April 2008 Archives

And some of you laughed at me at the my random Craigslist blog post. I just call it foreshadowing on the story that Amanda Baumfeld reported today.

COVINA - Stevan Ortiz and his girlfriend planned to move into a three-bedroom home on Calera Avenue on Thursday.

The couple - expecting their second child in June - gave notice at their apartment in Baldwin Park, bought a washer and dryer and even made plans to pick up a dog.

But Tuesday afternoon, Ortiz, 22, discovered he was among a group of people who appear to have been victims of real estate fraud.

"We made so many plans," said Ortiz, who tried contacting the owner over the weekend. "I had this in the back of my mind when I couldn't get ahold of him."

I just came up with a list of public water board officials that are elected that serve all the SGV and Whittier areas - a total of 16 agencies. Out of 81 elected officials, 13 of them are women.

That's 16 percent.

That seems really low. I wonder how that number stacks up to the city council's.

Its been a busy past few days with water stories, fire and more water stories. So, I finally got a minute to breathe, and the top story of the day: teen queen Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, is wrapped up naked in an American flag.

I still smell like smoke from covering the fire this morning in Sierra Madre. Aside from the smoke smell, I walked away with these pictures from a garden in front of a Sierra Madre home:

As you may have noticed, there have been more stories and blog entries about water agencies, water officials and water issues. That’s because I am now assigned to the water beat.

The stories that I would like to focus on are those of malfeasance. There are about 45 public water agencies in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, and about half of them have elected water officials. As we’ve seen from Dolores Holguin, Xavier Alvarez and Albert Robles,* elected water officials certainly have their share of legal troubles.

And these people are responsible for making decisions that affect nearly 2 million people, and are running budgets that are larger than those of many cities.

But there is more to water – just like in government — than corruption. Gasp. So, the Tribune will also be running stories covering the water crisis we are in now.

So far, it hasn't been easy learning about water. The learning curve is extremely high. Last weekend, I went on a trip to a Metropolitan Water District of Southern California trip to the Colorado River Aqueduct with a bus full of people invited by director John Morris, who represents the small and affluent community of San Marino. San Marino is one of 26 member agencies of the MWD, and was part of the original 11 when the district formed in 1926.

During the two-day trip, we stopped at several reservoirs, dams and pumping stations. What I found amazing was that the technology in the 1930s and 1940s was enough to provide water to millions of residents, even until today.

During the trip, I asked everyone dozens of questions about water, the challenges of water, how we get our water and how we should prepare for future water problems. For each answer, I felt as though I had five more questions. The complexity of the water industry is one of the reasons that no one pays attention – including the media – to water. As one director put it, “People go the faucet, water comes out, so the public doesn’t think there is a problem.”

As the water industry deals with increasing environmental pressures, that means that we will pay for it. That’s not just on our water bills. But just as it took a nearly $220 million bond measure approved by voters during the Depression, building new canals or developing new technology is going to come with a price to tax payers.

What I’m hoping is that within the next six months, my stories on water will expose corruption, tell the story on water, and make it easier to understand how water works. That way, when we’re asked to pay for new water projects, we’ll know what the issues are.

*Dolores Holguin is a former Valley County Water Director who is being investigated for misusing public funds. Valley County is out of Baldwin Park. Xavier Alvarez is a Three Valleys Municipal Water District director who is being investigated for lying about having received the Medal of Honor. There are also charges now that he lied about still being married to his wife, who has been receiving health benefits. Albert Robles, a director at the Water Replenishment District, is facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly distributing illegal mailers.

I just spotted this fax in response to the Board of Sups approval of a taco truck time limit:

Carne Asada is not a crime
saveourtacotrucks.org

I just got off the phone with a Home Depot spokeswoman who confirmed the company is in talks with Baldwin Park officials about a solution to the city’s day laborer issue.

You might remember several articles I did a while back on this topic: one failed ordinance barring day laborers from soliciting work, a second failed attempt at another, slightly different ordinance barring day laborers from soliciting work, and a lawsuit by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund that was eventually dropped.

Anyway, Councilman Ricardo Pacheco tells me they are trying to negotiated an agreement with Home Depot to build a day laborer center near the Puente Avenue home improvement store.

It sounds like they are still working out some glitches, but the parties are expected to meet in closed session on May 7 to possibly finalize an agreement.

Of course, some big questions still remain: whose gonna build it? Whose gonna pay for it? Whose gonna run it? And whose gonna assume liability for it?

I’m sure those details will be ironed out.

As a final note, everyone tells me Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, got her little hands involved in the whole issue — speeding up talks between Home Depot and the city.

As Pacheco put it: “It took an act of Congress.”

You can say that again.

I've just confirmed some interesting information about the state of developer Robert Bisno's economic affairs. I'll be working over the next several days on trying to get a story in the paper.

If you don't already know, Bisno is proposing a multi-million dollar development in Baldwin Park that would essentially transform 125 acres of the downtown - for better or for worse, depending on what side your on.

Bisno's got an interesting track record, including a development in Santa Ana that is apparently causing quite an uproar. I'm trying to find out more about this as well. Anyone heard anything about that project?

A former four-term Assemblyman is still serving two masters even though the Attorney General said he shouldn't. Willard Murray, who represents the Water Replinishment District of Southern California and West Basin on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has continued to sit on these boards despite a ruling that said he shouldn't.

What wasn't in the story is that Murray gets paid by West Basin for his MWD representation, at $207 a meeting. He also gets a car allowance and a phone allowance. Interesting, because he gets those same things from WRD, and also gets paid for his meeting attendance. I haven't researched it, but I am going to assume that he also gets a nice retirement package for all those years he spent on the Assembly.

Murray's son is also a representative on the MWD, and Murray's daughter works for the District Attorney's office. I'm sure the lectures Murray gave to his children went something along the lines of: "Government jobs are the way to go."

I wish I would have gotten that lecture.

Alright, it's Friday!!!! What a perfect night for a ... meeting?

Rosemead City Council is having a special meeting tonight at 6 p.m. to reconsider a land use designation from medium density residential to low density residential. I'm sure there is a reason that they are having the meeting tonight, but come on. It's the start of the weekend!

In course you're wondering, no, I won't be covering the meeting. Not because I have crazy weekend plans, but I'll still be at work cranking out stories for the weekend.

Looks like CARA — the Community Alliance for Redevelopment Accountability — is turning to humor in their fight against a proposed multi-million dollar development in downtown Baldwin Park.

One of the group's members sent me this yesterday.

Here’s a story I wrote about the issue a few months back.

Residents oppose development
San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA) - March 15, 2008
Author/Byline: Tania Chatila, Staff Writer
Section: News

BALDWIN PARK - Property owners rallied against a proposed multimillion-dollar development this week at a forum backing eminent domain reform.

More than 200 residents and business owners attended the meeting Thursday at the Baldwin Park Marriott. It was hosted by the Community Alliance for Redevelopment Accountability, a Baldwin Park-based nonprofit formed in opposition to the city's redevelopment plans for the downtown.

Baldwin Park is in talks with Bisno Development Co. for a 125-acre renovation of its main commercial corridor that could include a new hotel, a charter school and thousands of luxury residential units.

More than 200 businesses and homes face relocation through eminent domain, depending on the outcome of the project and two legislative initiatives - both slated for June - aimed at limiting eminent domain powers.

One of those initiatives, Proposition 98, was heavily pushed by several groups at the forum, including the National Federation of Independent Business/California, the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Institute for Justice.

Proposition 98 would restrict city agencies from taking property through eminent domain and turning it over to private developers.

Marko Mlikotin, president of the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights, said the forum was meant to provide information to residents about Baldwin Park's situation and gather support for the proposition.

"The government's power to forcibly seize private property from property owners is unquestionable," Mlikotin said.

He called the Baldwin Park case "one of the most egregious" he'd seen in years.

"The only thing that can save them," Mlikotin said, "is legal reform."

Among the several speakers Thursday was Jeff Rowes, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, which litigates property rights cases.

Rowes encouraged property owners to protest, make public records requests and create their own records of city actions.

"What Baldwin Park wants to do is replace people of modest means with rich people because rich people have more money," he said. "I think the only realistic chance to save these neighborhoods is through a lawsuit."

A question-and-answer period garnered several heated comments from angry residents and business owners who accused city officials of being evasive about project plans.

"I intend to retire when I'm ready," said Rosalva Breceda, owner of the Maine Avenue Penhmar Beauty Salon, "not when the city says they need that space."

Other residents - some of whom were not from Baldwin Park - told stories of losing their homes through eminent domain.

"What you see here is the heart of Baldwin Park," said James Treasure, president of CARA. "This is just the beginning of our movement."

City officials have refuted claims they've been deceitful and have said their plans will benefit Baldwin Park.

While in support of the project, Councilman Ricardo Pacheco said he believes better communication could make the proposed development less contentious.

"The city itself needs to do its public outreach to get input from the community," Pacheco said. "I think we need to emphasize more inclusion."

tania.chatila@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2109

I used to think that elected water boards were just the place where those on the verge of retirement go to make a few extra bucks -- well, about $35,000 a year, which is pretty damn close to my salary. Oh yeah, and a place where they can get health perks, travel budgets, car allowances and cell phones.

But it looks like it is also the place where it continues someone's political career. I just got off the phone with a water official who said that West Basin Municipal Water District Director Donald Dear has his eyes set on Assembly. When I get some more time, I'll try to come up with a list of other water officials that have used their water seats to springboard to higher office.

Here's a bit more on Dear:

Board President Donald L. Dear was elected to the West Basin Board of Directors in November 2000 to represent the cities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Lawndale and unincorporated portions of El Camino Village. He is currently serving his second term after being re-elected in November 2004. Director Dear came to the Board with a vast array of experience in public service, serving as the Gardena Mayor for nine consecutive terms before retiring in 2001. He is also a widely respected, award-winning teacher who taught at Stephen White Middle School in Carson for 37 years.

Melissa Pamer reports that there could be more sheriff's patrols on the way to unincorporated Monrovia and Duarte.

While driving through San Marino last weekend, I passed a beautiful, remodeled high school. Then, I saw a sign that marked the donations -- which is in the hundreds of thousands -- to the school district. "Public education is not free," the sign read.

I normally don't meander through San Marino. My routes usually take me through West Covina, Covina and Baldwin Park. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I guessing that there is a significant disparity among the donation efforts in San Marino versus Baldwin Park or Pico Rivera.

Airan Scruby reported today that four Pico Rivera schools are slated for closure. I am sure that San Marino schools are facing their sets of hardships, but I wonder: Have any schools closed in San Marino?

Mike Sprague reports that a court upheld a $1.25 million harassment lawsuit filed against the Whittier Police Department by a former female detective, Gina Zanone.

Rosemead voters should expect another election, only this time on whether to approve term limits. Council members on Tuesday agreed that they want to take term limits to the voters. The term limits will be a total of three terms, or 12 years. The council members must sit out for two years and then they can run again.

How will you vote?

I wrote a story in today’s paper about La Puente's legal troubles.

It seems the city and Victor Gudzunas - who owns the Hacienda Mart strip mall at 1313 to 1335 N. Hacienda Blvd. - can’t seem to agree on a sale price for Gudzunas’ land.

They’re off by $500,000. Gudzunas’ final demand of the city is $6.5 million and the city’s final offer to Gudzunas is $6 million.

Just some background: the city has been trying to acquire this land for a year to build a commercial retail center. City attorneys filed legal documents in court last July to start the eminent domain process.

Throughout the proceedings, the city and Victor have been trying to negotiate a settlement - but to no avail. There seems to be a lot of that going on in City Hall these days.

City officials and Gudzunas made it pretty clear that trial is eminent. It could begin as early as May 19.

Reporter Bethania Palma reports today that Azusa wants to crack down on massage parlors.

Apparently, the city imposed a temporary moratorium on massage therapy businesses on Monday, following suit with cities like Glendora and Pasadena.

According to Palma’s story, the moratorium comes on the heels of recent prostitution busts at businesses posing as massage clinics.

In Azusa, all new permits and ownership transfers for such businesses will be halted for 45 days.

I just wonder what happens after the 45 days are up?

I spotted this buried in my e-mail. It was sent to me on Friday, April 11 by Celeste Mandervile, a La Puente resident who unsuccesfully ran for City Council in November. I think it’s safe to say it was accidentally e-mailed to me because I don’t ever get invited to politicians’ — or potential politicians’ — birthdays. Not that I would ever go! Except maybe to spy .... I kid, I kid.

