Feliz Navidad Project Inc

Created with the noble goal of helping disadvantaged youngsters, two charities championed by Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre are being investigated by transit authorities for steering money to an event-planning firm founded by his wife.

Created with the noble goal of helping disadvantaged youngsters, two charities championed by Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre are being investigated by transit authorities for steering money to an event-planning firm founded by his wife.

There's a children's show on public television called "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" It's a geography detective show in which contestants follow clues and try to pin down the ever elusive Carmen. City Hall appears to have its own version of this game, only with Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre as the star. Alatorre is not only a powerful member of the council but a key board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre agreed Monday to pay thousands of dollars in fines--the maximum that state and local watchdog agencies can impose--for improperly intervening at City Hall to aid an event-planning firm founded by his wife.

As an Eastside group Friday defended the integrity of Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alatorre, the powerful politician was coming under scrutiny on a new front: from the city's Ethics Commission. Roughly 60 supporters rallied on Alatorre's behalf after disclosures in The Times that two charities he has championed are under investigation for steering money to an event-planning firm founded by his wife.