Members of La Jolla Town Council recently took a trip to Little Italy to study the work of controversial Marco Li Mandri, head of the privately-held New City America, according to the La Jolla Light. La Jolla has been having trouble with a business improvement district named Promote La Jolla, which the City accused of fund misuse. The city attorney says he will sue Promote La Jolla on May 10 if it doesn't come up with money owed the City. Li Mandri told the La Jolla visitors that maintenance assessment district or community benefit districts are more effective than business improvement districts, which are "antiquated," according to the Light. " He {Li Mandri} showed us around town {Little Italy}, showed us how the new model works. What I saw was pretty impressive," says Rick Wildman, who will soon become president of the La Jolla Town Council. "People are making sure the streets are clean."

In two stories, the Reader has shown how the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a City investigator did a long study on Li Mandri and Paul (Joe Mannino), who earlier was convicted of drug, firearms and racketeering violations, broke laws in working together at the North Bay business improvement district. Despite the thoroughness of the investigation, the district attorney would not prosecute the politically-potent Li Mandri.