Hey Everyone,

Its BIRTHDAY time!!! I will be celebrating my 30th Birthday tonight (Friday the 11th) at

Tokio lounge/club
1640 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 464-2065

I want to see everyone there to celebrate the BIG 3-0...hahaha I will be getting there around 10:30-11pm.. I will probably be a little tipsy by then. I will also be shutting off my phone so please don't flip out, I just dont want to loose my phone! Everything will be fine, just let the people at the door know you are here for my birthday partaaaaaaayyyy and there is no cover charge either...yaaaayyy! Also there is vallet right in the front! or you can just find parking else where but you better be there...No Excuses!!

Please e-mail me back with how many people you are coming with!!!

See you tonight!!

XOXOXOXO

CM

Sounds like it was quite the party....

Just a peek at what some of your cities are considering or looking into... nothing earth-shattering.

Hello,

Charlene Reck
Administrative Intern
City of San Dimas
(909) 394-6204

I didn’t realize cities had administrative interns that did this kind of work.

I reported todaythat the Rosemead City Council will discuss term limits at its meeting tonight. While the council can discuss term limits, the decision is up to the voters.

Because of space restraints, the story was edited and this important tidbit was removed: The cost of such an election would be $75,000.

There's more Albert Robles drama, Airan Scruby reports. Robles, a Water Replinishment District director, is scheduled to appear in court today. He is being charged with committing misdeameanor campaign law violations.

He is also running for the job of District Attorney Steve Cooley.

"How Steve Cooley is manipulating our justice system ... should shock the conscience of all Americans," Robles said. "The DA's office has never prosecuted anybody for what they're accusing me of."

Here's more from Airan's story:

Robles, 39, will discuss his motions to dismiss the charges against him, including two counts of sending campaign mailers without return addresses on behalf of Pico Water District candidates.

He is also charged with one count of making a campaign expenditure of more than $100 in cash, and one count of making a campaign contribution of more than $100 in cash, two ways of prosecuting for the same act: paying for the campaign mailers he allegedly sent.

If convicted, Robles could face a $10,000 fine and six months in jail for each offense, and would lose the ability to run for public office for four years.

The charges against him come from the Political Reform Act, a set of California statutes meant to increase campaign openness. Robles said cases like his are usually handled by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, and that the charges against him were filed because District Attorney Steve Cooley has a vendetta against him.

The Los Angeles County officials are going to release the 2008-09 proposed budget today. The forecast is bleak, largely because of a drop in property and sales tax revenues and a $200 million deficit in the health department, Rick Orlov and Troy Anderson report.

Ross DeVol, director of regional economics at the Milken Institute, said most local governments' financial problems are related to the sharp downturn in the housing market.

"The housing market will be more severe in California than elsewhere because we had the largest run-up with speculators and others," DeVol said. "We have a lot of foreclosures and it's going to depress prices and will take some time to recover, perhaps not until the first part of 2009.

"It affects the local sales tax because people are not buying furniture or appliances or home-related products. They don't have the discretionary income to buy as much, and you see car sales down as well. All these big-ticket items affect the revenue stream."

There's been a lot of talk recently about charging money for plastic bags. My thoughts? Charge away. That's something that they've been doing for years in Europe. And it makes sense. I've got hundreds of those plastic bags stored under the sink, and each time I go to the grocery store I think: Oh crap, I should have brought some of those bags. But I can guarentee that once the stores start charging me for bags, my habits would quickly change.

Alison Hewitt reports that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors aren't giving up on their efforts to charge shoppers for bags.

Support among Los Angeles County supervisors for a proposal that would charge shoppers 25 cents for each plastic shopping bag they use has dwindled after a state bill faltered last week in Sacramento.

County officials supported and even helped write the bill that failed to pass a committee hearing last week, although a compromise emerged that would allow local governments to levy their own plastic bag fees.

Billionaire developer Edward Roski, who is proposing to build an NFL stadium in Industry, is going to stop by the Tribune's office today to pitch his idea to the Editorial Board. I'll be sitting in the meeting as well, and I will ask him any follow-up questions that have come up since he launced his proposal to build this $800-million stadium on Thursday. The meeting is at 10 a.m.

Are there questions that you want me to ask?

I've had this for a few days now, but I've been debating whether to post it.

I figure since it is a public document and it does shed light on the Baldwin Park chief saga, it’s worth putting out there.

From the looks of this e-mail, sent to Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal on Wednesday, El Monte police Lt. Ken Alva had some serious competition for BP chief. Notice how Suisun City Police Chief Ed Dadisho -who basically withdraws his application for police chief in this e-mail - refers to himself as the city's No. 1 choice.

VIJAY.pdf

Not that it really matters anymore, but here’s some interesting information about Suisun City Police Chief Ed Dadisho, who — until he dropped out on Wednesday — was vying for the Baldwin Park Police Chief position.

Apparently, under Dadisho’s watch, the Suisun City Police Department received “F” grades two years in a row from a governmental watchdog group that performed public records audits of more than 200 law enforcement agencies across the state.

Kimberly K. Fu, a staff writer for the Vacaville paper, The Reporter, did some stories in 2006 and 2007 about the audit and the grades. Here’s a excerpt from her January 2007 story.

Suisun City police officials also rejected their grade, noting special circumstances.

“We are in the process of revising our entire general orders, which haven’t been revised in over 12 years. The California Public Records Act is one of the areas that we will be focusing on in the revisions of our general orders, which will be done by the end of January.”

I should also add that Suisun City PD has had it’s fair share of controversy. According to The Reporter, in 2006 a Solano County grand jury deemed former Suisun City police Chief Ron Forsythe a weak leader and said the city should hire a consultant to audit the Police Department. Allegations also surfaced that Forsythe was misusing public funds.

Central Basin Municipal Water District, which manages ground water pumping from its basin, sued the giant of the Southern California's water industry, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Central Basin believes that MWD's recently approved conservation plan is just another way to stuff money into MWD's coffers, Central Basin director Art Aguilar tells reporter Mike Sprague.

"Although Metropolitan would like us to think of this as a `conservation plan,' it is actually an economic plan that virtually robs from the poor to pay for the cost of new development in more affluent areas," Aguilar said.

Central Basin is one of 26 member agencies of MWD that buy water from the district and then re-sell it to private and public water utilities

This was tucked away in the paper today:

A state bill that would have allowed police to seize property of those convicted of dogfighting failed to pass out of the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.

The committee deadlocked on the bill, 2-2, with Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, abstaining on the vote.

Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, voted against it, and Sen. Bob Margett, R-Glendora, voted for it.

The concerns of committee members, which were raised by Romero and Margett, were that forfeitures would be unfair to property owners who did not know dogfighting was happening at their property. Margett voted for the bill despite his objections.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which opposed the bill, went further with its objections, saying any kind of forfeitures not tied to clear evidence that a profit had been made by the dogfighting would not be consistent with California law.

Rocky Rushing, the chief of staff for Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, who proposed the bill, said the legislation would be shelved for this year.

"We'll take a look at it again next year," said Rushing. "It was a good day for dogfighters and the ACLU."

Dan Abendschein reports that a lawsuit against Glendora over a senior housing project could be settled out of court. The community group that filed the lawsuit wants to city to do an enviornmental report for the site, located at Bonnie Cove and Gladstone, because they believe the traffic will be heavily impacted as a result of the project.

"Their claim is that this project will impact city traffic," said D. Wayne Leech, Glendora's city attorney. "The city did an original survey several years ago, and then an updated survey this year, and both found there was no impact."

What do you think? Is a survey enough or shold the city perform the environmental review? Leech thinks it's a trap.

"Other than them withdrawing their claim, I can't see a solution that would work for the city," said Leech. "This lawsuit is without merit."

So last night I reported the Baldwin Park City Council unanimously named El Monte police Lt. Ken Alva as their new police chief. Well, that was only half true, according to city officials.

While Mayor Manuel Lozano said Wednesday the council did appoint Alva, there are still several hoops Alva has to jump through before a final contract is approved. Technically, Alva still needs to clear his background check, he still has to negotiate a contract and that contract still needs to go before the council for final approval.

I apologize for any confusion that may have caused. I should have caught that, but I'm clarifying it now and it will be clear in the story that will appear in Friday's paper.

So yes, Alva was chosen, but no, he's not the current police chief. Baldwin Park's Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal said it'll be a few weeks before everything finalized, so long as things go smoothly.

Alva tells me he hasn't even given notice yet at El Monte. But I can assure you, that hasn't stopped his peers at EMPD and his supporters in Baldwin Park City Hall from anticipating his transition.

Translation: he's a shoe-in with some baby steps along the way.

Reporting thus far tells me Alva has quite a support system both in and out of El Monte. More on that in this weekend's profile, which should run on Sunday.

Reporter Jennifer McLain is on her way back to the office from a Downtown press conference about Ed Roski's plans to devleop a stadium in Industry.

Here's a short update that just got posted on our Web site:

LOS ANGELES -- Billionaire land developer Ed Roski unveiled his plan Thursday to build an $800 million NFL stadium in the City of Industry.
Although there is no professional football team on the horizion for the region, Roski said it is a certainty the stadium will be built.

Roski said he expects construction on the site to start by the fourth quarter of this year.

I'm sure Jennifer will have more insight later.

Looks like the Foothill Cities Blog is getting under Monrovia's skin.

You can say bye bye to CP Acupuncture Health Center in Covina. Amanda Baumfeld reports the City Council revoked the clinic's business license Tuesday after police found out its owner was running "an adult service operation" there.

The center opened on Dec. 1 as an acupuncture practice, but officials to Baumfeld the business housed massage tables, large bottles of hand lotion and oils. Doesn't sound very acupuncture-ish to me. Here's more from Baumfeld's story:

Police began investigating the center at 1259 San Bernardino Road in February after receiving complaints of late night male clientele from residents who live across the street, according to Lt. Tim Doonan.

(...)

The investigation resulted in the arrest of Shui Mai Liu, 52, of Monterey Park on Feb. 13 who was booked on suspicion of soliciting a lewd act.

Liu has since been charged with one count of prostitution and her case is being handled by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, according to Doonan. Pang will not be charged and he currently does not have any other businesses in the city, Doonan said.

Hey, there's always Craigslist, right?

Surprise, surprise folks. Baldwin Park's got a new police chief. I just got off the phone with Mayor Manuel Lozano who told me the City Council voted unanimously in closed session tonight to appoint ..... wait, drum roll please ....... El Monte Police Lt. Ken Alva as the new police chief.

Alva will likely start contract negotiations with Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal next week, Lozano said.

The announcement came pretty unexpectedly, considering Lozano told me earlier today that the closed session item listed as *Police chief appointment* on today's agenda was just a "status update" on where the city was in terms of background checks with its top two candidates.

I should add that closed session item was added to the agenda Tuesday, one day before the meeting. Well, officials say Suisun City Police Chief Ed Dadisho - who, was also up for the job - submitted a letter to Singhal today asking to withdraw his candidacy "for personal reasons."

Regardless, looks like Alva is in, as long as nothing egregious turns up on his background check of course.

We've got a brief about the issue running in Thursday's paper, and we'll have a full follow-up Friday, along with - hopefully - a profile on Alva for the weekend.

I just got this email, which confirms that the plans are in the works to bringing this stadium to Industry. Check out the Web site link. It gives the location, the timeline, and what the stadium will look like:

In advance of tomorrow’s 10am news conference at Staples Center (see below advisory), the website for “Los Angeles Stadium” has gone live.

Please visit this websitefor a sneak peak at stadium renderings, location and design elements. As you can see, Mr. Roski’s plan is viable and will impact/benefit the entire LA region.

I just got this email, which confirms that the plans are in the works to bringing this stadium to Industry. Check out the Web site link. It gives the location, the timeline, and what the stadium will look like:

In advance of tomorrow’s 10am news conference at Staples Center (see below advisory), the website for “Los Angeles Stadium” has gone live.

Please visit this websitefor a sneak peak at stadium renderings, location and design elements. As you can see, Mr. Roski’s plan is viable and will impact/benefit the entire LA region.

This just in from reporter Dan Abendschein:

Months after Councilman Roger Hernandez filed a complaint against the West Covina police officers who came to confront him at his house about an alleged domestic dispute, he apologized for getting angry at the officers.

Said Hernandez at Tuesday's night meeting: "I owe the officers an apology, because I was angry."

He didn't stop there though... he continued to insinuate the whole incident was tied to the November election, saying he was the target of a "political and dirty situation" involving a political group with ties to Mike Touhey.

As several people noted in phone calls/emails today, this was the first time Hernandez apologized for the incident, which took place in October. At the time, Hernandez suggested the noise could have come from a neighbor's condo. Read full story here.

The whole thing came up in a flare-up about the gun ordinance that Hernandez claims targets retired police officers, who will no longer be allowed to carry weapons to city hall. The ordinance also directs that all other citizens must also leave their guns at home, and appears to be a pre-cursor to the arrival of metal detectors in city hall.

Councilman Touhey brought up the incident at Hernandez's home, calling him hypocritical for being concerned about officers in the gun ordinance, but not caring about the officers he filed a complaint about in November.

Hernandez also accused his fellow council members who voted for the ordinance (not Touhey, who voted against) of having a political motivation, since one of the retired officers, Fred Sykes, ran for council as an ally of Hernandez.

Councilwoman Sanderson then interrupted Hernandez, demanding that he not "ascribe any motives" to her for how she voted.

Watch the video here It is about ¾ of the way through, during a discussion on item D5-E.

To paraphrase Rodney King: "Can't this council just get along?"

This just in from reporter Dan Abendschein:

Months after Councilman Roger Hernandez filed a complaint against the West Covina police officers who came to confront him at his house about an alleged domestic dispute, he apologized for getting angry at the officers.

Said Hernandez at Tuesday's night meeting: "I owe the officers an apology, because I was angry."

He didn't stop there though... he continued to insinuate the whole incident was tied to the November election, saying he was the target of a "political and dirty situation" involving a political group with ties to Mike Touhey.

As several people noted in phone calls/emails today, this was the first time Hernandez apologized for the incident, which took place in October. At the time, Hernandez suggested the noise could have come from a neighbor's condo. Read full story here.

The whole thing came up in a flare-up about the gun ordinance that Hernandez claims targets retired police officers, who will no longer be allowed to carry weapons to city hall. The ordinance also directs that all other citizens must also leave their guns at home, and appears to be a pre-cursor to the arrival of metal detectors in city hall.

Councilman Touhey brought up the incident at Hernandez's home, calling him hypocritical for being concerned about officers in the gun ordinance, but not caring about the officers he filed a complaint about in November.

Hernandez also accused his fellow council members who voted for the ordinance (not Touhey, who voted against) of having a political motivation, since one of the retired officers, Fred Sykes, ran for council as an ally of Hernandez.

Councilwoman Sanderson then interrupted Hernandez, demanding that he not "ascribe any motives" to her for how she voted.

Watch the video here It is about ¾ of the way through, during a discussion on item D5-E.

To paraphrase Rodney King: "Can't this council just get along?"

Maybe those tips were right. I just saw this in my inbox:

LOS ANGELES – Tomorrow Edward P. Roski, Jr., CEO of Majestic Realty Co. and the commercial developer behind the Staples Center and part owner of the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers will brief the media and make a major news announcement regarding the National Football League (NFL) and Los Angeles.

That either means, A.) A team is coming to Industry, or B.) The proposition flopped.

Any takers?

As if the water supply outlook in So Cal wasn't bleak enough. At least one water insider told me that the writing is on the wall and that water supply to Southern California will be cut even more because of the enviornmental impacts pumping the Delta has had on salmon.

Today, the Associated Press reported that U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger said a federal report supporting increased water exports was scientifically inadequate.

Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow said the agency is unsure how Wanger's ruling will effect water deliveries, but said it was "further evidence that the delta is teetering on the brink of collapse."

Holy crap. Are you packing your bags yet?

Here's the whole story:

Judge: Feds failed to study how delta pumping affects salmon
By PAUL ELIAS Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 04/16/2008 02:46:14 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that water regulators failed to consider the effects of global warming and other environmental issues related to the decline of California salmon populations when they approved increased pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger said a 2004 study prepared by federal regulators to support the increased water exports was scientifically inadequate.

"There is no analysis of adverse effect on critical habitat," Wanger wrote about winter-run chinook salmon.

The judge also ruled that there was a "total failure to address, adequately explain, and analyze the effects of global climate change on the species."

The study had concluded that more water could be taken from California's Central Valley to quench residential and agricultural thirsts throughout the state. The new pumping plan was already on hold because of a similar ruling the judge made about the Bush administration's failure to address its effects on a threatened fish species called the Delta smelt.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the National Marine Fisheries Service, the agencies that prepared the study at issue, plan to submit a new study by the end of the year, said NMFS spokesman Jim Milbury.

"I'm sure they will look at the judge's opinion in developing it," he said.

Wanger scheduled a hearing April 25 to begin determining how the delta should be managed until the new study is published.

Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow said the agency is unsure how Wanger's ruling will effect water deliveries, but said it was "further evidence that the delta is teetering on the brink of collapse."

A group of environmentalists, fishermen and American Indians sued the two federal agencies in 2005.

"This is a historic decision," said Mike Sherwood, an Earthjustice lawyer who represents the environmentalists. "It may well be the turning point to reverse the decline toward extinction of these fish."

Some scientists have pointed to increased water exports from the delta as one possible cause for an unprecedented decline in the number of chinook salmon returning to spawn in the Sacramento River and its tributaries last fall. Other researchers blame changing ocean conditions for the decline.

Earlier this month, federal fishery regulators voted to ban salmon fishing along the California coast and most of Oregon to protect California's shrinking salmon stocks.

The Rosemead City Council is going to discuss term limits at its meeting on Tuesday. The discussion is at the request of Councilwoman Polly Low. Apparently, the background information that the council members will be provided for the meeting isn't too lengthy. It will just discuss what the procedures are for introducing term limits (take it to the voters), what other cities have term limits, (i.e. Arcadia and Alhambra), and what the options are in having term limits (lenghts of terms, etc.)

I don't know exactly what prompted this, but I'm going to assume it has something to do with the length of time that Rosemead Council members Margaret Clark and Gary Taylor have spent on the council (a combined 51 years).

I just spotted this under the closed session portion of the Baldwin Park City Council meeting agenda. The little asterisk tells us the item wasn't added until Tuesday, one day before the actual meeting, which is tonight.

I haven't been able to get any officials on the phone yet, but not too long ago Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal said it would be a few weeks before the city got background checks back on the two final candidates they were considering. Is this just a status update? Or is someone getting the green light?

*2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT (GC 54957)
Title: Chief of Police
*Agenda amended 4/15 to include Item #2

See the full agenda here.

So I'm taking a weekend gig here at the paper, which means I'll be off on Mondays and Tuesdays from here on out. Jennifer will be blogging like a mad woman on those days, when our blog staff is down to just one lonely soul.

As for me, since I'll be here on the weekends, that will give me an opportunity to blog from the office, which should make for some better content on the weekends.

Is the City of Industry closer to getting an NFL stadium than we know about? I got a call today from an anonymous resident who said he's heard it through the grapevine that they are making preparations for an NFL stadium in Industry. And he heard the team that would be coming here are the Buffalo Bills.

Another source told me that mock designs were spotted in the offices of Ed Roski, the billionaire land developer who would be finacially backing this project. Roski is owner of Majestic Realty, which is based out of Industry and also owns a lot of property there. He is also the one who was behind the Staples Center.

I can't get any confirmation yet, other than what I've written months ago about Roski pitching the idea to NFL execs.

All this could be total BS. But if the project is moving forward, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to keep it under the radar as much as possible.

I've heard comments from readers that are convinced that the Tribune won't do certain stories because it could make one of our advertisers look bad. Each time I hear that comment, I respond the same way: "Look, when I was hired I wasn't sat down and given a list of our top advertisers. I don't know who gives what to Tribune, and I don't care. All I know is that my job is to report the news."

I don't think they buy into my little speech.

This issue came up today. I was sitting in a meeting at the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, and board member Al Contreras, who is the director of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, asked just how much the authority pays to the Tribune and its affiliated papers in advertisements. That number is $77,000 a year.

"That's a lot less than other water agencies pay," said the authority's director, Greg Nordbak.

He's right. Directors Contreras and Bill Robinson, who also sits on the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, have both previously said that their district buys about $150,000 a year in ads.

I still don't care who gives what to the Tribune, and still know that my content is not influenced by our advertisers. But after their brief discussion about what public agencies take out ads in the Tribune, I got to thinking: That is one story I won't do.

If I could only be so lucky as to stumble on a story like this:

SACRAMENTO (AP)— The mayor of West Sacramento — a candidate for a state Assembly
seat — got a very public boot.

Mayor Christopher Cabaldon emerged from a downtown Sacramento coffee shop on Monday to find
an orange boot attached to a rim of his Nissan 350Z, preventing him from driving off. It was the penalty for too many unpaid parking tickets.

Unfortunately for Cabaldon, the campaign manager for his political rival just happened to be
driving by. The campaign manager called an associate to bring a camera and then alerted the
media.

Cabaldon and Yolo County Supervisor Mariko Yamada are competing for the 8th Assembly
District seat in the June 3 Democratic primary.

While Cabaldon went to City Hall to pay the $567 in fines, Yamada’s campaign made the most
of the incident.

Her campaign manager said Cabaldon’s failure to pay his parking tickets was evidence that
the West Sacramento mayor believes he does not have to play by the same rules as everyone
else.

I just found this off of our fax machine, sent from the office of Supervisor Michael Antonovich. With such language like, “taking jobs from our legal residents” and “terrorizing our communities in gang warfare,” I wonder where he falls in the whole illegal immigration debate.

April 11, 2008

Honorable Michael Chertoff
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Director Chertoff,

Re: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWNS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

As a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing 10.3 million people in 88 cities and 134 unincorporated communities, I urge you to aggressively continue sweeps of employers who hire illegal immigrants -- as well as those illegals who are terrorizing our communities in gang warfare.

As we have seen by the actions of our neighboring state, Arizona, the crackdown on employers violating the law has experienced a reduction of illegals taking jobs from our legal residents.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Antonovich
Supervisor

Melissa Pamer  reports a classic case of, 'Not in my backyard.'

DUARTE - In an exclusive neighborhood high in the city's foothills, Pam Gomez has a vision: She wants to open the French doors of her proposed second-story master bedroom onto a view that encompasses most of the San Gabriel Valley.

It's a vista she may never see if some of her neighbors get their way. So far, they have.

After outcry and a 60-signature petition from residents of Duarte Mesa - the 1950s- and 1960s-era development of about 100 hillside homes where Gomez lives - the City Council last week denied for a second time Gomez's plans to expand her house to two stories.

The possibility of having a better view and more room for their two young children still tempts Gomez and her husband, Garrett Gomez, one of the nation's leading jockeys.

"I'm sorry, I just can't give it up," Pam Gomez said Monday, standing in her pine-shaded driveway beneath the two-story addition of her neighbor's home up the hill.

When I was covering the affluent Bay Area town of Los Gatos, which backs up to the Santa Cruz Moutains, these types of issues came up often. I could always relate to what both sides were saying. On the one hand, as a property owner, you should have the right to build your dream home. But on the other hand, as a neighbor, you moved into your property thinking it was one way, and then all of the sudden you feel like your quality of life is threatened.

The bottom line is compromise. In this story, it sounds like there is room for both sides to give-and-take.

In Walnut, it's official, Claudia Palma reports.

It took a few days to get the final count, but Nancy Renne Tragarz beat Mayor Tom Sykes, who has served on the city commissions and the council for 25 years.

Councilmen Joaquin Lim and Tony Cartagena still held the top votes, while Tragarz edged out Mayor Tom Sykes by a final 47 votes.

Tragarz, 45, a part-time lawyer and temporary judge, grabbed 1,170 votes, while Sykes received 1,123, Palma reports.

Is it just me, or does it sound like Covina has got some serious set of issues? Recently, the Tribune has reported that Covina declared a fiscal crisis, a city-driven utility tax will be going in front of voters again - only this time without an argument opposing the measure -- and three top executives recently left the city. Now, Amanda Baumfeld is reporting that the city could pay another $35,000 in consultant fees to help come up with a contract between the city and the police officer's union.

And just where will the money be coming from? City Manager Paul Philips told Baumfeld, "We don't have the money but we'll take it from reserves."

When police union representative attributed the departure of department heads to mis-management of the city, the city manager had this response:

"I don't have any real response to that," Philips said in an interview Monday.

