August 2011 Archives

With Wednesday's announcement that former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, D-Montebello, running for the 58th state Assembly District that includes Pico Rivera and Montebello, there could be three Calderons on the ballot in November 2012.

There's also brother, Ron, a state Senator from Montebello, who's running for Congress against Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, and may Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood. The latter hasn't announced where she will run. And then there's Ian Calderon, son of Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D--Industry, who's running for the 57th Assembly District that includes the city of Whittier and surrounding unincorporated area as well as much of Norwalk.

So far, it's unknown if Tom Calderon will face serious opposition. Ian Calderon probably will have to run against former Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez, D-Norwalk, and Anthony Rendon of Whittier, who's already raised $146,000. All of the other candidates have similar numbers.

It appears in today's world thieves will take anything that's not nailed down and even that doesn't keep things from bring stolen. Just look at the Whittier Senior Center where someone absconded off with some storm drain grates.

"How ludicrous that someone would would hop over a wall to take these things," said Chris Magdosku, assistant director of public works.

The grates aren't worth that much, maybe $50 a piece, Magdosku said. But these aren't the only things that have been stolen. Copper wire from an air conditioning unit at the library and before the Greenway Trail even opened, copper wire was stolen from conduits.

Do you like the later time start of Whittier City Council meetings? Since May 10, the council has started its 6:30 p.m. meeting with a one-hour closed session, making the public items begin at 7:30 p.m. The council at its Tuesday meeting will be asked to evaluate the success of the new time.

A report from Nancy Mendez, assistant city manager, said the new time allows the city to save the money of having attorneys and consultants wait until the end of the meeting. However, the public comment time starts later and so do public hearings.

"Some members of the public may find it difficult to stay late enough to get their turn to comment," Mendez stated. One possibility would be to hold public hearings at the beginning and do public comment later, she stated. But would delay the public comment period even later..

You might call this 7:30 p.m. Tuesday's Whittier City Council meeting a catch-up day. You know, you've let some chores and now you need to get them done. On this agenda there are five items that were postponed from the previous two meetings. The proposed changes in the barbed wire ordinance leads the way because it's continued twice.

Then you've got a discussion over what to name the city's newest park at the depot (maybe they'll have a contest), where to put the Centennial Clock, and whether to commit city staff to finding a location for a dog park.

And oh yes, there will be another fight over trees. Should the city cut down 55 Italian stone pine trees and one aleppo pine tree. Remember in this city, fighting isn't over water or whiskey. It's about trees.

So, will the council finish their agenda. There might be some added pressure in they want to skip the regular Aug. 23 meeting.

Look for a hot meeting at the 6:30 p.m. Thursday meeting of the Parking and Transportation Commission featuring bikers and residents who apparently aren't getting along too well near Beverly Boulevard and Turnbull Canyon Road.

The bikers -- residents say -- come up early on weekends, take parking spots and make too much noise because they go up there to ride in the Whittier hills.
City officials took a survey to see what the neighborhood thinks and are expected to present the results Thursday. 

Bus riders who rely on the Norwalk Transit system to get around Whittier will learn their fate at the 6 p.m. Norwalk City Council meeting. That's when the council will hold a public hearing on a proposal to eliminate route 7, cut the Whittier to Santa Fe Springs portions on route 8 and take out the same area on route 3 during the middle of the day and Saturdays. It's all part of a plan to save $1 million and help balance the city's transit budget.

If the council decides to uphold the staff recommendation, look for pressure to come on the Whittier City Council to come up the money to restore the lines. Whittier at one time operated what is now route 7 but when Norwalk took it over a few years ago, began spending that money on Dial-A-Ride and Greenway Trail maintenance.

The Norwalk City Council meeting will be held at its city hall, 12700 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk.