OMG. No more texting while driving come Jan.1.

BTW: I wonder how the cops are doing with enforcing the cell phone talking drivers? Steve Hymon from the Los Angeles Times breaks it down.

Sorry about the lag in posts. I've been out of the area since Christmas Eve, the night of the Covina massacre. On Covina's Web site, they refer to a donation set up for the families involved.

Donation Information

On December 24, 2008 a devastating tragedy occurred that took the lives of nine family members in the City of Covina. From the onset of this tragedy members of the community and public at large have requested information as to how to donate to the families of those involved. The families of those directly impacted by this tragedy have appointed a trustee for any type of financial donations and his information is listed below.

Ortega Family Fund
c/o Scott Nord
500 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 550
Glendale, CA 91203

The San Marino City Council rejects plans for a dog park in the west end of Lacy Park, Caroline An reports. Meantime, some Chinese are hoping to ban the eating of cats.

The San Dimas Wine Shop and Tasting Room is in the news again over another instance of a lack of a permit. Owner Heidi Daniels had a canopy and heater constructed in her patio area to keep customers warm and dry during the winter. But the downtown area doesn't allow such things and Daniels didn't get a permit through the city. Now the city is telling her to take it down and she has refused.

More to follow on this story this weekend, but for now here is a sneak peak.

If the city of San Dimas has their way, for the time being, some patrons of the San Dimas Wine Shop may have to drink their wine chilled.

But not if the owner has anything to do with it.

Heidi Daniels, the owner of the Wine Shop and Tasting Room, recently had a canopy and heater constructed for a patio area outside her store.

Daniels hired a contractor to build the more than $1000 membrane structure and didn't know she needed a special permit from the city. San Dimas doesn't allow stand alone projects such as the canopy in the historic downtown district.

"The policy is a very long standing policy, been reviewed a few times and been upheld," said Mayor Curtis Morris. "It is against the policy. She should have gone through a process to see about getting that done."

After building it, Daniels was denied a permit by the planning commission. Her appeal was brought to the City Council and the council voted unanimously to review the policy to possibly make a change.

But at the same time, the council split 2 to 2 in a vote on whether to take down the canopy until the policy is reviewed. In the event of a tie, the recommendation carries and the city's decision asks for the canopy to be taken down.

"It is a ridiculous request," Daniels said. "I am the only viable business downtown after 5 p.m. I am trying to keep my customers warm and dry during the winter."

Councilman Denis Bertone and Jeff Templeman voted to allow Daniels to keep the structure while the policy is reviewed, while Mayor Curtis Morris and Councilman Emmett Badar voted against. Councilman John Ebiner recused himself because he owns a business within 500 feet of Daniels'.

"Unfortunately, John Ebiner had to recuse himself or it would have been a slam dunk," Daniels said.

Daniels was instructed to have the canopy torn down by Friday, Dec. 19. She ignored that request and doesn't have any intention on abiding by the city's rules.

"The fact of the matter is this, my customers love sitting out there in the evening, when it is cold, enjoying themselves," Daniels said. "When you own a retail business in a down economy, you better listen to your customers."

"I am sorry to hear she is not going to comply with the law," said Morris. "She wants to do what she wants to do. You can't let everybody make their own decisions on the law."

The Glendora Library, recently closed due to flooding, has reopened after the damages have been fixed.

Story time, unfortunately, has still been canceled until the new year.

WF Construction's subcontractor (who bore responsibility for the recent flooding) fixed the damaged areas and their insurance company paid for the effort to the tune of about $100,000, according to WF Construction officials.

More to come on that subject tomorrow.

Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti announced he will endorse Gloria Romero in her run for Rep. Hilda Solis' seat a day after former Mayor Judy Chu said she is vying for the same seat.

"No doubt in my mind Gloria Romero is the better candidate," Venti said. "Not willing to allow such a precious seat to someone that I believe is a lightweight legislature."

Chu is on the California Board of Equalization.

In 1988 she was elected to the city council of Monterey Park, where she served as mayor for three terms. She ran for the California State Assembly in 1994, but lost the Democratic primary to Diane Martinez; in 1998, she lost the primary to Gloria Romero.

A Norwalk employee filed a lawsuit against Mayor Mike Mendez, who previously worked for the city for nearly 30 years in the parks and recreation department. He's got a gym named after him at Sante Fe High.

In the 22 page suit, employee Toni Tucker claims Mendez commented about the size of her breasts, hugged and kissed her on the lips, and that he made hand gestures to demonstrate how her breasts had grown, according to the story:

She also said Mendez repeatedly asked if he could visit her at home. At a Dodger Day event in June 2007, Tucker said in her suit that Mendez insisted on sitting next to her, then put an arm around her and put a hand on her knee. He also held her hand while they were in a car, and tried to persuade her to go with him to a conference in Santa Barbara.

Tucker alleges Mendez asked inappropriate questions about her dating life and sexual orientation.

The allegations sound similar to those made by former finance employee Valerie Mazone employee in the city of Rosemead when she claimed Councilman John Nunez harassed her over a period of several years. The city settled nearly a year ago with Mazone for $330,000.

Judy Chu, Board of Equalization chariwoman, announced her interest late last night in Rep. Hilda Solis' seat. Chu lives in Monterey Park, and is a former Assemblwoman and Monterey Park councilwoman. She is married to Assemblyman Mike Eng.

LOS ANGELES - The race for Rep. Hilda Solis' soon-to-be vacant seat in the House of Representatives grew more crowded Monday, as California Board of Equalization Chair Dr. Judy Chu announced she intends to run.

Solis, D-El Monte, will leave a vacancy in the House of Representatives when she takes a position as Secretary of Labor in President Elect Barack Obama's cabinet.

"Today I am announcing my intent to run for the seat representing the 32nd Congressional District, parts of which I have represented for the past 23 years," Chu said in a written statement.

"In the past few days I have received many encouraging calls and e-mails from supporters and constituents urging me to run and I have decided to heed those calls," she said

Reporter Amanda Baumfeld said the City Council is considering funding the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce.
The council pulled funding three years ago due to "internal issues," according to a report.
The council was going to talk about the funding at a Dec. 17 meeting but pushed the matter to a future meeting.

The Air Quality Management District wants people to know there are alternatives to a wood burning fire place this season and is offering a voucher to help those who want to convert to a gas burning fireplace.

In addition, they had some advice for those who still plan to use their wood-burning fireplace this winter.

Excerpts from a release/e-mail sent to me follows:

AQMD provides $125 for the conversion of a pollutant wood-burning fireplace to a cleaner, more efficient gas log fireplace set. Information about eligible residents and gas log retailers is available at HealthyHearths.org, along with the 10 helpful wood burning tips. For quick reference, here they are in a shortened version:

1. Choose not to burn when air quality is already poor.

2. Reduce your need for fuel.

3. Have your chimney professionally cleaned.

4. If you do burn wood, start fires with softwood kindling such as pine or fir.

5. Never burn garbage and other materials.

6. Watch chimney for smoke.

7. Beware of overnight heating.

8. For heating, switch to a cleaner wood-burning alternative.

9. Replace your wood-burning fireplace with a natural gas insert.

10. If you can smell smoke, you are breathing smoke!

On another note, the green trend is more popular than ever, and Southern California residents will undoubtedly be looking for ways to "give green" this holiday season. There are many environmentally friendly gift ideas out there: organic cookies, hemp T-shirts, bamboo plants and many others. But we can't forget the gift of cleaner air - that's something the whole family can enjoy.

Nearly every city in the San Gabriel Valley posts its council meeting agendas online. Some, of course, take it further by providing staff reports and even broadcasting the meetings online. And then there's the city of Industry, which doesn't do any of that. Nope, it doesn't even post its meetings online.

But then again, can you blame them? The city has 82 registered voters.

If you do want an agenda, you can send an email to cityclerk@cityofindustry.org

The last time I inquired about getting an agenda and staff report packets sent to the Tribune, I was told that it would be no problem, but I needed to leave money for stamps.  

Reporter Dan Abendschein was told this morning that El Monte staffers will be on an unpaid furlough through Jan. 5, starting some time this week.

Of course, El Monte is not the only state agency imposing furloughs, the LA Times reports. *But is it legal.

Schwarzenegger orders mass layoffs, unpaid furloughs

Union leaders for state employees vow to challenge the legality of the mandatory time off, which amounts to about a 9% pay cut according to the governor's finance department.

By Patrick McGreevy and Jordan Rau
December 20, 2008

Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered mass layoffs and unpaid furloughs for state workers starting in February to address California's growing fiscal crisis.

Under his executive order, 238,000 employees will be forced to take off two unpaid days per month through June 30, 2010. Managers will receive either the furlough or an equivalent salary reduction during the same period.

 

H.D. Palmer, spokesman for Schwarzenegger's finance department, said the mandatory time off is the equivalent of about a 9% pay cut for affected workers. He said the furloughs would save the state more than $1.2 billion.

It is unclear how many people will lose their jobs. Palmer said each department will have to cut its payroll by 10% and will make its own decisions on how many workers must go.

In case you missed it, Three Valleys water board member Xavier Alvarez -- yes, the same guy who lied about receiving the Medal of Honor -- pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of grand theft, insurance fraud and misappropriateing public funds on Thursday.

Here's the breif we ran last week:

Water board member pleads not guilty

Xavier Alvarez pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday morning in Pomona Superior Court.

Alvarez, the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board member who had three felony charges filed against him, will have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 24 in Pomona.

Alvarez was charged with grand theft of personal property, insurance fraud and misappropriating public money.

Alvarez, who represents south Pomona on the water board, reportedly placed Juanita Ruiz, his ex-wife, on his insurance from Jan. 24 to Oct. 31, 2007.

He was elected to his water board position in 2006.

He was previously fined and sentenced to probation in July for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which criminalizes false claims of military valor.

When repeatedly asked if he had any comment before the Thursday morning arraignment, Alvarez wouldn't answer and just kept looking to the left, the right or downward.

After the hearing date was set, Alvarez again wouldn't answer when asked if he had any comment and went to the elevator.

Deputy District Attorney Edward Miller said "it was pretty much a standard proceeding."

*photo found on Claremont Insider blog

In case you're wondering:

For the fiscal year 2007-2008

City Manager Andrew Pasmant made $219,320

And here's what the council members made:

Councilmember     City Council           Development Commission          Total annual pay
Steve Herfert            $9,180                     $7,130                                       $16,310
Roger Hernandez      $9,180                     $7,130                                      $16,310
Sherri Lane               $9,180                    $14,400                                     $23,580
Shelley Sanderson     $9,180                    $14,400                                    $23,580
Mike Touhey              $9,180                    $14,400                                    $23,580

*In response to some of the comments, here is a salary tracker that we together nearly a year ago that details pay for the city managers and top tiered employees. Click here.

And you guys are right, we need to come up with a comparision of pay for council members.

Erica Landmann-Johnsey and the Friends of Glendora had their lawsuit against the city rejected Friday by a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. The judgment may signal the end to a case against a proposed assisted living facility in Glendora that Johnsey and her group felt was approved without the city vetting it the necessary environmental process. The court disagreed.

Johnsey is a regular speaker at City Council meetings, along with others who are apart of the Friends of Glendora group.

There is a scheduled council meeting for Tuesday night, and it could be expected that this decision may come up during the public comment portion of the evening.

It should be a fun time to kick off the long Christmas weekend. Here is an excerpt from today's story and look for more online and in the paper tomorrow.