But if there's one thing the city does have is an ice cream truck that plays Kenny G.

I spotted this on Whittier Daily News, with a couple of interesting comments to follow about the budget decisions made by Councilman Stan Carroll.

LA HABRA HEIGHTS Councilman Stan Carroll has been elected mayor, succeeding Brian Bergman. This is his second time as mayor.

Councilman Howard Vipperman was elected mayor pro tem.

Carroll said the council will face a number of issues in the next year.

"We need to select a permanent city manager," Carroll said. "We need to deal with fire protection service, including balancing the fiscal 2008-09 Fire Department budget."

The city also needs to find money to construct a new fire station as well as continue the discussion about protection for the east side of the city.

Here are what a couple of readers had to say:

Reader 1:

Mayor Carroll, was it not Council Person Tela Milsap and yourself who sit on the budget committee and approved the record 21 percent increase in the fire department budget in the first place? I sure do hope the city council does not plan on balancing the fire department budget mess by raising taxes and finance bond's on the good people of La Habra Heights?

We already pay record high prices for fuel, food and soon water. Now you want us to pay for your mistakes. We elected you to oversee our local government and provide for it's well being. Not to try to force your New City Hall plan down our throats at a cost now approaching $1,300,000. And with nothing to show for it but a contaminated piece of dirt.

How about the city go after the employees that are alleged of moving and hiding city funds for personal gain? The city has seen 4 employees resign in the past 5 months, does that not seem suspicious to anyone?

NO MORE NEW TAXES!

Reader 2:

2. Maybe if the City had not done away with their Resident Firefighters they would not be over budget? Seems simple and straightforward to me.

Rosemead City Attorney Bonifacio Garcia, who has already went over the city's legal budget with six months left to bill, told the city council last week that he wanted to reduce his cap from $30,000 to $20,000. Either way, the cap does not include "extraordinary circumstances," like litigation.

Is Rosemead getting burned on legal fees? It's hard to tell without looking at every city and reviewing each item that needs legal advice.

The Dinsmoor Heritage Cultural Museum at 9632 E. Steele St. in Rosemead will have its annual "Spring Tea Under the Oaks" on May 10.

The flier reads, "Experience an old-fashioned Spring Tea in the beautiful outdoor setting of the Dinsmoor Heritage House grounds."

Tickets are now onsale for $15, and they are advance purchase only. Tickets are on sale at the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, 3953 Muscatel Avenue.

For more information, call 626-288-0811.

I've been working on a story that I thought would prove that an elected official had an obvious conflict of interest. But after I re-read the law, which is ambiguous, my head deflated a bit when I realized the story that I was first convinced could bring criminal charges won't even result in a slap on the wrist.

Here's how the code reads:

"Assets and income of public officials which may be materially affected by their official actions should be disclosed and in appropriate circumstances the officials should be disqualified from acting in order that conflicts of interest may be avoided." Gov. Code section 81002(c)

"No public official at any level of state or local government shall make, participate in making or in any way attempt to use his official position to influence a governmental decision in which he knows or has reason to know he has a financial interest."
Gov. Code Section 87100

 

You would think that conflict of interest laws would be more clear cut. Sort of a: if you do this, than it is conflict of interest. The FPPC explains an overview of the laws for elected officials, and basically gives them this advice:

1. Know the purpose of the law, which is to prevent biases, actual and apparent, which result from the financial interests of the decision-makers. Learn to spot potential trouble early. 2. Understand which of your economic interests could give rise to a conflict of interest. 3. Understand the "big picture" of the rules. For example, know why the rules distinguish between directly and indirectly involved interests, and why the public generally exception exists.

I'm still working on that story, but it may not be as sexy as the one I hoped for.

The Los Angeles Times reports about East LA's taco turf wars.

The past few weeks, Tania Chatila and I have been compiling a list of all the water agencies in the San Gabriel Valley. Easier said than done.

One of the agencies that has intrigued me most is the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, which was formed in 1999. Recently, Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, authored legislation extending the life of the authority. It was scheduled to end at 2010, but that was extended to 2017.

The authority was formed by the Legislature to "address the critical need for coordinated groundwater cleanup programs in the Basin," according to its Web site. I'm not exactly sure what that means, how much money the authority receives and what the authority's track record is.

They have a board meeting tomorrow, which I plan on attending. Maybe then I will have a better understanding of why the Legislature just extended its lifespan. It employs seven people, and there is also a seven-person board, including Rosemead Councilwoman Margaret Clark:

Greg Nordbak
Chairman
Representing cities with water pumping rights
City of Whittier

Bob Kuhn
Vice-Chairman
Representing Three Valleys Municipal Water District

Jim Byerrum
Treasurer
Representing water producers

Margaret Clark
Rosemead Councilwoman
Secretary
Representing cities without water pumping rights

Carol Montano
Board Member
Representing San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

Michael Whitehead
Board Member
Representing water producers
San Gabriel Valley Water Company

Alfonso "Al" Contreras
Board Member
Representing the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

As I drove by the Covina Playhouse, located in downtown Covina next to one of the city's best dive bars, Rude Dogs, I got to thinking: I wonder how business is?

Has anyone checked out the Playhouse? Have the shows attracted full houses?

Dan Abendschein reports that Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, is proposing legislation that could permit the seizure of property of those convicted of dogfighting.

Calderon said he got the idea after discussions with local law enfrocement.

It was always curious to me the types of bills and timing of bills that lawmakers choose to propose. The bills seems completely random. But before I pass judgement, I figured I'd take a look at the other bills he's proposed recently to see if this is a pattern.

Here's just a snipet what he's proposed lately:

SB 381, as introduced, Calderon. Campaign contributions.

This bill would extend the time within which contributions must
be reported from 30 to 90 days, and would increase the aggregate
threshold amount which must be reported from $5,000 to $7,000. The
bill would exclude a payment by a local, state, or federal agency
from this reporting requirement.

SB 113, Calderon. Elections: presidential primary elections.

   Existing law specifies that the presidential primary election be
held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in any year
evenly divisible by the number 4. Existing law also specifies that
the statewide direct primary election be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in June of each even-numbered year, and be
consolidated with the presidential primary election in any year in
which the statewide direct primary election is in a year evenly
divisible by the number 4.
   This bill would require that the presidential primary election be
held on the first Tuesday in February in any year evenly divisible by
the number 4. By increasing the duties on county elections officials
due to the presidential primary election in February, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.

SB 575, as amended, Calderon. Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional
Facility: sale.

This bill would require the director to sell the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional
Facility in the City of Whittier, Los Angeles County , and would
specify that the net proceeds be deposited into the
continuously appropriated subaccount, thereby making an appropriation.

SB 648, as introduced, Calderon. Rights of foster children.  

Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state that all
children in foster care have prescribed rights.
   This bill would amend this policy to also provide that those
children retain these rights notwithstanding the commission of a
public offense or crime.

 SB 653, as introduced, Calderon. False or misleading information:
penalties.
   (1) Existing law makes it a felony punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison for 16 months or 2 or 3 years for every person who,
among other things, makes use of or threatens to make use of any
force, violence, or tactic of coercion or intimidation, to induce or
compel any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any
election or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person
or measure at any election.
   This bill would also make it a felony punishable by imprisonment
in the state prison for 16 months or 2 or 3 years for every person
who acts under color of law and who knowingly or with reckless
disregard for the truth provides, distributes, produces,
disseminates, sponsors, authorizes, or finances the provision,
distribution, or dissemination of any false or misleading information
regarding either the time, place, or manner of any election; or the
qualifications for, or restrictions on, voter eligibility for any
election, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.

Elected official: Bob Kuhn

Title: Director of Three Valleys Municipal Water District

Previous elected positions: Glendora City Council, 1986 to 1994

Born: 1944

High School: John Muir High School in Pasadena

Favorite high school hang outs:
Bob's Big Boy in Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena
Bahama Inn in east Pasadena
Eaton's Drive Inn in Arcadia

"The orchards were coming to a close in the 1940s and 1950s, and it started to become converted to houses and industry. By the 1970s, the orchards were all gone," Kuhn said. "Probably the major change I've noticed through the years is the traffic."

The blog is starting a series, Local Leaders: Their lives in the SGV, that will hopefully accomplish two things: 1.) Get us more familiar with our local elected officials, from our water board members to our Senators, and 2.) Get us more familiar with the history of the San Gabriel Valley. We will post a different entry each Saturday.

Tomorrow's entry is pretty skeletal, and I am hoping that the series will be reader driven, from who should be interviewed to the questions we should ask.

This letter writer and Rosemead resident writes that she feels "cheated" by the information sent to her in a flier by Councilwoman Margaret Clark. Speaking of fliers, I got a call saying the Clark sent out another flier, but that it is not connected or paid for by Rosemead Partners. If you haven't been following the Rosemead flier saga, it has caused councilmember Polly Low, John Tran and John Nunez a lot of headaches because they think the information of these fliers is misleading. So far, the fliers have talked about changes in city ordinances such as the general plan or zoning changes. 

Changes not new

I attended the Rosemead City Council meeting of Feb. 26. I had received a postcard from council member Margaret Clark that stated there are several alarming changes the city is about to implement. I was scared and concerned, so I attended the meeting.

To my surprise, most of the things stated on the postcard were already existing regulations in the city! There were only one or two items that were new changes. Clark claimed some of the items are true, but Mayor Tran clarified that only one or two items are new changes.

Now I feel cheated. How can a council member send out postcards that are untrue? We elect city officials and expect them to be 100 percent truthful, not 20 percent or 50 percent.

Clark got many people upset and apparently this is not the first time. I was told that many months ago she had sent out postcards related to fence height and got many people upset. Again, that postcard contained only partial truths.

I don't expect to agree on everything with the council members, but I do expect them to be 100 percent honest and truthful. Is that too much to ask?

Stacie Chester
Rosemead

This letter, written by South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa, ran today in our paper. I wonder if this is foreshadowing any redevelopment efforts by the city of trailer parks, as has been done in Monterey Park. There are also talks on the table of developing former trailer park land in Rosemead.

Keep up trailer parks

It is unfortunate how some of our mobile home/trailer property owners treat renters, not only in South El Monte but in other surrounding cities.

First of all, the upkeep is deplorable and can sometimes be a health and safety issue. These owners make enough off of these people, most of which are on a fixed income, usually seniors or single parents.

Many of these homes are too old to move, so relocation is out of the question. Simply by paving the area where these homes are located, adding sufficient lighting and adding shrubs and plants can help an area look a thousand times better. People have the right to live in a nice, upkept place that they call home.

I want to thank all other owners who have pride and respect for their renters. Others can learn from you. Your places are very nicely kept up.

Blanca M. Figueroa
Mayor
South EL Monte

If there was a vote to place term limits on your city council member's seats, how would you vote?

In Rosemead, there may be a discussion about whether that could be a possibility in the city.

Can you imagine paying $20 a beer at a Dodger's game? As if they aren't expensive enough. Well, if a San Jose lawmaker gets the hike he wants on the beer tax, those baseball games -- and any other beer purchase -- just got a whole lot more expensive.

Lawmaker seeks to raise beer tax
By Mike Zapler, Sacramento Bureau
Article Launched: 04/10/2008 11:34:34 PM PDT

Joe Sixpack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,400 percent.

Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

He added that the beer tax hasn't been touched since 1991, and the increase then was meager.

*********

Dan Gordon, co-founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, calculated that the tax on a barrel of beer would go from $6.40 to $89. "We would all be looking for jobs," he said.

Oh, snap. That's what I said when I read this quote by a judge who was responding to water board Xavier Alvarez who said that it is in within his constitutional right to lie about receiving the Medal of Honor.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner rejected Alvarez's argument, stating in his written ruling that "such lies are not protected by the Constitution."

Pomona water board member Xavier Alvarez's request to have the federal charges against him dismissed has been rejected by the judge hearing the case.

Alvarez is facing two misdemeanor counts for falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor. He never served in the military.

In the motion to dismiss the charges, Alvarez's public defender argued that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which prohibits anyone from falsely claiming to have been awarded the Medal of Honor, violates the First Amendment and is unconstitutional because it criminalizes what the attorney termed "political" speech.

So, is political speech the type of speech that gives politicians the right to say whatever they want and never be held accountable for anything they say. That sounds about right.

