The Rosemead Planning Commission is meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday. There's only one thing on the public hearing: A discussion to consolidate 27 parcels into one, at 4800 Delta Avenue and 8417 Mission Drive.

Based on the agenda, I can't tell what they have in mind for this project. Victor Nelson of Ramon Healthcare Association submitted the proposal. Online, I couldn't find muchabout the association, and all I could find under the California Secreatary of State's business license search was this:

Corporation
RAMON HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Number: C2718907 Date Filed: 1/21/2005 Status: forfeited
Jurisdiction: NEVADA
Address
801 S RANCHO DR SUITE D-4
LAS VEGAS, NV 89106

Agent for Service of Process
ENSIGN FACILITY SERVICES, INC.
27101 PUERTA REAL STE 450
MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While checking up on one of the local blogs, Save Our Community, I read that Hillary Clinton was going to be at Cal State LA on Saturday. Cool, I thought. I should go. After all, who knows when the next time I'll be able to see a presidential candidate.

Even though I don't normally work on Saturday, I got the assignment. But here's the thing. After it was assigned to me, my boss asked, "Are you going to vote for Hillary?" After I gave him my answer, I got to thinking: That's a trick question. If I answer yes, then he will think I'm going because I want to somehow promote her. If I answer no, then he'll think I'll write a piece that will somehow bash her. (Even if I did try to write a piece pushing one way or another -- which I wouldn't -- editors would pick up on it.) And if I say, "I'm not going to vote," then it shows how lame I am. Plus, I wonder whether he asked all of our reporters who have ever written about any election how they were going to vote. Should we give up our right to vote just because we are journalists?

My boss pressed on: "Well, I heard you were going to go to the event anyway." Yeah. But so what? As a reporter, I jump at every opportunity that would lead to a good story -- on and off assignments. Gay pride parades, riots, marches, cop activity. I like that stuff. It's entertaining. And I don't go just to get a story in the paper, but for a story when I am 70 years old and I can say, "I remember when I met Bill Richardson," or, "I remember the time when I saw Hugh Hefner pounding down drinks at the Sante Fe Dam."

I'm still not sure what the right answer was. I just gave him an honest one.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This just in from reporter Bethania Palma...

Everybody hates Vulcan, and I'm not talking about this guy:

"They really need to go somewhere else," Duarte Mayor Phil Reyes said. "The valley's polluted enough."

Duarte Councilmember Lois Gaston chimed in:

"Are these two councils really going to let the region be held hostage until 2038?"

Meanwhile, Vulcan continues an uphill battle to win the hearts and mines of residents everywhere. Although the mining company is not required to do any reclamation of the hillsides until its conditional use permit expires once and for all in 2038, Vulcan has offered to do immediate repairs if allowed to mine the west side of the rock quarry.

The problem? Some Duarte residents said they'll be able to see the new mining area from their backyards.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Azusa and Duarte had a joint meeting tonight to talk about Vulcan Mining Company's plan to expand mining operations west to an 80-acre site above the Duarte hills, according to the city of Duarte press release. (BTW -- Is there even a place out there called the Duarte hills?)

I'll check in tomorrow with reporter Bethania Palma to see what, if any, follow up there is.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On the last page of South El Monte's Mid Year Budget Review, titled "Departmental Requests," this is what it says:

Redevelopment Projects: Need to budget $4.5 million for various redevelopment project expenditures

Housing Projects: Need to budget $4 million for us on the DC Corp mixed use senior housing project.

*Sratching head* You'd think this is something that would have come to mind six months ago when approving the budget.

The council was scheduled to take action at tonight's special meeting.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Alison Hewitt reports today about a West Covina deal to give McIntyre Cos. an exclusive negotiating agreement for a vacant parcel at the foot of Big League Dreams Park.

But Councilman Roger Hernandez is upset. Why? The developer has ties to Councilman Mike Touhey and contributed $8,700 to candidates in the November election, Hewitt reports.
Hernandez had this to say in the meeting about the deal: it is an example of the council approving an ENA in exchange for campaign contributions.

Hey, he said it.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The purchase of a new, $275,000 snow plow is among the 60 or so items on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' agenda Tuesday. It's a jarring reminder for those of us from the valleys and beach cities that living in the one of the biggest counties in the country means not every LA County resident lives in the same climate. And who knew snow plows were so expensive?

Posted by Alison Hewitt at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Not too many meetings this week in the SGV, but there are a few.

