It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the controversies coming out of Maywood.
Two years ago, a scathing audit found that the city was more than $15 million in debt. It placed the blame on Maywood’s former city manager, mayor and city council for a lack of oversight and a violation of fiduciary obligations. In February, search warrants were served at more than seven locations associated with government officials as part of a corruption probe. Last week, the city’s mayor was convicted of animal cruelty. And now we learn that Maywood’s acting city manager, who took stress leave six months ago, is at the center of a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city.
Rose Vasquez, a former executive assistant to acting city manager Reuben Martinez, filed a lawsuit in June accusing her former boss of threats, harassment, and physical assault. She says she complained to city administrators, but that nothing was ever done.
“The mayor did nothing,” according to the suit. “He told them: ‘too bad’ and that everyone has to ‘deal’ with defendant Martinez because the city would not fire him.”
Vasquez says she is not Martinez’s only victim.
The Los Angeles Times attempted to reach out to both Martinez and Mayor Ramon Medina. Neither would provide comment, with the mayor saying he cannot address matters involving pending litigation.