I love Craigslist. I shouldn't, since it is one of the reasons why newspapers are dying. But I am a little bit addicted. No, not to the erotic section where you can find a prostitute. But I have used Craigslist to find roommates, activity partners and softball teams. In most cases, Craigslist has improved my life. When I first moved down to West Covina, I turned to Craigslist to find a roommate. When I needed to sell my bike, I found a good buyer off of Craigslist. When I was looking for freelance gigs, I found them on Craigslist.

But now that I think about it, I've put a little bit too much faith in the Web site.

Like last night, for example. I've been wanting to find a rock climbing partner, but everyone in my newsroom circle just looks at me cross eyed when I ask them to go climbing. So I turned to Craigslist. There was an add looking for a bouldering partner. I responded, called the guy and we agreed to meet at The Arc, a rock climbing gym in Arcadia. When I told my friends that I was meeting a guy who is a total stranger at the gym, they were convinced that I was going to be murdered. The guy ended up being totally normal -- not even a perv or a killer. The only downside is that, apparently, it was "date night" at the gym, and everyone kept on thinking that we were a couple. He was about 120 pounds and 5'5, whereas I am 5'7 and 150 pounds. Pretty unlikely couple.

And then there is the softball team I play on. I repsonded to an add looking for another female for the team. The team was in Covina, worked with my schedule and was cheap, so I figured, why not? After I agreed to play, the coach of the team said, "Well, let me tell you a little bit about the team. Most of us are former narcotics anonymous members..." Oh great. So I guess pizza and beer after the game is out of the question.

The team -- which hasn't won a game in four seasons -- has ended up being extremely entertaining. Whether it's the outfielder who plays while smoking a ciggarette, the parents whose child was just expelled for bringing a butcher knife to school or the couple of guys that have spent a combined 20 years in prison, there's plenty to talk about.

Oh yeah, and then there was the roommate search in the summer. The "best" roommate I found off Craigslist ended up robbing our house on my birthday, then staying in the house for about one month before I evicted her. I know, I know. I am a reporter, I should have known better. But I was desperate.

But even after the last six months of questionable finds on Craigslist, I know that when newspapers are finally dead, I have a Web site to include in my job hunt.

I hate to give it more press, but it's just too funny. Here are the real leftovers from City Hall.....

Make sure to check out the links.

If there's a budget shortfall, the funds have got to come from somewhere. So in Glendora, the city is increasing fees for licenses, whether it is a business license to parking permits, Dan Abenschein reports. The city manager, however, did say that he expects most of the increases to affect mainly developers.

The increase is expected to bring in $90,000. The budget shortfall is $1.6 million. Other cost savings come from keeping employee positions open.

Is this the best way the city can make up money for a budget shortfall?

Council OKs fee hikes
By Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/09/2008 11:20:07 PM PDT

Other fee increases include water meter installation, facility rental costs, animal control services and parking fines.

City Manager Chris Jeffers said the shortfall stems, in part, from declining business at Glendora stores.

"A big chunk of this deficit is from a loss in sales tax," Jeffers said, adding that declining property taxes also have affected the city revenues.

*************

Payroll savings will come from open positions in the Police Department, public works, city library and parks and recreation. Some of those positions were budgeted to be filled but will now remain empty, Jeffers said.

Others, he said, were held open earlier in the year, saving departments a significant amount of money.

Glendora Police Chief Charles Montoya, whose department saved about $485,000 from open positions earlier in the year, said that only one of his 58 budgeted positions is currently unfilled.

Looks like Pomona City Hall is jumping on the technological band wagon....

Pomona - Officials will test a new city-to-resident notification system today.

The messages will be sent to every phone or e-mail that is listed, Valadez said.
More details are available online at www.ci.pomona.ca.us.

Our local Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, is proposing legislation that would allow authorities to seize property used for dogfighting, the Sac Bee reports. But Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, along with the ACLU, have serious concerns over the forfeiture power the bill allows. The story does not address, however, what prompted the Calderon to propose the bill.

Legislation that would allow authorities in California to seize property used for dogfighting dissolved Tuesday into a battle pitting canine lovers against the American Civil Liberties Union and defense attorneys.

The Senate Public Safety Committee put off a vote until next week after the ACLU and the California Public Defenders Association expressed concern the bill would elevate punishment for dogfighting to a level not accorded crimes against humans, including murder.

Senate Bill 1775 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, would allow the forfeiture of property used for dogfighting.

"What makes this measure different from past forfeiture measures this committee has seen is that the proceeds go to animal welfare organizations who rescue and rehabilitate fighting dogs," Calderon said before the hearing.

************

But Francisco Lobaco, legislative director for the ACLU, told the Senate committee his organization "very strongly opposes" SB 1775.

"The Legislature has been extremely cautious in the type of crimes for which it allows asset forfeiture," Lobaco said.

He cited "serious drug offenses" as a rare example, but noted forfeiture does not apply to "murder, mayhem, kidnapping, and a variety of more serious crimes."

Reporter Claudia Palma tells me that the final election count in Walnut won't be official until Monday.

Crazy story about water board member Albert Robles who is facing criminal charges yet he has decided to challenge District Attorney Steve Cooley for his job, Whittier Staff Writer Airan Scruby reports.

Albert Robles, director on the Water Replenishment District Board, is charged with four misdemeanor counts and appeared in Downey court Tuesday.

Robles, 39, said he is running for district attorney despite the charges because he did not believe anyone would run against Cooley, and he felt voters should have another option on June 3.

"Steve Cooley is the worst district attorney in the history of the county," Robles said. "I was just hoping to present myself as an alternative."

At least one reader so far claims that Cooley is a "bully:"

Cooley and his inner circle knew over a year ago that Albert Robles was preparing to run against Cooley, that's why they filed three misdemeanor charges against him. Why? Could it be that they are afraid of a run-off or they are just bullies?

C'mon Cooley don't be a bully, why do you abuse your power and betray the trust of all the democrats who voted for you?

Im voting for STEVE IPSEN - all should do the same.

BTW: WRD director Albert Robles should not be confused with former South Gate mayor councilman, treasurer and deputy city manager Albert T. Robles, who in 2005 was convicted of plundering more than $20 million from the city. In November 2006, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. 

I don't know much about Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, other than the stories the Tribune recently published about his proposed bills.

Those bills were AB 2086, the Parental Opt-Out for Sexual Orientation-based Curriculum, which would require a district to send a letter to parents at the beginning of the school year alerting them that sexual orientation education will take place; and an illegal immigration pacakage, AB 2418, AB 2420, AB 2421, and AB 2422. The bills included the denial of bail to any person charged with a gang-related crime or violent felony; and illegal immigrant employer penalties, which outlines a business license revocation process for those employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Well, after surfing his Web site, one thing is for sure: He sure is against tax increases proposed by Democrats.

Here's what Huff has to say about tax increases proposed by Democrats this year:

PROPOSED TAX INCREASES
This month, Democrat leadership stated that the Democrats' only solution for California's budget problems was raising taxes. They even threatened to hold up passage of the budget if it did not contain at least $5 billion in higher taxes.

Here are the ''Top 10'' tax increases proposed by Democrats so far this year:

10. The iTunes Tax
Assembly Bill 1956 (Calderon) would require state tax officials to begin imposing sales taxes on music, movies and software purchases made online, such as on iTunes. Democrats have also talked about taxing all items purchased on the Internet ($500 million tax increase).

9. The Plastic Bag Tax
Assembly Bill 2829 (Davis) would impose a new plastic bag tax, at a still-unspecified level, on the plastic bags used by grocery stores and other retailers to package purchases.

8. Making It Easier for Politicians to Raise Taxes
Senate Constitutional Amendment 18 (Torlakson) would make it easier for local politicians to raise taxes, by allowing educational finance districts to impose special taxes by a majority vote.

7. Increasing the Car Tax
Assembly Bill 2388 (Feuer) would raise the car tax based on the weight of the vehicle and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions it emits, to a still-unspecified level.

Assembly Bill 2522 (Arambula) would authorize San Joaquin Valley air quality officials to impose a new $30 car tax on local drivers, without a vote of the people.

Assembly Bill 2638 (Coto) would impose a new sales tax on the sale of cars in California that get less than 15 miles per gallon.

Senate Bill 1731 (Yee) would authorize San Francisco Bay Area transportation officials to impose a higher car tax on local drivers, without a vote of the people.

Democrats have also proposed restoring the higher car tax imposed by former Governor Gray Davis and repealed by Governor Schwarzenegger upon taking office, a $6 billion tax increase.

6. Increasing the Gas Tax
Assembly Bill 9xxx (Núñez) would impose a $1.2 billion ''oil severance'' tax on the cost of oil production in California. This will cause gas prices to soar to new heights in California as this new tax will be passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices at the pump.

Assembly Bill 2744 (Huffman) would authorize San Francisco Bay Area transportation officials to impose a new gas tax, of as much as 10 cents per gallon, to pay for new government spending.

Assembly Bill 2558 (Feuer) would authorize Los Angeles transportation officials to impose one of two different taxes, subject to a majority vote, to address climate change – an increased gas tax as high as 3 percent, or an increased car tax as high as $80.

5. Raising Income Taxes
Assembly Bill 2372 (Coto) would impose a new 1 percent tax on Californians earning more than $1 million per year, raising the state's highest income tax rate to 11.3 percent.

Assembly Bill 2897 (Hancock) would impose a new 10 percent tax rate for individuals earning more than $136,115 every year ($272,230 for joint filers) and a new 11 percent tax rate for individuals earning more than $272,230 per year ($544,460 for joint filers).

4. Closing So-Called ''Tax Loopholes''
Democrats and others have pushed closing ''tax loopholes,'' which is an effort to raise taxes on working Californians. These so-called loopholes include taking away the senior citizen tax credit (a $255 million tax increase) and reducing the child dependent tax credit ($2.4 billion) – which will hurt middle-class families.

3. New Health Taxes
Democrats have proposed the largest tax increase on businesses in state history, an $8 billion jobs tax, to pay for government-run health care. In addition, Assembly Bill 2967 (Fuentes) would impose a new .06 percent tax on the gross operating costs of every California hospital, to pay for new government health care programs.

2. Creating a New Tax on California Businesses
Speaker Núñez has talked about creating a new split-roll property tax on California businesses, which would be a $3 to $7 billion tax increase on businesses. This would lead to higher prices for consumers and the threat of job losses.

1. Taking Away the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

Democrats have proposed eliminating the state home mortgage interest deduction, also known as the homeowner's tax, which provides significant tax savings for working families and helps many Californians afford the expensive costs of home ownership. This would be a $5.3 billion tax hike.

We didn't do anything about outstanding women of the 57th district, but here is a list of local women who were honored by Assemblyman Ed Hernandez.

Reyna Diaz, 2008 Woman of the Year for the 57th Assembly District (Duarte)
Reyna Diaz is a member of the Duarte School Board.

Lisa Bailey, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (Irwindale)

President and CEO of the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce since 2003.

Dr. Nancy Padilla, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (La Puente)

Only in her second year at Nogales High School, Dr. Padilla has successfully managed to refocus the mission of the school around two goals: increasing student achievement and creating a positive school culture.

Arline Payne, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (West Covina)

Although a resident of West Covina, she is well-known for her work with the Covina Women’s Club, the Covina Historical Society, and the Covina Police Department.

Beverly Williams, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (Covina)

As a member of the NAACP since she was 18, Beverly Williams has committed herself to serving her community through her extensive work with the San Gabriel Valley NAACP, including her efforts to revive the organization’s once-thriving youth outreach. She is also a leader in her church, the Murph Chapel A.M.E. Church in Valinda.

Cecilia Bernal, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (Baldwin Park)

Cecilia Bernal has dedicated her life to the young people in her community and providing services for the local residents of Baldwin Park.

Rosario Perez, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (Azusa)

Rosario Perez has opened up her home and her life as a foster parent to 35 children over the years.

Maria Ramirez-Pico, 2008 Woman of Achievement for the 57th Assembly District (Bassett)

Maria-Ramirez Pico has been a strong source of support for education within her community for many years.

Ana Albarran, 2008 Emerging Leader Award for the 57th Assembly District

Only a sophomore in high school, she maintains a 4.5 GPA in rigorous honors courses while participating in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the Leadership in Harmony Conference, sports, and Teens for Humanity. She manages all of this while working a part-time job to help bring in extra money for her family.