GLENDORA - A lawsuit against the approval of 125-bed assisted living facility was rejected Friday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

The lawsuit brought against the city of Glendora by a group called the Friends of Glendora claimed the project didn't meet environmental standards and failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.

But the court saw it differently as Judge James C. Chalfant denied the claim.

"We are disappointed in the decision and we are weighing our options for an appeal," said Friends of Glendora Attorney Cory Briggs. "I think the judge simply views the law differently from the way we view it. Judges are human, sometimes they make mistakes. We think he made a mistake."

The living facility is intended primarily for seniors and is a two-story, 97,000 square foot facility on the northwest corner of Gladstone Street and Bonnie Cove Avenue. It was approved in February by the council and Planning Commission. The lawsuit originated shortly after that decision.

"Certainly, from the city's perspective, per the city council's direction, we undertook extensive investigation and analysis on the project, not just once, not just twice, not just three times, but four times to ensure all the environmental impacts were reviewed and analyzed," said Glendora City Attorney D. Wayne Leech. "We feel the city not just met the level of expectations required by (California Environmental Quality Act) but went over and above that."

Monterey Park is hoping that four new developments can fill a retail void in the city. But in the meantime, the city is being sued by its existing business owners, Amanda Baumfeld reports.

Well, it's news to us. While making a call for the Herfert and Hernandez story last week, I noticed that former Fair Political Practices Commission spokesman Roman Porter has been promoted as the agency's executive director. Porter said he was promoted in July.

Leftovers from City Hall: Old issue back on city agenda

It's back.

The debate over allowed uses in Baldwin Park parking lots is, again, at the forefront of the city's agenda.

Councilman Anthony Bejarano is concerned over continued complaints about day laborers and street vendors in parking lots.

Baldwin Park has unsuccessfully tried several times to address the day laborer situation at its Puente Avenue Home Depot since the summer of 2007. But pressure from Latino advocacy groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund have squashed those efforts.

The most recent one was about a year ago. The proposed ordinance would have limited the uses of parking lots for things like parking and accessing buildings, and would have banned day laborers from soliciting work or street vendors from selling products there. But the ordinance was tabled.

"This ordinance was never just about the Home Depot and the day laborers," Bejarano said. "It was about parking lots in general and what goes on in those parking lots."

Bejarano talked about his experiences with street vendors at the Baldwin Park Boulevard Food For Less shopping center.

"Some guy parked his camper in the parking lot, pulled out a lawn chair and a grill and was selling hot dogs," he said. "... It started off with CDs, then it went to corn, then it went to tamales and now they're setting up kitchens."

•••

It seems South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa has risen to international stardom for her nocturnal work habits.

The story of her late, late nights at City Hall - and her colleagues' disapproval of the habit - has generated reader interest as far away as England.

Just a few weeks ago, the City Council voted 4-1 to ban council members and city staff from using City Hall facilities past 11 p.m. on most nights. Figueroa - who apparently works into the wee hours of the morning - dissented.

But the story doesn't stop there.

Last week, fellow Councilman Hector Delgado accused Figueroa of making City Hall her home sweet home, something Figueroa has denied.

Though she does take pride in her office, which she has called her own for the past five years. Fish tanks, stashes of snacks, a microwave, booties, a flat screen TV, and dozens and dozens of plaques, photos and nick knacks line the walls.

No bed was found in the office.

"I don't know what Hector is talking about. How can I sleep here when there isn't a bed?"

For a complete look at her office, check out the Web site.

***********

There's something different about the two bronze plaques sitting inside the La Puente Community Center and Youth Learning Activities Center - actually, a few different things.

According to a set of original designs, a few former city officials' names didn't make the final cut.

The preliminary plans called for the inclusion of former councilwoman Renee Chavez, former Mayor Lou Perez and former City Manager Carol Cowley on the dedication plaques. Their names appeared alongside the names of current council members John Solis, Dan Holloway, Lola Storing, Nadia Mendoza and Mayor Louie Lujan.

The pair of plaques sitting inside the center now show no sign of Chavez's, Perez's or Cowley's name.

According to Perez, the Chevron official overseeing the project said Lujan asked the names be removed. Perez also said after Lujan disapproved of the designs, Chevron refused to pay for the plaques.

In a recent conversation, Councilman John Solis backed up the claims.

Lujan called the allegations ridiculous, said he knew nothing about any "original" designs and questioned why Perez was even concerned about the situation since he's not on the council anymore.

Casey declined to comment.

Industry experts say it's standard practice from the contractor to usually absorb the cost of dedication plaques.

La Puente paid for their own - $1,467.

City officials in South El Monte have expressed some interest in the Kruse Feed & Supply property, according to owner Richard Kruse.

After 73 years, the former grain mill and feed store direcly north of City Hall on Santa Anita Avenue is finally closing, Kruse recently announced.

He declined to discuss any specific plans for the 1-acre property.

There should be a story about the store's closure coming soon. At one time, it was the only bulk feed mill in the area, Kruse said.

I just put this up on our Web site:

BALDWIN PARK - School board member Sergio Corona is serving three years probation for a misdemeanor charge stemming from his May arrest, officials said Friday.
Corona pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and obstructing a police officer in late October, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to one day in jail, fined $150 and was ordered to pay $100 in restitution fees, she said.

The 34-year-old school board member was Tased and arrested May 22 after allegedly breaking the windows of a home on Sandstone Street. In July, he was charged with resisting arrest, misdemeanor vandalism under $400 and driving without a license. The latter two charges were dropped, Robison said.

Initial police reports claimed Corona admitted to having smoked methamphetamine and marijuana earlier in the night.

But subsequent toxicology reports did not support the allegations and Corona on denied the claims. He did, however, say he took "full responsibility" for the arrest.

Look for a full story in this weekend's paper.

Irwindale is warning its residents and business owners that a scammer is out there claiming to be distributing a "2008 Best of Irwindale Award," and that for $100 or more, they can get a plaque. According to Irwindale's Web site:

To claim this "award" you just need to submit your credit card information to purchase the plaque which runs upwards of $100. On November 13th, the Chamber received this award too!

Of course, no award is ever distributed.

Irwindale is not the only city that is reporting scams. Weekly, we receive calls about everything from email scams to door-to-door "salesmen" that try to bilk residents of up to thousands of dollars.

Do you have any scammer stories to share?

Anybody living in a home connected to the area's history should check this out.

Two homeowners in La Verne are applying for the Mills Act, a program that gives property tax back to families that promise to fix up and maintain their old houses. The program can save thousands every year.

The program is popular in some of the area's older cities, such as Pasadena, Monrovia or Whittier.

Reporter Daniel Tedford called the city, and they said about 10 people in La Verne have applied.

Well, I was able to hit about two out of three Mayor's offices today. My plans -- like lots of other commuters -- got a little messed up because of a jackknifed big rig that tipped over along the 10 Freeway.

So, today I visited the council digs over at Covina City Hall. Boring! The five council members share one office, which is very impersonal.

And then there was South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa's office, which she has worked in for neary five years. The other four council members share one office. Figueroa said that offices to envy are those in El Monte and the office that Baldwin Park Councilman Manny Lozano works out of.

Those who spend fast, look good doing it.

That should be the new motto for those at the Water Conservation Authority and the San Gabriel Rivers and Mountain Conservancy.

As many local agencies and cities were hit hard by the recent decision by state legislators to freeze about $4 billion in public works bonds, some places escaped the legislators cold budget grip.

How you ask?

Because they already spent the money.

Such was the case with the Canyon Inn land in Azusa that was recently purchased through grants by the Water Conservation Authority. The organization got about $1.2 million from Prop 50 bonds to help purchase the more than $3 million property at Canyon Inn to preserve the land and build a park.

That $1.2 million would have been frozen by the state legislators decisions, thus ending any opportunity to purchase the property - if they hadn't spent the money already. Instead, all that was left was a $20,000 retainer, which is now being held by the state.

But all the RMC's projects are now on hold due to the freeze, including the planning process for the restoration and renovations planned for the Canyon Inn area.

Look for more to come on that situation in tomorrow's paper.

So, this isn't about local politics at all, but I saw this story on CNN and was amazed by it. Apparently FBI agents got overtime pay for socializing, eating and working out while in Iraq. The FBI allowed some of this as encouragement to sign up for duty in the country (somewhat understandable) but the amount of money these officers received is astonishing.

Click Here for the story.

Rebecca Kimitch's story about South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueora inspired me to take a field trip to several Mayors offices and compare them to Blanca's. I'll be hitting up Covina, West Covina, and of course, South El Monte.

Look for pictures later in the day.

The leader of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership says cities should stick together, literally.

Ron Wood, the partnership's CEO, said plenty of area cities could save cash by combining.

He said Covina and West Covina could become more efficient by becoming one municipality. So could Pasadena and South Pasadena. He also mentioned Temple City and Arcadia and El Monte and South El Monte.

The idea has been floating around for years, but he wonders if economic hard times will make people take it more seriously.

"I think it's one of the answers to economic problems in the San Gabriel Valley," he said. "It's an opportunity for people to take a fresh look."

He doubts politicians could set aside their egos to accomplish such a huge change, but he says people are more receptive to the idea than in the past.

"Sometimes crisis brings about changes in people," he said.

Full disclosure: Wood used to be the publisher here at the Tribune.

San Gabriel Valley native Congresswoman Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, was nomiated as labor secretary by President-elect Barack Obama, the Associated Press reports. Solis will be the nation's 25th labor secretary, and will succeed a seat held by Elaine Chao. 

But what does this mean, if anything, for us in the San Gabriel Valley? And what does that mean for Solis' open seat?

UPDATE: Two names being tossed around to fill Solis' seat are Sen. Gloria Romero and Assemblyman Ed Hernandez.

AP source: Rep. Hilda Solis is Obama's labor pick
By JESSE J. HOLLAND - 40 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A labor official says Rep. Hilda Solis of California will be nominated as labor secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.

The Democratic congresswoman was just elected to her fifth term representing heavily Hispanic portions of eastern Los Angeles County and east L.A. She is the daughter of Mexican and Nicaraguan immigrants and has been the only member of Congress of Central American descent.

The official spoke on conditions of anonymity because an announcement has not been made yet. A call to Solis's office was not immediately returned.

Solis, 51, has focused on immigration and environment issues while in the House.

An announcement is expected from the Obama transition team in the next few days.

Former Central Basin Water District Director Charles Trevino will be sworm in tonight as the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District director at its office in El Monte. The event is basically just for Trevino's supporters, friends and family. Trevino replaces long timer Frank Forbes, who served on the board for nearly 16 years.

Trevino, who resigned from the Central Basin water board in 2003, is the same candidate who stated he was prepared to raise up to $100,000 to get elected, acccording to a story I wrote on Sept. 27, 2008.

"Money is always a key factor in anything political," said Charles Trevino , who as of June collected $39,000 and is the top fundraiser among the candidates running for the El Monte-based Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. "I am prepared to spend between $80,000 to $100,000 if I have to."

When the campaign records become available in January, we'll just have to see how much it really took him.

South El Monte Mayor Blanca Figueroa continues to be a local star. LA Observed picks up this LA Times story about the nocturnal Mayor.

Montebello officials don't want their underage residents puffing on cigarettes they're not old enough to buy.

So they're thinking about adopting a tobacco ordinance that would enforce stricter rules on businesses that sell tobacco, Amanda Baumfeld reports.

Currently, if a Montebello business sells tobacco to a minor the clerk who sold it is cited and could get a fine of about $200, Gordon said.

Under the proposed ordinance the business owner would be responsible.

After the first offense a business would be banned from selling tobacco products for 30 days. The second offense would result in a 90-day license suspension. And if a third offense occurs in a 60-month period the seller's license would be suspended indefinitely, Gordon said.

Looks like El Monte police chief Ken Weldon is retiring in the nick of time:

In addition, city manager James Mussenden, future police chief Tom Armstrong, and city council members all took 10 percent pay cuts. City attorney Clark Moseley will retire early and work on a contractual basis for the next five months - saving the city in benefit payments.

El Monte cuts employees, programs
Article Launched: 12/17/2008 11:04:31 PM PST

By Rebecca Kimitch

EL MONTE - Jobs will be cut, programs will be reduced and high-level administrators will take pay cuts to help the city deal with a $4 million budget deficit. And the city is still more than $1 million shy of a balanced budget.

The city council unanimously approved the cost-cutting plan Wednesday night.

Departments across the city, from planning to parks and recreation to the police department, were asked to cut their budgets by 15 percent.

More than 100 full and part time positions will be eliminated temporarily or permanently.

The aquatic center will be closed from January to May; some after school recreation programs will be eliminated; and park lighting will be reduced. Trees will be trimmed less; parks and medians will be watered less.

Employees will cut their attendance of conferences and overtime will be reduced.

In addition, city manager James Mussenden, future police chief Tom Armstrong, and city council members all took 10 percent pay cuts. City attorney Clark Moseley will retire early and work on a contractual basis for the next five months - saving the city in benefit payments.

The police department, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the city's $33.7 million budget that could potentially be cut, will reduce its budget by 6 percent through elimination of several positions.

In all, city staff found $2.9 million in budget cuts.

City officials are still in negotiations with union leaders that could produce pay cuts, further layoffs or shorter work weeks for police officers and other city employees. Officials hope the labor negotiations will "soften the blow" of the approved cost-cutting plan and begin to address future budget shortfalls in the coming years, according to assistant city manager Dante Hall.

Without the plan, the city could have run out of cash by Februay to pay salaries and other expenses. The city has drained its operating reserves, which are used to meet monthly expenses, and it has no rainy day fund.

With the council-approved plan, the city will operate with $2 million in operating reserves - $3 million less than what is ideal.

Officials attribute the deficit to a major drop in sales tax revenue and a reduction in funds from the state.

Like many of my compatriots in the journalism biz, I am a bit of a news junkie. And with the formation of the Internet (thanks Al Gore) I am often cruising the net for interesting tidbits and news.

Today, while reading about the downfall of this industry in a story from Slate.com, I came across an interesting site called Everyblock.

This site is a news delivery internet site that breaks down news delivery to a block by block system. It doesn't cover San Gabriel cities (yet) but this type of news delivery could be part of all online newspapers in the future (according to me). While it won't replace the news reporting you are used to, it could be a welcomed accessory to newspapers new online world.

What do you think of the site? Check it out, look around and let me know.

Looks like developer Bob Bisno's failed Baldwin Park project isn't the only one that's hit a snag.....

Developer of San Pedro's Ponte Vista plan is ousted

So I finally got my hands on the original designs for the plaques at the La Puente Community Center -- and I say original because they are significantly different from the final designs that are sitting inside the community center today.

Here's the original design: plaques001.pdf
It includes the names of former councilwoman Renee Chavez, former Mayor Lou Perez and former City Manager Carol Cowley.

And here's the new design:

No Chavez, no Perez and no Cowley.

You might remember a story I wrote a few weeks back about claims that Louie Lujan asked a Chevron official to take the names of former Councilwoman Renee Chavez and former Mayor Lou Perez off the plaques.

Perez said Ken Casey, business development manager for Chevron, told him Chevron wanted to include the names of the previous council members because they were the ones who actually approved the project. Perez said Casey also told him after Lujan disapproved of the designs, Chevron refused to pay for the plaques.

In a recent conversation, Councilman John Solis backed up those claims, saying he was told the same story by former City Manager Carol Cowley.

Lujan called the allegations ridiculous, said he knew nothing about any "original" designs (as they never went before the council) and questioned why Perez was even concerned about the situation since he's not involved in city politics anymore.

The city paid for the plaques from its own coffers -- $1,467. Though industry experts tell me it's standard from the contractor to usually eat that cost.

My question is how did the city get from point A (original design) to point B (current design)? Hopefully not at any cost to the taxpayers.

It's back.

The debate over whether to allow day laborers to solicit work in parking lots is up for discussion -- again -- at Baldwin Park City Hall tonight.

According to the City Council's agenda, Councilman Anthony Bejarano asked that the infamous Ordinance No. 1310 be placed on the agenda for a second reading tonight.

Baldwin Park has unsuccessfully tried several times to address the day laborer situation at its Puente Avenue Home Depot since the summer of 2007. But pressure from Latino advocacy groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund have squashed those efforts.

The most recent one was about a year ago. The proposed ordinance -- 1310 -- would have limited the uses of parking lots for things like parking and accessing buildings, and would have banned day laborers from soliciting work or street vendors from selling products there.

The ordinance was tabled before the it could go for a second reading, or final approval.

I can almost guarantee if the council revives this ordinance, MALDEF will be firing up their attorneys pretty quickly.

A vacant position created when Councilwoman Meline Juarez resigned in November will remain empty until the March election, the city council decided on Tuesday.

Juarez ended her four-year term three months early because she moved out of state to be closer to family.

The council had the option to temporarily fill Juarez's position until the March 3 election, but decided to keep the position vacant.

"There are only three meetings left, and the council decided they could function with the four of them until then," said city spokeswoman Bobbi Kemp.

South El Monte Councilman Hector Delgado sent this letter to the Tribune earlier this week. Among his accusations is that Mayor Blanca Figueroa lives in City Hall. Figueroa has denied this, saying that she has a home but has so much work to do that she needs City Hall to be open late.

Here is the letter:

I would like to take a moment to thank my colleagues on the South El Monte City Council for their support in establishing an "After Hours" policy on a 4-1 vote. The effort and thought that went into establishing this policy is reflective of the genuine concern to address the issue of safety and liability.

Our communities' safety and tax payer money clearly outweighs a single person's individual desires. I question the work that is allegedly being done by the Mayor at city hall after hours. I have repeatedly asked what work is being done at two or three in the morning by her. She has refused to answer me or any of my colleagues.

We as tax payers have a right to know what the Mayor is doing. I call on the Mayor to provide the entire council, city manager, and most importantly our residents written reports that account for the work she purportedly is doing and provide us an explanation as to why with a laptop, wireless card, cell phone, fax and copy machine she cannot do her work from her home.

The truth is the Mayor is living at City Hall. I invite any resident of South El Monte to come and see for them selves. Residents have every right to view our offices and know exactly what we are doing while we are at City Hall.

Lastly, I would like the Tribune to poll any elected official in the San Gabriel Valley, and ask them if they stay in their public offices until two or three in the morning several days a week.

Once again, I thank my colleagues, Mayor ProTem Louie Aguinaga, Council members Joseph Gonzales, and Angelica Garcia who understand that safety and liability clearly out weights the Mayors extraordinary accommodations.

Hector Delgado

Councilmember

City of South El Monte

The city's only slaughterhouse is going  to expand, Rebecca Kimitch reports.

Council approves slaughterhouse expansion
Article Launched: 12/17/2008 09:26:42 AM PST

ROSEMEAD - The city council voted last night to allow poultry slaughterhouses in Rosemead, despite accusations of corruption and fears of avian flu from residents.

The 3-2 decision was made in order to allow one already existing slaughterhouse to expand, but it would also allow new slaughterhouses to open in various areas of the city.

"People don't know that this is happening all over... this ordinance tonight is effecting every manufacturing zone in the city," said councilwoman Margaret Clark, who, along with Councilman Gary Taylor, voted against the municipal code change to allow slaughterhouses.

Chinese American Live Poultry, which freshly kills chickens and ducks for customers at its store on 8932 Garvey Ave., will benefit most immediately from the change.

If the council confirms its vote in a second reading next month, CAL Poultry will be allowed to expand its facilities. Owner Quan Phu says the expansion is necessary to reduce odors from the slaughterhouse, which have long bothered nearby residents.

Slaughterhouses have been prohibited in Rosemead since 2001. CAL Poultry opened a decade before that. It was allowed to stay, but it was prohibited from expanding.

Read more.

Downtown Covina seems to be in a bit of a renaissance. After the Covina Center for Permforming Arts opened last October, a number of new businesses have opened. Among the newest members to the downtown are Claros, a wine bar on Badillo, and Rude Dogs is expanding. They also opened the new parking garage a few weeks ago.

The owner of the performing arts center said business has been great. So good that shows, including the Christmas Carol, are sold out.

Of course, not everything is merry in downtown. Several businesses are closing.

More on this story later in the week.

The city is asking its 82 registered voters to give the city permission to borrow $500 million.
On Jan. 20 - the same day Barack Obama will be inaugurated - the city will hold a special election in which voters will decide whether to let the city sell bonds, which would be repaid by property taxes.
Mayor Dave Perez said most of the money would probably go toward widening Grand Avenue and doing other infrastructure around the proposed NFL stadium/retail center project.
In a story about the project, experts said the loan amount sought is uncommonly large.
Voters will also vote on five other amendments to the city charter, including one that would limit who can vote and another that would give the City Council complete discretion over who gets city public works contracts.

Garvey School District Board of Education vice president Janet Chin is hoping to get $57,000 from the Rosemead City Council tonight, but she may walk away disappointed.

Chin is looking for funding for her organization, the M. Janet Chin Youth Foundation.

The city has about the requested amount left in its budget for community-based organizations, but the Rosemead Youth Association is also hoping for some support and city staff has recommended that the council reject Chin's request for funds.

In addition to lacking the money, staff concluded that Chin's organization would duplicate efforts already going on in the Parks and Recreation Department.

The funding would go to the Foundation's Operation Civic Pride program that aims to increase civic engagement among young people. Chin says the program would complement city programs, not duplicate them. It would feature a volunteer database to provide young people opportunities to volunteer in the community, she said.

One day after Roger Hernandez was sworn in as Mayor of West Covina, Councilman Steve Herfert filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Hernandez violated two government code sections.

Herfert alleges that Hernandez is trying to influence the outcome of a proposed settlement with the city's Community Development Director, Chris Chung, who is demanding $3 million from the city because of the alleged hostile work environment Hernandez subjected him to.

But on Nov. 25, the FPPC returned the complaint, stating that the information Herfert provided was "insufficient to established a violation of the Act," wrote executive director Roman Porter.

In his Nov. 19 complaint, Herfert states:

"Mr. Hernandez is participating in legal discussions regarding a lawsuit involving the City of West Covina and Chris Chung, Community Development Director. At the heart of the lawsuit is a contention that Mr. Hernandez has created a hostile work environemnt for Mr. Chung. The lawsuit is confidential at this time and I cannot release any documents. However I am attaching a copy of a confidential letter I have sent to the City Manager of West Covina... ."

Herfert goes on:

"My complaint involved Mr. Hernandez participating in our closed session and trying to influence the outcome of the lawsuit. In the closed session of November 4, he proposed a financial deal and participated fully."

Witnesses are needed for a valid FPPC complaint. The signed witnesses are City Manager Andrew Pasmant, City Attorney Arnold Glasman, and Councilwoman Sherri Lane, records show.

Here is the confidential letter Herfert send to the City Manager:

This letter is to serve notice that participation by Councilmember Hernandez in further closed sessions regarding legal actions between the City of West Covina and Chris Chung, Community Development Director is illegal. It is clearly a violation of the fair political practices act. His participation violates Gov. Code Section 81002(c) and 87100.

I site two items and the law:

As stated in the Closed Session on November 4, 2008; Mr Hernandez can be held liable for punitive damages in the lawsuit.

As stated by Mr. Hernandez in the Closed Session on November 4, 2008; "if the Council takes a certain action, I will pledge to backstop the City financially".

"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

Sincerely,

Steve Herfert

Councilmember

City of West Covina

***UPDATE: For the record, Herfert did not give me these documents.

In an effort to bring a booming business center to the downtown area, Azusa took the first major step in the process by selecting a developer for the project Monday night.

Lewis Operating Corporation will be in charge of the project that will bring a full service super market across from the new planned Target, as well as business to the Block 36 area that fell victim to the housing crisis after a mixed residential and retail was proposed for the area earlier.

Here is a snippet from tomorrow's story to run in the paper and online.

"We went through an extensive interview process," said Councilman Uriel Macias, who along with Mayor Pro Tem Angel Carrillo was apart of the sub committee that conducted the interview process. "What it came down to, especially in these economic times, in the end it was financial strength and the overall where-with-all for this type of development."

Developers were evaluated by financial capability, speed at which they could begin development, development time frames, prior experience and relationships with key retailers, and working knowledge of the planning process.

The priorities for the council were solidifying the developer was financially capable to perform the project -- Lewis can self-finance the project -- matching visions with the city's Downtown North Advisory Committee, and the ability to develop Block 36 "immediately," according to the staff report.

"(Block 36) is priority one," Macias said. "That is one of the areas (Lewis) has to concentrate on. The city has already done everything it can to get it T'd up for development. It is basically ready for a developer to come in here and get going."

The West Covina City Council is meeting tonight, and among the topics of discussion are:

1. Securing an exclusive negotiating agreement with Kendrew Development, which has plans to turn the AAA pad into a nationally recognized restaurant. The pad is located at the northeast corner of Azusa Avenue and Giambi Lane intersection, which is the entrance to the Sportsplex projet. The purchasing price is $1.1 million, or $40 sq. feet.

2. Councilman Steve Herfert is proposing changing the time frame that Christmas trees can be sold. Currently, trees can only be sold in the month of December. Herfert wants to extend it to begin the day after Thanksgiving.

3. Council will adopt an ordinance that will hold parents financially responsible for their kids who tag. It will become effective Jan. 15.

4. The frequency of meetings of commissions, such as senior citizens commission, will be cut in half.

5. Looks like the city is gearing up for the hiring of a human resources manager and deputy city manager.

6. There will be a public hearing on a proposed 33 unit condo project at 4101-4111 S. Nogales St. The property currently has a single family home and an office building.
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To deal with the increased deficit, the El Monte City Council on Wednesday will consider asking city staff to accept pay cuts, Rebecca Kimitch reports. This is the alternative to laying people off, which means that services can remain the same.

OPEN FORUM TO EL MONTE CITY STAFFERS: What are your thoughts about taking a pay cut?

Ever hear someone pray to Jesus during a council meeting? I do, and quite often. The most recent meeting was at the West Covina City Council. Turns out, praying is OK, but sectarian prayer is banned in setting like City Council meetings.

But is it worth a story? Every meeting I'm at no one seems to mind it.

Prayer Ban for Public Meetings Upheld
By Jean Guccione
September 10, 2002 in print edition B-4

California city councils that begin meetings with an invocation will have to reassess that practice after a state appellate court on Monday upheld a ban on sectarian prayer in such settings.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the city of Burbank's argument that the ban violates the free-speech rights of the ministers who lead the invocation at each Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The court ruled that a prayer that invoked the name of Jesus Christ "conveyed the message that Christianity was being advanced over other religions," in violation of the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, which requires the separation of church and state.

Santa Monica attorney Roger Jon Diamond, who represented the plaintiffs, was pleased with the ruling.

"Now, as of today, it becomes a precedent throughout the state of California," he said. Local city officials "would be violating their oaths of office if they allow sectarian prayers to go on."

Burbank Chief Assistant City Atty. Juli C. Scott was disappointed with the ruling, but said the city has not yet decided whether to appeal.

"It's too bad," she said. "I think the court missed the whole point. We shouldn't be in the business to tell people how to pray."

The case arose after Irv Rubin, chairman of the Jewish Defense League, attended a Burbank City Council meeting In November 1999 that began with a Christian prayer led by David King, a Mormon bishop, who ended with "in the name of Jesus Christ."

Subsequently Rubin, along with Roberto Alejandro Gandara, a Christian, sued the city.

A month later, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Alexander Williams III issued an injunction banning sectarian prayer at council meetings. Ever since, the City Council has asked local ministers to offer nonsectarian prayers at its meetings.

Diamond said Monday that he would not be able to tell Rubin about the decision until today, when he plans to visit his client at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Rubin awaits trial on unrelated charges that he plotted to bomb a Culver City mosque and a congressman's office.

In the 15-page opinion, written by Justice Kathryn Doi Todd, the court contended that "to demand neutrality when the interests of religion and government intersect is increasingly more important as our nation becomes more pluralistic."

The court also rejected Burbank's argument that the invocation is "private speech" and found "that any legislative prayer that proselytizes or advances one religious belief or faith or disparages another" is unconstitutional.

"By directing the prayer to 'Our Father in Heaven

Los Angeles attorney T. Peter Pierce filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of 34 California cities that begin their meetings with prayer.

Pierce said he would advise city attorneys, but warned of potential problems. "I think it is very difficult to determine what is [sectarian] and what is [nonsectarian]," he said.

The appellate court, however, declined to consider his argument that the ban is ambiguous and unenforceable

A few things of interest on Tuesday's Covina Council meeting:

1. Public hearing about the proposed increased water rates. Initial projections were that it could increase as much as 35 percent, but city officials recently said that is unrealistic.

2. I don't see it on the agenda, but since it was cancelled last time around, the council should be discussing how to fill the vacancy created by the Nov. 30 resignation of former Councilwoman Meline Juarez.

3. The council could be joining the 21st technology if the council approves the purchasing of camera and web streaming equipment on Tuesday. It's unclear from the documents I have just have much this costs.

It's official. South El Councilwoman Blanca Figueroa's nocturnal ways is now an international story. Earlier today, it was just national.

I spoke with Victor Jacobovitz on Friday to see what the progress is with the potential lawsuit by city spokeswoman Sue Williams.

Jacobovitz said that she hasn't filed a lawsuit yet because the way it works with a government entity is that the city has to reject a claim before a lawsuit is filed. The city has not yet rejected the claim. Jacobovitz said he is expecting to have some discussions with the city to see if there is some way to resolve the claim.

Jacobovitz is the same lawyer representing Chris Chung, West Covina's Community Development Director who is demanding $3 million for the alleged hostile environment he was forced to endure while working with Mayor Roger Hernandez, according to the claim.

Jacobovitz said that Williams hasn't sent a demand yet. "I don't think Sue's action would bring in quite as high an amount, because Chris has suffered a quite bit," Jacobovitz said.

The update with Chung, Jacobovitz said, is that the city has agreed to go to mediation.

And who is Jacobovitz, you ask. Here's a snipet from the '80s:

The five council district, as proposed by West Covina residents Fred Sykes and Alfred Williams, would divide the city into equal parts based on population. Four council members lives in district one, and Mayor Roger Hernandez lives in district four. Here's the story. 

PROPOSED NEW DISTRICTS

DISTRICT ONE: Starts at the intersection of Puente and Azusa avenues; extends to the city's eastern boundary and south along Azusa to approximately Green Ridge Terrace.

DISTRICT TWO: Roughly encompasses the portion of the city that extends west from Azusa Avenue, north of the 10 Freeway.

DISTRICT THREE: Approximately south of the 10 Freeway to Cameron Avenue and west to the city limit at Francisquito Avenue.

DISTRICT FOUR: Defined as Cameron Avenue south to Francisquito on the west and south to Temple Avenue on the east.

DISTRICT FIVE: Approximately south of Green Ridge Terrace and along Nogales south to Valley Boulevard.

Six are competiting for two seats on the Temple City Council amid accusations that two council members solicited bribes. Read more.

Walnut prepares for legal battle against city of Industry for the proposed NFL stadium. Read more.

West Covina community activists move forward in effort to get council districts in city. Read more. Read more.

La Puente files claim against county for missing $500,000. Read more.

Leftovers from City Hall column.

 "Who throws a shoe? Honestly."

Stimulus package may benefit local infrastructure projects. Read more.

6 file for 2 seats on Temple City City Council
By Alfred Lee, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/14/2008 10:48:45 PM PST

TEMPLE CITY - The balance of power in City Hall is at stake in the upcoming race for two City Council seats.

Four candidates will challenge incumbents Cathe Wilson and Ken Gillanders in their bids for re-election.

Tom Chavez, Silenus Ong, Chuck Souder and Vince Yu will join Wilson and Gillanders on the ballot in March, City Clerk Mary Flandrick said.

The race could very well be seen as a referendum on the performance of the current City Council, where Wilson, Gillanders and Councilman David Capra have formed a majority voting bloc over the past two years.

The trio have often controlled policy, over the opposition of council members Judy Wong and Fernando Vizcarra.

Both Wilson and Gillanders enjoy long-standing support in the community - Wilson was elected with more votes than any of the sitting council members - but the struggles of the City Council to bring redevelopment to the city could be a thorny issue.

In recent months, officials imposed and then cancelled a controversial ban on non-retail businesses; flirted with and then pulled out of a plan to buy a string of commercial properties on Las Tunas; and, most notably, saw further delays in the Piazza mall project.

Both Yu and Souder hope to capitalize on residents' frustration.

Yu, a Temple City Planning Commissioner, is running on his experience with development as a former architect in the private sector and current head of an architectural unit in the county Department of Public Works. He has close ties to Wong and is also backed by Vizcarra.

"Like most Temple City residents, I'm a bit frustrated to see the lack of progress," he said. "The things that we really wanted to do in the Planning Commission, when they got to the council, not a whole lot was done."

Yu voted against the Piazza project while on the Planning Commission.

"I can look at plans and I can listen to the developer and the architect's presentation, and I can tell based on my own experience how well they prepared and whether or not what they said can actually be done," he said.

Souder, a two-time mayor and member of the City Council from 1994-2003, is running as the most vocal opponent of Wilson and Gillanders.

"I'm running to see if I can't straighten out the City Council," Souder said. "It'd be more business-friendly and put some transparency and integrity back into the City Council."

He said the lack of transparency in City Hall was "absolutely disgusting," and he also criticized the performance of current city manager-city attorney Charles Martin.

Wilson, Gillanders and Ong could not be reached last week.

Chavez, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner for Temple City who works as an attorney and adjunct professor in Pasadena, also stressed the need for redevelopment in the city.

"We need to seek additional sources of revenue for the city, but at the same time I'm in favor of keeping a small-town atmosphere," he said.

Chavez said he is supported by Wilson but is not interested in lining up along the divisions on the council. Yu and Souder also said that they would vote independently.

"We do have a City Council that doesn't seem to get along," Chavez said. "It could be a problem and I think we need to try to clear that up and get us back on track."

alfred.lee@sgvn.com

(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4496

GLENDORA -- Competition is tight in Glendora as councilman Mark Kelly has decided not to run for reelection leaving his City Council seat open for the taking. At the same time, Mayor Karen Davis is seeking reelection.

"I think during these challenging times that our state and our nation are facing, we as a community have fared better than other places," said Davis.

Davis is one of five community members running for the City Council. Kristin Parisi, Brian Pagac, Gene Murabito and Yousef "Joseph" Tweini have also thrown in their hats.
Pagac and Parisi did not immediately return phone calls for this story.

Murabito, who serves on the Glendora Planning Commission, had been planning a run for City Council in 2008 for about five years.

"I think the council overall has done a good job," he said. "Can we improve? Absolutely."
Murabito worked in aerospace for 25 years before he left that in 1999. He then opened an accounting service that is based in Glendora.

"In my business we are always looking for ways to change and improve, rather than get passed up," he said. "My strength is in my character."

Tweini, a chemical engineer, ran for the City Council in 2007 and received the least amount of votes of the candidates. But that experience and opportunity for residents to get to know him will help him this time around, he said.

"This time it is going to be different," said Tweini. "I am a manager, so I can manage things, manage budgets. I do have the overall picture of what the city is looking for."

A graduate of UCLA and a resident of Glendora for 15 years, Tweini hopes for the opportunity to serve the residents.

"I am not running against anybody, I am running to serve the community and the people of Glendora," he said. "If (the people) like the person and vote for them, I will support the decision of the people."

I am a little confused, but aren't elections supposed to be heated contests between people who think they are doing a good job and those who disagree whole-heartedly?

Wild accusations, yelling matches, negative campaigning, snickering remarks, low voter turnout - these all all things I put with city council elections.

Not in La Verne.

All four candidates for city council spoke highly of each other. And not that - I am running a campaign focused on what I can do for the city and not against any other person - stuff. They each sincerely expressed the idea that each candidate would make an excellent council member.

Two of them have worked with each other at the University of La Verne (Donna Nasmyth and Robin Carder), they all know each other, and they all have great things to say about the city and the current council.

Where's the anger? Where's the disdain? Where's scandal? Where's Terrel Owens when you need him?

Here is a quote from candidate Charlie Rosales I never thought I would hear covering city council elections.

"If you are looking for controversy, you are not going to find any."

I'm checking out.

There seemed to be some confusion at a Montebello City Council meeting Wednesday over the mayorship.

Newly sworn-in Mayor Rosie Vasquez repeatedly addressed former Mayor Bill Molinari as "Mr. Mayor."

It happened so many times that City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman had to tell Vasquez to stop referring to Molinari as the mayor.

Vasquez laughed, looked at the audience and said, "oh, I'm the Mayor."

Councilman Robert Urteaga slipped a couple times as well. He said he needs to get used to the new rotation.

You may remember me blogging about a records request I submitted to El Monte a few weeks ago. It was for the police report detailing Mayor Ernie Gutierrez' arrest last month.

Well, I didn't quite receive the report, but I did receive a report with limited details about that night.

Here's a narrative provided to me:

The Suspect and Victim have a dating relationship. A week after the incident occurred, Suspect and Victim report the Suspect assaulted the Victim and that she in turn assaulted the Suspect.

A uniformed officer officially interviewed the Victim and the Victim changed her statement regarding the incident, stating she fell down.  The Suspect was arrested at his home in El Monte and the case was presented to the District Attorney's Office after completion of the investigation.

Gutierrez' wife has said on the record before that she was not the alleged assault victim that night.

See the docs I received from El Monte here: EMRECORDS.pdf

The La Puente City Council is holding a closed session meeting Saturday to interview between five and six candidates for the city manager position.

Mayor Louie Lujan said all of the applicants have had some sort of management experience, and they all have master's degrees in public administration.

Transition Manager Frank Tripepi said the candidates were narrowed down from a pool of applicants who responded to wanted ads in a job bank and a city manager newsletter. He said he was not involved in that selection process and he will not be involved in the interviews.

Councilman John Solis said Thursday he didn't know the city had even been reviewing applications. Solis and Lujan were appointed to an ad hoc committee earlier this year to oversee the application process. Looks like someone was out of the loop.

Sue Williams, the spokesperson for the city of West Covina, acquired the same law office as Chris Chung is using. Chung filed a claim against the city alleging he was subjected to a hostile work environment by Mayor Roger Hernandez, and now Chung is demanding $3 million. (Below is the article that ran regarding this issue.)

Williams who filed a claim against the city also alleging that Hernandez subjected her to a hostile work environment.

According to City Manager Andy Pasmant, those who filed claims against the city have up to two years to follow up with a lawsuit.

For anyone who may have been following this story, Rampart Properties has finally been fired as the management company for Amar Plaza Properties in La Puente.

We've been covering this story for years, literally. It's a huge back and forth between residents. Now, it seems the drama has finally ended.

El Monte police Det. Ralph Batres will DJing Police Chief Ken Weldon's retirement party tonight.

When asked what kind of music he plays, Batres replied "everything."

Apparently, Batres DJ's often at weddings, birthdays and even divorce parties.

Partaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Caltrans workers with clipboards and tape measures were lurking around the 605/10 freeway interchange Thursday morning. The wacky interchange, which some civil engineers call the autotopia, requires cars to slow down and switch places in a matter of a few-hundred feet.

Freeways near the intersection are constantly clogged. The intersection is scheduled to be completely overhauled. Caltrans started an environmental review on the $66 million project last year, but construction is not supposed to start until 2011, according to information on the Caltrans site. Baldwin Park Mayor Manny Lozano and West Covina Councilman Steve Herfert have been trying to round up support for this project since 2006.

With the economy shedding jobs, I wonder if there will be an effort by politicians to speed up infrastructure projects.

here's a Caltrans link that shows the area's scheduled projects.

West Covina community activists are at it again with an effort to divide the city into five council districts. Fred Sykes and Alfred Williams tried in August to get this approved but tried but failed because of issues regarding the ballot title and summary. They submitted their initiative measure to the city Nov. 24, and yesterday city officials gave the go ahead to the pair to start collecting signatures.

The whole point of the measure, both said, is to make it cheaper for people to run for office and to increase representation for all portions of the city. Currently, four of five council members live in the affluent South Hills. Only Mayor Roger Hernandez lives outside of the area.

Previously, however, council members referred to this as a power grab.

Here is the past article.

Council district proposal fails
San Gabriel Valley Tribune ( West Covina , CA) - Friday, August 31, 2007
Author/Byline: Frank C. Girardot Staff Writer
Section: News

WEST COVINA - A proposal to divide the city into five council districts failed to make the November ballot.

Organizers submitted petitions containing nearly 6,000 signatures to Sue Rush, West Covina 's assistant City Clerk, earlier this month. But she rejected the petition on Aug. 10 for several reasons, according to a a statement from the city issued Thursday.

"The most significant (flaw) was the petition's failure to provide a summary of the initiative on the top of each page signed by supporters," the press release said.

Rush did not return phone calls.

Supporters said dividing the city into council districts would make running for office less expensive for candidates and give voters more local representation. Opponents of the plan said the divisions could result in uneven distribution of sales tax revenues.

Petition supporter Fred Sykes filed a lawsuit on Thursday asking county Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe to force the city to release the petition to the county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office and be placed on the November ballot. But the judge declined to issue an order, Sykes said.

"We hoped to get this on the November ballot," he said. "I thought I would be able to testify, but the judge said he would not listen to live testimony."

Sykes , who is running for City Council, said it was not likely he would appeal.

"I spent the $3,000 to get this case heard," he said. "I have yet to try to raise $40,000 to $50,000 for the campaign. It's probably going to have to stay where it is. It's a dead issue right now."

West Covina Mayor Mike Touhey said the ruling isn't necessarily a vindication for the city.

"It's a win, but with Fred Sykes , it's just one issue after another causing the city to spend money on lawsuits," Touhey said. "I call it campaigning at taxpayer's expense."

In their answer to the suit, the city contended that Sykes and fellow petitioners may have misled signers by not attaching a map of the proposed districts and other legally required information.

"I don't know what they may have told people at their front door," Touhey said. "I'm concerned what they may have told people when they were gathering the signatures.

"I don't know if they got 6,000 through straight up information or through biased information."

Sykes denied the charge.

"Absolutely no way," Sykes said. "Their position was that citizens were stupid. That's not the case."

frank.girardot@sgvn.com

Irwindale's deficit hit $2.6 million, up from its earlier projection of $1.6 million. While Irwindale has been grappling with the downturn in the economy, the hit to the budget came from an employee liability cost of $850,000.

Experts predict that pensions and other non-pension costs, such as healthcare, will have a significant impact on our local government's budgets in the near future, especially as the baby boomer will begin retiring in droves.

Below is the advisory report sent by the city:

BUDGET OUTLOOK ADVISORY REPORT 2009/2010

December 10, 2008
Robert Griego, City Manager

You are aware that the global economy has taken a downturn and the general opinion is that it will take some time to turn around.  Cities all over the United States are facing precarious fiscal conditions due to falling revenue and rising costs from inflation, energy, infrastructure needs, salaries, healthcare and pensions. With our state in economic crisis, the City of Irwindale also finds itself in a fiscal dilemma.  In these difficult times, I am asking that the City Council, residents and staff unite and work together as a team so that we can take the necessary steps now to protect the City's future and avoid more drastic cuts.  It will take courage and some sacrifices to keep the City fiscally sound and I am asking that we work together towards a common goal----the future wellbeing of the City, its residents and its businesses.

The City will be entering another difficult budget cycle for FY 2009-2010. As you may recall, for the current fiscal year, we began with a planned $1.6 million operating deficit that the City Council backfilled with general fund reserves and approved some minor cuts. Results from the GASB 45 Pension Fund Actuarial Valuation require the City to fund approximately an additional $850,000 annually in order to begin funding our retiree healthcare obligations. This figure was not included in our original planned deficit and brings our current year's total operating budget deficit to $2.4 million.

For FY 2009-10, the City will again face a serious situation where its operating costs are more than revenues earned. We have already seen the State look to cities to help its financial crisis, and we should expect that to continue. The national forecast for the next several years is not good, so we also have to plan for a further drop in revenues next year and beyond.
If the City Council wants to sustain the City's long term financial future, it needs to start with this next fiscal cycle. As the City Manager, I need to provide direction and guidance to the staff on how to prepare and plan for this year's budget cycle.

Last year, I thought a 5% reduction in operating expenses would start the City on a path to adjust spending levels to match the revenue income; the City Council did not support that action. It would be very helpful and save a lot of staff time if I knew where the City Council stood on further reductions to operating costs in order balance expenditures to revenues.
In February, once we can project incoming revenue, I will be presenting another budget outlook report to the City Council. At that time, I will need to know if the City Council will support any further reductions in operating costs. My experience has taught me that gradual cuts over time are a better way to deal with deficits. The longer you wait the more difficult and drastic the cuts will need to be.

I will let you know then exactly what reserves you can use to fund operating cost deficits and project when they will be depleted. If the City's revenue situation does not improve and the City does not reduce expenditures, the City will most likely deplete all available reserves within the next two to three years.

The "good news" is the City is moving forward with important revenue projects that will help in the future:

Cal-Mat site development projected to bring in $2.5 million for the first 10 years.

The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) expected to bring at least $2 million each year.

Shannon site potential Executive Hotel/Retail development possibly $200,000 to $300,000 per year of sales and a new transit occupancy tax.

These projects were initiated this past year. The revenue from these projects will not be available for two to three years; therefore these revenues should not be relied upon to get the City through the next few difficult years.