In El Monte, there's a special meeting called for Tuesday to extend a temporary moratorium on the approval of certain development projects in one-family and agricultural zoned lands in the city. It doesn't seem like it is controversial, but the council needs to take action before the moratorium expires on Jan. 31.

In South El Monte and in La Puente, there are special meetings called for mid-budget reviews. South El Monte's meeting is at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and in La Puente it is tonight at 6:30 p.m.

La Puente also has a special meeting Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. for a $12.4 million sewer main project. The issue was once controversial in 2004, when the city was exploring ways to fund it, but now residents are just wondering when the project is going to start, La Puente reporter Tania Chatila tells me.

The only regularly scheduled meeting is out of Alhambra. Nothing of interest on the agenda, but check out the number of lawsuits! Anyone know anything about these that we're not reporting?

CLOSED SESSION & CITY ATTORNEY ANNOUNCEMENT re SAME - F2M7-14
The Agency Board and/or City Council will move into a closed session pursuant to applicable law, including the Brown Act (Government Code Sec. 54950, et seq.) for the purposes of conferring with the City/Agency’s Real Property Negotiator, and/or conferring with the Agency Counsel/City Attorney on potential and/or existing litigation, and/or discussing matters covered under Government Code Section 54957 (Personnel), and/or conferring with the City’s Labor
01-28-08 4
Negotiators as follows; provided, however, prior to so moving into closed session, the City Attorney/Agency Counsel shall make any announcements required by the Brown Act pertaining to such closed session matters:

Conference with Real Property Negotiator (Govt. Code Section 54956.8): None
Conference with Legal Counsel--Existing Litigation (Govt. Code Section 54956.9(a):

1) Estrada vs. Alhambra, Case No. KC050325
2) Rodriguez vs. Alhambra, Case No. GC038921
3) Robert Smith vs. City of Alhambra, WCAB No. VNO 0524942
4) Joseph DeAnde vs. City of Alhambra, WCAB No. ANA 0386932
5) City of South Pasadena vs. Slater, District Court Case No. 98-CV-6996-DDP

Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Govt. Code Section 54956.9(b): 1 matter. Initiation of litigation pursuant to Govt. Code Section 54956.9(c): 1 matter.

Discussion of Personnel Matters (Govt. Code Section 54957): Public Employee Performance Evaluations: City Librarian and Director of Community Services. Conference with City’s Labor Negotiator (Govt. Code Section 54957.6): Richard Bacio, Personnel Director/Risk Manager, re Management Employees, Alhambra Police Miscellaneous Association, Alhambra Police Association, Alhambra Fire Fighters’ Association, and the Alhambra City Employees’ Association.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Officials didn’t properly follow voting bylaws so Lujan did not actually get the amount of votes he needed to secure the win.

There is going to be ANOTHER election Thursday. Let's hope they get it right this time.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All this rain makes me feel like I'm in the Bay Area again. I got a couple of shots during a walk on Saturday at the Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale. The view is not bad. Notice the Miller Brewing plant :)

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looks like Baldwin Park is thinking about a Fresh and Easy.

As I mentioned before, I am a huge supporter of Fresh and Easy. For those of us who live in communities 10 miles away from the nearest Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, it's a great alternative. Plus, they give out free samples, as West Covina customer assistant Donna Macias shows us.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I found this little nugget - Rosemead Councilman John Tran, right, partying with rapper Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas - online. Oh, the joys of the Internet.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 7:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I went to the city of San Gabriel early this morning to review some documents and got way more than I asked for in my public records request: a baby sitter.

For the nearly two hours I spent sifting through City Council expense reports inside some back room in City Hall, an assistant from the City Clerk’s office was there with me.
Apparently, it’s “city policy” that the documents be reviewed under supervision, my baby sitter said. This — while rare — has been seen in other cities as well, such as Baldwin Park.

I just don’t understand why? Do they think I’m going to try and stuff a couple of expense sheets in my purse when they’re not looking? None of the documents had any sensitive information — i.e. credit card numbers or bank statements.

Oh well, I guess I should be happy I at least had someone to keep me company.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Got any guesses as to which poor soul is going to be working for Monterey Park's split city council?

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"In my 11 1/2 years on the council, I've only been mayor once," Councilwoman Lola Storing said. "I've been stepped over twice."

