Ex-Irwindale City Manager Pays Back Public Funds Spent On NYC Trip

August 9, 2011 10:24 AM

Steve Blancarte (CBS)

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WEST COVINA (CBS) — The retired city manager of Irwindale was sentenced Tuesday for spending taxpayer dollars on lavish trips to New York City.

KNX 1070′s John Brooks reports Steve Blancarte doesn’t face any jail time for misappropriate taxpayer money, but he is banned from holding any public position.

Blancarte — who is also serving a three-year probation sentence — has already paid back the money that he spent during trips to Manhattan in 2010 to secure bonds for Irwindale.

Attorney John Tyre pointed to Blancarte’s health issues as a primary factor in his decision not to fight the charges.

“He has issues with his heart, he’s retired and he just figures that because he doesn’t want this thing to kill him, that it’s better for him to put this matter behind him,” said Tyre.

Two City Council members along with the Irwindale finance director are fighting similar charges after staying at the Ritz-Carlton and taking in Broadway plays like “Wicked” and “Phantom of the Opera” all while sticking taxpayers with the bill.

Ex Irwindale City Manager Pays Back Public Funds Spent On NYC Trip

Linda

If these guys were procuring bonds for their town shouldn’t the trip have been paid for ? They should pay out of pocket for the Broadway Plays but if Obama can use Air Force 1 to fly all over collecting campaign donations these guys should have their trip paid for.
KOBE

Corruption at its finest. His punishment is paying for his own vacation. And his other punishement is not being able to hold public office! He is retired! Why are they not taking away his pension? Because the people who punished him are even more corrupt. They only made him pay back the money because it came out in the news.

News to people who hold public offices. It is ok to be corrupt! The state of California wants your to lie, cheat and steal. This is worst then the bell 8.