You could say this is budget season. La Habra Heights approved its budget Monday. Pico Rivera approves its on Tuesday and we had stories on both.

In Saturday’s paper, we’ll have stories about La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier approving their budgets. You could say that it’s tough times for all of them. At least La Mirada has a surplus, but City Manager Tom Robinson can’t be happy watching it shrink to practically nothing over the last two months. Santa Fe Springs has a $300,000 deficit, but its officials hope its city employees will help make that up with salary give-backs. Whittier will just dip into its reserves for about $700,000.

You can just say it’s a sign of the times.

Look for the split nature of the Whittier City Council to come out at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight. The council will be making an appointment to the Planning Commission to fill a spot that will open because Commissioner R.D. McDonnell is termed out at the end of June.

The last time the council had an opening, it appointed Eduardo Hernandez on a 3-2 vote.
Mayor Bob Henderson and Council members Owen Newcomer and Cathy Warner supported Hernandez. Santa Fe Springs business owner Jeanette Fasone, who had run unsuccessfully in 2008 for the City Council, received the other two votes from Councilmen Greg Nordbak and Joe Vinatieri.

Fasone is one of four applicants scheduled to be interviewed tonight. However, only three are expected to show. Attorney John Olvera is expected to be a no-show. The other two candidates are banker Charles Claver, who also is vice president of the Whittier Conservancy.
A third is Robert Apon, manager of a South Whittier company.

While nothing is certain, look for Councilwoman Cathy Warner to be the swing vote. If you want to watch the proceedings, you will have to show up because this meeting will not be on television. The council will meet in their conference room. It is open to the public.

Rep. Snchez Statement on Passing of US Army Sgt. Blue Rowe, of Whittier, CA

Washington, DC – Rep. Linda Snchez today spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today in honor of U.S. Army First Sgt. Blue C. Rowe, of Whittier, CA, who was killed in action in Afghanistan.  To view Rep. Snchez’ speech visit:  www.youtube.com/user/LindaTSanchez.

Statement for the Record – Congresswoman Linda Snchez (CA-39)

 on the Death of US Army First Sgt. Blue Rowe of Whittier, CA in Afghanistan

Monday, June 08, 2009

Madam Speaker,

It is with great sadness that I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Army First Sgt. Blue C. Rowe.  Sgt. Rowe, a devoted husband and father, was a constituent of mine from Whittier, California.  This brave American was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 26, 2009, on the 15^th anniversary of his service in the military.

Sgt. Rowe was killed by an improvised explosive device.  The thirty-three year-old Rowe leaves behind his seven year-old son Andrew and his wife, Cindy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Cindy and Andrew.  I hope that they can find some solace in the gratitude that our nation owes to Sgt. Rowe for his honorable service to his countrymen.

Sgt. Rowe spent his entire adult life serving our country.  He joined the Army in 1994 and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Last July, he mobilized again for duty in Afghanistan.

He and his family have made the greatest sacrifice that one can make, and we are forever in his debt. 

Sgt. Rowe, whose life embodied the meaning of the word “patriot,” will be missed by family, friends, and colleagues, but his honorable deeds will not be forgotten.