On September 13, 2023, I reported Sonoma County Human Rights Commissioner Isabel Lopez to the Fair Political Practices Commission for giving herself a $2,500 grant to lead a 40-mile just immigration reform march to San Francisco.
In August 2023, I contributed articles to The California Globe which highlighted my concerns regarding Raizes Collective.
https://californiaglobe.com/fr/sonoma-county-equity-office-gave-arpa-funding-to-inmate-for-dui-case/
https://californiaglobe.com/fr/equity-the-new-term-for-misappropriation/
In response, Ms. Lopez shared the following communication with her Raizes team. She claimed all allegations brought forth within my article were false.
Her team appeared to have questions regarding the financials and corresponded as follows:
Either Ms. Lopez is an idiot, does not comprehend that she is an appointed official subject to the Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) provisions, or she intentionally lied to her team.
Ms. Lopez stated to her team: “I can't answer your concerns regarding the FPPC because those investigations are only for elected officials which neither I or Raizes Collective is, so we will not be investigated. Raizes is not under investigation or risk of.”
On October 19, 2023, The Press Democrat published an article outlining the concerns I brought forward. Ms. MaDonna Feather Cruz, the former Board President was quoted within the piece. She does not appear to serve on the Raizes Collective Board any longer.
As the Executive Director of Raizes Collective, Ms. Lopez issued multiple invoices to the attention of the Sonoma County Human Rights Commission to remit payment.
On April 3, 2023, she submitted an invoice requesting a payment of $1k for Indigenous Peoples Day 2023 Sponsorship.
On August 4, 2023, Commissioner Lopez submitted an invoice to the attention of the Commission on Human Rights requesting a payment of $2,500 to support the 40-mile march.
She confirmed that the payment was approved in a text message.
In October 2023, County staff requested for Ms. Lopez to provide a paper trail of the $2,500 grant given to Raizes Collective.
On December 13, 2023, Ms. Laura Mandler, Political Reform Consultant, issued the following letter to Ms. Lopez:
On September 30, 2024, Ms. Lopez received the following letter from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the state’s oversight watchdog.
On October 2, 2024, County of Sonoma Human Resources Administrative Aide Meira Bowcut sent the following email to the Human Rights present and past commissioners:
Records indicate that Ms. Lopez coordinated the budget and work plans for her grant requests through Ad-Hoc Committees under the umbrella of the Human Rights Commission.
Ad-Hoc bodies are exempt from the Brown Act if comprised exclusively of members from the parent legislative body; composed solely of less than a quorum of the members of the parent legislative body; or created to address a limited or single purpose within a limited duration.
While remaining under investigation, Ms. Lopez once again inquired how to submit an invoice for a $2,500 sponsorship to march on behalf of Raizes Collective for the year 2024. She was informed that the Ad-Hoc used up all of their allocated funds for the fiscal year’s budget.
Raizes Collective appeared to submit former Form 990’s to the IRS without the signature of their Board President.
On October 15, 2024, Ms. Lopez declared to the FPPC that she provided a true copy of all records described in the September 30, 2024 letter. This declaration was made under the penalty of perjury.
If Ms. Lopez truly submitted all records to the FPPC, why did she omit communications in which her own Board questioned their financials and the relationship with the County of Sonoma?
“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” -Luke 8:17
These nonprofits with semi important names are nothing more than money laundering activities for people who can’t get real jobs. These nonprofit names are laughable. Looks like all these nonprofits do is pass out taxpayer money like candy. This crap has to come to an end.
Adina, you are a treasure to Sonoma County. Thank you for the work you do.