By Andrew Perry Artesia, California — Residents, businesses, and City employees are beginning to question the City's increasingly aggressive approach to code enforcement in the wake of the firings of two code officers. What happens when City Hall begins measuring success by the number of citations issued instead of the number of problems solved? Residents receive more tickets. Businesses face more penalties. And employees who question that approach may find themselves on the outside looking in. Two longtime employees have now been terminated after opposing what they describe as a two-year shift away from the City's traditional community-based approach to code enforcement and toward a more reactive philosophy that employees have summarized as, "Cite first, ask questions later." City management maintains the employees were terminated for poor performance. Yet during the appeal hearings, it became clear that both officers had received passing performance evaluations . B...

  Managers and analysts put their necks on the line, and went public with their concerns about the health of the City, and how City Manager Bill Rawlings is affecting it. Councilmember Tony Lima looks on in the background. Artesia, California - A powerful scene unfolded earlier last week.   On October 5, almost every Artesia city employee attended a special council meeting and risked their livelihoods to publicly express their concerns about how City Manager Bill Rawlings is detrimentally affecting the health of the City. The purpose of the special council meeting was Rawlings' performance evaluation. Three council members - Rene Trevino, Melissa Ramoso, and Ali Sajjad Taj, thanked the managers and supervisors for their words, but Councilmember Monica Manalo defended Rawlings in a public statement.  The meeting ended with the City Attorney Hongdao Nguyen reporting 'No Reportable Action.'  The following week, Rawlings still went to the office at least once, and reta...

Artesia, California - While the walls crumble around disgruntled City Manager Bill Rawlings, he is lashing out, but embattled employees catch a glimpse of blue sky. As lawsuits, unionizing efforts, investigations, and general mistrust mire three councilmembers' attempts to cover up several serious allegations against Rawlings, he is directing a subordinate to fire or attempt to fire employees for whistle blowing and for engaging in protected union activity, both of which are protected under state law. Despite this, employees are galvanized by outcries of support from residents, businesses, and outside agencies who are monitoring the situation. One Employee Fired Already An HR Manager, who was involved in unionizing efforts, was fired over a week ago.  The official reason: "services no longer needed". This particular HR Manager had glowing reviews for years, up until he bravely reported several serious allegations of harassment and misconduct involving the City Manager.  ...