I am providing this budget advisory report so that the City Council, City staff, and residents can begin thinking about the City's financial future. The City is not expected to attain another financial windfall like the mining tax, which is now built into the City's operating budget due to the 100% increases made in the operating budget in the 2000 to 2005 fiscal years. The Federal government has said it expects the global financial crisis to last 10 years. The State of California expects to be in financial stress for the next 15 years. Therefore, the City can only expect more take-always from the State, such as tax increment, housing funds and other revenue adjustments. The City currently relies on $1million of tax increment each year to supplement its operating budget. When the Redevelopment Agency expires in 2017, the City will need to backfill from other sources to maintain service levels.

It is going to take some very smart and tough decisions from the City Council, City staff and residents to adjust to the financial dilemma we are facing in the next three years. But, to survive and sustain governmental operations in the future, some major thought needs to be made about the level of service the City is able to continue to provide. In order to adjust, the City will need to start to reduce expenditures this fiscal year, or face more drastic cuts in the future where some services will need to be reduced or eliminated.

In January, I will be recommending that the City Council allow the City Manager to establish a resident Budget Advisory Committee to work with the City Manager to develop recommendations to the City Council on how to reduce service levels and operating expenditures to address budget shortfalls.

The Montebello City Council is set to discuss a development in the Montebello Hills at tonight's meeting.

An activist group called "Save the Montebello Hills" is against the development and believes there is more than meets the eye. They are sending this e-mail around to the community:

Your presence is needed more than ever at tonight's meeting of the Montebello City Council, Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at the Montebello City Hall, 1600 W. Beverly Blvd., Montebello, CA 90640. Last minute information from a reliable source indicates that Agenda Item 20 regarding the "formation of an ad hoc sub-committee to provide guidance to staff regarding the Montebello Hills Specific Plan and Development Agreement", is even more questionable and suspicious than first thought.

Everyone is urged to attend tonight's City Council meeting even if you do not speak or can't stay long because pivotal decisons regarding the fate of the Hills may be made. Wearing green and/or holding Save the Montebello Hills literature or bumper stickers etc., though not mandatory, would give a clear message that the public is extremely
concerned about the fate of the Hills and want to be involved in every aspect of the decision making process.

The South El Monte City Council has given Mayor Blanca Figueroa a curfew.

The council voted 4-1 last night to prohibit city council members and city staff from using city hall facilities past 11 p.m. most nights. Figueroa is known for her late night office hours that sometimes have her at city hall until the pre-dawn hours of the morning.

Figueroa says she needs to work late to keep up with myriad letters, emails and requests from constituents, after spending her days going to meetings.

The four other council members supported the new regulations out of safety and liability concerns.

Councilman Hector Delgado said Figueroa can work from home using a city-issued laptop computer and cell phone if necessary.

Read more in Thursday's paper.

While the nomination period for La Verne hasn't ended until later today, councilman Don Kendrick looks to be unopposed in his run to succeed Jon Blickenstaff as mayor.

Kendrick is the only person to have pulled papers for Mayor and has already qualified to run.

Donna Nasmyth may have a tougher challenge ahead in keeping her seat on the council. Three other people, Robin Carder, Norm Faustini, and Charlie Rosales have already qualified to run for council, while two other persons have pulled papers.

Besides Nasmyth's seat, Kendrick's previous council seat is open for election.

More to come on the La Verne, as well as the Glendora, election tomorrow.

No one ever said being a reporter wasn't a dangerous job.

Sometimes, while trying to get the scoop on a story, reporters can find themselves in some tough predicaments. A tight spot, if you will.

As was the case with reporter Bethania Palma Markus today.

Investigating a story on the increase in dogs at local animal shelters, Bethania met a very sweet pit bull mix that was a little too excited; and Palma Markus let herself get to close to the source.

"He peed on me," she reported upon returning to the office. "He is a very nice dog. Got a little excited, and I got too close - operator error."

Sockless, and wearing a $2.99 pair of shoes from target, the right foot was the contaminated area. A Hasmat team was not needed. Parts of a $5.99 pair of pants were also hit, but Palma Markus doesn't plan to file a suit against the animal.

In all seriousness, Palma Markus was at the Baldwin Park shelter doing a story on how these tough economic times are forcing some to give up their pets. This particular dog had been given up due to his family losing their home to foreclosure.

He will be at the animal shelter for another couple weeks due to the mandatory 15-day period at the shelter.

Look for more on Palma Markus' story in the paper and online tomorrow.

And people wonder why there is distrust of politicians...

Feds arrest Illinois governor for corruption
Blagojevich 'corruptly used his office,' US says after a wiretap probe.

By Amanda Paulson | Staff writer / December 9, 2008 edition
Christian Science Monitor

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, including that he conspired "to sell or trade" an appointment to the US Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama.

The arrest makes Governor Blagojevich, a Democrat, the second Illinois chief executive in a row to face charges of pay-to-play politics, a dispiriting event for residents weary of the state's reputation for seamy politics. His predecessor, Republican George Ryan, is serving a 6-1/2-year sentence for a corruption conviction two years ago.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Tuesday in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."

Blagojevich was arrested along with his chief of staff, John Harris. Each was charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and solicitation of bribery. At a press conference, Mr. Fitzgerald characterized the governor's actions as "a political corruption crime spree."

Blagojevich appeared before US Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan Tuesday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance and a $4,500 bond, without making a statement.

Included in the FBI affidavit are charges that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade Mr. Obama's vacated US Senate seat. On the wiretaps, the affidavit asserts, the governor speculated about trading the Senate appointment for perks such as a large salary for himself, once he leaves office, at an organization affiliated with labor unions; an appointment for his wife on corporate boards, where she might be paid as much as $150,000 a year; promises of campaign funds; and a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

In one conversation about the Senate seat, Blagojevich allegedly told Mr. Harris and an adviser he needed to consider his family and that he is "financially" hurting. Harris responded that he and the adviser were weighing what would help the Blagojevich family's "financial security."

The affidavit also details discussions from last week in which Blagojevich is alleged to have said he might "get some [money] up front, maybe" from an individual the government identifies only as "Senate Candidate 5."

Earlier, he was recorded claiming to have been approached by an emissary from that candidate, who said he would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich in exchange for the seat.

The charges, too, include allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others since the governor took office in 2003 to obtain benefits for himself, his family, and his campaign committee, repeating, in some cases the testimony of witnesses at the federal trial earlier this year of Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Mr. Rezko, a donor to Blagojevich's campaign, was convicted for using his connections to state board appointees to demand kickbacks from businesses that wanted to do business with the state.

But the charges focus primarily on events of the past two months, when Blagojevich allegedly sped up corrupt fundraising activities before a new state ethics law took effect, hindering any ability to accept financial contributions from anyone with a state contract. The allegations include documented instances in which the governor told individuals that he expected contributions ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 in exchange for state help and contracts. In one case, when the expected contribution from an executive of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago didn't come, Blagojevich discussed rescinding $8 million in state funds committed to the hospital, the affidavit says.

It also alleges that Blagojevich sought the firing of Chicago Tribune editors responsible for negative editorials about him, in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and owned by the Tribune Co.

Blagojevich was the first Democratic governor elected in the state in 30 years, winning in part because of a backlash against former Governor Ryan, who faced corruption scandals at the end of his term. Blagojevich campaigned with a reformist message, promising to change politics as usual in Illinois.

"He's done everything possible contrary to that pledge," says Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association, a nonpartisan Chicago watchdog group. "The governor hasn't been convicted yet, but the court of public opinion and common sense tells you that something is deeply, deeply wrong with Illinois government."

Besides dealing a blow to the state's psyche and national image, Blagojevich's arrest casts a shadow over the appointment of Obama's successor to the Senate. Any Blagojevich appointment will appear tainted, Mr. Stewart says.

On Tuesday, several Illinois politicians called for ways in which the open Senate seat could be filled without Blagojevich's involvement. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones promised to call lawmakers back into session to consider a bill for a special election to fill the seat.

The charges also come at a terrible time for a state facing a severe budget shortfall.

"Our financial crisis is now," Stewart says, noting that, until convicted, Blagojevich is still governor. "This governor had difficulty getting things done in a less difficult environment."

Rumors about Blagojevich's involvement in pay-to-play schemes and inflammatory evidence from the Rezko trial have persisted for at least a year. His approval ratings have been hovering at a paltry 13 percent.

The arrest was "the whole notion of not whether, but when," says Paul Green, a political scientist at Roosevelt University in Chicago. "You expect it, it's still shocking, but it's not a huge surprise."

If Blagojevich is convicted, Illinois faces the prospect of having two former governors in jail, and future officeholders can expect heavy pressure to enact ethics reforms. One issue, says Professor Green, is the large amount of money required to run for statewide office in Illinois.

"We need to deal with the specific instances that led to this, and then we need to look at systemic issues that lead to this kind of conduct," says Stewart. "If this isn't evidence that our system is fundamentally corrupt, then I don't know what is."

The San Dimas City Council race, before any of the issues have been hashed out, is already ripe for controversy.

One of the candidates, Sid Maksoudian, as already made considerable noise in the community when he tried to get a permit for his business in downtown San Dimas.

Maksoudian runs Chalet Gourmet, an upscale liquor store. When he first sought to open the store over the summer, he ran into problems with some business owners in the community and City Councilman Denis Bertone - one of the incumbents Maksoudian will be running against.

"There are a small group of entitled individuals who have been running this city without any respect for what the majority wants," Maksoudian said. "They really don't know what they are doing and they have been at it for a long, long time."

Maksoudian, during his issues in getting his business permit, didn't make friends with other business owners. Heidi Daniels, an owner of a local wine shop and tasting room, was ousted by Maksoudian concerning a health permit. Supporters of Daniels often opposed Maksoudian.

In addition, Bertone didn't want Maksoudian's store because it represented an over concentration of alcohol in the area.

The council eventually voted in favor of Maksoudian, 3 to 2. Daniels' wine shop is also still open.

Bertone, who was first elected to the council in 1988, welcomes Maksoudian to the election season.

"He has issues with everything that is happening in the city," Bertone said. "I actually look forward to his candidacy and we will let the people of San Dimas decide how they want this city run."

Maksoudian, if elected, would end the long runs of members on the council, like Bertone.

"I want term limits," he said. "Council members should not have a dynasty."

As for newcomer Jeffrey Kahn, the 27-year-old Wells Fargo banker is betting on his financing powers to propel him to the top of the election heap. A volunteer ski patroller who hopes to open a marketing business soon, Kahn was inspired by President-Elect Obama to run for City Council.

"The reality is if you understand what the people want and need, all you have to do is follow the hope and the dream," Kahn said.

Kahn declined to make any campaign statements, but instead discussed his background. A graduate of Cal State L.A. with a degree in finance and a minor in economics, Kahn developed a number of small businesses while in school.

His father lives and owns a small business in San Dimas and whenever Kahn spent time there, he enjoyed it. When the time came - about 8 years ago - to put his flag down, he chose San Dimas.

"I want to help the community and serve the community," he said.

More to come soon on incumbent Jeff Templeman, as well as newcomer Kevin Kenney.

Templeman has been on the council since 1996 and has been elected three times since.

I am working on a story about Medicare, including the things seniors will need to know if they are changing their plans since open enrollment extends to Dec. 31.

OPEN FORUM: What Medicare problems, concerns and questions do you have?

Ever wondered what the difference is between a nightclub and a restaurant? Me neither. But the West Covina Planning Commission sure wants to know.

