The Brief

An external legal firm is conducting “an independent outside review” into allegations of wastage of taxpayer dollars in a tort claim filed against the city of Anaheim, according to city spokesperson Mike Lyster.

Former purchasing agent Kari Bouffard filed the legal claim against the city in June alleging she was fired for raising concerns that the city’s top finance official, Debbie Moreno, was enabling fraud, wasting millions of taxpayer dollars and lying to the City Council.

Lyster told LAist Friday an outside law firm was conducting the review of the department in general and was not focused on any potential wrongdoing on behalf of Moreno.

"There is no review of our finance director and none is warranted at this time. She continues to serve as she has for more than 20 years," he told LAist.

The tort claim, obtained by LAist via a public records request, alleges that Moreno:

• Covered up that the Fire & Rescue Department bought new ambulances and went to the council after to seek approval
• Refused to audit the city’s credit card purchases, which amount to around $800,000 a month
• Does not follow standard best practices for procurement — no member of the purchasing department had ever written a contract — and instead creates additional, unnecessary processes 
• Uses a policy from 1999 to lease computer hardware at inflated prices, bypassing the City Council's approval 

In the tort claim, Bouffard, a long time public servant, said Moreno gave her top marks during her performance evaluation. But Bouffard’s claim argues Moreno fired her in retaliation for pointing out these issues and suggesting more cost effective alternatives. LAist asked for an interview with Moreno before publishing our story on the tort claim and sent Lyster questions about the claim and discrepancies we found in public records.

Lyster did not make Moreno available for an interview or to provide detailed answers to those questions.

After our story was published last week, Lyster called LAist to read a statement rejecting any insinuation of wrongdoing at the city.

 "We strongly object to the characterization of the claim and media reporting about the claim," Lyster said. “It is a gross misrepresentation of our city."

The city takes all claims seriously, Lyster said, but added that claims such as Bouffard’s can include unverified and false information. That’s why Lyster said the city began “a process of investigating and figuring out what is the situation.”

He added that, "In general, with a claim anyone can put forth whatever they would like, vetted, true, false, or otherwise, that is their right to do so."

Lyster did not answer any follow up questions over the phone. Instead, he said LAist submitted "a lot of questions."

"We disagree with the premise and presupposition of those questions," he said.

Lyster’s statement did include information about the allegations found in the claim. Here’s what we’ve learned about some of the key allegations in Bouffard’s tort claim.

Did the council know about the ambulances before they approved them?

In the tort claim, Bouffard alleges that Moreno falsified a report to the City Council trying to hide the fact that the city was in possession of three ambulances before the council approved their purchase. The tort claim alleges an offer and purchase agreement was sent to the ambulance company a year before the council voted to approve the purchase.

Lyster told LAist that the city issued a letter of intent to the ambulance company stating the city was interested in purchasing three ambulances.

"Due to a communication gap, the manufacturer delivered the ambulance to us," Lyster said. "We said, we will conditionally accept these ambulances pending approval from our council."

LAist has asked the city of Anaheim for a copy of the letter of intent. LAist asked if the council was aware of the conditional acceptance of the ambulances before they voted on it.

On Monday, Lyster emailed LAist stating, "We reject the premise, presupposition and implication of the question. The situation was immaterial to the decision before the Council, which was to approve or reject the purchase of three ambulances for $700,000."

LAist has reached out to all six council members and the mayor for comment and will update the story if we hear back.

About the credit card spend

In the tort claim, Bouffard alleges there was no oversight over credit card purchases, totaling around $800,000 of public money each month. When Bouffard raised the concerns with the city’s audit team, which then wanted to audit the credit card program, she alleges Moreno told her: “Do not let them in the door.”

Lyster told LAist that credit card spending is "thoroughly overseen and checked for potential misuse, overcharge to the city or any other issue that you would have with a credit card."

"There is ample oversight of every credit card used in the city. At a minimum, three people review and sign off on every credit card statement in the city," Lyster said.

But, he confirmed that the city does spend around $400,000 to $800,000 each month.

