COSTA MESA : City Revokes Permit of Veterans Group

The City Council has revoked the operating permit of the controversial American National Veterans Inc. after the group failed to provide financial documents requested by the city, officials said.

The group has been under scrutiny in several Southern California cities and is being audited by the state attorney general’s office. Costa Mesa had received a complaint from a Fedco store, citing harassment of customers near the front door.

American National claims to put veterans and homeless people to work as solicitors for the organization and raise money for veterans organizations.

The city had asked for financial documents showing the amount of money the organization had raised in the city and how those funds were put to use. At a council meeting two weeks ago, Paul Sollami, an attorney for American National Veterans, said an audit would prevent him from delivering the documents until this week.

However, Sollami did not attend Monday’s meeting and could not be reached on Tuesday. The group’s permit was to have expired June 30, but the council voted 5 to 0 to revoke it.