I'm still having a hard time understanding why the council members even care about this, other than for their own narcissim. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've been pushing to get my picture in the paper for weeks but my editors just won't budge.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Notice the vote of confidence for fired Montebello City Attorney Arnoldo Beltran:

Montebello ordinance needs further review
Article Launched: 01/24/2008 11:55:18 AM PST

MONTEBELLO - City Administrator, Richard Torres, asked the City Council to postpone discussing an ordinance that would give him more leeway in negotiating contracts.

The ordinance would have increased the cap the top executive can reach when completing contracts for supplies, equipment and routine services on the city's behalf.

Torres said, at Wednesday's meeting, he would like to review the details with City Attorney, Arnold Alvarez-Glasman and that the ordinance was "not a matter of urgency."

The ordinance was drafted by former City Attorney Arnoldo Beltran.

The city administrator now can make purchases and negotiate contracts up to $5,000 without getting approval from the council. This ordinance would have increased the amount to $20,000.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wonder how many people will rush out of work and drive through traffic in the rain to attend this tonight:

SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2008
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Place: City Manager's Conf. Room

AGENDA

Agenda material is available for review at the City Clerk's Office, Room 317 in City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina and at www.westcovina.org The City complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you will need special assistance at Council meetings, please call (626) 939-8433 (voice) or (626) 960-4422 (TTY) from 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. Do call at least one day prior to the meeting date to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is possible. For sign language interpreter services at Council meetings, please request no less than four working days prior to the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Mayor Lane, Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez
Councilmembers Herfert, Sanderson, Touhey

I PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

II CLOSED SESSION

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
City Negotiators: Fields, Bachman
Employee Organizations

W.C. Firefighters' Association, I.A.F.F., Local 3226
W.C. Firefighters' Management Assoc.
W.C. Police Officers' Association
W.C. Police Management Association

ADJOURNMENT

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

But the real question is this: What the hell is it???

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Got this letter today regarding the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce and its decision to postpone - and possibly prevent - giving Sal Hernandez the Citizen of the Year award:

By the time this fray is over, Mr. Hernandez will wish he was never
born. His effort in exposing crooked politicians, will be met with
unbelievable force. I commend him for his efforts, but not his
stupidity. I respectfully request that my name not be used. I do not
wish to become part of the arcade shooting gallery alongside Mr. Hernandez.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Despite all the tension at the county Board of Supervisors' meeting Tuesday about placing limits on plastic bags, there were funny moments.
When Jennifer Forkish, representing the California Grocers Association, challenged that the county's proposal to cut bag use by 35 percent by 2010 and 70 percent by 2013 relied on unattainable figures, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky turned to Public Works Director Donald Wolfe.
“This wasn't a number that was pulled out of your, ahhh, rear pocket, was it?” Yaroslavsky said, drawing guffaws from the tense environmentalists and industry representatives filling the board chambers.
Wolfe went along with the joke.
“It could be so described,” he said, before getting serious. “But it is a compromise figure.”
When the discussion later turned to when an ordinance should be written, it was Supervisor Gloria Molina's turn to crack a joke. The supervisors want to write an ordinance to create an all-out plastic-bag ban, but it would only go into place if retailers failed to meet the bag reduction targets.
Forkish, still representing the California Grocers Association, criticized the county's original plan to have the ordinance written by April 2009, since the retailers' progress wouldn't be evaluated until July 2010. Writing the ordinance more than a year ahead of time would discourage retailers from even trying to meet the targets because the ban would seem inevitable, Forkish said. Besides, writing it in April 2010, a few months ahead of time, would give the county plenty of time to prepare the ban, she added.
“This is not the first jurisdiction to consider a plastic-bag ban,” Forkish said. “The idea that the language doesn't exist or that it would take so long to create, a year to create, is outlandish.”
“You haven't been around the county much,” Molina observed dryly.
Even Forkish laughed at that.
You can also read the full story about the new limits on plastic shopping bags, and read about the pre-meeting rally with the plastic bag monster.

Posted by Alison Hewitt at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A handful of protestors opposing Councilman John Nunez stood outside City Hall holding signs that said "resign now Nunez," "Sexual harassment is wrong. Say no to Nunez," and "A step down for Nunez is a step up for women." The protestors got a few honks of approval from drivers passing by. But at 6:55 p.m., they wrapped up their protest and headed in the meeting. A couple of them spoke against Nunez and the harassment issue. And that's when Nunez unleashed. More of that to come in Thursday's paper.

