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

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 citys website.

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.

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:

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.

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 hes 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!

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: Lets do something that makes Baldwin Park the city that everybody has on their lips. Lets make Baldwin Park the Breast-Feeding Friendly City.
Hmmm, is that really what Baldwin Park wants to be known as??? I guess maybe its better than the citys motto: Hub of the San Gabriel Valley.

Er, maybe not.

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.

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.

City clerks seem to come and go in the San Gabriel Valley.

Rosemead is a great example. Now La Puente is following suit.

After just three short months, La Puente City Clerk Jessica Duban has resigned.
She submitted her notice a few weeks ago and is no longer a city employee, according to Mayor Louie Lujan. He didnt know why she left the position.

Prior to Dubans arrival, La Puente was without a city clerk for several months. Now, with the seat vacant again, Diana Girn is stepping in to serve as interim city clerk.

Let’s hope the next candidate lasts.

Melissa Pamer reports that three days after a Glendora library got new carpet, it was flooded. But apparently, flooding in that location is a historical problem. You’d think someone would have thought about that before upgrading the library.