ABOUT US
The "About Us" is simple. I'm a concerned member of the community and I consider this to be one of the most outrageous scandals in our local school board election race. Everyone should be aware of it.
This website was built to demonstrate why it's important to pay attention to local politics and be informed. When you don't ... these things CAN and DO happen.
This website was built to demonstrate why it's important to pay attention to local politics and be informed. When you don't ... these things CAN and DO happen.
the backstory
In 2018, Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) candidate Amy Chen (who ran on a slate with Angie Simpson and then-incumbent Mike Dunn), and with the full support of current board member Sandee Everett — who is re-running in 2020 — stated in her candidate paperwork that she is a director for Top Goal Education, Inc., a "nonprofit" that offers education enrichment programs.
She listed that her preferred ballot designation (the three words that describes a candidate on a ballot to the voters) be: educational nonprofit director.
Now, if you were an uninformed voter, or believed Amy Chen's campaign collateral, I imagine you, like others, would draw the conclusion that electing an "educational nonprofit director" (although really it should have been education, not educational), would seem like an appropriate choice for the school board, if you knew nothing else about the board or the candidates.
Well, I had never heard of this "nonprofit," so I did some research ... and it's left me with a lot of QUESTIONS:
Dear Amy Chen,
1) I see that a "statement of information" was filed on June 19, 2018 with the state of California. This was mere weeks before you filed to run as a candidate. I would take the position that a few weeks isn't a significant amount of time in which to establish your role and have true working experience as an educational nonprofit director.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
2) It appears that "Top Goal Education, Inc." does not have an EIN number. All nonprofits need an Employer Identification Number (or EIN). As google will tell you, it's like a social security number for a nonprofit/business and you generally need it before filing for incorporation in your state and before applying for tax-exempt status from the IRS.
So without this, "Top Goal Education, Inc." is actually not a recognized nonprofit as it currently stands. This would mean that you lied on the paperwork you filed as a candidate for CVUSD. I just went to the IRS website (the same is true as of a database search conducted December 2019), and searched its database (tax exempt organization search), and when I put in: "Top Goal Education, Inc., I was informed that my search didn't return any results. And, just to make sure there wasn't a glitch, I entered the same fields of information for my nonprofit. It quickly identified my nonprofit as a tax exempt organization. I know if there were misrepresentations about my role in a nonprofit, or my nonprofit itself, I would work quickly to address them!
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
3) It appears there is zero official or formal presence of this "nonprofit." You've stated that the organization offers education enrichment programs, but there appears to be no way to find out about these programs. To be clear, you didn't state on your paperwork: "eventually this organization will be providing services ..." . You stated it currently does, and yet you've never been able to provide — upon multiple inquiries — what exactly these services are, how children are benefitting from them, how families find out about these services, or even how many children have been supported. What's further concerning is that if you call the place of business which is listed as the address for this "nonprofit," No one has ever heard of it. Like, no one. When community members went to the place of business, First Ave. Education (the address listed for the nonprofit) in person ... the same result. No one there had ever heard of Top Goal Education and no information could be found or provided.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
4) Moreover, you refused to answer phone calls from the Thousand Oaks Acorn regarding your role and "Top Goal Education, Inc." You only answered via email, by copy/pasting verbiage from your candidate website (three times changed regarding how you described the nonprofit, btw.) And, per The Acorn, when "Asked about Top Goal, Chen declined to say if the nonprofit was currently in operation, if it offered any programs or if it had any students." So ... most people who run nonprofits LOVE to talk about them. You had an opportunity to talk about and share about your "nonprofit" at multiple public forums and the local papers ... and you refused to do so at every opportunity? As a candidate running on the platform that you're an educational nonprofit director???
