Vanguardians...About Us

Your employee Association doesn't support you, DON'T support them. Instead, send your union dues to Vanguardians as allowed by the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act for LOCAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.

Vanguardians Need Your Continued Financial Support

Please make checks payable to "VANGUARDIANS"
Mail to: PO Box 11202 Glendale, CA 91226

Your contributions are tax deductible.
You will receive a receipt for income tax purposes
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OUR VISION is to live in a community where all people can enjoy accountability, integrity, effectiveness, and responsiveness from our government.
Our mission is to:

Provide, without bias, the timely dissemination of information and knowledge of government activities to the community and elected officials.

Build, train and empower a knowledgeable, aware and involved community-wide group to monitor the integrity, performance, and responsiveness of elected officials and government operations.

Encourage, by example, a community free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues by facilitating an open debate and discussion of the issues.

Seek accountability, effectiveness and responsiveness from our government to insure integrity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.

Make government acutely aware there is a community watching, monitoring, and measuring their activities.

We want to be connected, and an active part of government process

We want to be aware of issues impacting 'quality of life'

We want to know our money is being used wisely and prudently

We want to leave a prospering community for our children and grandchildren

Don't We All?

Become a Part of the Vanguardians Movement

People from all over LA County are asking for Vanguard and Vanguardians training. We are expanding our coverage of LA County activities to accommodate the needs of the community. To become more involved in your community, to learn how to use these important tools, you can call 818 243 1502. Learn about the important tools you have at your disposal:

Vanguardians was created in 2003 by Barry Allen in Glendale California. Glendale is a Charter City that is located about 12 miles NNW of downtown Los Angeles. As a Charter or home rule city it is one of 88 cities in Los Angeles County. Glendale has a 5 person city council and a strong city manager. It has its own police and fire departments and a present budget (2011-2012 of over $800,000.

From The Glendale News Press 12-29-2003 the beginning of Accountability in Glendale. Claiming that the city needs better oversight to monitor its finances and actions, [Barry Allen] is calling on city residents to form a watchdog group to look into everything, “I think an outside, independent agency that isn't funded by the city; that's funded by a grass-roots initiative, is what we really need.”

Vanguardians incorporated in California and applied for and received from the Internal Revenue Service non-profit status that allows us to accept contributions and donations that are tax-deductible under the Internal Revenue Code. That means that no one person or entity can profit from those contributions. Monies raised are to fulfill the mission and vision.

Each year on or before the 15th day of the 5th month we comply with the law by filing the requisite documents with various compliance agencies including the IRS, the California Attorney General, the California Secretary of State and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Vanguardians Purpose:

To Inform, Educate, & Motivate the people for their Non-Violent Involvement, Engagement & Advocacy in local government.

We have chosen local government because "All politics is local" is a common phrase in U.S. politics. The former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill coined this phrase which encapsulates the principle that a politician's success is directly tied to his ability to understand and influence the issues of his constituents. Politicians must appeal to the simple, mundane and everyday concerns of those who elect them into office. Those personal issues, rather than big and intangible ideas, are often what voters care most about, according to this principle. Politicians often use this against one another, as well, to hit each other where it hurts most—back at home—rather than on the floor of Congress. The concept is contrary to the notion that most people, somehow, in local elections are casting votes to "send a message" to the highest levels; instead, the principle predicts that most people will not vote for local politicians simply as a means to act on feelings about higher politicians, such as concerns about a current U.S. President. The prediction is that most people who vote, or debate issues, are focused on resolving their local issues. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Local government in California is non-partisan, that is the candidates for public office do not run as being a member of a particular political party.

Local government is more accessible and less complex than either national or state. The Ralph M Brown Act or the California Open Meetings Act requires that all governmental meetings, with a few closed session exceptions, are open to the public and those people can speak on items on the pre-posted agenda or on any topic not on the agenda that is within the jurisdiction of that legislative body. There are people, in some cases public officials that are not aware of the Brown Act nuances.

We have seen that often those we elect to serve us become our masters and not our servants. In many cases the public is seen as only a deep pocket and, like the old days when people spoke of children they were to be seen and not heard.

Pickup newspapers and you will read horror stories about unsustainable pensions, benefits and compensation. Laborers in uniform are paid $150,000 a year for life; government unions have fought to keep those benefits from the public eye. Fortunately the California Newspaper Publishers Association took the matter to the California Supreme Court where the Justices decided that public employee compensation was a matter of public record.

We have a Board of Directors and we have numerous volunteers many of whom came to us through VolunteerMatch. Our Board is made up of people from many walks of life, various educational degrees and all parts of the Country. Their commonality is in the desire for accountable local government that is without corruption.

We offer training and support for individuals and groups that want to live in communities where our vision of living in a community where all people can enjoy accountability, integrity, effectiveness and responsiveness from our government, is foremost.