 

Not to take anything away from any of the women, but this list makes me think of former Valley County Water Board member Dolores Holguin, who has since been forced to resign and is being investigated for allegedly misuing public funds. She was given an Outstanding Woman Award of the 24th district award by Sen. Gloria Romero for her service to the community, including on the Valley County Water District. Here's an article Fred Ortega wrote about Holguin in November 2007. 

BALDWIN PARK - A local water board official has been censured for alleged misappropriation of funds and her refusal to resign her post.

The Valley County Water District Board of Directors voted unanimously to censure Director Dolores Holguin at a special meeting Thursday. The move forbids Holguin from receiving any further reimbursements from the district, even if the expenses are related to district business.

Holguin was not in attendance at the meeting.

Holguin, who is the subject of a Los Angeles County District Attorney's investigation, has been accused by officials of improperly billing the district for more than $15,000 in cell phone, meal and medical expenses. The district has also filed a civil lawsuit against Holguin to recover the costs, and a trial is expected in the case sometime next year, said the water district's attorney, Keith Lemieux.

"Because of what she has done she can no longer be trusted with the public's money," Lemieux said.

Holguin strongly disputed the charges in a statement read to the board by Margarita Vargas, her running mate in Tuesday's district board elections. She argued that all of the reimbursements had been reviewed by the district's previous attorney, who found nothing illegal took place.

"There has been no misappropriation, no intentional act of fraud on my part," read the statement. "I believe all of my actions were appropriate under existing district policy and applicable state law."

 

 

A classic case of bureaucracy versus the working class.

A very interesting article from Star-News reporter Melissa Pamer today about little ole’ Sierra Madre — the tiniest town in the Valley that packs a punch.

Apparently, preliminary City Council election results Tuesday night forecasted that former Councilwoman Maryann MacGillivray will push Mayor Enid Joffe out of office.

Read on here.

Metro Editor Edward Barrera gets back to the notepad with a story in today’s paper about the Walnut City Council election.

As of Tuesday night, councilmen Joaquin Lim and Tony Cartagena were up, while Mayor Tom Sykes was trailing.

We don’t have official counts yet this morning, but we’ll update as soon as we know something.

I opened up the Local News section of the paper this morning and read this:

There’s something twice the size of Texas floating just north of the Hawaiian Islands, but it’s no tropical resort.

“Well, what is it then?” I asked myself. Reporter Bethania Palma gives us the answer:

It’s a pile of human litter, mostly plastic, swirling in what marine scientists know as the North Pacific Gyre, where all the ocean’s currents converge. And officials say its testament to an enormous pollution problem.

Apparently, Azusa is joining a host of other municipalities across the country in curbing the use of plastic bags. Los Angeles County has taken similar measures, starting up a program earlier this year requiring large grocery stores and retailers to reduce plastic bag use by 30 percent in 2010 and 65 percent in 2013, according to Palma’s story.

Azusa is tagging onto the county program — they will be voting to implement it locally in the next few weeks.

Just one more way local cities are going green.

Reporter Amanda Baumfeld reports today that mail-in ballots have been sent to more than 3,000 residents and business owners in Covina's lighting and landscaping districts in a bid to increase taxes.

The ballots are due May 20, and if the majority of voters are OK with the increases, they will take effect later this year.

These are the proposed increases:

Annual fees in the two lighting districts would increase from $20.80 to $46.52 for single family homes and from $2.70 to $6.42 per 1,000 square feet of land for commercial areas, if approved.

An annual inflationary adjustment of up to 3 percent also will be added to lighting and landscaping districts, according to staff reports.

This popped up on our Web site not too long ago....

POMONA - A former West Covina planning commissioner had charges of perjury and conflict of interest dismissed by a Pomona court on Tuesday.

Carlos Thrasher, an local businessman and Iraq war veteran, was accused of failing to disclose that he owed money to developer Ziad Alhassen before a vote on one of Alhassen's development projects.

Thrasher's trial was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but before a jury was called, Judge Daniel Buckley granted a defense motion to dismiss the case.

Kevin McDermott, Thrasher's attorney, said the prosecution had no case because it could not show Thrasher intended to deceive the public by not disclosing his debt to Alhassen.

"I could see if we were talking about a political committee fining him, but when you are talking about perjury, you need to show the person was clearly advised ahead of time, and deliberately ignored that advice," said McDermott.

He said that Thrasher received a letter from West Covina city attorneys advising him that the $17,166 debt he owed Alhassen did not qualify as a loan, which would have required disclosure.

Thrasher owed the money as back rent for an office he was renting from Alhassen. Thrasher had left the country to serve in Iraq but still was using the office, according to Alhassen's testimony in the preliminary hearing.

Thrasher signed a promissory note agreeing to pay back the debt to Alhassen at the rate of $500 a month, records show.

The complaint about Thrasher's lack of disclosure came from Alhassen's attorney, after Alhassen's South Hills Homes Partnership requested a time extension to build a gated community in a cul-de-sac known as Inspiration Point.
Thrasher voted against the extension, as did the rest of the planning commission. Alhassen brought the matter directly to the City Council, which voted 3-1 against the extension.

Alhassen said at the preliminary hearing that the decision cost him millions of dollars.

Ever wonder what you’re elected officials get out of serving the public aside from that euphoric feeling of making a difference?

In Baldwin Park, City Council members make a monthly stipend of $600 for attending council meetings, according to a city ordinance adopted in 2005.

Additionally, according to the city’s benefit matrix, council members receive a $75 monthly cell phone allowance and a $300 monthly car allowance if the council member opts to use their own car for city business instead of a city vehicle.

Officials out of the City Clerk’s office tell me council members don’t have to submit receipts in accordance with those allowances. They get the money, and technically, if they don’t use it all, it’s theirs.

And on top of all that still, council members Anthony Bejarano and Marlen Garcia are still under old state guidelines for Community Development Commission stipends. They’ll get $1,100 a month for attending CDC meetings until their next election. Their colleagues, who are under new regulations, get $75 a meeting or $150 maximum a month.

Add that all up and that’s quite a nice chunk of pocket change.

This in from reporter Amanda Baumfeld:

MONTEBELLO - The City Council at its meeting Wednesday night will be discussing the city's mid-year budget and funding for several public service programs.

The public service programs include Rio Hondo Temporary Home, the YMCA and the Montebello and East L.A. Family Support Center's Parent Project. Funding for the programs will come from the General Fund as well as Community Development Block Grants.

The meeting will be starting at its new time of 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1600 West Beverly Boulevard.

So apparently a highly-contested traffic light at Bonita Avenue and E Street in La Verne is going in.

The City Council approved the signal — which will be constructed just a few short miles of an elementary school and Bonita High School — on Monday night.

City Clerk Evelyn Clark told me this morning several residents spoke out at Monday’s meeting against the light. Those opponents fear a signal would increase congestion in their area.

But more than a dozen accidents have occurred at the intersection, including one fatal. Sources tell me that was enough to sway the council into going with the light anyway.

****I just got off the phone with a nearby resident who told me the real issue here is not with the light itself, but with mitigation that's actually going to make the intersection safer. Resident Karen Huigens said nobody is necessarily opposed to the signal, but they just don't feel it will slow drivers down. In fact, Huigens said a traffic light might make drivers go faster in order to beat red lights.

One of the nation's "leading" jockeys can't get a break from Duarte officials, Melissa Pamer reports:

DUARTE - After being rejected by the city almost a year ago, a proposal to build a hillside home that exceeds neighborhood height limits is scheduled to come back before the City Council tonight.

Plans by Garrett Gomez, one the nation's leading jockeys, to build a two-story home nearly 24 feet tall failed last year to get approval from the Planning Commission and, on appeal, from the City Council.

Gomez and his wife submitted a new proposal last summer for his home on 1 acre in the northernmost part of the city. The plans call for a slightly larger footprint and an overall height that's about 2 feet shorter, but with a taller chimney.

With the support of city staff, the Planning Commission approved the second proposal on Feb. 19. Residents opposed to the plans appealed to the council.

Many of the Gomezes' neighbors in Duarte Mesa, a 1960s-era hillside development of almost 100 single-story and partial two-story homes, are critical of the couple's proposal. About 60 signed a petition against the project and some have lobbied to have the proposal defeated.

Opponents cite the the threat of "mansionization" and say the home would obstruct the views from other properties.

"The concern is that this will set precedence for building two-story homes all over the Mesa," said Gary Barta, a neighbor of the Gomezes on High Mesa Drive.

The trial for former West Covina Planning Commissioner Carlos Thrasher is expected to begin today in the Pomona Courthouse.

Thrasher faces charges of perjury and conflict of interest. He is accused of failing to disclose that he owed money to local developer Ziad Alhassen and then spearheading a vote against one of Alhassen's projects despite that conflict.

Here are some excerpts from a February article Star-News reporter Alison Hewitt wrote:

Thrasher was paying off a $17,166 debt to Alhassen, but misled the public by neglecting to reveal the debt as required on a city form, she argued.

Meanwhile, a complaint was filed with the district attorney's Public Integrity Division against Councilman Steve Herfert regarding his vote against the same project Thrasher is now facing trial for.

Just got a tip from Rosemead Mayor John Tran that Rosemead native Taboo, and member of the Black Eyed Peas, was cast for the character of Vega in "Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li." Here's one story confirming it.

This is the second movie adaptation of the video game, "Street Fighter."

Tran and Taboo are long time friends.

Don Cook, president of DC Corporation, requested that South El Monte waive $150,324 worth of fees for the senior and affordable housing project, according to an inter-office memo dated March 10. The item is scheduled to appear before the council  in the near future, possibly at Tuesday's council meeting. Here is an exceprt from the memo, written to City Manager Anthony Ybarra by Cook:

"It has already been determined by the Improvement District and Staff that this project could not be built without assistance from the Improvement District, which the District Board has provided. It is inconsistent for the District Board to provide gap financing for the project in order to make the project viable and then have the City require tens of thousands of dollars in fees. I oder to avoid this "Peter to pay Paul" scenarios we request the aboive listed fees be waived by the City. Not only is this logical on its face, it ic consistent with how other cities in the Valley participate in the development of senior and affordable housing," wrote Cook.

Cook continues, writing that this project has continued to be delayed. In a Triibune article in 2005, DC Corp. unveilved its project plans:

Another mixed-use project on the horizon by developer DC Corp. at Michael Hunt Drive and Peck Road will feature senior housing as well as retail, which includes a drugstore and beauty shop, said Don Cook , vice president of the corporation.

"This is something we're doing in part with the city, but the city won't be giving any money,' Cook said.

DC Corp has also developed homes in Baldwin Park, West Covina and Perris. The South El Monte planning commission first denied the proposed project, claiming that it was too dense, according to a Tribune article.

SOUTH EL MONTE -- A town hall meeting Monday night to showcase plans for a retail and housing development turned into a confrontation between the developer and residents.

West Covina-based DCCorporation is looking for City Council approval to build 14 homes, 60 apartment units and 20,000 square feet of retail at 1570 Durfee Ave., behind the 7-Eleven store on Peck Road.

"The project is a superior project," said DC Corp. employee Don Cook .

But the Planning Commission voted against the project, calling it too dense. DC Corp. is appealing the decision to the City Council, which is set to vote on the matter at its June 28 meeting.

About 60 people attended the meeting at the Senior Center. None of them spoke in favor of the DC Corp. project, with most saying it is too dense for the area.

Don Cook, president of DC Corporation, requested that South El Monte waive $150,324 worth of fees for the senior and affordable housing project, according to an inter-office memo dated March 10. The item is scheduled to appear before the council  in the near future, possibly at Tuesday's council meeting. Here is an exceprt from the memo, written to City Manager Anthony Ybarra by Cook:

"It has already been determined by the Improvement District and Staff that this project could not be built without assistance from the Improvement District, which the District Board has provided. It is inconsistent for the District Board to provide gap financing for the project in order to make the project viable and then have the City require tens of thousands of dollars in fees. I oder to avoid this "Peter to pay Paul" scenarios we request the aboive listed fees be waived by the City. Not only is this logical on its face, it ic consistent with how other cities in the Valley participate in the development of senior and affordable housing," wrote Cook.

Cook continues, writing that this project has continued to be delayed. In a Triibune article in 2005, DC Corp. unveilved its project plans:

Another mixed-use project on the horizon by developer DC Corp. at Michael Hunt Drive and Peck Road will feature senior housing as well as retail, which includes a drugstore and beauty shop, said Don Cook , vice president of the corporation.

