Derek Smith and the Wearin’ O’ the Green on the Fiscal Sustainability Committee
Last fall a silly committee was created by the City Council to pretend to explore ways to raise Fullerton’s public revenue. It’s gone by the hopeful name “Fiscal Sustainability Committee.”
No one really believed this “ad hoc” committee was meant to do anything but to propose some sort of sales tax increase, and that’s exactly what they did this week at what looked to be their final meeting. Of course there were only 4 members present and they split on whether to propose a general sales tax increase or special sales taxes aimed at “public safety” and infrastructure.
But this predictable and inconclusive conclusion is not what my post is about.
This post is about a guy named Derek Smith, one of the appointees to this committee, lifted out of obscurity by none other than Councilman “Dr.” Ahmad Zahra.
Guess what a very quick search reveals? Smith was not a random appointment based on apparent fiscal experience. Derek Smith is the political operative for the UFCW 324, the grocery store worker’s local union. Does that ring a bell? It should. Derek was clearly the mastermind of the national HQ’s $60,000 contribution to an “independent” political action committee dedicated to electing Vivian Kitty Jaramillo last fall. The origin of that money suggests a much darker source: the local SoCal MJ dispensary cartel.
That’s a lot of green from the produce section. How come? Because the OCFW 324 represents workers in the local marijuana dispensary business, part of a wider cartel that has been trying, with the help of Ahmad Zahra, to crack into Fullerton for several years. Jaramillo was going to be their Golden Ticket for a revived marijuana ordinance.
So Smith’s real fiscal experience consists of blowing $60K of somebody else’s cabbage on the S.S. Jaramillo.
Mr. Smith made the news in Anaheim a couple years ago getting a suite at the Honda Center courtesy of Mayor Aitken after pushing $140,000 in her direction.
Back to Fullerton, Cannabis Jaramillo’s loss to Jamie Valencia was disastrous to Zahra in so many ways, not the least of which could his apparent utility to the MJ cartel.
Anyhow, at the end of the meeting Smith voted to recommend a general sales tax increase for Fullerton to deal with our fiscal crisis, although in the front of his mind must surely have been the idea revenue from the sale of cannabis products – good for the budget, good for his union.
Zahra is pretty shameless about his dope hustle. Never hear the Kennedy Sisters mention it. I wonder why.
Derek Smith is a dope who peddles dope for dope dealers. It is perfectly on brand with Ahmad Zahra, doctor of promoting himself and his wishy washy origin story, to appoint this loser.
Wasn’t he married…to a woman? Did they have kids? Because a few things would need to happen for that to have been a success and could blow a hole (no pun intended) in his story.
Ah, sadly Zahra’s marriage to Michelle Salmon was never consummated, even though they “liked each other.”
Zahra was suffering from PTSD after his harrowing escape from Assad’s Syria. There were attendant dysfunctions.
Alas, the union produced no offspring.
Cruel FFFF sees it as a purely transactional deal between an immoral immigrant with $5,000 and a poor Arkansas mother in need.
So no child support or alimony? Would be fun to find out.
The “alimony” was the marriage fee – my guess is around $5,000. There were no offspring because sexual intercourse was 1) not included, 2) not wanted by either party.
Zahra came to the USA with some resources. How else did Michelle get her fee?
Later, Zahra slept in his car in West Hollywood. How he even acquired a car might tell a lot about his REAL origin story. The only part of the tale that has the ring of truth is the West Hollywood part.
Zahra doesn’t know any regular Fullertonians and he has no friends. Gee I wonder why not.
He does have friends, he said so during last city council meeting.
Zahra, “I like reading the Fullerton Blog”. “They should change the name to Friends who like Ahmad Zahra”.
Mr. Peabody, why don’t you mention your little bitch, Tony Bushala, was also on the Fiscal Sustainable Committee with Mr. Smith? Why are you singling out Smith, and not Bushala, biased reporting are we?
I’m his little bitch, that’s why.
Maybe because this article was about an outsider who has no history in Fullerton and is a paid lobbyist. Bushala doesn’t hide who he is, otherwise zits like you wouldn’t know his name and be able to blame every underhanded thing Zahra does on him.
So Zahra appointed a dope lobbyist to this committee? George A. Bushala? Looks like you have a new subject to bring up.
I tune in just for that guy’s comments. Can miss entertainment! It’s too bad they don’t show Zahra’s face during his comments.
Last time he got up and left just like a little girl.
Don’t call him a little girl. He may file a police report for assault and battery.
More people should come out and tell Ahmad like it is. Maybe he learns humility.
Who voted how?
Does Ahmad not know anyone qualified? This guy is not qualified. Kitty Jaramillo was totally unqualified for Planning Commission. He appointed a teenager living on a coach to Parks & Recs and then he doubled down and nominated him to Planning, but he didn’t live in Fullerton. Ahmad needs to get out more.
His second planning commissioner makes homemade greeting cards.
Does that constitute a small business? Don’t you need to submit a qualified resume?
No.