LAist requested credit card monthly billing statements and spreadsheet data export for all city-issued credit cards for the past two years via a public records request. We received a 5,000 page document with credit card transactions for the past two years from the city totaling more than $17 million.

LAist asked Lyster if the credit card purchases have been internally audited. He replied, "No one should have unwarranted or unfounded concerns about the way credit cards are responsibly handled at the city of Anaheim."

And when asked again if the city had audited credit card purchases, Lyster responded that he "(did) not agree with the premise of your question."

Lyster said in an email on Monday that the city's last audit on credit cards was in 2018. Reviews of the credit cards were included in the city’s annual financial report, Lyster said. That review is conducted by Moreno.

About the policy from 1999 for computer purchases

In the tort claim, Bouffard raised concerns with a policy from 1999 used to buy computers for the city.

Bouffard alleges in the tort claim that this "outdated" policy is being used improperly to avoid soliciting competitive bids, pay in excess for hardware, obtain equipment without council approval and abuse evergreen clauses to avoid processes.

She alleges she was asked to renew a lease of around $4.5 million with Hewlett Packard for computer hardware, using the policy referred to as "1999." Bouffard was concerned with the cost and a conversation with the city’s IT analyst confirmed the per-staff, per-computer cost would amount to $5,000 with the lease, according to her tort claim. If the city did not renew the lease, Bouffard’s claim says the cost would be $1,800 per person.

Lyster said the average annual cost of a computer at the city of Anaheim is $506.

Master agreements for computer purchases the city provided to LAist in response to a records request does not show the unit costs. It also doesn’t include quantities for the bulk sums listed.

"We reject any suggestion otherwise," Lyster told LAist, adding that the 1999 policy referred to in the tort claim allows the city to make replacement purchases for laptops or "to make everyday purchases of computers."

 "Every large technology or computer purchase acquisition contract goes before our City Council," he said.

But on Monday, Lyster said contracts for Hewlett-Packard Financial Svc, HP INC. and Pricon Inc. — the computer leases at the heart of the tort claim — "have not come before the Council since they were struck and have several safeguards to ensure ongoing benefit and cost effectiveness for the city."

Some government funding streams for L.A. County’s public health system are drying up, and officials are turning to private philanthropy to fill the gap.

A new privately funded foundation launched Thursday to strengthen public health services after $50 million in federal, state and local funding cuts to the county’s Department of Public Health since early last year.

“It is really a hard day for our community when we have to ask for private donations to fund a public good, but unfortunately, we've lost too much money to not take this important step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

In February, the county’s Public Health Department closed seven clinics, with six remaining open. About half of the patients seen in those clinics are uninsured, according to county officials. The department also cut hundreds of staff positions.

Ferrer is on the board of the new foundation, The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, which held its first meeting Thursday.

She said the fund will help the county maintain its basic public health infrastructure, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency response efforts.

Other board members include several health insurance executives, as well as actors Sean Penn and Danny Trejo. Board member Saree Kayne of the R&S Kayne Foundation pledged $150,000 to the fund Thursday. Kayne said she hopes the donation encourages others to give.

The foundation aims to raise $2 million this year.

More cuts expected

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said it’s crucial to have an alternative funding stream to protect services for the county's most vulnerable residents.

“We are saving public health,” Mitchell said. “This fund represents a new approach, one that brings together government philanthropy in the private sector to invest in community-based solutions, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen our public health infrastructure.”

Officials say more public health cuts are coming, through the federal budget law known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which slashes funding for Medi-Cal.

The county Department of Public Health anticipates losing up to $300 million in revenue over the next three years because of the federal budget bill and other potential funding freezes. Federal funding accounts for almost 50% of the public health budget, according to county officials.

Mitchell also led an effort to put a half-percent county sales tax increase to fund public health on the June ballot.

If approved by voters, that proposal, known as Measure ER, is expected to raise about $1 billion a year for county safety net health services, including about $100 million for the public health department.