We are aware that many people want the benefits of an accountable government but are afraid to work for accountability or to support those that do often because they fear retaliation or are the beneficiaries of the largesse or corruption of government

Without stalwart individuals that support accountability and each other, our cities would have happen to them what Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote about:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Speak up, speak out and support an accountable local government

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. Margaret Chase Smith

Your tax-deductible contributions support the mission to:

Provide, without bias, the timely dissemination of information and knowledge of government activities to the community and elected officials
Build, train and empower a knowledgeable, aware and involved community-wide group to monitor the integrity, performance and responsiveness of elected officials and government operations
Encourage, by example, a community free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues by facilitating open debate and discussion on the issues
Seek accountability, effectiveness and responsiveness from our government to insure integrity, efficiency and cost effectiveness
Make government acutely aware there is a community watching, monitoring and measuring their activities

The penalty good men and women pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. PLATO

Every city, county, school district, water district and joint powers have people, taxpayers and stakeholders that have a vested interest in how their money is being spent but, unfortunately, they don’t how where and how to start, especially when the elected officials, appointed officials and bureaucrats have little interest in having the public take long looks into their fiefdoms.

You could be that missing piece – you could be the person that wants to protect your progeny from the strategic errors made by your elected officials.

You could be that piece that understands law or accounting or finances that can help others understand budgets and annual audits.

Help is available. Vanguardians can train and empower you; to share our knowledge and contacts; to become the needed integral part of your community.

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” – Thomas Jefferson.

Who We Are

We are people just like you. We work hard and smart so that our community can be corruption free. We helped the residents of the City of Bell take back their community from officials that wanted to fleece the community. Several are awaiting criminal trials now.

We develop relationship with community members and local government officials that are looking out for the best interest of the community.

We publish Vanguard Weekly News to share the issues of the community.

We have developed a cadre of ‘insiders’ who share valuable information that is not shared with the stakeholders.

It was an insider who came to Vanguardians with information that has proven to implicate elected officials and others in an affordable housing debacle. The information we voluntarily turned over to the FBI has resulted in an ongoing criminal investigation. It is important that we stress that Vanguardians or its staff or volunteers do not work for or with the FBI nor do we act as their agents.

We were successful in filing a complaint that coupled with other complaints, resulted in a civil penalty for money laundering by an elected official.

Advocating for Accountability– Without accountability there is nurturing for corruption

Documents

Get Involved

You can be the missing piece. You can by contacting Vanguardians and we will talk you through especially if you are in California where Vanguardians is quite familiar with the Sunshine laws of open government. The California Public Records Act has been a part of the California Constitution since 2004. Public Records are now a civil right. The Political Reform Act of 1974 as amended provides documents about financial conflicts of interest and candidate contributions and expenditures.

From the Desk of James Corcoran

30th of May, 2011 Memorial Day, Mr. Barry Allen Vanguardians Glendale, California

The term, ‘vanguard’, from which you have aptly named your weekly journal, derives from Medieval French (“avant-guard”); this, as you know, is a military term designating frontal soldiers, those who risk all, but, consequently, achieve a higher degree of battle-honor. Again, I use the term “aptly,” for you and your staff have earned that name, that honor.

This Memorial Day is a fitting time to recognize and thank you for your actions during the past eighteen months, specifically, for your efforts in the city of Bell.

You and your staff joined forces with a very small group of Bell residents and stakeholders long before the Los Angeles Times “broke” (to borrow a journalism term) the first of many stories. You were, at that time, with us in the trenches, and, most importantly, you stayed in the trenches. Of particular note were the works of Herbert Molano, especially his pieces on the disgraced Randy G. Adams.

Again, Mr. Allen, for those of us who endured this long ordeal, I personally thank you. Neither you nor your staff received tangible benefits from your efforts, yet, I dare say, you received far more meaningful benefits, those of a job well done.

Please sir, accept this note of gratitude, not as a final “thank you,” but one of lasting endeavors; the job in Bell is far from over.

By the way, I have followed from afar some of the recent Glendale political events. Bravo there for some first-class journalism.

Your paper quotes our third President with happy frequency. If I may, in this spirit, borrow his words to end this letter. “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

Editor: This letter was received on June 13, 2011. Unfortunately it got caught in the email room maelstrom. Staff and volunteers are very appreciative of Sgt. Corcoran’s words. As a note, Sgt. Corcoran stood tall before deposed Bell Police Chief Randy Adams when he went to a higher authority about the corruption in Bell. When threatened by Adams, Jim took early retirement and is still active teaching law enforcement officers.

Most respectfully,

James Corcoran

James Corcoran, Sergeant, Bell Police Department (Ret.)

Contact Us

By phone at 818 243 1502
By snail mail POB 11202, Glendale CA 91226
Join us on Facebook
Or by email

Vanguardians contact information:

Legislative Liason

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General Mailbox

Glendale Claims

Vanguard Davis

Vanguard Oxnard

Vanguard Bell

Vanguard Alhambra

Vanguard Editor

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Vanguard Letter

Become a Part of the Vanguardians Movement

Vanguardians Purpose:

Who We Are

Documents

Compliance

Archives

2006

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2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Informational

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