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
5) I understand you're the CFO of a for-profit Chinese tutoring school in Arcadia: First. Ave. Education — ah, the same place of business the nonprofit's address is listed as. I can keep up, Amy! You have stated you have been CFO since 2014. I'm intrigued that "Top Goal Education, Inc." has listed First Ave's address as its address, considering First Ave already has a nonprofit arm: First Avenue Education (I know, it's a bit confusing because the names are so similar — I imagine that was done with intent). I'm wondering why there would be a need for this for-profit tutoring school to have two nonprofit arms. Do they provide different services?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
6) While we're on the topic, the nonprofit arm First Avenue Education ... what services does it actually provide? Upon visiting the for-profit school, it was found that the same services and prices for both First Ave (the for-profit) and First Avenue (the nonprofit arm) are listed interchangeably on flyers.
And then there's this, reported from The Acorn: "Paperwork obtained from the California Attorney General’s office shows that First Avenue (the nonprofit arm) reported zero profits between 2011 and 2016 with the exception of 2014. In 2014, it showed revenue totaling $10,850 and assets totaling $11,974.
A letter from the state attorney general indicates First Avenue failed to submit renewal fees and reports in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. State records show the delinquent reports were filed in June 2017."
(Psssst ... did you know that First Ave. Education gets rent and postage discounts because of their First Avenue Education "nonprofit"?). Now, this is starting to look bad, Amy, because, it would appear that the the for-profit school created a nonprofit arm to scam the district on rent and the post office on postage. As CFO, surely you can clear this up.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
7) I learned that you made a campaign donation to Angie Simpson, your running mate (along with Mike Dunn) in the election. Per campaign finance laws, when you donate to a campaign, you are required to list your current occupation and employer (unless you're retired, which you must state). You listed, when making that donation, that you are a homemaker/stay-at-home mom (forgive me if I don't recall the exact phrasing). If you are the active director of an education nonprofit, why wouldn't you list this?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
8) I've attended four forums at which you've spoken at regarding your experience and qualifications for the Conejo Valley School Board. The Thrive Conejo forum, The Chamber of Commerce forum, the Thousand Oaks Tea Party forum and the Thousand Oaks Acorn forum. You never mentioned, at any of these forums, "Top Goal Education, Inc." You never mentioned your role as an education nonprofit director. In fact, when you did speak about your experience, you mentioned your experience in the medical field, as a pharmacist. I wonder why you wouldn't mention your education nonprofit director role? Surely you felt it important enough to get that titled listed as your ballot designation to voters in this district. Surely education experience would be a relevant thing to mention at candidate forums regarding the school district. Why did you refuse to answer questions about the nonprofit at The Acorn forum?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
9) As you know, the community is feeling rather deceived by board trustee Sandee Everett, who, in 2016, misrepresented herself on the ballot. She lied and listed that she was a school counselor. We since learned that she has never been employed as a school counselor. (Having your license to counsel and actually being employed as a counselor are two very different things, you see.) I learned that Sandee Everett endorsed you. She wrote a letter to The Acorn endorsing you and Angie Simpson. And, she recorded a robo call voicemail endorsing you. Surely you can understand why this was association was alarming for some in our community.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
10) The only "proof" the county recorder received regarding your nonprofit role, was an email response from a woman named Jocelyn Lin. The name Jocelyn Lin does not appear on the articles of information filed with the state, but the name Chialin Lin does. Maybe these are one and the same? Regardless, Jocelyn Lin (who you listed on your candidate paperwork as your reference) is listed as the President of the for-profit tutoring school you are the CFO at. Jocelyn emailed confirming you are doing lots of director work. If this were the case, why are you refusing to say so when asked by reporters?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
She listed that her preferred ballot designation (the three words that describes a candidate on a ballot to the voters) be: educational nonprofit director.
Now, if you were an uninformed voter, or believed Amy Chen's campaign collateral, I imagine you, like others, would draw the conclusion that electing an "educational nonprofit director" (although really it should have been education, not educational), would seem like an appropriate choice for the school board, if you knew nothing else about the board or the candidates.