There were a couple of agenda items authorizing funds from Rosemead, including the approval of $20,000 to eight San Gabriel High students for a trip to Washington, D.C. The kids, the principal and the students were sitting in the audience as Councilman Gary Taylor questioned whether the city should dish out the money. He said that in the past two weeks, the city spent $200,000 on various city organizations, which is just too much money. Councilwoman Margaret Clark seemed annoyed at the spending as well. But it was nothing personal against the kids, Taylor insisted. In the end, the kids got the money.

At the end of the meeting, Taylor mentioned something that wasn't agendized about a city employee retreat that will be held in Palm Springs. Last year, 22 employees attended the retreat - and me too! - held in Rosemead. This time around, it will be only seven employees, and they will get dinner, breakfast, and lunch, and will be put up in a $114 a night hotel room. But the best part? The Tribune won't be sending a reporter down there. On second thought...

Oh, and Clark went off for about 10 minutes because she was upset at the scheduling process for the general plan review process.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an interview with Irwindale resident Dena Zepeda about the city's Citizen of the Year award, she makes a dig at the city's shady past. “He is a good person,” Zepeda said of Sal Hernandez, whose selection as the Chamber's Citizen of the Year was put on hold because the chamber found a 'discrepency' in the process.

“I wouldnt stick up for him if were a child molester, spiked enchiliads or picked up a prostitute,” Zepeda said. LOL! I don't know if the chld molester reference has anything to do with Irwindale, but the spiked enchiladas and prostitution pick up sure do.

Metro Editor Edward Barrera wrote in his column: "In the early '70s, Richard Diaz, who was a longtime mayor, was the target of a blackmail plot that involved spiked enchiladas, lewd pictures, drugged drinks and chloroform. All were an attempt to blackmail him into backing legalized gambling in the city. The effort failed, and people went to jail in connection with that mess."

And this was reported in the Trib on Oct. 6, 2004 about former Irwindale City Manager Steve Blancarte:

Steven Joseph Blancarte Jr., 50, of Altadena was cited on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution Sept. 16.
Blancarte verified he was cited. An undercover officer arrested Blancarte about 7:50 p.m., then cited and released him, she said. Police made four arrests that night: Blancarte on suspicion of soliciting prostitution and three women for alleged prostitution.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE II: Just got a call from Rosemead Partner's president, Steven Ly, saying that members of the political action committee will be protesting Nunez outside of City Hall at 6:30 p.m. tonight. The Rosemead City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m., and is located at 8838 E. Valley Blvd. in Rosemead.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Opinion's editor Steve Scauzillo may not approve of Fresh and Easy, but I gotta tell you, having something that resembles a Trader Joes or Whole Foods in West Covina is a blessing.

I've been to the store about six times since Fresh and Easy opened in West Covina, and I love it. So Scauzillo says the packaged foods are loaded in sodium. Duh. What packaged foods aren't? Fresh and Easy is worth a visit if you want a break from rowdy kids running in the aisles or are tired of having people run you over with their carts. Carts are small, and no one seems to have discovered the store. It is never crowded, and the self-check out lines scare away incompetent people who can't figure out how to work them.

And best of all: It's cheap. Plus, there's no damn "club card" you have to sign up for and remember to bring at each visit. (I have about five of these cards to stores and I get annoyed each time I'm asked to use it but then realize I took it out of my wallet because I got tired of carrying it.)

The next Los Angeles County city to get the store could be Baldwin Park.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Since writing the story on the recent surge in gang violence in Monrovia, I’ve received a myriad of calls, e-mails and letters from residents, students and even former home-grown Monrovians.

I’ve also received a call from Lionel Chambers, who professes himself as the, “the only black civil rights leader that’s willing to stand up and make a stand out there in Monrovia.”

I commend his passion — my problem is he insists that I set up a meeting with other television news stations, gang leaders, city officials and residents to discuss the problem.
He’s left several messages for me, asking that I “Get back with (him)” on that meeting, and the phone numbers to Channel 4, Channel 5, Channel 7 and Channel 11.

OK, if someone else facilitated such a forum, I’d be there in a heartbeat. But when did I literally become a newsmaker? People often think that because we report on a problem, that automatically means we need to facilitate the solution. No, we just report the news.

This is where people like Chambers should be taking the lead. He can start with the yellow pages.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This just in from Montebello. I don't understand how it will increase efficiency. Do you?

MONTEBELLO - In its first meeting since re-hiring City Administrator, Richard Torres, the City Council will consider giving him more negotiating power.

The council, on Wednesday, will vote on a ordinance that would allow the city administrator to carry out certain contracts on the city's behalf with an increased level of authority. If approved it would increase the dollar amount on contracts that are signed by Torres.