Board members

The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA announced its founding board of directors, which includes:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health director
• Debbie I. Chang, Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO
• Sean Penn, actor and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
• Martha Santana-Chin, LA Care Health Plan CEO
• Saree Kayne, R&S Kayne Foundation CEO
• Danny Trejo, actor and restaurateur
• Jarrett Barrios, an executive at the American Red Cross
• Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Dean
• Kristin McCowan, an executive at the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena may be a centenarian, but it’s holding up pretty well as it continues to host events on its way to a starring role in the LA28 Olympics.

But before it can host the soccer final, it needs fixes, especially to the infrastructure serving the bathrooms and drinking fountains. Fears of a toilet backup while in the world’s spotlight led Rep. Laura Friedman to seek federal funds for upgrades. On Thursday she announced she secured just over $1 million.

“Two years from now, athletes around the world are going to compete for gold right where we are standing. This is not the time to find out whether or not these pipes are up to the task,” Friedman said.

The planned work, she added, will lead to improved water flow capacity and water drainage, eliminating the risk of backups and emergency maintenance.

The funds came from the House of Representatives Interior and Environment subcommittee. The fixes, an official said, will be completed by the LA28 Olympics.

The funds, however, are a drop in the bucket when it comes to what’s needed to make needed improvements to the Pasadena venue.

Officials, including (left to right) Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation President Dedan Brozino, Deputy Fire Chief of the City of Pasadena Tim Sell, Congresswoman Laura Friedman, and Rose Bowl Stadium CEO Jens Weiden announced infrastructure funding for the 103-year old Rose Bowl.

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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/LAist

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“Over the  next 20 years there's about $200 million that we need to put in and that's everything from updating light fixtures to updating gas, water, wastewater lines, etc.,” said Dedan Brozino,  president of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the nonprofit that supports the Rose Bowl stadium's preservation and enhancement.

Getting venues ready will be expensive

The money is a much-needed win at a time when elected officials in city, county, state and federal offices have been struggling to find the funds to get L.A.-area venues ready for the global Olympic stage in two years.

The entrance to a men's bathroom at the Rose Bowl.

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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/LAist

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A $360 million proposal to spruce up asphalt in parking lots around Exposition Park won’t be done in time for the Olympics, as originally planned. Meanwhile, just up the street, there’s concern that a $2.6 billion expansion of the L.A. Convention Center, which is hosting Olympic wrestling, fencing and judo in 2028 won’t be ready for the Olympics.

Additionally, to save money, LA28 organizers moved Olympic diving to the Rose Bowl complex last year because it has two Olympic-sized pools, while the Exposition Park complex doesn't and would need expensive upgrades.

Topline:

About the chick: The chick hatched March 14. The zoo opened its Cape vulture enclosure in February 2025 after years of planning to encourage the birds to roost and nest, welcoming a new breeding pair that year. When it grows to be an adult, it’ll have a wingspan of 8 1/2 feet.

About the enclosure: The L.A. Zoo said it spent years developing the vulture habitat, which was designed to mimic the vultures’ natural environment in South Africa and nearby countries. Dominick Dorsa II, the zoo’s director of animal care, said in a statement the successful hatching is “a testament to the design and construction” of the habitat.

How to see the chick: You can’t for the time being. Zoo officials are keeping it away from visitors until the chick matures, though you can still see adult Cape vultures at the zoo’s enclosure.

Though visitors will have to wait until the chick matures to see it in the enclosure, you can still take in the impressive eight and a half foot wingspan of the adult Cape vultures.

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Courtesy Jamie Pham/L.A. Zoo

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What zoo officials are saying: “Welcoming a Cape vulture chick is a thrilling moment for our team and a beacon of hope for African vultures,” the L.A. Zoo’s curator of birds Rose Legato said in a statement. “Vultures are one of nature's most misunderstood marvels, and I cannot wait for our guests to eventually watch this chick grow and learn just how vital they are to our ecosystems.”