Well, I had never heard of this "nonprofit," so I did some research ... and it's left me with a lot of QUESTIONS:
Dear Amy Chen,
1) I see that a "statement of information" was filed on June 19, 2018 with the state of California. This was mere weeks before you filed to run as a candidate. I would take the position that a few weeks isn't a significant amount of time in which to establish your role and have true working experience as an educational nonprofit director.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
2) It appears that "Top Goal Education, Inc." does not have an EIN number. All nonprofits need an Employer Identification Number (or EIN). As google will tell you, it's like a social security number for a nonprofit/business and you generally need it before filing for incorporation in your state and before applying for tax-exempt status from the IRS.
So without this, "Top Goal Education, Inc." is actually not a recognized nonprofit as it currently stands. This would mean that you lied on the paperwork you filed as a candidate for CVUSD. I just went to the IRS website (the same is true as of a database search conducted December 2019), and searched its database (tax exempt organization search), and when I put in: "Top Goal Education, Inc., I was informed that my search didn't return any results. And, just to make sure there wasn't a glitch, I entered the same fields of information for my nonprofit. It quickly identified my nonprofit as a tax exempt organization. I know if there were misrepresentations about my role in a nonprofit, or my nonprofit itself, I would work quickly to address them!
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
3) It appears there is zero official or formal presence of this "nonprofit." You've stated that the organization offers education enrichment programs, but there appears to be no way to find out about these programs. To be clear, you didn't state on your paperwork: "eventually this organization will be providing services ..." . You stated it currently does, and yet you've never been able to provide — upon multiple inquiries — what exactly these services are, how children are benefitting from them, how families find out about these services, or even how many children have been supported. What's further concerning is that if you call the place of business which is listed as the address for this "nonprofit," No one has ever heard of it. Like, no one. When community members went to the place of business, First Ave. Education (the address listed for the nonprofit) in person ... the same result. No one there had ever heard of Top Goal Education and no information could be found or provided.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
4) Moreover, you refused to answer phone calls from the Thousand Oaks Acorn regarding your role and "Top Goal Education, Inc." You only answered via email, by copy/pasting verbiage from your candidate website (three times changed regarding how you described the nonprofit, btw.) And, per The Acorn, when "Asked about Top Goal, Chen declined to say if the nonprofit was currently in operation, if it offered any programs or if it had any students." So ... most people who run nonprofits LOVE to talk about them. You had an opportunity to talk about and share about your "nonprofit" at multiple public forums and the local papers ... and you refused to do so at every opportunity? As a candidate running on the platform that you're an educational nonprofit director???
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
5) I understand you're the CFO of a for-profit Chinese tutoring school in Arcadia: First. Ave. Education — ah, the same place of business the nonprofit's address is listed as. I can keep up, Amy! You have stated you have been CFO since 2014. I'm intrigued that "Top Goal Education, Inc." has listed First Ave's address as its address, considering First Ave already has a nonprofit arm: First Avenue Education (I know, it's a bit confusing because the names are so similar — I imagine that was done with intent). I'm wondering why there would be a need for this for-profit tutoring school to have two nonprofit arms. Do they provide different services?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
6) While we're on the topic, the nonprofit arm First Avenue Education ... what services does it actually provide? Upon visiting the for-profit school, it was found that the same services and prices for both First Ave (the for-profit) and First Avenue (the nonprofit arm) are listed interchangeably on flyers.
And then there's this, reported from The Acorn: "Paperwork obtained from the California Attorney General’s office shows that First Avenue (the nonprofit arm) reported zero profits between 2011 and 2016 with the exception of 2014. In 2014, it showed revenue totaling $10,850 and assets totaling $11,974.
A letter from the state attorney general indicates First Avenue failed to submit renewal fees and reports in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. State records show the delinquent reports were filed in June 2017."
(Psssst ... did you know that First Ave. Education gets rent and postage discounts because of their First Avenue Education "nonprofit"?). Now, this is starting to look bad, Amy, because, it would appear that the the for-profit school created a nonprofit arm to scam the district on rent and the post office on postage. As CFO, surely you can clear this up.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
7) I learned that you made a campaign donation to Angie Simpson, your running mate (along with Mike Dunn) in the election. Per campaign finance laws, when you donate to a campaign, you are required to list your current occupation and employer (unless you're retired, which you must state). You listed, when making that donation, that you are a homemaker/stay-at-home mom (forgive me if I don't recall the exact phrasing). If you are the active director of an education nonprofit, why wouldn't you list this?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
8) I've attended four forums at which you've spoken at regarding your experience and qualifications for the Conejo Valley School Board. The Thrive Conejo forum, The Chamber of Commerce forum, the Thousand Oaks Tea Party forum and the Thousand Oaks Acorn forum. You never mentioned, at any of these forums, "Top Goal Education, Inc." You never mentioned your role as an education nonprofit director. In fact, when you did speak about your experience, you mentioned your experience in the medical field, as a pharmacist. I wonder why you wouldn't mention your education nonprofit director role? Surely you felt it important enough to get that titled listed as your ballot designation to voters in this district. Surely education experience would be a relevant thing to mention at candidate forums regarding the school district. Why did you refuse to answer questions about the nonprofit at The Acorn forum?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
9) As you know, the community is feeling rather deceived by board trustee Sandee Everett, who, in 2016, misrepresented herself on the ballot. She lied and listed that she was a school counselor. We since learned that she has never been employed as a school counselor. (Having your license to counsel and actually being employed as a counselor are two very different things, you see.) I learned that Sandee Everett endorsed you. She wrote a letter to The Acorn endorsing you and Angie Simpson. And, she recorded a robo call voicemail endorsing you. Surely you can understand why this was association was alarming for some in our community.
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
10) The only "proof" the county recorder received regarding your nonprofit role, was an email response from a woman named Jocelyn Lin. The name Jocelyn Lin does not appear on the articles of information filed with the state, but the name Chialin Lin does. Maybe these are one and the same? Regardless, Jocelyn Lin (who you listed on your candidate paperwork as your reference) is listed as the President of the for-profit tutoring school you are the CFO at. Jocelyn emailed confirming you are doing lots of director work. If this were the case, why are you refusing to say so when asked by reporters?
I'm sure there's an easy explanation ...?
questions unanswered
The above questions were emailed to Amy Chen and her campaign social media accounts were tagged in them. After she was tagged, she blocked my page from interacting with her campaign page.
She never wrote back or responded, EVER. It's September 2019, and we still wonder ...
She was allowed to use "educational nonprofit director" as her ballot designation (the three words that appear under her name on the ballot.
She never wrote back or responded, EVER. It's September 2019, and we still wonder ...
- Just where is the EIN number?
- Why isn't there a bank account set up for donations?
- Where are the press releases about initiatives and program resources?
- If programs exist, how do they impact education enrichment? What are the programs?
- Who exactly benefits from these services? How do they find out about them?
- Why has Amy Chen never spoken about this nonprofit again?
- Why did she refuse to take calls from The Thousand Oaks Acorn, the local paper, when asked?
- Why did she change her verbiage on her website three times regarding this "nonprofit?"
- How come, when a woman in the private Facebook group of which Amy is a member: "Conservative Moms of Conejo Valley," asked for more information on Amy's nonprofit recently ... people accused her of being a mole and quickly deleted the post?
She was allowed to use "educational nonprofit director" as her ballot designation (the three words that appear under her name on the ballot.
The results
On Nov. 6, 2018, Amy Chen, Angie Simpson and Mike Dunn all lost their bid for a seat on the school board. Three good-governance candidates were voted in by the community to represents our students. Sandee Everett, one of Amy Chen's biggest supporters, is still on the school board and is up for re-election in 2020 (she announced her re-election intentions at a local church while speaking at an anti-public school forum). At this time it's unknown if Amy Chen will pursue a school board seat in 2020, but she is currently working as a campaign supporter for Sandee Everett.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND ARTICLES
|
|
The only trace of paperwork ever filed ...
