West Covina Center | Photo by SDFGH on Wikimedia Commons
Part II of “Proactive People Must Protect Own Neighborhood” Series
On December 1, 2020, Elaine M. Howle, CPA, the California State Auditor, formally informed the Governor of California, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly of a sad report about the City of West Covina. She said that, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, an audit report regarding West Covina was conducted as part of a high‑risk local government agency audit program.
QUOTE. The report concluded that West Covina is a high-risk city because of the significant risks it faces related to its financial and operational management. West Covina reduced its year‑end general fund reserve balance by $10.6 million—more than half—during the past several fiscal years, primarily due to its inability to address substantial increases in citywide expenditures and its significant pension liability. The city has also likely underestimated the financial impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic during this current fiscal year.
West Covina made certain financial decisions that appear questionable or were based on insufficient analyses. Moreover, the city has not developed a formal financial recovery plan with specific timelines, monitoring, and reporting to improve its long‑term financial health. We also identified instances of inadequate management that limit West Covina’s ability to ensure that public funds are used appropriately and that its procurement efforts provide the best value.
To address these concerns, we present several recommendations, including pursuing opportunities to manage more effectively or reduce spending, preparing multiyear financial forecasts to quantify the impact of decisions, and establishing and adhering to procurement policies. We also recommend that West Covina develop a formal financial recovery plan to prioritize resources and assign responsibility for monitoring progress in implementing the plan. UNQUOTE. To read the complete audit report, please go to this link:
More than five years later, the City of West Covina is still mired in near-total bankruptcy. It also faces many suits seeking millions of dollars in actual and punitive damages from former city officials who alleged they were terminated without cause and suffered violations of their employment contracts.
“How come “the City of West Covina spent approximately $152,000 over two years on an annual (Chinese) Moon Festival”? Is it allowed by the city charter? If indeed the council resolution for said $152,000 was allegedly approved unanimously by the five-person City Council, then all of them must tender courtesy resignations.”
However, elected members of the City Council of West Covina continue to govern the city as if “there is no tomorrow”, to use an oft-quoted adage. Here is one of apparent latest financial scandals approved by the City Council: A Facebook member, who goes by the screen name of Westcovina626sgv, posted on January 7, 2026, on Facebook that “the City of West Covina spent approximately $152,000 over two years on its annual (Chinese) Moon Festival, an event that has drawn scrutiny due to its connection to Mayor Tony Wu’s wife, according to public records and reporting by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.” To read more details about the report, please click this link
This journalist organized a Philippine Independence Celebration in June 1994 at the West Covina Civic Center and City Hall. Then, n June 1995, the event was renamed “Filipino-Hispano Fiesta” and held at the West Covina Mall, adjacent to the Civic Center. In both events, the organizers did not request any financial support from the city government and the mall operator. At said community events, the organizers were asked to provide $1,000,000 in third-party liability insurance coverage in the event of any injury or property damage. The insurance premium was paid for by the organizers, using their own resources and contributions from private donors and corporate sponsors. How come “the City of West Covina spent approximately $152,000 over two years on an annual (Chinese) Moon Festival”? Is it allowed by the city charter? If indeed the council resolution for said $152,000 was allegedly approved unanimously by the five-person City Council, then all of them must tender courtesy resignations.
This columnist has talked to community leaders, and the consensus was almost unanimous: West Covina City councilmembers must tender courtesy resignations, and they must call a fresh election in all five districts.
The city councilmembers may decide not to resign as a courtesy. But they have to suffer the backlash if a complaint for corrupt and illegal council decisions is filed before the Office of the Attorney General of California for possible prosecution. The election for three council seats is scheduled for November 3, 2026. There is enough time to hold an election for the two other council seats as well. There will be new candidates who must sign a Covenant with the People of West Covina to uphold the tenets of Accountability, Transparency, Integrity, and Credibility (ATIC), who may be able to rescue the city from bankruptcy. Yes, the ATIC acronym that this columnist coined in October 2000.