About the species: Cape vultures are listed as a vulnerable species due to human activities and encroachment. According to the L.A. Zoo, African vultures are more closely related to eagles and hawks than vultures native to the Americas, like the zoo's California condors that hatched last year.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

What should have been a celebration for formerly incarcerated youth completing a reentry program at the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory (BHAC) last week instead ended with seven students and two staff members detained by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to witnesses. 

Now, nearly a week later, BHAC staff and city officials are demanding answers from the LAPD, with some accusing officers of racial profiling. 

According to the LAPD, officers observed a large group gathered on the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Mott Street around 4:16 p.m. on March 26. Authorities then requested backup for what they described as “a large group surrounding officers,” LAPD Public Information Officer Tony Im said. 

The group, classified by police as an “aggressive gang group,” consisted of seven 18-year-old students from the BHAC’s Bridge Academy Movement (BAM) program and two BHAC staff members.

The BAM program pays formerly incarcerated youth to complete 200-250 hours in media and visual arts training to prepare them for creative careers. That day, students were set to showcase their work at the BAM program graduation for families and community members. 

Rene Weber, a teaching artist at the BHAC, had been with the students setting up for the ceremony minutes before the incident occurred. 

According to Weber, the students had gone to coffee across the street at Milpa Kitchen as they often did, when staff were alerted that they were being detained. 

Weber said he arrived to find students and a staff member pressed against the wall in handcuffs. 

Video from the scene, taken by a staff member at the BHAC, shows multiple officers surrounding the group. At one point, an officer orders a person to “get on the wall” and displays a stun gun.  

“No, none of that, these are kids right here,” the staff member replies.

Another staff member, Teotl Veliz, recorded a large police response.  

“I counted 12 cop cars, that’s at least 25 cops, and they had a helicopter,” Veliz said. “It was just so comedic, tragically comedic, that it was on their graduation day too.”

Officers established a perimeter with yellow tape along the side of Ashley’s Beauty Salon as local business owners and witnesses gathered around the students. 

“I was just incredibly disappointed in LAPD… because it became so apparent to everybody, all at the same time, that it was racial profiling and nothing else,” Veliz said.

Weber said officers gave shifting explanations for the stop at the scene, including blocking the sidewalk and possible underage vaping. After Weber told the officers that all of the students were 18, they said they would investigate whether the group had any gang affiliation. 

Police have not responded to questions about what led officers to believe that the group was gang-affiliated. 

Weber recalled pleading with the officers to let the group go and explaining to them that they worked across the street. Community members and local business owners also stepped in to vouch for the students. 

“Our job is to help them gain a new perspective on life,” Weber said. “They’re coming out of juvenile detention and they’re turning their lives around. We can do our part in keeping them off the streets and keeping them doing better but what does it mean if they’re going to be profiled and treated exactly the same way?” 

In total, seven 18-year-old students and two staff members were detained. BHAC staff said one student and one staff member were taken to Hollenbeck Community Police Station and released less than two hours later after advocacy from community members and Councilmember Ysabel Jurado.

The incident ultimately resulted in an infraction for smoking a cannabis e-vape on a public sidewalk, according to a photo of the infraction shared with the Beat. LAPD did not provide details about the people taken to Hollenbeck Station or the infraction. 

The graduation ceremony was cancelled that night and is expected to be rescheduled in April. 

“Graduation should be a moment of pride and possibility — not fear,” Jurado said in a statement. “I’m seeking answers about what occurred, and this underscores the need for stronger relationships between law enforcement and community organizations so moments like these are protected, not disrupted.”

Carmelita Ramirez‑Sanchez, the conservatory’s executive director, said she was grateful to the community and Jurado for advocating for the students’ release. Jurado met her at Hollenbeck Station within 20 minutes of being alerted to the incident, she said. 

“They had store owners, señoras, barbers, that ran out and were trying to explain to the police who our kids were,” Ramirez‑Sanchez said. 

Still, she said the incident tarnished what should have been a joyous celebration.

“I imagine that what this does is derail this entire idea that you can be an active participant in your own restorative growth,” she said.