"This is something we're doing in part with the city, but the city won't be giving any money,' Cook said.

DC Corp has also developed homes in Baldwin Park, West Covina and Perris. The South El Monte planning commission first denied the proposed project, claiming that it was too dense, according to a Tribune article.

SOUTH EL MONTE -- A town hall meeting Monday night to showcase plans for a retail and housing development turned into a confrontation between the developer and residents.

West Covina-based DCCorporation is looking for City Council approval to build 14 homes, 60 apartment units and 20,000 square feet of retail at 1570 Durfee Ave., behind the 7-Eleven store on Peck Road.

"The project is a superior project," said DC Corp. employee Don Cook .

But the Planning Commission voted against the project, calling it too dense. DC Corp. is appealing the decision to the City Council, which is set to vote on the matter at its June 28 meeting.

About 60 people attended the meeting at the Senior Center. None of them spoke in favor of the DC Corp. project, with most saying it is too dense for the area.

Not as sexy of a meeting compared with those in the past, but here are a couple of points of interest to expect out Rosemead's City Council meeting on Tuesday:

1. Councilman Gary Taylor will be bringing up the City Attorney's billing practices.

2. Councilman John Nunez will suggest developing a Veteran's Commission.

3. City Manager Oliver Chi is up for his annual review. It doesn't seem like this means he is getting the ax or anything, but just a regular review. It may mean that he is up for a raise.

Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, will be hosting a community town hall meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Alhambra City Hall to talk about the state's $8 billion budget deficit and its possible effects on the 49th Assembly District.

A very pressing item on the La Puente City Council's agenda for next week: CONSIDERATION OF DECLARING LAPTOP COMPUTERS AS SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

According to a staff report, the city wants to sell five old laptop computers previously used by the City Council for a $1,000 bucks a pop.

Just a couple of questions come to mind: Why are these Compaq laptops considered surplus? Is the council getting rid of the equipment because they now have new computers? What are they going to do with the money? And do they really think they can get $1,000 for each computer?

The running rate on eBay is about $400.

Last week, reporter Dan Abendschein reported Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, spent more than $87,000 of his campaign finance money in travel, hotel, restaurant and fundraising expenses in 2007.

Well this week, Calderon is using his political clout to battle dog-fighting. Calderon's bill, SB1775, "authorizes forfeiture of all property used during the commission of an illegal dog fight," then authorizes the funds from the sale of those items to go to animal-welfare groups and law enforcement agencies that investigate and prosecute animal-fighting crimes.

According to a press release sent out Friday, Calderon said he wanted to "eliminate this horrifying blood sport," and "maul this crime until it stops!"

Guess Calderon is really taking a bite outta crime ... (Sorry, I just had to say it).

Polly Low sent this email to me today. I forwarded it along to our opinion desk, but figured I'd post it, too:

This letter is a response to the inaccuracies written by Mr. Michael A. Saccaro in his letter, New Same as Old (Tribune, March 23, 2008). First, he stated that “It appears from her [Polly Low] comments on the plan that she feels the city is like a doughnut hole…” The facts are that this was a comment made by another council member and I have never made comments that the city is like a doughnut hole. Mr Saccaro’s unfortunate and woeful opinion that we do not have “…any high-rise buildings with mixed uses like other cities do. Therefore, she [Polly Low] voted with Mayor Tran and Councilman Nunez for acceptance of the plan” is based on fiction. I have never stated or even implied such statements. I think it is important for me to clarify that these were not my comments or feelings.

The only fact that appeared correctly in Mr. Saccaro’s letter was that “many speakers spoke for and against the revised general plan”. He is absolutely right. There were residents who spoke for the plan and some that spoke against it. As a council member I recognize that any projects or decisions will have its pros and cons. It is my responsibility to understand the benefits for the city and the concerns of its residents and it is my responsibility to work with staff to mitigate the concerns as we strive for a win-win situation. Sometimes it is easier to not move forward in fear of controversy. People elected me to make policy for the betterment of the city. Not doing what is beneficial to the city in the long run due to fear of controversy is a selfish and cowardly act. In contrary to Mr. Saccaros’s letter, the majority of the council is very interested in listening to both sides of each issue. We do our best to mitigate the concerns while moving the city forward to provide more and better services to the residents.

Polly Low
Rosemead City Council Member

An interesting item is on the La Verne City Council agenda for Monday's meeting:

Authorization to Solicit Bids for the Installation of a New Traffic Signal at the
Intersection of Bonita Avenue and E Street - As part of the 2007/08 budget process, the
City Council approved the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Bonita
Avenue and E Street. During the design effort, a number of residents expressed concern
about the proposed installation. Staff met with these residents to review their concerns,
subsequently collected additional traffic data, and determined that the signal installation was
the most appropriate measure. Completion is anticipated prior to the start of the 2008/09
school year.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize staff to solicit bids for the
installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Bonita
Avenue and E Street.

Apparently, the residents are concerned a traffic light will increase the flow of traffic in the neighborhoods, which they don't want. I just found this interesting considering that in most cities, residents fight for more traffic signals around schools (this traffic light would be within a few miles of an elementary school and Bonita High School).

If anyone has ever searched for a roommate, you know how bad the process can be. I have often turned to Web sites like Craigslist and Roomates.com to help me find someone. I was always concerned, though, about ads that advertised things like "Christian female roommate wanted" or "Gay roommate wanted."

Looks like my concern was right:

Roommates.com can be sued for violating fair housing laws, court rules
By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 4, 2008

The law may temper the freewheeling nature of the Internet after all.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday that a website may be found liable for violating fair housing laws by matching roommates according to gender, sexual orientation and parenthood.

Federal law protecting websites "was not meant to create a lawless, no-man's land on the Internet," the court in San Francisco said in an 8-3 ruling.

The judges said a site called Roommates.com may be brought to trial for possibly violating anti-discrimination laws because it requires users to provide information about gender, sexual orientation and whether they have children, and then uses the information to screen people for matches.

"A real estate broker may not inquire as to the race of a prospective buyer, and an employer may not inquire as to the religion of a prospective employee," Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote for the majority. "If such questions are unlawful when posed face-to-face by telephone, they don't magically become lawful when asked electronically online." Read more.

It was just a matter of time before I wrote this story. It was all dependent on the receipt of Bonny Garcia's bills. What I still don't understand is what is the point of having a $30,000 a month cap if it doesn't include things like litigation?

ROSEMEAD - The city attorney is over his legal budget by $43,000, with six months remaining in the billing cycle, records show.

Rosemead City Attorney Bonifacio Garcia of Garcia, Calderon and Ruiz has charged the city $205,000 since July, the start of the fiscal year. The legal budget for the firm's services in 2007-08 is nearly $162,000.

Garcia did not return calls.

"That is outrageous," said Councilwoman Margaret Clark. "If we are overbudget, we are going to dip into our reserves. This is the wrong time to be overspending on anything."

So after about four hours of closed session drama Thursday night, the Baldwin Park City Council had only this to report: they have narrowed down their top picks for police chief from four to two people.

Among the candidates that interviewed last night were El Monte police Lt. Ken Alva (surprise, surprise), Baldwin Park's interim Police Chief Michael Taylor, Suisun City Police Chief Ed Dadisho and an unknown applicant.

I'm pretty sure the uknown applicant was the same guy that told me earlier in the night he wasn't an applicant, and was just there to "observe." I found that kind of strange since aside from Alva, Dadisho and Taylor, this "observer" was the only other person in a full-on suit who was escorted into the closed-session meeting by Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal.

I asked Councilman Anthony Bejarano at the end of the night, whether or not that tall, light-haired "observer" who wore a pager on his belt was actually an applicant or not. Bejarano said he didn't know how much he could say outside of closed session.

Singhal said the city still has to conduct background checks on the two final candidates they are considering. That could take 4-6 weeks.

Just a thought: if Taylor was still in the running, would the city need to do a background check?

"More Americans would rather have cheaper gas than a cure for cancer."

I just heard that on Channel 2, and sure enough, here's a Reuters story about a survey of 700 people -- Yeah, because 700 people is fair sampling of Americans -- that suggests that Americans would prefer more money be invested to solve the nations energy crisis than to cure cancer.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A nationwide survey of nearly 700 people suggests that Americans would prefer more money be invested in technology to solve the nation's energy ailments than to cure cancer or other diseases.

Some 37 percent of respondents to the poll, conducted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in Virginia, said they would rank spending to raise energy efficiency and develop alternative fuel technology a top priority for future investment. That compares with 30 percent who ranked more cash for medical breakthroughs as most important.

"I think it's a combination of things like high gas prices and the need for alternative fuels, but also things that are emotional like greenhouse effects, global warming and the need for reducing carbon emissions," said Gerald Gordon, chief executive of the FCEDA. Read more.

Its been a year since Bonifacio Garcia was hired as the Rosemead City Attorney. Since that time, he has billed the city nearly $325,000. And now that the city has received several outstanding invoices from Garcia, it looks as though he is now officially over the city's 2007-08 fiscal budget.

There will be a story about it in tomorrow's paper.

Pasadena Star-News reporter Fred Ortega tells us that parking signs in Pasadena are confusing motorists. Apparently, the drivers get two-free hours of parking, but you can't tell that by reading the signs.

But signs noting that patrons need not pay for the first two hours are nowhere to be found.

"Of course it is confusing," said Flor Almaguer, who works at Dental Plus + Dental Group near Del Mar and Lake. "I've seen people drive up and right away go to the machines and pay."

Here are what some readers have said about it:

--- I have lived in Pasadena almost all my 52 years. I stopped going to Old Town because of the parking. Last weekend I saw this parking mess on South Lake. I guess Arcadia and Monrovia gets all my business now. Just who is driving all the customers out of Pasadena? ---

--- Good Idea !!!lets go to Arcadia where they want our business. ---

--- South Lake was family friendly, now it is a burden. The parking metering/posting/enforcement is going to truly hurt some of the smaller shops. The only patrons to the district will be those who can walk from the surrounding apartments & condo’s. OFF TO SANTA ANITA WE GO!! ----

The county supervisors aren't ones to shy away from a good proclamation. I've seen them proclaim that upcoming national holidays are holidays. But next Tuesday is unusually busy. The abridged version of proclamations on the agenda:

Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Knabe: Proclaim April 2008 as "DMV/Donate Life California Month" throughout Los Angeles County
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Knabe: Proclaim April 19, 2008 as "C-17 Day" throughout Los Angeles County to honor the plane
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim April 7 through 13, 2008 as "Public Health Week" throughout Los Angeles County
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim April 2008 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Month," and designate April 23, 2008 as "Denim Day"; urge everyone to wear jeans and attend "Denim Day" observances
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim April 13 through 19, 2008 as "National Library Week" throughout Los Angeles County
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim April 13 through 19, 2008 as "The Week of the Young Child," throughout Los Angeles County; and encourage all citizens to work to make a good investment in early childhood
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim May 5 through 11, 2008 as "Public Service Recognition Week" throughout Los Angeles County
Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Burke: Proclaim July 13, 2008 as "Keep L.A. Running Day" throughout Los Angeles County

It seems that new Montebello Police Chief Dan Weast just can't get away from criticism about his highest educational degree: a GED.

In a short profile Reporter Amanda Baumfeld wrote up in today's paper, Montebello Mayor Bill Molinari questioned whether Weast could do the best job for the community.

Weast had this to say:

He says he believes in higher education and will see that requirements within the department are raised in the future.

"I will be getting us closer to reaching industry standards," Weast said. "We need to keep up with the times."

You can add Covina to the list of San Gabriel Valley police associations upset over contract negotiations with their corresponding city councils....

By Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/02/2008 11:36:24 PM PDT
COVINA - The city's police association rejected a contract offer Tuesday, and a union official later criticized city management.

"Some people are leaving to go to a city that pays a higher salary for the same job. I get that," said Stapleton. "We are trying to be competitive as we can be under the circumstances."

The Baldwin Park City Council is hosting a special closed session meeting tonight to interview candidates for the vacant police chief position.

If all things go as planned, council members are expected to narrow down about a handful of candidates to one final applicant they would like to hire.

When I talked to Chief Executive Officer Vijay Singhal earlier this week, he said it was possible the council would not be able to report anything out of closed session in order to protect the "privacy of the candidates." He said a final applicant would still need to go through background checks and negotiate a contract - and maybe they don't want their current employer to know they're gunning for the job.....