The action is expected to increase efficiency and provide flexibility for the city when reaching agreements or making purchases, according to staff reports.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1600 West Beverly Boulevard.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My appreciation for the Irwindale City Clerk's office reached a whole new level today when a request I made at 11:30 a.m. was ready for my pick up just two hours later. The request - two staff reports that were prepared in April of last year - was not complicated.

But I have made similar requests at other city halls, and the staff makes it seem like I asked for the Dead Sea Scrolls. Take Montebello, for example. Yesterday, I spent all day requesting copies of contracts that should have been made available to me on Tuesday. It wasn't until five phone calls and a written records request that I got what I needed - at 5 p.m.

City hall's aren't the only ones who give us at the newsroom a hard time. Reporter Brian Day spent four hours today and over a dozen calls haggling with the Sheriff's department to get a name of a murder suspect. And after all that, the cops said nope, you won't get it. Wait till the press conference tomorrow.

As much as I know how reporters can be a pain, it's our right and the public's right to have this information. When agencies stall, it makes us wonder what they're trying to hide. Irwindale does not have the cleanest record in the world, but at least their clerk's office is efficient.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This just in from Staff Writer Dan Abendschein:

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting Councilman Kevin Stapleton spent a few minutes lamenting the fact that we had been so active in covering the DA's Brown Act violation case against the city while it was an open case, but had not bothered to run an article when the
case was dismissed.

“You won't read that in the newspaper,” was the way Stapleton put it, a familiar refrain from this City Council.

Problem is, like so many times in the past when members of the council have made this complaint, we actually did write the story, on December 3 of 2007.

Here it is, For the Record:

COVINA - The district attorney's office asked the state Attorney
General's office for an opinion on whether the city was allowed to
make a redevelopment loan in closed session. The city and DA differ
in their interpretations of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which governs how
public meetings are conducted.

The DA's Public Integrity Division dropped an open-meeting violation
case against Covina last week with the understanding that the
Attorney General would give a clear interpretation of the law.

The case was filed in response to a complaint from Bob Low, a former
Covina mayor and frequent council critic.

The complaint centered around a December 2005 City Council meeting
where the council went into closed session and agreed to issue a
$1.75 million redevelopment loan to a local business.

Both the DA and city agreed the matter was best left to state
authorities.

"This is an equitable and economic solution that will save taxpayers
the money it would cost to try this case," said Deputy District
Attorney Jennifer Snyder.

Snyder said that her office's aim was not to punish Covina, but to
establish whether decisions about redevelopment loans can be held in
private.

"The ultimate outcome is what we want: either a decision that
vindicates us, or clear reasons why our interpretation is off,"
Snyder said. "We're confident our interpretation is solid."

Paul Phillips, Covina city manager, said the dismissal of the
complaint was an exoneration of the city.

"I think it proves we were clearly following the law as we understood
it," Phillips said.

The dismissal ensures that the city will not face any penalty, no
matter what opinion the Attorney General's office issues, Snyder
said. She added that the opinion will likely not come out of the
office for at least six months.

Covina's attorneys had maintained that there were entitled to meet in
closed-session under a Brown Act exemption for real-estate price
negotiations.

But Snyder argued that the 2005 loan to Bert's Mega Mall, a
motorcycle and watercraft business on Azusa Avenue, did not involve
the "purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property," which are
the activities the Brown Act allows for closed-session real-estate
negotiations.

Snyder noted the city rescinded the action and re-made the loan in
open-session, which was a factor in the office's reasoning in
dropping the case

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is from staff writer Alison Hewitt:

Here's a funny bit of news out of West Covina.

A statue of a generic baseball player about to swing a bat is planned for the parking lot
of a new shopping center in West Covina, as part of the city's public art requirement. Apparently, there was some unexpected controversy at recent Planning Commission meetings about whether, in light of
baseball's steroids scandal, the statue was too muscular.

A couple of gadflies who frequently comment at city meetings and at least one planning commissioner said “the muscular appearance of the baseball player was inappropriate due to the recent steroid
controversy in professional baseball,” according to an official summary of the meeting.

The development's project manager consulted with the artist and they agreed that “the eyes had a kind of intense look to them and they thought they could tone it down a little,” Planning Director Doug
McIssac recalled. But they opposed changing the muscles since it would involve an expensive redesign, McIssac said.

The city's Art is Public Places consultant spoke in favor of the statue, noting that the muscles helped represent the heroic concept the artist was trying to convey.

