Dear Editor: 

Who is Catherine Alvarez, City Council member of District 3?

A person who has committed welfare fraud, has misdemeanors, filed for bankruptcy, has been on disability forever, blatantly harasses fellow city council members before holding office, has ran several smear campaigns, cyberbullying against fellow members of community without merit including a minor, and is currently suing her landlord.

Financially, she has proven to be irresponsible, has filed for bankruptcy, is unable to balance a checkbook, has two evictions, and owned Downey landlords over $7,000. These are all characteristics that I don’t want in a City Council member for my city and making decisions that will affect my family and I’s future in this city. How can I trust this person and believe in them when they have fallen short on their own personal choices and continue to make infractions against their oath of office? They lack the experience, self-discipline, and education to make sound decisions. We can’t trust them with the future of our city.

Ms. Alvarez is financially irresponsible to even run her own personal life and is certainly not skilled enough or able to watch over our city’s budget. She’s unfit to oversee a city budget of over $240 million, borrow funds; establish tax rates or any other responsibility for that matter. Ms. Alvarez has cheated the system too many times to be involved with any financial matters of our city. There’s too much at risk for us residents of Downey to overlook.

We as Downey residents deserve better.

Here is a list of some of the responsibilities a city council member has. Can you trust Ms. Alvarez’s abilities in good faith?

* Review and approve the annual budget;

* Establish long- and short-term objectives and priorities;

* Oversee performance of the local public employees;

* Oversee effectiveness of programs;

* Establish taxes rates;

* Enter into legal contracts;

* Borrow funds;

* Pass ordinances and resolutions;

* Modify the city’s charter;

* Regulate land use through zoning laws;

* Regulate business activity through licensing and regulations;

* Regulate public health and safety;

* Exercise the power of eminent domain;

* Communicate policies and programs to residents;

* Respond to constituent needs and complaints; and

* Represent the community to other levels of government.

No you can’t. Recall Catherine Alvarez.

A recall must happen for the future of our city and for the overall benefit of our community. It’s up to us as Downey residents to make the difference and so shall we.

Lissette Rivera
Downey