I'm sometimes really annoyed at the pangs of bureaucracy because of things like this.

I'll be at the meeting tonight, patiently waiting for it to be over so I can ask the million dollar question: so who do you want to be the next police chief? Let's hope they have an answer for me.

In my story today, I wrote that Board President Leon Garcia had no comment about why he wants to take a look at the spending policies among directors on the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. But before he told me that, we had this exchange when I asked him why he brought up the discussion of wanted to change the board's policy.

His response: "Jennifer, you've got to be kidding me. You guys published an article -- Is this on the record?"

Me: "Yes."

Garcia: "No comment." Click.

Today's article comes nearly two months after I wrote a story that detailed expenses among water board members in 12 districts. Garcia and Water Replinishment District of Southern California director Willard Murray racked in the highest expenses for travel, meeting attendance and meal costs.

Expect more water stories.

What a comical story by Dan Abendschein. He tells us that West Covina council members voted to ban people from bringing weapons into City Hall. The ban was prompted after city officials said they were concerned about possible threats against council members and staff. But the ordinance, which bans retired law enforcement personnel carrying weapons, didn't sit so well with former law enforcement officers.

Fred Sykes, a former West Covina police officer and a former council candidate, called the ordinance an insult. Sykes said he takes his gun everywhere he goes, including most City Council meetings.

"This ordinance treats us like sex offenders and criminals, taking away our rights," he said. "Why would they show such disrespect for West Covina peace officers?"

So does this mean added enforcement at the entrance of City Hall? If it doesn't, I'm sure someone who is so enraged that they would consider bringing a gun to City Hall and shooting at staff or city council members would be dissuaded from doing so because there is a ban.

I grew up in Fremont, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area that falls between Oakland and San Jose. So did my dad, who grew up in a section of Fremont called Niles, which backs up to a canyon. I've heard plenty of stories from my dad of how the Bay Area changed since he was born, in 1955. An area that was once filled with orchards and undeveloped land is now lined with homes, traffic and industry.

Growing up in the Bay Area and being a reporter for the Bay Area newspapers, I was fascinated with its history, whether it was the ghost story of the White Witch in Niles Canyon, the once thriving and colorful community that lived in the salt marshes in Fremont, or the cult-like history out of Holy City in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

But yesterday, as I was reading "Thirst for Growth," a book that looks at the hisotry of water agencies in Southern California, it hit me: I know nothing about the San Gabriel Valley's past.

I report on the daily murders, crimes and local political upheavels, but I don't know what makes the San Gabriel Valley the way it is today. What are its legends? Are there ghost stories? How has the SGV changed over the years? What did your parents used to tell you about the area? What are the historical landmarks in the area that anyone who has lived here for more than 50 years should know about?

Its been almost two years since I moved here. I guess it's about time that I call it home.

(The photo is a picture of the SGV in 1900, taken from this Web site.)

The documents I received about Mariscos Uruapan were not obtained through the traditional method. Usually, I go to the city, ask for the documents, and they are given to me within - normally - a 10 day period. No, I got my hands on these documents because the easy way: they were given to me.

But as we recently were reminded in the LA Times fiasco, just becasue the documents look the part doesn't mean they are legit. So, with that in mind, I headed over to the Irwindale Police Department and Irwindale City Hall, and called ABC to confirm the documents were legit. They were.

Each agency was helpful, but I couldn't help but bite my tongue when a Irwindale City employee seemed especially annoyed that I asked her to verify the validity of the documents.

I came walking in with seven pages that I asked her to verify. She greeted me with eight pages in her hands. The information, except for the extra page she had, was exactly, word for word, the same information.

"So these are the same documents," I told her rhetorically.

"Well, they are not the same. Your copies are darker," she told me.

"But, these are legitimate documents issued and or obtained by the city of Irwindale, right?" I told her. It was obvious that they were, but for some reason I felt that I needed her to agree. Now I realize I didn't.

And then she told me: "You know, there are proper ways to obtain public records."

She's right. But this way is a whole lot easier ... and faster.

And the moral of my story: If you have ever a story that you want the paper to look into, if you have the documents, and if it is a good story, it speeds up the process.

Running is the only way I can cope with the demands of my editors, the mistakes I make on the job and the angry calls and confrontations I have to deal with on a daily basis.

But I'm getting a little bored of my regular outdoor run at the Sante Fe Dam in Irwindale. Any recommendations out there of safe and free parks that are good for an evening jog?

(If you can find me, this is proof that I really do run! I ran this 5K in Pasadena a few weekends ago). >>>>

Are you preprared to pay more at the pump, only this time in the name of global warming? One reader pointed this story out to me today, and I'm thinking it's because he doesn't want to see yet another increase at the pumps.

The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that a bill could require Los Angeles County drivers to pay an extra 9 cents per gallon at the pump, or an additional $90 on vehicle registration.

SACRAMENTO -- -- Motorists in Los Angeles County could end up paying an extra 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump, or an additional $90 on their vehicle registration, under proposals aimed at getting them to help fight global warming.

Voters would be able to decide whether to approve a "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee" under legislation being considered by state lawmakers and endorsed by the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The money would fund improvements to mass transit and programs to relieve traffic congestion at a time when transportation dollars from Washington and Sacramento are hard to come by.

"At this point the people of the Los Angeles region have just had it when it comes to traffic and air quality," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), author of the legislation, AB2558.

The additional funding would be used to fight global warming. Or so they say.

But opponents already are rallying against the measure, saying it exploits public concern about climate change to tap taxpayers for the MTA's regular services: providing bus and rail lines.

"This seems to be a cashing in on public sympathies on global warming to generate additional funding for programs that already exist," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

This just in from reporter Dan Abendschein:

Speaking during a debate over a proposed weapons ordinance that would bar residents from carrying guns into city hall, West Covina Councilman Mike Touhey had a lot to say about council safety.

He mentioned that because of an incident where someone apparently poked through Councilman Steve Herfert's trash, he has had to take "extreme measures" to protect his property.

I am not sure what those measures might be, but it could be notable that Touhey voted against the weapons ordinance, citing his ideological opposition to gun control. His 'no' vote came after a long, and well-researched speech about the dangers of being a city employee or council member. He spoke about a recent Missouri incident where city employees were fired on during a council meeting, and several local incidents involving deranged people who made threats to West Covina council members.

Keep an eye out for the weapons ordinance story in tomorrow's paper

The 60 pages of notes detail interviews will nearly 20 City Hall employees, and the information is not always flattering to Nunez. I wrote several stories about these confidential notes, which city officials said they had never seen.

Now that Councilman Taylor has them, I wonder what he will do with them? Will he distribute them to the council? Will he make them public record? I guess we will wait and see.

This reminds me. I still have to do my taxes. Ugh. For those business owners that haven't filed their taxes, here's a bill that could impact you:

A bill proposed by Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) that would help collect $1.4 billion in outstanding taxes was passed today by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. AB 1925 authorizes the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to suspend the licenses of professionals approved to practice by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Current data indicates that there are over 25,000 delinquent taxpayers that possess an occupational or professional license. California loses approximately $1.4 billion annually as a result of uncollected tax liabilities that apply to professional and occupational licensees.

Amanda Baumfeld reports that Montebello city employees are giving a 10 percent salary increase to all its employees. At a time when there are budget shortfalls reported up and down the state, do you think it is an appropriate time to be handing out raises?

MONTEBELLO - The city has given a 10 percent salary increase to all its employees. Union representatives said they are satisfied with the increase but believe employee pay is still low compared with surrounding cities.

"It's great, instead of being paid 30 percent under market they are only getting 20 percent under market," said Robin Nahin, an attorney with the city employees' association.

The City Council approved the salary increase and an increase in benefits for the Montebello Fire Association, the Montebello Police Officer's Association and the Montebello Bus Operators Association, among others, last week. Read more

Dan Abendschein reports that the city will not allow an argument against a utility tax measure in election material because the information did not meet a deadline.

COVINA - Despite the county's willingness to accept a misfiled ballot argument on a utility tax measure, the city will not allow the argument on election material sent to voters, officials said Tuesday.

The argument would have been placed on the sample ballot for the June 3 election, which is mailed out to voters. If the opposition argument to the measure is not on the sample ballot, only a pro-tax argument will appear.

Covina City Manager Paul Phillips said he did not plan to put a request on Tuesday's City Council agenda.

"I am not going to recommend to the council that they take any action on this issue," said Phillips.

His reason for not allowing the argument on the ballot is because it would be unfair since the group supporting the measure would not have a chance to write a rebuttal to the argument, a right allowed in the state election code.

Further in the story, it states:

County officials initially said that there was no way the argument could be included on the sample ballot. But at Tuesdays's Board of Supervisors meeting, acting County Registrar Dean Logan said that the choice is the city's.

"If the city were to direct us to put the argument on our sample ballot by our printing deadline we would do that," Logan said. The deadline, he said, is Friday.

Aside from my duties as a city reporter, I also step in to cover breaking news events. So on Monday, when we heard that a man trying to steal copper wire was electrocuted and died, I'm the one who went out to the scene.

Today, I got a call from a reader thanking me for writing the story. “I was happy to read about that toasty critter,” he said of the man who had just died. “Guys like those are always trying to steal from me.”

Also in my voice mail this morning was a call from a woman who said that a friend of hers has been missing for several days, and she is concerned that he may be the man who was just killed. She sounded choked up, and was hoping I could help her identify the man.

When I first responded to the incident on Monday, I found it somewhat amusing and ironic that this man died while committing a robbery. Even officials at the scene made a couple of jokes, saying he was “dead wrong” for thinking the electrical vault was not on. But the friend who called in put this incident in perspective, and now I am feeling guilty for making light of someone else's pain.

I went over to Baldwin Park today to review some public records requests I submitted a few weeks back.

Among them were attorney’s fees over the last two years. Looking at monthly totals dating back to 2007, it’s pretty clear that Rosemead’s attorney Bonafacio Garcia, of Garcia, Calderon and Ruiz, is still in the lead for city attorney bills.

Baldwin Park legal fees, for example, were about $17,000 in November, $17,000 in October and $12,000 in December.

That’s nowhere near some of Garcia’s all-time highs for the year in Rosemead — like that $52,677 bill for work done last May.

Just to give you an idea of how cost breaks down in BP, here are some of the line items from the invoices:

*$1,137.50/ 6.5 hours/ Review election results, phone conference, research zoning ordinance, attend City Council and CDC meetings/ Nov. 7

*$350/ 2 hours/ Visit with Caltrans/ Dec. 11

By the way, at the time of the above bills, Stephanie Scher was the City Attorney. She retired last December. Joseph Pannone from Aleshire & Wynder, LLP is the new city attorney.

I’ll eventually be looking into his bills as well...

Will Bigham reports that Xavier Alvarez, who allegedly made false claims about winning the Medal of Honor, is asking his Three Valley's Municipal Water District colleagues to reconsider their decision to censure him.

"He said everything had been taken care of as far as he knows, and he doesn't understand why he's still censured," said Bob Kuhn, president of Three Valley's.

Now, here's a guy that is facing charges for lying about having won the Medal of Honor. Would you take his word for it that "everything had been taken care of."

The famous and dramatic life of Moe the Chimp out of West Covina graced the paper today. We ran a little brief about the chimp, whose life story has been written about in our paper several times.

Former chimp owners seek thief Article Launched: 03/31/2008 06:26:27 PM PDT

WEST COVINA - The former owner's of "Moe" the chimp are offering a reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of a woman who stole from them Saturday.

La Donna and St. James Davis, who now uses a wheelchair after being attacked by chimps in March of 2005, were shopping at Target in the Eastland Shopping Center when the theft occurred, West Covina police officials said.

As La Donna briefly turned away from the cart, where her purse was, a woman stole the purse containing the Davises IDs, credit cards, bank cards, and St. James' medication and medical information, said a friend of the Davises, Michael McCasland.

The thief quickly left the store and got into a waiting white dodge truck, he added.

McCasland said he believes the Davises were targeted because while La Donna was distracted, the thief hoped to take advantage of a man in a wheelchair.

Police, who are investigating the incident as a misdemeanor petty theft, have provided a photo of the suspect obtained from store surveillance cameras.

The Davises are offering an unspecified reward to anyone who can lead police to an arrest and conviction.

(My previous post stated that Moe the Chimp was stolen. Yes, I am an April fool.)