The statue was approved on a 4-1 vote, muscles and all. Commissioner Gordon Fisher opposed it because of its overly muscular build. The statue is one of two that will go up eventually in West Covina's Home
Depot-Target shopping center south of the new, baseball-centric Big League Dreams sports complex.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You read right. Just thought I'd follow up on reporter Jennifer Mclain's earlier post about Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.

He got his raise. So instead of making $236,829 a year, he'll make $292,300 a year. That's a $55,471 raise.

He's now one of the highest-paid government officials anywhere.

A 2 BD, 1 BA home in Azusa: $260,000
A used 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom: $200,000
Cooley's compensation for an ever-expanding workload: priceless

Posted by Tania Chatila at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After more than a decade on the City Council and three terms as mayor, Councilman Steve Anderson has died.

Anderson died unexpectedly this morning, said Jennifer Cervantez, an assistant to the city manager.
She had no further details surrounding his passing.

Anderson was first elected to the City Council in 1992.

He also served as a board member for 12 years on the Orange County Sanitation District and was a general manager for the Midway City Sanitary District, according to the city’s website.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alison Hewitt reports that the county's elected district attorney, Steve Cooley, is in line for a raise. If approved today, that will bump his salary up to $292,300.

Either way, he'll get a cost of living adjustment from $236,829 to $246,302.

I know the District Attorney's office is busy and all, as Frank Girardot points out in his column. But is $292,300 justified? We'll wait and see what the Board of Sups decides today.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've had problems getting public records from South El Monte before. The first time was when I asked to look at their travel expense policies and receipts for these trips. I waited. And waited. And waited. It took nearly four months before I got my documents.

The city staff chalked up the delay in responding to the request as a matter of miscommunication. Perhaps this was true. But now I'm staring at this: 1[1].pdf

Is this a pattern? I can't be sure yet. We'll just have to wait and see how they come together in this request. And how they respond to the next request.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 5:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I got this letter last week. The letter writer gave me "two thumbs dumb" for quoting Jim Flournoy - who has sued the city at least a couple of times and regularly speaks at council and planning commission meetings - in last week's story about Councilman John Nunez.

Hello Jennifer,

Thank you for all your hard work and persistence in
reporting the ongoing turmoil in Rosemead.

However, to state Jim Flournoy is only a "Rosemead
resident" is really unfair and implies he’s just
another resident speaking up! "All these people
clapping...should go to another county where they are
presumed guilty," said Rosemead resident Jim Flournoy"

As you may know, Mr. Flourney is virulent, rude and
unreasonable Rosemead resident who's been trying for
many years see the city crash and burn. He is well
known and very skilled at stirring things up often for
no good or decent reason(s).

It would have been nice to read some partial (if not
full) disclosure of who Mr. Flourney is and all the
damage he has inflicted on Rosemead; instead you chose
to provide cover for him and use the descriptor
"Rosemead resident". Two thumbs dumb for letting him
get away again with an innocuous plug like that.

Just thought I let you know!

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A representative from a local WIC program spoke about the benefits of breast feeding at the Baldwin Park City Council meeting Wednesday.

She proposed this: “Let’s do something that makes Baldwin Park the city that everybody has on their lips. Let’s make Baldwin Park the ‘Breast-Feeding Friendly City.’”
Hmmm, is that really what Baldwin Park wants to be known as??? I guess maybe it’s better than the city’s motto: Hub of the San Gabriel Valley.

Er, maybe not.

Posted by Tania Chatila at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The most popular San Gabriel Valley city attorney snagged another gig on Thursday. Arnold Alvarez-Glasman will now represent Montebello, a city he represented up until 2005.

He also is the city attorney for Bell Gardens, Pico Rivera, Pomona and West Covina. Several months ago, Alvarez-Glasman tried for Rosemead's redevelopment agency attorney, but lost out to Burke, Williams and Sorenson.

Alvarez-Glasman is a busy man.

Look for the story in Friday's paper.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Notable gadfly quotes from Rosemead City Council meeting on Jan. 8:

"This is just total bullshit," said Rosemead resident Jim Flournoy on the city's lack of response to a public records request regarding a development under power lines.

"Is it political or iditoic?" said Rosemead resident Juan Nunez, questioning council members on Mayor John Tran's request to send Councilwoman Margaret Clark to the District Attorney's office, among other agenices, for her dealings with a series of political mailers distributed to residents. The Mayor did not answer the question.

Posted by Jennifer McLain at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)