Monday's column....
Here's a sneak peek at the Leftovers column set to run in tomorrow's paper:
Here's a challenge for the proponents who are trying to throw three council members out of office in Baldwin Park: Anthony Bejarano Jr. said he'll happily save everyone the trouble of a recall election if his opposition can get the roughly 4,700 validated signatures needed to move forward with the process.
"I will step down," Bejarano said. "No need for an election. I will walk away."
Game on according to local businessman Greg Tuttle, who served the recall intention notices on Bejarano and councilwomen Marlen Garcia and Monica Garcia Wednesday.
Even while Bejarano scoffed at the recall -- calling it a blip on the radar -- Tuttle remained hopeful he could get an election going as early as a year from now.
Experts say a recall election could easily run in the tens of thousands of dollars, and maybe even upwards of $100,000.
"It's very hard," said Douglas Johnson, a fellow with the Rose Institute of State and Local Government. "Very few recalls ever make it to the ballot. It takes money and it takes a lot of lawyers."
Johnson estimated less than a quarter of recalls that start actually end up on the ballot.
Several of Baldwin Park's recall proponents are members of the Community Alliance for Redevelopment Accountability, which is opposed to the city's proposed downtown project.
CARA has received heavy support -- including financial support -- from some major statewide groups backing eminent domain reform.
But Tuttle has made it clear that the recall has nothing to do with CARA.
"This is something separate, from us the voters," Tuttle said.
He doesn't leave in Baldwin Park, so ... he's not a voter.
But Tuttle said he's taking things one step at a time and he expects to file official recall paperwork with the City Clerk's office today.
After, he said, he will file for a political action committee, so that the proponents' major donors can start funneling in dollars for the recall effort.
It'll be interesting to see who their backers are.
Until then, Bejarano said he's not too concerned.
Tuttle said he has retained an attorney to help move the recall process along, though Bejarano said he can't tell from the notices served Wednesday.
Here's one of the grievances listed as a grounds for recall:
"Anthony Bejarano is more concerned about eating sushi at restaurants than taking care of the city and problems of day laborers and public safety."
Mayor Manuel Lozano said he's ready for the fight.
As for the Garcias? (Who are not related.) Marlen Garcia did not want to comment, saying she didn't want to add "fuel to the fire," and Monica Garcia didn't call back.
*****
Rosemead just approved nearly $80,000 to start broadcasting its council meetings online. Glendora started live streaming its meetings nearly three months ago, and El Monte has been doing it for nearly three years.
Officials from each city said that broadcasting the meetings helps promote transparency in government.
"It's not cheap," El Monte spokesman Matt Weintraub said. "But it is an absolutely fantastic way for residents to monitor what is going on in the city."
Well, maybe that explains why some West Covina residents are upset after hearing that their city council members are looking to save a few bucks by halting the broadcasts of their meetings on TV and online.
The total savings: $150,000.
Several residents expressed concern that this was an attempt by the city to try to prevent its residents from knowing what's going on.
City officials deny that's the motive. It has more to do with a $2 million budget deficit, they said.
City Manager Andrew Pasmant said the city will try to find alternative ways to communicate what is happening in the city, like posting the results of the meetings online.
Meanwhile, as El Monte deals with its own budget shortfalls, it isn't considering eliminating the broadcasts of the meetings.
"Sure there are minutes," Weintraub said. "But they don't tell you everything that they want to know."
jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com, tania.chatila@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2477, 2109
Bejarano should just drop out now and save the walkers from the task of gathering signatures. Afterall, it is a hot summer. He is so arrogant and pompous. If his head gets any bigger he won't be able to fit through the city hall doors. He should be more concerned about the increasing number of deaths in his city and finding solutions to address BP's gang problems then trying to open up a Kabuki on Ramona.
Then is actually a phrase to determine chronological order, e.g.: "First they need to get signatures, then there will be an election."
I think you meant "than," which is a term used to measure degree, e.g.: "You should be more concerned with the facts about Baldwin Park's situation than with your biased, unfounded, baseless personal opinions on personalities.
Stop tring to preach to those who actually live in B.P., Ms. Sexton! We all know how much you, "enjoyed having Anthony Jr. in your class", talk about biased!
I am so surprised at the number of BP residents that are okay with the blatant attempts at Urban Gentrification of Baldwin Park. I guess it is easy to take a side when your home and business are not at stake. Just wait until rents go up because there is no affordable housing and your property taxes sky rocket and forces you to move. The council should be looking out for the best interests of their lower income residents who have no one to speak for them. I am all for Urban Redevelopment. We all know BP and many surrounding cities need it. But it needs to be smart growth. I think there is a better way to do it that doesn't displace hundreds of families.
p.s. feel free to edit my grammer
It should be no surprise that the majority of us who live here want a vibrant revitalize city. Just look around the downtown area. The developement comes with the money to do that. What is your idea of smart growth? Usually what you hear is pretty much keep things the same. Put some nicer fronts to what we already have? With the new developement my taxes stay the same. Your using a non valid scare tactic. Yes those that are in the developement will have higher taxes. But it will be worth it to them. You won't get us to feel quilty about wanting something better for our city because you feel upset that you are not getting your way. Those that are (affected) that do there homework will come out better that fine and welcome the developement.