Federal Agents raid offices of Banning Airport Developer

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 4/30/13 – The offices of Highland Fairview in Moreno Valley were searched today by Federal Agents. The search is said to be part of an ongoing political corruption investigation focusing on Moreno Valley and also involved the searches of the homes of all 5 Moreno Valley City Council members. As of today, no charges have been filed.

In 2009, Iddo Benzeevi and Highland Fairview received a warning letter from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (view) for failing to file a campaign statement and disclosing political campaign contributions . Benzeevi, an Israeli citizen, is known to be a major contributor to several Moreno Valley City Council members.

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EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON BANNING AIRPORT

Highland Fairview, represented by its president Iddo Benzeevi, currently is in exclusive negotiations with the City of Banning to develop the Banning airport property into an industrial logistics center. The company was the developer of the highly controversial  Moreno Valley “Sketchers” warehouse located along I-60.

 Last year, an “Exclusive Negotiations Agreement” (ENA) was entered into by the previous City Council and Benzeevi/Highland Fairview. Only a few weeks ago, the agreement was upheld by the new Council.

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CONCLUSION

.With the previous City Council ( in particular Barbara Hanna, Don Robinson and Bob Botts),  the City of Banning had a stigma of political corruption. New City Council members Don Peterson and Ed Miller have made it a point to end the previous trend. The question must now be asked : Is negotiating with Iddo Benzeevi the right choice for the City Of Banning ?.

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 Watch PE video report on FBI raid :

Link to PE article on raid : http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/moreno-valley/moreno-valley-headlines-index/20130430-moreno-valley-warrants-served-in-political-corruption-probe.ece

Link to Los Angeles Times article : http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-moreno-valley-20130501,0,3380283.story

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