On Tuesday, the planning commission will have a study session on the topic at its meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The West Covina Municipal Code does not permit nightclubs, bars or lounges, although it does have some bars and nightclubs that have been grandfathered in, i.e. the Crazy Horse Restaurant and Nightclub.

This week marks the municipal election filing deadline for several cities in the San Gabriel Valley. San Dimas, Covina and Monterey Park's filing periods closed on Friday. Azusa and Rosemead closes today, La Verne and Glendora close Wednesday.

Look for stories throughout the week about who will be vying for these seats on these city council's.

I am heading now to Covina to take a look at the filing papers, and pick up the statement of economic interest papers. The filing period for the city clerk's position in Covina has been extended to Wednesday because Covina City Clerk Rosie Fabien is running for council.

Today's top links in and around in SGV:

El Monte's Community Policing program serves as model across the country. Read more.

Eight Cafe in Monterey Park sues city over redevelopment. Read more.

The City of Walnut wants more Asian-American cops. Read more.

Trash fees will go up once Puente Hills Landfill closes; officials fear some cities will withdrawl from support of waste-to-rail project. Read more.

The Tribune Co., which owns the Los Angeles Times, could be filing bankruptcy. Read more.

Few stories of interest spotted here and there:

Rowland Heights efforts for cityhood failed, for now. Read here.

El Monte hopes that its more than $43 million transit village will come to fruition. Read more.

Three Valleys Water Board Director Xavier Alvarez is facing three felony charges. His arraignment was postponed on Thursday. Read more.

After a year hiatus, the Covina Christmas parade returns tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. Read more.

Moe still missing. Read more.

I remember the first O.J. Simpson trial, which will likely go down as one of the most infamous trials in history. I was in my junior high English class watching the verdict on a television screen.

Felt like deja vu this morning as the entire newsroom gathered around the television to watch the sentencing for O.J. Simpson's trial in Las Vegas. The hearing just finished and Simpson is facing at least 15 years in prison, and probably longer when all the charges are tallied.

Its been seven years since the controversial appointment (refer to article below) of Police Chief Ken Weldon, and now the community will be honoring the work of the police chief by throwing him a retirement party on Dec. 11. Weldon, who is a 37 year employee and lifetime resident of the city of El monte, will officially retire Dec. 30.

On Dec. 11, more than 800 people are expected to attend at $25 a head. All the proceeds will go toward the Jerry Ortiz Boxing and Youth Fitness Gym, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping at risk children. The organization was created in honor of Shriff's Deputy Jerry Ortiz, who was killed i the line of duty June 24, 2005.

This article ran on Nov. 7, 2001:

El Monte council names new chief of police
Pasadena Star-News (CA) - Wednesday, November 7, 2001
Author/Byline: Cindy Arora Staff Writer
Section: Local

EL MONTE -- More than 150 people gave a standing ovation Tuesday to El Monte 's new police chief , Ken Weldon, a former Police Department employee who retired and took a job with the city's downtown business association.

Controversy erupted over who would become the next chief after a majority of the City Council chose not to promote the current deputy chief and changed the qualifications for the job.

After the council interviewed five candidates Monday, Weldon, 51, a recently retired police officer, was voted in 3-2.

Tony Fellow, Ernie Gutierrez and Jack Thurston voted in favor of Weldon and Mayor Rachel Montes and Art Barrios dissented.

It was the same three people who had supported Weldon in an earlier vote.

But on Tuesday night it was open arms from everyone.

"I will stand behind you 100 percent," Barrios said.

The search for a new top cop came after police Chief Bill Ankeny announced he would retire in January. He backed Deputy Chief Mark Gibboney as his successor.

However, the council chose not to go that route, and to open it up to other candidates.

Weldon 's name began to surface during council meetings, triggering speculation in the community and the 150-member department that the qualifications had been changed for him.

Weldon retired Sept. 30 from his position as the department's community relations manager. He had been hired as the new manager for the Downtown El Monte Business Association.

"My goals were not to be chief of police ," Weldon said. "When I retired I thought I was done."

Weldon said he was approached by city officials and residents to take the job.

With the guidance of former police Chief Wayne Clayton, who served the city for 43 years, and the rest of the Police Department, Weldon believes he can make an impact in the city.

"(Clayton's) a very smart man and of course I will be asking him for his guidance," Weldon said. "But I have a lot of ideas of my own."

Fellow said Weldon had a spark that other job candidates didn't.

"He's got a Ph.D. in El Monte ," Fellow said. "This guy just shined. He has a fire in his belly that I didn't see in any other candidates."

Residents packed into council chambers Tuesday to show city officials their support.

"I think they found the right guy," resident Frank Amaya Jr. said. "He's for the community ... I think he'll do a good job. But I guess only time well tell."

Weldon 's salary has not yet been negotiated, but the range is $8,628 to $10,487 a month.

When Joe Rocha was a young man in the 60s, he was disgusted with the reception Vietnam soldiers were greeted with upon returning home. Rocha himself was fortunate not to be drafted because he was in school, but his brother served and the treatment soldiers got has always stuck with him.

"I saw it, I saw the way they spit on them," Rocha said. "It was awful. It's not going to happen here."

As a commitment to never let that happen again as long as he has some power over it, the Mayor of Azusa goes the extra yard each time a soldier returns from over seas.

Azusa, like many other cities, puts up flags across their town in honor of those serving America. But Azusa makes each flag a family event. Often they have the soldiers themselves come out with their families to put the flags up. Council members are usually in attendance and passers by often stop by to take part.

But Rocha started another tradition about two years ago, one that has touched the lives of some his Azusa residents.

Whenever a family member returns from serving over seas and the city puts up a flag for them, he also takes the time to visit the family at their home, bringing them a certificate of recognition along with two small angel statues in class cases for the family.

For Olivia Ordaz, the visit from Rocha, as well as councilman Robert Gonzales, was a special one.

Ordaz has been married to her husband Edgar, an Army Sergeant, for four years and he has been serving in Kuwait for about nine months already. When he returned on leave for a few days, the city was able to put together a flag event in a day and Rocha made the personal visit.

"It makes all the sacrifices that Edgar has done worth while," Ordaz said. "He was overwhelmed and proud."

Olivia believes that while the military as a whole is often in the spotlight, individual soldiers are sometimes easily forgotten. But what Azusa and Mayor Rocha do for soldiers in the town lets her know they aren't forgotten and fills her heart.

"I was skeptical about calling (about the flag) and thought it was going to be a long process," she said. "But it was very personal."

Rocha extended a helping hand and comfort to Ordaz, who says she is comfortable with going to Rocha if she needed any help. She has become more involved with the city and plans to volunteer when opportunities present themselves.

Rocha said its important to make families who have someone in the service as part of the city's "extended family."

"We are sitting here on a comfortable couch and I know they are in Iraq or Afghanistan and it's not comfortable," Rocha said.

For the last two years, Rocha and Azusa's personal visits with soldiers family's had stayed under wraps. This one in particular came to light at a special City Council meeting for Rocha.

Ordaz showed up at the public comment with a surprise for Rocha. When Edgar Ordaz returned to Kuwait, he told the story of Rocha's visit. Speaking to some of his higher ups, he was able to procure a special certificate for Rocha recognizing him for his efforts on behalf of the Army.

It was a special moment for Rocha.

"I was overwhelmed," Rocha said. "We don't do it for recognition. We do it because it's the right thing to do."

A police report detailing El Monte Mayor Ernie Gutierrez' arrest earlier this month is could be released next week.

Police Chief Ken Weldon said on Nov. 19 that the report would be made public within 10 days, following the submittal of a public records request.

Attorney Greg Palmer, who is contracted by the city to handle special cases for the police department, originally received the request but said Thursday he was told by the city "not to do anything with that ... It is my understanding the city attorney is handling it."

Assistant City Prosecutor Gina Marie Aguirre said there was initially a misunderstanding as to who exactly was handling the request. Her office is now working through it and something will be made public shortly in compliance with government code, Aguirre said.

*******Yes, an update to the update. Correspondence I received today from the city: PubRec(Tania_Chatila_Res_14_day_Ext_)-12-4-08.pdf

Before I left for Thanksgiving break last week I got a call from La Puente Interim City Manager Frank Tripepi.

He informed me that he is now the public information officer for the city. That means all of my calls and questions get fielded through him.

La Puente had a PIO not too long ago, Jeff Schenkel. He mainly wrote press releases for the city and pitched story ideas to this paper. I rarely used him for contacts or information, mostly because I never had any problem just calling City Hall and asking for the department head I needed to talk to.

But Schenkel's contract was axed due to budget concerns. And now with Tripepi in the PIO seat, that means I can't call City Hall as liberally as I did before.

At least the council's not off limits.

******I just got off the phone with Mayor Louie Lujan and he said he was behind the recent move to have Tripepi field all media calls.

Apparently, a conversation came up about the potential concern of staff expressing opinions on items, "when in fact, any opinion should come from the council," Lujan said. Lujan asked Tripepi how he's dealt with such situations in the past. The above was his solution.

The clock's run out on my public records request to El Monte for the police report detailing Mayor Ernie Gutierrez' arrest earlier this month.

I submitted the request on Nov. 19 and it's been 10 working days since then - still no response from the city.

I've been playing phone tag with Greg Palmer , the attorney for El Monte police, for more than a week. We finally got a hold of each other this morning and Palmer said the city had "told me not to do anything with that request ... It is my understanding the city attorney is handling it."

I'm still waiting on a call back from City Attorney Edward Moseley.

This just in from Rebecca Kimitch:

Two El Monte police officers will receive $10,000 in help buying homes in El Monte, since the city council unanimously approved it on Tuesday.

Police Chief Ken Weldon has requested $20,000 for the Police Residence Incentive Program. The program provides El Monte officers a one-time, no-interest, forgivable loan to purchase a home in the city. The maximum loan amount is $10,000, according to the city's Web site.

The program was developed to encourage officers to purchase homes in El Monte, and offer financial support in their effort to do so.

The first year of the program - fiscal year 2003-2004, the program was funded at $104,500. Since then, funding has decreased to $40,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008.

This fiscal year the program was not funded. However, two officers who are currently in escrow wish to take advantage of the program, leading Weldon to request the funds, according to a memo the chief wrote to the city council.

"I am requesting to fund this program for this year only and then terminate the program until other funding sources become available," Weldon wrote.

The item is on the council's consent calender.

The West Covina City Council voted 3-1 to take a towing contract out to bid instead of extending a five-year contract with Royal Coaches.

Mayor Roger Hernandez dissented because he said the extended contract could have brought an additional $120,000 annually to the city. However, City Manager Andrew Pasmant said that now the contract will go out to bid, it is very possible that the city could end up with a better agreement and therefore a larger profit.

Read more.

Covina had a loaded agenda yesterday, but last minute emergencies among two council members forced the council to postpone the meeting until Dec. 16.

Among the items scheduled last night was how to fill the vacany created by the departure of Meline Juarez, who is moving and is no longer on the council effective. Nov. 30. The other big ticket item was a proposed increase in water rates.

I go this email earlier today about the transition in Diamond Bar City Hall:

FYI: Last night at the Diamond Bar City Council meeting the council picked Ron Everett as Mayor and Carol Herrera as Mayor Pro Tem during the council reorganization event, which occurs every year in December.

Jack Tanaka was given well wishes and certificates from Senator Bob Huff's office, Rep. Gary Miller's office, LA County Sheriff, LA County Fire Department.

Well, well, well. Look who's back: Our old friends at Foothill Cities Blog.

And another blog personality is back to blogging, too. The artist formerly known as the Proc.

