
Thats from a SF Democrat too. Call it what it is.
You don’t know if his license has his address. If he doesn’t have an electric bill, that’s because he’s renting from the owner. We have no idea if the neighbors “do not know who he is.” He’s a wonderful speaker.
Honestly, KLND, it is like we are on different planets — but yours may have considerably less oxygen.
His license may not have the current address, but the change of address card that he puts with his license would (they still do those, don’t they?). He would have some utility bills to show…electric (most renters of homes pay electric), phone, cable, internet, etc…He would also be able to show a lease or a rent check, DMV registration, etc……there are many ways to show where you live. Done deal.
I had one of those brown change of address cards for a while. People are surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) convinced by them.
He rents from the owner, who lives there. I’m surprised if he pays utility bills separately.
Yes, there would probably be something — so long as you’ll believe a rent check, at least — but it’s not as straightforward as people seem to think.
Thanks for the info on how he rents…did not know that he was essentially renting from the in house owner. Can be tough to prove but a DMV record would be helpful…I believe that you can request a DMV record showing your residency and it should also be on an annual DMV auto registration, assuming he has a car. On that note, if someone tells me what car he drives, I go right by his house most nights…I can tell you how often it is there.
Did you actually go to the Voice of OC article? http://www.voiceofoc.org/politics/article_0a7e9ada-744b-11e1-86e4-0019bb2963f4.html
It includes photos of him standing inside the front door, an AAA bill, and a Discover bill. I’m not sure why we’re still talking about this.
Especially when what Jubal and Daly want us to be talking about is his debt.
If I recall his car correctly (and I may not; I remember seeing it just once), it’s the white truck parked next to the house in the Google Maps close-up of the street. That memory is from 18 months ago, or so, so it could be wrong.
I did go to it yesterday and read although did not see the pictures of the AAA and CC until you pointed them out to me now…thanks! BTW, I am not stalking him, just live in the neighborhood and recognized the address/house. I would agree that residency is probably not an issue and the story was crapola.
Let’s discuss this at Julio’s barbecue this Sunday, klnd. 1721 N. Baker, exactly where he’s lived for nearly two years. I probably won’t get there till close to 5 because I gotta see my niece in “Damn Yankees” in HB.
I am at KL jr’s game in AZ F,S&S but the back (side) door is always unlocked!
With all due respect counsler (GD), An auto club bill. Come on.
I just appied and will expect a card billed to 1060 West Addison Chicago, IL 60613.
That’s Wrigley Field. Thats Bullshit and YOU KNOW IT.
Greg, I have to say, you are either dishonest or WAY TOO NICE. I have heard him speak, he is not “wonderful”, but that is another matter. I should not have said that.
If a Julio Perez is a responsible individual, he would have updated his Drivers License in the months following his relocation. Obviously he went to the trouble of updating his VORER REGISTRATION. What about his primary ID?
GD – You are right I don’t know. NOBODY DOES. Thats why I am asking.
I don’t care, but is increasingly suspicious. So much so i think you might be baiting me. Which leads to a whole series of credibility questions about this guy.
There are three simple questions that would solve this. I will submit them at the debate if allowed. Julio Perez would be well advised to put this to rest NOW.
I have no horse in this race and soon, I will be leaving this track (good news for you though!) But, he has fumbled big time on his sophmoric responses.
AD69 needs a representitive…..not a smart ass.
The Voice article mentions him showing the reporter “other documentation.” I presume that it was of the kind you suggest, so at least one SOMEBODY does know.
De gustibus, re his speaking. I’ve heard him many times and he’s always gotten a great reaction.
Have a good trip to AZ. Remember to carry proof of citizenship.
Greg,
Do you know why Julio just didn’t produce a drivers license showing the Baker Street property as his address? That would be simple enough, right? After all he has lived there for 2 years already and under state law one is required to notify the DMV within 10 days of a change of address.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/genfaq.htm#CHANGEADDRESS
Julio surely has done this, right?
The DMV does not send out a new license when you move. For the DMV, it’s kind of like running for office while trying to dodge the debt collectors: pointless.
My guess is that Julio tried to insert his driver’s license into his phone when Brian Joseph called him (and didn’t respond to the other statements and claims that he offered), but somehow the license didn’t transmit to Sacramento. (One would indeed think it would be simple enough!)
Actually, I haven’t been in touch with Julio about this at all, so I don’t know if he re-registered, etc. I did read his statement in VoOC that Joseph didn’t give him a fair opportunity to prove the point, though. Based on Joseph’s statement, though, it wouldn’t have mattered — because there was still a contradiction between two sworn statements, and therefore (one must presume) an urgent breaking story. I look forward to Joseph’s expose on the process server.
Pretty simple to take a picture with your phone and email/text it though- can be done within 2 minutes of hanging the phone up and then calling back to make sure he got it…although perhaps he is making the difficult decision to not have a data plan and smartphone in order to keep his expenses to a bare minimum in order to pay off his CC debt.
It’s not necessarily simply to do so in real time. And Joseph gives no indication that he was even interested in photos of such documentation — which can, after all, be faked! For Joseph, the story was that there was a discrepancy in sworn statements, ergo Julio Perez might be lying and subject to the same kinds of legal penalties that might yet be applied to Richard Alarcon and Rod Wright. I know that that sounds like I’m making something up to make fun of Joseph, but as the links within this and to my previous story show, that’s pretty much what he wrote.
A responsible reporter might well have asked if he could send a photo of some documentation within 30 minutes or so. Joseph — whose stuff I normally find to be fine — was apparently not interested in being a responsible reporter, but in playing his role as trigger man in a hit job. It’s shameful.
I hope that Joseph will release the names of the people who set him up.
Maybe not “real time” but certainly a few minutes thereafter…if Joseph was not interested in integrity of his story and knowing the ramifications and implications that would be made by it, well, you know as well as I do, that is screwed up.
I do feel that the process server industry is pretty screwed up as well btw.
(Update added to story:)
UPDATE: Scott Lay’s Nooner (essential reading on Cali politics, by the way) reports:
Brian Joseph stands by the facts — as if the facts are the problem! Will he stand by the implications (and stand by this being journalistic “best practices”)?
Finally 48 HOURS after the fact, the Register does what I told them to do, and sent actual reporter Andy Galvin to the house, who hung out with Julio and filed this report:
http://totalbuzz.ocregister.com/2012/03/23/where-does-julio-perez-live-part-ii/83571/
As Greg Ridge posts:
Someone is lying – who is it? Perhaps ‘Yolanda Estrada’ was trying to protect Union Boy from being served for one one of his many debts…
Yes, that is a logical possibility. However, there’s no reason to believe that Yolanda Estrada has been living there for years, nor is there any reason to think that Perez has “many debts.” In fact, the odds of either of them are far lower, in my estimation, that you are shilling (if not working) for one of the rival campaigns that is very afraid of Julio right now and will use any means, including underhanded ones, to try to tear him down.