Comments on: District Manager at Tulare Cemetery Leonor Castaneda Sacked

By: Valley Voice, area news outlets honored in California Journalism Awards - Valley Voice

Sat, 28 May 2022 22:32:50 +0000

[…] Public Cemetery District turmoil” series, which included reporting on a double disinterment, the firing of former Tulare Public Cemetery District manager Leonor Castaneda, the cancellation of the cemetery district’s insurance policy, and a police report that claimed […]

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 23:33:19 +0000

Corrected at today’s meeting by County Counsel:

Manager is on Administrative Leave until April 16th with PENDING termination.

By: Vicki Gilson

Vicki Gilson — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:09:05 +0000

In reply to Catherine Doe.

Thank you Catherine – it’s so sad, but true about “costing so many people much grief, loss of employment, and defamation of character when anyone tried to voice their opinion.” In the time of our loss of loved ones, we need confidence in the process of burying, memorializing, and remembering, and for some of us there has been irreparable harm.
It is now time for justice to prevail with Board Trustees Avila and Presant. They have disregarded and ignored their stewardship and duties as trustees with their egos and need for power and control. They should both apologize, make amends for all of those they have harmed, ask forgiveness and then resign.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:52:40 +0000

Is Xavier going to be kept on the board I think he should go

By: Barbara Kane

Barbara Kane — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:58:38 +0000

Trustee Alberto Aguilar said in a statement given to the rest of the board at the March 25 meeting, “My concerns relative to the issues at hand are as follows: 1) Why was the board kept in the dark about the disinterments that were scheduled to be done at the North J cemetery at 6:00 am? 2) Why did the Martinez family show up at 6:00 am for the disinterment of Silvano Martinez along with Channel 21 Univision? 3) Why were Leonor and Xavier present during the disinterment of the Silvano Martinez and Justiniana Jacinto? 4) Why was the disinterment done without written permission from the Martinez family?”

Waiting to hear the rest of the story.

By: Chris Ronquillo

Chris Ronquillo — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:21:41 +0000

Yolanda..No disrespect..but there is infact..many discrepancy in the financial..as well ..as the tge employee payroll..Much respect to Alex.. for keeping informed and bringing the board meetings..available for us that are concerned..in the loop

By: Catherine Doe

Catherine Doe — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:17:54 +0000

In reply to Yolonda Allen.

Waiting until today was a dereliction of duty. It took three years and cost so many people much grief, loss of employment, and defamation of character when anyone tried to voice their opinion.

The Grand Jury did not do a complete investigation of the finances. They recommended a forensic audit for the last few years, which has not been done.

By: Yolonda Allen

Yolonda Allen — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 22:57:15 +0000

In reply to Alex Gutierrez.

They handled the mismanagement today Alex. You were there. What more could you possibly expect them to do?

Please supply proof of financial discrepancies. You know full well that a complete investigation was done by the Grand Jury and there were no financial discrepancies. There is also a financial audit committee that reviews financials on a monthly basis.

Your bias is showing Alex. Stop hanging around listening to one-sided stories and get the facts.

By: Alex Gutierrez

Alex Gutierrez — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:49:39 +0000

The TPCD Board Members need to be held accountable too for allowing this mismanagement to continue. They’re complicit in all of this and they were consistently apprised of all the issues, financial discrepancies and errors that were being made for almost two years.

By: Troy Kitchens

Troy Kitchens — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:41:39 +0000

No one cares. This isn’t news! An employee being being fired isn’t news