West Covina is bracing for a slight increase in its deficit, from $2.1 million to $2.6 million. The increase is in line with what we are seeing in cities across the San Gabriel Valley, the state and the nation, and are attributing largely to the decline in automobile sales and other retail sales.

Of course, that increase pales to what El Monte is experiencing. Last week, it was reported that El Monte's deficit went from $400,000 to $4 million.

To make things worse, West Covina, like the rest of the cities in California, is holding its breath to see how the state is going to grapple with its ballooning deficit, which could reach $28 billion by 2010.

One thing West Covina has to offer compared with other cities is a healthy reserve, which for the time being is helping it deal with this deficit. But it's not a permanent solution, City Manager Andrew Pasmant said.

The reserve is $40 million, $16 million which is available in cash today. The other $24 million is due to the city.

A friend just pointed out this Los Angeles Times story to me that ran on Friday. The piece looks at the side jobs of legislators, including some local ones like Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park and Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina. It's defintely worth a full read, but here's a little bit of the text...

By Patrick McGreevy
November 28, 2008

Assemblyman Edward Hernandez (D-West Covina). He and his wife are optometrists with private practices; his is in La Puente, hers in Duarte. Hernandez is also past president of the California Optometric Assn., which lobbied this year for legislation that significantly expanded the procedures optometrists can perform. Hernandez voted for the bill (SB 1406) in June as a member of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and in August on the Assembly floor. Ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors able to perform more extensive treatment, including surgery, opposed it.

I found this to be very interesting because these are issues that come up in the newsroom and among our readers all the time.

Again, I know this story has nothing to do with the San Gabriel Valley. But it does have to do with a theme we see often in the SGV: conflict of interest vs. perceived conflict of interest.

Emeryville mayor facing city, state probes
Shaleece Haas, Special to The Chronicle

The mayor of Emeryville, who describes himself as "tired of being broke," is under investigation by the city attorney for accepting a consulting contract with a company recently hired to provide Internet service to five municipal buildings.

Ken Bukowski, 57, a retired nightclub owner and 21-year veteran of the City Council, has also refused to pay business taxes to the city for more than four years and owes nearly $2,000 in property taxes. In addition, state officials are investigating the mayor for possible violations of the state's Political Reform Act.

City Attorney Michael Biddle said he is concerned about Bukowski's business relationship with Paxio Inc., the firm that in June won a $24,643 Internet service contract with the city.

Bukowski said Paxio pays him $1,500 a month to "hook them up with businesspeople and developers in the city." But he says that the deal began after the city contract had been signed and that he has not voted on any issue affecting the company's work in Emeryville.

The city attorney said that while he sees nothing wrong with a council member getting paid to help a company do business in Emeryville, "when that company is contracted with the city, that crosses a line."

Central to the question of whether Bukowski's actions regarding Paxio are legal is whether his business relationship with the firm began after the contract with the city had been signed, and whether the mayor has voted on, or influenced others to vote on, issues concerning Paxio.

"I'm still trying to find out the facts," Biddle said.

Bukowski defended his arrangement with Paxio and said he is helping the company to build an open-access fiber-optic network that will ultimately benefit the city as a whole.

Phillip Clark, Paxio's chief executive officer, said he sees no conflict of interest in Paxio's arrangement with Bukowski. He pointed out that the mayor was hired in July primarily to help Paxio make business contacts with city officials outside Emeryville.

But Biddle is concerned about the implications. "Even if the law says it's OK to continue the contract (with Paxio), we'll probably have to terminate it and find someone else," he said. "Irrespective of the law, to me it just smells bad."

JoAnne Speers, executive director of the Institute for Local Government, a Sacramento organization that helps city officials comply with state ethics rules, stressed that it is important for elected officials to consider not only the legality of their actions, but also the way those actions will be perceived by the public.

"The law is a floor - not a ceiling - for what you need to think about as a public official," she said. "Local officials have the ethical responsibility to think about the appearance of impropriety."

Turned in by city clerk
It was not the appearance of impropriety, but a violation of state ethics laws, that led Emeryville's city clerk to report the mayor to a statewide political watchdog organization last year for failing to file campaign disclosure forms since 2003.

Bukowski completed the overdue forms earlier this year, but Roman Porter, executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, said Bukowski is under investigation for possible violations of the Political Reform Act. Porter declined to give details of the investigation.

If the commission determines that Bukowski has failed to comply with ethics laws, it may fine him. And that could contribute to the mayor's already strained finances.

"I'm tired of being broke," Bukowski said. "I get paid $1,100 a month by the city, and I have some income from renting my property, but it's not enough. I always did well when I was in business, so I'm not used to this."

Bukowski's Statement of Economic Interests, an income-disclosure form required by federal law, says he earned between $10,001 and $100,000 in rental income from his Doyle Street property in 2007.

The mayor said that he recently had his cell phone disconnected for lack of payment and that in the previous week alone he had received five $35 overdraft charges on his ATM card. When he encountered difficulty paying his mortgage six months ago, he said a local developer who is also a friend gave him a $30,000, 10-year loan.

While his mortgage is current, county records show that Bukowski owes $1,720 in property taxes from last year, and another $800 is due in December.

Even with his consulting job, the mayor said he needs another source of income to make ends meet.

Several months ago, he began work on a new business venture, an Internet cafe based out of his house, which was outfitted with Paxio fiber-optic cable that the mayor does not believe he will have to pay for. "They're not going to send me a bill. They're so happy about getting Emeryville and getting all these accounts. I hope it's a perk. It should be."

Paxio's Clark said that free fiber-optic installation is included with all service contracts, and that after the standard 45-day trial period, Bukowski will be charged for Internet service at the same rate as any other residential customer. As for funding the cafe, Clark said Paxio has no plans to support Bukowski's venture.

Internet cafe plans
Bukowski said he plans to convert the front section of his Doyle Street home into an Internet cafe and offer computer games and high-bandwidth services that showcase the benefits of fiber optics.

"I see it as a way to market Paxio," he said. "It's going to work really well."

City Councilman John Fricke, an outspoken opponent of the mayor's politics, is also critical of Bukowski's behavior outside the council chamber.

In addition to Bukowski's failure to file campaign disclosure forms, Fricke criticized the mayor's refusal to pay business license taxes owed to the city for more than four years.

Under Emeryville's Business License Tax Ordinance, residential landlords are required to pay a 0.08 percent tax on their rental income. Though the taxes on Bukowski's rental property would likely be less than $100 per year, he is defiant.

"Why am I going to pay this tax? It's not something I support," he said.

When the city sent him a notice in 2004 requiring that he obtain a business license, Bukowski took his objection to the City Council. In his role as council member, Bukowski called for a vote to suspend collection of the taxes until a public hearing could be scheduled.

Biddle said Bukowski's request to suspend the tax did not violate conflict-of-interest laws because the council did not bring the issue to a vote.

Bukowski said his opposition to the tax is not the only reason he hasn't paid. "In my large list of creditors, it's on the bottom of my list," he said.

Bukowski was re-elected to the council in 2007, and in December was appointed mayor by his fellow council members. That same week, he struck and killed a pedestrian in his SUV. He was not charged in the accident, but the victim's family has filed a wrongful death suit against Bukowski and the city of Emeryville.

Councilwoman Nora Davis, who has served with Bukowski since 1987, says, "The people of Emeryville have elected him five times. They have evinced a lot of support for Mayor Bukowski over the years."

But in June of last year, Davis led the charge to formally censure Bukowski, in part for disclosing confidential information from closed meetings. The censure resolution was never brought to a vote, and Bukowski has not been formally reprimanded for his actions.

"There's nothing the city can do, quite frankly," Biddle said. "It's up to the voters. They can take matters into their own hands, if you know what I mean."

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

To all those residents in Hacienda Heights upset at the prospect of a new garbage contract: the county is supposed to vote on this tomorrow. I know, I know. That doesn't mean much since they've rescheduled and postponed this vote several times.

This appeared last week in the Tribune:

LOS ANGELES - Hacienda Heights residents happy with their current trash provider breathed a brief sigh of relief Tuesday when the county postponed a vote on a new contract.

However, next week the county is expected to vote on awarding a seven-year trash hauling contract to Athens Services. The contract would replace the existing residential services provided by Valley Vista Services and Waste Management.

"Supervisor (Don) Knabe asked that this be postponed because he is awaiting some additional information," said Dave Sommers, Knabe's spokesman.

Knabe represents the Fourth District, which is the southern portion of the county and includes Hacienda Heights, Whittier and Diamond Bar.

Hacienda Heights residents said they are upset the county is considering awarding the contract to Athens, which has 19 long-term contracts with cities across Los Angeles County, including West Covina, Montebello and Monterey Park.

Athens spokesman Mike Lewis could not be reached for comment.

The proposed contract allows for a $17.72 monthly rate per customer and would be effective as of March 1. Athens was the lowest bidder out of six that responded to the Aug. 6 request for proposals.

"The whole issue is not a black and white thing. To us, it's not about one price or the other or saving $1.97 a month. It's much bigger than that," said resident Suzanne Fratto, who was among about 40 residents who attended the meeting to protest the contract. Read more.

Twelve people pulled papers to run for a spot on the Covina City Council. The filing deadline is this Friday. So far, only Kay Manning submitted the paperwork.

There will be three open seats: Meline Juarez, John King and Kevin Stapleton

1. Kay Manning
2. Bob Low
3. Robert Cruz
4. John Wilcox
5. Anthony Peraza
6. John Fielding
7. John King
8. Steven Dahlen
9. Kevin Stapleton
10. Rosie Fabien, city clerk
11. Toni Taber, chief deputy clerk
12. Thomas Palmeri

Now that Meline Juarez is no longer a Covina councilwoman (effective Nov. 30), officials need to decide just how to fill her position.

The options are:

1. Wait until someone is elected for her seat during the March 3 election

2. Appoint someone until the March 3 election.

The council will discuss this at its meeting tomorrow beginning at 6 p.m. Click here to read the staff report.

It's Mayor Roger Hernandez's first complete meeting as Mayor, and the very last thing on the agenda he is considering bringing back the cable broadcasts:

ITEM NO. I - 1
DATE December 2, 2008

TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council

FROM: Chris Freeland, Assistant to the City Manager

SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM MAYOR ROGER HERNÁNDEZ REQUESTING THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER DEVELOPING A NO-COST CABLE TELEVISION PRODUCTION ASSISTANT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the City Council direct staff accordingly.

DISCUSSION:

Per the City Council Standing Rules, Mayor Roger Hernández is seeking the City Council's consensus to instruct staff to prepare a staff report on the development of a no-cost cable television production assistant program. The interns will be responsible for operating the cable television equipment to air the City Council meetings live to cable television subscribers. Mayor Hernández is requesting that City staff look into the steps necessary to provide live City Council meetings on cable television utilizing volunteers and Public, Educational, & Government (PEG) funds only.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Any fiscal impact will be dependent on direction taken by the City Council.

Prepared by:

Chris Freeland

This is out of our area, but here is yet another example of government embracing technology:

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking advantage of technology by airing his 7 1/2 hour State of the City address on YouTube, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Chris Dale, spokesman for YouTube, said the site has become increasingly popular for politicians and heads of state over the past two years. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Queen Rania of Jordan and President-elect Barack Obama have used the site extensively to communicate directly to their constituents, Dale said.

"I think it's not about replacing the in-person experience - just like it's not about replacing the newspaper or the typical press conference," Dale said. "It's about augmenting all of that and giving more people access to more information."